The True Christian’s Faith and Experience #008 Chapter 03 and Chapter 04 Artwork

Ohio Yearly Meeting's Podcast

This is a podcast of Ohio Yearly Meeting. We are a collection of Conservative Quaker Meetings based primarily in Ohio. By conservative, we do not mean politically conservative. Conservative Friends are known for their commitment to conserve the Original message of the first generation of Quakers. These Quakers, in turn, saw their movement as a revival of primitive Christianity. We hope the installments of our podcasts will present the understandings of Conservative Quakerism.

So, if thee is interested in learning the differences between Conservative Quakers and other Quakers, or would like to understand differences between Quakers and other Christians, thee may well be at the right place. On the other hand, the Conservative Quaker perspective is so strikingly unique in contemporary society, that it will be a balm to many seeking spiritual fulfillment. To assist these seekers is the true intent of publishing our podcast.

A good many of the podcast installments will be presented by Henry Jason. Henry is knowledgeable in the Greek of the New Testament and has a fascinating way of tying the meaning of the original words with the writings of early Friends. Listening to him provides a refreshing view of scripture and is an excellent way to learn about original Quaker theology. Henry's podcasts are usually bible classes and so they are often interspersed with discussions, questions and insightful comments by his students.

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Ohio Yearly Meeting's Podcast

The True Christian’s Faith and Experience #008 Chapter 03 and Chapter 04

December 08, 2022 • Henry Jason

Session #008 is devoted both to chapter 3 on the true Christian’s faith and experience concerning the Holy Spirit, and to chapter 4, on the Holy Scriptures.

The true Christian believes in the Holy Spirit and obeys it. He witnesses being led by the Holy Spirit in the way of holiness, and is made holy and is purified from the cravings of the flesh. He is taught by the Spirit. The law of the Spirit is in him. The Spirit dwells in him. He displays the fruits of the Spirit.

However, for the titular, nominal Christian, it seems a strange teaching that fleshly and bodily cravings could be put to death by the Spirit, and that everything should be done in the Spirit. He is a stranger to the law of the Spirit of Eternal Life and is ignorant of the indwelling of that Spirit. He cannot see the glory of God when it appears in the inward temple of his body. He does not display the fruits of the Spirit in his conduct but only talks of them.

The true Christian honors the Holy Scriptures in their places, trusting and accepting their testimony, and is a witness of their testimony. He demonstrates this by trusting, accepting and obeying him, i.e., Christ Jesus, of whom they testify, through whom he receives power to conduct his life in accordance with them. He trusts that they were spoken and written through the movement and inspiration of the Spirit of God in their authors. He waits upon God to receive the spirit of which they testify, in order to understand them, to be comforted by them and to be made wise by them. He knows that academic learning is not able to give the true knowledge of the mind of the Spirit in them. Worldly wisdom cannot do this.

The titular Christian, the Christian in name only, does not obey the exhortations in Holy Scriptures. He pays lip service to what they say. He repeats their words, but in his actions he rejects them.

He calls them the “Word of God” though in actuality the Holy Scriptures themselves speak only of Christ as being the “Word of God”. Nominal Christians do not understand this inward speaking word or voice of God, so they are ignorant of the meaning of the words of God in the Holy Scriptures. Regrettably he takes the history, description and declaration of the true Word of God, the Spirit of Christ, to be that actual Word of God, the living Spirit of Christ.

References:

The True Christian’s Faith and Experience Briefly Declared.
The quote in our introduction was from The letters of Isaac Pennington. Several different versions of this book have been published. Our quote is from the

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To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit ohioyearlymeeting.org.

Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome!

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Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Dicipline.

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