Everlasting Gospel

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Aug 6

Who is God?

Who is God?  Back in the day shortly after Christ, there were disputes regarding the identity and character of the Almighty God.  Some of the Gentiles had many ideas regarding who God was.   Paul, who wrote most of the books in the New Testament came to the Gentiles in Athens and noticed that they did not know what they were worshipping.  The God they worshipped was a MYSTERY to them. Acts 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. The Heathen had many misconceptions that had arisen over the ages.  These misconceptions of God have crept into Christianity today.  Many views have been brought forth into the Christian religion which truly destroy who God is.

Who is God, why is it Important to KNOW?  The Bible tells us that it is what we behold that affects our character.  David said once “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes”(Psalms 101:3).  And Paul said regarding things which were true, honest Holy, lovely, just, pure and of good report, that we were to “think on these things”(Philippians 4:8).  What happens when we behold false views, or unholy views, or untruth? We become changed into what we behold. 2 Corinthians 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. If we behold false views of our God, our character will be affected by it.  Many Christians today struggle with sin and they wonder “Why is it that I am always overcome?”  They put an effort forth, but when temptation comes, they end up giving in to sin.  The reason for this is because they don’t know who they are worshipping.  They don’t see God as faithful to keep His promises. The next generation receives many of the character traits past down from the mother or father.  Ever heard the saying “Like Father, Like Son”?

Who is God? Through Knowledge of Him we retain his character 

Peter speaking by the Holy Spirit said that through knowledge of God he was given all things that pertain to godliness. 2Peter 1:3-4 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. If our God is a liar or didn’t keep his promises we could not trust Him.  If he only told us partial truth or if he were only pretending to be someone that he really was not, we could not really trust him, could we? But the Bible says God is “true”, that “God is faithful”(1 Corinthians 1:9, 10:13) and that we have knowledge of Him through His Son Jesus Christ. 1John 5:20  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Who is God? God the Father is revealed through his Son Jesus Christ.

Jesus told us his Father was “The only true God.”  Jesus when praying said that knowing “the only true God” was the difference between life and death. John 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. God the Father sent his Son Jesus Christ into the world.  Paul when speaking to the Corinthians was there to reveal to them something that Moses knew was the truth.  Moses said that “The LORD our God is one Lord”(Deuteronomy 6:9) and Paul knew Him well. 1Corinthians 8:4-7 “…we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] none other God but one.  For though there be that are called gods,

whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us [there is but] one God, the Father, of whom [are] all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom [are] all things, and we by him.  Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge.” Many have come to believe in different gods, many gods, some have an office or group of persons that they declare to be their God.  An UNKNOWN God is the central doctrine and god of most Christian churches.  The Catholic Church has a god that they claim they came to understand four centuries after Jesus Christ died. “The mystery of the Trinity is the central doctrine of the Catholic Faith. Upon it are based all the other teachings of the Church… The Church studied this mystery with great care and, after four centuries of clarification, decided to state the doctrine in this way: in the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons,—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…”[Handbook for todays Catholic Page 11] Paul never knew this god.  According to the Catholic Church, this God was UNKNOWN to Christianity until four centuries of clarification after Jesus died.  And even after four centuries, it is still declared to be a MYSTERY.   Is our God a MYSTERY?

Who is God? God Revealed

Ephesians 1:17-18 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.   The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. A revelation is the opposite of a mystery.  God the Father, the God of Jesus Christ has given us knowledge of Himself, and as John said “we know him who is true, even his Son Jesus Christ”(1 John 5:20).  Our God is not a mystery.

Who is God? God is revealed through his Son Jesus Christ.  So who was Jesus Christ?

  Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;  And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Christ is Lord, the Son of God the Father, the one by whom God the Father created all things.  Christ is Creator by the power and exaltation of his Father who has “given all power in heaven and earth”(Matthew 28:18). Jesus Christ was in the form of God,  he was by nature God, but not by identity.  He had the form of his Father, the nature of his Father, and the substance of his Father. The Bible teaches us that he was “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.”(Colossians 1:15). An image is a copy of the original.  God the Father is the only true God as we have learned.  Jesus Christ is the copy of God.  He was God in form, substance and nature by inheritance just as a Son is human when he by inheritance inherits by birth human nature from his father.  But he was not God in respect to personality.  ”To us there is but one God the Father”(1 Corinthians 8:6). Some who come to understand Jesus is God, have fallen into a trap.  They see God revealed in His Son Jesus Christ, they see that Jesus Christ spoke to many of the prophets in the Old Testament.   But they do not recognize that Jesus when speaking on behalf of God is mediating on behalf of the Father. 1 Timothy 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Jesus spoke to the prophets on behalf of God.  God could not speak directly to them because of sin.  The Bible tells us that “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. ”(John 1:18). God has come to us through his Son, God has spoken to us through his Son.  God is the Father of his Son.  God is not his Son.  The personality of God and Jesus are plainly and distinctly revealed over and over again throughout scripture and as Jesus said “This is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.”(John 17:3). God is not 3 persons.  He is a singular individual.  Jesus told us that we are His brothers and sisters, and that our God is His Father. John 20:17  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. There is a beautiful relationship that is observed here.  One which we have with ourFather and with Jesus and one which Christ has and had with his Father.   Regarding Father, we read that the relationship we have with him declares His love to us. 1 John 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. We are the Sons of a Father.  He is the only true God, he is not an UNKNOWN mystery.  Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman once talking about who we worship as God.  He told her God was His Father.  She was worshipping a god she didn’t know, a MYSTERY. John 4:22-24 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.   But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.   God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. Regarding our God, there are many things that are revealed about Him.  But if we don’t know who we worship, then how can we receive “all things that pertain unto life and godliness”? How might we have “eternal life”?  How would we “become changed”?   Therefore if you worship you know not what, if your God is a mystery, let me declare Him unto you.  He loves you so much that “he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”(John 3:16).

Who is God?  The Character of Father 

  He does not want you to perish.  Perish does not mean eternal life in torments.  Perish means to not exist.  Our Father is a loving Father who has been misrepresented.  He does not use force to compel you to love Him.  He offers each and every one of us the precious gift of His only begotten Son, the one in which His own life and Spirit dwelt.  And he offers the life of His Son that by the means of His Son he might dwell in you.   That Spirit is longsuffering, patient, gentle.  It is pitiful, merciful, and not willing that any should perish.  He would rather have taken the pain himself then inflict any with pain.  He would have taken your death if it were possible so that you might have eternal life. Because of his goodness he must also put an end to evil at some point soon. He did everything in order to give you the power to overcome.  He gave the express image of Himself who came in your form, and overcame in the same body which you have being tempted in all points like you,  he gave his firstborn, the firstborn of every creature, His only begotten Son.  The Father is “the only immortal” and he gave that life to His Son Jesus Christ.  By beholding this love in extreme generosity, we can become changed into his image. 1 John 4:9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Have you ever thought about how hard it is to give your child?  This is far greater an offering than just giving His child.  This is a Son who did always the will of the Father.  A Son who came here to exalt the character of God and to give us a revelation of the Father. John 17:4  I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. If our Father could die, would He not have gave His life for us first before his Son?  Yes, for sure the Father would have came before His Son.  The Son was the only one in the universe who could suffice for the penalty of sin.  The reason is because His Father is the only “immortal, invisible, the only wise God,”(1 Timothy 1:17) in the absolute sense. Jesus Christ was the only being in the universe who could take the penalty of the law.  This was because the broken law required the life of God, Jesus Christ, a divine being in the form of God and equal with God, could give His life back to Father and he could take on himself the form of mortal man, and if men chose to repent he could take the penalty of death upon himself to save men from the demand of the law. We behold that “unto us was a Son given”(Isaiah 9:6) and by beholding this amazing offering we may well declare “this is our God.”  He is so revealed by His Son that when beholding what Christ did, we are beholding that which God would do.  God would take on himself the form of a man that he might save his creation.  He would rather take destruction himself than destroy one of his creatures. He is not waiting over us and picking at us every time we make a mistake, but he is pitiful towards us and declares, “I will keep you from falling”(Jude 24) and asks us to hold his hand and walk with Him. At the attached link, you will find a study of scriptures regarding the Father and the Son. 2 Peter 1:2  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.

Who is God - Bible Verses

Under the Schoolmaster

Paul tells in the New Testament we are no longer under the schoolmaster or law.

under the schoolmaster

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Under the Schoolmaster (Law) or Under Grace you cannot be both

  1. Under the Law
  2. Under Grace

You cannot be both under the law and under grace.

Paul’s Writings Hard to Understand

2Pe 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Today we have a lot of Christians who believe that they are under the law.  Some believe that Christians before the cross were under the law.  We will look at both to see that those of faith could not be under the law.   Paul says plainly “ye are not under the law” (Romans 6:14).   These Christians who say this generally believe that to be “Under the law” means to be “Under a system of law” or in other words “Subject to an authority”.

The Law is a Schoolmaster

Paul tells us that the law is a schoolmaster and that before faith came he was kept under a schoolmaster(the law).

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

So before faith came he was under the law(schoolmaster).  Therefore, before faith came he was not under grace.  But after faith came he was no longer under the law, since he was under grace.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith;

This is important to understand.  “Ye are not under the law”(Rom 6:14)

What does it mean to be “Under the Schoolmaster Law”?

Paul said after grace came which he was saved by through faith that he did not make void the law.

Rom 3:31  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

In fact, Paul said he did not break the law after not being under the law.

Rom 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Sin is transgression of the law(Rom 7:7).  So what Paul is saying here is basically “Shall we sin(break the law), because we are not under the law?  God forbid”.   God forbid, how shall we that are dead to sin and no longer under the law continue to break the law.

Breaking the law brings condemnation.   This is what “under the law” means.  It means “Under the condemnation of the law”.   When the law is broken, it condemns you.  Then you are brought under the curse.

Under the Curse=Under the Law

Under the law=Under the schoolmaster=Under the condemnation=Under the curse.

Gal 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Gal 3:11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. Gal 3:12  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Gal 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Gal 3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Of the works of the law?

The law cannot work.  Now, this says that man cannot overcome by the works of the law.  The law cannot work in us, we are justified by faith.  And after faith is come, it is not our works or the works of the law, it is Christ who works, not the law.  “We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus”(Eph 2:10) “He worketh in me mightily”(Col 1:29).  The bible says “Exceeding abundantly, above all that we ask or think”(Eph 3:20).

This is all by faith.  This is not the law that does the works, this is Christ.  The law merely points out that we sinned.  The law condemns us, it beats us, and tells us “You need Christ” when we are breaking it.

This law if we are breaking it, brings us under the curse as it reads “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them”(Gal 3:10, Deu 27).   As Paul said do we break the law because we are not under the law, or under its curse or condemnation?  God forbid.

Now, Christ was made under that curse, Christ took that curse, Christ died our death being nailed to the cross taking our penalty for breaking the law.   “Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree”(Gal 3:13).

Christ Made Under the Curse and Condemnation of the Law

Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Christ was made under the condemnation of the law, made under the curse, made to take our penalty, to suffer our death, to redeem us from under the law.  To redeem us that were under the curse of the law.   To redeem us that were under the condemnation of the law.   To redeem us that were under sin.   To redeem us that were under the schoolmaster.  To redeem us that were under the law.

Just because the law is good, holy and just(Rom 7:12) does not mean it can save us. It can only condemn us, it can point out our sins. The law will put a yoke on you, fasten the chains and hold you in prison. A good law cannot make a guilty man innocent. The law is not at fault. We are. Therefore the law points us to a need of Christ, a need of his power, spirit, mind and the faith of Jesus to do all things contained in the law.  Is Christ the minister of sin?  God forbid.   Do we make void the law through faith? God forbid.  Do we sin and break the law because we are not under the law?  God forbid?  We establish the law and make it honorable as it is Christ who worketh in us.

If a law condemns us to a life sentence(death) and we are awaiting the trial.   We at this point are “under the law”.  We have to get out of the clutches of that law, out from under the law.   Christ our saviour looked at man as man stood guilty of death and he said “I will take his place, man shall get another chance”.   “I will take the condemnation of the law, I will be made under the condemnation,  I will be made under the curse, I will be made under the law which is a schoolmaster to point them back to me”.

And when pointed back to him they are justified by faith.  Not by the works of the law, not by their works, but by faith and Christ who took their penalty comes down to us and is crucified in us and we are crucified with him, and therefore it is no longer I that live since I am dead and crucified, but Christ that liveth in me, and that faith which I am justified by is not even my faith, but the faith of the son of God.(Gal 2:20)

Moses Was Not Under the Law

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Was Moses the man who was given the law, under the law or was he under grace?  The bible says “before faith came, we were under the law”

Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

Moses was justified by faith,  but before faith came Moses was kept under the law, under the condemnation of the law.   Moses a man who lived in the time before the cross was not “Under the law” but rather Moses was “Under Grace”.

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Rom 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Moses was not under the law because he was dead to sin and did not continue any longer therein.(Romans 6:1).  God forbid.   Should Moses break the law because he was not under the law?  God forbid.

Heb 11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

By faith he forsook Egypt.  But before faith came he was kept under the law.  (Gal 3:23).

Heb 11:28  Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

By faith he kept the Passover and the ceremony of sprinkling of blood.  But before faith came  he was kept “under the law”.  (Gal 3:23).

The Israelites who passed through the Red Sea were not Under the Law

Heb 11:29  By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

But before faith came they were kept under the law.

Joshua was not under the Law even past Mount Sinai after the law was given

Heb 11:30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

But before faith came they were kept under the law.

Abel Kept the Ceremonial Law by Faith

Some have come to believe that it was the ceremonial law that Galatians is talking about and that is the law that they are “under”.  But as we already have read Moses “kept the Passover” through faith.  Therefore it was not sin.  And therefore he had not transgressed the law, and therefore he was not “Under the law”.   But before faith came he was kept under the law.   You can only be condemned by the “Moral Law”.  The ceremony is a ritual performed by faith in the son of God.

Heb 11:4  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Abel was righteous by faith.  Was it by performing a sacrifice?  No.  But yet he gave a more excellent sacrifice.  Was he justified by the works of the law?  No.   He trusted the promise, and by faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice.  By faith he performed the ritual which pointed him to Christ.  By faith he listened to the schoolmaster which pointed him to Christ.   And after faith was come was he under the schoolmaster?   No.  He saw Christ crucified in him, and he lived by the faith of the son of God.  But before faith came Abel was kept under the law.   After faith, Abel was no longer under the law, but under grace.

Galatians Thought They were Justified by Circumcision

The issue in Galatians has to do with circumcision.  They thought the ritual justified them.  And Paul explains that Abraham was justified before he was circumcised.  Circumcision was a sign of righteousness by faith.  The cutting off of a piece of flesh was a sign that our dependence was not on the flesh but rather on the spirit.

Rom 4:11  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

So circumcision was a sign, and circumcision is nothing but a sign.

1Co 7:19  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

Now, obviously keeping the commandments of God is important as Paul said.  But “circumcision is nothing”.   So Christ took the curse that we might receive the blessing of the spirit.  Christ was made under the law, so that we could be redeemed from under the law.

He hath redeemed us from the “Curse” so that we could have the “Blessing”

Gal 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Gal 3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Since we have the blessing of the spirit, do we then fulfill the lusts of the flesh?

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

And what happened to the flesh?  We are circumcised in the heart.   The flesh was cut off.

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Are you Circumcised?

Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

And therefore you fulfill the law by faith.   Yet you are not under the law.

Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Ye are no longer under the schoolmaster.

The Whore of Babylon

Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 

whore of BabylonRev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. What does a woman represent in prophecy? Scripture teaches us that God’s church is represented by a woman. Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. God’s church is a pure woman. A virgin. 2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you asa chaste virgin to Christ. God’s church is symbolized by his bride. Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. Does a godly woman array herself in gold and pearls and jewellery? 1Ti 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. 1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 1 Pet 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 1 Pet 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1 Pet 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, Who is this godly woman in Revelation and who is mad at her seed[children]? Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon dunder her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: Rev 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. False Churches Represented by a Whore and her Harlot Daughters A great whore in prophecy, a false church. She has harlot daughters. Other false churches which adopt her many unbiblical doctrines. Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THEeMOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. That Great City Who is this woman? This woman is a church. But how else is she identified in prophecy? Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. This woman is identified also as a city in prophecy. That had power over the kings of the earth. This is identified in Revelation 18:3 the bible says she commited fornication with the kings of the earth. We will find out what this means shortly. Let’s identify firstly who this city of prophecy is. fSource: The New College Latin and English Dictionary, revised and enlarged, by John C. Traupman, Ph.D., published and copyrighted by Bantam Books, 1995, ISBN 0-553-57301-2, page 437 Notice the word “Vatican”. It actually is defined as “Prophecy”. So “Vatican City” actually means “City of Prophecy”. The word “Vatic” can be found in a standard English dictionary and is identified with Prophecy.       gSource: Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary, Home and Office Edition, published in 1995 by Longmeadow Press, Copyright 1988 by Houghton Mifflin Company, ISBN 0-681-20227-0, page 458. So the name “Vatican City” actually means “City of Prophecy”. Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city Notice these coins. Pope Pius 12,1958 h Pope John 23, 1959 iPope Paul 6, 1963 j This woman is pictured as holding a golden cup in her hand. Underneath her feet is the word “fides” which means “faith” and encircling her are the words “CITTA DEL VATICANO” which means “City of Vatican” or “City of Prophecy”. [Rev 17:18]

A Church and State Union

Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

What’s is a beast in prophecy?

A beast is a Kingdom.

Dan 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth

Daniel predicted a fourth world power. This fourth kingdom became a divided Kingdom which was to remain divided till the second coming of Christ. Please see our study on Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 for further study on these four kingdoms. These four beasts in Daniel 7 are identified as Babylon, Medo Persia, Greece and this fourth Kingdom in Daniel 7 had 10 horns which were known as the divided Roman Kingdom.

The horns on the beast represent the divisions of that Kingdom that ruled the earth.

Dan 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise:

So this church in Revelation 17 sits on a beast. This is also signified by a woman going up to the Kings of the earth.

Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. kNotice this woman is sitting on the earth. The beast of Revelation 17 represents all the divided kingdoms of the earth.

Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

“When the inquisitors swept into a town an “Edict of Faith” was issued requiring everyone to reveal any heresy of which they had knowledge. Those who concealed a heretic came under the curse of the Church and the inquisitors’ wrath. Informants would approach the inquisitors’ lodgings under cover of night and were rewarded for information. No one arrested was ever acquitted. Torture was considered to be essential because the church felt duty-bound to identify from the lips of the victims themselves any deviance from sound doctrine. Presumably, the more excruciating the torture, the more likely that the truth could be wrung from reluctant lips. The inquisitors were determined that it was “better for a hundred innocent people to die than for one heretic to go free”. “Heretics” were committed to the flames because the popes believed the Bible forbade Christians to shed blood. The victims of the Inquisition exceeded by hundreds of thousands the number of Christians and Jews who had suffered under pagan Roman emperors.(Dave Hunt; A Woman Rides the Beast (Harvest House Publishers; Eugene, Oregon; 1994) “It had been decreed by Napoleon [in 1809] that Inquisitions and Monasteries should be suppressed, but the decree was not executed. Months had passed away and the prisons of the inquisition had not been opened” (The Convent Horror, Barbara Ubryk, 103) The centuries record the martyrs that this woman had slain up until 1798 the Papacy’s church and State union and persecution was halted by the capture of the Pope by General Berthier. This ended the Church and State Union which existed for over 12 centuries. See more about this in our the study on Daniel 7. l   In the photo above we see a Roman soldier with angel wings, and a cross and sword in his hand. With many of the saints, victims or heretics laying on the ground.

The Fall of Jerusalm[Fornication]

The actual fall of Jerusalm was signaled by her unity with Caesar. They commited fornication with the Kings of the earth, and at this point they chose their King. The leaders of the Jewish church by doing this unchurched themselves. And 50 days later on the day of Pentecost the new apostolic church was being assembled. And they were told by Peter that they were partakers of her sins in the crucifixion of Jesus if they failed to be baptized into the new church. Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Menand brethren, what shall we do? Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost 3000 souls were added to the new church that day. Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Act 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. So the order of events is described.

  1. Fornication with the Kings of the earth.[No King but Caesar][Church and State]
  2. Unchurched
  3. God’s people called out
  4. If they stayed in they would remain guilty of the crucifixion[partaker of her sins]

Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. If your still in that church. The call is “Come out of her my people”. Deut 24:1-4 tells us God cannot take her back. She is defiled.

This Church was arrayed in Scarlet and Purple

Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color….. mnpqr

The church in 2000 seeking forgiveness for the mass murders of countless Christians during the dark ages. Wearing it’s prophesied colors of “Purple and Scarlet”.             s       Rev 17:4 … and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls,   At left is a jewel encrusted gold and silver triple-tiara of Pope Pius IX. One of many of such like crowns.     Rev 17:4 ….. having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: tu We have seen the images. What do these things mean? Is it just the visual that identifies this whore. Orv is there an actual spiritual meaning to all these symbols?   Let’s carefully analyze the symbols one by one.

Purple and Scarlet[A missing color?]

Let’s look at what the bible say’s about the missing color. In the Old Testament priesthood had specific colors. And the colors were symbolic. Exo 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. Exo 28:4 And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. Exo 28:5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. Exo 28:6 And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, ofscarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work. Exo 28:7 It shall have the two shoulder pieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together. Exo 28:8 And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. Of gold, blue, purple and scarlet. So we have four colors. What is this woman[church] missing? Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold She’s missing the blue. What does the missing blue signify? The blue represents the law of God. Notice what is written about the blue. Num 15:38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, andthat they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribbon of blue: Num 15:39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: Num 15:40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. So the blue is symbolic of the commandments of God. The Catholic Church has actually changed Gods times and laws[Daniel 7:25]. It’s actually believed that God cut the tables of stone out of clear blue sapphire stone. Exo 24:10 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. Exo 24:11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink. Exo 24:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. So God has said that the missing blue is likened to going a “WHORING” after our own hearts and forgetting his law. Paul told us about a man of sin in 2 Thessalonians he wrote: [NIV] [2 Th 2:3, 7] Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction….For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. Who is this power Paul is speaking about? It’s the Papacy which came out of the fourth kingdom in Daniel 7. Paul knew these prophecies. Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Dan 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Now what does the bible say about the true church in contrast to this church of lawlessness? Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Gods true church has not left out God’s commandments.

Blasphemy of the Whore of Babylon

Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. “We [the popes] hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.”Christopher Marcellus, Oration in the Fifth Lateran Council, Session IV (1512), manuscript SC, Vol. 32, col. 761 (Latin). “The pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of flesh.” Catholic National, July 1895. “Does the Priest truly forgive the sins, or does he only declare that they are remitted? The Priest does really and truly forgive the sins in virtue of the power given to him by Christ.”Joseph Deharbe, S.J., A Complete Catechism of the Catholic Religion (New York: Schwartz, Kirwin & Fauss, 1924), p. 279. w Children praying to the Pope. The bible teaches us there is “one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ”[1 Tim 2:5]. Seeking worship is what caused Lucifers fall. Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Isa 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. This church is fallen. Rev 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. According to God this church is filled with devils and if we are in it. We are to come out of it. If we are out of it. We are to cry with a loud voice “Come out of her my people”. xUpside down cross on the Popes chair. y This is only a small sample of this blasphemous church.  

Decked with Gold and Pearls

1Ti 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. 1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

This woman likes to put her own clothes on. Christ gave her a white robe, but she refused it. Adornment in scripture represents the character of Christ versus the character of self.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;

Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness,

Of ourselves we have filthy rags on. In Isaiah chapter 3 are described women of Zion wearing a long list of jewellery. And it goes into chapter 4 it tells us about these clothes that these women wear.

Isa 3:17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. Isa 3:18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and theirround tires like the moon,

The list goes on in Isaiah 3. But the idea is that these women want to wear there own clothes. But these clothes are not the righteousness of Christ. They have not let God clothe them with robes of righteousness. What does God say of these women? Isa 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. Sounds like the whore and her harlot daughters. They think they are justified in their own clothes. There is a parable of a wedding Jesus tells us. And he talks about those who come to this wedding with their own clothes on. Those who refused to put on that robe of righteousness that God has given. What happens to them at the wedding? Mat 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Mat 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This is what will happen to many who are in these false churches in that day wearing there own apparel. There righteousness is filthy rags and they must empty themselves of self. So in this church and her harlot daughters are found spirits of devils. Holding a cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication Well, we found out earlier that she commits fornication with the kings of the earth. z Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. To love the world is spiritual adultery. But what is in that cup? What is it that is making the people of this church so drunk. In Daniel chapter 5 the night Babylon fell. King Belshazzar had a party. He brought out all the cups from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and placed the unholy wine inside the holy cups. Dan 5:3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. Dan 5:4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 1And they were drunken, and they began to worship false Gods. They were mixing pagan worship with the true worship of the only true God. The people in Babylon were so drunk they didn’t know that they were worshipping false Gods. But the leaders had caused them to err. The night this happened is the night that Babylon fell. Pro 23:27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. Pro 23:28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Pro 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. Pro 23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Pro 23:33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. If you have been in Babylon for a long time, you have woe, sorrow, contentions, babbling, wounds without2 cause, and you can’t see straight. You are drunk. You think your ok. Just as this woman thinks she is riding the beast right into paradise. This is the same as the seventh church. The Laodicean church. God has words for her. Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. The wine is representative of the pagan and unscriptural doctrines which make it hard to discern the truth. Or even believe there is a truth. Isaiah speaks of this wine as false doctrine. Isa 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophethave erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. Isa 28:8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Notice that Isaiah confirms to us about this false doctrine in the cup. Isa 29:9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. Isa 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. Isa 29:11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: Isa 29:12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. Isa 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Isa 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Who hath believed our report? Isaiah wrote. Isn’t it the same today? They think they are increased with goods. Act 28:26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: Rev 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. Are they really rich? Or do they think they think they are rich like Laodicea? They are definitely drunk. The Mother of Harlots Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. “Furthermore, to check unbridled spirits, it [The Council of Trent] decrees that no one relying on his owno judgment shall, in matters of faith and morals pertaining to the edification of Christian doctrine, distorting the Holy Scriptures in accordance with his own conceptions, presume to interpret them contrary to that sense which holy mother Church, to whom it belongs to judge of their true sense and interpretation, has held and holds, or even contrary to the unanimous teaching of the Fathers, even though such interpretations should never at any time be published. Those who act contrary to this shall be made known by the ordinaries and punished in accordance with the penalties prescribed by law”. Source: The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, English Translation, by Rev. H. J. Schroeder, O.P., Copyright 1941 by B. Herder Book Co., Copyright 1978 by TAN Books and Publishers, Inc., Library of Congress Catalogue Number: 78-66132, ISBN 0-89555-074-1, pages 18-19. … “It must always be clear, when the expression sister churches is used in this proper sense that the one, holy, catholic and apostolic universal church is not sister but mother of all the particular churches.”[Note on the Expression Sister Churches by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, SDB, June 30, 2000. In the recent document Memory and Reconciliation, where the Roman Catholic Church discusses its asking forgiveness for its past sins of persecution, section 3.4 specifically addresses “The Motherhood of the Church”: The conviction that the Church can make herself responsible for the sin of her children by virtue of the solidarity that exists among them through time and space because of their incorporation into Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, is expressed in a particularly effective way in the idea of “Mother Church” (“Mater Ecclesia”), … She is the mother. The protestant churches who have adopted many of her false doctrines such as the Trinity, the counterfeit Sabbath, sprinkling for baptism, Idolatry, the consciousness of the dead and eternal life in misery are drunk and are merely the harlot daughters of this whore to whom she is the mother. MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT The word Babylon is derived from the Hebrew word “Babel” which means “Confusion”. The title here is saying “This is a mystery and great confusion”. This is what the people in Babylon say when they read the scriptures. They say “This doesn’t make any sense” or “This is not what the priest says.” This is written on the whores forehead. What does the forehead symbolize? Deu 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. In speaking about the commandments of God. They were to be sealed in the mind. Isa 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. Eph 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: It is the Holy Spirit of God that seals us. It is his character that is to be in our mind. On this whores forehead is written “MYSTERY, Babylon the great”. There are many mysteries in the Catholic church. The Catholic is also well familiar with many “mysteries” through the recitation of their Hail Marys and the rosary. There are 15 decades of prayer (150 recitations) and during each decade of ten recitations, the Catholic contemplates on one of the “mysteries” of the church, which are as follows: The Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary are divided into three groups: the Joyful, the sorrowful and the glorious. Five Joyful Mysteries The Mystery of Annunciation The Mystery of Visitation The Mystery of the Birth of the Lord The Mystery Of the Presentation in the Temple The Mystery of Finding Jesus in the Temple The 5 Sorrowful Mysteries The Mystery of the Agony in the Garden The Mystery of the Scourging Pillar The Mystery of the Crowning with Thorns The Mystery of Jesus carrying his Cross The Mystery of Crucifixion The 5 Glorious Mysteries The Mystery of the Resurrection The Mystery of the Ascension of our Lord The Mystery of the Descent of the Holy Spirit The Mystery of the Assumption Of the Blessed Virgin The Mystery of the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin as Queen of Heaven These are some of the Mysteries of Babylon. But there is a Mystery upon which all these Mysteries are based. There is a Mystery that is the root of all the wine in Babylon. “The Mystery of the Trinity is the central doctrine of the catholic church. Upon it are based all the 3teachings of the church”[Handbook for todays Catholic Page 16] According to the Catholic church which we have identified as the whore of Babylon, the Mystery she bases all of her false doctrines on is the “Mystery of the Trinity”. Could this name in the forehead represent the name of her God? Let’s look at God’s true bride. The 144,000. What is written in their foreheads? Contrasting spiritual Israel with spiritual Babylon we find: Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. It is the name of their God? 1Co 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. The bible speaks of “One God the father” and no other God but he. Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Jesus said his God and our God is the father. Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. The title “God” is used 1,394 times in the New Testament and refers almost exclusively to the father, except when speaking of Christ’s nature as Christ was in the form of God and equal with God.[John 1:1, 14, 18] and [Phi 2:6,7]. Sadly many don’t understand this concept and wrest the scriptures to there own destruction.[2 Pet 3:16] Jesus told us it was eternal life to know his father the only true God. Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Christ also told us that he was the son of God. And upon this rock is the true church built. The first and great commandment is the Lord our God is one Lord. And he sits on his throne in heaven. His son at the right hand. This is obviously not a minor doctrine. Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; The Majesty on high is his father. This is a picture of the sanctuary in heaven. One God and one mediator on his right hand. It’s been said that the doctrine of the trinity destroys the sanctuary message. In analyzing the scene of judgment there is no room for the Trinity. Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. Daniel sees in vision God on his throne. The only true God the father. But what is this MYSTERY on the forehead? Can we be sure this represents a false God? Let’s take a look at some further passages. Rain withheld because of a whores forehead. Now it is said in Deutoronomy that if we follow other Gods’ that it would not rain in the seasons. Deu 11:16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; Deu 11:17 And then the LORD’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you. So if we worship other God’s there will be no rain. Also in Elijah’s day there was no rain for 3 and a half years because all Israel was worshipping BAAL and Ashtoreth.[1 Kings 18] Notice this prophecy about the whores forehead in Jeremiah 3. Jer 3:3 Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore’s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed. Now we see scripture says “if we follow other God’s there will be no rain”. Here it is said that the church has a “whores forehead” and there is “no rain”. So the whores forehead could only signify that she is worshipping other God’s. And isn’t it right that God should mark Babylon with the very name of her God? He seals his people in there forehead with his own name. Therefore for him to mark the whore in the forehead with the name of her God. “The Mystery of the Trinity” marking is rightly where it is supposed to be. Let’s look at 2 Thess 2 and compare it to it’s parallel in Daniel 11. Both of these passages are references to the Papacy. 2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. Here above we have another Mystery. The mystery of iniquity. Notice this man of sin who exalts himself above God. He even shows himself that he is God. We’ve seen already how he says he is “God on earth”. Dan 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Dan 11:37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. Dan 11:38 But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. This man of sin who exalts himself above God speaks marvelous things against the God of gods. And he honors in his state the God of forces. A God that the bible doesn’t speak about. It is said that this God was established 400 years after the New Testament was written. “The mystery of the Trinity is the central doctrine of the Catholic Faith. Upon it are based all the other teachings of the Church… The Church studied this mystery with great care and, after four centuries of clarification, decided to state the doctrine in this way: in the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons,—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…”[Handbook for todays Catholic Page 11] 400 years after Christ is how long it took for the church to figure out who God is? These are new gods. 4567 The three esoteric “6“‘s separated. Plainly displaying the interlocked “666”. The TRINITY symbol Deu 32:16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. Deu 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. Who represents these Gods? 2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. The Dragon is the God of this church. Which is Satan. He represents himself in the form of a Trinity. And those who worship this god take his character which is symbolized by the forehead. Let’s look at Hosea 4 and what it says about “whoring after other gods”. Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: What knowledge are they lacking? Hos 4:1there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. What happens when there is no knowledge of God in the church? Hos 4:2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Hos 4:3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. Hos 4:4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Hos 4:5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. Swearing, lying, killing, stealing and the church falls. Furthermore God talks about this worshipping of other Gods. Hos 4:10 For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD. Hos 4:11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. Hos 4:12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath causedthem to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. Hos 4:13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. Hos 4:14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall. What should we do that we might receive the rain that has ceased due to following false Gods? Hos 6:3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. Hos 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. We must turn from the false God of Babylon. The Trinity. [Rev 17:5] To the true God of the bible. The father.[Rev 14:1]. The Trinity is a mystery that cannot be understood. Therefore knowledge of God in Babylon cannot be had. God desires knowledge of him. That he is a father. The father of the son. 2Jn 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. When the fire came down from heaven Elijahs day in front of the 450 prophets of BAAL and all of Israel. And they all turned back to the true God. It rained. 1Ki 18:39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he isthe God. 1Ki 18:41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain The Jezebel Connection This site is known for promoting the Elijah Message. The name Elijah means [God is YAH]. YHWH is the only true God. The name Jezebel means [Woman of Baal]. This woman led Israel into national apostacy. To follow other Gods. There was no rain in Israel for 1260 days.[James 5:17]. Just as prophecied by Moses should Israel go after other Gods.[Deu 11:16,17]. 1 Ki 16:30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. 1 Ki 16:31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. 1 Ki 16:32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 1 Ki 16:33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. The church in Thyatira has a problem. But they are given time to repent of it. It is the doctrine of Jezebel. Following other Gods. This is again prophetic of the Trinity. Rev 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. Rev 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Rev 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. As we learned it was her Gods. She was “whoring after other Gods”. It’s the Trinity. This doctrine is the central doctrine of the Catholic Church upon which all other abominations are based. By looking at the evidence and pictures. This Jezebel claiming to be a prophetess. Has she not prophecied of herself. Look at what she has spoken through her words, the pictures. God has revealed this beyond any shadow of a doubt. “And another serious question is this, whether we ought not to be very sure before we assert that a branch of Christ’s Church, not merely has evil extensively prevailing within it, but is actually the kingdom of evil, the kingdom of God’s enemy; considering that, if it be not the kingdom of darkness, it is the Church, the dwelling-place of the Most High. The question really lies, be it observed, between those two alternatives, either the Church of Rome is the house of God or the house of Satan; there is no middle ground between them. “Source: Cardinal John Henry Newman, Essays, Critical and Historical , Volume II, Tenth Edition, London, Longmans, Green & Co., and New York, 15 East 16th Street, 1890, pgs. 115, 116. Hath the whore of Babylon not prophecied?

(Source: everlasting-gospel.com)

The Comforter which is the Holy Spirit - Jesus Christ

The Comforter:

Jesus promised to send us a most precious gift after his glorification.  He said.  “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”  (John 16:7)(See also John 7:39). “The comforter which is the holy spirit”(John 14:26) was not sent until Jesus was glorified.  However in John 14 Jesus speaks of this comforter.  Jesus said: Joh 14:16-17  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. Jesus when speaking of the comforter said “he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”  Here we find a seeming contradiction since the comforter could not be sent until Jesus Christ was glorified.  We just read in John 16 that the comforter’s coming was dependent on Jesus going away. How is it that the comforter who was yet to be sent “dwelleth with them” in John 14?  This passage explains itself.  Jesus didn’t leave off in verse 17.   He continues in the next verse by saying: Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.Jesus the comforter Christ was dwelling with them and he was going to come back as the comforter and dwell in them.  Christ is the comforter himself. The greek word for comforter is “parakletos”.  John uses this word 5 times in scripture.  The 5th time it is used is 1 John 2:1.  It is translated “Advocate” 1Jn 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: Christ is the “parakletos”. But Christ said “another“ so doesn’t that indicate he is speaking of someone else?: The same greek word for “another” is used of Saul in the Old Testament.  Notice what it says: 1Sa 10:6  And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned intoanother man Saul was about to be turned into another man.  Saul had been through an experience.  He had received the Holy Spirit which also was available to those in the Old Testament.  That spirit was Jesus Christ living inside of Saul. 1Pe 1:10-11  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Saul was still Saul, but yet after his experience he was now “another” man. In the same sense the Holy Spirit was still the holy spirit, but yet it was now after Christ’s glorification called “another” comforter.   Jesus had to first endure an experience in order that he was much more able to say “I have been there, I have done that”. Let’s say that you had just been through an experience.  Your family just died in a plane crash.  Your wife and your beautiful children.   And I came to you and said “Well brother, I know exactly what you are going through” even though I had never been through that experience.  That wouldn’t be very comforting would it? Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor(help) them that are tempted. The bible says that now that Jesus has been through the experience he can now say to you and me “I’ve been through it, I’ve been tempted in all points like you have and I will help you overcome, I will come to you, I will help you”. There is only one being in this universe who can truly “comfort” us like that.  Only one who is able to “succor” them that are tempted. It is a great comfort to me to know that Jesus himself will not leave me comfortless, but comes to me himself and dwells in me by his spirit whereby I can truly cry “abba, father”(Galations 4:6).  Only a son can cry “Abba, father”. 1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Didn’t Jesus call the comforter a “he” and speak of the spirit in the third person?:

Yes, it was very common in those days to speak of yourself in that sense.   Notice the following passage where Christ speaks of himself as “the son” and also calls himself “he, him, himself”. Joh 5:19-23  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveththe Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. So it was very common for Jesus to speak of himself in the third person. So who is the Holy Spirit? The bible says “The comforter which is the holy spirit”(John 14:26) is that spirit.  And we just learned that it is Jesus who said that he wouldn’t leave us comfortless, that he would come to us and comfort us.  He says further in John 14: Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. The father is the source of that spirit.  When we look at the sanctuary in heaven we see that the father is the source of living water and all things come through his son Jesus. Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. water symbol of holy spiritSo that river of living water flows from the source. Joh 7:38-39  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water(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.) That living water that flows from the throne of God is the spirit.  It flows through his son Jesus Christ and out through all of the children of God.  As Jesus said it will even proceed out of you.  But the source is none other than the father. 1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. All things proceed from our “One God the father” and come by his son and our “Lord Jesus Christ”.  And Paul says we have “One Lord”(Eph 4:5). 2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Christ is that spirit and he has come to deliver the captives and give them liberty and freedom from the bondage and captivity to sin. What is the spirit?: Many today have come to believe that the spirit is a body less phantom or ghost that flies around and takes possession of others.  This concept of the spirit however is not correct and is actually very deceptive.  Gods children are given free will to accept his spirit and the only service that they will give is a willing service of love and not of forced will. So what is the spirit?  Let me ask you:  If I said to you “Hi, my name is David, I’d like you to meet my spirit, he is standing over there, let me get him”.  Would you think that I had an incorrect understanding of my spirit?  Yes, right.  My spirit is not someone else separate and distinct from me.  My spirit is me, it’s my personality, my mind my character. Same with God.  God has a spirit.  The bible calls it “the holy spirit of God”(Eph 4:30).   His spirit is described by the adjective “Holy”.   His spirit is not someone distinct and separate from him, his spirit is him, it is his personality, his mind, his character. Notice the following verses: Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Isa 40:13  Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? The words “spirit” and “mind” are often interchanged.  Notice how the following verse from Ezekiel uses the same Hebrew word “Ruwach” but translates it in one instance “mind” and the next instance “spirit”. “And the Spirit [Hebrew: j^Wr -  ruwach #7307 in Strong’s Concordance] of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind [ruwach],every one of them.” (Ezekiel 11:5) The holy spirit is the mind of Christ.  We are to receive the mind of Christ.  Look at the following passage and notice how it is speaking of the spirit, then finally closes with receiving the mind of Christ. 1Co 2:11-16  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. Who hath known the spirit of the Lord?  Who hath known the mind of the Lord?  The same words and question as asked in the previous verses from Romans 11:34 and Isaiah 40:13 which we just read, however in this instance Paul clarifies that the “Spirit of the Lord” is the “mind of Christ”. Now let me ask you.  Would you say that the mind of Christ is a separate and distinct being from Christ himself.  I don’t believe Christ will say to us when we meet him “I’d like you to meet my mind, he’s standing over there”. Notice in the above passage from 1 Corinthians 2 that it compares God’s spirit to man’s spirit.  Man has a spirit that is in him.  In the same sense God has a spirit that is in him.  Man is not divided into co-equal beings called the man and his spirit. The spirit has personality: Many people have come to the understanding that the spirit is someone other than Christ because it has characteristics and personality.  For instance the spirit can be grieved. Dan 7:15  I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. Daniel was grieved in his spirit in the midst of his body.  Daniel was sorrowful.  He had the spirit of Christ(1 Pet 1:11) which is also the spirit of God.(Romans 8:9).  And he was grieved, but it was not someone else particularly, but it was he himself who was grieved in the midst of his body.   Daniel’s spirit belongs to Daniel, just as Gods spirit belongs to God. The spirit can perceive things. Mar 2:8  And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Notice, Jesus perceived things in his spirit.  Again Jesus is not perceiving things in someone else who is separate and distinct from him.  His spirit is his mind. The spirit can be troubled. Dan 2:3  And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. Nebuchadnezzar’s spirit was troubled.  This is not teaching us that someone else separate and distinct from Nebuchadnezzar was troubled.  This is teaching us that he himself was troubled. If I said to you “meet Nebuchadnezzar, he has a wonderful spirit” you would not think that I was talking of someone separate and distinct from Nebuchadnezzar. The spirit is the part of someone including God and Christ themselves that can be troubled, it can perceive things, it can be grieved and it has personality.   The bible teaches us that “there is one spirit”(Eph 4:4).  As we have learned that spirit is the mind of Christ.  It is also the spirit of God.  Notice how the “spirit of God” and the “spirit of Christ” are interchanged in the following passage.  Also note that this spirit is actually “Christ in you”.  That one spirit is the “Holy Spirit”. Rom 8:9-10  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”(1 John 4:4).  “It is…Christ who liveth in me…”(Gal 2:20) “..Christ in you, the hope of glory”(Col 1:27) Jesus said in John 14 that it was “the father that dwelleth in me(Christ)”(John 14:10).  He also said when speaking of his father “I speak not of myself”(John 14:10).   Jesus is explaining that his father dwells in him by his spirit.  He continues this chapter by saying that “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”(John 14:23). Christ states that in the same sense that his father dwells in him, he and his father will come and dwell in us.  They will come spiritually.  The spirit of God is the spirit of Christ.  And so the father and son share a kindred spirit.  In the same sense we are to share of that spirit and be “partakers of the divine nature”(2 Pet 1:4). The father anointed the son with his own spirit.(See Heb 1:9). Joh 3:34  For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. Now we understand that the father has a spirit.  We also know that son has a spirit.  Does the Holy spirit have a spirit?   We know the father has a throne and also that the son has a throne, does the holy spirit have a throne?   The Bible mentions several different types of Spirit. We read about “foul spirit,” “evil spirit,” “unclean spirit,” “dumb spirit,” “excellent spirit,” “humble spirit,” “wounded spirit,” “broken spirit,” “haughty spirit,” “faithful spirit,” “good spirit.” All these spirits are distinguishable by the adjective that describes them. The father has a name.  His name is “Jehovah” or “Yahweh”.  The son has a name.  His name is “Yahshua” or “Jesus”.  What is the name of the Holy spirit? The father and son alone are to be exalted: Joh 5:23  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. In reading the bible we find many times where the father and son are exalted. Php 2:10-11  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Every knee will confess that Christ is “Lord” to the glory of “God the father”.  The bible speaks to us about  “One God the father, and one Lord Jesus Christ”.  In fact almost all of the epistle salutations start with a greeting similar to this: Gal 1:3  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Now why is it that only two beings are mentioned in this passage.  One of which is called God and that is the father of Jesus Christ.  There is no mention of any third divine being in any of the greetings whether it be Paul, Peter, James, John, or Jude. John stated: 1Jn 1:3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. John knew only of the father and his son Jesus and he invites us to have fellowship with him and them.  Surely he wouldn’t leave out the Holy Spirit if it was a third divine being.  Jesus when speaking of those who could testify of him said: Joh 8:17-18  It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Where in this passage is the mention of the Holy Spirit if the spirit is a separate and distinct divine being aside from God and Christ. Regarding the cousel in heaven which took place before the foundations of the world it is written that there were two beings involved in this counsel of peace. Zec 6:12-13  And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. Jesus Christ is the only being who entered the counsels of God.  He was equal with God and in all points like his father.  When Jesus spoke of the Jews who hated him, he spoke also of his father. Joh 15:23-24  He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. If the spirit is a divine being why would Jesus leave him out here?  Wouldn’t the Jews hate all three of them?  Why does he only mention “both me and my father”. Paul called all heaven to witness a solemn charge to Timothy. 1Ti 5:21  I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. God is mentioned, Christ and the elect angels even, but yet no mention of a third divine being.  The bible talks about the father and his love for us in giving his only begotten son having his beloved son torn from his bosom because we sinned.  It also tells us of the love of Jesus Christ in counting it not a thing to be equal with his father, but giving this up and leaving this behind and being made in the likeness of men, in all points made like unto his brothers.   But what does the bible mention of the Holy Spirit’s love? Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Interestingly, the bible tells us that the Holy Spirit purchased us with his own blood.   The bible teaches us that we have “One Lord Jesus Christ”(1 Cor 8:6) and “The Lord is that spirit”(2 Cor 3:17).  Christ is that spirit and he shed his own blood to purchase us at the cross of calvary. The comforter is none other than Jesus Christ himself and Satan is doing everything he can to keep us from realizing our “hope of glory which is Christ in you”(Col 1:27). Rev 3:20-22  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Jesus wants to come into you and comfort you.  Hear what the spirit is saying to this seventh church in Laodicea.  He wants to grant you the opportunity to sit on a throne with him even as he sits on a throne with his father.  Jesus is the comforter.

Victory Over Sin

Victory Over Sin

Victory over sin

…is quite misunderstood by Christianity today and not believed by most. Many say that living without sin is impossible.  Many will reject it immediately even before hearing the matter.  However God has a message and “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”[Proverbs 18:13].  “To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them”[Isaiah 8:20] “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good”[1 Thessalonians 5:21]. Now, this message is not only true, but it is fundamental doctrine to the Christian faith.   And it happens by faith alone. Matthew 9:29  Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. By your faith it will be done unto you.  The faith that we need in order to keep the commandments of God is “the faith of Jesus”. Revelation 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Without the faith of Jesus we will keep sinning or breaking Gods law.(1 John 3:4)  Paul said himself that he was dead.  What Paul meant was that self no longer ruled in his body.  But Christ worked in him mightily.  He had the “faith of Jesus”. Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless 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. Paul saying that he is dead and “crucified” told us that Christ actually lived in him.  Paul is being symbolic here.  What he is expressing is the fact of what it is to be truly born again.  “Christ our righteousness”.  This is a very important concept.  First Paul had to die to the flesh.  Paul “reckoned himself dead to the flesh”.(Romans 6:11)  Notice Paul talking about dying then being born again or in other words “walking in newness of life”. Romans 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Dead to sin. Paul is equaling “Self” to “sin”.  He also labels “Self” and “Sin” as “the old man”.  Reckon  your “self” dead.  It is done according to your faith. Romans 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. This “Old man” also known as“Self” and “Sin” Paul is saying was crucified to the cross as Christ took our sins as well as our penalty for sin upon himself.   This study talks a lot of Romans chapters 6-8.  These chapters are often misinterpreted and should be read as a whole and properly understood. Now what Paul is talking about is the Born Again experience.  Paul also likens “Sin” “Self” and “the old man” to “the flesh”.   Paul says they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh. Galatians 5:24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. So we can see that “self”, “sin” “the flesh” and “the old man” were crucified to the cross.  We are to “reckon ourselves to be dead to sin, self, the flesh, and the old man”.  What does it mean to “reckon”?  Reckon means to “count it done”.   “Believe and think it”.  Now we are able to walk in it. Galatians 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

John said this regarding victory over sin:

1 John 3:6  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 1 John 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. It clearly says that those who keep sinning don’t know God.  But the children that are God’s cannot sin.  I will touch on what it means that “we cannot sin” shortly.  How is this possible?  Many do not believe and it is done according to their faith.  Not only how is this possible?  But this truth that we are being told is not found in nominal Christianity today and is a primary doctrine of the scriptures. 1 John 3:10  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. This message is going to offend those who say they have been walking in the truth for years.  They will say “We know him”.  And they will present objections.  Each of which will be answered and dealt with in this study.  First I would like to read Romans 6. Romans 6:1-23  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.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?  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. That chapter has spoken quite loudly and there is much detail in regards to having victory over sin in that chapter.  Many will present the objection that “the flesh overcomes us over and over again and we keep sinning until Jesus comes.  And it’s really impossible to stop sinning until we get to heaven when many actually believe that they will be forced to keep the commandments by God.” And also that they know they shouldn’t sin right now.  However even though they know they still sometimes do it.   Basically saying that “the old man is dead, but he’s still comes back from the dead from time to time.” Ecclesiastes 9:5  For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Ecclesiastes 9:6  Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in any thing that is done under the sun. The dead are not going keep talking.  Paul also calls this “old man” who is dead is “unrighteousness”. Romans 6:16  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? We are not to serve this “old man” who is “Self” and the “flesh” and “sin”.   However he is still alive in many who call themselves Christian.  They have been self deceived.  Jesus used the same language as Paul. John 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. Jesus actually goes further as “selfishness” originated with Satan.  Satan was one who wanted to be like the most high. Isaiah 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Isaiah 14:13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: Isaiah 14:14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Self.  That’s what Lucifer was about.  That is that caused his fall? In fact Jesus not only said “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” But he went further than this by saying. John 8:41  Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus clarified who there father was whom they were serving by committing sin. John 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. Notice how these men thought God was their father.  But Jesus told them plainly that they were deceived.  The children of God do not commit sin.  John the prophet says exactly the same thing.  This is how we know the children of God and the children of the devil. 1 John 3:6  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 1 John 3:7  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 1 John 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 3:10  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. Now, many today are as deceived as the Pharisees were.  They think that God is there father.  But they don’t know that they are the children of the devil.  To be overcome only once shows that we are children of the devil.  These verses are quite clear. To be free in Christ and not a servant in bondage to sin is to be free indeed.   Do you believe?  Be it done according to your faith. Now this crucifixion process of “self” and “sin” and the “old man” is a painful process to us when we look at it through fleshly eyes.  Some look at it as “impossible” just as the rich young ruler and the apostles.  However Jesus told them “With God all things are possible”[Matthew 19:26].  We have to let him do the work.  Let him crucify us.  Basically “GIVE UP”.   Just like our example Christ gave up. Luke 22:42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Luke 22:43  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And it is the same for us if we do not seek our own will.  Christ will strengthen us. Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. However after the fact we will rise again or be resurrect in “newness of life”, “born again”, like as Christ was raised up from the dead.   Notice what Christ said about this process to Nicodemus.  Nicodemus was not understanding this concept. John 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:4  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? John 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Born again.  Jesus makes the distinction of being “born of flesh” and “born of spirit”.  The flesh first has to die.  Than we can be born again of spirit.  We who are born into this world are all born from birth of the flesh.   However, we cannot be born of both flesh and the spirit at the same time.   I want us to look at Romans 7.  This is an often misunderstood chapter in modern Christianity.   Notice that Paul starts the chapter with a parable.  And he uses the concept of marriage this time.  He says that first the “old man” must die.  Then the woman can remarry.  She cannot be married to two men at the same time.   Paul is talking about the concept of “flesh” and “spirit” in this chapter as well as Chapter 8.  And he is saying the same as Jesus did. Victory over sin. Romans 7:1  Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? Romans 7:2  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. Romans 7:3  So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Romans 7:4  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. Romans 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. Notice the concept.  That the first man must die.  Then we are not “under” the condemnation of the law.  In other words the “flesh must be crucified”.   The old man must be crucified.  Self must be crucified with Christ.  And notice that we should be married to another which is Christ.  Christ now liveth in us. Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless 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. Self and the flesh dies.  However we still live in the flesh, we reckon it dead.  Self denial.  It has no say in our life.  Not our will but the will of our father.  We have the “testimony of Jesus”[Rev 12:17] and therefore can say “I do always the will of my father in heaven” Then we live and walk in the spirit by the faith and testimony of Jesus. Galatians 5:24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Galatians 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. We must be “born of spirit”, “born of God” “walk in newness of life”.  With the seed of God in us which is none other than Christ in us. 1 Peter 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. Born again of incorruptible seed. 1 John 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Christ is that incorruptible seed is that spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Liberty and freedom from sin when Christ lives in you.  No longer a servant to sin when we walk in the spirit. Now let’s look at the rest of this chapter of Romans 7.  But first know that there are verses in this chapter that people use to deny the victory over sin and often this is the very first place in which they go to deny that we can overcome. But please remember the beginning of this chapter and the concept of the first husband and the old man first having to die before the new man or Christ can come in.   As well also note the context of verse 5 and the context in which Paul is talking.   Paul starts the story in verse 5 and goes over a time past “when he was in the flesh”. Romans 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. Romans 7:6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. Romans 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Romans 7:8  But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sinwas dead. Romans 7:9  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. Romans 7:10  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. Romans 7:11  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Romans 7:12  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Romans 7:13  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. Romans 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. Romans 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. Romans 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Romans 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Romans 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Romans 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Romans 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. Romans 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: Romans 7:23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Romans 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7:25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Now some are saying “Wow”.  This doesn’t sound like victory over sin.  And they are right.  It’s not.  Until the end of the chapter where Paul is delivered and Paul goes on to talk about this deliverance in Chapter 8. But first note Paul started off speaking in the past tense, and then tells the rest of the story in present tense.  Some misunderstand this concept, however, let me give an example. When I was in the flesh, then he goes on to tell the story of his old man who walked after the flesh.  This is exactly what Paul does in Romans 7. Romans 7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. Then Paul goes on to tell of “when he was in the flesh”.  Now I’ve made the point earlier.  However, look at the very next chapter. Romans 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Now note and understand the following verses.  This is in times past. Romans 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. Romans 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. Romans 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Romans 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Paul is not contradicting himself.  Paul is talking about when he was in the flesh, he was carnal, sold under sin, a slave and servant to a former master. Ephesians 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Ephesians 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. He is talking about a time past when he did what he knew he wasn’t supposed to do fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.  However the time came where he did what he knew to do good. Hebrews 10:26  For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, So after knowing or knowledge of the truth we are not going to do “that which we know we shouldn’t.    We were servants of sin in time past.  We did walk after the flesh.  We did do what we knew we shouldn’t do.  After being born again we do not continue to sin knowingly or willfully.  God forbid.  How shall we that are dead to sin continue any longer therein.  [Romans 6:2] Romans 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Sin has a few different definitions.  Paul said in Romans 7:7 “I had not known sin except the law said thou shall not covet”.  John also said in 1 John 3:4 “Sin is transgression of the law”.  So breaking God’s commandments is clearly sin.  The bible also tells us: Romans 14:23  ….for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. We have to be convinced in our mind.  And as Paul says in Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by the word of God”.  So therefore sin is violation of Gods word.  Which in other words is breaking his law.  However some have not learned all that the law teaches.  The law is spiritual and has much to teach.   We are accountable for our knowledge.  If we know the truth on a point of doctrine the man of God will not walk contrary to that.  The man of God also wants to be perfect and therefore on a daily basis continually grows. Philippians 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. God will reveal more light unto us daily but let us be perfect up to the light which we have been revealed.  The true Christian may not have all the light on a certain subject.  However he is “searching the scriptures with a ready mind”[Acts 17:11] so that he can be a better person, so that he can understand what he has yet to learn.  So that he may not offend anyone.  So that he can draw others to the love of God. Psalms 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalms 119:33  Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Psalms 119:34  Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. This is the heart of a real Christian.  And like David we will observe it with our whole heart, or like Paul after coming to new knowledge we will not willfully violate one of Gods principles.  “He cannot sin”[1 John 3:9].  He cannot sin, because he would be lost.  He cannot sin because it is against him. Christ was in our flesh tempted in all ways.  It was possible for him to sin.  However he cannot sin because it is against him.  He has the spirit of God.  It wasn’t like he couldn’t sin if he wanted to.  Just as we could sin if we wanted to. However he and we  “cannot sin” because he and we would rather die than sin.  We in the same flesh have the “testimony of Jesus Christ”[Revelation 12:17]. 1 John 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Revelation 12:17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. This is the victory.  This is the power of God.  This is what his grace does to the heart.  Unfortunately many have a misunderstanding of who he is.  And they cannot see this love.  This love draws all men to real repentance.  It breaks the heart. 1 John 4:9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. A true knowledge of God will break the heart.  When this heart is broken it will no longer follow after the flesh.  When this happens the man is free from condemnation.  The man who continues to willfully violate the word of God cannot be free from this condemnation.   However when you are doing God’s will there is no condemnation. Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: Romans 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Romans 8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. Rom 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. Romans 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Christ in you.  The spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba, Father.  The deeds of the flesh have been mortified, crucified.  This is the victory.  This is the newness of life that comes after we have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  The born again life. Now Romans 7 as we just looked at Paul is speaking about when he walked in the flesh are often quoted by the willful sinner who is attempting to justify himself in the deed.  Here are some other objections to this victory.

Peter denies his Lord 

Some will point to the denial of Christ by Peter.  They will say Peter denied Christ.  He knew the truth.  He knew it wasn’t right.   Some may not know this.  But Peter wasn’t converted before the cross. Luke 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: Luke 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Peter did many things in the name of Christ.  However, Peter was not yet converted.  He still had pride in self when he said to Jesus “They might deny you, but I won’t”.    Many are deceived by this.  However, Jesus told Peter plainly.   And Peter came to a point of conversion at Pentecost. Peter talks about the children who cannot cease to sin.  Or have turned back into sin after knowing the truth.  And he says it is a fearful thing. 2 Peter 2:14  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Peter called children who cannot cease from sin cursed children. 1 Peter 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 1 Peter 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 1 Peter 4:3  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles Satan has desired to have many.  And really we can only pray that like Peter they will turn from that old man  of slavery who would deny Christ and like the new Peter proclaim Christ to the world.[Acts 2]. Philippians 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Paul the chief of sinners

This verse is found in 1 Timothy 1:15.  Many will quote this verse, but fail to note the context surrounding it.  Paul is not saying I’m still a murderer, blasphemer etc. 1 Timothy 1:13  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 1 Timothy 1:14  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Christ saved him “the chief of sinners” who was “Before” a blasphemer, persecutor and injurious.   What did Christ save him from? Matthew 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Paul didn’t walk by faith before.  He did it ignorantly in unbelief.  And therefore would have missed out on being justified, as the just live by faith.  Jesus saves us from our sins in entirety.

I die Daily 

This verse is found in 1 Corinthians 15:31.   Paul is not saying the flesh comes back to life everyday.  Every day his will and his desires conflicted with duty and the will of God. But instead of following inclination, he did the will of God, however unpleasant and crucifying to his nature.  He didn’t give in as many falsely assume. If we would press forward to the mark of our high calling in Christ Jesus, we must show that we are emptied of all self, and supplied with the golden oil of grace. Paul reckoned his body dead.   Paul did what he knew to do good.  Paul put God always before him.  It is still a daily process.  The sanctification process.   However, we do not fall back into that which God has cleansed us from.  We move from glory to glory.  We don’t fall back into something that we have already been shown not to do. 2 Corinthians 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Jude 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 2 Peter 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: Some flatter themselves that they are doing Gods will while they go and do there own will after knowing the truth.  Then they have to be cleansed of that same sin that God has already cleansed them from.  In this they prevent not only growth but leave the covering of Gods grace and if judgment were to fall on them they would be “found wanting” rather than be as the justified Christian who is changed into the same image of Christ from “Glory to glory” in his walk with Christ. In all honesty, these men are not yet walking by faith.  The Christian is not dead to sin today, but alive to sin tomorrow. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us[1 John 1:8, and 2:1] 1 John 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us The man of God no matter how earnestly he has striven for the faith cannot say he is without sin.   Here is a commentary on this verse as well as verse 2:1. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” This statement must be so read as to harmonize with the statement that if we are born of God, we shall not commit sin; for “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in him.” John says, “I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning.” “Whoso abideth in him sinneth not,” that is, does not wilfully transgress the law of God; for “sin is the transgression of the law.” But what conclusion are we to draw from the profession of those who claim to be sanctified, to be living without sin, and yet who openly cast contempt upon the law of God? They claim to possess advanced piety, and at the same time, by thought, and word, and deed, they transgress the law, and teach others by precept and example that they may sin with impunity. John tests their pretentious claims, and says, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not; whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” Those who claim to be sanctified, and who at the same time openly defame the law of God, are in terrible deception, and are blasphemers of the God of heaven. John says, “Let no man deceive you; he that doeth righteousness [keeps the commandments of God] is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin [transgresses the law] is of the devil.” God has placed the transgressor of the law in the ranks of the powers of darkness, in the company of the first great apostate. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Even those who are striving in sincerity to keep the law of God, are not always free from sin. Through some deceptive temptation, they are deceived, and fall into error. But when their sin comes home to their conscience, they see themselves condemned in the light of the holy precepts of God’s law; but they do not war against the law which condemns them; they repent of their sin, and seek pardon through the merit of Christ, who died for their sins in order that they might be justified by faith in his blood. They do not avoid confession and repentance when the neglected law of God is brought to their attention, by exclaiming, as do the self-righteous pretenders to holiness, “I am sanctified, I am holy, and I can not sin.” This is the class whom the apostle rebukes; for he says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” It is evident that where a claim to sinlessness is made, there the law of God has not been written in the heart; for the commandments of God are exceeding broad, and are discerners of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The apostle speaks words of encouragement to those who realize that they are sinners, and says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” “If we say we have no sin,” when our thoughts, words, and actions, reflected from the law of God, the great moral mirror, reveal us as transgressors, we make God a liar, and prove that his word is not in us. {ST, April 30, 1896 par.3-5} So these verses can be understood in context.  No matter that we may not be sinning willfully.  It might be unknown to us that we are in error.  When this knowledge comes however we do not put off repentance.  But we thank God for showing us our unknown sin which he has brought to our conscience and let it go no matter how much the flesh wants to justify it.   Because God has our best interest in mind.  Though his word might conflict with the feelings and our eyes. “we walk by faith not by sight”[2 Corinthians 5:7] Faith is not based on feelings, but faith comes by the word of God.   Many times we have to walk contrary to our feelings however “all things work together for good to those that love God. Abraham had the feeling that it wasn’t a good idea to sacrifice his son.  However, Gods word was spoken.  So Abraham trusted Gods word having the promise that Isaac was to be “his only begotten son of who the promise was given, that in Isaac thy seed shall be called”[Hebrews 11:17,18].  Abraham by faith trusted that though he would offer his son as a burnt offering that God was able to raise him up again and keep both of his promises. 2 Peter 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 2 Peter 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Faith against faith we have to believe the promises.  God says “go and sin no more”.  Should we argue and say that it is impossible?  Or should we believeand trust in him that he is able to “keep us from falling”[Jude 24].  This is what Jesus meant when he said “believe in me”[John 14:1].  It means have complete trust in him.  It’s not just to “believe as the devils believe”[ James 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

David sinned willfully 

David did many wicked things that he had to learn from.  David repented of his deeds.  However David had lost his salvation.   In his prayer after his wickedness with Bathsheba he prayed. Psalms 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; The reason that someone needs it restored is because they have lost it.  David needed to be born again.  He was walking after the flesh and need to be saved.  He needed God to “Restore unto him the joy of salvation”. David did many abominable acts.  Some of them knowingly, some unknowingly.  However their came a point in David’s life where he could again say. Psalms 119:67  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Like a lost sheep David went astray.  But now after all these wicked sins he has kept Gods word. We cannot obey on any power of our own.  We must completely deny self.   Look to the cross and see his love for us and why he kept his fathers commandments. We must like David say: Psalms 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. This act of “creation” can only be performed by the word of God.  If you allow his word to speak and do in you what it says it will do, you can walk away in this very instant saying I have the victory in Christ Jesus.   God has spoken and his word is true.   Christ worketh in me mightily.  It is not the old heart evolving over a hundred years.  But it is a new heart created in an instant by the word of God.    God has said “let there be light”. 2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. A new creation. Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. This is not an evolution process.  The new birth is now.  To be born is the beginning of our walk with God.  As a baby Christian born again of God. . 1Jn 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. This is not something that happens when we become an old Christian.  This is the birth.  The beginning of our walk with God. Some will present the objection that we sin if we have been tempted.  They believe that temptation is a sin.  The bible does not say that. Hebrews 4:15  For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. We have a high priest who was tempted in all points like us.  He didn’t sin. Hebrews 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. God will help us when we are tempted. 1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. God allows us to be tempted.  But no temptation can take us as God has given us the way of escape.   If a thought has entered our mind we must turn from it immediately and go to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; Yes every thought.  Trusting him always.  He knows what’s best for us.  Don’t doubt it.  Have faith.  Believe the promises.  It is when you give into the thought that it becomes sin. James 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James 1:16  Do not err, my beloved brethren [[Psalms 16:8  I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. If we have him before us sometimes we will be moved sometimes.  If we have him always before us we will not be moved. Revelation 14:5  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. Revelation 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. Revelation 15:3  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Here is the patience of the saints, here are they who by the faith of Jesus have the victory over sin

Everlasting Gospel

Gospel the Same Given to Patriarchs and Prophets of Old

The Everlasting Gospel does not change from one generation to the next. God gave the same gospel to Abraham many years before the death of Christ.

Galatians 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

The same gospel found in the New Testament was also found in the Old Testament.  It was preached to Abraham.  Abraham was justified by faith.  This gospel was spoken to Moses who was pointed to the everlasting covenant that was given to Abraham.

The Covenant given to Moses and Abraham was a Covenant of faith.  Righteousness by faith.   The bible says “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”(Galatians 3:6).

Some would say that before the cross they lived a different gospel under a different Covenant which justified people by their works and their keeping of the law.  However God has said “Without faith it is impossible to please Him”(Hebrews 11:6).

True Faith brings Obedience to God’s Commandments 

ark of covenant, 10 commanendments

In Hebrews 11 we read of many patriarchs and prophets who “by faith….obeyed”(Hebrews 11:8) as did our Father “Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes and my laws.”(Genesis 26:5).

The everlasting gospel comes with an everlasting covenant which God has promised to us.  He has not only promised us that we will be “joint-heirs with Christ”(Romans 8:17) of the world to come.  But he has promised us “the Spirit of his Son”(Galatians 4:6) so that we might do the will of our Father in heaven.

The promise isn’t given to those who will attempt to overcome of themselves, but those who simply will accept the word as it reads and the promises contained in the word.  “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”(Roman 10:17).

It is not your works that grant you merit with God.  It is your faith in the promise that “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”(Phillipians 2:13).   This Covenant is the New Covenant.  The Covenant that was ratified by the blood of Christ.

Fellow Inheritors of the New Heaven and Earth 

This is the everlasting Covenant that was established with Abraham.  That God will write his laws on our hearts and we shall become “Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”(Galatians 3:29)  becoming a “a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise isnot of men, but of God.”(Romans 2:28, 29).   No longer “without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”(Ephesians 2:12) but “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”(Ephesians 2:19).

It is not of ourselves, it is not our works, it is God who works mightily in us to do his good works in us if we by grace through faith accept the promise.(See Ephesians 2:8-10).  This Covenant was offered to the Israelites in the Old Testament, but rather than accepting the promises of God by faith, they made promises of their own.  Was it something of themselves?  Gods promise to keep them was good and there was no need for them to answer “All that the LORD has said WE WILL DO”(Exodus 19:8).  Were they going to hold themselves up on eagles wings.(See Exodus 19:4, 5).  “The law was holy, just and good”(Romans 7:7).  But the promise of the people was not.

Hebrews 8:6-10  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.  (7)  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.  (8)  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:  (9)  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.  (10)  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house ofIsrael after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

There was no fault with the promises of God.  The fault was with the promises of the people.  The people established a Covenant of works saying “All that the LORD has said we will do”.   God allowed them to learn that it is “not of yourselves… lest any man should boast”(Ephesians 2:8, 9).

The Covenant is New in the sense that it was ratified at the cross.  However,  the Covenant is everlasting in the sense that it has been in existence even before the cross.  No man can be justified by the law and no man was ever justified by the law.   But he is justified by faith.  He has to “believe that God is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him”(Hebrews 11:6).

The Faith of Jesus and the Mark of the Beast 

Diligently seeking God is almost a work to some.  But it is a labor of faith.  If we read the following passage carefully we see the foundation of the message is to rest from our labors and accept “the faith of Jesus” himself to work in us.  There is a lot of knowledge that you may have, but there is nothing more important to understand than this message right now.

Revelation 14:6-13  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,  (7)  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.  (8)  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylonis fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.  (9)  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,  (10)  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:  (11)  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.  (12)  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.  (13)  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

May Father bless you with wisdom and knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ so that you might have the power of the Holy Spirit in order to have the victory over all sin by the Faith of Jesus Christ, keeping his commandments and giving the call with a loud voice to Fear the true God who does not change and to warn the world that “Babylon is fallen” and to “come out of her”(Revelation 18:4) and to take heed from the beast, it’s image and the mark of the beast.

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