1 Corinthians 14:37-38 King James Version

37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Yesterday’s post came via the KJV. Normally I convert what I hear to the ESV for easier reading.

My first and preferred reading of the bible was in the KJV so it is natural for me to remember His Word in the KJV.

1 Corinthians 14:37-38 English Standard Version

37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

That is quite different isn’t it?

Key in understanding is what that person thinks of themself. If they have been deceived by Satan into thinking that they are something they are not, then they are not recognized by God. We will only recognize them for what they are if we know the truth and hold firmly to the truth.

1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

The truth will help us so that we will not deceive ourselves or others.

I am a sinner saved by grace and nothing that I think about myself will ever change that.

John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

That is a good answer, but what was the question?

John 6:66-67 King James Version

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

How many people do we know that followed Jesus and then stopped?

During those days it was obvious who followed Jesus and who did not. He walked the earth but now He sits on the throne of heaven and following Him is not so obvious. All we have are their words and acts. Both of those are judged by us through our own faith, not theirs.

I say Peter’s answer is good because I agree with him. Those who walked away never got to hear the question and the answer. They didn’t know anything but their own understanding.

Then later Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected three days later. How many of those that stopped following Jesus in John 6:66 repented of their choice and believed by faith? That is a question the bible does not answer. Nor will we ever know the end result of anyone who has stopped following Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Knowing one who has fallen away does not mean that the son of perdition is about to be revealed. My sense is that this falling away is going to be on a grand scale. I could be wrong.

Becoming fixated on one word of prophecy to the exclusion of all else can by the ploy of the enemy, distracting us from the word that the will of God the Father is about to do through us.

The enemy does not know God’s plan but he knows our nature, our obsessions, our desires and how easily distracted we can become.

2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

1 Corinthians 14:37-38 King James Version

37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.