1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV: “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
1 John 2:27 KJV: “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”
In Ephesians 4 we are told of the evangelists, teachers and pastors. Concerning the later two, what is their function in the body? Pastors by a dictionary are defined as “spiritual overseer”. Teachers are “ones who teach”; and too teach is to “cause one to know”. John gives warning writing: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1. Luke wrote: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11. Paul writes: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15. Isaiah also instructing: “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept;line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” Isaiah 28:10.
Pastors and teachers are not to tell us what to believe, how to believe it, but to enforce, exhort what we have been taught by the Holy Spirit. But as the body of Christ, we have capitulated to our flesh and are now satisfied in being be told what, how and why to believe. Don’t miss the definition of the word to capitulate: “to surrender often after negotiation of terms” quite frankly we call this “denominations”. There are many denominations, to many to decipher and count: as how to count and the differences of each; it’s a nightmare. . . . . .
We are responsible for our own eternal address, it’s either heaven with God (Jesus) for eternity or separated eternally from God. “ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12. It doesn’t say have the pastor to work it out, not your parents or the next door neighbor; “work out your own”. How does one do that? We “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:5-10. “For by grace are ye saved through faith” and how does one acquire this faith? “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. Then one will ask, thats by hearing the pastor or teacher tell’n one what to believe? right? WRONG!!! God has given us the complete Word, all one needs to be made a new creation is available: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. This is what we have been given to show the way, a road map if you will to become part of the body of Christ, how to grow and what our future hope is: “Whereof I (Paul) am made a minister (For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: Romans 11:13), according to the dispensation of God ( if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: Ephesians 3:2) which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;” Colossians 1:25. The word “fulfil” is to complete; Strong’s word # 4137. When Paul had ceased his writings, the Pauline Epistles, now have the completed Word of God for this dispensation of grace. When one learns (by allowing the Holy Spirit to teach and not man) how to rightly divide the Word of truth, it all comes together; until then its just man’s own ideas of how it should be and not how God has established it. Pastor and teachers are to affirm what we have learned from reading our Bible (there are extreme differences in so called bibles). When there is conflict in what one has learned and what is being taught by established authority one has a responsibility to question. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The moment the one questioning hears “Our denomination teaches . . . . . . . . . .” if it can’t be or isn’t supported book, chapter and verse, there’s a problem and one will not be able to “be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” be careful.
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