Bible Studies

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A weak believer is a born-again, Heaven bound individual, but who has chosen to disobey the command (not an option) to grow in the knowledge of the Lord (2Pet. 3: 18), or who lacks the willingness to consistently apply what he or she has learned (James 1: 22), for a variety of different reasons (Luke 14: 26/Mark 4: 19).

In the life of weak believers, the dominating feelings they have in their estranged relationship with God are guilt, fear, obligation, uncertainty, and insecurity. There is no intimacy in such an estranged relationship.

The integrity of the salvation that weak believers have already received is no different than the integrity of the salvation that strong (spiritually mature) believers have received (Rom. 8: 1).

But experientially, they are worlds apart. Spiritually mature believers know what it’s like to live in the “peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4: 7 NASB2020),” even in the midst of all the consequences of our own negative choices, and the adversity that the devil (1Pet. 5: 8), the Eph. 6: 12 forces of evil, other people, and that GOD sends or allows to take place, with a divine purpose in mind.

No doubt, it is often what God sends or allows to take place is what presents the highest hurdle to overcome along the track to spiritual maturity.

Weak believers quickly cave in under such pressure. They not only suffer the consequences of their chosen responses, but become poor examples of the faith they claim to have. In this the devil is well-pleased.

On the other hand, nothing infuriates the devil more than to have thrown his best punch, only to see his intended target get back up and move forward in the plan of God, In this, God is well leased.

Salvation is instantaneously achived the moment one is born again, but becomming a strong believer, takes time and exercise.

The unearned, undeserved, irrevocable, gift of eternal life is what God bestows on all who believe, when they are presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message encapsulated in John 3: 16. 18. The sealing and regenerating process that follows is the irreversible Work of God the Holy Spirit, not human clergy.

Knowing these BASIC truths (John 8: 32), is what sets an advancing disciple free from all the inevitable fear, anxiety, and insecurity that haunts the soul of a weak believer. Advancing disciples will recognize moral degeneracy for the subtle evil that it is.

Moral degeneracy is in view regarding teachings, practices, and rituals that are the products of Man-made religion, that are promoted as having come from God.

In most cases, all that an advancing disciple has to do, to determine if it came from God or Man, is to trace back and locate the starting date when the teaching and accompanying practice(s) was first introduced into the Christian Community. From there, its source, be it from God or Man, can be detected, as well as its consistency (or lack of consistency) with what the Bible actually has to say.

Going to a member of the clergy for guidance and advice will result in being told what the religious institution that he or she represents has to say. Most religious folks already are aware of that. Seeking such guidance is fine, IF what he, she, or the religious institution has to say lines up with Scripture. Otherwise, one becomes a victim of the blind leading the blind scenario.

Advancing disciples want to hear chapter and verse that backs up what ANY clergy has to say, and are not satisfied with the “that’s our faith” cop out, when they are seeking specific spiritual guidance.

Pastor-teachers, that are worth their salt, are NOT offended when people come to them with questions about what comes from their pulpit.

Some inquirers do so with evil intent (Matt. 22: 15), whereas others do so with a sincere desire to understand the truth (John 3: 9).

In either scenario, such inquiries gives the pastor-teacher the opportunity to clarify or to reiterate what is being taught.

Such inquiries gives the pastor-teacher the opportunity to conduct a 2Cor. 13: 5 self-examination to see if he (the pastor-teacher) had gotten it right, as he too, is a “work in progress,” and is capable of human error, and of not always doing the best job of communication.

The day one thinks he or she knows it ALL and has it ALL down pat, is the day he or she has stopped growing and has stopped moving forward along the road to spiritual maturity. There will ALWAYS be room for improvement on this side of Heaven.

In Matt. 15: 9 NASB2020 we read, “And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” In context, Jesus was speaking about all the “add-ons” that the Pharisee had added to The Law of the Old Testament, but certainly can apply to a lot of what has become an accepted and ongoing practice in many parts of the apostate Christian Community of our day.

Among the many, many, requirements for discipleship are physically attending local assemblies (or otherwise connecting with an edifying pulpit), celebrating the Lord’s Supper, self-examinations, prayer, confessing sin, conforming to the likeness of Christ, good behavior, good deeds, etc.

As important as these post (after) salvation activities are for the development of discipleship, post (after) salvation discipleship has got NOTHING to do with receiving or retaining the unearned, undeserved, GIFT of eternal life.

Spending one’s post salvation spiritual life trying to complete the atoning Work that was already finished (John 19: 30) on the cross, or working to retain, through human effort, what cannot be lost, is where and when moral degeneration has become a part of one’s spiritual life.

End of Part Six

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