The True Christian and Church: Examples of Lawlessness?
I’ll illustrate a few New Testament “laws” which are ignored by “many” in the church today (God sets His Rules for His Work —> one just “obeys” it, not “question” it):
(i) Women are “not” permitted to ‘teach’ (Christian doctrine, worldly teaching positions can) nor allowed to have any ‘authority’ (no Christian leadership positions but worldly positions can, such as a judge etc.) over a man (Scripture doesn’t write ‘husband’ nor ‘her man’):
“A woman should quietly learn from others with entire submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach, nor have authority over a man, but she must remain silent.
For Adam was formed first, and then Eve;
and Adam was not deceived, but his wife was thoroughly deceived, and so became involved in transgression.
Yet a woman will be brought safely through childbirth* if she and her husband continue to live in faith and love and growing holiness, with habitual self-restraint.” (1 Timothy 2:11 – 15)
*saved through childbirth = safely through childbirth = meaning that she may ‘not die’ during childbirth; it’s often erroneously understood to mean ‘salvation’ instead due to the word ‘saved/delivered’ (safely) translated here.
(ii) Women are “not” allowed to even ‘speak’ in church (Christian assembly or gatherings). If they have a “question” (wish to learn), they should ask their husbands ‘at home’. If some are not married, they may ask their “questions” to the man-leaders ‘outside’ of the “church”.
“The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it a shame for a woman to speak in church.” (1 Corinthians 14:34 – 35)
(iii) There are “no” massive numbers of believers ‘speaking in tongues’ at the ‘same time’ in any ‘church gatherings’. Speaking in tongues is limited in a ‘church meeting’ to ‘at most’ three and each of these must be subject to two further conditions —> namely, —> taking turns (not simultaneously, ‘each in turn’) —> “must” be interpreted there and then —> if “not”, ‘keep silent!’ in the “church” —> or speak to ‘himself and God’ (within himself, no one should be able to ‘hear’ anything on the outside if done in church or he may speak loudly at his own home).
“If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.” (1 Corinthians 14:27 – 28)
Anything done ‘against’ these ‘orders of the church’ is said to be “confusion” by Holy Scripture:
“for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)
(iv) The gender distinction (order) still exists and is to be “obeyed” during New Testament times as well as the verses above ‘reveal’. However, the “male & female” distinction etc. do ‘not’ play a role with respect to ‘rewards’ (for God is Fair) nor does it last into the ‘age to come’ (“no” more marriages nor gender-separations but we will all be like ‘sons of God’ then):
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
Remember, apostle Paul is the ‘same’ person who wrote all these “gender-based” rules in the verses above as well as Galatians 3:28. Understand ‘correctly’ (he is “not” contradicting himself nor nullifying what he wrote in another place —> Scripture does “not” cancel each other within a Testament/Covenant).
(v) These rules are consistent with Old Testament Scripture too in that women “never” held ‘spiritual’ positions in the LORD (e.g. a ‘priest’) but only “secular” (or worldly) ones such as a queen, judge etc. A ‘prophetess’ is “not” a leadership position but rather it refers to a person with the ‘gift of prophecy’. So, a ‘male prophet’ may also be a ‘Christian leader’ at the same time (dual role) but a ‘female prophet’ “cannot”.
(vi) Apostle Paul’s denial of “you” who disagree
Now, apostle Paul “denies” (‘not recognized’) anyone who teaches ‘contrary’ to the ‘rules’ which he has set for the ‘order of the church’ under the ‘inspiration of God’ (note the phrase —> “the Lord’s commandment” —> in the verse below —> which means it applies to ALL CHURCHES and not the Corinthian church only as so commonly erred in ‘flesh’).
“If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.” (1 Corinthians 14:37 – 38)
If you don’t agree to apostle Paul (as some did in the past too), he asks:
“Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?” (1 Corinthians 14:36)
(vii) Lord Jesus Christ’s Great Denial
Which includes those who “don’t obey” His ‘Law’ for the New Testament (an example of ‘Lawlessness’) as some of it are discussed above —> Note that the “many” who are denied also ‘proclaimed’ “His Name” (Christians, right?):
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and in Your Name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of LAWLESSNESS.’.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:22 – 23)
Interestingly, they did ‘prophesy’, ‘drive out demons’ and even ‘performed many miracles’ in “His Name” but yet, they’re “denied”, right? (So, ‘signs & wonders’ doesn’t prove you’re ‘right’ at all even if it’s done in “His Name”).
P/S:
Still ‘wondering’ or ‘learning’? Not able to learn the truth?
“always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7)
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