Page 92 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2010

The “THEREFORE I TESTIFY TO YOU THIS DAY THAT I AM INNOCENT OF THE BLOOD OF
Apostle ALL MEN. FOR I HAVE NOT SHUNNED TO DECLARE TO YOU THE WHOLE COUNSEL
Paul
OF GOD. THEREFORE TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES AND TO ALL THE FLOCK…
TO SHEPHERD THE CHURCH OF GOD…FOR I KNOW THIS, AFTER MY DEPARTURE

SAVAGE WOLVES WILL COME IN AMONG YOU, NOT SPARING THE FLOCK.
ALSO FROM AMONG YOURSELVES MEN WILL RISE UP, SPEAKING PERVERSE THINGS,

TO DRAW AWAY THE DISCIPLES AFTER THEMSELVES.” Acts 20: 29-30

THE SPIRIT OF ERROR:

HALF THE TRUTH PRESENTED AS THE WHOLE

For the sake of quick reference, let us consider the contents of
the previous page as “column A” and “column B”. When column
A is divorced from the rest of the message given to believers
that is contained in column B, we end up with half the truth
being presented as the whole. Yes, Jesus did proclaim, “It is
finished!” (Jn. 19:30). However, that statement pertains only to the
foundation. Jesus completed His work as the Lamb of God, as
the Grace of God that brought forgiveness of sins and salvation
to mankind ( Jn. 1:29, Titus 2:11).

Much of the church of Jesus Christ here in America is in the
backslidden state that it is simply because of a lack of balance
such as Paul presents in the passages in column B. I find it
appalling when I hear popular grace teachers slam-dunking
works in the life of a believer by divorcing “NOT OF WORKS”
from “FOR GOOD WORKS”! For crying out loud saints of God, it
is one continuous thought in Ephesians 2:8-10! Why is it that
verse 10 is divorced from verses 8-9? Is this not “speaking
perverse things to draw disciples after themselves”? Are God’s
people not being given the whole truth about works? All we hear
emphasized is that salvation is “not of works.” Amen! So be it!
However the rest of the message needs to be told to God’s
people: They have been saved “For good works”! God is looking
for a people that have been taught that they were foreordained to
“walk in good works”! What has happened to the preaching of
the kind of “Grace of God” that Paul describes in Titus 2:11-14:

“FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION HAS
APPEARED TO ALL MEN, TEACHING US THAT, DENYING

UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY,
RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY IN THE PRESENT AGE, LOOKING FOR
THE BLESSED HOPE AND GLORIOUS APPEARING OF OUR GREAT

GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US,
THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM EVERY LAWLESS DEED AND

PURIFY FOR HIMSELF HIS OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE,
ZEALOUS FOR GOOD WORKS.” Titus 2:11-14

In light of Paul’s clear teaching about grace vs. works (2 Tim. 3:15-17, Eph. 2:8-10, Titus 2:11-14, Titus 3:8-15)
should we not condemn any teaching of the Grace of God that does not produce a people zealous for
good works? Should we not label any preaching of the Grace of God that does not emphasize the
importance of good works in the life of the believer to be only presenting HALF the truth?

If you only receive half the truth, you will end up with only half of the results. What am I saying? It is
this: You can end up with eternal life but without eternal rewards. Is not that what Paul taught in our
opening text?

“… NO OTHER FOUNDATION CAN ANYONE LAY THAN THAT WHICH IS LAID,
WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST… IF ANYONE BUILDS ON THIS FOUNDATION…LET EACH ONE TAKE HEED

HOW HE BUILDS ON IT… YOU ARE GOD’S BUILDING... EACH ONE’S WORK
WILL BECOME MANIFEST… IF ANYONE’S WORK WHICH HE HAS BUILT ON IT ENDURES,
HE WILL RECEIVE A REWARD. IF ANYONE’S WORK IS BURNED, HE WILL SUFFER LOSS,

BUT HE HIMSELF WILL BE SAVED…” 1 Cor. 3:9-15 excerpts