Misconceptions About Paul's
Thorn in the Flesh
Rock of Offence Special Commentary
The following Bible study involves a response to a question from a visitor to our website. It is modified to address an often misunderstood topic having to do with physical divine healing. Many sincere believers in Christ are asking similar questions. Today, the critics are spreading massive amounts of misinformation on this and other related subjects. Their answers are often misleading and cause believers to draw wrong conclusions about God's will for their life.
This Bible Study is the third in a special five
part series, which addresses the controversial
subject of Christian suffering. The other 4
studies are available below:
(Study 1) The Reasons Why Christians Suffer
(Study 2) Belief, Faith and God's Power
(Study 4) Is Suffering God's Will For The Christian?
(Study 5) Does God Really Do Whatever He Wants To Us?
Here is the original question.
(edited for the website):
In 2 Corinthians 12:7-11, Paul asked God three times to take the thorn away from him. I understood this verse to mean that it is not God's will to heal everyone -- but that God will give us the grace to bear the pain. Concerning Paul, some Bible commentaries say it could be malaria, eye-sight problems, migraines, etc. It could be bad health because of his beatings. In one of your previous articles, you say it is God's will to heal everyone. If that is the case, how can healing and "my grace is sufficient" be reconciled? Was it possible that God did heal Paul of his thorn? Is this teaching false when God refused to heal Paul? If so, this teaching is really becoming popular these days.
Hello Brother,
Thank you for writing me about such an important topic.
Nothing in the Bible is more maligned and misunderstood than the subject of physical divine healing. Paul's "thorn in the flesh" is frequently used to prove that divine healing is not for everyone. It has been used (and abused) so much that it has nearly become a religious tradition. It is true that Paul had some other health issues probably related to his intense persecution, beatings and hardships. On the road to Damascus, Paul was blinded during his encounter with Jesus Christ, but was later healed after that same Jesus sent a disciple named Ananias to lay hands on him to receive his sight again and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This notable healing took place before Paul's apostolic ministry had started. (Acts chapter 9). Keep this in mind.
Paul is not an acceptable example to use in any argument against divine healing for the following reasons.
REASON #1: PAUL HAD A UNIQUE AND SPECIAL CALLING TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST IN A WAY THAT DID NOT APPLY TO ALL BELIEVERS IN THE CHURCH.
After the Damascus road encounter, God told a disciple named Ananias the following as He sent him to minister to Paul's needs; "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. FOR I WILL SHOW HIM HOW MANY THINGS HE MUST SUFFER FOR MY NAMES SAKE." (Acts 9:15-16)
REASON #2: AS PART OF HIS CALLING, GOD GAVE PAUL WHAT MODERN BIBLE SCHOLARS CALL "THE PAULINE REVELATION", WHICH FULLY REVEALED CHRIST'S NEW COVENANT SALVATION TO THE GENTILES. PAUL WAS THE ONLY APOSTLE TO RECEIVE THIS REVELATION. AS A RESULT, GOD MADE PAUL THE SOLE CUSTODIAN OF ITS TRUTHS AND HE CARRIED THE TITLE "APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES" FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. Concerning this life changing experience, Paul said the following about himself;
"And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows--how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." (2 Corinthians 12:3-4)
REASON #3: THIS REVELATION WAS SO POWERFUL THAT GOD GAVE PAUL "A THORN IN THE FLESH" TO KEEP HIM FROM GETTING PROUD AND EXALTING HIMSELF. This is how Paul describes it:
"And lest I should be exalted above measure BY THE ABUNDANCE OF THE REVELATIONS, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, LEST I BE EXALTED ABOVE MEASURE. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12: 7-9)
Paul's thorn WAS SOMETHING GIVEN ONLY TO HIM AS A RESULT OF THE REVELATIONS AND SPECIAL APOSTOLIC CALLING TO SUFFER. NO OTHER CHRISTIAN BELIEVER WAS GIVEN THESE REVELATIONS, WHICH CAUSED THIS "THORN" TO GO INTO OPERATION. If any pastor, preacher or evangelist claims that believers today are suffering from Paul's thorn, they're not giving you the truth. Why? Because no one received these revelations except Paul and, as a result, no one received "the thorn" except Paul. Paul said that the thorn was a demon (messenger from Satan) that God allowed to buffet and harass him wherever he went. Because of the blessings and promises of the gospel, God never assigns demon tormentors to His children. YET, PAUL WAS A SPECIAL EXCEPTION--BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF THE PAULINE REVELATION TO TEMPT PAUL TO EXALT HIMSELF. We see the results of Paul's demonic harassment in one of his accounts given to the Corinthian Church.
"Are they ministers of Christ?-I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity." (2 Corinthians 11:23-30)
REASON #4: Notice what Paul said in the last verse (verse 30); "I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity." Paul eagerly embraced all aspects of his special apostolic calling, INCLUDING THE INFIRMITIES AND SUFFERINGS THAT WENT WITH IT. THIS "BOASTING IN INFIRMITY AND SUFFERING" WAS THE RESULT OF THE THORN (WHICH WAS GIVEN BECAUSE OF HIS SPECIAL REVELATIONS) AND DOES NOT APPLY TO ANYONE ELSE BUT PAUL.
There's no real direct indication that the thorn itself was sickness. Yet, infirmities (which was part of the thorn) can produce and include sickness. Anyone would be in poor health if they had to endure the sufferings and persecutions of Paul. But, in Paul's case the infirmities (and the poor health that went them) was not something that God calls the rest of His believing people to endure (as we will see later). It was something unique to Paul's apostolic calling--AND GOD CLEARLY SAID SO. BECAUSE OF PAUL'S REVELATIONS AND APOSTOLIC CALLING, GOD REFUSED TO TAKE THE THORN AWAY. However, if He had taken it away, physical healing would have also been released to him (as was the case with the healing of his eyesight before his apostolic ministry started in Acts chapter 9). Instead, God gave Paul special grace (or in this case, ability) to endure the suffering. This is why He said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you". ONCE AGAIN, THIS REFUSAL ON GOD'S PART TO REMOVE HIS SUFFERINGS AND INFIRMITIES (CAUSED BY THE THORN) WAS NOT DIRECTED AT ANYONE ELSE BUT PAUL. This is why it's terribly misleading to put Paul in the same class as the rest of the believers in the Church, when discussing the subject of divine healing. This special thorn disqualified Paul from receiving some of the benefits that the rest of the Church freely enjoys.
"Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
THE BELIEVERS POSITION IN CHRIST IS CONTRASTED
WITH THE SPECIAL CALLING OF THE APOSTLE
Notice the contrast in the following Scripture. Paul is speaking to all believers in the Corinthian Church (actually the entire Church, or all believers in Christ everywhere) and comparing these believers with the calling of the apostle (he was probably thinking of his own apostleship).
"YOU ARE ALREADY FULL! YOU ARE ALREADY RICH! YOU HAVE REIGNED AS KINGS WITHOUT US—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! FOR I THINK THAT GOD HAS DISPLAYED US, THE APOSTLES, LAST, AS MEN CONDEMNED TO DEATH; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. WE ARE FOOLS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE, BUT YOU ARE WISE IN CHRIST! WE ARE WEAK, BUT YOU ARE STRONG! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! TO THE PRESENT HOUR WE BOTH HUNGER AND THIRST, AND WE ARE POORLY CLOTHED, AND BEATEN, AND HOMELESS. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now." (1 Corinthians 4:8-13)
These are the reasons it is wrong to use the apostle Paul and his thorn (which includes his infirmities and poor health) as an example as to why it is not God's will to heal all believers in the Church. Many preachers use this misleading example because they choose to ignore Paul's special circumstances, which exposes the flaw in their argument.
A PROVISION OF THE CROSS
Our Heavenly Father has not stopped doing miracles. Divine healing is still available to all believers today because it’s a provision of the cross of Christ recorded in Scripture. The benefits we enjoy as a result of the cross ARE FOR ALL BELIEVERS THROUGH FAITH--AND NOT JUST A SELECT FEW.
"When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, AND HEALED ALL THAT WERE SICK: THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ESAIAS (ISAIAH) THE PROPHET, SAYING, HIMSELF (JESUS) TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES, AND BARE OUR SICKNESSES.” (Matt 8:16-17 KJV—Emphasis Added)
"Surely He (Jesus Christ) has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He (Jesus Christ) was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, AND BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6 NKJV -- Emphasis Mine)
If divine healing for physical sickness and disease is no longer available to all believers today as some wrongly teach, neither is salvation (eternal life), which is made possible BY CHRIST BEARING OUR SINS. The cross of Christ made both of these provisions available--and God deliberately linked both of them together. Scripture says that Jesus, in addition to bearing our sins, ALSO BORE OUR SICKNESSES AND OUR INFIRMITIES. You can’t eliminate the benefit you don't agree with without throwing out the other as well.
As long as the truth remains that Jesus "bore our sicknesses and our infirmities" (these were physical health issues), THEN DIVINE HEALING REMAINS AS A PROVISION OF THE CROSS AVAILABLE TO ALL BELIEVERS.
In order to answer this question in a more
complete way, we've added the following
additional information to our original
response.
Misconceptions About Standing
On God’s Word
We constantly hear Christian people say, “To solve our problems, we just need to stand in faith on the Word”. A common cliché in some fundamentalist and faith groups rephrase it like this: “God’s Word says it, I believe it--and that settles it”. We strongly agree--these statements certainly represent a good practice for all believers. Yet, there’s one overlooked and inconvenient truth. What you’re “standing on” had better be the real Word of God and not an incorrect and flawed interpretation of His Word. Seventeen major “theology-based faith systems” currently operate within the worldwide institutional Christian Church. Some of these overlap.
(This list is not exhaustive)
- Catholicism (Roman Catholic theology)
- Bible or Christian Fundamentalism
- Dispensational/Evangelical theology
- Pentecostalism
- Latter Rain theology
- Kingdom Now theology
- Reformed/Covenant theology
- Calvinism (a branch of Reformed theology)
- Discipleship and Shepherding theology
- Arminianism
- Messianic Jewish Movement theology
- Seventh-Day Adventist theology
- Armstrong Church of God theology
- General Church of God theology
- Holiness theology
- Episcopalianism
- Anglican theology
TO A GREATER OR LESSER DEGREE, EACH ONE INTERPRETS THE WORD OF GOD (OR THE BIBLE) DIFFERENTLY. Adding to the confusion--the churches, leaders and congregations that follow the teachings of each “belief system or theology” insists that their way of understanding the Bible is God’s true and only way. Yet, our Heavenly Father warns that a vast majority (but not all) of these different ways of believing and interpreting the Bible do not represent His true intentions. God says that He rejects most of these “systems of theology” because they redefine, rewrite or add requirements to Christ’s salvation (and the Scriptures), which makes changes that He didn’t approve. But, they are all taught from the pages of the Bible and claim God’s authority as their own.
THESE POPULAR METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF BIBLE
INTERPRETATION ARE NOT JUST DIFFERENCES OF
OPINION, WHERE GOD LOOKS AT THE GOOD
INTENTIONS OF THE CHURCH LEADERS AND THEIR
FOLLOWERS AND DECLARES EVERYONE TO BE RIGHT.
The question now becomes, “Is my way of interpreting
and understanding the Word of God correct?” If your
understanding is not correct (this is often something
you may not be aware of), then your faith is likely
built on popular religious or denominational
misconceptions that are designed to look and sound
like God’s Word, but are not. Saint Paul commanded
his disciple Timothy to "rightly divide the Word of God".
Yet, as one preacher correctly commented; "If the Word
of God can be rightly divided, it can also be
wrongly divided".
IN SUCH SITUATIONS GOD HAS NO SPECIAL OBLIGATION
TO HONOR YOUR ACT OF “STANDING ON THE WORD”
(OR THE PROMISES OF THE BIBLE). WHY? YOU AREN’T
REALLY “STANDING ON THE WORD THAT GOD ORIGINALLY
AUTHORIZED”, BUT ON THE SKEWED MAN-MADE TEACHING
OR REINTERPRETATION OF SOME PASTOR, EVANGELIST,
TEACHER, APOSTLE, CHURCH--OR DENOMINATION.
(Read the warning from Jesus in Mark 7:6-7)
Blockages To Receiving God’s Benefits
One of the most disturbing things we constantly see is Christian believers and their leaders making excuses for either unanswered prayer--or an unfulfilled promise (especially where they are claiming to be “standing on the Word”). You’ll hear them say things like:
- It wasn’t God’s timing
- It wasn’t God’s will
- We can never know what God will do
- It is sin to seek an escape from the suffering God sends into my life
- God doesn’t do miracles anymore
- God healed people in the Bible, but He doesn’t work that way anymore
- God wants me to suffer to make me more dependent on Him
- God uses sickness and disease to draw me closer to Him
- God uses the suffering from sickness to make me more spiritually mature
- God didn’t promise to heal our physical sicknesses, He promised to heal us
from the effects of sin.
And the list goes on...
A few of these things should certainly be considered; such as God’s will and timing. However, the most likely reason for the failure to receive a promised benefit from God is something most professing Christians avoid like the plague (no pun intended). God always grants his answer (or the giving of a provision) according to our faith, which must be firmly established on a CORRECT UNDERSTANDING of His Word. In the story of the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus told her that it wasn’t just His power that healed her; He said, “daughter, YOUR FAITH has made you whole” (Read Mark 5:21-34). By reading this story carefully, we discover that there was a crowd of people touching Jesus to receive a miracle or healing. Yet, only this woman was healed. Contrary to some very popular fundamental teaching, it means that if God’s power is available but our faith and believing is wrong--THE MIRIACLE OR HEALING DOESN’T HAPPEN. A vast majority make the misguided assumption that their faith (based on their understanding of the Bible) is correct because they consider themselves to be “a Bible believer” or attend a “Bible-believing church or congregation.” Others assume their faith is authentic because they embrace some “historical” theology such as Calvinism, Catholicism or Reformed theology. However, if our faith is based on common religious and denominational misconceptions, which always masquerade as foundational Bible teaching, THEN GOD HAS NO LEGAL GROUNDS TO HONOR OUR REQUESTS. If the theology that our church or pastor teaches is wrong, OUR FAITH, WHICH MUST BE BASED ON A CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S WORD TO GET AN ANSWER--WILL BE COMPROMISED AND POWERLESS WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE. This is why we repeatedly warn that it’s possible to label one’s self “a Bible-believer”, yet unknowingly believe the Bible incorrectly. Sadly, this is true for many in the institutional Christian Church.
"NOW HE (JESUS CHRIST) COULD DO NO MIGHTY WORK THERE, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. AND HE MARVELED BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF." (Mark 6:5-6 -- Emphasis Added)
Here’s one example. When anyone fails to receive physical healing from God, they are often told that God probably doesn’t heal anymore. Or, they use the popular yet wrong belief that God “heals the effects and emotional damage done by sin”, but never promised to heal physical sickness. In his attempt to discredit divine healing one pastor said, “If I’m healed by the stripes of Jesus, then why am I still sick?” All of these individuals are missing the core problem, which is the wrong way they’ve been taught to believe and interpret the Bible (commonly known as “theology”). This often overlooked problem involves religious distortions and misconceptions concerning the nature, characteristics and benefits of Christ’s New Covenant THAT STARTED AFTER THE CROSS. Wrong Bible interpretation and belief, especially the ones that embrace a works/performance/law-based salvation (easily found within the Judeo-Christian religion of the worldwide institutional church) always short-circuits and blocks the spiritual benefits and blessings (without our knowledge). These are benefits we would normally enjoy as a result of the cross. In some situations, this can also include our initial receiving of eternal life.
Note: Some of the following information was
included earlier in this commentary. We repeat
it here because of its importance.
These problems do not exist on God’s side of the relationship. Once again, our Heavenly Father has not stopped doing miracles. Divine healing is still available to believers today because it’s a provision of the cross of Christ recorded in Scripture.
If divine healing for physical sickness
and disease is no longer available as
many teach, neither is our salvation,
which is made possible by Christ bearing
our sins. The cross of Christ made both
of these provisions available. Scripture
says that Jesus, in addition to our sins, also
bore our sicknesses and our infirmities. You
can’t eliminate the benefit you disagree with
without throwing out the other as well.
"When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, AND HEALED ALL THAT WERE SICK: THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ESAIAS (ISAIAH) THE PROPHET, SAYING, HIMSELF (JESUS) TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES, AND BARE OUR SICKNESSES.” (Matt 8:16-17 KJV—Emphasis Added)
"Surely He (Jesus Christ) has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He (Jesus Christ) was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, AND BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6 NKJV -- Emphasis Mine)
(Peter makes the following statement to the Church)
"FOR TO THIS YOU WERE CALLED, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; WHO HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE, THAT WE, HAVING DIED TO SINS, MIGHT LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS--BY WHOSE STRIPES YOU WERE HEALED." (1 Peter 2:21-24--EMPHASIS ADDED. Note: The healing Christ's stripes provide is now spoken in PAST TENSE. Divine healing is now an established fact and benefit to the Christian believer after the cross.)
Contrary to some popular beliefs, our Heavenly Father earnestly wants to grant our requests when they are made according to His principles, which are now based on the New Covenant. Yet, most Christians approach God through the principles of the previous Old Covenant (Judaism) AND REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT THE WAY GOD RELATES TO US RADICALLY CHANGED UNDER THE NEW COVENANT THAT STARTED AFTER THE CROSS.
In all these things we can see that the root problem is unrecognized “corrupted faith”, which has been established on an out-of-context understanding (and interpretation) of God’s Word. Because of its ability to block or cut-off the benefits of the cross, Paul offered the following warnings:
"EXAMINE YOURSELVES AS TO WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE FAITH. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless indeed you are disqualified." (2 Corinthians 13:5)
"You have become estranged (separated or cut-off) from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; YOU HAVE FALLEN FROM GRACE." (Galatians 5:4 -- Emphasis Added)
"FOR AS MANY AS ARE OF THE WORKS OF THE LAW ARE UNDER THE CURSE; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” BUT THAT NO ONE IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW IN THE SIGHT OF GOD IS EVIDENT, for “the just shall live by faith.” YET THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH..." (Galatians 3:10-12 -- Emphasis Added)
A vast majority of professing Christians are trying to be justified (or saved) by keeping Old Testament Law. While it carries the illusion of looking like the right thing to do, Paul warned that it "cuts you off from Christ" and puts you under a curse. If we want to understand why so many in the Church fail to receive God's benefits, this is the reason.
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death."
(Proverbs 14:12 KJV)
The Bible refers to this deceptive spiritual condition as “unbelief”. It is not some problem found only in various “fringe” church groups. It’s a mainstream influence--and works through many popular forms of fundamental and denominational theology. Church members are taught that its God’s only true way of believing the Bible. But, the religious tenants, rules and principles of these methods of interpretation silently and covertly create unbelief (an unrecognized counterfeit of “right believing”) that shuts down God’s power WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE. The deceptive nature of unbelief is this: It appears, on the surface, to be fundamental and bedrock Bible truth. However, unbelief usually results from the Bible being taught out-of-context and skillfully twisted to fit some ministry agenda or historical denominational theology. When anyone (person-church-denomination) becomes convinced that their faith represents “God’s only true way”, any failure of the promises is now because it wasn’t God’s will--or because God doesn’t do those kinds of supernatural acts anymore (or any of the other excuses listed above). Many well-meaning church-goers live in this destructive type of religious denial. Few will examine the real problem, which is their “corrupted faith” (or unbelief) caused by a faulty understanding of the Word and believing one of the popular forms of counterfeit theology. As previously stated, many possess this kind of “corrupted faith” but still consider themselves to be “a committed Bible believer” and one of God’s most faithful children.
Once again, consider what is being said in the following verse;
"NOW HE (JESUS CHRIST) COULD DO NO MIGHTY WORK THERE, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. AND HE MARVELED BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF." (Mark 6:5-6 -- Emphasis Added)
FOR MANY, confronting this problem is too offensive and upsetting because it casts doubt on their most cherished denominational church teachings and traditions. It might place that person in the uncomfortable position of having to humbly admit they were wrong (a nearly impossible admission for overly religious people and their leaders). These kinds of challenges often ignite anger and hostility. In some extreme situations, it could be spiritually devastating and result in “shipwrecked faith”. Just consider the religious trauma Saint Paul experienced during his encounter with Jesus Christ on the Damascus road. Before he was saved, Paul was a respected Pharisee within the religion of Judaism. In a moment of time everything to which he had dedicated his life was destroyed. In a flash of blinding light (which rendered him temporarily blind) he came face-to-face with the resurrected Son of God, who he was taught to hate and oppose (Read Acts chapter 9). After this supernatural event Paul (originally called Saul) radically changed direction. People started to talk and say;
“....‘Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name (the name of Jesus) in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them (believers in Jesus Christ) bound to the chief priests?' But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ." (Acts 9:21-22 NKJV—Emphasis Added)
(Paul speaking) "Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, “HE WHO FORMERLY PERSECUTED US NOW PREACHES THE FAITH WHICH HE ONCE TRIED TO DESTROY.” And they glorified God in me." (Galatians 1:21-24 NKJV--Emphasis Added)
Unfortunately, most professing Christians and their leaders choose to continue walking in wrong Bible beliefs to protect their traditions and theology rather than make this necessary and sometimes painful sacrifice to “come to a knowledge of the truth”.
More information is available on this controversial
and often ignored subject at the following links:
Unbelief--The 800-Pound Gorilla In The Church
That Everyone Ignores
SOZO: The Three-Fold Salvation of God
Why Most Christians Don't Get Healed (Pt.1)
Why Most Christians Don't Get Healed (Pt.2)
I hope this helps to answer your questions.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rock of Offence Ministries
|