Final Thoughts
By
Gary Amirault
(Compiler
of the preceding group of articles)
Becoming a Christian was without a doubt the most important event
in my entire lifetime. My entrance into the kingdom of God was a most glorious
event. Jesus promised that those who would be born from above would not be left
orphans, that He would send another, the comforter, the Holy Spirit of Truth
who would lead those whom the Father had given Jesus. Published by: Tentmaker, 118 Walnut, Hermann, MO 65041 (Many other articles, audio and video tapes on Bible translating
are available from Tentmaker)
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear
them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you
into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority but whatever He hears
he will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for
He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father
has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."
John 16:12-15
If I had paid more attention to the words, I probably would not have
been led astray as I was for several years of my Christian walk. Immediately
after I "got saved," the Holy Spirit led me to compare several different
verses in several different translations AND THEY READ VERY DIFFERENTLY!! Yet
books like those from Josh McDowell (More Than a Carpenter; Evidence That Demands
A Verdict, etc.) assured the readers that the Bible was the inerrant inspired
Word of God. How could each different translation be the "inerrant"
Word of God if there were some key major differences between them? This inconsistency
opened the door to KJV Only propaganda which seemed to temporarily solve the
problem for me. It seemed reasonable to conclude there was only one "Authorized"
version of the English Bible and the King James Bible claimed to be that Bible.
It "seemed" reasonable, but it was not.
As a young Christian I read the KJV Only books assuming that these
writers were writing the truth. They did NOT write the Truth. It took a long
time to discover that Christian libraries and bookstores are full of Christian
books that do not tell the truth. If I had stayed closer to the Holy Spirit's
leading I would not have been led astray by men's teachings as much as I was.
John, the apostle, in 1 John 2:26-27 writes:
"These things I have written to you concerning those who try
to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in
you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches
you concerning all things, ans is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has
taught you, you will abide in Him."
For far too many Christians, this anointing, this "Spirit of
Truth" who will lead you into all truth is nothing but a doctrine, nothing
but words without the substance of the relationship. Friends, a real relationship
with the Holy Spirit is an awesome and holy experience. It is not just a teaching!
It is spiritual reality itself. And there is nothing more important than being
very certain that the relationship with the Holy Spirit is a living relationship,
not just a doctrine. He will graft us into the Vine, Jesus Christ. He will gift
us gifts of the Holy Spirit. As we abide in the flow of the Spirit, we will
produce the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Apart for the leading of the Holy Spirit, the Bible can become a
very dangerous book. Many evil men and women have used Bible quotations to support
their evils. Hitler knew how to quote just the right Scriptures. One does not
have to go back into history too far to see how deceived people can use the
Bible to bring terrible destruction into peoples lives. Waco, Heaven's Gates,
Jonestown are but a few of the thousands of places where the Bible apart from
the Spirit of Truth brought destruction.
If we keep our hearts pure, our faith sincere, and our hearts clean,
the Holy Spirit will be free to be the greatest Teacher we will ever meet. But
if we allow traditions, especially religious traditions, and men's teachings
to be substituted in our lives replacing the Holy Spirit, we will most assuredly
be led astray. Jesus and the apostles warned over 1900 years ago that many people
from within the church and without would try to draw Christians after themselves.
There are 30,000 different denominations each with their own interpretations
of the Bible to attest to the fact that Christians have been drawn away from
the leading of the Holy Spirit to traditions of men and doctrines of demons.
There are over 30,000 denominations of Christianity each claiming
to correctly interpret the Bible. They differ greatly as to what the Bible teaches.
Obviously, there is something radically wrong. According to Jesus, a kingdom
divided against itself cannot stand. Perhaps the kingdom of God is something
completely different from all the denominationalism, divisions, sectarianism
which goes on in Christendom.
The time is coming and is even upon us, when Christians will drop
their denominational robes of darkness and allow the Holy Spirit to begin to
draw all mankind unto the head of all Creation, Jesus Christ. There is NO room
for Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Charismatics, Catholics, Orthodox, Jehovah's
Witnesses, Mormons, Presbyterians, etc. in the kingdom of God. There is only
room for Christians…period. To be called anything else is simply an abomination.
It's being double-minded, carnal, religious, clouds without water. Let us take
these dirty robes of sectarianism off that the world may see the white spotless
robe that Jesus purchased for each of us with His own life, His own blood.
In Him, Gary Amirault