Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Dear Reader, it seems that we are witnessing, in this day and age, a move that is heralded to be directly from the Throne Room of God. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to examine, and address, some of the more preposterous events that we’re being told, on a daily basis, are merely "contending for the faith."
You will note in the text of Jude 1:3, that this "faith" that is now being so freely bantered around, was ONCE delivered unto the saints. God’s Word is the basis of ALL of our faith. Nothing more, and nothing less. God has graciously set His Word before us, and there is nothing that we have need of, or that is to be "tacked on" as we live our lives before Him. We do GROW in our faith, as we are obedient to the Word which has been given, but there is no NEW type of faith that we should be reaching toward. Anything less than the faith set forth by God would decidedly be a hybrid.In light of this faith that ALL believers have, why do we seem to hear of the necessity of NEW levels of faith, NEW works of God, NEW moves of God, etc., etc.? Could it simply be that the proponents of this NEW faith, have never truly realized the REAL faith of the Living God in the first place? Have we, as the Body of Messiah, failed to inform the new believers, that this faith that was ONCE delivered is available to them on the same basis as every other Christian? That "basis" is the shedblood of Jesus Christ! Do we need to have an ongoing "Christian pep rally" to express our faith toward God? Do we need to continually "pump and prime" the well of salvation? To these, I would answer a resounding NO!
As a believer, we should grow in the grace [chesed] of God, but we do not obtain something NEW, rather, we are to mature and grow in what He has already given us, i.e., the faith, as ordained by God.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Yes, we are to grow in KNOWLEDGE, as instructed by Peter. This knowledge is obtained by studying God’s Word, and maintaining a relationship with the Lord Jesus [Adonai Yeshua]. This is NOT a knowledge of esoteric mysteries. Living out our lives in the love and grace of God is not to be an experience of "Christian mysticism." There is no room for mysticism within the reality of all that the Lord God Almighty has provided for us!
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Have you heard teachings coming from so-called evangelists, prophets, apostles, pastors, that sounded so very "deep" that you felt like a mere child for not comprehending them? Beloved, this is why God has exhorted us to STUDY to shew ourselves approved unto God!! We want to stand before Him on that day, and have no shame because we did not know how to rightly divide His word of truth [emet]. The things that are being called "deep" are not as they appear! In fact, this is a "buzz word" that many false prophets and teachers will employ to make YOU feel incompetent with regards to the things of God, while building themselves up to a height and level that was never ordained by God. Their purpose in expounding on the NEW and DEEP issues, is to promote themselves, and their man-made ministries. You may hear many say that they are merely contending for the faith, but, Beloved, I would suggest to you that they are offering a pretend faith, at the very least!
Although these same people will denounce you for not having all the "deep" answers they presumably have, the Word of God proves them to be frauds:
1 Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
So, where are these "deep revelations" coming from? Scripture states that "eye hath NOT seen, NOR ear heard......" God has very plainly expressed Himself in the above Scripture, but the false teachers have desecrated God’s Word by manipulating it, and the end thereof, will be to wreak their own havoc. The deep things of God, are reserved for those who KNOW God. That’s YOU and I, not just an elite clique of people who think they have a "secret knowledge" of God!! God has always chosen to reveal Himself to His children, not to just an exclusive group of megalomaniacs. If you are His child, then you have access to ALL of God’s wisdom, and you have no need to have His Wisdom revealed to you by another, as you also have the Spirit of God residing in YOU. You are the Elect! Please get this, Reader! The Spirit of God [Ruach HaKodesh] resides in EVERY believer, and He will teach you the things of God, as you apply yourself diligently to studying His Word. Commonly, the Spirit of God will utilize the knowledge of His Word that you possess. Therefore, He can reveal His truths, and His character, according to the wealth of His Word that is resident within you, the believer. These "deep things" concern man's salvation, the scheme of things drawn in His eternal mind, and revealed in the Word. You DO NOT need a "Christian mystic" or "seer" to expound the things of God to you! This is nothing more than fortune-telling!! It’s a gospel that is destitute of God. It is a harlot, trying to wear bridal attire, but still a harlot in the final critique!
It would not be honorable of me to leave this topic without addressing yet another Scripture that the promoters of "deep revelations" use at every convenience:
8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.Psalms 42:7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me
My friend, this scripture is specifically addressing afflictions, plain and simple! This is very obvious, and by reading the following verse in context, you can easily see that God is the One who desires to deliver us from these afflictions. Verse seven is using a correlation of the deep waters of the sea, for their multitude and overwhelming nature. [cf. Ps. 69:1-2, Isa. 43:2] As soon as one affliction was over, another came, as in the case of Job. In light of the plain understanding of this Scripture, what are the false teachers advocating? A false gospel!! We CANNOT pick and choose one particular Scripture, and take it completely out of context, to PROVE a human misconception! That is exactly what Jesus was addressing in the following:
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Jesus [Yeshua] was explaining to the religious leaders that to be LESS than honest toward Scripture would equate with DESTROYING the law, the prophets, etc. Metaphorically, the word destroy means to overthrow (i.e. render vain, deprive of success, bring to naught). Do we want to walk in the shoes of those who DESTROY God’s Word? I can assure you than I do not, and I can only assume that you do not either.
In light of these Scriptures, I would submit to you that these false teachers are NOT teaching the truth of God’s Word, but, instead, are DESTROYING His Word! Let the Reader take heed, and follow God’s Word, rather than the interpretation of a "Christian mystic." Let’s not PREtend to make God’s Word say something that is simply not there, but, rather, let us CONtend for the faith that was ONCE delivered unto the saints, and let us do it with fervency!!
Humbly submitted for the building up of the Saints, by
Anna L. Robinson
� Yad b’Yad Ministries
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