There are times when the most mature believer should get back to the basics. There is so much deception in this world that even those who have walked according to The Word are subject to being deceived in some subtle manner. Our ego will attempt to usurp The Holy Spirit’s leading. Gaining knowledge without the fullness of wisdom and understanding can alter our course by one degree. This alteration can grow over time and then one day we find ourselves in unintended consequences of being in error. It has happened to me and I suspect I am not alone. That “still small voice” must not be muffled at any time.
In John chapter 14, Jesus spoke:
6 Jesus said to him (Thomas), “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Let us consider this progressive statement of fact. First, Jesus is The Way thus no can come to FATHER except through Him. We should consider this as a directive and any other path to FATHER would be deemed as lawlessness. Given this directive, we should pay close attention to the Words and acts of Jesus for our foundation should be built on the Rock. His Disciples clearly wrote the Epistles based on this foundation and this is why we must filter and assess all teachings based on this very foundation. Any teaching that conflicts with the Words and acts of Jesus should be rejected.
By focusing on the Words and acts of Jesus and the Epistles we will arrive at The Truth and Its intended revelation. I am personally convinced that a Truth without Love is actually a partial Truth because you cannot fully know Truth without knowing the intent of FATHER behind it. I believe it is imperative to read and study Scripture from the perspective of Love. Even FATHER’S correction is based on HIS long term Intent of Love. The Truth is meant to set us free from bondage which includes but is not limited to sickness, disease, demons, and death. Aren’t these things we are to overcome in order to be overcomers?
Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Galatians chapter 5:
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
And in Ephesians chapter 3:
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love
Jesus gave us one commandment and it is centered around Love. The Way, Truth, and Life will only be obtained by one who follows Jesus’ one commandment of Love. Those who teach without this central focus place themselves at risk. Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Timothy chapter 1:
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk,
7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,
9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.
Without Love, those who teach us will ultimately attempt to develop and perpetuate followers for themselves in order to sustain “their way”. They might start a church based on their own foundation of belief however there is truly only one church and it is of Jesus Christ. All other churches are missing some aspect of Truth. When we walk in The Way it leads us to all Truth and when we walk in all Truth it leads us to eternal life. This progression is attainable to all who seek it, not just a few. Rather than focus on every word that some Vicar, Monsignor, Priest, Reverend, Clerk, Curate, Parson, Father, Doctor of Divinity, Superintendent, Overseer, President, or Bishop speaks, why don’t we focus on every Word Jesus spoke for He is The Way, the Truth, and the Life!