The Yellow and Red Lights of Scripture Upon approaching a yellow light in traffic, the law (and common sense) requires motorists to slow down and be prepared to stop. But in the fast-paced times in which we are living, many motorists respond to a yellow light by accelerating to “beat the light” before it turns red, increasing the chances of becoming involved in a collision.
Likewise, many clergy, and laypersons involved in providing “religious” instructions, take lightly the caution yellow lights of James 3: 1 and Mark 9: 42.
“Let NOT many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we (AS TEACHERS) will incur a stricter judgment (James 3: 1 NASB parenthesis mine).”
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. (Mark 9: 42 NASB).”
These “little ones,” can refer to children, or to unedified believers at any age (1).
False teachers can place themselves and those they teach in harms way.
Granted, most who are involved in the promotion of false doctrine and practices do this unwittingly, but a bullet fired in ignorance can be just as lethal as one fired with malicious intent.
James 3: 1 is primarily directed towards those who are pastor-teachers. It is they who are ordained to study and teach the Word of God. With this great honor, comes an awesome responsibility (2).
Pastor-teachers are not only responsible for the quantity and accuracy of what they teach, but for what others teach who are under their authority in the local assembly. Keep in mind that we are all teachers by what we say and do in the presence of other people, becoming either a leader or a stumbling block to others.
Instead of following the verifying principle of Acts 17: 11, it is automatically assumed by most Church-goers that what they are being taught to believe and practice has the support of Scripture. Such assumptions play right into the hand of the devil.
Acts 17: 11 teaches us to verify what comes from ANY pulpit, and Matt. 7:15 tells us why.
“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so (Acts 17: 11 NASB).”
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matt 7: 15 NASB).”
Erroneous teachers can promote false doctrines and practices knowingly as a Matt. 7: 15 wolf, or unwittingly with the best of intentions. Either way, false teaching results in an unedified believer, congregation, or denomination.
Finding out that one's teaching was in error is a pastor’s worst nightmare. When a teacher discovers an error in what he teaches or promotes, he must acknowledge and forsake it. Then, if possible, repair any damage that his erroneous teaching or example may have caused. Failure to acknowledge one's error and failing to make the necessary changes is what sets the stage for the blind leading the blind scenarios (3).
As one spiritually matures, there WILL be changes to be made in one's doctrine and practices. This principle of changing applies to clergy and to the members of the congregation. If there aren’t any need to make any changes, then either that person has learned and applies everything that there is to know about God and the things of God, or he she has stopped growing (an ongoing process) in the knowledge and grace of the Lord (2Pet.3: 18). My money is on the latter scenario being the case.
Prior to his conversion, Paul had been a very religious and devoted Pharisee. In the name of religion, he persecuted the Church with the intention of destroying it. But after he was born again, he became one of the leading apostles, and was eventually martyred for the faith.
Somep of the Christian Community are more culpable than others, but an open-minded, close examination of a lot of what is taught and practiced within the Christian Community at large, will show them to be no more than the religious traditions of men (4); or worse (5), unwittingly promoting Satan's agenda (6).
Jesus spoke in the same way in regards to the Jewish religious community of His day.
“But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men (Matt. 15: 9 NASB).’”
Church Age believers are further warned about widespread apostasy WITHIN the Christian Community, as the Church Age comes to its end.
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (1Timothy 4: 1 NASB).”
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths (2Tim. 4: 3, 4 NASB).”
Should we be presented (7) with a false gospel, false doctrine, a false ritual, or a false teaching, we (should) see the RED light coming on in our edified soul structure (8).
Runninga red light can be disastrous!
Withouthaving an edified soul structure, we are easily deceived. A believer without an edified soul structure does not have the means to filter out any erroneous information entering the ear or eye gates of his or her soul.
There is a danger in doing one's “own thing,” as well. Acknowledging no authority can be just as disastrous as acknowledging the wrong authority when it comes to spiritual issues. For the advancing disciple, the final authority is the Word of God.
An advancing disciple will learn soon enough that the work started by the Reformers is not complete. Preserving the good and keeping out the bad is an ongoing process for an advancing disciple. Promoting the bad and attacking the good is the ongoing work of the devil.
We are living in a time when many, “… call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Isa. 5: 20 NASB).
Whenchallenged to make adjustments, many rationalize and or justify their religious activity by pointing out that this had been the way it was for their family for generations. Luke 14: 26 teaches that putting family ahead of God disqualifies one as a disciple. T
English word DISCIPLE is a translation of the Greek word MATHETES found in the original language of Scripture. A Christian mathetes is a technical student of the Word of God. Discipleship begins by building a Biblically oriented soul structure with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission of Math. 28: 19, 20. Participating in the Great Commission is what gives purpose and meaning to life 24/7, here on Earth.
“Go therefore and make DISCIPLES of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
From the 3rd Century on, the Roman Church drifted farther and farther away from it’s Biblical roots, incorporating more and more false doctrines and practices along the way. This the result of religious leadership adding to or taking from (disregarding) what the Bible had or has to say, ignoring the teaching and the warning of Prov. 30: 6.
“Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar (Proverbs 30: 6 NASB).”
“Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go (Joshua 1:7 NASB).”
The “Holy Roman Empire” involved a collusion of political (the Roman state) and religious (the Roman Church) power. With the endorsement of the Roman Empire (instead of its former persecution), what had been the Local Assemblies of the Christian Community in Rome, quickly rose to a position of religious authority with much political influence throughout the Roman Empire.
Unfortunately, it was via this Holy Roman Empire that many false doctrines and practices began to develop and take root within the Christian Community over the next 1200 years. Needless to say, something that is practiced for centuries grows very deep roots and will not be easily removed.
The original manuscripts that in time became known as The Bible were written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. The last manuscript was John's Revelation that was written around 96 AD, but what we now refer to as The Bible would not be made readily available to the common man for centuries to come.
WhateverPapal authority had to say went unchallenged. Anyone opposing the doctrines or rituals that was established by Papal authority were subject to capital punishment, often times being burned to death at the stake.
It was not the initial intent of Martin Luther to separate and start a new Church. What he wanted was to bring the Roman Church back to its Biblical roots, but this could not happen until and unless the leadership of the Roman Church was willing to acknowledge its errors and make the necessary adjustments. This was not going to be the case.
False teachers, false doctrines, and false practices have been an issue from the very beginning (9) of the Church Age, and will only get worse (10) as we approach its end (11).
“You foolish (1st Century) Galatians, who has BEWITCHED you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified (Gal. 3: 1 NASB parenthesis mine)?”
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith (accurate doctrine), paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of DEMONS (1Tim. 4: 1 NASB).”
Note the demonic involvement in the promotion of false teaching and practices in Gal. 3: 1 and 1Tim. 4: 1, and the potential damage (12) that it can cause. These demonic deceptions are designed to look and sound like what we would think pleases God.
A submarine (false doctrine) poses its greatest threat when its presence is not expected or detected. The Church is the last place most folks would expect to find evil activity. Like cancer, it can do much damage as long as it remains undetected and unaddressed. W
something is repeated and practiced long and frequently enough, it becomes “the” thing(s) to do, giving little thought to its validity.
Employees who handle cash are not trained to spot counterfeit currency by keeping updated with all the different counterfeits, but by learning how to quickly confirm the real thing.
By learning what the Bible has to say, advancing disciples will have the means to spot false teachings and practices, regardless of who presents them.
“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures DAILY to see whether these things (that they were being taught) were so (Acts 17: 11 NASB parenthesis mine).”
An old saying tells us that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Doing what we think or feel is right, does not make it so. There are many things, good and evil, that can contribute to how we think and how we feel at any given time.
Theo who is unintentionally poisoned is in just as much trouble as one who is deliberately poisoned. False gospels and false doctrine are poison in the soul, no matter how it got there. The poison must not only be identified and removed, but must be replaced with the unadulterated Gospel Message and accurate Bible Doctrine.
Virtuallyevery denomination and non-denominational group within the Christian Community has their own set of requirements that their pastoral candidates must possess before being considered eligible for ordination.
Note that the Lord Jesus Christ, not having come from the tribe of Levi, did not qualify for the priesthood of His Day! He came to establish a new priesthood in which He is the high priest (13) and one in which every born-again believer is a priest (14).
Religious seminaries were established by men to promote and to sustain the religious teachings and practices of the religious organizations or groups that created them for that very purpose. To the extent that these seminaries produce Biblically qualified pastor-teachers, this procedure makes sense.
But to the extent that such seminaries train candidates to promote the religious teachings and practices of men (15), they unwittingly become a powerful tool in the hands of the devil in the promotion of apostasy.
The one who listens to you (when you have the doctrine right) listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me Luke 10: 16 NASB (parenthesis mine)."
The one who listens kto teachers speaking in error, can find themselves listening to doctrines taught by demons (16).
In addition to the James 3: 1 yellow light, we have the flashing yellow light of Matt. 15: 14.
“… they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matt. 15: 14 NASB).”
These words of Jesus were spoken about the Pharisees. The Pharisees were a very strict, self-righteous, very religious, group within the Jewish Community that could accurately quote Scripture forward and backwards, but failed to understand and correctly apply it when it came to the Person and the Work of Lord Jesus Christ.
Motoristsmust be on the alert for those who accelerate through an intersection in an attempt to beat the red signal. Having a green light does not mean that other motorists have complied with the yellow light, now turned red. Likewise, believers must be on the alert for teachers who fail to comply with yellow and red lights of Scripture.
Pastors can only pass on to the congregations what they themselves have been taught, and is some cases, only what their religious superiors allow. Advancing disciples, obedient to the principles of Acts 17: 11 and Matt. 7: 24 – 27 will develop a Biblically sound soul structure. With it, they will have the means to detect false teachings and practices.
Learningwhat the Bible has to say takes time and is an ongoing activity. The real challenge comes into play is the willingness to make whatever changes are necessary in order to follow Christ in both word and actions.
Advancing disciples will find themselves at odds with the leadership and members of religious organizations who promote false doctrine and practices inside and outside from what is generally referred to as the Christian Community at large.
Sad to say, but many “deluded” Christians are not up to this challenge of making the necessary changes, even though they have been presented with the truth.
“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves (James 1 22 NASB).”
Jesusnsaid. ,”and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (John 8: 32 NASB).”
ThenRomans 8: 1 truth concerning eternal security is not a license to sin. It is a commission to serve. Soldiers of the cross do not get to choose where, when, or what battles they are to fight. The battlefield for the advancing disciple is wherever he finds himself 24/7.
“No soldier in ACTIVE SERVICE entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier (2Tim. 2: 4 NASB). An advancing disciple is in ACTIVE SERVICE 24/7.
The road of the post salvation spiritual life is an uphill climb. Many born again believers will never find it (17), and many of the ones who do find it will not see it through to the end (18).
ManyChristians will seek an alternative route without all the yellow and red lights. They desire to just cruise along without the challenges and adversity of discipleship.
One cannot claim to be a follower of Christ if you're not on the Matt. 7: 14 narrow road of post salvation discipleship. If one IS on the Matt. 7: 14 road, one must heed all the warning signs, and comply with all the yellow and red lights along the way.
___________
(1) Heb. 5: 12, 13 (2) Luke 12: 48 (3) Matt. 15: 4 (4) Matt. 15: 9 (5) 1Tim. 4: 1/2Tim. 4: 3 (6) Matt. 7: 15 (7) Gal. 1: 8 (8) Matt. 7: 24 – 27 (9) Gal. 3: 1 (10) 2Tim. 4: 1 (11) Matt. 24: 14 (12) Matt. 24: 24 / Matt. 7: 27 (13) Heb.8: 1 (14) 1Pet. 2: 9 (15) Matt. 15: 9 (16) 1Tim. 4: 1 (17) (18) Matt. 7: 14
Likewise, many clergy, and laypersons involved in providing “religious” instructions, take lightly the caution yellow lights of James 3: 1 and Mark 9: 42.
“Let NOT many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we (AS TEACHERS) will incur a stricter judgment (James 3: 1 NASB parenthesis mine).”
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. (Mark 9: 42 NASB).”
These “little ones,” can refer to children, or to unedified believers at any age (1).
False teachers can place themselves and those they teach in harms way.
Granted, most who are involved in the promotion of false doctrine and practices do this unwittingly, but a bullet fired in ignorance can be just as lethal as one fired with malicious intent.
James 3: 1 is primarily directed towards those who are pastor-teachers. It is they who are ordained to study and teach the Word of God. With this great honor, comes an awesome responsibility (2).
Pastor-teachers are not only responsible for the quantity and accuracy of what they teach, but for what others teach who are under their authority in the local assembly. Keep in mind that we are all teachers by what we say and do in the presence of other people, becoming either a leader or a stumbling block to others.
Instead of following the verifying principle of Acts 17: 11, it is automatically assumed by most Church-goers that what they are being taught to believe and practice has the support of Scripture. Such assumptions play right into the hand of the devil.
Acts 17: 11 teaches us to verify what comes from ANY pulpit, and Matt. 7:15 tells us why.
“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so (Acts 17: 11 NASB).”
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matt 7: 15 NASB).”
Erroneous teachers can promote false doctrines and practices knowingly as a Matt. 7: 15 wolf, or unwittingly with the best of intentions. Either way, false teaching results in an unedified believer, congregation, or denomination.
Finding out that one's teaching was in error is a pastor’s worst nightmare. When a teacher discovers an error in what he teaches or promotes, he must acknowledge and forsake it. Then, if possible, repair any damage that his erroneous teaching or example may have caused. Failure to acknowledge one's error and failing to make the necessary changes is what sets the stage for the blind leading the blind scenarios (3).
As one spiritually matures, there WILL be changes to be made in one's doctrine and practices. This principle of changing applies to clergy and to the members of the congregation. If there aren’t any need to make any changes, then either that person has learned and applies everything that there is to know about God and the things of God, or he she has stopped growing (an ongoing process) in the knowledge and grace of the Lord (2Pet.3: 18). My money is on the latter scenario being the case.
Prior to his conversion, Paul had been a very religious and devoted Pharisee. In the name of religion, he persecuted the Church with the intention of destroying it. But after he was born again, he became one of the leading apostles, and was eventually martyred for the faith.
Somep of the Christian Community are more culpable than others, but an open-minded, close examination of a lot of what is taught and practiced within the Christian Community at large, will show them to be no more than the religious traditions of men (4); or worse (5), unwittingly promoting Satan's agenda (6).
Jesus spoke in the same way in regards to the Jewish religious community of His day.
“But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men (Matt. 15: 9 NASB).’”
Church Age believers are further warned about widespread apostasy WITHIN the Christian Community, as the Church Age comes to its end.
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (1Timothy 4: 1 NASB).”
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths (2Tim. 4: 3, 4 NASB).”
Should we be presented (7) with a false gospel, false doctrine, a false ritual, or a false teaching, we (should) see the RED light coming on in our edified soul structure (8).
Runninga red light can be disastrous!
Withouthaving an edified soul structure, we are easily deceived. A believer without an edified soul structure does not have the means to filter out any erroneous information entering the ear or eye gates of his or her soul.
There is a danger in doing one's “own thing,” as well. Acknowledging no authority can be just as disastrous as acknowledging the wrong authority when it comes to spiritual issues. For the advancing disciple, the final authority is the Word of God.
An advancing disciple will learn soon enough that the work started by the Reformers is not complete. Preserving the good and keeping out the bad is an ongoing process for an advancing disciple. Promoting the bad and attacking the good is the ongoing work of the devil.
We are living in a time when many, “… call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Isa. 5: 20 NASB).
Whenchallenged to make adjustments, many rationalize and or justify their religious activity by pointing out that this had been the way it was for their family for generations. Luke 14: 26 teaches that putting family ahead of God disqualifies one as a disciple. T
English word DISCIPLE is a translation of the Greek word MATHETES found in the original language of Scripture. A Christian mathetes is a technical student of the Word of God. Discipleship begins by building a Biblically oriented soul structure with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission of Math. 28: 19, 20. Participating in the Great Commission is what gives purpose and meaning to life 24/7, here on Earth.
“Go therefore and make DISCIPLES of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
From the 3rd Century on, the Roman Church drifted farther and farther away from it’s Biblical roots, incorporating more and more false doctrines and practices along the way. This the result of religious leadership adding to or taking from (disregarding) what the Bible had or has to say, ignoring the teaching and the warning of Prov. 30: 6.
“Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar (Proverbs 30: 6 NASB).”
“Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go (Joshua 1:7 NASB).”
The “Holy Roman Empire” involved a collusion of political (the Roman state) and religious (the Roman Church) power. With the endorsement of the Roman Empire (instead of its former persecution), what had been the Local Assemblies of the Christian Community in Rome, quickly rose to a position of religious authority with much political influence throughout the Roman Empire.
Unfortunately, it was via this Holy Roman Empire that many false doctrines and practices began to develop and take root within the Christian Community over the next 1200 years. Needless to say, something that is practiced for centuries grows very deep roots and will not be easily removed.
The original manuscripts that in time became known as The Bible were written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. The last manuscript was John's Revelation that was written around 96 AD, but what we now refer to as The Bible would not be made readily available to the common man for centuries to come.
WhateverPapal authority had to say went unchallenged. Anyone opposing the doctrines or rituals that was established by Papal authority were subject to capital punishment, often times being burned to death at the stake.
It was not the initial intent of Martin Luther to separate and start a new Church. What he wanted was to bring the Roman Church back to its Biblical roots, but this could not happen until and unless the leadership of the Roman Church was willing to acknowledge its errors and make the necessary adjustments. This was not going to be the case.
False teachers, false doctrines, and false practices have been an issue from the very beginning (9) of the Church Age, and will only get worse (10) as we approach its end (11).
“You foolish (1st Century) Galatians, who has BEWITCHED you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified (Gal. 3: 1 NASB parenthesis mine)?”
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith (accurate doctrine), paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of DEMONS (1Tim. 4: 1 NASB).”
Note the demonic involvement in the promotion of false teaching and practices in Gal. 3: 1 and 1Tim. 4: 1, and the potential damage (12) that it can cause. These demonic deceptions are designed to look and sound like what we would think pleases God.
A submarine (false doctrine) poses its greatest threat when its presence is not expected or detected. The Church is the last place most folks would expect to find evil activity. Like cancer, it can do much damage as long as it remains undetected and unaddressed. W
something is repeated and practiced long and frequently enough, it becomes “the” thing(s) to do, giving little thought to its validity.
Employees who handle cash are not trained to spot counterfeit currency by keeping updated with all the different counterfeits, but by learning how to quickly confirm the real thing.
By learning what the Bible has to say, advancing disciples will have the means to spot false teachings and practices, regardless of who presents them.
“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures DAILY to see whether these things (that they were being taught) were so (Acts 17: 11 NASB parenthesis mine).”
An old saying tells us that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Doing what we think or feel is right, does not make it so. There are many things, good and evil, that can contribute to how we think and how we feel at any given time.
Theo who is unintentionally poisoned is in just as much trouble as one who is deliberately poisoned. False gospels and false doctrine are poison in the soul, no matter how it got there. The poison must not only be identified and removed, but must be replaced with the unadulterated Gospel Message and accurate Bible Doctrine.
Virtuallyevery denomination and non-denominational group within the Christian Community has their own set of requirements that their pastoral candidates must possess before being considered eligible for ordination.
Note that the Lord Jesus Christ, not having come from the tribe of Levi, did not qualify for the priesthood of His Day! He came to establish a new priesthood in which He is the high priest (13) and one in which every born-again believer is a priest (14).
Religious seminaries were established by men to promote and to sustain the religious teachings and practices of the religious organizations or groups that created them for that very purpose. To the extent that these seminaries produce Biblically qualified pastor-teachers, this procedure makes sense.
But to the extent that such seminaries train candidates to promote the religious teachings and practices of men (15), they unwittingly become a powerful tool in the hands of the devil in the promotion of apostasy.
The one who listens to you (when you have the doctrine right) listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me Luke 10: 16 NASB (parenthesis mine)."
The one who listens kto teachers speaking in error, can find themselves listening to doctrines taught by demons (16).
In addition to the James 3: 1 yellow light, we have the flashing yellow light of Matt. 15: 14.
“… they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matt. 15: 14 NASB).”
These words of Jesus were spoken about the Pharisees. The Pharisees were a very strict, self-righteous, very religious, group within the Jewish Community that could accurately quote Scripture forward and backwards, but failed to understand and correctly apply it when it came to the Person and the Work of Lord Jesus Christ.
Motoristsmust be on the alert for those who accelerate through an intersection in an attempt to beat the red signal. Having a green light does not mean that other motorists have complied with the yellow light, now turned red. Likewise, believers must be on the alert for teachers who fail to comply with yellow and red lights of Scripture.
Pastors can only pass on to the congregations what they themselves have been taught, and is some cases, only what their religious superiors allow. Advancing disciples, obedient to the principles of Acts 17: 11 and Matt. 7: 24 – 27 will develop a Biblically sound soul structure. With it, they will have the means to detect false teachings and practices.
Learningwhat the Bible has to say takes time and is an ongoing activity. The real challenge comes into play is the willingness to make whatever changes are necessary in order to follow Christ in both word and actions.
Advancing disciples will find themselves at odds with the leadership and members of religious organizations who promote false doctrine and practices inside and outside from what is generally referred to as the Christian Community at large.
Sad to say, but many “deluded” Christians are not up to this challenge of making the necessary changes, even though they have been presented with the truth.
“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves (James 1 22 NASB).”
Jesusnsaid. ,”and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (John 8: 32 NASB).”
ThenRomans 8: 1 truth concerning eternal security is not a license to sin. It is a commission to serve. Soldiers of the cross do not get to choose where, when, or what battles they are to fight. The battlefield for the advancing disciple is wherever he finds himself 24/7.
“No soldier in ACTIVE SERVICE entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier (2Tim. 2: 4 NASB). An advancing disciple is in ACTIVE SERVICE 24/7.
The road of the post salvation spiritual life is an uphill climb. Many born again believers will never find it (17), and many of the ones who do find it will not see it through to the end (18).
ManyChristians will seek an alternative route without all the yellow and red lights. They desire to just cruise along without the challenges and adversity of discipleship.
One cannot claim to be a follower of Christ if you're not on the Matt. 7: 14 narrow road of post salvation discipleship. If one IS on the Matt. 7: 14 road, one must heed all the warning signs, and comply with all the yellow and red lights along the way.
___________
(1) Heb. 5: 12, 13 (2) Luke 12: 48 (3) Matt. 15: 4 (4) Matt. 15: 9 (5) 1Tim. 4: 1/2Tim. 4: 3 (6) Matt. 7: 15 (7) Gal. 1: 8 (8) Matt. 7: 24 – 27 (9) Gal. 3: 1 (10) 2Tim. 4: 1 (11) Matt. 24: 14 (12) Matt. 24: 24 / Matt. 7: 27 (13) Heb.8: 1 (14) 1Pet. 2: 9 (15) Matt. 15: 9 (16) 1Tim. 4: 1 (17) (18) Matt. 7: 14