Increasing in
Knowledge of the Limitations of the Law
Christ versus False
Religion
Book of Colossians
Chapter 2
When we see the word
"law" in the Scriptures it usually means only one thing
which is the "law of Moses".
Let’s consider
some of the laws:
1) Let's consider
that the law of nature is the will of God as to human conduct.
Rom 1:20 For the
invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly
seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal
power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 2:14 For when
the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things
contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto
themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew
the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also
bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else
excusing one another;)
2) The ceremonial
law prescribes the rites and ceremonies of Judaism, Jewish worship.
Heb 10:1 For the
law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of
the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year
by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
3) There was the
Judicial Law, the law that directed the civil policies of the Jewish
nation.
4) The "moral"
law is also the revealed will of God as to human conduct, which are
binding all of us till the end of time.
Psa 19:7 The law of
the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD
is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8 The
statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment
of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psa 19:9 The fear
of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD
are true and righteous altogether.
4) There are
positive laws which precepts are founded only on the will of God.
These are manmade laws that coincide with the truth of God's Word!
We must always
remember when we must choose between human philosophies and divine
revelation, there is truly not any choice at all. We must always
choose the Word of God!
Rom 3:4 God forbid:
yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That
thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when
thou art judged.
This Scripture will
always hold true till the end of time!
Let's begin:
*****Col 2:1 For I
would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them
at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
Col 2:2 That their
hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all
riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement
of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Col 2:3 In whom are
hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Col 2:4 And this I
say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
The one thing we
should understand about the Apostle Paul while he was imprisoned, he
was like a soldier bound by chains craving to get into the battle of
furthering and protecting the truth of the "Gospel of Jesus
Christ"!
It is all the books
of the Apostle Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) that teach the
saint of God how to grow in the Lord.
For any church to
grow then there must be some mature Christians!
Many count church
growth only by numbers and that is great but church growth must first
be about God's people growing in the knowledge of the Lord!
We simply cannot
remain "babes in Christ" all our Christian days!
Our failure to help
one another in our burdens and fervent prayer for one another, is the
major reason believers and churches remain "babes in Christ".
It is a prayer of
faith that says to God that He has the ability and the willingness to
intercede on our behalf.
It is a prayer of
faith that says to God that it is He that has complete control of all
things, of all His creatures, and all their actions.
Prayer is our
primary channel to communicate with God! This channel was provided by
the Lord Jesus Christ!
You know, it is also
ok to just talk to God without asking Him for a thing. God loves to
just hear us talk to Him.
Regardless what
others say, God has His way of talking back or showing us that He
hears us!
The strength of any
church lies in the prayers of its membership but we must also have
Bible study!
A true Church will
remain consistent in the Word of God and grow into maturity being
unchangeable in the things of God.
Paul struggled in
prayer and concern for this church he had never visited, and our
Pastors today must do the same.
False doctrine had
been introduced into this young church and this church had become
confused because most of them were only "babes in Christ".
The stronger the
pastor is in the Word of God, the stronger the church.
It is also important
for every pastor to pray for all the church to remain in the Word of
God.
If they instill this
into their congregations, then all Christians would be praying for
the universal church that belongs to Jesus Christ!
The prayer of faith
is still our most important weapon in this world today!
The prayer of faith
can move the hand of God or He would not say so!
We should all be
fervent prayer warriors for the church!
The immature church
cannot stand against the Devil and it is obvious in our world that
the church is becoming more and more immature.
People just refuse
to study the Word of God and the perversions of the Word of God are
gaining ground and souls are being lost!
Once someone
realizes what they have been taught is a lie, then they believe there
is no truth in any church!
The Lord will reveal
Himself even to the babe in Christ if they pray in faith!
Faith in the truth
of Jesus Christ is the strength of every Church and the universal
Church.
As maturing in the
Word of God grows in the church, then hearts will become strong,
confident, and assured!
A strong church can
beat back error with the knowledge of God, but a church full of
"babes" is ignorant of the ways of Satan and the church
will many times split, or struggle will arise within the parties
involved.
The only answer to
error is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Apostles Doctrine!
The Apostle Paul was
in bondage, so he could not help this church physically to defend
against false doctrine but by sending them this epistle which could
lead them to defend the "Gospel"!
A strong church is
filled with a blend of mature Christians and babes who are growing
and whose hearts are strong for the Lord.
Mature Christians
proved stability, and babes in Christ provide the energy and the
fire.
A cold church is
truly miserable!
Strong hearts come
from the love of God and a fervent love for each other!
When false doctrine
enters a church, it is like a cloud that hangs over the church, that
requires strength in the truth of God to resist!
When a church is
divided, it will lower its standards and become more liberal.
This is what we see
in our world today!
Our standard must
always be Jesus Christ and it is His standard we must reach for and
not some man-made standard!
Strong hearts are
made from the love of God and each other, not from religion,
ceremony, rituals, or laws and regulations!
We must be sure we
know that God exist!
We must know that
God looks after our welfare!
We must know God in
a personal way!
We must know there
is life after death!
There is no mystery
of God, God explains Himself very well in His Scriptures!
There are no secrets
that God is hiding from us, God has revealed everything that we need
to know!
To the Jews, the
mystery of God is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father in relation to
His Son!
It is only Jesus
Christ that reveals God to mankind.
It is only Jesus
Christ who can mediate between God and mankind.
It is only Jesus
Christ who can intercede between God and mankind.
If there was a
mystery to the Jews, then this is it!
Gal 4:4 But when
the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a
woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem
them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of
sons.
Gal 4:6 And because
ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore
thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of
God through Christ.
It is in Jesus
Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge!
There will be no
growth in the church until we can understand the truth of the
"Gospel" and acknowledge Jesus Christ as the God of the
Bible!
1Jn 5:9 If we
receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this
is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
1Jn 5:10 He that
believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that
believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the
record that God gave of his Son.
1Jn 5:11 And this
is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life
is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12 He that
hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not
life.
The Scriptures are
very blunt about these things so, how can we question the truth of
God and His Son Jesus, the Messiah, who has already come and who will
return to save His church from the Wrath of God!
Wisdom in fact is
the ability to use the truth, there can be no wisdom in a lie!
1Jn_2:21 I have not
written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know
it, and that no lie is of the truth.
Paul explains that
we need to know all these things so that when false doctrine arises,
and it will, we will not be deceived by its lies!
Paul was absent
because of his bondage, but this great epistle has stood the test of
the truth down through the centuries.
*****Col 2:5 For
though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit,
joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith
in Christ.
Paul was never far
from this church in his mind and in his prayers. Paul could say these
things because the Lord is as near to us as a prayer and because He
goes where we go!
When we can do
nothing else to help our church, we can pray!
Rom 8:9 But ye are
not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God
dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his.
We must realize that
when our minds are wavering, we are not being steadfast and unmovable
in the Doctrine of Christ!
Religion and
Christianity are two different things. True Christians are steadfast
in the Doctrine of Christ!
Religionist are
always wavering and movable in the things they believe or what they
do not believe.
Eph 4:14 That we
henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But
speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which
is the head, even Christ:
When we know the
Lord Jesus Christ, we must walk unwavering in the Lord!
*****Col 2:6 As ye
have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Col 2:7 Rooted and
built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Walking in the Lord,
means this:
1) We received the
Lord by "faith”, so we must walk in the Lord by "Faith"!
We trust that our
sins have been blotted out and our names are written down in the
Lamb's Book of Life, and we need to act like this is true because it
is!
2Co 5:7 (For we
walk by faith, not by sight:)
2) When we received
Christ Jesus, we received Him as Lord of this Universe and the
Messiah.
Then we need to walk
as if we serve the Almighty God, and our Creator!
We need to reverence
our God as Almighty and our commitment be a lifetime commitment!
2Ti 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal,
The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth
the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
God expects us to be
rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ!
God expects us to be
rooted and grounded in a Gospel believing Church!
God expects us to be
as a branch drawing its nourishment from the vine, that vine being
the Lord Jesus Christ!
If we do not have
that strong attachment to Christ, then we need to get someone to lead
us through the Scriptures, so we will know the truth!
We need to walk as
we have been taught by the Lord, by His example!
We must be
established in the Word of God!
2Th 2:16 Now our
Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved
us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through
grace,
2Th 2:17 Comfort
your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
We must be aware of
the many deceivers in this world.
*****Col 2:8 Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ.
Col 2:9 For in him
dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Philosophy in fact
is, the love of wisdom and wisdom is supposed to be the proper use of
that knowledge of truth.
Today like so many
other things, philosophy is used "as an attempt to explain the
reason of things", or "to investigate the many causes of
things".
These things go
against the true definition of Philosophy!
Philosophy has
become worldly! There are some true philosophers just as there are
some true scientist who acknowledge the truth but no one can hear
them!
The noisy today are
all those who when faced with the truth, search for any means to
dispel the truth which is impossible!
The truth will
always be the truth!
What we see is
another of Satan's nick-names, which is the "spoiler".
What we see in this
passage is Christ Jesus versus false teaching!
False teachers had
made this newly founded church in Colossae a target for destruction!
We must always
realize that as Christians, we are targets for destruction to these
spoilers of Satan.
A spoiler is much
like the robber, these men came to this church to steal the truth!
The saints here had
been rescued from bondage, their eyes had been opened to the Light of
Jesus Christ, they understood they were just pilgrims passing through
this land called earth, but because of these spoilers they were now
in danger.
As believers we must
always beware and guard against worldly philosophy!
We will never have a
perfect relationship with Jesus Christ when we search for answers in
this world!
The answers to life
cannot be found in the things of this world.
The answers to the
truth cannot be found in the things of this world.
These things are
meaningless and will be destroyed when the Lord returns to this
world!
2Pe 3:10 But the
day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the
heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein
shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing
then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons
ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking
for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the
heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt
with fervent heat?
Human knowledge
cannot solve the problems of this world!
The very best
worldly science and worldly philosophy can do is, maybe make life
more comfortable, maybe safer, and maybe add a few years of good
health.
If we understand
these things, then this should be the goal of these people and they
need to stay away from trying to change the truth of God!
In fact, it makes no
sense, that if we can make the world a better place then, why is so
much effort and so much money used to destroy the church. (this
certainly makes no sense)
The answer lies in
being the children of Satan who is also the father of the spoiler!
1Co 3:18 Let no man
deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this
world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1Co 3:19 For the
wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He
taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
1Co 3:20 And again,
The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
If these spoilers
would realize they are only fools, they might wake up and do some
good!
We should also
realize that the rudiments mentioned here include the heavens, the
stars and planets.
So, those of
Astrology who have the gall to proclaim that the answers to mankind
are determined by the stars is utter foolishness!
These things are
just inanimate objects that have no life themselves so how can they
give answers to life. Shame on the people who fall into this trap of
Satan.
Those that depend on
a material world and the rudiments of this world, will never be a
part of the "Spiritual World", and they will never know
Jesus Christ!
It is the Lord Jesus
Christ who possesses complete power over this world and all the
Cosmos!
*****Col 2:9 For in
him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Col 2:10 And ye are
complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
In Him, inside Jesus
Christ, in the 100%-human side of Jesus, dwelt all the power of God,
which is rejected by most all Jews and most of this world!
Joh 10:30 I and my
Father are one.
We are complete in
Him, because He is the Head of all principality and power!
The Jews had
developed a plan to substitute philosophy for Christianity not by
denying it, but trying to explain it with worldly objects.
Christianity has
never been an offshoot of Judaism!
Christianity stands
alone as those who seek a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus
Christ!
Christianity is
based on "Faith" and not "knowledge"!
The object of our
"faith" is based upon the historical and doctrinal
statements of the Bible!
The object of
"knowledge" was to take philosophy and prove those
statements.
Philosophy is void
of the truth.
Philosophy is void
of reality.
Philosophy is void
of power.
Philosophy is
worthless.
Philosophy is
deceit!
We live in a world
created by God where foolish people cannot believe that an
all-powerful God could pour Himself into a body of flesh and live
among us for a while.
How can we be so
foolish to think we can place limits on the power of God to do
anything He wishes to do!
1Co 1:20 Where is
the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world?
hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1Co 1:21 For after
that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it
pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that
believe.
1Co 1:30 But of him
are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 That,
according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the
Lord.
We cannot be
Christians unless we receive the fulness of Christ's nature! (Born
Again)
There was also a big
discussion about circumcision so again Paul explains.
*****Col 2:11 In
whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without
hands, "in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the
circumcision of Christ":
Col 2:12 Buried
with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the
faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
It is easy to get
caught up with religion. Religion is simply an oath or a vow to your
god. Anything can be a god, just ask those who are Hindu.
We have even made
sports stars and (forgive them Lord) but even celebrities to be gods.
Some have made
riches and even automobiles their gods.
Christianity is
making a personal oath to Jesus Christ!
Manual circumcision
is the cutting off a small piece of flesh, while "Spiritual
circumcision" is cutting off the whole body of flesh, which is
our corrupt sin nature.
Only Jesus Christ
can do this thing through "faith"!
The circumcision of
the Christian is "Divine", without hands but by the inward
power of the Holy Spirit!
Being saved is
committing ourselves to Jesus Christ our Savior, allowing Him to cut
away the body of sins out of our flesh!
This true
circumcision is realized only when we are in union with Christ. When
we begin to develop our personal relationship with our Savior!
We follow this up
with Believers Baptism to show other believers we are in union with
our Savior.
Is this some sort of
ritual? No, this is following the commandment of the Lord!
We are baptized by
the Holy Spirit for our salvation, not with water!
Gal_3:27 For as
many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
We are then baptized
in water, only to symbolize, the death, burial, and the resurrection
of our Savior!
Mat 28:19 Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Next is training to
become a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Mat 28:20 Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
This is where the
church is failing most today!
The new believer
must realize through discipleship, that they are dead to their sins
and to do their best to sin no more.
Heb 9:14 How much
more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead
works to serve the living God?
Since we remain in
this body of flesh, we are not perfect, and we are just sinners saved
by the Grace of God and will remain that way until we meet the Lord.
We must do our best not to sin but when we do we will be forgiven if
we ask.
1Jn_2:1 My little
children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any
man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous:
We must realize when
we are baptized in water this only represents our spiritual death to
sin.
Rom 6:23 For the
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus Christ paid
that death for us and has given to the believer the precious gift of
God, "eternal life through the work of Jesus Christ our Lord!
*****Col 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;
Col 2:14 Blotting
out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:15 And having
spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.
Once we realize our
spiritual death, we are made a living soul and are dead to trespasses
and sin!
We must also
realize, we only differ from others by the "Grace" of God!
We must realize,
that sin is anything that goes against the Word of God and being dead
to sin we must do our best to avoid sin!
We must keep in mind
that even when we are biblically sound we still must approach God
just as He says and not as the world says.
We cannot take away
from God's Word and we cannot add anything to God's Word.
We see so many
so-called new Bibles today that do this very thing, to keep their own
sin and say it is approved of God which is foolishness when God has
already said not to do such things.
There is only one
plan of salvation and it is the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!
Jesus Christ would
never have come into this world, if sin according to the Word of God
was not real and the death of sins wages were not real.
The world may say we
live and then we die, but that is just part of the story. The truth
of death it is eternal, and the place of this eternal death is truly
devastation.
Rev 20:11 And I saw
a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the
earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for
them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw
the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and
the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the
books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the
sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered
up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man
according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death
and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire.
The truth of
salvation is eternal life!
Joh 5:24 Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him
that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
We need to take this
thing called "death" very seriously!
Many today seek
another way to live eternally in the body of flesh they now have and
that is foolishness for these bodies of flesh were never designed to
live forever.
Why are remedies for
the skin so popular? People just have such a great fear of even the
appearance of growing old or death.
Men can search this
earth until time runs out and a way to live forever will never be
found! God has the only plan for eternal life!
Mankind will never
conquer death!
Joh 3:3 Jesus
answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Rom 8:11 But if the
Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he
that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal
bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
How foolish is this
world we live in?
Jesus Christ took
all sin from the past and all sin from the future and took it out of
our way by nailing that sin to His cross!
Many people will
tell you that sin does not bother them, but the truth is, most people
live defeated lives because of their sin!
They are depressed,
they feel unworthy and they feel unacceptable to this world and this
is what sin will do to anyone it takes full control of.
These are those who
are in bondage to Satan and know it!
2Ti_2:26 And that
they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are
taken captive by him at his will.
There are still the
many who are in that same bondage and just deny it or do not realize
it, because they have been brainwashed by the teaching of this world.
1Ti_4:2 Speaking
lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
They just do not
realize that God loves them, their sin was nailed to the cross that
Jesus bore for us all, and they need only believe, (to have faith in
the work of Jesus Christ) to have those sins blotted out and their
names written down in the Lamb's Book of Life!
The reality of life
is, mankind has always recognized that there are forces, and powers
and even principalities at work with this universe.
The Bible declares
that these other forces exist and that there is a spiritual world
that surrounds this physical world of God's creation.
What we see is that
even these things are under the power of our Almighty God!
Though these things
have never held any power over God, they have had power over mankind
and by Jesus Christ, Satan has been defeated from any hold over
mankind.
He only has the
control you allow him to have, if you are a Christian!
Jas_4:7 Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you.
Sins evil work is
seen everywhere in this world and we must avoid it.
In fact, we must
hate sin without hating the sinner, just as the Lord had done just
before His physical death.
Luk_23:34 Then said
Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they
parted his raiment, and cast lots.
When the Lord raised
up from the dead after those three days as He said He would, the
powers of evil were defeated!
God is a God of
life, and death has never had a purpose in God's creation!!!!!!!!
God has judged each
believer and has justified each believer, we are not open to judgment
by this world!
Rom 5:8 But God
commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more
then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through him.
*****Col 2:16 Let
no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an
holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Col 2:17 Which are
a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
We have been given
Christian liberty but that does not mean we can freely sin!
Rom 6:1 What shall
we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid.
How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye
not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
The truth is, God
will honor anyone who honors His Son!
We tend to approach
God trying to follow rules and regulations and even rituals in
worship and this is wrong.
Many of the church
have forgotten that the only way to approach God is through His Son
Jesus Christ. There is simply no other way!!!!!
Rules and regulation
are forms of religion, but they cannot give eternal life!
Rituals are forms of
religion, but no ritual can offer eternal life!
These things were
only shadows of things to come, but the Church body is of Jesus
Christ!
The Church is the
"Body of Christ" because Jesus Christ lives in each
believer!
Jesus Christ rose
from that grave to life and life eternal, so the Church is alive and
cannot die!!!!!
The truth is when we
follow Christ we should also live as Christ!
We should eat as
Christ ate. Eating what is needed each day and eat things that are
good for the body.
We must worship
faithfully as Jesus Christ worshiped, which required much prayer!
We must live,
soberly, righteously, and godly just as Christ lived!
Jesus Christ is to
be our example in all things!
We must not be led
astray by this world nor the works of Satan!
*****Col 2:18 Let
no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and
worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not
seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Col 2:19 And not
holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having
nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the
increase of God.
That word beguile
means to rob, or to cheat, or to defraud. To goal of false teachers
is to cheat you out of your heavenly rewards.
They intend to make
you irrelevant in the army of God!
The biggest lie told
today is, that there are other ways to get to Heaven, or that every
religion has its on way to please God and get to Heaven.
This is an absolute
lie and purely false teaching just to appease the followers of these
sects!
There are those who
say they had a new revelation of the Lord. Do not believe such
nonsense. God says we have His complete Word and it is a fact there
will never be a new revelation that goes against what God has already
revealed!
Any false approach
to God is called "spiritism".
Here is the
definition of spiritism that I got off an official site for
spiritism:
Spiritism is, at
once, a science, a philosophy, and a religion.
**The science of
Spiritism studies the existence and nature of spirits, which are
nothing more than the immortal souls of men, created by God.
**The philosophy,
which was derived from a serious study of information received in
communications with discarnate spirits, deals with the details of
spirit life and the journey of evolution through the process
reincarnation. A natural consequence of that that philosophy is the
understanding of the role we play in our own spiritual evolution,
which is ultimately achieved through the efforts we make to grow,
both morally and intellectually.
**Spiritism helps us
to understand the natural laws that govern that process of evolution.
From a moral perspective, we follow the teachings and examples of
Jesus Christ, as our model and guide.
**The religious
aspect stems from the moral ties between ourselves, and others, and
the direction that Spiritism leads us, toward God, our creator, by
helping us to understand life and by teaching us, ultimately, how to
develop the ability to love, in the greatest sense of the word.
Nonsense!
Notice the phrase
"the role we play in our own spiritual evolution through the
process of reincarnation"
Notice the phrase
"the philosophy which is derived from a SERIOUS study of
information received by discarnate spirits.
Notice the phrase
"Spiritism helps us understand the natural laws that govern that
process of evolution".
We cannot worship
God through Angels, or spirits, and/or visions.
This was the same
teaching that had influenced this church in Colossae.
What was the
attraction? "To develop the ability to love, in the greatest
sense of the word".
The Apostle Paul
wrote (by the Holy Spirit) against these things in most all his
epistles.
Remember heresy is
any doctrine of salvation that cannot be found in the Word of God!
2Pe 2:1 But there
were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be
false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon
themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many
shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of
truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pe 2:3 And through
covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:
whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation
slumbereth not.
One of the biggest
problems of the church is, that we feel ashamed to approach God, so
we feel the need of some intermediary to stand between us and God and
this opens the door to "false teaching"!
We already have our
intermediator and it is the Lord Jesus Christ and He cannot be
replaced by some man!!!!!!!!
We cannot pray for
the angels to help, they already fulfill their purpose given to them
by God and in fact the Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord of the host of
angels just as He is our Lord and Savior!
As Christians we
have no contact with the spirit world, other than the Holy Spirit who
lives within us.
Anyone who can
actually talk to the spirit world is a disciple of Satan who has that
power.
We will never
contact a departed Saint of God until we reach the same place they
are and that is the glory world of Heaven.
What is the one fact
that we should realize?
The death of the
Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, removed the veil of the Temple,
symbolizing that we now can go directly into the throne room of God!
Those who seek an
intermediator other than Jesus Christ, are saying that they are to
unworthy to approach God themselves, so their prayer life is
non-existing and irrelevant.
Spiritism only takes
your eyes off God and focuses on angels and spirits who can do
nothing to help you make peace with God!
We have no business
in intruding into the unseen world other than our "faith"
in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!
We can never
approach God without the Lord Jesus Christ!
Joh 3:31 He that
cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly,
and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
The Lord Jesus
Christ is the Head of the church and that will never change. Any
teaching that tries to change this fact is false and is heresy!
The church can only
be nourished by Jesus Christ and then will increase as God sees fit!
The only Spirit we
need to worry about is the Holy Spirit and it is He who we need to
feed!
If we have taken up
our yoke and followed the Lord, we then are dead to the rudiments of
this world!
*****Col 2:20
Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world,
why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col 2:21 (Touch
not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 Which all
are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines
of men?
Col 2:23 Which
things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility,
and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of
the flesh.
It seems we can only
equate death when one of our loved ones or some close friend's life
comes to an end but if the Lord Jesus Christ lives in your heart, you
need to also equate death with your own flesh, because we have been
"Born Again" and that old sinful flesh is just dead flesh
waiting to be rid of.
If we then are dead
in Christ Jesus, we are not subject to any man-made ordinance that
are commandments or doctrines of men that try to add to the salvation
plan of God!
The Jews had many
rules of food to eat.
The Church is not
subject to those things or any other ordinance involved with Judaism.
Many denominations
have doctrines and rituals that try to add to or take away from the
Word of God, the Church is not subject to them!
There are many sects
in Spiritism and that teaching but the Church is far above such
teaching already, because we are already in the Hand of God and no
one man, or Satan can remove us from the hand of God!
Joh 10:27 My sheep
hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My
Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able
to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my
Father are one.
We must clearly
understand, there is no man-made approach to God that will ever
succeed!
Man will always come
up with a system of works that will always fail!
God is not
interested in our works until after we have obtained the salvation
that the Lord has provided!
There is no amount
works before salvation that can save us and there is no amount of
works after salvation that can keep us saved!
Jesus Christ did all
the works necessary to save us and all the works necessary to keep us
saved!
No one can work hard
enough, No one can be made good enough, No one is righteous enough to
impress God!
Only His only
begotten Son could do this thing!
Religion can only
fail you and send you to Hell.
Christianity,
following the example of Jesus Christ, is the only way to make peace
with God!
2Co 10:12 For we
dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some
that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves,
and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
If we are risen with
Christ Jesus, then we are fools if we do not seek things from above,
according to the Word of God, that He has given to us!
It is Jesus Christ
who sits on the right hand of God, not some angel, not some spirit,
and certainly not Lucifer!
Amen
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