letaman.htm

Let a Man So Account of Us

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.; (1 Corinthians 4:1-4)

What a responsibility, what frightening responsibility, that each of us shall be judged by the Lord concerning our ministry - that we be found faithful.

Elsewhere in our Owner's Manual it is written;: If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him. And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.; (Leviticus 5:15-17); Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.; (Luke 12:41-48)

Which means that if Christ Jesus is real to us we shall be very careful not to teach, preach or say anything that has not been shown to us by the Holy Spirit.

All of us are commanded to be doers of the word, not so; and when we are new Christians and are on fire for the Lord, very often that fire is destructive, causing us to say things that we have heard some famous evangelist teach about, but that we do not yet fully understand ourselves. When challenged on the subject we have to retire in confusion because of ignorance, to the detriment of our witness.

One thing that is certain is that God loves us with a supernatural love, the scope of which we don't even understand as yet, and shall judge us with perfect righteousness, taking into consideration the circumstances under which each of our utterences is made.: A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.; (Matthew 12:35-37); My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!; (James 3:1-5)

As we grow older spiritually and through usage become familiar with the teachings of the Bible, we are able to share what we have been shown in Spirit and in Truth. However, because of our imperfect state we all see through a glass darkly and often presume certain things in the Scriptures that are not there because of our soulishness. As God is perfect, just and holy, He knows these things and also knows the reason why certain words are uttered that should not have been.
Was it done in sincerity, with pride, or tongue in cheek?

That is why Paul exclaimed:: Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.; (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)
The circumstances that caused Paul to write these words to the Corinthian church were:

To place all the previous explanations in a nutshell, let's read the whole chapter and see what Paul writes concerning the teachers and those taught. Please study it carefully.: And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.; (1 Corinthians 3:1-23)

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The reason why this article came into being was that the following passage of Scripture was quoted by a famous Christian teacher in a tract entitled "Once Saved - Always Saved?": Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.; (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

I subscribe to a few e-mail and snail mail newsletter services, ones that seem to be non denominational, "straight" and the authors sincere. From these, new teachings are discovered, verified and learned and also the sincerity and personality of the teacher shines through. Unfortunately we are all subject to soulishness, and very often ignorance and pride gets in the way.

Now, because this famous author was one whose writings are regularly read, it was interesting to see what he had to say on the subject "Once Saved - Always Saved?"; possibly there was something to learn, or a new angle presented.

However, although well written, this author, who promotes the teaching of the above, took certain verses out of context, and because of his Paulish or Apollosish reputation shall undoubtedly lead someone weak in the faith in the wrong direction, allowing them to believe that they shall automatically enter into the New Jerusalem.

He misconstrued the above passage of Scripture to claim that it is proof of Once Saved - Always Saved, instead of understanding that only those who shall be saved on that day will have their works tested as by fire, and all false and prideful works shall disappear, but their true and faithful works shall remain - as gold is refined in the fire. He ignored the cost, the works.

In the above chapter of the Bible, Paul clearly shows the difference between those reborn and those not; and of those reborn, who have the Holy Spirit living in them, some shall be destroyed by God and others shall be saved.

Jesus said something similar, not so?: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.; (Matthew 5:17-20).

Here's further confirmation:: But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.; (Leviticus 7:20-21); Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 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. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. ....; (1 Corinthians 11:27-34)

As has already been discussed in Heart of the Gospel we know that someone can get saved out of condemnation just by reading one passage of Scripture, or a picture, or a television program as a start; but that like Abraham, we shall be tested to see whether we have remained faithful.Only on that day shall we know our fate.

This famous teacher fails to understand the difference between being born again; and being faithful to the Covenant that God offers to us through the body and blood of Christ Jesus.

Either the Holy Spirit saw fit not to reveal this to him?? Or he was blinded for some other reason.

Becoming reborn is a once off occurrence.
Remaining faithful is a day by day occurrence. We have to build on the foundation that is Jesus Christ.

From previous writings we have seen that only those whose names will appear in the Lamb's book of life shall enter the New Jerusalem and they will appear for two reasons, continuing faith in the Lamb, and works. Not one or the other, but both.
And only those who endure to the end shall be saved. Enduring is something we suffer and experience.

You might ask "what is the purpose of this article?
Is it written to attack another Christian's character?
No; no, please understand that its purpose is to reveal that we must be cautious concerning all writings that are not in the Bible, but rather are subjects that are revealed in the Bible and which are written about by imperfect man. This is especially important when studying subject matter authored by someone who we might accept as being the epitome of a saint of God.
This is how denominations are formed.

Let this be an encouragement to you to search for the Truth that was written by God instead of accepting a teaching about the truth written by man.
: Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.; (Psalms 119:1)