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TAUGHT BY CHRIST
Many things were revealed to Paul. In centuries past one group of Bible believers was nicknamed “Paulicians” after him because they accepted his writings. Because many of the things God revealed to Paul are contrary to human ideas many people refuse to believe him. Peter wrote about some people who rejected the things revealed to Paul. These people twisted Paul's words to try and make them say something other than what he intended. Peter wrote: “As also in all his [Paul's] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction,” (2 Peter 3:16). In our Bible reading and study we should be constantly mindful not to “wrest” or twist Paul's words or any of the other Scriptures. To do that leads to destruction! So it is we come to our text: “But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus,” (Ephesians 4:20-21). Let us not twist these words! These two short verses contain a mother lode of truth concerning how men are brought to Christ. Coming to Christ is called learning Christ and hearing Christ and being taught by Christ. Have you rightly “learned Christ?” Have you “heard him?” Have you been “taught by him?” Most folk are busy asking themselves if they were sincere in what they did. “Did you really mean it when you asked Christ into your heart?” is often asked. “Did you repent of all your sins?” is another popular question. “Did you confess all your sins?” as if failing to list one would keep you from being saved. “Did you do...” - this or that or the other thing? In doing this they look to themselves instead of looking to Christ. Here is the right question: has Christ worked in you? As Lazarus remained dead in his grave until Jesus cried, “Lazarus come forth!” so sinners remain dead their sins unless and until Christ enables them to hear and calls them forth. The new birth produces a great many actions in the lives of those born from above. But actions can be deceiving and can be counterfeited. The question is, “what has God done in you?” The Father, the Holy Spirit and the Son are still working! Christ is still healing the deaf – the spiritually deaf – so that they can hear Him. Christ is still teaching! Christ is still calling with a call that makes spiritually dead sinners alive just as His call caused dead Lazarus to live again. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live,” (John 5:25). Have you heard Him? Have you been taught by Him?
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