The word “saint” describes the life-style (“walk”) of a special group of people Scripturally known as the Body of Christ and the Church of God. God warns us about false bodies of christ, false churches of christ and false churches of god found within a group of religionists who call themselves “Protestants,” who in reality protest against God. He also warns us about false saints. Catholicism goes so far as to award the title of “saint” to those who strictly follow the doctrines of their heathen religion. Catholicism and Protestantism are the two heads of a false religious entity that calls itself “the church.” I use the word “counterfeit” when referring to these Satan-empowered, man-led religious organizations because they claim to be what they are not–God’s church. I am at this time presenting a series titled Counterfeit Christians on my YouTube site that can be seen at proveallthingsofgod. The words “of God” do not appear on the list of sites titled proveallthingsofgod. My site shows a picture of me inside a circle. I could be the only site showing a picture. For a detailed study of the counterfeit church visit my YouTube site.

The key to identifying the true from the counterfeit is to compare the doctrines of each to God’s one and only Standard–His Holy Bible which was written by His holy prophets and apostles under the power and leadership of His Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21). What they spoke and wrote is the foundation upon which the New Covenant Church is founded (Eph. 2:20). Those within that tiny church (Mat. 7:13,14) are led by God’s Spirit and are true sons of God (Rom. 8:14). To be led by the Holy Spirit, that Spirit must abide within our heart (mind). The Holy Spirit leads true God seekers to obey God’s Law (the Holy Bible) and thereby avoid sin, which must be done in order to receive eternal life. Sin is defined as the transgressing of the Law (1 Jn. 3:4) which God condensed into the Ten Commandments and wrote in stone.

The true Body of Christ/Church of God is comprised of people whom God calls His “saints,” meaning holy ones. Many are called to sainthood, but few answer the call because to do so entails giving up one’s self-direction, meaning to become sanctified. It is from the word “saint” that the word “sanctification” is derived. To be sanctified is to be set aside for holy use (work). All who would join the Messiah in the Kingdom of God at the end of the age must be sanctified (set aside–separated–from the world, including the Institutional Church). This separation happens when one obeys God’s Word (Jn. 17:17). Another word for sanctification is “slavery.” The sanctified one is in fact a spiritual slave. We are all slaves to a spiritual entity. But what about the Biblical promise of freedom for those who are “in Christ?” one might ask. The next series will define and explain Christian freedom.

We are all acquainted with the concept of social slavery in which one human being legally owns another human being and has total and legal power over him. Spiritual slavery has the same characteristics as social slaveryh. The difference lies in the identity of one’s owner and his demands.  Social slavery and spiritual slavery differ on two main points. Social slavery is involuntary and unchangeable in that the slave can never declare himself free. The spiritual slave enters into his status voluntarily and can abandon that status at will. The two types of slaves are alike in one basic respect: both must obey their master totally.

While social slavery is an abomination to God, spiritual slavery is commanded by Him. Only those who answer God’s call to slavery and voluntarily remain His slave until the end of his life or the return of Jesus Christ will receive eternal life (Mat. 10:22). It is essential that we understand God’s terms of enslavement and obey them in letter and spirit. One is either the Lord’s slave or one is not His slave. He does not recognize partial or part-time slavery. Scriptural cherry picking is forbidden in the Body of Christ. To be God’s slave one must “… live by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Mat. 4:4). We will all be judged by those same Words (Jn. 12:48)–THUS SAID JESUS CHRIST. We live by faith (Rom. 1:17). Faith is belief in God’s Word (Rom. 10:19). Faith without obedience to His Word (works) is dead faith (Jam. 2:10). God’s Word and His Law are one in the same (Jn. 14:15,23). God governs His slaves by His Law (Genesis to Revelation). EVERYTHING COMES BACK TO THE UNCHANGEABLE WORD.

Knowing that religious man would desecrate His Word, He preserved in written form. And knowing that religious man would ignore the written version, He engraved a condensed version of it in stone and hid it from those who, in His name, would attack it with hammer and chisel. These are those who would call Him their Lord and worship Him, but would refuse to believe and obey Him–His Word (Mat. 15:9/ Lk. 6:46). These are they who will stand before Him on Judgment Day and remind Him of all the good works they had done in His name. To them He will say: “I never knew you; depart from me you who work iniquity–Lawlessness–(Mat. 7:23). Let us all study, know, believe and obey God’s Law so that we can stand before Him at judgment in holiness, which leads to salvation (Rom. 6:22,23) that will be awarded upon His return. Note that, though eternal life is a gift (23), one must qualify to receive it by living a holy life (22).  L.J.