Just Who IS the “God” of the Christian Church?
And What Does This Say About God?
Lorraine Day, M.D.
Most Christians believe that Salvation is about US – people – it is about US being saved. But Salvation is really about God and who He is – and what He is able to do.
When God speaks of salvation - bringing us out of sin and restoring us to Him – He points out that He does not do it because we are so good or deserving, but because HE is so good! Salvation is all about God – not about us.
“Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not do this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen (unbelievers) wherever you went.
“And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the heathen (unbelievers), which ye have profaned in the midst of them: and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God. . .” Ezekiel 36:22,23
Christians believe they are taking the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. They say they believe in the God of the Bible. They say they believe in the Bible and the Bible only. They say their doctrines are biblically correct.
How can one identify that “God”?
It is impossible to know if a person is a Communist by the way he dresses, or eats, or walks. The only way to know if a person is a Communist is by what he believes. A Communist believes in the Ten Planks of the Communist Manifesto. A Communist will live by those “principles.” His life will exemplify those “principles. His actions will reveal what he believes. His actions will reveal his character.
It is impossible to know if a person is a Constitutionalist by the way he dresses, or eats, or walks. The only way to know if a person is a Constitutionalist is by what he believes. A Consitutionalist believes in the Constitution of the United States of America and the Bill of Rights, and the principles therein. His life will exemplify those principles. His actions will reveal what he believes. His actions will reveal his character.
Just Who IS the “God” of the Christian Church?
The only way to know who is the “God” of the Christian Church is by the doctrines the Christian Churches espouse and believe. Those doctrines will define the character of the “God” the Christian Church worships. God’s actions will reveal His character.
Are you aware that there is a group who call themselves “Christians” who are teaching the following?
That God is NOT omnipotent
That Jesus’ death on the cross was NOT sufficient for the salvation of the world?
That God does NOT fulfill His promises?That God has lost control of His creation?
That God requires the same type of sacrifices to “appease” Him that are required by pagan gods?
And yet, they masquerade as “Christians” – a word that means a follower of Jesus Christ.
God is a Coward!
Just who are these people? And how can they blaspheme Christ in this way?
Let’s examine the major doctrines endorsed and embraced by virtually ALL “Christian” denominations, and learn what these doctrines SAY about the God they worship!
Doctrine of Hellfire: The Christian Church teaches that those who do not accept Jesus Christ will burn in hellfire, either forever, or for as long as they deserve. Therefore, the “God” of the Christian church will burn sinners forever, or as long as they deserve. (The variation depends on the denomination to which you belong.)
Who is the “God” who requires human burning sacrifices to appease him?
A. When Jesus and His disciples were passing through Samaria on their way to Jerusalem, the Samaritans wanted nothing to do with Jesus.
Upset by the insulting behavior of the Samaritans, disciples James and John said to Jesus:“Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did?
“But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. (Ed. Obviously the spirit of the devil.)
“For the Son of man is NOT come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Luke 9:51-56
Jesus was horrified at His disciples’ suggestion. He responded, “I do NOT burn people to death. That is the spirit of Satan.”
B. The Israelites had gone so far into apostasy that they were offering their children as human burning sacrifices to the pagan god, Molech.
God strongly rebuked their apostasy and outright paganism when He said,
“And they built the high places of Baal (Satan) which are in the valley of Hinnom, to cause their sons and daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech, which I commanded them not, neither came it into My mind, that they should do this abomination.” Jer 32:35
God was telling the Israelites, “Burning people alive is an abomination in My eyes. I have NEVER commanded you to do this, neither has it ever come into My mind. That is the Spirit of Satan. Satan is the one who demands human burning sacrifices.”
C. When the Israelites had been taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar, the pagan ruler of the evil one world government of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, three young Israelites captives had been chosen for a place in the government, as Daniel had, because of their wisdom and vigor.
The king had built a pagan statue and demanded that all bow down to show homage and allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar. The penalty for disobedience was a painful death in the fiery furnace.
The three young Israelites refused to bow down to anyone other than their God.
Nebuchadnezzar was enraged and ordered his servants to make the fiery furnace seven times hotter than usual. Soldiers were commanded to bind the three young men and throw them into the burning fiery furnace. The fire was so hot that the soldiers that threw them in were slain by the heat.
Yet Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not burned up. Only the ropes that bound them – representing the bondage of sin – were burned. Even though only three men were thrown into the fire, Nebuchadnezzar saw a fourth “Man” – obviously Jesus.
The king said, ‘Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? . . .Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:24,25
When Nebuchadnezzar ordered that they be removed from the fire, “the fire had no power over their bodies, nor was a hair of their head singed, neither were their clothes affected, nor had the smell of fire passed on them.” vs. 27
Evil King Nebuchadnezzar represented Satan. He demanded human burning sacrifices for those who refused to pay homage to him. But Jesus – the Son of God - was the one in the fire with the three young men, protecting them from Satan’s wrath.
This true story reveals to us that it is Satan who requires human burning sacrifices. Jesus, on the other hand, was in the fire with the three young men to protect them from the burning fiery furnace.
So who is the “God” who requires human burning sacrifices for their disobedience? Who is the “God” whose doctrine includes a burning hellfire?
It is NOT the God of the Bible. It is NOT Jesus Christ – who is the Visible form of the Invisible God.
It is Satan!
Doctrine of Freewill: Most Christians - and non-Christians - believe that human beings have "free will." They reason that if we don't have free will then we must embrace the doctrine of fatalism, meaning, there's nothing we can do about anything anyway because it's all worked out ahead of time - as in the doctrine of predestination. Because this issue has an important bearing on the character of God, we must find out what the Bible teaches.
God's word does not support the doctrine of "free will", nor does it support the concept of fatalism. The Bible does speak of "free will" offerings, but on the other hand, God says He is operating ALL in accord with the counsel of His own will." (Eph 1:11, Rom 8:28) But these two doctrines, though seemingly opposites, can be harmonized. One doctrine happens to be the divine viewpoint and the other, the human viewpoint.
If God "is operating ALL in accord with the counsel of His OWN WILL," then everything must be pre-arranged. "If everything is pre-arranged, then what is the use of doing anything?" you may ask. How can God be running EVERYTHING, and yet human beings also have free will?
We must understand that man does not have "free will" even when he thinks he does. Why do corporations pay a million dollars per minute to advertise during the Super Bowl game? Because it works! Why does it work? Because if you repeat something often enough, people will respond to it and do what you want them to do -- buy your product. They will be influenced consciously or subconsciously, to change their mind and do something they hadn't intended to do. Their "free will" has been manipulated by someone else!
Sophisticated research has been carried out for many decades to develop methods to change peoples’ minds about a product or an issue, political or religious. We make our decisions based on a combination of what we see and experience as well as what is in our subconscious. Yet we have very little control over what is in our subconscious. Many circumstances in our lives are not under our control, yet these same circumstances, in conjunction with our subconscious mind, are a large part of our ultimate decision-making.
Many persons imagine that they are carrying out their own “free will” when, in fact, they are really carrying out the will of another who has a subtler intellect than their own.
The Christian Church teaches that God has given mankind “free will” and if He had not, we would all be like robots or puppets.
The verses generally used to support this doctrine of “Free Will” are the following:
Joshua 24:15 “Choose you this day whom you will serve.”
Deuteronomy 30:19 "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.
John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
John 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and [before] Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep [this] commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing.
What about God’s Free Will?
But if we have Free Will, where did we obtain it? From God, of course. Then if we have Free Will and God has Free Will, if our “wills” clash, who wins?
If God wins, then we do NOT have Free Will.
But if WE win, then we have dethroned God and we have made ourselves into our own little “god.” When we no longer abide in God’s will, the only conclusion is that we are now under Satan’s will.
There is only one independent "free will” in the universe, and that is the will of God. In order to bring about His purpose, men must not be aware that they "live and move and have their being" in Him. The false "free will" that men believe they have, is the result of man being oblivious to God's ways. God provides opposition to His truth in order to make Himself known. Men imagine that their will is independent of God's will. Since they are unable to understand the intricacies that make up their own decisions, they delude themselves into thinking that their will is independent.
The theory of man's "free will" actually elevates man ABOVE God!
There is NO question about God. He WILLS that ALL men be saved (1 Tim 2:4), but, according to Christian theology, He is impotent to carry out His will. Yet, on the other hand, when man wills NOT to be saved, he apparently is omnipotent, and God Himself can do nothing to save him against his will! This is deification of man and dethronement of God!
God can manage even the greatest of men with ease as seen in Revelation 17:17. Everyone today knows how difficult it is to get the rulers of various nations to agree. Yet the ten kings are led by God Himself in their opposition to His will! "God imparts to their hearts to form His opinion," and to be unanimous in it.
“For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill HIS will, and to agree (be of one mind), and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.” Revelation 17:17
If God can do that with ten world powers at the zenith of their might, it will be nothing at all for Him to turn human hearts toward Himself. Undoubtedly, the ten kings will pride themselves on carrying out their own "free will." No man is conscious of what is put in his heart. It is God Who "locks all up together in stubbornness" (Romans 11:32). He Who locks, can also unlock.
"The case of Pharaoh is the classic example of the gulf between God's will and God's intention. God's revealed will was very plain. He said, "Let My people go!" Eventually, Israel was liberated. But the account clearly shows that God's intention included more than His revealed will, and that it also involved opposition to His will. God's revealed will, what Israel understood, was limited to the release of Israel. But His intention was to display His own power and glorify His Name in all the earth through the process. This is given to us as an example of God's complete purpose - and of the process by which He will attain it. God uses both ignorance of, and opposition to, His will, to bring about His final object – His ultimate intention.
“But it is obvious that God could not have revealed His intention. He could not tell Pharaoh that while He asked him to let the people go, he really did not want him to comply, but desired to use him as a foil for the revelation of God's power. This would actually make a mere machine out of Pharaoh. Instead, it was the ignorance of God's ultimate object, which made the whole procedure real to the actors in it. They did not by any means feel or act as mere puppets. Notwithstanding that each and every one was doing precisely what was needed to accomplish God's final goal." (3)
God used Joseph’s brothers in the same way. They hated Joseph and initially wanted to kill him. They cruelly sold him into slavery and lied to their father, Jacob, saying Joseph had been killed by wild animals. Josephs’ brothers believed they were accomplishing their OWN will.
But they were actually carrying out God’s will – getting Joseph into Egypt to eventually become second into command to Pharaoh – to save the country of Egypt - AND his family - from starvation. His family became part of the fledgling group of Israelites, a nation that God eventually led into the Promised Land.
After their father Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers were afraid he would have them killed for their heinous crime against him. They decided to plead for their lives.
“And his brothers went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we are thy servants.
“And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
“But as for you, you intended evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Genesis 50:18-20
Joseph’s brothers thought they were carrying out their OWN will, but in their ignorance, they actually were carrying out God’s ultimate intention!
The highest expression of God's wisdom lies in His ability to transform every effort against Him into that which is not only favorable to His plan, but absolutely essential to His purpose. Truth needs opposition for its development and dissemination.
God always brings something good out of something bad. When all is over, there will be a perfected universe. We will not be worrying about our past sins, but we will be overwhelmed with God's wisdom and love in their vindication. He will bring good out of every sinful act. In absolute reality, every sin will be justified by God turning it into something good. This is true "Justification."
This teaching gives us stability, and a calm confidence in the face of chaotic conditions that surround us. But we are not worried as we once were by the awful opposition to God's will. We know that God will fulfill His purpose. The deluge of evil and sin, however contrary it may be to His will, is essential and indispensable to His ultimate intention.
God is a Deity infinite in power, matchless in wisdom, limitless in His affections, Who is "operating ALL in accord with the counsel of His OWN WILL." (Eph 1:11) In Old Testament times, "God hardened Pharaoh's heart (Ex 10:20). So also today, "whom He is willing, He is hardening." (Rom 9:17,18)
God's ultimate intention is to become ALL in His creatures. (1 Cor 15:28) Will He accomplish this by giving each person an independent "will" so that they may be His rivals in the regulation of the universe? Is total chaos the end that God has in view? Of course not. That's why every creature in creation now "lives and moves and has their being in God!" (Acts 17:28)
God created every one of us. He is responsible for us, just as parents are responsible for the children they bring into the world. We had no choice to be anything but a sinner. God's plan is to reconcile ALL to Him (Col 1:20)
“For it please the Father that in Him (Jesus) should all fullness dwell;
“And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him (Jesus) to reconcile ALL unto Himself: by Him, I say, whether they be on earth or in heaven.” Col 1:19,20
When parents give birth to children, it is their obligation to take care of them. By the same reasoning, God created us and He knew we would all be sinners, surrounded by darkness. He too, has an obligation to care for us, just as we have an obligation to care for our children.
It would be cruel for God to give us total free will, to allow us to be completely on our own when He knows we are incapable of running our lives. We don't know what's going to happen in the next year, in the next day, nor even in the next hour. But God does. To leave us on our own would be the same as taking our seven year-old child to the center of New York City, leaving him there and saying, "You're on your own!" No responsible parent would do that. Neither would God leave us in a similar situation.
How comforting to know that God cares so much for us that He is not willing to let us drift through life with our own "free will." Instead He is in control. He is operating ALL in accord with the counsel of HIS OWN WILL" (Eph 1:11) and His WILL is:
“. . . that NONE should perish, but ALL should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
God will eventually lead EVERY ONE He has created - back to Him.
There is room for ONLY ONE "WILL" in this world. God WILL be ALL in ALL (1 Cor 15:28). His WILL alone, is irresistible. His will is the ONLY will that will prevail. Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I WILL DRAW ALL unto Me." (John 12:32). (1)(2)(3) Knoch, A.E. The Problem of Evil...the Judgments of God. Concordant Publishing Concern.
Who came up with the Doctrine of “Free Will”?
In the Garden of Eden, the Serpent (Satan) tempted Eve with fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, the fruit that God had forbidden Adam and Eve to eat. Satan planted doubt in Eve’s mind - doubt that God had her best interests at heart.
Satan claimed that God was deliberately withholding wisdom from Adam and Eve, saying,
“For God doth know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5
Satan told Eve that if she ate the fruit of the tree, she would be as God – she would become her own “god.” She would have “Free Will” and would no longer be subservient to God’s Will.
Who is the author of the “Christian” Doctrine of Free Will?
The Christian Church teaches the Doctrine of “Free Will.” But who is the author of that Doctrine? Is it God or Satan?
The words are right out of the mouth of Satan, the serpent, in the Garden of Eden.
“. . . You shall be as God. . .” Genesis 3:5
Satan is the author of the Doctrine of Free Will – NOT God.
3. Immortality of the Soul:
The Christian Church teaches that when a person dies, he does not really cease to exist because the “soul is immortal.” The “dead” person just changes form – into a spirit – and wafts off to heaven, still having the same intelligence and brainpower, maybe even more, than he had when he was in his body before death.
Yet, there are many Bible texts that confirm that when we’re dead – we’re dead. We don’t know anything.
There are at least 25 Bible texts that tell us that death is a sleep, and that when a person is dead, he remains in the grave and he has no thoughts. He is in a state of lack of consciousness. He knows NOTHING! He is not in heaven or in hell. He is in the grave and knows nothing.
Here are a few of those texts:
1) For the living know that they will die, BUT THE DEAD KNOW NOTHING; they have no further reward, for even the memory of them is forgotten.
Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now PERISHED; neither have they any share in anything that is done under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:5,6
2) Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. Ecclesiastes 9:10
3) Turn, O Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. No one remembers You when he is dead. Who praises You from the grave? Psalm 6:4,5
4) And the Lord formed man of the DUST of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the BREATH of LIFE, and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 (The Creation of Man)
5) Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their breath departs, they return to the ground; on that very day, their thoughts perish Psalm 146:3,4 (The Death of Man = the REVERSE of Creation: Their breath returns to God, their body returns to Dust, and their thoughts CEASE.)
6) Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the breath shall return unto God Who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7
7) The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence. Psalm 115:17
8) Jesus Christ...the King of kings and Lord of lords, Who ALONE is immortal 1 Timothy 6:15,16. ONLY God is immortal!
9) For the grave cannot praise You, death cannot sing Your praise; Isaiah 38:18
10) The soul who sins, SHALL die. Ezekiel 18:4 (It will NOT just change into another form.)
11) But the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said "You shall NOT eat of it, neither shall you touch it, or you will die!" Genesis 3:3 (Eve is telling, Satan the Adversary who has taken the form of a serpent, what God has told Adam and Eve.)
12) And the serpent (Satan) said unto the woman: "You will NOT surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will become as gods, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4,5
This is the FIRST GREAT DECEPTION; Satan said "If you sin, you WON'T die, instead you will become as gods!" This is still the theme, AND the continuing DECEPTION, of the New Age Religion.
It is also the GREAT DECEPTION of the “Christian” religions who teach that a person does NOT really die. Instead, he or she just changes form (transitions) and their “soul” wafts off to heaven.
The False Doctrine of the “Immortality of the Soul” – “You can sin and NOT die, even though God said you would” – is right out of the mouth of Satan in the Garden of Eden.
In addition, if people did go to heaven when they died, why would God tell us we are NOT to communicate with the dead (necromancy). God declares necromancy an abomination!
“There shall not be found among you any one who maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits (spiritualism) or a wizard, or a necromancer (one who communicates with the dead). Deut 18:10-13
What does that say about God?
It says that God is withholding something “good” from his people by telling them they are NOT to communicate with their dead relatives. That is exactly the accusation Satan made against God in the Garden of Eden.
But God is NOT withholding something “good” from His people. He is warning them that these “spirits” who pretend to be our dead relatives are actually demonic entities impersonating our dead relatives – spiritualism.
So, who is the author of the false doctrine of the “Immortality of the Soul”?
It is Satan, and NOT God!
(For more on this subject, see www.goodnewsaboutgod.com - click on Spiritual Truth and see the Bible study entitled “What Happens When We Die?”)
4) Sunday Sacredness
Almost the whole Christian world worships on Sunday, the first day of the week, the day of the pagan Sun god. The reason, they say, is that Jesus was resurrected on Sunday.
But Jesus was NOT resurrected on Sunday. He was resurrected on the Seventh-day Sabbath. (Please see the Bible study entitled “Was Jesus Really Resurrected on Sunday?” at www.goodnewsaboutgod.com)
God commanded that we keep HIS Seventh day – Saturday – holy, NOT Sunday. The Seventh-day Sabbath is a memorial of God’s creation.
“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days thou shalt labor and do all thy work but the Seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord they God. In it thou shalt not do any work . . . . For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested (literal: stopped His work) on the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8-11
The Seventh-day Sabbath is also a memorial of God’s Re-creation – His redemption of the world.
“Keep the Sabbath day holy, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labor and do all they work, but the Seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work. . .Remember that thou was a slave in the land of Egypt (symbolic for the bondage of sin), and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm (deliverance from sin): therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to observe the Sabbath day.” Deut 5:12-15
The memorial of the death and resurrection of Jesus is NOT “worshiping on Sunday” – it is the rite of baptism by immersion (NOT sprinkling).
“Know ye not, that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
“Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly shall we be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” Romans 6:3-5
But weren’t the Ten Commandments done away with at the cross? We don’t have to keep them anymore, do we?
Wasn't that the Old Covenant? Aren't we now under the New Covenant - Grace - rather than the Law?
Remember, God wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger - in stone! This was one of ONLY two times we are told that He wrote anything for us, Himself. He obviously wanted us to understand its importance. They were written in stone because they were to be everlasting. It was the ONLY thing placed INSIDE the ark. The Ordinances, or Mosaic laws, were placed in the SIDE of the ark along with Aaron's rod that budded.
There is NOWHERE in the Bible that Jesus, either before or after his death and resurrection, tells us He changed His day of worship. In Col 2:13, Paul tells us that God "blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was AGAINST US, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross."
Certainly, the Ten Commandments are NOT “against us” nor “contrary to us.” If the Ten Commandments were blotted out and nailed to the Cross, that would mean it's now acceptable to lie, steal, murder, commit adultery, worship idols and profane God's name. The ordinances referred to here were the Mosaic laws, the system of feasts and animal sacrifices. THESE were done away with at the Cross because their purpose was remind the Israelites to look forward to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the salvation of the world.
The Ten Commandments were NOT “done away with at the cross.”
It's interesting to note that when Christians talk of the Law, the Ten Commandments, being nailed to the Cross, the ONLY commandment that is abandoned is the Fourth Commandment, the Seventh-day Sabbath Commandment. All the others are kept intact.
The Old Covenant was the Ten Commandments on Stone.
At Sinai, when God was leading the Israelites through the desert, God wanted to talk to them directly – to lead each one of them individually by putting His law – His Ten Commandments – His disposition, into each of their hearts.
But the Israelites refused to have God lead them directly and individually. They wanted a human intermediary – Moses.
At Mt. Sinai:
“When all the people say the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off.
“And they said unto Moses, You speak with us, and we will hear: but do NOT let God speak with us, lest we die.” Genesis 20:18.19
Because they would not let God “write His law on their hearts” He had to write His law on tables of stone. But they would not be able to keep His law when written on stone. That was the Old Covenant – the Ten Commandments written on stone. But their hearts would not be changed and they would have NO power to keep the law.
They wanted a human intermediary in between them and God. In their case, it was Moses. In today’s Christian world, it is the minister or pastor. People don’t want God to teach them directly through their own diligent Bible study and prayer alone with God. Instead, they want to be part of a church with a pastor to lead and teach them, just like the Israelites in the wilderness wanted Moses.
The New Covenant, God says, is NOT abolishing the Law, but putting the LAW, the Ten Commandments, in our minds and in our hearts.
Heb 8:10 says,
"For this is the NEW COVENANT that I will make with the house of Israel saith the Lord: I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts." God wants us to keep the commandments, by His grace and power, because we agree that is the right way to live, NOT just because God has told us to.
The New Covenant is the SAME law, but instead of being written on stone as the Old Covenant was, it is now written in our minds and on our hearts. So we DO right, because it IS right - because we want to do right, not because we have to!
When Jesus Christ puts His disposition – His character - in us, our very nature is changed. And ultimately, we will have NO inclination to sin.
“Walk in the Spirit (God’s breath of holiness), and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. . . If ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18
The Fruits of the Spirit
Then we will exhibit the fruits – the results – of the spirit of God, God’s character exhibited in our lives.
“But the fruit of the Spirit (of God) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control: Against such there is NO law.” Galatians 5:22,23
We are NOT “under the law” when we are KEEPING the law. When we are keeping the law, the law has no authority over us. The law cannot discipline us for breaking the law – because we are automatically keeping the law. Our nature has been changed. We no longer have any inclination to break the Law.
The Works of the Flesh
When we are not exhibiting the nature of Jesus Christ, we are doing the Works of the Flesh. Then we are “under the law” because we are doing things that are contrary to the Law of God – and the Law of God has authority over us and disciplines us for violating the Law.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, contentions, jealousies, wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
“Envyings, murders, drunkenness, reveilings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
So, when Christ has given us His life, we are no longer under the law. We are under grace – which means that we are perfectly keeping the Law because Christ has given us His nature and character.
The “Law” is now in our heart!
Who is responsible for Sunday Sacredness?
Jesus kept the Sabbath (and Jesus was NOT a Jew. Jesus was God – and God is NOT “Jewish.”) All of the disciples of Jesus continued to keep the Seventh-day Sabbath after Jesus was resurrected and went to heaven. The early believers ALL kept the Seventh-day Sabbath.
Sunday-keeping came into being in about the fourth or fifth century after Christ, with Emperor Constantine who was trying to increase his power by amalgamating paganism and Christianity, and also with the beginnings of the Catholic Church.
Sunday is the First day of the week – the day of pagan worship of the sun god – the worship of creation, nature, and man’s reproductive ability, rather than the worship of the Creator.
Paganism is of Satan. Sunday worship is Pagan. God has commanded us to worship on His day – the Seventh-day Saturday.
What does Sunday worship Say About God?
The “god” of the day of the sun is a pagan god, NOT the God of the Bible. God’s day is the Seventh-day Sabbath.
When the “Christian” Church is worshiping on Sunday, they are worshiping on the pagan day of the Sun – Satan’s day.
Is Sunday the “Lord’s Day”?
No, the Seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) is the Lord’s Day.
The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:8
5) The Trinity
Throughout the Bible, God refers to Himself as “One God” – NOT “three in one.”
“Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is ONE Lord.” Deut 6:4
When Philip asked Jesus to “Show us the Father.” Jesus responded,
“Have I been with you so long, Philip, and you don’t know ME.”
He that has seen ME, has seen the Father.” John 14:9
“And they shall call His name Emmanuel, meaning “God with us.” Matthew 1:23
Jesus was and is:
“. . . the express image of God.” Hebrews 1:3
The reason the “Christian” church had to come up with doctrine of the Trinity – the idea that God the Father and Jesus Christ (and the “Holy Spirit” – literal translation: God’s Breath of Holiness) were two separate beings (but somehow still “One”) with two separate personalities, is that Christianity could not “sell” the idea that Jesus could destroy His children by burning them in Hellfire – whether for a while, or forever!
After all, during the entire life of Jesus on earth, He never hurt anyone. He never injured or killed anyone. In fact, He allowed the children He created to murder Him in the most painful way possible – by death on the cross.
In order to justify “eternal Hellfire” and the “permanent destruction of the wicked” of the majority of ALL those God has created - His children – the theologians had to separate the character of God from that of Jesus.
Everyone knows that Jesus was – and is – kind, gentle and loving. But the “Christian” God is a vengeful, Killer God who will burn up the majority of His children. So it was necessary to separate Jesus and God into two different personalities.
But the many texts in the Bible tell us that Jesus IS God – but in human form.
God is Invisible:
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be] honour and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17
Jesus is the Visible from of the Invisible God.
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Col 1:15
Jesus was – and is – God in human form.
God sent His “Son” to Die on the Cross
The idea that God sent His “Son” rather than coming to earth to die on the Cross Himself, suggests that God is a coward. Would any human father send his son – instead of going himself – to do a hazardous, life-threatening job? He would be branded a despicable, unloving, selfish father.
Yet, Christianity says that it was heroic for God to send “His only Son” to die, rather than God coming Himself, because “it would hurt God so much more to watch His Son die.”
No. God came to earth Himself – as Jesus Christ. It was God Himself who died on the cross. When on earth as Jesus Christ, He referred to Himself as the “Son” of God because He was “walking our walk” – showing us that if we keep close to the Father, as He did when He was on earth, that we can live a holy life as He did. God refers to us as His sons and daughters. WE are daughters and sons of God.
When Jesus was on earth, because He was walking “our” walk, He referred to Himself as a “Son of God.”
Christians always have a problem with this. They can’t imagine how God could be two places at once, even though they have no problem believing that the “Holy Spirit” can be in 6 Billion places at once.
It is no problem for God to be in two places at once – or 5,000 places at once – or 6 billion places at once. He is GOD! After all, He IS omnipresent.
6) God only heals us “if it is His will.”
Members of the Christian Church are dying from disease at the same rate as that of Unbelievers, yet God has promised to:
“. . . forgive ALL our sins, and heal ALL of our diseases.” Psalm 103:3
But only if we follow HIS health plan instead of following the medical plans of the “world” – following “man” (doctors).
“IF you follow My laws, My Commandments, and My decrees . . . the Lord will take away from you all sickness.” Deut 7:11-15
Yet the Christian Church teaches that sometimes God heals and sometimes He doesn’t. He will heal you “if it is His will.”
But it is always God’s will to heal use. All we must do is “follow His laws, His commandments and His decrees.”
The Christian church teaches that Christians get sick because “we live in a sinful world.” Yet, God says we get sick because WE are sinful. We have a carnal heart and refuse to follow “His laws, commandments and decrees.”
God has given us the way to stay well and/or Get Well from EVERY disease. But the Christian church teaches that God heals on a “whim.” “Sometimes it’s His will, and sometimes it’s NOT!”
What does that say about God?
It says that He is up in heaven “flipping a coin.” “Maybe I will, and maybe I won’t. Let’s see how I feel today.”
But that totally misrepresents God’s character. God loves us more than we love our own children. It is always His Will to heal us.
All we must do, is follow His directions: His laws (including His Ten Health Laws), His Commandments (ALL Ten of them – including the Seventh-day, Saturday, Sabbath) and His Decrees (including learning to LOVE our enemies, including learning to FORGIVE everyone who has ever wronged us, including learning to be Unselfish, including learning to truly TRUST in
7) The “Organized Church”: is it ordained by God?
Church: Who Started It?
Who Came Up With the Idea of a “Church” - with an organization - and a building - where people sit down - and hear a sermon
It certainly WASN’T God!
The goal of this Bible study is:
1) to show that Christianity is not a religion. It is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!
2) to show that God never gave any directions for, never endorsed, and never intended that His followers would form government-approved and licensed corporations, with membership, payment of “dues”, with self-appointed leaders hired and paid for by these organizations, to teach the members a specific set of doctrines acceptable to the specific organization, a set of doctrines endorsed by a human committee.
3) to show that Jesus, during His entire ministry on earth, including the time right before He was going to be crucified, never made any preparations for the setting up of an “Organized Church.” In fact, everything He did and said indicated that He did not want an “Organized Church” in any shape or form.
4) to show that His disciples were constantly trying to get Jesus to form an “Organized Church” as they were continually arguing about “who would be the greatest in His Kingdom” (Mark 9:34) and “who would sit on His right hand and His left.” (Mark 10:35-38) But Jesus would have nothing to do with that. He said, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” (John 8:36)
5) to show that God said, “I just want to be your God and I want you to be my people.” (Hebrews 8:10) (NO middlemen!)
The Israelites in the Wilderness
When the Israelites were brought out of Egypt by God, with Moses as God’s representative, there was no building where people came to assemble to hear a sermon.
In Exodus, Chapter 19, God told Moses that He wanted to meet with the people and talk to them directly. God appeared in fire and smoke on Mt. Sinai while the people were gathered, outdoors, at the foot of Mt. Sinai.
“And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify (consecrate) them today and tomorrow and let them wash their clothes
“And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.” Exodus 19:10,11
“And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that were in the camp trembled in awe.
And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
“And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered Him by a voice.
Then God spoke the Ten Commandments, as given in Exodus 20:1-17. But Exodus 20:18,19 describe how the people reacted.
“And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, ‘Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let NOT God speak with us, lest we die!
We want a Middleman!
The people were afraid of God and did not want Him to talk to them directly. They wanted a human intermediary, Moses, to talk to God and then Moses would talk to the people. In this way, the people refused to have a personal relationship with God.
The Exodus from Egypt occurred at Passover. The Ten Commandments were given to the people at the time of Pentecost, fifty days after the Exodus, the time when God wanted to begin putting His Spirit, His disposition, into each of the Israelites. But they refused to deal with God directly.
(So, Pentecost – with the outpouring of God’s “Spirit” – God’s disposition placed in the heart - had to wait for another 2,000 years – until after Jesus was crucified and resurrected and the disciples of Christ were in the Upper Room. Finally, Christ’s followers were willing to allow Christ to put His Spirit in them, to begin changing them into His image.)
Because the Israelites in the wilderness wanted an intermediary between them and God, God set up the Sanctuary, the Sanctuary service, and the system of Priests, who were designated to be the intermediaries between the Israelites and God (between man and God). But we must clearly see that this was not God’s original intention. His original intention was to speak with the individual Israelites directly, not through an intermediary!
In Exodus, Chapter 21, God gave the Israelites a whole list of civil laws to follow. However, these were only given after the Israelites had refused to be ruled individually – and directly - by God. They, instead, wanted to be led by man, in this instance – Moses.
If the Israelites had allowed God to put His Spirit, His disposition, into them individually, God could have, at that time, written the Law – the Ten Commandments – on their hearts, so they would Do Right because it Is Right, not just because they were afraid of God and His “punishments.”
Ten Commandments on Stone – Not in the Heart!
But because they refused His offer to deal with them individually and directly by writing the Law on their hearts, God had to write the Ten Commandments on Tables of Stone, to show the Israelites that when the Ten Commandments are on Stone and not in their hearts, they would have no power to do what is right. They, instead, would become hopelessly rebellious and keep turning away from God. They would repeatedly become involved in Pagan and Satanic religious practices.
So God set up the Sanctuary and the Sanctuary Service to give the Israelites what they wanted – a human intermediary between God and man.
Please note that this is an illustration of God’s “wrath” – God giving people what they want, when they want to do it their way, rather than God’s way.
Paul, in Romans 1:18,24,26,28 defines God’s wrath as “giving us over” to our earthly lusts and desires, to eventually reap what we have sown.
But also note that the Sanctuary in the wilderness was just a small tent. It had no place for the people to come in and sit down and hear a sermon. Furthermore, only the priests were allowed to go inside the Sanctuary, not the common people!
In the entire Old Testament, God made no provision for any type of religious service in which people would assemble into a building, or even a regular weekly assembly outdoors, to hear a sermon or any other religious service.
Neither the word “church” nor the word “synagogue” appear anywhere in the Old Testament.
So, for 4,000 years, God made no provision for people to assemble together for a man, a human being (priest, rabbi, or minister), to tell them about God!
God’s presence was visible to the Israelites as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. And later, God’s presence resided in the Most Holy Place in the Sanctuary, where no one but the High Priest could enter, and even then, he could enter only once a year.
In the Old Testament, God spoke of His followers as the “Chosen” people, “Chosen” to exhibit His character to the other nations, a job given them at which they failed miserably!
The word “church” never appears in the Old Testament. In addition, the word “synagogue” never appears in the Old Testament - - - - except for one time that it has been improperly and inaccurately translated (more precisely - “written in!”) by the translators. And that is in Psalm 74:8
King James Version:
“They said in their hearts, Let us destroy (margin says: oppress) them together; they have burned up all the synagogues (margin says: meeting places) in the land.”
The word mistranslated “synagogues” is the word Hebrew mowadah which means: an appointed time, or a feast, not a meeting place or a synagogue. It refers to a “time” or “event”, not a place! Indeed, the Septuagint, which is the Hebrew Old Testament translated into Greek, translates this Hebrew word mowadah as “feasts.”
Septuagint Version:
“They have said in their heart, even all their kindred together, Come, let us abolish the feasts of the Lord from the earth.”
The New Testament:
The word “synagogue” and the word “church” appear in the Bible only in the New Testament. The first time the word “synagogue” is used in the New Testament is in Matthew 12:9
The Intertestamental period, the period between the Old Testament and the New Testament, was approximately 400 years in length. No books of the Bible were written during that time. It was apparently during this time that the tradition was instituted of people coming together weekly, in a building, to sit down, and listen to a sermon or a teaching by a human being telling people about God.
Nowhere in the Bible is there any indication that God wanted, or approved of, an “Organized Church.”
No “Church” in the Bible
First, the word “church” does not appear in the Bible – even in the New Testament! The word consistently mistranslated as “church” in Greek is ecclesia. It does not mean “church.” It means the “Called ones” or the “Called-out ones.” It has essentially the same meaning as the “Chosen people” in the Old Testament and the “Elect” in the New Testament.
King James ordered the translators to improperly translate the word ecclesia as “church” for political reasons – because HE was going to be the Head of the “church.” The word ecclesia has no hierarchical implications. It just means an assembly of “believers” with no suggestion of buildings, memberships, leaders or any organizational structure.
God’s Presence was in the Temple – Not in the Synagogues
In the New Testament, the Temple in Jerusalem contained a Most Holy Place where the presence of God resided, above the cover of the Ark that contained the Ten Commandments.
At the beginning of Christ’s ministry, He visited the Temple and found that it had become a business, with the selling of animals for sacrifices. He drove the moneychangers out of the temple with their hordes of animals and said, “Make not My Father’s house a house of merchandise.” (John 2:16)
Clearly, Jesus was stating that God’s presence was in the Temple.
God’s Presence was not in the Synagogues
The synagogues apparently were places where the Israelites assembled to sit down and hear religious teachings.
It is true that when Jesus was growing up He attended the synagogues with His parents – who obviously didn’t know any better and were just going along with their peers. But when Jesus started His ministry He did NOT become part of the synagogue religion. He separated from the synagogue doctrines and vehemently spoke out against them.
He taught in the synagogues because that was where the people gathered, but He never endorsed that system nor their doctrines.
Often, the New Testament speaks of Jesus going into “their” synagogues, clearly implying that the synagogues did not belong to Jesus or His Father!
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues . . .
Matt 4:23And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues . . . Matt 9:35
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. . .Matt 10:17
And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee. . . Mark 1:39
And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. Luke 4:15
Never does the Bible say, or even intimate, that God’s presence was in the synagogues. God’s presence could not have been in the synagogues. God’s presence was in the Temple!
Again, please note that the Temple during Christ’s time was NOT a place for the people to come together in an assembly. Only the Priests were allowed in the Temple – NOT the people.
THAT is undoubtedly why the Pharisees and the Sadducees set up the synagogue system, so they could totally control the doctrines and the practices of the people.
The Leaders of the Organized Church of Jesus’ time were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They were continually making plans to kill Jesus because He did not support the Organized Church.
Jesus abhorred the Organized Church of His day. This is what He said about the Organized Church and their Religious Leaders, the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes, in Matthew, Chapter 23:
“They bind heavy burdens that are heavy to bear and lay them on men’s shoulders: but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
And they love the places of honor at feasts, and the chief place in the synagogues, and greetings in the marketplaces and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Jesus knew that if “men” started ruling over “men” in religious matters, they would become hopelessly corrupt. That’s why He said that He alone would be their teacher! Verse 8:
But you should not be called Rabbi: for One is your Teacher, even Christ; and you are all brethren.
Here Jesus, Himself, is saying that He alone is the Teacher of all His followers, and human beings are all brethren, none is above another. They are all the same. They should not be religious “leaders” of the people. That is the job of Jesus. ALL human beings are equal! None should be leading the other. Jesus Christ is our only “leader.”
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be lifted up.
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for you neither go in yourselves, neither do you allow them that are entering to go in.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses (possessions), and for a pretense make long prayers: therefore you shall receive the greater damnation (judging).
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell (gehenna) than yourselves.
Woe unto you, you blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing: but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is obligated to perform it.
You fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing: but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is obliged to perform it.
You fools and blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? . . .
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice, mercy, and faith: these ought you to have done, and not left the other undone.
You blind guides, you strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you make the outside of the cup and saucer clean, but the insides are full of extortion and self-indulgence.
You blind Pharisees, cleanse first that which is inside the cup and saucer, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, that indeed appear beautiful outward, but, inside, are full of dead men’s bones, and all uncleanness.
Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity (lawlessness).
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the righteous, and say, If we had been alive in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood (killing) of the prophets.
Wherefore, you are witnesses against yourselves, that you are the sons of them that killed the prophets. You are filled up with the measure of guilt of your fathers.
You serpents, you brood of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell? (judging of gehenna)
This is what Jesus had to say about the Organized Church of His day! He did not make it difficult to understand! His feelings are quite clear!
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify: and some of them you shall scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city; that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom you slew between the temple and the altar.
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets, and you who stone them that are sent to you, how often would I have gathered you children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!
Then Jesus gave the death knell to the Organized Church! He said, regarding the Temple, in vs 38:
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate!
Remember that at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when He cleansed the Temple, He said:
“Make not My Father’s house a house of merchandise.” John 2:16
But at the end of His ministry, he no longer called the Temple “My Father’s house.” Instead, as He was speaking to the people and their religious leaders, He referred to the Temple as “your house” and He told them “your house” is now left to you desolate.” God’s presence was no longer there. Jesus was leaving the Temple for the last time. The Temple would now be “desolate!”
God’s presence is no longer in buildings!
The Crucifixion:
The Leaders of the Organized Church, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the scribes were the ones who wanted Jesus dead. It was the Organized Church, both the leaders and members, who yelled. “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
When Jesus was crucified on the Cross, the Temple curtain was rent in two from top to bottom, signifying that it was rent supernaturally by God. Tradition says that the curtain between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was 16 inches thick. The Temple curtain was rent from top to bottom, exposing the Most Holy Place to human eyes, because no longer did it contain the presence of God. It was “desolate!”
But Jesus’ followers were not a part of the synagogue. The leaders of the synagogues not only plotted to kill Jesus, but they actually accomplished the dastardly act. Then, apparently they were plotting to kill His followers as well, because we are told that the disciples, after the crucifixion, were hiding in the Upper Room “for fear of the Jews!” (John 20:19)
Jesus’ followers had left the Organized Church in order to follow Jesus.
The Out-pouring of the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit):
The Holy Spirit of God (the Pentecostal “early rain”) was given only to those who were outside of the Organized Church, those disciples of Christ who were in the Upper Room hiding from the leaders of the Organized Church who apparently wanted to kill them for being followers of Jesus.
In addition, the Holy Spirit was given only to those who were not only outside of the Organized Church, but it was given to those who were being hounded and persecuted by that same Organized Church.
The Holy Spirit did NOT fall on ANY who were inside the Organized Church!
But Didn’t Paul Set Up An Organized Church?
Wasn’t THAT God’s Will?Some may argue that after Jesus was resurrected and ascended to heaven, the apostle Paul was given the job of setting up the “Organized Church.”
The words “bishop”, “minister”, “deacons”, and “elders” are often used by supporters of an “Organized Church” to imply that these terms denote an organizational structure that God endorsed.
However, the English word “deacon” is a variation of the Greek word diakoneo which means an attendant (such as a waiter who waits on tables) or a servant or slave. The definition does not, in any way, imply a “leader.”
This same word, meaning servant, is sometimes arbitrarily translated “minister.”
The word “elder”, presbuteros in Greek, just means an older (in age) or senior person. It does not denote a “leader” in an organizational structure.
The following Bible passage, 1 Timothy 3:1-15, is often used to suggest that God endorses an “Organized Church” hierarchical structure.
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity’
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth.
Now, let’s look at the literal translation of this passage and be amazed and saddened at the license that the translators have taken!
Faithful is the saying: ‘If anyone is craving the vision, he is desiring ideal work.’
The inspector (or one looking after or caring for), then, must be irreprehensible, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, well-ordered, hospitable, apt at teaching,
not a drinker, not a contentious one, not greedy of ill gain, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not loving money:
controlling his own household ideally, having his children in subjection with all respect
- now if anyone is not aware how to control his own household, how will he care for the ecclesia of God? –
no novice, lest, being conceited, he should be falling into the judgment of the Adversary.
Yet he must have a good witness also from those outside, that he should not be falling into the reproach and trap of the Adversary.
Servants, similarly, are to be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy of ill gain, having the secret of the faith in a pure conscience.
Now let these also first be tested: thereafter let them be serving, being without reproach.
The wives, similarly, are to be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
Let servants be the husbands of one wife, controlling children and their own households ideally,
for those having served well for themselves gain a good grade for themselves and much boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
These things I am writing to you, though expecting to come to you more quickly,
yet if I delay, that you may know how one must behave in God’s house, which is the ecclesia of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
The word “Bishop” is episkopos in Greek, #1985 in Strong’s Concordance.
It means “inspector” or one who diligently looks after another individual or group -an overseer. There were those, like Stephen, whose job it was to watch out for the widows and other unfortunates, to make sure they had food, etc.
Let’s read the origin of this arrangement among the early Christians as found in Acts 6:1-5:
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration (food distribution).
Please note: the Hellenists (the non-Israelites) were complaining that the Hebrews (the Israelites) were taking all the food for the Israelite widows and not giving any to the non-Israelite widows. This (the problem between the “Jews” and “Gentiles” or “Israelites” vs. non-Israelites) is the entire reason for setting up a system of “food distribution” and “serving at tables.”
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
Wherefore, brethren, seek ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Spirit of holiness and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business (of serving tables!).
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (Not to organizing a “church.”)
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of God’s Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nivanor, and Timon and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch.
Please notice that there are two groups of people mentioned here:
Group I was to take care of distributing food to the widows and waiting on tables;
Group II was to give themselves “continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Nothing is said here about organizing a “church” hierarchical structure with an administrative hierarchy, members, dues, and buildings.
Doesn’t the Bible speak of these supposed “Church leaders” being “ordained”?
What does it mean, “to ordain”?The English word “ordain” is a translation of at least twelve different Greek words! Again, the translators seem to have no rules for their translation. When they arbitrarily translate twelve different Greek words as one English word, their translation becomes capricious and meaningless. One certainly cannot make a doctrine out of such careless translations.
In Conclusion:
Jesus made no preparations for the setting up of an Organized Church:
* Even as Jesus’ death by crucifixion was drawing near, He made no move to set up an Organized Church, nor did He instruct any of His disciples to do so.
* At the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter suggested building tabernacles (churches?) for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. (Mark 9:4,5) Jesus just ignored Peter’s suggestion.
* When James and John came to Jesus to ask Him if they could sit on His left and right (which was essentially to set up a hierarchy), Jesus said, “No.” (Mark 10:35-38)
* And when that didn’t work, James and John asked their mother! to ask Jesus for the same thing. Jesus again said, “No.” (Matt 20:20-24)
* The disciples were repeatedly arguing about “who would be the greatest in Christ’s kingdom.” (Mark 9:34)
* Repeatedly Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world!” (John 8:36)
* When Jesus healed the man born blind, only after the man had been thrown out of the Organized Church (synagogue) did Jesus come back to him and reveal to the man that Jesus was the Messiah. He did not reveal this to the healed man until he had been thrown out of the Organized Church. (John 9:35-38)
* After Jesus ascended to heaven, Peter, in the Upper Room, decided that HE (Peter) had to start leading the “church” by picking the twelfth disciple to take the place of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ.
Peter, arrogantly picked two people, then asked God to bless Peter’s choice. Mathias was picked by casting lots. (Acts 1:15-26) The Bible never again speaks of Mathias. However, the Bible does tell us that when the time was right, Jesus, Himself, picked HIS OWN twelfth disciple. And that was Saul of Tarsus, who became the apostle Paul. And Jesus picked Paul personally, on the Road to Damascus.
Saul of Tarsus (Paul) was not even on Peter’s “short list” of candidates for the disciple slot, because at the time of Peter’s “taking charge” Saul was busy imprisoning and killing Christians.
Peter was totally out of line in what he had done. Jesus was perfectly capable of running things, whether He was on earth or in heaven. He didn’t need Peter to “help Him out” with the task of picking His disciples.
Jesus picked Paul, and Paul was arguably the greatest of Jesus’ disciples, as well as the author of the majority of the New Testament.
* After Jesus was crucified, resurrected and ascended to heaven, the Bible tells us that now “your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” – not some building!
Know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit? (1 Cor 6:19)
* The Bible tells us that Christ no longer dwells in buildings made with hands:
“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.” Hebrews 9:11
“Howbeit the Most High dwells NOT in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet.” Acts 7:48
“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells NOT in temples made with hands.” Acts 17:24
God does NOT dwell in the “Organized Church”!
God has always said, “I just want to be your God, and you be my people.” (Leviticus 26:12)
God wants NO middlemen!
The Organized Church has blasphemously taken the place of God!
God has never commanded nor endorsed an Organized Church of ANY kind!
God wants to run our lives, directly and personally, with no one in between!
Here is Jesus’ final word on the subject! (Matthew 20:25-28)
Jesus said to His disciples, You know that the princes of the Unbelievers (mistranslated “Gentiles”) lord it over one another, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
BUT IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant; And whosoever will be first among you, let him be your slave;
Even as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for (the) many.
Christianity is NOT a religion. It is a Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ!
(For more information on this topic, see “The Organized Church” at www.goodnewsaboutgod.com - click on “Spiritual Truth.”)
Conclusion:
We have discussed seven major doctrines of the Organized Church. From whom do these doctrines originate?
1. Hellfire. It is Molech (Satan) - not God - who requires human burning sacrifices.
2. Freewill. This lie is right out of the mouth of the Serpent (Satan) in the Garden of Eden. “Eat of this tree and you will be as God. God will not be able to save you unless YOU let Him.”
3. Immortality of the soul. This lie too is right out of the mouth of the Serpent (Satan in the Garden of Eden. “Eat of this tree and you shall NOT surely die (as God has said). You will just change form and waft off to heaven.”
4. Sunday Sacredness. God has declared the Seventh-day Sabbath – Saturday – holy, and a memorial of His creation. It is the day HE has chosen for us to worship Him.
Sunday is the day of the pagan Sun god, the day that “man” has picked as convenient, rejecting God’s holy day. Satan is the father of paganism.
5. God does not keep His promises? Even though God promises to “heal ALL our diseases” (Psalm 103:3) but ONLY if we do it HIS way and not “man’s” way (Deut 7:11-15), we still must go to “man” – doctors – for our health, because God is clearly unable to do what He has promised.
That lie is right out of the mouth of Satan. It destroys faith in God, and promotes faith in “man.”
6. The Trinity. God and Jesus are separate individuals with opposing personalities, the church teaches. Jesus is kind, loving, and hurts no one. God is fierce, vengeful, and plans to burn the majority of His children to death for disobeying Him.
This lie is right out of the mouth of Satan.
It is Satan, not God, who requires human burning sacrifices. Jesus IS God in human form. Jesus is – and was – God. There is only One Lord: Jesus Christ.
7. The “Organized church” – man ruling over man, rather than God ruling over man. Because the “Organized church” is a 501c3 tax-exempt corporation, it has the state – rather than God - as its head. Once the government starts enforcing the documents that every 501c3 organization has signed, the churches will be allowed to teach and preach only what the government allows.
The church controls its members by having a specific set of doctrines that cannot be altered and must be believed. If the members don’t believe what they are taught, they are asked to leave. They have become troublemakers.
This stifles all independent study and progress in understanding the Bible. It also allows the denominational leaders – and eventually the government - to control what the members hear.
But God does NOT dwell in temples (buildings) made with hands.” Our bodies are His temple. He dwells in us.
The “Organized church” is NOT of God. The occult phallic symbols (steeples), crosses (sign of the pagan god Tammuz) order of service (from pagan Rome), and control by “man” (the clergy and the state) and not by God, demonstrates that God is NOT the leader of the so-called “Christian” churches.
Every one of these seven doctrines is straight from the Adversary. Satan has put his own character on the face of God and the whole “Christian” church has bought the lie.
What Does This Say About God?
The “Christian” church has embraced all of these doctrines that say that God is a Liar and a Loser who has lost control of His creation, and that Satan is the omnipotent one. In essence, Satan has become god. This is what his goal has been from the beginning – to dethrone God.
The true God of the Bible must be restored to His rightful place in our hearts. God is a God of “order” – not a God of organizations. Organizations make decisions by committee consensus -whatever they can finally agree on - not necessarily according to God’s Word.
But God works with us one on one. He is our personal Lord and He will teach us directly.
God is omnipotent. God is NOT a loser. God loves ALL His children and WILL save every one of them. God keeps His promises.
And God “does NOT dwell in temples made with hands.” He dwells in our heart.