TRUE CHRISTIANS DON’T NEED TO BE STUFFY CONCERNING CHRISTMAS

by Guy C. LaMar

If you know the true background of the origins of Christmas, then count yourself blessed in knowledge.

There are so many professing Christians that get so torn up and out of shape concerning Christmas. They can become absolutely nuts!

Also, many people wear their feelings too much on their sleeve. Many want to be a showboater with their emotions. They want to show everyone their disdain and their dislikes for this or that. And, they want others to support their disapproval.

To me──that’s a “religious snob.”

As good ol Charlie Brown says this time every year, “Good Grief!” We as true Christians should be concentrating on ourselves, and not worrying about how the people of this world perceive things. It’s not necessary to express our opinions just because we do not agree with something.

Doing so only brings animosity from others. It is not necessary.

Personally, one thing I will say about the Christmas season ── many of the songs are some of the most fantastic praise songs that one could ask for!

Such as, “Silent Night” ── with the uplifting and inspiring lyrics –

Silent night, holy night

Son of God, love’s pure Light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace

Jesus, Lord at Thy birth

Jesus, Lord at Thy birth

As well as, “The Little Drummer Boy” –

‘Come,’ they told me

Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

A newborn King to see

Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

Our finest gifts we bring

Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

To lay before the King

Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

Rum-pum-pum-pum

Rum-pum-pum-pum

So, to honor Him

Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

When we come

Pum-pum-pum-pum …

Both of these are wonderful and magnificent songs to praise and worship our soon-coming King of kings and Lord of lords! I give zero tolerance to even hearing stuffy religiosity types who want to only say negative things about many of the Christmas songs.

Yes indeed. The customs of Christmas are pagan in origin ── to the core!

However, a great many of the songs that we hear every Christmas season are absolutely wonderful and don’t have anything to do with Christmas. It just so happens that there are people who will associate certain of those songs with Christmas. Mostly, because of what they believe that Christmas is supposed to be about.

Surely, the whole concept of “giving gifts” to others would be far more spectacular if it were year-round. To have a “giving” spirit. Which is the Spirit of God. Because LOVE is truly about giving.

Our Lord Jesus admonished the scribes and Pharisees for neglecting the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. He called them hypocrites!

“ …’ These you ought to have done [the paying of tithes of mint and anise and cummin], without leaving the others undone.’”

He called them, “’ Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!’”

In other words, ’DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF MY LAW’ ── INCLUDING, OF COURSE, LOVE FOR OTHERS!

Don’t cry over spilled milk!

Stop your bellyaching!

Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill!

Quite your whining!

It’s like the people who are real sticklers about using only Hebrew names for God. For crying out loud ── the majority of those people are not even Jewish!

The LORD God (the family of God, which at this time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) is intelligent enough to know and understand EVERY LANGUAGE humanity speaks! They are intelligent enough to know who is saying something (in any language) in reference to the glorious family of God. Yet, the majority of mankind just helps themselves to try and limit God.

The LORD God created mankind with the ability to create all the different languages around the world! And, certainly, the Lord GOD has His own language. And upon being born into the very family of God upon our resurrection (God willing), we will begin speaking this “pure language” (Zephaniah 3:9), and will receive a new name (cf. Revelation 2:17)!

Sadly, it never ceases to amaze me how a great many professing Christians make Christianity so stuffy and complicated. They make Christianity into almost something that you could loathe. They place unbearable yokes and wild restrictions on nearly every aspect to where it makes you unable to be “free.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ says, “’ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’” – Matthew 11:28-30.

There’s an old acronym ── a design principle first noted by the U.S. Navy in 1960 ── “Keep it simple, stupid!” But I say – keep things simple in the simplicity that is in Christ – which is biblical (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Quit concerning yourself by trying to change the mindset of others.

God the Father does the calling ── not us.

We, as true Christians, are to be “ ‘the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill” – Matthew 5:14. Showing others by our good examples, not our good arguments.

As a feller on a work site once told me, “You take care of you, and I’ll take care of me.” Another version of this ── “Clean up your own backyard. You tend to your business, and I’ll tend to mine.” And, our Lord Jesus Christ says, “’ And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?’” – Matthew 7:3.

Truly, expressing negative opinions can distance others from us. It can cause division and alienation.

HELPING OTHERS is what we should be about.

Those Who Have Not Been Called

Also: The multitude of our peoples who have not been called to God’s living truth and do not properly understand the true origins of Christmas ── there are a great many of them that have a far better loving spirit towards others than some who do have the proper understanding.

Sadly, there are those who do have the proper understanding of the true origin of Christmas that do get haughty and “holier than thou” in their knowledge.

And it makes them rather unpleasant to be around.

Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us, “’ I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47) And if ANYONE hears My words and DOES NOT BELIEVE, I DO NOT JUDGE HIM; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.’” – John 12:46-47.

Our Lord Jesus came to ‘preach the gospel to the poor; to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; and to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD’ – cf. Luke 4:17-19.

TO BRING LIGHT TO A DARKENED WORLD.

If you are obediently disciplined to the living word of God, then you will be obeying the LORD God. And as we are on this journey of understanding the living word of God, we are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 3:18.

The LORD God tells us concerning the customs of the nations around us –

“Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.

2) Thus says the LORD:

‘Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. 3) For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. 4) They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple.’” - Jeremiah 10:1-4.

Certainly, speaking of the ancient Asherah poles of that day. Yet, isn’t it ironic the LORD could just as easily be describing the customs of obtaining and decorating a modern Christmas tree!?

NOTE THAT OUR LORD says, “’ DO NOT LEARN THE WAY OF THE GENTILES!’”

So, surely, a true Christian who is obeying what the LORD God instructs us in regards to not learning the way of the Gentiles, would not embrace any of the customs of Christmas!

If you know and properly understand the true origin of the customs of Christmas, you will celebrate the LORD God ── and not be like the majority of our peoples of this world, and celebrate themselves. And, you will certainly have our Lord Jesus Christ FRONT AND CENTER! You will obey our LORD God!

As the apostle Paul wrote ── under divine inspiration ── in the Book of Galatians –

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, 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.

And this is IMPORTANT to note: Our Lord Jesus Christ was the God of the Old Testament! – John 1:1-4.

“In THE beginning was the Word [the Logos, the Spokesman – Jesus], and the Word was with God [God the Father], and the Word was God.”

In other words, the very word God in Hebrew is Elohim; meaning “Gods” – the word is grammatically plural. It’s as if the word “God” is a surname.

“2) He was in THE BEGINNING with God [God the Father]. 3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4) In Him was life [meaning, inherent life], and the life was the light of men. …

14) And the Word [the Logos, the Spokesman – Jesus] 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.”

So, the overall majority of the time ── the LORD God of the Old Testament was the God that would “become flesh” – our Lord Jesus of Nazareth. The words of the Old Testament are the very words of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The New Testament magnifies the Old Testament!

This is a living truth of the Eternal One!

Conclusion

Not all people are being called at this time to the living truth of God. As the apostle Paul said ── again, under divine inspiration ──

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23) BUT EACH ONE IN HIS OWN ORDER …” – 1 Corinthians 15:22, 23.

Those that are not called in their lifetime, will come to be called when they are resurrected. They will be offered eternal salvation.

There was one who asked our Lord Jesus, “Lord, are there few who are saved?’” - Luke 13:23. Our Lord Jesus says in the Book of Matthew, “’ For many are called, but FEW are chosen.’” – Matthew 22:14.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Even so then, at this PRESENT TIME there is a remnant according to the election of grace. … 7) What then? Israel [speaking of the house of Israel and the house of Judah] has not obtained what it seeks; but THE ELECT have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8) Just as it is written: ‘God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.’” – Romans 11:5, 7-8.

So, brethren, don’t be bitter or judgmental of those people who celebrate Christmas. They don’t know what they don’t know. They are like a newborn child. You aren’t judgmental against a newborn child because they don’t know algebra, or know how to cook a Thanksgiving Day dinner, or even how to drive a car! Again, “EACH ONE IN HIS OWN ORDER!”

Also, it could be that their capacity to properly understand isn’t right for this PRESENT TIME to understand!?

Again, you do you ──take care of yourself, take care of your dwelling ── that’s what you need to be concerned with.

Be ‘a light unto the world’ – not an argument unto this world. □

The Lie of Hell

by Guy C. LaMar

A Satan-Influenced Lie

THINK very hard on this pathetic Satan-influenced LIE.

How can people who claim that the LORD God (the family of God, which at this moment consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) is love──but don’t truly understand Their commandments, ordinances, statutes, and judgments──continue to claim that if one “messes up” that They will “thrown them into a never-ending, unmerciful, hell fire” where they are tortured eternally and cannot die!?

Can you see just how cruel and wicked this evil sounds!?

It’s because that entire doctrine──this Satan-influenced lie──was contrived to deceive mankind into buying a ridiculous lie.

The LORD God’s Plan for all mankind is exceedingly merciful, loving, and gracious.

Not everyone is called to the LORD God’s living truth in this lifetime.

The saints of God are the ones who are called and chosen by Father God as good stewards to His service──who, after the first resurrection, will be placed in positions to help teach those who haven’t come to properly understand the living truth of God.

Certainly, God's saints encounter people who can be a challenge to deal with──to learn their future task in properly dealing with others in the glorious World Tomorrow.

It’s only those people who willingly and blatantly REFUSE TO ACCEPT the LORD God’s will and Way──after being shown and enlightened in God’s living truth──that will be cast in “the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” – Revelation 20:15; 21:7-8. They will be fully consumed and burnt up──burnt to ashes. They will perish for all eternity. 

They will be as though they weren’t ever created. 

They “shall be ashes under the soles” of the saints in the glorious World Tomorrow.

Certainly, the ashes will be a reminder to all who walk upon their ashes that this is the eternal fate of those who UTTERLY REFUSE to be obedient and do the will of the LORD God.

The LORD God created us for Their purpose──not for our own will, or the will of Satan the Devil.

Now, as for the ones who will be eternally spiritually tortured and tormented!?

That is reserved for Satan the Devil and his demons – Notice:

“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet [had been cast]. And they will be tormented day and night [ages of the ages – eternal ages].” – Revelation 20:10.

They will be cast into an abyss to be in their own dark misery──certainly blaming each other, accusing each other, hating each other──never-ending their spiritual and mental torture and torment. They are their own destruction and doom.

The Nature of Man

Mankind has a natural nature about themselves that is an enemy against the LORD God – cf. Romans 8:7. It’s called “the carnal mind,” which “is enmity against God” ── or rather, actually hating the LORD God.

Mankind, without the influence of Satan the Devil, still can sin against the LORD God. It’s vitally IMPORTANT that mankind properly understands the will of God, the Way of God, and the Law of God.

When man rejects the will, the Way, or the Law of God, man is rejecting the LORD God!

The very definition of sin is the breaking of the Law of God──which is summed up in the Ten Commandments – cf. 1 John 3:4. It’s not “Jewish law.” It’s not “Roman law.” It’s not the “Code of Hammurabi.” It’s the LAW OF GOD!

And, when man breaks the civil laws of the land──laws that don’t infringe upon the Law of God──they are also breaking the righteous Law of God!

For the LORD God says –

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” – Romans 13:1.

Civil authorities were appointed by God as leaders of this world, and He allows civil laws of the land (laws created by mankind) to be placed over nations, countries, and provinces around the world. Breaking those civil laws of the land equates to breaking the Law of God──because the LORD God has established it!

The righteous Law of God is without change. Yet, the civil laws of man change──and most often do.

So, for man to be “unafraid of the authority” of the appointed leaders of the land, man must abide by the civil laws of the land──again, laws that don’t infringe upon the Law of God.

True Christians are to “’ seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness’” ── the very government of God, which has laws. And those laws are the Law of God! True Christians are to desire, seek, and obey the Law of God ── summed up with the Ten Commandments. And, to follow the example of the One who kept the living Law of God perfectly ── our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! He is our example of how we are to conduct ourselves in the Law of God.

But the damnable lie of “damnation” ── created by the influence of Satan the Devil ── is nothing more than that. A lie.

Pagan Customs, Rituals, and Beliefs

The pagan teaching that upon death a person “goes to heaven” or “goes to hell” are truly old pagan doctrines. They also are lies. Neither is in the living word of God ── the Holy Bible. These false doctrines are contrary to the living word of God.

Sadly, mankind prefers to believe these lies over the truth of God. And, when man is given an opportunity to see and hear the living truth of God ──what does man do!? They shun themselves from this truth! They do not want to see or hear this truth!

Why?

Because ‘according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they heap up for themselves teachers; and they turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables’ – cf. 2 Timothy 4:3-4. They would rather believe a lie.

Mankind would rather live in their traditions ── their ready-made ideologies. They would rather continue what everyone else is doing. They have the Pied Piper Effect. They would rather follow the Pied Piper off a cliff! Follow the lies rather than the living truth of God ── truth that is far superior, and far more rewarding than the lies of Satan the Devil. After all, Satan the Devil is the deceiver of this world ── “to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded” – cf. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.

True Christians are not deceived anymore by these lies.

“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6.

True Christians obey and follow the will of the LORD God over the abominable lies that Satan the Devil has placed before all mankind. □

the LIE of the TRINITY

by Guy C. LaMar

The Holy Spirit is NOT a person or a third member of a so-called Trinity.

THE TRINITY doctrine is from the Church of Satan the Devil – the Roman Catholic Church.

The Trinity doctrine is a LIE!

The Holy Spirit is the power by which God the Father and God the Son accomplish Their will. It is the essence of God within.

The impregnation of the Holy Spirit from God the Father as a spiritual begettal is granted freely to each true believer upon repentance of their sins, proper baptism by immersion, and the laying on of hands.

This begettal of the Holy Spirit is the earnest assurance of the promise of eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ.

It is the power of God, which makes each begotten child of God a partaker of the divine nature and imparts the ability to develop the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The indwelling of God’s Spirit imparts the power to each individual to live in accordance with God’s will and to OVERCOME the temptations of human nature, this evil present age, and Satan the Devil.

As the spiritually begotten believer seeks to serve and obey God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will help lead him/her into all TRUTH that is contained in the living word of God – the Holy Bible – which is essential for salvation.

The Laying On of Hands

The laying on of hands: a special act performed by an ordained minister of God. It is done by asking God the Father through Jesus Christ in prayer to confer a spiritual gift or blessing upon someone.

The laying on of hands is required for the receiving of the gift of God’s Spirit following proper water baptism.

The laying on of hands is also for the anointing of the sick with pure – preferably first cold pressed – olive oil for healing.

The laying on of hands is also for the ordination of those selected for spiritual or physical service to the Church of God.

The laying on of hands is also for the blessing of the children.

It is also for a special blessing during a marriage ceremony, and for other special blessings.

In the Book of James – a very brother to our Lord Jesus was inspired through God’s Spirit to write –

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15) And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” – James 5:14-15.

“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14) But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom [from] heaven.’ 15) And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.” – Matthew 19:13-15.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “ … ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16) The one who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but the one who does not believe shall be [judged]. 17) And these signs shall follow those who believe: in My name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with new languages; 18) They shall remove serpents; …’” – “enemies who harass and destroy are compared to serpents (Isa. 14:29; Jer. 8:17). 1

“ … ‘and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them in any way; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.’” – Mark 16:15-18, NET.

“Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6) And when Paul HAD LAID HANDS ON THEM, the Holy Spirit came upon them, …” – Acts 19:4-5, 6.

“And the saying pleased the whole multitude [the multitude of the disciples]. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6) whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.” – Acts 6:5-6.

“As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ 3) Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.” – Acts 13:2-3.

“Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15) who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16) For as yet [it] had fallen upon none of them. They had ONLY been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

18) And when Simon [Simon Magus, aka Simon the Sorcerer; the first pope of the Roman Catholic Church] saw that THROUGH THE LAYING ON OF THE APOSTLES’ HANDS the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money.” – Acts 8:15-18.

‘He who has My Commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me’

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!

“I have been crucified with Christ, yet I live. Indeed, it is no longer I; but Christ lives in me. For the life that I am now living in the flesh, I live by faith—that very faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20.

“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.

“Then Peter said to them, ‘REPENT, and let every one of you be BAPTIZED in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” – Acts 2:38.

“’ 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: 17) Even the Spirit of the truth, which the world cannot receive because it perceives it not, nor knows it; but you know it because it dwells with you, and shall be within you. … 26) But when the Comforter comes, even the Holy Spirit, which the Father will send in My name, that one shall teach you all things, and shall bring to your remembrance everything that I have told you.” – John 14:15-17, 26, NET.

“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. 10) And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11) But if the Spirit of Him [God the Father] who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit [which] dwells in you.

12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh [see Galatians 5:19-21]. 13) For if you live according to the flesh YOU WILL DIE; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, YOU WILL LIVE. 14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the [children] of God.” – Romans 8:9-14.

“But as it is written [Isaiah 64:4]: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ 10) But God has revealed them to us THROUGH HIS SPIRIT. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” – 1st Corinthians 2:9-10.

Also, notice verse 11 – “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”

“But the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is love [agape in Greek], joy, peace, longsuffering [or rather, patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23.

And, the Apostle Paul admonishes his protégé, Timothy – along with all of us – to stir up this glorious gift – “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but OF POWER and OF LOVE and OF SOUND MIND.” – 2nd Timothy 1:6-7.

Sealed with the Holy Spirit

“The earth [became] without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” – Genesis 1:2.

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE, 14) [which] is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” – Ephesians 1:13-14.

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us IS GOD, 22) who also HAS SEALED US and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” – 2nd Corinthians 1:21-22.

So says the LORD – “’ Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.’” – meaning, RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

“On the last day, that great day of the feast [of which we call the Last Great Day], Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’

39) But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” – John 7:37-39.

“Whoever has been BORN OF GOD [meaning, in the resurrection; see cf. 1st Corinthians 15:46-53] does not sin, for His seed [the Holy Spirit] remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been BORN OF GOD.” – 1st John 3:9, NKJV.

Continuing here – “By this standard are manifest the children of God and the children of the devil [note vs. 8]. Everyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, and neither is the one who does not love his brother 11) For this is the message that you heard from the beginning – that we should love one another.” – 1st John 3:10-11, NET.

“You are of God, little children, and have OVERCOME them [what Minister Michael C. Garrett has called “a Sour Spirit”], because He [Jesus Christ] who is in you is greater than he [Satan the Devil] who is in the world. 5) THEY ARE OF THE WORLD. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6) We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” – or rather, we can discern between a “Sweet Spirit and a Sour Spirit.”

Verse 7 – “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves IS [eventually, I might add editorially] BORN OF GOD and knows God. 8) He who does not love does not know God, FOR GOD IS LOVE.” – 1st John 4:4- 8.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3) as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4) by which have been given to us EXCEEDINGLY GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature [of being BORN AGAIN in the glorious kingdom of God], having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, ADD to your faith VIRTUE, to virtue KNOWLEDGE, 6) to knowledge SELF-CONTROL, to self-control PERSEVERANCE, to perseverance GODLINESS, 7) to godliness BROTHERLY KINDNESS, and to brother kindness LOVE.

8) For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9) For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

10) Therefore, brethren, BE EVEN MORE diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11) for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.” – 1st Peter 1:2-11.

God the Father Calls

I can preach until I’m blue in the face and beg people to open their eyes and put aside their fluffy religious garbage, but UNLESS God the Father has called them, then they will NEVER know the REAL JESUS!

“’ NO ONE can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him at the LAST DAY.’” – John 6:44.

‘The last day,’ speaking of the resurrection day – the last trumpet!

Satan the devil, who is the god of this world, has deceived the whole world (2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9). At some point all mankind will have been tricked into believing the lies of the evil one.

We go through this world’s professing lies – deciphering – to find the living truth of God!

Just preceding the glorious return of Jesus Christ – “So the great dragon was cast out, …” – cast out of the atmosphere – “ … that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast TO THE EARTH, and his angels [or rather, demons] were cast out with him.” – Revelation 12:9.

Friends, we ONLY gain closeness to Almighty God by keeping His commandments and keeping His Holy Days – OBEYING HIS LAW! Otherwise, we are only following religious fantasy!

I repeat – NO ONE, absolutely NO ONE, has the Holy Spirit sealed within them (and that’s not to say that a small portion of God’s Spirit is not allowed from time to time in a person who hasn’t been following the FULL Law of God to be used for His will and purpose) UNLESS they OBEY and APPLY to the RULES OF GOD as instructed by Him in how to be gifted the Holy Spirit.

We MUST keep the commandments and the Holy Days as did our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

“WHOEVER believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2) By THIS we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. 3) For this is the love of God, that we KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. And His commandments are not burdensome.” – 1 John 5:1-3.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ kept His Father’s commandments. It was Jesus – who was known as the Word, the Logos – see John 1:1-3, 14 – who wrote with His very own hand the TEN COMMANDMENTS!

And, according to our Lord Jesus – paraphrasing: Heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will by no means pass away. And, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. – see Matthew 5:18; 24:35.

A true Holy Spirit-led Christian OBEY’S GOD’S LAW! They do God’s will! Not their own human carnal reasoning!

Now, one can claim that they have the Holy Spirit all they want, but unless they follow to the letter the instructions of God in His living word, they are just living a lie!

The LORD God tells us through His servant Moses – “’ I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE.’” – Deuteronomy 30:19.

The facts are the facts.

The only way you truly have the gift of the Holy Spirit is if you have done and continue to do what the LORD God – the very God of our forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – commands!

Period. □

1) Unger, M.F., Unger’s Bible Dictionary, “Serpent” Moody Press, Chicago, Ill., 1966, pp. 997.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is God a Trinity? This free online booklet helps answer - Is God a Trinity or a family? Is the Holy Spirit a being or the creative power of the Godhead? These questions about the very nature of God are answered in this booklet. PDF.

Are You But A Traditionalist? - Why in this world is there such grave religious confusion? Why in these worldly churches do they look to a different Jesus other than the living Jesus Christ of the Bible!?

Who and What Is Satan? - everything you wanted to ask is answered in this free online booklet. PDF.

Baptism Is Commanded - Even though Jesus had no sins to repent of, He was baptized by John the Baptist, setting us an example to follow.

Through Faith, God Healed Bud! - Well, we should be thankful and celebrate God’s many kindnesses and His blessings that He bestows upon His people. And today, I have a report that I want to share with all of you.

Do They Have God's Spirit? - ask yourself, 'Do they have God's Spirit?'

What is... God? - “… God …” Friends, that is one of the words of the very beginning of the Holy Bible. Do you know what God is and is not!?

Commentary: Familiar Traditions

 by Guy C. LaMar

People are used to holding onto their religious traditions over truth and facts because familiar traditions are comfortable to people - but regardless, it doesn't make it truth.

JESUS did not die on a Friday and rise on a SUNDAY morning! That is an old Roman Catholic ideology that has been embraced by religiosity. Plus, "EASTER" is not in the original biblical text. Ishtar (Akkadian), Sumerian Inanna, was worshiped as a goddess of war and sexual love. Basically, a whore.

But religious familiar traditions overshadow God's living TRUTH!

JESUS makes it clear in His standpoint of such things. He said, "'And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments (or ways) of men'" - Matthew 15:9.

People would rather hold onto their familiar traditions of men than embrace the living TRUTH of God - cf. Mark 7:8.

The TRUTH is: that when our Lord Jesus Christ died, it was around 3 p.m. on a Wednesday, and He rose from the dead THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS later, as the prophet Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so was our Lord Jesus lying dead in His tomb for THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS ... 72 hours ... and thus rose from the dead at the same time that He died, around 3 p.m. on a holy Sabbath (Saturday). So, when the women came to the tomb - "Now after the Sabbaths, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb" - Matthew 28:1, NKJV. Verse 6 - He was already alive!

NOTE: God counts days from sunset to sunset. Unlike what this world does, it counts a day starting at midnight.

It is like the yearly seasons. Deceived mankind believes that a new year begins in the DEAD OF WINTER! But God's NEW YEAR begins in the SPRING when all things are coming alive!

Satan the Devil has deceived the whole world (2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9) and has gotten people off course to buy into lies - as he is the great liar and is the god of this world. Thus we live in a world of deception.

But our people would rather buy into this ready-made world belief system of religious familiar traditions instead of thinking outside the box and looking to the plain truth of the matter that can be easily found in just a simple search! Sadly, none of this is a mystery! It has always been common knowledge, but when it comes to religion, our people would rather hold onto their version of Churchianity instead of TRUE CHRISTIANITY!

There is nothing like our people being "willfully ignorant" - 2 Peter 3:5. □

Additional items and commentaries

Are You But A Traditionalist? - 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!? [...]

Commentary: Is Passover For The Unbaptized? - Should unbaptized people attend a Passover service and partake of the foot-washing? [...]

Stones of Judgment - HERE ARE two utterly unpleasant judgmental ladies in a church that has inspired me to write this article. [...]

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.