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NASB | Hebrews 11:40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 11:40 because God had us in mind and had something better for us, so that they [these men and women of authentic faith] would not be made perfect [that is, completed in Him] apart from us. |
Subject: Superior Hope |
Bible Note: Hey Country Girl, Let me demonstrate to you what this line of thinking has led to, and what those off the forum following my example have come to be. There are two young men, late twenties, early thirties. Their names are Darin and Richard. Darin spent his life in the church, and he never got answers to questions he asked. He was constantly challenged and ridiculed because he saw things in the scriptures that contradicted the teachings. He was not going to church anymore because they either couldn't or wouldn't answer, and he had despaired. Richard had converted a year ago, and was on the verge of turning back to Atheism because the people in the church had beat down his self esteem. He, too, got no answers, no real support ... nothing. It was a sham. The people were as fake as puppets. On my route, witnessing to anyone and everyone that will listen to me, as is my habit, I ministered to them "outside of the church walls." Both, after hearing the doctrine of love and seeing the credibility of it in scripture, started coming to my home for a Bible study. Neither of them goes to church still, though they want to if they can find a good church. And without going to church, they both, with the doctrine of love, treat people with respect, humility, kindness, patience, etc. They have both become people of good reputation because of where I led them. They have witnessed to many people, and have been able to answer questions. They have both advanced so far ahead of the average "New" Christian, you would never know that this study had only been going on for three months. There is another Bible study at the Toyota dealership nearby. I attended that one for a while. The people attending there are still sucking the teat while those I've discipled are tearing up steak. Richard, the weaker and least knowledgable of the two in the beginning, actually impressed me not long ago by showing me something I hadn't considered. The student taught the teacher, and that is the first sign of Christian maturity. Darin, about the same time, instead of bringing to me his question about an often difficult passage to interpret for most people, came to me with the answer to it, because of the doctrine of love, and presented to me the answer I would have presented to him. All because the foundational doctrine is solid and correct. At this point, I feel confident that either of them could take on a debate and win, because they are both well versed and trained in humility to accept and acknowledge if they are wrong. They both, without guidance from me except by example, have purchased interlinears, history books, concordances, bibles, software, etc. in order to do deeper studies on their own. I am proud of both of them, and neither of them did any of it inside the walls of a church building. They did it in an assembly of four or five, and are fully equipped and edified unto all good works. This is an actual happening. Church, while a good thing, is not the answer. It is AN answer. Other options work as well, and I have the living proof. What they did NOT get inside the church walls, they instead got from without. Ancient |