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basething
Adept
Posts: 85
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« on: May 27, 2009, 08:19:40 AM » |
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ridgerunner
Your's is an excellent question
i am calling God's people, those (that i have contact with)who at this time have their ears open to God, to derive their thinking from Him. To make His judgments their judgments, in this case to make His definitions their definitions.
Paul expresses the need for believers to be of the same mind, and of the same judgment, teaching the same thing. (Rom 12:9 -16; 1Cor 1:10; Phil 3:16-19) i do not believe this is possible based in the opinions of men. Conflicting opinions will always cause division. (note here that i am not addressing the inherent divisions between believers and non-believers (2Cor 6:14-17) or necessarily between false teachers and believers. i am specifically addressing the divisions between brethren who are manifest as brethren, by their submission or lack thereof to the Word).
So the only way i see for brethren to be “perfectly joined together” is to be one with the Father and Son as they are one with Each Other (John 17:2,21 in the context of gospel of John) The only way for us to be one in Them is to submit to Them in every thing, (including the definitions of words)
as presented from scripture i believe God has established that rebellion is not pleasing to Him in any respect. So how is God's definition of rebellion reconciled with the actions of His Son who stood in absolute opposition to religious leaders etc of His day? In my understanding NO reconciliation is necessary. A change in perspective is.
First and foremost rebellion in scripture is always presented as being against God, His commandments, or rightfully acting proper order/authority. The concept of rebellion is never (from my search) presented as being against satan, his ministers, false teachers, liars, hypocrites, sinful or improper order/authority.
The religious leaders of Jesus' day are presented in scripture consistent with the biblical definition of rebellion. They were a “generation of vipers” not sheep(Matt3:7) , their righteousness was not sufficient to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 5:20), it is through their example that we have an understanding of blaspheming the Spirit of God (Matt 12:24-32) They are defined by Jesus as being evil, implying that their ears are not open and that they are wicked (Matt 12:34-45) that they transgress the commandments of God by their traditions, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, worshiping in vain, being blind leaders of the blind, drawing close with their lips, but their hearts are far from God, being full of evil. (Matt 15:1-20) Jesus warned to beware of the doctrine/instruction of the Pharisees (Matt 16:1-12) they are exposed as rebellious to the point of killing the Son (Matt 21) as hypocrites (chs 22,23) and this is just Matthew...
my point and conclusion is this: one is only in rebellion when they are in rebellion to God or to one who is functioning in Biblically defined rightful authority asking you to do something that is in accordance with the commandment of God. (always remembering that WOE! Is to .... “them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”... etc .Isa 5:20)
You say that you are a rebel and like it. i say that you are a servant and like that.
You say that resistance to those who are in rebellion to God is rebellion. And i say NO!
Gaining my understanding from the example of Jesus and the Biblical definition of rebellion, i say that resistance to those who the Bible defines as being in rebellion to God is in no wise rebellion, but rather SERVICE to God.
Jesus was no rebel, as you have described your self neither are you. He resisted those who were rebels. You seem to follow His example, so continue down the path that you are going but recognize that you do not fit into the category of rebellion as presented in the Bible. And to consider Jesus as a rebel is to condemn Him by the word of God as wicked, evil,dull of hearing, abominable, etc....
Also consider (for yourself and others), it as dangerous to take the definitions of this world (read anti-Christ) and apply them to Christ. In taking joy in what you have understood to be rebellion, it is a small step to continue taking joy and rebel against God.
God bless you in your service to the Most High
john
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