There are many great men of learning that disagree with my belief in the timing
of the "taking away of God's Church to be with Him"! I believe Scripture fits together
in the "Big Picture" like a puzzle. You can't twist the piece into fitting if it is false.
But millions, more like billions have been told the greatest lie in history.
That lie, distorts the one true Salvation message Gospel of God. It leads those
people on the road in the exact opposite of "the TRUTH" !!!
Personally, I have in the past been a part of "religion". The Lord saw fit to bring me to
the truth about His saving GRACE, With His Word and the renewing of my mind.
Now, I will never again be a partaker of and have my name added to any Church or religion
that distorts the True Gospel. If you are a "seeker of truth, you will receive MUCH
opposition from your family, friends, and those you know in this world. But don't worry.
God said this would happen.
The message of the Gospel of Salvation is the most important information to you
in your life. Read about it in God's Word and let no man steal your crown!
Rescuing Precious Souls from the Bondage of Religion
and Satan’s counterfeit gospel (another Gospel)
We can be wrong about a lot of things in this life and still survive, but if we are wrong about the only way to obtain forgiveness from God, we will pay for that fatal mistake throughout all eternity. Our Creator provides only one way to redeem man from sin and He has revealed it in a divinely inspired message to mankind. However, it didn't take long for God's complete and perfect Gospel message to be corrupted by religious leaders. These men, who say they speak for God, have distorted and perverted this good news of God's mercy and grace. Their unstated goal has been to control people by keeping them in legalistic bondage to their authority. The Lord Jesus revealed the only way of escape from this bondage. He said: "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32).
Establish the Supreme Authority for Truth
Reaching those who are being held captive by religious indoctrination must always begin by establishing the Bible as the supreme authority for knowing God's Gospel. Christ and His Word must rule over man's religious traditions because God has exalted His Word above all things (Psalm 138:2). The word of God is infallible and has no equal (Isa. 55:10).The Bible is the most authoritative, influential and powerful book ever written. It is the standard for discerning truth from error(1 John 4:6). It is sufficient to function as the sole, infallible rule of faith (2 Tim. 3:14-16).The Bible does not refer us to any other rule of faith because everything we must know ,understand and believe to be reconciled to God is found in Scripture (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
Whenever we are confronted by two or more opinions, we must always ask, "But what does the Scripture say?" (Gal. 4:30).
Sola Scriptura
The Bible gives overwhelming evidence as to why Scripture must be always our sole authority for faith. The Word of God is pure, perfect, inerrant, infallible, living, truth, light, holy, eternal, and forever settled in heaven. It illuminates, cleanses, saves, frees, guides, converts, heals, quickens, judges, and sanctifies. It also brings conviction, gives knowledge, gives wisdom, produces faith, refutes error, searches the heart, equips for every good work, and is used as a weapon. The Word of God is even exalted even above the very name of God. Have you read Psalm 138:2?
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Compare this with traditions of men ... Jesus told the religious leaders of his day that their tradition was nullifying the very word of God. Yet the religious leaders of today continue to do the same and deceive their followers. Because of this we must take the exhortation of Peter seriously ... that is we ought to obey God rather than men.
For Christians, the Scriptures provide the only objective basis for authority while the indwelling Holy Spirit provides illumination, conviction and discernment. This dual authority, the Spirit of God working with the Word of God, is sufficient in all matters of faith and Christian living. Traditions of men, on the other hand, submit to a dual authority of tradition and Scripture, under the subjective interpretation of their church. A man, speaking for the church, is said to be infallible in matters pertaining to faith and morals. You ask, "Where does it say that Scripture alone should be the authority for faith?" Is "Sola Scriptura," the battle cry of the Reformers, found in the Bible? There are at least nine biblical justifications for the authority of Scripture alone.
1. All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and useful for reproof and correction of error (2 Timothy 3:16). Since Scripture is used to correct and reproof then it must be the authoritative standard by which everything else is judged for its truthfulness.
2. Jesus said, "Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:34). The character of God is on the line. "God is not a man that He should lie ... and hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good (Numbers 23:19). Submitting to the authority of God's revealed word will guide us in His perfect will.
3. Christ used the authority of Scripture to rebuke Satan's attempt to deceive Him (Matthew 4:1-11). He gave prepositional statements to accurately convey the truth that Satan attempted to distort. Jesus was our perfect model for rebuking deception.
4. Jesus used the authority of Scriptures to rebuke false teachers (Matthew 22:29). The only way false teachers can be confronted and exposed is in the power of God's Word.
5. Repented sinners are saved by hearing and believing the Word (Ephesians 1:13-14). The integrity of the Gospel must be maintained and proclaimed for true conversions.
6. Jesus prayed for Christians to be sanctified (set apart) by the truth of His Word (John 17:17). Christians must separate themselves from apostate churches and false teachers. God uses division to show those in His approval (1 Cor. 11:19).
7. One must continually submit to the authority of Scripture to be a disciple of Christ (John 8:31). Those who follow the traditions and teachings of men are often led astray.
8. Christ rebuked the religious leaders for nullifying the Word of God with their tradition (Mark 7:13). Any tradition that nullifies the Scriptures must be exposed and renounced so others will not be deceived.
9. The Scriptures were written to all Christians, not to popes and Magisterium to be interpreted for lay people. Anytime we allow others to interpret God's word for us, we leave ourselves open to deception.
God foreknew the teachings and traditions of men would become corrupt and would lead many astray. In His wisdom, He left us with His Word, the only objective, absolute authority for truth, to lead us back to Him. It is pure, powerful, perfect, inerrant, infallible, living, holy, eternal, and forever settled in heaven. It illuminates, cleanses, frees, guides, converts, quickens, judges, sanctifies, brings conviction, gives wisdom, produces faith, and refutes error. Can you describe tradition in the same way God describes His word? Why would you want to add anything subjective to the objective standard God has given us?
Are You Being Deceived?
If I were to insult you, you'd feel the sting immediately. If I were to embarrass you, you'd be the first to know. But if I were to deceive you...you might never know it!
As painful as being insulted or embarrassed can be, at least you're aware of what's taking place. But deception can be deadly because you don't realize you are being betrayed, misled, seduced or ensnared. It's much more than a clever slight of hand.
Deceived people are not even aware they are being misled unless they are confronted with the truth. Tragically, many go to their graves deceived about their relationship with God.
The Importance of Your Source for Truth
What is your source for truth? Is it trustworthy? Will it protect you from the schemes and lies of the master deceiver, Satan?
The biblical prophet Jeremiah gave wise counsel for choosing who to trust. He said if you put your trust in man you will be cursed like a withered bush in a barren desert. However, if your ultimate trust is in God, Jeremiah said you will flourish like a tree planted by the water (Jeremiah 17:5-8).
Still many people today disregard Jeremiah's advice and in their search for truth put their trust in man--religious leaders--instead of God.
Who Will You Trust?
The only way we can be 100% sure is to do what the church of Berea did in New Testament times. They examined the Scriptures to see if what the Apostle Paul taught them was true (Acts 17:11).
We must use the same scriptural standard for the teachings of all religious leaders. Disregarding the objective truth of God's Word in favor of the subjective teachings of men can be a tragic mistake.
The Danger of Deception
Would it surprise you to learn that many religious teachings go against the Bible? Shouldn't that concern you, since your eternal destiny may depend on such teachings?
The Bible says man is saved by believing God's truth (Ephesians 1:13-14). God can never deceive anyone (Titus 1:1-2). But man remains condemned if he continues in deception.
False religious systems hold people in bondage to deception by perverting God's truth and grace. Any religion that teaches its followers that salvation is obtained through human effort and merit is nullifying the grace of God. Yet grace is the only means by which God saves sinners! The Bible says "if by grace, it is no longer because of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace" (Romans 11:6).
Misplaced Faith
Some people blindly put their faith in religious leaders, assuming that their leaders would never seduce anyone with a false plan of salvation. Yet the Apostle Paul warned that "from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them" (Acts 20:30).
Other people simply choose not to respond or conform their lives to truth. Instead they turn away to listen to teachers who say what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:2-4).
Then there are people who have a zeal for God, but not in line with the truth. Many people have been indoctrinated with false teaching and have difficulty believing the truth. They fail because they refuse to let go of unbiblical beliefs.
It was disobedience to God, a lack of faith in His purpose, plan, and word that separated Adam and Eve from Him. Instead they chose to put their faith in the deceiver, which brought spiritual and physical death to us all.
God uses the very instrument that separated us from Him--faith--to restore us back to Him. By turning to God in faith, we receive spiritual and eternal life: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
God's Truth Determines Destiny
The Bible makes it clear that:
* We are either children of the devil (John 8:43-45) or children of God (John 1:12),
* We live as slaves to sin or as slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:16-18), and
* We will spend eternity under the wrath of God or in His loving presence.
"Whoever believes in Him [Jesus Christ] will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God" (John 3:18).
God has revealed that trusting in anything other than Christ and His Word is evidence of deception. Those who choose to follow the traditions, opinions, and philosophies of men will be condemned. Jesus said "Whoever rejects Me and does not accept My words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day" (John 12:48).
By contrast, how wonderful are the words, "to those who did accept Him He gave power to become children of God to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).
Are you basing your life and eternal destiny on the eternal truths of God's Word or on the traditions added to God's truth? How will you respond to God's truth?
Salvation is only through Christ (Acts 4:12).
Which teachings will you choose? Choose carefully. In this life you can be wrong about a lot of things and still survive, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TIMING OF THE RAPTURE, But when this life is over, if you were wrong about God's only provision for your sins, you will perish in the lake of fire for all eternity.
A BLESSED INVITATION
In the final book of the Bible, in the final chapter, in the final verses, we have the final words of Jesus Christ. These words are an invitation to every member of the human race to receive His forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17)." Here eternal life is offered free to whosoever will. According to Romans 6:23, salvation is the "gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord." "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)." God's love for mankind, and the importance of the gospel message, are emphasized by the warning God gives in Revelation 22:18, 19.
God says, "hands off" the gospel message. It is not to be tampered with. "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (Revelation 22:18, 19)."
The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ reveals Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind. We read in Revelation 1:5, "...Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood." Every member of the human race has sinned (Romans 3:23) and needs to be washed from his sins in the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus loved us and willingly went to the cross of Calvary and shed his blood that he might wash us from our sins.
To add to or subtract from this message is, in effect, to cancel the message. We are told in I Corinthians 1:17, "...to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." We can be preaching a message that has no saving power if we tamper with the gospel message. Remember Romans 1:16 says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." We make the message which is the power of God unto salvation of no effect according to I Corinthians 1:17 by tampering with it.
Salvation is by grace and not by works. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9)." The word religion comes from two latin words "re" and "ligio." "Re" means to "go back," and "ligio" means "to bind." "Religion" then means, "to bind back." Religions cannot save. Religions are man's efforts to bind himself back to God. They are Satan-inspired. God says of all the religions of the world. "Behold ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you (Isaiah 41:24)." Therefore, religions will take you to hell.
The plan of salvation is not a religion. True Christianity is not a religion. The "Christian counterfeit" is a religion based on man's efforts to bind himself back to God. The "Christian religion" is false and to be rejected. Satan is clever and gives to man "a heavenly way to go to DESTRUCTION." Any religion you might choose is an abomination (Isaiah 41:24) and will take you to SECOND DEATH No religion can save! Only Jesus Christ can save! (See Acts 4:12; John 14:6.)
Jesus said, "…I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me (John 14:6)." Look at Proverbs 30:4-6. "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?" Here is a wonderful reference to the Son of God in the Old Testament. What is God's name? It is Jehovah! What is his Son's name? It is Jehovah-Yasha! The Greek form of Jehovah-Yasha is Jesus. Jesus, therefore, means Jehovah-salvation. Jesus is Jehovah who brings salvation.
Notice Proverbs 30:5, "Every word of God is pure: He (Jesus) is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him." This is the same as the New Testament. "... Believe (trust) on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (Act 16:31)."
Notice the warning in Proverbs 30:6. "Add thou not unto His words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." Again God gives a warning against tampering with the gospel message. He says, "Add thou not unto His words." And in the context it is talking about salvation!
For example, if a man says, "You are saved by faith in Jesus and by living the Christian life," God will say to him, "You are a liar, I never said that." God will say, "...he (Jesus Christ) is a shield (Savior) to them that put their trust in him (Proverbs 30:5)." If a man says, "You are saved by faith in Jesus Christ plus water baptism and church membership," then God will say to that man at the judgment, "You are a liar I never said that." , God will say, "...he (Jesus Christ) is a shield (Savior) unto them that put their trust in Him (Proverbs 30:5)." And again, God will say, "...believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved...(Acts 16:31)."
God says to the man who changes His message, "You will not be saved!" God warns that all the plagues of the book of Revelation will come upon the person who adds to or subtracts from the message of "...whosoever will, let him take that water of life freely (Revelation 22:17)."
Yet, millions who claim that they are "Christians" have fallen for the Christian counterfeit of salvation. (ANOTHER GOSPEL) They have lowered Jesus from the position of Savior to simply being a part of the salvation process. This is heresy (Romans 11:6)!
What can wash away my sins? Nothing! Nothing! Nothing, but the blood of Jesus Christ
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:09 (TRUE GOSPEL)
There is a division between those that preach the true gospel and those that preach a perverted or distorted gospel. The subtlety in this, is that it often times sounds like the true gospel but is not. The test of the true gospel is grace. If the message excludes grace or mingles works with grace as the means either of justification or sanctification, it is "another" gospel, and the preacher of it is under the anathema (curse) of God. The Scriptures clearly say in Galatians 1:8-9, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I again. If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Therefore, the message that is perverted or distorted is accursed of God, and the one preaching that message is accursed of God. Usually, those who have been taught a false gospel will persecute those that teach the pure gospel. The Apostle Paul explained this in Galatians 5:11, "And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offence of the cross ceased." Paul says that the true message of the gospel of salvation apart from human works will bring about persecution, but to mingle works with the true gospel takes away the offense of the cross. Therefore, we are urged in Scripture to stand on the Lord's side and separate ourselves from those that distort His word and change His message.
(The Lord says come out of her, my people)
Are you a believer? If not, then trust Christ as your Saviour and His one and only true Gospel now, and He will give you eternal life. As a believer, are you on the Lord's side? If not, then align yourself with the precious message of the Lord Jesus Christ. God will bless you for it.
edited on 12-5-10
Oh my how we grow!
Even I did not know the true Gospel when I made this post!
Here is the true Gospel:
Mark Phillips
The day and exact moment that God causes one to see and understand that God is at peace with you and the world because of the death,burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus and that all the sins of the world has been forgiven at the cross....one is baptized into the body of Christ Jesus, and one becomes a new creature, with that revelation. The Spirit of God then causes spiritual growth and understanding not hither to possible. Because of this great Grace of God one was blind, but now they see. They become more tolerant each and every day of others and their blindness and darkness...because they now see and have been delivered from the power of darkness. Each in their own time will God eventually reveal this wonderful Gospel Good news of conciliation (PEACE). God is not now angry with the world. God is now at peace with the world. Most have not seen this revelation and had it to be made clear to them by the Power of God and His Gospel to Save....But God will have all come to the knowledge of the Lord, if not in this eon but a future one when God will be ALL to all and all will have been delivered from death and vivified. Oh what a wonderful and powerful God who has made peace with us while we were yet sinners. Grace and peace to you all.
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