I realize that my spiritual stance is off-putting to many because I eschew the doctrines and traditions of men. But the Spirit leads each of us according to God's will. And it is truly a wonderful thing to see agreement on so many core beliefs - that can only come from Him.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. - I John 4:1-3
But each has a different “official” doctrine or explanation based largely upon what is allowed in the "toolset."
Meanwhile, I’m over here – footloose and fancy-free – exploring wherever I am compelled to look. My prayer is to know everything God wants me to know, but no more.
One of the advantages of eschewing the doctrines and traditions of mortal men is that I follow wherever the Spirit leads, without guilt or shame. So if I am drawn to the Pseudepigrapha (including Enoch) - I read it – ditto for the Talmud, Catechises, Jewish Kabbalah, science or whatever.
But I take nothing as Truth unless the Spirit personally authenticates it to me.
As if to underscore the importance of the canon, He faithfully authenticates all of the books of Scripture. And yet He sets off an alarm within me when something is lost – such as God’s name, The Rock from the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32 – or added, such as the word “most” to an erroneous quote from the NASB translation of Luke 1:42 in reference to Mary but not Jesus.
So I trust God, I believe Him, I count on Him – not men.
A central leaning He has given me is that God the Father has indeed revealed Himself in four ways: through His only begotten son Jesus Christ, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, through the Scriptures and through His Creation.
I believe in that alarm. It was the same alarm Luther and Calvin and Zwingli and Knox and Wycliffe and Hus and Zanchius and Tyndale all heard, with ears given by God for His glory.
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." -- Acts 20:30-32"Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." -- 1 Corinthians 1:23-24
imho
The following from your excellent post are such important ponits, hope hey become a persistent manta on FR for yet the lates crop of new lurkers. The points are that crucial to following God generally and following God through His written Word.
LUB,
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But I take nothing as Truth unless the Spirit personally authenticates it to me.
As if to underscore the importance of the canon, He faithfully authenticates all of the books of Scripture. And yet He sets off an alarm within me when something is lost – such as God’s name, The Rock from the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32 – or added, such as the word “most” to an erroneous quote from the NASB translation of Luke 1:42 in reference to Mary but not Jesus.
So I trust God, I believe Him, I count on Him – not men.
A central leaning He has given me is that God the Father has indeed revealed Himself in four ways: through His only begotten son Jesus Christ, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, through the Scriptures and through His Creation.
For what it’s worth...