The Whole Counsel of God

24 comments to The Whole Counsel of God

• Amanda

  2 January, 2010 at 2:32 pm

  Here is a quiz for you; which best-selling Christian book used 21 different translations to collaborate its views?

  I have purposefully forgotten the title, but the author also delivered that awful ‘Jesus came to give you a Mulligan’ sermon.

  Chris Rosebrough published a doctored book cover that does proclaim the Gospel.

  This brief article is just a quick reference on the very basics of interpretation, if it gains any interest I will post more information.

  Yes!

• Amanda

  3 January, 2010 at 2:36 am

  Michael

  Read it and weep:

  Righteousness? Ooh, that’s a wicked freebie! Can I get two please?

  Ever thought of the saving power of Christ as a detergent / washing powder? Oh, come on! It’s in Revelation (7:14). With a little bit of imagination, one could easily imagine the whole process as an advert – how it dissolves all the little dirty cookie-jar sins and roll-in-the-mud stains we’ve had from childhood on. Close up on the fabric – whoops, there it goes! Up, up and away! This is a SUPERpowder!

  So, what now? Guess we can chill! We have received ab-so-lution! In fact, this SUPERpowder is so effective, it might have just dissolved our response-ability.

  Guess again.

  Paul writes in Philippians 3 about absolution – by talking about righteousness. Almost as if it was a court case, and God, the Judge, has to deliver the verdict. And He simply declares us righteous (i.e. we have no sins) because we believe in Christ.

  Guess again.

  Rather, for reasons I have set out in my previous post, Paul thinks that righteousness means

  to know Christ,
  to share in the power of his resurrection and
  to share in his suffering.

  Paul has just upheld Jesus as the ultimate example (Phil 2:5-11) – and he wants to follow Christ’s way even if this means that he, too, must die. In fact, Paul is not saying: “I am free of sin, thanks to what Jesus did for me!” but rather: “I wish I could be like Jesus – and put other people’s needs before my own!” (Phil 2:1-5).

  Paul is not really into chilling on a sofa with his new sparkly white clothes. Or a synagogue, for that matter. He wants to live a life of sacrifice – which means that he needs to put other people’s needs before his own. That is how he will have the right relationship with God.

  OK, so what crappy SUPERpowder is this, then? (If you are affronted by my use of the word “crappy” – well, Paul used it too – in Phil 3:8). Is … Revelation … wrong … or lying? Definitely not. Paul still views Christ’s death (and life) as the way through which we get righteousness. Especially the faithfulness of Christ (3:9). Through Christ’s faithfulness – and his obedience (2:8) – the way has been opened so we can live a life of righteousness – that is, consider other people as more important than ourselves.

  Bottom line: belief in Jesus Christ is not the point at which we receive righteousness, but rather the starting point of a righteous life. Which means, incidentally, daily sacrifice (3:7ff).

  I live in South Africa. We have one of the greatest divides between rich and poor – with reference to money AND power – and many of the rich consider themselves to be Christians (and therefore, of course, absolved of sin and righteous). Why? Because they believe in Jesus and confess Him as Lord. Methinks Paul would hotly disagree with them. Methinks Paul would rather say that if they do not step away from their riches – or help other people with these riches, they would be failing in living a righteous life!

  This was written by Ronald van der Bergh:

  I am busy with a DD (Doctor Divinitatis) degree at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. I’ve already obtained the BTh (Baccalareus Theologiae), MDiv (Magister Divinitatis), MA in Ancient Languages and Cultures, and finished this year with an MTh (Magister Theologiae). Although I am rather busy with my studies, I am also a part-time lecturer in Hebrew, Greek and Ancient Cultures at the University of Pretoria. For all it’s worth, I’m also eligible for ordination in the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, as well as the Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa.
  

• Amanda

  3 January, 2010 at 4:18 am

  Another contribution, this time from the Master, Dr. Stephan Joubert:

  “And you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly.” That was Jesus’ words about that remarkable woman who poured a bottle of very expensive perfume over his head at a dinner in Bethany (Mark 14). It was more than a year’s income for the average person in Palestine that she “wasted” on Jesus. But it was exactly the right kind of wasting! It was the right kind of thing to do since Jesus was the Recipient thereof.

  To pour out your life on the Lord, by giving your money, talents, time and energy to Him in an overly generous way, might seem like a useless waste in the eyes of those around you. However, that’s not the case when the Lord is the Recipient. In this festive season, learn from this woman where unnecessary wasting of earthly things is in order. Learn from the Lord’s contemporary heroes who are wasting to perfection in the proper way. Go and practice the art of over-the-top wastefulness in such a way that heaven and earth will start noticing.

  You can join the Lord’s contemporary heroes on tour to Greece, Germany, Oberammergau @ R36 500.

  There you go! Earth has noticed.

• Deborah (Discerning the World)

  3 January, 2010 at 4:42 am

  Amanda

  No way, that is exactly what Rhema Church are going to do. They are going to re-build the church that is going to blow people away with an over the top wastefulness of money. Restaurants, Amphitheatres, top of the world architects will be brought in to build the church. It will be hi-tech, best of everything. why?

  Because the CHURCH will save the world. It all begins with YOU (your money that is) and they are building the Kingdom right here in South Africa.

  So I have NO idea why Stephan Joubert is going to Greece and Germany etc when he can dump his money into Rhema, as THEY have the rights to building God’s Kingdom in RANDBURG.

• Yolandi

  3 January, 2010 at 3:32 pm

  Amanda I studied at UP and Im still a born again Christian even if it tested my faith. A 19 year old def knows what is right and what is wrong …Therefore I just wanna add people in emerging churches cannot possibly just sit there and not know that something isnt “right”. As for Joubert the Greece tour was planned with Dr Steyn I personally know the Steyn’s. The tour (if its the same one we are talking about) in its self isn’t emerging as far as I know its prob just a nice little holiday at the expense of NG Moreletta and Mosaiek…

  And come on guys people don’t have so much money to give as an offering..Considering some don’t even bother to give a tithe…Ever asked yourself how a small little student church can grow within a few months? Mosaiek cost over 24 mil to build and 90 % of the congregation consists of students. Rhema consists of all types but many people who attend come from rural areas…mmmm…I smell a rat!

• Amanda

  3 January, 2010 at 7:33 am

  Deborah

  Please. You are confusing the issue. How I am now supposed to discern whom the Lord’s most heroic hero is in his wasting to perfection in the proper way? Unless I learn from a contemporary hero the way to practice the art of over-the-top wastefulness, how will heaven ever notice me?

  Joubert or Rhema? Mmmm. You know what? I will cast my vote for the most over-the-top wastefulness to parents who send their sons to UP to become shepherds and they come back good atheists or Hindus and/or Buddhists and/or socialists and/or Roman Catholics and teachers of Christianity that can say things like:

  Bottom line: belief in Jesus Christ is not the point at which we receive righteousness, but rather the starting point of a righteous life. Which means, incidentally, daily sacrifice (3:7ff).

  Too bad for the criminal on the cross next to Jesus Christ, I guess. But, hey, I am sure Rome is thrilled with the progress of the DRC.

  For Christians only:

  Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it– the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Romans 3:19-28)

• Deborah (Discerning the World)

  3 January, 2010 at 4:07 pm

  A very very very big rat…

• Discerning the World

  4 January, 2010 at 12:04 am

  Amanda

  >> How I am now supposed to discern whom the Lord’s most heroic hero is in his wasting to perfection in the proper way?

  You know, there are many answers to ONE Single question. Or is that One Single answer to many questions. So I think you need to give your first years money to TD Jakes cos he says that God is doing double-portions this year. If you hit the jackpot you can then split your cash between Stephan Joubert and Ray McCauley. NOW that’s using discernment AND I am very sure heaven will notice. lol Ok I actually can’t guarantee any of this but so I am going to use discernment again and say that maybe we should let Stephan and Ray decide who between the two of them gets your money and can influence God more. You do want a return on your investment surely? lol

• Amanda

  4 January, 2010 at 12:12 am

  Yolandi

  Amanda I studied at UP and Im still a born again Christian even if it tested my faith.

  Ouch. Have you read The ‘died-again’ Christian syndrome Its etiology as manifested among fundamentalist students of the Old Testament in South Africa?

  The tour (if its the same one we are talking about) in its self isn’t emerging

  The tour leader is Dr. Stephan Joubert and he is bringing a “new spirituality” into the church:

  Session 3: Being a radical pilgrim and prophet – Stephan Joubert

  http://1joh4.wordpress.com/2009/12/08/a-biblical-appraisal-of-the-mosaic-congress-held-at-the-mosaic-church-in-fairlands-johannesburg-4-5-sept-2009-part-4/

  No, tour away. I have no problem with that. I am not the one preaching that rich Christians must “distance” themselves from their wealth in order to live a righteous life. Stephan preached that we should give everything, even if it pushes us into the red. My transcription:

  KLIPKERKBYEENKOMSTE
  HEILIGE WEEK
  SPREKER: STEPHAN JOUBERT
  DATUM: 2009-04-07 – DINSDAG

  http://mosaiek.noproblem.co.za/mp3searchpage.php

  [min 10:23] Sy [Maria Magdalena] het alles gegee wat sy gehad het. Wat sy kon het sy gedoen. Dit klink half ironies. Sy het baie gedoen. Sy het te veel gegee. Dit is al wat sy kon doen. Sy het tot op die rooi, in die rooilyn in gegee. Niks anders nie as die weduwee wat nou die dag in Luk 21 toe Jesus by die tempel was, wat ook haar laaste
  muntstuk gegee het, gee hierdie vrou al haar geld. Dit is wat Jesus
  bedoel. Sy het twee jaar se geld gegee in een oomblik op Jesus uitgegooi. Wat sy kon het sy gedoen.

  [min 11] Dit is die boodskap van Paasfees dat as jy met Jesus in aanraking kom, dit wat jy kan doen, doen dit.

  [min 11:36] Maar wat jy kan moet jy doen vir Jesus. En jy moet dit doen totdat dit jou in die rooi indruk. Totdat dit jou vat tot by die punt van geen omdraai. Totdat dit jou vat tot op ‘n punt waar jy nooit gedink het jy sal kom.

  [min 12:18] Jesus herinner ons aan hierdie vrou. Miskien is dit die hoogtepunt. Nie Sy groot lering oor die eindtyd nie. Nie Sy groot gelykenis oor die boer en die wingerd nie. Nie Sy gelykenis oor die meisies met die olie in hulle lampe en die wat nie het nie. Miskien nie Sy groot wederkoms gelykenis oor die skape en die bokke nie. Die eenvoudige daad in die binnekring, die vrou wat alles gegee het, wat
  haar lewe gegooi het op Jesus se voete, wat haarself gegee het. Miskien is dit die Evangelie.

  [min 12:53] Miskien is jy en ek blind, miskien, ek definitief. Wat ek partykeer nie verstaan hoekom mense sekere dinge doen nie. Soos die dissipels nie verstaan het hoekom sy dit daai aand gedoen het nie. Dat daar juis in die dwaasheid van die Evangelie wysheid is.

  [min 13:23] Miskien in ‘n mens wat alles het en dan dwase keuse maak om vir veel minder agter Jesus aan te stap. Wat ‘n groot werk het en dit los, of beter beter kanse het in die lewe en dit los om agter Jesus aan te stap. Maak nie saak wat dit ookal is nie, Paasfees, die laaste Dinsdag sê vir jou: ‘Wat jy kon, moet jy doen vir Jesus. Wat dit ookal van jou vra.”

  [min 15:50] ‘n Ruk gelede voordat Jesus in Jerusalem aangekom het, het Hy op ‘n dag daar in Mat 10 vertel dat diegene wat Sy helde is, wat op Sy pad loop, dat die Engele en Hy van hulle kennis neem. Dat hulle name bekend is in die hoogste raadsale van die hemel. Sal dit nie wonderlik wees nie as ons by die Here aankom, dat ons soos ou vriende ontvang sal word. Dat die engele en die Here sal sê: “Ons weet al lankal van jou. Wat jy kon, dit het jy gedoen. Ter herinnering aan jou, swaai ons die deure van die hemelse sale oop< .”

  Did you catch the different Gospel, the legalism and the worksrighteousness? What do you smell now?

• Amanda

  4 January, 2010 at 12:31 am

  Debs! I can’t get my nofollow links to work! What am I doing wrong?

• Deborah (Discerning the World)

  4 January, 2010 at 1:58 am

  target=”_blank” :) I fixed it for you.

• Deborah (Discerning the World)

  4 January, 2010 at 2:03 am

  Then again I’ve always wanted to go to Greece. Hmmm decisions, decisions haha

• Amanda

  4 January, 2010 at 7:58 am

  give your first years money to TD Jakes cos he says that God is doing double-portions this year.

  That is NOT what Patricia King prophesied. Her lord in the heavenlies told her there is going to be a financial shaking this year. You must align yourself [with whom?] and tithe. She and her husband started with giving 10% and, once they were comfortable with that, they moved to the next 10% and the next! But Rick Warren will not let ANYBODY outgive him. He re-invests, I mean, gives 90% of his earnings to his church. And Stephan is in rhythm with God. These contemporary heroes of God know. They know.

  I am so toast. There is no ways that the doors of the heavenly halls will swing open on account of me and that the angels and God will praise me for doing all that I could. I need Good News, not what I must, should, have to do for God, but what He has done, is doing and will do for me. He died for me, not because I am worthy, but because I am a wretched sinner who does not love God with all of my heart and who does not love my neighbour as myself. I sin daily and I sin much by what I do and what I neglect to do. And that is just on the outside! I deserve to be judged in God’s wrath.

  Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24)

  How strange that the contemporary heroes of God all scream: “Save yourself. Do what I do. I know. I know!” No, thank you. I would rather trust the Word of God:

  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person–though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die– but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
  (Romans 5:6-10)

  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
  (Romans 3:26-28)

  Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you–unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
  (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

  Now that is Good News! It is not up to me! Praise God!

  So why do Christians tolerate this un-Christian works righteousness proclamations?

• Michael Anthony

  5 January, 2010 at 12:29 pm

  Amanda,

  Here is a basic overview of hermeneutics.

  http://www.gotquestions.org/Biblical-hermeneutics.html

  Have a look at the related topics on the page.

  I have not listened to this but I trust Walter Martin (the real bible answer man). I see some mp3s on hermeneutics – should be good

  http://www.gotquestions.org/Biblical-hermeneutics.html

  Now…this is probably the best stuff – Chuck Missler, but you have to pay.

  http://www.studycenter.com/courses/BTE501.html

  Now look at this

  http://www.theword.gr/en

  You can download the free-of-charge Bible study application

  Further free modules for it can be downloaded from:

  http://thefirstsixdays.com/TheWordBibleSoftware.htm

  The software includes the Bible in many languages, commentaries, maps,charts, dictionaries and much more…The Calvary Chapel group have given a fair input to it as well.

• Michael Anthony

  5 January, 2010 at 12:38 pm

  Amanda, et al

  http://www.theword.gr/index.php?

  Or just

  http://www.theword.gr/en

  You can download the free-of-charge Bible study application. Further free modules for it can be downloaded from:

  http://thefirstsixdays.com/TheWordBibleSoftware.htm

  The software includes the Bible in many languages, commentaries, maps, charts, dictionaries and much more…The Calvary Chapel group have given a fair input to it as well. It’s well worth a look.

  I have not listened to this yet but trust Dr Walter Martin (the real bible answer man). Have a look at the mp3s on hermeneutics.

  http://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/walter-martin-mp3/

• Amanda

  6 January, 2010 at 12:24 am

  Michael

  I see some mp3s on hermeneutics – should be good

  It is! Listening to it now. Thank you!

  I am using an old version of e-Sword. I don’t think my computer can handle anything grander than that.

• Michael Anthony

  26 January, 2010 at 10:10 pm

  Amazing how the post-modernists and emergents never commnent on an article about rightly interpreting scripture. They can only exegete an article I wrote about a topic of a topic about scripture.

• Linda

  6 April, 2010 at 3:42 pm

  Exactly WHERE in the Bible does it say that the Bible is the ONLY authority for truth and doctrine? Since there was NO written word for over three hundred years, and yet thousands of Christians were baptized, loved Jesus, and died horrific martyrs’ deaths, how could that be possible if no Bible existed then?

  Did Jesus ever tell the Apostles to write down anything, or did He tell Peter that He would build His CHURCH on Peter’s confession?

  Did St. Paul not say to hold fast to “tradition, both written and oral?”

• Deborah (Discerning the World)

  6 April, 2010 at 3:53 pm

  Linda

  Exactly WHERE in the Bible does it say that the Bible is the ONLY authority for truth and doctrine? Since there was NO written word for over three hundred years, and yet thousands of Christians were baptized, loved Jesus, and died horrific martyrs’ deaths, how could that be possible if no Bible existed then?

  Did Jesus ever tell the Apostles to write down anything, or did He tell Peter that He would build His CHURCH on Peter’s confession?

  Did St. Paul not say to hold fast to “tradition, both written and oral?”

  Linda, um… ok, so tell me, what else do you read that you consider to be ‘Godly’? Or don’t you read at all because if the bible is not truth then nothing is.

• Elmarie

  6 April, 2010 at 5:31 pm

  Linda

  Remember when Jesus left the earth, He said he would leave the Holy Spirit (Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) for his apostels and us. So all the teachings of the apostels was by and trough the Holy Spirit which filled them before the Word was written. They did not need written word then while they where preaching the Gospel. Can you imagine how wonderfull that must have been to be an apostel of Jesus in those times. It brings tears to my eyes, the privilage was way beyond what we can comprehend. Now in these times we can only rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us the way of the narrow path.

  John 15:26
  But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me.

  Some Bible verses that I pray could assist you here.

  Titus 1:9
  He must hold fast to the sure and trustworthy Word of God as he was taught it, so that he may be able both to give stimulating instruction and encouragement in sound (wholesome) doctrine and to refute and convict those who contradict and oppose it [showing the wayward their error].

  Acts 5:20
  Go, take your stand in the temple courts and declare to the people the whole doctrine concerning this Life (the eternal life which Christ revealed).

  Luke 1:4
  [My purpose is] that you may know the full truth and understand with certainty and security against error the accounts (histories) and doctrines of the faith of which you have been informed and in which you have been orally instructed.

  Luke 1:2
  Exactly as they were handed down to us by those who from the [ official] beginning [of Jesus' ministry] were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word [that is, of the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God],

  Proverbs 4:2
  For I give you good doctrine [what is to be received]; do not forsake my teaching.

  Matthew 15:9
  Uselessly do they worship Me, for they teach as doctrines the commands of men.

  Linda this is a very important verse to tell us how to use the scripture and why we have the Word of God the Bible. This is truly the only way we can live by and no other. We cannot depend on any teacher or preacher any more, the world have become to apostate and there are way too many false teachers out there. We must only depend on the Holy Spirit and the Word of God the Bible.

  2 Timothy 3:16
  Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),

  I truly hope this could help you somehow.
  God bless and love

• Robbie

  6 April, 2010 at 5:40 pm

  “In the beginning was the WORD, And the Word was with God, And the Word was God….”
  Ye shall have NO other Gods!

  That was an easy one Linda.

  And a couple like this one….
  1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

• Elmarie

  6 April, 2010 at 5:46 pm

  Linda

  Did St. Paul not say to hold fast to “tradition, both written and oral?”

  Here is a good link to read.

  Question: “What is Pauline Christianity?”

  Answer: Pauline Christianity is a term applied to what some perceive as the religious teaching unique to Paul’s writings and distinct from the gospel of Jesus. That is, Jesus taught one thing, and Paul taught something completely different. Those who believe in a separate Pauline Christianity believe that the Christianity of today has little to do with Jesus’ teachings; rather, it is the product of Paul’s corruption of those teachings.

  Any time a skeptic finds a “disagreeable” doctrine in the Bible, he is likely to say, “That passage has been corrupted,” or, “Paul wrote that, and we know he was a liar.” Where the Gospels teach a “Pauline” doctrine, such as Jesus’ atonement for sin in John 1:29, the skeptic dismisses it as “inserted by devotees of Paul.” In reality, the skeptic’s only basis for such a selective approach to Scripture is a personal bias against the idea of Jesus’ atonement.

  READ FURTHER HERE PLEASE. http://www.gotquestions.org/Pauline-Christianity.html

  Blessings and love

• Deborah (Discerning the World)

  7 April, 2010 at 8:50 am

  To explain Linda’s comment above, to understand Linda you will clearly see that she is Roman Catholic based on her comment here: http://www.discerningtheworld.com/2010/03/25/vatican-ii-and-the-new-evangelization-world-wide-take-over/#comment-6325

• Deborah (Discerning the World)

  7 April, 2010 at 9:26 am

  Elmarie

  >> Pauline Christianity is a term applied to what some perceive as the religious teaching unique to Paul’s writings and distinct from the gospel of Jesus. That is, Jesus taught one thing, and Paul taught something completely different. Those who believe in a separate Pauline Christianity believe that the Christianity of today has little to do with Jesus’ teachings; rather, it is the product of Paul’s corruption of those teachings

  And you know what? This is based on serpent seed teaching. They believe Paul was of the serpent seed line and a deceiver. So the bible is no longer the truth as per this demonic doctrine.

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