BUY THE TRUTH AND SELL IT NOT
Christianity is not mysticism. True Gospel is not esoteric. The knowledge of God comes from studying the Scripture. An understanding of God’s precepts is bestowed upon those who diligently apply themselves to the Word of Truth.
There are no mysteries about God that are only revealed to a select specially “anointed” few. Those who claim to have esoteric knowledge they purportedly received directly from God outside of Scripture are Gnostics and new age mystics camouflaging as Christians. All we need to know about God is contained with the pages of the Bible.
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3).
It’s not the preoccupation of God to hide secrets, especially not from His children. The Bible contains all of God’s secrets that we need to know to live victorious Christian lives. All we need to know has been revealed and given to us in Scripture.
“To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.” (Matthew 13:11).
If you are a Christian, you have the mysteries of God. Study the Bible and you’ll find them. The teaching that special secrets are revealed only to select individuals is Gnosticism, and it is heretic.
That’s the reason you must:
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Rightly handling the Word of Truth requires diligent study. It’s by studying that you increase your knowledge of the mysteries of God which are already revealed in the pages of Scripture.
“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance…” (Proverbs 1:5).
“With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.” (Proverbs 11:9).
Opinion is like an unwashed armpit, most of the time it stinks. Uninformed opinion is the coin of the realm of fools. Only fools express opinions about what the Bible says based solely on what their GO or Daddy in the Lord tells them that God says. It’s a foolish thing to substitute the opinion of men for the Word of God.
“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” (Proverbs 18:2,15).
Knowledge is like a priceless precious stone. While a fool despises knowledge and trades it for unworthy things, a wise man sells everything to buy knowledge.
“There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.” (Proverbs 20:15).
“Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.” (Proverbs 8:10).
You can’t love God without knowing Him. The knowledge of God comes by studying God’s Word. It’s only when you know God by studying His Word that your love for Him deepens. The knowledge of God that deepens your love for God only comes when you apply your mind by using the 3-pound organ encased within your cranium.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37).
Erroneous doctrines produce unholy living. Those who engage in bizarre practices, foreign to Scripture, will eventually make a shipwreck of their faith.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me.” (Hosea 4:6).
For any doctrine to be Biblical, it must be explicitly taught in Scripture. In order to know what’s an acceptable Christian practice, you must study the writings of the Apostles and the Apostolic Fathers.
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32).
Truth ain’t cheap. To be free from error, you must invest in truth. The road to true knowledge is an untarred gravel path full of jagged stones.
“Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.” (Proverbs 23:23).
To know the truth, you must be willing to pay the price.
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