New Testament Church Practices
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Church Practices
February 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment
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The Roots Of Today’s Apostasy
February 17th, 2008 · No Comments
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An overview of today’s Apostasy and its Roots By Steve Bostrom
A biblical appraisal of God’s people
“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice liked a trumpet and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways as a nation that did righteousness and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God” (Isa. 58:1-2)
“Behold the LORD’S hand is too shortened, that it cannot save: neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear. For you hands are defiles with blood, and your fingers wit iniquity: your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity and speak lies, they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but is far off from us. Four our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; in transgressing and lying against the LORD and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. Isa.59:1-15
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to
Note: the spiritual influences that conspired to erect the Tower of Babel have maintained their control over the world down through the ages through…Mystery Babylon (Esoteric Occultism) and Babylon City (Multinational Finance and Commerce)… as exemplified by the Whore. Mystery
The predeccessors of vast sectors of the Evangelical Church World long ago were turned over to spiritual captivity. They were placed under many of the influences for the same Babylonian spirits of Religiosity that made the Roman Catholic Church a major Enemy stronghold and a mighty instrument in his hands.
1. The early Church under siege The Babylonian/Roman spirits’ assault was launched near the outset of the a) The judaizers (whose roots went back to the Babylonian Talmud) were used to negate the efficacy of faith in Christ’s full provision for sinful man… replacing it with a legalistic bondage to the O.T, commandments b) The Nicolaitanes fostered the separation of clergy and laity with its ecclesiastical, hierarchic structuring. An intermediary ministerial body to officiate between the Godhead and the members. The use of administered “sacraments” to justify their superior status and the passive, paying, spectator-devotees c) False apostles, “Jezabels”, dabblers in the depths of Satan and other proficient in simulated gifts, fostered their way into influential church niches d) The “Balaam merchants” peddled whatever messages they could make a living off of (whatever would sell) among the churches.
2. Negligence Ignoring Christ’s admonition to the Asian churches, and those of Jude and Peter, God’s people did not purge from their midst, nor close their doors to, the adherents of …Corrosive teachings…Seductive giftings…Carnal lifestyles
3 Undermined within decades, in an orchestrated subversion, the Babylonian/Roman spirits had burrowed their way into the Church through the agency of ambitious instrumentalities.
4 Turned over to captivity In following centuries they overthrew Christianity and gained authoritarian control over her.
5 Repercussions Over a millennium later, as the Reformation movement gathered momentum, the Protesters against Catholicism sought to reform Paganized Christianity rather that replace it with an entirely biblical and Spirit-filled model. a) Their primary focus was not that of dealing with the sin and carnality that lurked in the hearts of the churched and unchurched, to see them effectively removed by Christ’s full provision. b) They retained numerous non-biblical doctrines traditions, and practices c) Consequently, they permitted a bridge over which many Babylonian/Roman spirits would cross form Catholicism into Protestantism and subvert it.
6 Self-perpetuating curses neither the Protestant Reformers nor their Evangelical, Pentecostal and Charismatic descendants have ever fully repudiated severed or annulled the Babylonian/Roman spirits access, influence, and control over them… Nor the entirety of the religious system those spirits propagate while clothed in the sheep’s clothing of Christianity. They have reformed Paganized Christianity to more biblical dimensions. a) Much as had occurred when b) Likewise, Protestantism’s Reformation merely occupied some of the Babylonian/Roman spirits domain and contained them. They later corrupted Christ’s followers, gained ascendancy, and spiritually overthrew them.
7 Babylon’s adopted daughters Also, most movements, which at one time had begun outside the Protestant Religious establishments’- In a sincere return to Scriptural practices and beliefs and in “Revival” Eventually succumbed to the Religious System they once protested a) They lost their spiritual distinctiveness and glory b) They were absorbed into the Harlet’s vast family…much as what happened to the early church after the first century c) Having once begun in the spirit they latter continued in the flesh through legalism and the dead letter. Falling into the same dangers and consequences from which Paul had sought to protect the Galatians church.
The reviving of the old Roman Spiritual Empire and the church’s unwitting participation
2. Peter’s Proverbs Among Protestants. Among growing numbers, there is a drift towards more Romish liturgical forms of ‘worship’, and their corresponding ‘Nicolaitane’ ecclesiastical structures. Consider . . . : II Pet. 2: 11-19-20-21-22.
3. “Silver and Gold Have We Much.” Today’s Christianity possesses an increasing abundance of material resources, finances, and economic clout. She is becoming adept at the generation of, and a reliance on, profit margins. She is making use of lucre to strengthen her footing within this world system, as a necessary and well justified means to gain more followers.
4. Propagandists Brainwashing the Church – Spirits of Error Everywhere. Not unlike the media’s barrage on Western society, using blatant propaganda techniques, disseminating mis-information, opinion manipulation, and, values clarification . . . is the enemy’s successful assault on the Church.
5. Spiritual Subversion Made Easy – Believing Every Spirit. The Babylonian/Roman spirits accomplished occult simulations of the gifts and ministries, attributed to the Holy Spirit’s anointing, have pervasively infiltrated the Church and deceived multitudes that bear Christ’s Name. The Church has not tested every spirit, but rather has allowed almost anything supernatural, that is not overtly occult, into the church and behind the pulpit, not examining their fruits, to discern their spiritual source of inspiration.
6. Inadvertent Accomplices – The Sightless Parade. Sincere but deceived ministries trust and naively follow those they perceive to be their spiritual seniors.
7. Key Truths Compromised. Even Carnality’s hold on the soul, and the condoning of sin among the general church membership can be traced indirectly to the doctrines tampered with by the Babylonian/Roman spirits.
8. Oh, For Opened Eyes!! The Babylonian/Roman spirits can be seen in their deceptive and manipulative work over many churches and ministries by some gifting of the Holy Spirit’s discernment, empowered to peer into the spiritual dimension.
9. Soon To Be Courted By The Anti-Messiah. With the continuing successes of the Babylonian/Roman spirits at eroding the beliefs and practices of general Christendom, unless there is a total reversal in the established trends, it is quite conceivable that one day soon she will be duped into receiving the False Messiah.
C. Betrayal By The Judas Iscariot Company – Brother Against Brother. Many times, not only is the Enemy successful in orchestrating the downfall of God’s people, and luring them into such deception, sin, and rebellion that God must eventually forsake them . . . He later abducts them and forges then into an unwitting, but formidable force against those who truly continue to pursue the Lord and His purposes.
B The apostate gospel The preaching of paraphrased version The focus and emphasis of Contemporary churches (Evangelical, Pentecostal, and Charismatic included) are considerably divergent from that which Christ came to preach and establish. 1. The true credentials Christ and his apostles preached…Repentance, faith, obedience, holiness, love as necessary qualifications and evidences for the possession of eternal life. 2. Bringing in false hopes to their ranks, and deceiving multitudes . Those basic elements are making a decision for Christ, invited him into one’s heart, responded to a salvation altar call, said “The sinners prayer” made a profession of faith etc. (as if the saying of certain “magic” word were sufficient). Believing (giving mental assent to) the basic orthodox evangelical doctrines. Conforming to an acceptable standard of outward behavior, free from unseemly demeanor. Attending certain church meetings and activities with some regularity. These 4 basic elements do not conform to the above-mentioned N.T. standards. The inner life and heart-condition of Today’s Christians are ignored altogether. The misrepresentations of the true Gospel’s requirements and promises foster a false hope and counterfeit conversion leading the unwary traveler to a surprise destination, Hell!! When they plummet off the end of life’s road. 3. Doing what is right in their own eyes. The apostate churches greed various combinations of the 4 following trendsetters in direction their congregations: Traditions of men, Celebrity ministries; every wind of doctrine: Today’s Elder and the Sanhedrin (Man’s board, committees, consultants, councils,) Almost no church anywhere corporately seeks to hear and obey “what the Spirit is saying to the churches” The congregation hears what the pulpiteers say to the churches and at times even hear God “getting a word in edgewise” However, there is no congregation-level follow-through. To hear is not enough.. They each do what is right in their own eyes. 4. Majoring on minors The ministers preach and promote to the public what is important to them. What ever the public is in the market for, that is fix bad circumstances, bless finances, enable for success, heal emotional wounds, answer prayer, give joy and peace, baptize with tongues are promoted intensely. However the means of applying is power to break sin’s chains of …Lack of self control, intemperance, addictions, inner obsessions and compulsions, gluttony, lusts, perversions, fornication, homosexuality, contentions, drunkenness, resentments, gate, greed, materialism, criticism, complaining, murmuring, impatience, foolishness, anger, worldliness, marital estrangement, irreconcilable differences, envy, covetousness, jealousy, pride, vanity, dishonesty, lying, deception, hypocrisy, religiosity, idolatry, occultism, rebellion, ungratefulness, selfishness, etc…are virtually ignored. Overlooked is His power to completely deliver His children form the curse of Adam’s inherited nature…through the Spirit sanctification/cleansing /baptism filling, sealing adoption second-birthing. The ministers cannot lead others into what they themselves do not posses. 5. Deceived and seduced by their own desires (lusts) the public flocks to the apostate ministers in droves to hear echoed the fleshly values and aspirations of their own selfish hearts. They seek spiritual help from them to attain their self-centered goals, while appeasing their conscience. 6. Religiously incorrect It is now improper to call sin by its name. The religiously incorrectness of addressing the negative issues and traits in the spiritual life of the church, the ministers and of the members for fear of …Offending parties, damaging their self-image, being disparaged by the “affirmationists” Has neutralized the Gospel’s power. The hew and cry of “lack of love” is raised against it everywhere!! The true full Gospel is personally meaningless and powerless in the lives where there has been no prior conviction of sin. There can be no conviction of sin without the accusatory proclamation of the moral law’s immutable standards and the damnation their violation incurs. Good news is not good news unless one has been overwhelmed with the bad which the good has come to remedy. Christ’s new law’s even more stringent than the Mosaic law, its habitual violators (Christians and non Christians alike) will be eternally damned. Consider Mt.5:17-18: Heb 2:1-4 1Cor. 6:9 It is the law aided by the Spirit’s conviction of sin which has been appointed to be “the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Gal. 3:24 7. Band-aids Today’s salaried flock-herders shroud Corpus Christ’s inner rigor mortis with Religiously Correct (and culturally approved) vocabulary . . . making its diagnosis more palatable, though misleading . . . while avoiding the alarm, required for implementing the essential radical lifesaving measures. 8. Fatal Mistake The failure to address the Sin Issue properly results in the grieving of the Spirit of Life and permits Spiritual Death’s cold breath to disable the hearts of most. 9. A Tough Pill To Swallow Also, neglected has been Christ’s Full Provision for victory over sin and sinfulness by mean of denying one’s self, being a true disciple of Christ, having one’s carnal, sinful nature replaced with Christ’s nature by the Spirit’s Sanctification filling, and, and active faith. 10. Falsifying The Gospel Any Christian doctrine which licenses the adamic carnal nature in the life of a Christian and provides for alternative remedies for its ills, is a False Gospel. a. The true Gospel message as taught by Paul, and confirmed to him by Peter, James, and John, includes a thorough dealing with sin and its source in one’s carnal/adamic nature, and the regrettable consequences of consenting to their ongoing presence and work in the heart. b. In addition to Paul’s writing, the Epistles of Peter, James, John, Jude and the Letter to the Hebrews each addresses the flesh/carnality issue from its unique perspective, attesting to the same. c. In God’s eyes, the corollary may be valid as well: The minister which proclaimes the Gospel falsely is a False Minister.
C. The Apostate Belief System – Based on the Letter That Killeth Modern Christianity’s Bible-based beliefs, teachings, and giftings are but the skeletal remains of the pulsating realities “IN Christ Jesus,” once enjoyed by the Infant Church.
- ‘Christian’ (in its usage, both as a noun, and as an adjective), - ‘Spirit-filled,’ - ‘Spirit-baptized,’ - ‘Gospel,’ - ‘Worship’, - ‘Repentance,’ - ‘Holy Hands,’ - ‘Anointing,’ - ‘Sin,’ - ‘Gifts,’ - ‘Healing,’ - ‘Carnal,’ - ‘Talents,’ - ‘Miracle,’ - ‘Faith,’ - ‘Offering,’ - ‘Inspiration,’ - ‘Believe,’ - ‘Edify,’ - ‘Blessing,’ - ‘Church,’ etc.
3. Tidbits :But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept: line upon line: here a little, and there a little: that they might . . . fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.” (Isa. 28:13) Employing a vast variety of divers and sundry Minimal Dosage biblical truths, the
4. Imaginary Christianity Mere words (even anointed at times), and not the realities they were meant to portray, are the essence of Today’s Christianity. The knowledge of the doctrine has been mistaken for the possession of its reality and experience. Likewise, the mental endorsement of doctrines has replaced true living faith in the Word they portray.
5. Substitutions Not Accepted The Lord indicted His own people of Jeremiah’s day for the same substitutionary practices that prevail today. Consider . . . : Jer. 7:22-26; 2:13.
D. Apostate Infidelity – Harlotry With the Golden Calf of Their Imagined God
2. Today, people’s ‘faith’ is founded more on their leader’s doctrinal eloquence . . . Than on the “power of God” by “the power and the demonstration of the Holy Spirit.” Consider . . . : 1 Cor. 2:1-5
3. More Homonyms – Hazardous Foundations Universally, the terminologies to receive Christ, and to know Christ are used inappropriately as synonyms for . . .
- Its Head, - His doctrines, - His behavioral requirements, and - Regular attendance of church meetings.
4. Conceptual Idolatry & Christianity’s Golden Calf Not having had a true revelation of the Lord, originating in the Spirit of God . . . well crafted simulations have been fashioned . . .
1) Their Conceptual Idolatry is partially based on Biblical descriptions of divine attributes . . . supplemented by modifications of their own innovation . . . in keeping with the standards they feel they can adhere to. 2) Their carnal hearts have deluded them into thinking God in quite sympathetic and tolerant to their besetting weaknesses and sins. - “After all, He knows we’re just human.” - “His love covers a multitude of sins.” - “Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more (and covers out ongoing sinning.)” 3) To their imaginary god they project their prayers knowing no real communion that would hold them in its grip for hours at a time. 4) They have deluded themselves into thinking that they know Him. b. Word Games They have substituted the theological and intuitive definition of their reprobate human mind and authorities. For a true experiential knowledge and revelation of the Godhead. c. Angle of Light The ‘God’, the ‘Christ’, and the ‘Holy Spirit’ that many serve today are not the members of the Godhead they imagine them to be . . . but master imposters . . . 1) They serve an invisible, abstract, ‘Golden Calf’. A ‘Father’, a ‘Savior’, and a ‘Holy Spirit’ fashioned in their own likeness, to whom they ascribe the names of the Godhead. 2) Theirs in not an Idolatry of statues or icons. It is an Idolatry of mental images or concepts to which they ascribe the names of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit, when, in fact they are not . . . much as painting (an icon) or a statue is a representation of the idolater’s object of worship. 3) One’s idea of who God is has supplanted the place of God Himself!! A subtle but crucial distinction!! d. Utterly Deceived Behind many of the Conceptual Idols and Evangelical Icons are deceiving demonic entities . . . 1) Receiving the misdirected prayers and worship, 2) Selectively giving blessings and answers to prayer, 3) Inspiring false giftings, 4) Personifying the Godhead, and . . . 5) Deceiving unwary multitudes who are made vulnerable by . . . a) Their lack of a true Biblical Covenant-Commitment b) Jesus Christ, according to His stipulated terms. c) Their selective belief systems. d) Their “lack of Knowledge.” c. Graven Images In direct violation of the First and Second Commandments, representatives images of the Godhead of various types are prominently displayed most everywhere in Christendom . . . 1) The dove, depicting the Holy Spirit, is used universally. It happens to be a pre-Christian symbol of the pagan version of the Holy Spirit. It also represents a pre-Catholic incarnation of the Madonna (later, Mary, Guadalupe, and others). 2) Also, images of the Lamb, the Lion, the Fish, a Tongue of Fire (and now the Horse of Revelation), and others are found throughout Christendom. Coincidentally, these are also part of the religions derived from Nimrod’s Tower. 3) Christendom justifies the violation of His First Two Commandments, and other practices, with the arguments, that . . . a) The Enemy counterfeits that which is God’s. b) The same symbols were employed by the Christian of the first centuries. c) Everybody today, except fanatics, uses them.
E. The Apostate Worship – Sounding Brass and Tinkling Cymbals Today’s worship is well orchestrated, but empty: and deprived of true anointing.
3. Excellence in Simulation – Filling in for the Holy Spirit A full, intense, true, presence and anointing of the Lord are absent from nearly all ‘worship’, both in meetings and on recordings. a. Substituting for the Holy Spirit is human Excellence in . . . - Gifted song service leaders. - Talented vocalists. - Master musicians. - Inspired Biblical lyrics. - And last, but not least, superb sound and recording systems. b. So proficient is the Excellence that most people do not seem to mind (or notice) the Holy Spirit’s absence.
4. Hypocrisy Though each participant frequently feels his expression of worship to be empty, he exerts himself with the simulated joy of fulfillment . . . thinking that he is the only one having difficulty . . . when, in fact, nearly the entire congregation feels the same emptiness.
5. True and False Worship
1) Singing and saying thins that have to bearing on the realities held in the hearts of the ‘worshippers’. 2) Employing “vain repetitions,” ascribing to the Lord holiness or worthiness, without even having a small realistic notion of what they may be. 3) Singing hypocrisies and lies, expressing one’s love for Him, when the daily lifestyle, values, and choices exhibit a love for one’s self.
F. The Apostate Curse – Smitten with Blindness Because of not having persisted in their ‘First Love,’ even while continuing to send them His Word and His wonders, He has permitted a ‘spirit of slumber’ to be given to His people. “His table has been made unto them a stumbling” and, they have been given “eyes, ears, and a heart that perceive not.” Consider . . . : Isa. 29:10-11; Rom. 11:7-11; Ezek. 3:27; 12:2; Dt. 29:2-4; Isa. 6:9-10; 28:11-13.
2. The Apostate Anointing On God’s Word Not uncommonly, bearing a faithful witness to Himself, He provides anointing and inspiration for the preaching of His Word in pulpits everywhere (and some places He blesses with certain ‘supernatural’ giftings). a. However, the Word is perennially infantile in its spiritual content . . . “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept: line upon line: here a little, and there a little.” b. Neither in the heart of the hearers. Nor, many times, in the heart of the speakers . . . is it accompanied by the word of . . . the “Sprit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Christ Jesus, to illumine the eyes of their understanding” . . . His conviction of Sin, or . . . the Fear of the Lord . . . c. The Word’s effect on the hearers is not unlike the hearing of the O.T. Law . . . it imparts some knowledge of the Divine Standard and promises, while . . . neither removing ‘the veil’ placed over their understanding, nor . . . providing the enablement to attain them.
3. Buried Treasures The Lord generally keeps certain ingredients, necessary for the full appropriation of His provisions IN Christ, hidden . . . those that make the N.T. standard and promises attainable . . . (though they remain there in His Word) . . . Consider . . . : Mt. 13:11-15.
1) An understanding of the full provisions of Christ’s Gospel and grace that bring the Spirit’s true fullness, power, and enablement into the church and until one’s life, and . . . 2) The capability to exercise a focused, applied faith therein. c. They have been displaced by the belief in a Partial Gospel that produces only a powerless Babylonian/Roman “form of godliness.” d. Multiplied preaching, teaching, seminars, and conventions will not remedy the deficiencies of the hidden Missing Ingredients.
4. God’s True Servants Among the Apostates The Lord does not leave the Apostates without a message.
- Obscuring the very message they proclaim, from those of a reprobate mind, which include . . . - The self-righteous, - The willful, - The proud, - The insincere, and, - The content in their carnality, - Those content with religious Christian placebo.
5. ‘Revival’ – and Apostate Conventions & Seminars The continued teaching and preaching of manifold doctrines will not hasten the expected End Time ‘Revivals’ . . . a. Neither will increasing ‘expertise’ on eschatology or on the prophetic symbolisms portrayed by the O.T.’s ‘types and shadows’ . . . b. Nor will ‘Revival’ Conferences. c. If the Scribes and Pharisees of Christ’s day, ‘missed it’ totally . . . with all their dedication, study and expertise. Today’s teachers (‘types and shadows’ and eschatology experts not excluded) have no guarantee of possessing a sufficiently accurate assessment of the Last Days’ scenario to prepare their disciples to be active participants in the Lord’s Last Day purposes. Most likely, they all will ‘miss it,’ given the Church’s current state.
G. The Tower of
3. Babel & the Local Church – a House Divided Against Itself Gene Edwards has observed in his book In the Face of a Church a. Both the typical Christian worker and the general churchgoer will most likely pass through at least three major cataclysmic church schisms by his fiftieth birthday . . . b. His chance of surviving even one church split, spiritually in one piece, is less than 50%, and . . . c. Of the 250,000 Protestant congregations in the United States, a twelve month period is likely to see a minimum of 5,000 to 10,000 of them undergo splits.
H. The Prodigal Church – From the Banquet Table to the Trough Leaving the Lord and striking out on her own, Christianity dissipates her inheritance and misplaces her affections on a worldly values.
2. Misplaced Confidence in Laodicean Riches a. Abundant power, gifts, worship, anointing, ministry of the Word, doctrine, skills and talent, prestige, financial and material resources, real estate, and buildings, etc., have blinded the Church to true riches. b. Testimonies to widespread conversions, financial blessings, physical healings, visions, prophecies, supernatural signs and wonders, words of knowledge, ad infinitum . . . only serve to reinforce the simulation of Abundant Life among the many that stalk the candlestick-less assemblies. c. Her ministers enjoy the lavish luxuries of Five-Star hotels as they minister from place to place . . . but have no “eternal weight of glory,” occasioned by the “light momentary afflictions,” of tribulations, persecutions, jailings, etc.
3. “Thou Hast a Name That Thou Livest, and Art Dead.” The Church’s appearance of Life, ministry, and fruitfulness offers ‘something for everyone,’ but is of minimal spiritual consequence in their daily lives. a. She caters to people’s emotional, mental, and religious needs . . . but provides them with no spiritual impact. b. Symptomatic are the church youth groups . . . providing many attractive activities geared to aid the youth spiritually, and to protect them from worldly alternatives . . . but with negligible fruit. 1) Most of their young people are only slightly less worldly than the North American unchurched pagan youth. 2) Only a few continue on in the church as married adults . . . the majority is absorbed back into the world.
4. Babylon’s Use of Concrete and Steel True to its cultural values, the larger her following, the more successful and fulfilled Today’s Church feels . . . mistaking volume for caliber . . . Expending much effort in the quest of numerical growth.
1) In deference to pragmatism, the operation becomes even more tither-dependent, and consequently . . . 2) It must do nothing to alienate the contributors. i. Repentance and holiness (offensive and unreasonable to many of the current and potential givers) are replaced by cheap simulations. As a result, like proliferating termites, Sin burrows throughout the very foundation of the church. j. Cultivating and preserving holiness, once a major aspiration, now receives only token verbal recognition when the protocol calls for it. k. The presence of Sin and Carnality has become an everyday (but ignored) reality in that which at one time aspired to be “glorious, pure, spotless, and without wrinkle”. l. The church becomes a place of spiritual Death, not Life. m. Concrete & Steel is a veritable millstone around the neck of Wood, Hay, & Stubble, whose weight sets her plummeting on a collision course with the Sea’s Bottom.
5. Holy Wars & Carnal Weapons Today’s Church fights the wrong battles with the wrong armaments.
- Sin’s cumulative momentum within society; - Her decadence; - The aggressive and persistent efforts of Esoteric Occultism to further Satan’s designs; - The presence and work of Hell’s Hordes throughout society; and . . . - The ubiquitous New Age and One-World conspirators.
6. The Whitewash Brigade With most local churches, care is given primarily to the outward appearance of the members . . . while within lurk some of the most putrid forms of rottenness and “dead man’s bones.” a. Ignoring and/or covering up the loathsome sight, the ministry applies generous amounts of whitewash: the whitewash includes Religiosity’s: Good preaching, good music, good worship, Sunday morning platform productions, aggressive evangelism, admirable relief efforts, compassionate generosity, commendable behavior, and good works. Consider Mt. 23. b. Using another analogy, to cover up her nakedness, Today’s Christianity dons grimy used clothes. Consider Isa. 64:6a.
7. Ecclesiastic Delinquency – Prodigal & Adulterous Much as children without the discipline of firm standards and ‘the rod’ from wise, caring, and discerning parents, become willful, rebellious, and delinquent . . . a. The local assembly becomes a spiritually prodigal church . . . without absolute holiness, faith, and doctrinal standards . . . enforced by prayer, counsel, and church discipline. b. She is given to indulging her lusts. c. Having willfully strayed from the Lord to strike out on her own . . . she wantonly dissipates her spiritual inheritance . . . and now subsists on a starvation diet.
I. God’s Response to the Apostate Church – Divorce, Abandonment, and Banishment to Captivity Spiritual infidelity lead to an estrangement of the heart from the Lord. His Word, communion with Him in Intimate prayer, and His abiding presence . . . once held by the Church in the highest esteem and affection . . . were compromised with other ‘lovers’ admitted to her heart . . . causing her to lose her fervor. Consider . . . : Jas. 4:4; Lk. 16:13-15; Col. 3:5.
I. Testimony From the Past O.T. & N.T. Scriptures and History demonstrate that the Lord eventually abandons those who persist in abandoning His full Word, and turns them over to increasingly severe judgments. Consider . . . : Neh. 9:26-31; Judg. 2:11-23; Ezra 8:22c.
II. With No Respect to Persons Neither lineage, heritage, or even a history blessed by God – spiritual or natural – provide any assurance of God’s ongoing favor, blessing, or election. Consider . . . : Jn. 8:33-47; I Cor. 9:23-27.
3. His Covenant People Not Excluded He not only allowed Judaism to die for not having persisted in the way He had established . . . He fully rejected Abraham’s descendants as His people, and repudiated His covenant with them (until the future repentance of a surviving remnant at Armageddon), though continuing to send then prophets (and now missionaries) to call out a remnant from among them. Consider . . . : Dt. 29:18-29; 28:15-68; Ezra 5:12; Hos. 2:1-13; Jer. 3:8; Isa. 50:1; 54:4, 7-9, 5.
III. Even His ‘Habitation’ People He withdrew His grace and blessing from Infant Christianity, as the Early Church abandoned the Gospel fundamentals and evolved into Catholicism, giving it over to the forces of Babylonian Darkness.
5. Our Age Not Exempted The aforementioned precedents testify to the plausibility of His forsaking Today those who claim to be His people, while no longer truly walking in His ways . . . a. For He is no respecter of persons, people, churches, ministries, movements, or denominations. b. He has no double standards, and has no ‘favorites’ to which He gives special considerations.
6. ‘Ichabod’ – Church Status Revoked & Diplomatic Relations Severed Upon forsaking His people, Ichabod occurs . . . a. The Presence of His active leadership and participation is withdrawn from His Church. b. Without the Holy Spirit’s active leadership and participation, in Christ’s eyes church ceases to be a church, and lapses into being merely a religious fraternity. c. With the withdrawal of the ‘candlestick,’ the local church forfeits Heaven’s recognition of it as Ecclesia.
7. Consider . . . : II Pet. 2: 4-10, Jude 5, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Judges, and Jeremiah.
IV. The Vast Array of Apostate Ministries Coping With the Absence of His Glory – ‘Making Do’ With What’s At Hand – Unskilled Laborers Doing It Their Way
B. Unskilled Labor Dominates the Market – Gold & Gem ‘Smithing’ Obsolete One of Ichabod’s effects is that Christ’s Master Artisans . . . His competent ministers of the Spirit and of the Full Gospel, skilled in working with “gold, silver, and precious stones” . . . seem to be near extinction. They have been replaced by unskilled laborers – untrained and inexperienced in Heaven’s crafts.
2. Sub-Standards The requirements for ministry, stipulated in I Timothy 3, Titus 1, and Acts 6, are waived altogether. Ability, charisma, doctrinal knowledge, seminary diplomas, gifting, ‘business sense,’ management skills, and ‘experience’ are far preferred above Christ-like character.
3. Third World Construction – Recycled Rubble & Stubble The earthly Carpenters’ & Masons Guild has revised the Third Heaven’s building code . . . once used by the ‘Precious Stones-&Metals-Smiths Guild’ . . . To one of Third World Standards.
4. The Apostate Carpenters’ & Masons’ Guild can be grouped into various overlapping ministerial categories. (A listing is found further below.)
C. The Masons’ Guild To the Rescue!! – Today’s Incarnation of False Apostles Denominational Powers-That-Be, Empire Builders, Congregation Collectors, Charismatic Bishops, Convention King-makers, Movement Manipulators, and those commissioned and recognized to be Apostles, but not by the Lord Jesus Christ . . . Have placed themselves as leaders in front of the meandering parades of Christendom.
- Make His known to the converted . . . - Aid in their being fashioned into His image, and . . . - Truthfully say, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” - Consider . . . : I Cor. 9:1; Gal. 1:15-16.
2. Under-Qualified With the breadth of experience and success, management skills, and doctrinal expertise, giftings, charisma, social dexterity, friends in high places, popularity ratings, financial supporters, and commissioning visions . . . These leaders of leaders offer their services to the fragmenting Church.
3. Short-Term Results Many are temporarily successful in reversing several negative trends in the Church (as gauged by Religiosity’s, not Heaven’s standards).
D. The Greed-Breed & Their Greed-Creed – Babylon’s Economics At Work. Ministering for profit, the Balaamite Hirelings adulterate the Word, prostitute their gifting, and market their ministry to gain the following and support of their Consumer-Disciples.
- To receive what they are entitled to. - To avoid unfairness and corrupt money management which result in many places, if financial remunerations are not agreed upon with the hosting churches. - To ‘make a living.’ - To broaden their financial base for increased ministry. - Because everybody else (who is successful) is doing it. - Etc. 3. Tapping Into the Vast Market The Greed-Breed includes many categories of ministry that prostitute the Word and their giftings, not only in the Word ministered in the congregational setting . . . but also with the profitable merchandising for their books, cassettes, videos, and CDs . . . by mail, in bookstores, on the table in the auditorium foyer, etc. They include: pastors, teachers, evangelists, prophets, apostles, and artists.
4. Booked or Sent? – Mega-Bucks From Mega-Flocks for Mega-Minist-e-e-rs The ‘best’ ministries circulate among the most lucrative markets . . .
5. Wolf Packs Some ministers are brazen ‘Christian’ con-artists (confidence men). a. To gain a following, a power base, and the financial resources necessary for a fulfilling career in Christianity . . . wolves, from within and from without, teach, preach, and prophesy whatever the market will bear, to produce their objectives. b. They roam freely, unchecked, and do much damage. c. Consider . . . : Acts 20:29-30; II Pet. 3:15-17
6. Pulpit Promotionals – Shearing the Sheep Project-plugging performances (Tonite Show style) are scheduled throughout the churches . . . not for the edification of the flocks, but for blatant promotion and fund-raising.
7. Getting the Word Out ‘For a Cut of the Take’ – New Meaning Given to “Living of the Gospel” Many merchandise Christ’s free Gospel, and even compete in the arena of the Gospel’s merchandise.
1) “How marketable is it?” Salability, and not true spiritual merit, is the underlying determining factor of most things that are marketed. 2) How profitable is it? “Can it generate enough remuneration to carry more than its own weight?” b. ‘State of the art’ marketing and fund-raising techniques maximize appeal to many Christian consumer groups . . . appealing to vast audiences, and . . . positioning their image to as ‘middle of the road’ as possible, within their targeted market. c. They include: - Special Balaam Edition Bible and Scripture portions. - Multiplied versions and editions of the Bible by profiteering publishers. - Christian books. - Christian magazines. - Christian bookstores. - Christian television networks and stations. - Christian radio station and programming. - Christian concerts. - Christian Holy Land and Asia Minor tours. - Christian vacation and recreation facilities. - Christian videos. - Christian artists’ CDs and cassettes. - Christian Christmas catalogues and gifts. - Even Christian worship choruses for overheads. - Etc., etc.
8. From ‘Den of Thieves’ to ‘Gospel Cartel’ The original incarnation of the Temple Merchants of Sacrifice of Christ’s day has now grown to a vast cartel serving multifaceted markets, and turning healthy profits by marketing derivatives of Christ’s free Gift. They ignore His guidelines, “Free you have received; freely five.”
9. Fleece Dealers – False Pastors Are Beholden to Their Flocks for Their Wool Their covetousness, their economic insecurities, and their fear of man, rule many shepherds instead of the Fear of the Lord and faith in Him, instilling them with a well developed sense of self-preservation.
1) Many of the flock have a preference for hallucinatory weeds over true pasture grasses. 2) To encourage grazing under their pastoral oversight, the shepherds ‘enrich’ or alternate the pasture grass with verdant hallucinogenic supplements and tasty junk food. a) Then, antidotes must be administered, to offset the side-effects of the non-foods the flock is grazing on. b) And so the vicious cycle is created, alternating between feeding the flock what it craves, and the antidote of good grass needed to calm the adverse reactions. 3) Should it be given normal and regular ‘feedings’ on the ‘true grass’ of the Word, the flock would feed more nauseous than it is accustomed to, and raise quite a bleating. c. The Dealers-in-Fleece cowardice is also exhibited at times in dealing with the ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ that circulate among the flock… - In not withstanding or combating them, but letting them wreak the damage they are inclined to.
E. PROPHECY SOPHISTRY - THE HANANIAH COMPANY [Sophistry – Unsound or misleading but clever, plausible, and subtle argument or reasoning. Webster’s New World Dictionary] 1. NEGLECTING CHRIST’S WARNING. The False Prophets are heralded and followed by multitudes for their gifting and ‘positive ministry… - Not for their fruit. 2. PLUGGED INTO THE WRONG SOURCCE. They make use of their wit, their intuitive faculties, and their spirits of divination to gain a following, leading the multitudes astray from being ‘IN CHRIST.’ 3. WITHSTANDING GOD’S TRUE PROPHETIC WORD. Just as Hananiah, “the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon,” spoke in the Temple prophetic utterances directly contrary to what God’s word was through Jeremiah… - Assuring the priesthood and the people that the Babylonian Captivity would soon be broken off, as a yoke would be, and that the sacred vessels and those taken captive would be shortly be returned from Babylon… Causing the people to “trust in a lie” … - So today’s Hananiah Company speaks soothing words, devoid of truth, to the people… - “That they are free, victorious, with nothing to worry about regarding Judgment or Captivity, and, - “That they are either now in Revival, or soon will be.”… And the people believe it. - (Consider Jer. 28.) 4. SOOTHING RELIEF FOR ITCHING EARS. Ministers with real anointing and supernatural gifting, but of demonic inspiration, preach, teach, and prophesy… - “Peace, peace,” when there is to be none. - Also, “Blessing, blessing,” “Success, success,” “Prosperity, prosperity,” “Victory, victory,” “Growth, growth,” and even, “Revival, revival.” 5. PROPHETICALLY CORRECT. Many of today’s prophets subscribe to the Religious Correctness of not saying anything too negative. - Their message is almost never, “Sin, sin,” “Judgment, judgment,” “Repent, repent,” or even “Jesus, Jesus!” a. Sins, (‘Christian’) sinners, and their corrupt heart are not challenged or exhorted. b. They “raise up their adobe walls covering them with untempered mortar,” when, in fact, the Lord does not want them raised, and will send His judgments to level them. c. Their message discourages the righteous, while ‘affirming’ those bound in carnality’s grasp, “promising them life.” - Consider Ezek. 13. 6. HAMPERED. Some prophets operate with true giftings of the Holy Ghost, but without opening themselves up to hear the ‘whole counsel of God,’ or to give it. a. Jesus, Who is the overseeing Spirit of the prophets, is not revealed through them. b. “The Spirit that is subject to the spirit of the prophet” (the source of anointing) will not utter things that are divergent from the personal convictions of the instrument, and so cannot deal with His people’s sins. c. Even when the prophets are out of the Lord’s will, or do not really know Him, the giftings will operate. d. Because of not being truly in tune with the heart-purposes of God, their authentic giftings can be misunderstood. e. Their ministry produces no spiritual growth into the likeness of Jesus. f. Their disobedience eventually opens them up to a deceiving spirit of divination (the demons responsible for false prophecies, visions, etc.) purporting to be the Holy Spirit. - Consider Num. 22:12-22; Josh. 13:22. E. THE SHOWMEN OF CHRISTIAN BOX OFFICE EXTRAVAGANZAS. Falso Evangelists and Artists packaged image and giftings assure them the greatest following possible. 1. SELF-ADULATION. Adept at today’s promotional techniques, the best showmen attract the most followers. a. They are billed as… - God’s chosen - Empowered to give anointed recitation of Scripture portions, accounts and truths. - Accompanied by their amazing gifts. - Producing thrilling testimonials. - Attested to by thousands in each city around the nation. - “Come and be blessed (and bring your wallet)!!” b. Their giftings, eloquence, wit, and publicity draw the multitudes… - But the Spirit’s Conviction of Sin stays away. 2. TOMORROW’S HAS-BEENS.’ Their populatiry is short-lived. - Yesterday’s superstar conference speakers today are broken and in oblivion. 3. UNSKILLED IN SPIRITUAL AGRICULTURE - PREMATURE HARVESTING. The heart of most of those drawn to the evangelistic campaigns has not been prpepared for true repentance, full self-denial total obedience, or a life filled with the HOLY Spirit. a. They are only prepared for healings, ‘words,’ and an easygoing ‘salvation’ experience. b. Without an adequate preparation-heart- of the masses ministered to, Today’s One-Man Combines churn up green field after green field. 4. FALSE EVANGELISTIC MESSAGE. Sin in not seriously addressed. As a whole, in presenting Christ to be believed in… - Sinfulness - Sins explicitly described and condemned, and - Their consequences… - Are not elaborated on… - Lest the potential converts become uncomfortable or offended, and reject the call. - “Just believe, just ask a quick blanket forgiveness of all your sins, just repeat the sinner’s prayer after me, and “Presto! You become a child of God.” In so doing, he remains a child of Hell, only now more greatly deceived. 5, AS IT WAS IN CHRIST’S DAY. It is the evil and adulterous generations that pursue signs, wonders, healings, miracles, multiplied bread and fish, resurrections… - And now Christian celebrities and artists. 6. Consider … : Mt. 12:39, 16:4; Jn. 12:9-18; Jas. 4:2-4 G. THE WORD-BENDERS. Tapping a growing Christian market, scholars and publishers tamper with the Holy Writ. 1. TONGUE TWISTERS. In many of this century’s Bible translations, more care is given to make the Scriptures more palatable and understandable to the Christian and non-Christian public… - Whose level of literacy and comprehension is plummeting in concert with the rest of Western society… - Than for integrity and accuracy. a. Poetic, or literary, license is indulged in, making the translations inaccurate and spiritually unreliable. b. the most accurate manuscripts are not closely adhered to. Others have a broader appeal. c. God will not honor His people’s believe in translation inaccuracies… - As He is only obligated to the Word that came forth from His mouth… - Nor will He give faith to believe what He never had said nor meant in the first place, but that somehow found itself within the covers of a book marketed as “The Bible.” 2. USER-FRIENDLY. In using the recommending Bible Translations, undiscriminating ministers consider ‘user-friendliness’ more important than ‘author-authenticated’… - As do undiscriminating believers. 3. AUTHOR-FRIENDLY. Contemporising the Biblical contents, the O.T. and N.T. prohibitions of adding to or taking from the words of the inspired Holy Writ are disregarded. a. The consent to such by the undiscriminating ministry and believers endangers them to the same consequences their perpetrators are sentenced to. b. “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after? 1 Tim. 5:24 c. Consider Dt. 4:2; Pr. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19 V. APOSTATE MINISTRIES DOUBLY CURSED! - SEVERE PENALTIES FOR TAMPERING WITH THE GOSPEL’S STANDARDS. A. PAUL’S TWO-FOLD ANATHEMA “But there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ, but though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1:7b-9) B. HUSHED REALITIES - THE EVIDENCES OF JUDGMENT ARE THERE TO BE SEEN BY THOSE WITH A DISCERNING EYE AND A SPIRITUAL VALUE SYSTEM. 1. UNMASKING. Peering behind the veneer of ‘success’ and ‘anointing’ hints of the ravages of Paul’s twofold anathema can be seen in the ministries (and their churches) 2. BY THEIR FRUITS. Any objective analysis, random or systematic, or churches and ministries. - which brings to light their daily ‘behind the scenes’ realities in such areas as a. the intemperate personality, attitude, and mood aberrations of the church leaders and ministries… - and their effect on their co-laborers b. the nature and intensity of their secret compulsions… - and their indulgence therein; c. the nature, frequency, and intensity of the crises their churches and ministries have passed through in the last few months, and … d. the level of true spirituality (or lack thereof) of the ministry and church staff… - Could well confirm that, in fact, God has withdrawn His presence, blessing, grace, and protection from Today’s Church, and abandoned it to the Enemy’s destructive fury. (Note: Those who practice poll-taking and surveys would expose a veritable ‘can of worms,’ were they to practice objective and penetrating research regarding the above Hushed Realities.) C. SOWING AND REAPING God has done the same with the Evangelical Religion of Today’s Apostate Christianity as He did with His previous peoples that became adulterous. - He has consigned them to a spiritual captivity under Babylon’s deception and tyranny.
VI. TO THE CAPTIVE CHRISTIAN NATION – “CAPTIVITY IS NOT MEANT TO BE FOREVER”
The road toward captivity for God’s Chosen People began by their breaking the First and the Second Commandments and making room for other gods (while not yet blatantly rejecting God) . . . - In their hearts; - Then, in their homes; - Later, on their high places; - And finally . . . - In their very Temple. - As a result, God could not remain among then. (II Cor. 6:14-18!!)
B. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS’ FIRST CURSE Generational curses that affect even innocent family members and their posterity are set in motion by “having other gods before Him.”
C. AFTER THE SENTENCES EXPIRATION – THEN & NOW In their call to abandon the land of their captivity, a parallel can be seen between the Israelites who had been consigned to the disciplinary judgments of Babylonian captivity, and the Christian peoples under the reign of Mystery Babylon’s Religiosity.
1. “COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE” – ANCIENT ISRAEL’S CALL TO RESTORATION
2. PERFERRING CAPTIVITY – ANCIENT ISRAEL’S RESPONSE TO HER CALL TO RESTORATION . . . a. Only a few complied with the call to leave Babylon and return to Jerusalem to rebuild her walls and temple. b. The vast remainder chose to remain in Babylon . . . - Knowing not the earlier way of life; - Indisposed to relinquish their lifelong attainments in Babylon; - Not desiring to be inconvenienced by leaving behind their hard-earned acquisitions, business relationships, dear friendships, or, family; - Unwilling to pioneer against overwhelming odds . . . - Nor believing the prophecies or the promises. c. Similarly, virtually all the Israelites born in Egyptian captivity resisted leaving the land of their captivity and repeatedly considered returning. - All but two died in the desert, without inheriting the promise, having fallen prey to a variety of sins and rebellion.
3. MANY ARE CALLED – FEW ARE CHOSEN As it was with the Israelites born in Babylonian captivity, so it is today . . . - Though many hear the call to, “Come out,” only a few respond. - Consider . . . : Jer. 50:8; 51:6, 45; II Cor. 6:17; Rev. 18:4
4. THE PENTECOSTAL MOVEMENT What occurred prior to the 1920’s in reference to the 20th Century Pentecostal Outpouring . . . - That might have generated the sentence extension of an additional 70 years more of captivity that Christianity has been under? - (There was a concerted effort on the part of God’s Spirit to bring Christianity out of bondage through that ‘Visitation.’) - Why are so few hearing Today the call to “come out”?
D. THE REMNANT – LANGISHING & NOWHERE TO TURN Within the Captive Christian Nation is a Remnant that has not full succumbed to the Babylonian Curse.
2. The great void felt by this dejected Remnant most clearly confirms that the Holy Spirit is no longer present in Today’s Church to meet their deeper spiritual longings . . . - Though the others’ ‘needs’ are being addressed on levels in which His involvement is not critical.
3. Most of the Remnant sighs at the plight of their ministers and their beloved brothers and sisters, and at that of their church.
4. A number of them maintain a strong, vital prayer life, interceding for their brethren around them.
5. With some, their sense of loyalty obligates them to remain.
6. Other will heed the call to “come out from among her” and return ‘home’ to help “rebuild the ancient ruins.”
7. Consider . . . : Ezek. 9:1-4-6
E. GOD’S CHOICEST TARGETED BY MISS BABYLON Babylonian Christianity can always use a good Man or Woman of God who is totally ‘sold out.’
- Though she never places them as C.E.O.’s . . . - As they would do ‘hatchet jobs’ on that which she is endeared to.
- It happened to Solomon. Though he had received two visions of the Lord, and the wisdom and inspiration to pen Proverbs, Solomon’s disobedience to the repeated warnings of avoiding the snares tended by alluring ‘strange women’ turned his heart away from the Lord. - Their influence later used him to strengthen Babylon’s grip over Israel, and accelerate the downward spiral of God’s people, towards the Bottomless Pit.
2. SPIRITUAL CHASTITY To retain their ‘Nazarite Vow,’ the Men/Women of God must discern and resist Babylonian Christianity’s enticements, and not capitulate to her overtures.
3. Consider . . . : 1 Kings 3:3-15; 9:2-9; 11:1-11; Prov. 2:12-19; 5; 6: 23-35; 7:6-27; 9:13-18.
VII. A REALISTIC ASSESSMENT – SUMMING IT UP
- Love, unity, brotherhood. - Not judging, not rejecting, being open-minded, tolerant. - Being affirming, sensitive, inoffensive. - Breaking down barriers; coming together on what they agree on. - Using what works; appealing to the masses. - Getting the Word out; drawing the net in. - Endorsement of the Word by the world’s celebrities, authorities, and sciences. - Getting their share of “the wealth of the wicked” to build up the kingdom of the righteous. - Omitting the more disagreeable and offensive parts of the message to gain a greater hearing and following. (Reasoning, “They can read and find out for themselves what they were not told. After all, it’s there in the Word.”) - Eating the meat and spitting out the bones; - Taking the good and leaving out the bad. (Reasoning, “if if is the Word it must be O.K.”) - Havin good fun. Taking some much need R&R. - Etc., etc.
- Friendship with the world. - Adultery. - Whoredoms. - Believers being unequally yoked with unbelievers. - Righteousness having fellowship with unrighteousness. - Light having communion with darkness. - Christ having concord with Belial. - He that believes having part with an infidel. - The temple of God having agreement with idols. - His people being among them: not being separate. - His people touching the unclean thing. - Consider . . . : James 4:4; II Cor. 6:14-17; Num. 14:33; Deut. 31:16; Jer. 2 – 11; Ezek. 16; 23; Hos. 1 – 5.
B. REHEARSING TO DECEIVE GOD’S VERY ELECT Satan has effectively undermined God’s original designs in each of His ‘fresh starts’ down though history (though God always has the last Word).
C. DRINKING WHOREDOM’S DREGS – GOD’S BILL OF DIVORCEMENT TO HIS ADULTEROUS PEOPLE
- Spirittually backslidden, - Apostate, and reprobate, and . . . - Given over to the spiritual captivity of the Enemy’s deceiving, oppressing, and destructive hordes; - Today’s Christian’s are seemingly ignorant of their plight and unable to resist their downward plunge.
D. CONFRONTING AND ADMITTING REALITY Discovering and coming to grips with the reality of having been born into a Babylonian captivity that was not meant to be is most disagreeable indeed. But it is essential . . . if we are to save out souls, receive Him into our midst, and . . . partake of the Promised Land’s bounties.
E. SKELETON VALLEY Will the vast graveyard of Christendom’s “dry bones” come to life once again?
E. THE ELIJAH COMPANY – THOSE WHO STAND BEFORE THE LORD WITH HIS ZEAL IN THEIR HEARTS
2. LIKE MT. CARMEL’S UNSUCCESSFUL PROPHETS OF BAAL – HUMPTY DUMPTY All of Babylonian Christianity’s combined best doctrines, efforts and ministry, in varying sequences and concentrations, adapted to the endless ecclesiastical and doctrinal configurations of Christendom can never restore Christianity to its original condition, or ‘bring down the fire.’ Among them are: - Divine order and N.T. church government. - Networking and city-wide churches. - Submission and ‘coverings.’ - National conferences and local lock-ins. - Prophetic input and apostolic office. - 5-fold ministry and manifest sons of God. - New superstar ministries with a ‘fresh’ Word and old superstars repackaged. - Body-ministry and Holy Spirit giftings. - Spiritual warfare and intercession. - Christian psychology and healing of the memories. - Worship teams and choreographed dancing. - Liturgy and vestments. - Super faith and kingdom dominion. - Prosperity and health. - Evangelism and outreach ministries. - Membership classes and ministry training courses. - Programs and fund-raising. - Home discipleship groups and church growth principles. - Missions support and missionary outreach. - Cutting-edge doctrines and revelation knowledge. - Types-&-shadows and end-time truth. - Institutionalization and business management principles. - Ad infinitum.
3. CHRIST’S ASIAN PROMISES NOT FOR EVERYBODY Christ’s promises articulated to Asia’s Seven Churches were given only to the Overcomers. Not to the non-overcomers.
4. Those of the ‘Elijah Company’ caliber include others, among which are the ‘Moses Company’ and the ‘David Company’ . . . To whom was revealed the Heavenly Tabernacle/Temple they replicated on earth among God’s people, into which His Shekinah Glory descended. Consider . . . : I Kings 18; Ex. 24:13-25; 9; I Chr. 28:19-20
G. ANNULLING THE WRIT OF DIVORCE Only a ‘full-blown’ true ‘Revival’ can restore His people to their calling and standing in Christ Jesus. However, they must first ‘flee Babylon’!!
PART III: UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF TRUE ‘REVIVAL’ – Rending the Heaven’s, He Comes Down to Dwell in His People.
[Note: Though fewer pages are dedicated to PART III & IV, this is the most important of the three. The Scriptures listed under headings “B,” and “C,” in particular, contain the essence of the ‘Revival’ that awaits us.]
I. GREAT EXPECTATIONS
2. REMOVING FALSE HOPES. Nor is His SUPREME PURPOSE in bringing ‘Revival’ that of refurbishing, revitalizing, and blessing her spiritually obsolete or reprobate church structures, traditions, and methodology. He will not clothe with Himself that which is clothed with a ‘Babylonish garment.’
B. HAVING “TAKEN AWAY THE FORMER.” He will take away that which is traditional, long established, corrupted, and obsolete from along those who unreservedly seek ‘Revival,’ to replace it with something of infinitely greater value and power.
2. A PEOPLE AFTER HIS HEART The Lord’s ‘Visitation’ will come to a people who corporately seek to fully align their lives to the Lord’s Word and Will . . . a. Not to those who remain in Laodicean lukewarmness, with many deceptions, contaminants, and abominations . . . too corrupted spiritually to want to pay the cost necessary. b. In it, He will use a few of the surviving Remnant from among those He must abandon . . . those who “came out” (in which no restricting attachments to the Old Order remain) . . . c. He will seek out another people or generation (mostly unchurched) whose heart will fully turn to Him.
3. REBUILDING THE ANCIENT RUINS There will be great changes that will make the ‘New Church’ unrecognizable when compared with even the best for Contemporary Christianity’s churches. a. Those who seek ‘Revival’ in earnest will relinquish even the best and most cherished of the contemporary, earthly expressions of Christianity. 1) All of their attachments to Religiosity in all her manifestations will be repudiated from among them. (Phil. 3:4-10) 2) They will become so pliable in His hands that any new arrangements or fundamental changes brought by the Lord will be thoughtfully considered and readily obeyed. b. Some of those fundamental changes will be seen in . . . 1) The role given to the Holy Spirit and to Jesus Christ in the meetings, the work, and the ministry. 2) The spiritual life of those who exercise ministry and leadership. 3) The focus of the work and ministry. 4) The role of the ministers and ministries in the meetings and in the work. 5) The structure of the local churches. 6) The format of meetings and activities in the local church setting. 7) The spiritual life of the church body. 9) The understanding and use of the Scriptures and the Gospel message. 10) The music, praise, and worship. 11) The physical structures and equipment used to facilitate gatherings. 12) The role of finances. 13) The visibility of those gifted with natural talents. 14) Etc., etc.
4. INCLUDED IN THE ‘AGREEMENT.’ Though not His “SUPREME PURPOSE” for sending ‘Revival’, the aforementioned Secondary Effects will readily occur (as prayer for them is offered).
5. CAST ON THE LORD Just as there are no precedents for living in the unique setting of the Last Days. In terms of the extensiveness and the depth of depravity, delusions, dangers, judgments, and persecutions that are coming upon His people. So there are none for being part of the Last Days’ overcoming Bride and Last Days’ overcoming Manchild.
II. INCOMPREHENSIBLE
The Lord’s SUPREME PURPOSE in sending ‘Revival’ in to Come Himself to DWELL among those that are His in a Fullness which, as of yet, we have not comprehended.
[NOTE: As the following points (under Roman Numeral “II,” heading) seek to define true ‘Revival’ in its highest expression, the reader in encouraged to give studious and prayerful attention to principled contained in EACH of the following Scriptures, asking the Lord with great insistence and faith, “that a spirit of wisdom and revelation’ be given him to open his eyes more, and to instill the faith necessary for the pursuit of becoming His Dwelling Place..]
‘Rending the heaven,’ the Lord will come down from His throne in Heaven to a given geographical region. (Isa. 64:1-4) What ‘Rent heavens’ might imply:
1. SATAN’S DOMAIN The Enemy rules mankind from the ‘heavenlies’ or ‘heavenly places,’ . . . The invisible spiritual dimension filled with Satan’s rulers and minions - superimposed over the earth’s physical heavens.
- An elaborate hierarchy of fallen angels and demons (‘Principalities’, ‘Powers’, ‘Hosts of Wickedness’, etc.), and . . . - Their occult counterparts . . . - The high priests and priestesses of the ‘deities’ (and their secretive practices designed to control and manipulate mankind and his affairs) . . . - As represented by Mystery Babylon of Rev. 17.
2. ‘REVIVAL’ OVERTHROW Led by Jesus Christ, Heaven’s armies will topple the Enemy’s regional kingdom headquarters and dominance. a. Christ’s legal victory, obtained on the cross, will be specifically applied t, and enforced in, the given geographic area . . . because of some of its people having fulfilled certain conditions. b. Certain key angelic ‘Authorities’ will be bound and/or deposed and their human counter-parts will become powerless. c. Babylon’s rule over those truly seeking His for ‘Revival’ will be broken to the degree that she and her ways are repudiated by God’s people regionally. Her deceptions will be exposed. Her chains of oppression will be broken. d. To the degree that His people comply with His conditions, God’s angelic garrisons will then fill the created ‘power vacuum’, ‘secure’ the region, and perpetuate His governmental control.
3. ESTABLISHING THE BEACHHEAD ‘Rent heavens’ occurs to the cleansed unified people, who knowingly, persistently, and full of faith, pray daily . . . “Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Mt. 6:9-10) [NOTE: For further elaboration, please refer to PART IV.]
4. HEAVEN’S INVASION The Kind and Commander, Jesus Christ Himself, will come down through the Rent heavens to the ‘Revival’ region, to continue the counter-insurgent operation in the hearts of mankind . . .
- (Water/faith) Baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection, and . . . - The Holy Spirit’s Sanctification/Baptism . . . - Replacing the fallen Adamic carnal nature (through which Satan manipulates and rules mankind) with the Life and nature of Christ Jesus . . . 1) Thereby breaking off the Enemy’s immediate access to, and control of, his ex-subjects. 2) Bringing them under the full control of His own kingdom through the Spirit’s lordship. 3) Without the true Sanctification experience, obtained by the exercise of a robust faith, the undealt-with aspects of their carnality with reassert themselves. By those carnal aspects, in most cases, the Enemy eventually regains some or most of His forfeited avenues of access and influence. The (spiritually) uncircumcised Christians will eventually succumb to the Enemy’s overtures, and bring upon themselves the pall of spiritual death, declension, and perhaps apostasy. 4) Consider . . . : Eph. 2:1-5; Rom. 6-7-8; I Cor. 2:7-8) f. Spiritual warfare against the ‘Principalities’ and ‘Powers’ of geographic regions, without ‘Rent heavens,’ in many cases could result in a state 7 (or g. It is His coming to DWELL amongst His people that will accelerate the events that will lead up to the end of this Age of Babylon’s rule. [NOTE: For further elaboration, please refer to PART IV, Roman Numeral “III” (LIVELY STONES: Praying in the Context of a Group for His to Establish His Dwelling Place”), heading “B” and “C”.]
B. A HOME AWAY FROM HOME Rending the heavens, He will come to DWELL corporately in His people.
C. NOT JUST IN GESTATION – FULLY BORN AGAIN AS A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST Upon His coming to DWELL in His people corporately – simultaneously and subsequently – He will come to DWELL individually in His obedient children, bringing to them the fullness of heart-transformation, as expressed by the following biblical terms and passages.
D. ANANIAS AND SAPHIRA There is an inevitable adverse consequence that accompanies the Lord’s rending the heavens and coming down to DWELL among His people that must be clearly understood and prepared for.
2. Consider . . . : Mal. 3:1-5; Ex. 32:33-34; 3; Isa. 64-65; Acts 5:1-11; Num. 20:8-13; Ezek. 9:3-6; I Pet. 4:17; II Cor. 10:5-6.
E. TRUE ‘REVIVAL’ & FALSE ‘REVIVAL’ – KNOWING THEM BY THEIR FRUITS
- Any ‘Revival’ that brings large numbers of people into the Church, or that excites the church-goers . . . - But without effectively dealing with the sin in their hearts . . . - Is a false ‘Revival.’
- Any ‘Revival’ that does not bring a blazing Conviction of Sin over its people and cleanses them from their sins and carnality . . . - Replacing these with Christ’s nature, love, and holiness, through the Spirit’s Baptism Sanctification . . . - Is not a true ‘Revival.’
Part IV: SOME BLUEPRINTS WITH WHICH TO GET STARTED – Making Preparations to Become HIS DWELLING PLACE.
I. UNINHABITABLE – GVING DUE ATTENTION TO THE PRIMARY CONDITION HE REQUIRES OF HIS PEOPLE BEFORE HE COME TO DWELL FULLY IN HIS PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT
It is primarily accumulated sin in the hearts of His people, perpetuated by their sinful carnal condition, that impedes His coming to establish His Habitation in the midst of His people.
2. INEFFECTUAL REPETITIONS Their sins are not removed by . . . - Their frequent recitations of ‘the Lord’s Prayer,’ - Their own trite prayers for forgiveness, devoid of true repentance, or by . . . - Merely practicing contemporary Christianity’s 4 Basic Elements (referred to Page 4).
3. PURCHASING FREEDOM FROM BABYLON’S TYRANNY Our Laodicean Age is exhorted to “buy gold refined by fire, white raiment, and eye salve” from the Lord (or suffer the dire consequences). (Rev. 3:18)
B. COMING CLEAN His people are called on to eliminate and rectify everything that is offensive to Him.
- Discontinuing the practice of ALL sins, large and mall.
3. BY DEALING WITH THE ROOT OF EACH SIN - Not overlooking its first childhood or teenage occurrences that later became habitual.
4. BY REMOVING EVERY EXPRESSION OF UNFORGIVENESS from the heart’s inner recesses including any sense of rejection of others due to . . .
- Disapproval of others, their personality, actions, idiosyncrasies, etc.
5. BY SEEKING REPARATION AND RECONCILIATION OF PAST OFFENSES a. Of improprieties and harm done to others in each of the following areas: - Physical. - Material. - Financial. - Emotional. - Spiritual. b. With all those who have been adversely affected by one’s behavior . . . - That can be located with reasonable effort. - Not overlooking suppressed incidents of considerable vintage. c. Beginning with those close by: - Family members. - Relatives. - Friends. - ‘Enemies’. - Work and business colleagues. - Etc. - Endeavoring to develop true family unity where it is possible, without compromising that which the Lord requires. d. Seeking and following the Lord’s guidance with considerable prayer . . . - That He prepare the hearts of the group members will be speaking to . . . - That they, too, might come under His conviction and find repentance. e. Asking their forgiveness . . . - Without imputing to them any blame for the incidents in question . . . - In person, where possible. - Otherwise, by the most effective means of communication available. f. According to the means or resources available, make restitution of . . . 1) Dishonest gains . . . a) In personal matters. b) In business matters. 2) Delinquent debts. 3) Unreturned borrowed goods. 4) Damage occasioned to other’s possessions. 5) Etc.
6. BY DEALING A DEATHBLOW TO THE HOLD OF COVETOUSNESS, AVARICE, AFFLUENCE, AND MATERIALISM IN ONE’S LIFE
7. BY DEALING WITH EACH AREA AND DETAIL OF LIFE THAT OCCASIONS UNEASINESS OF HEART OR CONSCIENCE - Until a full, deep peace and joy fill the heart.
8. BY UNDERGOING A TRUE AND FULL CHANGE OF HEART (a true conversion) . . . - One that will provoke changes that are even outwardly observable.
9. BY HAVING A FULL FAITH regarding the forgiveness and cleansing that Christ provides through His sacrifice.
C. PRESENT TO THE LORD A HUMBLE HEART Give Him a heart well-pleasing unto Him. Consider . . . : Hos. 5:15-6:3. - It will not only be . . .
- It will also be . . .
D. OFFER HIM A SUBMITTED HEART Becoming established in a FULL OBEDIENCE in one’s daily life.
D. Develop a loving heart
E. THE SENIOR MINISTER (AND MINISTRY TEAM) FACTOR – DEALING WITH THE SINS OF THE MINISTRY
2. SOME OPIATES Several things can easily desensitize him to his sinful condition . . . a. His not complying with the entire scope of the calling. b. His grieving the Holy Spirit’s earlier dealings. c. His quenching the giftings especially those of an exhortative ‘negative’ nature. d. His compromises with Babylonian Christianity’s enticements and expectations. e. His deficient prayer life due to busy-ness. f. His dealing so repeatedly with others’ problems and sins. g. His high profile. h. His privileged position among God’s people. i. His not praying daily to be kept from temptation or from the Evil One. j. His not discerning or counteracting the occult attacks sent against him. k. The stupefying subtleties of pride, lust, greed, power, etc. l. The numbers and dedication of his followers. m. The delayed reaping of the effects of the sins indulged in. n. The anointing and ministry that continue to flow to some degree. o. Etc., etc.
3. THE SENIOR MINSITER AS A CATALYST If ‘Revival’ is to fall among his flock . . . a. He must come to recognize himself as the principle hindrance to the Spirit’s ‘Outp |
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The Atonement And The Word Of Faith
February 16th, 2008 · No Comments
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The Atonement And The Word OF Faith By Timothy Germain
The word of faith is also known as the Faith Movement. The main preachers besides Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland are: Gloria Copeland, don Gossett, Marilyn Hickey, Roy Hicks, Charles Cowan, Roy Hicks, Lester Sumrall, Ed Dufresne, Jerry Savelle, Fed Price, Benny Hinn, Charles Capps, Buddy Harrison and Ken Stewart. The Father of the word of Faith Movement is E.W. Kenyon who died in 1948, where ever you go, books by E.W. Kenyon will go hand in hand with the Faith Movement. Kenyon’s fist book was published in 1916, while Kenneth Hagin’s was in 1960. The following quotes, represent the teaching of the Word of Faith Movement concerning the doctrine of the Atonement.
No matter what other beliefs that may be embraced, if you get this one wrong, then all is lost! What we believe with regard to this subject can not be underestimated. Jude1:2 says…that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says…Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Timothy 4:16 we read, Take heed unto yourself and unto the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this you shall both save yourself and them that hear you. I believe that the reason for the vast majority of all wrong teaching today can be traced to a wrong understanding of the atonement. By carefully examining the statements of key Word OF Faith teachers and the revealed scripture let us determine whether this teaching can be supported and defended in the light of reason and God’s Word. I want to say up-front that while there are multitudes of sincere Christians who identify themselves with the word of Faith teaching, nevertheless, the basis of the doctrinal error, if embraced, with lead the soul to perdition. It is my intention that with love and truth, to my best ability, present the light concerning this most sacred and holy subject, the atoning death of Jesus Christ. · Summarize the word of faith teaching on the atonement
A. The physical death of Christ did not constitute the atonement. His physical sufferings are insufficient and incomplete to reconcile man to God. B. Jesus literally became a sinner or sin was imputed to him. Satan was his master on the cross. C. His spiritual sufferings in hell constitute the redemption of man. A literal payment was required to be made to satan on man’s behalf. This was accomplished in hell. D. After three days and three nights Jesus had paid a ransom to the devil for man. God looked down from heaven pronounced it is finished, and then Jesus was born again in hell subsequently over coming the devil and rising from the dead. E. The sin problem has been wiped away. As far as God is concerned all mankind is pardoned, forgiven in his sight. F. Man’s responsibility is only now to receive this judicial pardon from God.
· Correctly defining the atonement In defining and correctly understanding the atonement we can say the following.
A. “Properly understood, an atonement is an arrangement by which the literal infliction of the penalty due to sin may be avoided; it is something which may be substituted in the place of punishment; it is that which will answer the same end which would be secured by the literal infliction of the penalty of law. It is not a commercial transaction- a matter of debt and payment, of profit and loss. It pertains to law, to government, to holiness; not to literal debt and payment. Sin is crime not debt; it is guilt. The atonement pertains to love, and mercy, and truth and kindness, as well as to justice. It regards a race of offenders with compassion; it seeks to alleviate and lessen suffering; and it is not therefore, the cold and stern business of paying a debt, of meeting the mere demands of justice and law. It seeks to bring back wanderers by the consideration that God loves them- that they may be forgiven- that salvation is free for all men if they choose to avail themselves of it. It is real, not imaginary salvation” B. So then the atonement is something substituted in the place of the penalty of the law, which will answer the same ends as the punishment of the offender himself would. It is instead of his punishment. It is something which will make it proper for a lawgiver to suspend or remit the literal execution of the penalty of the law, because the object or end of the penalty has been secured, or because something has been substituted for that which will answer the same purpose. In other words, there are certain ends proposed by the appointment of a penalty in case of a violation of the law; and if these ends are secured, then the punishment may be remitted and the offender may be pardoned. That which will secure these ends is an atonement.
Man, due to his love of sin and his unwillingness to be reconciled to God, enlists himself in defying and warring against the creator of the universe. This defiance and rebellion must be overcome if reconciliation is to be accomplished and a return to obedience and devotion put in its place
There must be a willingness for men to want to obey and return to be at peace with God. If there is any way for men to be persuaded and humbled to repentance, it is the sufferings of the saviour . It is the manifestation of love in his suffering for others which is intended to secure the reformation of sinners. The atonement is adapted to convince the sinner of the evil of those sins for which he died. It is therefore fitted most deeply to the heart of the guilty.
C. The obstacle to reconciliation on His part did not arise from any unwillingness to be at peace with men…but solely from the fact that he is the lawgiver of the universe, and that his law has been violated; from the fact that the law has a just penalty, threatening death to the violator;…from the fact that if the transgressor was released from the penalty of the law there would seem to be a total disregard of the law and its threatenings; form the fact that if the sinner was admitted to the favour conferred on those who had not sinned, it would seem as if God was regardless of character and treated the good and the bad alike…and destroy…the interests of justice.” D. In the idea of the atonement…these difficulties have been removed, and that God is in all respects now is free to bestow His favour on those for whom it was made as he is on those who have never violated his law.” E. Reconciliation is in fact produced between God and man by the atonement. God becomes the friend of the pardoned sinner. He admits him to His favour and treats him as a friend. The sinner becomes the friend of God. He changes his view of the character of God; he submits to his arrangements; he no longer opposes His plans; he is pleased with His government and His laws. He loves Him as he loves no other being. He lives to promote His glory. He loves what God approves, defends what he has stated to be true, advocated the plans which He has formed, vindicate4d the doctrines which he has revealed, trusts in trial to the promises which He has made, flies to Him in times of trouble and sorrow, leans upon His are in death, finds in the mortal agony his highest consolation in the belief that God is hi friend, and expects to find felicity in the future world only in God. There is no friendship so strong so sincere, so tender, so enduring as that between God and the reconciled sinner.”
· The essential points established from the scriptures
The physical death of the Redeemer or the giving of His life that constituted the atonement. A few passages from the New Testament on this doctrine are unequivocal. Rev. 5:9 “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes,…and made them white in the Blood of the lamb. 1 John 1:7 “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 Pet.1:18;19 “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Pet 2:34 “who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.’ Hebrews 10:10 “ By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once.” Hebrews 13:12 “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctity the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate.” Col.1:14 “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins…vs20 …”and having made peace through the blood of his cross…” Eph. 1:7 “ In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Heb. 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, he enterd in once into the hly place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Heb. 10:19 “Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” 1 Pet 1:2 “Elect…unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:28 “Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Rom.3:25 “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood.” Eph.2:13 “ Ye, who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
F. The doctrine of the Hebrews was, That the blood is the seat of life, or that the life is in the blood; and hence to shed blood became synonymous with taking life. Lev. 17:11 “ the life of the flesh is in the blood.” G. The plain doctrine of the New Testament, therefore, is that the blood of Christ –that is the giving of His life- was the means of making the atonement, or of securing reconciliation between man and his maker. In other words, his life was regarded as a sacrifice in the place of sinners, by means of which the penalty of the law which man had incurred might be averted from him…and treated as if he had not sinned. This is the doctrine of the atonement.
What is needed to be established is that the sufferings of the Redeemer were substituted sufferings or that they were not the literal penalty of the law. Webster gives us a definition of substitute. “substitute” is “one person put in the place of another to answer the same purpose”. Christ is never spoken of as being guilty or deserving of punishment. He always has been regarded as the object of God’s highest love. We must take note how carefully the scripture states this and guard against the view of the imputation of sin which would regard a literal transfer of guilt to him and thus speak of him as a sinner. The following scriptures fortify this truth. 1 Pet2;22 “Who did no sin; neither was guile found in his mouth.” Heb.4:15 “But in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Heb7:26” Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.” 1 Pet.3:8 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sin, the just for the unjust.” Isa. 53:9 “because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” Vs11 By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.” Matt. 3:17 “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased”
H. The passage in 2 Cor. 5:21 “he hath made him to be sin for us” cannot be intended to be literally true…in no proper sense can it be true that he was made to be a sinner; for this would be contrary to the teaching of the passages just quoted, that he “ knew no sin”, that he was “ holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners” and that he “died the just for the unjust.” We must therefore look for some other interpretation than the literal one; and that is found in the doctrine that the word here rendered sin, in accordance with Hebrew usage, is employed in the sense of sin-offering.
Lev 6:25…This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy. Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy . . .” Note that the lamb was holy, so also The Lamb of God was holy on the cross. There was no literal transfer of sin to Jesus. This is very important to understand!!
I. Similar passages occur in Galatians 3:13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” The word here properly means cursing malediction, execration, a devoting or dooming to destruction. It occurs in the New Testament in the following places; Col.3:10, 13 rendered curse; Heb6:8, James 3:10, rendered cursing. Applied to a lost sinner, it would mean that all saving influences were withdrawn and that he was given over to the malediction of God. But what is its meaning as applied to the redeemer in the passage now before us? J. It cannot mean that he was made a curse in the sense that his work and character were displeasing to God; for as we have seen, just the contrary doctrine is everywhere taught in the New Testament.
It cannot men that he was the object of the divine displeasure, and was therefore abandoned by him to deserved destruction.
It cannot be employed as denoting that he was in any sense…blameworthy; for this is equally contrary to the teaching of the bible.
It cannot mean that he was guilty in the usual and proper meaning of the word, and that therefore he was punished; for this would not be true.
It cannot mean that he bore the literal penalty of the law; for, there are parts of that penalty-remorse of conscience, and eternity of suffering, which he did not and could not bear.
It cannot mean that he was sinful, of a sinner, in any sense; for is equally contrary to all the teaching of the bible in regard to his character.
There is but one other conceivable meaning that can be attached to the passage, and that is that, though innocent, he was treated in his death as if he had been guilty; that is, he was put to death as if he had personally deserved it. He was suspended on a cross, as if he had been a malefactor. He was given up by God and man to death as if he had himself been such a malefactor, in order that by his substituted sorrows he might save those who were personally guilty. The idea which make the atonement so wonderful- the idea which makes it an atonement at all- is that innocence was treated as if it were guilty; that the most pure and holy and benevolent being on earth was treated as if he had been the most vile and ill deserving.
The Work of the redeemer was accomplished on the cross. The following scriptures suffice.
Col 2:14,15 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against u, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross, having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 1 Cor. 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved, it is the power of God. Eph.2:15,16 “having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances to make in himself of two one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby…” Figuratively, Paul identified himself as being crucified with Christ. The entire basis of his new life was what his master had accomplished for him on the cross.
Gal.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.” This too was the reason for his boasting.
Gal. 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world.”
Man is not forgiven by God subsequent to the death of Christ. Man is separated, an enemy of God, by his own rebellion. The death of Christ is mans’s provision for the forgiveness of sin. Men must repent form dead works and turn to God, exercising faith that Christ’s death was on man’s behalf, before man can receive pardon.
Rom1:18 “ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness..” 3:10,18,19 “There is none righteous, no, not one…There is no fear of God before their eyes…Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
Gal.6:7,8 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption…” Titus. 1:15,16 “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure, but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” James 4:4 “…whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Acts 2:28 “…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 Spirit.” Acts 3:19 “…Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come…” Vs 23 “And it shall come to pass that every soul, who will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.”
Matt.16:24, 25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Luke 13:3,5 “I tell you, Nay but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Acts 20:24 “Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 26:20 “…That they should repent and turn to God, and do works fit for repentance.
The merit of the Redeemer’s death is a proper and just cause for God to pass over the repentant sinner’s penalty. We may avail ourselves of the benefits of His sufferings as if those sufferings had been our own.
The delicate blending of mercy and justice is accomplished at Calvary. God as an expression of his love and disposition to pass over transgression offers pardon freely by his grace; on the basis of the sacrificial death of His beloved Son, reconciliation is provided due to the atonement.
Rom. 3:24-26. “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; Whom God hath set froth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus.
1 Cor. 5:18, 19. And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation: To wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself . . .
1Cor. 1:30 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: . . .”
Gal. 3:26 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” And 4:5,6. “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons and because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father.’”
Col. 1: 21-23. “And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in His sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, . . .”
K. “There in no transfer of character of honour. There is no confounding of identity. There is no confusion in the estimate which is formed in regard to meritorious services. But in respect to the results we are regarded and treated as if all that valour, . . . had been ours.”
L. “The merit of the Redeemer is unexhausted by time . . . The fountain ever flows, by day and by night, in seed-time and harvest, in summer and winter. It is ample for all that apply. It is unexhausted by the numbers that some, and by the nature of the maladies that are healed. It flows in large abundance above and beyond all that is needed, and though it seems to be useless or wasted, it is neither: for, whether men avail themselves of it or not, it is a standing proof of the inexhaustible and illimitable benevolence of God. . . . the streams of salvation will still pour forth their unexhausted floods over a lost world. Never till time shall end will the sentiment of the beautiful stanzas with which this Treatise on the atonement may appropriately close, cease to be true There is a fountain, filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel’s veins, And sinners plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains. Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood, Shall never lose its power, Till all the ransomed church of God, Be saved, to sin no more.”
CONCLUSION: We have seen that the heart of the Gospel message is Jesus Christ and Him crucified: that it was His physical suffering or the giving of His life represented by His blood constitute our Redemption. The sufferings of Christ were substituted sufferings and not the literal penalty which the lawbreaker himself would have received.
The problem of reconciling man to God, as well the justice of the law, is solved through the atonement.
The Word of Faith teaching completely passes over the heart of the Gospel: that is, the physical suffering and death of the Saviour. Instead, by shifting and perverting the reason for mans’ Redemption, (from the cross to being born again in hell) they introduce a Damning Heresy by nullify the cross. They charge Jesus as the vilest and most perverted sinner of the human race and will justly incur the wrath of the most holy, pure, and righteous Son of God. This teaching not only brings disgrace to the Son of God with respect to His Righteous character, but it pollutes the high value of the Kingdom of His Father, which He represents.
This teaching is a new hybrid of an old age heresy called Universalism which says all the world has been pardoned, “you just don’t know it”! This is what Kenneth Hagin Jr. meant when he said, “In the spirit world we are free . . .” The new twist is that you just have to receive it!
Knowingly or unknowingly, this teaching says:
1) The physical death of Christ can’t save you.
2) All of man’s sin was transferred to Jesus (except the sin of unbelief, and the sin against the Holy Spirit, he missed those) all men are pardoned (forgiven).
3) Jesus is a sinner, of the worst kind. He bore the sin of the world in His Spirit.
4) Jesus was born again in hell and overcame the devil.
5) Jesus paid a ransom to the devil being in torment by him in hell. This regained man’s right to have authority over the devil, and the sole author of his circumstances. Redemption is now finished.
6) The concept of payment to the Devil, erases the truth that Christ’s sacrifice was to God as a sweet smelling savour. Eph. 5:2
7) It can not be said that forgiveness is freely by His grace, since Jesus paid the devil what was coming to him. Rom. 3:24
FINALLY
I charge those who embrace this teaching with sin, and the spirit of error, by circumventing the physical death of Christ on the cross to bearing the sin of the world in his spirit to hell. You have made the physical death of Christ of none effect and have perverted the gospel. Thus you preach another gospel. If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:9
Those of you who have changed the Gospel of the grace of Christ whereby God is willing to pass over transgression, to a payment to the Devil have perverted the Gospel of the grace of God. You must repent of this hellish doctrine. The truth is that Christ bore your sin in His body on the tree. 1 Peter 2:24. (This is the reason you can be forgiven, not that you are, and you just have to receive it). The apostle Peter wrote, Acts3:19, “Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted our, when the times of refreshing shall come . . . “
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Satisfaction Theory
February 16th, 2008 · 1 Comment
The Payment Or Satisfaction Theory Of The Atonement
By Tim Germain
Once a man or woman has been brought into a right relationship with God through saving faith in Jesus Christ, is it at all possible in the future for that man to fail the grace of God and apostatize? Is it necessary for Jesus to be Lord of ones life or is there a salvation offered by God whereby Jesus is embraced as Saviour exclusively?
We will discuss what s commonly called the satisfaction or payment theory of the atonement. We want to communicate the origin of this teaching, highlighting as we go some very real problems that have resulted from this view being embraced today by so many Christians. Let’s se if this view can be supported biblically!
I will first define what the payment theory is and uncover the writings of men who first put forth this idea.
The death of Christ is commonly understood, that all the sins of mankind were imputed (transferred) to Christ. Jesus endured the total penalty, punishment, and guilt of sinful man, insomuch that sin may no longer be imputed nor the penalty be required for those he died for.
It is said that that Christ’s righteousness is imputed (transferred) to the believer as a judicial standing, therefore all sins past, present, and future have been forgiven.
Historically, this view was first penned by St. Anselm of Canterbury, a Roman Catholic priest in 1098. Anselm stressed that man had incurred a debt of punishment to God as a result of his sin and that if he is to find release from the penalty a substituted penalty is necessary. God had to be pain off in suffering. Whether the actual sinner should suffer the penalty of some one else in their place, nevertheless, the debt had to be paid.
Martin Luther (1483-1546) pressing the literal interpretation, picked up Anselm’s idea of punishment and transfer, insisting that Christ’s payment was exact, satisfying the Father’s wrath.
“…no doubt all the prophets did foresee in spirit, that Christ should become the greatest transgressor, murderer, adulterer, thief, rebel, blasphemer, that ever was or could be in the world. For he, being made a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. In not now an innocent person and without sins: is not now the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary but a sinner which hath and carrieth the sin of Paul…but if it be not absurd to confess and believe that Christ was crucified between two thieves, then it is not absurd to say that he was accursed, and of all sinners the greatest. God, our most merciful Father, sent his only Son into the world, and laid upon him all the sins of all men, saying, Be thou Peter, that denier; Paul, that persecutor, blasphemer, and cruel oppressor; be thou the person which hath committed all the sins of all men, See, therefore, that thou pay and satisfy for them.” 1
As you can see Luther understood that Christ not only literally paid a debt, but that he also actually became sinful; a sinner of the worst kind.
John Calvin (1509-1564) also a contemporary of Luther, developed a whole systematic theology, insisting that a literal payment had been met by Christ in satisfying the wrath and justice of God. Calvin insisted, however, that Christ’s substitutional penalty as a payment for sin, was transferred to only the elect and was not made for the whole world. He laid particular stress upon the believer being perfectly judicially pardoned. By making Christ’s death a payment for sin he removed all the warnings in the scriptures of falling from grace, presuming that all sins past, present, and future have been paid for. He eliminated all conditions and walking in the faith as being necessary, without which one cannot be saved.
Let’s ask ourselves some questions concerning fundamental flaws in the idea that Jesus paid for sins.
First, if Jesus paid for sin (satisfaction) then whose sin did he pay for? 1 John 2:2 says “ he is the propitiation for our sins’ and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” 1 Tim. 2:6 says “Who gave himself a ransom for all” Heb.2:9 says ..that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” Obviously, Jesus died for all men. 2 Cor. 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
If Jesus made a payment for sin, then all men’s sins are paid for. Thus sinners could not be required to be punished, since Jesus has already paid for their sins, regardless of whether or not they are ignorant of the fact. The doctrine of Universalism would then be correct in saying the whole world has been pardoned! If Jesus made a payment for sin, God would be unjust in punishing a sinner for his sin by requiring two parties to suffer for the same crime: first Jesus, then the sinner himself.
The next question is just what is the penalty which the sinner will have to suffer for his sins? Did Jesus suffer the same kind of suffering as well as the same amount of suffering that the sinner will suffer?
Since the substituted payment for sin is to be equivalent in amount and in Jesus’ payment for sin then too would have been the same amount and kind of suffering the sinner would have endured, if he bore the penalty. The sinner would not have only suffered physical death, but eternal separation from God in everlasting punishment. Jesus didn’t suffer eternally. On the cross He was treated as though He was sinful; as though He was guilty; as though he was the most vile and unclean. Jesus’ voluntary laying down of his life, represented in the giving of His flesh and blood, as a sacrifice and offering to God, was a sweet smelling savour. The laying down of His physical life, suffering for six hours on the cross, dying of a broken heart constituted the atonement. Christ suffered as a man. His suffering was not equal in amount and in kind that the whole world would have suffered had they received the penalty.
Christ also did not suffer the same kind of suffering that the sinner would have suffered had he received the penalty. Jesus for example had no remorse or guilt while he was suffering on the cross. Only guilty people can possibly have remorse or guilt. Jesus was not guilty of sin, but was treated as though he was!!
If Jesus satisfied the full demands of justice, then the reason or ground for pardon extended would be on the basis of justice. The sinner could demand pardon based on justice but not on mercy nor of grace.
“…in a case where it is supposed that the exact punishment due to sin is borne by another, whatever kindness there may be in him who endures it there s no mercy in him who has exacted the penalty…it would have been a transaction of mere law and justice…there would have been in the case neither mercy nor compassion.”2
Forgiveness vs Payment
If it were true that Jesus made a payment for sin by satisfying the full demand of the law, the idea of forgiveness would be nullified. According to Webster’s dictionary forgiveness means “ to give up claim to (to release) requital from an offender; to pardon. To give up resentment or claim to requital on account of an offense; to remit the penalty of “ the Random House College dictionary adds “to give up all claim on account of ; (remit a debt, obligation, etc.) to grant free pardon to (a person). To pardon an offense or an offender. To grant free pardon of or remission (an offense, debt, etc) absolve.”
If I owed you ten dollars and my neighbor stepped in to help me by giving you what was owed, then you could say that the debt had been paid. Someone else had given you what I myself did not. As a result you could not come back to me and demand that I give you another ten dollars since my neighbor has procured for me, so to speak, my release of the debt. However, if I owed you ten dollars and you forgave me the ten dollars, I would not be required to give you the money and you would release me of the obligation that was due.
In the first case, the payment was given back through the kindness of someone else. In the second case, the debt was released and the claim is relaxed. You can pay a debt or forgive a debt, but you cannot do both. If Jesus paid the debt of sin, then there can be no forgiveness from God. The scriptures however say “ in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Eph. 1:7
“ You may receive payment of a wrong done or you may forgive, but you cannot do both at the same time. When a debt is paid, there can be no forgiveness. When a penalty is served, there has been no mercy. If the Father punished the Son in order to be paid for sin, then we are left with the conclusion that there is not forgiveness or mercy in the Father’s heart.”3
We must see that the atonement was not a commercial transaction. God did not have to be paid off before He was willing to extend pardon.
How then do we account for the passages that read “ You are bought with a price.” (1 Cor.6:20) or “feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.: (Acts 20:28) or “until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory? (Eph. 1:14)
“The scriptures frequently describe the atonement in language of a figurative character; and the literal construction which has been put upon this language, has, no doubt, sometimes embarrassed the subject and misled the honest enquirer. We are informed by the pen of inspiration, the Christ “hath purchased” the church “with his own blood.” Christ was “made a curse for us” and “ he made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin” These and many, other passages of similar import, are often pressed into a literal exposition, while the figurative character is entirely overlooked. When the scriptures tell us, that Christ “has purchased the church or the believers, “ are bought with a price” they do not intend to teach us. That the salvation of sinners through the atonement is a pecuniary (money) transaction, and regulated according to the principles of debt and credit: but that salvation was effected, in the moral government of God, by nothing less than the consideration- the stipulated consideration of the death of his beloved Son. To these figurative expression… “Christ has paid our debt…satisfied the justice of God in our behalf.” If we say that Christ has paid our debt, it is true only in a figurative sense; and can mean no more or less than this, that the suffering of Christ accomplished the same purpose, in the divine administration which would have been accomplished by our rejection and punishment.”4
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. We need no other proof than that suggested in this passage, that Christ did not pay the debt, or literally suffer the penalty of the law for His people. He prepared the way for our debt to be remitted; or in plain language, dispending with all metaphor, he made it consistent and proper and honorable for sin to be for given according to the prescribed terms of the gospel.”5
“The truth is Christ paid no man’s debt. It is true indeed, that our deliverance is in scripture, sometimes called a redemption; and this word refers to the deliverance of a prisoner from captivity, which is often effected by the payment of a sum of money. Christ is also called”a ransom” and we are said to be “bought with a price.” But it must be remembered that these are figurative expressions. They are designed to communicate this idea, that as payment of money as the price of liberty is the ground on which prisoners are released from captivity, so the atonement of Christ is the ground on which sinners are pardoned, or set free from a sentence of condemnation. These passages, thus understood literally, appear intelligible and consistent whereas, they would contradict other plain declarations of the word of God. It is evident, therefore, that these are metaphorical expressions, and were never designed to be taken in a strictly literal sense.”6
Two Kinds of Justice
When Jesus went to the cross to “satisfy the justice of God” was it to satisfy public justice or retributive justice? Let’s clearly distinguish the difference between the two.
The design of law is to secure the happiness and well-being of a society. Laws are legislated to promote certain ends. However, laws are no ends in themselves, but are only means to an end.
Punishment is designed to discourage violation of law, but is not intended to reform the violator. The degree of punishment should be equal to the value of the law broken. Simply stated, this says that punishment is equal to the crime. Every time a violator of law is punished, the law is strengthened. Conversely, every violator of law who is shown mercy tends to weaken law by fostering the hope of impunity to those who violate its precepts. Once a lawbreaker understands that consequences for violation of law are essentially nullified, lawlessness of course will grow all the more.
Where mercy is shown without any safeguards to reform the offender and justify the sanctions of law, society would be reduced to barbarism, where the strong would rule the weak.
Retributive Justice
Concerning retributive justice the only consideration made toward the offender is according to strict calculating justice. The letter of the law is held to, while the spirit of law is entirely overlooked. Under this for of justice there can be no mercy, nor forgiveness. Punishment is handed out according to merit without any other consideration. “Retributive justice makes no exceptions but punishes without mercy in every entrance of crime.”7
Public Justice
Public justice implies that the lawbreaker will be punished, unless something else is done that will serve the same end as would the punishment of the lawbreaker. The purpose of punishment is to secure the authority and influence of law. It reveals abhorrence of all crime, and safeguards the public’s welfare.
Whatever, will fully reveal the lawgiver’s regard for his law, his hatred for its violation, his diligence to support it, without fostering or begetting a hope that violators can continue in there crime as would punishment have had, is a full satisfaction of public justice.
Once these conditions are fulfilled, and the sinner has returned to obedience, public justice insists that the penalty be se aside. Here the spirit of the law spares and pardons him. Here also there is mercy and forgiveness.
Christ in His substituted sufferings to support the authority of law, has so exonerated the government of God and His pure character that on the basis of public justice pardon is extended, through the merit of the Redeemer’s death and man meeting prescribed conditions. That being repentance from dead works and faith towards God.
Ground of our Salvation verses Conditions of our Salvation
Before you label me as teaching salvation by works let me distinguish the difference between the ground of salvation and the conditions of salvation.
The ground of salvation is the reason why pardon is offered to the world. And that ground is made on the fact that God wants to save and embrace man in Christ, by bringing him into His great heart. God’s means of securing reconciliation between man and Himself is the death of His Son. Note, that man, has nothing to do with the ground of salvation. The fact is that God wants to reconcile man to Himself because He’s a wonderful God. Nothing that man does can change God from wanting to reconcile man.
God wants to pardon, if he can only find a way that will not weaken the authority of his law, as well, as to make it safe so He can extend pardon without encouraging the hope of impunity to the offender.
We might say in order to reconcile mercy and justice, God so designed the atonement as the remedy to forgive man and so transform the offender that it would make it right and safe to extend pardon.
Here the bible give us the description of the ground of man’s salvation. Eph. 2:8,9
”For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God not of works, lest any man should boast.” Rom.3:24-26 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance o God: To declare, I say at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
Belief of the truth through obedience is a condition which must be met before God will extend pardon. We see the blending of the two (ground and condition) in many passages of the bible. For example, “Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit… 1 Pet.1:22 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” Rom.5:1 (faith implies obedience) “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 become the servants of righteousness.” Rom 6:16-18
Other Conditions
Seek: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom5:13
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near; Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord.” Isaiah 55:6,7
Humility: “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Lk. 14:11
Self denial: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Mat.16: 24 “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Mk 8:34 “and whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Lk. 14:27
Confession: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hat raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Rom 10:9
Conditions: 1) Repentance
2) Belief / Faith
3) Seeking
4) Humility
5) Self denial
6) Confession
I started out this issue with a question and then proceeded to explain the satisfaction theory of the atonement. The reason being that a large percentage of professing Christians rest the salvation of their souls on the ground of being saved without meeting the day by day conditions of salvation. By presenting a gospel in such a way as to lower the standard by telling people they must “accept Jesus” they Passover the conditions of what a man is to do.
Because of the payment theory, people are led to believe that they have no responsibility in keeping themselves in the grace of God. They are told that the gift of grace does not have conditions which must be met; without which, they cannot be saved. Herein lies the deception which has entrapped countless numbers. Multitudes I dare say, consent to live in sin and have been told that Christ has paid their penalty, and they need not worry. “the sin issue has been dealt with”
By preaching cheap grace that costs the believer nothing the church is guilty of producing many people who will find themselves on the wrong side of eternity. Jesus is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all!! Can this be said or you?
Conclusion
The reason that we see so little conviction of sin and so many careless people when it comes to sin in the church, is because bible teachers present a gospel that does not eradicate the practice of sin. Actually, by making Christ’s death a literal payment for sin, these teachers are fostering disobedience. Instead of showing how the believer can have victory over sin by appropriating God’s promises and looking to Jesus in the moment of their temptation, these teachers say that we’ll always be sinners, saved by grace.
Secondly, this teaching begets a false security assuring that a believer is accepted all the while in his sins. This doctrine also gives license to sin by proclaiming that sin does not have to be utterly eradicated from the believers’ life. Most people who hold to the
payment theory do not believe they can have victory over all besetting sin. By looking at the ground of there salvation and almost entirely overlooking the conditions of salvation, they rest in a false hope that “Jesus paid it all” therefore I don’t have to be holy. The scriptures say “ But God be thanked, that whereas ye were the servants of sin, he 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.” Rom.6:16,17 “…and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matt.1:21
The deliverance from sin is real not theoretical. Those who name the name of Christ must preach a message that honours Christ and that frees men from the bondage of sin. Does a message which says that in practice you will always be a sinner, and in theory says you will always be considered righteous, honour Christ?
The conditions of salvation and continuing to walk in the light as he is in the light, must be upheld, if we are to see the church go forward and the world converted.
I believe the satisfaction theory of the atonement is an enemy of the Gospel. This teaching must be rejected by all those who live to promote the kingdom of God. Any message that does not actually bring a person into liberty, delivering them from the power of sin is not the Gospel.
Only by returning to the Gospel of total obedience, relying on the power of God through Jesus Christ to fill and produce the fruit of righteousness in us, will there be salvation in our lives and in the lives of those we teach.
Shall we withhold from God the honour that is due by disobedience and unbelief? Or, shall we look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, for our constant supply of grace and help!
“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. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” Jude 24,25
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That They All May Be One…
February 16th, 2008 · No Comments
And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17: 13-17
My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Thou sayest that I am a King. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hearth my voice. John 18:36, 37
And I brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos: are ye not carnal?
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven: and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. Genesis 11: 4,5
…now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. Nevertheless, the people refused to over the voice of Samuel: and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 1 Samuel 8:5, 6, 7, 19, 20
Jesus prayed that His followers would be one, one with Him and the Father; one in purpose, one in heart, and in will. Today and through out history a battle is waging. This battle goes for the most part unnoticed by the majority of people. They are not aware of the battlefield nor the battle. Every man doing that which is right in his own eyes.
There is a Babylonian spirit at work today in the hearts of men who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ. The perilous times spoken of by Paul the apostle has been working for centuries and all the more in our day. This paper is written to instruct and encourage my brothers-in-Christ to examine their church practices and Christian experience with the scriptures and compare their church practices and experience with what the Bible prescribes for the church to be, in life style and gatherings; thus prove if they are genuine or counterfeit; gold or dross.
I pray that our life be a life of repentance lived out in obedience. Brethren I am calling the church to repent. I am calling Christian leaders to repent of lording it over the brethren. Repent of making for yourselves kingdoms for your own earthly gain. Pastors repent of standing in Christ’s stead acting as though you are Christ and thus decapitate Jesus from His people.
Let us, who His name, return to the biblical New Testament assembly in its simplicity, purity, dynamic, relational, Holy Ghost filling and power. Let us by his grace and mercy be the church, not go to church!!
Let this little letter go around the world and find its mark where the LORD wills and let His kingdom come and His will be done.
Your Brother in Christ,
Tim Germain
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