Brethren it is not squabbling, contending with others, trying to be right but this is people's lives and some are very guilty of trying to keep some from the life of God.
Words are not both death and life they are one or the other, they are either life or death.
The word of God as written and to be believed is life.
Satan's manipulation of the word of God thru man is death, and that man is guilty of adding to the word of God and taking away from the word of God.
The limits of our understanding:
We must now explain what the power of human reason is, in regard to the kingdom of God, and spiritual discernment which consists chiefly of three things - the knowledge of God, the knowledge of his paternal favor towards us, which constitutes our salvation, and the method of regulating of our conduct in accordance with the Divine Law. With regard to the former two, but more properly the second, men otherwise the most ingenious are blinder than moles. I deny not, indeed, that in the writings of philosophers we meet occasionally with shrewd and apposite remarks on the nature of God, though they invariably savor somewhat of giddy imagination. As observed above, the Lord has bestowed on them some slight perception of his Godhead that they might not plead ignorance as an excuse for their impiety, and has, at times, instigated them to deliver some truths, the confession of which should be their own condemnation. Still, though seeing, they saw not. Their discernment was not such as to direct them to the truth, far less to enable them to attain it, but resembled that of the bewildered traveler, who sees the flash of lightning glance far and wide for a moment, and then vanish into the darkness of the night, before he can advance a single step. So far is such assistance from enabling him to find the right path. Besides, how many monstrous falsehoods intermingle with those minute particles of truth scattered up and down in their writings as if by chance. In short, not one of them even made the least approach to that assurance of the divine favor, without which the mind of man must ever remain a mere chaos of confusion. To the great truths, What God is in himself, and what he is in relation to us, human reason makes not the least approach. (See Book 3 c. 2 sec. 14, 15, 16.)
This writing from beginning to end is a perfect example of carnality, the word of God under the old covenant tells man clearly how walk with God, and the old covenant is full of examples of those that did just that. From the beginning of the fall the father was always reaching out to man and he made a way that they make walk in the blessing of God, and that way was the word of God and obedience to the word of god always brought the life of God to the believer.
We have two places in scripture that tell us exactly what man could do to be be pleasing to the father.:
Jos 1:2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
1:3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Prov 4:20 � My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
1 � My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
When obeyed as per these instructions the word of God illuminated the dark heart of man and would direct his steps.
Ps 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Ps 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
The Word of God is many things as the word tells us and wisdom is one of them and the word of God is understanding, and so forth.
You have here the word of man as his doctrine.
You have the word of God as doctrine it is your choice what you behold and believe.
Warning those that believe another doctrine we always try to eradicate any truth that exposes their error, in otherwords they will try to justify both other scripture why scripture is not so, go figure.
phillipjohn who believes in the Prosperity Gospel states:
"The word of God under the old covenant tells man clearly how to walk with God, and the old covenant is full of examples of those that did just that. From the beginning of the fall the father was always reaching out to man and he made a way that they make walk in the blessing of God, and that way was the word of God and obedience to the word of god always brought the life of God to the believer."
THIS IS TRUE BUT WE ARE **NOW** UNDER THE NEW COVENANT AND THE OLD COVENANT IS **OBSOLETE**!!
The New Covenant is that after you are Born of God with the 100% Free Gift of Faith you will Teach & Obey All the Commands of Jesus & the NT with *LOVE* as Jesus Loved You with the Hope of Countless Unseen Eternal Rewards!! Salvation is a 100% free gift and unseen eternal rewards are 100% earned.
Hebrews 8:8,9,13: God found fault with the people and said: The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a **NEW COVENANT** with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will **NOT** be like the covenant I made with their forefathers.....By calling this covenant **NEW**, He made the first one **OBSOLETE**; and what is **OBSOLETE** and aging will soon disappear.� When all the words of the New Covenant were completed by the Book of Revelation in AD 96.
Hebrew 10:8-10: Jesus said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them although the law required them to be made. The He {Jesus} said. "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He {Jesus} set aside the first {Covenant} to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus ONCE FOR ALL!!
Isaiah 53:5,6: "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all!!"
In the old covenant God's commandments were only preached to Jews but in the New Covenant Jesus commands us to preach to every nation in the world teaching them to obey *EVERYTHING* Jesus commanded as per Matthew 28:18-20 and everything would also include all of the approximately 400 NT commandments also taught in Acts to Revelation {See 2 Timothy 3-16 to 4:2.}
Deuteronomy 18:17-19: The Lord said to Moses, "I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among your brothers. I will put My words in His mouth, and He will tell them everything I command Him. If anyone does not listen to My words that the Prophet speaks in My Name I Myself will call him to account."
There were 613 OT commandments and Jesus changed many of them including all of the strict Sabbath commands and all of the commands to stone someone for sinning {Jesus says that he who is without sin should cast the first stone} Jesus also eliminated all the strict Levitical dietary laws declaring that all foods are now clean. And Jesus also commanded us not to make any vows or oaths {Matt 5:33-37}on anything Just let your Yes be yes and your no no.
Jesus also eliminated the eye for an eye laws:rolleyes: and commanded us to always offer up the other cheek and to love {See Matt 5:38-48} our enemies. And of course Jesus eliminated all sacrifices and offerings for sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Jesus also eliminated the earthly rewards for faithful service and commanded us to sell our possessions and give to the poor and get TREASURES IN HEAVEN and **THEN** to come follow Him!
Luke 12:33,34: Jesus says, �Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted....For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.�
Luke 6:20: Jesus says �Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God!"
I Timothy 6:5-10: There are men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with Contentment is great gain....If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.�
I John 2:15: "Do not love the world or anything in the world!!"
But one of the biggest changes was an addition to the OT Law love your neighbor as you love yourself which was replaced by John 15:9-14:
Jesus says, "As the Father has loved Me , so I have loved you. Now remain in MY LOVE. **IF** you obey My commands, you will remain in MY LOVE...My command is this: **LOVE** each other AS I HAVE LOVED YOU!!! Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his live for his friends."
John 13:34 Jesus says, "A **NEW** command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples!!"
All of the approximately 400 NT commands differ from the OT Covenant in that they must all be kept *IN LOVE* just as Jesus loved us!!
John 14:23,24: Jesus says, "If anyone loves Me, He will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with Him. He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching." {See I John 2:3-5}
Ephesians 2:8,9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is **NOT FROM YOURSELVES**, it is the **GIFT** of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do!"
John 1:12,13: To all who received Him {Jesus} he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, **NOR OF HUMAN DECISION** or a husband's will but BORN OF GOD!"
John 6:44: Jesus says, "No one can come to Me**UNLESS** the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the Last Day!" {Of the Great Tribulation}
Matthew 5:19,20: Jesus says, �Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth {THE SEEN}, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves **TREASURES** in Heaven!{THE **UNSEEN**}� Luke 12:33 adds �Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide for yourselves.. a **TREASURE** in heaven {THE **UNSEEN**} that will not be exhausted. For where your **TREASURE** is there your heart will be also!!�
The early saints obeyed this New Covenant as per Acts 2:44,45 "**ALL** the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need." Acts 4:32: "**ALL** the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared *EVERYTHING they had!"
2 Corinthians 6:6-10: As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way; in great endurance, in troubles, hardships and distresses, in beatings, imprisonments; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God...Dying, and yet we live on, beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; **POOR**, yet making many rich, **HAVING NOTHING**{THE SEEN}, and yet **POSSESSING EVERYTHING**!{THE **UNSEEN**!�
Hebrews 11:1,6: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see....And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He **REWARDS** those who earnestly seek Him."
The New Covenant commands us to have faith in and eagerly seek **UNSEEN** eternal **REWARDS**.
2 Corinthians 4:18: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is **UNSEEN**. For what is seen is temporary, but what is **UNSEEN** is **ETERNAL**!!"
Ephesians 6:7,8: "Serve wholeheartedly..because you know that the Lord will *REWARD* everyone for whatever good he does!"
2 John 1:8: "Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be *REWARDED* fully!"
I Corinthians 3:6-9: Paul said, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be *REWARDED* according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers!"
Daniel 12:3: "Those who impart wisdom will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever!"
Matthew 5:11,12: Jesus says, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your *REWARD* in heaven!" {See Luke 6:35}
Revelation 22:12: Jesus says, "Behold, I am coming soon! My {**unseen**}*REWARD*is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!"
2 Corinthians 5:9,10: "So we make it our goal to please Him..For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him {**UNSEEN REWARDS & TREASURES**} for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad!"
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, For the Son of Man is going to come in His **FATHER'S GLORY WITH HIS ANGELS**{See Matt 24:30-31;25:31-40}, and **THEN**{NOT NOW} He will *REWARD*{**THE UNSEEN REWARD**} each person according to what he has done."
Revelation 22:12: Jesus says, "Behold, I am coming soon! My {UNSEEN} *REWARD* is *WITH ME*, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!"
2 Corinthians 5:9,10: "So we make it our:rolleyes: goal to please Him..For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him {Not NOW} for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad!"
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, For the Son of Man is going to come in His **FATHER'S GLORY WITH HIS ANGELS**:angel::angel::angel:{See Matt 24:30-31;25:31-40 & 2 Thess 1:6-10}, and **THEN** {Not with earthly rewards now} He will *REWARD* each person:rolleyes: according to what he has done."
I Peter 1:13: �Therefore, prepare your minds for *ACTION*, and set your hope *FULLY* on the {**UNSEEN**} grace to be given *YOU* when Jesus Christ is *REVEALED*.:applause::angel::peace:
Another way the unbelieving work is as in the previous example, posting large number of scriptures and adding their erroneous opinions to them, thus denying the word of God and adding to the word of God by their opinion, and is his response also taking away from the word of God.
God's sanctifying work is seen in growing Christlike character, increasing love for God and people, and the fruit of the Spirit (John 14:2; 15:1�16:33; Gal. 5:22�25; James 2:18). Of course, a memorable conversion experience may serve as an important reference point for a saving work of God in one's life, but it is only the obvious, ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in making one more and more like Jesus that gives sufficiently clear indication that a person has been made a new creation in Christ. While a Christian should never be satisfied with his current state of holiness, he should be confident that through God's sovereign, sanctifying grace he will one day have totally won the victory over sin once and for all. This will be the moment of entering by death into a larger life in which our sinful heart is finally purified. Meanwhile, living with this hope as one battles sin daily is true Christian perseverance (1 Cor. 1:8�9; Eph. 1:13�14; 1 Thess. 5:23�24; 1 Pet. 1:4�5; 1 John 2:19; Jude 1, 24�25), which is itself a sign that one has been born again.
