From: Kim
To: The Path of Truth
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2017 2:53 PM
Hello Victor and Paul,
What a life line I have found on this web-site. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I had been searching so long for the treasure, the pearl of great price. The TRUTH that sets me free! Funny been right in front of my face all along but I couldn’t see it or hear it.
I have started so many letters to introduce myself, and I agonized over what to tell you. What did you want to know about me? After explaining a few things, I wondered (is that too much information …or maybe not enough…. Is that even important… Should I say this or that?……oh boy this is turning into a book!…..On and on it went! After weeks of this, I finally just decided to let you ask me what you need or want to know. As one famous servant of the LORD once said, “What would you have me to do?” I only wish I would have come to those words sooner.
Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and ask a question. Yesterday a song I haven’t thought of in a long long time came to mind. In the middle of the night I got up and found it on you-tube. Along with the song came the story behind it and I wept when I heard it. And I knew that the lyrics said it all and better than I ever could. Maybe it’s all you need to know to answer my question.
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No Turning Back
No Turning Back
Though none go with me still I will follow Though none go with me still I will follow Though none go with me still I will follow No Turning Back No Turning Back
My cross before me the world behind me
My cross before me the world behind me
My cross before me the world behind me
No Turning Back
No Turning Back
Will you be my Shepard(s)?
Kim
From: Paul Cohen and Victor Hafichuk
To: Kim
Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2017 7:26 AM
Hi Kim,
The Lord Jesus Christ says:
John 6:37-40 MKJV
(37) All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will in no way cast out.
(38) For I came down from Heaven, not to do My Own will but the will of Him Who sent Me.
(39) And this is the will of the Father Who sent Me, that of all which He has given Me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day.
(40) And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes on Him should have everlasting life. And I will raise him up at the last day.
By His grace, we’re with Him all the way on this.
Yes, do tell us more about yourself, both the spiritual and mundane, so that we may get acquainted with you as you have with us from our website. Don’t worry about getting it all right. Simply expressing yourself truthfully is right. Lord willing, we’ll have more to share with you.
You can register on the Forum (from any page on the site) as well, a place to participate with us and other believers among us. We can also put you on our mailing list (letters we receive and answer for the edification, instruction, and judgment of others). Let us know if you’re interested.
Paul and Victor
From: Kim
To: Paul Cohen
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2017 2:30 PM
Subject: Past and Present
Hello Paul,
Finally getting back to you, trying to let you know a little about myself.
I’m a 56 year old SINNER, who deserves to be stoned to death, who has broken every commandment of God and should not be alive today. When I think of the depravity of my life before my Creator, I feel the shame and the guilt of it all.
There is nothing more that I want then to walk on the narrow road. To forsake this world and live for Him. I know there is nothing in me that could accomplish this, but I also know with Him all things are possible.
Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, brought up in the “Church of Christ”, it was our home away from home. I made the “confession of faith” and was baptized at the age of twelve because I was scared to death that I’d “burn in hell” if I died the next day. As I grew older, I started to resent all the time that I was forced to attend church, and said to myself that when I didn’t have to attend anymore I wouldn’t! I kept that vow and stayed away from church until 1992. I thought my daughter needed to have a foundation in the things of God. Not that I didn’t teach her from home, but church had been ingrained in me and God didn’t want you to forsake the assembly, right? This time though, I wanted to go to a church that appealed to me. So I looked for one that was entertaining, had a engaging pastor, good music and fun activities for the kids. One that not only tickled the ears but other senses as well! I thought that my daughter might enjoy going to church and not resent it like I did if she found it fun. I found exactly what I was looking for and much to my surprise ended up spending a lot of time there. I worked very hard in different “ministries”, I believed I was serving the Lord, I really wanted to hear Him say one day “well done my good and faithful servant”. I’m ashamed to admit that I was so ignorant and self-righteous.
In 2002 when my husband retired from law enforcement, we moved to Pensacola FL. After settling in we began to “shop” for a new church, but no one could agree on one so we just ended up not going. I would sometimes watch church on tv, read my Bible and pray, trying to maintain a relationship. How deceived I was, thinking I had one to begin with!
In 2009 we sold our house and most of our possessions and 2010 moved to a mountain resort in North Carolina because my husband and I both worked for a women who owned three houses there. My husband maintained the property and I worked as housekeeper/ personal assistant. It was on this mountain top that I believe God started to show me that the things that I thought were important, weren’t, and began to open my eyes to see things as I hadn’t before.
Surrounded by people of wealth, (we could not associate because we could not afford to) I realized their lives were not any happier then mine, actually they seemed to have far more trouble. Where I might of envied this before, I became kind of disgusted with the enormity and the waste of it all. I started to ask myself questions – What am I doing? Why am I here? What is my purpose?, What is my focus and where should it be? How does God see me? Is He pleased or disgusted.? Whether it was God calling me or my conscience alerting me, I did not know. But I began to have a desire for the Lord that I never had before. I wanted to know him better, I knew I was missing something but I didn’t know what direction to take.
I started with the Bible and I read it a lot, but I ended up with far more questions then answers. I needed help understanding but didn’t know where to look. What books should I read? Of all the denominations, who’s doctrine was right? I started watching some of the religious channels on tv and wondered who to believe, they all seemed so convinced they had it right. TBN preached a lot of faith, build up your faith, faith is key etc. etc. maybe they had it right, I tried it for a couple of years, gave into their ministries, but in the end found that it didn’t ring true or lacked in something. I thought I had faith, I mean I believed that Jesus was God’s son, (later found out that “believe” means so much more than I thought) that His word was true and what He said He meant. So why shouldn’t I believe that all His promises were for me. They neglect to tell you that you need more. Would have been great to know that faith was a gift and obedience was key!
After two years on the mountain, we decide to leave and moved to Charlotte NC in the fall of 2012. I continued to have this desire to find out what Christianity was all about. I was mentally and emotionally exhausted from my time on the mountain and just didn’t want to work for awhile. I wanted to take some time off and use it to study scripture and seek Him, He promised one would find Him if they would seek with all their heart. After two years I still wasn’t making much progress. I was still trying to find a doctrine that seemed right, rang true, I don’t know how to explain it. I started attending church again, not that I really wanted to go but my husband expressed interest and he never was much into it, so I went for him. After about a year he was fed up with all the requests for money and stopped going, and I did as well. I surmised that being a Christian was not as easy as I had been led to believe. I looked at all the people who claimed to believe (myself as well) but I saw no difference in our lives then those who didn’t. I decided to take a different approach. I was going to give up on church, tv, preachers, books(threw them all away). I prayed “Lord, here’s your word, please show me what I need to know! Help me to put away what I’ve been taught over the years, and read your Word with fresh eyes, not with man’s interpretation, but Your revelation.” I wanted it to be as if I knew nothing. You can take a person out of religion, but it’s hard to take religion out of a person.
During my study I would use the Internet to search out words or phrases from the Bible to supplement or enhance their meaning. I would end up on some various denominational sites and somethings seemed true, like Hell was not a place where you burned forever and everyone would be saved. This sounded more like the merciful God that He claimed to be. I made note of those items and others and moved on. I did not know what I was doing, just trying to understand it all.
As I was reading scripture some verses stuck out like a neon sign:
Matt 7:13-14 Go in through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, any many are who go I through it. Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way which leads to life, and there are few that find it.
Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able”
Matt 7:21-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matt 24:24 For false Christ’s and false prophets will appear, and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible even the elect.
2 Tim 4:3-4 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction (that challenges them with Gods truth); but wanting to have their ears tickled (with something pleasing), they will accumulate for themselves (many) teachers (one after another, chosen) to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold, and will turn their ears from the truth and will wonder off into myths and man-made fictions (and will accept the unacceptable).
So God gave me grace to know, that I was deceived. That I and most everybody else was on the broad road and not the narrow path.
Around this same time, this thought came to me: Search out traditions of men. So I did and I learned that all these holidays that I had observed were actually pagan. That the Sabbath was changed to Sunday and this was done by the Catholic Church. As a child I questioned why we weren’t being obedient and observing the Sabbath. So He led me to suspect that deception was in the so called “churches”. I observed the masses of people attending these huge churches on tv and the enormous crowds that follow the pope. If very few find the narrow way, then most are lost and not presently saved as they believe to be (myself included)!
Needless to say, it seemed a rude awakening, It made me sick to know that all I had learned and done in my 50 plus years, was a lie and offensive to God. Celebrating Christmas, Easter and all the other pagan days, had to be like spitting in His face! And yet, looking back, I have to say a glorious awakening because maybe by now knowing that what I believed to be true; was in error, I might somehow begin to know the truth. I wanted to be obedient to those things that was revealed to me (not celebrating pagan holidays, keeping the Sabbath, along with the other commandments, being obedient to as much as I knew and could, given His grace, and asking Him to show me my sins). I did find that the more knowledge I was given, the more questions I had, and He was faithful to answer some. But, I still felt that I was missing something major. In desperation and frustration I asked the Lord if anyone out there had the truth?
I didn’t really know what or who to believe or where to look and I was afraid of believing yet another falsehood.
A short time later in May of last year, I was searching something and came across your website. I don’t remember what I was searching but I do remember that once I stumbled upon your site, I couldn’t stop reading it. The first teaching I came across was repentance and what it really meant. I can’t begin to tell you what that teaching did for me! Confession and restitution followed and I spent the summer meeting up with the people I had sinned against confessing and making restitution where possible. This has been the hardest most humbling experience in my life. I had confessed these things to God, but never knew that I needed to confess them to the ones I’d sinned against. I finally was seeing how God saw me and how I really was nothing but a stinking pile of crap! I was good at one thing and one thing only, I was a champion sinner!
Before meeting with those I’d sinned against, I would read the teaching again, just to help me do what I knew I had to. I couldn’t get through one confession without crying and it wasn’t for myself (my pride being hurt) but because I knew how badly I had sinned against the Lord and the person I was speaking to. It was as if I was understanding what sin was for the first time in my life. Trust me after that I would never ever want to consider doing anything that would put me in that situation again!
Your teachings have helped me to understand what it means to be obedient. Now when I read the scriptures, I see it (obedience) there from Genesis to Revelation. I mean all of scripture seems to scream OBEY! It is so clear, I mean it couldn’t be clearer and yet I was blinded to it before. Now I have revelation, not in all things but so much more then before. The grace of God is washing me in the Word.
So many of my questions have been answered, and those things I noted in my searches have been confirmed or dismissed by you. I have been so blessed to find this site, I know it was the answer to my prayer. I have not read the entire site, mostly just the right hand side, many but not all. Some of the teachings I read again and again, discovering more every time. Reading scripture is now so different, and I can’t get enough of it.
Step by step over the past several years, I can see how the Lord has been pulling me away from this world. Things I used to take interest in, don’t appeal to me at all anymore. I don’t want for things or people. I have lost all desire for just about everything, but Him. My husband mentioned to my sister he’s worried about me, afraid I’m going to run off and join a cult. We have been married for 33 years but during the last few I felt the division that Matt 10: 34-39 speaks of, my husband and daughter on one side and myself on the other. They probably don’t hate me yet because there was such conflict over certain matters that to keep peace, I don’t say anything. I keep praying that he will be won over without words. But in doing so am I denying Christ somehow?
I know that I’m not saved, I don’t have the Spirit of Christ. Am I correct in thinking that I’ve been led to repentance? I feel like I’m all over the place, one day confident that the Lord is leading me and one day just a wreck, as if I’m going nowhere. I tell myself to have patience, God is doing the work in His timing. Maybe that’s my answer to all my questions. I don’t have any say as to when and where. He does the work! I have to trust and obey!
My main concern is to miss being saved because of not being obedient to His personal request(s). I don’t want to get ahead of Him by doing things He might require but hasn’t yet, nor do I want to ignore something that I should be doing and am not. I have not been given any instruction from God concerning my cross that I know of. I realize I might be required to leave all family because the Word as well as your teachings, says forsaking all. So do I just pack a bag, with no car, job or money and start walking? Having faith He will provide. Or do I wait for specific instructions from the Lord? Will I be absolutely sure that when He makes a request, I will know it’s from Him and not my imagination working overtime? Which I think it tends to do!
I read your testimony Paul, and it was Victor and His wife that told you to leave your wife. Yes, you had confirmation in the Word, and you had been convicted, but you also were going to wait to hear when the time was right. If you hadn’t been told that you were not going to be hearing from Him again, would you have missed your opportunity to be saved waiting for something that was not going to happen?
Without His Spirit, what exactly is required of me, other than faith, repentance and obedience? What is my place as a woman? Do I tell others that they have it all wrong, when I’m sure I don’t have it all right yet and is it even my place? Before I learned the truth, I had spoken falsely. I don’t ever want to do that again. Shouldn’t I be saved first, before I try to convince others? Not that I could, but perhaps the Spirit would. And again not sure it’s my place.
As you can see I struggle to know what to do. This is why I’ve contacted you, I know you speak the truth. Some truths have been really hard to hear, but I want you to know that I HEAR you! Sorry for all the questions and if I’ve asked something that you have already covered on the site, I apologize as well. I really appreciate your help.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From: Kim
To: Paul Cohen
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2017 2:40 PM
Subject: This is me “The Wild”
Hello,
I just emailed you yesterday subject (Past and Present). I had mentioned that I had read much of the right hand side of the site map on thepathoftruth. I have been in such anxiety, craziness, turmoil, I don’t know how to explain it, lately. I’d been trying to finish my letter to you, but not really knowing how to explain what I was going through. I was led to look at something else today, like proverbs and poems. Something different anyway.
I just read the poem #18, The Wild. If that doesn’t define where I am in this journey, I don’t know what does! Thank you Victor, for writing that. I now know this is part of the whole process that we go through, that I’m not missing something or going crazy. I need to stop asking why, where, when or how and know that He is in control. Take what I’ve been given for the day and not worry about tomorrow. It’s so wonderful to know that this is to be expected and part of the process. (Of course correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t need to tell you that cuz I know you will!)
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you,
Kim
From: Paul Cohen and Victor Hafichuk
To: Kim
Sent: Saturday, March 11, 2017 8:47 AM
Subject: Re: Past and Present/This is me “The Wild”
Hi Kim,
You write:
“Your teachings have helped me to understand what it means to be obedient. Now when I read the scriptures, I see it (obedience) there from Genesis to Revelation. I mean all of scripture seems to scream OBEY! It is so clear, I mean it couldn’t be clearer and yet I was blinded to it before. Now I have revelation, not in all things but so much more then before. The grace of God is washing me in the Word…
Some of the teachings I read again and again, discovering more every time. Reading scripture is now so different, and I can’t get enough of it..”
Amen – the grace of God IS with you.
“Step by step over the past several years, I can see how the Lord has been pulling me away from this world. Things I used to take interest in, don’t appeal to me at all anymore. I don’t want for things or people. I have lost all desire for just about everything, but Him. My husband mentioned to my sister he’s worried about me, afraid I’m going to run off and join a cult. We have been married for 33 years but during the last few I felt the division that Matt 10: 34-39 speaks of, my husband and daughter on one side and myself on the other. They probably don’t hate me yet because there was such conflict over certain matters that to keep peace, I don’t say anything. I keep praying that he will be won over without words. But in doing so am I denying Christ somehow?”
What were you having conflict over and what happened?
“I know that I’m not saved, I don’t have the Spirit of Christ. Am I correct in thinking that I’ve been led to repentance? I feel like I’m all over the place, one day confident that the Lord is leading me and one day just a wreck, as if I’m going nowhere. I tell myself to have patience, God is doing the work in His timing. Maybe that’s my answer to all my questions. I don’t have any say as to when and where. He does the work! I have to trust and obey!”
Yes, amen! Very true!
“My main concern is to miss being saved because of not being obedient to His personal request(s). I don’t want to get ahead of Him by doing things He might require but hasn’t yet, nor do I want to ignore something that I should be doing and am not. I have not been given any instruction from God concerning my cross that I know of.”
To do something you aren’t being called to do is not much different than not doing something you’ve been commanded to do. Both are not of faith and miss the mark.
“I realize I might be required to leave all family because the Word as well as your teachings, says forsaking all. So do I just pack a bag, with no car, job or money and start walking? Having faith He will provide. Or do I wait for specific instructions from the Lord?”
“Forsaking all” is an internal event. Every believer receives faith by which they must forsake their own view and the importance they attach to the things in their life in order to walk with the Lord according to the importance He places on things.
“You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3 MKJV).
As for your husband and family, the Word of God directs you in how to you should conduct yourself in faith:
1 Corinthians 7:13-15 MKJV
(13) And the woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is pleased to dwell with her, do not let her leave him.
(14) For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; else your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
(15) But if the unbelieving one separates, let him be separated. A brother or a sister is not in bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.
“Will I be absolutely sure that when He makes a request, I will know it’s from Him and not my imagination working overtime? Which I think it tends to do!”
God deals with everything, including our imaginations. Look to Him and trust Him.
“I read your testimony Paul, and it was Victor and His wife that told you to leave your wife. Yes, you had confirmation in the Word, and you had been convicted, but you also were going to wait to hear when the time was right. If you hadn’t been told that you were not going to be hearing from Him again, would you have missed your opportunity to be saved waiting for something that was not going to happen?”
I was told to leave fornication, not a God-given wife, which difference the Lord made clear to me. If I chose to keep my life and sin, I would have lost it, yes.
“Without His Spirit, what exactly is required of me, other than faith, repentance and obedience? What is my place as a woman? Do I tell others that they have it all wrong, when I’m sure I don’t have it all right yet and is it even my place? Before I learned the truth, I had spoken falsely. I don’t ever want to do that again. Shouldn’t I be saved first, before I try to convince others? Not that I could, but perhaps the Spirit would. And again not sure it’s my place.”
You’re putting works before faith. It’s the faith of Christ that leads you to produce the works of God. The works of God begin and end with believing in Him Whom He has sent.
“Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 MKJV).
Paul and Victor
From: Kim
To: Paul Cohen
Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2017 3:17 PM
Subject: Faith and works
Hello Paul and Victor,
To answer your question concerning the subject of the conflict and what took place; there where two separate incidents. First concerning homosexuals and the other over creation. A couple of years ago my husband was stating that if he voted, he would vote for a certain candidate. Knowing that this particular candidate was promoting gay marriage, I asked him why he would support someone that went against the will of God.
I can’t remember what his answer was and he said something like the Bible speaks against male relationships but not female ( I don’t know where he heard that). I told him that wasn’t true and read him Romans 1: 22-27. I don’t know why, but it just set him off. The look that came over him was just pure hatred and he was so angry, I just couldn’t believe it. I have known him 39 years and I’ve only seen him that mad three times before and only once was it directed at me.
The second time maybe a year ago, he asked me if I wanted to watch this program on tv, that he had seen before and liked. He said it was about how our ancestors lived. I’m picky about what I watch, I think I assumed it was going to show how people made do before the modern conveniences of today. Anyway after five minutes, I couldn’t take it any longer, they kept saying things like a million years ago, our ancestors etc… I said I couldn’t watch this program because it wasn’t true, the world was not that old. Again that hateful angry look came over his face and he asked me where I got my information, and I said the Bible, he said where? I answered Genesis. He asked who wrote it? I said Moses and before I could say another word he says loudly….so you’re going to believe Moses over all the scientists and information we have today? Please know that it wasn’t what he said, the words he used, as it was the underlying anger he displayed. I was shaking and a nervous wreck after both incidents.
I just read Satan’s Strategies, and the last category “Threatenings” really hit home. “The spiritual pilgrim on the path of truth is ever threatened with loss, failure, pain, shame, rejection, humiliation, and all those things man simply does not like. We are afraid that if we speak the truth or mention the name of Jesus Christ in a loving and worshipful way, we will lose all sorts of social benefits, business, comforts, honor, respect and manifold actual and potential possessions. Satan wants to avoid the proclamation of truth. Let’s not be deceived by threats of the enemy. He is a liar; we have nothing to fear.”
Very true, I need to get over the fear and consider it all joy!
I started to mention 1 Corinthians 7:13-15 in my last letter, but I removed it. I now have confirmation.
I didn’t realize that forsaking was internal. I was under the impression that you had to not only be willing….but to DO (the physical act). In the teachings on heaven and hell, I understand that they are internal as well (a state and a place) If the Lord grants me His Spirit, then I will move from hell (the state I’m in at present) to heaven (a new creation, His life in me) even though physically, I remain where I am. That being said, do I liken it to physically staying married (as long as he will have me), even though the forsaking has already taken place?
I appreciate your words of confirmation and correction. I took about a week to go back over your teaching on What is Faith, and looked up faith in scripture. I wanted to see if I had any questions on it before I sent this letter (that’s why it’s taken me so long to get back to you). I believe I understand it better, but have not grasped it completely.
As to putting works before faith, maybe I’m not making myself clear or maybe you heard me loud and clear. I am not going out on my own and trying to convince strangers of the truth, doing on my own what I think God would want me to do. Believe me I’ve had enough works burnt up! But in conversation with family members, if they speak error, I would have a hard time remaining silent about what I now know to be the truth. I would love to share what I’ve learned with them so far. Is that something I should do before receiving the Holy Spirit (with His help and direction)? Please explain in more detail how that is putting works before faith.
Thank you,
Kim
From: Paul Cohen
To: Kim
Cc: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2017 3:40 PM
Subject: Re: Faith and works
Hi Kim,
What I understand from the letters you’ve written us is that you became religious and got your husband involved with your church at some point, thinking he was converted. Later on, you found out that wasn’t so – your husband isn’t a believer. Therefore, don’t treat him like one or expect him to agree with things like the age of the earth, which really don’t matter. You only provoke him to anger with no benefit to either of you.
Instead of trying to give your husband Bible lessons, serve and do good by him in your actions. You started on the path of religion and now he’s confused. He’s not going to come out of his confusion by you lecturing or correcting him on Biblical knowledge. Stop trying to do that and follow the Lord instead. You talk about being in fear, but there is no fear in love. Love your husband because you love God.
Regarding forsaking, you say:
“I didn’t realize that forsaking was internal. I was under the impression that you had to not only be willing….but to DO (the physical act).”
Forsaking internally is DOING. Otherwise the Word of God is void, because Jesus said those who follow Him will need to forsake everything. Have you red Victor’s book, wHaT tHe LoRd HaS dOnE wItH mE? In it is described how he forsook his wife, yet it was never a physical departure. All things are determined and acted upon in the heart.
Abraham forsook Isaac, but didn’t send Isaac away after his supreme act of obedience. On the other hand, Abraham forsook Ishmael and did send him away, as per the instruction of God. So the sum of the matter is we need to know from the Lord what to do and obey Him.
In His timing, God brings us to the cross and death to self. The cross is obeying Him against our preference and perceived advantage.
You also ask about putting works before faith. You had expressed concern in a previous email about what to say or when to say it. My answer was that when you believe the Lord, you’ll automatically be found speaking and doing what is right according to His faith working in you. Trust that He will do that for you. And don’t despise His correction along the way, which will bring you there.
You write:
“But in conversation with family members, if they speak error, I would have a hard time remaining silent about what I now know to be the truth. I would love to share what I’ve learned with them so far. Is that something I should do before receiving the Holy Spirit (with His help and direction)?”
Consider the examples you gave of correcting your husband on things you know to be true and what I’ve written about that. Consider what the apostle Paul wrote about knowledge:
“Now concerning the things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has come to know nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one has been known by Him” (1 Corinthians 8:1-3 EMTV).
Consider how the Lord has treated you. Did He hammer you with knowledge on the many areas where you were incorrect, or has He gently and graciously led you away from all error, correcting you little by little on things as He leads you step by step on the path of truth?
It’s not our job to correct unbelievers, although the Lord does give us to testify before the whole world of HIM. It’s never about knowledge, Kim. It’s always about the Lord Jesus Christ – in spirit and in truth, not religion. Inform and enlighten when you can; just don’t strive.
Paul
From: Kim
To: Paul Cohen
Sent: Saturday, May 06, 2017 3:54 PM
Subject: Re: Faith and works
Hello Paul and Victor,
Thank you for the response to my questions. Your answers arrived the day before I left to visit my family for two plus weeks. Issues presented themselves and I spoke where and when led, but I didn’t strive.
I was beginning to read Victor’s book when you asked if I had read it. I’m on the last chapter now. It is so very enlightening in the way God works and the ways of man. Many questions I had have been answered.
I appreciate so much what I’ve learned from you, I know knowledge puffs up and pray all the time for the Lord to keep me humble, to never let me think I know anything. My trust is in Him, He will do the work, I can’t save myself, that much I will admit to knowing.
Thank you for being my Shepard(s). I will continue to read The Path of Truth, gaining wisdom from the Lord. I’m sure you will hear from me again soon.
Kim