Bible
Discussions and Debates
This is an area that some stay
away from. However, through the years, this has been an
area of GREAT interest to me. When I first started
independently studying the Bible, to this very day, it is
my desire to know and understand everything I can about
the VERY important (and sometimes controversial) beliefs
of the Apostles Doctrine.
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles'
doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in
prayers.
Saul of Tarsus experienced a complete 180 degree life
transformation, as a devout Pharisee, who
transitioned from the Levitical Law of the Letter,
to become a great minister to the Gentiles with the
Apostles Doctrine of the Christian faith. After his
conversion, God gave him a new name. He became known as
the Apostle Paul. This caused him to be misunderstood and
not trusted by some, and despised and hated by others.
However, he was loved by many, and had a very effective
First Century ministry. In fact, he is credited with
being used of God to write much of the New Testament (the
epistles {Letters} to Churches and Individual Christians
{people already saved} contained in the Books Romans
through Philemon). These are admonitions and
instructions for dealing with internal matters AND for
living a victorious life in Christ.
Paul was gifted to be able to
minister to anyone, whether they were a lowly servant OR
to a member of royalty. That said, his zeal AND his God-given
message remained constant. He did NOT have one message
for some folks, and another one for others. With some he
reasoned from the Scriptures, and others he actually
debated and disputed their beliefs, as they relate to the
Scriptures.
Acts 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them,
and three sabbath days reasoned with them out
of the scriptures,
Acts Chapter 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at
Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the
city wholly given to idolatry. [17] Therefore disputed he
in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout
persons, and in the market daily with them that met with
him.
There
were no denominations in the "original" New
Testament Church. However,
today there are divisions when it comes to something
other than ones own denomination. Those who have grown up
in the church tend to stand fast at their denominational
teachings. And, today, many people wouldn't give a
person the time of day from that which they've been
indoctrinated to believe. Therefore, I encourage people
to independently study the Bible to establish their faith
on book, chapter and verse, instead of the creeds, ideas,
opinions and theories of man. Especially those which came
along a couple Centuries AFTER Christ, and which are
based on a handful of very carefully selected Scriptures
which have been given "implied" interpretations,
and which contradict the vast preponderance of Scriptural
evidence on the same subject found elsewhere, and written
"verbatim" upon the pages of God's Holy Word.
In most cases, when one goes off
to a seminary to receive their ministerial credentials,
they must give answers to that which is perceived to be
the correct in oder to get their degree. This is where
the indoctrination of traditional views begin, and how
those views are passed down.
Our
doctrine MUST be the same as that which was preached,
practiced and taught by the "foot print"
followers, the "original" New Testament leaders.
If it isn't, then, according to the Bible itself,
it is made of man, built upon the sand, and accursed. Therefore,
a serious Bible student and/or believer MUST pay very
close attention to "doctrine", which is why we
should ALWAYS examine the "verbatim" Word of
God AND "preponderance" of Scriptural evidence
found in the Word of God.
-Bobby Richardson
Debate Series: Download for off line reading - Zipped Folder
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