CALVINISTS ARE “DECEIVING THE HEARTS OF THE SIMPLE”
The Five Basic Tenets of Calvinism
The five basic doctrines of Calvinism are represented by the acronym T-U-L-I-P. As you read through these, weigh them against the whole of Holy Scripture to test their validity. Here are John Calvin’s doctrines:
- T = TOTAL DEPRAVITY: At birth all men are depraved wholly and totally. They are in this sinful condition because they have inherited it from their parents and in this condition they have no ability to choose to do right or to obey God by repenting and placing their faith in Jesus Christ as God has specifically commanded them to. In other words, according to the Calvinist, the LORD has instructed man to do something he can’t do and yet will punish them if they don’t do what He said. According to the Calvinist, man has no say in the matter of salvation since he has no free will. Calvinism teaches that salvation is only possible if God wills it and causes it through the work of the Holy Spirit and that man has no say in the matter. The Bible tells us that “God … commandeth all men every where to repent.” (Acts 17:30) Why would God command man to do something he can’t do? Absurd!
- U = UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION: God, before the foundation of the world, arbitrarily chose to save some people and destroy all others and nothing can be done to change God’s sovereign decree.
- L = LIMITED ATONEMENT: Christ died only for the ones God had unconditionally chosen to save. (Isn’t it amazing that all who believe in “limited atonement” just happen to personally be a part of the special, privileged, elite ones to whom God has limited His salvation to? How convenient and amazing!!! How telling! How incriminating!) God’s Word says that Jesus died for the sins of the “WHOLE world.” (1 Jn. 2:2) Jesus Christ died to pay the price for all the sins of every man – In this truth alone Calvinism is found to be completely false.
- I = IRRESISTIBLE GRACE: An unregenerate person cannot voluntarily believe in God. But once God determines to save him, that same individual cannot overcome or resist the power of God no matter what he may desire.
- P = PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS: Since man can do nothing but evil on his own, God’s unconditional election is required to save him. Consequently, one needs to do nothing to remain saved. If one’s salvation depended on himself in any way, the miraculous work of God in saving him would be overthrown.
As I review these profane points, it is almost comical and yet seriously alarming to think that some are so gullible and biblically illiterate as to actually believe these rank heresies. Any time one reads Calvin’s five false points, Scripture upon Scripture should come to mind that plainly refute these diabolical lies. It is an absolute impossibility to believe God’s Word and John Calvin’s doctrines simultaneously.
The one who concocted these doctrinal points and those who embrace them create a god in their own image – a cruel god who would choose one to be saved and another to be damned. The god of these teachings came all the way to earth from the glory and infinite riches of Heaven to die and pardon only some and leave the rest to suffer eternal ruin because he is just for some reason against them. The truth clearly reveals the doctrines of Calvinism/Reformed Theology to be from a false god (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). The false god of this system of theology possesses a “grace” which goes far beyond that of the God of the Bible who requires men to fear and love Him supremely and live in faith and obedience to Him or lose out eternally (Exod. 20:2-4; Matt. 7:21; 10:28; Tit. 2:11-12; James 1:22; 1 Jn. 2:3-6; Rev. 2-3). The false grace system of Calvin’s cultish culture is a belief system that grants license for the special elect to live in the sin Jesus Christ came to earth to die and set men free from.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly (selfish desires/appetites); and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18
In the Greek the term “fair speeches” here in Romans 16:18 means – fine style of utterance giving the appearance of reasonableness.
Note this phrase – “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned.” (Rom. 16:17) Paul is saying here that all teaching that does not find its root in the “doctrine” of the LORD Jesus and that of His apostles and prophets (which makes up the canon of Scripture), is to be marked as false and so are those who teach it. False teachings are shown here to be something emanating from the “belly” or carnal minds of men who have (using falsehood) created a god in their own image, after their own likeness and due to their un-crucified sinful nature.
God’s true representatives are known by their purity of doctrine and character and will not use their words as tools to manipulate others for their own selfish purposes, but rather have circumcised hearts and utter things consistent only with God’s precious Word of truth (2 Cor. 2:17; 4:2; 2 Tim. 3:16-4:4; Titus 2:1, 7, 8, 10-14; 1 Pet. 4:11). These men genuinely honor the LORD. They exhibit meticulous attendance and diligence to know and communicate His truth (Titus 2:1). This is the fruit of their love for Him (Job 23:12; Ps. 119; Jer. 15:16; Mk. 8:38). Beware of the “many” who are perverting the Word of God for their own purposes:
Beware of the “many” who are perverting the Word of God for their own purposes:
“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17
Specifically speaking of “false prophets” and “false teachers among the people,” Peter writes that “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption.” (2 Pet. 2:19)
“These are wells without water (void of truth), clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever (eternal damnation). For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure (seduce) through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” 2 Peter 2:17-21
Beware that people like Paul Washer, John MacArthur, Arthur Pink, and Charles Spurgeon are calvinists. Though they may have some good quotes, their doctrinal pond is poisonous.
In response to an article we posted on the topic of eternal security, a former Calvinist writes:
“Amen, Amen, Amen! I believe that the OSAS doctrine is what is spoken about in Jude 1:4 – That there will be those who change the grace of God into lasciviousness. In every institution I attended that taught this doctrine of devils, the people lived like heathens. John Calvin died an unrepentant murderer….enough said! Now all you proud Calvinist keep all your well trained arguments I don’t buy it anymore. Signed former Calvinst.”
Using the ministry as a means to personal gain is the menacing curse of the modern church. Ministry positions across the western front have been hi-jacked by seminary-trained, professional, self-serving marketers who do not possess the heart or mind of Christ as is clear when comparing their lives to His and those of His holy apostles (2 Cor. 2:17; Phil. 3:17-19; 2 Tim. 3:10). These men who occupy positions of influence possess little or no passion for the relational holiness of God which flows out of the broken-hearted who fear God and trust fully in Jesus Christ. Many in leadership today are in the professional ministry industry (a business to them – hirelings) attempting to perpetuate their own career and build their own dynasty and local church business.
The unbiblical unconditional eternal security teaching is a central and profitable doctrine among the hoards of deceivers who plague the church world in this late hour. It defines sin and righteousness on its own terms, instead of honestly and soberly taking what God said it is in His holy Word. This no-responsibility teaching attracts the masses and draws people with the lifestyles of modern Laodicean “Christians.” Such people are never shown the essential nature of the crucified life in modern church houses. So many who do not authentically follow Christ, migrate to teachers who tell them what they wish to hear, that which feeds the carnal nature (2 Tim. 4:2-4). The false shepherd reciprocates by tickling ears in order to help him build up his local ministry business. A “Christian” life of ease and “once saved always saved” is a big and lucrative lure.
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (secretly; stealthily) shall bring in damnable heresies (lies that damn souls), even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious (destructive) ways; by reason of whom the way of truth (God’s Word) shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness (greed for self-gain) shall they with feigned (fictitious) words make merchandise of you (exploit you for your money)…For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” 2 Peter 2:1-3; 18-21
Wow! There are so many things to discover in this passage in 2 Peter! Make this a matter of personal study. Dig into the treasure chest of God’s precious Word. Here is one nugget in this passage in 2 Peter: “…by reason of whom the way of truth (God’s Word) shall be evil spoken of.” The testimony of Jesus Christ is being poisoned in the minds of many of the unsaved masses due to the “damnable heresies” of those who are “denying the LORD” with false teachings such as ‘once in grace, always in grace’ which teaches people to live in sin. This teaching removes the fear of God from the hearts of those who embrace it and makes holiness of life optional and not a necessity. Look at what Paul says concerning our preserving of the good testimony of the Gospel of Jesus and those who know Him:
“Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses…” 2 Corinthians 6:3-4
Always remember that a doctrine is not true because of how smoothly it is presented, but rather by what the Bible says from Genesis to Revelation. There are many educated, convincing and charismatic speakers today who “by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” This they do by teaching an unbiblical view of salvation (unconditional security). These deceivers would include numerous mainstream media personalities, pastors of large congregations, and authors of books. God’s Word is the final authority for all matters of true Christian doctrine and practice and any person’s doctrines which do not align are to be identified and marked as heresy by the true church of Jesus (Rom. 16:17-18; Gal. 1:6-9).
“Once saved always saved,” “irresistible grace,” and every other aspect of an unconditional eternal security is “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned.” If you have studied and embraced the Word of God you know this to be completely false. We must then obey the divine mandate here to “mark them” who teach such.
Take note again of this phrase in Romans 16:17 – “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned.” The doctrine the Holy Ghost is speaking of here is that doctrine which came through Jesus Christ, His apostles and prophets and is recorded in the Bible. Anything that doesn’t align is “contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned” or can learn in God’s Word and is to be marked and exposed as false. This begs the question as to where Jesus or His holy apostles ever even hinted that the truly saved person is automatically (whether he wants to or not) going to Heaven even if he walks away from God. Is this a doctrine of the Holy Word? After all, there are 27 books which comprise the New Testament canon, so if God wanted us to believe we are “once saved always saved,” why didn’t He just come out and tell us so?
If Christ didn’t simply and plainly tell us we are unconditionally (no matter what we choose to do) bound for His holy Heaven, then how in the world can people teach this as if it were divinely authoritative? How brazen!
One has to be taught by men an unconditional eternal security because it is nowhere to be found in Holy Scripture as a doctrine of the Christian faith. It is the job of the false teacher to “prove” his false teaching and he is only able to deceive those who are not founded in the truth (God’s Word). And he will even use Scripture to “prove” such. In over two decades of ministry to people who have been taught this unconditional eternal security lie, I have found not one who personally discovered this doctrine in the Word of God. Rather they have been taught by men, without sound and contextually true Bible revelation, that unconditional eternal security is a doctrine of the Christian faith. Any honest student of the Word who diligently searches the Scriptures, can testify that such a doctrine does not exist in the Bible other than as a teaching that is an abomination to the LORD in that it leads His people to violate His holiness and become separated from Him who is holy.
“There never was or ever can be a born Securist. You reader, or any other truly born again Christian, cannot read Eternal Security verses and get Eternal Security ‘out of’ them. The only way that Eternal Security can be attached to these verses is to ‘read it into’ them. This proves that Eternal Security is an extra-Biblical, external philosophy, seeking Biblical sanction. People are ‘educated into’ Eternal Security, just as truly as atheists are ‘educated into’ atheism.” Henry Schilling
Beware that people like Paul Washer, John MacArthur, Arthur Pink, and CHARLES SPURGEON are calvinists. Though they may have some good quotes, their doctrinal pond is poisonous.
Concerning the matter of being tarnished with the lies of Satan and Calvin, in his book entitled The Disciple-Making Minister, David Kirkwood writes:
“Near the end of his booklet, Piper quotes legendary Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon, who said that he began as an Arminian (Arminians disagree with all five points of Calvinism), like everyone else. This is a telling remark because it is so true. No one begins as a Calvinist. They only become Calvinists as they are taught Calvinism. Piper’s own testimony is no different. He admits ‘many years of struggle’ (p. 1, prgh. 4) before he was able to accept Calvinism. Perhaps even more difficult than the struggle to accept Calvinism is the struggle to reject it after one has struggled so hard to accept it. But it can, and has, been done.”
Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints is a divine mandate – especially against those who are turning the saving grace of God into a license for sin and that’s exactly what the heresies of calvinism do (Jude 3-4). Paul says that “a little leaveneth the whole lump” and so while Spurgeon taught some biblical truth, he poisoned the pond with calvinism’s cancerous doctrine of devils. Here’s the roots of calvinism, rooted in catholicism. Calvinism by Ken Rieske
Though commanded by God and recorded in His Word, today the whole notion conveyed by some is that obedience is optional to anyone who has genuinely been made a new creature through the divinely granted miracle of being born again. Wow, what unabashed mockery! What a travesty these men are perpetrating against the Most High! The LORD told us to “mark” these men, “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly (selfish desires); and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Rom. 16:17-18)
The apostle Peter warned sternly of going back into sin and of the end being worse than it would have been if that person had never known the way of righteousness (2 Pet. 2:20-21). Under the Spirit’s direction, Peter also commanded: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” (1 Pet. 2:11) Note the resolute and potent divinely-inspired words of Peter here. There leaves no room to wonder when we read these precious and divinely-breathed words of Holy Writ. In this late hour so many who have been elevated to the status of Christian celebrity, “deceive the hearts of the simple” with their flowery and deceptive doctrines and language. No such evil persuasion came from the mouths or pens of the apostles of Christ.
In the complete absence of even one example of the God of the Bible ever forcing any person to serve Him, these false teachers forge ahead with their “good words and fair speeches deceiving the hearts of the simple.” (Rom. 16:17-18) They convey the notion and even blatantly teach that those who are born again will automatically persevere in obedience and fellowship with Christ. But the Word of God always presents the choice to God’s people – to continue to walk with Him or to turn from Him in rebellion. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” (Josh. 24:15) Serving God is a blessed and daily decision (Deut. 30:19; Isa. 1:18-20; Lk. 9:23). A cursory look at Israel in the Old Testament Scriptures reveals this as clear as the light shining as the noon day sun. In their own self-will, those who teach this no-personal-responsibility heresy, ignore clearly revealed divine truth, giving preference to their doctrine of devils, and in so doing, serve their own “belly” and carnal desires. See also Philippians 3:17-21.
“And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words…Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:4, 8
Beware of the modern day deceiver who works to cleverly articulate his Calvinistic and poisonous points of theology, using myth and human reasoning while violating revealed divine truth in the very Word of God. This is a grave evil being perpetrated from pulpits, books and other media across the world, leading millions to the worship of a false god. These are deceivers. They do not honor God and His Word.
“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17
In light of the numerous passages which clearly demonstrate that salvation can and will be forfeited by any born again person not remaining in faithful obedience to Christ, it is clear that many have misunderstood the message of God’s Word on how Christ and His glorious salvation must be abided in (Jn. 15). Some fail to understand that salvation must be maintained by an ongoing faith in Christ alone and that is a choice, never forced. This one fact alone – that God never forces man to do anything – causes the intertwined 5 points of Calvinism to crumble. The notion that one is automatically going to persevere to the end if he is truly saved, is completely unfounded – no where to be found in Holy Scripture. Like much of John Calvin’s heretical teachings, this doctrine of deceit violates volumes of known truth and does not take into account the whole of the LOGOS (written Word). Regrettably, many today hold Calvin’s teachings as their final authority and don’t even realize it. They bend even the Bible to fit Calvin’s heresies, instead of discarding these lethal lies when they realize how they grossly contradict God’s Word. Many a person who is deluded by this ‘irresistible grace’ heresy seems to be inoculated from scriptural truth. Even after being shown numerous Bible texts which clearly reveal Calvin’s teachings to be erroneous, some of these people crassly dismiss the divine truth they read with their very own eyes, vainly believing that somehow God didn’t really mean what He plainly stated. Like all cults, it seems like these lies inoculated them from truth. Yet, when asked, these men claim to follow Christ and honor God’s Word. In reality they are following the doctrines of mere men and devils and in most cases have no clue they are doing so. Should we be surprised in light of what our LORD said concerning this to the religionists of His day? (Mk. 7:6-9)
John Calvin’s 5 points are a masterminded diabolic system to pervert the grace of our God and to defy the holiness of the LORD, justify sin, and bring God’s people into the depth of depravity and ultimately damnation – all the while thinking they are “once saved always saved.” Those who have embraced these blatant and biblically defying lies have no idea who is behind this system of deceit. They think this is the truth of Jesus Christ and yet it is actually the lies of the dark lord of damnation who has come to steal, kill and destroy (Jn. 10:10).
Annihilating one of Calvin’s 5 points, Robert Shank says:
“But we must protest that a god who, while rescuing some, simply ‘passes by’ others in the same lost circumstance is so little like the Good Samaritan in our Lord’s parable and so much like the priest and the Levite that he cannot be the God who desires to have all men saved and none to perish. Such a god constitutes a total contradiction to the spirit of the words of James, ‘To him who knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin’ (4:17)…A god so heartless and so arbitrary cannot be the God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to exile, sorrow, suffering, shame and death. He cannot be the God who cries with sorrowing heart and infinite compassion, ‘Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none other’ (Isa. 45:22). He cannot be the God whose grace has appeared for the salvation of all men (Tit. 2:11). Such an arbitrary god is not the God we worship and adore, the God in whom we trust.” (Robert Shank, Elect in the Son, p.193)
Friends, in this writer’s opinion and that of many others, John Calvin was the worst heretic in church history. He picked up and re-launched the very original lie Satan told the woman in the Garden. He grossly corrupted the holy image of the one true God with his evil and blasphemous teachings. Calvin set forth heresies that live on today in the minds of many deceived people, some who are well-meaning. LORD, bless us to love and embrace Thy truth, which establishes who You truly are and reveals the doctrines of men and devils to be evil tools to lure away the righteous to perdition. Amen.
In a written response to a Calvinist concerning the belief in an unconditional election, Jeff Paton writes:
“So why do you recoil from God knowing whom He would elect from before the foundation of the world? I don’t, I believe it! God only has one Church, one Bride who is elect before the foundation of the world, not millions of individuals mysteriously elected before the foundation of the world! Ephesians 1:4, ‘According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:’ – notice who is ‘US’ in the passage…it refers to BELIEVERS, the Church. Who has God chosen? Believers. How? In Christ (the Gospel). That was and has always been God’s plan. No election from eternity here for a single individual to salvation. Revelation 17:8, ‘The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.’ – Once again, the passage says NOTHING of election to salvation BEFORE or AT the foundation of the world! It says in English ‘FROM’ the foundation of the world. The Greek does not, and cannot mean ‘AT’ or ‘BEFORE’ and therefore gives no support to the notion that God has chosen or elected anyone by anything other than faith in Christ. You can create difficulties that are just not there. There is not one passage that suggests or states that any individual is elected to salvation from eternity, or any other time.
Lots of questions, but answering one or all of them will not substitute Scripture, and especially your lack of any Scripture that asserts your assumed theology. All too many are willing to be led around by the nose by philosophy and sophistry, but I find it quite unconvincing until I have a reason from Scripture to believe it. The obvious fact is, you have no Scripture, just arguments and leading questions designed to arrive at your presuppositions.”
The Calvinist has been taught a system of theology that is foreign to Holy Writ. To illustrate just how unscriptural and deceptive Calvinistic teachings can be, let’s look at what seems to be the center point belief of the Calvinist – the theology of what they call the “sovereignty of God.” It is disturbing to observe that in the theology of Calvinists they have nearly deified the “sovereignty” of God when the words “sovereign” or “sovereignty” never appear in Holy Scripture. Due to the fact that the word “sovereign” appears no where in His Word, we can unmistakably conclude that the LORD obviously did not want His people being preoccupied with this. These masters of manipulation completely ignore the holiness of the LORD when the word “holy” and “holiness” appear nearly 600 times in the Bible. Numbers don’t lie. Those who will be in relationship with the Almighty are commanded and required to “be ye holy; for I am holy.” (Lev. 20:7; 1 Pet. 1:15-16) Are the people of God commanded to believe that He is sovereign? No. We do know from His Word that experiencing His real holiness is a prerequisite for Heaven (Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; Rev. 21:8, 27). Now this complete over-emphasis of a non-essential and brazen ignoring of an essential truth about the very core nature of the one true God is an evil tragedy which is deluding and damning millions today. This is a classic case of deceivers working within Christendom teaching “perverse things” which are “contrary to the doctrine” of the Bible and are “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:29-31; Rom. 16:17-18; Jude 3-4) In denying His attributes and grossly over-emphasizing a characteristic His Word never does, these false teachers clearly deny the LORD.
There is a cleverly crafted premise and sequential order here. In this system we witness a layered order of beliefs. Each layer is carefully built one upon another. One point has to be embraced before a person can be deluded into believing the next ones. Each of Calvin’s five points are interconnected and interdependent. In order to convince one that he is without condition absolutely eternally secure regardless of any choice he may make, requires that the person believe that God sovereignly saved him and will sovereignly keep him with no responsibility on the recipient’s part. The false god of Calvinism says the individual has no say-so and that he is forced to go to Heaven or hell. His destiny is predetermined according to this diabolical system of lies. In this system of theology the LORD pre-selects some to be saved and some to be lost and no one has a choice. This is an evil set of beliefs that defy the Word of the living God, inevitably deluding those who embrace them.
If a person does not purposely develop “the love of the truth” he will absolutely be turned over to deceiving spirits to be deluded and ultimately damned (2 Thess. 2:10-12).
Surely the LORD is sovereign, yet it is deception to divorce such a divine attribute from the wholeness of His Person and attributes. He who “magnified” His “word…above” His own “name” sovereignly chose to tell His people in His written Counsel that holiness is indigenous of who He is and a requirement for those who will know and be with Him (Lev. 19:2; Ps. 33:11; 138:2; Heb. 12:14).
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Preacher Viciously Attacked for Speaking the Truth! [podcast]
The Sovereignty of God as Defined by Calvinism vs Scripture [podcast]
Abiding
The Book of 1 John Narrated [podcast]
Love. Truth. Know.
Note: The Book of 1 John has at least 3 power words and truths to behold: 1. Love, 2. Truth, 3. Know
“Love” appears 44 times in 1 John.
“Truth” appears 10 times in 1 John.
“Know” appears 28 times in 1 John.
Some have called the book of 1 John “the book of certainties” as Christ’s apostle John is blunt, curt, strong, forceful in/with the truth, and loving – a true man of steal, and velvet.
Reading any book of the Bible 10-20 times, reading straight through it, is powerfully effective in getting that Word of our God and its divine thoughts into our heart and mind.
Chapter 1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Chapter 2
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Chapter 3
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Chapter 4
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Chapter 5
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. 18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Here are a few of the key words in 1 John:
truth | light | love | life | fellowship | know | antichrist
| Outline of the Book of 1 John Scriptures and Topics Covered: Fellowship with God – Chapters 1-3 Brotherly Love – Chapter 4 Victory over the World – Chapter 5 |
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Abiding
“Seven Women shall take hold of One Man” [podcast]
Two Types of Believers – the mere professor and the possessor.
God created us and sent His only begotten Son that we might know Him.
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
THE POSSESSORS
“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.” Isaiah 4:2
The LORD Jesus is “the branch … beautiful and glorious” shall He be and shall be His reign. One commentation of this passage is as follows:
“Isaiah 4:2
a [In that day] In that day—the Millennium (Isa_4:1-6).
b [branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious] Christ is the Branch of the Lord that shall be eternally “beautiful and glorious” in the Millennium and New Earth periods (Isa_9:6-7; Isa_11:1; Jer_23:5; Jer_33:15; Zec_3:8; Zec_6:12; Zec_14:1-9; Rev_11:15).
c [fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely] The earth will be restored to normal fertility and productivity when Christ comes (Isa_35:1-7; Isa_58:11-12; Joe_2:21-27).
d [escaped of Israel] A remnant of Israel shall escape the future tribulation and battle of Armageddon (Isa_4:2-3; Zech. 13:8-14:14; Mat_24:31; Mat_25:31-46).”
“Them that are escaped of Israel” refers to those who come out of her, that is, they come out from among the tares or counterfeits who merely profess to be serving God and yet aren’t, and therefore do not have the fruit to prove they are truly Christ’s (Titus 1:16; Matthew 3:7-10). Those who escape the judgment to come upon the hypocrites “take root downward, and bear fruit upward” and that means they are complying with Christ and being crucified, that is dead to the self-life, buried, and raised up by Christ, bearing fruit “UPward.” Here’s the whole verse: “And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward” (Isaiah 37:31).
Eternal resurrection blessings untold await those who are “accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:34-36).
The Branch of the Lord Glorified
“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. 3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: 4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. 5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. 6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” Isaiah 4:2-6
Only a remnant will remain. And Isaiah is saying here that God will bring these few through “…the spirit of judgment, and…the spirit of burning” (same verse, Isaiah 4:4). This great separation is coming.
The LORD is purifying a people for Himself. In Daniel we read:
Daniel 11:35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Those who are truly Christ’s fellowship with other of His true disciples and also with elders who like Christ’s apostle Paul, jealously brood over God’s people, to protect them. They discern and gather with those who embrace and preach the original Gospel and expose those who preach and espouse “another Jesus … another spirit … another gospel.”
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:2-4
THE MERE PROFESSORS
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16
Please explain….What kind of relationship is based on the participation of only one of the parties? A non existent dying relationship. The eternal security heretics are self-serving. They could care less about Jesus but rather simply wish to use Him to get them out of Hell without any kind of a real and abiding, fruit-bearing vital union relationship with Him (John 15:1-16). Seems this is what the Holy Spirit is getting at when He led Isaiah the prophet to pen these words:
“And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” Isaiah 4:1
In other words, “We want to use your name but don’t wish to have any kind of an intimate relationship with you.” Or, “We want the ring, the provision/money, the marriage, but we don’t want the commitment. We don’t want to be faithful to you! We want the crown but not the cross.”
And in the USA today, the woman can “get bored” and divorce her husband and get half of what he has and be grossly over-charged on “child support.” To further make the point, divorce lawyers inform us that when there is a prenup involved, the divorce rate goes down to nearly zero. hmmmm
THOUGH NEVER HEARD IN THE APOSTATE MODERN CHURCH WORLD, THE ORIGINAL GOSPEL INCLUDES….. from the Gospel of Luke
Only those who repent will be with Christ. Everyone else is going to hell irrevocably.
“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3
The crucified life is a must, a condition for overcoming sin and being in Heaven instead of hell.
“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27
You must forsake all to follow Jesus
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
You must lose your life to know and walk with Jesus and be in glory.
“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:33
Christ’s “enemies” are those who don’t let Him reign over their lives.
“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” Luke 19:27
In this late hour we have so very many women who simply do not want to be unmarried and so they will deceptively manipulate their way into a marriage to a man they have no intention of being a virtuous God-fearing wife to. We also have so many who want to believe the notion that they are going to Heaven because they said a prayer way back, yet they want zero to do with truly following Jesus, the Great Bridegroom, daily. They want nothing to do with the cross, the crucified daily life, living a life of prayer, repenting as needed, being holy as He is holy, etc. No desire for commitment, for intimacy, for an intimate relationship.
“And don’t we see this in today’s modern church world? They want Jesus to take away the reproach of their sin, but refuse to live according to His righteous ways. The continue wearing their religious garb, outer religiosity which is filthy rags, a mere ‘form of godliness.’ (2 Timothy 3:5) Counterfeits don’t want Christ to rule over them. On the day of His return they will expect to be invited into the marriage supper and yet will be rejected.” Karen Cochran
In like fashion, do we not have millions of church-attending counterfeits today who manifest no proof of knowing Jesus today? This was all prophesied of this last day. Read 2 Timothy 3:1-7. They have an “I go to church” mere “form of godliness” arrangement.
Many want the blessing and benefits of marriage but they don’t want the marriage commitment – and so they live in fornication. And, as was foretold of these final days before Christ’s return, there are so many who have a mere “form of godliness, but (are) denying the power (the authority) thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). They do not want real commitment to the LORD because they are “lovers of their own selves … lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-7).
Two verses before this revelation (4:1) the Scripture tells us of the men of Israel being killed off due to the wars:
“Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.” Isaiah 3:25
While this is physically speaking of the loss of the men in Israel, there’s a deeper, a prophetic conveyance to us in this late hour – “They are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
“Seven women shall take hold of one man” – In other words these women described above wanted to be married to a man but they would do their own thing within that marriage arrangement. They didn’t want any responsibility to the man but rather just wanted the reproach of being an old maid removed from their lives. Mere professors are self-serving instead of Savior-serving.
The “seven women” spoken of here are like many today who merely want an arrangement with the Great Bridegroom yet don’t want the real relationship which involves the unreserved giving of oneself to the other party but rather simply want the benefit of the removal of the reproach, the scourge of being without that bridegroom/husband and the possibility of bearing fruit, children. Like the five foolish virgins of Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins, these counterfeits refuse the responsibilities of a real relationship and therefore forfeit the virtue, the substance enjoyed by those who have a real relationship with the Bridegroom. This is a prophetic utterance concerning the church, the division between the wheat and the chaff, the tares in the last days where some were real and others had a mere “form of godliness.” Many today who were initially saved say in their hearts: “Thank You Jesus for saving me but I will live the rest of my life on my own terms, doing as I please. Don’t bother me with the cross, but I will be expecting the crown. I’ll do what I please and that’s why I simply want an arrangement and not a real marriage and the associated involvement.” See Luke 6:46.
The false bride of Christ professes to know Him and yet they don’t want to commit to Him but they want Him to commit to them, to be that false Christ many preach today that keeps them even in their sin of fornication and spiritual idolatry. They want Christ to be faithful to keep them eternally secure yet they are not faithful to love, seek, worship, trust, walk with, abide in, and obey – as He requires!
“Isaiah 4:1 “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” These women want to use Jesus to keep them out of hell but don’t want a commitment. And don’t want to be faithful! They want to live as they please and take care of themselves. They only want the stain of sin removed from them. They want to be the bride of Christ with no responsibility. But they fully expect Him to take them with Him to live eternally.” Karen Cochran
OUR LORD is calling His people to daily present to Him their “bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1
Notice how these seven arrangement “brides” say “We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel.” In other words, “We’ll make our own money and buy our own food and clothes”….. “We don’t need you too involved in our lives other than an occasional hook up, when it’s convenient.” ….. Yet unless we seek and ingest the bread of Heaven, the Word of God Himself and His Word, how can we be nourished, how can our vessels, our lamps be full of His divine virtue, the oil of His presence to make it to the bridal chamber of eternal glory in this dark, fallen world? See Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins which has never been more relevant than it is in this final hour before His return (Matthew 25:1-13).
Also, the mere professors, represented by the seven women here, say “We will … wear our own apparel” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:7-9
The apparel of “fine linen” is only given to those who choose to engage in a genuine relationship with the Bridegroom, Jesus.
Of this “seven women shall take hold of one man” in Isaiah 4:1, David Wilkerson wrote:
“Scripture Always Refers to The Church in the Feminine Gender, in Many Cases As a Bride. The seven would-be brides Isaiah mentions are clearly a type of the characteristics of many in the last-days’ church. These seven would-be brides are seeking to lay hold of one man, whom I take to be Christ. Yet these brides are not interested in loving Him. On the contrary, they have only one thing on their minds – the removal of their reproach! ‘We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach’ (verse 1). I see here seven women approaching a man and saying, ‘You don’t have to provide food for us. We’ll take care of our own bread. And you don’t have to provide any clothes for us. We’ll provide our own robes… Sure, these women want to be the bride of Christ – but only on their own terms. They want an arrangement without intimacy, love or devotion. The number seven is used in regard to these brides to remind us that in every church system there are such people. They attempt to ‘take hold of one man’ – Christ – only to get relief from the guilt and condemnation of their sin. They don’t want intimacy with Him. They want nothing more than forgiveness – to have the reproach of sin removed. I call this the church of forgiveness only.'”
Today those with a mere outward “form of godliness” who are “lovers of their own selves” and “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” refuse to “endure (hold themselves accountable to obey) sound doctrine” but rather want “smooth things” (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy 4:2-4). This seems to be what is prophetically conveyed here through the prophet Isaiah for these last times. Paul foretold of these “last days” where he says “perilous times shall come” and as we know, are here now.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
John Wesley on Isaiah 4:1:
“In that day – In that calamitous time. Seven – Many. A certain number for an uncertain. One man – Because few men shall survive that dreadful stroke. Only – Own us for thy wives. Our reproach – Virginity was esteemed a reproach; children, the usual fruit of marriage, being both an honour to their parents, and a blessing of God, especially to that people, from some of whose loins the Messiah was to spring.”
Ignoring the inconvenient truth concerning readiness for Christ’s return will bring irrevocable damnation! (Read Mark 4:17-19; 1 John 2:15-17.) Hell is right now filled with those who ignored the warning signs. While on earth they refused to stop their life and look upward to their Maker, to make things right with Him. When He drew them they snubbed Him, relishing their darkness rather than His light and love (John 3:19-21).
“When Jesus came to the Earth the first time, His people were completely unprepared and did not recognize their Messiah was with them. But there were wise men who did recognize that He was here. They were not wise because of their intellect. They were wise because they were watching and paying attention to the signs of the times. Jesus then told us His second return would be met with both wise and foolish brides. The difference between the two is the wise are prepared and are waiting and watching. The foolish are paying no attention at all and are caught up living their best life now. Out of ten, Jesus said five are wise and five are foolish. That would mean half of the church today is completely unprepared. So ask yourself a question, ‘Am I being wise or am I being foolish?’ Because there are consequences for our actions.” Frank Telford
Make no mistake, The Great Bridegroom of Heaven is not coming back for a lukewarm, and uninvolved, a casual-love Bride who only want the reproach of their sin removed yet don’t want to give themselves to the Great Bridegroom. He’s not returning for those who treat Him like a second class citizen, a mere hobby, casually getting around to communing with Him. No, the Son of God from Heaven is coming out of the eastern sky for His bride – those wise virgin saints who are in love with Him, who daily attend unto Him, sitting at His feet to learn of Him.
DOOR SHUT IN FACE: Distinguishing between the wise and foolish virgins is quite simple. Those who seek God in His Word are the wise and all others are the foolish – upon whom the door of the Bridegroom shall be shut (Matthew 25:1-13). Anyone whom Christ has previously saved who is not nourishing his spirit in the Word daily, has already backslidden and is not prepared to meet Christ.
The vast majority of those falsely claiming to be saved have no heart for the Word of God and no fruit to demonstrate, to prove they are truly following Jesus – on His stated terms which begins with the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24). They don’t have time for God because in truth, many of these have never repented, truly. Their life is all about themselves and all their stupid trinkets they are adulterously choosing over Christ. Make no mistake: they are as sure for eternal damnation as if they were already there (Mark 4:17-19; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15; Revelation 2:4-5; 3:15-16, etc.).
YOU keep it, guard it, till it, fill it with the Word, etc.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
It’s your personal responsibility to keep your heart perfect before the LORD (Psalms 34:18; 51:17; Matthew 5:6, etc.). Praying Psalm 51 is a great place to camp. Oh yes JESUS! Do Your purifying work in us, Your people. I love You dear LORD Jesus!
JESUS says to those saved that they must “endure to the end,” they must “abide” which means to remain, to continue (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; John 15:6). Jesus says that those who do not “abide” with Him will be cast into the fire and He is specifically speaking to those who are in Him (John 15:1-6). Scripture teaches initial and final salvation throughout, including the parable of the ten virgins where all ten were engaged to the bridegroom (Jesus), and yet only five made it into the bridal chamber of eternal glory and the other five were shut out (Matthew 25:1-13). God put conditions on His gift – initial and perpetual. The man who gets engaged to a woman who then begins consorting with other men, would be a fool to still marry her. The Son of God who is the Bridegroom of Heaven would never marry a whore – nor remain married to an adulterous woman (Revelation 19:7-10; Ephesians 5:25-27).
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5
So God wants a bride that is not engaged in participating with Him in a relationship, doing His kingdom work? Not.
More light flooding into our hearts is needed perpetually… “The entrance of thy word giveth light” (Psalms 119:130). Think and declare: “I am a wise virgin believer who is eagerly anticipating the coming of my Bridegroom from Heaven” (Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 19:7-10). ALL who got saved in the past and yet are not devouring God’s Word daily, are of the foolish virgins and will be irrevocably shut out of the eternal kingdom of Christ. Get in the Word or perish. You CANNOT sustain a life with Christ without the daily fuel of His Word. Obey Him or you prove you do not love Jesus (John 14:21). Talk is cheap (1 John 3:18).
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Articles
The Communication of Thy Faith
Excerpt from the book Revolutionary Evangelism
“That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” Philemon 1:6
Is God concerned how much we sweat or hurt ourselves in order to communicate His truth? I think not. I believe that He is simply desirous that we communicate His Word, no matter what available legitimate method(s) we might choose. The key in the LORD’s economy is “the communication of thy faith.”
Captured in the verse below, seems like the beloved Job is referring also to the refreshment that comes from opening our lips and testifying of our LORD’s great goodness!
“I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.” Job 32:20
With this truth in mind does it not behoove each and every believer to find ways to confess Christ to others who need Him?
OSWALD J. SMITH stated: ”For more than thirty years I have prayerfully considered the problem: How can we evangelise the world in the space of one generation? I do not believe we ever can send out enough missionaries; but there must be a way. After travel and study in fifty-three countries, I have come to the conclusion, the only way we are going to be able to carry out the Great Commission – ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature’ (Mark 16:15) – will be by means of the printed page.”
The end is near. What seed have you sown to reach the lost? What will you tell the Master in the end about how you spent your life on this earth (the life He gave you)?
“I believe our Gospel literature is having a greater impact for Christ on Africa than the coming of five thousand new missionaries.” Dr. Guy Playfield – Sudan Interior Mission
For nearly 500 years now, Gospel tracts have been used to reach the lost with the message of the Good News. No doubt that salvation tracts, also referred to as Gospel or silent messengers, are ordained by God as one of the primary methods/tools to evangelize the world.
“Unquestionably the most economical and effective method of world evangelism is the printed page. Ninety percent of the reported conversions to Christianity in Latin America are the result of sound Gospel literature. One good Gospel tract or Bible study booklet given careful, prayerful, wide distribution may easily reach more people than all the sermons one could preach in a lifetime. And after we are gone, they remain, like Longfellow’s ‘Footprints on the Sands of Time’ streams of blessing that will flow on forever.” J.E. McKEE
By divine inspiration, the modern printing press was invented about the time of the great reformation in order to communicate the grace of Jesus Christ to the world. As a result, in the 16th century, the Gospel message blazed across Europe, evangelizing those who were previously locked up by the devil in the dark ages of false religion. The great reformer stated:
- “Printing is God’s latest and best work to spread true religion throughout the whole world.” Martin Luther
Today, more Word tracts are printed and distributed in the world than any previous time in human history. Could this be as a result of the orchestrating of the Holy Spirit due to Christ’s soon return?
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30
Are you a soul winner? Do you have a systematic program to distribute God’s Word via the printed page? Do you have a willing heart? Need Gospel literature?
The message of salvation through Christ, printed in a brief format and easy to distribute, makes it more than feasible for every true Christian to “confess” Christ (Lk. 12:8-9) while communicating His message. With this in mind, will there be any excuse on Judgment Day for having ignored the Great Commission command and the precious lost souls for whom Christ died?
Good News for the disciple: Gospel tracts, which contain the salvation message of holy Scripture, make it possible for every believer to “Do the work of an evangelist.” (2 Timothy 4:5) Good tracts are available to those who desire to be about their Father’s business in winning the lost. Beware of tracts without the direct life or death message Jesus and His original apostles presented (Lk 13:3,5; Mk 16:16, 2 Cor. 2:16, etc.).
You can order Gospel tracts on this site which present the most important elements of Scripture to the lost; Holiness of God, sinfulness of men in breaking His holy law, the necessity of repentance and being born again into the body of Christ through Jesus Christ alone.
PRAYER: God, in the name of Jesus we ask You now to grant this world more Gospel workers (Matt. 9:37-38). Cause each of us to be obedient in this matter LORD. Forgive our coldness and selfishness in disobeying your Great Commission command and for not being considerate to those who don’t yet know you by hiding You from them in not sharing Your message with them. Forgive us for the excuses we have made up and how we have been ashamed of You towards those who need Your love so desperately. I am Yours LORD, please use me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Sign up for free email devotional HERE… The Moments with My Master email devotional is sent out for the edification of the body of Christ.
Support | STORE | | Podcasts | Light of the Word | Evangelism | Compassion in Light of Christ’s Soon Return | Striving Together for the Faith of the Gospel [podcast]
The Book of 1 John Narrated [podcast]
“Seven Women shall take hold of One Man” [podcast]
The Communication of Thy Faith
The Weapons of Our Warfare [podcast]
A Fresh Look at Jesus’ 7 Letters to the Churches [podcast]
“Warn them from Me”: The 3 Things Paul did to Protect God’s People [podcast]
Mission Mexico Part 45
Overcoming that Old Serpent, Called the Devil, and Satan [podcast]
Exhort One Another Daily [podcast]
“Shall I not visit for these things?” [podcast]
Tried. Trusted. Blessed. [podcast]
Jezebel The Depths of Satan [video]
The Harvest is Coming for all those Sowing the Seed of the Word [podcast]
“The Supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” [podcast]
“I Love You Son” [podcast]
The Communication of Thy Faith
Money, Material Wealth, and Riches [podcast]
Out of the Mouth of Babes – “What is Love?” Hilarious. Revealing [podcast]
“The Supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” [podcast]
Exhort One Another Daily [podcast]
The Supremacy of Jesus Christ [podcast]
Overcoming that Old Serpent, Called the Devil, and Satan [podcast]
Jezebel The Depths of Satan [video]
“Seven Women shall take hold of One Man” [podcast]
Soul Sleep Exposed: Where Do We Go When We Die? When do we Go there? [podcast]
THE ESSENTIAL IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTOLOGY [podcast]
“I Love You Son” [podcast]
“Warn them from Me”: The 3 Things Paul did to Protect God’s People [podcast]
The Weapons of Our Warfare [podcast]
“He that Loveth Pureness of Heart” [podcast]
The Book of 1 John Narrated [podcast]
“Seven Women shall take hold of One Man” [podcast]
The Communication of Thy Faith
America1 year agoThe Drugging of America: The Pharmakeia Sorcery Deception [podcast]
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Children being Rescued in Tunnels: Happening Now – UPDATE!
- Articles8 years ago
Self-Examination in Preparation for the Lord’s Return
- Apostasy3 years ago
SHOCKING List of False Prophets Most Believe are True
Providing Christ-centered Scripture-rich resources to feed, edify, and equip the body of Christ (John 21:15-17; Ephesians 4:11-15).
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