[annalex]

Folks who collect together for worship, study, teaching as described in I Cor 12-14 should at least soon be able to prayerfully discern what is authentic and what is not BY HOLY SPIRIT'S AGENCY.

Where does 1 Cor 12-14, or any other scripture, say that all can "discern what is authentic"? It says rather the opposite: "Are all doctors?".

[Blogger]

Annalex, you blew right past the most important part of the quote. None of us CAN discern what is authentic OUTSIDE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT'S AGENCY. But, as Christians, we have the Spirit's leadership as a matter of birthright as God's little children. You miss that, you've missed the whole thing. Through prayerful submission to the Holy Spirit's teaching, we can discern what is authentic, else Jesus and all of the apostles lied in Scripture and our faith is in vain. You dont' really want to call Jesus a liar?

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

1 Corinthians 2:13-15 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Hebrews 5: 12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The last Scripture portion is particularly signficant. Babes in Christ do not necessarily understand everything. They are babies. They can only take in baby-appropriate food (i.e., milk); but, as that baby continues to take the food (which in this case is the Spiritual food of God's Word) in, he grows. As he grows, he begins to understand more, until by reason of being so closely associated with the Genuine, he immediately spots the counterfeit. Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit as our guide. I take Him at His word.

[Marysecretary]

By revelation, dear annalex. If you have the Holy Spirit, he teaches you all things and reveals all things. If you have the gift of discernment, you can also tell what's phony and what isn't. Being filled with the HS is the secret (if there is one). Love, Mxxx

[Quix]

Folks who collect together for worship, study, teaching as described in I Cor 12-14 should at least soon be able to prayerfully discern what is authentic and what is not BY HOLY SPIRIT'S AGENCY.

ANNALEX:
Where does 1 Cor 12-14, or any other scripture, say that all can "discern what is authentic"? It says rather the opposite: "Are all doctors?".

QX:
I think it might be better to reread what I wrote and avoid putting words in my fingers.

I did not say every last individual would be 100% accurate in discerning anything in the group. I said essentially that Paul tasked the local congregation to discern and to especially pay attention to the 'nobody' wise old insignificant humble codgers who could be trusted to make wise judgments in such situations.

That's not doctors nor lofty magesterical elitists bureaucrats.