Church and Christianity
To virtually all the world the words "Church" and "Christianity" are synonymous with the people that profess to believe in and follow Christ. Amazingly, the word "church" does not occur in the Greek of the New Testament but is a mistranslation.
At the end of this age, in the book of Revelation, we find God calling to His people to come out of a place he calls Babylon and the Great Whore to avoid the plagues she will receive for her sins. Where is this place that God's people find themselves that is a "habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit" (Rev. 18:2).
The apostle Paul told us that "such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2Cor 11:13-15). Where are these false, deceitful ministers who claim to be sent by Christ? Where is Satan's influence to be found posing to be a source of light to those seeking God?
They can only be in places that claim to be of Christ! Christian denominations! As you read these articles prepare to be surprised and shocked. Satan deceives the whole world. He is hiding in a place that seems to be above suspicion but Paul also wrote that the one who "as God sitteth in the temple of God" will "be revealed in his time" (1Thess 2:4,6). As we draw nearer to the events that will herald the return of Christ the truth about the antichrist spirit and where it is hiding will be revealed.
New Birth Teaching Series
"You must be born again"
Three hours of audio teaching (transcript available) from Pastor John Clark, Sr. on the subject of the "New Birth".
When is a person born again and how do you know? The Bible contains clear revelation from God about when a person is born again. Learn what had to occur before the new birth was available to man. Listen as Pastor John covers these topics and more:This is perhaps the most important issue for a person to understand.
Have you been born again?
Thought for Today
Feb. 07
"BUT I SAY UNTO YOU . . ."
Jesus sometimes pointed out the difference between God's truth and the traditions of his time by saying, "You have heard it said . . . but I say unto you . . ." I want to use that same formula now to point out some significant differences between God's truth and Christian doctrines and traditions.
You have heard it said that it is good for men to join a church, but I say unto you that it is wickedness to teach that anyone should join a church. A church is a club. It is not the earthly family of Spirit-baptized saints. "By one Spirit are we baptized into one body" (1Cor. 12:13), and there is only "one body" (Eph.4:4). God alone "hath set the members every one of them in the body", and any religious club that any man "joins", calling it "joining the church", is contrary to Christ and an abomination to God. This is the word of the Lord that came to me: "No church that can be joined is His." And since every church that exists can be joined, none of them is of God.
You have heard it said that you must "accept Christ as your personal Lord and Savior", but I say unto you that he is already your personal Lord and Savior, regardless of what you think about it. What makes sinners sinners is that they are not obeying their Lord. If Jesus were not already everybody's Lord, it would not be sin for sinners to disobey him. The Bible states very plainly that "Jesus is Lord of all" (Acts 10:36).
Besides this, there is no such thing as any of God's creatures "accepting" Jesus because it is always the greater who "accepts" the lesser. We don't accept God; there is no Scripture that tells us that we should. Rather, Jesus makes us acceptable to God by washing away our sins and changing our nature.
You
have heard Christian ministers beg other men to "make Jesus Lord of your life",
but I say unto you that you can make Jesus nothing, and that it is evil arrogance
for you to think that you can. Peter said, "God hath made Jesus, whom ye
crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).
We cannot make him Lord. He is already exalted "above the heavens" by the Father, who also has given Jesus "a name above every name."
Isn't it remarkable how we can invent to ourselves such high-sounding religious phrases, which in fact do nothing but puff us up? In reality, these unordained phrases actually deny the absolute sovereignty of the Lord of Glory! These noble-sounding phrases provide men with places to hide from the simple truth of Jesus. Let's stop running from the truth and proclaim to the people that there is a real way out of sin: repentance before God and the Holy Ghost baptism that Jesus gives us when we finish our repentance.
Somebody will answer to God for not confessing the truth God has revealed. Somebody will face the wrath of God for telling souls that they are prepared to meet God, before they have received the holy Ghost. Don't let it be you.
You have heard it said that you can repeat a few Scriptures from Romans, chapter 10, and "get saved", but I say unto you that salvation is the future reward which Christ Jesus will bring to the faithful when he returns. Jesus said, "He that shall endure UNTO THE END, the same shall be saved" (Mt. 10:22). For this reason, Paul could say that our salvation is nearer now than it was when we first came to Christ (Rom. 13:11). When Jesus was asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?", he did not respond, "Repeat Romans 10:9-10 after me." He said, "Keep the commandments of God."
You have heard it said that all God's children should "go to church", but I say unto you that none of God's saints need to "go to church" because they are in the body of Christ! And if you are "in Christ", then "you are complete in him". It is true that saints should assemble themselves often, and all the more "as you see that day approaching", but what does that have to do with "going to church"? A church is a religious building. "Going to church" is a phrase the apostles knew nothing about because the people who built those churches hated the truth and persecuted the righteous, and they still do. Stay hidden in Christ, my brothers, and stay away from "the Church" and those who promote it.
These are a few of my own "but I say unto you" that the saints will do well to consider. I am certain that Jesus has many more "but I say" words for us. My prayer for us all is that when he speaks, our hearts will be sufficiently pure to be able to recognize his voice and believe his word.