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
Apr. 25
UNDER A SPELL
An ancient Greek philosopher once said, "Whatever deceives bewitches." This is a true statement. All lies originally sprang from an evil spirit named Lucifer, and whenever we believe a lie, we are brought under the power of the evil spirit from which that lie came. Receiving a lie into your heart is tantamount to having a "spell" cast over your life. Some lies are greater than others, of course, and so, they will have a greater influence on those who believe them, but all lies have at least some power to influence thoughts and direct choices. Lies bring into bondage those who believe them.
This is why Jesus promised that the truth, not the new birth, would set us free. People are born of the Spirit of God because they believe in Jesus and repent, not because they know God or know the truth of the gospel. People from many Christian doctrinal persuasions may be washed from their sins by receiving the holy Ghost. People in all kinds of Christian sects have received the holy Ghost baptism when they repented of their sins in the name of Jesus. In spite of that fact, many of these same precious children of God somehow assume that they received the holy Ghost because of the particular sect to which they belong. That can't possibly be case. If that were true, only the people of that sect would receive the Spirit.
Some Baptists have received the holy Ghost baptism, as well as some Lutherans, some Catholics, and some others, besides traditional Pentecostal sects. Isn't it obvious, then, that those humble Baptists did not receive the holy Ghost because they believed Baptist doctrine, and that those humble Catholics did not receive the holy Ghost because they believed Catholic doctrines? No, they received the holy Ghost because they sought and obeyed Jesus, and if they continue to obey him, Jesus will guide them into truth that will lead them out of both those sects as well as out of the religion of Christianity itself. We receive the holy Ghost through faith, my dear friend, not through knowledge.
Most of God's children on earth are not free today because they do not yet know the truth, and they will never know it if they demand that whatever God shows them must fit into the confines of what they already believe is true. He does not want to be, but our heavenly Father is a mystery to most of His own children. He wants to be close to us and wants us to be close to one another. Neither of these two things will ever come to pass, however, unless we all abandon Christianity so that we can know Christ. We are divided because of the doctrines of Christianity that we have received. We will be united only when we escape the white-washed walls of the Christian religion and learn to be taught by the Spirit.
"Whatever deceives bewitches", yes. But "the truth shall make you free." Which way will you go today? The divisive way of Christianity or the healing, uniting way of the Spirit of Christ?