RELIGION, heresy, cults and extra biblical beliefs, rituals and practices are/were born out of misuse of the Bible. The Bible is and should be interpreted within a set of sound principles of interpretation. Someone may come across where it says Solomon had many wives and form a cult where men are allowed to marry many wives. This is great injustice to the spirit and intent of the Bible. We also know that in the Bible, God spoke, Jesus spoke, Satan spoke and men spoke. Therefore, rightly divided Word of Truth becomes our belief and forms the Christian Faith.
Diligent Bible students always read and interpret the Bible in context and as one piece from Genesis to Revelation. This helps to clear the mind of the interpretor and the audience of seeming contradictions. Contradictions can only be in the mind of the reader, not the Bible. The Bible has to be clearly explained. The holy written Word has to be handled conscientiously.
The sooner we acknowledge that we are the righteousness of God in Christ, the sooner sin consciousness begins to lose its grip or dominion over us. In this way the fullness of the revelation of God in Christ becomes a reality to us. Any positive thinking behind the pulpit masquerading as presentation of the Gospel of Christ bounces back because of the Spirit of Christ in us and the Word embedded in our spirit.
We keep repeating in this column that we did not and do not confess sin to be saved, but Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. We read Romans 10:9-10: “[9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” I wonder how preachers of old inserted sin here.
We do not find confession of sins that we committed willingly and unwillingly, knowingly and unknowingly, by commission or by omission and all sorts of gibberish. Confession of sins for salvation is nowhere in the Bible. When you face challenges common to humanity, you will be busy looking for unconfessed sin. Those who do so struggle with sin consciousness. The mature will confess that they are the righteousness of God and move in victory. 2 Corinthians 5:21, teaches us: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
They never come to spiritual maturity. When prayer is called for, they spend hours and days confessing sins and their minds are blinded and never accept and receive forgiveness and remission of sins. This trivialises the finished/accomplished work of Christ. Scriptures of the believer’s identity seem too extreme for them, but that is the love of God. Feed on His love like 1 Corinthians 1:30: “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” Do not waste your time condemning yourself, satan is already accusing you.
Dear reader, the Gospel of Christ does not depend on our works or so-called good deeds, but rides on the finished/accomplished work of Christ. It's unearned, undeserved, unmerited and humanly unattainable favour. Apostle Paul would ask, Galatians 3:2-3: “[2] This only would I learn of you, received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
We are in Christ justified and He is in us glorified. We have to enjoy the rest and peace of God the Father. Hebrews 4:10, teaches us: “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”
- Masvingo turns down fire tender deal
- Grace tidings: Do you understand what it means to be holy?
- Witness will testify that Kelly Khumalo shot Senzo Meyiwa by mistake – defence lawyer
- Grace Tidings: The grace of God and His unconditional love
Keep Reading
We also read John 6:28-29, “[28] Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? [29] Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” To summarise the four Gospels, the Bible records in John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
We confess Jesus, our sin bearer. 2 Corinthians 5:21 ministers to us: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” If you have been caught in the heretic web of sin consciousness, you may need to confess verses like this maybe for years till it is actualised in you. Internalise it till you're convinced that you are redeemed.
We buttress with Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Confess it. Please remember that it is not a feeling but an acknowledgement (Greek epignosis) of truth. John 8:32 reads: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” It is not religious error that frees you, but knowledge of the truth.
Oftentimes preachers of another gospel use one verse to confuse you. They are called trouble makers. The Bible makes it clear that we cannot build doctrine that way. 2 Corinthians 13:1 records: “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
The following verse has been used to keep us bound in sin consciousness. 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The original manuscripts or the Greek Version would be ideal. It says, if we confess our sin. From the verses we read above from Romans, we found out that we're saved by speaking.
Christianity is a speaking Faith. The sin is a person, the Man Christ Jesus. Bring back to memory 2 Corinthians 5:21 quoted above. Jesus is our sin Bearer and our Righteousness. So we keep confessing Jesus from the moment we hear, accept and believe the Gospel of Christ till our mortal bodies put on immortality or till we sleep (die) or till the return of Christ.
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.
All Bible quotations are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated.
Fellowship with Pastor Makarimayi on Facebook and on www.twitter.com/PEMAKARIMAYI.
