Interesting one, thanks for bringing it up. John 1:1 is a good test because the text itself says the Word was with God and the Word was God, so it holds two things together without collapsing them. Then verse 14 says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and Jesus kept talking to the Father as someone distinct, like in John 17:5 where He asks the Father to glorify Him with the glory He had before the world was. I'd be careful with any teaching that has to flatten one of those pieces to make the verse simpler. Reading the whole chapter in context usually answers more than any one preacher's take.
Thank you, as per the New Covenant GOD gave and made then and until this present age, the New Testament is the foundation of the Apostles to us church. (Ephesians 2:20)
It's not like in the Old Testament, where GOD's lambs and sheep(Israelites), were under the authority of hired shepherds(leaders of Isreal).
They failed miserably in their duties shepherding HIS lambs and sheep, where GOD poured out HIS frustration and disgust to Prophet Ezekiel, as in the book of Ezekiel.
To bring a change and restoration, HE promised to make a New Covenant and HIMSELF will personally shepherd HIS lambs and sheep in the coming future.
And no longer HIS lambs and sheep HE gives and makes the New Covenant with, will come again under the authority of hired shepherd anymore.
There will be only among the lambs and sheep, elders who are shepherd by HIM thorough and perfect in the same foundation, who'll lead and minister HIS lambs and sheep.
An elder who'll minister the same all scripture and sound doctrine intact in that foundation, as a reminder and a stir up of memory to the lambs and sheep when they gather.
As a result we can witness this in the Gospel and coming to pass, where Jesus Lord and God, the Good Shepherd personally shepherds the Israelites, His lambs and sheep, forsaking the leaders of Israel.
Therefore similarly we are the lambs and sheep of today discipled in the same canonized foundation, and elders among us discipled thorough and perfect, shall lead and minster to us from.
Overall and most importantly, the lambs and sheep who're discipled likewise in the same foundation are to weigh the message ministered and the elder, to distinguish whether he's of the spirit of truth or spirit of error.
Therefore today, we discipled lambs and sheep in the same canonized foundation and in context the sound doctrine, wiegh the messages and elders as pastors or man of GOD to distinguish similarly.
Since Jesus remains as the Good Shepherd over all of us and we hear alone His voice, and to strangers' voice, we should 'flee', as so called elders have no authority over us.
Only the unlearned and unstable lambs and sheep become slaves to incompetent elders whom run the renown churches of today in 'lawlessness'.
In folly shortsighted, and ignorant that the gift of the Holy Ghost is divided among lambs and sheep to serve as members in one body.
The point is, no members in one body can claim authority or superiority over the others, when only the Head who is Christ and His every word rules and moves them all.
That's why Jesus discipled us lambs and sheep, let us know that we'll know them by their fruits, whether they'd be elders or members themselves among us.
Moreover, since the gift of the Holy Ghost is divided among members of the body, not one member as an elder have the full truth, but to a few that is divided to.
To conclude, pastor Gino J. or those who claim ordained elders of the churches today, have not the full truth to lead and minister solely a church.
Lambs and sheep who allow such incompetent elders to rule, being blind and ignorant themselves, together will end up on that day of the Lord, as workers of iniquity or lawlessness.
May this be a valuable lesson to us lambs and sheep here on earth itself and before asleep buried, who's voice are we going to listen to, and to who's voice we're to 'flee'??
Shalom in the name of Lord Jesus Christ.
