I’d like to expound upon the statement in my last post, namely, that the VAST majority of churches in the world are teaching the wrong gospel.  Sure, they are teaching Jesus Christ, the “object” of our worship (and what He’s done for Israel); but they are NOT teaching correct “content” or what that “object” has done on our behalf.  We are NOT Israel.  The salvation message from God to man is the single most important message a man can receive.  Failure to recognize what God requires us to recognize (no matter how simple and beautiful) spells eternal doom, as we are all eternal creatures.  Israel was required to recognize Christ their Messiah and follow His instructions (content) to them.  Believers today are required to recognize what Christ our Savior has done for us!  Is your church guilty of deceiving you?

Anything other than: “Christ died for your sins” (period, end of discussion) is MORE than the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus and therefore, deception.  Deception can be remarkably subtle.  Paul writes:

2 Corinthians 11:3… “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

The simple and personally stunning realization a man (hopefully) comes to in his life; that he is actually no good whatsoever and can not do a single thing to save himself; is what I call facing Biblical reality.  Facing this ultimate reality is a difficult thing to do as we humans, generally speaking, are very prideful creatures.  The local church is almost always where people go in order to obtain that “feel good/you are good” reinforcement about themselves (which we all do crave); therefore the local church (professing christian or otherwise – “churches” come in many flavors, some secular) is the underlying support mechanism by which “good and polite society” operates.  “Atheists” simply believe in the inherent “goodness” of creation creating itself with man somehow (more and more) guiding his own “evolution”.  The university is his church and the religion of evolution (as opposed to a more formal deity) says he gets “better and better”.

The Bible, however, says otherwise.  How do I know God wrote the Bible?  Because it is ultimately critical of mankind.  Man would never say such things as these about himself:

Jeremiah 17:9… “The heart is DECEITFUL above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Romans 3:10-18… “As it is written, There is NONE righteous, NO, NOT ONE: There is NONE that understandeth, there is NONE that seeketh after God.  They are ALL gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is NONE that doeth good, NO, NOT ONE.  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 3:23… “For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 6:23(a)… “For the wages of sin is death; …” (continued below)

All means all.

“Ouch…”

You yourself must be perfect to be in the presence of a Perfect God.  A single sin negates that perfection.  What is a man to do under these circumstances?  He can lie to himself as most do.  Or… he may realize what God in Christ has done on his behalf and place his trust in that and that alone for his eternal salvation.  “Christ died for your sins.”  What else can there possibly be for a man to do?  “HE took YOUR place on the cross.”  There is only universal hopelessness outside of Christ who is the Creator God.

John 1:1-3, 14… “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”  (object)

Romans 6:23(b)… “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Accept Gods ultimate gift!  “HE… God Himself, died YOUR death, the death you deserved to die, FOR YOU!”  (content)

Is your church finding good in you outside of Christ?  Your church is deceiving you.  Is your church instructing you to “do good” in order that you may somehow obtain Gods favor and therefore (hopefully) salvation?  With the above verses observing you, can you honestly say that you are even remotely capable of doing good outside of Christ in you?  Read about Gods book before you answer…

Hebrews 12:4… “The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Who knows the human heart, Jeremiah?  God does.  He made it and gave it free will, knowing it would fail, also knowing exactly what He would do to make it perfect in the end!

Does your church teach grace; BUT you then have something to contribute?  Something like baptism, attendance, tithing, cleaning up your act, dressing appropriately, praying a prayer, coming to the alter, making Jesus “Lord of your life”, speaking in tongues, confessing sin, or any such religious man centered activity?  If so, your church is deceiving you away from the simplicity that is in Christ.  Can a man who is asking for forgiveness have already received it?  I think not…

Colossians 2:13… “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you ALL trespasses.”

All means all…!

No “ouch” here  🙂

If Christ did not pay it all, now and forever, what hope is there for you, besides you?  Recall what you are!

John 19:30… “When Jesus had therefore received the vinegar, he said, IT IS FINISHED: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”  It is either finished, or… your church is deceiving you.

A church, as the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim 3:15), IF it be in the will of God for this dispensation of free grace in which we live today, should be teaching you first and foremost the truth about yourself, which is very hard to hear.  Without knowing the truth about your own condition, true salvation is NOT possible.  It is only after coming to the ultimate realization of our inherently lost condition, can we subsequently be “found”.  It is only after we are found that we can be of any use to God.  The only way we can be of any use to God is to try and show others their inherently lost condition and what God has done to remedy it.  People, very unfortunately, do not want to know.  Mostly… they are proud, knowing nothing.  Ouch.

1 Timothy 6:3-5… “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

If your church is growing (gaining) by telling people what they want to hear; “you are good”?  From such, withdraw thyself.  If your church is not teaching Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (the doctrine) given specifically unto the Apostle Paul by the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ Himself, you are being deceived.  From such, withdraw thyself.  Is your church is teaching Jesus Christ according to prophesy of Israel?  Are they teaching Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (Hebrews, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, James, Jude, Revelation) as if these are instructions for believers today?  If so, you are being deceived.  While there is precious truth in these books, they contain Israel’s promises and instructions, not ours.  The Apostle Paul alone has the Truth for believers today as given him by Jesus Christ specifically for us.  Our truth is contained in the 13 books of Romans through Philemon.

Ephesians 3:1-5… “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given ME TO YOU-WARD: How that by revelation he made known unto ME the MYSTERY; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand MY knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was NOT made known unto the sons of men, as it is NOW revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;”

Is your church guilty of deceiving you?  The answer is VERY likely, yes.  From such, withdraw thyself.  Learn what Christ has done for you specifically, outside of His promises made to Israel.  Learn YOUR Truth from YOUR Apostle, given YOU by Christ Himself… Paul.

Next, we examine the basic and fundamental difference between what Christ instructed Israel via the twelve, versus what Christ instructs you and I, via Paul; as Christ has a job for Israel (earth) and a job for us (heaven).

Next Post: “Peter… following Christ and the Law.“