For some time now, I have observed some ‘grace preachers’ refusing to acknowledge their ‘KJV God-given’ office of bishop. They fill the office, but they substitute the title of it, opting for The Living Bible’s traditional word ‘pastor’ instead. As I watched their objections to the word ‘bishop,’ it caused me to look carefully at other words they use, misuse, or change. I listened closely and found that some of the doctrines being taught were not what the verses actually say. So I had to back up, and study the scriptures, without inserting a pre-conceived spin on them. When I read verses afresh this way, I discovered some over-looked or avoided things that are really the same, whereas for many years, my preaching has focused on divisions and contrasts in the scriptures. I am thankful for my renewed appetite, and as I digest God’s words, I intend to share them with others who are also hungry for meat. We need to eat a balanced, spiritual diet .... as we still rightly divide the word of truth.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Do We Mean What We Say?
Many times we ‘grace preachers’ have said, "The Bible says what it means .... and it means what it says!" A similar phrase is even printed on the front of my book. Yet sometimes we are guilty of inserting concepts into verses or drawing doctrines out that are not even there. So for awhile now, I have focused on having a renewed sense of reading the (KJV Bible) words .... and listening to them .... without imposing pre-conceived teachings into them. To my surprise and horror, I have found that I have been injecting a spin, even though it was unintentional.
At a recent conference, I listened to one of the nightly ‘big guns’ (who doesn’t even know what the office he holds is called) repeatedly talking about ‘defending the integrity of grace.’ It sounds like a good idea, and I do not mean to pick apart the message, but it seems to me that he was promoting various doctrines he believed, without careful attention to what the verses actually say.
Twice, Paul wrote about his defence of the gospel:
Phil 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
Phil 1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
I suppose you could make a connection between defending the gospel, and it being the gospel of the grace of God:
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
However, it is the pure and simple gospel that should be defended, and not the ‘attachments’ that are often linked to it. Other ‘relevant’ doctrines are studied for edification and establishment .... but not for salvation. We should always assume the natural meaning of Bible words, unless the sentence or context makes an illustration obvious. For example, we should not force ‘clouds’ to be ‘angels’ because they are both located in the air.
From now on, I hope to be more cautious about the precise words. A dear bishop showed me a case in point. Although I have a habit of singing "He set me free" .... I am now trying to remember to express myself with the proper KJV words, such as:
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
It is repeatedly clear, we are made free .... not set free. Let us be accurate in our study of God’s word, and not add to it. May I encourage you to mean what you say.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
At a recent conference, I listened to one of the nightly ‘big guns’ (who doesn’t even know what the office he holds is called) repeatedly talking about ‘defending the integrity of grace.’ It sounds like a good idea, and I do not mean to pick apart the message, but it seems to me that he was promoting various doctrines he believed, without careful attention to what the verses actually say.
Twice, Paul wrote about his defence of the gospel:
Phil 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
Phil 1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
I suppose you could make a connection between defending the gospel, and it being the gospel of the grace of God:
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
However, it is the pure and simple gospel that should be defended, and not the ‘attachments’ that are often linked to it. Other ‘relevant’ doctrines are studied for edification and establishment .... but not for salvation. We should always assume the natural meaning of Bible words, unless the sentence or context makes an illustration obvious. For example, we should not force ‘clouds’ to be ‘angels’ because they are both located in the air.
From now on, I hope to be more cautious about the precise words. A dear bishop showed me a case in point. Although I have a habit of singing "He set me free" .... I am now trying to remember to express myself with the proper KJV words, such as:
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
It is repeatedly clear, we are made free .... not set free. Let us be accurate in our study of God’s word, and not add to it. May I encourage you to mean what you say.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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