Therefore lay aside
all filthiness
and overflow of
wickedness,
and receive with
meekness
the implanted word,
which is able to save
your souls.
But be doers of the
word,
and not hearers only,
deceiving yourselves.
James 1:21–22
James
writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit instructing the children of God
to be active in their faith by removing from themselves all forms of
filthiness, and wickedness. How often do we say: “God will tell me what to do,
then I will do it, or God will fill the Church therefore all I have to do is
preach the word and God will fill the Church?” God will not turn a non–moving
car. The car must be moving then it can be turned. If you are not active in
your faith then why would anyone expect God to aid them? God has revealed to
His children what He expects from them, and first thing to do is to believe on
His Son Jesus Christ as the Savior, then be active by receiving His word that
is implanted in you which can save your souls. We are studying the soul, and
original sin but we are not to just hear these words, we are to become doers of
the word, otherwise all that is being done is self–deception. It is not easy to
spend time studying, especially when it comes to doctrine, we become lazy in
our approach, we allow going to Church, hearing the word expounded and then,
sitting back and just basking the fact that you believe and that you will be
saved. Will you? Or, will you just be another Christian that will enter heaven
with the smell of smoke on your clothes? Paul writes to the Corinthian Church
due to their misunderstanding of what it means to be a Christian: “For no
other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, stray, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare
it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s
work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he
will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he
himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1Corinthians 3:11–15). Are
you growing in your faith, do you have questions that need to answered, those
difficult questions that are often left aside due to their seemingly
difficulty? We grow in grace, in our faith, and this is sanctification,
therefore, take the time to learn and then know what is this implanted word of
truth which many have confounded with philosophies that contradict God’s word.
The purpose of this study is to help each of us grow in our sanctification and
to be prepared to answer those who would either question us, or, will attempt
to teach what is not Scriptural.
I wrote
earlier on the doctrine that some have accepted as truth; Traducianism.
Traducianism is founded on a theory and assumes that God, from the beginning,
since the original creation, only operates through means. Does God work through
means? Yes, this is what the opening Scripture testifies, that God will judge a
person by what they do with the implanted word, and their study of His word.
This is different from the doctrine of Traducianism: they teach that on the
Seventh Day of creation God rested from his work and still rests today. They
teach that continued creation is inconsistent with God’s relation to the world.
God now only works through second causes. Deism holds to such a belief, that
God created then sits back and does nothing, He rests from all creating power.
God according to Traducianism teaches that after God created the world, having
endowed man with certain faculties, and properties, then sets aside his
creative power and rests, leaving all to second causes. Some Traducianists
appeal to the Providence of God but His direct exercise of Divine efficiency is
denied. This brings into question the doctrine of regeneration? How? The new
birth is not produced by natural effect, it is not produced by the influence of
truth, or the energy of the human will. Many hear the truth and may even be
influenced by the truth to live goodly lives, and by their will they strive to
live a moral live, but they are not saved, they never come to faith in Jesus
Christ, only by their will, their actions, they feel as they are good persons,
and maybe, maybe, if there is a God He will save them. Will He? No! Salvation
comes only by the immediate exercise of God, through His Almighty power. God is
not related to this world as to be a carpenter which limits Him to use only the
materials at hand to make something. God is not limited to only use second
causes, which He can, and by His Providence make cause for second causes to
fulfill His will and purpose. Traducianists limit God, to be nothing more than
either an absentee God, or one that is limited. God is God, and it is by Him
operating immanently in the world, sustaining and guiding all causes. God works
through them, constantly, with them, and without them. An example is that of
our writing which uses a combined operation of the mind and of mechanical
action. Furthermore, there is a chemical action involved, the forces of life
controlled by our minds, guiding our writing, our thoughts being written on
paper, a creative energy. So God, as immanent in the world, constantly guides
all the operations of second causes, and at the same time exercises uninterruptedly
His creative energy. Life is not simply due to physical causes for it has its
origin due to the immediate power of God.
How this
applies to the origin of the soul and then the cause of original sin will be
the subject of the next blog.
Now He who has prepared us
For this
very thing is God,
Who also has given us the Spirit
As a
guarantee. So we are
Always confident, knowing that
While we
are at home
In the body we are absent from
The Lord.
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2Corinthians 2:5–7
Lay Aside All Thing Contrary To God
Richard L. Crumb
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