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Anatomy of a Mega-Star, Popular Wolf – How Does this Happen?

Anyone who doesn’t see that most pastors today are preaching a false Gospel, do not know the true Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:2-5; Galatians 1:6-9).

SCAM “PASTORS” have invaded every town in America and are spreading their poison across the globe! Just who are they? ALL who know and are diligently seeking and experiencing Jesus Christ daily are not the least bit impressed with the self-serving “pastor” who has set up his local church business where he entertains the gullible to get their business and keep their business!(Philippians 3:6-14) These enterprising, self-serving hirelings see the successful business model and opportunity being utilized by the modern seeker-friendly, emergent church wolves and have set out to experience their own “success” in the church business industry.

First off, just why are false prophets so popular in this last hour? Is popularity among the sinful masses of mere men a sign of godliness or ungodliness?

Did you realize that Jesus warned us to beware of any leader who is popular among sinful men? – “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26

Think about their messages which are not at all what we see Christ and His apostles saying when we simply read the Bible. Right?

Is life really a country club?

Is it safe to buy into a fairy tale with Christ’s holy name tacked on to the end of it as an afterthought and to somehow lure in the people?

Wouldn’t a second grader know that there is a distinct difference between the message of the Bible and that of smooth talking rainbow promising mere men like Joel Osteen?

Weren’t Christ and His apostles all martyred? Were they not poor in this world? Did they not live for the next world?

Didn’t Jesus say to His people “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22)

This is intellectual dishonesty to begin with and much more insidiously, this is a scam – a flowery message intentionally put forth to deceive the people in order to gain their allegiance and money (Romans 16:17-18; 2 Peter 2:1-3).

Why is Joel Osteen so popular? Joel Osteen Exposed Why do millions of dollars flow into Joel Osteen’s coffers monthly? Why are the word of faith wolves so popular? Why do Rick Warren’s books sell by the millions? Why are the Emergent Church deceivers so popular?)

Those who love and are willing to defend beguilers like Joel Osteen do so because they love what Osteen tells them. They love lies. God is not important enough for these people to investigate and study His Word as He told them to do (John 5:39; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15, etc.). “They are not valiant for the truth.” (Jeremiah 9:3)

Joel Osteen has risen to mega-celebrity status on the wave of self-loving people who claim to be Christians but have no fruit to prove such a claim.

Are YOU being swept away in this prophesied tidal wave of deception which will end in eternal damnation? Did the Son of God not warn about this exact thing?

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. … And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. …  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24: 3-5, 11, 24

Here is exactly the reason that so many wolves are loved by millions of self-serving counterfeit “Christians” in this late hour:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;Having a form of godliness, but denying the power (authority) thereof: from such turn away.For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7

We cannot possibly understand the whole picture of what we see transpiring before our very eyes in this late hour until we understand both sides of this equation which is primarily driven by God-less, self-loving souls who claim to be Christ’s.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For 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; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4

These celebrity deceivers would not be popular today if there were not so many Savior-rejecting selfish souls who pay and promote them.

Wolves who are celebrated by millions today are popular only because there are many people who do not wish to lay down their lives to truly follow Christ on His terms. Jesus taught:

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24

Mankind has fallen by his sin. He is corrupted and “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5, 12)  Unredeemed and back slidden men are ruled by “The heart” that “is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” (Jeremiah 17:9)  Sin: Man’s Core Problem

Unrepentant men do not love Christ. They do not want and reject the light of His holy truth.

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21

Scam leaders and authors would have us believe that we live in an enlightened age. That is a pure and unadulterated poisonous lie.

You see, the Bible told us that “there is NO NEW THING under the sun.” – “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

“Ditch the Truth and Bring On the Lies Please!”

Cried of the unrepentant counterfeits: Nothing has changed since the prophet Isaiah wrote this:

“Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law (written Word) of the Lord: 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy NOT unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits (tell us sweet little lies please)11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path (truth), cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. 12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. 14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit. 15 For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” Isaiah 30:8-15

The people who claimed to be God’s children in Isaiah cried out for their leaders to give them “smooth”messages that cost them nothing. Like millions today, these willingly deceived people wanted to vainly believe they were safe and secure for eternity, but did not want to obey the One they claim is their Savior. Then, the LORD pronounced judgment upon them if they did not return to Him (repent). The same goes for today (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 9-12). The eternal lake of fire awaits the souls of all who have been saved and have refused to “endure to the end” trusting Christ in sincerity and obedient faith (Matthew 10:22; 24:10-13; Revelation 2-3). Any person who has been saved and thinks that they are “eternally secure” no matter what, is utterly delusional and the very dupe of Satan himself.  Read Lie of the Ages.

Osteen and many other smooth-talking, silver tongue, flesh-flattering devils are telling you to seek “your best life now.” Jesus is saying “love Me supremely not yourself and die to yourself and I will raise you up and give you riches untold for all eternity.” Who shall you follow?

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. … 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:15, 21

Any ear-tickling message will do because those messages are counterfeit and do not call one to die to self which is exactly what Jesus commanded.

THE UNGODLY who vainly think they are saved, will listen to, pay, celebrate, and fiercely defend anyone who tells them what THEY want to hear. WHY? Because they love self, not the Savior. Isn’t that what the Holy Spirit warned us would be the apostate state of the masses who have a mere “form of godliness but deny the power (authority) thereof”? (2 Timothy 3:1-7) The reason why people love Joyce Meyer, Creflo “holla fo yo” Dolla, Joel Osteen, and other frauds, is because those people are serving SELF and not Christ who said “MY sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and they follow ME.”(John 10:27) Notice that Jesus says that His sheep follow HIM and not mere men, especially not the smiling clowns who are merely entertaining them by telling them self-serving niceties. It’s a scam! Jesus’ sheep follow Him via HIS Words, period. Do we begin to get it?

The love of self is at the root of this matter. Men who love self refuse to die to self and instead worship self. They then must sacrifice Christ on the altar of self. Either a man will sacrifice self or will sacrifice Jesus on the altar of self. Is this not exactly what Jesus taught? – “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24)

Those who are selling you on the idea that God just wants to make you happy and rich in this temporal, sinful world are leading you AWAY from God and not to Him. Jesus told us that “In the world ye SHALL have tribulation.”  (John 16:33)  Does that sound like what Osteen and popular leaders are teaching? What are they wanting to hide from you? Are they afraid you may stop patronizing THEIR ministries? Whose interest do they have in mind – yours or their own?

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Jesus’ apostle Paul promised:

“Yea, and ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:12-13

When have you ever heard Osteen or other modern deceivers quote this Bible verse? What might they be afraid of you finding out?

They are lying against LORD and clearly misrepresenting Him. Their message is quite contrary to what He told us in His unchanging Word.

Leaders Who Scam their Gullible, Truth-Denying Audiences

“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully.” Jeremiah 48:10

It is utterly heartbreaking to see just how ungrounded so many of these people are who flock to see and support these scam wolves. To start a “revival,” all you need to do is get a slick-sounding guy who sounds like he knows what he’s talking about, play some good music in the background, and WHAM you’ve got a “revival.”

Most people who claim to be Christians don’t even know Acts 17:11 much less use it to discern. Do YOU know what that truth says? Have you memorized and put it into use daily, or, will you be deceived and damned also?

A building and gathering does not make the leader a true pastor. All in leadership must be tested against the Word of God beloved saints. “Be not deceived!” (Ephesians 5:6)

The car doesn’t make the man. The house doesn’t make the woman. The money doesn’t make the person. The building and pulpit don’t make someone a pastor.

If you went to Burger King every day for the rest of your life, would you become a hamburger? No. Neither is a man a pastor due to having a following, a pulpit, a committee, or a building. No divine authority is invested into any mere man other than that that man is regenerated, broken, humbled, and obediently living under the authority of Jesus Christ (John 3:34; 14:23; Acts 5:32; 2 Corinthians 10:6; 2 Timothy 2:20-21; 1 Peter 5:1-8).

What does God’s Word teach concerning the fruit and characteristics of a true servant-leader?

When speaking of “false prophets” Jesus said we would “know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-16) Let’s look at the fruits of a true apostle/servant:

“But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity,patience, Persecutions, afflictions …” 2 Timothy 3:10

Paul says here that “thou hast fully known my”:

  • “doctrine”
  • “manner of life”
  • “purpose”
  • “faith”
  • “longsuffering”
  • “charity”
  • “patience”
  • “Persecutions”
  • “afflictions”

There are many things to meditate on here in this list and measure character by. Note the “persecution”and “afflictions” this apostle of Jesus suffered. Most men in leadership are in such compromise that they don’t draw any fire from the enemy of all souls. That alone points to their falsity. In fact, in this same passage, Paul tells us that “ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION.” (2 Timothy 3:12) Preaching the true Gospel – the Gospel Christ and His apostles preached – will bring great persecutions in this life and unspeakable reward in the next life to come.

The Modern CEO-Type “Pastor” is a Fraud

What most don’t realize is that these guys have gone to seminars and school to learn how to build their church business because that’s exactly what it is to them–a business. They see themselves as the CEO and have no idea or heart to truly feed Christ’s sheep and watch for their souls (Hebrews 13:7, 17). For this reason, no true disciple should ever submit themselves to any such wolf. Read Hebrews 13:7, 17 closely.

Most people never discern whether or not that most men in leadership do not know the Word of God. They are biblically illiterate. Recently, a man who has been a pastor for years and has a college degree from a supposed “Bible” college, confessed to me that he does not even know the Word. He shows great and coveted humility! After several conversations concerning biblical truths on various topics, he admitted that he does not know God’s Word and is therefore unfit to be a servant-leader for Christ.

Could your “pastor” quote the Ten Commandments by heart? Does he know the six principle doctrines of Christ? (Hebrews 6:1-3) Is he “instant in season and out of season” to preach the Word? (2 Timothy 4:2) Is he filled with divine wisdom due to seeking and waiting upon the LORD and searching the Scriptures daily? Is he full of the Holy Ghost like the earliest believers where and Stephen? (Acts)

The goal of hirelings is to fill their seats and coffers. So, they farm their communities using marketing techniques such as postcards (without Scriptures on those cards) as they prey upon unsuspecting souls using the typical lite fanfare messages such as family relationships, success, coping, and prosperity to lure in more biblically illiterate prey.

“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.” 2 Peter 2:18

Those susceptible to these wolves and their tactics are those who are not truly seeking the LORD themselves and therefore not enduring sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6

With little or no use of Scripture references or Scripture, counterfeit men in leadership positions major in the “connecting point” or “life groups” or “recovery” gimmicks to get folks to become loyal to their programs and they social club they call church. They use new terminology for a deceived generation of biblically illiterate souls. It’s the lite generation. They want everything now. They don’t want to suffer or have to wait or seek the LORD in His process and according to His terms. So, these scam “pastors” cater to this. These business owner CEOs don’t desire or bother with being righteous in God’s eyes but rather “relevant” to those they wish to have patronize their “ministry.” From church to church it’s the same old lie with a slightly different colored wrapper. Their uniqueness lies only in the flavor. It’s the same old lies of the enemy in a new wrapping. “Life teams,” “life coach,”  “life partner,” “accountability partner” are also buzz terms utilized by these scam leaders who resemble motivational speakers more than true men of God who declare the pure, unadulterated living Word of God.

These men almost never use the words of Holy Scripture, namely from the King James Bible. Why? They don’t know the Word thoroughly and they don’t desire God’s Word because they are not serving Him. His truth actually gets in their way and they won’t have that. Their position is more of a social organizer, entertainer, or marketing guru. They themselves are gullible dupes, captive to their own lusts (Philippians 3:18-19). Their goal is to be somebody special in this fleeting life (John 12:25). These understudies follow wolves like Warren instead of the “wonderful counselor.” (Isaiah 9:6-7) They set aside the very “Prince of Peace,” trading the very Son of God in for pied pipers like Bill Hybels, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, Robert Schuler, Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, Rick Joyner, Bill Johnson, or Patricia King. Why? – Because they are lusting after the temporal “success” of these false prophets they have set up as idols in their hearts (Ezekiel 14:3).

The cross reveals your sin, and God’s love, not how wonderful you are! Repent!

To accomplish this goal of being a “success,” they follow their mentor-deceivers who have reached “success.” They subscribe to their newsletters and bring their pagan, new age theology into the fold via the poisonous books and media of their antichrist gurus. These scam pastors set up their buildings with modern décor that appeals to the senses of people and makes them feel elated and comfortable in their flesh. It’s nothing more than a marketing strategy.  Music is also a calling card they attempt to establish by bringing in “relevant” singers who are performers and not born again, God-fearing, broken worshippers. They themselves wear the latest trendy garb, smile, and give the people a Bible verse or two wedged in-between their stories, poems, and other “relevant” data about how to be a “success” in this brief life. These lite trimmings keep the wheels of the circus spinning. Oh, and they dare not use the real Word of God, the King James Bible. No, instead they use a corrupted, artificial fairytale version that deceitfully has the words “Holy Bible” on the cover.

They cast their visions and dreams that are not Scriptural. These false dreams originate out of the base, depraved nature of sinful men who pose as Christ’s representatives but are the very wolves in sheep’s clothing Jesus warned us to “Beware of.” (Matthew 7:15)

“Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, andcause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:32

There is no fear of God in their message or personal lives. It’s all about fun and games, band aiding issues (coping), and being a “success” in the eyes of mere men.

Seeker-friendly wolves are not sober or temperate. These essential characteristics must be resident in the lives of those who lead. Nothing less than broken servants are able to be used of the LORD.

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach.” 1 Timothy 3:2

“But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate.” Titus 1:8

The demeanor of the counterfeit leader is more of lightness, lavishness, and worldliness.

Notice that no list of qualifications for elders in all the Bible mentions being a good showman, charismatic personality, a good money-raiser, a good entertainer, or a good or eloquent speaker. Yet, this is what most “search committees” are looking for with no regard for what God’s Word says concerning the characteristics for servant leaders. They are worldly and looking for a man who can look good, make them feel good, and raise a lot of money and bring in more people. This is tragic!

The biblical qualifications for being an elder, a servant of God to oversee His flock are found in 1 Timothy 3. Go read it and notice that no where do we see that a pastor must be cool, be eloquent of speech, a good entertainer, wear fancy clothes, have a piece of real estate he calls “church,” run a choir, etc.

If a man is not truly concerned about you Christ, what He and His apostle said of His church and eternal kingdom, Jesus’ Great Commission commandment, and your eternal soul, then he’s counterfeit beloved. Now, that being said, it is YOUR personal responsibility to die to self, worship God, and obey the Word of God (Luke 21:34-36). There is no excuse. An overseer cannot seek the face of the LORD for anyone except himself. Yet, the person posing as a representative leader of Christ who is doing things other than preaching God’s pure Word, praying without ceasing, and watching for the souls of those they oversee, is not right with God himself. If an overseer is caring for his building fund, his life in this world by not telling the whole truth, his job, his latest marketing scheme, his wife and children, growing his “church” numerically instead of trusting God to do so, etc., he himself is not right with the LORD. If these things are more important to him than Christ, he is being called to repentance and has no business being in a place of leadership. When a man refuses to tell the whole truth or full-counsel of God’s Word, it is evidence that he is not wanting people to be offended because if they get offended they will cease patronizing his church business. Such a man does not fear the LORD and has no personal revelation of Christ and His blessed Gospel.

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:10-12

If you are a leader that has not come out boldly against the modern wolves as God commanded you to do, it’s time to repent and get right with God before it’s too late. When you repent, you will be given a spine. There will be much to answer for if we lead even one soul astray.

It’s time to simply preach CHRIST and Him crucified for the sins of the world!

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.

***SCAM “PASTORS” have invaded every town in America and are spreading their poison across the globe! Just who are they? ALL who know and are diligently seeking and experiencing Jesus Christ daily are not the least bit impressed with the self-serving “pastor” who has set up his local church business where he entertains the gullible to get their business and keep their business! These enterprising, self-serving hirelings see the successful business model and opportunity being utilized by the modern seeker-friendly, emergent church wolves and have set out to experience their own “success” in the church business industry.

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Grounded in Grace [podcast]


“What a powerful message! Life changing for sure. It truly blessed me. Every believer should listen to this video! But God! Two little words that I missed. And found this phrase used at least 44 times in the KJB. Those little words takes the focus off us! If it wasn’t for God coming to save our wicked souls we would be doomed forever to burn in hell. Psalm 49:15 “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me. Selah.” We are saved by the grace of God and kept by the power and grace of God. To which none of us can boost! (Ephesians 2:8, 1 Peter 1:5).” Karen Cochran | Grounded in Grace [podcast]

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) :  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10

Satan continues to pick off people with the same exact law-keeping deception he snared the Galatians with. They become in unbelief about Christ’s perfect sacrifice and begin to add law to salvation’s equation. This is deadly. Having begun in faith, in the Spirit, they fall away from the faith by trying to help God save them through self-effort, law-keeping (Galatians 3:3; 5:4). Many of those snared are seduced into this by way of the sabbath keeping deception, foolishness.

Being established in the saving grace of God is the only defense against the many deceptions creeping in among God’s people.

When the self-righteous legalist hears someone preach that Christians are saved by grace and not under the old testament law, they react – because they are still trusting self and have not truly repented/surrendered and putting their whole faith in christ. Law and grace don’t mix! You MUST choose! (John 1:17) Either you are saved by Jesus or your own law keeping works. There’s no in-between! It’s time to get into God’s Word, asking Him to give you a NEW Testament clue!

Especially with the upsurge of Judaizers and the law-keeping doctrines they perpetrate, every true born-again believer should pray, seek out, and study to be grounded in God’s saving grace in Christ.

SAINTS, we are saved by the LORD Himself, by His grace and not our own works. People who are still self-righteous, thinking THEY are earning their own justification, get very uneasy when the saving grace of God is preached. They are not yet students of NEW Testament truth. WE MUST have an ever-deepening biblical revelation of God’s justification by grace and faith! Please begin by memorizing Romans 5:1-2. AND, please read Romans chapters 3-5 prayerfully and over and over, this week.

To the Galatians, when Paul said “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump”, he was saying that trying to mix even “a little” law keeping into the equation of salvation Christ alone 100% earned for us, ruins your whole relationship with God (Galatians 5:9). In fact, you don’t have one if you don’t 100% trust Jesus Christ!

Remember when Jesus saved you? He found and saved our wretched soul alllll by Himself!!!!! Right? Please pause and let that soak in. …. In light of this reality, this sheer mercy, how is it that we still strive in the flesh, thinking we are going to earn divine forgiveness, merit His blessings, etc. – “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:4-5)

“But God”

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” Ephesians 2:4

After hanging the backdrop (vv. 1-3), reviewing our alienation, our past life of trespasses and sin, how we are now found and rescuedbrought back to life from our dead stateby the LORD, the writer now transitions upward.

Of Ephesians 2:4, William MacDonald writes:

“The words, But God, form one of the most significant, eloquent, and inspiring transitions in all literature. They indicate that a stupendous (astonishing, stunning) change has taken place. It is a change from the doom and despair of the valley of death to the unspeakable delights of the kingdom of the Son of God’s love.

The Author of the change is God Himself. No one else could have done it, and no one else would have done it.

One characteristic of this blessed One is that He is rich in mercy. He shows mercy to us by not treating us the way we deserved to be treated (Psalm 103:10). Though it has been expended by Him for six millennia, and myriads and myriads have been partakers of it, it is still an unexhausted mine of wealth, as Eadie remarks.

The reason for His intervention is given in the words, for his great love wherewith he loved us. His love is great because He is its source. Just as the greatness of a giver casts an aura of greatness on his gift, so the surpassing excellence of God adds superlative luster to His love. It is greater to be loved by the mighty Sovereign of the universe, for instance, than by a fellow human being. God’s love is great because of the price He paid. Love sent the Lord Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, to die for us in agony at Calvary. God’s love is great because of the unsearchable riches it showers on its object.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1917

Satan attempts to make God out to be an unloving Father. Only mankind is created in God’s image, and He loves us beyond words (Ephesians 2:4-9). He loves us so much so that He gave His only begotten Son to die a horrible yet redeeming death on the cross, raising Him from the dead three days later to fully, completely justify us (John 3:16). God still has a remnant who trust Him and not self (Romans 5:6-8).

Justification

ARE YOU justified by sinful self or the Savior? Good luck flashing those “filthy rags” at the Throne of the Almighty who sent His only begotten Son to die for you! (Isaiah 64:6) You have called Him a liar! (Galatians 2:21) Righteousness comes from knowing and trusting the only One to ever keep the law perfectly and not from trying to keep the law (Galatians 2:16). Though the law be righteous, there is NO righteousness in the law other than repenting of your own efforts and putting your full trust in the only One who ever kept the law! (Romans 10:4) You deserve judgment and hell. You have nothing to offer God except a deeply repentant, honest, contrite, humble heart! (Psalms 34:18; 51:17; Matthew 5:3) You are a guilty sinner and must trash your stupid, ridiculous, laughable religious fig leaves which are a sham at best! True NEW Testament saints are dead to the law (Romans 7:1-4). Law keepers, do-gooders, and moralists are completely self-righteous antichrists who’ve put themselves in place of Jesus Christ as their own savior – denying Christ that place while vainly believing they can earn their own justification before a holy God and Judge of their eternal soul (James 2:10). Anti in the biblical word “antichrist” means “in place of.” Selah (meditate on that) God doesn’t want His children trying to keep the old law but rather to choose to worship, love, trust, and obey Him who is the only One to keep it and then nailed it to the cross and took it out of the way!

Revelation 2:8 “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”

Revelation 3:9  “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”

William MacDonald writes:

“His kindness toward us (2:7)

“His grace in His kindness toward us (2:7)

“The riches of His grace in His kindness toward us

“The exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us

“Now it follows that if God will be disclosing this throughout eternity, then we will be learning throughout eternity, then we will be learning forever and ever. Heaven will be our school. God will be our Teacher. His grace will be the subject. We will be the students. And the school term will be eternity.

“This should deliver us from the idea that we will know everything when we get to Heaven. Only God knows everything, and we will never be equal with Him.

“It also raises the interesting question: How much will we know when we get to Heaven? And it suggests the possibility that we can prepare for the heavenly university by majoring in the Bible right now.

“2:8 The next three verses present as clear a statement of the simple plan of salvation as we can find in the Bible.

“It all originates with the grace of God; He takes the initiative in providing it. Salvation is given to those who are utterly unworthy of it, on the basis of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“It is given as a present possession. Those who are saved can know it. Writing to the Ephesians, Paul said, ‘are ye saved.’ He knew it, and they knew it.

“The way we receive the gift of eternal life is through faith. Faith means that man takes his place as a lost, guilty sinner, and receives the Lord Jesus as his only hope of salvation. True saving faith is the commitment of a person to a Person (Christ).

“Any idea that man can earn or deserve salvation is forever exploded by the words, ‘and that not of yourselves.’ (2:9) Dead people can do nothing, and sinners deserve nothing but punishment.

“‘It is the gift of God.’ A gift, of course, is free …. The gift of God is salvation by grace and through faith. It is offered to all people everywhere.

“2:9 It is not of works, that is, it is not something a person can earn through supposedly meritorious deeds. It cannot be earned, for instance, by:

Confirmation

Baptism

Church membership

Church attendance

Holy communion

Trying to keep the Ten Commandments

Living by the Sermon on the Mount

Giving to charity

Being a good neighbor

Living a moral, respectable life

“People are not saved by works. And they are not saved by faith plus works. They are saved through faith alone. The minute you add works of any kind or in any amount as a means of gaining eternal life, salvation is no longer by grace (Rom. 11:6). One reason that works are positively excluded is to prevent human boasting. If anyone could be saved by his works, then he would have reason to boast before God. This is impossible (Rom 3:27).

“If anyone could be saved by his own good works, then the death of Christ was unnecessary (Gal 2:21). But we know that the reason He died was because there was no other way by which guilty sinners could be saved.

“If anyone could be saved by his own good works, then he would be his own savior, and could worship himself. But this would be idolatry, and God forbid it (Exod. 20:3).

“Even if someone could be saved through faith in Christ plus his own good works you would have the impossible situation of two saviors – Jesus and the sinner. Christ would then have to share the saviorhood with another, and this He will not do (Is. 42:8).

“Finally, if anyone could contribute to his salvation by works, then God would owe it to him. This, too, is impossible. God cannot be indebted to anyone (Rom 11:35).

“In contrast to works, faith excludes boasting (Rom 3:27), because it is non-meritorious. A man has no reason to be proud that he has trusted the Lord. Faith in Him is the most sane, rational, sensible thing a person can do. To trust one’s Creator and Redeemer is only logical and reasonable. If we cannot trust Him, whom can we trust?

“2:10 The result of salvation is that we are His workmanship – the handiwork of God, not of ourselves. A born again believer is a masterpiece of God.  When we think of the raw materials He has to work with, His achievement is all the more remarkable. Indeed, this masterpiece is nothing less than an new creation through union with Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passes away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17).

“And the object of this new creation is found in the phrase, for good works. While it is true that we are not saved by good works, it is equally true that we are saved for good works. Good works are not the root but the fruit. We do not work in order to be saved, but because we are saved.

“This is the aspect of the truth that is emphasized in James 2:14-26. When James says that ‘faith without works is dead,’ he does not mean that we are saved by faith plus works, but by the kind of faith that results in a life of good works. Works prove the reality of our faith. Paul heartedly agrees: ‘we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.’ (2:10)

“God’s order then is this:

“Faith->Salvation->Good Works->Reward

“Faith leads to salvation. Salvation results in good works. Good works will be rewarded by Him.

“But the question arises: What kind of good works am I expected to do? Paul answers, Good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. In other words, God has a blueprint for every life. Before our conversion He mapped out a spiritual career for us. Our responsibility is to find His will for us and then obey it. We do not have to work out a plan for our lives, but only accept the plan which He has drawn up for us. This delivers us from fret and frenzy, and insures that our lives will be of maximum glory to Him, of most blessing to others, and of greatest reward to ourselves.

“In order to find out the good works He has planned for our individual lives, we should: (1) Confess and forsake sin as soon as we are conscious of it in our lives; (2) be continually and unconditionally yielded to him; (3) study the Word of God to discern His will, and then do whatever He tells us to do; (4) spend time in prayer each day; (5) seize opportunities of service as they arise; (6) cultivate the fellowship and counsel of other Christians. God prepares us for good works. He prepares good works for us to perform. Then He rewards us when we perform them. Such is His grace!” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1918

“Riches” appears five times in Ephesians

Ephesians 1:7 – “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

Ephesians 1:18 – “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”

Ephesians 2:7  – “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 3:8  – “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”

Ephesians 3:16  – “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”

Ephesians 2:1-10
WHAT GRACE HAS DONE by FB Meyer

“Evidently dead men may walk; that is, they may be dead to the eternal world but alive to this world, which is moving past like the films of a moving picture. The death of the spirit is compatible with much active interest in the course of this world. Behind the shifting scenes of the material is the great enemy of souls. As the Spirit of God works in the obedient, so does the evil spirit work in the disobedient. Note this trinity of evil-the course of this world, the lusts of our flesh, and the prince of the power of the air. If we desire to save men, we must be in living union with the all-conquering Spirit of Christ.

Notice, also, the past tense which describes the finality of Christ’s work, Eph_2:5-6. In the purpose of God we have been raised from the grave of sin and are seated with the risen Lord in the place of acceptance and victory. We were one with Christ when He lay in the grave and arose. In God’s thought we have already taken our seat with the glorified Christ upon the throne; only the pity is that we do not believe this or act as if we had done so. All this is the gift of God’s unmerited love. By grace have we been brought into this position, and by grace are we maintained in it. We are of God’s “making;” such is the Greek word for workmanship, Eph_2:10. We have been created for good works; they have been planned for us and we have only to walk in them.”

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Abiding

5 Soul Damning Sins Named! Learning from History! [podcast]


THE 5 SINS THAT KEPT ISRAEL (God’s own covenant people) OUT OF THEIR PROMISED LAND OF BLESSINGS and will keep us out if not relinquished. Friend, please read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 with all your might. Make this text your meat.

The world seeks to romance sin but if God says it’s sin, that’s what it is. Toning down the terms changes nothing. Judgment Day is on the way.

We are fighting the good fight of faith, “striving against sin” and “more than conquerors” over sin through Jesus who loves us and bought us with His own blood! (1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 12:4; 13:12; Acts 20:28; Romans 8:37)

There are the 5 sins listed here that kept God’s people out of His blessings. We all need to L.I.F.T.M. up to the LORD in repentance and for His perfect forgiveness and cleansing. God the Holy Spirit warns us here through Paul’s pen (1 Cor. 10:1-13), that Israel and these sins are “examples” (vv. 6, 11) to all NT believers. God destroys those who go back on Him after knowing Him (transgressors – Ps. 68:21; 73:28; 125:5, etc.). If not ridden out of our lives, any one of these 5 sins WILL keep us out of our promised land. God is holy (Heb. 12:14). As taken in order from 1 Cor. 10:6-10, here are those 5 sins:

  • Lust

  • Idolatry

  • Fornication

  • Tempting Christ

  • Murmuring

This simple acronym should help us to remember these sins and remain separate from them as we grow today to know and love our Savior more fervently. “Keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22).

Committing the sin is one thing (1 John 1:8-10, right) and refusing to repent of it is yet another. Refusing to acknowledge, repent, confess, and cease is what snares the soul and ousts us from Christ (Proverbs 28:13).

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

If the Holy Spirit has quickened any offences of your heart, simply L.I.F.T.M. up to Christ the Redeemer, Forgiver, Cleanser, and Transformer of lives.

WHATEVER it takes – those who choose to get real with God will sever themselves from anything and anyone who causes them to sin. This is what Jesus says about sin and hell:

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 
44  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 
45  And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 
46  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 
47  And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 
48  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 
49  For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 
50  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” Mark 9:43-50

NOTICE: When a believer or group of believers backslides, they no longer separate from the transgressors who are unrepentant:

Fornication Defiles

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have (Gr. possessed and wouldn’t repent) his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 

1 Corinthians 10 completely destroys the OSAS / eternal security argument.

Notice the word “OUR” in verses 6 and 11. This is directly spoken to warn NEW Testament saints that they are going to hell if they live and die in sin.

Case closed.

1 Corinthians 10:1-12

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things were OUR examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also LUSTED.

7 Neither be ye IDOLATERS, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit FORNICATION, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us TEMPT CHRIST, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither MURMUR ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for OUR admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Eternal security is a false teaching. 1 sin separated Adam and Eve from God and “The wages of sin is (still) death” because God is Holy (Rom 6:23, etc.). Moral coward counterfeits hate, despise the Gospel essential of the cross, the crucified life. They want Jesus to save them to Heaven but not from sin. These are the sin-justifying, grace-perverting “ungodly men” Jude warned us about (Jude 4).

The divine declaration that “The wages of sin is death” which means separation from God, appears throughout Scripture (Romans 6:23).

“He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.” Proverbs 19:16 

Die or death always means separation.

OSAS/eternal security is a lie from hell. OSAS was Satan’s first lie and so it’s blasphemy to teach this doctrine of devils and claim it’s part of the Gospel. You are attributing Satan’s lie to the LORD Jesus. Repent now sinner. See Genesis 2:17; 3:4; Romans 11:20-22; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21; Jude 4, etc..

The concept of an un-conditional eternal security is not established in Scripture … Except for it being Satan’s first teaching, His first lie – the “Ye shall NOT surely die” lie (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).

Eternal Security/Once saved always saved is a lie from hell.

PEACE with GOD

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Abiding

“The Unalterable Basis of an Open Heaven is a Grave” [podcast]


Concerning the raising up process of the Gospel of God, T. Austin-Sparks wrote:

“The unalterable basis of an open heaven is a grave, and a crisis at which you come to an end of your own self-life. It is the crisis of real experiential identification with Christ in His death.”

Though we entered into His death upon initial salvation, accepting and experiencing that death is still a daily choice, an individual decision to be made on an ongoing basis. One’s choice to continue to persevere, following Christ as He clearly prescribed, will determine his eternal destination (Luke 9:62; 19:13; 21:19; Romans 6:16; Galatians 6:7-9).

The insidious circumventing of the cross can come in many clandestine ways that are masked with pious outer garb. Today, while refusing to utter the full counsel of the One they claim tobe representing, smiling and charismatic men stand in sheep’s clothing, promising heavenly life to those who live in sin. They only prosper due to the volitional biblical illiteracy of the masses. Ignorance of the truth is a choice with eternal consequences (Hosea 4:6; Matthew 22:29; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:24-25

Of seeds, one source notes:

Seeds do not technically ‘die’ when planted; rather, they germinate, transforming from a dormant state into an active, growing plant. While the outer shell breaks and the original form changes, the embryo inside remains alive.”

Just as nothing in hell could have held Jesus in that grave, NOTHING in hell can hold down the crucified saint! The divinely volcanic resurrection life of Christ bursting forth in the life of the crucified consenting disciple will be utterly unstoppable!

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive, raise up) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

The true disciple is always “delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:11). He has “crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). He is daily putting to death “the deeds of the body” and being “raised up” by the power of the same Holy Spirit “that raised up Christ from the dead” (Romans 8:11, 13). He rejoices in “Christ Jesus” and has “no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3).

“I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31)

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake … that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you” 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12.

The disciple who is dead and buried with Christ is “dead to sin” (Romans 6:2). There are tell-tale symptoms in one whose self life has not been terminated, put to death. When we justify the sinful things we do, and call those who point them out “legalistic,” it is symptomatic of a life that is not crucified with Christ. The Bible says, “Lie not against the truth” (James. 3:14). If we argue against the truth when we are shown it, we are manifesting rebellion. The “corn of wheat” must be planted and remain planted in order to bud and bring forth new life. The one whose life is laid down does not make excuses when he realizes that he harbors sin. No, instead he rejoices to be yet more sanctified and dwelling in the place of blessing and holiness with the One He delights to please and serve.

Prayer: LORD Jesus, I am crucified with You. I am dead and my life is hidden with Christ in God. Here and now I lay my life in Your holy hands, this moment. Please use me now and here forward in the Father’s business of the Great Commission as we eagerly look for Your soon return. I love You LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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