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Wolves vs True Disciple-Elders

The  purpose of elders in Christ’s body is to assist in your growing in Christ and never to use you for their own self-serving agenda to make merchandise of you, to exploit you to build their ministry busine$$. See Philippians 3:18-19 and 2 Peter 2:1-3.

WOLVES tell people to “come back next Sunday. Come to ‘church’ every time the doors are open.” Their goal is repeat customers.

TRUE DISCPLES of Jesus tell people to “Get into God’s Word daily—read, study, memorize, and meditate upon His words—all day every day (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1; Luke 4:4; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15-17, etc.). Walk with the Savior, magnify your coming KING (Colossians 2:3-10; 3:1-14). Stay in God’s Word. Repent regularly, confess all sin (Luke 13:3; 2:38; 3:19; 17:30, etc.). Live the life of a true disciple of Jesus daily—a crucified, buried, and raised up life of prayer” (Luke 9:23-24; 14:27, 33; 18:1, etc.).

The desire the true disciple labors for the body of Christ be matured, prepared to minister, and ready for the soon return of Jesus (Ephesians; Colossians). Their prayerful desire is that men would truly serve the LORD fruitfully on His stated terms and conditions – His Word (John 15; 2 Timothy 2).

In Hebrews 13:7 and 17 we see 2 things of great important:

v7 – true elders speak the pure WORD of God to you.

v17 – “they watch for your souls, as they that must give account.” They watch and pray for your eternal soul, instructing you only in the Word and do it in the fear of God, knowing they shall give personal “account” to God for such.

The vast majority of today’s false pastors aspire to build their church busine$$ (2 Peter 2:1-3). Their pray and goal is not that Christ’s saints be rooted, grounded, and established in Christ and equipped for the work of the ministry (Colossians 2:3-19; Ephesians 4:11-12). Getting you to bring your carcass and coin each week is their plan. They are not watching for your eternal soul nor feeding you the pure Word or getting you into it for yourself (John 21:15-17; Hebrews 13:7, 17).

Elders are to protect the flock of God from wolves who come to mislead and extort, and make merchandise of God’s people.

Titus 1:9-14

“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. 

Elders are to “preach the word” of God and also to “reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2

“Preaching the Narrow Way is not Legalism, Correction is not Persecution, Warning is not Condemnation, and identifying false teachers is not Slander! But the Devil sure wants you to believe these lies because he wants to destroy you! It’s sad, but most church leaders today spread this kind of thinking and do more to help the Devil than they do to guard the sheep. Hirelings!” Wayne Voss

Leading by Example

“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1

Paul’s Example of protecting “the flock of God.”

Acts 20:25-32

“And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

God’s Elders are to charge their understudies:

Paul instructed Timothy to:

“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELISM, make full proof of thy ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5

  • “watch thou in all things,”
  • “endure afflictions,”
  • “do the work of an evangelist,”
  • “make full proof of thy ministry.”
    2 Timothy 4:5

Bad things happen when those called to be elders cease from personal evangelism. They are not leading by example in obeying Christ’s Great Commission command.

When’s the last time they led someone to Jesus?

Are you preaching the Gospel to the lost in your daily life?

Elders are ordained obey God “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry.”

God fearing under shepherds equip the LORD’s saints “for the work of the ministry” and not to build their stupid church business (Ephesians 4:11-15). Beware.

They are undergirding your ministering and not just using you to boost their “ministry.” Their whole lives are about Jesus and you – not themselves. Selah.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-15

“The work of the ministry” in edifying the saints and evangelism.

From this moment forward, may God bless each of His saints to live and and walk in “the mind of Christ.”

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

Something to Own

When the topic of “what’s essential for salvation?”, here’s a verse that takes in the 2 necessities. It’s blessing how Acts 20:21 combines, contains brother repentance (first), then faith. This is a go-to verse for the essentials to be saved right.

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD, and FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.  Acts 20:21

Also the 2 R’s of Salvation:

1. Repentance (Luke 13:3).
2. Receive Jesus (John 1:12).

IF you are not being equipped, prepared, and exhorted to evangelize lost souls, to minister to, to pray for Christ’s saints, you are submitted to a wolf (Ephesians 4:11-12). Let’s read this again:

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

Such a wolf is not on Jesus’ mission, he’s on his own mission, doing his own bidding, building his own church busine$$. Jesus came to be upon His “Father’s business” and sent us to do Their mission also – the Great Commission (End of Matthew and Mark, etc).

Devil’s in the pulpits raise money to build their own kingdoms, names, ministries, “church” buildings, etc…. instead of investing that money into the Great Commission.

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

JESUS came and died and was raised again from the dead to make no one a good church member. Are you being used, exploited, played by today’s wolves who falsely pose as representative pastors for Christ.

True elders of Christ will have these following earmark characteristics, fruits….

  1. Elders true to the LORD are preaching the blood of His cross and the cross, the crucified life Jesus mandates for your personal life in order to follow Him (Colossians 1:20; Matthew 16:24-25; Galatians 2:20; 5:24; 6:14, etc.).
    2. They are feeding Christ’s sheep with HIS pure WORD, the Holy Scriptures (Jeremiah 3:15; John 21:15-17; Hebrews 13:7).
    3. They watch for your soul – and that’s not giving a sermonette on Sunday mornings (Hebrews 13:17).
    4. True elders are maturing and equipping YOU for the WORD of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16).
    5. They get YOU into God’s Word for yourself, daily (2 Timothy 2;15).

In some cases, the ones arguing to define fellowship as coming to their “church” are the ones who profit from such—when they aren’t even fulfilling the duties of an elder. The fruit of their congregations aren’t living as cross-centered and Bible-based disciples of Jesus who labor daily in the “Father’s business” which is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 2:49, etc.).

The elders laboring in the early church at Jerusalem, equipped the saints who were healthy in Christ. That’s why when persecution broke out in Jerusalem “they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).

Most church-attending “Christians” today can’t even pass out one Gospel tract weekly and have no conviction of this sin of rebellion—of not obeying Christ’s Great Commission mandate. Why? Obviously they are under false leadership (Isaiah 9:16; Hosea 4:9, etc.).

There are many “elders” vying for your submission. Yet many do not biblically qualify. Read 1 Timothy 3:1-7.

TYPICAL modern church deceit.

Gateway church has HIRED a new hireling wolf who calls his wife the “co-pastor”. (1 Timothy 2:11-12; 3:2)

YOU know when a church is false when their “search committee” looks for the CEO type instead of a real elder who is biblically sound. They are doing nothing but looking to build their church busine$$. They don’t even know about the qualifications for an elder such as 1 Timothy 3 and they don’t care. Counterfeits. And these phony CEO pastors go from one gig to another, scaling upward their earthly career$ and portfolio$ to their own destruction and that of their gullible prey (Luke 6:39). It’s all a big game to them – at the expense of searching souls. 2 Timothy 4:1-5 Judgment Day is on the way. Repent now or perish irrevocably in the lake of fire, world without end!

Hebrews 13:7 and 17 give us earmarked characteristics to look for in submitting to elders. 1. They must preach the pure written Word to you (v. 7). 2. They must watch for your soul by prayer, correction, admonitions, exhortations, equipping for the work of the ministry, feedings, etc. (John 21:15-17; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.).

Never put yourself under an elder or elders who aren’t preaching the Word to you and getting you into it for yourself (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15-17; 4:2-4). See Hebrews 13:7.

How is he watching for your soul if he isn’t getting you into God’s Word for yourself and helping you to hear the voice of God via His written Word and Holy Ghost? (Psalms 119:105; John 14:26; 16:13-14, etc.). See Hebrews 13:17.

Also, never place yourself under any man or men who care more about you attending their “church” and submitting to their illegitimate authority than they do about you getting into the Word and bearing the cross daily, and living a life of prayer, every day (Luke 9:23-24).

IF a pastor/preacher is not preaching the crucified life, he is preaching “another gospel” and such proves that he is “accursed” and is not living the cross life (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 11:3-5; Galatians 1:6-9; 2:20, etc.). This means he’s one of “the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.).” (Philippians 3:18-19)

100% there’s no possibility one could be taking up the cross in his own personal life and not being resurrected to preach that cross. Read that again and consider which preachers you know who are preaching the crucified life, the cross Jesus and His holy apostles preached.

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

Knowing God is the reason He sent His only begotten Son—to bring us to Himself in a relationship. One of Satan’s tricks is to get the elders to intercept that heart affection worship.

“It has always been about Jesus. Before Christ came to save us from our sins, the Bible was pointing to Jesus. Now after Christ came, we still look to Jesus. It has always been about knowing and trusting in Jesus. Before He came people just did not know His name, but now we do!” Serena Wagner

Christ’s True Ministers are Servants and not Celebrities

Sadly, it’s more than obvious to see that most people in ministry today have over indulged themselves in flattery, in extortion, in exploitation, and in taking advantage with their ministry position. Did our LORD Jesus not warn us of this very thing? They have made themselves celebrities and charlatans instead of servants.

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:25-28

“But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:8-12

Living for Jesus in the body of Christ is not in sum total about elders, bishops, or pastors as the “many false prophets” would have you think (Matthew 7:15; 24:11; 1 John 4:1). No. Christ’s eternal kingdom is all about Jesus and no other. Elders are ordained of God to help us walk with HIM, to worship and glorify and obey Jesus Christ. Elders are not an end in and of themselves but rather a type of a moon reflecting the light of the sun, the SON. Read John 1; Colossians 1-2; Hebrews 1; Revelation 1.

In short, wolves in sheep’s clothing are those who use their position to elevate and enrich themselves instead of Christ (Matthew 7:15; Philippians 3:18-19; 2 Peter 2:1-3).

Bidding Godspeed (partaking in, endorsing, supporting) to the false church system means being eternally judged, damned with them. See 2 Peter 2:1-3.

“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 10-11

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Abiding

The Book of Titus Overview [podcast]


“Loved this podcast. Thank you. One word that stuck out to me was pattern! Titus 2:7. I missed that word in that verse. The Holy Spirit is aways teaching us. Since this word was new to me I went to King James Dictionary: ‘Anything cut of formed into shape of something to be made after it. Pattern to imitate or follow.’ I think I now understand. Let Him shape and mold you. Pattern your life after Christ. Jesus was our perfect pattern!” Karen Cochran


“Though the Old Testament never directly mentions Crete (shown in inset), this island had a significant impact on the history of Israel. Crete was home to the ancient city of Knossos and the great Minoan civilization, the first advanced society in Europe, which flourished from before the time of Abraham until around the time of Moses. As this civilization declined, many people from Crete and mainland Greece began to migrate in vast numbers to new lands further east, including Israel. This is likely how the Philistines came to inhabit the Mediterranean coast of southern Israel. In the centuries that followed, various world powers gained control over Crete until finally it came under the rule of Rome, which grouped it together with the area around Cyrene on the North African coast to form a single province. (Cyrene was the home of a man named Simon, who carried Jesus’ cross for him after Jesus was no longer able to carry it.) As Paul was on his way to stand trial in Rome (Acts 27), he sailed along the southern coast of Crete, and there the captain lost control of the ship in a storm while attempting to reach safe harbor at Phoenix. The sailors became terrified that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, but instead they were driven by the storm to the island of Malta much further west, and the crew was saved.”

Abraham was born around 2166 BC

Moses – between 1391–1271 BCE. 

Acts 27 and the Journey to Rome:

“The Apostle Paul was shipwrecked on Crete while on his way to Rome. His ship took shelter at a harbor on the southern coast called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.” 

Of the book of Titus, one source notes the following:

“The Book of Titus is a letter from Apostle Paul to his protégé Titus, who was tasked with establishing order and appointing leaders in the churches on the island of Crete. The letter contains guidance on selecting qualified elders, combating false teachings, and instructing believers to live godly, grace-empowered lives that demonstrate the gospel’s transforming power through good works and upright conduct.” 

The Holy Ghost led Paul to set up God-fearing “elders in every city” to rebuke and to stop the deceivers and their lies and to establish the truth “sound doctrine.”

“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: … 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.” Titus 1:5,9-10

To the “young men” and every disciple of Jesus (Titus 2:6).

“In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8  Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” Titus 2:7-8

“Good works” or “Good work” appear 6 times in Titus.

“They profess that they know God; but in WORKS they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every GOOD WORK reprobate.” Titus 1:16

“In all things shewing thyself a pattern of GOOD WORKS: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity.” Titus 2:7

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of GOOD WORKS.” Titus 2:14 

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain GOOD WORKS. These things are good and profitable unto men.” Titus 3:8 

“And let ours also learn to maintain GOOD WORKS for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” Titus 3:14 

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Abiding

Loving not our Lives unto the Death [podcast]


Just WHAT do we need to “remember” about “Lot’s wife”? (Luke 17:32)

Death

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:11

Will you finish with joy?

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

IN previous generations, young men and women gave up their whole life of luxury in America to go to a foreign land to preach the Gospel of Christ. Today we have a generation of professing “Christians” who won’t so much as give up a penny to support the preaching of the Gospel of the glorious Savior they claim to be saved by.

Remember how our LORD Jesus taught that those who love and therefore are obedient to Him, will hear Him welcome them into glory with “Well done … enter thou into the joy of thy lord”? Those who are truly known of God prove their love for Him by the way they steward the resources He gave them. Loving not our Lives unto the Death.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21

Paul counted, considered, viewed everything he’d gained in this world to be but “dung” in comparison to Christ, then said:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Luke 17:28-33

28  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 
29  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 
30  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 
31  In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 
32  Remember Lot’s wife. 
33  Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 

Attention Eternal Security Adherents

The fact that your unrepentant heart wants something to be true, does not make it true.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12

It simply doesn’t matter how seriously and sincerely you are in believing the fairytale myth of “eternal security” or “once saved always saved” … you are dead wrong and so are the demonic wolves who taught this heresy to you. Repent, deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Jesus for real! (Luke 9:23-24)

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Abiding

The Cross Imperative [podcast]


The cross is not about self effort but rather self denial.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

Dear LORD Jesus, please take all of me. Have Your way in this life.

“not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42

The cross, the blood of Christ’s cross is what He commanded we take up daily in order to follow Him (Colossians 1:20; Luke 9:23-24). The divine economy is a cross economy and that is the only way one can truly walk with the LORD, pleasing Him in all things. Pouring over the words of 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 is an imperative. Also reading Romans 6 each morning this week, prayerfully. Memorize Galatians 2:20; 5:24; 6:14. John 3:30 and Colossians 3:3.

You have to die if Jesus is going to reign in your life (Romans 6).

Most men pretending to represent Christ are so busy telling people how wonderful they are that they don’t have time to preach that Jesus is the only “Wonderful” One and that we are “desperately wicked” without Christ (Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 9:17; John 15:5; Romans 3; 7:17, 24, etc.).  The few true servants of Christ are known in that they preach the original Gospel of Christ which begins with us repenting, believing upon Christ, and then abiding, remaining in Him by denying self, taking up the cross daily and following the King (Luke 9:23-24; 13:3; John 15, etc).

Remember how Saul served God partially, didn’t count Him important enough to meticulously do His will, exactly how the LORD instructed him? Read 1 Samuel 15. Saul is ousted and so shall every half-baked fake “Christian” who makes excuses for their sins of ommission and commission – because they have not truly repented, flattened themselves before the Almighty. As was the case with Saul, so shall the LORD declare to all rebels – “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” and Hell awaits (Matthew 25:41).

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33 

Anyone who is not walking the way Christ mandated, the crucified life, is in rebellion.

“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

Saul partially obeyed God and the LORD calls this unrepentant fake offering rebellion, sin, witchcraft, stubborness, iniquity, idolatry. Like Cain, Saul and his half truth partial offering to God were rejected.

Jesus says that to follow Him….

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

Christ mandates your death and His reigning life in you.

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3

“Until I embraced the cross, I had no lasting victory! No seed-bearing fruit, like clouds without rain, all promise but dry bones within. Christ will only indwell a vessel emptied of self and only he can give complete salvation to overcome all sin to be enjoyed at the marriage supper of the LAMB. Til then we press in abiding in Jesus, so that he may work in us his great salvation. (John 15; Rom 6; Php. 2; Col. 3; etc.) I die -> He raises me up.” Jon Crane

It seems that some among us have more faith, more confidence in themselves sinning than they do in God being able to forgive and establish them in His righteousness to overcome all sin. Jesus asks, “WHERE is your faith?” (Luke 8:25). It’s time to re-turn to the LORD, afresh, and to learn to apply the cross.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Recently I saw a clip of a pastor saying that the #1 reason God hates sin is because He loves us and sin separates us from Him. While these things are true, what is missing?

Of holiness, one writer profoundly notes:

“Holiness speaks more to nature than it does conduct. Good conduct is the spontaneous byproduct of the new nature of the new creation man through the cross and death to the old nature. We are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-18). To preach holiness as conduct without the new nature through the cross understanding is legalism. Holiness is actually derived from ‘wholeness’ meaning the thorough transformation of the whole tripartite man (1 Thess. 5:23). So many of these ‘holiness’ preachers are preaching nothing but conduct under law. Law arouses sinful passions and causes sin to increase and was given in order to provoke transgressions (Rom. 7:5; 5:20; Gal. 3:20). They are enemies of the cross!”   

#1 reason God hates sin – is not because He loves you…. it’s Because He is holy! (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8; 1 Peter 1:15-16). And yes He loves His people also. It’s time to let Jesus reign in all things and cease making everything about us. HE is first.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. … We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:9-10, 19

Does sin separate one – anyone – from God? Yes. Did God cease to be holy? No.

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOD, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1-2

“Death” means separation.

“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23

How do we know if we or others are truly “Christ’s”?

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24

Interesting how we never hear verses, divine mandates – essentials, imperatives – such as the scriptural truth below:

“Awake to righteousness, and sin NOT…” 1 Corinthians 15:34

There are a few ministries which declare “stop all sinning,” etc.. Yet how?

How can we possibly preach holiness, something nearly no pastor does today…. and not be preaching the cross, the crucified life as the only answer?

Yes God mandates, requires, and fully expects each of His people to “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). Again, how? The crucified life.

The cross and nothing else is the LORD’s solution to overcoming sin. It’s only when God Himself is raising us upward out of the state of death and burial that victory is transpiring in our lives. Saying we are sinless perfection,  praying, reading the Bible, going to church, or fellowshipping with other saints, etc. is not the answer. These are all important and yet the cross is the answer to being right with our God. Nothing else is the answer, nothing is the remedy for sin but the cross of Christ and the one He commanded us to take up (Matthew 16:24-25). There is no other divine prescription for victory over sin but the cross. | Sinless Perfectionism Rebuked

Any man pretending to be a representative of Christ and not regularly preaching the crucified life, is a false teacher (Philippians 3:18-19; Galatians 2:20; 5:24; 6:14, etc.). Such a man is not teaching the original Gospel and so is teaching “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6-9).

Make Romans 6 your spiritual meat each morning this week. Read it prayerfully, asking God to teach you His ways.

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:3-4 

YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, I here and now repent of my wicked sin, my rebellion, my unbelief, not trusting You, self-idolatry, and spiritual adultery. Please wash and cleanse me now dear LORD. Fill me with Your Holy Ghost and use me Jesus in this last hour. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Cross Saturation 101 – Get Saturated Here |

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Christology | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast]The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His FeetThe 7 Sayings of Jesus on the CrossHow We Know the Bible is the Only Holy BookPrayerMaking Peace with God – Before it’s too late | The Return of Christ

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