Edward O’Hara: WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING; QUESTIONS WE MUST ASK- 2Cor.5:19

By Edward O'Hara,

The idea of questioning long held political and religious beliefs is happening now more than at any other time in history. The question is, is this a good method to use for finding truth?

My answer to that is, what other way is there? Not in a hateful or rebellious way. But, in an inquiring way. Because we have to question things to know whether they are true. Especially the things we may have come to believe are true before we came to trust in Jesus. This is why Paul says we need to renew our minds in Rom.12:1,2.

And in this endeavor I have found the Bible to be 100% accurate 100% of the time. In all areas of study, everything the Bible says has so far for me proven itself to be absolutely and unequivocally trustworthy. And I know that if you will put it to the test you will discover this to be true just as I have.

That being said, the question then becomes, should we believe what someone else says about what the Bible means? Should we trust someone else’s interpretation? The answer is we shouldn’t. At least not just on someone’s say so. This is why we must test what we are told by the very scriptures we are having interpreted for us. A practice of the Bereans we see in Acts17:11 that was applauded by Paul.

But, in contrast Roman Catholicism teaches that it is not possible to interpret the scriptures by the scriptures. So they invented a “magisterium”, a group of men believed to be specially anointed by God for this task, to interpret the scriptures for them.

But, what does John say about this? By using the scriptures we can clearly see the folly in the invention of the magisterium. In 1John2:20 when sharing with believing Jews John said, “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.” And in vs.27 he adds, “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

So, by always as much as is possible for us in our understanding of the things of God, comparing what is plainly taught in them with what we are being told. With the Holy Spirit’s leading, of course. We must interpret scripture with the scripture.

Here is just one example where this has happened for me. One of the first times I noticed that what I was hearing a “pastor” teach was not compatible with what the scriptures plainly said was when he said that all men inherited a sin nature from Adam.

I mean I knew people can do bad things. But, sinners by nature? This I had difficulty believing. Because I had no frame of reference from which to draw such a conclusion.

At first it just sounded odd to me. But, as I grew in my understanding of the word of God it became apparent that something was really wrong with it. For a while I couldn’t place a finger on why it wasn’t right. But, I just had a nagging suspicion that it wasn’t.

So I began to look at all the scriptures they were using as proof of a sin nature. And along with a simple word search in my concordance which was keyed to the KJV, I quickly found that there is no such phrase to be found anywhere in the entirety of the scriptures.

That sent alarm bells ringing for me. Because if it isn’t found in the scriptures then why are people teaching it as if it is?

But, I didn’t stop there. I began a search for what the word(s) is that some translations used that they were translating as sin nature. And every time I found where some translations did this I found that they were using the Greek word sarx for this.

But, when I looked up what that word actually means in the Greek I found that neither sin nor nature are a correct meaning or translation for it. To the contrary, I found that sarx simply means flesh. The flesh that all humans have that makes us just as Adam was when he was made. That which people can see and touch. The flesh our bodies are made of.

So what I discovered was that instead of these so called translations of the Bible translating what the Greek word sarx really is. They completely ignored the correct translation. And instead gave their interpretation for what they believe it means. And called what they wrote a Bible. So that what they were passing off as a Bible translation. Was really just someone’s interpretation. The history of how the NLV came to be admits to as much.

I was so surprised at this that I began noticing what translation they were using when I listened to someone teaching. For fear that this might be their methodology as well. Especially someone who taught using one of these “translations” that I had already found to be unreliable.

Those who teach using the NIV or NLV do so mostly because they are already led astray themselves. They have accepted as true the doctrine of original sin and sin nature. And are ignorantly passing on to those whop are listening to them the same false teaching by which they have been deceived.

So now that I have grown accustomed to reading and hearing the KJV, whenever I am hearing someone teach the scriptures I recognize immediately whether they are using a reliable translation. Or one that is someone’s interpretation. And because I do not want to read someone else’s interpretation when I am reading the scriptures. I make it a practice of doing these kinds of word searches.

Not that the KJV is perfect mind you. But, because I have found it to be the most reliable among English translations. This is why I have decided to read read and to study exclusively from the KJV. Using my concordance, along with keeping what is being said in context, so I am assured of the closest to the meaning of the original language.

This has become such a huge problem for one who wants to know God and Jesus and the atonement. Because even when reading the most reliable translation, a person can still come to wrong conclusions. By reading into those scriptures they’re pre-conceived notions about what the scriptures mean.

But, if we will recognize the true meaning of the words we are reading. And do our best to keep in context what is being said. We will avoid these pitfalls.

Pitfalls that open people up to the awful antichrist presuppositions that spawned the Gnosticism the apostles fought against. And the Gnosticism of the doctrine of original sin and sin nature that causes people to pervert scriptures like Psalm51 and Rom.7 to prove men have a sin nature. When these scriptures say nothing of the sort when kept in context.

Gnosticism for which John wrote in 1John4:3 saying, “every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and this is the spirit of antichrist…”

Here is the entire passage. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

Gnosticism for which Paul wrote saying, “6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

As well as what he said in Heb.2 beginning at vs.9 saying, “9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

What sufferings? Those that accompany being fully human. Because being fully human means to be subject to death and its side effects. Like sickness, infirmities, and broken relationships. Which is why Paul continues in vs.14 saying,

“14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same”. Not like or sort of. But, the same flesh all men have.

This flies in the face of the sin nature doctrine. Because by Jesus coming in the same flesh all men have if the original sin and sin nature doctrine were true then Jesus would also have to have been a sinner by nature. And as guilty of sin as Adam was.

But, because this gnostic doctrine is not true Paul could rightly say that through death Jesus was able to “14 destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.”

This is why in vs.17 Paul says, “17 in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”

So when you teachers are at the pulpit. Or when people are listening to their favorite preacher/teacher/evangelist. Take some time to really consider what is being said. And use your critical thinking skills and put on your spiritual thinking cap by laying any presuppositions and what you are being told up against the scrutiny of the word of God. Always testing the spirit of the message. And examining your beliefs whether they are in accordance with God’s word.

This then is how we examine ourselves to see whether we be in the faith.

If they are saying that all men have a sin nature then what they believe is that Jesus did not come in the same flesh all men have. And as I showed before John said that spirit is the spirit of antichrist.

So where teaching or preaching deviates at all from what the word of God plainly says be careful to look closely at those deviations. You may be shocked at what you find it really means. And that these people that have taken positions of “authority” over those who sit in their audience are really just wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Some knowingly. And possibly unknowingly for others who are novices. Those who are doing it knowingly do not have the best interest of the people listening in mind. But, their own interests. Desiring riches, position, status, or vocation that is more a worldly pursuit than a godly one. Doing that which appeals to the flesh rather than the spirit.

Remember, James told us that satan roams about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. These are they Paul says who have turned away from sound doctrine to hear only what soothes their itching ears. Error that has become familiar to them in spite of the plain teaching of the scriptures. Those who Paul tells us in 2Thes.2 that in the end, because they have never come to a love for the truth, receive strong delusion that they might be damned.

So if you are prone to trusting in dreams and visions that can not be confirmed by the word of God. Or to false interpretations that when compared to the plain language of the scriptures is found to have deviated from it in any way. Return to the sound doctrine that is found only in the trustworthy translations of the word of God. And not interpretations like the NLV or NIV and others that have been made to lead people astray in the gnostic doctrine of original sin and sin nature.

Seeking God where He may be found. Where His word has not been adulterated by the false gnostic gospels Paul said would lead those who follow after them to be accursed. That happens to those who were never willing to hear the truth, so that they never came to a love for the truth.

And if you are someone who has not yet trusted in Jesus for eternal life then please trust in Him today. Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus. And believe in your heart that He has raised from the dead. By this Paul told us we are saved.

By this we have eternal life. And the hope of the resurrection wherein we will become immortal. The purpose for which Jesus came. Do this and you will be born again. Born of God’s Spirit. A child of God and heir to His kingdom. Do this… and I will see you there or in the air!

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