today, if i must remember the children killed or missing in action, terrified beyond all comprehension, living a blood-spattered nightmare that stinks of human waste and burning flesh and dont seem to let go–even with the light of day or the passing of months or years–lemme also remember Christ died and theres peace and comfort in HIM…His death made me free; His death healed me; His death paid the price for all unrighteousness…His death gave me new life…
while the media perpetrates the honors of a war that will never end for adam (fallen in sin and ruled by satan), we have a comforter in Christ who heals the wounds and the wounded of the horrors of war, and deliver us so completely that even our clothes dont smell of smoke…
while the governments of adam perpetrate the lie that theres something honorable or holy or righteous in war, lemme stand in the place where no flesh shall glory in His presence, and let His blood wash me and the battle be His and His alone…
when the voice of adam screams for justice against the offenses in this strange place that have robbed me, beaten me, killed who i loved, left me prostrate at a grave or tied to a hospital bed or crouching under the roar of a bomb too close or a stray bullet from some weekend warrior in the suburbs, lemme hear the still small voice of my forgiver and dont lemme refuse to be comforted, as Rachel refused Him cuz her children were no more…
lemme recieve all of Christ n all He paid for; lemme turn away from my own loss n sorrow n turn to Him who wipes away every tear…and let His death be enough…lemme come outta babylon and enter into His rest…and here, in the Kingdom of God, let the voice of adam be silenced forever…
jesus paid it all…without bombs, guns, parades and media coverage; without long-winded speeches that incite flesh against outrages and atrocities caused by the very same flesh–an arsenal of arrows that fly by day and the terrors of the night–jesus alone paid it all…hardly anyone saw Him die and few saw Him rise…still…its finished…
the judge didnt overturn the verdict…oh no…He stood firm; in the day you eat, you gonna die, He said…adam ate & died, n the judge let him…but jesus paid it all…its finished…
sin entered in through one man…not a drug dealer or a child molester or a corporate embezzler, oh no…adam had no such title; not the kinda sinner we could easily sneer at or thank God we dont be…the laws of man didnt exist to dilute the seriousness of his choice…he was just a man who exalted his own flesh (obeyed the voice of his wife [religion]; his own flesh and bone; not another human, but his own self) against the knowledge of God…and adam left a heritage of demands for justice in the form of laws (man-idol of nebuchadnezzar’s vision) that usurp & shroud the righteous (jesus christ) judgement of God…its not sin anymore, its an issue, a problem, a right, a crime…even still, jesus paid it all…
lemme not be confused by sin that parades itself as a mere crime or the righteousness of man…lemme not argue the benefits or excesses of this present darkness or decide what way of adam is good and whats evil; lemme know the world as Christ say it is…dead in sin, covered in deep darkness & clothed in shame…and lemme remember that adam died and God let him…jesus paid it all and there isnt another name that can save me…so…lemme no longer live & let Christ live in me…and let the voice of adam be silent…
-g-
When we think of Christ dying on the cross we are shown the lengths to which God’s love goes in order to win us back to himself. We would almost think that God loved us more than he loves his Son! We cannot measure such love by any other standard. He is saying to us: I love you this much. The cross is the heart of the gospel. It makes the gospel good news: Christ died for us. He has stood in our place before God’s judgment seat. He has borne our sins. God has done something on the cross we could never do for ourselves. But God does something to us as well as for us through the cross. He persuades us that he loves us.. Dr. Sinclair Ferguson
The Apostle Paul did not preach the cross of Christ as a message, he preached the cross as the message. This is why Paul declares to the Corinthians,
For I was determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (I Cor. 2:2). To Paul the cross was the foundational reality from which all other truth springs forth. Without the cross there is no gospel (I Cor. 15:3). Without the cross there is no true power of transformation (I Cor. 1:18).Without the cross there can be no Resurrection, no Ascension, and no Pentecost.
Take note of Paul’s words in Romans 5:6-10:
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die but God shows His love (agape) for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved from the wrath of God. For while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.
Secondly, the Agape of God, the Father, is revealed in the death of Christ. Some people have the mistaken notion that Christ rescued us from God the Father. God the Father is viewed as vengeful and full of wrath, but Jesus stepped in with love and mercy, to save us from the Father. Nothing could be further from the Biblical truth. The Scripture tells us that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (II Cor. 5:19). John 3:16 declares the Father’s Agape for the world by His giving of the Son.
Thirdly, the Father’s love is unmotivated by anything in us. It is self-motivated by the nature of who He is. In other words, God did not love us because we were lovely. He loves us because of the fact that He is love (I John 4:16). Paul uses four expressions to describe who Christ died for: the weak, the ungodly, sinners, and enemies.
God has revealed Himself through the Scriptures as a God of both mercy and justice. Apart from the revelation of the cross, we would never be able to understand how these seemingly opposite attributes could be reconciled. But it is at the cross of Christ that justice and mercy meet. For it is there at the cross that justice was fulfilled by the Son of God. The penalty for Man’s rebellion was paid by Man’s creator and the way was made for Man’s reconciliation. The climax of the crucifixion account occurs when Jesus cries out from the cross His declaration of victory, “It is finished.” (The Greek here is more emphatic. The Greek word being tetelestai. A word that was used in the marketplace when the final payment had been made. It in essence means “paid in full.”) Christ had satisfied the demands of divine justice and the price was completely paid for our redemption.
Matthew records that the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom at the moment of Christ’s death. The symbolism of that event speaks of the reality that Man’s access to the throne of God has been made available. Under the Old Covenant, Man could only come to God by means of sacrifice. But under the New Covenant, sacrifice is no longer Man’s way to God, but God’s way to Man. For it is God’s sacrifice that enables us to come confidently before the throne of grace. The cross stands as the triumphal declaration of God’s agape love for a lost and sinful world.
reposted from: there is only ONE GOSPEL, ONE CHRIST, ONE WAY
by: Bill Parker
A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF GOSPEL REPENTANCE
Gospel repentance is a repentance which comes as the gift of God by the Holy Spirit as He enlightens our minds to the Gospel — God’s promise to save guilty, defiled, hell-deserving sinners, freely give them all of salvation (including the work of the Holy Spirit in them), and entitle them to all of heaven and final glory based solely upon the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ freely imputed by grace to all of God’s elect. It is only in this light that sinners can come to a repentance that is pleasing to God.
Before hearing and believing this Gospel, all repentance is no more than legal conviction that motivates a sinner in seeking to remove the guilt and defilement of sin and to recommend himself to God by his own self-efforts at remorse, reformation, obedience, and dedication. This is the repentance and sorrow of the world that “worketh death” (2 Cor. 7:10) as it motivates sinners to bring forth “fruit unto death” (Rom. 7:4) and “dead works” (Heb. 6:1; 9:14).
Such “fruit unto death” and “dead works” include any attempts of a sinner to attain or maintain any of the blessings or benefits of salvation along with any attempts to be entitled to any part of the inheritance of grace and glory based on anything other than the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ freely imputed and received by faith. A person therefore may be acutely aware of his guilt and defilement. He may admit his total depravity and utter worthlessness. He may adamantly and continually confess that God would be just to damn him based on his sins, but true godly repentance can only be determined by this — Where does he find relief from his guilt, defilement, and depravity? If he finds relief anywhere but in the righteousness of Christ (His substitutionary obedience and death on the cross), he has not been “made sorry after a godly manner” (2 Cor. 7:9) nor come to “godly sorrow” which “worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of” (2 Cor. 7:10). His repentance is no more than legal, natural-conscience conviction of which he needs to repent.
We would all agree that the Bible teaches the necessity of repentance — “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3); “God commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Christ said, “for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matt. 9:13). He told His disciples that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). Paul characterized his ministry in the preaching of the Gospel as “testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). We learn in 2 Peter 3:9 concerning God’s elect that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
What exactly is this repentance? When most people think of repentance they most always think of reformations of life involving a change from a life of immorality or lack of dedication in religion to a life of morality and dedication in religion. Most who go through such a change end up better in society as they conform to moral standards and begin to practice responsible behavior. Their families and their societies may be the better for it, and this is something that all of us should encourage in all without exception. We should always promote such reformations of life and character in people whose lives are characterized by immorality and irresponsible behavior. But such reformations do not characterize the true nature and heart of godly repentance! Such reformations may accompany godly repentance, but if this is as far as it goes, the person may have turned from immorality to morality, but they have not repented in God’s sight. In fact, if such a person reforms in character and conduct as motivated by the darkness of false religion, then they are “twofold more the child of hell” (Matt. 23:15).
The fact is that most people repent of immorality and irresponsible behavior before they are ever saved and come to true godly repentance.
The Greek dictionary defines repentance as “a reversal of your thoughts; a radical change of mind.” In the New Testament, the word “repentance” means a change of mind that brings about a change of life, walk, and conduct.
In the Old Testament, the word “repentance” meant a turning as in the case of a person going in one direction and turning around to go in the opposite direction. This godly change of mind and conduct which is called repentance can come only in light of the Gospel wherein Christ and His righteousness is revealed as the only ground of salvation and entitlement to heaven.
This godly repentance is a change of mind concerning the character of God (Who He is) and the only ground upon which He can justify the ungodly. It is a change of mind concerning Christ (Who He is and what He accomplished) and the value of His obedience and death (His righteousness) as being the only ground of salvation and entitlement to heaven. It is a change of mind concerning ourselves (who we are) as being guilty, defiled sinners who owe a debt to God’s law and justice we cannot pay, who are in need of a righteousness we cannot produce. It is a change of mind concerning our best efforts to remove the guilt and defilement of sin, our best efforts to recommend ourselves to God, our best deeds aimed at attaining, maintaining, and entitling us to salvation.
The Apostle Paul illustrates this clearly in Philippians 3:3-10. In true Gospel faith and repentance a sinner comes to see and trust that Christ’s righteousness alone entitles him to all of salvation, including the subjective work of the Spirit, before he makes any efforts to obey God and persevere. In this specific light, he comes to see that before faith, his best efforts at obedience, all that he highly esteemed and thought was profitable in recommending him unto God, is now “loss,” no more than “dung” (Phil. 3:7-8) in light of Christ’s obedience and death. What he before thought was pleasing unto God and works of the Spirit, he now sees as “flesh” (Phil. 3:3-4). What he once highly esteemed, he is now ashamed of it (Rom. 6:21) and now, in light of the Gospel, counts it as fruit unto death, dead works, and evil deeds. He now sees that before faith, before believing that Christ’s righteousness alone entitled him to all of salvation, his thoughts of God were all wrong and that the god he worshipped and served then is an idol. Therefore, in repentance, he turns from that idol to serve the true and living God (1 Thes. 1:9).
This kind of true godly repentance can only come in light of the Gospel as it takes this specific truth, this light, to expose the sin that deceives us all by nature (John 3:19-20). Before we hear and believe the Gospel we are all deceived by sin (Rom. 7:11). The sin that deceives us all by nature is not immorality. All of us by nature, by natural conscience know that immorality is sinful (Rom. 2:14-15). This knowledge may not keep sinners from indulging in and even excusing or justifying such immorality, but this is the result of not retaining the knowledge God has given in the conscience. The sin that deceives us all by nature is the sinfulness of seeking to establish a righteousness of our own before God. It is the sin of thinking that our reformations, our faithfulness, our tears of repentance and remorse, our attempts at obedience, our prayers, or anything that proceeds from us could attain, maintain, and/or entitle us to any part of salvation. This reveals the true nature and heart of godly repentance. This is the radical change of mind that Gospel repentance brings. This is when a sinner repents of dead works and idolatry. He turns from the god of his imagination, the god who saved him and blessed him based on his best efforts, and he turns to the true and living God who justifies the ungodly based on solely on the righteousness of Christ.
Consider John 16:8-11 — “And when He is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on Me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see Me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”
This refers to the work of God the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) in the conversion of God’s elect. It describes the conviction (convincing) that goes on when the Holy Spirit brings sinners to repentance. He convinces God’s elect “Of sin, because they believe not on Me.” Many claim that this means that the Holy Spirit convinces sinners merely of the sin of unbelief. This is certainly included, but it goes further. The Holy Spirit convinces sinners that everything before faith, before hearing and believing the Gospel, was sinful (dead works, fruit unto death).
Again, “Without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Heb. 11:6). Sinners then repent of ever thinking that anything but Christ’s righteousness could recommend them unto God or entitle them to salvation. God the Holy Spirit convinces God’s elect “Of righteousness, because I go to my Father.” This means He convinces sinners that Christ’s righteousness alone entitles them to all of salvation. He convinces God’s elect “Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” This is a large part of Gospel repentance in that the Holy Spirit imparts within every believer a new standard of judgment. The believer no longer judges saved and lost based on Satan’s lie (outward appearance, reputation, etc.) (Gen. 3:4), but he now judges saved and lost based on God’s truth (Gospel) (Mark 16:15-16; John 3:18; 2 John 9-11).
Many claim that repentance is a continual matter in the life of a believer, that believers have to repent constantly and continually. It is true that there is a continual aspect to repentance. It is true that believers must repent constantly over the presence and influence of remaining sin. We see examples of this in the Bible. The Corinthians were called on to repent over their sinful conduct. They were called on to be ashamed enough to change their behavior. The Galatians were called on to repent of following false religious teachers who corrupted the Gospel with legalism. All this is true, but Gospel repentance begins with repentance of dead works and former idolatry. If this does not take place as the first evidence of true saving faith, then all continual repentance is no more than legal, natural-conscience conviction.
Now, in light of this we must judge from God’s testimony as to whether or not we have truly repented. For example, there are many who have changed doctrines but who have never truly repented. Many have come from believing in the false god of Arminianism, semi-Pelagianism, free-willism, and have come to believe in a sovereign God. Many have come from believing a universal atonement to believing in a particular atonement. Many have come to claim to believe in the doctrines of total depravity, election, irresistible calling, and perseverance of the saints, but they have never truly repented. How can this be? They have never admitted that while they believed God would save them based on something other than the righteousness of Christ which entitles sinners to all of salvation, that while they imagined that God would save them, keep them, and entitle them to heaven based on something that proceeded from them, they worshipped and served an idol, they were lost, and all their efforts were fruit unto death. They have never been made ashamed and sorry that in such religious pride and self-righteousness, they exalted themselves and had confidence in the flesh. They have never repented of believing and promoting a universal atonement which reduced the blood of Christ to a worthless pedestal upon which sinners could stand and boast of their own faith, repentance, and perseverance. They have not yet seen how such doctrine dishonored every attribute of God’s redemptive character, casts shame and reproach upon the Person and the work of Christ, and gave them room to boast. They will not admit that believing and promoting such God-dishonoring doctrines proved that they were not submitted to Christ and His righteousness as the only ground of salvation and entitlement to heaven.
Some may argue, “But these are only implications that can be discovered only by a mature and skilled believer.” For those of you who believe this is a valid argument, you need to refer to the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Such doctrines that dishonor God, deny Christ, and leave sinner’s room to boast are deadly and damning to men’s souls (Gal. 2:21; 5:1-4; 6:14-16). Think about this — How can we honor God, exalt Christ, and leave ourselves no room to boast? This can be accomplished only in believing that Christ’s righteousness alone entitles us to all of salvation, including the Holy Spirit’s work in us, before we take the first step in seeking to serve the Lord and persevere in the faith. One cannot believe this Gospel savingly without having repented of everything else. If you have not believed this up to this point, then you need to repent and believe the Gospel!
israel’s shame…
and every gov tha perpetrated lies to protect israeli occupation and the wholesale slaughter of palestinians in gaza and elsewhere, shares in tha shame…
Jesus Christ never preached violence or hatred and the chrisitian zionists who ’stand with israel’ without regard for the truth and the lives of palestinians, and against the person and teaching of Jesus Christ, bears also this shame…
to the world leaders who call apartheid evil when its against you, but do nothing to help palestine, shame on u…
to the world leaders who, havin served in comfortable political offices and then, upon retirement and from a safe distance, write books about the israeli occupation in palestine, shame on u…
when u were in office and might have done somethin, u did nothin…we dont wanna hear from you now…take your books and go home…
the governments of adam are evil to their core and peace can be found nowhere among them…they talk about peace and promise peace, but fa them, peace is just a rumor…
God is watching…
those who hunger & thrist for righteousness shall be filled…be bless… -g-
He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Psalm 91:1-16
when i was young woman, i knew ima die young; i figured i wouldnt see 25 — and i didnt care. i call myself survivin; whatever comes ima survive until i dont anymore. period. any thought of LIFE, didnt occur to me. when darkness is so complete tha dyin aint nothin but easy…u dont think about life. u survive. a step ahead of whatevers comin up on u, and death aint no thang at all…
i know wat its like to havta watch ur back around family…i been robbed and left fa dead a few times…i know about street corners, dark alleys, and ppl who suck the life outta ya tryna get what they need. i know a lot about losin. i was waitin to die before 25, but i was dead a long time before tha. sometimes i cried out to a God i vaguely remembered from childhood — & didnt believe in anymore; most times i cut my eyes at tha ole grinnin devil and survived a little longer…i wasnt tryna die; i wasnt tryna live…fa me, life and death was the same dead-end street…
but God had a different plan…His thoughts are higher than man’s thoughts; His ways are higher than man’s ways…
in childhood i knew Him, He was with me and i knew Him –until darkness encamped around me, on every side, and i forgot even the fragrance of His Name…we maybe forget…but God remembers…
Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings shall you trust: his truth shall be your shield and buckler.
and now i live in His rest…the peace of our Lord is a great and mighty comfort…
You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that fliesNor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation; There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. by day;
there came a time i knew i was alive because of Him; then after some time i knew i lived FOR Him…after all these many years i begin to understand…i dont live at all, but Christ lives in me…
For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet;
He lead me through streets and alleys and ditches tha shone like the gold of idols under His light; He said i never havta watch my back again — and i dont…in all my ways, He show me how to acknowledge Him…
Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known my name.
one day a raggedy newspaper had a small sideline article of a 20 year old carpenter from palestine tha went into a store in israel and blew hisself up…there was a small picture of him; i can still see his face…when i saw his picture, somethin in me broke & i just started cryin fa him and i asked Jesus to do somethin fa palestine…
tha was a long time ago.
sometime later, in march 2000, the Lord sent me to the net to pray for palestine. He spoke one word to me…habib…it was the first arabic word i ever heard…i had no idea how ta pray fa palestine…the Lord my God taught me, in those long years, the difference between His Word and political agendas tha thrive usin His Name…He exposed the false prophets tha plague the internet & pander to govs and other idols; He exposed every hidden agenda tha govs & propheliars alike use to pervert the pure gospel of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ…
He exposed the presidential prayer partnership tha began during the first days of the war in iraq, wit their heartless, shameful profiteering — sellin flags and tshirts tha boasted patriotism instead of preachin the forgiveness and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ…
He showed me how world leaders call other world leaders evil, all the while doin the same things…He taught me to bless those who curse me & pray fa those who despitefully use me…He taught me what it means to forgive…in all these years, He revealed Hisself to me and cast down every thought tha exalted itself against the knowledge of God…
and He told me tha politics is religion in action; witchcraft, the work of man’s hands by man’s wisdom (the natural mind, ruled by satan who is the ruler of this world) and not the Way of our Lord…
i got some pics of the war in gaza and posted em on my blog here…as i look at em, i remember tha young boy’s face, the carpenter from palestine; only now i rest in the hope of our Lord…
God knows them who are His and He wont lose one…what is impossible for man is not impossible for God…man talks about peace, but its not the peace of Christ; man’s peace is conditional, fragile and short-term; Jesus Christ gives His peace, the true peace of God…
when u live where no armies can reach u, no friends can help u, no ppl hear your cries; when deep darkness encamps around u and is on every side, and only death is grinnin, Jesus Christ came to take the prisoners outta darkness, to set the captives free, to bind up the broken hearted, to comfort those who mourn, and declare the acceptable day of the Lord…
and so, Jesus already did somethin fa palestine…
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.
-g-
these are reposts & the implications of what they say are disturbing…links to each blog are included in all reposts…be bless… -g-
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It looks like the government is tapping the clergy again to encourage the pastors to guide their congregations into passivity and compliance with illegal governmental operations, and to be a conduit of information from the congregations to the government.
Shortly after 9/11, the newly formed Homeland Security sent out letters to registered clergy to attend special disaster briefings. Being registered clergy, I received one of these letters, and attended the seminar. I quickly discovered that they weren’t telling us how to prepare for, and assist our communities before during and after, disasters but rather how to preach to our congregations to insure compliance and passivity during and after disasters. We were given the quotes from Christian sermons and prayers, and the Bible (as if every clergymember there were Christian) that would indoctrinate the congregations into acquiesence with governmental dictates. A prayer by Aelred, the abbot of Rievaulx in Yorkshire, England with certain words and phrases underlined was distributed: “Teach me to suit myself to everyone” was one such phrase.
We were told that pastors were not equipped to deal with anxiety, nor was our pastoral education, training and experience adequate to deal with disasters. We were to prepare and give over our congregants to government specialists.
They said it was appropriate that violence increase against women, and we were to use Scripture to support acceptance, through both exegesis and hermanuetics. Genesis 34 was given as an example (where Jacob’s daughter Dinah was raped by Shechem, then demanded as a wife – and Jacob agreed so long as Shechem and his people became circumcised, then while the men were recovering from their circumcisions, Jacob’s people looted their town – the message being to allow your opponents to be violent to your women, then trick then with lies and rob them).
And then Ezekiel 37 was discussed – that we would conflate the government with the Christian God. The words “I said it and I’ll do it. God’s decree.” were spun so it would seem as if the government was acting on God’s word, and anyone who defied the government was defying God.
We were urged to encourage our congregants into habits of confession – and since most states lack a confessional privacy law, we were to pass anything we gleaned from the confesional on to our government contacts.
The power and abilities of pastors and clergy was subtly undermined by frequent references to the fact that pastors lacked adequate training for disaster care and crisis counseling, and were to refer their distressed congregants to government appointed mental health professionals.
We were urged to “get on board” and develop lines of communication with the government, to begin to introduce our congregants to new terms such as “social distancing” rather than quarantine and shunning, and to accustom them to being referred to government officials for what was once routine and expected pastoral care.
Church lands were to be set aside for “protective containment” and church buildings for “long term assemblage”.
This and more was inserted in among some very good information. Stripping all the propaganda from it, the information was solid and good.
What distressed me about all of this was the subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle information that the government expected clergy to not minister to their people, but to act as channels of information for the government, to soften their congregants up so they would accept government officials in place of clergy.
I’m not sure how many of the Christian clergy attending this seminar reacted, but us “fringies” – a couple of rabbis, priests from the Buddhist temple, a few non-mainstream Christians got together, and the very few Pagans in attendence and decided to strip the papers we received of their propagandistic manipulations and proceed forward as if the government asn’t involved.
I watched what happened along the coastline with Rita and Katrina with horror because I saw some of the things they’d hinted at actually being carried out – the subjugation and abuse of the citizens, forced confiscations of guns, massive relocations of inhabitants, and clergy working with armed escorts.
And now – now the government is repeating this, with better preparations, better information, more subtlety – they’ve sent out another letter inviting clergy to a disaster preparedness seminar for the bird flu.
The information is virtually the same as what we were given after 9/11, but much more devious in its wording. It sounds so remarkably reasonable, and stripping the propaganda from it is much harder to do becase they’ve hidden some of it in statistics that look proper and solid. It’s still heavily Christo-centric, which makes it easier for those of us who are not Christian to see how heavy-handed it still is, and how the government expects to use clergy and church property for government internment camps – they’re calling them “community centers” now.
As I did in 2001, I am once again refusing to participate in this.
Back in 2002, I and the Elders of Numenism (all 4 of us!) got together and decided what the Numenist responses would be to any governmental request/demand for information on our co-religionsists, and our decision was silence. We would not cooperate with any governmental request for information that was beyond the urgent need of our co-religionists in time of disaster. We would not send any of our co-religionists to any government-recommended health care provider, mental or otherwise. We would seek out the training and such to make ourselves free of the need to rely on the government for anything other than what we believed a government was meant to provide: trade regulations, roads, public utilities, protection from invading forces, defending our Founding Documents, and judicial arbitration.
This new pamphlet is more of the same. I don’t have a scanner to show you mine, but I do have a link to someone else’s pdf pamphlet(with his notes on it), so you can see the document for yourself: Pastoral Crisis Intervention
This new round is stressing that pastors need to preach subservience to the authorities so the government doesn’t have to deal with the “cowboy mentality” of citizens standing up for their property and Constitutional rights, that the government has had problems with quarantines, martial law, and forced relocations (New Orleans cited as a prime example of “uncooperative citizens”). Pastors are being told that preaching subservience to such seizures and roundups would be “for their own good”. Detention centers (churches designated for long term containment of unruly citizens) have been renamed “community centers” – and isn’t that a travesty of what we Numenists have and do? I resent their subverting perfectly good words to nefarious ends.
They want pastors to push people into forced inoculations with a “Pills in People’s Palm in 48 Hours” Program. There is insufficient medical data to show that any vaccination or pill for the bird flu will actually work because the flu is still evolving – and the government wants us to placidly be dosed up, no veto allowed, no risk factors being considered. Which roads to close off when martial law is established (not if) have already been determined and mapped out, and the mass confiscation of guns had a test run in the wake of Katrina (many of those people who legally had those guns still don’t have them back). We were asked to make a pledge, an oath, to support FEMA and Homeland Security during martial law and property seizures, and we would be fully compensated if we were injured by resisters during our participation in these events.
The 2002 pastoral crisis seminars laid the groundwork for this most recent pastoral crisis seminar. I think I’ve become a rebel priest. I will not comply with these governmental requirements, nor will I take any oath to support the things we were told, subtley or overtly, in this seminar. I never took an oath or signed any paperwork to keep silent about these seminars, not in 2002, and not now.
My efforts will be to protect my co-religionists, my friends, my family. I will not support anyone who advocates or enforces actions that lead to martial law, confiscations of private land and property, forced relocations and detention of honest citizens, and other such atrocities.
Edited to add: This is a public post. Practically all my posts are public. You know what that means? Anyone can read it. Anyone can comment (although, if anyone gets really rude, I reserve the right to delete the comment – hasn’t happened so far, but just in case…). Anyone can link. I retain copyright, of course, to what I wrote (which is pretty much everything but the stuff I quote or link to).
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Posted by lobotero on 29 September, 2008
This story was first reported in 2006 on KSLA–Shreveport, LA.
In May 2006, we exposed the existence of a nationwide FEMA program which is training Pastors and other religious representatives to become secret police enforcers who teach their congregations to “obey the government” in preparation for the implementation of martial law, property and firearm seizures, mass vaccination programs and forced relocation.
A whistleblower who was secretly enrolled into the program told us that the feds were clandestinely recruiting religious leaders to help implement Homeland Security directives in anticipation of a a potential bio-terrorist attack, any natural disaster or a nationally declared emergency.
The first directive was for Pastors to preach to their congregations Romans 13, the often taken out of context bible passage that was used by Hitler to hoodwink Christians into supporting him, in order to teach them to “obey the government” when martial law is declared.
Such clergy response teams would walk a tight-rope during martial law between the demands of the government on the one side, versus the wishes of the public on the other. “In a lot of cases, these clergy would already be known in the neighborhoods in which they’re helping to diffuse that situation,” assured Sandy Davis. He serves as the director of the Caddo-Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. For the clergy team, one of the biggest tools that they will have in helping calm the public down or to obey the law is the bible itself, specifically Romans 13. Dr. Tuberville elaborated, “because the government’s established by the Lord, you know. And, that’s what we believe in the Christian faith. That’s what’s stated in the scripture.”
Phony Christian leaders are brainwashing their congregations to accept the premise that the totalitarian police state is “of the Lord” and that they should get on their knees and lick jackboots while the round-ups take place as citizens are processed into quarantine zones and detention camps by the National Guard and U.S. troops returning from Iraq.
This is a clear precursor for the imminent declaration of a state of emergency, a scenario that President Bush codified in his recent Presidential Decision Directive of May 9th , which states in the event of a “catastrophic event” the President can take total control over the government and the country, bypassing all other levels of government at the state, federal, local, territorial and tribal levels, and thus ensuring total unprecedented dictatorial power.
The scope of the program is so secretive that even Homeland Security Committee member and Congressman Peter DeFazio was denied access to view the classified portion of the documents.
==================================
Bizarre: pastors co-opted for government takeover
This is just plain weird—has the Federal government gone totally insane? Take a look:
A shocking KSLA news report has confirmed the story we first broke last year, that Clergy Response Teams are being trained by the federal government to “quell dissent” and pacify citizens to obey the government in the event of a declaration of martial law.
In May 2006, we exposed the existence of a nationwide FEMA program which is training Pastors and other religious representatives to become secret police enforcers who teach their congregations to “obey the government” in preparation for the implementation of martial law, property and firearm seizures, mass vaccination programs and forced relocation.
A whistleblower who was secretly enrolled into the program told us that the feds were clandestinely recruiting religious leaders to help implement Homeland Security directives in anticipation of a potential bio-terrorist attack, any natural disaster or a nationally declared emergency.
The first directive was for Pastors to preach to their congregations Romans 13, the often taken out of context bible passage that was used by Hitler to hoodwink Christians into supporting him, in order to teach them to “obey the government” when martial law is declared.
It was related to the Pastors that quarantines, martial law and forced relocation were a problem for state authorities when enforcing federal mandates due to the “cowboy mentality” of citizens standing up for their property and second amendment rights as well as farmers defending their crops and livestock from seizure.
It was stressed that the Pastors needed to preach subservience to the authorities ahead of time in preparation for the round-ups and to make it clear to the congregation that “this is for their own good.”
Pastors were told that they would be backed up by law enforcement in controlling uncooperative individuals and that they would even lead SWAT teams in attempting to quell resistance.
Though some doubted the accuracy of this report at the time due to its fundamentally disturbing implications, the story has now been confirmed by a KSLA 12 news report, in which participating clergy and officials admit to the existence of the program.
Watch the video.
The report entertains the scenario of martial law as depicted in the movie The Siege and states that “quelling dissent would be critical.”
Dr. Durell Tuberville serves as chaplain for the Shreveport Fire Department and the Caddo Sheriff’s Office. Tuberville said of the clergy team’s mission, “the primary thing that we say to anybody is, ‘let’s cooperate and get this thing over with and then we’ll settle the differences once the crisis is over.’”
Such clergy response teams would walk a tight-rope during martial law between the demands of the government on the one side, versus the wishes of the public on the other. “In a lot of cases, these clergy would already be known in the neighborhoods in which they’re helping to diffuse that situation,” assured Sandy Davis. He serves as the director of the Caddo-Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
For the clergy team, one of the biggest tools that they will have in helping calm the public down or to obey the law is the bible itself, specifically Romans 13. Dr. Tuberville elaborated, “because the government’s established by the Lord, you know. And, that’s what we believe in the Christian faith. That’s what’s stated in the scripture.”
Screenshot from the KSLA 12 news article that accompanies the video report (http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=6937987).
So there you have it – Homeland Security are working with local police departments and religious leaders to prepare for the declaration of martial law and in particular developing techniques they will employ during the crisis to “quell dissent.”
Phony Christian leaders are brainwashing their congregations to accept the premise that the totalitarian police state is “of the Lord” and that they should get on their knees and lick jackboots while the round-ups take place as citizens are processed into quarantine zones and detention camps by the National Guard and U.S. troops returning from Iraq.
The precedent for mass gun confiscation and martial law in times of a real or manufactured emergency was set during Hurricane Katrina, when police and National Guard patrols forced home owners – even in areas unaffected by the hurricane – to hand over their legally owned firearms at gunpoint.
This is a clear precursor for the imminent declaration of a state of emergency, a scenario that President Bush codified in his recent Presidential Decision Directive of May 9th, which states in the event of a “catastrophic event” the President can take total control over the government and the country, bypassing all other levels of government at the state, federal, local, territorial and tribal levels, and thus ensuring total unprecedented dictatorial power.
The scope of the program is so secretive that even Homeland Security Committee member and Congressman Peter DeFazio was denied access to view the classified portion of the documents.
photos updated 1-12-09
photos updated 1-10-09
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Gaza Ghaza Gaza Gaza
Because I think you care, I decide to share with you,
Wish you, your families, your loved people, and all the world all the best.
نشرها لاصدقائك بالعالم – واجب وطني وأخلاقي
Do you still remember us?!
We are still under siege,
darkness…..
And hunger…..
Do you still remember us?!
To get water we have to walk so far…..
To fill a bottle or a jar……
Do you still remember us?!
We still have No food…..
Or medicine to be fed…..
Our kids…..
are dying every day…….
in their beds…..
And many have just tears to shed…..
Do you still remember us?!
Death!
is everywhere…..
that sometimes we have No place,
to make Our prayer…..
Do you Really still remember us?!
We have nothing but pain…..
illness…..
And daily sadness……
to Share…..
So do you still remember us?!
At least in your prayer?!
Gaza children implore you!
They are dying due to the blockade!
There is ‘growing humanitarian crisis,’
happening in Gaza…..
There is an EXTREME restricted access,
to food, water, and medicine!!
Signature made by :
THE DEMOCRATIC!
X-HOLOCAUST VICTIM?!!!
PRESENT-HOLOCAUST MAKER!!!
EXTRA-HUMAN STATE OF ISRAEL!
Please!
Saad – burnt by an unconventional Israeli bomb.
…..don’t forget us!!
Please do Remember us!
Gaza Needs Your Voice!
مع تحيااات
DoM3 Palestine
===============================
وتم تسريب عدة صور للإرهابيين المستهدفين
First one is A very active member of resistance troops
الإرهابى الأول عضو نشط فى خلايا المقاومة
He is all terror
نظرة عن قرب
Second one was using his legs to run which cause a lot of terrifying to Israel people
الإرهابى الثانى كان يستخدم قدميه فى الجرى مما أخاف الشعب الصهيونى
Third one was hunted with her family by a concentrated air strike on her house
الإرهابية الثالثة تم القضاء عليها وعلى عائلتها بقصف جوى مكثف على منزلها
Fourth one is active member of Aksa Troops
الإرهابية الرابعة عضوة نشطة فى كتائب الأقصى
House of some terrorists have been bombed by accurate air strike
منزل بعض الإرهابيين تم دكه بواسطة ضربات جوية دقيقة
Fifth one is one of dangerous members of Kassam Troops
الإرهابى الخامس من أخطر أعضاء كتائب القسام
Some terrorists were hunted down by smart bombs
إرهابيين تم القضاء عليهم بالقنابل الذكية
terrorist have been injured and will never be able to keep terrifying Israel
إرهابى سادس تم إصابته ولن يتمكن من مواصلة إرهاب إسرائيل
Terrorists brothers and sisters
زملاء وأخوات الإرهابيين
Seventh terrorist has been hunted down by apache
إرهابى سابع تم إصطياده بطائرات الأباتشى
Let her cry for her family
تبكى أخوها وأبوها الإرهابيين
with thanks to
مع تحيات …..
DoM3 Palestine
============================
español: Cristo-Murio-Por-Nosotros.mp3
български: смисъла на кръст
english: The Meaning of the Cross
11-22-08
=========================================
news article link: pjmiller Bob Jones University of Greenville, South Carolina, issued an online statement Thursday apologizing for “racially hurtful” practices of its past, including prohibiting married African American students until 1971 and unmarried African American students until 1975, and banning interracial dating until 2000. The letter stated that BJU’s former policies were “shaped more directly by that [segregationist] ethos than by the principles and precepts of the Scriptures.” “In so doing,” the letter said, “we failed to accurately represent the Lord and to fulfill the commandment to love others as ourselves. For these failures we are profoundly sorry.” The statement came after an online effort, Please Reconcile, gathered over 500 signatories for an “Open Letter to Bob Jones University,” (more here) -end of article repost-
=================================
‘racially hurtful’ practices???? ‘failed to accurately represent the Lord…’??? yet another example of somethin ‘christians’ accept as bein of Christ, when it actually never was…this is what happens when the arm of flesh do what only the Lord say He gonna do...and i jus bet they claim tha the Lord gave em a vision fa this school and He helped em build it too…its wat they all say…
why do we believe and support the notion that God establishes schools to indoctrinate us into His ways, when He sent Jesus Christ to do just that????
…and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18
Jesus said He gonna build His church (ekklesia) and the gates of hell (which, BTW, includes racism) not gonna prevail over it…nowehre did He tell any man to build a church or start a school to teach wha only the Holy Spirit can teach…Jesus say if we remain in Him He gonna remain in us; He didnt say if we remain in Him we gonna perpetrate racism for a little while until we apologize…& every attempt by the arm of flesh to ‘repent’ for its ways, is stil of the flesh…true repentance is brought by the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer…
God no longer resides in temples build by human hands…why dont we believe tha???? why do we insist tha we can build buildings, charge fees and teach ppl what only can be taught by the Holy Spirit…and why do we follow tha ppl who came outta there???? how sad that this ‘apology’ maybe misconstrued as humbleness or repentance…Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to convict the world…
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. John 16:8-11
conviction & reprovin dont come by persuasion, a website, peer pressure, petitions, or lost income…fear of a public scandal or some fleshly public shame isnt how the Holy Spirit works repentance; Godly repentance isnt based on worldy reputation or success or the loss or damage of those…the Holy Spirit moves ONLY on the Water, not on fleshly emotions and cultural standards, which, BTW, racist policy woulda been right in line wit american law, since slavery and racism always been the law of the land in america, but nehmine…
so…heres a ‘repentance’ tha isnt a response to the Holy Spirit conviction of sin, but its a response to changin times and culture brought about by a petition…not authentic and certainly still as self-serving as racism is...really, if all we need is petitions, then Jesus Christ didnt have to come…
the presence of racism should be discerned by believers as evidence tha it wasnt the Holy Spirit in th first place and therefore wasnt of Christ; u dont get good fruit from a bad tree or bad fruit from a good tree…instead, we wanna wax over the mess wit some arm of flesh apology tha pass fa repentance…the bad tree is cursed at the root, so why do we insist we can change its fruit???
And he said also to the people, When you see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway you say, There comes a shower; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, There will be heat; and it comes to pass. You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that you do not discern this time? Yea, and why even of yourselves judge you not what is right? Luke 12:54-57
For every one that uses milk is unskillfull in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:13-14
WHERES DISCERNMENT???? instead we insist to make wat isnt of Christ, into somethin tha seems like it IS of Christ; we use our own methods, guilt, emotions, boycotts, every political thing we can attempt and we call this repentance — same as how satan makes hisself to be a angel of light…but Jesus Christ is authentic, unchanged and cant be imitated or managed…repentance isnt a mere turning around to face some other way; repentance is turnin to God and turnin ur back on everythin else…to stop demonstratin racism isnt repentance; to change policies from one way to another isnt repentance; a public apology isnt repentance…while all of these or any combination of em might bring somethin different, they all still flesh; they still man decidin and doin and perpetratin…flesh is flesh, the natural man cant receive the things of God — repentance is of God, not of man – the natural man may regret but he cant repent; he dont know how; no man brings his works to the light because his deeds are evil and he dont want em reproved…but Godly sorrow works repentance…
For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death. 2 Corinthians 7:10
why do the ppl of God honor temples tha God dont reside in, and follow the ppl who come outta em???? and when the ppl who think they been called, go thru some educational process, fall in sin and lead whole congregations astray wit false doctrine, we call em false apostles and false prophets and teachers of false doctrines and heretics; as tho they shoulda somehow know better…& it never occurs to anyone tha they werent right in the beginning, havin followed the arm of flesh thru some education process instead of bein humbled by the indwellin Holy Spirit, led into all truth by the indwellin Holy Spirit & conformed into the image of Christ by the indwellin Holy Spirit…
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none. Then he says, I will return into my house from where I came out; and when he is come, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goes he, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also to this wicked generation. Matthew 12:43-45
being empty…being without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which only comes by Jesus Christ…the Holy Spirit dont inhabit unclean temples…God dont reside in temples build by human hands…the temples (places of worship) men build – doctrines, religions, personal titles, personalities, education, ancestries, and all other systems of this temporal world — are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit, they are empty, without God…
why do we insist we can do what only the Lord can do, when over and over its proved we cant…every doctrine labeled a heresy came outta the mind of man, not from the Lord; every false doctrine ever preached came outta tha petrie dish of man’s ambition to create policy, standards and methods — temples — for bein like Christ, (cant u jus hear the serpent hissin u gonna be like God???) — none of which are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, since God dont reside in temples build by human hands…
- heresy “an opinion of private men different from that of the catholick and orthodox church” [Johnson], c.1225, from O.Fr. heresie, from L. hæresis, “school of thought, philosophical sect,” used by Christian writers for “unorthodox sect or doctrine,” from Gk. hairesis “a taking or choosing,” from haireisthai “take, seize,” middle voice of hairein “to choose,” of unknown origin. The Gk. word was used in N.T. in ref. to the Sadducees, Pharisees, and even the Christians, as sects of Judaism, but in Eng. bibles it is usually translated sect. Meaning “religious belief opposed to the orthodox doctrines of the Church” evolved in L.L. in the Dark Ages. Heretic (c.1330) is ult. from Gk. hairetikos “able to choose,” the verbal adj. of hairein
her·e·sy(h
r
-s
) KEY NOUN: pl. her·e·sies An opinion or a doctrine at variance with established religious beliefs, especially dissension from or denial of Roman Catholic dogma by a professed believer or baptized church member. Adherence to such dissenting opinion or doctrine. A controversial or unorthodox opinion or doctrine, as in politics, philosophy, or science. Adherence to such controversial or unorthodox opinion. ETYMOLOGY: Middle English heresie, from Old French, from Late Latin haeresis, from Late Greek hairesis, from Greek, a choosing, faction, from haireisthai, to choose, middle voice of hairein, to take
man’s standard of heresy is actually another heresy; & all of it is denial of what is of Jesus Christ…namely, that Jesus Christ is building His called out ones and the gates of hell wont prevail against what He is building…we are living stones, living epistles, alive in Christ and Christ alive in us…not empty, but filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him into all Truth…why do we look to schools and buiildings and man???
why do we insist we can teach or preach or do anything, according to our own devices, instead of bein led by the Holy Spirit; maybe we afraid if we follow Him, He gonna leave us where we are until He decide we ready to be move; and maybe we dont wanna pay tha price; after all, if we dont get in someones face, how we gonna get known???? and we spend hours arguing which heresy is good and which is evil…reformed argues against arminianism, but reformed exalts calvin and luther and other ‘reformers’ so they actually tryna reform somethin already made by man, since what is of God cant be changed or reformed and dont need to be; and they exaltin men instead of Christ, so their standard isnt the Word of God, but some man’s claimed understandin of the Word of God…
Jesus said, if i be lifted up ima draw all men to me (not to calvin or luther or arminius)…Jesus Christ is the standard; He alone is the Truth, not any man…instead of turnin back to the most High God and seekin His face, which, BTW we can since Christ came in the flesh…we wanna insist how good calvin is over arminius…nehmine tha we can know Christ and remain in Him and He will never mention calvin or arminius or luther or anyone else; the Holy Spirit speaks from the Father and testifies of the Son:
But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that comes from heaven is above all. John 3:31
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. John 7:16
and we gotta million other isms we fight over…antinomianism, preterism, premillenial…this-ism and tha-ism…blah blah blah…whoever spend time to learn that stuff, they jus usin time they coulda been seekin after the Lord God Almighty, our Savior Jesus Christ…why bother wit man when you can have Jesus Christ??? did calvin hang on a cross fa u? did arminius? we gotta million books wrote about what we suppose to be doin, and how the world is so bad cuz the church dont do what its suppose to…and we gotta million more books wrote on what the church suppose to be…meantime, Jesus Christ never said the world is in its bad state cuz the church failed in her mission…meantime Jesus Christ is yet buildin His called out ones and the gates of hell wont prevail against it…
Jesus said to repent & believe the gospel…and if the gospel isnt bein preached, the preacher isnt preachin by the Holy Spirit…so we should discern tha, instead of insistin he learn how to preach by man’s methods and tracts…instead of makin the gospel a 10 word recitation or some acronym, maybe we outta be still & let the Holy Spirit lead His children into all Truth, unless we dont really believe He will…
And when they bring you to the synagogues, and to magistrates, and powers, take you no thought how or what thing you shall answer, or what you shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say. Luke 12:11-12
why dont we believe Him? why do we rather believe tha we have to prepare sermons and curriculum and tracts to give out to ppl…instead of trustin the Holy Spirit to do what the Lord God promised?
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him declare I to you. Acts 17:22-23
paul stood in the midst of mars hill (actually, rock of ares, a monument to the greek god of war; guide our feet into the way of peace; feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace)…he called em superstitious (super-religious; named the demonic stronghold) not tryna identify with em, but speakin against tha demon that bind em…he declares what is hidden (what is hidden will be revealed; revelation – removes the veil) — the true and living God…
is this a model for evangelism doctrine — or was paul speakin by the Holy Spirit? if by the Holy Spirit, then paul wasnt tryna reach a culture or appeal to a group of ppl, in fact, if it was the Holy Spirit speakin, He speak only Truth and is not a respecter of persons…so then, how do we ppl think we can open schools to teach this? and why do we invent stuff then beg the Holy Spirit to ’show up’ instead of followin Him??? after all, ISNT THE HOLY SPIRIT SENT, as JESUS WAS ALSO SENT…not by man but by GOD???
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:15
Jesus Christ redeemed us from the law of sin & death…and He didnt do it thinkin it wasnt enough to bring forth a bride ‘without spot or blemish’…nobody gotta reform what is of Christ…the world is wat it is, from sin and death, not because of the church’s lack of mission or presence…the church that man is buildin is the one that man keeps changin and shapin after his own thoughts… and these same ppl tha create new doctrines and ways are the same ppl who insist tha ppl reject christianity and/or Christ because how weak the church is…but what do God say:
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. Gen 6:11-12
no mention of the church here, no missional statements, no seeker-sensitive models…just corruption & violence…& anyone who use the excuse of a bad church or some ‘hypocritical christians’ to reject Christ, also dont know what God say:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12
Jesus Christ preached repent & believe the Gospel…ppl rejected Him back then, and He never said the word ‘church’ in fact the ‘church’ wasnt even known then…sooooooooooo…since there wasnt any notion of church, who got blamed for Christ bein rejected?
And have you not read this Scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Mark 12:10-11
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me. John 13:18
I know that you are Abraham’s seed; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which you have seen with your father. John 8:37-38
He reveals the deep and secret things: he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. Daniel 2:22
no man comes to the Father except by Jesus Christ and no man comes to Jesus Christ unless the Father draws him…if Christ isnt revealed (by the Father, not by flesh & blood), no man can receive Him…if Christ isnt received (no man can receive anythin except its given by God), no man can come to the Father…we havent chosen Him, but He has chosen us…we love Him because He first loved us…those who claim, sometimmes vehemently, that they reject christianity and Christ because of something a human did, have only to look in their mirrors to see the same offenses and sins they have judged…outside of Christ theres no forgiveness of sin and no life…and certainly no eternal life…ppl blame anything for their circumstances, but all have sinned and fell short of the glory of God…and life outside of Jesus Christ is bound under sin & death…
if we look at the endless debates between reformed and arminianism, the ragin over false doctrines, the finger-pointin and insults hurled between every camp of what passes fa ‘christianity’, its obvious these are are all the arm of flesh flailin at the arm of flesh…since the church tha Jesus Christ is building is:
-
spiritual, build on revelation from the Father, not on man’s policies & doctrines which claim to be biblical but in the end, they have a shape and form that isnt Christ, proving they not of Christ;
-
bein built by Jesus Christ, not by man;
-
comin down from heaven, not sproutin up outta the earth; and
-
the gates of hell wont prevail over it…
if we can build it — its not Christ; if we can make it into a heirarchy and define its chain of command, its not Christ; if man can arrange it, order it, decorate it or ‘has to bring it back to God’, its not Christ…Jesus Christ finished His Father’s work, man didnt…and Jesus Christ didnt lose one; and His finished work is complete and perfect, not needin man’s assistance or alterations…we dont have to build the Kingdom of God or establish it, but our Father is pleased to give it to us…we inherit it; because the Kingdom of God already IS…
so then, everything that isnt build by Jesus Christ, is heresy…
i think we should quit usin the word church, and use the actual definition thats mis-translated to church…’the called-out ones’…not a building or a denomination, not even a doctrine, but called out ones, actual ppl….so here we gotta better understandin of whats happenin…its not just false doctrine anymore, its bad food bein fed to actual ppl, poison, earthly, food, since its not the bread of life and living water; its not just a denomination anymore, its a prison for actual ppl, a place where actual ppl are bound in ritual and religious duty and held captive to some other ppl’s ideas of what christianity is; satanic ‘angels of light‘ compassed about actual ppl…wickedness on every side…
Jesus say its the blind leaders of the blind & they both fall into the pit…ahhhhhh…His promise tha those who have ears to hear and eyes to see, (God creates the seein eye and the hearin ear; Jesus opened blind eyes and unstopped deaf ears) arent blind and arent led by the blind; its sight and hearin tha make the differnce here, a sight and hearin tha comes from God only (revelation; those who are Christ’s are ‘called out’ and wont remain blind and deaf but will be healed; & the gates of hell wont prevail over em) and not from man…maybe we should stop callin em christians and churches and false whatevers, and call em what Jesus called em…BLIND
since bibles retain the foreign-language word ‘apostle’, instead of translatin it as ’sent one’ which is what it means; implyin tha ‘apostle’ is a personal title instead of how paul used it, to say he was ’sent by Jesus Christ’….same wit the other titles…paul called peter by his name, not ‘apostle peter’; & told timothy to do the work of ‘one who brings good news’, which is the meanin of the foreign-language word ‘evangelist’. paul didnt call him, ‘evangelist timothy’…so…why do we? why do we have all these personal titles, ways to earn em, places to teach em and ppl to follow em??? ekklessia is the word thats translated to church, but it means, the called out ones, so why do we use the word church??? usin the word church implies tha everything called church IS church…but when we say, the called out ones, we got a understandin of ppl who been called outta somethin or someplace…a ppl who belong to somethin or someplace else…
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10
when men build temples, when heirarchies are built on personal titles tha were never intended to be titles at all, when schools and administrations promise to teach what only the Holy Spirit can teach, to impart what only the Holy Spirit can impart and to raise up the dead (unregenerate, blind and deaf) unto Christ as only the Holy Spirit can do, instead of railing against their unChrist-likeness when it manifests in racism or false doctrine or any other of the works of darkness that will certainly manifest, lets rejoice that the Word of God is true; that what Christ is building wont fall, and what man builds wont stand; lets rejoice that heres another imposter exposed & lets seek to the Lord God for healing of the blind eyes and deaf ears that may yet bind His ppl to the blind leaders of the blind…
& lets quit claimin tha the true body of Christ, the true called out ones, those who are washed in the blood of the Lamb and born from above, are the same as the ministers of darkness…they arent the same…& lets quit tryna shape the fake into the real…the real is of Jesus Christ and the fake is of the spirit of this world…they arent the same; their fruit isnt the same; their end isnt the same…whats born of flesh is flesh and whats born of the Spirit is spirit…
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came to his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:10-13
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it lists, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell where it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
-g-
Jesus Christ is the Living Water and Bread of Life and He changes not…but the false doctrines tha bein perpetrated — & exported — by the world church of america dont stand outside american comforts…
if ur in a church preachin the name it claim it, psychobabble, money cometh lies, u hearin a false doctrine and a different jesus bein preached…be bless… -g-
November 29, 2007
So-called Christian preachers are living in extravagant wealth while preaching a self-centered ‘gospel’ of prosperity. Two of the most popular proponents of this false gospel of wealth and self-centeredness are Joel Osteen and Paula White. We’ve taken the artwork for their ‘messages’ and taken them out of their American context to see if they will “preach” in war torn Iraq, Darfur and Rwanda.
Paula White’s message is “Celebrate You”. Joel Osteen’s message is “Your Best Life Now” . Compare this to the Message of Biblical Gospel:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” - Romans 3:23-24
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16 -17
their Best Life Now?
war-torn iraq
latest news from iraq
the answer we’re looking for?
think of a wonderful thought…
this doesnt look like a “Celebrate You” moment
war-torn rwanda
where’s this man’s beemer????
i jus found a site wer eSword users created modules fa esword…check it out…u can get any bible, in any language, dictionaries, commentaries, topic, etc and u download wat u want…go to the site, search usin keyword esword and download what u choose…everythin be free… eSword user-created stuff
dont use eSword??? its a free bible software u can download bibles, concordances, dictionaries, commentaries, topic notes, in any language…u can synch ur own notes wit it, and much more…did i say its free???
be bless… -g-
found these vids interesting…see the full series of 11 vids on youtube…ima check em out too, didnt see em all yet…be bless… -g-
by: David D Flowers
If you follow my blog, you know I believe there is something terribly wrong with the Christianity that we have embraced in America. And I wanted to share some quick thoughts particularly on our misplaced confidence in government and our so-called “duty” to vote. Just some thoughts really. Take it or leave it.
Please be forewarned… this one has a bit of a “tone”. You know… a “tone” that is interpreted as “angry” or “anti-American” or something like that. So… please read knowing that I am in-fact a bit… hmm… how do you say… fed up. But, I assure you my sorrow far outweighs any sort of anger. I am working on it. I still haven’t managed to dress up all of my actions in the garb of the hippy Jesus who wears the façade that says, “I am holy because I do not get angry.” I prefer the stance that says, “I am angry because I am holy.” In other words, I believe any frustration and concern that I express… ought to be shared among all who call themselves “disciples of Jesus”. Hopefully, this momentary expression of anger and sorrow will mature into a renewed Christology that will give us all more reason to trust in Jesus instead of ourselves.
And so… I give you my thoughts.
Jesus: Change We Have a Hard Time Believing In
I am convinced that our political “freedoms” are instead a bondage that leads us to reject Christ’s methods of change… only to turn and accept the world’s methods of exhorting power over people. I can see that this marriage of the church to the state by acceptance of its methods… only produces a nominal Christian “religion” where we can all live comfortable while we overcome evil with a vote. We can walk away feeling like we have done someone a favor with our vote. Like we have made a difference by playing in to the system of suppressing evil through law and violence. As if we have been called to confront evil in this manner.
Mark my words; the intermarriage of church and state is the greatest tragedy in the history of Christianity. It violates the heart of the Gospel of Christ. The church has been sidetracked. Duped is more like it. We have been misled to believe that we have been called to save the culture and remind the sinners that God is watching them like a drunk abusive Santa Claus figure. Somehow the mentioning of God on monuments, money, and in our many assemblies… means that God is pleased. I just don’t get it. You took prayer out of schools? Well… God is ticked now. Watch out! The culture will go to hell in a hand basket because you have quit stamping the god of deism on worldly institutions for political reasons.
Clearly, we have been deceived into thinking our God “blesses” nations when they talk about him and he “curses” when they don’t. I’m not buying this anymore. It is no longer consistent with the Jesus I know. Shouldn’t we have learned this lesson with Israel in the Old Testament through the prophets like Amos and Jeremiah? You don’t get points for looking religious and embracing sin in your hearts. You don’t escape the judgment of Christ and receive his blessings just because a worldly empire decides to speak Christianese and mix its agenda with God’s plan through the church. How have we missed this?
Is a worldly kingdom “blessed” because it has material abundance? Does it cease to be “blessed” because it stops using the generic name “God” around town? What sort of God in Christ do we have? It’s time we see things rightly about how God deals with worldly kingdoms and how he deals separately with his church. We need to apply his Word appropriately. God has always used worldly kingdoms to suppress evil and judge other nations who have become corrupt. They are agents of wrath (Rom. 13:4). God then turns around and judges that nation for its own sin and corruption. Assyria, in the 8th century BC, is a perfect example of God using worldly empires as a “rod” of his wrath. He then punished Assyria and held her responsible for her actions and all of the iniquities found in her.
The story of Israel in the Old Testament, and the church in the New Testament today… is to be set apart and to operate under a different set of rules… to count yourself as a citizen of another other-worldly kingdom with a King who is jealous for our allegiance. All along he has wanted his people to recognize that there is no other King beside him. Jesus is Lord, not Caesar. If Caesar wants your taxes and you are required to carry a drivers license and obey the laws of the land… fine! But… give to God what is God’s. Your spirit, soul, and body belong to him. Your efforts and energies are to be spent investing in a Kingdom that is eternal. Kingdoms of the world are temporary systems that are on their way out. Their methods of changing the world are coming to an end.
The church should not be a part of this endless cycle of worldly kingdom violence and her partisan politics of corruption. The church’s work should engage the injustices of the world in ways that do not violate the principles of the Kingdom of God. This is what we should be discussing in the forums. This is what ought to be on our minds. Forget the glory of Rome and his Caesar. Sure, honor him… but fear God only (1 Pet. 2:13-17). Of course, pray for these worldly leaders, but do not concern yourself with putting your hand to the political plow of power. It will take your heart captive and sow evil where pride, arrogance, and all forms of hatred hide (Titus 3:1-7; 2 Pet. 2:11-12). We must give ourselves fully to Christ’s manner of engaging the injustices of this cruel world. This means we recognize that only Christ is the only candidate worthy of our campaigning. Therefore, how ridiculous is it to talk about “our country” and use language only reserved for the church as if it applies to nations that have been instituted by God for the sole purpose of executing wrath. God “bless” America? I’m sorry… I have a hard time hearing the apostle Paul say, “God bless Rome.” And apparently, many Christians can’t understand the absurdity in a statement that takes such pride in the kingdoms of this world.
Are we really prepared to say that the answer to the failing economy and the culture wars is to vote the all-inclusive “God” back in to the world’s vernacular? Sorry… don’t buy that at all. The Christianizing of a pagan culture by worldly methods will only produce a pagan “Christian” culture that knows how to talk religious and make a profit off of religious products. Which is what we have done in the past. We have a luxury Jesus didn’t have? Times are different? I have a duty to vote and play a role in this mess? I think it is time to question these clichés and begin a revolution back to the Gospel of the New Testament. I am convinced it is time for Christians to lose these “rights” they are told to “exercise” and be left with nothing but the wealth and security of Christ. The worst thing that can happen as a result of Christians losing political power… is that Zondervan would no longer be able to rob people in the name of Jesus.
It doesn’t seem to bother many of us that Christianity has found favor among the God-haters. As long as we can rest easy at night knowing we still have our “rights” and that gays won’t be able to marry… who cares about the status of their hearts and reaching out to them as Christ would. I guess it doesn’t really matter that the pregnant teenager really needs someone to take her in… not a picket sign in her face telling her she is going to hell or a meaningless vote in a private booth that you were told makes you a “good” citizen. It’s much easier to believe in a version of the Kingdom of God that is able to advance through politics… this way we don’t have to get our hands dirty. At least not in the sense of touching people who are in spiritual and physical need. Besides, if we take Jesus seriously, we may actually have to talk to some of those folks. We might be asked to love them to change and stop relying on the methods of the world to stir up their flesh to sin more.
It really is a matter of overcoming evil instead of suppressing it. Laws don’t save people. They only provoke the sinful nature of man. Those without Christ need them, but it is the purpose of those institutions of man to use those methods. You think we would have learned that by now. It is the world that looks for change through politics. It is the world that believes that peace will come by legislation and the wisdom of generals and political orators. Who are we to mingle with that rabble? What business is it of ours to hop in the very vehicle that will rise against Christ and make its final stand on that last day.
You know… the last time I checked, politicians make great anti-christs. Keep that in mind when you are tempted to join in the partisan politics and play this silly game leading up to November 4th 2008. Where is Christ in it all? How did he engage the worldly systems of his day? I’m willing to bet the answer is much clearer than we would like it to be. Why then? Why so blurry? Because we have grown accustomed to our life here in Corinth. And as Paul said to the original Corinthians, he would say to us, “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18).
Will we trust the way of the cross? The kind of winning that happens by dying? The battle plan that calls for everyone to lay down their arms and fight with love? Will we reconcile ourselves to a Gospel that demands we operate in an upside-down Kingdom… or will we call it foolishness and forfeit our inheritance? How will the church respond in my generation?
I believe she will have that opportunity in this country real soon. Many will be unprepared, I fear. They will be shocked when the veil falls from their eyes and they actually are given no choice but to stare into the blinding light of Christ’s Gospel in the midst of suffering. I am nervous at the thought of it. Yet, I am confident that our faith will undergo a great transformation. We will tap into a power we have not been acquainted with in these worldly chains we have prematurely dubbed “freedom.” I long for that day. Come Lord Jesus, come!
“And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country– a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16
(If you have not read my blog posts, “Rethinking the Two Kingdoms” and “Kingdom Conversations”… please do so if you would like to understand more of where I am coming from. If you are not interested, you will probably become irritated by my writings concerning the Christian and politics. It’s probably best you pray the devil out of me now and surf off and subscribe somewhere else. I would recommend you subscribe to any blog in mainline Christianity for more of an enjoyable read.)
this post includes a comment at from islam to jesus christ & my response to that comment, which is indented; the original comment is in italics but isnt changed. to save space, i deleted spaces between paragraphs when possible…be bless… -g-
This is an AMAZING video and a great tool for Christians to use when witnessing to Muslims. I was a Muslim for 13.5 years and God eventually revealed the truth to me about WHO Jesus is through Isaiah 53. I wasn’t born Muslim but I was given a Qur’an by a family friend and this was the beginning of my “seduction” AWAY from Jesus Christ. Prior to that I had been an Anglican and became disillusioned with many secular things I knew were not “Christian”. Coupled with other struggles in my life I succumbed to what has been called “The Glorious Qur’an”. I believe it was easier for me to become a Muslim and to deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God since I had been raised with an atheist father who was a Free Mason and highly skilled in the works of darkness. He had a very strong influence in his children’s lives because he wielded great economic and spiritual power over us. My mother was a strong Christian woman who waged a continuous battle before the Throne of God for her children’s souls.
i dont read the qur’an or any other books of religion…i dont study other religions…my life is in Christ and He is my life and His promise is that, since i am filled with the Holy Spirit which He sent, the Holy Spirit leads me into all truth; Jesus Christ is the Truth…Jesus said, my sheep hear my voice & they wont listen to a stranger’s voice…when Jesus Christ is revealed by the Father to one of His sheep, we find living water [Jesus Christ is the living water] and we dont thirst [as dry, parched land without the Spirit of God] no more [the search for other water is ended and we can only be satisfied by the living water]
i didnt post this video as a witness tool for muslims or anyone else; theres no such thing as a witness tool or evangelizing tool…i posted this video and others like it to rejoice when a brotha is found…Jesus Christ is the only true and faithful witness and if He isnt revealed by the Father in heaven, He cant be seen or heard [God alone creates the seeing eye and the hearing ear]; flesh & blood cant reveal Christ and flesh & blood dont know Him…no man comes to the Father except by Jesus Christ and no man comes to Jesus Christ unless the Father draws him…only those who are in Christ will hear or see the witness in this video; all others will be angered just like the pharisees were in the presence of the Lord…Jesus told the pharisees tha they didnt hear Him cuz the Word of God wasnt in em…its same today…those who dont have the Word of God in em wont hear the Word of God…the Faithful & True Witness Jesus Christ is hidden until He is revealed by our Father in heaven. the qur’an maybe cites reference to the OT and NT, but thats not the same as revelation from the Father of Jesus Christ…in fact, its one way men draw ppl together; they claim common ground and empathy with others who they wanna draw in. but the OT & NT stand as one witness to the true & living God, the true and faithful witness Jesus Christ…the OT is a veiled witness of Christ…the NT is revealed witness of Christ…but they are ONE WORD, as the Word of God isnt many words, like man’s words, but ONE…as HE is One. Jesus Christ is the root and the offspring; Scripture & Revelation; He said, I and the Father are One. Jesus came to proclaim the name of God–the name He proclaimed is Father–not allah. so while the qur’an claims to ‘believe’ the OT & NT and acknowledge Jesus Christ, in the same breath it denies the Father & Son…this isnt an inconsistency…its just a plain old lie…not a prophecy from God…the prophecy of God never changed…He always promised to send His Son, He always revealed Himself as Father, He always promised to redeem His own ppl. when the Lord God is revealed to His sheep, they dont turn back tryna justify other books, religions or cultures…His sheep hear His voice and to another voice they won’t listen…we who belong to Christ are born from above and we hear His voice and we arent tryna make the qur’an, islam or any other religion legitimate, since they arent and never will be…they are the manufacture of men whos stoney hearts are ruled by sheatan, and not from God. Jesus Christ is the whole law of God & fulfillment of the law of God and He alone is the good news (gospel) that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to be a ransom for many…
Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and faredsumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogscame and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels intoAbraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being intorments, and seeing Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, FatherAbraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and coolmy tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetimereceived your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you aretormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which wouldpass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said,I pray you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; thathe may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham said to him, They haveMoses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham: but if one went untothem from the dead, they will repent. And he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets,neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.“ Luke 16:19-31
its easy to sin, and no man can stop sinning, until we be redeemed from sin by the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ…remember, we born in sin and shaped in iniquity…and all flesh seeks life, or rather, what it deems as life…we call ourself by many categories and titles, all of m are religious in some form or another and all of em are from man and not from God…God didnt send a religion, God sent Jesus Christ and Him only…the Only begotten Son of God…so while flesh seeks comfort [a water he says is from God, in the form of a better job or a religion, etc, to cool his parched tongue] from the torments of life in the world thats ruled by satan, its all false comfort, a fleshly comfort…but the true comforter, the Holy Spirit, comes only by Jesus Christ [the living water]…man seeks peace for his flesh and finds it in religions & central air conditioning and indoor plumbing, enough food, and a million other things, and for this ‘peace’ he will kill and enslave. but the true peace of God comes only through Jesus Christ and not in any religion or politics or man-made thang…in the same way tha drugs numb physical pain or bring temporary escape from one’s problems, religion numbs ppl into a false sense of security…they practice earthly wisdom and are numb to their own deception and darkness and the sin in their own heart…and in that stupor, they think they are safe from the wrath of the Lamb which will surely come. i dont study other religions & i dont recommend reading other religious books or tryna find some common ground between Christ and any other religions, since there isnt any…religions come from man and not from God…when one has found God and been in the presence of the most high God, He doesnt send us back to earthly wisdoms and man’s ways, in fact, He delivers us from them…and calls us outta babylon…everything thats outside of Christ is sin.
Likewise reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield you your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Romans 6:11-15
dont yield yourself, your mind or your taste for earthly wisdom, seeking truth from any source except where its promised by God, in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit which indwells every believer in Christ…
Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go you and preach the kingdom of God. Luke 9:60
Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. Romans 7:4
At age 12 my father told my high school principal that I was not allowed to take Religious Knowledge as a school subject and he stopped me from reading the Bible because my grades in Religious Knowledge were the highest of all my courses. From that time on I found myself wondering if the things my father would say were true and I ended up on a spiritual odyssey that took me through many a deep abyss
Jesus never said we would find Him if we read the bible…in fact Jesus told the pharisees, you study the scriptures and they testify about me, and you dont know me…God isnt found in much study…no man comes to the Father except by Jesus Christ…Jesus Christ reveals the Father…Jesus said we are all dead in trespass and sins, He didnt say we would die, He said we already dead…
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12
all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God…all are born in sin and shaped in iniquity…its common for ppl to blame their darkness and sinful state on parents, education, lifestyles, life experiences, etc…but the truth is, we are all born in sin and shaped in iniquity and it will manifest in lostness, darkness and sinfulness…had ur parents been different or allowed u to study religions, u would still be born in sin and shaped in iniquity…many ppl think bein raised in a ‘christian’ home or abstaining from sex or not suffering with drug addictions is some kinda protection against sin or evidence of the lack of sin…but we are all born in sin and shaped in iniquity and there is only one remedy for this, the atoning blood of the Lamb of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…Jesus Christ came to save His ppl from their sin…there isnt other hope or help…while some lifestyles might not ‘look’ sinful and some might even look ‘righteous’…only Jesus Christ is righteous and He alone is sinless, salvation & life…
But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying,I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob God is not the God of the dead, but ofthe living. Matthew 22:31
Jesus said “no man comes to the Father except by me“…Jesus said, “no man comes to me unless the Father draws him“…
Praise be to the Lord God of Hosts, the Holy One of Israel, Jehovah Sabaoth, today I KNOW that there is a true and living God and I KNOW that Jesus Christ, The Messiah is His Son and that He came and died on the Cross of Calvary for my sins. Since I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Master, repented and became baptized I have been challenged constantly. Yet, I would not give up being a disciple of Jesus Christ for anything in this world. I’ve seen and walked with Jesus in So…ooo…ooo many places and times that I could write on and on. My understanding of God is based on firsthand experience – not what I heard a preacher say – but my own personal encounters with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. This is why I no longer use the word “BELIEVE” to express my faith. I use the word “KNOW” because it implies certainty. I, like the Apostle Paul met and came to Jesus Christ in truly amazing circumstances. As a Muslim, I read in the Al Bukhari Hadiths that Jesus Christ will return to earth and that He will be the world’s final Imam. Since the Hadiths are “the sayings of Prophet Muhammad”, I was extremely intrigued by this hadith. Prophet Muhammad is known throughout Islam as “a truthful prophet” and so I took this hadith to be “truth” and nothing less than “truth”. I discussed it with many Imams and they confirmed that this was indeed one of the hadiths or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad and that it is true that Jesus or Isa will be sent back to earth by Allah. The Imams said that Allah will choose Jesus or Isa to give the Adhan or the call to prayer from Jerusalem and that He will lead the whole world in Salah or prayer.
the testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Prophecy Revelations 19:10…a proclaimed prophet who doesnt have the testimony of Jesus Christ is a false prophet, and isnt sent by the Lord God…to nod at Christ, or to merely parrot actual prophecy, isnt what makes a man a prophet…all the prophets of God had the testimony of Jesus Christ; all their prophecies came to pass because the prophecy was from God and God said, the prophecies tha arent from Him wont come to pass…
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said to them, Why seek you the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen… Luke 24:1-6
Then answered Jesus and said to them, Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what things soever he does, these also do the Son likewise. For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself does: and he will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens them; even so the Son quickens whom he will. For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him. Verily, verily, I say to you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life. John 5:19-24
Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself; And has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that bears witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesses of me is true. You sent to John, and he bore witness to the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that you might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and you were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me. And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he has sent, him you believe not. Search the Scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And you will not come to me, that you might have life. I receive not honor from men. But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father’s name, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me: John 5:25-46
the honor that ‘comes from God only’ is revelation of Jesus Christ, revealing the glory the Son has with the Father from before the beginning, the Son of God & Messiah, the stone rejected by the laborers [those who build in self-righteousness (religions, laws, and all of man's ways, etc)] [no man comes to me unless the Father draws him; Jesus said to peter, "Flesh & blood didnt reveal that to you, but my Father which is in heaven"]
This Hadith and what the Imans told me set off a firestorm in my heart. These questions kept bothering me to no end: Why will Allah not send back Prophet Muhammad to be the world’s final Iman since he is known as “the seal of the prophets” and “the last of Allah’s messengers”? Why would Allah choose Jesus or Isa from among ALL of the other “messengers”? And, what is it about Jesus or Isa that makes Him so special to Allah that He would choose Him over all His other prophets and messengers, if Jesus or Isa is only “a prophet”? In light of these questions I then started to look for everything the Qur’an said about Jesus or Isa. Sura 2, Baquarah is the longest Sura or Chapter in the Qur’an and my favorite. In this Sura I found many Ayats or verses which allude to the Christian faith and which also confirm indirectly that Jesus or Isa is not just a prophet but someone who has Allah’s special favor on him. I have pulled out a few of those verses which forced me to re-think Islam: 62. Those who believe (in the Qur’an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall helive: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believe you this? John 11:25-26
be aware that Jesus dont associate hisself wit religions or religiious leaders, and he doesnt call hisself the last imam…Jesus Christ is Lord, not a man tha can be shaped by iniquity to fit into the natural, adamic mind…Jesus doesnt mention allah or muhammed; neither are they mentioned in Scripture…be careful tha u dont fall into a snare tryna find where Jesus fits in the world and earthly wisdom, rather than learnin and adherin to wht the Lord Jesus Christ say about the world and man’s ways…remember too, tha satan spoke some words of Scripture (in the temptation), but even so, satan is still a liar and the father of lies and theres no truth IN him…
65. And well ye knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath: We said to them: “Be ye apes, despised and rejected.” (NOTE THE REFERENCE HERE TO “THE JEWISH SABBATH” AND TO THE KEEPING OF THE SABBATH.) 66. So We made it an example to their own time and to their posterity, and a lesson to those who fear Allah.
And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? And he said to them, Have you never read what David did, when he had need,and was hungry, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiatharthe high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also tothem which were with him? And he said to them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for thesabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. Mark 2:23-28
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God. Wherefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Colossians 2:16-22
87. We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of apostles; We gave Jesus the son of Mary Clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the holy spirit. Is it that whenever there comes to you an apostle with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride?- Some ye called impostors, and others ye slay! (NOTE THE REFERENCE HERE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT THUS IMPLYING THE CONCEPT OF THE TRINITY!) 92. There came to you Moses with clear (Signs); yet ye worshipped the calf (Even) after that, and ye did behave wrongfully
God sent His only begotten Son that whoever should believe on Him should not perish but have eternal life…the implication that the holy spirit was merely given to jesus as though he is some tool like a book or miracle, is a clear indication that the writers of this verse were lying to support their own thoughts & objectives…
the Holy Spirit is God…not a mere assistant…the mention of the Holy Spirit in this verse doesnt imply the concept of the trinity…this verse actually proves how deceitful men use other writings to draw ppl to their own conclusions and lead them astray from the truth…im surprised that u dont see the deceit here…if u born from above, which is the only way to come to Christ, the Holy Spirit will certainly reveal to you that the qur’an isnt the Word of God, theres no truth in it, and every claim to kinship wit the OT & NT is a ploy to legitimize the qur’an…while the qur’an claims to support and believe the OT & NT, it categorically denies the crucifixion of Christ on Calvary, His death & resurrection, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ being Lord, God & King, & even the virgin birth of our Lord and Savior mentioned in the qur’an is a complete fabrication…
I have not written to you because you know not the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son. Whosoever denies the Son, the same has not the Father: but he that acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 1 John 2:21-23
Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit…
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter[Holy Spirit] will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send him to you. And when he is come, he will reprovethe world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Ofrighteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of thisworld is judged. John 16:7-11
God didnt sent books, rituals and a ’succession of apostles’…God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ…
251. By Allah’s will they routed them; and David slew Goliath; and Allah gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever (else) He willed. And did not Allah Check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief: But Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds.
God said, the end of all flesh has come before me, because the earth is filled with violence and every thought of man’s heart is continually evil…God didnt sent one ppl to check another ppl to stem mischief; this is clearly the reasoning of the adamic mind, not the thoughts of God; those who believe this also think that God sent some ppl to kill other ppl and to be the instruments of his wrath and judgement…God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save His ppl from their sin…Jesus Christ is judge and the wrath of the lamb will surely come…
253. Those apostles We endowed with gifts, some above others: To one of them Allah spoke; others He raised to degrees (of honour); to Jesus the son of Mary We gave clear (Signs), and strengthened him with the holy spirit. If Allah had so willed, succeeding generations would not have fought among each other, after clear (Signs) had come to them, but they (chose) to wrangle, some believing and others rejecting. If Allah had so willed, they would not have fought each other; but Allah Fulfilleth His plan.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, not the son of mary, as is promoted by islam and other religions…the natural man cant receive the things of God…but the mind of Christ receives God…while islam and catholicism and other religions see Jesus Christ as the son of mary, God said, behold my Son, in Him I AM well pleased…
256. Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.
allah always claims to know and hear all things…but the true and living God declares His Holiness, not mere knowledge of what men think and do…in fact, it was satan who first came to adam & eve with the concept of ‘knowing all things which would make them like God’, whereas the true and living God tells His ppl to be Holy, because He be Holy..and…He is the God who makes men Holy…
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren Hebrews 2:10-11
285. The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His apostles. “We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His apostles.” And they say: “We hear, and we obey: (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys.”
Jesus taught us how to pray:
Jesus said, And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in thesynagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They havetheir reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to yourFather which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. But when you pray,use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.Be not you therefore like them: for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him.After this manner therefore pray you: Our Father which is in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdomcome. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us ourdebts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For yours is thekingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Matthew 6:5-13
And when they could not come near to him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick of the palsy, Son, your sins be forgiven you. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said to them, Why reason you these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy,Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and take up your bed, and walk? But that you may know that theSon of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (he said to the sick of the palsy,) I say to you, Arise, and take up your bed, and go your way into your house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. Mark 2:4-12
In Surah 3. The Family Of ‘Imran, The House Of ‘Imran these verses are also even more intriguing: 3. It is He Who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong).
all judgement is given to Jesus Christ…he will judge the living and the dead and He will quicken who He choose…Jesus didnt set down a criterion; Jesus Christ is the righteousness of God, the Son of God and He alone is eternal life…its His life tha we have when we born from above…
For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself do: and he will show him greater worksthan these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens them; even so the Sonquickens whom he will. For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Fatherwhich has sent him. Verily, verily, I say to you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, haseverlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life. Verily, verily, I say toyou, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hearshall live. For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hasgiven him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. John 5:20-27
33. Allah did choose Adam and Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of ‘Imran above all people,- 34. Offspring, one of the other: And Allah heareth and knoweth all things. 38. There did Zakariya pray to his Lord, saying: “O my Lord! Grant unto me from Thee a progeny that is pure: for Thou art He that heareth prayer!39. While he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the angels called unto him: “(Allah) doth give thee glad tidings of Yahya*, witnessing the truth of a Word from Allah, and (be besides) noble, chaste, and a prophet,- of the (goodly) company of the righteous.” (YAHYA = JOHN THE BAPTIST.)40. He said: “O my lord! How shall I have a son seeing I am very old and my wife is barren?” “Thus” was the answer “doth Allah accomplish whatt He willeth.”41. He said: “O my Lord! Give me a Sign!” “Thy Sign,” was the answer, “Shall be that thou shalt speak to no man for three days but with signals. Then celebrate the praises of thy Lord again and again, and glorify Him in the evening and in the morning.”(NOTE HERE THAT JOHN THE BAPTIST’S FATHER WAS INDEED NOT ABLE TO SPEAK AS RECORDED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, SO THIS AYAT OR VERSE IS TRUE.)
john the baptizer signaled the old covenant [being born by promise, as isaac was born, to old and barren parents] but being filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb heralded the new covenant, which he was filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb [of Christ, when He entered the house then the baby leapt (was filled, was now alive) in elizabeth's womb for the first time]…
42. Behold! the angels said: “O Mary! Allah hath chosen thee and purified thee- chosen thee above the women of all nations.45. Behold! the angels said: “O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah. (NOTE THAT THIS AYAT OR VERSE REFERS TO JESUS OR ISA AS “A WORD” FROM ALLAH OR GOD. JOHN 1:1 STATES THAT “IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD”. IT IS FURTHER INTERESTING THAT THIS AYAT STATES THAT JESUS OR ISA WILL BE “HELD IN HONOUR IN THIS WORLD” AND SUBSEQUENTLY THAT IN “THE HEREAFTER” JESUS OR ISA WILL BE “IN THE COMPANY OF THOSE NEAREST TO ALLAH”. SIMPLY AMAZING.)
Jesus isnt merely in the company of those nearest to God, Jesus Christ IS God…mary wasnt purified; mary was born in sin and shaped in iniquity…man equates virginity with sinlessness, which is why theres such a talk about purity rings, etc; but mary wasnt sinless and virginity isnt a sign of sinlessness; she was born in sin and shaped in iniquity like all ppl…
46. “He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous.” 47. She said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?” He said: “Even so: Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, ‘Be,’ and it is! 48. “And Allah will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel, (NOTE WITH RESPECT TO AYAT OR VERSE 48, THAT THE WORD OF GOD TELLS US IN ISAIAH 11:1-2 THE FOLLOWING: “AND THERE SHALL COME FORTH A ROD OUT OF THE STEM OF JESSE, AND A BRANCH SHALL GROW OUT OF HIS ROOTS: AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SHALL REST UPON HIM, THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING, THE SPIRIT OF COUNSEL AND MIGHT, THE SPIRIT OF KNOWLEDGE AND OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD”. THIS IS FURTHER AMPLIFIED IN VERSES 3-5.) 9. “And (appoint him) an apostle to the Children of Israel, (with this message): “‘I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah.s leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah.s leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe;50. “‘(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me. 51. “‘It is Allah Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.’”
Jesus said, I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life…Jesus Christ is the strait gate and the narrow way…
Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and manythere be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and fewthere be that find it. Mat 7:13-14
52. When Jesus found Unbelief on their part He said: “Who will be My helpers to (the work of) Allah.” Said the disciples: “We are Allah.s helpers: We believe in Allah, and do thou bear witness that we are Muslims. (NOTE THAT THE ISSUE OF “UNBELIEF” WAS SPECIFICALLY TAKEN UP BY JESUS IN JOHN 8:24 WHO SAID: “I SAID THEREFORE UNTO YOU, THAT YE SHALL DIE IN YOUR SINS, FOR IF YE BELIEVE NOT THAT I AM HE, YE SHALL DIE IN YOUR SINS.” JESUS THEN CONTINUES THIS DISCUSSION ON THEIR UNBELIEF IN VERSES 25 TO 59.) 53. “Our Lord! we believe in what Thou hast revealed, and we follow the Messenger. then write us down among those who bear witness.” 54. And (the unbelievers) plotted and planned, and Allah too planned, and the best of planners is Allah. 55. Behold! Allah said: “O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection: Then shall ye all return unto me, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute.
Jesus answered and said to them, You do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob God is not the God of the dead, but of the living . Matthew 22:29-32
Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Believe you this? John 11:25-26
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew 23:27-28
They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how say you, You shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say to you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abides not in the house forever: but the Son abides ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s seed; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which you have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. You do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do you not understand my speech? even because you cannot hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, you believe me not. Which of you convinces me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me? He that is of God hears God’s words: you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God. John 8:33-47
56. “As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help.” 57. “As to those who believe and work righteousness, Allah will pay them (in full) their reward; but Allah loveth not those who do wrong.”
allah maybe dont love those who do wrong, but because the true and living God, the Most High God, loved those who rejected Him and who sinned against Him, He sent His Son to redeem the very ones who hated Him…to be a ransom for His ppl who turned away from Him… greater love has no man than this, that He lay down His life for His friends…this is Jesus the Christ, Messiah, Son of God, who lay down His life a ransom for many…
we have this testimony…God gave us eternal life and this life is in His Son…
58. “This is what we rehearse unto thee of the Signs and the Message of Wisdom.” 59. The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: “Be”. And he was.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, not the son of adam…He was not created from dust, adam was created from earth and returns to dust; Jesus Christ returns to the Father, and the grave cant hold him…Jesus Christ is the living Word of God…God came into the world in the form of a man, the man Christ Jesus…not a man after adam, but the Son of God…born not of the flesh but He is the Word of God tha became flesh…not flesh and blood like adam, but Spirit & Truth…
62. This is the true account: There is no god except Allah. and Allah.He is indeed the Exalted in Power, the Wise. 65. Ye People of the Book! Why dispute ye about Abraham, when the Law and the Gospel Were not revealed Till after him? Have ye no understanding?
Jesus said, abraham saw my day and rejoiced…Jesus said, before abraham was, I AM…abraham saw Jesus Christ the day that the Father provided a ram to sacrifice on mount moriah so abraham son isaac could live…tha was the day abraham saw his redeemer and rejoiced…
84. Say: “We believe in Allah, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma’il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to Allah do we bow our will (in Islam).” 95. Say: “(Allah) speaketh the Truth: follow the religion of Abraham, the sane in faith; he was not of the Pagans.” 35. And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins,- and who can forgive sins except Allah.- and are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done.
forgiveness was brought by Jesus Christ…He alone will judge the living and the dead and forgiveness is in Him because He has satisfied the wrath of God by His blood…Jesus Christ is our atoning sacrifice, the only sacrifice accepted by God…the Lord God doesnt claim that any man serves God, in fact He says no man seeks after God…the qur’an insists that there are some who do right and some who do wrong…this isnt the Word of God…the Word of God is clear…no man seeks after God, no not one…the gospel of the true and living God is tha man is sinful and condemned to sin and by sin …tha our Lord Jesus Christ took on man’s sin and paid it all by His atoning death on the cross, not because any man did right, but because no man could do right, being born in sin and condemned…salvation and forgiveness are works of the Lord God, not of any man following some random rules and religion…even repentance is the work of the Lord and a continual work tha is of the Holy Spirit in the believer…any man who claims to love God outside of the blood of Christ is a liar…without faith [Jesus Christ, sent by the Father] which is given to man by the Father, not learned in books, its impossible to please God…remember tha God said…behold my Son, in HIM I AM well pleased…
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick of the palsy, Son, your sins be forgiven your. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said to them, Why reason you these things in your hearts? Whether isit easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and take up your bed, andwalk? But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (he said to the sick of the palsy,) I say to you, Arise, and take up your bed, and go your way into your house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. Mark 2:5-11
140. If a wound hath touched you, be sure a similar wound hath touched the others. Such days (of varying fortunes) We give to men and men by turns: that Allah may know those that believe, and that He may take to Himself from your ranks Martyr-witnesses (to Truth). And Allah loveth not those that do wrong. (COMPARE AYAT OR VERSE 140 TO HEBREWS 4:15 WHICH STATES: “FOR WE HAVE NOT AN HIGH PRIEST WHICH CANNOT BE TOUCHED WITH THE FEELING OF OUR INFIRMITIES; BUT WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE, YET WITHOUT SIN.”
allah claims to distribute fortunes to see who believes…the true & living God doesnt tempt any man…
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. James 1:13-14
the word demon actually means ‘distributer of fortunes’…the true and living God doesnt distribute fortunes…His Word is not divided and He is not divided…in Christ all are one and none have more or less of the Father than another…satan is the distributor of fortunes, not God…
Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If you be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shallnot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, And said to him, If you be the Son of God, cast yourself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning you: and in their hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone. Jesus said to him, It is written again,You shall not tempt the Lord your God. Again, the devil took him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And said to him, All these things will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me. Then said Jesus to him, Get you hence, Satan: for it is written,You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. Then the devil left him, and, behold, angels came and ministered to him. Matthew 4:1-11
satan told Jesus to prove hisself by making the stones into bread…God say He gonna remove the heart of stone and give a new heart…Jesus is the bread from heaven…Jesus is from above not from beneath…satan desired that somethin from beneath be made into bread, be made acceptable to God for food [offering to God]…same what ppl do when they insist tha earthly wisdom is from God…but Jesus didnt do it…He didnt make the stones into food, He let em be stones and not food and didnt accept em…Jesus Christ is the bread tha came down from Heaven…only Him…
satan showed Jesus the city and set him on the top of the temple, as ppl do when they say Jesus is a prophet, or a great prophet or a man of miracles, etc, but have not the testimony of Jesus Christ (truth) in them…Jesus said to don’t tempt the Lord your God…& refused to be exalted by satan and by what satan considers a temple…no flesh will glory in His presence…
satan showed the kingdoms of the world and their glory and offered em to Jesus if Jesus bowed down to him and worshipped him; notice here the way to gain the kingdoms of this world is to bow down and worship satan…Jesus rebuked him and said again to worship the Lord your God only and serve Him only…ppl do the same when they throw money and the kingdoms of this world at Jesus, and frontin like Christ is exalted by the kingdoms of this world when clearly He’s not…and not only tha…He dont accept it…those who come to Christ with the kingdoms of this world and offer it to Him are doin same as satan did in these verses…and those who offer the kingdoms of this world to the Lord God as an offering, have gained the kingdoms of this world by bowin down and worshippin satan…
160. If Allah helps you, none can overcome you: If He forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you? in Allah, then, Let believers put their trust. 177. Those who purchase Unbelief at the price of faith,- not the least harm will they do to Allah, but they will have a grievous punishment. 184. Then if they reject thee, so were rejected apostles before thee, who came with Clear Signs, Books of dark prophecies, and the Book of Enlightenment. 193. “Our Lord! we have heard the call of one calling (Us) to Faith, ‘Believe ye in the Lord,’ and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, blot out from us our iniquities, and take to Thyself our souls in the company of the righteous. 199. And there are, certainly, among the People of the Book, those who believe in Allah, in the revelation to you, and in the revelation to them, bowing in humility to Allah. They will not sell the Signs of Allah for a miserable gain! For them is a reward with their Lord, and Allah is swift in account. 200. O ye who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah. that ye may prosper.
the testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Prophecy…the qur’an doesnt have the testimony of Jesus Christ…muhammed didnt have the testimony of Jesus Christ…therefore…its not prophecy…tryna compare the qur’an wit the testimony of Jesus Christ is comparin adam who was created and is dead in sin and returned to dust, to Jesus Christ, who is and was and always will be, and is the sinless, perfect Lamb of God, the only sacrifice, Jesus Christ our Lord, God & King who lives and reigns forever and who death couldnt hold him…it is a comparison between a sinful human and our Holy God. the qur’an consistently states that isa is not the Son of God and that allah has no sons and tha isa is just a prophet and also that mohammed is the last and greatest prophet; the qur’an also states tha after Jesus’ birth, he spoke and said he wasnt the son of god just a messenger and god has no sons…so…islam is a religion with its own book and beliefs…but Jesus Christ isnt a religion or a book…Jesus Christ is Lord and God and King and no man comes to Him unless the Father draws him; and no man comes to the Father except by Jesus Christ…Jesus Christ was sent by God…the qur’an wasnt sent by God or by an angel of God…its a fabrication of man’s intent to rule and reign and judge, as all religions are…and all come from men ruled by sheatan, who is the ruler of this world. the god of all religions is the ruler of this world, who Jesus Christ said is a murderer from the beginning and a liar and the father of lies & theres no truth in him, and when he lies he speaks his own. Jesus said whoever comes into the sheep fold not at the gate [Jesus Christ is the gate] is a thief and a robber…you cant come to Jesus Christ by reading lies, and you cant further your own knowledge of Jesus Christ by reading lies…false prophecies arent from God…
If one carefully examines the above verses and compares them to the New Testament, especially the Book of John and the writings of the Apostle Paul such as the Book of Romans, the parallels are very clear. I have tried to highlight some of them to demonstrate this point. I do not believe that Prophet Muhammad could have written the Qur’an himself because it has been authenticated that he was not a scholar and did not even have basic literacy. The Qur’an is a product of supernatural production even though it came through human agency. The Qur’an is a composite of both the Old Testament and the New Testament with ERROR blended into it to confuse and obfuscate humanity about THE TRUTH OF WHO JESUS OR ISA REALLY IS. However, God in His own marvelous and awesome way has allowed the Qur’an to testify to the TRUTH of the Torah and to the TRUTH of the New Testament, both of which embody and verify Jesus Christ as God’s Son. Most of all, and this is what I personally find to be the greatest indicator of the power of God in the face of darkness, is that God allows the Qur’an to testify that Jesus or Isa came from God, and is a descendent of Abraham. Further, because of the Spirit of Wisdom that God placed on Him and the Holy Spirit, He is both “unlike” and “above” any other prophets who came before Him. Likewise, Jesus or Isa is “more than” a prophet. His role, purpose and destiny is that of the Messiah and Savior of humanity. There is so much de-construction that God has showed me in comparing the Qur’an and the Bible but time or space does not permit me to demonstrate this here. It is sufficient that I have pulled out these Ayats or verses for those who are not familiar with the Qur’an so that the similarities in language can be identified.
writing a book or doing anything by a spirit doesnt mean that spirit is actually of God; hitler and every despot who ever ruled by blood, murder & tyrrany can make the same claim, tha they were empowered by a spirit…in fact not every spirit is of God, but only the Holy Spirit…as such, the Holy Spirit doesnt speak lies, doesnt give false prophecies, doesnt go against the Word of God…and doesnt speak something different just because current events or ppl or man’s languages are different…the Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus Christ, the crucifixion, the raising of Christ from the dead, the Son of God, the Lamb of God and all things which the qur’an specifically denies…ppl have accomplished many things under the power of demons in times before and modern times and they will again…and many of them claim its God who moves them, but of course thats not truth…the true and living God doesnt empower flesh or exalt it since no flesh shall glory in His presence…
as to muhammed not knowing to read or write, and the qur’an bein considered a miracle because of it, he took this idea from here:
Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, How knows this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine,but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. John 7:14-18
Jesus Christ reveals the Father and the Father reveals the Son…not books, not prophets, not religions, not flesh…any book that denies Christ, as the qur’an does repeatedly, is a lie and theres no truth in it…and its not from an angel of God since God doesnt deny Himself. ask yourself: why would the angel gabriel declare the Son of God to mary, then speak to muhammed tha jesus isnt the son of God?????? same spirit? i think not…the world is full of murderers who claim God told them to murder, fortunetellers who claim God made them to speak to the dead, & others who claim God gave em a winning lottery number, or gave em a good idea for a business or whatever…the true and living God wont ever exalt flesh or teach anyone to sin or assist anyone to sin…everything outside of Christ is sin…the truth is, the true & living God, the Father, sent and reveals Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ reveals the Father…the Holy Spirit doesnt deviate from this, and the other spirits arent sent from God. the spirit of this world exalts ppl, empowers flesh…but the fruit of the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ, not muhammed, not a book, not a religion…
Then said one to him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said to them, Strive to enter in at the straitgate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house isrisen up, and has shut to the door, and you begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord,Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not where you are: Then shall youbegin to say, We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets. But he shall say,I tell you, I know you not where you are; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity. There shall be weepingand gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in thekingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. Luke 13:23-28
we are sealed in [He has shut the door; Jesus Christ is the ark of the covenant tha we in] in the same way tha noah was sealed in the ark of the covenant when God shut him in; we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, the master of the house has risen [from the dead to the throne of God] and shut the door [the Lord sealed it, not any man; and no man is the seal, the Holy Spirit is the seal]…
And they went in to Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. Genesis 7:15-16
Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23
how does the Lord know His? by His Holy Spirit which is in His ppl…
But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:10-14
Jesus said, we will know them by their fruit…Jesus Christ is the fruit, by the indwelling Holy Spirit that is in each and every believer who is born from above…the qur’an doesnt testify about the Son of God, the Lamb of God, the crucifixion, the Father, or the Holy Spirit…the whole qur’an seems to replace the true and living God with one named allah who doesnt have the same nature or character as the true and living God, the Father of Jesus…
As I started to find these inconsistencies in the Qur’an about Jesus, the Old Testament and the Gospel. God finally led me back to studying His Word. In fact I had a Yusuf Ali translation of the Qur’an which is filled with Old Testatament references in the footnotes. As I read my Qur’an I would have the Bible beside me; and, I would check out the footnotes and all the other cross references provided by Yusuf Ali. Eventually I found myself reading the Bible more and more as I did at age 12.
the qur’an preaches another jesus, not the true and faithful witness Jesus Christ, Lord, God & King…
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4
When it became clear to me that a substantial part of the Qur’an is based on the Old Testament or the Torah I found myself in a synagogue because as “a seeker of the truth” I wanted to know more about God. To say that I found no peace is an understatement. I just could not get the idea of God out of my head and I could not drown out the noise or the cognitive dissonance about Jesus Christ. One Sabbath after the reading of the Torah they proceeded to what is known as the HafTorah or the readings of the Prophets. The reading started with Isaiah Chapter 50 and went to Chapter 51 and 52. Chapter 53 was skipped and then 54 was read. I was bewildered as to why Chapter 53 was not read. I had never in my life read the book of Isaiah far less this Chapter. My curiosity piqued and I started to read Chapter 53. As my head was lowered to the Bible I could see a bright light overshadowing me. In the midst of this light I could see the bottom of a white linen robe. Then I felt a warmth surging through my body and then unstoppable tears kept streaming down my face, even wetting the Bible. At that moment I knew WHO Jesus was and I could see Jesus standing right around me and His glory penetrated my soul. I left the synagogue and never returned. This was the experience that brought me home to my Lord and Savior. Then I had several other encounters where Jesus demonstrated His presence to me in unmistakable ways.
if you born from above, you are a new creation in Christ Jesus…walk in the newness of life and dont turn back to the old ways and the things of your childhood…as paul said, when i became a man, i let go of the things of childhood…
No man puts a piece of new cloth to an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up takes from thegarment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break,and the wine runs out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. Matthew 9:16-17
I have been very blessed to watch this video and I hope that many more Christians will reach out to Muslims. One thing I can say is that Muslims revere and love God whom they call Allah. Unfortunately Christianity does not place emphasis on addressing God by His proper name since the word “God” is not His name. His name is “The Lord God of Hosts, the Holy One of Israel”. God also refers to Himself as “The Lord” (Yahweh) over and over again in His Word and emphasizes that this is His name. Christians should, as our Jewish brothers and sisters do, start to refer to “God” in the manner befitting His Glory. The word “God” is a generic term in the same way that “brother” or “baby” are generic terms. We would not refer to our relative as “brother” or to our child as “baby”. Instead we call them by the endearing names we have chosen for them. I am aso fascinated by the fact that God places such importance on names that whenever He changes a person’s character He changes their name to reflect the new character as in the case of Abram whom he re-named “Abraham”, Sarai who became “Sarah”, Jacob whom he called “Israel”, and Saul whom Jesus himself renamed Paul. As Christians we should truly endeavor to address our Creator by what He says is His Name as in He tells us throughout His Word, for example as in: Zechariah 1:17; Zechariah 3:7, 10; Isaiah 54:5; 1Kings 22-23;25,26; Judges 5:3 and Isaiah 43:1-3.
Jesus is the name above all names…and…at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father…
The hearts of Muslims are eagerly awaiting a true understanding of Who Jesus Is and many Muslims have been fascinated when I tell them of Isaiah 53 which foretold the birth of Jesus some 7-800 years before His birth and also Micah 5:2. Further, when I point them to many other passages in the Old Testament which prophesy the Second Coming of Jesus, such as Zechariah 3:8; Zechariah 14:4; and Malachi 3:1, and ask them to look at these Scriptures in light of the Hadith by Prophet Muhammad which states that Jesus or Isa will be the earth’s “final Iman”, many of them are speechless and dumbfounded.
God said no man seeks after Him, no not one…there is none righteous…
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Romans 3:10-18
The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that does good, no, not one. Psalm 14:2-3
And you has he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins Wherein in time past you walked according to