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God's Ways Are Not Our Ways? By: Gary Colley
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God's Ways Are Not Our Ways? By: Gary Colley
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Several Bible references express this thought, but one of the actual verses that teach that our ways and God's ways are not equal with each other is Isaiah 55:8-9, and there God says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." This is true as we consider the church of Christ and the differences found in men's churches. Men make their own names, acts of worship, plans of salvation, etc., but none of those are equal to God's names, acts of worship, Plan of Salvation, et cetera (Matthew 15:9). Men claim that one does not have to be a member, and can be saved outside of their churches, but God's Word says one must be in Christ or a member of His church to saved (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 5:23, John 3:5, Acts 2:38-41, Revelation 14:13). Also there is a great difference in the kind of music that the Lord specified, SINGING (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16), and the swinging, swaying, and waving to the "hip, jazzy music" of men's churches. Paul said, " . . I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also (I Corinthians 14:15)"; and, "Let all things be done decently and in order (I Corinthians 14:40)." Instrumental music may appeal to the "feelings" and the foot, but not to the heart, in teaching, admonishing, and encouraging the worshipper of God. In this, God's way is different! A few years ago the comic strip Dennis the Menace showed Dennis coming out of a large cathedral holding his mother's hand and saying, "Mommy, I like that spooky music!" God's ways and man's ways are different! There is a huge difference noticed in the Plan of Salvation taught by God in the New Testament and the many plans of salvation taught by men in their churches and creeds. The main difference is that God's Plan of Salvation saves and man's plan of salvation goes not! God's Plan of Salvation is for men to hear His Word, believe it with all their heart, repent genuinely of their sins, confess their faith in Christ publicly, and be buried with their Lord in baptism that their sins may be blotted out (Romans 10:17, Luke 13:3, Luke 13:5, Romans 10:9-10,
Acts 3:19). Men say, infant baptism saves; faith only saves; grace only saves; just saying the "sinner's prayer" saves; signing a card saves; and then you may choose the church of YOUR CHOICE; ad nauseam! Just a small examination of the facts certainly show that what God said of His will and man's will is true! "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve . . (Joshua 24:15)." Remember, Christ is the only Way to live with the Father in eternity (Matthew 7:13-14, John 14:6).