The Danger of False Confidence

I feel the need to address a common ill among God's people today, that needs desperately to be remedied. There is a facade of confidence that most professing "Christians" wear, in regard to what they believe to be the truth of the gospel of Christ. Yet so many "believe" so many things differently than so many others. So in reality either a lot of folks are believing the WRONG things, or EVERYBODY is believing the wrong things. I mean, let's face it, God is not scatter-brained or confused about the truth of the gospel. Neither is the Son of God. In fact they are perfectly joined together in one mind and one Spirit, even as Jesus said they were, and as he prayed for us to be as well (Jn. 10:30; Jn. 17:22-24). Jesus also told us how to attain unto that state, saying "When the Spirit of truth is come, [it] will guide you into all truth" (Jn. 16:13). Now if we HAVE the Spirit, and are taught by the Spirit, then we will all believe the SAME things about the gospel; because the holy Ghost IS the "mind of Christ," and there is no confusion or division in the mind of Christ and of his Father (I Cor. 1:10; Rom. 15:6; Rom. 8:27; I Cor. 2:16). So it is evident, as I stated, that the confidence that most "Christians" wear is merely a facade. In fact I know that to be absolutely the truth. And HOW do I know this? Because for over thirty years I have been blessed with the capacity to continue being taught by the Spirit of truth, and I know what is truth and what is not! And I know the TRUE unflinching, unshakable confidence that only comes by knowing the truth. And it is NOT a smug, arrogant, supposed confidence that looks down on those who do NOT know "the truth." It is a humbling confidence that is the result of an ongoing deliverance from everything that is contrary to the love and merciful Spirit of God that sent Jesus to this world to suffer and die for sinners (Jn. 3:17; Rom. 5:6; I Tim. 1:15). It is a love that does not "measure" people by what they know or don't know, but rather it just loves and promotes that same love to all. And that love also is not afraid to rebuke with godly fervor the errors that bedevil God's people. Jesus described this state as follows: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (Jn. 8:31,32). God's word is "what the Spirit is saying to [his people]" (Rev. 2:8; etc.). And continuing in that word is continuing to allow yourself to be taught and led by God's Spirit (I Jn. 2:27; Rom. 8:14).

Trouble is, almost everyone in the body of Christ has been taught what SOMEBODY has said, or is saying, rather than what God's Spirit is saying. And this is nothing new. Jesus addressed the same condition of things among God's people when he came: "But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?... But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mat. 15:3,9). In fact, due to the erroneous traditions and doctrines of Christianity that have dominion over God's people today, very few of God's people even realize who are their brothers and sisters in Christ. "There is one body [of Christ]," and there is "one baptism" which puts anyone into the body of Christ (Ep. 4:4,5; I Cor. 12:13). In reality, to provide the baptism of the holy Ghost is the only reason that Jesus came to this world (Mk. 1:7,8; Acts 1:4,5). Yet, due to the false "new birth" or "salvation" doctrines of Christianity, the Spirit baptism with its accompanying sign of speaking in tongues has been reduced to a "secondary" experience for the already "born again" or "saved" Christian. And believing these erroneous teachings of Christianity has left God's Spirit baptized people with the false notion that non Spirit baptized "Christians" are their brethren. They are not, at least not until they too are "baptized into one body," not by earthly water; but by those living waters that come from heaven into all who TRULY and fully believe on Jesus (I Cor. 12:13; Jn. 7:37,38; Rom. 8:9). And that is only the beginning of the truth, and the beginning of the exposure of the falsehood of Christianity. But when the foundation is unlevel, it is certain that the remainder of the house is unlevel as well. And it is quite certain that the entire house of the gospel of Christianity is as unlevel as it gets. The bottom line is that you have to know the truth for yourself, and it has to come through the same Spirit of truth that Jesus sent back from heaven. According to Jesus, those who rely on and trust only in that source, are the ONLY congregation against whom "the gates of hell shall not prevail" (Mat. 16:15-18). So my friend, if you want more than to just go along with the status quo of Christianity, and you long for a confidence of faith that is more than a "puffed up" false confidence in religious rhetoric and foolishness; seek after God desperately with a humble and honest heart until you are absolutely certain that it is his Spirit revealing truth from heaven to you personally. And until God makes known to you who can help steer you into that truth. Then walk in what he shows you, and turn away from those who will not do likewise (II Tim. 3:5; I Tim. 6:5; II Thess. 3:14). There is no other way. Amen.