Many denominations and sects have mushroomed in the Christian religion because of the growing controversies, which in effect is building high and strong walls arising out of the diverse doctrines, interpretations, and nuances in understanding.
Surprisingly, the divide stem from the same Holy Scriptures called the Holy Bible. Others claim that the Bible itself is the power and the authority of God, hence, most of them compete to display their wisdom and understanding of the scriptures and many are seduced on this scheme.
Gleaning on the observation, the doctrines that prevail in the different Christian denominations and sects reflect the laws, which they cull from the Holy Bible using it as the very foundation and the very building block of their belief, or else, their doctrine. Belief is different from faith.
Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Some Christ believers observe the laws from Moses, thus, refraining themselves from eating blood. James, John, and Peter carried on with this tradition while Paul observed Jesus’ revelation and laws in the Spirit by the Holy Ghost saying nothing is unclean which comes into the mouth but that which comes out of the mouth from the hearts of men.
However we review and reflect on the issue of the word and the Spirit this perspective show a stark reality of what really transpired and how narratives have changed by each priest or savior who was and is sent by God.
Early on, the very Christian Church was already showing signs of cracks between Jesus and John. John the Baptist was suppose to pave the way for Jesus. Along the way, he doubted Jesus if he was really the Messiah sending his disciples to Jesus. Matter of fact, John the Baptist did lip service to Jesus saying he must increase and I must decrease. He died without handing over his disciples to Jesus. Today, the John the Baptist and Jesus story is not understood. Many films were made about the story of Jesus and John the baptist but all fall short of the truth.
JOHN THE BAPTIST MAKING A LIP SERVICE TO JESUS CHRIST
John 3:26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
John 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
John 3:28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
John 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
JOHN THE BAPTIST SENDING HIS 2 DISCIPLES TO INQUIRE JESUS
Luke 7:18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
Luke 7:19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
Luke 7:20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
Luke 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
Luke 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
Luke 7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
PEOPLE WERE ASKING JESUS IN THE SPIRIT OF DOUBT
Luke 5:33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
Going deeper into the past, the schism of the people of God, that is, the church by a law is evident when we study the events which happen in Israel by tribes. The book of Jeremiah chapter 35 reveals how their tradition by a law contradicts the ways of the Spirit of God. Clearly, the tradition of men by a law from God though observed and obeyed is never the way of God the Spirit. God sends His servants the prophets or messenger or savior to decree a law but man has always rejected them.
In the Spirit everything is fluid and changing nothing is fix because the Spirit is continually creating stories for every generation and for every individual to fit them into the service of his Kingdom along a present narrative.
Now, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever because he is not stopping to change things making them new every morning. God is not changing because change is His constant. This is the reason why Moses had a different narrative from Jesus. Paul, also, had a different narrative from that of James, John, and Peter. The lack of knowledge and understanding on the Spirit is the very reason why gaps appear between many truth seekers. Today, is no different from the past in that the different sects, and denominations, and kingdoms are by the tradition divided by a law which became their commandments to men.
Acts 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Acts 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
For elaboration, the split among early believers is clear between the ministry of Paul on the gospel of uncircumcision and the ministry of James, John, and Peter on the gospel of circumcision. The apostles of Jesus Christ_ James, John, and Peter could have been selective on the words of Jesus or have just waited for the word of revelation by the Spirit, hence, in the absence of it they believe they were only sent for the lost sheep of the house of Israel despite the pronouncements of Jesus to make them fishers of men, to go to the world and make disciples.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Now, know and understand the manner of God and the ways of God, which is the flaw of Apollos in the scriptures having missed knowing the ways of God though he is renowned to be mighty in the scriptures.
Truly, there are people called mighty in the scriptures but without coming to terms in knowing and understanding the ways and the manner of God all interpretations and prophecies will fall and break apart, hence, the many denominations today.
To expound the point of the split of the Church, both in the ancient and modern, the passage below must open the understanding of men on the power of God and His manner which always come into play in the area of interpretation.
Ezekiel 20:11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
Ezekiel 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
Ezekiel 20:13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
Ezekiel 20:14 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
Ezekiel 20:15 Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
Ezekiel 20:16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
Ezekiel 20:17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
Ezekiel 20:18 But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
Ezekiel 20:19 I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
The above passages reveal many things about God’s power, manner, ways, mind, and works. By His power, he can change what He has promised. By His power he can build and destroy. By His power he can create new heavens and new earth. In this episode, God’s power is displayed by intending to kill or destroy Israel in the wilderness without minding His promise to Abraham with all of his expressed prophecies on him as a nation by a clear narrative: that his seed will be enslaved for 400 years and afterward will be freed to possess the land of Canaan.
In the same passage, the manner of God is clear in that God is provoked by transgressions (by his chosen people and the world) in despising his judgments, walking not in His statutes, and polluting the Sabbath by a whoring heart. Provoking Him to anger will not benefit anyone. The mind of God is against them that do evil and the work of God is in creating nations, among others.
Turning a blind eye on the ways of God will mean lack of knowledge in the scriptures and saying that God cannot come in the flesh or manifest in the flesh will mean lack of knowledge in the power of God by the scriptures.
Many believers of the Holy Bible think of the coming of Christ as the final thing being ignorant that God is a Spirit and that He dwells in the vessels met for honour by his pleasure and choice.
Now, there are many spirits and there is only one Father of all spirits. There is a spirit in a man. There is a spirit of the world. There is a spirit in the beasts. There are spirits from God both holy and evil and all these are His servants in His kingdom.
KNOWING THE EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD
Psalms 119:91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
1 Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
1 Samuel 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
1 Samuel 19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
1 Samuel 16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
THE LYING SPIRIT FROM GOD
1 Kings 22:23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.
2 Chronicles 18:22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.
THE EVIL SPIRIT KNOWS JESUS AND THE SERVANT PAUL
Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
If people will continue to reject the words which are already written and known of men how shall they accept the words of the man of God when he will speak by the Spirit of Truth and Revelation and by the Spirit of Prophecy and Interpretation?
Surely, the reason why the denominations continue to ominously branch and divide is because they do not have the perfect knowledge. What they have is the knowledge in part.
Now, the Bible is not the complete revelation of God as it talks of mysteries and secrets of God, which are to be revealed in their appointed time.
It is marvelous to think and beyond rational imagination why there are many evangelists who claim to have known God when it is obvious that they lack the knowledge on the ways, works, mind, and manner of God. Besides, the thoughts and the ways of God are not of men and is higher than that of men.
All interpretations are private and the tradition by a law which is the reason why they destroy and make their disciples twice-fold the child of hell. This exposé is a bitter pill to swallow but this truth helps people to know God.
Even so, it is understandable why Christ said they are teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Unless the interpretation of the scriptures comes from a man with the holy spirit and becomes inclusive it is neither spiritually viable nor reflective of the present truth of God which the scriptures portray since the ancient times.
Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Now, where will this understanding of the scriptures lead to? Surely, it is for all humankind to fear God and keep his commandments because he is a just rewarder of all of man's actions, thoughts, and words.
Now, because he looks at the heart and not at the outward appearance let us cleanse, therefore, ourselves from filthiness of flesh and spirit. The overall reason why there is a need to understand the scriptures is so that we will not be deceived and seduced by another spirit, another gospel, and by another Jesus.