18 May 2025

The Twisting of Wisdom & Knowledge, Part 3 (TMF:2620)

Friday, May 23, 2025

Peace to Live By: The Twisting of Wisdom & Knowledge, Part 3 (TMF:2620) - Daniel Litton
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“Come on, what is wrong with that?” someone might ask. It is understanding of how the world works, a behind the scenes understanding, which doesn’t include Christ. It is a Christ-less understanding of the supposed true ways, the ways of wisdom and knowledge, of which Christ isn’t necessary. That’s the problem because that’s impossible. What is meant is it can’t be true, or entirely true. There may be elements of truth, and undoubtedly there are, for all appealing error contains elements of truth. But when one aligns with these types of groups, one aligns with power they probably don’t want to be aligned with. And in doing so, can cause varying troubles for themselves in their lives, and in their children’s lives. Colossians 2, verse 5: “I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments” (ESV). As just discussed, it has to be plausible.

The Twisting of Wisdom & Knowledge, Part 2 (TMF:2619)

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Peace to Live By: The Twisting of Wisdom & Knowledge, Part 2 (TMF:2619) - Daniel Litton
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Now it’s not just that, but the cults in Paul’s time, which continue in our time, sought to promote their own hidden wisdom and knowledge. Become a part of their group, and become part of the elite. Become endowed with the secret treasures of hidden wisdom and knowledge. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Coming to mind is the example in our day and age of the Free Masons. The problem isn’t the external help they may provide. No one is going to argue against that. Rather, the problem is the secrecy—the secret meetings, the exclusiveness. Only for members who are given secret knowledge to live out their lives. “Come on, what is wrong with that?” someone might ask. It is understanding of how the world works, a behind the scenes understanding, which doesn’t include Christ. It is a Christ-less understanding of the supposed true ways, the ways of wisdom and knowledge, of which Christ isn’t necessary. That’s the problem because that’s impossible.

The Twisting of Wisdom & Knowledge, Part 1 (TMF:2618)

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Peace to Live By: The Twisting of Wisdom & Knowledge, Part 1 (TMF:2618) - Daniel Litton
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The conclusion was then drawn that Christ himself did not reside in a physical body since God himself would not dwell in something that is evil, So, it is the denial that Jesus came in the flesh, or that he was only temporally in the flesh. But we know, or should know by now, that Jesus, even to this day, dwells in a human body. Right now, in Heaven, he is in his human body, and will be in the body for the rest of eternity. It is a permanent condition, and it is not the body that is bad. God created the human body. God created Adam from the dust of the ground, and he formed Eve from his rib. The body is very good. It is the sin nature, our own rebelliousness against God, that is bad, that is evil, Not the body. Now it’s not just that, but the cults in Paul’s time, which continue in our time, sought to promote their own hidden wisdom and knowledge.

Externals That Demonstrate Truth, Part 2 (TMF:2617)

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Peace to Live By: Externals That Demonstrate Truth, Part 2 (TMF:2617) - Daniel Litton
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Why bring up external things? Because they are just that, external, and they clearly demonstrate truths, and these are truths that some teachers, both in Paul’s day and certainly in our day, seek to work against. Let’s talk about this. We talked a couple weeks ago in regard to the early form of the teachings of Gnosticism, which were being developed in the first century in places like the city of Colossae, and Paul had to work against these people. One of their points was that the external body was bad, was evil. The conclusion was then drawn that Christ himself did not reside in a physical body since God himself would not dwell in something that is evil, So, it is the denial that Jesus came in the flesh, or that he was only temporally in the flesh. But we know, or should know by now, that Jesus, even to this day, dwells in a human body.

Externals That Demonstrate Truth, Part 1 (TMF:2616)

Monday, May 19, 2025

Peace to Live By: Externals That Demonstrate Truth, Part 1 (TMF:2616) - Daniel Litton
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We see glimpses into these hidden treasures in the Scriptures. What first comes to mind is Jesus’ baptism by John in the wilderness. It is an outward symbol that displays a hidden truth. And this is the model we have followed in our own lives, so as to share in the mystery. The outward confession of faith to demonstrate our new relationship, or relationship we’ve had, and the fact that we’ve been cleansed from our sins. The outward demonstration reveals the greater, hidden truth. God’s wisdom and knowledge. The same thing can be said for the communion service, where the bread and the cup are taken, that which our Lord did first with his disciples before his crucifixion. It is the inward examination followed by the external bread and cup. A glimpse into Christ’s wisdom and knowledge. And yet again, for the Mennonite listeners, the man’s lack of head covering, and the woman’s covering. An external symbol for the woman of which may not be entirely clear to the world.