I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET AROUND THE WORD OF GOD
It amazes me how some act as though certain statements and verses of the Bible do not exist. You would think we were searching for the passage that says "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" or that oft quoted verse that says "cleanliness is next to godliness." These sayings are not found in the Bible even though some think they are.
On the other hand, there are many verses and statements in the Bible that are ignored and passed over by many. Even when they are pointed out to those who ignore them, they always have some "supposedly" clever excuse as to why they don't really mean what they say. I want to examine some of the many passages that are ignored and/or brushed away by the liberal and digressive minded.
I don't know how to get around plain and forthright passages in the Bible. I simply have to take them at face value. When we rightly divide the Word, we must obey God's commands. However, many try to "get around" plain and straightforward Scriptures.
I don't know how to get around Acts 2:38. When those who were convicted of their sins on the day of Pentecost cried out and said, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Heaven's answer was "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). The answer is clear and precise. In order for one to have forgiveness of sins he must REPENT and be BAPTIZED. However, a growing number of those who are removing themselves from the "old paths" are now saying that water baptism is not necessarily essential for salvation. They want to include many others who are sincere and zealous in their supposed work for the Lord. These "would be" somewhats want to make the way of salvation wider than the Lord made it. Jesus said to Nicodemus,"Except a man be born again...born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:3; John 3:5). Unless one is born of water, the water of baptism, he CANNOT enter the kingdom (church) of God.
Water baptism is clearly FOR the forgiveness of sins and without the forgiveness of sins, no one can be saved. Saul of Tarsus was told to "arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Water baptism puts one INTO Christ (Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 3:27). Water baptism saves (1 Peter 3:21). It is the defining moment that one leaves the world of sin and is translated INTO the body of the saved, the Lord's church (1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 1:13). There is no salvation outside the Lord's church (body) (Ephesians 5:23).
I don't know how to get around Ephesians 5:11. This verse reads, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."There are two basic elements to this verse: 1) we must not fellowship those who are involved in works of darkness and 2) we must also reprove those who are involved in works of darkness. A work of darkness is anything that is not a work of light or truth. It is speaking of one that is not walking in the light of the Gospel and is contrary to the Gospel.
So many today ignore this verse and fellowship any and everybody. Such is seen in the Nashville Jubilee, Tulsa Workshop, Winterfest, Youth in Action and on and on.
This verse also enjoins upon the faithful to not only have no fellowship with those who are involved in works of darkness, but also to actively oppose them. The word "reprove" means to: "convict, confute, expose, find fault with, chide, admonish." What would the Lord have to say to make men believe he means what he says? It can't be any clearer than what is said in this verse. But, who among the liberal minded even knows this verse exists? Have they never read it? Do they not believe it applies to them? What evidence can they provide to show they are obeying this verse?
Some believe the only ones this might possibly apply to are those who oppose and expose the liberals. They will fellowship and hold hands with everyone but those who believe and practice this verse!
I don't know how to get around 2 John 9-11. "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John 9-11). These verses are also very clear and precise.
Anyone who transgresses, violates and disobeys the doctrine of Christ (all that he teaches in his word) does not have God. That is, they do not enjoy the approval and fellowship of God. If, however, one continues to live by and obey the doctrine of the Lord, he stands in God's approval and has fellowship with him.
Those who are not obeying the doctrine of the Lord must not be fellowshipped. We must not bid them godspeed. We must not wish them well and pray they prosper because they are enemies of the Lord (Philippians 3:18). Those who would wish them well are counted as a partaker of their evil deeds. Even though I am not guilty of teaching false doctrine and disobeying the commands of the Lord, if I fellowship those who do, I'm counted as guilty as the one who teaches error. This is very serious!
I don't know how to get around Romans 16:17-18. "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."
The word "mark" means to "look at, observe, fix one's eyes upon, direct one's attention to." The word is used in both a good and bad sense. That is, we may direct our attention to one that is doing good so that we may imitate their good and noble example (Philippians 3:17); or, we may direct our attention to one that is doing evil so that we may not imitate their bad and despicable example (Romans 16:17-18).
In the situation described in Romans 16:17, it is used in the case of fixing our attention upon those who are causing division and offences contrary to the doctrine of the Lord. The reason for doing so is that we may avoid them. The word avoid means "to turn aside, to turn away from, to shun" -- have no fellowship or participation with.
There are many today who are to be marked and avoided because they are teaching and living contrary to the faith once delivered (Jude 3). But, instead of "marking and avoiding," the "woods" are full of those who appreciate and uphold those who are causing division and offences contrary to the doctrine. These folks fellowship everyone except the faithful who are holding to the "old paths." It ought to also be noted here that even though one may not intend to cause division in the church, his false doctrine splits and divides just the same. He may have the best of intentions, but because his doctrine is not in accordance with the truth of the Gospel, he is a divider and troubler.
I don't know how to get around Jude 3. "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Again, like the other passages mentioned above, this one also is ignored by those who are progressive in leaving the "strait and narrow." Never will you see liberals "contending for the faith." Such is unbecoming to them. They much prefer to join hands with the enemies of the Lord than to meet them head-on with a "thus saith the Lord."
The word contend means to "struggle in behalf of." Faithful saints struggle in behalf of the faith, the Gospel, the doctrine of the Lord. The faith is the truth by which men are made free from their sins (John 8:32). It is that which is obeyed in order to have forgiveness of sins (Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5). The "faith" can be turned away from (Acts 13:8). We are to continue in the "faith" (Acts 14:22) and can be established in the "faith" (Acts 16:5). The "faith" is what we preach (Acts 24:24).
To "earnestly contend for the faith" involves an intense effort to hold to the Gospel by which men are saved (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). It means we labor to maintain its purity and clarity. It means we oppose anything and everything that would pervert it, including those, who by their word and action, adulterate it. Paul said that those who leave the faith (the gospel) have cut themselves off from God (Galatians 1:6-9). Any who do not oppose and expose (earnestly contend for the faith) error and those teaching it, are not obeying Jude 3. You won't find any Jubilee supporters following this verse!
Many more passages could be listed here. But even one is too many to ignore. Such brings the wrath of God. I don't want that to happen to me and I don't want that to happen to you. Don't ignore or seek to get around these verses.