Greetings,
@Spockrates and brothers in Christ,
beware lest ye fall through the warring of your flesh. An enmity against the LORD and most surely your soul.
May i present you this Scripture to consider before going any further on your hunt to find treasures that somehow you are convinced in need of apart from the magnificent treasures of God found only in Jesus Christ the Lord.
Many have fallen snare to digging deeper that they are prepared or indeed willing to enter and others have fallen into the pits dug that carry no water nor offer any hope.
Beware as the devil does roam around seeking whom he may devour.
We seek and consider it a googly thing and even justify ourselves (most abhorrently so, at that, for our Justification is in Christ alone); do we neglect to consider that one much stronger than our fleshy selves is also seeking and has been at it much longer than we ourselves all put together?
We have the victory in Christ over the devil only in that the power of sin and death has been eliminated from our judgement in Christ and we must beware though that we enter not into temptation and give place to the devil by neglecting the salvation offered unto men, found only in the Son of God.
Slow down and even be still and consider Him. He is the author and finisher of our faith, not we ourselves and too much leaning on our own understanding is presenting a way for folly and much grief.
After studying much and neglecting the faith, relying upon our fleshly carnal minds to support a doctrine delivered not by God, we may find ourselves unsatisfied with the grace and love that has been bestowed upon us as sinners. Study is good and searching is good but too much is too much and while one may wish to discover all the secrets of God we can neglect waiting upon Him and being faithful with that which He has so far given us.
A warning to all, in love.
Please, I ask that we cease from trying to be smarter that others but rather that with sincerity we remember that if we have any truth it is by grace alone entrusted to us, to be wise with and to share with humility and meekness, not boasting or pride. A servant that forgets the mercy and grace given by the Master is in for a sorry end.
Romans 10:9-11
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.
Please do read all of Romans 10, keeping in mind what all have said here but most importantly seeking the wisdom that the Lord has for you regarding the subject of this thread.
It is pointless arguing man's wisdom, brothers. Why do it? to put Christ to shame or to glorify your own stupidity? I say this in love for we all can turn away and cause stumbling blocks and we can all boast, that is evident.
A man who considers himself high will be brought low. Beware lest when ye think ye have won, you find that you have only brought destruction and a snare upon yourselves and others with you.
There is a wisdom which appears to those who entertain it to be above all others but it is nothing but vanity and vexation of the spirit.
Stephen was stoned to death and knew nothing of the orthodox ways not of calvin or any other but Christ, what about you?
Christ is made unto us wisdom.
Bless you ....><>
In tenderness He sought me,
In tenderness He sought me,
Weary and sick with sin,
And on His shoulders brought me
Into His flock again.
While angels in His presence sang
Until the courts of heaven rang.
Oh, the love that sought me!
Oh, the blood that bought me!
Oh, the grace that brought me to the flock,
Wondrous grace that brought me to the flock!
2
He washed the bleeding sin-wounds,
And poured in oil and wine;
He whispered to assure me,
“I’ve found thee, thou art Mine:”
I never heard a sweeter voice,
It made my aching heart rejoice.
Oh, the love that sought me!
Oh, the blood that bought me!
Oh, the grace that brought me to the flock,
Wondrous grace that brought me to the flock!
3
He pointed to the nail-prints,
For me His blood was shed;
A mocking crown so thorny,
Was placed upon His head:
I wondered what He saw in me,
To suffer such deep agony.
Oh, the love that sought me!
Oh, the blood that bought me!
Oh, the grace that brought me to the flock,
Wondrous grace that brought me to the flock!
4
I’m sitting in His presence,
The sunshine of His face,
While with adoring wonder
His blessings I retrace.
It seems as if eternal days
Are far too short to sound His praise.
Oh, the love that sought me!
Oh, the blood that bought me!
Oh, the grace that brought me to the flock,
Wondrous grace that brought me to the flock!
5
So while the hours are passing,
All now is perfect rest;
I’m waiting for the morning,
The brightest and the best,
When He will call us to His side,
To be with Him, His spotless Bride.
Oh, the love that sought me!
Oh, the blood that bought me!
Oh, the grace that brought me to the flock,
Wondrous grace that brought me to the flock!
-William Spencer Walton
