“BEWITCHED” – The Most Misunderstood Passage in the Bible RESOLVED [video]
Matthew Matthew 5:17-18 Jesus did not come to tell you that you have to be the first other than Himself to perfectly fulfill the whole law. Impossible. No, He said that HE came to fulfill the law – to EXPIRE and do away with it, to abolish it for righteousness.
“For Christ is THE END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:4
“THE END” means it’s over, obsolete as a means to try to be righteous in God’s holy eyes. Jesus’ perfect sacrifice is “The end” of trying in vain to keeping the law to be right with God came when Jesus declared “It is finished” – or “paid on full.” (John 19:30) Anyone who doesn’t believe this is not saved.
“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:1-3
This passage of divine truth should arrest our hearts afresh to stop and breathe in the faith of God, trusting Him fully, wholly… resting in Him. See also Romans 4:4-5.
When Paul writes that just “a LITTLE leaven leavens (ruins) the whole lump,” he’s speaking of mixing just a little bit of law-keeping, human effort with genuine faith empowered by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:9). Serious warning. One writer notes:
“Justification is not Christ plus law. It is Christ plus nothing. Faith alone in Christ alone by grace alone!”
Of this passage, William MacDonald writes:
“A. The Great Truth of the Gospel (3:1-9)
3:1 Their actions exhibited a lack of understanding and reason. To turn to law from grace is to be bewitched. It is to be lulled as by a magic spell and unwarily to accept falsehood for truth. When Paul asks: “Who has bewitched you?”, the who is singular (Greek, tis), not plural, perhaps suggesting that the devil was the author of this false teaching. Paul himself had preached Jesus Christ to the Galatians as crucified, emphasizing that the cross was to separate them forever from the curse and bondage of the law. How could they return to the law and thus disregard the cross? Had not the truth laid hold of them practically?” Believer’s Bible Commentary
THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD PASSAGE IN THE BIBLE
Are saved-be-grace-through-faith in Jesus NEW Testament saints required to keep the law just because the law will never pass away?
The Holy Spirit through Paul warns us about being “bewitched” and Matthew 5:17-18 have been used out of context to bewitch many! (Galatians 3:1-3) Beware.
Satan lays the trap, throws the net to get saved by grace through faith New Testament back under law-keeping futility.
This following passage is one of the ways modern judaizers cast the spell of witchcraft over believers to get them back under law-keeping.
Ever heard terms like “Torah keepers” or “Keep Torah”?
“What the judiazers miss is that Jesus Fulfilled the Law at the Cross….Jesus being the perfect sacrifice was the Fulfilment.” Byron Wilson
ANY person who is trying to keep the law to be made righteous, to be justified in God’s holy eyes, proves to be a lost soul in need of repenting and putting his whole life, his faith in Christ – who ALONE fulfilled the law perfectly and then nailed it to the cross. In His perfect sacrifice, His crucifixion for the sins of the world, Jesus Christ “TOOK IT (law keeping) OUT OF THE WAY, NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS;” (Colossians 2:14-19)
Law keeping for righteousness is the ultimate antichrist manifestation because it says “I can do this” instead of saying to the LORD in repentance and full reliance, “Without You Jesus, I can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Anti means “in place of” and those who are trying to “keep Torah” to be righteous have openly denied Christ and are “fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4) They have put sinful self in place of Christ which makes them antichrists.
“If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21
Some mistakenly read the following passage and believe it means that we have to keep the law and that it’s through the law that men are justified.
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil (expire, do away with, abolish!). 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled (by HIM, not you!).” Matthew 5:17-18
Read that often used passage and ask: Was Jesus saying His people have to keep the law OR was He speaking of Himself keeping the law? Go ahead, read it again.
WHY did Jesus even come if we could keep the law perfectly? He would not have.
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21
Jesus was speaking of HIMSELF coming to keep the law perfectly and fulfilling it in order to free us from such a heavy, undoable, unbearable “yoke of bondage.”
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1
God is commanding you right here, you who are born again and saved by grace through faith, to never again “be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Never again!
Those trying to keep the law are not only under the “yoke of bondage,” they are “under the curse.”
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Galatians 3:10
Jesus said this (above) BEFORE He went to the cross.
Hebrew Roots, judaizing devils use this passage to attempt to heretically “prove” that born again, saved-by grace-through faith NEW Testament saints are still under the law of Moses, that they are accountable to keep the law in order to be saved.
The more I look at this passage, Matthew 5:17-18, the more it seems obvious that people are misled by judaizers to conclude that Jesus was saying we must keep the law to earn our way into God’s justification. If that were the case, why would He have ever bothered to come (Galatians 2:21). After all, we already had the law via Moses (John 1:17). Jesus simple said the law would not pass away. He didn’t say we have to try to keep it.
We cannot die for our own sins. Jesus alone did that. He lived a sinless life under the law – to keep it perfectly as no sinful man had or could ever do (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3; James 2:10, etc.). Christ then nailed the law to the cross and “took it out of the way,” removing us from under it – from under its impossible weight (Colossians 2:14-19, etc.). Memorize Romans 10:4 and James 2:10 and Galatians 2:16 brother.
Of this, one writer says:
“The law will never pass away because God uses it for whoremongers, murderers and thieves (1 Timothy 1:7-11). The law however, does not apply to believers who have been raised to walk in newness of life in the new creation. The believer actually lives in the overlap of the two realms. His body is still under law. If he speeds he gets a ticket. But his soul and spirit is no longer under the law. He has died to the law. Romans 7. He is under grace (Romans 6:14; 10:4).”
“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” Galatians 5:18
If keeping the law justifies a man, why does the Bible then say man things like this?:
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:28
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:4
Just because the law will never pass away doesn’t mean one can be righteous via the law.
Anyone trying to put NEW Testament saved by grace through faith saints under any part of the law is an “accursed” wolf who is preaching “another gospel.” (Galatians 1:6-9) All judaizers are “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9) No one can be saved or sanctified by the law. The law is obsolete “FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Romans 10:4) Born again new creature saved by grace through faith in Christ disciples are NOT under the law. This is 100% heresy. Anyone who believes such is a judaizing hell bound devil.
“Ye are NOT under the law but under grace.” Romans 6:14
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
The perfect standard of God’s law, when it hits the conscience of sinful man, reveals just how sinful we are – “by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Galatians 3:20)
All who in Christ are no long under the law – they are under saving grace (Romans 6:14). To those saved by grace by faith in Christ, God’s Word says “the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient.” (1 Timothy 1:9)
Speaking specifically of those who misapply the law under the New Covenant, Paul writes:
“The law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.” 1 Timothy 1:9-11
Just because Jesus said the law will never pass away, in no way means He was commanding us to keep it, especially in our own power.
Think about that.
No one can keep the law without offense. The law is the perfect standard of perfection of divine holiness and justice that no man can perfectly keep it. Christ alone did keep it perfectly. Yet our LORD then “took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” (Colossians 2:14)
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” Colossians 2:14-17
The law is the holy divine standard that magnifies just how sinful we are – in order to bring us to repentance and faith in Christ. One writer notes:
“The law arouses sin and causes sin to increase. The strength of sin is the law. The law kills the Christian life. It does bring us to Christ in that God uses that death that the law causes in order to bring us to the end of self, self-effort and self-righteousness. Rom 7:5; Rom 5:20; 1 Cor 15:56; Rom 7:10. Out of the death caused by law comes resurrection life and power. The law killed Jesus. Jn 19:7.”
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:28-29
All who have rejected Christ’s perfect sacrifice for their sins for the futility of trying to keep the whole law perfectly, are “under the curse” – they are “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9; 3:10)
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Galatians 3:10
Now the ensuing verses are going to tell us that Christ came to redeem us from “the CURSE of the law.” NEW Testament saints, like the father of faith, Abraham, are justified by faith and are not under the law. Christ perfectly fulfilled the requirements of the law and then died to take it away – to redeem us from it! (Colossians 2:14-17)
The divine design of the law was “to bring us unto Christ.”
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Galatians 3:24-25
The law was only given and is in place to bring us to Christ so that we’re justified by faith just like Abraham was who was justified by faith over 400 before the law was given (Galatians 3:19-26).
One writer notes:
“The law come in so that sin might INCREASE! Rom 5:20. The increase of sin kills life instead of being life-giving. In this way, the law brings us to the end of self. ‘Sin revived and I died. O wretched man that I am. Who will deliver me?’ The law had done its job on Paul. Read Romans 7.”
Some people insist upon the futile attempt of keeping the law – in their flesh – instead of walking by faith with Christ (Galatians 3:1-3, etc.). But the law was never to be an end of itself. If God intended to finish with the law, why did He send His only begotten Son to “fulfil” and “end” it – to take it out of our way? (Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4; Colossians 2:14-16).
“If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21
The law is the perfect divine standard spelled out to fallen, sinful mankind – to show him just how wicked, sinful he is and to bring him into the saving mercy of Christ! See Romans 3, 7 and Galatians 3:24.
Law or grace! Law is a cruel task master but it has it’s loving purpose – to bring us to Christ! (Galatians 3:24)
Jesus Christ is “the Almighty” and sits high and lifted up above all His creation – having “loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” having single-handedly “obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Revelation 1:5, 8; Hebrews 9:12)
“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Hebrews 9:12
The perfect sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, is infinitely superior to the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant which were only instituted to point to and prefigure His perfect sacrifice which was to come and has come!
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished (paid in full): and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19:30
Until Christ came and died to take it out of our way, “we were kept under the law.” (Colossians 2:14-17)
Jesus Came to deliver us from being under the law and the bondage thereof….
“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed … Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Galatians 3:23; 4:3-7
Until Christ came, fallen mankind was shut up under the law.
“But when the fulness of the time – Appointed by the Father, Gal 4:2. Was come, God sent forth – From his own bosom. His Son, miraculously made of the substance of a woman – A virgin, without the concurrence of a man. Made under the law – Both under the precept, and under the curse, of it. To redeem those under the law – From the curse of it, and from that low, servile state. That we – Jews who believe. Might receive the adoption – All the privileges of adult sons. And because ye – Gentiles who believe, are also thus made his adult sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts likewise, crying, Abba, Father – Enabling you to call upon God both with the confidence, and the tempers, of dutiful children. The Hebrew and Greek word are joined together, to express the joint cry of the Jews and gentiles.” John Wesley
“When the fullness of the time was come – The time which God in his infinite wisdom counted best; in which all his counsels were filled up; and the time which his Spirit, by the prophets, had specified; and the time to which he intended the Mosaic institutions should extend, and beyond which they should be of no avail. God sent forth his Son – Him who came immediately from God himself, made of a woman, according to the promise, Gen_3:15; produced by the power of God in the womb of the Virgin Mary without any intervention of man; hence he was called the Son of God. See Luke, Luk_1:35, and the note there. Made under the law – In subjection to it, that in him all its designs might be fulfilled, and by his death the whole might be abolished; the law dying when the Son of God expired upon the cross. To redeem them – Εξαγορασῃ· To pay down a price for them, and thus buy them off from the necessity of observing circumcision, offering brute sacrifices, performing different ablutions, etc., etc. That we might receive the adoption of sons – Which adoption we could not obtain by the law; for it is the Gospel only that puts us among the children, and gives us a place in the heavenly family. On the nature of adoption see the notes on Rom_8:15.” Adam Clarke
“4:4 The fullness of the time refers to the time appointed by the Heavenly Father when the heirs would become of age (see v. 2). In this verse we have, in a few words, a marvelous statement as to the deity and humanity of the Savior. He is the eternal Son of God; yet He was born of a woman. If Jesus had been only a man, it would be gratuitous to say that He was born of a woman. How else could a mere man be born? The expression, in our Lord’s case, witnesses to His unique Person and the unique mode of His birth. Born into the world as an Israelite, He was therefore born under the law. As Son of God, the Lord Jesus would never have been under the law; He was the One who gave it. But, in condescending grace, He put Himself under the law that He had made, in order that He might magnify it in His life, and bear its curse in His death.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary
No more a law relationship but a grace relationship. “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17
“When you flirt with Moses (the law) you are cheating on Jesus.”
Grace is the divine influence on our hearts and His operational power working in us to walk with Jesus and overcome sin – Romans 6:14.
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14
Walking with Jesus under the NEW Covenant He came and gave us does not require mixing law and grace or attempting to keep the law of Moses. New Testament saints are “justified by faith” and should never be deceived into thinking that any law-keeping is helping God out or assisting in meriting our own justification (Romans 5:1-2).
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:2-4
Those who attempt to work for their justification instead of believe God for, are deceived at best.
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4-5
Who are the true Jews – the people of God – “the Israel of God”? (Galatians 6:16)
“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Romans 2:28-29
My Testimony
Personally, coming from a catholic background…. which is 100% works-based…
Years ago, the LORD quickened me to seek His face, to study His Word veraciously concerning His saving grace and mercy and love in particular … Through which He began to establish my heart in His grace and continues. See Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 1:2; 3:18.
Memorizing passages like Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5-7 have been divinely transforming
Also poring prayerfully over Ephesians, Colossians, Galatians, and Hebrews.
One disciple gets at the self-righteousness always fostered by law-keeping in contrast with the humility that possesses those who choose to walk in a grace by faith relationship:
“The Prodigal’s Father unconditionally both loved AND accepted both his sons at the party\feast. The licentious prodigal son was accepted unconditionally at the party. The legalist elder brother would have been accepted unconditionally at the party but his legalism kept him away. He was angry, entitled and had in his mind earned his way to a special party for he and his friends. Never happened. He would not come to the grace party. There is no law party. God unconditionally accepts everyone at the party who wants to come. Some just don’t want to party. They want to work and earn.”
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Apostasy
The FORGOTTEN Sins of Sodom [podcast]
What were the Real and Root Sins of Sodom?
Explosive!
DO YOU KNOW WHAT SINS THE BIBLE CITES OF THE PEOPLE OF SODOM WHICH CAUSED DIVINE JUDGMENT TO FALL ON THEM? THIS LIST OF SINS MIGHT SHOCK YOU.
EXPOSING THE GATEWAY SINS TO SODOM’S DESTRUCTION
Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door.
According to Romans 1 it seems that sexual deviance, namely homosexuality, is the sin, the final manifestation of evil before destruction transpires. The LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this sin and others and will or is destroying America for rejecting Him (Matthew 10:26-28). WHAT were the specific sins of Sodom and Gomorrah that preceded the ultimate “abomination” of homosexuality? (Leviticus 18:22) Does the Bible reveal these sins? Yes!
Homosexuality always has been and always will be an “abomination” in the eyes of our Holy God (Leviticus 18:22). Repent now and follow Jesus.
DID GOD LIST SODOM’S SINS? WHAT WERE THEY?
THIS SHOCKING LIST OF SINS AND MESSAGE WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF HELL!
Little known sins that led up to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Check this out.
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9
Sodomy/homosexuality is usually the only sin attributed to the sins of Sodom and yet the Bible lists several sins that came before the ultimate turning over to homosexuality and further judgment (hell). See also Romans 1 and Ezekiel 16:49-51.
Jesus used this very example of Sodom to warn all under New Testament:
“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:28-33
Impending Judgment for Sin
In Ezekiel 16 we read of the judgment coming on the LORD’s people for their sins.
The very sins committed by the people of Sodom before God destroyed that city, were being committed by the LORD’s professing people in Ezekiel’s day, and are today being committed by those claiming to know the LORD in our day.
“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. 51 Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.” Ezekiel 16:49-51
This list of sins in the above passage begins with these 3:
PFA = Pride, Fulness of Bread, and Abundance of idleness.
The Sins of Sodom:
Sins Jerusalem cited for in Ezekiel 16:49-51:
- Pride (arrogance),
- Fulness of Bread (gluttony, hoarding),
- Abundance of Idleness (idle, lazy),
- did not help those in need due to preoccupation with self-worship (not generous in spreading God’s wealth to His people and work)
- haughty
- committed abomination (fornication)
In the bulleted sins listed above from this revealing Ezekiel 16 passage, did you notice the progression?
Though it culminated in sodomy, yet not one sex sin is even specifically mentioned in this list of Sodom’s sins in Ezekiel 16. Does this not align perfectly with the judgment we see in Romans 1, how “when they knew God, they glorified him not as God” and were unthankful, further enriching themselves while they ignored others?
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful (they were ungrateful); but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21
A fresh reading of Romans 1 reveals the root sins that preceded the sexual sins which immediately go before divine judgment. See Romans 1:18-32.
The sins that darken the hearts of those who once “knew God” and lead to the ultimate abomination of sodomy/homosexuality are pride, gluttony, idleness, and refusing to be generous givers to believers in need, etc.
Let’s Look Again at the Root, the Gateway Sins of the People of Sodom and Gomorrah:
PFA listed in Ezekiel 16:49-51:
- Pride (arrogance),
- Fulness of Bread (gluttony),
- Abundance of Idleness (idle, lazy),
- Like the fake religionists priest and Levite of Jesus’ Good Samaritan teaching, they did not help those in need due to preoccupation with self-worship (not generous in spreading God’s wealth to His people and work)
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged (weighed down) with surfeiting (gluttony), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare (trap) shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:34-36
“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” Proverbs 13:7
Spiritual “Leanness”
“And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” Psalms 106:15
“And this is exactly why there is a famine in the land. A famine ‘of hearing the words of the Lord’. Amos 8:11-13. This is the consequence of neglecting the Word of God. This famine is sent by God. To serve judgment because they have disregarded His Word and so their longings remain unsatisfied. It is a spiritual starvation, an emptiness. This is caused by disobedience and complacency. They shall ‘faint for thirst’. This implies an intense suffering. God has withdrawn His Word. As we see in these last days. People literally have contempt for God’s word. When you give them the pure unadulterated words of the Lord it angers them. So God will allow them to suffer an intense hunger because of their refusal of His words. This is why they are so prone to believe false prophets. Because they are weak and not ‘nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine, whereunto thou has attained’ 1 Timothy 4:6” Karen Cochran
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Articles
Is Your Church Your Idol? [podcast]
Is Your Church Your Idol? (below)
Is Church Membership Biblical? (below)
SO, YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR CHURCH, THE PASTOR, THE PROGRAM, AND HOW YOU LOVE IT AND THE MUSIC AND EVENTS…YET THE NAME OF JESUS NEVER FLOWS FROM YOUR LIPS IN PRAISE? WOW! IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO REPENT, RETURN TO CHRIST, AND COME OUT FROM AMONG THE WICKED BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! (2 CORINTHIANS 6:14)
EVER stop to ponder how we’ve commercialized, monetized, and grossly complicated what God ordained to be a time of rejoicing and blessing? Fellowship! Read Acts 2:42 and Colossians 3:16. Study the biblical model. Real fellowship with other saints is so simple, biblically. The bureaucracy of wolves has completely ruined such simplicity and that’s why so many no longer patronize their church busine$$e$ (2 Peter 2:1-3).
SO MANY TODAY WILL TALK ABOUT THEIR “CHURCH,” THEIR PASTOR, OR FAVORITE MINISTER – BUT NOT JESUS! THEIR WOLF HANDLERS ARE INDOCTRINATING AND USING THEM AS THEIR SALES AGENTS! SPIRITUAL ADULTERY. IDOLATRY.
Looking for the church means simply looking for other true members of Christ’s body! WE are HIS church – called out ones. Amen Jesus. Fellowship, Gatherings
NO SUCH THING AS CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN THE EARLY CHURCH. TOTALLY FALSE. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IS A TOOL THAT CONTROLLING LEADERS USE TO CORRAL SOULS FOR THEIR OWN SELF-SERVING PURPOSES! BEWARE! (JEREMIAH 23; EZEKIEL 34; MATTHEW 23) THEY DISCOUNT YOUR PLACE IN CHRIST BY TELLING YOU THAT MEMBERSHIP IS IMPORTANT IN THE CHURCH BUSINESS THEY ARE BUILDING TO THEIR OWN GLORY. JESUS CAME TO MAKE CAPTIVES FREE. SATAN’S AGENTS SEEK TO PUT YOU IN BONDAGE! (LUKE 4:18; JOHN 10:10; GALATIANS 5:1)
Are you ashamed of Jesus? Are you confessing your “church” or Christ? Are you inviting people to your “church” or to Christ?
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
God is Jealous! (Exodus 34:14) He will not be second to anyone but MUST be your “FIRST love” – first priority in all things (Revelation 2:4-5).
IF you are not willing and obedient to forsake all, to give up every single idol, you cannot and will not be saved but rather damned in the lake of fire irrevocably (Luke 14:33; 17:33; Revelation 21:8, etc.).
PEOPLE prove they are blind and being misled when they testify anything other than CHRIST crucified! Yet many church attenders swear that they are in the truth. Delusional. They are quick to boastfully tell you they “go to church” and yet the name of Jesus never leaves their lips – because apparently He’s not in their hearts (Matthew 12:34).
“Church” today has become a staged event with a cast, crew and light show to entertain the members and seekers.
ANY thing you won’t give up for Christ – including religion – is a soul damning idol.
Are you doing the “church” thing or is your heart and life all about JESUS?
WHO, WHAT holds the ultimate “preeminence” in your heart? Colossians 1:18
IF you are not hearing that the ALMIGHTY commands you to lay down your life, you have placed yourself under a false prophet ministry and God is not going to bless you but rather going to turn you over to “strong delusion” so that you believe the cross-less lie and ultimately perish, all the while believing you were saved (Matt 7;21; 2 Thess 2:9-12; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4).
Is your “church” or is JESUS your “first love”? (Revelation 2:4-5)
So let me get this straight…
You run around telling people how much you love your church and pastor but never testify of the saving mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ? God is calling you to repent and be saved for real!
“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33
The vast majority of “churches” that meet in “church buildings” are simply and merely conducting “church services” where they entertain their prey. They are not equipping the saints for the work of the ministry and therefore discerned as being counterfeit (Ephesians 4:11-13). If they were, there would be salty disciples in their midst who go forth to minister Christ’s kingdom blessings where ever they went. Not even a trace of this transpiring in the apostate modern church world. Run. Run. Run.
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting (equipping, maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-12
Jenn W. writes:
“That’s exactly why I left the church I grew up in. It turned into a social club almost like a cult that was more focused on people and the ‘church’ but none of it was centered around Jesus Christ at all. They all beg me to come back, but every time I pray asking God, ‘Do you want me to go back there, Lord?’ I always hear Him flat out tell me ‘NO!’ God is not the author of confusion, He gives us confirmation and full rest and peace in our spirit about decisions. Whenever I even think of going back there I feel anxiety and panic because I know God doesn’t want me there. We can’t people-please just because they want us to do something or tell us to ‘not forsake the assembly.’ They will use all types of guilt trips to make you try to conform down to their lukewarm level and fit in. I refuse to do that. The church is extremely carnal, and everyone is concerned with money and building mega-churches. They say when you’re too holy or sanctified that you are ‘legalistic,’ and they hate when you are set apart.”
Holy Ghost anointed preaching will ALWAYS lead you to fresh repentance.
Brett Gibney writes:
“Many small churches are more like businesses with employees to maintain. The member becomes a customer and the church entertains them for donations and offerings. The pastor is the boss and manager operating within a strict budget. Big business in today’s Christian movement. Jesus Christ has never been to the place they call ‘church.’ He would flip their book, DVD and CD tables over! When money and theatrics are involved, God isn’t! Nowhere in the Bible is the pastor called to run the church. They appoint themselves. The only difference between a calling and a occupation is a salary.”
Church is what you are, not somewhere you go!
PLEASE show us where anyone in the New Testament Scriptures went around looking for an elder, a pastor, a church? YES, fellowship is essential and so is submitting to our elders in Christ and yet, perhaps today, far too much emphasis is placed on these things (Hebrews 10:24-25; 13:7, 17, etc.). None of this matters if the individual disciple is not engaged in seeking the face of the LORD personally.
You don’t need a preacher because you have a Bible. Read it. You don’t need a preacher to tell you what the Bible says! Read it for yourself, learning yourself. Today is your day to take more personal responsibility to seek God for yourself! Jesus taught personal responsibility and the essential nature of it when He said “Take heed to yourselves” (Luke 21:34-36) …… Jesus is Coming.
WHEN a person truly repents, he clears all idols from his life and Jesus Christ is truly reigning – on the throne of His heart. 1 idol will eternally damn the soul the same as a million idols!
NOW!
Memorize:
“Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” Isaiah 2:22
Repent afresh. Seek God for real. Lay down your life in this world and follow Jesus. Cry out to Him to make you His authentic disciples, to strip all hypocrisy, deceit, depravity, and hatred in your heart. | Fresh Start with God
Many who initially believed will ultimately and eternally be damned for their idolatry…..
“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” John 12:42-43
“And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.” Mark 7:14-15
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.” Matthew 23:23-26
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“It is Godly to have a church building to meet in. Jesus does not speak against it. If there is one, just one church that preaches the Gospel, and there is, then this comment is leading people astray. Go visit, til you find the right church…don’t be lazy and loose your soul…Amen! But that is a half truth to deter people if there is one church preaching the Gospel. You are trying to be God!”
REPLY:
I don’t agree with it being godly necessarily….. A physical building is not a necessity and is usually a great hindrance and worse. Jesus didn’t specifically speak against a physical building but He DID speak against the wolves operating in those buildings. Jesus also didn’t practice it (erecting physical buildings) because He is divine and knows all things and how men make themselves kings and rich off of the people usually as they use that central meeting place for self-serving purposes….. and no, a physical building is not a sin in and of itself. It can’t be, yet what is going on in those apostate “churches” is usually not the New Testament biblical model but rather for the self-serving purposes of those Paul says are “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18-19). Any Berean, discerning Bible student sees that.
You don’t seem to be Bible intensive and perhaps that’s because the wolves who are misleading you want to keep you ignorant so they can continue to use you (Hosea 4:6; Acts 17:10-11). When Jesus spoke of building His church (called-out ones), He was not speaking of something physical like a “church” building but rather the revelation truth of Himself in the hearts of His people (Matthew 16:17-19). You are not yet a discerning person but rather gullible and this is foolish….. Question: Did Jesus and His apostles ever collect one penny to building physical “church” building? yes or no please.
Most organizations, the vast majority functioning in buildings are misleading people and not preaching the original Gospel (Jude 3) You are deceived. The real Church – people of God- don’t need to go find a church because they are the church. Where does the Bible say to go find a church, to visit till you find one? And where does God’s Word say that you will lose your soul if you don’t find a church building to go to? Nowhere. There it is: You are being led to believe that attending the church building is salvation and not Christ – WHOM you have not once mentioned so you are an idolater.
So you have to wait till Sunday morning to preach the Gospel? Wow. There it is again – false church – where most pastors don’t want you doing the work of the ministry daily but rather to patronize their church business. You are telling on yourself. You are a product of a ministry based in a building that is misleading you. Not all are but it seems you are being misled by what you are saying which is a dead give away of what you’re being taught (Matthew 12:34; 5:16, 20). You didn’t mention Jesus Christ one time so obviously Heaven’s nail-scarred risen soon coming KING is not your first love nor being taught in your building based church (Colossians 2:18-19). This proves the point.
I don’t know what I am saying while I give you Scripture? Flash Point: Reading God’s Word and living by it is not “trying to be God.”
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“I’ve had people tell me that, even attending and supporting a church for over a year, that the church they were attending would not help them in a time of crisis because they were not members of that church.” M.
REPLY:
YES, have seen this same respect of persons many times brother! Sad! (Matt 25.) We shall all give full account to the One who said:
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” Matthew 25:40, 45
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Neither Give Place to the Devil! [podcast]
“Neither give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:27
“This is a really good message!” CB
— MANY have been blinded and duped to believe that either 1) there is no devil, or 2) there is a devil but he’s not active. But God’s Word tells us that Satan, the archenemy of Christ and mankind, is active and has an organized kingdom structure: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Warning:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
The Bible tells us not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices and if we are not even aware of “the wiles of the devil,” how can we possibly discern and overcome them? (2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:11).
Communism, any communistic form of government arrangement, is an example of the work of Satan and we know this because it steals money and freedom from the people, kills people who don’t agree, and destroys everything good.
ANY person participating in the work of Satan is a child of the devil. Satan’s work is “to steal, to kill, and to destroy.” (John 10:10) Any questions? Any activity, operation, or plan to steal the freedom or money or anything from another, is the work of Satan himself. So is to kill or destroy people or property unjustly.
—- PEOPLE EVER MAKE UP THINGS ABOUT YOU? Jesus told us we would be falsely accused (Matthew 5:11) and He also tells us never to participate in a “false report” in any way (Exodus 23:1-2). The Greek word for “Satan” means accuser. ….“for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night…” (Revelation 12:7-12)
NEVER EVER DRAW CONCLUSION ON ANYTHING BEFORE YOU’VE HEARD THE WHOLE STORY
“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Proverbs 18:13
“He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.” Proverbs 18:17
Are not our laws in this country crafted after this truth? “Innocent UNTIL PROVEN guilty.”…
God gave us these truths for the protection of all. If, as a disciple of Jesus, you have not yet been slandered, lied about, stick around, your time is coming. David had his Shimei, Jesus had His Judas, Paul had his Alexander the coppersmith.
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” Matthew 5:11
Slander includes bringing up a sin God has already forgiven someone, and/or repeating something you have no proof of.
Beloved saints, based on what Jesus foretold us of in Mathew 5:11, we’d actually better be concerned if no one is making up lies about us …. that just means Satan is upset with the fruitful relationship you have with Jesus who says “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26) In light of this truth, should we not be concerned if everyone likes us, if no one is slandering us?
It’s time to “rejoice” – to obey Jesus – when we are persecuted for that only proves that we are His!!!!!!
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12
If someone is not being lied about, persecuted, and afflicted, they are suspect. That person is very possibly a counterfeit, a tare among Christ’s wheat.
Learn the resurrection power of Jesus by learning a bit more about laying down your life! Get this volume and also I Die Daily.
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