Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things"
2Ti 2:7.

Monday, January 6, 2025

Jehovah's Witnesses are doing their rounds

January 5, 2019

Six neatly dressed Jehovah's 
Witnesses are doing their rounds in my neighbourhood. They do this a few times a year with different people.

I asked them, addressing the oldest-looking among them, "Uncle, do you have children?" "O yes, I even have grandchildren." Then I continued "Hey, uncle, are your children as human as you or are they not?" They looked somewhat confused. "I think you would surely say that I am perversely stupid if I deny that your children are as human as their parents, wouldn't you?" They nodded in agreement.

Then I reasoned, "What do you think of those who deny that Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, is as divine as His Father? Aren't they as perversely stupid too?"

"Uncle, please don't be offended. "Stupid" simply means lacking common sense. How can the Son of God be any less divine than God Himself? How can your children be any less human than you?" He looked flabbergasted and shooed the group away.

O Lord, give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
2Ti 2:25 "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth."

John 1
1 ¶In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... 14 ¶And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The eternally divine Word who was made flesh, took upon Himself our humanity and did not cease to be fully divine.


Wooliness or the Exact Truth

 

Luke 1 - KJT
1 ¶ Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

Theophilus has been instructed in various things concerning the Christian faith. However, Dr Luke obviously thought that that was not enough; he is in need of a more orderly and thorough grounding in the truth, the facts concerning Christ and His work of salvation, and the truth concerning His church.

For Theophilus to know the certainty of those things was all-important to Luke; 'the certainty', when translated literally, is 'the exact truth'.  That is the chief and grand purpose of Dr Luke writing to Theophilus so that Theophilus may have the exact truth of those things concerning Christ.  Luke regards the knowledge of this orderly account as necessary.

We have a great need to know the exact truth of those things in which we have been instructed; there is no virtue in being woolly. There are two main reasons for this necessity: that we may be firmly grounded in the truth, and that we may obtain full assurance of salvation, both to the glory of God.

Great necessity laid upon us... we must heed Luke's exhortation... 'that you may know the exact truth...'

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I often use this  illustration:
The Doctor said, "The dosage is: 2 tablets each time and 4 times a day for 7 days." The woolly patient took 7 tablets each time, 4 times a day; he killed himself.