Do not go beyond what is written.

 

Do not go beyond what is written.

 

1 Corinthians 4:6: "Brothers, I have used myself and Apollos as examples for you in this matter, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written (metheschematisa), and not to become arrogant against one another (kata tou heteron)."

This implies that Paul and Apollos were well-versed in the Scriptures. Therefore, it means that if one acts according to the Scriptures, one will not go astray. Meteschematisa (μετεσχημάτισα) means changing the form or outward appearance. It signifies distorting the Scriptures. Kata tou heteron (κατὰ τοῦ ἑτέρου) means "following others." These others are those who have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. An arrogant heart means trying to rise above others and dominate them. The phrase “Do not go beyond what is written” means not to follow the literal text recorded in the Bible, but to follow the words spoken by the Ho Logos. In most cases, the written text of the Bible is imbued with many meanings. It is recorded figuratively, symbolically, and in various other ways based on the original languages ​​of the scriptures; therefore, one must consult the Ho Logos and interpret the words by unraveling them. If one does not do so, one will eventually fall into legalism and humanism.

If one departs from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the cross, it is no longer the Gospel. Acting literally, focusing on how to live in the world, or how one should conduct oneself is not the Gospel, but is merely humanism based on religious sentiment. Matthew 11:12-15: “From the time of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. All the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. If you are willing, this is the Elijah who was to come. Let anyone who has ears to hear, hear.”

Regarding this passage, many pastors say that one must have such an aspiring heart to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. They even use the expression that one is struggling. They also say that those who strive with all their heart and mind will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and that this passage helps us realize that an active, passionate, and devoted life of faith is the very key to the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

The phrase "he basileia ton ouranon," translated as "Kingdom of Heaven," refers to the Kingdom of God within the heart. The Age of the Law extended up to John the Baptist, just before the coming of Jesus, signifying the old temple established within the heart. An idol, believing oneself to be the master, had taken root in this old temple. However, with the coming of Jesus Christ, a new temple has entered the heart. Jesus invades the hearts of believers, destroying the old temple and becoming the Lord of the new temple. Here, the one who invades refers to Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist was the one who came in the spirit of Elijah. In Luke 1:17, it says, "He will come before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare a people for the Lord." Elijah was the one prophesied by the prophet Malachi. In Malachi 3:1, it says, "The Lord of hosts says: 'Behold, I will send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. The Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come.'"

John the Baptist came before Jesus and told people to repent because the Kingdom of Heaven was near. He was the one who prepared the way for the preaching of Jesus' gospel. He was beheaded and died before Jesus. His death serves as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ death on the cross. Likewise, Elijah serves as a foreshadowing of Christ’s resurrection, and Elisha serves as a foreshadowing of those who believe that the disciples will be united with Christ and resurrected.

John the Baptist was a true prophet who came into the world in the spirit of Elijah to testify to the coming of Jesus Christ and His ministry. However, false prophets are those who deny Jesus’ ministry and distort His words. Within the church community, there are those like John the Baptist, while there are false prophets who are like the beast described in Revelation chapters 12-13. Although false prophets infiltrated the church community even during the time of the early church, today, almost all church communities have been encroached upon by them.

Today, the church is divided into those who preach the true Jesus and those who preach a false Jesus. The true Jesus is the one who died in a physical body on the cross and resurrected in a spiritual body, the one who came to give the Kingdom of God to the saints; however, the false Jesus is a Jesus who resurrected in a physical body, appearing only to bless the world. Therefore, they have no interest in the Kingdom of God. To them, the Kingdom of God is considered merely a spiritual realm to be reached after the death of the physical body. While alive in this world, they place greater importance on the blessings received in this world. At the foundation of this lies a faith focused on material blessings driven by humanism, legalism, and Gnosticism that follows mysteries.

John the Baptist testifies: "God, who sent me to baptize with water (the problem of sin), said to me, 'When you see a man upon whom the Spirit rests, know that he is the one who baptizes with the Spirit (resurrection).' And I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and rest upon Jesus." Therefore, he testifies that Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Testifying to Jesus—the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (death on the cross), the One upon whom the Holy Spirit dwells, and the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (firstfruits of the resurrection)—John the Baptist finally confessed that He is indeed the Son of God.

 

Jesus came into the world, spent three years in public ministry, died on the cross, and rose again from the spiritual dead. The disciples are to become witnesses who must testify to Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection. The two witnesses are the disciples (saints) and the Holy Spirit. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, it becomes the work of bringing forth the fruits of Jesus’ ministry and resurrection. Before Jesus came, John the Baptist served as the witness, and when Jesus departed from the world, the disciples took on that role. However, the church community is filled with deceived false witnesses. The Gospel is being corrupted, and God’s will is being distorted by them.

Saints who are disciples of Jesus must realize that the role of testifying to the path Jesus walked is the work they are meant to fulfill. One must realize that one exists on this earth not to receive attention, but to offer that attention to Christ. To offer oneself to Christ, one must proclaim repentance. It is to call for repentance because the Kingdom of Heaven (Jesus Christ) is near. Furthermore, it is to lead people to believe in being united with the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and in the present resurrection with Christ. Although there may be numerous difficulties, this is the duty of the disciples who are witnesses. The disciples who are witnesses become those who have come by the spirit of Elijah.