Cherry picking - the action or practice of choosing and taking only the most beneficial or profitable items, opportunities, etc., from what is available.
If you regularly discuss topics like the bible on the internet, you know this term all too well. Anyone who disagrees with you will accuse you of cherry picking scripture to arrive at a half truth.
It is actually quite a harsh accusation and one that the accuser needs to be able to prove.
There are two acid test's we can and should apply to beliefs and material that we believe is cherry picked.
1. Does said belief undermine the cross or God's nature as clearly defined in scripture.
God is love 1 John 4:8, God is righteous in all His ways Psalm 145:17, God is light with no darkness in Him at all 1 John 1:5, God is impartial Acts 10:34,God is just and does not pervert justice Job 34:12. Note how Job says '''it is unthinkable that He would pervert justice'' (NIV translation).
Cross = God died for all mankind John 3:16.
If a person with more then half a working brain cannot tick off these verses that define God and the cross when hearing your belief, something is clearly wrong.
2. Does said belief consider all the opposing verses given for context.
When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, mentioned in Matt 4. We see the devil quoted scripture accurately, but did not provide context. ''It is written, if you jump angels will catch you''. Jesus did not disagree but gave context ''It is also written, do not tempt God''.
If we took the devil's line in isolation we see that it would amount to a very different belief to the truth.
It is thus so important for us to consider all the opposing verses given for context. We cannot ignore any verse. Every verse needs to be dealt with and used as light on a topic.
The moment someone is not 'dealing' with a verse you present, you know you are in the presence of a false teacher. If that is you, be terrified. False teaching must be the single most feared sin among Christians. A Christian has 'one' job. Namely to properly represent God to the lost 2 Cor 5:20.
Imagine being that person on judgement day that is guilty of leading the lost that God lay His life down for, astray.
I just want to add....
“GOSPEL”
1.
CHRIST IS CENTRAL TO THE GOSPEL.
x Gospel of Christ used 10 x in new testament
x Christ’s gospel x 1
x Gospel of our lord Jesus Christ(about Christ)
2 Thess 1:8-9
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey
not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of his power.
Gospel of the glory of Christ (is about Christ)
2 Cor 4:4-5
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe
not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your
servants for Jesus' sake.
x Gospel of god x 7(Christ is god)
x Gospel of the blessed god(Christ is god)
1 Tim 1:11
11According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed
to my trust.
Gospel of peace x 2 (Christ is the prince of peace)
x Everlasting gospel x 1(Christ is eternal)
x Gospel of the kingdom x 4 in nt.(Christ is the personification of the
kingdom)
x Gospel of the grace of god x1(Christ is full of grace)
2. MY GOSPEL MENTIONED THREE TIMES IN NEW TESTAMENT
Paul took ownership of the gospel.
3. OUR GOSPEL MENTIONED THREE TIMES IN NEW TESTAMENT
2 Cor 4:3-4
3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of
this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of
the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto
them.
1Th 1:5; 2Th2:14
NT:2098
In the NT it denotes the "good tidings" of the kingdom of God and of salvation
through Christ, to be received by faith, on the basis of His expiatory death, His
burial, resurrection, and ascension,
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985,
Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
In Galatians Paul affirms that any other gospel than the one he was preaching
was inaccurate and carried a curse.
Gal 1:8-9
8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said
before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than
that ye have received, let him be accursed.
FEATURES OF THE GOSPEL:
GRACE
OPERATING SYSTEM OF FAITH
SONSHIP
PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT
EXPULSION OF THE BOND WOMAN
LIBERTY
AMPLIFICATION
G - GRACE VS WORKS
x SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT
Gal 1:3-6
3Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus
Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this
present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 5 To whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen. 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from
him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Eph 2:8-9
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Rom 11:5-6
5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the
election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise
grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace:
otherwise work is no more work
Salvation is by grace through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of
Christ.
1 Cor 15:1-8
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you,
which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are
saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed
in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was
buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And
that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of
above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto
this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James;
then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one
born out of due time.
x WORKS OF THE LAW CANNOT MERIT SALVATION
Gal 2:21
21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law,
then Christ is dead in vain.
Gal 5:4
4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the
law; ye are fallen from grace.
Gal 6:18
18Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
O - OPERATING SYSTEM – FAITH AND NOT THE LAW
Faith is used 21 x in Galatians.
Gal 2:16
16Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith
of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the
works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Gal 2:20
20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in
me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Gal 3:11-12
11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for,
The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that
doeth them shall live in them.
Gal 3:24-25
24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we
might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer
under a schoolmaster.
S - SONSHIP VS SLAVERY
SONS OF ABRAHAM AND CHRIST
Gal 3:6-9
6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are
the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify
the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying,
In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are
blessed with faithful Abraham.
Gal 3:26
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 4:3-5
3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of
the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his
Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under
the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6-7
6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a
son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
P - PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT VS LAW
Gal 3:14
14And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but
received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus
Gal 4:6-7
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a
son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Gal 5:16-18
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulful the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and
these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye
would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
E - EXPULSION OF THE BOND WOMAN (OLD COVENANT)
OLD COVENANT VS NEW COVENANT
Gal 4:21-31
Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is
written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a
freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh;
but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for
these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to
bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and
answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is
written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that
travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath
an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after
the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out
the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir
with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the
bondwoman, but of the free.
L - LIBERTY
LIBERTY VS THE BONDAGE OF THE LAW
Gal 5:1-6
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be
not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you,
that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to
every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ
is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye
are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of
righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth
anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
HOW DOES THIS LIBERTY MANIFEST:
x THROUGH LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER
Gal 5:13-14
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an
occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is
fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
x WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
Gal 5:16-18
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulful the lust of the flesh. 17
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and
these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye
would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
x BEARING ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS
Gal6:1-2
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such
an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be
tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
x RECIPROCATION
Gal 6:6
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all
good things.
x DO GOOD TO ALL
Gal 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto
them who are of the household of faith.
x BOAST IN THE CROSS
Gal 6:14
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.
....and leave this free dorean...
Shalom
Johann
