Historically councils called by the church do not create or expose some new revelation. Revelations come to individuals, and those were the founding apostles. The church is built on this revelation, as the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem attest. They are strong rocks and have endured the test of time. Wise is the man who builds where God has laid a foundation.
Church councils are called to define revelations, and to announce to the church those definitions. They create nothing new, but rather, sift through the accumulated issues and come up with what God already said to an apostle. That which cannot be traced this far is thrown out in a true council.
Unfortunately, "church" and "council" have been redefined through the years. Undue authority has been given to subsequent councils. Often new ideas were made dogma. Things that could not trace their origin to the apostolic writings were lifted above the Word. It can happen today. Councils are not always inspired of God, even the most well-meaning of them.
Paul from the beginning was a proclaimer of predestination. He was “separated from his mother's womb” (1:15). This was not an afterthought of God. This was pure grace. Paul had nothing to do with it. It was not about Paul, this grace....[ abbreviated | read entire ]
MEN! Come to our WEEKLY virtual Men's meeting Saturdays at 7 pm central time. You'll meet a group of great men, pray, and enjoy a portion of the Word of God. Get your Zoom app working, then shoot me an email: bob.j.faulkner.72@gmail.com I'll...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
1:8-9 8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
What caused Paul to be so alarmed at the Galatian beliefs? 1:6-7. 6I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7which is really not another; only there are some who are...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Men of God have testified of the impact of this little letter written two thousand years ago... Martin Luther said this: “The Epistle to the Galatians is my own epistle. I have betrothed myself to it. It is my Katie von Bora.” [Katie...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
From a Spurgeon sermon on resurrection: Suppose a man to have been dead, and to have been buried lik e others i n some great necropolis, some city of the dead, i n the catacombs. A n angel visits him , and by mercy's touch he lives. Now, can you...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
There are constant hindrances to the modern-day reader as he tries to comprehend God’s message to him. Why would anyone want to put this roadblock in front of a new believer? A person would have to have a dictionary and a guide to grammar at...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
We understand that in every reading of every Bible there are words and ideas hard to be understood. For this we have Bible dictionaries and commentaries. We are not looking for a child’s Bible. The doctrines still must be carefully taught by...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
“Some American fundamentalists have denounced Westcott's and Hort's Greek text of the Bible as corrupt. Most of these critics subscribe to the King James Only movement. King James Only author Gail Riplinger quotes them in her book New Age...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
David Otis Fuller, Baptist Pastor, d. 1988. I want to take you through a 1977 pamphlet of his, entitled, Is the King James Version nearest to the original autographs? It’s a strange question to ask since the “original autographs”...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
