Going to Church – Never Hearing Christ’s Cross Message
Beloved, where O where is the message of the cross that Christ and His holy apostles taught as an essential component of the original Gospel?
The offense of the cross is gone, vanquished from the midst of that which claims to be Christ’s church. Instead of “holding forth the word of life,” and “striving together for the faith of the gospel,” self-serving moral cowards have replaced the message of the cross with entertainment and ear-tickling messages that pander to the selfish, sinful, and base nature of unregenerate men (2 Timothy 4:2-4). The message of Christ’s propitiatory cross (where His redeeming blood was shed) is absent from most messages and local churches. These “enemies of the cross of Christ” have also denied Him in refusing to peach the daily cross He commanded must be taken up if one will truly know and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24; John 12:24-25; Philippians 3:18-19).
The daily cross Jesus taught, the crucified life, is a non-negotiable and essential component and command of the original Gospel.
These essential and core Gospel doctrines have been replaced with messages about how to become financially rich, how to cope, how to be a better husband or wife, better parenting, how to be happy in this fleeting life, etc. (Philippians 2:16). The message we see today, that has replaced the Gospel of Christ’s cross, was long ago foretold (1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-7). This soul damning message is all about self and serving the god of self and sacrificing Christ on the altar of that which pleases self. But the LORD’s apostle Paul spoke of much different things to the body of Christ as we abide in Christ in this brief journey on earth (Hebrews 13:14). Paul speaks to us about standing fast in the unity of the Spirit and the faith – in the original Gospel – and enduring persecution and suffering.
“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” Philippians 1:27-30
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“What a shocker to learn there is no good thing in me! But I was always seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus. I just didn’t understand dying to self was how I would find that relationship I was seeking. I am grateful to Him for showing me your ministry and for showing me what a wretched person I am. If I didn’t truly see the truth of my heart I would not have a deeper and richer relationship with Jesus. I desire that more than anything in my life! More of Jesus and less of me!” Karen
REPLY:
Definitely sister….. and oh what a relief it is when we can just be shown, admit, and realize that we are nothing and He is our everything! Whew! Then we begin to cease trying to be something we are not and allow Him to be our righteousness, our life, our peace, the One who resurrects us up out of that death and burial posture right boom.
Regrettably, many are indoctrinated to believe that going to their “church” equals fellowship. But honest Bible students know that the cross message, central, inseparable from the original Gospel, is nearly if ever taught or even mentioned in the vast majority of apostate local churches. Such was foretold (2 Timothy 3:1-7, 13; 4:2-4, etc.).
After church goers boast about their “church” or “pastor,” I usually ask them if they can explain and are they walking in the daily cross, the crucified life. Silence. Then I ask them how many Scriptures they are learning, memorizing from the King James Bible. “Are you anointed and overflowing with the Holy Ghost?” Dead silence. The simple fact that they are not being equipped but rather exploited is clear proof of epidemic apostasy in that which calls itself the “church.”
Many go to church, few go to Christ and obey Him by going to the cross with Him (Romans 6; Galatians 2:20). Therefore, in the end, so very many go to hell instead of Heaven – all while being convinced they are saved. Read the future scene in Matthew 7:21-23 and 25:40-46. “Depart from me” is coming. | Will You Hear “Well Done” or “Depart from Me”? [podcast]
God never told you to “go to church” but rather commanded that you repent and go to the cross – to deny yourself daily and follow Christ (Luke 9:23-24).
Most will go to a “church” and become part of that social club but “few” will go to the cross – live the crucified – life (Matthew 7:13-14). And there you have the Heaven bound remnant which Jesus says will be “few.”
The prophet Isaiah described the “remnant” as those in Christ’s cross…. taking root downward (death and burial) and bearing fruit upward (resurrection)!
Isaiah 37:31
“And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:”
Perhaps “escaped of the house of Judah” speaks of escaping Babylon, escaping the false church, the “many false prophets,” the mere false prophets and false professors – as in “Come out of her my people…” (Matthew 7:15; 24:11; Revelation 18:4 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).
“I would rather go to the cross of Christ where Jesus is than go to church where you wonder where Jesus is.” Karen Cochran
Anyone not learning the cross – to be “crucified with Christ” – has fallen away, is in darkness, is being misled.
Jesus did not come and die to forgive our sins so that we could go back and live in them. He died to “taketh away the sins of the world” (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29), to separate us to Himself and away from, free from living in sin. Prayerfully read Romans 6 each morning this week.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2
And in the ensuing verses, the Holy Spirit in Paul reveals that it’s the crucified life – to be dead and buried with Christ – that ensures God’s victory over all sin!
Jesus did not die to give His people a license for sin. Such is the teaching of “ungodly men” who are “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4).
YOU and I can’t win with God unless we do it HIS way beloved. Die. Now (Colossians 3:3). Depart from the frauds who have refused to preach the cross – the crucified life. And ask God to forgive you for patronizing, for bidding Godspeed to those “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:3, 18-19; 2 John 10-11). You are guilty of funding the enemies of Christ. Grave sin.
Sometimes we just have to camp out in Psalm 51, crying out to the LORD till He delivers us (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1-3). You MUST “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7). Never back off, never cower. Just die, lay down your life – death and burial – and Christ will raise you up in His victory (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).
WHERE O WHERE is the cross in the modern church? WHERE? It’s up to you and me to preach it saints!
You cannot claim to be “led by the Spirit” and not live and preach the cross!
IF you’re not doing your life God’s way – the cross, the crucified life – you will not make it. Either die the death or get ready to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire with all other rebels. You are of the pitifully foolish priesthood of Cain, of Saul, of Judas, and every other betrayer of the Son of God. Repent now. Lay down your life and follow Jesus. Or perish.
“The love of many” is waxing cold already due to iniquity abounding (Matthew 24:10-13). And things haven’t even gotten started in this sprint to the finish, in this wrapping up of all things, and we already have people falling out, falling away. And it’s because they’ve been doing their own thing and not God’s – which is the cross, the crucified life. These are the patronizers of the “MANY false prophets” Jesus warned us about (Matthew 7:15; 24:11; 1 John 4:1, etc.).
“The Mind of Christ” is the Cross of Christ! Read Philippians 2.
It’s one thing to speak of the biblical reality, the absolute necessity of personal holiness, and yet we must give our hearers the divine solution which is Christ, the cross!
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that THROUGH DEATH he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” Hebrews 2:14
There is no conquering without dying! Jesus conquered sin, death, hell, and the grave by dying. It was only then that the Father raised the Son of God from the dead! No grave could hold Christ from being raised and no man or devil or power can hold down the dead and buried disciple from being gloriously resurrected in and by the power of God!
“The enemy thought that the cross would bring death to Jesus and God’s kingdom. But, it was actually the power of God to destroy his (Satan’s) kingdom and set the prisoners free in Christ. Hallelujah! The cross is the gospel working in the lives of the redeemed! Rom. 1:16” Jon Crane
“Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:8
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14-15
“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” Romans 1:4
God will not raise up anyone who is not dead and buried with Christ (Romans 6).
“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 your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11
Holiness is not manufactured, is not achieved in the flesh, by the self-will of mere men. No. Holiness is the very nature of the LORD and is the work of God in the life of the yielded, the crucified saint (Isaiah 6:3; Romans 6-8; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
YOU don’t press into the presence of God because HE controls that, not YOU. You DO press into the cross – the death and burial of the self-life – and He reciprocally raises you upward. Now is the hour to cry with our beloved brother John the Baptist – “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Please do it Jesus! “Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).
“It seems the more you get of Jesus the more you want … And the less you want of yourself.” Karen Cochran
There’s only one way to be “Hid” safely from the firestorms of this life – the firestorms of strife, hatred, persecution, affliction, lack, etc.
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
Until we die, door nail dead – in other words, die and be buried, stay dead, stay buried – we shall continue to take on and be harshly affected by the fiery darts of the enemy coming at us from all about us.
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 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. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
Holiness is NOT the way to Jesus.
Jesus is the way to holiness!
Pharisee preachers work from the outside in (Matthew 23).
God works from the inside out! (Colossians 1:27)
No one can be holy to the LORD until they are raised up into that holiness out of death and burial (John 12:23-25; Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12).
“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. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-11
“Downward mobility is the way of the Cross. Whatever brings you down is progress. Dying and rising with Christ.” Hilario Guerra
A popular praise song says things like “There’s an army rising up.” Yet, we must make sure that “rising up” is preceded by a going down deep into the death of Christ – the cross, the crucified life. Thereafter shall be resident in us the resurrection life, glory, and power of GOD and not our own futile, fleshly, self-will.
Only after the fact that Jesus saves us – as only He can do…. we “work out” not work for our salvation He granted us with fear and trembling.
“…work out (not for) your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13
Holiness is essential and holiness come from God into His submitted saints (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16). God is “Holy, holy, holy” and holiness in us is His work that is wrought, it’s brought about through our submission to Him, to His cross message where we are dead and buried and raised up by Christ into that holiness (Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.).
The contrasting Outward and Inward – the counterfeits and the authentic disciples of Jesus – who trust HIM, not self.
“Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the OUTSIDE of the cup and of the platter, but WITHIN they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is WITHIN the cup and platter, that the OUTSIDE of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful OUTWARD, but are WITHIN full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also OUTWARDLY appear righteous unto men, but WITHIN ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Matthew 23:24-28
Done Deal! Settled Reality!
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24
IF you’ve been taught that submitting to God is anything but dying to yourself, being crucified with Christ, you’ve been misled.
Satan hates the cross that defeated him on Calvary. He wants to prevent you from experiencing the victory of Christ – the victory Jesus died and rose again to give you (1 Corinthians 15:57). This is why he has conquered the vast majority of “Christian” leaders today. You will know who the fake ones are by the fact that they do not directly and continually put the cross that Christ mandated in your face! As if that wasn’t clear enough, let me say it another way: If the preacher(s) you listen to aren’t calling you to die the death, on the authority of Christ’s Word, such a man is 100% a fraud.
There can be no resurrection until there is a death and burial. The divine economy is a cross economy. Die or lose all. Die and be buried and win all. The only way up is down in Christ’s kingdom. Are you doing it HIS way? If it’s not death to self via the daily cross life, you are doing your own way, you are walking the way of Cain, Saul, Judas, etc.
“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23
Doing life your own way – or any other way – than the cross, the crucified life, makes you a liar, a rebel. God has not changed, nor will He.
This is even more reason to realize that there is no shortcut to the crucified life – daily. Let us cease looking for an alternative. There is none. Get down low, today. Confess your sins to the Almighty, asking for His anointing on your life to be dead and buried so that Christ is reigning! Boom. Devil going down hard! Do it.
Satan is only defeated by the cross! Christ did it and ordained that you enforce that defeat of sin and Satan in your own life! He set the example! Christ conquered death by dying – which was essential for Him to be raised again in absolute victory of sin, death, hell, and the grave (Hebrews 2:14-15; Colossians 2:14-19)!
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2
We do “sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
“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 (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians:2:4-6
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
He Purchased You with His Own Blood!
YOU are now Christ’s new creature and YOUR life is over concerning being relegated to the dictates of flesh, and so is all the misery, the shame, the guilt, heartaches, and the dismal darkness your sin brought upon you (Romans 6:23). It’s time to celebrate! You are a child of the KING! And He’s coming to get you – to bring you to His forever paradise called the New Jerusalem. Check it out in Revelation 21. You must stay the course. You must do things HIS stated way heretofore! This is how you “endure to the end” (Matthew 10:22; 24:13).
You serve a new Master – the Savior and no longer self. And in doing so, you deny the self-life daily, take up the cross that frees you, and walk with Heaven’s conquering KING of all kings.
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
If you are truly born again, please be exhorted to repent afresh and begin obeying the Word of God instead of worshipping at the altar of self. The cross – crucified life – is the only way we can be separate from the flesh and world and savor the things of God, not men, not self! (See Galatians 6:14.)
“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Matthew 16:23
The biblical definition for enduring to the end is to live the crucified life now till you are with Christ.
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27
PRAYER: Holy Father, thank You for sending Your only begotten Son to die on that cross for my sins and the sins of the whole world. Let my heart never ever forget, never cease to weep for the price that my LORD Jesus paid to purchase myself and Your body back to Yourself! Please begin a fresh, a deeper work in me right now LORD. Father, break me! Let my life be poured out for Your glory dear LORD Jesus. I love You Jesus. Please fill me afresh with Your Holy Ghost and use me to spread Your glorious Gospel. We know You are coming soon! Unite our hearts to fear Thy name LORD. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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Articles
Sinlessly Perfect? I Doubt it [podcast]
Yes the LORD commands His people to “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Yet we should ask whether or not His desire is for His people to tout to others that they are “sinlessly perfect” or does His Word rather reveal that His people are to be dependent upon Him through the humility of Christ and crucified life He ordained us to walk in? Did the apostles walk around telling people they were sinlessly perfect? No. Didn’t Paul confess his own utter poverty of spirit outside of the saving, present grace of Christ? Yes. (Romans 7:18, 24, etc.) Are there biblical warnings about claiming that one is sinlessly perfect? Yes. (Job 9:20; Proverbs 20:9)
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
Saints, would it be accurate to observe that we cannot possibly begin to appreciate this “so great salvation” that is Christ until we understand how lost, helpless, and alienated we were in our sin? (Ephesians 2:1-10; Hebrews 2:3) We must pray and study to understand the biblical doctrine of inherent sin, fallen mankind, and the holiness of God …. in order to begin to be able to appreciate the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
“If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.” Job 9:20
Solomon said:
“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9
Speaking of king David’s imperfections, even nearing the end of his life on earth, one commentator writes:
“Surely there can be little ground for the doctrine of perfectionism, otherwise David, whose religion was so earnest and so deep, would have been nearer it now than this chapter shows that he was.” Expositor’s Bible
“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20
I am not a good person, neither are you – “There is none righteous, no, not one“ (Romans 3:10). Admit it. The sooner we become HONEST with that which is more than obvious, announcing freely and transparently – that there is “NOOOO good thing” in us except CHRIST, the sooner God will begin a new, deeper work in us! (Romans 7:18, 24) The Cross!
God is able to establish our hearts in His grace and to multiply His grace to us (Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 3:18)
ALL of our deeds are not perfect (1 John 1:8-10). “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23). The truly righteous remain humble, teachable, and repentant. Note verse 21 saints:
“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
Saved by Divine Grace and Yet Now Made Perfect by Your Flesh?
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3
The Galatian believers had begun their walk with Christ by responding to the conviction of the Spirit, repenting, putting their faith in Christ, and being regenerated. Yet, now they were allowing false teachers to seduce them back under the law, law-keeping for righteousness – to attempt to please God by their own self-will and performance.
Jesus’ disciples must live a set apart life. Living sinless? Well, it can be done: Here’s the key – “In him (Jesus) is no sin. He that abideth in him sinneth not” (1 John 3:5-6). We whom Jesus has saved must “cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Yet, the only way to be sinless is in presently abiding in Him and that begins with the essential of announcing our own poverty in self which is being poor/desperately dependent on Him in spirit (Matthew 5:3, 6). Yet some insist that they are perfect by their own will, ability, and doing. This is the exact error of the Galatians which caused them to fall from saving grace (Galatians 5:4). They left Christ for something else – law keeping. Leaving Christ, departing from faith, and casting off trusting fully in HIS saving grace, is deadly. Realizing there is “NO good thing” in us except Christ, is essential to abiding saved in Him (Romans 7:18, 24; John 15:1-6). Galatians 3:3 says it all – “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). The great apostle of Jesus was desperate for the LORD, ever seeking His holy face and dreadfully not wanting “to be found having mine own righteousness which is of the law” (Philippians 3:9-10).
“The great secret of abiding in Christ is the deep conviction that we are nothing, and He is everything.” Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ
Heart purity and a sinless life emanate only from intimate union and abiding with a holy God. This occurs as we consent to the cross and not by human effort alone. Jesus raises up those who are truly bowed down – crucified with Christ (Psalms 145:14; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). One cannot possibly “stop sinning” until they come to Jesus and He saves them, making them new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Only then can the regenerated disciple “put off the old man” and “put on the new man” (Colossians 3:9-10). There MUST be something to “put off” …. that inherent sinful nature, otherwise no such language would be in Scripture (Colossians 3).
Beware of the sinless perfectionists who speak of overcoming sin outside of the daily cross and the saving, enabling grace of God. It’s only possible by God’s enabling grace in and through a true abiding relationship.
If we claim we are sufficient in and of ourselves and because of our own “natural ability” to do right, and can be perfect (which God requires) without Christ and our total trust IN HIM, we are apostate. Memorize Romans 4:4-5.
We cannot be “made perfect BY the flesh” or by means of our own self-will and effort alone. If that were possible WHY then did Jesus come? We are only perfect in the sense of Christ’s perfection AS we abide in Him (John 15:1-6). As we do, we will “walk in the light, as he is in the light … and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Here’s the whole verse:
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
Yes, we are “new creatures” in Christ and must humble ourselves before Him, put off the old man, put on the new man, and walk in the Spirit with Him. Yet, the victory Christ has wrought and ordained for us to walk in daily all begins with acknowledging instead of denying that there is something to deny and die to and “put off” (Colossians3:5; 2 Corinthians5:17-18). Denying that we have inclination toward sin is not the answer. Crucifying the deeds of the body by the power of the Holy Spirit is the answer (Romans 8:12-14). Many are getting hoodwinked by this self-righteous “I can do it with my own ‘natural ability’” spirit. This is a Christ-denying devil-exalting heresy, doctrine of devils (1 Timothy 4:1-3). Many who are not grounded in the grace and Word of Christ are adopting this error of Pelagianism which fosters self righteousness. They are aggressively teaching this sinless perfectionism (in the flesh) error to others. These people seem to have one common denominator – they have studied the teachings of Charles Finney or Mike Desario. Beware!
Many of those who preach sin without saving, rescuing, enabling, overcoming divine grace are perhaps still trapped in their own sins. They have no answer for others and therefore we should wonder if they have the LORD’s answer for and in their own lives. If they did, would they not be full of His great joy and sharing with others how to be delivered? Why are they content with condemning others in sin? Is God willing that ANY should perish? See 2 Peter 3:9.
Never forget to make a decision to be deepened in the essential truth that it’s “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7
WHEN we realize that God is “Holy, holy, holy,” we will no longer wrongly condemn others if they sin, just because the flavor of their sin differs from that sin which we’ve committed, knowing that the sin we committed was no less evil in the eyes of He alone who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
G.R.A.C.E. = God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense
It’s only by God’s grace that we are found and saved by Him and kept and enabled to please Him which includes participating in holiness, separated unto the LORD, as He is holy (Hebrews 12:14-15; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8, etc.).
Titus 2 tells us that we are only saved by divine grace and only kept to the end by His enabling grace.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:11-15
Deliverance from sin/sinning is only possible through faith, loving, worshiping, and obeying our LORD, that is, moment-by-moment abiding in Christ, the crucified life, being raised up by His Spirit (Romans 6; 8:13-14, etc.).
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:3-6
Perfection is the perfect forgiveness and justification of the LORD which God brings about by His Spirit and our faith which always brings our adherence to the daily cross (Philippians 2:12-13). It’s divine perfection worked out in the abiding disciple as he walks in the Spirit abiding in Christ (Galatians 5:16, 25, etc.).
True OR Feigned Holiness? | Saving, Enabling Grace | Have We Ourselves Become Pharisees? | The Spirit of Holiness |
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Living the Edification Lifestyle [video]
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The True Temple of God [podcast]
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
Today’s priesthood of wolves, who falsely claim to be the LORD’s elders, nearly all insist that they MUST have and operate out of a physical so-called church building (Jeremiah 12:10; 23; Ezekiel 34; Matthew 24:11, etc.). Well, wouldn’t that mean that Jesus and His holy apostles weren’t legitimate elders—because none of them raised a penny for, or built a physical building?
A temple is a holy place, a sanctuary of worship. The temple the LORD had Moses construct was in order that He might dwell among His people. “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). Why was there a tent of meeting? “That I may dwell among them.” We must never lose sight of the original and perpetual purpose for a temple—for God and man to abide together in relational communion and that the Creator’s will could be advanced in the earth (Genesis 1:26; John 14:15, 21, 23; 17:3; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18).
In the divine economy, a temple is a place where God dwells. And, just where is that temple today?
The temple of God is the place He chooses to dwell—to reside. Where did the LORD tell us He chooses to dwell?
“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for (now) he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also … Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient (better) for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” John 14:17-19; 16:7
When Jesus spoke these words He had not yet ascended back to Heaven. The Son of God here promised that when He went to the glory of His Father He was going to send the divine Person of the Holy Ghost to dwell inside every born again believer (His temples). This is why Jesus tells us in John 16:7 that it was “expedient” or better for them His disciples (and us), that He went away—so that upon re-entering His Father’s heavenly throne of glory, He could send into the hearts of every saint, the divine Person of the Holy Spirit. Apparently, up until this point the Holy Spirit was only with His saints and not inside of them in the special way He dwells with us under this glorious New Covenant (read the book of Hebrews). Christ here foretells that soon, when He rose again from the dead and ascended up on high, He was going to send forth the Holy Ghost and though now “he dwelleth WITH you,” soon He “shall be IN you” (John 14:17). But not everyone can receive the divine presence, the divine Person of the Holy Spirit. There is a qualification to receive the very presence of the Holy Spirit— “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:17). Only those who know Jesus and have been cleansed by His holy blood will receive the Holy Spirit and be His temples—the place He dwells. Now that His blood was shed to take away the sins of the world, the divine presence of “the Spirit of truth” was now going to dwell in those temples whom He had regenerated and cleansed in preparation for His abiding (John 14:17).
There is a shadow of this in the law and days of Moses. This truth (that one must be washed in the blood to receive the Spirit) is a prophetic prefiguring of what Christ become the reality and fulfillment. Jesus Christ has become the substance of what this was a mere “shadow of things to come.” Hebrews 10:1 says, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”
The blood of Jesus has provided for us much better things in our relationship with God, including the truth that we are His temples —the place He has chosen to dwell. The sacrifices under the Old Covenant were infinitely inferior to that of the supreme and matchless perfection of Christ’s sacrifice through which He has granted us a “better covenant.” —“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant (far superior), which was established upon better promises” (Hebrews 8:6).
The shadow: Do you remember that under the law, the blood was first applied to the priest and then the oil? The substance: There is order with the LORD—one must first be cleansed of all unholy contamination (sin) by the blood of sacrifice before the oil of God the Holy Spirit will come and dwell there.
“And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.” Exodus 29:21
With these truths at heart and for a deeper understanding, let’s peruse through a larger portion of this vital passage recorded in John 14, even the words of our LORD:
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide (dwell) with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:16-26
The Holy Spirit is now dwelling in us as His temples—“he abideth (dwells) IN US, by the Spirit which he hath given us … greater is he that is IN YOU, than he that is in the world” (1 John 3:24; 4:4).
“Ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9
The person who does not understand what God’s Word teaches concerning the identification of God’s real “church”—“God’s building”—is prey for a wolf to make him loyal to his own cause, diverting and intercepting his focus and funds from the LORD God (soul-damning idolatry – Ephesians 5:5-9).
Did Jesus ever build a physical building to further His heavenly kingdom? No. So what does He mean by the declaration “I will build my church”? See Matthew 16:18.
“Many have no idea that 1 Corinthians 3:16 means God dwells within us. They pride themselves on how often they attend church. It becomes a ‘holier than thou’ attitude (Isaiah 65:5). And they believe they are morally superior because they attend ‘church.’ God forbid you leave their apostate building and become the real church! At our last ‘church’ we were ostracized for that. Because according to them, when you leave their physical building, you have now left God. They believe that Jesus is only in those buildings and not in us! But those church buildings are only made of wood. And Jesus does not dwell there because of the defilement, self-righteousness, and sin. He dwells in us. We are the temples of the living God! And we are to carry His Word and shine His light into the world and not to hide it behind a fake, lukewarm, religious building!” Karen Cochran
How does the Bible define His “church”? Greek – ekklessia, which means called out ones (people).
What Jesus is building is “a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). This is transpiring as His Word is sown into the hearts of men.
The Carpenter from Heaven promised to build and work on His “building” causing it to prevail against all hell could offer (Matthew 16:18). His people are the “church” Jesus promised to “build.” We are each lively stones— “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Each one of His people is a living stone making up His “building,” His “temple,” His “spiritual house” (1 Corinthians 3:9, 16; 1 Peter 2:5).
“And I (Christ) say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (the revelation that I am the Messiah) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
Jesus says “I will build my CHURCH” (Matthew 16:18). His “church” is HIS PEOPLE, not a physical building but rather He is building His kingdom in the hearts of His PEOPLE. Are you STILL wasting God’s money on physical buildings many erroneously call “church” ?
The revealed divine goal is to “build” His family by saving and changing lives that are houses of clay and being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29). Christ didn’t come to give license to sub-leaders to build their own little kingdoms using His name. He is orchestrating all things to this divine and holy end—it’s all about Him and not us. This is why He has redeemed us and come to dwell in us—to do what He promised and is doing, build His church. Any movement, leader, or organization that does not own and communicate this foundational truth through the Gospel, is preaching another gospel and is false (Galatians 1:6-9). Defining the true Church as the LORD has in His Word is ultra important, especially in this late hour of epidemic apostasy (Matthew 24:3-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Revelation 12:12). Jesus Christ told us that His kingdom was “not of this world” and that His kingdom was within His people and not an organization of mere men or physical buildings— “the most High dwelleth NOT in temples made with hands” (Luke 17:21; John 18:36; Acts 7:48).
Just as the blood of an animal sacrifice preceded the application of the anointing oil, so the precious blood of Christ made it possible for His Holy Spirit to dwell inside each and every one of His saints. This is why Jesus told us that it was “expedient” for us that He go to Heaven after paying the full price for our sins on the cross so He could send the Spirit into each heart (Acts 2:1-4).
Did you catch that? — “The most High dwelleth NOT in temples made with hands” (Acts 7:48). God is holy and cannot dwell in any place prepared by the hands of sinful men. As God would have it, only the divine blood of His only begotten Son via His nail-pierced hands and feet could have possibly prepared the place in us for His holy presence to dwell.
This “so great salvation,” wrought by the very blood of Jesus, provided for the indwelling Spirit to inhabit us as His temples and gives full access and blessed provision to every disciple for communion and any need (Hebrews 2:3; 4:14-16).
JESUS WANTS THE GATHERINGS OF HIS PEOPLE CLEANSED FROM THE HIRELING WOLVES WHO MONETIZE HIS NAME AND HIS CHURCH! They refuse to emphasize the divine desire for God’s people to have pure hearts nor the cardinal doctrines of the doctrine of God.
God is all about people and yet cannot bestow His blessing until there is true repentance and humility (Isaiah 1:18-20; Acts 3:19; James 4:6-10). We should ask His forgiveness for the idolatry of having other gods before Him and therefore aggrandizing self, physical temples, organizations, programs, and mere men.
“For the LORD taketh pleasure in HIS PEOPLE (not physical buildings, organizations or leaders, etc.): he will beautify the meek with salvation.” Psalms 149:4
The Father sent His only begotten Son for people. The earth and everything else is only in existence for His highest creation for which He came and bled. The eternal Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, ultimately purchasing our redemption with His own blood in order to wash away all our sins and grant us intimate relationship with Him who is “holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 26:28; Revelation 4:8). Christ did not come to the earth so that men could use His name to amass organizations to their own glory, ruling over the people—such is the occupation of “evil workers” (Philippians 3:1-3, 17-19). Jesus told us that those who truly followed Him would be the greatest servants (Matthew 20:24-28). Any person in leadership who does not strive to be “servant of all” is in direct disobedience to the command of Christ and will inevitably become a wolf operating among the sheep if he does not repent and lay down his life (Mark 9:35). Hirelings are those who are in ministry positions for their own personal gain—they serve their own carnal appetites (Philippians 3:17-19). As we were repeatedly forewarned, there are “many” who erect physical monuments and perpetuate the existence of religious organizations of mere men while claiming to be Christ’s leaders. This they do while simultaneously rejecting His words (Matthew 7:21; Mark 8:38).
The LORD is all about “HIS PEOPLE” and not physical buildings, organizations, religious politics, or the undue and idolatrous worship of human leaders, etc. Those who do not emphasize this truth that Jesus Christ is “Head” and is building His people—His Church—His building, are those who are “not (up)holding the Head (Christ), 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).
Oh yeah to the naked and untrained eye it looks like Christianity is growing in America with all the church buildings that are being constructed. That’s a picture of the organized, visible apostate church world. As Elijah and the apostle Paul were taught and reminded of, God’s remnant people are not always readily visible to the physical eye (1 Kings 19:14, 18; Acts 18:9-10). But we must ask ourselves if the growth of the kingdom of God is parallel with the construction of brick and mortar buildings and the numeric growth of organizations or local churches.
According to history, organizations, properties, and numbers of people can be thriving while men are simultaneously departing from the LORD.
“For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.” Hosea 8:14
“Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples” —From this telling statement it seems that as men forget God, they tend to migrate to the idolatry of self by building physical structures as a way to make up for what they lack spiritually and what they would otherwise be receiving from God if they were worshiping Him “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). The innate tendency in the man who has a mere form of godliness yet does not know the LORD, is to construct physical things, believing that he is contributing to the building of God’s kingdom. For this sin the LORD promises to send the “fire” of His judgment which must begin at the house of God (Isaiah 5:20-24; 1 Peter 4:17-18).
Those who understand the biblical truth about the true Church and that we are His temples, will cringe when we hear a pastor stand up and say “Welcome to the house of God.” We are the Church (called-out ones) and therefore cannot go to church as many insinuate. We are the temple or house of God and therefore cannot go to the house of God. Now we can fellowship with those in “the household of faith” yet the house of God is not a physical building where we gather (Galatians 6:10). Any leader who misleads people to believe that his little church program or business is “the house of God” simply does not possess a foundational knowledge of the kingdom of God.
Like apostate Israel, in America we see the exponential proliferation of “church houses” at the expense of the advancement and spread of the kingdom of Heaven. Wasn’t this the case with the Laodiceans? They appeared to have substance with all their material wealth and yet God saw them as ready to be rejected out of His body because they were “lukewarm… wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked…” (Revelation 3:14-22). Let’s freshly read these vitally important words of Christ and examine our own hearts in this light:
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22
One deceived pastor of a large and financially affluent church here in the Dallas area attributes the financial increase and his accumulation of real estate properties to the growth of God’s kingdom. Is that biblically accurate?
“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” Isaiah 66:1-5
The LORD is not impressed with physical buildings and organizations of religious men who don’t know Him. The Almighty told us that He only chooses to commune with that redeemed person who is of a “poor and of a contrite spirit” and therefore trembles at His holy Word (Isaiah 66:2).
Being His dwelling place requires that I obediently keep His temple clean. (God be praised for repentance, His holy throne of grace, and the restoring love of Christ.) Such is a condition for remaining His son and receiving His blessings:
“And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 6:15-7:1
PRAYER: Father, please do a fresh work in my heart. I ask You in Jesus’ holy name. Grant a heart of flesh and please remove all stony places in this heart. Bless this vessel to please You in all thoughts, meditations, and acts in this short life. Please dig in deep, probing the depths of this heart. Please test the substance of my life and reveal the true value or lack thereof. Grant repentance and the holy fear of the LORD. Let me be clothed with Your righteousness through the precious blood of Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you truly desire to know more about how to really know the LORD, go here okay: Born Again: What is It?
Feedback:
“Brother TODD you are such a blessing .. I came out two years ago .. HE kept taking me out.. I thought something was wrong with me.. not anymore .. brother AUSTIN shared this teaching on the living stones and gave an illustration.. I will send this to him he will love it and I have sent it to a few others as well.. thank you for writing it for the FATHER is using you and all your past experiences HE is using for his glory!” Marsha O.
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