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DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP #8
Throwing Light In 2013
Objective vs. Subjective
Pastor Rev. C.E. Stephen Coates – pastorsteveonthego@hotmail.com
www.churchonthego.ca May 30th, 2013
In our desire to throw light, expose truth in 2013 – we must do all that we can to assist others who are less experienced to work through the differences of learning, particularly when it comes to truth.
· Is truth objective or subjective?
· Is truth fact or preference?
· Is truth learned using didactic or dialectic methods?
· Is truth retained objectively or subjectively?
· Is truth absolute or subject to tastes and change?
When we discuss the truth of the Bible from a theological frame work, how do we present it? What will be the long term results? When error or misapplication of truth happens, are individuals flat out wrong? From a Christian perspective it is commonly understood that:
A cult possesses and promotes a “sacred” book other than the Bible produced by its founder or followers.
A cult has an elevated earthly leader, even though they acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ. This leader, whether dead or alive, demands obedience and allegiance and is usually the last word on any issue of doctrine or practice.
A cult always has an additional doctrine that must be believed or followed in word or practice in order to receive salvation. Usually this is simply salvation by works as opposed to the Biblical principle of salvation by Grace. Paul said, “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” Eph. 2:8-9.
A cult demands utter allegiance to its cause, its history, its leadership and fellow members. Usually this allegiance and obedience is in the area of inordinate control concerning the time, money and devotion of its members.
When we begin our study of the Bible, we must determine our sincerity to this pursuit – objectively or subjectively which study of the holy scriptures is more sincere? Which is more objective in its presentation the mirror or the image?
Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror? |
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For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. |
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For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. |
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For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. |
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But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. |
Are you a doer who acts?
· Do you desire the blessing in your doing?
· Do you desire to understand the good news of God’s Word?
· Who is the key figure, and what does he accomplish?
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. |
HOW DOES HE DO THIS?
· Is this objective truth or subjective truth?
· It is an objective fact in history, yesterday, today and forever.
· It is subjective to your acceptance and doing it in your life.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. |
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And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. |
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As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. |
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But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. |
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And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: |
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And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. |
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(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ: |
Reconciliation and judgement must begin at the house of God, is that objective or subjective truth?
For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God? |
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Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed. |
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And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah [shall go up] first. |
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Ishbosheth Saul's son [was] forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. |
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To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. |
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And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? [as] thou livest, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. |
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And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if [that had been] too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. |
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And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, [even] to his house. |
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And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. |
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And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. |
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And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there. |
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Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah [to be] the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make [me] king over all Israel: |
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And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen [men], which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. |
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But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, [which were] better than thyself: |
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And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened [it] not. |
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And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel. |
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And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem. |
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Who [is there] among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he [is] the God,) which [is] in Jerusalem. |
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For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts [is] the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. |
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Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, [but] not in truth, nor in righteousness. |
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In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers. |
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For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD. |
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Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all [that are] in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all [these] nations [are] uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel [are] uncircumcised in the heart. |
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They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. |
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For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal. |
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Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. |
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For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear. |
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Yea, thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain [in] the house of the LORD, and [in] the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem; |
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Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. |
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Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: |
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Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. |
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Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah [is] exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not. |
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And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity; |
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Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and [for] all the house of Israel his companions: |
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Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints. |
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For the transgression of Jacob [is] all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What [is] the transgression of Jacob? [is it] not Samaria? and what [are] the high places of Judah? [are they] not Jerusalem? |
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And it shall come to pass, [that] as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, [but] let your hands be strong. |
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For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: |
Objective or Subjective truth?
· Today we have reached the intersection of reconciliation.
May these reflections on objective vs. subjective truth in God’s word, call you to your destiny and ministry:
And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; |
This is your objective call to truth today!
Pastor Rev. C.E. Stephen Coates www.churchonthego.ca
May 30th, 2013 pastorsteveonthego@hotmail.com
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