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.

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

A sharp rebuke... "Get thee behind me, Satan"

A sharp rebuke:
"Get thee behind me, Satan:
thou art an offence unto me:
for thou savourest not the things that be of God,
but those that be of men."

 

Matthew 16
21 ¶ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

How often we deserve similar rebuke from the Lord for such impudence, for minding not the things of God, but our own ideas and opinions. Peter entertained a completely different idea about Christ the Son of the living God, and insisted that Jesus fit into his own idea.

We persist in our ideas and opinions and fables, thus opposing and rejecting the Lord's plain teachings. When will we deny ourselves, and die to ourselves, and follow the Lord... yes, get behind Him and follow. Otherwise, we turn ourselves into a satan, i.e. an adversary, an opponent of Christ, instead of a follower.
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Sing F Lau
What was Peter's response to such a scathing rebuke? I don't know. The fact that the Scriptures did not record anything negative is a credit to Peter. Probably Peter took the well-deserved rebuke humbly.

Would it surprise you that a typical response from many - who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ - when Christ show and teach them things contrary to their own notions? Would they fare better than Peter?

Would you fare better than Peter?

Not a few would probably react intensely, throw tantrums, start cursing, and go to great lengths to justify their cherished notions, attempting to overthrow Christ's plain teaching. They want Christ to fit into their notion of religion! They want Christ to follow them!

John Vanderzyden
Given our conversation last week, I wonder if you see the irony in any of what you are posting here. Do you think that your theology is sound and irrefutable? I wonder, Sing, if you think that there is nothing more that you can learn. 😕

Charles Page
Judas was also a devil and was greatly influenced by the devil. Both were elect and regenerate, chosen of God, but in reference to their timely salvation, one was clean, and the other remained unclean.

Sing F Lau
John, I claim nothing. I'm stating what I understand what I read. if you don't like it, you don't have to read. if you disagree with what I have stated, then the honour is yours to give your explanation. Everything else is beside the point. Deal with the subject if you have more to say, otherwise don't waste time here. Go find a place where you can read what you love to read.

John Vanderzyden
I believe many things that I didn't want to believe at first. My disposition and analysis is not a matter of preference or disagreement, but of evidence.

I deal squarely with the subject, but you want to dance.

The crowd is untruth.

Sing F Lau
If you are not interested in studying Scriptures, but hot air and insinuation, there is no place for you here. Thanks.

If I want to dance, as you accused me, but you want to crawl, then why waste time here if you don't want to dance? Weird? Go find someone who will crawl with you!

John Vanderzyden
You didn't answer this question, either: Do you think that your theology is sound and irrefutable?

Sing F Lau
What question, John?

I have answered... you are not reading...

"John, I claim nothing. I'm stating what I understand what I have read. if you don't like it, you don't have to read it. If you disagree with what I have stated, then the honour is yours to give your explanation. Everything else is beside the point. "

But you just keep on raving irrelevantly... which is why I will remove you after this.

Regina Grayson
I'll answer the question. Yes, I believe the Word of God is sound and irrefutable. "He that hath an ear. let him hear...." If the Lord God Almighty writes His irrefutable Word on your heart and turns that heart of stone into a heart of flesh, then He will place that desire and hope within your breast to follow Him. Amen.

Sing F Lau
His question is not, "Is the Word of God sound and irrefutable?"

That would be an easy question!

It is "Do you think that your theology is sound and irrefutable?"

Whether one's theology is sound and irrefutable, it is the critic's honour to show... refute it and show its unsoundness!

Charles Page
Bereans! The Thessalonians expected the preachers to show that their message was sound and irrefutable; however, the Bereans sought the Scriptures for themselves to see if the message was sound and irrefutable.

Preaching to the Thessalonians was burdensome and nigh impossible; however, preaching to the Bereans was a joy and easy. You preach, they decide, and you wait for their decision, simple!

The Thessalonians were closed minded and the Bereans were open minded!

Regina Grayson
Yes, I believe that my theology is sound and irrefutable--Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Period.

Sing F Lau
Very many are as confident as you are. The Lord bless you.

I can't claim that. I can only state what I do presently understand and believe, and I know I'm still learning, and things to unlearn.

Bill Taylor
Dear Bro. Sing, your last statement describes the place where all need to understand they presently stand: "Still learning and things to unlearn." God bless you, and God bless all His people to desire truth more than tradition.