Finding True Faith: True Doctrine

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them 

which cause divisions and offenses contrary 

to the doctrine which ye have learned;

 and avoid them. For they that are such serve 

not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;

 and by good words and fair speeches deceive 

the hearts of the simple. 

Romans 16:17-18 

     Faith is the main theme of these blogs, to examine your faith and if need be to "Change From The Inside Out." It is in the inner man where lies thoughts and beliefs whether they be good or true, or even bad. The Greek word translated "simple" actually means: "innocent," "unsuspecting" and literally means to be without evil. The Greek word translated "doctrine" means literally "teaching." What is a doctrine? It is a particular principle, a position, or policy taught or advocated, a body or system of teachings relating to a a particular subject. Our faith, in anything, has to do with what we are taught and what we have come to accept. A person who is so involved in their lives, their immorality, or some teaching, as with those who belong to a group like the Ku Klux Klan, or the Progressive Socialist people feel as though they have the truth and the way to a better life. They feel no need for anything else. They are not innocent, or unsuspecting and feel that they are without evil. This is the world, so, what about the Christian Church? What about people who do not have an understanding as to what it means to be Christian, or are suspecting that there is a need for them and are looking for someone to lead the way. Well.....there are plenty of evangelists who are ready to lead them into their teaching, their doctrine. Mormons send out young men, you have seen them probably, on bicycles, in white shirts going about your neighborhood. There are prepared to teach and convince you that their Doctrine, their form of Christianity is what you need. Jehovah Witnesses go from door to door, and stand at corners with their magazines and books at the ready for a person who just might have an interest. They too spend much time in preparation to be able to convince an unsuspecting person that they have the truth. Seventh Day Adventist will insist that we must keep Saturday, the Hebrew Sabbath if we are to be genuine Christians. Presbyterians will insist that only Calvinism is correct, the Baptist will teach some form of Arminianism, the Methodist will insist and teach from the teachings of Wesley. Some will break away, at least they think they have broken away, and start a new Church. Then we have such as the Emerging Church, and others that teach more like the world's culture than from the Bible. Yet, by giving their teaching, doctrine, some evidence to prove their beliefs they convince the innocent, the unsuspecting those who know not to be evil but need to find a better way, a better life. 

     Whew....... I just broke out into a sweat! All claim to teach true faith. Jehovah Witnesses teach that Christmas is evil, also birthdays, Easter, Thanksgiving, July 4th, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Valentine Day, New Year Day... what is left? Nothing!  Mormons teach that God has a body, and that Jesus is a created being, albeit he is a god. They teach not to drink alcohol, coffee, or any other stimulant and if you do those things faithfully you are good member of Mormonism. The Seventh Day Adventist teach that to eat meat is all wrong, the form of vegetable ham we called "wham." Some Churches teach that only infant baptism is correct while others teach immersion. All teach that they have true faith. All use the Bible, or the Book of Mormon, to give warrant for their doctrines. Some Churches teach that to be a leader of their Church you must adhere to follow some Catechism. Some Churches teach that the gifts mentioned in the Bible are for Christians today and are a mark of a true Christian. 

      Whew.....I am tired: how about you? 

WHAT AM I, AND YOU, ARE TO DO TO FIND, TO KNOW THE TRUTH?

      Paul admonishes us to remain faithful to the teachings of the early apostles, that includes Paul, to learn those teachings. All other teachings are of man and are divisive, as we can certainly see if we just look at all those Christian denominations. What teachings can we be sure are the teachings of the early apostles? First: read you Bible without any aids, just allow the words that God inspired for us to lead you into the truth. You will not necessarily know all the Greek, its grammar but those who translated the Bible do know and that is good enough for you to come to the teachings of the early Apostles. Oh....there are so many translations! Yes, and that is a problem! But, the New World Translation was translated from the Critical Text, (by the way, this text has been revised over and over and more of the Textus Receptus translation are inserted as there are more witnesses for this), and the person who translated their form of the Bible, Raymond Franz, had about 2 years of Greek and self taught as to Hebrew. I know Koine Greek, study it every day and that would not be enough time to really know Greek and translate. The NIV, ESV, ASV, are translation from the Critical Text. The Byzantine, and the Textus Receptus, both are from the same manuscripts, have never changed, yes the New King James Bible Version has replace the Old English with our English but there was no change in the grammar. You can but your trust, your faith in those translations. Next: I personally will not sit under a pastor that does not know Greek, not just take a course in college, but know Greek well and preaches from the Greek, or Hebrew. I will not sit under a pastor that does not preach exegetical. Yes, they can and good ones do make good application but never leave Scripture out of their preaching. If a Church, and I am not speaking about immoral things, requires that I must adhere to a doctrine other than the Gospel: I leave! Faith of our fathers, living faith...that is the faith that the Apostles taught, not some "Dr. Phil" ideology, or psychology. I must, you must, do this: Read your Bible, do it daily, take time to ponder what the Bible writer wrote. Here is what is so important: You take the time and the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14). The only way to be truly led by the Spirit of God is to be in His word where the Spirit will lead you through those inspired words to true faith.

     As Christmas Day draws close and presents are put under the Christmas Tree, meals are being readied, excitement grows (not just for the children), we remain faithful to the Reason For The Season. We do not allow others to lead us into their doctrines, and if we have not learned true doctrine then you will be one of those unsuspecting and especially when you are so consumed with this holiday. Read your Bible, no matter the day.

I love them that love Me; and those

    that seek Me early [diligently] shall

find Me.

              Proverbs 8:17

Are you willing to examine your faith?

Richard L. Crumb

Christmas: A Time To Examine Your Faith

But that no man is justified by the law in the 

sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall 

live by faith.

Galatians 3:11

     In previous blogs I wrote about faith and that faith, if it is faith, must have an object. People of all walks of life have faith, at least faith in something, all faith is neither evil or bad. Faith can accomplish many great things, both by those who are Christian and those who are not Christian. To hold to a belief that faith is that which helps you may be a starting point yet faith is not that which helps you in the end, it is the object of that faith. Faith is something of a temporary nature and can be corrupted and even destroyed. Example: You have faith in your car that when you go to the grocery store it will take you there and back home again. On the way the car stops, its engine stops running and this object of your faith has just in some way is decimated: your faith in your car is reduced to almost nothing. Faith has as it basis, its foundation an object if it is to be true faith and you must have, if it is true faith, conviction of the object if it is to be an object of trustworthiness. Yet, as in the example of the car it was not as your faith had come to believe, that it was an object of trustworthiness so your faith then was false faith. As stated even false faith can be able to accomplish many great things: example: We have something that we all use and that is a light bulb. Have you read how many times it took to be able to produce a light bulb? It took faith and belief that a light bulb could be produced and it did not take a Christian to do this, no, anyone who had faith in the ability to make something or do something is faith. A problem exists with faith if there is no scrutiny as to the object of that faith, and whether or not this faith has its basis in truth. If a person avoids this scrutiny then faith might be destroyed. Faith is essentially dogmatic. Faith has an intellectual component, that component is in your mind and your faith that some person, or object (i.e., car) will do something for you. If a person or an object (i.e., car) really does something for you, then that faith is true, or at least will prove to be untrue. If your faith is in the benefits of this world the world will make the faith true even though with all it produces it still remains a pathological phenomenon. Sooner or later it is sure to be found out. 

     The type of faith above, a faith that has as its object things, things of this world, or some intellectual belief it must be removed so as to make room for true faith. This must be done as faith is often based on error, and yet, we must understand that all faith as some basis of truth. What then is the true object, that which has all trustworthiness? It is Jesus Christ. This is the Christian view especially the view of Authentic Christians. Faith of this type cannot be earned. How much should a person do to receive faith, or this gift of faith? We cannot measure how much even if we say that the amount is different among people: we still do not know how much. 

     What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ? First, it is faith and/or belief simply in Jesus Christ, His birth, His life, His death on Calvary, His ascension, and that He has by means of the Holy Spirit inspired to be written that which we must come to know about Him, the Father, and how we are to live to please God. Does this mean then works how we receive faith? No! As above shows for faith brings about good works but is not the basis of faith. Salvation is a free gift of God: PERIOD!

     Do you have faith that God implanted into a virgin, Mary, Himself? This does not mean that God divided Himself, rather God who is Spiritual, another being than human man entered into the womb of Mary: do you have faith in this narrative? Do you have faith in God that He would condescend Himself to become a man just so as to pay this debt owed to Him? Do you have faith that Jesus Christ grew as a baby into a young man and then when reaching adulthood preached about Himself, and, went about healing people? Do you believe that Jesus from a few fishes and loaves of bread fed some 5000? Do you have faith that Jesus rose from the dead? Do you have faith that some 500 people saw Him ascend into heaven? Do you have faith that Jesus will come again? Do you have faith that God will change you from mortality to immortality and that you will live eternally? 

     This faith, true Authentic Christian Faith begins with the conception, birth of Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah. Christmas time is a very good time to assess your faith. Faith, your faith, has it grown stronger, or is it about the same as it has been? Have you taken time to scrutinize your faith? Paul admonishes us to study to show ourselves a workman approved by God, and to test all things and hold on the good. How can this be done without taking time to scrutinize what you believe, that which you put your faith? To not do so is to have faith that is a blind faith. It might make you feel good, and maybe sound good, that which which is teaching you, but is it like the car that you have put faith only to be disappointed for this object did not prove to be faithful, or a true basis for your faith. Apathy reigns in the lives of most people, especially when they have just accepted what seems to be good, that which seems to be true faith. Apathy does nothing good. Inertia does not turn a park car. 

     Christmas, a wonderful time of the year (even if it is not the true date of the birth of Jesus...), a time to reflect upon God, His promises and see for yourself that He has always been true, true to His word: therefore, you have an object that is trustworthy. Jesus fulfilled all that God spoke about Him in the past: therefore you have a trustworthy object. Oh.........!!!! You won't know if your faith is true faith unless you take the time to find out for yourself. Will you? Or, will Christmas just being another fun time, gifts, food, family, time off work, etc., that which it has become leaving the true reason for the season left in a dust of ashes. Christmas will lose its glamor until the next Christmas Season, will this be true of your faith?

Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD:

     for I am married unto you: and I will

take you one of a city, and two of a family,

    and I will bring you to Zion: and I will give

you pastors according to Mine heart, which

    shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

                      Jeremiah 3:14-15

Authentic Christian Faith: It can be yours

Richard L. Crumb   

The Christmas Gift

And it  came to pass,that after three days they

 found Him in the temple, sitting in the

 midst of the teachers, both hearing them,

 and asking them questions. All that heard 

Him were astonished at His understanding 

and answers. And when they say Him, 

they were  amazed: and His mother said unto Him, 

Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? Behold, 

Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing. 

And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought Me? 

Wish ye not that I must be about My Father's business. 

And they understood not the saying which 

He spake unto them.

Luke 2:46-50

     Jesus was born as any other man was born and was a human being, albeit joined with the Father who beget Him, who He had the same essence only now He had the body of a man. God the Father never stopped being God the Father and left that mode to be in the mode of a man. The Holy Spirit that is of the same essence as the Father and of the Word of God who was now Jesus Christ in human form. The Trinity never stopped being the Trinity. You may ask:"How?" I do not know for if I did then I too would be God, or a god. God is not us and is a different being so we must not apply human ideas about Him as to His size, His motives, and rely only on that which God reveals to us about Himself and His purpose to have that debt of sin paid. Do we need to know about His younger days as a child? No! For what would that do for us? Nothing more than what He revealed to us as a man. Now we do have this account where He was speaking with the teachers and by this we have a peek into His being God. The birth of Jesus was the plan all along so that God would bring to heaven, to eternity men who would believe on the One Whom He sent forth to be that payment. Christmas then is more about Him, as it should be, than presents, or anything else even though they are good and fun, we must never take this celebration (even if we do not know for sure if that date was His actual birthday) and speak about why He came and what He did. 

     All this, especially after some 2,000 years since Jesus was on the earth, we must take by faith. But we do have the accounts that were recorded for all to read and learn about so that  our faith is not a blind faith, it has a foundation that cannot be disproved. 

     Faith so often is based upon error, but would there be faith unless it were based upon truth. So does faith save a person? No! It is Jesus Christ the object of our faith and it is only our receiving of this free gift, faith, that comes to us knowing that our belief, our faith come from God and nothing that we can do to earn that free gift, all we can do is receive that gift. We are not to attempt to win God's favor by our character, our works. Authentic Christians simply believes on the sacrifice that Jesus Christ offered at Calvary. Faith then is an outgrowth of our hearing the word of God, our belief in what we have heard, and out of the growth comes a new life and all good works. Salvation....well, that is absolutely all of God, His free gift. Question: Will you accept that gift? Have you heard the word of God? Is what you have heard the truth about God or is it simply the words by a man according to his presuppositions, or ideology, even his theology? Or is it because you not only have heard the word of God, you have read the word of God, you have prayed to God for guidance, and by all this have come to know the truth based on His word and not some man?

      What comes first? The chicken or the egg? Faith or salvation? This is simple: if salvation was not already present no amount of faith will save you. Your faith is only to accept that free gift of salvation and then to turn your life into a new life. 

     The greatest Christmas gift you can receive is salvation! You open that gift by your faith! 

Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh

     righteousness, those that remember thee

in thy ways: behold, Thou are wroth; for we

    have sined: in those is continuance, and

we shall be saved.

                    Isaiah 64:5

Have you received your free gift?

Richard L. Crumb