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NASB | John 7:17 "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 7:17 "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is of God or whether I speak on My own accord and by My own authority. |
Subject: What is preaching Christ? |
Bible Note: Hi Mitch, I can't think of where the Bible tells us about God "making Himself dependant" on the faith of His children, the redeemed. Where is that? We are implicitly told that we are tested by God, in that God tested the children of Israel (Deut 8:2, 13:3, Judges 3:4), and in that the things written of Israel are to be an example for us. Now, in Deut 8:2, God says He is testing Israel, but in fact, this is talking about false prophets. So God is taking responsibility for the false prophets. That to me is an amazing statement. God claims that when these sinners seek to victimize His son Isreal, it is in fact God Himself testing Israel. So whether the event or situation that is a trial to us is directly originated by God or not, He takes responsibility for what comes into our lives. This is in agreement with New Testament teaching as well. God limits what tries us (1 Cor 10:13), and everything must conform to His purpose (Eph 1:11). Notice that neither of these statements in Scripture are made with any reference to our faith, or to what it is that tries us, whether sickness, or persecution, or whatever. I would ask you, where does Scripture say that sickness is excluded? Consider the following: James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; James 5:15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. A few things I would like to point out in this passage. Healing does not come as a result of the faith of the one who is sick, but from the faith of the elders who pray. So if we connect disease with a lack of faith in the one with the disease, well, this passage seems to ignore that, not counting the sick person's faith as an issue. Why then should we? Now, we know that which is not of faith is sin. (Romans 14:23) This passage in James tells us that the sick person can be healed, and IF they have committed sins, they will be forgiven. Not, their sin will be forgiven, but "IF" they have committed sin. If their sickness was because they lacked the faith to be healthy, that would be sin, would it not, since that which is not of faith is sin? This passage does not make that assumption. So why should we? Just some thoughts. Love in Christ, Mark |