Knowledge alone is not truth. At its best, knowledge alone is puffed up. At worst, it destroys. It was knowledge alone that deceived Eve. It was by knowledge alone that the affections of God's chosen nation continually turned back to the world. It is only when we walk in the light of knowledge that truth is intimately known. (1 John 1:6,7; John 3:21)
Today, the masses of church attenders are eager to embrace a fellowship claimed by mere association with others who regard not truth, but a commanding knowledge of their religious environment; a knowledge lacking the life of the Spirit, evidenced by their conformity to the system of the world. Their confidence is supported by one another, similar to patrons of a bar. They build up and encourage a community of companionship nourished by mutual acceptance. These common communities become either tolerant or legalistic, for the purpose of comforting the astute and controlling the ignorant. They are full of toil and void of the truth because knowledge alone is their master, refusing to allow the Holy Spirit to turn that knowledge into abundant life. (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:7; 1 Corinthians 11:19)
PJR
"They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error."
(1 John 4:5,6)
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