In our previous post the question was asked as to what truth and how much of it we must understand to be held accountable, the answer being it is not the quantity of the truth that makes us accountable, but rather the quality or type of knowledge understood. This knowledge is that which all true Christians have understood throughout the Gospel age, the knowledge of forgiveness of sins through no other than Christ Jesus our Lord and of a life so transformed by it.
Now would any question as to whether or not the world has fully grasped (comprehended) this knowledge, this truth?
Although it is true that many within the world have heard various Christian hymns, which speak of the grace of God, and have heard about theology, the world could not be held responsible to this degree. Most of what they have heard, if anything has been nothing more than the ramblings of preachers, or of what the scriptures refer to as the “vain babblings of men”, errors, false teachings and etc. They have not comprehended the (TRUE) Word of God; they have not fully comprehended the provision God has made for our sins, nor for our reconciliation with Him, therefore the world could not commit this sin unto death.
And likewise so the vast majority of professing Christians could do so neither, having never been begotten of the truth, the Lord’s spirit, they like the world remain in darkness.
As it is written, "Darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the heathen [the worldly]." (Isa 60:2) "The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not (the heathen, the non-believer)," 2 Cor 4:4, and as for the professing church, the church nominal he has succeeded in substituting darkness for light, error for truth in order to deceive and confuse, thus casting doubt on the testimony of God as a whole.
Bear in mind that a mere professing of faith or belief does not a true Christian make, a true Christian is one who has been exercised (quicken, Rom 8:11) by the truth unto obedience and service. The majority of professing Christians are Christians in name only, i.e. nominal Christians, thus the term, “Tares”, imitation wheat, imitation Christians, “possessing a form (and outward appearance) of godliness, but denying its power…” (2 Tim 3:5) This form of godliness has spread to such an extent that much of the whole world is styled Christendom--Christ's Kingdom. Outwardly they profess to be Christians, but inwardly they are skeptics of the word, covetous, extortionate, and unjust.
A true Christian is not one who merely professes with his mouth that he is a Christians, but one who believes with his heart, as in distinction with the mere professor, as our Lord so states, “These people draw near me with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from me.” (It is not sufficient enough that we make a profession to be his people, but it is important that this profession proceed from the heart, for “the Lord looks upon the heart." 1 Sam 16:7), and their fear (so-called reverence) is taught by the precepts of men (human traditions, false doctrines, the beliefs of men, of institutions of men).” Isa 29:13.
The threat of eternal torment as the wages of sin is one of these “fears” taught of men, it is held to be a necessity in order to restrain men from vices, and to inspire them to virtue and morality and thus to secure their admission to heaven when they die, all anyone has to do is to take a look around him and he can see how utterly this “precept of men” has felled in its purpose. The fear taught through the precepts of men is a false kind of fear, because it has substituted the “doctrines of devils” for the precious things of God. This type of bondage of fear can never hold the penitent nor draw him near to the Lord; only love is capable of doing this.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses practice a similar type of “fear” the only difference is that rather than consigning the un-repentant, the non-believer (that is the non-believer in what they teach) to eternal torment they simply consign them to second death. Fear is the tool of the Devil and of those who would follow his example.
But now as to the true Christian, the “wheat” class, those who have come to an accurate knowledge of the truth, those once enlightened, who have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the age to come—the restitution powers; those who were made partakers of these in that they were justified by faith, who have experienced this justification by faith, the power of the world to come, and who now enjoy it in advance of the world—and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, these are the ONLY ONES that might sin the sin unto death.
Note: when the question was asked concerning, what kind of truth and how much truth must we have, and it was stated that it was the quality rather than the quantity of knowledge which judged us it should have been added that there is likewise a further responsibility inflicted upon those living now at the end of the age, for whom much is given, much more is expected.
We live in the age of enlightenment, the time when “knowledge would increase”, when the “sealed book” would be opened. We live in the final stage of the church, when the seventh angel would wrap up the work of explaining all the details left unexplained concerning the church, we have much advantage over those of the past and as such are held more accountable.
May the Lord bless you all with understanding.
Now would any question as to whether or not the world has fully grasped (comprehended) this knowledge, this truth?
Although it is true that many within the world have heard various Christian hymns, which speak of the grace of God, and have heard about theology, the world could not be held responsible to this degree. Most of what they have heard, if anything has been nothing more than the ramblings of preachers, or of what the scriptures refer to as the “vain babblings of men”, errors, false teachings and etc. They have not comprehended the (TRUE) Word of God; they have not fully comprehended the provision God has made for our sins, nor for our reconciliation with Him, therefore the world could not commit this sin unto death.
And likewise so the vast majority of professing Christians could do so neither, having never been begotten of the truth, the Lord’s spirit, they like the world remain in darkness.
As it is written, "Darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the heathen [the worldly]." (Isa 60:2) "The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not (the heathen, the non-believer)," 2 Cor 4:4, and as for the professing church, the church nominal he has succeeded in substituting darkness for light, error for truth in order to deceive and confuse, thus casting doubt on the testimony of God as a whole.
Bear in mind that a mere professing of faith or belief does not a true Christian make, a true Christian is one who has been exercised (quicken, Rom 8:11) by the truth unto obedience and service. The majority of professing Christians are Christians in name only, i.e. nominal Christians, thus the term, “Tares”, imitation wheat, imitation Christians, “possessing a form (and outward appearance) of godliness, but denying its power…” (2 Tim 3:5) This form of godliness has spread to such an extent that much of the whole world is styled Christendom--Christ's Kingdom. Outwardly they profess to be Christians, but inwardly they are skeptics of the word, covetous, extortionate, and unjust.
A true Christian is not one who merely professes with his mouth that he is a Christians, but one who believes with his heart, as in distinction with the mere professor, as our Lord so states, “These people draw near me with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from me.” (It is not sufficient enough that we make a profession to be his people, but it is important that this profession proceed from the heart, for “the Lord looks upon the heart." 1 Sam 16:7), and their fear (so-called reverence) is taught by the precepts of men (human traditions, false doctrines, the beliefs of men, of institutions of men).” Isa 29:13.
The threat of eternal torment as the wages of sin is one of these “fears” taught of men, it is held to be a necessity in order to restrain men from vices, and to inspire them to virtue and morality and thus to secure their admission to heaven when they die, all anyone has to do is to take a look around him and he can see how utterly this “precept of men” has felled in its purpose. The fear taught through the precepts of men is a false kind of fear, because it has substituted the “doctrines of devils” for the precious things of God. This type of bondage of fear can never hold the penitent nor draw him near to the Lord; only love is capable of doing this.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses practice a similar type of “fear” the only difference is that rather than consigning the un-repentant, the non-believer (that is the non-believer in what they teach) to eternal torment they simply consign them to second death. Fear is the tool of the Devil and of those who would follow his example.
But now as to the true Christian, the “wheat” class, those who have come to an accurate knowledge of the truth, those once enlightened, who have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the age to come—the restitution powers; those who were made partakers of these in that they were justified by faith, who have experienced this justification by faith, the power of the world to come, and who now enjoy it in advance of the world—and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, these are the ONLY ONES that might sin the sin unto death.
Note: when the question was asked concerning, what kind of truth and how much truth must we have, and it was stated that it was the quality rather than the quantity of knowledge which judged us it should have been added that there is likewise a further responsibility inflicted upon those living now at the end of the age, for whom much is given, much more is expected.
We live in the age of enlightenment, the time when “knowledge would increase”, when the “sealed book” would be opened. We live in the final stage of the church, when the seventh angel would wrap up the work of explaining all the details left unexplained concerning the church, we have much advantage over those of the past and as such are held more accountable.
May the Lord bless you all with understanding.
