sgys banner books

The catholic church prides itself on traditions.

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the TRADITIONS which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15

When Paul spoke of “traditions” it was in direct reference to the divine truth he’d previously delivered to the believers at Thessalonica – which is now the written Word of God.

The catholic church, laced and laden with completely un-biblical traditions, vainly attempts to claim their basis for such based on this one verse above. Laughable. Catholic traditions completely contradict the final divine authority of Holy Scripture. For example, can anyone find a scapular, a rosary, a novena prayer, a prayer to Mary, purgatory, holy days of obligation, a mass, or a so-called “pope” in God’s Word? No. Not one.

Anybody who thinks that anything or anyone else but Jesus Christ is essential for eternal life is Anti-Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). This includes 100% of pagan roman catholic idolaters. Jesus is the only way and not just a way (John 14:6). There is no such thing in Christ’s kingdom, in the Bible, as a pope, purgatory, a scapular, a rosary, a novena, mass, etc. Repent now and follow Jesus or you are going to hell irrevocably and there is no such thing as purgatory which is just another lie.

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;” Exodus 20:3-5

“I was born catholic and I will die catholic!” is a phrase all ex catholics have heard. These are people who were initiated into (sprinkling rites at 8 days old) and personally vowed, swore their eternal souls to this false religion.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

Religion is Satan’s greatest tool and was Jesus’ worst enemy when He walked the earth (Matthew 23). No such thing as a catholic who is Heaven-bound! Idolatry is a soul damning abomination to the Almighty and if you need to repent right now for misleading catholics into thinking they’re save, please do so. Any catholic who gets saved IS coming out (Matthew 6:24; 1 Corinthians 10:21; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; Revelation 18:4, etc.). 

Does Matthew 16:18 Teach that Peter was the “First Pope”?

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18

Let’s take a closer look. As a Catholic, I was taught that Peter is the rock, not Jesus. This brainwashing begins from the beginning of the lives of those born into families that are Catholic. Regrettably, most Catholics just accept this teaching and never investigate it for themselves.

In using this passage to teach that Peter—the supposed “first pope”—is the rock, the Catholic church insidiously borrows from the credibility of the Bible while taking it out of the biblical context in which it is written. The Catholic church discourages its members from reading the Bible for themselves and when they do use the Bible, it’s usually out of its obvious context. More on this in a moment.

Catholicism seeks to rob Jesus Christ of His preeminence as the only divine LORD and only Savior. As we are now going to see by looking at the passage in context, they bait and switch here. They put the emphasis on Peter and not Jesus. So, they rob Christ of the glory due His Name alone and put that glory on a sinner named Peter. Then they teach the heresy that he was the first pope. First of all, there’s no such thing as a pope in the kingdom of Christ. There’s not one mention of a pope in the Bible and for that matter, no mention of a novena, a mass, a scapular, a rosary, or purgatory in God’s Word. It’s all made up Pagan mythology to mislead people away from the Savior.

WHO IS THE REAL ROCK?

“This rock” is not referring to Peter but rather the revelation of Jesus Christ Himself as the only Messiah. Let’s read this passage carefully. Peter had just told Jesus that HE, Jesus, is the prophesied Messiah, “the Son of the living God.” This is what was revealed to Peter by the heavenly Father. Then what was Jesus’ initial response? “This rock” is not referring to Peter but rather the revelation that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, the only Savior who came to take away the sins of the world (Matthew 16:13-20). Note how the passage closes: – “Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ” (Matthew 16:20).  Notice Jesus didn’t say “Tell no man that Peter is the rock.” Hmmmmm …. this passage is about the Rock, Jesus Christ, and not Peter or the Catholic church. This is just another antichrist heresy peddled by the Roman church, seeking to steal the glory from the LORD Jesus Christ, the only LORD and Savior, the only Rock (Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Corinthians 10:4).

PETER CONFESSES JESUS AS THE CHRIST

Matthew 16:13 – When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 – And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 – He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

Matthew 16:16 – And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 16:17 – And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 16:18 – And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:19 – And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 
Matthew 16:20 – Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. 

Interestingly, just after Jesus told Peter that He was going to build His church (called-out people) upon the rock of the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, He told Peter to “Get thee behind me Satan.” The catholic church teaches that their pope is infallible. Yet we know that Jesus told Peter, supposedly the “first pope” to “Get thee behind me Satan.” (Matthew 16:23) – IF THE “FIRST POPE” (who actually walked with Jesus in the flesh for 3.5 yrs) WASN’T PERFECT/INFALLIBLE, HOW COULD CURRENT ONES BE???

WAS PETER EVER IN ROME? READ ROMANS 16, WRITTEN FROM ROME BY PAUL. PAUL LISTS 27 PEOPLE. PETER WAS NOT EVEN MENTIONED.

ABOUT 80-90 A.D. PETER WROTE TWO EPISTLES (NEAR THE END OF THE NEW TESTAMENT), A TOTAL OF 8 CHAPTERS AND NEVER MENTIONED ONE TIME THAT HE WAS A “POPE” OR THAT THERE WAS A “CATHOLIC CHURCH.” DID THE HOLY SPIRIT AND PETER FORGET TO TELL US SOMETHING IMPORTANT OR IS SUCH SIMPLY NOT TRUE???

Jesus did not appoint Peter to the headship of the apostles and forbade any such notion (Matthew 20:20-28; Luke 22:24-26; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 3:11).

The only Church Jesus has is the born again Church He died to save. God’s Word tells us that Christ is the only HEAD of His one body! This alone means that the pope of Rome is the head of a false church. God has One Church with One Head – Jesus Christ, the nail-scarred risen LORD and only Savior (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Colossians 1:18; 2:10, 19).

Note: Nor is there any mention in Scripture, nor in history, that Peter ever was in Rome, much less that he was pope there for 25 years. Clement, 3rd bishop of Rome, remarks that “there is no real 1st century evidence that Peter ever was in Rome.”

To What Degree, How High does the Catholic Church Elevate the “Pope”?

Peter was not the first “pope.” There’s no such thing as a “pope” in Christ’s kingdom. The word or concept of a “pope” is found no where in Scripture other than the seat of antichrist which pretends to put itself in place of the LORD Jesus Christ. Anti in antichrist simply means “in place of.” (2 Thessalonians 2) Listen closely to the following passage and see if you can guess who the Holy Spirit is speaking of. Who fits this description?:

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

Now do we see why nearly all Christian leaders of past days called the pope of Rome “the seat of antichrist”?

The catholic church officially and blasphemously teaches that the costume-clad sinner on a man-made throne in Rome is “Jesus Christ Himself.” Listen to their own words:

“The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, HE IS JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF, hidden under the veil of flesh.” Catholic National July 1895.  ANTICHRIST BLASPHEMY!

“The Pope is of so great dignity and so exalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God, and the vicar of God…He is likewise the divine monarch and supreme emperor and king of kings. Hence the pope Is crowned with a triple crown, as king of heaven and of earth and of the lower regions.” Ferraris EccI. Dictionary (Catholic) Article, Pope.  ANTICHRIST BLASPHEMY

“The pope is of so great dignity and so exalted that he is not a mere man (…) he is as it were God on earth, sole sovereign of the faithful of Christ, chief of kings, having plenitude of power.” -Lucius Ferraris, «Prompta Bibliotheca», 1763, Volume VI, ‘Papa II’, pp.25-29  ANTICHRIST BLASPHEMY

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAYS:  “The Pope has power to change times, to abrogate laws, and to dispense with all things, even the precepts of Christ”. “The Pope has authority and has often exercised it, to dispense with the command of Christ.” This is from Decretal, de Tranlatic Episcop. Cap.  THIS IS ANTICHRIST!

NOTE…this is only “one” definition of blasphemy. Another is claiming to have the power to “forgive sins” Case in point = Mark 2:7, which states, “Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?” The “confessional” of the Roman Catholic Church is indeed yet another identifiable feature exposing the Vatican as Antichrist’s dwelling. They openly declare a mere MAN dressed as a priest has the power to FORGIVE SINS!

God alone can forgive a sinner, can forgive sins. Jesus says:

“the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins” Matthew 9:6

No sinner can forgive his own sins, much less the sins of another. The catholic church is a demonic pagan cult which pretends that its costume-clad unsaved “priests” can forgive sins. Hint: The catholic confessional booth was originate for espionage purposes – to find out and blackmail those who went there and confessed their sins to those God-less “priests”.

“Many believe that the Catholic Church or the Pope is the Antichrist.  It is interesting that from their own church historians they have said, “The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, Himself, hidden under the veil of human flesh“(Catholic National Magazine, 1895).  Pope Pius V was quoted as saying “The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth” (quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, Cities Petrus Bertanous).  Can the Pope forgive sins?  Consider this written record from Alphonsus de Liguori, in Dignity and Duties of the Priest, “To pardon a single sin requires all the omnipotence of God…The Jews justly said: ‘Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ But what only GOD can do by His omnipotence, the PRIEST can ALSO do by saying ‘Ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis’ [I absolve you from your sin] (pages 34-35).” Unknown

It would be wise to ask your friends and family who are still catholic if they know that their “church” teaches this.

Why aren’t catholic priests and popes married? Peter, the supposed “first pope” was married.

“And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.” Matthew 8:14

Notice that if Jesus healed Peter “WIFE’S mother,” the apostle Peter was married.

GOD NEVER TOLD YOU THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS OF HIM, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TOLD YOU THIS.

ISN’T IT INTERESTING that in the 27 books of the New Testament Scriptures, Mary is not once mentioned after the 6th book? There are 27 books in the divinely inspired New Testament canon of Holy Scripture and Mary is not even mentioned in 21 of those books. Further, the supposed “first pope” (Peter) never mentioned Mary one time in the 8 chapters he penned which are at the end of the New Testament canon. Also, Peter never referred to himself as a “pope.” He was an apostle. A telling fact for certain! God never placed the emphasis on Mary that the Roman religion does. Which will you serve? Jesus says, “No man can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24).

True Christians follow Jesus Christ and His words (John 8:31-31,47).  Only an idolater (barred from Heaven Ephesians 5:3-7) would follow some robe-wearing earthly “pope” or Mary.

FACT: THERE IS NO PROOF PETER WAS THE FIRST “POPE”…THE OFFICE OF “POPE” WASN’T EVEN INVENTED TILL SEVERAL CENTURIES AFTER CHRIST AND PETER HAD LEFT THE EARTH.

If Peter was the first “pope” then why didn’t he say so? Why didn’t the APOSTLE (not pope) Peter simply tell us if in fact he was the first “pope”? Because the fairy tale “pope” is a myth and has nothing to do with New Testament Christianity or the true people of God.

“Holy Father”?

The catholic church calls their pope “holy father.” There’s nothing holy about the pope because there is no pope in Christ’s kingdom. He’s a mere man, nothing more than a sinner dressed in a religious costume. If the Son of God was speaking about the Catholic pope, why did Jesus not tell us he would be based in Rome, that he would be wearing a long robe (that Jesus forbid in Luke 20:46), and be called “holy father” which Christ also forbid? (Matthew 23:9) Why, O Why? Did the Almighty forget to tell us something we needed to know?

Is the pope a mere “man”? Jesus commanded – “And call NO MAN your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9).

Jesus warned against long robes. Look up Luke 20:46. He gave us a clue as to who was false.

According to the Son of God “Damnation” is where the robe-wearing priests and pope are headed – “Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; 47 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation” (Luke 20:46-47).

What happens when you put a robe on a sinner? Simple: you then have a sinner dressed in a religious costume.

Catholics have been misled. This is obvious because they only tout and defend mere men and an organization of mere sinful men. Their defense and praise is not about worshiping Jesus Christ who is the only nail-scarred risen LORD and Savior. “There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

THERE’S NO HOPE IN THE POPE – JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY

Peter was a Jewish man who was an apostle, not a pope—no such thing as a pope in God’s economy, otherwise He would have told us in His Word. The word or concept of a “pope” is nowhere to be found in God’s Word, the Bible.

Catholicism is based upon a mere sinful man, peter (pebble), while true Christianity and the object of worship for true believers is the sinless ONE with the nail-scarred hands who died for the sins of all the world.

“HOLY FATHER” is the Catholic term for their phony “pope” and yet it is a title God Almighty claims for Himself alone in the Bible (John 17:11). This title occurs only once in the Bible (John 17:11) when Jesus addresses His Heavenly Father in His great prayer before His betrayal, arrest and crucifixion. It is blasphemy for any man to claim this title for himself. It belongs only to God, the Father.

WHERE JESUS IS, THERE IS THE TRUE CHURCH. WHERE THE POPE IS, THERE IS THE FALSE CHURCH. ALL POPES ARE MERE SINFUL MEN. JESUS IS GOD.

Can the pope save anyone’s soul from eternal damnation? No, the pope is a mere sinner too. The long robe and title changes nothing. God will judge. Concerning the dead popes, perhaps we should consider the words of our precious LORD: “Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60).

Friend be not deceived, no true Christian honors the rotting bones of a mere sinful man (like pope John Paul II) because the One who saved the true believer with His precious blood has arisen and is alive forever more.  Amen.

JESUS TOLD US HE IS THE ONLY WAY.  WHO’S LYING?  “It is necessary to salvation that every man should submit to the Pope.” (Boniface VIII Unum Sanctum, 1303.)  ANTICHRIST BLASPHEMY.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DOESN’T WANT ITS MEMBERS READING GOD’S WORD FOR THEMSELVES

The Catholic church did not want the Bible to be translated into English because if the people read it then they would find out the errors in their church.

The Council of Trent (1545-1564) placed the Bible on its list of PROHIBITED BOOKS and forbade any person to read the Bible without a license from a Roman Catholic bishop or inquisitor. The Council added these words: “That if any one shall dare to read or keep in his possession that book, without such a license, he shall not receive absolution till he has given it up to his ordinary.”

The Pope put the Bible on the Index of forbidden books in the 12th century.

Why did the pope forbid God’s Word being known by the common man? It’s simple, the Roman religion doesn’t want the light of Scripture to shine on their darkness. They want to keep their prey in slavery.

Dear Catholic friend, why do you think Rome prohibited Catholics, and others, from reading the Bible? Why do you think they killed over 50 million people and called them heretics for reading and believing the Holy Scriptures? Why did Pope Pius VII say that the Bible causes men more harm than benefit? Why would God’s Word cause harm?

Why is the true gospel of salvation through Christ alone and by unmerited divine grace never preached in the Catholic mass? This fact alone clearly shows the falsity of this religion of mere men and shows how infinitely distant it is from the LORD Jesus.

Historical List of Atrocities of the Popes | The Catholic Church Exposed |

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

We often hear dishonest people who are living in deceitful denial swear that their catholic family members are saved. Laughable. I usually ask them to specifically, with chapter and verses, explain biblically how works-based pagan religion is teaching biblical doctrine and how their catholic relatives are born again. You can’t fool an ex-catholic who is now born again. In fact, Jesus’ words “born again” will never be heard in the Christ denying works-based catholic church.

There is no salvation without regeneration. “Ye MUST be born again.” John 3:3, 7

I also ask them to show Bible Scriptures demonstrating how the scapular, rosary, purgatory, etc. are biblical. Laughable. Not one of these are ever mentioned in the Bible and are totally pagan.

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Making Peace with God Now – Before it’s too late. | The Catholic Church Exposed

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Articles

About the Father’s Business [video]

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15


Love these shorts! Packed full of so much scripture in 30 seconds! I will never forget the words of my father on his death bed! “I didn’t know it was an option.” Meaning he did not know he needed to receive Jesus in order for his sins to be forgiven. And to be made right with God and go to heaven. How will they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14. How can they believe if no one is telling them about eternal life with Jesus?” Karen Cochran


Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Evangelism | Jesus, Light of the WordCompassion in Light of Christ’s Soon ReturnStriving Together for the Faith of the Gospel [podcast] | Prepared to be Used of God | The Return of ChristChrist’s Compassion Audio | Our Approach to the LostKindness is a Soul Winning Weapon Stop Sinning? Really? How? | Angry Street Preacher Warning

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Support Mission Mexico here. Takes seconds.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Mission Mexico – See more here.


Download. Read. Print out your supply of the JESUS tract – English and Spanish.

Continue Reading

Abiding

The Greatest of these is Charity [podcast]


God sent His only begotten Son to die for your sins and He now calls you to lose your life in this fleeting world and follow Jesus – His example and His teachings.

“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.” 1 John 3:16

Loving God and Others

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

Following Our LORD Jesus by Putting God and Others Above Ourselves

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:3-5

Due to the Many Evil things Transpiring in this Late Hour before Our LORD Returns, the Love of Many toward God and Others, is Waxing Cold

“All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:8-14

Keeping Ourselves in the Love of God

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 21 

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7-8

“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.” 1 John 4:7-8

“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” Romans 12:9-10

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35

The Savior’s Love in His True Disciples vs the Lovers of Self

“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.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

God’s Love in Us

THE LOVE CHAPTER

Read it each morning this week in the King James Bible.

1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 

7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You now, in Jesus’ name. Please make good on Your prayer of oneness – that Your people, Your body will be one with You. Thank You for dying for my sins Jesus, for shedding Your precious blood to purchase me to Yourself and the Father. Please break me, let me be poor in spirit and pure in heart. Cause me to be full of Thy holy love toward You and others. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

The Return of Christ | Discipleship

Support | STORE | PodcastsThe Bridegroom is Calling His BridePurifying Ourselves as He is Pure [podcast]10 Clues Your Love for God is Waxing Cold [podcast]

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Continue Reading

Articles

Upholding Jesus, the Only Head of His Body [podcast]


YOUR first thought when you hear “God” or “Christianity” should be JESUS! Not some church, pastor, or church program!

The ministry continually receives emails from people who have latched on to some mere man, his personality – instead of worshipping Christ supremely (Colossians 2:18-19). And in doing so, they defend those mere men angrily, doggedly, having never stopped to put them to the biblical test.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

“Not everything is at it seems. Their job is only to keep everyone’s minds occupied on everything else except for God and Jesus. I learned that a couple of years ago and why I no longer listen to anything they have to say since.” Diana Rogers

Boom! And Colossians 2 is a must on this topic! The motherlode.

What is his doctrine? This is the very first thing to judge (Acts 17:10-11).

“But thou hast fully known my DOCTRINE, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.” 2 Timothy 3:10-11

Any person who’s been born again and yet is not continuing in the doctrines of Holy Scripture, no long has the LORD – but rather has departed from the faith! (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in (does not remain in) the DOCTRINE of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 9

Paul warns us of the many deceivers in our midst who do not hold Jesus Christ, the only Head of His body, His people – they do not uphold Jesus Christ as the unique, exclusive, and supreme LORD and Savior! “Beware.” (Colossians 2:4, 8, 18-19)

Beware of those in ministry who capture for themselves and intercept the affections of your heart – removing them from Jesus. Beware of any person in ministry who is not, via a crucified life, working with the grace of God, fostering in you a greater love for Jesus, for His Word! (Colossians 2:18-19)

One of the ways Satan targets, deceives, and snares saints is via false leaders – wolves who wear sheep’s clothing. Jesus warned us of just such a threat (Matthew 7:15). Satan uses false leaders to turn the affections of people’s heart away from Christ and onto them. Their personalities and ministries and church building projects are projected in the minds of their prey so regularly, therapeutically that most people never realize it. Study Colossians 2:18-19 closely saints.

We see this happening with David and his son Absalom where his son “Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” (2 Samuel 15:6) Absalom intercepted the affections of the hearts, directing them upon himself instead of King David. David was a type of Christ and Absalom is a type of false teachers and the antichrist. Anti means in place of. Absalom sought to put himself in place of his father David – to replace him in order to be esteemed, popular, worshipped (Colossians 2:18-19). This is what false prophets do. They get your attention, your support, and your money on them – Not Christ! (Colossians 2:18-19)

We have no wealth outside of that which we have in Christ (Colossians 1-2).

LOOKING where to read? Read Colossians 1 and 2. Christ reigns, is Divine, Creator, unique in all history, and preeminent!

Recently I was privileged to meet a man who was filled with the Holy Spirit and teeming with God’s love and the joy the LORD produces in those who abide intimate and obediently with Christ (John 15:1-16). It was obvious that this man was holding Jesus up high in his personal life and that Jesus was pouring His life and blessed virtue into his life. When in our individual lives we diligently seek and magnify/lift up Christ to the first priority in our lives, He fills us.  In fact, who did Jesus says He will fill up?

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Mathew 5:6

Our LORD’s divine virtue flows directly from Him into our lives but only as we begin and continue to seek and to worship HIM “in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24) If the affections of our hearts depart from Christ, His divine virtue ceases to flow into our lives (Colossians 2:19). The LORD’s name is Jealous (Exodus 34:14). The same is true for any group of Christians who gather in Jesus’ name and that’s exactly why so many “churches” are utterly dead and nothing but fluff and entertainment. The result of true worship is divine virtue flowing from Heaven into His people and Jesus’ spiritual blessings and health that God alone can supply To say this is an extremely important biblical truth is a complete understatement. This truth may be best captured here in Colossians 2:

“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Colossians 2:18-19

Notice how we are instructed here to “Let no man beguile” or deceive you with any form of false worship or worship with a false emphasis (Lamentations 2:14). Then He defines what false worship is – “And not holding the Head.” Then we are told what occurs when we sincerely worship the LORD – “from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” 

Those who do not uphold Christ, the only “Head” of each one of His people, individually and the whole of His church, are misleading people and blocking the ministry, the divine virtue of the LORD from flowing from Heaven into His body – not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.”

The apostle is teaching us here that the remnant disciple of Jesus is never to enter into or allow the robbing of true worship of the Father through Jesus Christ by any subtle diversion away from Christ. ANYthing except Jesus Christ is idolatry – Anything!

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8Beware 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. 9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:6-10

There are so very many examples of Jesus being replaced today in the apostate modern church world. Think about this: When is the last time you gathered with a group of believers and the Person of Jesus Christ was truly preached straight from the Holy Scriptures and was truly magnified so much so that you left that gathering filled afresh and loving Him more and more?

Paul’s deep concern was that the heart affections and faith of those he ministered to were fixed on Christ, not him (1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5).

“We should be singing “I exalt thee” not “I exalt me.” Read in the King James Bible in John 8:28, John 3:14, John 12:32-34 Amen!” Charles Pray, the late

You see, today, in the vast majority of cases, the people are gathered and the entertainment begins. What’s emphasized and made to be important is serving at the local church circus, being a good church member with good attendance, attending the small group meetings, church membership, tithing, singing in the choir, etc. The fanfare and bureaucracy is to the pastor’s glory and has crowded Christ Himself right out of the local gatherings. This is exactly how wolves run their church businesses. There’s far too much going on. Jesus does not matter to the leaders or the people. They just want to be entertained and made to feel better about their selves in their current, unsanctified state. They do not want to change which begins with repenting (Jeremiah 5). The people want their children entertained not blessed with the knowledge of God’s truth and not learning how to worship the LORD in spirit and in truth and being prepared for the work of the ministry.

That’s what non-wolf pastors are busy doing – they are busy preparing the believers they oversee for “the WORK of the ministry.” Hello!

”And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-12

Here’s what the earliest disciples of Jesus were all about. This is what they were doing:

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:42

You see, millions today are being robbed or beguiled but it’s a willing participation. Isaiah says that this is “a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD.”

“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law (Word) of the LORD: 10 Which say to the seers, See not (do not see and expose our sins); and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:  11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” Isaiah 30:9-11

Nothing has changed (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The LORD tells us here through Isaiah that it’s only the “rebellious people” then and today who refuse His Word and “heap to themselves” these false leaders who refuse to speak on what the Bible says concerning sin and repentance. The cry out for no exposure and for “smooth things,” or entertaining niceties.

To the contrary, God’s Word says:

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1

This hour of great apostasy was long ago foretold, where men would not be upholding Jesus as supreme:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (fairy tales).” 2 Timothy 4:2-4

The hireling wolf wants you there in attendance and he wants you coming back. After all, it makes him feel better when you’re there and he needs that money to keep the circus wheels rolling. So, in order to get you there and keep you there, he must say light and entertaining things. He can’t possibly be abandoned to simple “preach the word” because there are too many hard truths that would cause some people to leave.

The sad reality, but nevertheless, the reality, is that pure and true worship is nearly non-existent unless the individual has it in his own personal life.

“For through him (Jesus) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Ephesians 2:18

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24

Here’s the place of our refuge:

“A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.” Jeremiah 17:12

Jesus is coming back exclusively for those who are looking to and for Him.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

Jesus did the work of redemption the first time He came and when He returns, it will be to gather together for a glorious eternity those who are truly looking to Him and not man.

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

All who do not uphold Christ blatantly, continually, and without apology are wolves who should be warned and marked if they don’t repent (Romans 16:17-18; Titus 3:10-11). They should be earnestly contended against (Jude 3-4).

We should repent of helping wolves before the LORD judges us for participating in this betrayal of Him.

“Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 19:2) ANY person who helps the ungodly are just as guilty as those wolves in the eyes of a holy God who says “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4)

Helping God’s enemies makes you His enemy!

If you in any way “bid … Godspeed” to or in any way help or defend a wolf, you yourself are just as guilty as they are in the eyes of God.

Especially behold the last 2 verses in this passage:

2 John 
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 

Do you want to get deeper into God’s Word? If so, send a reply requesting the “Moments with My Master” email that is sent out to edify Jesus’ body.

The glorious book of Colossians

A Tad More….

SATAN constantly seeks to rob Christ of the glory due only His holy name! Yes Acts 15 gives us some restrictions and yet men have grossly added to these things in their self-righteousness and evil desire to rule over others by using/adding man-made restrictions …..while they refuse to uphold, magnify, and celebrate Jesus (Colossians 2:18-23).

“That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” Acts 15:29

“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. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” Colossians 2:16-23  

Continue Reading

Categories

donate button round
sgys-books01

Trending