Only pride would cause a depraved sinner to be satisfied with what he has learned. Paul wrote, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: I press toward the mark . . .” (Phil.3:13-14).Therefore we are always pressing onward, without full knowledge of anything.

Thinking they know something, men write books on “How To.” This is the epitome of sinful arrogance. The idea of me telling anyone “How to” is absurd. Now, I can say, “This may help.” Perhaps what I have to say might help, and it might not. The only “How to” book I could write is, “How to be filled with sinful pride.” Now, brother, if you want to know about that, yours truly is well taught.

The biggest idiocy of this “How to” business is, “How to be saved.” Do you really know that? If someone asks me how to be saved, all I can answer is, “Flee to Christ; trust Him and His shed blood.” How do you do that? I have no “steps” or “formula.” But I do know that salvation is in the Redeemer. This I must learn anew every day. How do you do this? How do you do that? I don’t know! It would be wise to ask God Almighty to give you knowledge, and search the scriptures daily whether these things be so.”

“If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” I will have to learn even that again tomorrow.

Pastor Paul Mahan

Have We Learned Christ? - Ephesians 4: 20-21

The believer is a person who has undergone and is undergoing a divine work of grace within. This work began and continues by the hearing of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Verse 21, of our text, plainly states, "if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus." This hearing is not the common hearing of men but the hearing of the gospel in power and in demonstration of the Holy Spirit. In I Corinthians 2:4, where this is stated, the word demonstration means an inward manifestation of the gospel. God, the Holy Spirit, demonstrates the mercy and grace of Christ within the hearing sinner and he is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. (Ephesians 1:13) Those who truly hear know that both the messenger and his message is from the Lord. John said, "we are of God; he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby, know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." (I John 4:6) All those who hear the gospel, in power, are born of God and given the ability, the right, and the privilege to become sons of God. (John 1:12-13) They have, by the gracious gift of the Father, been "made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." (Colossians 1:12) Those who truly hear, keep on hearing, and never lose their appetite for the gospel. In Hebrews 10:39, Paul says, "we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."

The believer is a person who has undergone a divine transformation; a divine work of grace within. He is not what he was and not yet what he hopes to be, but is what he is by the grace of God; a new creature in Christ Jesus. "For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that he should walk in them." (Ephesians2:8-10) The believer is rather like a woman shopping who sees a garment and thinks to herself how good she would look with it on. So she finds a way to get it. Believers do not continue to walk in the vanity of their minds but have seen with spiritual eyes the beauty and majesty of Christ. "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh." (Romans 13:14) Apart from this inward work of grace all else is folly.