The subject of this series has been greatly misunderstood by many people for many generations. Jesus said that few among the masses who would seek salvation would enter His strait (difficult) gate and walk His narrow (restricted) path leading to eternal life (Mat. 7:13,14). He also noted that, though many would be called to work in His spiritual vineyard, few would be chosen for having answered His call (Mat. 20:16). Some of those He called have been selected to proclaim His Bible-centered message.–to be His APOSTLES–“sent out ones.” But like Adam and Eve, they chose to follow Satan’s self-centered message instead. Because of their rejection of God’s way, these men are not ordained (approved) and controlled (ordered) by God as they claim to be. Rather, they are ordained and controlled by men. They who control the ordination control the ones they ordain. This makes their ministers nothing more than “hirelings” who preach “smooth things, lies and deceits” (Jn. 10:12,13/ Isa. 30:10) about a simplistic, believe-it-and-receive-it form of salvation. Because of this deadly error we must determine what is man to be converted from (sin) and what is he to be converted to (righteousness)–“the end of which is eternal life” (Rom. 5:21).

In Romans 3:23 Paul writes: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Every one of us has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory which shines forth from those who “walk as He (Jesus) walked” (1 Jn. 2:6). Beginning with Adam, man was designed by God to live according to His Law, and in so doing, to project His glory. Jesus of Nazareth did this perfectly, enabling Him to honestly say, “They who have seen Me have seen (the glory of) the Father” (Jn. 14:9). True conversion (total reversal of one’s life) is necessary in order to project God’s glory. God’s church (ekklesia–“called out ones”) are called out of (spiritually separated from) the world which surrounds them. These saints are described Scripturally as “peculiar,” a “holy nation,” God’s “treasures and His “kingdom of priests,” among other things. GOD’S PEOPLE ARE NOT LIKE OTHER PEOPLE. As the series titled Persecution (key word–Persecution) reminds the God-seeker, all is not rosy for those who obey Him. With that in mind, I will issue to those seeking true sainthood a warning.

Recall that, of the multitudes of people who followed Jesus, who were miraculously fed by Him, who heard Him speak, who watched Him heal the sick and deliver people from demonic bondage, only a minutely few (about 120) recognized God’s glory that flowed forth from Him. If they did, why were they complicit in His martyrdom? Why did they cry out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him” as He stood before Pilate? Answer: BECAUSE THEY REJECTED GOD’S GLORY THAT JESUS RADIATED. The same was true of His apostles. Recall that it was the religious leaders and their followers who caused their deaths. Why? They rejected their message. A perfect example of this Truth is Stephen who was stoned to death because of his words. A reading of Acts 6:7-7:60 will reveal what caused his detractors to stop up their ears, grind their teeth at him and stone him to death. It was his message. It was the Lord’s “sword of the Spirit” that cut them to the religious quick (Eph. 6:17/ Rev. 19:15,21/ Heb. 4:12). God’s Word, particularly His caveats (conditions–“IFs”) are still hated and rejected by the Institutional Church.

The lesson being taught here is: do not expect those around you to see God’s glory in you if you “walk as Jesus walked,” which God seekers are required to do (1 Jn. 2:6). Recall that multitudes of people would follow Jesus for days, many to the point of collapse. Only to have Him speak to them in parables designed to keep them from understanding “the mysteries of the Kingdom” that He would establish on earth upon His return (Mat. 13:1-15). He knew they were following Him for the physical blessings they would receive. He knew that His Father’s Truths were not what they were after. In fact, it was those Truths that nailed Him to the cross.

The multitudes who believed IN Jesus followed Him for what they could get from Him at the moment. They were not interested in His message which involved the future. The vast majority of those who believed IN Him did not believe Him. He had much to say to and about such people then. His messages ring true to this day. Read Luke 6:46 and Matthew 7:23 and 15:9. Read what He said to His God-chosen disciples in John 8:31; 14:15,23 and 15:10,13,14 (note the word “IF” in each statement). “IF” is the most significant, most powerful word in the Holy Scriptures.

Every promise of God is accompanied by a caveat (condition–an “IF”). We receive God’s promises only if we satisfy His conditions. Our faith in a promise accomplishes nothing unless we meet the requirements associated with the promise–the “IF” factor. The conditions we must meet are found in the Lord’s “fine print” which religious man either ignores or rejects. Contrary to church opinion, “only believe” will not satisfy the Lord’s caveats.

Because only a minutely few salvation seekers know what salvation is, let us return briefly to the basics of salvation which must be understood before one can move toward that ultimate promise which God’s “first fruit” saints will receive upon His return to earth. Paul said that we have all sinned. Which begs the question: what is sin? The Apostle John provides God’s simple answer: “To transgress (break) the Law is sin; for sin is the transgression of the Law (1 Jn. 3:4). TO BREAK GOD’S LAW IS TO COMMIT “INIQUITY,” WHICH MEANS “LAWLESSNESS.” God’s people live by His Ten Commandment Law. Read Matthew 7:23; 4:4; 15:9; 12:46-50; 19:17/ Ephesians 2:20/ First Corinthians 10:11/ Second Peter 2:21/ John 8:31; 14:15,23 / Lk. 6:46 and First John 2:5. These passages are all found in the NEW TESTAMENT.

What is the Law? What part does the Law play in the life of the saint? Romans 3:20 tells us that “by the Law is the knowledge of sin.” God’s Law identifies SIN (if broken) and HOLINESS (if obeyed). Having rejected the Law, THE CHURCH DOES NOT KNOW WHAT SIN IS. Therefore she has never repented of her sins. Because of these Truths the Institutional (Catholic/Protestant) Church is still in her sinful, unconfessed, unrepentant, unjustified, unconverted unholy, unrighteous state. She is comprised of spiritual Gentiles (heathen) which Paul described in Ephesians 2:11,12 as being “without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the (old and new) covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” TRUE CHRISTIANS–“SPIRITUAL ISRAEL”–OBEY THE LAW OF THE GOD OF ISRIAL, WHICH MAKES THEM SPIRITUAL ISRAELITES. THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN TO, FOR AND ABOUT SPIRITUAL ISRAEL–GOD’S TRUE CHURCH.

The Apostle James compared God’s spiritual law to a mirror (1:22-25). We look into it to see if we are breaking His Law. If the Law has been abolished, what we see in the mirror is what we want to see–someone in tune with “church doctrine” which, as this website proves repeatedly, is contrary to God’s Law. This doctrinal switch (calling good bad and bad good) began in Eden where we find Eve telling the Serpent that she and Adam would die if they disobeyed God (Gen. 3:1-3). The Serpent convinced her that the opposite was true. She in turn convinced Adam that God had lied to them. That Satanic lie continues to be put forth as “Bible truth” within the Institutional Church to this day and is gaining more believers as the church moves ever farther from God.

Little has changed since Eden. Satan still convinces professing Christians that “truth” is whatever they want it to be. Therefore, there are as many church “truths” as there are denominations, faiths, sects, cults, etc. One woman stated this fact perfectly when she proclaimed that she joined a particular church because, “… they do what I like to do.” What that church’s parishioners “like to do” is condemned by God in His Holy Scriptures. Man does not need church doctrine, which is his perverted version of God’s doctrine (Gal. 1:6-9). God’s pure, unedited Word is THE ONLY doctrine recognized by God and His church.

In closing I will make a specific point. Though the church masses see Christ’s death as the final stage in man’s instantaneous (“only believe”) step into salvation, God sees His death as the BEGINNING of man’s life-long journey to eternal life. In Romans 5:9,10 Paul writes: “Much more then, being NOW justified by His blood (having PAST sin forgiven), we SHALL BE (in the future) saved from God’s wrath (the Lake of Fire) BY HIS LIFE. For if, when we were (His) enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, MUCH MORE, having been reconciled (BY HIS DEATH), WE SHALL (LATER) BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE.” Notice that Paul included himself and pointed to the future relative to salvation.

It is not Christ’s death that saves the sinner. His death (blood) erases our PAST SINS upon being JUSTIFIED (Rom. 3:25). But that is only the BEGINNING of the salvation process. WE WILL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE, BUT ONLY IF HE HAS LIVED HIS LIFE THROUGH US FOLLOWING OUR JUSTIFICATION. OUR CONVERSION PUTS US ON THE PATH TO SALVATION. WE WILL BE SAVED UPON HIS RETURN “IF” WE ALLOW HIM TO LIVE HIS LIFE IN US BY THE POWER OF HIS INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT.

The Prophet Amos asks, “Can two walk together unless they agree?” (3:3). By walking as did Christ we qualify for eternal life with the Father–AS DID HE. In order to be with Him in the next life we must “walk as He walked” in this life. Why did Jesus of Nazareth feel the need to obey God? He knew He had to in order to fulfill His assignment. He had to overcome Satan’s constant temptations to sin. Only those who overcome (Satan) in this life as He did will sit with Him on His eternal throne. Read Revelation 3:21. Jesus obeyed the same Law as do His disciples today. Read John 15:10 carefully and prayerfully. L.J.