The Tares and the Wheat
Matthew 13:25-30
“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn”.
The part of the New Testament where Jesus spoke of the tares and the wheat crossed my mind the other day. When it did I thought, “hmm, tares. What are tares really?” I’ve always thought it must be some kind of weed, but sometimes I challenge ‘what I’ve always thought’ and take a moment to look things up.
Going to the dictionary (online, www.dictionary.com) I looked up ‘tares’ and found the following entry:
Taresthe bearded darnel, mentioned only in Matt. 13:25-30. It is the Lolium temulentum, a species of rye-grass, the seeds of which are a strong soporific poison. It bears the closest resemblance to wheat till the ear appears, and only then the difference is discovered. It grows plentifully in Syria and Palestine.
Tares and wheat look alike as they grow together. But they are two separate plants. One is wheat, the other a type of grass. It is not until the wheat produces its seed (the fruit of the wheat) that these plants can be distinguished from each other. Then the fruit of the wheat, it’s seed, is ground into flour.
Since these verses in Matthew are a parable, we know that Jesus was really using the comparison of wheat and tares to explain the differences in people, as well as the harvest of souls. God wants us to be fruitful, in fact, He doesn’t just ‘want us to’ be fruitful…no, He commands it! “Be ye fruitful” is a command. Comparing the wheat/tare relationship to humanity, I then thought about the similarities of appearance between true born again Christians, who actually live their lives in obedience to God’s word and either the pretend or deceived followers who sometimes ‘seem’ to be Christians but are really not. Both are in the same field, both look like wheat. Sometimes the differences in claims of Christianity in people are obvious, and sometimes they are hard to distinguish. That is, until it’s ‘fruit time”. The fruit I’m referring to is more than what is found in Galatians 5:22 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith…” etc, but even more than that, as fruits also pertain to attitude, to what our actions (and words) are when we are angry or under the pressures of life and with not only friends but co-workers and those who might cause us stress. Christians learn to bear the right fruit; the fruit of the Spirit. When those not born of the Holy Spirit are severely tried they usually revert back to ‘what they truly are on the inside’ and it shows in their words, actions and attitudes.
The seeds of wheat produce what becomes flour; life sustaining, energy producing, nourishing food. It becomes a blessing to all who partake of it.
The tares also produce seeds, but as shown in the definition of what a tare is; the seeds are ‘soporific’. “What’s that?” I wondered. So I had to look that up as well. It is a type of poison that is used as a sedative, tending to cause sleep as in a medicine or drug. And doesn’t that description also aptly fit the effect that non-Christians have? Listening to the vain philosophies, the worldly values, and the sometimes ‘right sounding’ attitudes of the unregenerate man can have a sedative effect on those who listen to them. A believer can be lulled into spiritual sleep by getting into the mindset of those of the world.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Fruits of the Spirit
John 15:2 - Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:8 - Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Fruit trees are fruit trees long before they bear fruit. Fruit comes after the tree has been planted, then grows and matures to a certain degree before fruit ever appears. Then fruit comes. So it is with fruitful Christians. Even though our carnal nature is instantly changed when we are born again of God’s Spirit, even though we’ve entered into a whole new world and are part of the Kingdom of God; fruit takes time to develop. Fleshly sins and desires of the flesh have melted away, but there remains the need for inward changes that are not so obvious; things concerning integrity, attitudes and character. These are revealed through the fruits of the Spirit, or I could just as easily say the fruits produced in us through following the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. If we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in our all of our ways then the end result will be it’s fruit produced in us. The fruits of the Spirit are listed in Galatians 5; 22 & 23, 1 Timothy 6:11 and 2 Peter 1: 5, and they are; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, righteousness, godliness, patience, virtue and knowledge. “If these things be in you and abound”, says 2 Peter 1:8, “they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
God wants us all to be involved in spreading the gospel in whatever way we can. He wants us to go to those unknowingly lost in the kingdom of darkness and bring them into His kingdom. He calls various people into the ministry and gives gifts of some kind to all of us for the furtherance of His kingdom and to gain the souls of man for Him. To do this we must speak the truth concerning His Word in a world full of deception. But just speaking the truths of God’s word is insufficient. We must be fruitful! “Be fruitful, and multiply” is what God told his creation. Being fruitful is also taught by the Lord in the New Testament and the development of us bearing fruit is one of the main purposes of the indwelling Holy Spirit!
Since it is the fruit that bears the seeds of reproduction, it is only when we bear fruit that we can multiply. Even for God; it’s not His wrath that draws people to Him… it’s His goodness. Romans 2:4 says the “…goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.”
Of the list of fruits of the Spirit, many of us have developed one or more while others are in the process of being developed within us. As I read the list, one the fruits stands out to me; meekness. Admittedly, meekness is not one of my strong points. So this study of meekness is something I’ll have to incorporate into my own life. Sometimes, while trying to relate God’s truths, I come across as being harsh. To avoid conflict then, there are times when I should say something that I instead remain silent; and this isn’t God’s will either. Part of meekness is “being submissive to the will of God” and God wants us to speak. So either way I have difficulty; whether I speak, or whether I don’t. It’s a problem.
Just What is Meekness?
Meekness is defined by several different terms. It means; soft of temper, gentleness, submission to the will of God without complaining. Forbearance. (Forbearance is part of meekness, so just to be sure of it’s meaning, I looked it up). Forbearance: self-control, abstaining from the enforcement of a right, exercising patience and self-restraint when under personal injuries and provocations, to hold back. To wait. To endure the moment. The exercise of patience; long suffering; indulgence towards those who injure us, the delay of resentment or punishment.
We are supposed to be gentle with people; gentle not just with fellow Christians but gentle with sinners as well. Yet at the same time boldly speaking out against sin. How does a person boldly speak out against sin, yet be gentle? Ephesians 4:15 says; “…speaking the truth in love.” 2 Timothy 2:25 says, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…”. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness…”.
How Important is the Fruit of Meekness?
God does lead all those whom He fills with His Spirit, after all, fruit trees are still fruit trees even before they have born fruit, but I am sure there comes a point in time when God expects the results of his leading to produce fruit. We all want to have ‘right thinking’ when it comes to God’s word, we all want to be taught by the leading of the Holy Spirit. How important is meekness? Those who have developed Meekness have these promises;
Psalms 25:9 - The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. Psalms 147:6 - The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. Psalms 149:4 - For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
I am sure none of us want to be on the earth in the days of God’s final wrath. Read Zephaniah 2:3 – Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger.
Example of Meekness
Meekness does not mean weakness. When we are in some way provoked, especially in a serious way, it takes for more strength to ‘turn the other cheek’ to be smitten as well (as Jesus said to do) than it does to do the ‘natural thing’ which is to retaliate. When it comes to personal afflictions, or our daily interactions with others, a Christian is to be as wise as serpents but as harmless as doves. No it’s not how we might want to react, but it is how we are commanded to react out of obedience to Jesus as our Lord. Jesus was obedient too, for He did not want to die on the cross, in fact, He prayed earnestly three times trying to avoid it, but He yielded His will in obedience to His Father. (Philippines 2:8 says; “…he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”). We must have that same “not my will, but thine be done” attitude and incorporate the fruit of meekness into our lives. But in defense of things pertaining to the Kingdom of God against the kingdom of darkness; in defense of what is right against what is wrong and when speaking out against sin, Jesus did not back down from boldly speaking the truth without even hesitating. Meekness includes submitting to the will of God without complaining. A Christian must speak out against what is evil without fear or compromise, but meekness means suffering the personal abuses of man that accompany the doing of God’s will with patience instead of retaliation. With a soft answer rather than harsh words. Not returning as 1 Peter 3:9 says; “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing (insults for insults): but contrariwise blessing…” It means to proclaim the ways of the Kingdom of God, but with humility, patience and forbearance.
I always thought of Moses as a very powerful man (and he was). He had to be, leading thousands upon thousands of Israelites across the desert. What He is most famous for is that, more than any of the prophets, Moses was the Lawgiver. He stood for what was right, and was unafraid to be outspokenly against what was wrong. Yet what does the bible say of Moses? Numbers 12:3 says; “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Meek. Not just meek, but very meek. Not just very meek but “above all the men upon the face of the earth.” Wow. Moses was a very serious, determined individual in his service to God. He heard from God and passed on what God had told him, giving us the Law. He was God’s obedient spokesman. But Moses also had a heart of compassion; often interceding for the Israelites when God was ready to destroy them. Moses did what he had to do, but he also knew that the only way for his people to truly be blessed was to be obedient to the Lord. When people of this very large flock had problems and questions, they didn’t turn a man with a whip; they turned to a man who cared for them and who had answers. And that man was Moses, who would tell them the truth even though the truth might be hard. But the source, the underlying motive for his corrections weren’t out of harshness but out of love and concern for them; as a parent corrects their child. Moses told the Israelites in prophecy (concerning Jesus) “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” (Deuteronomy 18:15). When Jesus came on the scene He said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29). We are supposed to be gentle with people; gentle not just with fellow Christians but gentle with sinners as well. Yet at the same time boldly speaking out against sin. How does a person boldly speak out against sin, yet be gentle? Ephesians 4:15 says; “…speaking the truth in love.” 2 Timothy 2:25 says, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…” and Galatians 6:1 says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness…”.
Meekness means to have compassion, gentleness and kindness when instructing or correcting error. It means tospeak clearly and honestly when opposing sin and declaring what is true, while being non-aggressive and non retaliatory when personally abused, attacked or accused. It means to be submissive and obedient to God’s will and the leading of His Spirit without murmuring or complaining.
John 15:2 - Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:8 - Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Fruit trees are fruit trees long before they bear fruit. Fruit comes after the tree has been planted, then grows and matures to a certain degree before fruit ever appears. Then fruit comes. So it is with fruitful Christians. Even though our carnal nature is instantly changed when we are born again of God’s Spirit, even though we’ve entered into a whole new world and are part of the Kingdom of God; fruit takes time to develop. Fleshly sins and desires of the flesh have melted away, but there remains the need for inward changes that are not so obvious; things concerning integrity, attitudes and character. These are revealed through the fruits of the Spirit, or I could just as easily say the fruits produced in us through following the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. If we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in our all of our ways then the end result will be it’s fruit produced in us. The fruits of the Spirit are listed in Galatians 5; 22 & 23, 1 Timothy 6:11 and 2 Peter 1: 5, and they are; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, righteousness, godliness, patience, virtue and knowledge. “If these things be in you and abound”, says 2 Peter 1:8, “they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
God wants us all to be involved in spreading the gospel in whatever way we can. He wants us to go to those unknowingly lost in the kingdom of darkness and bring them into His kingdom. He calls various people into the ministry and gives gifts of some kind to all of us for the furtherance of His kingdom and to gain the souls of man for Him. To do this we must speak the truth concerning His Word in a world full of deception. But just speaking the truths of God’s word is insufficient. We must be fruitful! “Be fruitful, and multiply” is what God told his creation. Being fruitful is also taught by the Lord in the New Testament and the development of us bearing fruit is one of the main purposes of the indwelling Holy Spirit!
Since it is the fruit that bears the seeds of reproduction, it is only when we bear fruit that we can multiply. Even for God; it’s not His wrath that draws people to Him… it’s His goodness. Romans 2:4 says the “…goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.”
Of the list of fruits of the Spirit, many of us have developed one or more while others are in the process of being developed within us. As I read the list, one the fruits stands out to me; meekness. Admittedly, meekness is not one of my strong points. So this study of meekness is something I’ll have to incorporate into my own life. Sometimes, while trying to relate God’s truths, I come across as being harsh. To avoid conflict then, there are times when I should say something that I instead remain silent; and this isn’t God’s will either. Part of meekness is “being submissive to the will of God” and God wants us to speak. So either way I have difficulty; whether I speak, or whether I don’t. It’s a problem.
Just What is Meekness?
Meekness is defined by several different terms. It means; soft of temper, gentleness, submission to the will of God without complaining. Forbearance. (Forbearance is part of meekness, so just to be sure of it’s meaning, I looked it up). Forbearance: self-control, abstaining from the enforcement of a right, exercising patience and self-restraint when under personal injuries and provocations, to hold back. To wait. To endure the moment. The exercise of patience; long suffering; indulgence towards those who injure us, the delay of resentment or punishment.
We are supposed to be gentle with people; gentle not just with fellow Christians but gentle with sinners as well. Yet at the same time boldly speaking out against sin. How does a person boldly speak out against sin, yet be gentle? Ephesians 4:15 says; “…speaking the truth in love.” 2 Timothy 2:25 says, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…”. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness…”.
How Important is the Fruit of Meekness?
God does lead all those whom He fills with His Spirit, after all, fruit trees are still fruit trees even before they have born fruit, but I am sure there comes a point in time when God expects the results of his leading to produce fruit. We all want to have ‘right thinking’ when it comes to God’s word, we all want to be taught by the leading of the Holy Spirit. How important is meekness? Those who have developed Meekness have these promises;
Psalms 25:9 - The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. Psalms 147:6 - The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. Psalms 149:4 - For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
I am sure none of us want to be on the earth in the days of God’s final wrath. Read Zephaniah 2:3 – Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger.
Example of Meekness
Meekness does not mean weakness. When we are in some way provoked, especially in a serious way, it takes for more strength to ‘turn the other cheek’ to be smitten as well (as Jesus said to do) than it does to do the ‘natural thing’ which is to retaliate. When it comes to personal afflictions, or our daily interactions with others, a Christian is to be as wise as serpents but as harmless as doves. No it’s not how we might want to react, but it is how we are commanded to react out of obedience to Jesus as our Lord. Jesus was obedient too, for He did not want to die on the cross, in fact, He prayed earnestly three times trying to avoid it, but He yielded His will in obedience to His Father. (Philippines 2:8 says; “…he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”). We must have that same “not my will, but thine be done” attitude and incorporate the fruit of meekness into our lives. But in defense of things pertaining to the Kingdom of God against the kingdom of darkness; in defense of what is right against what is wrong and when speaking out against sin, Jesus did not back down from boldly speaking the truth without even hesitating. Meekness includes submitting to the will of God without complaining. A Christian must speak out against what is evil without fear or compromise, but meekness means suffering the personal abuses of man that accompany the doing of God’s will with patience instead of retaliation. With a soft answer rather than harsh words. Not returning as 1 Peter 3:9 says; “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing (insults for insults): but contrariwise blessing…” It means to proclaim the ways of the Kingdom of God, but with humility, patience and forbearance.
I always thought of Moses as a very powerful man (and he was). He had to be, leading thousands upon thousands of Israelites across the desert. What He is most famous for is that, more than any of the prophets, Moses was the Lawgiver. He stood for what was right, and was unafraid to be outspokenly against what was wrong. Yet what does the bible say of Moses? Numbers 12:3 says; “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Meek. Not just meek, but very meek. Not just very meek but “above all the men upon the face of the earth.” Wow. Moses was a very serious, determined individual in his service to God. He heard from God and passed on what God had told him, giving us the Law. He was God’s obedient spokesman. But Moses also had a heart of compassion; often interceding for the Israelites when God was ready to destroy them. Moses did what he had to do, but he also knew that the only way for his people to truly be blessed was to be obedient to the Lord. When people of this very large flock had problems and questions, they didn’t turn a man with a whip; they turned to a man who cared for them and who had answers. And that man was Moses, who would tell them the truth even though the truth might be hard. But the source, the underlying motive for his corrections weren’t out of harshness but out of love and concern for them; as a parent corrects their child. Moses told the Israelites in prophecy (concerning Jesus) “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” (Deuteronomy 18:15). When Jesus came on the scene He said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29). We are supposed to be gentle with people; gentle not just with fellow Christians but gentle with sinners as well. Yet at the same time boldly speaking out against sin. How does a person boldly speak out against sin, yet be gentle? Ephesians 4:15 says; “…speaking the truth in love.” 2 Timothy 2:25 says, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…” and Galatians 6:1 says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness…”.
Meekness means to have compassion, gentleness and kindness when instructing or correcting error. It means tospeak clearly and honestly when opposing sin and declaring what is true, while being non-aggressive and non retaliatory when personally abused, attacked or accused. It means to be submissive and obedient to God’s will and the leading of His Spirit without murmuring or complaining.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Defining "abomination of desolation"
July 2009
The Abomination of Desolation
I was glancing over God’s word recently and came upon Ezekiel chapter 12, verses 21-28.
“And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God. Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying. Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off. Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God.”
God has given many prophecies; many have already been fulfilled, many are being fulfilled, and many will be fulfilled in times to come. Our God is faithful and true and none of His word will return to Him void. All will be done. Some people though, grow impatient and begin to doubt God’s word and sometimes even God himself with the passing of time. Doubting that God will fulfill His word, and a faith in Him that seems to have an expiration date, always makes God angry. Such was the case above in Ezekiel and they were soon destroyed and became captives.
Jesus walked the earth two thousand years ago, and like in the old testament made many promises and prophecies that either have been fulfilled, are being fulfilled, or will be fulfilled. Many people over the years have made it a top priority to understand the prophecies of the end of days as written in the book of Revelation. But just as the passing of time without fulfillment of prophecy caused many in Ezekiel’s day to doubt, so likewise have many in today’s world. Yet even this present day doubting itself is a fulfillment of prophecy!
2 Peter 3: 1-8 explains that people will once again become doubtful when it seems that His judgments are not swift in being fulfilled. People will have the same attitudes as those in Ezekiel’s day, and then goes on to explain that God does not work within the same type of time schedule as man does.
“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
Then in the next verse Peter goes on to explain why God has assigned such a long time span (long in human terms anyway) between the ‘end time prophecies’ and its fulfillment. Verse 9 says;
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
God is waiting, giving each generation time to come to Him. And their children. And their grandchildren. But this ‘waiting time’ is not limitless. God is highly organized in all things including the timing of the endtime prophecies. In order to correctly understand current events in the light of endtime prophecies we have to go back to Genesis 15: 12 and 13. In these verses Abraham was foretold that his descendents would grow in number (even though he had not yet had his first child) and that they would become slaves in the land of Egypt for 400 years.
“And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their's, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;”
Why 400 years? Why not sooner? Why was the nation of Israel being held back?
The answer is in verses 14-16;
“And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.”
The land to where the Israelites would go was to be the land of the Amorties. What was the iniquity of the Amorites? Idolatry, wickedness, witchcraft and the occult. (Deut 9:5 and 18:10-12). 400 years was given to the Amorites to turn from their wickedness. When that time was completed, their time was over. All of those inhabitants of those lands had plenty of time in that 400 years to seek out the true God; if any were to desire the True God it had to have been within that time frame. After that time span then the ‘iniquity of Amorites was full.’ Now we skip through history to the time of Jesus. It was long prophesied, even in the Old Testament, that Jesus would be ‘a light to lighten the Gentiles’ and when the Jews rejected Jesus, because of that rejection, God turned to the Gentiles with His offer of salvation and His invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is the time in which the vineyard was taken away from the ‘wicked husbandmen’ and given to ‘other husbandmen’ (Matthew 21:41 – “They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons”.).
After the fall of Jerusalem and the scattering of its people, the true church, would soon become dominated by Gentiles. This offer, too, was not limitless; it had an expiration; and that expiration would be when “the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Luke 21: 21-24;
“Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
When is that time? What are the signs? Jesus spoke of the final signs, but He also spoke of the signs preceding the final signs. Look at Mark 13: 2- 14;
“2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? 5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. 9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. 12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains…”
Verse 2 through 13 speaks of much turmoil; deception, massive world wars, numerous earthquakes and famines but these are only ‘the beginning of sorrows’. In verse 10 the gospel is published in all nations (hence, to the whole of the gentile world) and many shall be martyred. These things are not the ‘end’ signs, or the ‘fulfillment of the time allotted to the Gentiles.’ The final sign of the fulfillment of the time of the Gentiles, when Jesus says “Flee” occurs in verse 14 when He says; “But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains…”. The end is so close at that time that Jesus went on to say that if you are outside your house, don’t even go inside to get out any last items from your house…just leave!
Now we’re getting to the heart of the matter. The final signs. Jesus referred to the book of Daniel, and specifically where Daniel mentions the “abomination of desolation.” Daniel 11:31 says; ‘And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.” Abomination of Desolation; ever hear of that? Ever hear a sermon or a teaching on it? I’ve heard a couple of preachers making guesses that are laughable, but in order to understand it we must also know what Daniel refers to when he mentions “the taking away of the daily sacrifice” as it applies to the New Testament times in which we live… after all, the end times occur in New Testament times. Bear with me for just a little while; but in order to explain the “abomination of desolation” as Jesus referred to it, or the “abomination that maketh desolate” as Daniel referred to it; I first need to explain the “daily sacrifice” as it pertains to the New Testament era. I will be as brief as possible while still trying to explain it the best I can.
The Daily Sacrifice
As Daniel pointed out in prophecy of the last days (which occurs in the New Testament era), “they shall take away the daily sacrifice.” Jesus was the sacrificial lamb of God who shed His blood for our sins; without which our own atonement with God could not be possible. Most of us know that. But the sacrifices did not stop with Jesus! Let me explain. Scripturally, if we are to be born again, and receive the true born again experience of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit; we come fully repentant before the Lord and commit our lives in complete obedience to Him. We place our will second to His, and fully trust in His care. We die to self, to self will, to the desires of the flesh, and pledge ourselves as disciples of Christ and He becomes our Lord. The lives that we live are no longer ours… but His. This is why the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Cor 5:15; “that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again”.
This is why the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:1 and 2; “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”. It is to be remembered that Jesus did not want to die on the cross, in fact, he besought His Father three times and with very much emotion to find a different way for Him to be sacrificed. But those prayers were followed by “but not my will, but thine be done.” Jesus submitted His will in obedience to the Father. In Philippians 2: 8 Paul wrote of Jesus saying; “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”. The cross is not just the symbol of our Saviour’s sacrifice; it is symbolic of the type of obedience each and every one of us as Christians must have. That’s why Jesus said; “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). Churches today say many things about the cross on Calvary that places all the sacrifice on Jesus and celebrates His obedience… but teach nothing of the personal dedication, submission and obedience of those they supposedly shepherd. When we come to Christ, if we do it in manner that is not only pleasing but the only way that is accepted with God, then we come to the cross and lay down our lives there… that’s our sacrifice. Jesus said in
Mt 16: 24 and 25; “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it”. And that’s why the Apostle Paul said in Gal 2: 20; “I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. No, the sacrifice certainly did not stop with Jesus; in fact, it had just begun. The ‘daily sacrifice’ mentioned by Daniel was to be fulfilled by every person who would come to the Lord century after century ‘until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled’. Many churches today teach and preach a gospel that is not based upon scripture. Their doctrines are based upon hand picked verses the present only partial truths. The presentation of a partial truth, presented as the whole of a truth, makes the conclusion a lie. Preaching both a Jesus and a salvation that is not the full picture as written in the New Testament creates followers that are seriously misled, and are deceived into being worshippers of a Jesus of their own making. Churches today exhort people to just ‘accept the Lord Jesus Christ’ instead of be ‘acceptable to Him’
There is a huge difference! Inline with picking up one’s own cross and following Jesus that today’s churches also stay well away from Hebrew’s 5:9 where it says of Jesus that He is “…the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”. The author of salvation to those that obey Him… salvation is directly linked to obedience to the will of God. Jesus did not say go into all the world and get them to ‘accept me’, no, he said go into all the world teaching them to be obedient to everything that I have commanded you.
Because of the multitudes of seekers who have been deceived by false doctrines, the true salvation and the real born again experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, through repentance and the holiness of commitment and obedience, is becoming a rare event. The ‘daily sacrifices’ have not stopped altogether but they have been greatly diminished.
Back to Daniel 11:31
“And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate”
But Daniel says the daily sacrifice will be ‘taken away’ (not just diminished). The final end of the daily sacrifice will not come through heresy or perverted doctrines, and it won’t be totally ended voluntarily… it will be taken. It will be taken away because they placed the abomination that maketh desolate. That part of the sentence sounds like bad English doesn’t it? “They placed the abomination that maketh desolate” leaves a person wondering… placed what? Where? But the word ‘placed’ is a verb, and it means ‘to put into position’, to ‘set in place’ such as when a law is passed and made to take effect. So, at the end times, they will put into position the abomination that makes desolate. And what is desolation? To be desolate is to be barren, destitute, completely alone, lost, wretched, totally cheerless and without hope.
True desolation is a life without the presence of God. What will make people desolate in the end times, will be the abomination (a law placed in effect) that illegalizes God’s word and Christianity. This statement just made in the previous sentence is not just a possible methaphor of the meaning of Daniel 11:31… it is what means. This is what will ‘take away the daily sacrifice’. This coming law, which legally takes away the spread of Christianity thereby ending the daily sacrifice is an abomination to God, and it most certainly will leave desolate the souls of man, and removes the ‘salt of the earth’ which makes the earth of no further value to it’s Creator. As in the days of Noah wherein all man was wicked… so shall such widespread wickedness be again.
Thirty-one years ago God gave me this understanding. Thirty-one years ago Islam had not begun it’s massive spread into Europe or into many other nations of the world as they are now. Terrorism was unknown. Islamic nations had not begun their push for world domination. America still considered herself to be a Christian nation not by law but by popular opinion of it’s citizens. Fundamentalist Christianity was still highly revered and proudly proclaimed as the only true religion. Christmas was still honored as such, with store displays, courtroom depictions of scriptures and the cross, and public areas and buildings embraced the icons of the Judean-Christian faith. Thirty-one years ago the ecumenical movement, conceived in an attempt to combine all faiths into unity by abandoning their doctrines (even their God-given truths) in order to become one, was still in it’s infancy stages.
At this time is when God revealed to me the understanding of Daniel 11-31-35 and Mark 13: 2-14. Of course, I was not well received when I spoke of this with others. But since that time I have watched as Christianity in America and the rest of the Christian world became under attack. Laws were passed not only forbidding prayer in schools but the forbidding of teaching anything from the Bible as well. Bibles themselves became banned. Judean-Christian symbols were fought against and removed from many public places. Many stores refuse to make references to Christ’s birth at the now called ‘holiday season’ we still call Christmas.The weakening effect on Christianity by the ecumenical movement and it’s own apathy is leading to the onslaught and eventual takover by Islam. Efforts by Islamics to vilify any criticism of their terrorizing religion have led to laws that are contrary to scripture which commands Christians to speak out against false doctrines and false prophets. As Islam rises to power in the world, the homosexual movement has also led movements against scripture by making laws forbidding the use of scripture to speak out against homosexuality. Laws against scripture are being passed while Islam is fighting it’s way into the public school system to indoctrinate the nations children in the teachings of Muhammad. Bible believing Christians are even being looked down upon and sneered at by ‘modern’ Christians who have been deceived and taken in by the ecumenical movement. “Modern” Christians, Islamics and homosexuals combined continue their efforts to criminalize Bible believing Christians. In nations where Islam is more in control, Christians are not just harassed or jailed but tortured and killed. These things are not just happening in ‘other countries’ but in many areas even in the United States Christians are harassed and even jailed simply for speaking their bible based beliefs openly. As Islam takes control (which they are certainly doing at a rapid pace) we will see more worldwide persecution of Christians and such persecutions will be spreading throughout north America.
The eventual passing of laws forbidding God’s word and Christianity, which will surely come to pass, will mark the end of the ‘times of the Gentiles’ and those days will then be fulfilled. Although the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abominable law that causes desolation shall be placed into effect…look at the verses following Daniel 11:31. Daniel 11:32-35 say that the Christians who do know their God (i.e.; the real, born again spirit-filled Christians) shall be strong! We will do exploits (continuing to speak God’s Word with power and the authority of scripture) and shall teach others. As we do we shall be killed or imprisoned but without fear or compromise. We shall suffer the persecution of the first Christians. These prophecies are coming into view now on the horizon as the world heads into it’s very near future.
See Daniel 11:31-35;
31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
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The Abomination of Desolation
I was glancing over God’s word recently and came upon Ezekiel chapter 12, verses 21-28.
“And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God. Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying. Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off. Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God.”
God has given many prophecies; many have already been fulfilled, many are being fulfilled, and many will be fulfilled in times to come. Our God is faithful and true and none of His word will return to Him void. All will be done. Some people though, grow impatient and begin to doubt God’s word and sometimes even God himself with the passing of time. Doubting that God will fulfill His word, and a faith in Him that seems to have an expiration date, always makes God angry. Such was the case above in Ezekiel and they were soon destroyed and became captives.
Jesus walked the earth two thousand years ago, and like in the old testament made many promises and prophecies that either have been fulfilled, are being fulfilled, or will be fulfilled. Many people over the years have made it a top priority to understand the prophecies of the end of days as written in the book of Revelation. But just as the passing of time without fulfillment of prophecy caused many in Ezekiel’s day to doubt, so likewise have many in today’s world. Yet even this present day doubting itself is a fulfillment of prophecy!
2 Peter 3: 1-8 explains that people will once again become doubtful when it seems that His judgments are not swift in being fulfilled. People will have the same attitudes as those in Ezekiel’s day, and then goes on to explain that God does not work within the same type of time schedule as man does.
“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
Then in the next verse Peter goes on to explain why God has assigned such a long time span (long in human terms anyway) between the ‘end time prophecies’ and its fulfillment. Verse 9 says;
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
God is waiting, giving each generation time to come to Him. And their children. And their grandchildren. But this ‘waiting time’ is not limitless. God is highly organized in all things including the timing of the endtime prophecies. In order to correctly understand current events in the light of endtime prophecies we have to go back to Genesis 15: 12 and 13. In these verses Abraham was foretold that his descendents would grow in number (even though he had not yet had his first child) and that they would become slaves in the land of Egypt for 400 years.
“And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their's, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;”
Why 400 years? Why not sooner? Why was the nation of Israel being held back?
The answer is in verses 14-16;
“And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.”
The land to where the Israelites would go was to be the land of the Amorties. What was the iniquity of the Amorites? Idolatry, wickedness, witchcraft and the occult. (Deut 9:5 and 18:10-12). 400 years was given to the Amorites to turn from their wickedness. When that time was completed, their time was over. All of those inhabitants of those lands had plenty of time in that 400 years to seek out the true God; if any were to desire the True God it had to have been within that time frame. After that time span then the ‘iniquity of Amorites was full.’ Now we skip through history to the time of Jesus. It was long prophesied, even in the Old Testament, that Jesus would be ‘a light to lighten the Gentiles’ and when the Jews rejected Jesus, because of that rejection, God turned to the Gentiles with His offer of salvation and His invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is the time in which the vineyard was taken away from the ‘wicked husbandmen’ and given to ‘other husbandmen’ (Matthew 21:41 – “They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons”.).
After the fall of Jerusalem and the scattering of its people, the true church, would soon become dominated by Gentiles. This offer, too, was not limitless; it had an expiration; and that expiration would be when “the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Luke 21: 21-24;
“Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”
When is that time? What are the signs? Jesus spoke of the final signs, but He also spoke of the signs preceding the final signs. Look at Mark 13: 2- 14;
“2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? 5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: 6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. 8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. 9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. 12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains…”
Verse 2 through 13 speaks of much turmoil; deception, massive world wars, numerous earthquakes and famines but these are only ‘the beginning of sorrows’. In verse 10 the gospel is published in all nations (hence, to the whole of the gentile world) and many shall be martyred. These things are not the ‘end’ signs, or the ‘fulfillment of the time allotted to the Gentiles.’ The final sign of the fulfillment of the time of the Gentiles, when Jesus says “Flee” occurs in verse 14 when He says; “But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains…”. The end is so close at that time that Jesus went on to say that if you are outside your house, don’t even go inside to get out any last items from your house…just leave!
Now we’re getting to the heart of the matter. The final signs. Jesus referred to the book of Daniel, and specifically where Daniel mentions the “abomination of desolation.” Daniel 11:31 says; ‘And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.” Abomination of Desolation; ever hear of that? Ever hear a sermon or a teaching on it? I’ve heard a couple of preachers making guesses that are laughable, but in order to understand it we must also know what Daniel refers to when he mentions “the taking away of the daily sacrifice” as it applies to the New Testament times in which we live… after all, the end times occur in New Testament times. Bear with me for just a little while; but in order to explain the “abomination of desolation” as Jesus referred to it, or the “abomination that maketh desolate” as Daniel referred to it; I first need to explain the “daily sacrifice” as it pertains to the New Testament era. I will be as brief as possible while still trying to explain it the best I can.
The Daily Sacrifice
As Daniel pointed out in prophecy of the last days (which occurs in the New Testament era), “they shall take away the daily sacrifice.” Jesus was the sacrificial lamb of God who shed His blood for our sins; without which our own atonement with God could not be possible. Most of us know that. But the sacrifices did not stop with Jesus! Let me explain. Scripturally, if we are to be born again, and receive the true born again experience of receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit; we come fully repentant before the Lord and commit our lives in complete obedience to Him. We place our will second to His, and fully trust in His care. We die to self, to self will, to the desires of the flesh, and pledge ourselves as disciples of Christ and He becomes our Lord. The lives that we live are no longer ours… but His. This is why the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Cor 5:15; “that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again”.
This is why the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:1 and 2; “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”. It is to be remembered that Jesus did not want to die on the cross, in fact, he besought His Father three times and with very much emotion to find a different way for Him to be sacrificed. But those prayers were followed by “but not my will, but thine be done.” Jesus submitted His will in obedience to the Father. In Philippians 2: 8 Paul wrote of Jesus saying; “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”. The cross is not just the symbol of our Saviour’s sacrifice; it is symbolic of the type of obedience each and every one of us as Christians must have. That’s why Jesus said; “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). Churches today say many things about the cross on Calvary that places all the sacrifice on Jesus and celebrates His obedience… but teach nothing of the personal dedication, submission and obedience of those they supposedly shepherd. When we come to Christ, if we do it in manner that is not only pleasing but the only way that is accepted with God, then we come to the cross and lay down our lives there… that’s our sacrifice. Jesus said in
Mt 16: 24 and 25; “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it”. And that’s why the Apostle Paul said in Gal 2: 20; “I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. No, the sacrifice certainly did not stop with Jesus; in fact, it had just begun. The ‘daily sacrifice’ mentioned by Daniel was to be fulfilled by every person who would come to the Lord century after century ‘until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled’. Many churches today teach and preach a gospel that is not based upon scripture. Their doctrines are based upon hand picked verses the present only partial truths. The presentation of a partial truth, presented as the whole of a truth, makes the conclusion a lie. Preaching both a Jesus and a salvation that is not the full picture as written in the New Testament creates followers that are seriously misled, and are deceived into being worshippers of a Jesus of their own making. Churches today exhort people to just ‘accept the Lord Jesus Christ’ instead of be ‘acceptable to Him’
There is a huge difference! Inline with picking up one’s own cross and following Jesus that today’s churches also stay well away from Hebrew’s 5:9 where it says of Jesus that He is “…the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”. The author of salvation to those that obey Him… salvation is directly linked to obedience to the will of God. Jesus did not say go into all the world and get them to ‘accept me’, no, he said go into all the world teaching them to be obedient to everything that I have commanded you.
Because of the multitudes of seekers who have been deceived by false doctrines, the true salvation and the real born again experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, through repentance and the holiness of commitment and obedience, is becoming a rare event. The ‘daily sacrifices’ have not stopped altogether but they have been greatly diminished.
Back to Daniel 11:31
“And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate”
But Daniel says the daily sacrifice will be ‘taken away’ (not just diminished). The final end of the daily sacrifice will not come through heresy or perverted doctrines, and it won’t be totally ended voluntarily… it will be taken. It will be taken away because they placed the abomination that maketh desolate. That part of the sentence sounds like bad English doesn’t it? “They placed the abomination that maketh desolate” leaves a person wondering… placed what? Where? But the word ‘placed’ is a verb, and it means ‘to put into position’, to ‘set in place’ such as when a law is passed and made to take effect. So, at the end times, they will put into position the abomination that makes desolate. And what is desolation? To be desolate is to be barren, destitute, completely alone, lost, wretched, totally cheerless and without hope.
True desolation is a life without the presence of God. What will make people desolate in the end times, will be the abomination (a law placed in effect) that illegalizes God’s word and Christianity. This statement just made in the previous sentence is not just a possible methaphor of the meaning of Daniel 11:31… it is what means. This is what will ‘take away the daily sacrifice’. This coming law, which legally takes away the spread of Christianity thereby ending the daily sacrifice is an abomination to God, and it most certainly will leave desolate the souls of man, and removes the ‘salt of the earth’ which makes the earth of no further value to it’s Creator. As in the days of Noah wherein all man was wicked… so shall such widespread wickedness be again.
Thirty-one years ago God gave me this understanding. Thirty-one years ago Islam had not begun it’s massive spread into Europe or into many other nations of the world as they are now. Terrorism was unknown. Islamic nations had not begun their push for world domination. America still considered herself to be a Christian nation not by law but by popular opinion of it’s citizens. Fundamentalist Christianity was still highly revered and proudly proclaimed as the only true religion. Christmas was still honored as such, with store displays, courtroom depictions of scriptures and the cross, and public areas and buildings embraced the icons of the Judean-Christian faith. Thirty-one years ago the ecumenical movement, conceived in an attempt to combine all faiths into unity by abandoning their doctrines (even their God-given truths) in order to become one, was still in it’s infancy stages.
At this time is when God revealed to me the understanding of Daniel 11-31-35 and Mark 13: 2-14. Of course, I was not well received when I spoke of this with others. But since that time I have watched as Christianity in America and the rest of the Christian world became under attack. Laws were passed not only forbidding prayer in schools but the forbidding of teaching anything from the Bible as well. Bibles themselves became banned. Judean-Christian symbols were fought against and removed from many public places. Many stores refuse to make references to Christ’s birth at the now called ‘holiday season’ we still call Christmas.The weakening effect on Christianity by the ecumenical movement and it’s own apathy is leading to the onslaught and eventual takover by Islam. Efforts by Islamics to vilify any criticism of their terrorizing religion have led to laws that are contrary to scripture which commands Christians to speak out against false doctrines and false prophets. As Islam rises to power in the world, the homosexual movement has also led movements against scripture by making laws forbidding the use of scripture to speak out against homosexuality. Laws against scripture are being passed while Islam is fighting it’s way into the public school system to indoctrinate the nations children in the teachings of Muhammad. Bible believing Christians are even being looked down upon and sneered at by ‘modern’ Christians who have been deceived and taken in by the ecumenical movement. “Modern” Christians, Islamics and homosexuals combined continue their efforts to criminalize Bible believing Christians. In nations where Islam is more in control, Christians are not just harassed or jailed but tortured and killed. These things are not just happening in ‘other countries’ but in many areas even in the United States Christians are harassed and even jailed simply for speaking their bible based beliefs openly. As Islam takes control (which they are certainly doing at a rapid pace) we will see more worldwide persecution of Christians and such persecutions will be spreading throughout north America.
The eventual passing of laws forbidding God’s word and Christianity, which will surely come to pass, will mark the end of the ‘times of the Gentiles’ and those days will then be fulfilled. Although the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abominable law that causes desolation shall be placed into effect…look at the verses following Daniel 11:31. Daniel 11:32-35 say that the Christians who do know their God (i.e.; the real, born again spirit-filled Christians) shall be strong! We will do exploits (continuing to speak God’s Word with power and the authority of scripture) and shall teach others. As we do we shall be killed or imprisoned but without fear or compromise. We shall suffer the persecution of the first Christians. These prophecies are coming into view now on the horizon as the world heads into it’s very near future.
See Daniel 11:31-35;
31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
Feel free to contact:
steve32646@msn.com
Monday, July 6, 2009
What Happened?!
What Happened to America?
(note: anytime a quoted scripture is emphasized by bold, italic or underlined type, such emphasis is added by the author to draw attention to those words).
Born in 1946, becoming a teenager prior to 1960, I well remember a different America than the one I now live in. America was once strong; economically, productively, industrially, medically, morally and most of all spiritually. People corrected children, even if those children were not their own. God’s word was still honored in school classrooms and the average American not only had a keen sense of right and wrong according to scripture but wanted to do what was right. National pride was high concerning the character and integrity of the nation as a whole. Militarily we were the undisputed world power. Financially the American dollar was as strong as gold and just as desired in the world as gold itself; because our currency was based on and backed by gold itself.
Today, our economy is falling to new lows, as well as our job losses, our productivity, our industrial strength and our effective military power are all down in the world. Our currency, no longer backed by tangible gold has lost its true value and rises and falls as quickly as any third world country. The integrity and character of the average American has plummeted as well. The fundamentals of Christianity are being attacked by many of those people who continue to call themselves ‘Christians’. Conspiracies to undermine Christianity and democracy abound, not only in government by elected officials but by so-called ‘modern evangelicals’ as well. There have been a lot of laws lately that severely limit free speech, especially ‘Christian speech’. While Christianity has come under attack, Islam is on the rise in both numbers and political power. Those same laws and hindrances that are negatively affecting Christianity don’t seem to apply to Islam in this country. Political leaders and Supreme Court justices continue to re-write even our true history of the founding of the nation and try to deny our Christian beginnings and purpose. A purpose and a beginning that was to promote and spread Christianity to the world. By constantly re-defining the laws of the constitution to suit their purposes, the same laws that once protected Christianity are now re-interpreted in order to take those protections away. I ask you, “What or who has more power; the constitution of country… or those whose job it is to ‘interpret’ those constitutional laws and tell us what they mean?” The answer is obvious. Did you know that the early colonies/states had all passed laws that a person could not even hold public office unless he was a Christian? All of the founding fathers were devout Christians prior to their rise of stature on the national scene. (Although Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine and Tom Jefferson eventually fell away from their original beliefs and wrote and spoke accordingly).
Some years after His ascension, Jesus spoke to John, giving him a message to give to the churches of that day. It was not world governments that he rebuked. He did not address the inadequacies of mans kingdoms whether it was by kings or emperors. He didn’t address slavery. He wasn’t concerned with socialism, democracy, communism or any other form of human government. He was concerned with those that called themselves His; the church, and those are the ones He rebuked. After all, God’s people, even the countries they live in, are blessed or cursed not because of their governments, but in relationship to his people’s obedience to His word. A quick look at Deuteronomy 28 tells us that. To reinforce that understanding we have but to look at 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says; “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” God places a lot of importance in the obedience of His people! America began, even through the hardships, in an atmosphere of revival, and was blessed because of it. Our forefathers had Christian values that they lived by due to their commitment to the Lord and to His word. . They not only lived by values based on God’s word because they understood God’s precepts, they also understood the consequences of not living by them. They were blessed because of it, and brought the Lord’s blessing upon the country in which they lived.
The other day I was thinking about what America used to be, even the America that I was born into in 1946 and was raised in. It was such a different America! I had to ask; “What happened! How did it get this way!” Oh I know about some of the conspiracies of ecumenism, the new world order, a one-world church etc. I had been made aware of these things over 30 years ago and I have been paying attention and watching those prophecies come into being ever since. But ‘what’ is happening is not the same as ‘how’ these things came to be. What is happening is only a result of what took place in our society that allowed these things to come into being. So when I ask “What happened!” I’m referring to those things, foundational things, that led to the changes we see in America today. That led to the conspiracies we see taking place and are gaining much strength in today’s America. So I questioned ‘what happened’ and after some thought, I let it go. A few days later that question was fully out of my mind as my wife and I were vacationing in Yellowstone National Park, and while there, the Lord woke me up at 3:30 in the morning on June 2nd, 2009 and answered my question.
Generally speaking, the generations of nineteen hundreds taught their children God’s word, but without enough explanation to make God’s word make sense to them. It was God’s word without teaching the blessings for obedience or the consequences of disobedience. They taught God’s word, but without understanding. Proverbs 4:7 advises us that “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding
Many parents thought that their teaching of God’s word was to be accepted simply on their authority as ‘parents’ and therefore no explanation was necessary. If a child asked them for explanation, a common response of the parent was ‘because I said so.’ People were told what was right and what was wrong; without understanding ‘why’ or what their level of commitment should be, or the true consequences of not adhering to them, such knowledge becomes just a set of restricting laws. People tired of thorough and sound teaching, had no time for the studying of God’s word, and had an attitude of ‘just get to the bottom line.’ I’ve noticed that in today’s world, when someone does ask a question concerning God’s word they usually want a less-than-one-minute or a one-sentence answer; such answers are never that simple. Without understanding foundational truths themselves, they in turn gave their children little understanding of God’s word. Today’s churches are even further abbreviated, reducing the beautiful truths of God’s word to simple ‘catch phrases’ and cliché’s instead of teaching the doctrines of the first Christians. Because in-depth understandings of bible doctrines are not taught by the church, parents simply tell their children to ‘just say no’ to what is wrong. It is no wonder that when they hear the rights and wrongs of the Christian faith, they throw them out the window. Teaching the moral ethics of Christianity, without the foundation of an inward knowledge of Christ, commitment to Him and a transformed heart, will result in failure. Only the born again experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit can transform. Romans 12:2 says; “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Scripture tells us to not be “conformed” (an act of the will) “but be ye transformed” (the act of changed thinking). You can be a subscriber to Christian values and not be a Christian. True Christian values are more than Christian ethics; values start with God’s word and valuing His word enough to commit yourself, your life, in obedience to Him. You cannot be a Christian otherwise.
The Lord reminded me of several things, in His answer to my question of “What happened to America.” One of them was this; They did not value what they had. Not enough to stand up for it, not enough to hold to what they had been given or to do what they had been commanded to do. People stopped giving their children (the next generation of leaders) and their children’s children a foundational understanding of God’s word. Instead they were taught bible stories and scripture memorization. This set the stage for later lack of Godly reasoning when their beliefs would be challenged; and soldiers that are ill-equipped do not stand against a well-armed enemy. Later when secular humanism invaded modern day philosophies and launched attacks on the public school system, the general public lacked enough commitment or voice to override the attacks. They had stopped valuing their faith, having little understanding of it. The Bible, a long held mainstay of education, wisdom, moral ethics and behavior was taken out of public education by law. Later, all things that even stood for Christianity, Christian symbols etc would likewise come under attack as well as Christian holidays and even limiting the right of the people to speak of Christian ethics. America had become a Christian nation only in the minds of those ignorant of the reality around them. I think back to the prophet Daniel when he was ordered not to pray to His God but only to the king (Daniel Chapter 6). He had two choices; obey an ungodly law, or be thrown to the lions. He chose the lions. When it came time to pray, he still prayed to his God; the God of Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus could have saved himself, but in obedience to the will of His Father, he chose the cross. The apostles were severely beaten and commanded not to teach of Jesus; they taught anyway. Many, many martyrs of the Christian faith who spoke Gods truths were told they could save themselves if they would just stop their opposition to the false doctrines of their day; but they continued to speak, thereby choosing death by fire, and sword, starvation or other tortures. Where was this kind of Christianity in America when Christians were ordered not to bring their bibles to school? Where was Christian fortitude and courage when laws were made to ban the mention of Christ at public functions? The guidelines of scripture, and the acts of Christian leaders are quite clear: when laws oppose the mandates of scripture… choose scripture. There should be no question. There should be no excuses. God’s not interested in excuses, He’s interested in whether or not they who claim to love Him will be obedient no matter what the cost. When the public school system denounced the authority of God and His word and began in earnest teaching humanistic ideologies and evolution, there was no mass exodus of Christians into home schools or church run schools. People continue to send their children to a public school system which teaches things in opposition to God’s word. People live in fear of speaking their beliefs openly. Speak them anyway! You could lose you job? Our Christian leaders lost their lives, yet they willingly did so! In the first century church, there were thousands upon thousands of followers of Christ who could have been spared cruel deaths by doing one simple thing; “just say Caesar is Lord”. They took their faith, their actions and the words of their mouths seriously and would not even say the words ‘Caesar is Lord’ to save their own lives. Men, women and children alike saw their loved ones killed and died themselves with one thing on their lips; “Jesus is Lord!” Their were times in history when all Christians had to do to save themselves was to declare the reigning ruler as king; again, all they would say is “we have no king but Jesus!’ even if it meant their lives. I marvel at how quickly and easily today’s ‘Christians’ speak God’s word yet have not the conviction to stand behind scripture when in comes to taking it seriously enough to actually live by it! When man’s laws are contrary to God’s laws the answer should be simple: obey God’s word. I’ll say again the Lords answer to my question: “What happened to America!”
“They did not value what they had. Not enough to stand up for it, not enough to hold to what they had been given or to do what they had been commanded to do.”
Part 2
When a partial, or incomplete truth,
is taught as the whole truth…
it becomes a lie.
Today, due to the long lack of in-depth bible study and teaching, many of the original doctrines of the early church are being totally ignored (even though they are written in Scripture) and therefore unknown to the vast majority of those who profess to be Christians. What’s been happening in America, and in many nations where there was once a strong Christian influence has resulted in the reducing of biblicall doctrines that were based upon the full gospel, to catch phrases and cliché’s that only give partial truths.
When a partial, or incomplete truth, as taught as the whole truth… it becomes a lie.
Cherry pie has many ingredients to make it a cherry pie. One of the those ingredients is flour. If someone gave you flour, and told you it was a cherry pie, you wouldn’t believe it. Because you know what a cherry pie should look and taste like. But if you didn’t know what a cherry pie was, had never tasted it or saw a picture of it, you’d probably accept that single ingredient as the whole pie. In this case, flour is flour, and the flour of course is real and true; what makes it false is that it is not the whole pie. This leads me to the second part of the answer I was given to what happened to America;
“They were taught too much on a perverted understanding of ‘saved by grace’
instead of the reality that sin has consequences.”
The concept of ‘saved by grace’is based upon Ephesians 2:8. Like the flour in the pie, the scripture is true; but grace is only a ‘partial’ ingredient in the pie of salvation. Reducing the whole of the bible doctrine of salvation, to salvation being purely a matter of ‘saved by grace’ makes it a lie.
GRACE
(The misunderstanding of Ephesians 2:8)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Many, many churches teach these passages of text…but the corruption of this verse is one of understanding, or should I say, misunderstanding. Their so called ‘plan of salvation’ stops right there, with grace. I’ve heard it time and time again; “Well, we’re all sinners, saved by grace…there’s nothing more to be done brother, Jesus paid it all, praise God…..just accept it.” Those that teach and preach that we are saved by grace and grace alone (with that being the end of story…) are who Jude wrote about in his New Testament letter. These are men who through their false teaching actually give license to sin by their acceptance of the “well, we’re all sinners after all…saved by grace” attitude, while at the same time failing to teach the consequences of sin within the ‘believer.’
In the epistle of St. Jude, he warns:
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Genesis chapter 6 verse 8 it says that Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord. The whole world was found to be in sin…but Noah found grace in God’s sight. Grace, here, means ‘favor.’ Did grace save Noah? No. It was God’s grace that showed Noah the plan for his salvation from the coming wrath. It was God’s grace, the showing of God’s favor for Noah…that God told Noah to build the ark. Noah then, believed God (faith), which resulted in his putting that faith into action (works) by doing what God said to do! Grace, and faith resulting in taking the correct course of action (building the ark) saved Noah and his family. Noah still had to build the ark…amidst all the doubters. Noah, because of God’s grace, was given a way out. But it didn’t end there. Noah had to act upon that grace, Noah had to believe God (faith), build the ark and then get in it! Would grace alone have saved Noah? No. Would faith that God would do what he said he would do save Noah? No. Noah had to act upon that grace, act upon that faith, and build the ark. It was Noah’s obedience to that grace, that plan of salvation, that saved Noah. In the days of Sodom, Lot found grace also in the sight of the Lord ( Genesis chapter 19). Divine favor, for Lot, brought the plan of salvation to Lot…and told Lot to ‘get out of town!’ Did grace save Lot? No. That grace had to be acted upon. Grace, followed by a faith that resulted in obedience…saved Lot. His wife was under the same grace…the same faith, but without obedience she perished.
In Titus 2:11, the Apostle Paul writes:
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”
Grace itself is not salvation…grace brings salvation.
Grace, brought God’s plan of salvation for all mankind, to man. In the verse we just read, it also says this grace appeared to all men, but are all men saved? No, of course not, but the plan is for all men.
Grace brought the plan. Grace… unmerited favor, meaning that man himself did nothing to deserve this plan of salvation from God. God’s grace is not given because of good works… lest any man should boast. It is purely the grace of God. Grace is a gift of God to undeserving man. Grace brought the plan, but grace is not the plan itself! Always, in the old and new testament, grace brings a way out of our sins, out of our shortcomings, but such grace must be followed on our part by faith, resulting in taking the proper action. Just like it did for Noah and Lot.
Were salvation a matter of grace alone…we could literally throw out the rest of the bible (which, doctrinally, most churches today do!!) There would be no need to overcome sin…as it says in Revelation 3:5;
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.”
Did you catch that? These people Jesus was referring to were already in the book of life…yet they would be blotted out of that book if they didn’t overcome (sin). Did Jesus say, “Oh, well, you’re under grace now…come on into my heaven?” No.
In the verse below, we wouldn’t be required to bear fruit would we? Not if grace were the ‘end of the story’. Luke 13:9 says;
“And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”
Cut down? Wait a minute. It’s already a branch then…did grace alone save this unfruitful branch? No. And why bother being salt of the earth, if grace was all inclusive?
Luke 14:34 says:
“Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
The following passages of text…are not written to the non-believers, but to the church. They speak of ‘staying the course’ of a Christian life, of not backsliding, but what they do not do is give license to sin…they do NOT say, “well, if you sin it’s okay, we’re all saved by grace.” Let me say here and now…that those same preachers that promote lasciviousness (license to sin) because of grace are also the first ones to point out their own brand of corruption of the verse found in Romans 3:23:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”
But this verse refers to “all men”…it is prior to the salvation commitment and experience. It refers to those who claim not to need a saviour because they have not sinned. These so-called ministers of the gospel want to include all, both in and out of the body of Christ, sinner and Christian alike…as sinners (but we‘ve already covered the truth of Romans 3:23). Once again, this violates all scriptures pertaining to holiness, godliness, overcoming the world and all of the guidelines for living for God in a manner that is pleasing to Him.
Other verses pertaining to the impossibility of ‘grace alone’ being all that is necessary for salvation…or for that matter the whole concept that some churches have about ‘once a person is saved that they cannot lose their salvation”:
John 15:6 “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (Clue; you cannot be ‘cast forth as a branch’ unless you were already a branch... Author).
Romans 11:21; “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.”
Romans 11:22 “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”
Romans 8:13 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”(Note: Paul was writing to the church at Rome, and they were part of that church because they had become Spirit filled Christians…author).
1 Corinthians 15:2; “By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.”
Salvation…a life-long journey… If… If… If…
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
1 Thessalonians 3:8 “For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.”
Hebrews 3:14 “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;”
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him”.
The prophet Jeremiah was told to go and deliver a message from God to those who, like so many self-professing Christians in today’s world, thought that since “God was on their side” (or so they wanted to think) that they could live any way they desired to and that God would still be pleased with them. Jeremiah Chapter 7, verses 8-10 says:
“Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and wear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered (saved) to do all these abominations?”
How totally ridiculous…and yet the Apostle Paul faced the same thing! Look what he wrote to the roman believers, in his letter, chapter 6: 15-16;:
“What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” (In other words, NO!).
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
And look at the last part, of the above sentence, “his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death”…it’s almost a re-statement of ‘the wages of sin is death”…and once again, it’s written to the CHURCH. The wages of sin, is death. It’s written to the believer. Paul is saying, “grace won’t cover you.”
Okay, I have to say it again; grace, in itself, is not salvation, grace brought the plan of salvation. Titus 2:11 says;
“for the grace of God that bringeth salvation…”
That plan, first of all must be believed (faith), resulting in the fulfillment of that plan (salvation). Millions of people, are deceived by the doctrine of salvation based solely on ‘grace’. They have been lied to by a false doctrine and those that teach it. A false doctrine based upon a corruption of truth. They cling to the idea of ‘grace alone’ and go about their lives in blissful ignorance. But on the Day of Judgment, however, ‘grace’ alone won’t go very far…Jesus said, in Matthew 7:21-23;
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
The people in the above text that came to Jesus thought they had been following Him, but they had been deceived. They prayed to Him, and prayed in His name. They were ‘believers’, and cast out devils in His name.
They did many wonderful works in His name. They had put forth effort, prayer, and in doing many wonderful works probably spent a lot of money.
Jesus said MANY would come to Him on the Day of Judgment, and make these statements…and the statements would be true. Jesus didn’t call them liars and He didn’t deny the statements. (Gee, what about grace?). Jesus simply said he never knew them, commanded them to depart (guess where they went?) and called them workers of iniquity (sin).
Never forget what Paul wrote in Hebrews 5:9 that Jesus became “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”
Again; when a partial, or incomplete truth is taught as the whole truth…it becomes a lie.
The corruption of understanding of Ephesians 2:8 is not the only example of a partial truth taught as a singular complete truth. Another example of error is what is taught to people seeking salvation or bible guidelines of how to be saved. How awful it is to teach, sincere seeking people, lies about the most serious of all questions a person could ask. Most of today’s churches tell would be inquisitors; “Accept the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” This is a lie, and I am more than slightly irritated every time I hear this misleading statement. I will give one thousand dollars cash to anyone who can show me that statement in God’s word. The tragedy of this statement is that, if someone believes it, they have a false sense of security and are just as unsaved as they ever were.
“Accept the Lord Jesus Christ and you’ll be saved” or “Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior” are abbreviated summarizations of certain theological beliefs. It is man’s teaching, not God’s word and therefore God is not bound to it. In these statements,
there is nothing for the would-be seeker to do other than give a proclamation that you have ‘accepted Christ’. This is completely contrary to scripture, which says that it is not we who accept Christ…but it is we who have to be found acceptable to Him! Romans 12:1 says; “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
It is not that we accept Him, but it is we who must be found acceptable! This changes everything! Now there is something a seeker must actually do. He must make himself ‘acceptable’.
This is contrary to another unscriptural ‘churchy’ slogan; “come as you are”. This slogan is not from scripture, not even a paraphrase from scripture or based in any way on scripture; it is a slogan based upon a church hymn “O Lamb of God I Come.”
Most churches that teach the two fallacies of just come as you are and accept Christ and you’ll be saved often reassure their unfulfilled converts by giving them yet another scripture that is also a ‘partial ingredient’ in salvation’s plan that is taught as complete truth in itself. John 6:37; “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Again, the scripture is true; just incomplete. It’s one ingredient but not the whole pie. The implication to the inquisitor, when this verse is given as a ‘whole truth’ without mentioning other pertaining verses is simply that if you come to him you’re accepted. These three single ingredients are often given together;
come to the Lord as you are, accept Him, and He won’t cast you away. Put together, they are a bit more powerful but they are still not the whole pie! When we come to the Lord for salvation, there is a defined way to come to Him. There is only one way to come to God; repenting. Jesus said in Luke 13:3; “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” This statement is a main ingredient in the pie of salvation. There is no mention of ‘just accept the Lord’ here, or ‘come as you are’! It defines ‘how’ a person is to ‘come to the Lord’. Repenting. This is also spoken by the Apostle Peter when onlookers both saw and heard the followers of Jesus receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost in Acts 2:38. The onlookers asked Peter what they should do and first thing Peter told them to do was to repent. Repentance is what John the Baptist taught as he preached make straight the path for the Lord. The preparation for receiving the Lord will always be repentance. Don’t ‘come as you are’ with a ‘this is how I am, take it or leave it attitude’!
Come repenting. Come not only confessing your sins but seeking forgiveness for them.
Repenting means to ‘turn away from’ so come ready not only to confess your sins and seek forgiveness but with an intense desire to turn away from them. A person coming to the Lord must intensely desire to stop living life for themselves and begin living in a way pleasing to God. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says; “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” Most churches today don’t seem to teach that. They want to teach Jesus as their savior without teaching them what it means to receive Him as their ‘Lord’. To receive Him as your Lord means as the ‘one you obey.’ If Jesus is your Lord, then you are His servant. Jesus is ‘Lord and Savior;’ so if He is not your Lord then neither is He your Savior.
Most churches teach that if you seek Him you will find Him as it says in Matthew 7:8; “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened”. Once again the verse is true; but incomplete. Other verses define ‘how’ to seek Him in order to be successful in finding Him. “And ye shall seek me, and find me” says Jeremiah 29:13, “when ye shall search for me with all your heart”. Your whole heart; without reservation, without any portion of your life held back. Placing nothing in your life as having more importance. For “the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field” says Matthew 13:44; “the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and “and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field”.
Most churches teach “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” as it says in Acts 16:31 (“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house”). But again (your getting used to this) a statement that, left alone, undefined and unexplained has become a perversion of it’s intended message. Some churches even teach this single verse not only as the whole of salvation but corrupt the understanding of the word ‘believe’ as well. Members are led to believe that a simple acknowledgement in the existence of Jesus Christ is sufficient for salvation. That it doesn’t matter what you believe ‘about’ Him just as long as you believe ‘in’ Him. This is not true. This single verse, as taught by some would make void all other biblical teaching. It would do away with things like repentance, faith, trust, commitment, obedience, water baptism, baptism of the Holy Spirit and all other bible doctrines. But Jesus Himself defined ‘how’ we were to believe in Him and it’s very simple: believe in Him according to scripture. John 7:38 – 39; “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)”. Believing partial truths as is commonly taught is not ‘believing according to scripture’. And what happens when we finally turn from error of incomplete doctrines and actually believe according to scripture? “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”. This relates to the baptism of the Holy Spirit that those who believe according to scripture will receive. There are many ‘believers’ in the world who have believed, but have believed according erroneous doctrines of incomplete truths. Such beliefs profit nothing at all toward salvation just as partial ingredients of a cherry pie cannot result in a cherry pie. Believing according to scripture and therefore receiving the Holy Spirit exposes yet another truth (found in Mark 16:16) that needs defining to avoid a great error; “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned”. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…many teach that if a person is baptized (water baptism) that they receive salvation. It’s not true, for if it were in any way true then man himself would have a major role in the salvation of others simply by baptizing them. But it’s not water baptism that saves, it the baptism of the Holy Spirit by which we are joined to the body of Christ. And this places salvation back into the hands of the Lord’s discretion… not mans. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says; “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit”.
After considering these and other incomplete truths, (lies), being taught by most churches around the world, the Lord gave me a one-sentence summarization of the whole problem, in His third statement;
“Churches have been teaching what people want to hear, instead of what they need to hear”.
The incomplete truths I’ve mentioned in this article have one thing in common; they mislead people into ‘an easy but false understanding of biblical salvation’. People will live up to what is expected of them, but they will also live down to whatever they think they can get by with. Belief of these incomplete truths will result in weak, uncommitted seekers who lack responsibility, accountability and dedication. They will lack the ability to overcome sin in their lives and not take God’s word seriously enough to live by it regardless of hardship. This is exactly what we see now, as we look at the majority of those professing to be Christians.
It’s not surprising that when Jesus came to John on the Island of Patmos He didn’t speak out against or warn the governments of the world or take sides in political ideologies. He came to rebuke and warn the church. And, typical of the masses of any group of people, nothing has changed. But now you, the reader of this article, have received and read a more defined understanding of the error of many partial truths being taught ‘as a whole’. My question to YOU is; what will you do with it?
June 2009
Comments welcome: steve32646@msn.com
(note: anytime a quoted scripture is emphasized by bold, italic or underlined type, such emphasis is added by the author to draw attention to those words).
Born in 1946, becoming a teenager prior to 1960, I well remember a different America than the one I now live in. America was once strong; economically, productively, industrially, medically, morally and most of all spiritually. People corrected children, even if those children were not their own. God’s word was still honored in school classrooms and the average American not only had a keen sense of right and wrong according to scripture but wanted to do what was right. National pride was high concerning the character and integrity of the nation as a whole. Militarily we were the undisputed world power. Financially the American dollar was as strong as gold and just as desired in the world as gold itself; because our currency was based on and backed by gold itself.
Today, our economy is falling to new lows, as well as our job losses, our productivity, our industrial strength and our effective military power are all down in the world. Our currency, no longer backed by tangible gold has lost its true value and rises and falls as quickly as any third world country. The integrity and character of the average American has plummeted as well. The fundamentals of Christianity are being attacked by many of those people who continue to call themselves ‘Christians’. Conspiracies to undermine Christianity and democracy abound, not only in government by elected officials but by so-called ‘modern evangelicals’ as well. There have been a lot of laws lately that severely limit free speech, especially ‘Christian speech’. While Christianity has come under attack, Islam is on the rise in both numbers and political power. Those same laws and hindrances that are negatively affecting Christianity don’t seem to apply to Islam in this country. Political leaders and Supreme Court justices continue to re-write even our true history of the founding of the nation and try to deny our Christian beginnings and purpose. A purpose and a beginning that was to promote and spread Christianity to the world. By constantly re-defining the laws of the constitution to suit their purposes, the same laws that once protected Christianity are now re-interpreted in order to take those protections away. I ask you, “What or who has more power; the constitution of country… or those whose job it is to ‘interpret’ those constitutional laws and tell us what they mean?” The answer is obvious. Did you know that the early colonies/states had all passed laws that a person could not even hold public office unless he was a Christian? All of the founding fathers were devout Christians prior to their rise of stature on the national scene. (Although Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine and Tom Jefferson eventually fell away from their original beliefs and wrote and spoke accordingly).
Some years after His ascension, Jesus spoke to John, giving him a message to give to the churches of that day. It was not world governments that he rebuked. He did not address the inadequacies of mans kingdoms whether it was by kings or emperors. He didn’t address slavery. He wasn’t concerned with socialism, democracy, communism or any other form of human government. He was concerned with those that called themselves His; the church, and those are the ones He rebuked. After all, God’s people, even the countries they live in, are blessed or cursed not because of their governments, but in relationship to his people’s obedience to His word. A quick look at Deuteronomy 28 tells us that. To reinforce that understanding we have but to look at 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says; “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” God places a lot of importance in the obedience of His people! America began, even through the hardships, in an atmosphere of revival, and was blessed because of it. Our forefathers had Christian values that they lived by due to their commitment to the Lord and to His word. . They not only lived by values based on God’s word because they understood God’s precepts, they also understood the consequences of not living by them. They were blessed because of it, and brought the Lord’s blessing upon the country in which they lived.
The other day I was thinking about what America used to be, even the America that I was born into in 1946 and was raised in. It was such a different America! I had to ask; “What happened! How did it get this way!” Oh I know about some of the conspiracies of ecumenism, the new world order, a one-world church etc. I had been made aware of these things over 30 years ago and I have been paying attention and watching those prophecies come into being ever since. But ‘what’ is happening is not the same as ‘how’ these things came to be. What is happening is only a result of what took place in our society that allowed these things to come into being. So when I ask “What happened!” I’m referring to those things, foundational things, that led to the changes we see in America today. That led to the conspiracies we see taking place and are gaining much strength in today’s America. So I questioned ‘what happened’ and after some thought, I let it go. A few days later that question was fully out of my mind as my wife and I were vacationing in Yellowstone National Park, and while there, the Lord woke me up at 3:30 in the morning on June 2nd, 2009 and answered my question.
Generally speaking, the generations of nineteen hundreds taught their children God’s word, but without enough explanation to make God’s word make sense to them. It was God’s word without teaching the blessings for obedience or the consequences of disobedience. They taught God’s word, but without understanding. Proverbs 4:7 advises us that “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding
Many parents thought that their teaching of God’s word was to be accepted simply on their authority as ‘parents’ and therefore no explanation was necessary. If a child asked them for explanation, a common response of the parent was ‘because I said so.’ People were told what was right and what was wrong; without understanding ‘why’ or what their level of commitment should be, or the true consequences of not adhering to them, such knowledge becomes just a set of restricting laws. People tired of thorough and sound teaching, had no time for the studying of God’s word, and had an attitude of ‘just get to the bottom line.’ I’ve noticed that in today’s world, when someone does ask a question concerning God’s word they usually want a less-than-one-minute or a one-sentence answer; such answers are never that simple. Without understanding foundational truths themselves, they in turn gave their children little understanding of God’s word. Today’s churches are even further abbreviated, reducing the beautiful truths of God’s word to simple ‘catch phrases’ and cliché’s instead of teaching the doctrines of the first Christians. Because in-depth understandings of bible doctrines are not taught by the church, parents simply tell their children to ‘just say no’ to what is wrong. It is no wonder that when they hear the rights and wrongs of the Christian faith, they throw them out the window. Teaching the moral ethics of Christianity, without the foundation of an inward knowledge of Christ, commitment to Him and a transformed heart, will result in failure. Only the born again experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit can transform. Romans 12:2 says; “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Scripture tells us to not be “conformed” (an act of the will) “but be ye transformed” (the act of changed thinking). You can be a subscriber to Christian values and not be a Christian. True Christian values are more than Christian ethics; values start with God’s word and valuing His word enough to commit yourself, your life, in obedience to Him. You cannot be a Christian otherwise.
The Lord reminded me of several things, in His answer to my question of “What happened to America.” One of them was this; They did not value what they had. Not enough to stand up for it, not enough to hold to what they had been given or to do what they had been commanded to do. People stopped giving their children (the next generation of leaders) and their children’s children a foundational understanding of God’s word. Instead they were taught bible stories and scripture memorization. This set the stage for later lack of Godly reasoning when their beliefs would be challenged; and soldiers that are ill-equipped do not stand against a well-armed enemy. Later when secular humanism invaded modern day philosophies and launched attacks on the public school system, the general public lacked enough commitment or voice to override the attacks. They had stopped valuing their faith, having little understanding of it. The Bible, a long held mainstay of education, wisdom, moral ethics and behavior was taken out of public education by law. Later, all things that even stood for Christianity, Christian symbols etc would likewise come under attack as well as Christian holidays and even limiting the right of the people to speak of Christian ethics. America had become a Christian nation only in the minds of those ignorant of the reality around them. I think back to the prophet Daniel when he was ordered not to pray to His God but only to the king (Daniel Chapter 6). He had two choices; obey an ungodly law, or be thrown to the lions. He chose the lions. When it came time to pray, he still prayed to his God; the God of Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus could have saved himself, but in obedience to the will of His Father, he chose the cross. The apostles were severely beaten and commanded not to teach of Jesus; they taught anyway. Many, many martyrs of the Christian faith who spoke Gods truths were told they could save themselves if they would just stop their opposition to the false doctrines of their day; but they continued to speak, thereby choosing death by fire, and sword, starvation or other tortures. Where was this kind of Christianity in America when Christians were ordered not to bring their bibles to school? Where was Christian fortitude and courage when laws were made to ban the mention of Christ at public functions? The guidelines of scripture, and the acts of Christian leaders are quite clear: when laws oppose the mandates of scripture… choose scripture. There should be no question. There should be no excuses. God’s not interested in excuses, He’s interested in whether or not they who claim to love Him will be obedient no matter what the cost. When the public school system denounced the authority of God and His word and began in earnest teaching humanistic ideologies and evolution, there was no mass exodus of Christians into home schools or church run schools. People continue to send their children to a public school system which teaches things in opposition to God’s word. People live in fear of speaking their beliefs openly. Speak them anyway! You could lose you job? Our Christian leaders lost their lives, yet they willingly did so! In the first century church, there were thousands upon thousands of followers of Christ who could have been spared cruel deaths by doing one simple thing; “just say Caesar is Lord”. They took their faith, their actions and the words of their mouths seriously and would not even say the words ‘Caesar is Lord’ to save their own lives. Men, women and children alike saw their loved ones killed and died themselves with one thing on their lips; “Jesus is Lord!” Their were times in history when all Christians had to do to save themselves was to declare the reigning ruler as king; again, all they would say is “we have no king but Jesus!’ even if it meant their lives. I marvel at how quickly and easily today’s ‘Christians’ speak God’s word yet have not the conviction to stand behind scripture when in comes to taking it seriously enough to actually live by it! When man’s laws are contrary to God’s laws the answer should be simple: obey God’s word. I’ll say again the Lords answer to my question: “What happened to America!”
“They did not value what they had. Not enough to stand up for it, not enough to hold to what they had been given or to do what they had been commanded to do.”
Part 2
When a partial, or incomplete truth,
is taught as the whole truth…
it becomes a lie.
Today, due to the long lack of in-depth bible study and teaching, many of the original doctrines of the early church are being totally ignored (even though they are written in Scripture) and therefore unknown to the vast majority of those who profess to be Christians. What’s been happening in America, and in many nations where there was once a strong Christian influence has resulted in the reducing of biblicall doctrines that were based upon the full gospel, to catch phrases and cliché’s that only give partial truths.
When a partial, or incomplete truth, as taught as the whole truth… it becomes a lie.
Cherry pie has many ingredients to make it a cherry pie. One of the those ingredients is flour. If someone gave you flour, and told you it was a cherry pie, you wouldn’t believe it. Because you know what a cherry pie should look and taste like. But if you didn’t know what a cherry pie was, had never tasted it or saw a picture of it, you’d probably accept that single ingredient as the whole pie. In this case, flour is flour, and the flour of course is real and true; what makes it false is that it is not the whole pie. This leads me to the second part of the answer I was given to what happened to America;
“They were taught too much on a perverted understanding of ‘saved by grace’
instead of the reality that sin has consequences.”
The concept of ‘saved by grace’is based upon Ephesians 2:8. Like the flour in the pie, the scripture is true; but grace is only a ‘partial’ ingredient in the pie of salvation. Reducing the whole of the bible doctrine of salvation, to salvation being purely a matter of ‘saved by grace’ makes it a lie.
GRACE
(The misunderstanding of Ephesians 2:8)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Many, many churches teach these passages of text…but the corruption of this verse is one of understanding, or should I say, misunderstanding. Their so called ‘plan of salvation’ stops right there, with grace. I’ve heard it time and time again; “Well, we’re all sinners, saved by grace…there’s nothing more to be done brother, Jesus paid it all, praise God…..just accept it.” Those that teach and preach that we are saved by grace and grace alone (with that being the end of story…) are who Jude wrote about in his New Testament letter. These are men who through their false teaching actually give license to sin by their acceptance of the “well, we’re all sinners after all…saved by grace” attitude, while at the same time failing to teach the consequences of sin within the ‘believer.’
In the epistle of St. Jude, he warns:
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Genesis chapter 6 verse 8 it says that Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord. The whole world was found to be in sin…but Noah found grace in God’s sight. Grace, here, means ‘favor.’ Did grace save Noah? No. It was God’s grace that showed Noah the plan for his salvation from the coming wrath. It was God’s grace, the showing of God’s favor for Noah…that God told Noah to build the ark. Noah then, believed God (faith), which resulted in his putting that faith into action (works) by doing what God said to do! Grace, and faith resulting in taking the correct course of action (building the ark) saved Noah and his family. Noah still had to build the ark…amidst all the doubters. Noah, because of God’s grace, was given a way out. But it didn’t end there. Noah had to act upon that grace, Noah had to believe God (faith), build the ark and then get in it! Would grace alone have saved Noah? No. Would faith that God would do what he said he would do save Noah? No. Noah had to act upon that grace, act upon that faith, and build the ark. It was Noah’s obedience to that grace, that plan of salvation, that saved Noah. In the days of Sodom, Lot found grace also in the sight of the Lord ( Genesis chapter 19). Divine favor, for Lot, brought the plan of salvation to Lot…and told Lot to ‘get out of town!’ Did grace save Lot? No. That grace had to be acted upon. Grace, followed by a faith that resulted in obedience…saved Lot. His wife was under the same grace…the same faith, but without obedience she perished.
In Titus 2:11, the Apostle Paul writes:
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”
Grace itself is not salvation…grace brings salvation.
Grace, brought God’s plan of salvation for all mankind, to man. In the verse we just read, it also says this grace appeared to all men, but are all men saved? No, of course not, but the plan is for all men.
Grace brought the plan. Grace… unmerited favor, meaning that man himself did nothing to deserve this plan of salvation from God. God’s grace is not given because of good works… lest any man should boast. It is purely the grace of God. Grace is a gift of God to undeserving man. Grace brought the plan, but grace is not the plan itself! Always, in the old and new testament, grace brings a way out of our sins, out of our shortcomings, but such grace must be followed on our part by faith, resulting in taking the proper action. Just like it did for Noah and Lot.
Were salvation a matter of grace alone…we could literally throw out the rest of the bible (which, doctrinally, most churches today do!!) There would be no need to overcome sin…as it says in Revelation 3:5;
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.”
Did you catch that? These people Jesus was referring to were already in the book of life…yet they would be blotted out of that book if they didn’t overcome (sin). Did Jesus say, “Oh, well, you’re under grace now…come on into my heaven?” No.
In the verse below, we wouldn’t be required to bear fruit would we? Not if grace were the ‘end of the story’. Luke 13:9 says;
“And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”
Cut down? Wait a minute. It’s already a branch then…did grace alone save this unfruitful branch? No. And why bother being salt of the earth, if grace was all inclusive?
Luke 14:34 says:
“Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
The following passages of text…are not written to the non-believers, but to the church. They speak of ‘staying the course’ of a Christian life, of not backsliding, but what they do not do is give license to sin…they do NOT say, “well, if you sin it’s okay, we’re all saved by grace.” Let me say here and now…that those same preachers that promote lasciviousness (license to sin) because of grace are also the first ones to point out their own brand of corruption of the verse found in Romans 3:23:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”
But this verse refers to “all men”…it is prior to the salvation commitment and experience. It refers to those who claim not to need a saviour because they have not sinned. These so-called ministers of the gospel want to include all, both in and out of the body of Christ, sinner and Christian alike…as sinners (but we‘ve already covered the truth of Romans 3:23). Once again, this violates all scriptures pertaining to holiness, godliness, overcoming the world and all of the guidelines for living for God in a manner that is pleasing to Him.
Other verses pertaining to the impossibility of ‘grace alone’ being all that is necessary for salvation…or for that matter the whole concept that some churches have about ‘once a person is saved that they cannot lose their salvation”:
John 15:6 “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (Clue; you cannot be ‘cast forth as a branch’ unless you were already a branch... Author).
Romans 11:21; “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.”
Romans 11:22 “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”
Romans 8:13 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”(Note: Paul was writing to the church at Rome, and they were part of that church because they had become Spirit filled Christians…author).
1 Corinthians 15:2; “By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.”
Salvation…a life-long journey… If… If… If…
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
1 Thessalonians 3:8 “For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.”
Hebrews 3:14 “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;”
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him”.
The prophet Jeremiah was told to go and deliver a message from God to those who, like so many self-professing Christians in today’s world, thought that since “God was on their side” (or so they wanted to think) that they could live any way they desired to and that God would still be pleased with them. Jeremiah Chapter 7, verses 8-10 says:
“Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and wear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered (saved) to do all these abominations?”
How totally ridiculous…and yet the Apostle Paul faced the same thing! Look what he wrote to the roman believers, in his letter, chapter 6: 15-16;:
“What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” (In other words, NO!).
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
And look at the last part, of the above sentence, “his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death”…it’s almost a re-statement of ‘the wages of sin is death”…and once again, it’s written to the CHURCH. The wages of sin, is death. It’s written to the believer. Paul is saying, “grace won’t cover you.”
Okay, I have to say it again; grace, in itself, is not salvation, grace brought the plan of salvation. Titus 2:11 says;
“for the grace of God that bringeth salvation…”
That plan, first of all must be believed (faith), resulting in the fulfillment of that plan (salvation). Millions of people, are deceived by the doctrine of salvation based solely on ‘grace’. They have been lied to by a false doctrine and those that teach it. A false doctrine based upon a corruption of truth. They cling to the idea of ‘grace alone’ and go about their lives in blissful ignorance. But on the Day of Judgment, however, ‘grace’ alone won’t go very far…Jesus said, in Matthew 7:21-23;
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
The people in the above text that came to Jesus thought they had been following Him, but they had been deceived. They prayed to Him, and prayed in His name. They were ‘believers’, and cast out devils in His name.
They did many wonderful works in His name. They had put forth effort, prayer, and in doing many wonderful works probably spent a lot of money.
Jesus said MANY would come to Him on the Day of Judgment, and make these statements…and the statements would be true. Jesus didn’t call them liars and He didn’t deny the statements. (Gee, what about grace?). Jesus simply said he never knew them, commanded them to depart (guess where they went?) and called them workers of iniquity (sin).
Never forget what Paul wrote in Hebrews 5:9 that Jesus became “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”
Again; when a partial, or incomplete truth is taught as the whole truth…it becomes a lie.
The corruption of understanding of Ephesians 2:8 is not the only example of a partial truth taught as a singular complete truth. Another example of error is what is taught to people seeking salvation or bible guidelines of how to be saved. How awful it is to teach, sincere seeking people, lies about the most serious of all questions a person could ask. Most of today’s churches tell would be inquisitors; “Accept the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” This is a lie, and I am more than slightly irritated every time I hear this misleading statement. I will give one thousand dollars cash to anyone who can show me that statement in God’s word. The tragedy of this statement is that, if someone believes it, they have a false sense of security and are just as unsaved as they ever were.
“Accept the Lord Jesus Christ and you’ll be saved” or “Accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior” are abbreviated summarizations of certain theological beliefs. It is man’s teaching, not God’s word and therefore God is not bound to it. In these statements,
there is nothing for the would-be seeker to do other than give a proclamation that you have ‘accepted Christ’. This is completely contrary to scripture, which says that it is not we who accept Christ…but it is we who have to be found acceptable to Him! Romans 12:1 says; “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
It is not that we accept Him, but it is we who must be found acceptable! This changes everything! Now there is something a seeker must actually do. He must make himself ‘acceptable’.
This is contrary to another unscriptural ‘churchy’ slogan; “come as you are”. This slogan is not from scripture, not even a paraphrase from scripture or based in any way on scripture; it is a slogan based upon a church hymn “O Lamb of God I Come.”
Most churches that teach the two fallacies of just come as you are and accept Christ and you’ll be saved often reassure their unfulfilled converts by giving them yet another scripture that is also a ‘partial ingredient’ in salvation’s plan that is taught as complete truth in itself. John 6:37; “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Again, the scripture is true; just incomplete. It’s one ingredient but not the whole pie. The implication to the inquisitor, when this verse is given as a ‘whole truth’ without mentioning other pertaining verses is simply that if you come to him you’re accepted. These three single ingredients are often given together;
come to the Lord as you are, accept Him, and He won’t cast you away. Put together, they are a bit more powerful but they are still not the whole pie! When we come to the Lord for salvation, there is a defined way to come to Him. There is only one way to come to God; repenting. Jesus said in Luke 13:3; “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” This statement is a main ingredient in the pie of salvation. There is no mention of ‘just accept the Lord’ here, or ‘come as you are’! It defines ‘how’ a person is to ‘come to the Lord’. Repenting. This is also spoken by the Apostle Peter when onlookers both saw and heard the followers of Jesus receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost in Acts 2:38. The onlookers asked Peter what they should do and first thing Peter told them to do was to repent. Repentance is what John the Baptist taught as he preached make straight the path for the Lord. The preparation for receiving the Lord will always be repentance. Don’t ‘come as you are’ with a ‘this is how I am, take it or leave it attitude’!
Come repenting. Come not only confessing your sins but seeking forgiveness for them.
Repenting means to ‘turn away from’ so come ready not only to confess your sins and seek forgiveness but with an intense desire to turn away from them. A person coming to the Lord must intensely desire to stop living life for themselves and begin living in a way pleasing to God. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says; “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” Most churches today don’t seem to teach that. They want to teach Jesus as their savior without teaching them what it means to receive Him as their ‘Lord’. To receive Him as your Lord means as the ‘one you obey.’ If Jesus is your Lord, then you are His servant. Jesus is ‘Lord and Savior;’ so if He is not your Lord then neither is He your Savior.
Most churches teach that if you seek Him you will find Him as it says in Matthew 7:8; “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened”. Once again the verse is true; but incomplete. Other verses define ‘how’ to seek Him in order to be successful in finding Him. “And ye shall seek me, and find me” says Jeremiah 29:13, “when ye shall search for me with all your heart”. Your whole heart; without reservation, without any portion of your life held back. Placing nothing in your life as having more importance. For “the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field” says Matthew 13:44; “the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and “and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field”.
Most churches teach “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” as it says in Acts 16:31 (“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house”). But again (your getting used to this) a statement that, left alone, undefined and unexplained has become a perversion of it’s intended message. Some churches even teach this single verse not only as the whole of salvation but corrupt the understanding of the word ‘believe’ as well. Members are led to believe that a simple acknowledgement in the existence of Jesus Christ is sufficient for salvation. That it doesn’t matter what you believe ‘about’ Him just as long as you believe ‘in’ Him. This is not true. This single verse, as taught by some would make void all other biblical teaching. It would do away with things like repentance, faith, trust, commitment, obedience, water baptism, baptism of the Holy Spirit and all other bible doctrines. But Jesus Himself defined ‘how’ we were to believe in Him and it’s very simple: believe in Him according to scripture. John 7:38 – 39; “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)”. Believing partial truths as is commonly taught is not ‘believing according to scripture’. And what happens when we finally turn from error of incomplete doctrines and actually believe according to scripture? “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”. This relates to the baptism of the Holy Spirit that those who believe according to scripture will receive. There are many ‘believers’ in the world who have believed, but have believed according erroneous doctrines of incomplete truths. Such beliefs profit nothing at all toward salvation just as partial ingredients of a cherry pie cannot result in a cherry pie. Believing according to scripture and therefore receiving the Holy Spirit exposes yet another truth (found in Mark 16:16) that needs defining to avoid a great error; “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned”. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…many teach that if a person is baptized (water baptism) that they receive salvation. It’s not true, for if it were in any way true then man himself would have a major role in the salvation of others simply by baptizing them. But it’s not water baptism that saves, it the baptism of the Holy Spirit by which we are joined to the body of Christ. And this places salvation back into the hands of the Lord’s discretion… not mans. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says; “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit”.
After considering these and other incomplete truths, (lies), being taught by most churches around the world, the Lord gave me a one-sentence summarization of the whole problem, in His third statement;
“Churches have been teaching what people want to hear, instead of what they need to hear”.
The incomplete truths I’ve mentioned in this article have one thing in common; they mislead people into ‘an easy but false understanding of biblical salvation’. People will live up to what is expected of them, but they will also live down to whatever they think they can get by with. Belief of these incomplete truths will result in weak, uncommitted seekers who lack responsibility, accountability and dedication. They will lack the ability to overcome sin in their lives and not take God’s word seriously enough to live by it regardless of hardship. This is exactly what we see now, as we look at the majority of those professing to be Christians.
It’s not surprising that when Jesus came to John on the Island of Patmos He didn’t speak out against or warn the governments of the world or take sides in political ideologies. He came to rebuke and warn the church. And, typical of the masses of any group of people, nothing has changed. But now you, the reader of this article, have received and read a more defined understanding of the error of many partial truths being taught ‘as a whole’. My question to YOU is; what will you do with it?
June 2009
Comments welcome: steve32646@msn.com
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