Is the KJV Translation Worthless?

"The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable day" Acts 2:20.

I heard a preacher today give his rant on the KJV translation. He was implying that those who use the KJV were idiots or stupid people. I remember he had said something like this before. He said there was nothing holy about the King James Version of the Bible. He went on to say that the KJV was like your grandmother's apple pie. He said the KJV is traditional only. If he had his way he would bury the Bible where he thinks it belongs. His famous quote, "The KJV is the worst translation."

Today he said there are some stupid Christians who actually believe the LORD will turn the moon into blood. Not like blood but actual blood. He said the KJV has led people away into error. I like to point out that it wasn't the KJV that said it but the Apostle Peter. Look at the Greek and other translations:

King James Version

2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

American Standard Version

2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable day.

Bible in Basic English

2:20 The sun will become dark and the moon will be turned to blood, before that great day of the Lord comes in glory:

Darby's English Translation

2:20 the sun shall be changed to darkness and the moon to blood, before the great and gloriously appearing day of the Lord come.

Douay Rheims

2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and manifest day of the Lord come.

Noah Webster Bible

2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come.

Weymouth New Testament

2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, to usher in the day of the Lord-- that great and illustrious day;

World English Bible

2:20 The sun will be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

Young's Literal Translation

2:20 the sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the day of the Lord -- the great and illustrious;

That word turned is the Greek word, metastraphēsetai: μεταστραφήσεται. It means to change. The word change means

1.

make or become different.

"a proposal to change the law"

2.

take or use another instead of.

"she decided to change her name"

I am not trying to defend God; whether or not He will change the moon into blood or just into the color of blood. I am only defending the KJV translation. It did not say anything different than the Greek or any other versions of the Bible.

Those who say you can't trust the KJV are full of malarkey or boloney. They do not know what they are talking about. They get off on many tangents trying to destroy the credibility of the KJV version of the Bible. They have a mission to destroy the KJV and in some ways it might be working. Look at all the new translations of the Bible.  

There are a lot of old archaic words in the KJV. I think we should learn their meanings instead of going with modern words. For instance the word shambles, what is its meaning? Is it really old and never, ever, used outside of the Bible (KJV), right?  

Shambles means meat market. So what you might say, I'll never use that word. You might if you live in NY and told to go to Harlem Shambles and get some steaks.

http://harlemshambles.com/

Bodily Defilement

"Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs" Daniel 1:6-9.

I think a lot of supermarket foods are meant to defile. Not the defilement of sin but the defilement by sin. How many people warn against products found in our grocery stores that produce sickness and disease and yet we ignore them? White bread alone has defiled many.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-bread-linked-to-diabetes/

Eating the king's meat was a normal practice for eunuchs at that time of Daniel. Daniel, however said NO to the king's diet plan. We should do the same to the world's dainty but deadly morsels.

John the Baptist could have had the general diet of his times but instead He had a simple diet of locusts and honey.

"And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey." Matthew 3:4

We can learn a lot from Jesus who said,

"Wisdom is justified of all her children" Luke 7:35.

Should not we use wisdom in the foods we choose? We should and put away sugar treats, sugary coated cupcakes, and birthday cakes made out of deadly ingredients. We need to go back to what God teaches about the earth and eat more naturally non-toxic foods. You can't do it in a day. It is a learning process that continues all of our lives.

I know many godly people who died from horrible diseases that might have been prevented by using simple knowledge of foods. We should be children of prayer but also children of knowledge and wisdom.

GIVE ME PROOF!

The greatest evidence is not creation, nor the complexity of things created, not even the evidence of the visible struggle of good and evil, it is the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is the teacher within that instructs us in the things of God.

"He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" John 16:8.

The inner reproof is hard to take in a world of self-love. 

"For men shall be lovers of their own selves" 2 Timothy 3:1

Who wants to be scolded when it is easier to be a rebel against truth. The world does want to know the truth about themselves and the truth about God. 

"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not" John 1:5.

The rebels instead live as though God does not exist. Everything about ourselves will become manifest on the Day of Judgment unless we find the way of escape. 

"For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad" Mark 4:22.

How many times has the Lord spoken to us and yet we spurned the HOLY inner teacher? How many times have we rebelled against God and the things we know that is right? 

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" 2 Corinthians 13:5

Show me proof,  a damned soul might say, and yet the proof is in them. Or at least He was at one time in their life. There comes a point when the Spirit of God will give up on a person. 

"So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest" Hebrews 3:11.

There is no longer God's voice to be heard in a damned soul. The demons have invaded the place where God used to speak. Darkness fills the lost soul and they may never find rest or peace. "I only wanted a little proof, many will say at their judgment. It is too late for them on Judgment Day. God will laugh at their calamity and mock at them.

"How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you" Proverbs 1:22-27.

"Show me proof that you exist," replied a Christian on a forum in response to an atheist. Where is the evidence that you exist? Maybe you're a machine with automated response. That might sound weird but the other day I was talking with someone on the phone that turned out to be a machine that was doing the talking. Some operator would press buttons enabling the machine to respond to each of my predicted responses.

The evidence of the Spirit of God is within each of us and in the Word of God. That's the difference between the people of God and the people of the world. The evidence the world seeks is based on things they see, feel, and handle. Ours is in the Spiritual realm called faith which is the evidence of things not seen. Our inner selves are attuned to the inner teachings of God and by studying the Word of God (KJV). 

Demons are loose on our planet. Many are attuned to their inner voices and are inspired to act upon their urging. These children of the world are so attuned to the demonic realm that they are merged in their inner being and consciousness with demons. They become one and devoid of the Spirit of Truth and are subject to voices and thoughts that are not originating from themselves.

The demons know their time is short. Their mission is clear. They are sent to kill, steal, and destroy. What is there number one message in this era? It is this, "Give us proof of God." They know good and well that God exists and they tremble. This thought of proof is only a lie in order to keep those ignorant in deception.

"The devils also believe, and tremble" James 2:9.

Am I a Science Hater?

Some scientists are not too bright. Astrophysicist or astronomers are looking to the stars and trying to find out how the universe is made when they ought to be doing something more useful. Other fields of science should be healing people, making cheaper technologies, or growing fresh foods that are not toxic.

We let those in science try to interpret our Bibles for us when they haven't proved themselves useful in real life. Talk about putting one over on us. How many of billions of dollars are wasted in looking to the stars? Here is a verse,

 "And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind."

The scientists or Astrophysicists will tell you that the stars of heaven could not possible fall into the earth. Stars being Suns of other galaxies. The verse did not say all the stars will fall, however, God could make all the stars fall if He chooses to do so. At least that is what I believe. I believe in a miraculous God.

It has been taught that an old star nuclear fuel is mostly gone through time. The star loses mass from its surface, producing a stellar wind (gas that is ejected from the surface of a star). Stars have burned out, broke up and exploded, and then became space debris and gases distributed throughout the universe. Can you think for a moment if only one star was hurled at the earth at a tremendous amount of speed (faster than light speed), would most of it's mass be intact when it reached our earth? Take a coal of fire and strap it on a missile and then shoot it up into the sky. Would the coal return steaming hot? Of course not. So too, when God chooses to shoot the stars towards the earth they will mostly be consumed by the time they reached us. By their accelerated speed of travel they will be reduced in size and mass.

The scientist will be first to backtrack when the stars fall unto the earth as mentioned in the Book of Revelation, "We were looking at normal conditions when we taught our science and ridiculed the Bible. How was we suppose to know that their was a God with all power? Sorry, we deceived many of you. Did you expected us to be perfect or something?"

The Victory of Same Sex Marriage?

It was time that our secular society departed even more from Christian principles and laws. The equality of same sex marriage is going to fill up the coffers of those selling licenses. Our society and our secular laws care about one thing and it is not morality, it is about making more money.

Those who think they have some sort of victory in this world are deceived. Their victory is only in their pocket book. They can now buy licenses, get married and pay for more expenses. If I got married tomorrow, I would not buy a license. I don't need legal society to approve of my marital choice. I would find me a church that would marry me without civil authority. I would rebel against man-made laws. I would get married in the sight of God without feeling obligated to pay into a corrupt legal system.

How corrupt is our legal system? We are seeing a shift to confusion. Legalized Marijuana has brought this out. Marijuana has health benefits and yet it was made illegal to grow. Now it is becoming more and more legal to smoke and buy legalized, government sanctioned products. Some in the legal system are confused. Is marijuana bad or not? The legal system in some States now sees that they can make more money by legalizing pot than by criminalizing it. How? By selling licenses and selling their approved products (Like weeds need approval). Our corrupt system of government is only interested in one thing, making money. They want money and will get it anyway they know how.

Society has departed from God and it shows. We have created a legal system that is out of this world. Today anything goes as long as money is changing hands and palms are greased. It would have been nice to see a more benevolent society but what we see is a greedy, money hungry, and money grubbing monster we call civil government. IT IS FAR FROM BEING CIVIL. IT IS DEMONIC.

Super Blood Moon/ Sun Going Dark

I saw an article the other day saying the sun was going dark for a few days in November. It was a lame article written to deceive. I am very careful what I read anymore without doing some checking.

While I was checking I came across some NASA reports of coronas. They cover ten percent of the sun. Here is the headline:

 http://www.inquisitr.com/1730025/large-black-spot-on-sun-is-getting-a-lot-of-attention-from-nasa-it-could-be-leaking-particles-into-space/

It looks like the sun has cancer. Its large dark spots emits powerful solar flares. Some fear that we are due for a large flare that will damage our electrical systems and set the world back to the the stone ages.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0509/How-a-solar-flare-could-send-us-back-to-the-Stone-Age

One guy wrote about the growing coronas in a blog. He said he wasn't a Christian but it sounds like Bible prophecy to him when it speaks about the sun going dark. Another guy wrote and gave this verse,

"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise" Revelation 8:12.

Many fear an EMP attack from our enemies that would knock out our power grids but now we see that the sun can pose a greater and more imminent threat. Has a sun flare ever happened before that caused catastrophic damage?

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

God is good for watching over us through Christ. It is, however, dangerous for the world. They are setting on a powder keg that is waiting for their end-time judgment. Without God preservation the chances for disaster would happen sooner rather than later.

We also have the big earthquake that is over due, and what about Yellowstone?

http://modernsurvivalblog.com/natural-disasters/yellowstone-super-volcano-much-larger-than-thought/

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Sunday is Sukkot. There is suppose to be a super blood moon. The moon will be 10 percent larger. 

I like astronomy. It forces you to look up.

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" Luke 21:28.

Another Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvZPh9CGMcw


Here is another video. It should inspire you to do the same thing. Not that I'm great, but in many ways very common. You should be saying, "I can do better than that." My reply would be, Go to it." God does not want us to wait till we are perfect before we preach. Do as best as you can.

Can you imagine all Christians doing videos?  The world would be baffled that we are all speaking the same thing and that their are so many of us.

It is time to unleashed our tongue and be counted among the beloved of Jesus Christ.

Become an Outdoor Preacher

I believe many churches should own and establish parks. Have you ever heard that we shouldn't put all our eggs in one basket. If you drop your basket, all your eggs are ruined. The same holds true for your minister in your Church. You should not expect him to do all the work, even though he is paid well. There could be a platform in the park that gives you opportunity to preach and to teach.

Some ministers LORD over the flock and want preeminence among their people.

"I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not" 3 John 1:9.

They don't want you to steal their limelight or anyone else to become elevated. They want you in the background as they (the minister) live off of your gifts.  

Some ministers would never hear the end of someone else preaching in their church since they are paid to do the job. To have others preach, it would mean to their overseers  that they are slacking off on their responsibilities.

That's Christianity for you, professional preachers, and paid speakers.

We need to end it all. It starts with all of us. If you can't preach at you church, and no one there will give you the platform to minister than we must make our own platform. 

Buy yourself a camera and do your own preaching. Become an outdoor preacher. Jesus gave you the calling, now use your gifts.

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15.

Don't worry that you might not be perfect. God will help you say what He wants you to say. Effort is all that is required, not perfection. The more you will preach, the better you will become.

For those who are still learning, start memorizing scripture. There will come a day when the Words of God will begin to speak in you and through you.

Don't debate the gospel. You are called to deliver it, not verbally fight all the stupidness in the world. God can defend Himself. We are only called to deliver the message of the gospel and then teach all nations the ways of God. Do not debate with the ignorant. They have nothing to add to the things of God.

"But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person" 1 Corinthians 5:13.

The Outdoor Preacher

https://youtu.be/IiaL_oj68yY

Bodybuilding For Salvation

False teaching: “The gospel call to faith presupposes that sinners must repent of their sin and yield to Christ’s authority.” In other words, a sinner who refuses to repent is not saved, for he cannot cling to his sin and the Savior at the same time. And a sinner who rejects Christ’s authority in his life does not have saving faith, for true faith encompasses a surrender to God. Thus, the gospel requires more than making an intellectual decision or mouthing a prayer; the gospel message is a call to discipleship. The sheep will follow their Shepherd in submissive obedience.

Many in religion today believe that submission to Christ's teaching is the key to salvation. They are tired of seeing sin permeate society and so they set out to deceive. They think by falsifying the gospel of Jesus Christ they will bring order to an otherwise chaotic world of sin.

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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" Galatians 1:7-8.

Many of the self-pious believe that trust in Christ is not enough. They want to see change in society that meets their expectations. They see many who claim to have trusted Christ but yet show no fruits that prove it. They will tell you that without good works you will not be saved. "You need more," they will say, "YOU NEED OBEDIENCE."  

The problem with adding works to salvation is the same as it is with those into bodybuilding. The bodybuilder keeps examining himself to gauge his improvement and growth. However, more is going on in front of the mirror than self-help examination, the muscle man or woman is also caught up in self-admiration. Some will say and rightfully so that most bodybuilders are vain. Vanity according to this definition is having excessive pride in one's appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc.; character or quality of being vain; conceit. This brings me to my spiritual point that those who constantly are caught up into beholding their many marvelous works fall into the same sin as the bodybuilder.

The deceivers who constantly look at themselves with admiration and self-glory are committing a special sin of pride. Many who are trusting in their flesh to deliver them from sin have become themselves more sinful in the process. The false disciple who teaches self-works for salvation is denying the source of all good works. The Lord of glory has nothing to do with their salvation since they are doing it themselves.

"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" 2 Peter 2:1

The disciples of error who takes theirs eyes off the Lord and puts them on themselves follows a wicked path of self-admiration, self-pride, and debauchery.

"These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever" Jude 1:12-13.

The true disciple hates his flesh and doesn't trust in it. He hates the world, flesh and the devil.

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" 1 John 2:16.

His eyes are fixed only on Christ. Jesus Christ alone is perfect, and worthy of all admiration.

We have been accused often that we teach that sin doesn't matter. The false teacher says we preach that we can continue to sin and it will be well with our soul. Paul replies to such nonsense,

"And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just" Romans 3:8.

Paul responded not in toleration to the false teacher but in damnation. "Whose damnation is just." In other words, they deserve the damnation in hell where they are going.

What they preach is a lie. We preach that sin does matter. It has consequences, however, trying to live a sin-less life is a deception that misses the mark and is deserving of hell fire and judgment. We teach salvation first and then works will follow. We do not follow works for salvation.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" Titus 2:11-13

Works are not a sign of salvation but a duty of faith and love. We work out of our devotion to God and not out of our necessity for salvation. Jesus Christ is our salvation and the work of God for eternal life.

Easy Believism?

It has been stated that easy believism teaches that salvation comes from acknowledgment of certain set of facts. Some have tried to make believing on Christ alone for salvation a false teaching. I differ. Here are some of my reasons:

Salvation comes from the Lord.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation" Psalms 27:1.

Believing certain facts about God is not easy, it takes spiritual assistance.

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" 1 Corinthians 2:14.

Spiritually discernment is part of the work of God. He leads the pure in heart to the knowledge of salvation.

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God" Matthew 5:8.

It is absolute foolishness to think that spiritual discernment is easy. The Jewish people didn't find it easy.

"He came unto his own, and his own received him not" John 1:11.

Many will say, "Words cannot save anyone. How can you say you are saved by only words?

Ans. We are not saved by earthly words that are weak and powerless but by the LIVING WORD of God. It took Christ death on the cross for our remission of sins and His resurrection from the dead to give us salvation. It is interesting to note that Jesus is called the WORD,

"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" John 1:14.

Words are powerless by themselves but the WORD OF GOD IS ALL POWERFUL. God's promises are backed up by everything God stands for. His Words have HIS seal of approval.

John 6:63 says,

"The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

Those who teach grace plus works are on different path. By thinking their life of submission is worthy of salvation makes a false teaching that is contrary to clear teaching of THE WORD,

"There is none righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10.

If you have anything to do with earning your salvation, you have forfeited your own salvation.

 "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work" Romans 11:6.

 Don't let those false teachers look down at you as if you are a fallen creature for trusting in Christ alone for salvation.

Don't let the false teachers confuse you that your salvation is too simple to be true. Salvation is not simple or they would be saved instead of trusting in the works of their own hands.

Don't let others force you into some kind of obedience to their man-made rules so that you lose your freedom in Christ.

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" Galatians 5:1.

By making ourselves as nothing we make God everything. To God be praised. To the Godhead be blessings for evermore.

"For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself" Galatians 6:3.

Let's Stop the Christian Salesmen

A preacher said, "This is the time of change. Prosperity is about to come in this new year of jubilee. God wants you prosperous. He wants to bless you. It starts by you giving to this ministry. He will multiply your gift and bless you. For a gift $1,000 you can get my book, "Blessings in the hard times to come…"

Many preachers today have not read the Scriptures that says,

"It is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35.

Today many ministers not only want their family to be taken care of but they also like the things that money can buy. They covet many things and want their followers to pay for it. Sure they do a little reading to prepare their words of grandeur for their weekly services but they have no clue as to what charity giving is all about.

A person wrote this to me,

 "Revelation are for cranks and fools for the cranks to part their money. Or just for fools. Either way, he likely didn't exist based on current evidence, more evidence inferences that Christian cults started as a myth cult; then later took on the Gospel stories of which only a few are included in the various bibles that float around today.

The evidence actually discounts that there were many Jesus's wondering around and just accumulated into one person.

Either way it doesn't matter to many of us who realize religion is scam one does to themselves or to each other. It's a lot of BS, and one of the things that can make otherwise good people do harmful hideous insane things to others.

So you can take your religion, just be careful with that bullshit, it's known to make people go completely nuts and become incredibly deadly and dangerous."

He had a lot of concerns for the harm Christianity is doing to people. He was confused and placed all Christians together as if they were all of the same lump or of the same group. One of his main concerns was that religion was for cranks and fools to part their money. He called Christianity a sham.

The Bible warns that the gospel will be evil spoken of,

"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. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 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" 2 Peter 2,1-3.

A lot of us have created the monsters of greed within Christianity. We gave to ministries that considered giving a means by which they could acquire wealth and fame. It is time to change all that. I advocate not giving to any ministry that sells in the name of Christianity. They should keep their personal businesses separate from their religious ones. Don't give your money to anyone that sells in the name of God and calls your purchase a gift. They should pay taxes on their sales like any other business. Instead, many use religion as a cloak to get rich by selling their products and calling them gifts.

Do not stop giving to your local church. You must pay your fare share to keep the lights on and other expenses. Beware though, of the so-called men of God who want a huge Church building at any cost. They should seek the lost and build their membership first and then the building will come. We must choose men who have a calling to preach and not a lust to covet possessions.

I used to joke; "It is more blessed to give than receive, so give a little to me." It is sad, but that is the sentiment among many who name the NAME OF CHRIST. "Profit at any cost," they say to each other. They believe they are building the KINGDOM OF GOD here on sinful earth.

In the years to come, If God wills, I will be leading the faithful to do works of Charity. It will not be my ministry but the Lord's ministry. You have a mission to accomplish for Christ. Perhaps He has led you here on my blog to discover it.

I have a name for my ministry. I hope to call it, "Larry Zoro's Christian Institute for Health." The name you choose for your ministry is not important. Yours might be called, "Mike and Suzy's Christian Ministry of Giving.

I have a vision to give fresh vegetables to everyone in my community and promote good health. My main mission will be in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ by words of faith and then demonstrate my faith by works of action.   

In these last days, people must see that we are not all about obtaining wealth but there are some devoted to freely blessing others. We cannot rely upon Christian entertainers or Christian spectators to do the work. We must do it ourselves in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Lordship Salvation 3

"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us" 1 John 2:19.

There are few churches today who preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ. It was told in Holy Writ that religious people would fall away from true faith,

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

I found this at Bible Hub:

http://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_thessalonians/2-3.htm

 “That falling away” must undoubtedly imply that the persons so apostatising had formerly held (or, perhaps, still professed to hold) the Christian faith: men cannot fall from ground which they never occupied. This vast and dreadful Apostasy (see Luke 18:8), so clearly and prominently taught of to the ancient Church, and so mysterious to us, is further defined by the following words, as the Apocalypse or Manifestation of the Man of Sin. Of this revelation of Antichrist the same word (apocalypsis) is used which is often used of Christ, as, e.g., 2Thessalonians 1:7; Luke 17:30; and thrice in St. Peter; so that we may expect to recognise him when he comes as clearly as we shall recognise Christ. The conception of the Antichrist is not merely that of an opponent of the Christ, but of a rival Christ: there is a hideous parallelism between the two.

The falling away is all around us. Religious men are out in force, falsifying the word of God and preaching a wrong message. They use some Scriptures from their modern versions and then shape its meaning into another but false gospel. The Scripture can be forced together like pieces of a jig-saw puzzle, but when you are done assembling the pieces in a force manner its shows a different image than what was intended.

Let's Examine Another Gospel

 The false gospel will have similarities with the true gospel of grace for instance,

I've heard it said, "The gospel is not about being good enough." 

Really! What do they mean by that statement? If they mean good works will not save us, they would be correct. However, salvation is about being good enough. Since we are sinners, we need the righteousness of God. Why? We need holiness to enter Heaven. We need imputed goodness. Our holiness is in Christ as a gift from god,

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" Hebrews 12:14.

"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" Philippians 3:9.

You might hear another false teacher say,

"You must be born again. It doesn't matter how bad your life has been. It doesn't matter how many sins. You must be born again."

I've said it many times that you must be born again. But what do others mean by it? Does it matter how bad your life has been? Why be born again if it doesn't matter how sinful we are? I think it does matter how bad your life has been. We are all deserving of Hell because of how bad we were and how bad we have become.

God also thinks sin matters,

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" Romans 3:19-24

Words are cloaked with different meanings by false teachers. What should have been said is that sin should not prevent us from being born again. Sin does matter in our coming to the Lord. Christ died for all our sins,

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

I know you must be thinking that I'm picky, "Not everyone can be so articulate." I think that's what's wrong with Christianity. We play around with the Words of the Bible until the true meaning is abolished or lost and then we suffer the final outcome of our folly when we find ourselves damned for believing a lie.

Here is another false statement mixed with truth,

"The Bible says that whoever will receive Him will be saved. It begins when you receive Him, Jesus, as Lord of your life."

Is that what saves? We must ask Jesus to become Lord of our lives? I know Jesus is Lord but is He the Lord of our lives? As we grow in the Lord, we should become more obedient to Christ. However, Jesus is Lord whether we follow him perfectly or not. To say that Jesus becomes the Lord of our life for the beginning of salvation is bizarre. Have you seen one of Jesus's followers today living like Christ did? No one that I have ever seen has ever made Jesus the Lord of their lives, at least not totally or perfectly.

The attitude of wanting to follow Jesus is noble and yet we find error in those that say making Jesus Lord of their lives is the beginning of a new life. It sounds stupid when you apply it to your earthly birth: "You begin your earthly life when you receive your parents, as guardians of your life." How can a baby do that? They must first learn to know their parents before they can follow them. The spiritual birth is like the natural birth. You are born again and start as a baby and then grow in the admonition of the Lord.

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" Ephesians 6:4.

Salvation is not about following but receiving Christ, who died for our sins, and was raised for our justification.

I will conclude with this last thought from a follower's prayer he made for salvation,

"I'm saved, born again and as I follow you, as your disciple, I have eternal life and I'll be with you always."

This prayer places the person who wants to receive Christ in an awkward position. You must follow Christ, as His disciple, to have eternal life. A young religious person who wants to be a Christian has no idea what it means to follow Christ. This subjects him to all sorts of religious teachers who have plans for his life. "Follow what I say," the false teacher declares, "and you will be following Jesus. God has appointed me as the shepherd of your soul."

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time" 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.

Lordship Salvation Part 2

Many disciples of Lordship Salvation are promoting a life of obedience. Don't get me wrong, we should be obedient but obedience in good works does not save. Many will insist that you must repent or at least have the desire to do so. "Jesus said so," they will tell you. "Belief is not enough, you must actively believe by living a life of obedience."

Few Lordship disciples will tell you what works we must do in living a life of obedience. They leave it vague and for good reason. If they mention keeping the law, the Scripture will easily refute them,

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified" Galatians 2:16.

If you are not married, perhaps it is fornication that condemns you to Hell. You have fallen into sexual sins and need to be saved. It is easy for a married person to cast the finger at a wayward soul that is laden with sexual sins.

Is there a broader way to determine if we truly believe? If you don't go to church then you must be of the damned. You have committed the sin of the non-church goer,

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is…" Hebrews 10:25

By not going to my church you have committed the sin of "forsaking the assembling." Without the teaching from my church, you definitely are a wayward lost soul. I don't believe it but I'm sure there are those that teach faithful church attendance is a requirement for salvation.

Maybe that's what we need today is more churchianty instead of Christianity. Perhaps there is a better way to know if  we are saved and have repented: We could invent a brain monitoring chip. If you think a bad thought, the alarms will sound at your church bringing in the thought police to help guide you back to saving faith. I know I'm getting silly but so is the teaching of Lordship Salvation. Most of the problem is with the definition of the word repentance. Is repentance just a change in mind? Or is it a change in life resulting from change in mind?

Did you know God repented? Many hush up these Scripture as to not alarm the working Lordship disciples,

"And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart" Genesis 6:6.

Did God sin? Must he do works meet for repentance? Will God now destroy men because of His sin or wrong doing in creating them? God forbid! But do you see my point. We add many things to that one word "repentance".

God does not sin and neither does he repent in the ways we should when we repent. God's changes his mind but it does not reflect evil for God is righteous. When a man repents, it is from the evil thoughts in his mind and heart.

I've always preached that men should try to live the best lives that they know how but trying is not salvation. We will never arrive at sinless perfection or a perfect desire to be good. The flesh is an evil thing,

"Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me" Romans 7:13-20.

Repentance is a work that continues in the Christian life. We must constantly keep ourselves in check in order that we might not sin against the Lord. But our desire to be good is never perfect. We have our ups and downs. I believe the real motive in the Lordship Salvation movement is that many have a need to self-aggrandize especially among their kind. They feel good knowing that they are not like other people who they consider to be sinners,

"There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:1-3.

The Lordship disciples should read more of the repentance Scriptures that teach the need to change their mind or repent of their evil thoughts. We should not have the attitude that others are worse then ourselves. We are sinners saved by grace and we are all in the same boat together.

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" Romans 12:3.

Lordship Salvation: Part One

Lordship Salvation

There are those within Christianity today that are taking the pure grace of God and trying to murk its purity.

Faith in Christ is not enough for salvation, they say. We must have works that are meet for repentance. It must be faith plus works.

"Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance" Matthew 3:8.

They have added discipleship to the gospel,

"The gospel that Jesus proclaimed was a call to discipleship."

http://www.gty.org/resources/articles/A114/an-introduction-to-lordship-salvation

They are trying to drive the cart in front of the horse. You would think if Jesus preached salvation of discipleship he would have more than twelve disciples.

"And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities" Matthew 11:1.

A disciple is a follower of the Lord but that does not mean the follower is saved.

Certainly we need to follow the Lord but it is the message of the gospel that saves, not our good intentions or our willingness to follow. We can follow the Lord day and night and yet not learn how to be saved.

 "But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?" John 6:64-67

Even with all our goodness in following the Lord we must be drawn of the Father. Discipleship does not make a child a God. Many would like to join in membership, even calling themselves disciples but they have no idea about trusting in Christ alone for salvation. The call is not to become my disciple and then perhaps you'll be saved if you are good enough. The message is to believe the gospel and save your soul. Become a child of God.

The cart of discipleship should remain in back of the horse. Let God do the driving and pull us with Him. The cart without the power of the horse will become erratic and unpredictable. It will crash and burn when it goes off course and tries to drive itself.  

More Error:"The gospel that Jesus proclaimed was a call to discipleship, a call to follow Him in submissive obedience, not just a plea to make a decision or pray a prayer."

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 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.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit" John 3:3-8.

Jesus did not tell Nicodemus that he must actively join His group in order to be saved. He also did not say that he must follow in active submissive way in obedience to a set of rules. He spoke of the spiritual birth. Ye must be born again. Our first birth came without membership and so it is with our second birth. It must happen in a miraculous way. Our birth is by the power of God and not by our willingness to follow.  

Our coming to Jesus does not merit eternal life and neither did it save Nicodemus. The message is not to become a follower but to become a child of God. Born from above and quickened by His Spirit.

"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" John 3:15-17

It is God that saves and not our desire to follow. Are you truly born of the Spirit or are you just a follower? Are you a disciple that believed on Christ or are you a follower trusting in your own works of obedience? 

To Be Continue...