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What should we believe?: Difference between revisions
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Many people have asked us, both those in [[The Message|the message]] and those that have left off following William Branham: "What do you think we should believe?" | Many people have asked us, both those in [[The Message|the message]] and those that have left off following William Branham: "What do you think we should believe?" | ||
Those inside the message expect that we are looking for followers (we're not) and those who have left are simply looking for guidance. | Those inside the message expect that we are looking for followers (we're not) and those who have left are simply looking for guidance. | ||
=Don't follow any man | =Don't follow any man= | ||
We are not pointing to ourselves, to any man, or to any church. Paul said that we are to follow the teachings that he laid out in scripture (2 Tim 1:13). Peter said the same thing: | |||
:''For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 1 Pe 2:21–25.</ref> | |||
A minister of the Gospel only speaks authoritatively to the extent that what he says agrees with scripture. But we don't follow these men, we follow Christ. We examine their lives and if they are worthy of being examples of the Gospel, then we may want to imitate them. But we must judge their teaching and their lives by the Gospel as the writer of the Hebrews stated: | |||
:''Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Heb 13:7–9.</ref> | |||
We are not to follow a single man but those leaders (plural) that provide a godly example of a Christian life in word and deed. And we are to judge their teachings based on scripture. | |||
=Believe what the church has always believed= | =Believe what the church has always believed= | ||
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*Dwight L. Moody (1837–1899), American evangelist, pastor and educator | *Dwight L. Moody (1837–1899), American evangelist, pastor and educator | ||
*William Carey (1761-1834), A self-taught English cobbler who is considered to be the father of modern Protestant missions. | *William Carey (1761-1834), A self-taught English cobbler who is considered to be the father of modern Protestant missions. | ||
John Bunyan (1628–1688), author of Pilgrim's Progress | *John Bunyan (1628–1688), author of Pilgrim's Progress | ||
Oswald Chambers (1874–1917), author of My Utmost for His Highest | *Oswald Chambers (1874–1917), author of My Utmost for His Highest | ||
*Billy Sunday (1862–1935), American evangelist and proponent of Prohibition | *Billy Sunday (1862–1935), American evangelist and proponent of Prohibition | ||
*Adoniram Judson (1788–1850) – American missionary to Burma | *Adoniram Judson (1788–1850) – American missionary to Burma | ||
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''Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Heb 12:1–3</ref> | ''Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Heb 12:1–3</ref> | ||
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