Recently I attempted to expound properly to an elderly woman whose husband, before he died, was the pastor of a Charismatic church, how the gifts of the Spirit had ceased as an individualized personal trait.
Shortly after that I tried to explain to an elderly man the difference between the words “Catholic” and “Roman Catholic.”
And then just yesterday to a person, a member of the Church of Christ, about certain Scriptural truths, who simply stopped speaking to me and attended to other matters.
Not one of these people decided to apply 1st Peter 3:15 to their lives.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
Very few people who believe in works for salvation, or in certain specific works needing to be performed, and sometimes not occasionally, but quite regularly, will speak of the faith they profess to believe in at length. And for one reason, my friends, they know they are incorrect in their interpretation of the Scriptures.
I was not right in the conversations, I was not correct, the Word of God is and was, and in each of these conversations I was blessed to be able to properly expound upon the subject matter at hand in context. They just decided not to believe the truth.
I can’t help that, nor will I attempt to do so any further unless I know for a fact that the Holy Spirit is directly leading me to.
Which verse should I apply to these and the many others I have met over the decades that are as they are?
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” (Matt. 7:6)
Or this one?
“To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (1st Cor. 9:22)
The elderly woman first mentioned is so far set into her ways and thoughts that it would be nigh on impossible to assist her in seeing the truth. The Romanist, as nearly all of them are, is so brainwashed by the lies of that cult that one could almost consider that he has already been given over to a reprobate mind. And not to say that I am perfect in my abilities to discern human nature, but when the third person mentioned that the reason he attends the church that he does is because that is where his parents went, well, it was quite easy to see how that conversation was going to end.
I cannot stress this enough, but as you continue daily to study to show yourself approved, staying in and contemplating the Word of God, take a look around the area that you live in and see what religious denominations there are, and begin to study them as well. This verse will not apply to all of them of course, but it will to many.
“The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: (Prov. 21:12a)
Why do they believe what they say they believe, and how can you correct them unless you study the Scriptures? Some are easy, the Romanists with their works based ideologies, Charismatics and emotions governing their lives, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, but no matter which it is, beware of this truth, their lies are subtle, and if you are not grounded in the truth of the Word of God, if your foundation is not grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, their words and false doctrines may cause doubt within you.
Here is where James 5:16b becomes a necessity for yourself.
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
But be aware of this as well, the majority of them will begin to hate you as soon as you reveal to them that they are being deceived by a lie. God’s truth is the only answer you can give them.
“God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” (Romans 3:4)
