Questions That Need to be Answered By Jeff Belknap In regards to the post-civil-divorce divorce doctrine, where does the gospel of Christ mention anything about:
The above insinuations are absolutely arbitrary, yet necessary for the doctrine of the second putting away (“mental divorce”) to stand. The apostle Paul teaches us to “Prove all things” and to “hold fast that which is good” (I Thess. 5:21). If the above questions can not be answered with a book, chapter and verse, than this new-fangled doctrine of “Biblical putting away” is not “good.” Unfortunately, certain have troubled us with words, subverting our souls, saying things to whom the apostles gave no such authority (cf. Acts 15:24; Gal. 1:6-9). In the long ago Isaiah stated in chapter 8, verse 20, “…if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (cf. Mt. 15;14; II Jn. 9). In I John 4:1, John says, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” How do we ascertain the spirit of truth from that of error? John says, “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error” (vs. 5-6). Cp. w. II Corinthians 11:3-4 Since we are authorized to only “speak the oracles of God” (I Pet. 4:11), invading the silence of God to overthrow the clear and plain law of God is “sin” (I Jn. 3:4; 5:17). To “preach” anything other than the word “once and for all delivered to the saints” makes us “accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9; Jude 3). Moreover, we are commanded not even to “think” beyond (“exceed;” NASV) what is written (I Cor. 4:6). In fighting the good fight of faith, we must be “set for the defense of the gospel” (Phil. 1:7, 17; 4:9). We are to be strong, the weapons of our warfare "are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Cor. 10:3-5). Let us not fail our solemn charge (cf. Heb. 12:15). |
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