October 2014
EXPLICIT BIBLE TRUTH
Jesus
Who is He
What is He
Why is He
The Jewish Papacy:
A message, warning for everyone:
Jesus Christ issued many warnings at His first advent to inform the innocent of Godâs plan and purpose and to lead the guilty toward repentance.
Regardless of what Church we attend the same rules apply to all. Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 24-28, 3:5, 3:10-12, 3:21. Many Christians that I know attend independent Bible Studies as they want to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. That is Godâs plan for all of us and should be our plan. Take no one at face value but listen to what is said, John 2:23-25. Be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove, Matthew 10:16. Perseverance is Key.
Some people may consider the Church they attend to be a mission field, their place of service, Matthew 7:6.
Matthew 23:1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples,
Matthew 23:2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;
Matthew 23:3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them.
This context is about moral living and practicing rituals from the Books of Moses, the first 5 books of the Bible.
The Church has the entire Bible and the Holy Spirit for illumination, Acts 16:14 with Jesus Christ as the supreme sacrifice that displaced rituals of the âLaw of Mosesâ.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches moral living as do many other Churches,
But,
Catholic Dogma such as the âperpetual virginity of Maryâ, Matthew 1:25 and calling Mary the âQueen of Heavenâ, Jeremiah 7:18, and 44:17-25 come from liturgy which is approved teachings and rituals of the Catholic Church.
Many are taught and believe that the Pope is the Vicar of Christ meaning that he is the replacement for Christ which is heresy as the Holy Spirit is the Vicar of Christ, John 14:15-17, Acts 16:14.
Many are taught that words from the Pope have the same authority as inspired scripture which is also heresy.
They also preach Christ crucified but with the Virgin Mary and the Church as intercessors which is heresy.
Our instructions come from the Bible and the indwelling Holy Spirit who works in conjunction with gifted Bible teachers and Bible study.
Matthew 23:4 “And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
All for show Religious Politianâs:
Matthew 23:5 âBut they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries, and lengthen the tassels of their garments,
These are religious artifacts worn by the Rabbiâs for show. Today, perhaps it is Robes and collars and Nunâs Habits much like a Burka. They are worn as uniforms and are easily recognized getting a lot of attention.
A Priest and 2 Nuns from our local Catholic Church would quite often pay for people who were without sufficient funds for overnight stays at our Motel. The funds would come from the Church or some times from the Priest own pocket which the Nuns thought he should not have done because of their own limited funds. At times, one of the Nuns would walk 10 blocks from the Church to bring the money. Yes, we did advance them credit and some times allowing people to stay and not pay per their example. I was very impressed by their charity. When the Priest was reassigned his replacement stopped sending people to us.
Matthew 23:6 âAnd they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Matthew 23:7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called by men, Rabbi.
Exceptions:
John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;
John 3:2 this man came to Jesus by night, and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Believing Pharisees with a religious hangover:
Act 15:5 But certain ones of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, Gentile men and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”
This is what God had required of the Jewâs who were transitioning to Grace and thinking the Gentiles must follow the same path,
But:
The Church, the âBody of Christâ observes the 10 commandments, Exodus 20:3-17 but not for salvation as we are unable to keep them as were the Jews to perfection which is the requirement for self qualified justification.
The Aaronic priesthood of the Old Testament has been replaced by the Melchizedek priesthood.
The Dietary laws are not mandatory.
Many statutory and ritual laws are superseded, replaced, set aside.
Acts 15:19 Therefore, I, the Apostle Peter have decided that we should not trouble these gentiles who are turning to God.
The Apostle Peterâs decision here is based on Scripture and current facts as presented in Acts 15:1-18 and is not a capricious, arbitrary decision.
Acts 15:20 Instead, we should write to them to keep away from things polluted by, offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from anything strangled, and from blood, ISV.
A Jewish and Gentile practice is to drain and dispose of all blood from meat that we eat but sometimes processing the blood and using it in animal feed and fertilizer. I presume there are things in the blood that could be harmful if ingested, consumed. âMad Cowâ disease affecting the nervous system of animals became a fright some years ago and was found to be spread through animal feed that contained stock yard renderings. Some humans were found to exhibit âMad Cowâ symptoms and they died. Animal feed was altered after that and infected animals were completely destroyed but the disease still exists.
The Temple service with areas for Jewish men, Jewish women and Gentiles has been replaced by equal seating for all, Ephesians 2:14.
Because of our weakness in the flesh and Godâs love for mankind He, God provided Jesus Christ as our vicarious, substitute sin offering. He, Jesus Christ is the pattern for what we will be and God is justified to forget what we have been. God will save all those who call upon the name of the Lord, which is the holy works, the holy life of Jesus Christ, Romans 8:29, John 16:7-15.
The yard stick, measure of sin is the commandments of God and when we break a commandment we commit sin.
Our sin offering for past sins committed is Jesus Christ. Our sin offering for sins we currently commit is Jesus Christ, 1John 1:9.
By confessing, acknowledging our sins to God we maintain fellowship with God who convicts us of our sin and we move toward perfection.
Arguing with God the Holy Spirit who deals with each one of us individually through our conscience, gets us nowhere but a simple yes, I understand, I have sinned will suffice followed by an attitude of repentance.
Beware of people with messages from God for you as God the Holy Spirit will convict you personally although it may come to you indirectly through a Pastor or some person who is unaware that the message is for you and it will be a Bible passage answering a question that you have asked in prayer or just pondered, wondered about.
Eternal life begins with repentance toward God, changing our mind, turning from worldly thinking and toward the Eternal God, the God of righteousness, the God of creation.
All men and women who are born of God will move toward perfection which is being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, Romans 8:29, Hebrews 11:5-6.
Our flesh will die because it has been destroyed by sin but our regenerated Spirit, Soul, and Mind will live and be placed in a new body at the Rapture.
Between death and the Rapture our temporary residence will be the third Heaven, John 14:2.
We will return to planet Earth for our new body at the Rapture and return again 7 year later for Armageddon and the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ.
At the end of the 1000 years will be the judgment of the unredeemed and total destruction of Evil in the âLake of Fireâ.
Our final destination will be eternity in the âNew Heaven and New Earthâ with Jesus Christ setting on the Eternal Throne in the New Jerusalem, the Eternal City .
Acts 15:4 continued:
Act 15:6 And the apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.
Act 15:7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
Act 15:8 âAnd God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, giving them Gentiles the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us, Jews ;
Act 15:9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith, James 5:19-20, 1John 1:9.
Act 15:10 âNow therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke, Matthew 11:29-30, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
Act 15:11 âBut we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
Our Spiritual Heritage:
Matthew 23:8 âBut do not be called Rabbi; for One the Holy Spirit is your Leader, Ephesians 4:15-16, and you are all brothers.
Matthew 23:9 âAnd do not call anyone on earth your Spiritual Father, Ephesians 4:5-6 ; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven, 1Peter 1:23, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, is the Agent, instrument of God who does the work of God, John 1:1-14 .
We all have fathers of our flesh. In some context the Apostles call certain disciples âson, Greek meaning mature sonâ meaning they were training gifted replacements such as Titus and Timothy.
The word disciple means student, 1Timothy 1:18, 2Timothy 1:2 & 2:1.
The Gospel is anounced:
Acts 16:13 And on the Sabbath day we, Paul and Luke went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.
The Holy word and the Spirit:
Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord,2Corinthians 3:17 opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
Worship:
John 4:23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
John 4:24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
When reading your Bible you are âface to faceâ with Godâs complete Word, 1Corinthians 13:8-12 and the indwelling Holy Spirit gives us comprehension as we learn by âline upon lineâ, âprecept upon preceptâ âa little here a little thereâ meaning we are not over night successes but we move toward perfection and comprehension of Godâs plan.
The Christians of Hebrews chapter 6 were stalled and not moving forward meaning they were frozen at the Gospel, Hebrews 6:1-3.
Lydia was âface to faceâ with Godâs Word as it came from the mouth of Paul but comprehension came from the Holy Spirit Himself.
Today we have the written word and the Holy Spirit with advanced learning coming from personal commitment according to the will of God, Ephesians 4:11-20.
Some Pastors are good sounding boards as they are able to respond to questions we ask and some are not. While some are very well informed no one knows it all, John 21:25.
Any discussion must have Godâs word as the arbitrator as we must be centered on the Bible and not human view point.
Matthew chapter 23 continued:
Matthew 23:10 âAnd do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ, Ephesians 4:15.
Matthew 23:11 âBut the greatest human among you shall be your servant.
Humility:
James 4:4-10
Matthew 23:12 âAnd whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Woe to the self appointed Leaders:
Matthew 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people