"For you were once darkness, but now youare light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists of goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruiltess deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible" (Ephesians 5:8-14). These words stated by the Apostle Paul gives Christians a certain task: that task is to expose the deeds of the darkness. If you live in the light, and you were once part of the darkness, shine on the darkness to expose it and to possibly change it and bring the darkness to light.
One of these darknesses is the Restoration movement. To re-establish the original Christian Church during Christ's time. What calls for this Restoration?
Many end-time legalist churches believe that there was a great apostasy after the apostles died and the first century church had to be restored. But what is the truth found in the Bible?
"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matthew 16:18). NOT EVEN THE GATES OF HELL CAN OVERCOME CHRIST'S CHURCH. Once it was built, it was built to last. And it did.
Further evidence resides in Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." The key part is "to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever." The church is still in existence and will be in existence throughout all time.
Is there a lone messenger out there after Jesus Christ that established a church in which membership within that church is a key to salvation? In Matthew 11:2 John the Baptist sends his disciples to see if Jesus is the Christ, or if they should wait for someone else: "'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'" The message throughout the New Testament is that YES! Jesus is the one to save all of mankind. Jesus wasn't sent to start a mission to save the world. He WAS the mission. There is no one else to "finish the job." He is THE messenger. There are none after that have the power to save mankind.
It is tempting to fall into a church because we feel like we are "special." Many churches will be very kind a caring to you to make you feel special. But BEWARE and be on guard and test every spirit that comes to you! Not all are from Christ. One of the first warning signs should be that a church says they are the ONLY way to salvation. We know that we are saved by God's grace and we are justified by FAITH. Membership in a man-made church is meaningless in terms of salvation.
There is no messenger after Christ; for he is first and last: "'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). Christ is the first and last. None come between you and him. Remember this and be strong in your faith and share it!
Friday, February 10, 2006
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Wolves
"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me" (John 14:23-24).
What is obeying Jesus? Obedience isn't the first step to love. Love must come first. If you LOVE Jesus, obedience will come naturally out of love. What is the Law and naturally what is obedience to the Law?
In Matthew 7:12, Jesus says "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
The heart of the Law is the Golden Rule. If you treat others how you would like others to treat you you are fulfilling the Law. If you love one another you will not need to worry about obedience; by loving you are obeying.
"I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?" (John 5:41-44). People of Jesus' time did not accept Jesus even though his coming was made known through the Scriptures of the Prophets. His validity was testified by GOD! Yet they would more readily accept people who testified themselves in their own name. Today we do this also. There is no MAN between you and Christ and there is nothing between Christ and God. Christ is your only way to the Father. Do not let people say that you must join a certain man made church to be saved. This places someone in between you and Jesus Christ. Many of these churches that claim secret knowledge or call themselves the final prophets will say that Christ is the only way to salvation but if they say that their church is the ONE and ONLY church then they have put themselves in between you and Christ.
As Christians we must be on-guard against these "false prophets." In Matthew 7:15, Jesus says "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." These men who claim to be the only way come to you with the costume (sheep's clothing) of being a Christian but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
There are many of these wolves and false prophets out in the world today. Some are big and some are small but it is important for us to realize that by faith in Christ we are justified as it states in Romans 3:21-26 "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrafice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forebearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished- he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." We are not justified by doing a series of rituals or joining a church. By faith we are in the body of Christ and through this we are a member of his Church.
We must be aware of the evils of the world and how crafty evil is so that we do not place anyone or anything in between us and God. Above all we must love God and Christ with all our hearts and we must show our love to the people of this world, including our enemies.
What is obeying Jesus? Obedience isn't the first step to love. Love must come first. If you LOVE Jesus, obedience will come naturally out of love. What is the Law and naturally what is obedience to the Law?
In Matthew 7:12, Jesus says "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
The heart of the Law is the Golden Rule. If you treat others how you would like others to treat you you are fulfilling the Law. If you love one another you will not need to worry about obedience; by loving you are obeying.
"I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?" (John 5:41-44). People of Jesus' time did not accept Jesus even though his coming was made known through the Scriptures of the Prophets. His validity was testified by GOD! Yet they would more readily accept people who testified themselves in their own name. Today we do this also. There is no MAN between you and Christ and there is nothing between Christ and God. Christ is your only way to the Father. Do not let people say that you must join a certain man made church to be saved. This places someone in between you and Jesus Christ. Many of these churches that claim secret knowledge or call themselves the final prophets will say that Christ is the only way to salvation but if they say that their church is the ONE and ONLY church then they have put themselves in between you and Christ.
As Christians we must be on-guard against these "false prophets." In Matthew 7:15, Jesus says "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." These men who claim to be the only way come to you with the costume (sheep's clothing) of being a Christian but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
There are many of these wolves and false prophets out in the world today. Some are big and some are small but it is important for us to realize that by faith in Christ we are justified as it states in Romans 3:21-26 "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrafice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forebearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished- he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." We are not justified by doing a series of rituals or joining a church. By faith we are in the body of Christ and through this we are a member of his Church.
We must be aware of the evils of the world and how crafty evil is so that we do not place anyone or anything in between us and God. Above all we must love God and Christ with all our hearts and we must show our love to the people of this world, including our enemies.
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