Are You Dull of Hearing?

by Guy C. LaMar

The LORD God’s living word talks about people that are “hard of hearing” ── Matthew 13:15; Hebrews 5:11.

I have experienced this so many times ── when people are offered the SIMPLE truth of the LORD God (the Elohim, which at this time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus) through the living word of God, they REFUSE to listen or accept it.

Sadly, most people love to hold onto their ready-made religion. A religion they were born into.

The overall people of this present evil age (those who are NOT being called out of this world at this present time) absolutely REFUSE to open their eyes or their ears to the living truth of God.

They deny the LORD God’s awesome and beautiful Master Plan that is set before us by God Almighty!

The people of this present evil age would rather go along (because it feels comfortable to them) with their “emotionally driven religions” rather than the TRUE RELIGION OF JESUS CHRIST ── which causes them to embrace the false religions of this world. Along with the aegis of false Christianity.

All of which ARE LIES!

This world’s false Christianity is a falsehood created and influenced by Satan the Devil!

Today at work, a discussion was brought up concerning the eating of pork meat.

I grabbed God’s living word and turned to several Scriptures on this topic, yet this one man just bickered and DEFENDED HIS SIN!

I told him unequivocally that a man lying with another man is just as guilty in the eyes of God as if they were consuming pork meat!

Ponder on this a moment.

God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ never change ── cf. Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8.

Our Lord Jesus was the God of the Old Testament, as John 1:1 shows us ──

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (NKJV).

And, verse 14 confirms just who the Word was ──

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, …”

The word “homosexuality” is not found in the Authorized Version of God’s living word, yet everyone knows what “’ You shall not lie with a male as with a woman” means! – Leviticus 18:22-23. Everybody knows what “effeminate” means, what “abusers of themselves with mankind” means. Effeminate: having characteristics and ways of behaving traditionally associated with women and regarded as inappropriate for a man. Abusers of themselves with mankind: It is a translation of the Greek word “arsenokoitēs,” which is a compound word meaning “one engaging in homosexual acts.” (Strong’s #733).

In the New Testament of God’s living word, it emphatically states that people who engage in sexual immorality (such as homosexuality), and those who do such things ── those very things that the LORD God disapproves of ── will not be a part of the glorious kingdom of God! Notice ──

“Do you not know that the unrighteous WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals [a catamites; a boy kept for homosexual practices], nor sodomites [The meaning of SODOMY is anal or oral copulation with another person; especially: anal or oral copulation with a member of the same sex], 10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, NKJV.

Certainly, if the Lord GOD says that something is an abomination unto Him, then that means He intensely abhors it!

So, why would the Lord GOD change His mind on something which He intensely abhors!?

I explained to this man how the eternal Law of God is still very relevant and alive.

Sadly, this man confused the old Levitical priesthood laws with the glorious holy, just, and good Law of God ── that all mankind are required to obey and keep.

The LORD God’s ordinances and statutes regarding His physical and sexual laws are for the benefit of all mankind. They are not grievous.

Our Lord Jesus Christ says to us, “’ For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven [the atmosphere] and earth pass away [a reference to Revelation 21:1], one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law TILL ALL IS FULFILLED.’” – Matthew 5:18. Showing us that no part of His Law has been “done away with,” or “nailed to the cross.”

“TILL ALL IS FULFILLED” means when He ‘makes all things new’ and when “’ It is done!’” – the glorious establishment of the kingdom of God on planet Earth!

Our Eternal God doesn’t change.

“’ For I am the LORD, I do not change; …’” – Malachi 3:6.

Yet, sadly, in this modern present evil age of religiosity, most of mankind claims ── either our Lord Jesus Christ disagreed with His Father and changed His Law, or that He “nailed” His Father’s Law to the cross, or that He “fulfilled” all the Law so that we didn’t need to keep them!

They preach, teach, and proclaim to the world that “God said it’s alright to commit what He once called an abomination because Jesus came and ‘did away’ with all those laws.” As far as homosexuality, they claim, that is one abomination that will never go away because it is as old ── they claim ── as the “oldest profession.” Often claiming that homosexuality has emerged through evolution as a normal variant that confers survival benefits to the family! 1

Sadly, their reasoning is twisted ── and as the comedian Ron White often says, “You can’t fix stupid!” ── the majority completely DENY that the Holy Bible is the inspired living word of the Creator of the known universe!

Those that are professing Christians in this world continue to claim they are now allowed by the LORD God to consume pork meat ── and therefore (by that same reasoning) are now allowed to be a homosexual if they so desire! Without any issues from God.

Yet, the overall majority of those who claim to be a Christian DO NOT know what the definition of sin is ── defined by the LORD God! It is defined as breaking the Law of God!

“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” – 1 John 3:4.

The LORD God is clear and does not change! When the LORD God makes a rule, you can bank on that rule. Because if the LORD God abhors something, They are not going to suddenly like it down the road! If God abhors it, then He abhors it!

Our Lord Jesus clearly said that ’Men shall live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’ – Matthew 4:4.

The Lord GOD has declared that consuming pork meat (which is pig, swine, hog – all of which are of the genus Suidae) is an abomination unto Him.

“’ Also the swine is UNCLEAN FOR YOU, because it has cloven hooves, yet DOES NOT chew the cud; you SHALL NOT EAT their flesh or touch their dead carcasses.’” – Deuteronomy 14:8.

“’ For behold, the LORD will come with fire And with His chariots, like a whirlwind [speaking of the Day of the Lord!], To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire. … 17) ‘Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, To go to the gardens AFTER AN IDOL in the midst, Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the [rodent], Shall be consumed together,’ says the LORD.” – Isaiah 15, 17.

I tried to explain the appalling filthiness of pigs to this man.

Interestingly enough, the animals of choice that our Lord Jesus chose to send the demonic spirits into were swine – cf. Matthew 8:28-34.

The worst insult to be called in first century Jerusalem was a “Samaritan.” Jews called the Samaritans a ‘herd, ’ not a nation. A widely used Jewish proverb stated that “a piece of bread given by a Samaritan is more unclean than swine’s flesh.” 2

The Law of God is love.

The LORD God made the physical and sexual laws for mankind out of Their love for mankind ── that if mankind abided and obeyed those physical and sexual laws, then they would not only be closer to the LORD God, but would remain healthier in life.

When mankind embraces and obeys those physical and sexual laws, then mankind is not only showing their love for the LORD God, but will also remain healthier in life.

But sadly, on the whole ── those that claim the title Christian ── do not even know what the word means.

Christian is defined as “a follower of Christ.” It means to emulate the Way of Jesus Christ.

Our Lord Jesus lived a life perfect in the Law of God ── the only person who ever accomplished that! He gave us the perfect example to follow.

Our Lord Jesus admonished us to strive to “’ be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.’” – Matthew 5:48.

If you are a true Christian, then you are going to follow His example!

Did our Lord Jesus Christ consume unclean meats, i.e., pig meat?

The unclean meat-eating people of this present evil age identify them as unwitting servants of Satan the Devil.

Why do I say this?

Because they’re actually doing the will of a devil.

They’re doing what Satan the Devil desires them to do, not what the LORD God wants them to do.

They’re going against the LORD God!

They’re embracing something that the LORD God intensely abhors!

As we are told in Revelation 12:9, Satan the Devil has deceived the whole world!

And, as our Lord Jesus has said, Satan the Devil is “’ a liar and the father of it.’” – John 8:44.

He also called those that worship Him in vain, hypocrites! “’ And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’” – Matthew 15:7-9.

The ideologies and doctrines of these worldly religions are all based upon the deception and influence of Satan the Devil.

Any denomination or faucet of Christianity that okays the consumption of unclean meats, i.e. pig meat ── is not of God, but is unwittingly working for Satan the Devil!

In Acts 15, in which a letter was sent to the Gentiles who were turning to God, in which they were being told by some who went out from among the apostles, troubling the Gentiles with words and upsetting them, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the Mosaic laws” ── in which the apostles gave no such command. It’s NOT talking about the consuming of unclean meats at all, but rather one should “abstain from things [anything] offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

Most professing Christians continue to claim that God’s living word says that one can now consume any meats that were deemed “unclean.” But THIS IS NOT TRUE!

The people in first century Jerusalem knew not to consume things that were considered “unclean.” Note: “In Ancient Mesopotamia, differently from what happened in some neighboring cultures (particularly the Jewish society), there were no explicit and permanent avoidances of specific foodstuffs, to be observed constantly by everyone. 3 So therefore, since we are told by the Lord our God, Jesus Christ, that “salvation is of the Jews,” and the apostle Paul stating ── under divine inspiration ── “What advantage then has the Jew, … 2) Much in every way! Chiefly, because TO THEM were committed the oracles of God.” – Romans 3:1, 2. Including the oracle from the LORD God that mankind is prohibited to consume “unclean” meats!

Those items (e.g., swine or rodents) were not considered food to be consumed by human beings!

A great many claim that Romans 14:14 says that there is nothing unclean of itself. Be sure to read or listen to Minister Leonard Johnson’s Think About This… What is meant, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat’? which goes into the truth concerning Romans 14:14.

Many people are ignorant of the proper Greek words used.

The people of God of the first century knew what were considered “clean” and “unclean” foods to be consumed. So, therefore, the statement, “eat anything” ── as far as food stuff ── truly means, eat anything that is considered allowed by the LORD God.

It’s throughout this present evil age that people, “did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not proper.” – Romans 1:28.

Truly, from cover to cover of God’s living word, pig meat (which includes swine, pork, and hog) was ── and continues to be ── an abomination unto God to consume.

Those who are desiring to do so might want to take a moment and consider their actions! Is it pleasing to God, knowing that He said it is an abomination?

I suppose they can continue to be like the Leftist “fruitcakes” ── the D.E.I. and Woke ideologists ── who take it upon themselves to claim (without any scientific validation) that there are more than two sexes of a human being! Or, like the author I quoted earlier, “Male homosexuality appears to have arisen via human evolution.”

Trying to be a shyster with the living word of God!

I tried the best I could to get across to this man that he is placing himself in very dangerous waters.

Now, he brought this subject up to me; I didn’t bring it up to him. Yet, as God’s living word says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and ALWAYS be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and [reverent] fear; 16) having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” – 1 Peter 3:15-16.

Also, God’s living word says, “Test [or, prove] all things; hold fast what is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

I witnessed unto him.

Most do not properly understand that God’s living word is to be read and studied like putting together a picture puzzle. A little here, a little there ──

“’ For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.’” – Isaiah 28:9-13.

This is the Way of the LORD God for us in learning His Holy word ── where His grace and knowledge is imparted to us gradually, like a child that is learning.

Also, let us take note: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the Sabbath, taught from the Books of the Bible! And, guess what, friends! He also taught from the Books of the Old Testament!

The OLD TESTAMENT is indeed God’s living word! The NEW TESTAMENT is indeed God’s living word! They complement each other!

Sadly, the overall majority of people will continue to hold onto their religious traditions over the living truth of God. This is part of how Satan the Devil retains control of the people. Our Lord Jesus warned of this very thing! ── Mark 7:7-13.

Of course, here in the United States of America, everyone has the freedom of religion! And let us always thank Almighty God for this! They have the freedom to stay in their sin.

Now, one should think HARD ── when you are resurrected, and you are kneeling before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ during the “Great White Throne Judgment” (cf. Revelation 20:11-13), is the risk worth it?

Is the lust of the mind, tongue, or flesh more important than eternal life in the glorious kingdom of God?

Once a person has the living truth of God presented to them, and they DENY this truth, then the guilt is on them.

God’s living word is clear ── trying to twist and turn to stay in sin, to give yourself over to the desires of the belly and flesh, the lust of taste, equates to the destruction of your future.

Consuming something that the LORD God has called an abomination is allowing a curse within your body ── defiling the physical body that the LORD God has blessed you with.

We must work really hard on ourselves. We must repent. We must overcome ── while we still have years of life ahead of us.

I have witnessed that the overall majority of the people on Earth DO NOT CARE WHAT THE LORD GOD HAS TO SAY ON ANY GIVEN SUBJECT!

They would only rather play religion. They would rather have “a form of godliness” in the eyes of others but “deny the power of God!”

Now, they can do all the good deeds they want for others, but if they’re rejecting the living truth of God and His Way, then they are simply rejecting the LORD God altogether!

Oh yes, a great many “religious” people can talk a good talk ── and many of them may even look like a grandfather figure while wearing a baseball cap, knowing a great deal of God’s living word ── but if they are not doing the will of God, they are nothing more than a ‘sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.’ They are not righteous in the eyes of God!

“(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the DOERS of the law will be justified.” – Romans 2:13. □

Thou Shalt Not Commit FORNICATION!

by Guy C LaMar

GREETINGS EVERYONE! Below are just a few Scriptures on the subject of FORNICATION.

Whether you like it or not, and no matter what sort of excuse mankind uses to try and muster up – it will not wash – when it comes to having sexual relations OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE.

Also, whether you like it or not – according to God’s living word – any man who has sexual relations outside of marriage is a “whoremonger.” And, any woman who has sexual relations outside of marriage is considered a “whore.”

It’s mankind giving into lust.

Making any excuse is just an abomination unto the LORD God. Because lying is an abomination.

Disregarding the LORD God’s living eternal word on any subject clearly makes a person – unknowingly – a servant of Satan the devil.

And, sexual relations OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE equals serving Satan the devil.

Notice the following Scriptures –

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” – Hebrews 13:4.

“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19) Or DO YOU NOT KNOW that your body [if God’s Spirit is within you] is the temple of the Holy Spirit [which] is in you, [which] you have from God, and you are not your own? 20) For YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” – 1st Corinthians 6:18-20.

“Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband” – 1st Corinthians 7:2.

The LORD God does not approve of, or condone, what is known as “swapping.”

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20) idolatry, sorcery, …”

“The common understanding of a ‘sorcerer’ aligns with our modern notion of ‘witchcraft’ or ‘magic.’ However, it is worth examining the original Greek word used in the scripture, which is pharmakeus. Surprisingly, this term is the etymological root of the English word “pharmacist”, which literally means “a druggist” by definition. Digging deeper into the meaning of ‘sorcerer’ within its historical context, we discover that it refers to someone who uses or provides drugs, herbs, or plants to induce a trance-like state. This state could be sought for religious purposes or other reasons, i.e., recreational use.” - Samuel LaMar.

Continuing – “ … 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.

“’ You do the deeds of your father.’ Then they said to Him, ‘We were not born of fornication; we have one Father─God.’

42) Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43) Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44) You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it’” – John 8:41-44.

“’ But I say to you that WHOEVER divorces his wife [or husband] for any reason EXCEPT sexual immorality causes her [or him] to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery’” – Matthew 5:32.

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you [speaking to the congregation in Corinth], and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles─that a man has his father’s wife!” – 1st Corinthians 5:1.

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral [whoremongers], sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” – Revelation 21:8.

The apostle Paul says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God?” – and then he gives a WARNING! “…Do not be deceived. …” – don’t deceive yourself! “…Neither fornicators [lewdness], nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [a man having or showing characteristics typical of that of a woman], nor sodomites [nor catamites], 10) nor thieves, nor covetous …” and in other places Paul said that covetousness was a form of idolatry. “…nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the Kingdom of God.” - He bunches a lot of things in there. Verse 11 – “And such were some of you. But you were washed, …” – washed by what!? The shed blood of Jesus Christ! And washed by the symbolic baptism into water. “…but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

“All things are lawful for me, BUT ALL THINGS ARE NOT HELPFUL. All things are lawful for me, BUT I WILL NOT BE BROUGHT UNDER THE POWER OF ANY. 13) Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. …”

As noted in the Jamieson Fausset and Brown –

“brought under the power – The Greek words are from the same root, whence there is a play on the words: All things are in my power, but I will not be brought under the power of any of them (the “all things”). He who commits “fornication,” steps aside from his own legitimate power or liberty, and is “brought under the power” of an harlot (vs. 15; cf. ch. 7:4).” 1

Continuing – “ … Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body” – 1st Corinthians 6:12-13.

“And He said, ‘What comes out of a man, THAT defiles a man. 21) For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22) thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23) All these evil things come from within and defile a man’” – Mark 7:20-23.

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion [the wrong kind of passion], evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” – Colossians 3:5.

“as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them IN A SIMILAR MANNER to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and GONE AFTER STRANGE FLESH, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire [eternal death]” – Jude 1:7.

And, just as our God has said,  “He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. … [casting] all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19), we are not to even remember or mention our past sins!

“But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4) neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting [telling dirty jokes], which ARE NOT FITTING, but rather giving of thanks” – Ephesians 5:3-4.

“For THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4) that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5) not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5.

“If a man [seduces] a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, HE SHALL SURELY PAY THE BRIDE PRICE FOR HER TO BE HIS WIFE. 17) If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the bride price of virgins” – Exodus 22:16-17.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9) If we confess our sins [confess ONLY to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” – 1 John 1:8-9. □

Bibliography:

1) Jamieson, R., Fausset, A.R., Brown, D., Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, 1982, pp 1199.

Smoking is a DOUBLE SIN!

by Guy C. LaMar

THE FACTS are this, it's been very much proven that smoking causes cancer! Smoking IS injurious to your health! Read, in this article what your CREATOR says about smoking!

Smoking is sinful both physically and spiritually!

Yes, SMOKING IS A DOUBLE SIN!

Smoking is giving one's self over to a habit. A SINFUL habit!

No TRUE CHRISTIAN smokes.

Why!?

Because they respect God enough to NOT damage what God has given us - human life - a physical body to dwell in so that we are able to live in accordance to the will of God.

Sinners are always eager to justify their sins.

The Holy Bible does not contain a direct command - "THOU SHALT NOT SMOKE!"

Yet, for that matter, would mankind stop smoking if it did!?

The Bible DOES say, "THOU SHALT NOT MURDER!"

Has mankind stopped murdering!?

God is just as concerned about the motive behind the act as He is about the act itself! 

God DID NOT create mankind to abuse the temple of the Holy Spirit.

When a person smokes, they harm the temple of the Spirit. They harm the physical body and second-hand smoke harms others.

A smoker could be committing murder when around others while smoking, and they could be committing slow self-murder!

When our Lord Jesus Christ magnified the inexorable LAW of God (summed up in the Ten Commandments), He says, "'You have heard that it was said to those of old [those in the Old Testament], 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28) But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart'" - Matthew 5:27-28, NKJV throughout.

Our Lord Jesus Christ says what occurs in the heart of man constitutes sin - AS MUCH AS the literal act itself!

The LAW of the Eternal God says, "THOU SHALT NOT COVET" meaning "THOU SHALT NOT LUST!"

This clearly demands of us that we DO NOT DO certain things!

By doing, or committing the act - you become guilty of sin!

To LUST after something - to lust after ANYTHING - constitutes sin!

And what is sin!?

Answer: BREAKING GOD'S LAW!

"Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness" - 1 John 3:4.

The apostle James, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said: "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all" - James 2:10.

And in James 4:17 it says " ... to him who knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin."

It is Almighty God who tells us - in His own living word - WHAT sin is!

God DOES NOT allow mankind to decide what is sin.

He merely allows each individual to choose for themselves whether he or she will obey God's LAW - or commit sin.

The HOLY BIBLE is a book of law!

There are laws of health, laws of farming, laws of diet, laws of marriage - laws covering every facet of human life REVEALED IN THE HOLY BIBLE!

Our Lord Jesus Christ says we are to live by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God!

He says anyone who breaks even the least of God's Commandments will be called least in the kingdom from heaven.

Smoking is a lust. A cigarette is A DRUG!

Listen, I used to smoke. It was a hand-me-down sin from my family. One that I, like most of my family members, embraced. If I could fix one mistake in my life, it would have been to have NEVER smoked. Personally, I have the strongest hatred for smoking that a person could have.

Smoking is very physically harmful and very deadly dangerous.

The desire to smoke is nothing more than following into lust.

Our Lord Jesus says, "'you shall know them by their fruit'" meaning their ways.

When you see someone who is smoking you are witnessing someone who has GIVEN themselves over to lust.

Trying to convince someone of the sin of smoking is often met with a defense of smoking - which only equals the defense of sinning.

Often I have heard all the many arguments in defense of smoking. Each is met with very spiritually weak people.

NONE have the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD that defends SIN!

God's living word says that we should become "as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance" - 1 Peter 1:14.

Smoking is a physical sin!

Our Lord Jesus shows us that it was sin that had crippled the man at the pool called Bethesda in Jerusalem. And in healing the man, Jesus said, "'See, you have been made well. SIN NO MORE, lest a worse thing come upon you'" - John 5:14.

Healing, revealed our Savior and High Priest, is the forgiveness of sin! Cf. Matthew 9:2-7.

What kind of sin!? Physical sin!

There are certain physical laws that God has set in motion. These laws regulate your physical body, your physical health, your physical life.

As a great preacher of old used to say: take gravity. It's real - although you can not see it, you know that you will get injured IF you violate this law of gravity by a sudden fall! A penalty is a physical pain and possible physical injury. And so it is with our physical health! 

Now, if we place wrong foods within our physical body - or even too much of the right foods - we sin against our body - and there is a penalty exacted! (Be sure to read "Is God's Biblical Food Laws Still In Effect" to help understand what wrong foods God commands us not to partake of).

Now, in some cases, the penalty may only be temporary, but in others, it may be a permanent injury or even death!

Smoking is definitely HARMFUL to the physical body!

Sadly, both of my Mother's parents were heavy smokers, and they both died from cancer. My maternal grandmother was 60 years old when she died. My maternal grandfather was 69 years old when he died. His smoking habit aged him terribly.

My Dad was a heavy smoker and it aged him terribly. He died at the age of 48 - only two months shy of his 49th birthday) from cardiac arrest. Smoking had caused his heart to develop serious atrial fibrillation - causing sudden death!

I recall how I used to beg both of my parents to quit smoking. They had given themselves over completely to their lust. They embraced their sin.

I PRAISE GOD for mercifully allowing me to understand, and not just knowing things, but ACTING on my understandings!

Notice this from the apostle Paul -

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [which] is in you, [which] you have from God, and you are not your own? 20) For YOU were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Does it glorify God to smoke!?

Does it honor God our Creator - the very One who blesses us with every clean breath of air we breathe - to smoke!?

Are we showing ourselves to be obedient to Him, serving Him, glorifying Him when we lust for nicotine!? The main ingredient in cigarettes.

TAKE SPECIAL HEED THAT GOD'S LIVING WORD SAYS -

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" - 1 Corinthians 10:31.

There is NO glorifying God with smoking or using tobacco or marijuana - EVEN FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES - it harms the physical body! It will age people more rapidly and it destroys the lungs.

And, it can be very offensive to people who DO NOT smoke - which is the greater majority of the world's population.

According to statistics - nearly one-in-four (23%) of adults throughout the world smoke tobacco. This 23% of the world's population of people are age 15 and older that smoke tobacco. There are a number of countries in which at least 40% of their population smoke tobacco, if not even a higher percentage!

God's living word clearly shows us that SMOKING IS AN ACT OF SIN! So, 23% of this world's population embraces this lustful sin!

God demands that every true Christian walk away from self-satisfying lusts!

The apostle John wrote in the Book of Revelation -

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, 'COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues" - Revelation 18:4.

And, the apostle Paul wrote -

"And DO NOT be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may PROVE what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" - Romans 12:2.

IF a person WILL NOT deny themselves then they will NEVER know Christ Jesus!

God's living word describes such sinners as "lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3) unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4) traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God, 5) having a form of godliness but denying its power [the power of true godliness]. And FROM SUCH PEOPLE turn away!" - 2 Timothy 3:2-5.

Have you ever known a person who claims to be a Christian, yet smoked!? Being a true Christian and smoking DO NOT MIX!

Now, they may be a good person - worldly speaking - but they are NOT a true Christian. Because by them smoking - or using tobacco or marijuana for ANY MEDICINAL PURPOSE -  are NOT following Christ Jesus our Lord!

Our Lord Jesus clearly shows us that it is the attitude of the heart that is important - as well as the physical act itself! Having a rebellious attitude, and having a desire to give over to one's lust is an OUTRIGHT SIN! And the result of such an act may bring terrible circumstances.

The apostle Paul WARNED Christians at Ephesus, in the Book of Ephesians -

"For this you know, that no fornicator [Greek, porneia, meaning marital unfaithfulness, also a generic term for sexual sin of any kind], unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God" - Ephesians 5:5.

Covetousness is also considered idolatry. Placing an object (or a person) in place of God!

Remember, the apostle James said that if we break even ONE point, we're guilty of all!

Lusting after tobacco or marijuana - IN ANY FORM - is an act of SIN!

And, it becomes a spiritual sin!

It is a sin against one's own character, as well as bringing physical harm to the physical body.

Again, notice what the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Hebrews, how he showed that Moses chose to suffer the affliction with God's people rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season -

"By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25) choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26) esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward" - Hebrews 11:24-25.

Prophet Moses knew that by choosing to forsake the passing pleasures that seemed so desirable he could obtain a long-lasting, MORE HAPPIER REWARD that lies beyond. Those who seek the temporary sensual pleasures are to howl for the miseries they shall reap!

Our Lord Jesus Christ says that He came "'that they may have life, and that they may have it MORE ABUNDANTLY'" - John 10:10.

Following Jesus Christ in the true Christian lifestyle equals TOTAL JOY!

A converted child of God has absolutely FORSAKEN his own way.

Isaiah chapter 55 says, "Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon" - verse 7.

Wise King Solomon wrote, "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death" - Proverbs 16:25.

So, after conforming with the conditions, the repentant sinner is PROMISED the Holy Spirit - which is the very nature of God! - cf. Acts 2:38; 2 Peter 1:4.

If we call ourselves a true Christian, we are to GROW DAILY more like God! - cf. Matthew 5:48.

So, instead of seeking to please ourselves by the passing pleasures of sin which dissipates and can injure, we are to forsake the degenerating habits, and completely give our lives over to God! - cf. Romans 12:1.

We are bought with a price (1st Corinthians 6:20), and we are commanded to glorify God in our physical bodies!

Do we glorify God by smoking cigarettes or dipping tobacco!?

NOT AT ALL!

True Christians are to live in HARMONY with the laws of God which He set in motion - not by going contrary to those laws.

Physical as well as spiritual laws are included

In the Book of Luke, our Lord Jesus says, "'IF you then, being evil [meaning, far less than godly], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!'" - Luke 11:13.

He tells us that WE ARE HIS HOLY TEMPLE!

True Christians have His Holy Spirit abiding within them - and are bought with a price, and we literally BELONG TO GOD!

ANYONE who has God as the Center of their life CAN QUIT TOBACCO!!

My paternal grandfather smoked three packs of non-filter Old Gold cigarettes every day from his childhood until he was 58 years old! Then, one day after he learned at church services that smoking was a DOUBLE SIN, he put them down on a table and never picked up another cigarette again! He told my grandmother that it was God that helped him do away with that sin in his life!

You see, my grandfather wanted to please God more than himself! He wanted to live his life by the will of God. But sadly, the damage had already been done. His lungs and heart were compromised from years of smoking. He only lives 8 more years. But in those 8 years of his life, he lived more abundantly than at any other point in his life because of his service to God.

DO NOT allow Satan the Devil to rule you by his influence upon you!

Very clearly, God labels SMOKING AS A SIN, and tells us in the Book of Romans -

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts" - Romans 6:12.

God has decreed that "SIN SHALL NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU, ..." - Romans 6:14.

So, by decreeing that no sin - regardless of what it may be - can "have dominion over you," God extends a definite and specific PROMISE to anyone who truly wants to quit smoking!

"If we confess our sins [to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" - 1 John 1:9.

GOD HAS OBLIGATED HIMSELF TO CLEANSE US FROM SIN if we trust and believe in Him!

God says that He will HELP US win against sin!

Smoking is a sin! Anyone can quit that does not want to sin!

Recall Lot's wife!

Once we quit a sin - DO NOT TURN BACK TO IT! 

Don't make excuses!

After the glorious truth has been given to someone and they brush that truth away, then that person has told God that they are willfully going to continue in the sin that they have been WARNED against! (Be sure to read our FREE pdf booklet "What is 'the Unpardonable Sin'?"). The results are on them at that point. When they come before Jesus Christ, this will be held against them.

Once God has intervened, as He has promised He would, and that person has SUCCEEDED in rooting out the sin, then they MUST not ever turn to it again!

"For IF, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome the latter end is worse for them than the beginning" - 2 Peter 2:20.

No matter what the sin is - once it is noticed by the true Christian seeking to serve God it is their duty to reject that sin and to focus on pleasing the will of God!

Living for the fleshly desires only equals rebellion against God.

It is either self-s way (sin), or God's Way (righteousness). □

Shame Is NEVER Right In the Eyes of God!

 by Michael C. Garrett

To shame someone, or to attempt to shame someone – and it seems like to me, as I sit in front of my television set watching the news, that SHAME is now a national preoccupation. One group is always trying to shame the other group. The Republicans or the conservatives are trying to shame the Democrats or the progressives – the neo-socialists. And then, whenever the neo-socialists get a chance to speak, they’re trying to shame the conservatives! And, it can certainly also be that way even in our own personal lives!

Just stop and listen to how often people attempt to shame another person.

It would be what our Lord Jesus Christ would call, ‘being judgmental.’

Now, it’s not like you have to give approval to everything you see or hear, but is it your job to try and shame the other person!?

No.

Turning to the Book of Matthew chapter 7 –

Verse 1 – “’ Judge not, that you be not judged. 2) For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use [what you pour out, what you dish out], it will be measured back to you.’”

Now, Jesus was referring to – and there are other places cf. Hebrews – all men will stand before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ. It makes no difference who you are or what background you come from – rich or poor. Everyone, someday, will have to stand before the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ!

This is what our Lord is referring to here in Matthew chapter 7.

If you judge harshly – and in effect, you are wanting to shame that person; shame does not help build-up, it tears down.

Now, the very word “edify” and the different roots from that in the Greek language literally means “to build up.” It actually refers to a carpenter – who takes his different pieces of construction material and, piece by piece, places them into the frame and of the building of the house – and he builds a house. One two-by-four at a time and you build up this structure. Edification means to build somebody up!

Shaming is just the opposite. It tears people down and it destroys them.

Now, mankind does not have a soul. A person is a soul. Often you hear that word in our modern language. But you can say – using our modern language – you can destroy a person by attempting to shame them!

So, think about this Cancel Culture we hear so much about. At the moment of this article, the United States of America is in the depths of this Kyle Rittenhouse trial. A 17-year-old from Antioch, Illinois, who fatally shot two men who were attacking him and wounded another. His father lives just across the border in Kenosha, Wisconsin. And, I often wondered – and I learned something this week that I hadn’t understood before – I kept thinking, “Why does a 17-year-old leave his home, cross state lines, and become involved in this melee in Kenosha!?” There were all these protests and rioting! Well, his father lives in Kenosha, and the young man had a job there – and he considers Kenosha as much his home as he does where his mother lives. So he kind of has dual citizenship.

Now, a police officer or a firefighter back east sent $10 dollars to the Kyle Rittenhouse Defense Fund – it wasn’t an awful lot of money – but he just wanted to show his support for the young man. He, like many, believes that the young man did indeed attempt to protect himself in the form of self-defense. There were evil and vile people trying to kill him! One guy – Anthony Huber, who had lived a life of severe violence and crime – struck the young man over the head with a skateboard! Well, I’ll tell you what friends – if someone was hitting me over the head with a skateboard, and I had a gun, I would end the barrage on the top of my head! Obviously, if you get struck often enough on the top of your head with a skateboard – a pretty solid piece of material – eventually you are going to die or have brain damage. So, this serviceman sent this donation to the Kyle Rittenhouse Defense Fund, and when his employer had found out that he had done this – they FIRED HIM!

And you hear about this type of stuff all over!

Someone makes a statement in favor of the Republicans – or President Donald Trump – or traditional values, and all of a sudden all these people want to get them fired! – want to get them canceled. It is a horrible atmosphere in which we are living! I dare say it is truly a demonic age! An age in which Satan the devil and his demons are in overdrive!

Our Lord Jesus Christ continues in verse 3 – “’ And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?’”

So, the speck is like a small piece of wood in your neighbor's eye, but our Lord Jesus is saying, ‘you have a large beam of wood in your own eye!’ Do you think you have the right to tell your neighbor he has a little speck in his!? And this is the hypocrisy of what we’re speaking of here.

Verse 4 – “’ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?’”

Verse 5 – the very words of Jesus Christ! “’ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.’”

A powerful example – but again, we live in an age where people want to shame their fellow human beings. And to destroy them – i.e. cause them to lose their job having no income. And, what did he do!? He sent $10 dollars anonymously.

The egregious anger which resides in so many people – they just want to DESTROY – because of some belief that they might hold.

Well, if I was to meet a full-fledged Communist, I certainly wouldn’t agree with his philosophy, but to the very best of my ability, I would try and treat him with respect. There are a lot of lifestyles that are now “out in the open,” that twenty years ago were not talked about. But, if I were to meet someone of this alternate lifestyle – I certainly wouldn’t approve of what they are doing – but it is not my job to try and shame them. I am not the Judge. I am not the Jury. And I will simply, to the best of my ability, treat them with respect.

You know, if you treat another human being with respect, you basically never have to apologize – do you!?

There was a time when I was a young man, there was a movie which came out called Love Story, a sad story – two people meet, they fall in love, and one of them gets sick and dies. But, two lines from the film have entered popular culture: “What can you say about a 25-year-old girl who died? That she was beautiful and brilliant? That she loved Mozart and Bach? The Beatles? And me?” As well as, “Love means never having to say you're sorry.” Now, I have to admit – when I was twenty-one or twenty-two – when I first watched that movie, I didn’t really understand what that saying meant. I couldn’t comprehend it. Or in Spanish - No puedo comprenderlo! Well, now I do!

Love means – conducting yourself in such a way that you treat other people with respect so that you NEVER do something to broach that commitment – and therefore you have to end up saying you’re sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I shouldn’t have thought that. I shouldn’t have done that.

“’ Judge not, that you be not judged.’”

Let us turn to verse 16 of the same chapter – Matthew 7 –

Verse 16 – a verse which we refer to many times. One could be an atheist and was to study the living word of God and the “gospel” accounts – even for an atheist there are these powerful gems of wisdom, which can be found in the teachings of Jesus Christ. And this one is powerful! I have discovered in the latter half of my life that if I simply use this principle it teaches me so very much about the person with whom I’m dealing. “’ You will know them by their fruits.’”

If you want to know what somebody is like simply view them in action. What they say, what they do. They will tell you who they are.

Notice verse 20 – “’ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.’”

Now, back during the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day, I thought of a concept that I hadn’t quantified before. And it became clear to me and it has continued to be a powerful part of my thinking. “’ You will know them by their fruits.’” As I go through this life some people fall into the category of “sweet spirit” – just special, wonderful people. And then there are others that are just lousy human beings. “Sweet spirit” or “Sour spirit.” Now, a human being without the Spirit of God can still have a “sweet spirit.” But, what is really ideal is to have a “sweet spirit” and to have contact and connection with God’s Holy Spirit! Now there is truly a special person! And these are the people that God Almighty and Jesus Christ are looking for – as opposed to that “sour spirit.” The angry and accusatory people.

Who is the chief accuser!?

Satan the devil.

So, anytime you find yourself getting near wanting to accuse harshly – to really put someone down – you need to bite your tongue and place your brain in neutral and just stop. And consider the road down which you are attempting to travel. Don’t be that type of person.

Now, we all have bad days. Bad days are like snowfall – it happens. I personally don’t want to go outside when it’s freezing rain – but sometimes you have to. But, what we want is to have this “sweet spirit” about us.

Another verse I’d like you to look at – in the Book of John chapter 13 –

This comes close to crystalizing – in these verses – what God wants us to be. Because it describes JESUS CHRIST!

If we have the same traits as JESUS CHRIST we know we’re doing well. And we know that we’re looking at a very positive future – eternal life.

Verse 34 – Jesus speaking – “’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.’”

Now friends, if you want a goal to shoot for, an ideal, to say, “What type of person do I want to be!?” Sadly, the majority of our peoples don’t even think about this. They just tend to be what they are. But we do have – as human beings – the ability to direct our thoughts. The ability to change our lives. We have free moral agency. And, we have the opportunity to change. Especially if you have God’s Spirit and you read God’s living word, and you pray to God and Jesus Christ – and you think about these things.

Verse 35 – “’ By THIS all will know that you are My disciples, …’”

A most powerful pretext! “’ By this all will know that you are My disciples’”! That you have love one for another. Simple.

I heard a false minister once get up in front of a congregation and say, “You’re not good enough to make it into the Kingdom of God!” And his whole sermon was based upon that. In fact, one in the congregation went out into the parking lot after services and confessed, “Well, I’m never going to make it!” And he never returned. What a horrible sermon! Now, you talk about “building up,” or “tearing down”! He was just tearing the people down – people he didn’t even know very well. This person thought of himself as a minister. But he was not – he was a detractor. The word minister means servant.

“’ Judge not, that you be not judged.’”

But, ‘by this will all men know that you are My disciples if you have love one to another.’

So, if you have God’s Spirit, you have access to a higher level of living, thinking, and being. Because you have the chance to have God literally residing in your mind – to have Jesus Christ live in your mind!

Yet, our peoples who are not yet called or chosen by God can still have wonderful dispositions! And I say this because there was once a group of people that I once knew, that would proudly announce, “We have God’s Spirit, but all these other churches, they’re horrible.”

And that is just a big blatant lie!

There are many wonderful people in this world! And most of the really good people which I have met in my life don’t have God’s Spirit – yet. But friends, I tell you, many of these wonderful people I would lay down my life to save theirs! Because they’re good people – and I pray for them on a regular basis. And someday I look forward to being given the opportunity to help teach them the living Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God – when the time is right. And, on that day, when these people who have a “sweet spirit” enter into the glorious Kingdom of God – I will celebrate!

Because, I have, in my thinking, what I call “The List.” And God Almighty and Jesus Christ know what I mean when I call it “The List.” And I have on this list people who throughout my life – from my twenties even until now – I find certain people who impress me, and I ask God Almighty and Jesus Christ – please place them on my list! And these are people that someday in the Great White Throne Judgment – or even at the end of this age – will be offered the living Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God, and I ask that I will be given the opportunity to be the one who helps teach them.

If you would turn to the Book of 1st Corinthians chapter 13 –

This is a well-known chapter. And, I believe that we’re talking about the basic fundamentals here. Now, a great many people are compelled to give very esoteric sermons – and I knew a man once who prided himself on being highly intellectual, and when he got up to speak, surely 95 percent of the congregation didn’t have a clue of what he was talking about – because he was out in leftfield.

If you just want to get down to the basics – what does God expect of you!?

“’ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5) You shall love the LORD your God will all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength’” – Deuteronomy 6:5.

And, “ …’ You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:37-39.

The TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS!

So, if you want to know who is the difference-maker – who makes it into the kingdom and who doesn’t – these are the things which will make the difference!

Now, in the Authorized Version, we see the word “charity” which is the Greek word agapē, meaning “the active love of God.” So, not just human love, but love on a much higher plane.

Verse 1 – “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not [godly love], I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”

Verse 2 – “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not [godly love], I AM NOTHING.”

Verse 3 – “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned [in other words, to become a martyr], but have not [godly love], it profits me NOTHING.”

Verse 4 – “[Godly love] suffers long [in other words, is patient] …” – it truly means patience on steroids! So, it’s more than just momentary patience, but it could be patience that goes on for years and years – even decades. So, as an example ‘suffers long,’ some of those names on “The List” – over half a century – and I am still patiently waiting, patiently hoping, patiently knowing that someday this will happen.

“ … and is kind; …”

This certainly is a quality that appears to be going extinct in this world. Kindness. Like the group – which included Joseph Rosenbaum, Joshua Ziminski, Anthony Huber, and Gaige Grosskreutz – which attacked Kyle Rittenhouse. These four brutes – there was no kindness in them. There was no concern in them for anybody but themselves – and everyone else can just die as far as they were concerned. This is the fruit they showed.

“ … love does not envy; …”

Jealousy. A lot of people do stupid things just out of jealousy. Surely you have heard of the old saying “Keep up with the Joneses”!? And people will get themselves into tremendous financial problems just because of jealousy – wanting to outdo the other person.

“ … love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.”

So, if you find yourself only talking about yourself – maybe you’re talking about yourself too much!? The Greek philosopher Epictetus, who spent his youth as a slave in Rome before gaining freedom after the death of Nero, once stated, “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” And that is really good advice. Sometimes we just need to listen, to hear, to comfort someone, or to even rejoice in their happiness.

Verse 5 – “[D]oes not behave rudely, does not seek its own, …

Truly having higher goals in life than just worrying about yourself. Rather, worrying about others – and trying to help others. Praying for others. Encouraging others.

“ … is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6) does not rejoice in iniquity, …”

Now, not just in iniquity, which means evilness, but godly love does not relish hearing accounts where someone else is in trouble or has a health issue. Sadly, there are people who – if one of their enemies gets COVID-19, they’re actually celebrating! “He got COVID – maybe he’ll die!” I’ll tell you, friend, that’s an evil thought!

“’ Judge not, that you be not judged.’”

With what you give, that you will receive. If you are wishing horrible things upon your adversaries, in the end, that form of judgment, may be meted out to you by Jesus Christ!

Now, if someone has harmed you – at some point they are going to stand before Jesus Christ. And certainly, if you are a brother or a sister to Jesus Christ there will come a day when He will defend you! ‘What were you doing in attempting to harm My brother/sister!? Did you have any idea that when you were attempting to harm them you actually were attempting to harm Me!? – because I AM a part of them and they are a part of Me!’

“ … but rejoices in the truth; …”

And, rejoicing in truthful things. Rejoicing in people who have a “sweet spirit.”

Verse 7 – “[B]ears all things, believes all things, …”

Now, not in a conspiratory or crazy way, but in a sweet and loving spirit way.

“ … hopes all things, …”

In other words, hopes for the best, hopes for the good.

“ … ‘ endures all things.”

Whatever comes across your way – you deal with it. You don’t just slink away and feel sorry for yourself. But, if you have to, get a little angry and fight back against it.

Verse 8 – “[Godly love] never fails. …”

So, think about your life, and all the people that you have known – some of them might have been so-called church friends – and they might have met you and said, “Well, I just think the world of you, you’re my friend and my brother/sister.” And, I’ve even had people from these groups say to me, “Well, Michael C., I would die for you!” And, that certainly is an extreme statement! I appreciate the thought, but I really hope they never have to. But then a few years go by – a few situations occur – and now they won’t even talk to you.

Again, “[Godly love] never fails.”

I have learned that the love of human beings can be extremely temporal. Short-lived. So, the question could be asked – did they ever have godly love!? Using God’s definition – no. They certainly tried to fake it. But they truly didn’t have godly love. Because they proved that their love was of a temporary nature. Had their love and caring been real they still would be supporting you and pulling for you.

When it comes to JESUS CHRIST, you do not want Him saying, ‘You have a sour spirit.’ □

Are You But A Traditionalist?

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COJCOM · Are You but a Traditionalist? - Audio Article

Greetings Friends! Our Friends in Singapore, Ireland, Portugal, Honduras, and all throughout the United States of America. Welcome to the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries, I’m Leonard V. Johnson!

Why in this world is there such grave religious confusion!? Also, why in these worldly churches do they look to a different Jesus than the living Jesus Christ of God’s living word!?

Now, did I lose you on that one!? Well, if you’ve ever entered into a traditional church building – i.e. the Roman Catholic Church – they have on their walls a Jesus hanging on a cross, or “a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger”!? Do they truly understand and believe that the Jesus of Nazareth – the living Son of God, the soon-coming King of kings and Lord of lords – has been resurrected and is alive in full glory at the right-hand side of God the Father in the upper heavenly realms!? – cf. Romans 8:34. Because if they do – they don’t show it! Besides, the LORD God (the very Personal Being that would later become known as Jesus Christ) commands us NOT to make any graven image or any likeness of Him – cf. Exodus 21:4-6 – yet, they do!

Why is the very message that our Lord Jesus Christ brought from God the Father NOT being proclaimed in these worldly churches!? Now, last month, I had typed up a second part to a series of “personals” of which I am doing, and I speak of “What Gospel”!? As I said, over forty years ago I proved to myself – beyond any doubt – that these worldly churches are proclaiming a different gospel (“which is not another, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ” – Galatians 1:7) than the gospel He brought from Father God.

Now, I have had people become downright belligerent and explosive with me when I explain to them the actual gospel message that Jesus brought and taught because they believe just the opposite. But, I’ve also had people be totally gobsmacked! Most of our peoples are but religious traditionalists!

Recall, the Lord Jesus answered the traditionalists of His day –

“’ Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7) And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’ 

8) For laying aside the COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, you hold the tradition of men …’” – Mark 7:6-7, 8, NKJV throughout, unless otherwise noted.

The majority of our peoples today are conformed to ‘the traditions of men.’

Sadly, the majority of this world’s “traditional Christianity” is but from paganism. And, paganism is defined in the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary as –

pa•gan \’pā-gən\ n [ME, fr. LL paganus, fr. L, country dweller, fr. pagus country district; akin to L pangere to fix __ more at PACT] (14c) 1: HEATHEN 1: esp: a follower of a polytheistic religion (as in ancient Rome).1

A follower of polytheism – the belief of many gods - as in the ancient Romans and Greeks.

So, I ask – will you open your ears to what the Spirit has to say!? And, open your eyes to what God’s living word has to say!? I want to take you through just what our Lord Jesus Christ taught, what He brought from the Father. And, so many of our peoples will but say – like a Roman Catholic vehemently said to me once – “That’s Jewish! O’ well, I speak to God in my own way!” As he proudly announced, “I am a Roman Catholic!”

Now, our Lord Jesus Christ indeed said that “’ for salvation is of the Jews’” – John 4:22b. But, we know that the glorious message He brought was the very message that was accepted and believed by Gentile converts – too.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek [or rather, the Gentile]” – Romans 1:16.

And, from the very beginning of the Church which Jesus Christ built – they have held to the doctrines taught in His living word. And those who were Gentiles gave up their heathen ways so that many today might believe!

Turning to the Book of Mark chapter 8, we see that our Lord Jesus Christ (the Son of Man) would be –

“ … killed, and after three days rise again” – Mark 8:31.

Now, I have spoken of this at length in such articles as “It is a sign,” but there is absolutely NO WAY to get three days and three nights from a Friday sunset – what so many people call “Good Friday” sunset burial – to a Sunday morning sunrise! THERE IS NO WAY! Yet, what do the churches of this world teach? They teach that He died on a Friday and He was resurrected on a Sunday morning.

Now, our Lord Jesus clearly says –

“’ A wicked and adulterous generation [and certainly a spiritually adulterous generation] seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40) For as Jonah was THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS in the heart of the earth’” – Matthew 12:39-40.

Our Lord Jesus was crucified on WEDNESDAY, the middle day of the week. He died shortly after 3 p.m. that afternoon, was buried before sunset Wednesday evening. His body was Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights in the grave – three nights. It also was there through the daylight part of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – three days. He rose Saturday – the Sabbath – late afternoon, shortly before sunset.

All peoples of the world should say – as I said to myself over forty years ago – “The traditions of all these churches in this world surely can’t be wrong!”? Because it can bring about a light-bulb moment!

Well, either they’re wrong or God’s living word is wrong, and our Lord Jesus Christ is wrong!

Now, in my library in the office here, I have a Catholic Challoner-Rheims Version of the Bible; one of the items my wife received after the death of her grandmother – and turning to Matthew 12:39-40 it says precisely just what I had quoted Him saying from the New King James Version. So, even though they see it with their own eyes, tradition couldn’t be wrong.

As I said earlier - the majority of our peoples today are conformed to ‘the traditions of men.’

Our Lord Jesus Christ was NOT a traditionalist. “ …’ in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’”

Are you a religious traditionalist!?

Do you believe in just conforming to this world, or to these worldly churches’ traditions and laws!? Well, most people have.

Those that followed our Lord Jesus Christ had to brave terrible tribulations – and the things that others thought. He DID NOT teach what others believed. He DID NOT teach the traditions and customs of the innumerable denominations – even of His day.

The apostle Paul says in the Book of Romans –

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, …” – Romans 12:2.

That is the teaching of God! “be not conformed to this world.” Now, he was speaking to the Church that had been established there in Rome – and they were not all Jewish brethren.

He began in chapter 12 by saying –

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice …” – verse 1.

People didn’t want to do that then in the first century – and they don’t want to do that today. The majority of our peoples want to be conformed to this world; they want to be like everyone else. Well, God’s living word says – “’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’” when they awaken and discover that they had been lied to.

The apostle John has told us, “many false prophets have gone out into the world” – 1 John 4:1. And I warn you this day – you had better find out just who are these false prophets!

Now, at your Sunday keeping church, do you do that!? There were a great many false prophets and teachers in the first century as there is today. How would you recognize a false prophet or teacher if you saw one!?

Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us, “’ You will know them by their fruits’” – Matthew 7:16. In other words, by the fruits of their character.

Religious prejudism is very difficult to get out of the mind of many people – when they have been conformed.

The religious things that you believe – you didn’t believe them when you were born. You have grown up acquiring your religious beliefs because you heard them.

Now, I’m going to tell you a story. Back in 1992, I was told by a friend that I had been conformed to Armstrongism. At first, I was a bit befuddled, but then when my head cleared, I began to have a deep desire within myself to know whether he was right! “Was it true,” I thought to myself, “that I had just accepted and conformed to what I had heard!?” So, I was challenged – “Was the religion that I had heard in my youth nothing more than Christian fundamentalism!?”

Well, I have come to understand – based on forty years of involvement, interaction, Scriptural study, and hearing what God’s Spirit says – that the Church of God from my youth was based upon biblical truths and partial truths - there were some teachings that were not based upon a proper understanding of God’s living word. I’ve had nearly thirty years to think upon this. I had to begin to seriously contemplate and follow biblical truths and to distinguish them, to differentiate them, from biblical errors.

Recall, in the Authorized Version the apostle Paul tells us, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV. And, this certainly means to prove God’s Word!

But, I think I’m getting a little off subject here – let’s get back to Romans chapter 12 -

“ … present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2) And DO NOT be conformed to this world, …” – verses 1, 2a.

Here is a grave admonishment to us from the apostle Paul! – which is inspired by God!

“All Scripture [Greek graphē, meaning – holy, authoritative collection of writings] is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” – 2 Timothy 3:16. 2

“ … but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, …” – verse 2.

And, this is the changing of your mind – this is getting all of these pagan doctrines, superstitions, errors, and false teachings that we have swallowed hook, line, and sinker all of our lives out of our mind! – i.e. the worldly holiday and the celebration of All Hallows’ Day – or rather Halloween!

Renewing our mind and receiving the living Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God – “’ And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” – John 8:32.

“ … that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” – verse 2b.

Now, just how many of our peoples all around the world truly want this today!? Well, I hope and pray that you do!

True servants of the LORD our God certainly need to talk plainly and boldly in this end-time, a world of such religious confusion – with all these worldly churches teaching something different.

Do you believe Jesus Christ!?

So, getting back to ‘three days and three nights,’ Our Lord Jesus Christ clearly said, “’ Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up’” – John 2:19. The Jews (the traditionalists) didn’t believe Him – nor did they even understand what He was speaking about!

We are given the definition of just what a day is in Genesis chapter 1 –

“God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night” – verse 5.

And, both the Day and the Night is a twenty-four hour period of time! Our Lord Jesus confirms this by saying – “ …’ Are there not twelve hours in the day? …’”

A great many of our peoples use this passage to preach what they want – and to mark out the other passages such as Matthew chapter 12:38-40!

Note: Leofranc Holford-Stevens, the author of the book The History of Time, as well as any good encyclopedia, shows us that it was always custom to end and to begin days at sunset – until a few hundred years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, the ‘third day’ includes three dark periods called Night, and three light periods called Day – ‘three days and three nights’ – a total of 72 hours! So, again, no matter how you cut it – you CAN NOT get ‘three days and three nights’ out of Friday sunset to Sunday morning!

Now, this was the ONLY sign that He gave that He was (and is) the Savior of all mankind. And I tell you the majority of our peoples DON’T BELIEVE HIM! They worship another Jesus! Whether they realize it or not. It’s just like the little Sunday-keeping ‘Open-Bible Church’ I visited back in 2014 – O’ they’re sincere. They are beautiful people. The people mean right, they’ve just been deceived. But, I think they are wholly sincere, and I know that God loves them and that the truth of God is the only thing that will make them free.

So, unless your eyes can be opened to the living truth of God – then you are a victim of a great conspiracy! A conspiracy which began, for sure, in the garden of Eden with the deceiving of Eve! A conspiracy which tried to enter into the Church of God at its infancy by Simon Magus – the first pope of Rome! – cf. Acts 8:9-24.

Although we here at the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries and our affiliated churches consider Justin Martyr a heretic, he was one of the first post-biblical writers to record statements about Simon Magus – the magician from Samaria. The Samaritans literally worshipped him as “’ this man,’ they said ‘is that power of God which is called “The Great Power”’ – verse 10, NEB. Imagine it! They called him god in the flesh! – cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.

Justin mentions him in his First Apology:

“And, thirdly, because after Christ's ascension into heaven the devils put forward certain men who said that they themselves were gods; and they were not only not persecuted by you, but even deemed worthy of honours. There was a Samaritan, Simon, a native of the village called Gitto, who in the reign of Claudius Caesar, and in your royal city of Rome, did mighty acts of magic, by virtue of the art of the devils operating in him. He was considered a god, and as a god was honoured by you with a statue, which statue was erected on the river Tiber, between the two bridges, and bore this inscription, in the language of Rome:

“Simoni Deo Sancto,”

“To Simon the holy God.”

And almost all the Samaritans, and a few even of other nations, worship him, and acknowledge him as the first god; …” 3

Well, the blending of biblical truth with the ancient Babylonian mystery religion and a sprinkling of Greek philosophy is some of which the Roman Catholic Church and her daughter churches throughout the world accept – to a very large degree – and is what is considered “Christianity” today.

And, throughout these some 1,960 years (conservatively from 61 AD), we have been born into such a world, and the greater majority of us have accepted it, swallowing it hook, line, and sinker. And, there are truly good people, sincere people, who have just been deceived. And, it is a hard thing for human nature to admit that it is wrong. And to come to a place in one’s life where they have to renew their mind and to begin seeing the living truth of God, no longer being conformed to the religions of the world. To give themselves over to God, with an open mind, by the glorious power of God’s Holy Spirit, a spirit of a sound mind, and to see the real truth of God.

Let’s continue here in the Book of Mark chapter 8 –

“He [Jesus Christ] spoke the word openly. …” – saying that He would be crucified, and that after ‘three days’ He would rise again.

“ … Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him” – verse 32.

So, here was the apostle Peter rebuking the very Son of God! And note that just before this our Lord Jesus Christ had asked Peter, “’ But who do you say that I AM?’” And Peter “answered and said to Him, ‘You are the Christ’” – the Son of the living God! – see also Matthew 16:15; Luke 9:20. And our Lord Jesus said to him, “’ Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.’” 

Now, we are giving you the very living Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God – will you allow God to open your mind!? Will you allow Him to open your heart and rid you of any preconceived prejudices!?

So, our Lord Jesus Christ – the very Son of the living God – said that openly, and Peter rebuked Him for it. Understand – the apostle Peter had not been converted yet.

“But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men’” – verse 33.

And, that – to a large degree – is the trouble with this world’s ministers today. They are minding the things of men, they are conformed to this world and its religions. Case in point: the Baptist churches in my area put on what they like to call “Trunk or Treat” for their Halloween celebration. THEY WANT TO FOLLOW MEN AND NOT TO FOLLOW GOD! Like what the prophet Elijah stated, “If the LORD is God, follow Him, but if Baal, follow him.” But, if you truly follow God, you’ll be persecuted, you’ll be unpopular, you’ll even be hated – cf. Matthew 10:22.

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” – 2 Timothy 3:12.

When you were celebrating this “Trunk or Treat,” did you suffer persecution!? “’ But all these things, they will do to you for My name’s sake, …’” Persecution for the belief of Christ Jesus! Persecution for His doctrine, His gospel, for all the things which He taught! Have you accepted His doctrine, His teachings – becoming a part of you to the extent that it offends the world!? Because the world is offended at God’s living truth! 

Why!?

Because – “ …’ this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds [are] evil’” – John 3:19.

Men as a whole don’t like to be reproved. You have to admit that you have been wrong! You have to change your mind – for that is what true repentance is. This precedes even the acceptance of Jesus Christ as your personal Savior!

Now, sadly, the larger majority of our peoples are trying to enter through a backdoor or ‘climb up some other way’ to salvation – cf. John 10:1. Like what Oprah Winfrey has been promoting, “There are many ways to God!” But there IS NOT any salvation in any of that! But, as our Lord Jesus Christ is clear in saying, “’ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day’” – meaning the resurrection.

The apostle Peter came to understand, and proclaim – “there is no other name [but the name JESUS CHRIST] under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” – Acts 4:12.

Eternal life is a gift of God – there being only ONE WAY - not the gift of any man or group with their wrong ideologies or focus.

Deny Thyself

So, here it was that the apostle Peter was minding the things of men – not of God. What about us!? Let us “run it up the flagpole and see who salutes.” Let each of us look in the mirror and see what we see.

“When He [Jesus Christ] had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me’” – verse 34.

Now, this means also to disown your preconceived ideas and prejudices, and religious beliefs – of which you have just taken for granted without proof because it’s tradition. Understand – this world and its religions (which is Satan’s World) is going the WRONG WAY! Yet – and let us all THANK GOD – “’ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in [and on] Him should NOT PERISH but have everlasting life’” – John 3:16. He just isn’t forcing anyone to come to His living Truth, Word, and Plan in this world. 

Jesus says, “’ My kingdom is not of this world.’”

Our Lord Jesus Christ is soon coming again – and then He is going to enforce the very eternal and immutable and very relevant Law of God and Way of God upon the world. For the Kingdom of God – the very government of God – will be set up in our time and in our generation on this earth!

Now, 1,991 years have passed – and our LORD God had allotted man 6,000 years to make their own decisions, their own governments, their own way – Recall, the LORD our God said to Adam and Eve, “’ Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, …” – well, man took unto themselves the knowledge of what is good and what is evil.

“ … ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, …’” – what!? “ … ‘deny himself, …’”

Now also, there was “a certain ruler [a Jew] asked Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’” And, to point out that the commandments He speaks of are God’s and not the Sanhedrin’s, He quotes some – “ … ‘You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” The certain ruler says, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” And, surely, with 603 additional ones.

“So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell [which certainly also means "deny"] all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’”

Have you denied thyself!? Have you – as Abraham did – left your ‘father’s house’!? Have you taken up your cross!? And it will be a cross if you truly follow Jesus Christ! Recall our Lord Jesus Christ says, “’ Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. …’”

And, think of this – every year men ignorantly sing “I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day,” with the line – “of peace on earth, goodwill toward men.”!

“ … ‘I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household’” – Matthew 10:34-36.

Now, this is all throughout His living word!

Now I tell you – with all the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ – this world’s “Traditional Christianity” is NOT teaching you to follow Jesus Christ today! As an example: Our Lord Jesus Christ DID NOT keep any Christmas, or Easter, or even any New Year’s Eve! “O’,” you exclaim, “we want to follow the traditions of the world!” Those all originated from paganism. And, I tell you this day the majority of those calling themselves “Christian” don’t follow Him! They don’t observe the customs He did. And, they would be aghast to keep the seventh-day Sabbath along with the commanded annual feasts of the LORD – calling them ‘Jewish holidays.’

Our Lord Jesus Christ says, “ …’ follow Me!’” So, why don’t you look into your own life and then see what He did – and follow Him! Now, many think, preach and teach that one shouldn’t teach what the apostle Paul taught. Now, let it be known – I have come across in my research a great many churches of this world downright rejecting the apostle Paul. 

The Swedenborgian Church of North America (aka The New Church) does not include Paul’s writings in its bible – called the Arcana Coelestria. Also, a very demented Exodus 2 The Kingdom, an online blog, declares (with no subtlety) Paul to be Antichrist and rejects all Pauline writings. And, comments suggest that there are at least some people who agree! Of course, there are many more!

But, you will find that what the beloved apostle Paul taught was exactly the same that our Lord Jesus Christ did – and the example that Paul followed, exactly the same as our Lord Jesus Christ!

Two Groups

Friends, wake up and see the truth! And I know that will bring a lot of persecution of course. People are so prejudiced about what God’s living word actually teaches. And I ask you – is it not clear that there are, even today, two groups!?

What I mean by “groups” is that essentially, there were the true Christians – that had a direct connection to the apostle's John and Philip within Asia Minor, and then there were others which were associated with the Greco-Roman confederation of churches that began to emerge even in the first century in Alexandria, Jerusalem, and in Rome.

All throughout the New Testament, we can certainly see that God’s living word teaches that there would be two groups – each claiming Jesus. One true and the other false.

Notice that our Lord Jesus says –

“’ Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom [from] heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22) Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? 23) And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” – Matthew 7:21-23.

So, notice that there were to be two groups calling Jesus ‘Lord.’ One group that does the will of God the Father in heaven and the other which practices lawlessness.

In around 60 AD, the apostle Paul told the brethren there in Ephesus –

“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18) having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” – Ephesians 4:17-18.

Yet, certain ones DID NOT heed his admonishment!

He also wrote in the first century –

“For the mystery of lawlessness is ALREADY at work; …” – 2 Thessalonians 2:7.

Sadly, very few properly understand the “mystery of lawlessness” which was already at work in the first century. The “mystery of lawlessness” is related to what I have been speaking about – “Traditional Christianity,” professing Christians who believe that they DO NOT need to keep God’s Ten Commandments, and etc. – and so while they believe that they have a form of God’s Law, they are not keeping the religion that our Lord Jesus Christ nor His apostles would recognize as legitimate.

In the fourth century there continued to be a separation of the two groups. Yet, one group obtained considerable Imperial favor after the sun-worshiping emperor claimed to have had a vision – Minister Michael C. Garrett speaks of this in the free PDF online booklet “Prophecy Series – The Last Crusade” page 5 – and in around 332 Emperor Constantine I decided to issue his “Edict Against Heresies” which resulted in the utter persecution of those who professed Jesus Christ who was not part of his group.

So, both groups, with all their numerous parts, have existed throughout this evil present age.

Both groups exist today.

Which group are you in!? □

Bibliography:

1) Webster, M. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Tenth Edition, Merriam-Webster’s Incorporated, 1996, pg. 834.

2) Note: The Greek is never used of writings in general, but only of the sacred Scriptures. The New English Bible renders this as “Every inspired scripture has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, or for reformation of manners and discipline in right living, …”

3) Justin. First Apology, Chapter XXVI. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight.