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"If a man is teaching false doctrine, don't you think God will handle that?"
This conversation goes into depth on a number of errors in regard to the Serpent Seed.
----- Original Message -----From: Name WithheldTo: Paul StringiniSent: Sunday, January 27, 2013 7:11 AMSubject: I think u have a problemWhat on earth do u think u are accomplishing by bad mouthing a preacher who says all the time... Read for yourself and don't trust any man, even this one. If you are really led by God you would simply be learning and teaching the word, not bashing another preacher to get attention. Do you think you are saving souls by trying to find fault in another preacher. Exactly what is your purpose? I mean you can find flaws in probably every preacher out there? You have a big problem and you need to start over with God so you don't screw up those beautiful kids of yours with your arrogance.
----- Original Message -----From: "Paul Stringini"To: Name WithheldSent: Thursday, February 21, 2013 6:11 PMSubject: Re: I think u have a problemYou seem to have it wrong. I don't "bad-mouth" anyone. Your questions are wrong. For example you asked this:
"Do you think you are saving souls by trying to find fault in another preacher."
What you should have written is, "Do you think you are saving souls by trying to find fault in another doctrine?"
Have you not read?
1Tim 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
True doctrine saves and false doctrine destroys.
1Tim1:3 ...that thou mightest charge some that they teach NO OTHER DOCTRINE, 4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
Arnold Murray turns what the bible says happened in the Garden of Eden into a fable about sex. And he abuses the study tools he claims to teach people to use.
Because it is the doctrine of Arnold Murray that I am opposed to, and not the man. If he happens to be the man that speaks the false doctrine, that is nothing to me. It is not his gray head that I oppose, it is the filth that comes out of his mouth in the name of Christ. That is what I oppose.
"What on earth do u think u are accomplishing by bad mouthing a preacher who says all the time... Read for yourself and don't trust any man, even this one."
Am I supposed to trust him, just because he says that? That is a classic confidence tactic. Disarm them with invitations to examine the evidence. I did check him out and I think he is totally wrong, got a problem with that? I discovered he mishandles the word and the strong's concordance too (among other things). He leaves a breadcrumb trail for people to "check out," but that is not the same as really checking him out in the bible, that is what I did and I say his breadcrumb trail is a sham.
"If you are really led by God you would simply be learning and teaching the word, not bashing another preacher to get attention."
Who told you that? Did you get that out of the 2nd book of Nebuchadnezzar? I guess you would say the same thing about the apostle Paul?
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
There is no sin in pointing out by name and bringing to ruin deceivers and seducers. To be otherwise is cowardly and irresponsible. Arnold teaches that you should never be critical of other ministers because he himself wishes to be free from critics. It is very convenient for him, that way as soon as someone starts calling him out on his doctrinal perversions, his disciples immediately see the critic as "unchristian" Very convenient but very unbiblical.
Have you not read.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
MARK THEM.
That is what I am doing. I am marking Arnold Murray. Not because of who he is as a man. But for his doctrine. This is what the bible REQUIRES of us. Arnold Murray has misled you again.
"Exactly what is your purpose? "
I made a webpage to answer that question.
http://oraclesofgod.org/purpose.htm
"I mean you can find flaws in probably every preacher out there? "
That may be true, but I only had one teacher on earth, and that man was Arnold Murray. I suppose if it had been some other man, then my page would be about someone else. I never listened to any other man, and I still don't, checking them out or not. I learned the bible for myself and with God's spirit I understand.
Sincerely,
Paul Stringini
----- Original Message -----From: "Name Withheld"To: "Paul Stringini"Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2013 8:45 PMSubject: Re: I think u have a problemBut why don't you just lead and teach as you believe. You're wasting your time with all this....God is in Control. He doesn't need your help. If a man is teaching false doctrine, don't you think God will handle that? I Still, with all your scripture here, don't get how you feel that you have a mission to tell the world. I also think that God judges people by their heart, not if they aren't on the mark with various arguments in the Word. I agree with Pastor Murray's teaching because the Bible as a whole agrees.
If you feel that God wants you to lead and teach then do it without bashing him. It's arrogant. We need passionate God revering male leadership in this country. And don't get mad at me and thank you for writing back, MB
----- Original Message -----From: "Paul Stringini"To: Name WithheldSent: Wednesday, March 06, 2013 2:54 PMSubject: Re: I think u have a problemHi Again, thanks for writing back.
===="But why don't you just lead and teach as you believe. "
That IS what I do. I believe that I ought to fight against Arnold Murray, just as Paul fought against the Pharisees. He was once a Pharisee so he had special insight. I was once a student of Murray so I have special insight. I was never a Catholic, or a Protestant, I was a student of the Shepherd's Chapel. God called me in that ministry and I am just continuing in the calling in which I was called.
Why does Arnold Murray always rail against the rapture doctrine? For you to be consistent why don't you write him a letter saying "Why don't you just lead and teach what you believe?" Maybe you have done this. But if you have not, then you ought to consider your double standard.
The Apostles themselves led by example and they often took time to explain the truth in terms of the errors that were widespread in their day, for example:
1 Corinthians 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Why can't Paul just say what he believes instead of picking on other people's beliefs?
But the writers of the bible could not anticipate every heresy that would ever come, but they made it quite clear that we should take the offensive against corrupters of the word.
===="You're wasting your time with all this....God is in Control. He doesn't need your help."
That is an attitude called "fatalism." Just accept the present state as fate, never try to change anything. I could ask you the same question. God is in control so why are you wasting your time writing me? For that matter. Why preach the gospel? God is in control, he doesn't need our help.
Ecclesiastes 4:5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
That is not a biblical line of thinking - "God is in control, he does not need our help." OF COURSE, God does not "need " our help, that goes without saying. But God REQUIRES of us that we labor ANYWAYS. You have read the parable of the talents? To one he gave 5, to one he gave 2, to one he gave 1. He reaps where he does not sow, he gathers where he did not invest, God is an austere man, he expects a HIGH return on his investments, even though he already owns EVERYTHING.
===="If a man is teaching false doctrine, don't you think God will handle that?"
Not usually, no, God dos not usually do anything about it, God leaves it to us to contend for the faith which was delivered. Hence the world we live in, from the time of the Apostles they were resisting false doctrine with the word.
1co 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
God leaves the heresies in place so that those who are approved may be made manifest by contrast. Arnold Murray's heresies exist to manifest God's approval of those who resist Murray.
I find no scriptures in the bible that say, "do not speak against false teachers and false doctrine." That idea is alien to the scriptures, it arises from modern human ideas about civility and niceness. I have no interest or respect for those things.
===="I Still,with all your scripture here, don't get how you feel that you have a mission to tell the world."
For me, it is elementary, I come out of Shepherd's Chapel, so I have a responsibility and calling to speak against it. God did not send me to any other minister but to Arnold Murray. And God has shown me his errors. I love Arnold Murray and his followers, I will not stand silently by while they corrupt and destroy themselves. You would not "get it" because God did not call you to do it. How would you know what God put in my heart?
===="I also think that God judges people by their heart, not if they aren't on the mark with various arguments in the Word."
Half true. God's does try the heart, and the state of our heart does a lot for us in that regard, but he judges works. Good intentions do not make up for evil deeds. So unless God reveals the truth to us, so that we may repent of our sins against his truth, we may still be judged as sinners.
John 16:2 ...whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
When the whole world worships the beast, they will think that they are doing good.
God looks at our heart, yes, but he also leads us not into temptation and delivers us from evil. To whom God loves, God shows a better way. Those who practice heresies will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Galatians 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, HERESIES,
Galatians 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
We cannot continually practice heresies and expect to inherit God's kingdom. We must purify our doctrine from the corruptions of tradition and of the mind. The scriptures say we must do this.
Titus 2:7 In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity
It is only impossible if we insist on having our own way, and that is how Arnold Murray finds himself stuck in corrupt ways.
I CAN'T judge the heart, I have no choice but to judge works. When the Apostles condemned Hymenaeus and Philetus, they could no see their hearts,
but only their works. Beware of false prophets. Jesus said it. The Apostles told us to "mark them" which walk contrary to the doctrine. You shall know them by their fruits. We are not called to stick our heads in the sand but to let our light shine. Light does not shine except to extinguish the darkness. I labor to save myself and those that hear me.
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Doctrine saves us, it is what we believe. It is the description of all our hopes.
Galatians 5, its right there in black and white for you to accept or reject.
2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
===="I agree with Pastor Murray's teaching because the Bible as a whole agrees. "
No, that is not true. You have been conditioned by his teachings to overlook scriptures that are inconvenient for you.
Your whole argument to me is basically an attempt to justify the holding of doctrines which are heretical to the word.
The word does not agree with you. Especially on this point, there is nothing wrong with going on the offensive against false teachers and false doctrine. That is purely from the mind of man. Arnold Murray teaches that doctrine because it is convenient for him to shut the ears of his disciples from hearing anyone who might be critical of him. It is as unbiblical as homosexual marriage. But from your perspective, one should not criticize homosexual marriage either, because they have love in their hearts.
===="If you feel that God wants you to lead and teach then do it without bashing him."
I don't "bash him" I could, but I don't. I talk about his doctrine, perhaps you lack the imagination to consider what from true "bashing could take."
And by your own admission, God does not need you to defend Arnold Murray. So why do you do it? I think you do right (at least I can tell your heart
is in the right place, you think you are defending a good and truthful ministry). But by your own words, you do wrong.
====="It's arrogant. "
It is not. But I understand what you mean. Whenever someone says "this is the truth, and that is not" it seems arrogant when you disagree with that
person. But many see Murray as very arrogant, just because of his demeanor. I try to avoid that sort of criticism. But I do feel he is arrogant on other
grounds.
What is arrogant is for Arnold Murray to make up his own doctrine, contrary to scripture, and to indoctrinate you that no one should criticize his ministry while at the same time he daily SLAMS other ministries. He calls them names and it is not hard to figure out who he is talking about.
"Backward collar" = Catholics.
What is wrong with a "backward collar"? There is nothing wrong with a backward collar so far as I know. That is least of all the Catholic sins, be he is not shy about criticizing other ministries, he just arrogantly and falsely says "that's why I never criticize other ministries" what he is doing is manipulating your mind to
see him as more virtuous than he actually is.
=====We need passionate God revering male leadership in this country.
And I hope that you will some day see me as providing some of that in my own small measure.
=====And don't get mad at me and thank you for writing back, MB
Not mad. I appreciate your sincerity.
Sincerely,
Paul Stringini
----- Original Message -----From: Name WithheldTo: "Paul Stringini"Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 6:54 AMSubject: Re: I think u have a problemBrother, this is my last communication and I would not be interrupting your day again except you came to my mind last night during prayer. Did you know that you can set the U Version Bible app to a timer to listen as you fall asleep? Really cool, anyway, I have to say that it is obvious that you are gifted to debate in such a way that keeps a conversation or discussion ongoing. During such discussions with my husband who shares your beliefs, this does not happen because once he reaches an impasse, he starts throwing darts. You maintain your composure, even when you are under attack.
I have this question; If I am leaning toward agreement with almost every one of Pastor Murray's controversial teachings as sound, and if I am completely wrong about this, but ....
I understand the trinity. I know that I am saved, forgiven, redeemed by grace. I knew God was real and would never leave me, even when I was really little and really hurt. The first time I listened to the Bible being read I KNEW it was the REAL THING AND I WAS HUNGRY to KNOW MORE... No one in my family were Christian but my Mom read to us 2 times and wouldn't read anymore when I asked her to. I knew when I went to Church with my friend as a young teen that I wanted to accept Christ and I did and I wanted to be baptized and I was. The Holy Spirit, The Comforter fills my Chest with praise and Worship and I have a prayer language I don't understand. God uses my Husband and I in super Cool ways and no matter what, the joy of The Lord is my strength!
How am I damned to Hell ? What good are you doing with your talent and abilities? That's why I say it's a waste. You have been gifted to Preach. You may very well be one of Gods elect who will stand against the Anti Christ. I say this with all assurance. I don't want to talk to you anymore.... I have so many responsibilities but last Night, these things came to me so that's that.... God bless you Paul, God bless your Wife and Family and God anoint you to teach his Gospel.
----- Original Message -----From: "Paul Stringini"To: "Name WithheldSent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 2:05 PMSubject: Re: I think u have a problemI do not consider taking time to converse with another well-meaning human being to be a waste of my time. Even if you think I have no effect on you.
Technically, No one is damned to hell, hell itself is to be damned.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
We are all going to hell, but hell is not damnation, God reigns also in hell.
Psalm 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
I love that verse. One area I agree with Murray on, is that the soul is destroyed in the second death. But we differ in that I believe we all must go to hell (the grave) first and wait for the resurrection as promised by Christ.
Christ himself went to hell, but his soul was not left in hell.
Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Paul told us to comfort one another with the promise of the resurrection. Hell is not damnation, because hell is the place where from which we all shall rise, to the resurrection of life or to the resurrection of damnation, as Jesus said, "on the last day." (John 6)
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
They shall rise from the earth, not come down from heaven. While you may not believe this, you do know that damnation refers to the lake of fire, into which death and hell shall be cast. (I recommend my recent work "I believe in death and in the Resurrection of the Dead," http://oraclesofgod.org/doctrine/03_the_resurrection_of_the_dead.htm
If your beliefs cannot withstand the challenge of the scriptures then you need to abandon your beliefs)
I'm getting to your question...in a round about way.
Arnold Murray teaches that the dead are already with God. That the dead are "with him." If the dead are walking around in heaven in a spiritual body, that describes a resurrected state. I show in detail in the work that I just linked how that view is incorrect, I really recommend it, you owe it to the truth to test your faith, if you are of the truth my errors should be manifest. I do not see how Murray's doctrine differs from the error of Hymenaeus and Philetus
2 Timothy2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2 Timothy2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
I remember the first time I crossed that verse while studying with Arnold Murray (and a few other verses in the same spirit) It gave me pause, but I figured there must be another explanation, and there always are other explanations, but when the scriptures keep multiplying... I can't keep making excuses.
Paul suggested that this belief had the potential to "overthrow the faith of some"
Our faith in Christ is not just our trust in him for our personal well-being. God defines what our faith ought to be. When we do not give his desires regard, our faith is alien to God. When he condemns certain things as works of the flesh, and says that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God, he is telling us what his judgment is. I cannot alter this, neither add to it, nor take away from it.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Heresy simply means to be of another opinion (false, by implication).
All I can tell such people is that they must "repent."
But what do you do, in your case? In your case, you believe you are not harboring heresies...
Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
How can someone repent who believes they are doing no wrong?
God must reveal your errors to you. I don't know about you, but I pray about that all the time.
I prayed to get the holy spirit for most of my life but did not receive it until I was 31 years old. I prayed to be delivered from drugs and alcohol, but was not given victory for 13 years.
Ultimately, God must reveal the truth to us or we will die in our sins. If he does not help us see the truth then his Grace is not upon us and we will die in our sins and we will not inherit the kingdom of God.
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
The Pharisees believed in the Christ, they just didn't believe that the man Jesus was the Christ. When our doctrine strays from the teachings he taught it is as if we wish that some other man was Christ, so we let men like Murray and others tell us things that appeal to our fleshly wisdom.
How can God condemn anyone for so small a thing as sin? God does not owe us life. Life is a gift and God has every right to give it to whomsoever he
pleases.
God is not fair. That is one of the first bits of human wisdom we ought to get ourselves over. God is gracious, he gives salvation to people who do not deserve it. That is why it is unfair. Man thinks that so long as God is saving us by grace, he ought to distribute salvation to everyone. But that is not how God operates.
Matthew 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
The message of that parable is that what God does by grace is not seen as fair by man.
God saves some, according to his will, but not all. To those who get left out, it will not seem fair. No one who is damned is going to go down
praising God's fairness.
Personally, I would be shocked if God did not eventually open your eyes to the truth. If he has already put in your heart to seek him, so long as it is also in your heart to continue to grow, I would be surprised. God does not give these desires to all men. I believe in the grace of God towards you on your behalf, I say, that the truth shall be revealed to you. If not, then what can I say? If God is not gracious to us to open our eyes, then he is not likely to give us eternal life either.
It is a pity you have not asked me for explanations of how what you believe through Murray is not true, because I have spent most of my life testing the things I believed, I can defend what I believe, I can give good reasons to discard the leaven of Arnold Murray.
The truth has nothing to do with reading sexual innuendos into passages that have no sexual context.
You need to ask yourself this, "have I really checked out what Arnold Murray says?" Or "Did I merely follow the breadcrumb trails that he left me?"
He gives Strong's Concordance definitions, but is either too incompetent to realize the mistakes he is making, or has faith that the ends justify the means in establishing his vision of what the bible "really" says. For example, the word "naga," translated "touch" in the garden: Arnold says this word means "to lie with a woman" but that is "by euphemism." It is one of those words with more than one meaning, like cock (rooster), prick (your finger) and screw (a primitive machine). I'm not vulgar, Dr. Murray's teaching draws us into vulgarity by asking us to view innocent passages as suggestive of sexual content.
We still use "touch" in the euphemistic sense in English, ("If you touch my daughter, I'll wring your neck!") It is not a secret that requires use of the Strong's Concordance.
1Cor 1:1 ... It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Do you need a concordance to understand that verse? No, you do not. It is easy to see that "touch" here is being used as a euphemism for sexual contact.
Murray brings out the concordance and it lends his interpretation the air of a mystery revealed and established by scholarly research. But what he is really doing is misusing the Strong's dictionary to convince you to apply the euphemistic meaning of "touch" to a passage where such an application is TOTALLY inappropriate.
Would you apply the euphemism to this passage:
Luke 8 :46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath TOUCHED me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
Sex? I think not... but those with dirty minds see sex behind every bush.
The Strong's dictionary often contains several definitions of the same word but you can't apply them all in every case. The context is the deciding factor.
The exact same word (naga) is again used (and many other times as well, did you research that? did you really "check him out?") In Genesis 32 the angel
touches (naga) Jacob in the hollow of his thigh. But we do not assume that this means "to lie with a woman." Why? Even though touching thighs and having virtue go out are actually more suggestive than "eating fruit" we cannot see this as sexual because of the context. Euphemisms only exist in specific contexts. The phrase, "Prick your finger" is NEVER a vulgarity, (even if placed in a sexual context, such as, "he pricked his finger in the midst of sexual contact.") but if you switch the words "prick" and "finger" in that example, you will find that it is ALWAYS vulgar. I would rather not speak of these things to any man, and much less to a lady, but Murray is not at all ashamed to read into the bible sexual overtones which are not implied by the text.
The tree grew from the ground, it looked good for food, she ate the fruit, and eating fruit is no euphemism for sex. Neither is touching fruit.
Believe in the words of the bible, do not believe in the men who would tell you not to believe what you are reading, that is a dangerous way to approach God's holy word, if that is what you believe the bible to be.
In a related matter, "Wholly seduced" in 2Cor 11:3 .is another one where Murray abuses and misuses the Strong's, either through ignorance or through
arrogance.
2Cor 11:3 ..as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Beguiled means completely deceived. When Dr. Strong said it means "wholly seduced" he did not mean to say "SEXUALLY seduced," because, believe it or
not, the English word "seduced" does not automatically imply sex. That is a modern use of the word "seduced." The Greek word "exapatao" has nothing to
do with sex, nothing at all, and it never has been used that way in the bible.
Romans 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived (EXAPATAO) me, and by it slew me.
Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive (EXAPATAO) the
hearts of the simple.
1 Cor 3:18 Let no man deceive (EXAPATAO) himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be
wise.
2 Cor 11:18 (as the serpent beguiled (Exapatao) Eve)
2 Thess2:3 Let no man deceive (Exapatao) you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
If you trace it back to the root, you will see that the word "apatao" #538 means to cheat or delude, and does not imply sexual meaning.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive (apatao) you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience
1Tim 2:14 And Adam was not deceived (apatao), but the woman being deceived (apatao) was in the transgression.
Wow, consider that verse, they both "ate the fruit" but only eve was "seduced" (not sexually) But if "eating the fruit" means having "sex with Satan" then this verse is contradictory to that idea.
James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth (apatao) his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
The Greek prefix "ex" essentially means "out" and in this usage has the same forces as words in English like "outdo," "outlast," or "outmaneuver" it is a strengthened form of "deceive" literally to "out-deceive."
The translators were not covering up the sexual nature of the sin in the garden, the sin in the garden was disobedience.
The serpent beguiled Eve into eating fruit from a tree which God had planted which had the power to impart the knowledge of Good and evil. If what really happened was that they had sex with the serpent then there was no sin in the garden, because God gave a commandment concerning the eating of
fruit.
Exapatao means deceit, and the way Arnold Murray handles it either proves he is incompetent or arrogant, I cannot tell which but I lean towards incompetence fueled by arrogance. Check me out, but you will need The New Englishman's Greek Concordance and Lexicon (by Wigram-Green). That is what allows me to trace Greek words throughout the bible the way Strong's concordance allows you to trace the English words. You can get one through the internet. There is a Hebrew version as well. Very useful.
This is one of my favorite passages, in my bible studies I teach people who to obtain the things promised in the gospel. I do not focus on useless information such as which angels had sex with whom...
II Peter 1
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 ACCORDING as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto LIFE and GODLINESS, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to
GLORY and VIRTUE:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious PROMISES: that BY THESE ye might be partakers of the DIVINE NATURE, having ESCAPED the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, ADD TO your faith virtue; and TO virtue knowledge;
6 And TO knowledge temperance; and TO temperance patience; and TO patience godliness;
7 And TO godliness brotherly kindness; and TO brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if THESE THINGS be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that LACKETH these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to MAKE your calling and election SURE: for if ye DO these things, ye shall NEVER fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Do we desire to be assured of an entrance into the everlasting kingdom of God? Verse 10, that is our assurance. We must add to our faith, continue in the faith, the just shall live by faith. A single act of faith is dead. We must be born of him, Christ must be formed in us, that is salvation. It is not a prerequirement, what man would qualify? It is the result of faith in the promises of God given us by his grace.
Titus 2:11 For the GRACE of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 TEACHING us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this PRESENT world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from ALL iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
We must ask ourselves, are we zealous of good works? or are we merely zealous for our own personal safety?
Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was
preached to every creature which is under heaven;
Continuing in the faith does not mean that we just keep thinking we are saved. We must grow, up into Christ. And that is my prayer for myself, and
for you.
Sincerely,
Paul Stringini
PS my wife said I should start referring people to part of a bible study I did on Titus,
http://oraclesofgod.org/studies/56_Titus/56_Titus_Chapter_03/56_Titus_Chapter_03_Part_06.mp3
This is one of the very few times I mention Arnold Murray's teachings in one of my bible studies.
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