There are a surprising number of Scriptural passages that Satan has edited, repackaged and sold to those within professing Christendom a “new and improved” version of “thus says the Lord.” A good example of the devil playing his “Bate and Switch” game is found in Acts 16:31. See the series by that name. In Acts 16 we find that Paul and Silas have been thrown in prison and shackled in a cell for preaching the Lord’s gospel. As the story unfolds we find that the Lord has freed the apostles from their shackles and has opened the doors of all the cells, as well as the external doors of the prison itself. The guards are standing in their places, unaware that anything has happened. Though they could have walked out of the prison unmolested, Paul and Silas, along with all other prisoners, have remained in their cells. Upon seeing what God has done, the jailer falls to his knees before them and asks what he must do to be like them. Paul replied: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, along with your family.”

The Thief On The Cross: Truth Vs Tradition (Pt. 4

Ignorance of God’s Word, specifically of the “IF” statements, has caused billions of people to believe that the jailer and his family, along with the thief on the cross, had only to believe on Jesus to affect their salvation. This website and my YouTube site are dedicated to proving that this assumption is not merely wrong, but dead wrong. The ever-present, ultimately-important “IF” dominates every promise and warning issued by the Almighty. However, His “IFs” are known, believed and obeyed only by those who diligently study His Word according to Isaiah 28: 9,10,13 in search of His Truth. Others of the religious world reject any and all unpopular Truths because they conflict with their theology. God’s caveats are His plumb lines that separate sheep from goats, wheat from chaff, true saints from counterfeit saints. A great gulf filled with “IFs” separates these two groups.

Rejection of the Lord’s conditions relative to His promises and warnings (see Lev. 26 and Deut. 28), having begun in the Garden of Eden, is highlighted again in an episode that took place after Adam and Eve had been ejected from that paradise. In the fourth chapter of the Book of Genesis we find that Cain, their first son, has presented God with an unacceptable offering. The Lord’s rebuke causes him to become angry and sullen (vs 3). Verse four proves that the age of grace began in the Garden of Eden and has been effect since that time. It also proves that God had caveats in operation from the beginning of human life on earth. Note what He said to Cain concerning his sin, “IF” you do well (obey Me henceforth) you will be accepted (by Me through grace). But “IF” you do not do well (disobey Me), sin (Satan) waits for you at the door (when you leave Me). Though he wants to rule you, YOU WILL  RULE OVER HIM (if you obey Me).” Notice that the Lord’s first Word–“IF”–is the dominant theme in His statement. Cain ignored Him and followed in his parents’ footsteps. And like them, he failed to ask forgiveness for his sin. Grace was available to all three. Later, Noah would find “grace in the eyes of the Lord,” as would King David. It is possible that both Sampson and Solomon also received forgiveness of their sins through the Lord’s grace. Now let us return to the thief on the cross.

The Thief On The Cross: Truth Vs Tradition (Pt. 4

In Luke 23:39-43 we find the focal episode being played out on the pages of human history. Jesus has been crucified, along with two thieves, one of whom rebukes Him. Surprisingly, the other thief rebukes him, saying, “Do you not fear God, seeing that you are also condemned? We are guilty and deserve our punishment, but this man has done nothing wrong.” At that point he said to the Lord, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus then said to him, “Verily I say unto you this day, you will be with Me in paradise.”

Over the past 2000 years Satan has misused those eight words and a misplaced comma to lure multitudes of people into his church system. The promise of effortless, intellect-centered, guaranteed salvation has proven to be irresistible to masses of religious people who have approached the Lord with one goal–to get to heaven. Contrary to man’s agenda, God has a very different goal for mankind. His goal is for man to obey His Word, which, if continued, results in righteousness, which, if continued, results in conversion. Conversion, if maintained until the end, results in salvation (Mat. 10:22). Satan has convinced the Institutional Church that obedience to God resulting in righteousness is not only impossible, it is unnecessary, that once one has uttered the prescribed words and performed the prescribed ritual, the fix is in. What one does thereafter is irrelevant. This formula for salvation is what the thief on the cross supposedly followed that supposedly led to his supposed instant salvation.

However, as the Lord tells us time and again in His Holy Bible, there is much more to receiving eternal life than meets the church’s blinded eye. Such self-inflicted blindness is the result of not studying His Truth according to His command. Let us diligently study that Truth and bring to light what has been kept in darkness by the devil for some 2000 years. Readers, prepare yourselves. The Prince of Darkness hates sin-exposing light. He will try to convince you that what you are reading is a lie. Ultimately, you must decide whom you will believe. L.J.