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Topic: Fruit or Firewood
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Bloodbought
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Great post Carol,
We are truly blessed
The veil in the temple of our body was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, because of "HIS" mercy.
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Carol Swenson
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If we look, then, at the veil over man's heart by nature, we shall find it to consist of covering upon covering. For instance:
1. There is the veil of IGNORANCE. What a thick, dense, impenetrable covering is that! If we look back to the days of darkness and unregeneracy, in what dense ignorance did we walk. The very doctrines of grace, and the whole scheme of salvation, were hidden from our eyes, and we understood not a single truth of the gospel aright. Our minds were wrapped up in such thick clouds of ignorance, that we knew neither God nor ourselves, neither our state here or hereafter. This veil of ignorance spread over the heart seems spoken of, Isaiah 25:7, "He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations." And again, "Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people." (Isaiah 60:2.) And thus Paul testifies that the Gentiles walk, "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." (Eph. 4:18.)
2. But this is not the only covering that goes to make up this thick, dense, impenetrable veil. There is the veil of UNBELIEF. So that could man by the dint of his natural faculties overcome his ignorance, and thus strip off one part of the veil, the other part, that of unbelief, would still remain. Look at the scribes and Pharisees; the Lord wrought such amazing and undeniable miracles, as we should think must have convinced them that he was the Messiah—as, for instance, the raising up of Lazarus from the dead. They saw him come out of the sepulcher with their bodily eyes at the word of Jesus; but it had no effect on their minds. They saw the blind restored to sight, the lame walk, and the deaf receive hearing; but it never wrought faith in their consciences. They were, as the Apostle says, "shut up in unbelief." (Rom. 11:32, margin.) This is just our state by nature; unbelief has such possession of our hearts that we cannot believe the things of God until they are made known to us by divine revelation.
3. But again; there is the covering of SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS. What a motley monster is man in his natural state! Full of evil, continually committing sin, daring God to his face by a thousand crimes, and yet setting up his own righteousness! We might just as well expect that a felon in prison, who is there awaiting in the condemned cell the merited punishment of his aggravated crimes, of his murders, robberies, and continued outrage against all human laws, should hope to come out of prison by his good deeds and obedience to the laws of his country, as expect such a vile wretch as man to hope to climb up to heaven by the ladder of his good words, good thoughts, good works, and good intentions. But the veil upon his heart prevents him from seeing that by anything he can do he cannot please God. Self-righteousness in all its forms is so interlaced with every thought of our heart, so intertwined with every fiber of our natural mind, that though we know ourselves to be sinners, yet self-applause and self-complacency bid us do something to gain God's favor.
4. But again; there is the veil of SUPERSTITION. What a hold has superstition over the minds of men! If we go into any country parish, what superstition universally reigns over the minds of those dead in sin! How church and churchyard, ecclesiastical vestments and gown, font and altar, are well near worshiped! And in town, as well as country, in dissenter as well as in churchman, what superstitious feeling prevails; and how much passes off for religion and piety that was never wrought in the heart and conscience by God the Spirit! I believe there are many people who cannot sin comfortably until they have said their prayers, and cannot launch out with an easy conscience into the pleasures of the world, until they have gone to church or chapel. They must needs attend upon the ceremonies and forms of religion to get a license for sin, as a school-boy learns his task to obtain a holiday.
5. And then, there is the veil of PREJUDICE. How deeply prejudiced are men's minds against the truth, and against all who profess or preach it! Have we ourselves not in time past walked in this path? What deep prejudice have our minds been steeped in against the truths of God's word! And have we not looked upon the people who held and preached them rather as monsters than men! When I walk through the streets of the town in which I live, I can see sometimes prejudice staring out from the very eyes of the people, especially the well-dressed and respectable, whom I meet; and though they cannot, through mercy, bring anything against my life and conduct, so great is their prejudice because I hold and preach the truth, that I believe they look upon me as a worse character than an adulterer, a swearer, or a drunkard. The prejudice painted in their very features sometimes almost amuses, and sometimes annoys me; sometimes stirs up my pride, and sometimes makes me thankful that I differ from them, and suffer reproach for the Lord's sake.
6. And then, there is the veil of ENMITY. "The carnal mind is enmity against God." What bitter enmity there is in man against the humbling truths of the gospel, against all who live godly in Christ Jesus, and against everything spiritual and heavenly, or that breathes the Spirit of the Lord!
7. Then, there is the covering of PRIDE. And O, what a dense veil is that, which, like an unclean bird, spreads its baneful wings over a man's heart, that he will not submit to the humbling truths of the gospel!
8. And then, there is the veil of HYPOCRISY, in which man is so deeply sunk, prompting him to every hypocritical word and action.
All these coverings, one upon another, are so spread over the heart of man by nature, that the truth of God, of itself, cannot reach him; so that he has no eyes to see, no ears to hear, no heart to feel, no conscience to submit to the power of truth.
Now the first work, ...of the Spirit of God on the heart, is, not to remove the veil, (that is a second work), but to discover the veil. If I may use such an expression, the Spirit of God breathing on a man's heart, blows away a little corner of the veil spread over it; and then we begin for the first time to see and feel that there is a veil there. The beginning of knowledge is to learn our foolishness; the beginning of mercy is to feel our misery; the beginning of salvation is to know our condemnation; and the beginning of eternal life is to pass under the sentence of everlasting death.
Read the complete article at http://www.gracegems.org/Philpot/veil_taken_away.htm
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Caretaker
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quote:
Originally posted by Protective Angel:
II Corinthians 3:14
But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2 Cor. 3:
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Romans 9:
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
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Protective Angel
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II Corinthians 3:14
But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
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Caretaker
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quote:
Originally posted by Caretaker:
We are to be fruit inspectors, and if there is no good fruit then we should be examining our heart for Christ and our walk with the Master.
Gal. 5:
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Matt. 7:
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Romans 2:
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
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Protective Angel
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From the King James
John 15:2 Jesus said
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
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Carol Swenson
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Amen Caretaker!
John 15:5 (NASB)
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
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Caretaker
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quote:
Originally posted by Protective Angel:
To me it says, if the branch does not produce, it will be removed and burnt as waist.
As a person would prune a tree to get better fruit.
Not exactly what it says. It says that IF they abide in Christ they will produce much fruit if they do not abide in Christ, they can produce nothing and they are as the useless dead branches to be pruned off and cast into the fire.
quote:
I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
It is ONLY through Christ that our fruit is produced!!!
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
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Protective Angel
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To me it says, if the branch does not produce, it will be removed and burnt as waist.
As a person would prune a tree to get better fruit.
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Caretaker
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quote:
Originally posted by Protective Angel:
OH I AM TRULY SORRY GUYS.
My post was King James and
the New International was what you were telling me.
Amazing how two versions can cause confusion.
Do you guys recommend any certain version?
Do not go down a rabbit trail on versions. Every one of my scripture references is King James.
quote:
Well what that JESUS SAID is
"ye are the branches"
Being an inspector sounds more like be a judge.
My answer was that we are to use righteous judgement as evidenced from scripture using the King James.
quote:
St. John 15 : 5-6
Jesus said
I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
I like this.
To stay with the topic of your original post those who do not produce fruit are withered and will be cast aside. This is why we ARE to be fruit inspectors in ourselves as well as in others.
We are to judge spiritual fruit.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
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Protective Angel
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OH I AM TRULY SORRY GUYS.
My post was King James and
the New International was what you were telling me.
Amazing how two versions can cause confusion.
Do you guys recommend any certain version?
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Caretaker
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quote:
Originally posted by Carol Swenson:
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matthew 7:16
Exactly Carol and Amen Bill!!!!
In their letters to the Churches and in their ministering to the Body of Christ, time and again the Apostles and the Elders had to stand against heresy and false teachers from the very beginning.
Those who refuse to stand for sound doctrine AGAINST error will be destined to FALL for anything. Heretics such as Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russell, David Koresh, etc., were only able to prey upon and deceive the vulnerable.
Those without solid Biblical training, sound doctrine, that go off on their own in their own arrogance like Lone Wolves, who elevate themselves to prophet/teacher/elder, are blinded by their own egos and follow a deceiving spirit.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
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Carol Swenson
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Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matthew 7:16
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WildB
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Caretaker:
quote:
Originally posted by Protective Angel:
Well what that JESUS SAID is
"ye are the branches"
Being an inspector sounds more like be a judge.
We are to use righteous judgement, and to determine spiritual fruit:
Nothing wrong with being a fruit inspector.
Judge Not—Judge All Things
By Cornelius R. Stam
How often, in our efforts to "stand" for the truth and "withstand" error, we have been taken to task with the use of such Scripture passages as "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matt. 7:1) and "the servant of the Lord must not strive" (II Tim. 2:24).
These passages taken by themselves and out of context can induce weak believers to great irresponsibility, but it is our purpose in this article to examine the Scriptures as a whole and see what they have to say about judging others, or judging what they say or do.
The Scriptures have much to say about judging others and several synonyms are used. Since, however, one Greek word, "krino" is most often used in discussing this subject, and since this is the word our Lord used when He said, "Judge not," we will deal only with those passages in which this Greek root "krino" (to judge) and its derivatives, "anakrino" (to judge strictly) and "diakrino" (to judge thoroughly) are used. In this way there can at least be little or no "strife about words."
If the interpretation so often placed upon our Lord's words, "Judge not," were consistent with the Scriptures as a whole, we would not—indeed, should not—have had a Scofield, a Darby, a Calvin, a Luther—or a Paul, for those who interpret it thus surely would have taken strong exception as Paul and Barnabas "had no small dissension and disputation" with the Judaizers who had come to Antioch, seeking to bring the Gentile believers there under the Law, or as later at Jerusalem, Paul "gave place by subjection" to these same Judaizers, "no, not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with [the Gentiles]" (Acts 15:2; Gal. 2:5).
As to the root word "krino," (to judge), it should be observed at the outset that some of the passages using this word urge us not to judge, while others teach as strongly that we should judge, indeed, that "he that is spiritual judgeth all things" (I Cor. 2:15), so that the interpretation of any Scriptural statement on judging must be determined, not by any "private interpretation," but in the light of the context and/or of related Scripture passages.
JUDGE NOT
"Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matt. 7:1).
Our Lord's words here have, of course, to do with judging persons (obviously for what they do or fail to do), but Verse 5 indicates that they have reference to a certain type of critic, "Thou hypocrite," or one who has a "beam" in his own eye, while criticizing the "mote" (any small, dry particle) in his brother's eye. Such a critic would surely not be the "spiritual" person of I Corinthians 2:15. Thus Matthew 7:1,2 is a warning that if you are too quick to judge others, you may expect others to judge you. The parallel passage in Luke 6:37,38 brings this out even more forcefully. Paul, also, in Romans 2:1, says to those who hypocritically condemn others:
"...wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things."
In Romans 14:4-13 the Apostle has an extended exhortation on such readiness to judge others. Dealing with the friction between those on the one hand who feel free to "eat all things," and those on the other who are convicted that they should only "eat herbs," he says:
"Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth; for God hath received him" (Ver. 3).
In Verses 10,12 he urges those on both sides to refrain from criticizing each other since all of us—each one individually—will one day give a personal account to God:
"But why dost thou judge thy brother?1 or why dost thou set at nought thy brother?2 for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."
"So then, every one of us shall give account of himself to God."
And he concludes:
"Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way" (Ver. 13).
It is important to note that all this has to do with judging one another as to way of life; indeed, Romans 14 has to do with judging one another in matters not specifically dealt with in the Word of God. Such judgment should be left to Christ, at whose "judgment seat" we shall all one day stand. In the same vein the Apostle says in I Corinthians 4:5:
"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."
Let us then rather be criticized than to criticize, rather be judged than to judge—except in matters where God has given us the clear knowledge of His will. To the Galatians, for example, who had been enticed to go back under the Law after Christ had so gloriously set them free, the Apostle wrote:
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Gal. 5:1).
And then he proceeds to tell them in stern language how they will belittle Christ, and what the results will be if they continue in their course.
Thus too, he writes to the brethren at Colosse, this time urging them not to accept the criticisms of those who would bring them under the Law:
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
"Which are a shadow of things to come, but the Body [i.e., the substance] is of Christ" (Col. 2:16,17).
HE THAT IS SPIRITUAL JUDGETH ALL THINGS
But where God has clearly made His truth and will known believers should judge between truth and error, not only "standing" for what is right, but "withstanding" what is wrong (Eph. 6:11,13), and this often involves "judging" and "withstanding" persons involved. Using the same root, krino, the Apostle says:
"But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man" (I Cor. 2:15).
The truly spiritual man is so far above the wisest sages of this world, yea, so far above the mass of Christians with whom he comes in contact with, that he can understand them, but they can never quite understand him.3 It is a sad fact, however, that in the Church today, as in that of Paul's day, there are so few, comparatively, who are truly spiritual and truly qualified to judge. Referring to the senseless and shameful contentions among the Corinthian believers, Paul wrote:
"I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?" (I Cor. 6:5).
Here he reprimands them because there is not one man among them who is spiritual enough to reprove the wrong and defend the right.
Indeed, Paul himself, an eminently spiritual man of God, once found it necessary to rebuke Peter publicly, even though Peter had been used of God to bring thousands to Messiah's feet before Paul had even been converted. Read the passage carefully:
"But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
"For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles; but when they were come he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the Circumcision.
"And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him, insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation [hypocrisy].
"But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" (Gal. 2:11-14).
Surely this must have been embarrassing to Peter, but who can deny that Paul was right in thus dealing with this crisis, stepping in immediately to rebuke Peter's hypocrisy in going back on the great truths which God had revealed to him with regard to the oneness of Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ. Paul's action was not only right; it was necessary lest Peter "build again" the wall of separation between Jewish and Gentile believers which he himself had helped to "destroy" (Ver. 18 cf. Acts 15:9-11).
While Paul, in I Corinthians, deals with judging in the context of spirituality, he is not the first in Scripture to declare that God's people should, when truly qualified, judge others. When Christ Himself was judged by His antagonists, He said:
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24).
Surely our Lord indicated by these words that His hearers should judge—fairly and rightly, though "hypocrites" (as in Matt. 7:1-5 above) should take care not to judge at all.
In I Corinthians 6:2,3, the Apostle declares that believers will one day "judge the world" and will even "judge angels," basing upon this fact his exhortation that they should be able to judge in matters pertaining to this life (Ver. 3) and reproving them for their inability "to judge the smallest matters" (Ver. 2). And in Verse 5, as we have seen, he speaks to their shame that there is not even one among them who is spiritual enough, and therefore respected enough, to judge between his brethren.
Thus God calls upon His people, not merely to judge others, but to be such as are qualified, morally and spiritually, to judge in matters concerning truth and error or right conduct and wrong.
Thus he instructs Timothy and Titus, both truly spiritual men of God, to act in situations in which it is necessary to judge. To Timothy he writes:
"Them that sin4 rebuke before all, that others also may fear" (I Tim. 5:20).
And again:
"...reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (II Tim. 4:2).
Likewise, to Titus he writes:
"For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I have appointed thee" (Titus 1:5).
"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision;
"Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake" (Vers. 10,11).
Not just anyone would be qualified, spiritually and morally, to judge the recalcitrant believers to whom Timothy and Titus ministered, but these two men of God were thus qualified and the Apostle instructed them to do so firmly.
This brings us to a most important consideration appertaining to us all.
JUDGING OURSELVES
In Paul's well-known passage on the Lord's Supper, he warns against partaking of this sacred memorial in an unworthy manner (I Cor. 11:27), as some of the Corinthians were indeed doing. "Let a man examine himself," he says, "and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup" (Ver. 28).
Indeed, it was because they had been so irresponsible in this matter that it had become necessary for God to discipline them. Many among them were "weak and sickly," and some had even been taken away in death (Ver. 30). This would not have been necessary, the Apostle declares, if they had judged themselves (Vers. 31,32), each one carefully examining himself in the presence of the Lord so that he might be in the proper spiritual condition to celebrate the death of Christ for sin. Concluding his remarks about living so that they could partake of this remembrance in a worthy and sincere manner, he says:
"For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
"But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (I Cor. 11:31,32).
Whatever one's dispensational views of the celebration of the Lord's death at "the Lord's table," all of us should surely take the Apostle's exhortation here to heart. If we would judge ourselves God would not have to discipline us for our irresponsibility and we would be in a better position to serve Him as those who are truly spiritual.
This writer is keenly aware that the mere fact that a man judges others does not of itself indicate that he is truly spiritual. Indeed, one who judges himself and is truly spiritual will not be quick to judge others. Yet, should it not be our desire to be truly spiritual so that we might correctly "judge all things" (I Cor. 2:15) and, thus judging, "stand" for what is Scriptural and right and "withstand" what is unscriptural and wrong, even when, in so doing, it is necessary to withstand those who teach or practice what is unscriptural and wrong?
Away, then, with the use of such passages as II Timothy 2:24 and Matthew 7:1 merely as excuses for irresponsibility and for the criticism of those who seek to stand true to God and His Word. Let us rather consider prayerfully all that God says about judging, that we might truly please and honor Him.
Endnotes
1. i.e., the one who feels he may eat all things.
2. i.e., the one who feels he should not eat all things.
3. The writer's book, True Spirituality, deals at length with this subject.
4. The present active participle, i.e., those who persist in sin.
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That is all.....
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Caretaker
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Protective Angel:
Well what that JESUS SAID is
"ye are the branches"
Being an inspector sounds more like be a judge.
We are to use righteous judgement, and to determine spiritual fruit:
1 Cor. 5:
9: I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11: But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12: For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13: But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
1 Cor. 2:
9: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11: For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15: But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16: For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
2 Timothy 3:
16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Main Entry: doc•trine
Pronunciation: 'däk-tr&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin doctrina, from doctor
1 archaic : TEACHING, INSTRUCTION
2 a : something that is taught b : a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief : DOGMA c : a principle of law established through past decisions d : a statement of fundamental government policy especially in international relations
Main Entry: re•proof
Pronunciation: ri-'prüf
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English reprof, from Middle French reprove, from Old French, from reprover
: criticism for a fault : REBUKE
Main Entry: 1re•buke
Pronunciation: ri-'byük
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): re•buked; re•buk•ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old North French rebuker
1 a : to criticize sharply : REPRIMAND b : to serve as a rebuke to
2 : to turn back or keep down : CHECK
synonym see REPROVE
- re•buk•er noun
Main Entry: cor•rec•tion
Pronunciation: k&-'rek-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : the action or an instance of correcting : as a : AMENDMENT, RECTIFICATION b : REBUKE, PUNISHMENT c : a bringing into conformity with a standard d : NEUTRALIZATION, COUNTERACTION
2 : a decline in market price or business activity following and counteracting a rise
3 a : something substituted in place of what is wrong b : a quantity applied by way of correcting (as for adjustment of an instrument)
4 : the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders through a program involving penal custody, parole, and probation; also : the administration of such treatment as a matter of public policy -- usually used in plural
- cor•rec•tion•al /-shn&l, -sh&-n&l/ adjective
Main Entry: righ•teous
Pronunciation: 'rI-ch&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: alter. of earlier rightuous, alteration of Middle English rightwise, rightwos, from Old English rihtwIs, from riht, noun, right + wIs wise
1 : acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin
2 a : morally right or justifiable b : arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality
3 slang : GENUINE, GOOD
synonym see MORAL
- righ•teous•ly adverb
- righ•teous•ness noun
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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Protective Angel
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Member # 9108
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posted
Well what that JESUS SAID is
"ye are the branches"
Being an inspector sounds more like be a judge.
Posts: 46 | From: IL | Registered: Oct 2011
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Caretaker
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Member # 36
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posted
We are to be fruit inspectors, and if there is no good fruit then we should be examining our heart for Christ and our walk with the Master.
Gal. 5:
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Matt. 7:
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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Protective Angel
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Member # 9108
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posted
St. John 15 : 5-6
Jesus said
I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
I like this.
Posts: 46 | From: IL | Registered: Oct 2011
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