These studies serves to help people draw closer to God through God’s Breath, the Scriptures. These articles serve for the edification of all, for the reformation of denominations back to the Bible, and for evangelism using the Scriptures, God’s breath, as the sole authority on a variety of spiritual subjects. “God’s Breath” refers to 2 Timothy 3:16′s adjective of the Scriptures as theopneustos. By scripture, this publication recognizes Christ’s Spirit in speaking through scripture to make the person of God complete unto every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17), which includes both the Old and the New Testaments (1 Tim. 5:18). This journal welcomes Christian authors to submit their articles to the editor at ScottJon82[at]yahoo.com. The credentials are the writers are determined by their scriptural basis of their articles and their core beliefs.
The editor is Scott Shifferd, Jr, who is now serving as a minister, married, and has two children in Jacksonville, FL.
**These articles are open to comments, questions, and challenges. If the premises of these articles are wrong, then please present premises (not assertions) to correct these conclusions. If there is disagreement, this article will respond and affirm the premises of the Scriptures. Please help us to eliminate any assertions for which conclusions stand. These articles are for church reform and evangelism. Errors in the articles will be retracted and corrected for the sake of the teacher and readers since those that teach will be judged strictly (James 3:1). May God bless us all in Christian discussion. Not all comments are allowed on this publication. Only those that are profitable and respectful in observation, affirmation, and supplementing premises. Thank you.**
I want to share my story to help others to over come the ememy forces; human and otherwise; to stay faithful to the end. My story includes being hunted in the feilds since 2004 by false prophets whom I came from their camps but their corruptions were revealed to me espically when I cast out a demon and the leaders became very jealous and threw me into a pit and sought to distroy any sembalence of a devine destiny in my life; God led me to Jerusalem and I have been reporting to International Authorities and Federal Authorities and church leaders working on these issues since 2007.
My information is sensitive but God has a purpose for the good of thus informaion as it includes corruption, fraud and the demonic and victory in Christ.
I am writing other websites also who are trying to inform and warn the body of the evils of out day.
Sincerely,
Andrea Ten Harmsel
Sounds interesting, but no thanks. Get a site or hubpage. Take care.
Why do the Churches of Christ reject the biblical way of salvation? Why do they not allow women in leadership roles since the bible clearly teaches that women are to be elders, pastors, evangelists etc. Why do they reject musical instruments in worship since the New Testament clearly says we are to use them. I agree with them on rejecting Calvinism.
http://godsbreath.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/questions-for-churches-of-christ/
Well, you are certainly on your way to the podium as a spokesman with Contending for the Faith, Firm Foundation, and the Spiritual Sword. I admire your strength, certainty, and fortitude. I, however, truly hope and pray that the grace that we all so easily speak about is sufficient to cover all of our interpretations, biases, histories, and lines in the sand – for you, me and others. I humbly but firmly believe that there is no one or any group who has the sole monopoly and proprietorship on what is absolute spiritual truth – the kind that really will set us free (John 8:32). Sadly – for many of us – God will not concern himself with whether I was more right than the next but, rather, he will ask if I was merciful and loving (I Cor 13:13) – first!. I fear that, for many of us, he will question us on our opinions and stances about sacrifice (acts and “core truths’) vs. mercy (humbleness and caring for others more than ourselves) (Heb 6:6, Matt 9:13; 12:7). If our lives and former actions answer these questions wrong – it won’t matter how “right” or “wrong” I have been. God is a dependable and honest judge. God will judge me as one who is as a Pharisee – “You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” (Matt 23) Be well, sir. May we both strive to be humble, loving, patient, and worthy students of Scripture – but may we also both let God do the judging while we take care of his earthly domain in kind, loving, and passionate ways while we can. He loves us so, in an act of grace-gratitude, I love and give myself to and for others. Prayers. (I write this anonymously – I just can’t bring myself to reveal my identity at this time. In God’s good time, perhaps. Love you.)
I really enjoy your posts-have you heard of William Branham?
Thank you. Not anymore than I have googled about Branham. Why?
Scott, please define the church of Christ. Don’t mean to be funny or contentious. I too believe that only those in Christ will be in Heaven. But there are still those who state that only those who attend a building with the church of Christ above the door are those saved. Yes, it is confusing. Many of the past and current doctrines produce more fruit like that of Colossians 2 than Galatians 5. It is totally antithetical to Matthew 7, Colossians 2 and James 4. I wish I could say I haven’t had first hand experience, but it is still occurring. I have to pretty much agree with Felix. Galatians 6 is not a verse to be taken lightly, yet that is exactly where many who raised many of us who right came from or are coming from. Want and need to grow closer to Christ and away from the Phariseeism and the soul damage it causes. Many of the addictions I’m still fighting, while of my own foolishness, have their roots in the self-righteous finger pointing I was taught.
Paul and John spoke against false teachers. We should also. Jealousy is a demonic influence and the basis of many doctrines taught in many groups including many of the churches of Christ. Hence the taboo against choirs, solos and many other new “laws”. We need to remember the exhortation that the Lord knows who are His. I too went to Church of Christ universities and have read much of the old standard writers. Hence I know of the danger of much of their writings in regards to judging one another and again I’ve seen the fruit. Sadly even in myself. I’ve also seen repentance. I thank God he helped me to see it. 1 Corinthians 6 and Revelation 21 give a pretty comprehensive list of those who will not enter the Kingdom. In Acts the apostles exhort Paul not to bind more than they presented. We claim to be the restored 1st century church? In a way we are. We still have to fight the Law in it’s old and new forms. We have to fight the isms of old. The names have changed but the enemy is the same. What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus. I appreciate the forum as we’ve lost in many cases that old striving for truth. We’re no longer the Bereans. But there is still too much opinion taught is place of the Blood. James 3 :1 is awesome.
I’m not quite following you on the new “laws” about choirs, etc. We should be very careful. Just be the Church. Yet, this means that focus on Christ and His words and life are the complete pattern. If the perfect and complete revelation of Christ’s Spirit teaches a specific definition of the Lord’s Supper, baptism, and His music in congregational singing, then we must keep it as such, but this is not to judge or to immediately withdraw from the immature or misguided churches. First, we must consider ourselves and whether we err in understand. Second, we must encourage others to repent and return to the completeness of Christ’s revelation. Third, we must withdraw from false teachers, elders, and even those brethren openly practicing sin (Rom. 16:17ff, 2 Thess. 3).
God bless.
I mean that the Church that Christ built (Matt. 16:18), the Church that Jesus bought with His blood (Acts 28:20). The church that has existed through the ages. Those who not only claim to believe in Jesus, but believe what He says by the act of obeying Him. The Church are those who immerse in faith for forgiveness of sins (Gal. 3:26-27, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Rom. 6:3-7) and those who meet on the Lord’s Day to partake of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:20, 33, Acts 20:7). The Church are those who love God and love their neighbor (Rom. 12-13), and these are those who disciples indeed by that they abide His word (John 8:31).
Scott,
To what extent are we “to draw closer to God through the scriptures?” I draw closer to God through His Spirit in me. Not trying to minimize the power of words but I believe that the words in the scriptures are intended to help us awaken to His Spirit within us ad then live according to His Spirit. If this is wrong then please show me where.
We draw closer to God by the scriptures, which includes the Spirit speaking to us. When the scriptures speak, the Spirit speaks (Acts 1:16, 28:25-27, Heb. 3:7-11, 10:15-16). Unless we are an Apostles of Christ or one who had their hands laid on us making us a prophets, we do not receive direct revelation, but receive revelation like everyone else through the Scriptures (Acts 8:14-17, Eph. 3:3-5).
Do not forget that Christ is in us and God in in us (Rom. 8:10, 1 John 3:24, 4:16), and we are in the Spirit and we are to abide in Christ (John 15:4-10). Remember the command to be filled with Spirit in Ephesians 5:18 has a parallel in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31), and ” If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Whatever spiritual life that we claim to have, a true spiritual life is in the words of Christ, which He gave to His Apostles (John 15:20, 17:8, Act 1:2) by His Spirit (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:12-13).
The Spirit is truly in us when “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (Rom. 8:5). This is how the Spirit transforms us (2 Cor. 3:18) and we renew our minds (Rom. 12:2).