Should Christians Celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Does it make any difference if true Christians observe St. Patrick's Day? Does God's living word - the Holy Bible - establish whether we, as Christians, are to keep certain God-ordained holy days? Were these holy days ONLY given to the Jews!? Does Leviticus 23:1 say, "'The feasts of the children of Israel'"!? Hence, the feasts of the Jews!? Are these God-ordained holy days binding TODAY on true Christians? WHICH DAYS SHOULD TRUE CHRISTIANS KEEP!?

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WELL, HERE we are again, March 17th, which is observed by a large majority of this world as St. Patrick's Day! But why? Do you know why you celebrate this day - if indeed you do? And, should true Christians celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Every year multiple millions of our people observe St. Patrick's Day, yet, those of us of the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries DO NOT!

Why?

Well, honestly because of where it came from, what it truly is, as well as what it is supposed to represent.

If you've never researched this subject before, let's delve into some research - such as The Catholic Encyclopedia - in which we will certainly find some interesting, as well as disturbing claims involving St. Patrick's Day:

"Saint, Apostle of Ireland, b.  at  Kil- Patrick,  near  Dumbarton,  in  Scotland,  in the year  387; d.  at  Saul,  Downpatrick,  Ireland,  17  March,  493. ... Pope  St.  Celestine  I  (q.  v.),  who rendered immortal service to able wreath  of  honour  decreed  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  in  the General  Council  of  Ephesus,  crowned  his  pontificate by  an  act  of  the  most  far-reaching  consequences for  the  spread  of  Christianity  and  civilization,  when he  entrusted  St.  Patrick  with  the  mission  of  gathering the  Irish  race  into  the  one  fold  of  Christ.

...  The  beautiful  prayer  of  St.  Patrick,  popularly known  as  "St.  Patrick's  Breast-Plate",  is  supposed  to have  been  composed  by  him  in  preparation  for  this victory  over  Paganism.     The  following  is  a  literal translation  from  the  old  Irish  text : —

... I  bind  to  myself  to-day

The  strong  virtue  of  the  Invocation  of  the  Trin- ity: I  believe  the  Trinity  in  the  Unity ...

St.  Patrick  proceeded  through  Gowran  into Ossory ;  here  he  erected  a  church  under  the  invocation of  St.  Martin,  near  the  present  city  of  Kilkenny,  and enriched  it  with  many  of  the  precious  relics  which  he had  brought  from  Rome. ...

Many  times  in  the  day  he  armed  himself with  the  sign  of  the  Cross. ... 

Far  more  ample,  however,  were  the  aspirations of  the  saint,  and  he  resolved  to  persevere  in  fasting and  prayer  until  the  fullest  measure  of  his  petition was  granted.  Again  and  again  the  angel  came  to comfort  him,  announcing  new  concessions;  but  all these  would  not  suffice.  He  would  not  relinquish  his post  on  the  mountain,  or  relax  his  penance,  until  all were  granted.  At  length  the  message  came  that  his prayers  were  heard:  (1)  many  souls  would  be  freed from  the  pains  of  purgatory  through  his  intercession; (2)  whoever  in  a  spirit  of  penance  would  recite  his hymn  before  death  would  attain  the  heavenly  reward; (.3)  barbarian  hordes  would  never  obtain  sway  in  his Church;  (4)  seven  years  before  the  Judgment  Day, the  sea  would  spread  over  Ireland  to  save  its  people from  the  temptations  and  terrors  of  Antichrist;  and (5)  greatest  blessing  of  all,  Patrick  himself  would  be deputed  to  judge  the  whole  Irish  race  on  the  last  day. Such  were  the  extraordinary  favours  which  St.  Patrick, with his unremitting penitential deeds, obtained for the people whem he evangelized."

(Original-Catholic-Encyclopedia-Volume-11 online. Retrieved 14 March 2022).

Now, we in the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries, DO NOT consider that Patrick was a saint or an apostle. We also DO NOT believe that people should wear crosses. And, we DO NOT consider that he was chosen to judge the Irish people on Judgement Day!

We also understand that the very concept of purgatory was not adopted until the Roman Catholic Church rejected the teachings on apokatastasis - which is God's biblical teaching that in the age to come all who did not have a real opportunity for eternal salvation will be given an opportunity then.

So, one of the main reasons why not celebrate "St. Patrick's Day" is that it promotes non-biblical teachings and obscures the TRUTH OF GOD!

Wikipedia writes:

"Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick ... lit. 'the Day of the Festival of Patrick' is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. 385- c. 461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland. ... Saint Patrick's feast day was finally placed on the universal liturgical calendar in the Catholic Church due to the influence of Waterford-born Franciscan scholar Luke Wadding. ...

Saint Patrick is said to have used a shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity ... In pagan Ireland, three was a significant number and the Irish had many triple deities, ...

Saint Patrick's Day, while not a legal holiday in the United States, ... has been celebrated in what is now the U.S. since 1601."

(Wikipedia, St. Patrick's Day; the latest accepted version was reviewed 14 March 2022).

Certainly, the above should give every true Christian pause in celebrating this pagan holiday!

Not only do we NOT celebrate what this world's "Mother Church" observes, but we also DO NOT accept that God is a Trinity, as defined by the Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381! Here in the United States of America, what they call a shamrock, we call a three-leafed clover. Our Lord and Savior's Church NEVER considered such nonsense as a Trinity. So, the observation of a holiday intended to celebrate a man who used a green clover to mislead others concerning the true nature of God would not be appropriate. A message of related interest: God's Master Plan - From the Beginning.

So, this St. Patrick's Day, essentially, is a worldly holiday promoting the wrong understanding of the Godhead.

The very "fruits" of this holiday are not good, and are dangerous!

Again, Wikipedia -

"Saint Patrick's Day celebrations have been criticized, particularly for their association with pubic drunkenness and disorderly conduct."

The very type of revelry and drunkenness that DOES occur in its celebration is condemned by Almighty God through the apostle Peter -

"Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2) that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3) For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles - when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4) In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you" - 1 Peter 4:1-4.

As well as the apostle Paul -

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21) envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I told you in time past, that THOSE WHO PRACTICE SUCH THINGS will not inherit the kingdom of God" - Galatians 5:19-21.

Now, it should also be noted that Patrick had concluded within his own self that God will use him on Judgment Day to judge all the Irish people! Apparently, Patrick was told by an angel named Victor. Yet, God's own very living words say, "There is only ONE Lawgiver [Judge], who is able to save and to destroy. ..." - James 4:12. And His name is NOT Patrick!

The large majority of myths, stories, legends, and outright fabrications concerning this St. Patrick truly lead to grave misunderstandings of what true Christianity is and the very nature of the Godhead. It truly is a deception by our mortal and spiritual enemy, Satan the Devil, for our peoples all around the world, as well as our brethren from the tribe of Dan. Recall, "Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel." This indicates that the Irish people would gain self-government in the following manner - "Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse's heels So that its rider shall fall backward." And, indeed, Ireland's Irish Republican Army (IRA) along with the earlier Irish Citizen Army (ICA) did just that to the United Kingdom.

We, as other brethren, try to "'not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God'" - Matthew 4:4. We instead keep the feasts of the LORD, ordained by God that were kept by our Lord Jesus Christ, the original apostles, and the other early followers of Christ Jesus!

Shouldn't you!?

Turn with me, if you will, to Leviticus chapter 23 - for the LORD our God (the very One we now know of as Jesus Christ) has, under Moses and under the inspiration of God's Spirit, listed His feasts -

"And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2) 'Speak to the children of Israel [or also the New Covenant Church of God], and say to them: 'The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, THESE ARE MY FEASTS.'" - Leviticus 23:1-2.

Friends, St. Patrick's Day - or the Feast of St. Patrick - IS NOT LISTED! It is not a commanded feast of the LORD - it is a tradition of paganized man. And there is no hint whatsoever of it in the Bible.

GOD WARNS:

"Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, 16) lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female, 17) the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, 18) the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth. 19) And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven [outer space], and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage. 20) But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day. ... 23) Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image IN THE FORM OF ANYTHING which the LORD your God has forbidden you. 24) For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God" - Deuteronomy 4:15-24.

We must not, friends, worship Almighty God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ the way the pagans did - Leviticus 18:3; Deuteronomy 12:31; Jeremiah 10:2-3.

Now, a great many might argue - 'we're not worshiping God with the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, we're celebrating the death of a saint!'

To this, I say - God's living eternal Word is crystal clear that we are to WORSHIP GOD ALONE! All true Christians refuse any worship or veneration by others. The apostle Peter as well as all the other apostles absolutely refused to be worshiped or venerated - cf. Acts 10:25-26; 14:13-14. God's holy and righteous angels refuse to be worshiped - cf. Revelation 19:10; 22:9. And our response should be the same as our Lord Jesus Christ as well as His holy angels - "'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve'" - Matthew 4:10.

Sadly, Roman Catholics, as well as a great number of Protestants, bypass God's clear instruction by claiming that they do not "worship" Mary or their "saints," but rather they only venerate Mary and their saints. Well, placing a hat on a pig doesn't magically turn it into a horse! The definition of "venerate" in the Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary - the 1996 10th Edition - is "to regard with reverential respect or with admiring deference. To honor (as an icon or a relic) with a ritual act of devotion." NOWHERE in God's living word are we told to revere ANYONE but Almighty God alone! Now, there is nothing wrong with respecting those faithful true Christians who have died before us (cf. Hebrews chapter 11). We are to follow their example as they followed our Lord Jesus Christ's - yes, but worship or revere, or venerate, NO!

Also, as noted earlier: God's living WORD repeatedly warns against the practices of drunkenness, debauchery, revelries, and the like! □

Is There A Gender to the HOLY SPRIT?

by Leonard V Johnson

Do you know the grammatical facts concerning Koine Greek?

God’s living word – the Holy Bible – let's begin in the 2nd Book of Acts ──

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” – Acts 2:1.

Notice it was when the Day of Pentecost had fully come. The Bible is clear that the events that follow were directly related to the fact that the Day of Pentecost had fully come. And the apostles were all observing it together.

Here is what happened:

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven [the sky], as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3) Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues [languages], as the Spirit gave them utterance.” – Acts 2:2-4.

They received some of the power of God’s Spirit. The Roman Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox, the greater majority of Protestants, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Church of God all believe that this was the beginning of the New Testament Church of God. And rightly so. The Holy Spirit (be sure to watch “The Truth Concerning the Trinity Explained” in which Minister Garrett explains from God’s Word the Holy Spirit) was gifted at a certain time (the same time that many Jews observed Pentecost).

Many may not realize that Pentecost represented more than just the gifting of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the New Testament Church of God.

So, we see that God’s Spirit was given and that it looked like licking flames of fire.

There are many languages around the world ── including Koine Greek, the very language that the New Testament was originally written in ── use what is known as grammatical gender.

The very word for “fire” is πῦρ (or rather, pur – pronounced poor). It is a noun and is neuter.

However, the overall majority ── millions if not billions of people ── consider the Holy Spirit a male.

Nearly every translation of the New Testament into the English language uses the pronoun “he” in relation to the Holy Spirit, as well as the relative pronoun “who.” But, neither of these pronouns are supported by the original Koine Greek.

Also, the Koine Greek word for “Spirit” is πνεῦμα ( or rather, pneuma – pronounced pnyoo'-mah). Again, it is a noun and is neuter. The word is neither masculine nor feminine.

But, what about in the Old Testament ── which was originally written in Hebrew ── are the words “fire” and “Spirit” masculine or feminine?

Let’s see.

The word “fire” is אֵשׂ (or rather, esh – pronounced aysh). An example we can use is Genesis 19:24 – “Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.” I also confirmed this with the Theological Wordbook of the Bible, which states that ‘esh appears over 375 times in the Bible. It is a noun and is feminine.

The word “Spirit” is רוּחַ (or rather, ruach – pronounced roo'-akh). Definition is wind, breath, spirit. It is a noun and is feminine.

Unfortunately – despite the original writers of the New Testament surely knowing the Koine Greek language, along with a little Aramaic, the overall majority of people know better than they ── they continue to portray the Holy Spirit as male. Notice this from the Jamieson Faussett and Brown Commentary in regards to Genesis 1:1 –

“God – the name of the Supreme Being, signifying in Hebrew, ‘Strong,’ ‘Mighty.’ It is expressive of omnipotent power; and by its use here in the plural form, is obscurely taught at the opening of the Bible, a doctrine clearly revealed in other parts of it, viz., that though God is one, there is plurality of persons in the Godhead── Father, Son, and Spirit, who were engaged in the creative work.”

Is this correct? No!

They continue to propagate the false doctrine of a Trinity. Neither the Old Testament or the New Testament supports the idea that the Holy Spirit is a male── or for that matter a separate being!

As I was saying to a person on Facebook concerning painting graffiti on someone’s private property── because I had originally commented, “It's very good work, and he's very talented, but unless he owns that property or got permission, it's called vandalism.” 😔

A person commented back, “would you speak up if someone did that to your property???? Not me!!!!! I would say Thank you . Your work is amazing!” 💓💓💓

My response to her ── “You're entitled to your own opinions, but not the facts.” Graffiti without permission is still a crime in the United States. And there can be legal consequences. The owner of the property could, of course, refuse to press charges and absolutely LOVE HIS WORK! God's living word - the Holy Bible - says a lot about the fact that we should not do something bad for a good cause (cf. 1 Thess. 5:15).

Instead of resorting to illegal actions, it’s often more effective to seek lawful and ethical ways to achieve positive outcomes.”

I’m sure I’ll be attacked! But, the point I want to make is that calling the Holy Spirit a “she” or a “he,” or even a “who,” doesn’t negate the fact that the original Koine Greek has what is known as grammatical rules. There are laws, there are rules. And scratching “John 3:16” on the wall of a public restroom (at least in the state of Florida) falls under the crime of vandalism, codified in Florida Statute Section 806.13.

Even though many translations of the Word of God improperly used the pronoun “he” when referring to the Holy Spirit ── it’s interesting to note that the 1611 King James Version – which was produced from the Latin Vulgate – also would correctly translate a text as “it” when referring to the Holy Spirit. But, then, would incorrectly add “self”! Notice –

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” – Romans 8:16.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” – Romans 8:26.

The English pronoun “it” is appropriate.

Just What is the Holy Spirit?

• It is the power of God. “ … ‘Not by might nor by power [of any human], but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts” – Zechariah 3:6. “But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, And of justice and might, …” – Micah 3:8.
• It is the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear (reverent fear) of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2).
• It is a gift. After baptism, you are to receive ‘the gift of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:38). And, it is poured out – “’ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; …” – Acts 2:17. “ … the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also” – Acts 10:45.

And these were the beliefs “which was once for all delivered to the saints” – the early Christians. The oldest known complete Christian sermon which has survived is erroneously called The Letter of 2 Clement. It was given perhaps a year or so after the Apostle John’s death, and begins with: “Brothers, we must think about Jesus Christ as we think about God, as about the Judge of the living and the dead … So my brothers, let us do the will of the Father who called us, that we may live; …” – 2 Clement 1:1; 10:1.

So, the oldest surviving sermon outside of the Bible says to think of Jesus Christ as God and that the Father is God – but never indicates nor mentions the Holy Spirit.

The Trinity was formally adopted at the Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381 – though many in the Roman and Orthodox churches believed in different versions of it prior to this – even in 381 it was not exactly the same trinity doctrine as now understood by the vast majority of this world’s churches.

In one of the best versions of God’s living word ever translated is Minister, Author, Translator, and Teacher Fred R. Coulter’s New English Translation in its original order. HE TEACHES THE TRUTH CONCERNING THIS MISUNDERSTOOD SUBJECT!

 Notice –

“2) John 15:26, KJV: ‘But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of the truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.’

The word “which,” referring to “the Spirit of the truth,” is correctly translated from the neuter pronoun o. In John 14:17, the translators of the KJV had incorrectly rendered this neuter pronoun as “whom.” However, in John 15:26, they have correctly rendered the neuter relative pronoun o as “which.”

The descriptive noun “the Comforter” is correctly translated from the masculine Greek noun ο παρακλητος ho parakleetos. While this masculine noun is used to describe a vital function of the Holy Spirit, it does not designate the Holy Spirit, or “the Spirit of the truth,” as a person. A descriptive noun never changes the gender of the principle noun. For example: Jesus said that He is “the true vine” (John 15:1). The Greek word translated “vine” is the feminine noun ἡ ἄμπελος, he ampilos. The use of this feminine noun to describe Jesus Christ does not change His masculine gender to the feminine gender. In exactly the same way, the use of the masculine noun ο παρακλητος ho parakleetos to describe a function of the Holy Spirit does not alter the fact that the Holy Spirit is neuter. Because the Holy Spirit is neuter in gender ── not masculine ── there is no basis in the New Testament Greek text for mistranslating and interpreting the Holy Spirit as a person.” 1

Now, while nearly every major Protestant Christian group claims to believe in all of the Holy Bible for their doctrines as opposed to the councils of men ── the overall majority of them have outright accepted the traditions of the Roman Catholics and Orthodox churches relating to the Holy Spirit.

Let us not fall for any false traditions that claim that the Holy Spirit is masculine or a separate person, because Scripturally and grammatically ── that is false. □

1 Coulter R. F., The Holy Bible In Its Original Order A New English Translation, Exegesis for the Translation of “The Holy Spirit” York Publishing Co., © 2009, pg. 1283.

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A Morning Bible Study - The Need For God's Spirit

Leonard V Johnson    About

Recall from the previous A Morning Bible Study that we spoke of God’s Holy Spirit. The LORD God offered His Holy Spirit to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Had they partook of the fruit of the tree of Life, they would have received His Holy Spirit. And, I want you to understand that mankind was going to die – no matter if they were to choose the tree of Life or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Had they chosen the tree of Life, they would still have lived out their days and died; and indeed we find this did happen, “So all the days that Adam lived were 930 years; and he died” – Genesis 5:5 – but would have, after losing consciousness, “in the twinkling of an eye,” been resurrected unto eternal life! We, of course, know just who our first parents listened to. Satan the Devil. They instead partook of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They partook of the tree of death – cf. Revelation 20:14-15; 21:7-8. They CUT THEMSELVES OFF FROM GOD AND HIS SPIRIT.

Why did the LORD God offer His Spirit to Adam and Eve in the first place!? And, why has the LORD our God offered His Spirit to a few since “the beginning of the ages”? Why is it so vital?

It is extremely IMPORTANT that you understand God’s living truth about this subject.

Not long ago I sent a brother an encouraging text message in which I stated – The reason that we have been called out of THIS present evil world and not the next is so that we learn. Because we MUST, like our Lord Jesus, overcome this world, ourselves, and the evil one (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 11-12, 21). So that we can be teachers, kings, and priests (Rev. 5:10) in the World Tomorrow. This divine truth alone has been blinded to the masses.

Truly, God’s living word – your Holy Bible – reveals that we were born for a TREMENDOUS PURPOSE! Sadly, so very few really grasp the awesome magnitude of what the LORD God is offering all mankind.

To help understand the LORD our God’s purpose for the creation of humanity, and what His Holy Spirit has to do with it, let’s go to the beginning – to the first chapter of the Book of Genesis.

1) What do the very first words of the Bible tell us about God?

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” – Genesis 1:1.

God – and the word here for “God” is Elohim, the family of God which consists at this present time of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ – is SUPREME RULER of the universe, HEAD of the GOVERNMENT OF GOD and over the finite universe (finite at this present time).

Our “LORD God” – YHWH Elohim is a compound term that is composed of two nouns. As in English, Hebrew nouns are divided into two categories: common nouns and proper nouns. Common nouns refer to a general group or class, but proper nouns refer to a particular person, place, or thing. According to Hebrew rules of grammar, YHWH – as a proper noun – can only be followed by a noun or a noun phrase that either qualifies YHWH or is in apposition to YHWH (i.e., a noun or a noun phrase that refers exclusively to YHWH). Therefore, when the proper noun YHWH is used with Elohim, as in LORD God, both nouns must be interpreted as referring to the Godhead. 1

2) What Scripture shows us that there are two in the Godhead at this present time?

“In the beginning was the Word [the Logos], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2) He was in the beginning with God” – John 1:1-2.

Again, this revelation from Jesus Christ may seem redundant to some, yet this is knowledge that so few in this world truly grasp. The Word was a personal being; and He was called “the Word.” Originally written in the Greek language, the word was Logos – which translates to Spokesman, or the One who speaks. So, this Word was with God.

God is another being. So now we have two beings. Because then Apostle John says, “and the Word was God.”

As I mentioned in the last study – one of the greatest of mysteries of which Almighty God speaks of is the TRUTH that the God family is in the process of expanding the God family and “plant[ing] the heavens” – Isaiah 45:18; 51:16. And you can become a member of that eternal, spirit-composed family!

Who did the Word later become!?

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” – John 1:14.

An important point to notice is that this shows us that our Lord Jesus Christ was God and that He actually became flesh – Scripture does not state that He remained fully God on Earth. It should probably be mentioned that those with a unitarian view believe this should be translated differently. Yet, that does not change the totality of God’s living word on this subject.

Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches, “’ I and My Father are one’” – John 10:30, which completely contradicts the unitarian position that Jesus is not now God (as well as does John 1:1-3, which is another issue unitarians dispute).

The apostle Matthew, who quoted Isaiah 7:14, makes it abundantly clear of His divinity –

“’ Behold, the virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’” – Matthew 1:23.

Also, notice what occurred after Jesus Christ’s glorious resurrection –

“And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ 29) Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’” – John 20:28-29.

The Apostle Paul also confirms this living truth –

“and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ” – Ephesians 3:9.

Who is the other divine member of the God family?

“In Deuteronomy 6:4, the most accurate translation of the Hebrew is: “Hear, O Israel. Our one God [Elohim] is the LORD [YHWH], the LORD [YHWH]” – NET. This unique Hebrew clause is a verbless clause with split or double predicate nominatives. YHWH, YHWH (Lord, Lord). The subject is Elohim (God), Who is èhad, or “one.” However, Elohim is a plural noun designating more than one person. Thus, the double predicate nominatives, YHWH, YHWH (Lord, Lord), answer the implied question, “How many are in the plural noun Elohim [God]?” Thus, this passage reveals that there are two “Lords” within Elohim. The two individuals ─Lord, Lord ─in the God Family are “one” in essence or existence, as well as purpose. In the Greek Septuagint (LXX), the passage reads: “Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν Κύριος εἷς ἐστι.” – Mark 12:29 is an exact quotation from the LXX, and most English versions traditionally translate the clause as “The Lord our God is one Lord.” … this clause in New Testament Greek is nearly identical to the underlying Hebrew of Deuteronomy 6:4 which has double predicates that are equative to God. An exegetical analysis of the Greek syntax of Mark 12:29 also shows two predicate nominatives, Kurios, Kurios (Lord, Lord), which are likewise equative to God.” 2

Notice 1 Corinthians 8:6 – “yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.”

To Note: If you have a chance, be sure to read pages 1361, 1362, and 1363 of the Faithful Version with Commentary Second Edition of The Holy Bible In Its Original Order (NET) translated by Fred R. Coulter into clear, easy-to-read English for contemporary readers.

3) Whose image and likeness was man [the word being “`ādām,” meaning humankind] created!?

“Then God [Elohim; the family of God] said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; …” – Genesis 1:26.

According to the pattern and design of God, like produces like.

“DESIGN – throughout the whole of the universe, there’s design. From a snowflake to different mineral deposits. You look – the scientists tell you – at an atom, that you have a little nucleus, and flying around it like little satellites are electrons. But it’s the same thing you see when you look at the Earth! You see the Earth (the nucleus) and flying around it is a satellite. Well, you look at the entire solar system. You see the Sun (the nucleus) and surrounding it are these little satellites. The design is consistent throughout nature. It’s consistent because it had ONE DESIGNER! The Almighty God!” 3

The God family created mankind like Themselves – ‘according to Our image and according to Our likeness.’ Same form and shape. Truly, God’s revealed truth shows us that God’s purpose was to create mankind after the God kind!

4) Does the LORD God plainly show us that Their Master Plan is to increase the God family, bringing many children into it?

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” – Romans 8:29.

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 10) For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, in bringing many sons [children] to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” – Hebrews 2:9-10.

“’ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son’” – Revelation 21:7.

For He is “the firstborn among many brethren.” For He is already born of GOD by a resurrection from the dead – Romans 1:4. Indeed! As we shall be!

He is our Captain who has gone on ahead, preparing the way for us! – Hebrews 2:10.

God’s living word distinctly says, “And He is the head of the body, the Church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, …” – Colossians 1:18. See also Ephesians 4:15; 5:23.

What must happen to flesh and blood human beings BEFORE they can inherit the kingdom of God?

True faithful Christians will be raised to eternal life, resurrected to immortality at the SEVENTH TRUMP! –

“And as we have borne the image of the man of dust [the word ”‘Ādām,” meaning a name], we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man [the Second Adam, Christ Jesus]. 50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood CANNOT inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed – 52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye [within a split second], AT THE LAST TRUMPET. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead [the dead in Christ] will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53) For this corruptible MUST put on incorruption, and this mortal MUST put on immortality.” – 1 Corinthians 15:49-53; see also 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17.

Notice our Lord Jesus Christ’s clear answer to Nicodemus –

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ 4) Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’

5) Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7) Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again.’ 8) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit’” – John 3:3-8.

This friends is the plain teaching of the LORD our God! So, this new birth is not defined as just an emotional experience as so many are erroneously assuming. It is a literal BIRTH!

When you are “born again” – meaning, born of the Holy Spirit of God, you will be “like Him [Jesus Christ], for we shall see Him as He is.” You will not be seen by mortal eyes (unless you choose to manifest yourself), and you will be able to move like the wind.

Truly, our Lord Jesus says we must be “born again” – changed into wholly spiritual beings – born of the Spirit of God as divine children in the God family!

5) What about true Christians!? Are we being fashioned and molded by God for a specific purpose!?

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10.

God provides all true Christians with the WILLPOWER, the FAITH OF CHRIST, and MOTIVATION to do His good pleasure. God the Father and Jesus Christ have gone to great lengths to provide the grace – the unmerited favor of Their divine mercy – to help Their begotten children to succeed in their calling. But They expect results!

Friends – how crystal clear God’s living word becomes when we let His word interpret itself! It is terribly sad that most professing Christians simply stop at this point and miss the very crux of the Apostle Paul’s statement.

“for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” – Philippians 2:13.

“’ Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.’” – Isaiah 43:7.

We – true Christians – are God’s workmanship. We – today – are being created “unto good works.”

6) WHEN will this spiritual birth of the true saints take place!?

Book of Acts, the 14th chapter –

Verse 22 – “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’” – we will need to endure and keep the faith as God’s begotten children go through the FIRST SIX TRUMPET BLASTS – cf. Revelation 8:7-12; 9:1-11, 13-19. But then the SEVENTH TRUMPET BLAST will be blown “and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” – cf. 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 10:7; Revelation 11:15. So, here the apostle Paul is saying that it will be through ‘many tribulations’ – and all of us can attest to this. Once you set your heart on obeying Almighty God’s Law, like keeping the seventh-day Sabbath, it becomes ever more difficult to swim upstream against this world.

Friends, when the SEVENTH TRUMPET IS SOUNDED, the Spirit-begotten children of God who have died through the ages will be resurrected to spirit life by the Spirit of God, and those still alive will be instantly changed into spirit beings – cf. Matthew 24:40-42. At that very moment, they will be “born again” members of the God family.

7) Does God’s living word plainly show that it is His Master Plan to increase His divine family by bringing many sons and daughters to glory!?

You know, in Romans 8 – you read through there – you hear phrases like, “sons of God,” and “the Spirit of sonship,” and “children of God.” You can go through Galatians 3 and hear, “children of God … heirs according to the promise.” There are many more such Scriptures – also Hebrews 2:9-11 – talking about Jesus Christ and saying, “bringing many son’s into glory.” And, 1 John 3:1-2 – the people of the world do not understand what you are about to read – but many of you reading this have heard it before, and you do understand it! I just hope that we always deeply appreciate it! “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He [shall appear], we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

We will be like the resurrected Jesus Christ!

Be sure to watch today our sermon “God's Master Plan - From the Beginning” which also speaks of this marvelous TRUTH OF GOD!

1) Coulter R. F., The Holy Bible In Its Original Order A New English Translation, Jehovah Elohim in Genesis 3:22, York Publishing Co., © 2009, pg. 1360.

2) Ibid. pg. 1364.

3) Garrett, M.C., The Confusion About Death! 2019, pgs. 13-14.

Scriptural Index:

Old Testament - Genesis 1:1, 26; 5:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 7:14; 43:7; 45:18; 51:16.

New Testament - Matthew 1:23; 24:40-42; Mark 12:29; John 1:1-2, 14; 3:3-8; 10:30; 20:28-29; Acts 14:22; Romans 1:4; 8:28; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 15:49-53; Ephesians 2:10; 3:9; 4:15; 5:23; Philippians 2:13; Colossians 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; Hebrews 2:9-10, 11; 1 John 3:1-2; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 11-12, 21; 5:10; 8:7-12; 9:1-11, 13-19; 10:7; 11:15; 20:14-15; 21:7-8.

A Morning Bible Study - Is God's Spirit Within You?

 Leonard V Johnson    About

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ tells us that we will know a true Christian by their fruits – Matthew 7:15-20; 12:33-35. Is God’s Spirit within you? Are you a Spirit-begotten child of our living God – and how can you tell!?

Let us delve into God’s living word and find His answer to these IMPORTANT questions. This knowledge is vitally important to properly understand.

One of the first things listed in our Statement of Beliefs is the Holy Spirit. It is the very power, mind, and life of God. The Holy Spirit is not a Person – or a third member of a so-called trinity. The family of God is not limited to any “trinity” – as the greater majority of this world’s Christianity presumes. God is a family. And one of the greatest of mysteries of which Almighty God speaks of is the TRUTH that the God family is in the process of expanding the God family and “plant[ing] the heavens” – Isaiah 45:18; 51:16.

And our Lord Jesus Christ is the firstborn Son of this divine family! All glory, honor, and praise be to God, true Christians are to be co-heirs to inherit sonship with our Lord Jesus in the family of God! To be gifted eternal life (Romans 6:23), power, and glory, when born again into the very family of God into the glorious kingdom of God on the EARTH – 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 5:10.

Now, we are aware that within those last two paragraphs there is a lot to digest for many. A great many of our peoples have NEVER HEARD of what God’s living word truly teaches. We have a great many articles and sermons which help explain this awesome TRUTH of God, and PLAN of God! Such as: “Personal From… What Gospel?”, “A Morning Bible Study – God’s Coming Kingdom”, “The Two Keys to Eternal Life”, “Salvation Offered To All”, “Future Rulership With Christ”, and “The Truth Concerning the Trinity Explained”.

Yet, before a true Christian can be born again, they must first be begotten by the Spirit of God so they can grow spiritually, developing the very righteous character of God. And this is only possible through the glorious Holy Spirit living within the person. CHRIST IN US! – cf. 2 Corinthians 3:17.

1) According to God’s living word – the Holy Bible – who must all Spirit-begotten true Christians strive to “grow up in all things”?

Notice what our Lord Jesus expects from His servants –

“’ Therefore you shall be PERFECT [or complete – spiritually mature is what the word means], just as your Father in heaven is perfect.’” – Matthew 5:48.

“till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” – Ephesians 4:13.

The word “perfect” in Matthew 5:48 is the Greek word teleios, meaning “perfect, mature, finished.” (Strong’s Concordance #5046). So, what our Lord Jesus is saying is that His followers are to become spiritually mature.

Of course, we cannot become absolutely spiritually mature – perfect – until the glorious resurrection.

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. [See: Revelation 1:12-16] … 9) Whoever has been BORN of God does not sin, for His seed [the Holy Spirit] remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been BORN OF GOD.” – 1 John 3:2, 9.

In the meantime, God desires us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” – 2 Peter 3:18.

“He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and DOES NOT keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” – 1 John 2:4.

“But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6) He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” – 1 John 2:5-6.

Anyone who does NOT obey and DOES NOT keep God’s commandments is NOT His! Thus, they DO NOT have the Holy Spirit of God. They have their own idea of just what the Holy Spirit actually is – but they truly are NOT His!

God does not bend His rules to fit people’s imaginations of what their religiosity or tradition claims.

The Holy Spirit is only within those who are TRULY OBEDIENT TO GOD and forsake their own lives for Jesus Christ and who OBEY GOD’S COMMANDMENTS – summed up with the TEN COMMANDMENTS!

“’ IF you love Me [‘If you are loyal to Me’], keep the commandments – namely, My commandments. 16) And I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that it may be with you throughout the age’” – John 14:15-16, NET.

What is the end result of this spiritual process of growth!?

“My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you” – Galatians 4:19.

Our Lord Jesus Christ causes that new creature to be created in you, which Paul talked about.

And, this is an aspect of the Days of Unleavened Bread which many are not aware of. Instead, the remnant churches of God continue to preach – “Go around each year and look for old crumbs of bread!” That is a Judaic concept! And then somehow that was supposed to make you put sin out of your life – totally illogical. Can’t do it! Can’t put leavening out of your life – it’s everywhere! Just like yeast – it’s everywhere! And evil thoughts exist in you at every cellular level! You – of and by yourself is carnal – born into sin! cf. Psalm 51:5.

We are flesh and blood, and we’re not subject to the will of God! – Romans 8:7. But, the glorious Spirit of God begins to make a change – which is called conversion. Bit by bit – step by step. And, looking for crumbs doesn’t make it happen!

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live [meaning not of and by our own volition, our own willpower], but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” – Galatians 2:20.

Truly, it means exactly what God’s living word says - ‘Christ lives IN me!’ and for seven days we have this physical ritual of imbibing unleavened bread to remind us WE NEED JESUS CHRIST in the innermost parts of our being!

2) According to God’s living word – does our living Lord Jesus truly “live” within Spirit-begotten children of God to help them grow spiritually!?

“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” – Colossians 1:27.

Our Lord Jesus Christ does the ‘works’ within us! And the FOUNDATION did not come by our works! It was God’s doing! He GAVE us the FOUNDATION to build upon. And that FOUNDATION is CHRIST JESUS! – Christ In Us – cf. 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 2:20; 4:19; Ephesians 3:17.

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21) make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” – Hebrews 13:20-21.

We speak quite a bit about the concept of CHRIST IN YOU!

And it actually comes from a phrase that we read about in Romans 8:10, when the Apostle Paul says, “But you are not in the flesh but IN THE SPIRIT, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if ANYONE does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” – Romans 8:9-10.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are [children] of God.” – Romans 8:14.

And since JESUS CHRIST is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17) and your body is the temple of the Spirit – which is Christ in you, we must be nourished daily by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!! Christianity is a growth process. The begotten child of God MUST grow! And this growing process requires TIME! We MUST overcome these three – Satan the devil, this world, and our own SELVES!

3) Since our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ says that we are to know true Christians by their “fruits” – what about false prophets and false ministers!?

“’ BEWARE of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16) You will know them by their fruits’” – Matthew 7:15-16.

Now, suppose you try and find fellowship with one of the hundreds of church groups which are in this world – which include the Baptists, Church of Christ, and Methodists. They believe in the immortality of the soul – if indeed they have not gone “modernist” – they do not OBEY God’s eternal Law and therefore cannot have His Holy Spirit. There is no basis whatsoever for fellowship with them. They are being deceived. They are of the UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS! What about those churches which worship on the correct day? - they may even annually keep God’s Festivals. But do they have the fruits of God’s Spirit!?

So, we MUST have fellowship first and foremost only with Jesus Christ, and only those who are joined together in the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God – all speaking the same TRUTH.

How did our Lord Jesus describe Himself, our Holy Father, and Their truly begotten true Christians!?

“’ I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2) Every branch in Me THAT DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT HE TAKES AWAY; …’” – which means that we, brethren, are being winnowed and sifted as in removing chaff from wheat grain.

“ … ‘and every branch [in Me] THAT BEARS FRUIT HE PRUNES, that it may bear more fruit. 3) You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, UNLESS it abides in the vine, neither can you, UNLESS YOU ABIDE IN ME.

I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, BEARS MUCH FRUIT; for without Me you can do nothing.

If anyone DOES NOT ABIDE IN ME, …’”

The very Greek word here for “abide” is menō, which means “to follow His example of a life OBEDIENT to the will of God.”

And, for that matter, let’s take a look at Webster’s English definition of “abide.” –

abide \ə - ‘bīd\ vb abode \- ‘bōd\ or abid-ed; abid-ing [ME, fr. OE ābīdan, fr. ā-, perfective prefix + bīdan to bide; akin to OHG ir-, perfective prefix] vt (bef. 12c) 1: to wait for “ AWAIT ” 2 a: to endure without yielding: WITHSTAND b: to bear patiently: TOLERATE … to remain stable or fixed in a state 2: to continue in a place: SOJOURN. 1

The LORD our God’s habitation is where He lives. And the habitation (the dwelling place) that He chooses is not a town, a city, a state, a location, but within each and every one of His chosen begotten children. Our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ abide within us – Their habitation is within Their holy temple. This is the place They wish to place Their name – within us. We MUST SOUJOURN WITH THEM!

“ … ‘he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7) If you ABIDE IN ME, and MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8) By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples’” – John 15:1-8.

Once you are begotten by the glorious Spirit from Father God, you must continually be led by His Spirit and BEAR MUCH FRUIT throughout this Christian life.

But what fruit are we to bear!?

In the Book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul outlines for us the fruit we are to produce – the results of the glorious Holy Spirit living within us.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness [faith], 23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” – Galatians 5:22-23.

Love – which is the Greek word agape. The highest form of love, the love of God for man and of man for God.

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit [which] was given to us” – Romans 5:5.

The primary characteristic of the LORD God is love – 1 John 4:16. And it is the greatest attribute that is transmitted to us by the Spirit of God – 1 Corinthians 13:13. God’s Spirit living within us imparts to our spirit His very traits! And the first and most important fruit of God’s Spirit is love.

I recall from my youth attending a church group – with a membership over 100,000 at the time – and after three-and-a-half years was . . . Let’s just say “shunned”! It turned out, they DID NOT have God’s love. They, instead, only had a form of human love.

4) Is the love of God the very love which helps us to fulfill – to OBEY – the Law of God!?

“Owe no one anything EXCEPT to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law” – Romans 13:8.

And continuing, the Apostle Paul clearly shows us the Law he was referring to – “For the Commandments [speaking of the Ten Commandments], ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are ALL SUMMED UP in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” – verse 9.

5) Again, and I add this as a direct question – because it is SO VITALLY IMPORTANT! Can an individual who DOES NOT OBEY the LORD God’s commandments possess the Holy Spirit of God which helps us produce the fruits of the Spirit!?

“’ And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given TO THOSE WHO OBEY HIM’” – Acts 5:32.

When you receive the gift of God’s Spirit, the love of God is the first and foremost important fruit that will begin to manifest within you. The other fruits mentioned by the Apostle Paul amplify this glorious characteristic of God’s very nature – love. The very divine love gifted to those whom God the Father calls out of this world and its churches.

Is faith another vital fruit of God’s Spirit?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23) Meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law” – Galatians 5:22-23, NET.

It is NOT possible to please God without real faith!

“But WITHOUT FAITH it is impossible to please Him for he who comes to God MUST believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” – Hebrews 11:6.

6) Must obedience to the LORD God accompany one’s faith in order to make it alive and acceptable to God!?

“Do we then make void the Law through faith? CERTAINLY NOT! On the contrary, we establish the Law.” – Romans 3:31.

The universal message from nearly every pulpit falsely tells people that Jesus Christ abolished, or “fulfilled,” His Father’s law – but your Bible says otherwise!

God’s living divine word mentions nothing about grace being a license to disobey the Law of God! To be “under grace” means to be extended mercy and forgiveness as a result of sincere repentance and resolve to obey Almighty God.

This is explained further by the Apostle Paul –

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under Law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Law but under grace? Certainly not!” – Romans 6:14-15.

Now, does that raise a lot of tongue-wagging! The people who want to say that the Ten Commandments are done away, they will cite this verse and say, “See, you’re not under law, you’re under grace.”

We don’t have enough room here in this short Bible Study to go over this VERY IMPORTANT subject, but to learn more be sure to watch the sermons “Look To Jesus, Not Moses,” as well as “Is The Law Done Away?”

Also, a very brother to our Lord Jesus, Saint James explains to us –

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” – James 2:14.

“Faith without works is dead” recorded Saint James. But what exactly did he mean!?

Turn with me if you will to Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Yet, we need works. Saint James was inspired to write: “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16) and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17) Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” – James 2:15-17. And, he repeats it yet again, “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” – verse 20. And yet again, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” – verse 26.

In the Word of God, when you see things repeated over and over and over, you realize that God’s truly trying to get you to wake up and to understand that this thing that He’s saying is VERY IMPORTANT!

Now, I boldened parts of those verses because of those three words – grace, faith, and works. The word grace comes from the Greek charis which means “the state of kindness and favor toward someone.” The word faith is from the Greek pistos which means “faithfulness, belief, trust, with the implication that actions based on that trust may follow.” And, the word works comes from the Greek ergon meaning “work, deed, activity, task, job.”

Now the majority of Protestants and Catholics alike base their belief wholly on the works of charity. And most Protestant churches teach that the fault with the Old Covenant was God’s Law and that as the Old Covenant was made with Israel, the New Covenant is made with Gentiles. And that the New abolishes God’s Ten Commandments and is based wholly on promises. This, of course, is NOT true! Complete obedience to God’s eternal and universal Law is a condition we must meet to have salvation. Be sure to read Acts 15:13-39 and Acts 21:17-26 – Saint James completely endorses and supports Saint Paul!

Q: Why would the LORD God want someone in Their family that has faith, but without works!? One of our greatest jobs in God's glorious kingdom will be to help people - physically and spiritually! Now, not one person can earn salvation by "works" - “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Yet, EVERYONE MUST PRODUCE 'good works'!

God’s grace and faith saves us. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” – Ephesians 2:10.

7) When one receives the gift of the Holy Spirit, will God’s fruits of His Spirit suddenly appear within us overnight!?

“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18) but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” – 2 Peter 3:17-18.

And he also tells us how this growth must take place – “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, HYPOCRISY, envy, and all evil speaking, 2) as NEWBORN BABES, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3) if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” – 1 Peter 2:1-3.

Now, there are so many of our peoples that just want to believe what they want to believe. They absolutely refuse to accept or even hear want they don’t want to believe – whether it’s right or wrong. Prejudism is a strong barrier to growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

After true repentance, baptism, and the laying on of hands, and after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, we must continue the IMPORTANT process of spiritual growth by having our Lord Jesus Christ live within us! –

“ … ‘I AM the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in [as well as “on”] Me shall never thirst’” – John 6:35.

We can only continue to grow spiritually if we continue drinking in our daily supply of God’s living water – His Spirit. As for myself, every morning before I get out of bed, I thank God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ for another day, and ask Them to renew in me Their Spirit! – cf. 2 Corinthians 4:16; Psalm 51:10. □

1) Webster M. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, abide, 1996, pp 2.

Scriptural Index:

Old Testament - Psalm 51:5, 10; Isaiah 45:18; 51:16.

New Testament - Matthew 5:48; 7:15-20; 12:33-35; John 6:35; 14:15-16; 15:1-8; Acts 5:32; 15:13-39; 21:17-26; Romans 3:31; 5:5; 6:14-15; 8:9-10; 14; 13:8, 9; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 13:5; Galatians 2:20; 4:19; 5:22-23; Ephesians 2:8-9; 10; 15-17; 20; 26; 3:17; 4:13; Colossians 1:27; Hebrews 11:6; 13:20-21; James 2:14; 1 Peter 2:1-3, 9; 2 Peter 3:17-18; 1 John 2:4, 5-6; 3:2, 9; 4:16; Revelation 1:12-16; 5:10.