XIV. How Have All Churches Failed

The GOD They Claim To Serve?

            This study will review and expand on the previous studies showing the grave dangers facing every Christian denomination from the Roman Catholic Church to the lowliest Protestant church.  The “stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both houses of Israel” (Catholicism and Protestantism) is over the eternal Law of GOD and the state of the dead. To stumble over one is to stumble over the other.  This study will carefully scrutinize the Bible verses showing the steppingstones of apostasy through which sin rules in the church. 

            The Bible points the Christian to heed the words of Jesus, “but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matt.19:17.  Satan has deceived the ruling churches to dishonor these words.  But the Bible promises eternal life as well as GOD’S blessing of a good understanding if we honor Jesus and the Law He died to uphold as He said: “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Jn.6:63.  The perfect wisdom of Christ was found in His obedience: “A good understanding have all they that do his commandments.” Ps.111:10.  In defiance to Scripture’s promise of salvation through obedience to GOD’S Moral Law the world’s foremost religion seated in the Vatican of Rome has removed any obligation to obey two of the Ten Commandments: the 2^nd and the 4^th.  Rome baptizes every Catholic to renounce their authority in their Christian walk, even when they are babies and incapable of making a choice.  And most Protestant churches agree with Rome in their defiance of the 4th Commandment; and thus, agree with Rome to perpetuate sin forever.  In fact, the whole world is unanimous in its belligerence against the 4th Commandment with the exception of Judaism and a few Protestant denominations, with the Seventh-day Adventist Church being the prominent commandment-keeping church.  Virtually the whole world stands united against the 4^th Commandment: whether of Christians, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Atheists, the New Agers, Masons, Witches, or Satan worshippers.  So, as each of these religions claims theirs as the one true religion, Biblically speaking, they all agree to stand united in this one sin.  But the obligation of all men to honor the Law that guarantees the safety of life the Bible affirms.

            Had Jesus Christ disobeyed the 4th Commandment as the churches do today He would have failed to live “without sin” (Heb.4:15; 9:28); and thus when Jesus died on the Cross He would have remained in the grave and the human race would have been lost forever: to be relinquished to everlasting death.  Even those who presently reside in heaven today: Enoch, Moses, and Elijah would’ve been forced to die.  The Creator’s plan of redemption would have failed and Satan’s victory would have been complete in overthrowing GOD’S sovereign authority on the Earth.  This is why the devil tempted Christ so fiercely, even as He was dying on the Cross, taking away “the sin of the world” (Matt.27:46). 

            But Christ conquered sin!  And His obedience is not a license for disobedience.  The Bible is absolutely clear on the union between the Ten Commandments and our salvation: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev.22:14 (KJV only).  This is what repentance is all about: to separate from the sins that destroy the soul, because to remain in sin is to perish in the sin, for Christ can have no place in a man’s heart where any sin rules in his life. 

            Outwardly, the churches boast of their obedience to the Word of GOD and His Holy Law, even publicly promoting the Ten Commandments at the Supreme Court and in Hollywood movies.  But their version of GOD’S Law is a sinful corruption and an abbreviation of the true rendering that Christ gave to the human race in the permanence of stone on Mount Sinai (Jn.8:58).  Even the highly renowned movie, The Ten Commandments gave an incomplete, sinful rendering, arrogantly deleting 86 of the 94 words from the 4th Commandment.  Even the very mercy of GOD shown repeatedly to Pharaoh wasn’t given the slightest voice.  The original request given to Pharaoh was to allow the Hebrews to take a “three days journey into the wilderness” (Ex.3:18; 5:3; 8:27); then they would return to serve Pharaoh.  GOD’S intention was not the permanent departure of the Hebrews from Egypt, nor the collapse of the nation.  GOD desired that through the witness of the Hebrews to the Egyptian people their nation could be won to “the gospel of the kingdom” (Matt.4:23).

            Even the very first warning GOD gave Pharaoh of how the firstborn would die of both man and beast was given no recognition to honor the great mercy of GOD in warning Pharaoh of this judgment at the outset.  Nine plagues had passed with each one reminding Pharaoh of GOD’S first warning, proving to him that GOD had the power to fulfill His Word.  And only when Pharaoh had continually refused to allow the Hebrew slaves to worship “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” did the tenth and final plague come to pass, and all the firstborn of Egypt died, including Pharaoh’s.   

            GOD sternly warned to never add or take away from His Holy Word for it threatens the souls of men (Deut.4:2; Rev.22:18,19).  But this is precisely what the church has arrogantly done, being evident by the bewildering number of Bible translations that stand united to contradict the “received text” used for the KJV while falsely assuring the church of their fidelity to GOD’S Word.  As a result, what we see is that the churches push a selfish pick-and-choose version of obedience, arrogantly judging how men are to be saved vs. GOD’S Judgment to determine who is safe to receive life and who is to die.

1. Is the church correct in teaching that after we die we

    either go to heaven or to hell?

Ecclesiastes 9:5,6,10  For the living know that they shall die: _____  _____  _______  _______  _____  _____________, neither have they any more a reward; for _____  ___________ of them ____  ______________. [v.6] Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy is _____  _____________; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun…  [v.10] Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no _______, nor _________, nor _______________, nor __________, in _____  __________, whither thou goest.

2. Can we trust these words of Solomon, when he was an old

     man at the end of his life's journey?

I Kings 3:9-12  [Solomon asked of GOD] Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and has not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; [v.12] Behold I have done according to thy words: lo, ___  ________  _________  ______  ___  _______  _____  ____  ____________________  __________; so that ________  _____  ________  _______  _______ before thee, neither after thee shall _____ arise _______  _______  _______.

         We must now expose how the churches have been so arrogant as to declare their wisdom to exceed the only man to whom GOD said that none would ever surpass in wisdom or understanding.  Ken Taylor, the author of the popular paraphrase translation, the Living Bible, added this footnote below Solomon’s words: “These words are Solomon’s discouraged opinion and do not reflect a knowledge of GOD’S truth on these points.”  Dakes Annotated Bible also declared the Wisdom of Solomon invalid, stating that the dead “have some reward at death,” when Solomon said they “have no more a reward.” Dakes Bible says that the dead “continue in a full state of consciousness,” when Solomon said that, “the dead know not anything.”  These so-called scholars in the church are calling Solomon a liar.  Worse than that, they call GOD a liar in His promise to Solomon and to us that we can trust the Bible’s counsel.  Every church leader hiding behind a mask of scholarship must then declare Paul a liar when he said: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” II Tim.3:16. Countless souls will be lost because the church denies this simple truth on the Bible’s definition of death.

Among the most important lessons on salvation is to understand how GOD provided eternal life for His children, “In the beginning.”  When Adam and Eve were created they were blessed with GOD’S provision for eternal life.  GOD ordained that only the fruit from “the tree of life” would provide man’s immortality.  But when Adam and Eve fell under the dominion of sin, GOD had to prevent their continued eating of the life-giving fruit as it is written: “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” Gen.3:22-24.  Satan seized the dominion of life; and from then on every living thing became a victim from the sin that Satan led our parents to commit.

But today, planted in the New Jerusalem is “the tree of life.”  The redeemed will eat of it’s fruit and thus restore man’s immortality as Jesus promised: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Rev.2:7.  Through the fruit of this tree alone will man share in the Immortal Life of Jesus as the Apostle Paul proclaimed “is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality.” I Tim.6:15,16.

Every major religion of the world, including Christianity proclaims that man is naturally immortal.  This belief is flawed at its very core, and as a result has opened the door for all manner of mystical philosophy to take hold in man’s vain imagination: everything from reincarnation and pantheism to Satan worship.  This age-old pagan doctrine serves Satan well, for he is free to use his deceptive magic to influence men: from ghosts and goblins to the Virgin Mary and deceased family members. Virtually every mainstream Christian denomination teaches that an immortal life in the torments of hellfire awaits every soul who rejects “the love of God” (Jude 21).  Many visions have been given by the devil to Bible illiterate Catholics and Protestants alike showing screaming people being tormented in hellfire.  The Bible rebukes this spiritual blackmail and character assassination of Jesus Christ, as it is written: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 7.  It should be observed that Sodom and Gomorrha are not burning today.  The fire went out after it purged the land from sinful men.  And so will it be in the second resurrection Judgment and “the lake of fire” cleansing of the Earth as the Apostle Peter clarified: “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition [total destruction] of ungodly men.” II Pet.3:7.  The fire goes out!  Jesus will then say, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev.21:5).  The saints will witness first hand the LORD’S recreation of the Earth as it is written in Genesis, chapter one.  Therefore, it is the punishment that is eternal, forever, and everlasting, not the punishing.  The very core of man’s slander of GOD’S love and truth lies in the church denying the most basic lesson of just what Jesus Christ has saved the human race from.

Nevertheless, the Bible clearly identifies the source of man’s immortality and its location today in heaven as it is written of the New Jerusalem: “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations…Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev.22:2,14.  So, when Paul speaks of how “this mortal must put on immortality” (I Cor.15:54) he refers only to the saved, not to the lost.   The tree of life = eternal life.

3. Are there other Bible writers, who verify the words of

     Solomon on the unconscious state of the dead?

Job 14:12  So man lieth down, and riseth not: _____  _____  __________  ____  ____  _______,  _______  ______  _____  _________ nor be raised out of their sleep.

Psalms 6:5  For ____  ________   ________  ____  ____  _________________  ____  ______: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

Psalms 115:17  _____  _______  ___________  _____  _____  ________, neither any that go down into _____________.  

Psalms 146:4  His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day _____  ______________  __________.

4.  Does the New Testament concur with the writers of the

      Old Testament?

Acts 2:34a  For ________  ____  _____  _______________  ______  _____  _____________...

         The very first doctrine that the Holy Spirit led the Apostle Peter to preach on the day of Pentecost stated clearly that death is an unconscious state just like sleep: “David…is both dead and buried” (v.29).  The church today has no power to wake up the world from its stupor of complacency simply because they don’t believe they are going to die.  Or if they do, there is nothing to live for except for one’s selfish gratification.  Either way, Satan “deceiveth the whole world.”

         The very first lie spoken on earth was when Satan told our Premier Mother Eve: “Ye shall not surely die.” Gen.3:4.  The devil’s lie is actually promoted as a true statement by the ruling churches and religions of the world!  They all teach, “Ye shall not surely die.”  But the very first sin was committed on Earth when Eve believed she wouldn’t die!  She then ate the fruit that GOD warned would kill her.  Satan’s first deception is still leading people to sin today.  If men truly gave thought to the permanence of death, multitudes more would consider the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be saved for “eternal life” in “the kingdom of heaven.”

        By the Churches promoting the so-called “natural immortality” of the soul they deny the greatest promise of Christ’s salvation: “the power of His resurrection” (Phil.3:10).  They have literally removed the key doctrine of Christ’s deliverance: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jn.3:16  The word, “perish” does not mean eternal life in hellfire, but this is the sadistic meaning that the church takes to the unbelieving world.

        As a result, today’s Christianity has gutted the most potent prophecy for the redeemed: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” I Cor.15:55.  With the pinnacle doctrine of GOD’S salvation universally removed by the religions of earth, including Christianity, the church has had to come up with another reason to serve GOD: using the fear of eternal suffering in the fires of hell as the means to fill the pews.  “I don’t want to go to hell” is the only reason most people go to church.  It is the fear of punishment and hope of reward that prods them, not because of Christ’s great love in bearing the punishment “for the sins of the whole world:” a punishment called “the second death:” a death He was willing to die alone to keep His children from having to face—the knowledge of eternal separation from life and love (I Jn.2:2; Rev.20:6).

5. What verse of Scripture does today’s Christianity teach

     to support their belief in the sustained consciousness

     after death?

II Corinthians 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be ___________ from the body and to be ___________ with the LORD.

         In that passage of II Corinthians 5, the Apostle Paul is expounding his fervent impatience to be free of “the body of this death” (Rom.7:24) and receive the glorified body to be given him at Christ's 2^nd Advent.  Paul wrote that it is Christ “who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Phil.3:21).  But Paul’s intended lesson has been removed and replaced with a pagan doctrine that has no sanction from Scripture, thereby making Paul contradict other Bible writers as well as his own words: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive [meaning: they are not alive now]. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming.” I Cor.15:22,23.

A monstrous insult against Christ and “the power of his resurrection” has been imposed: men teaching that after death the believer in Christ retains their full awareness with sight, hearing and touch, and immediately goes to heaven, using terms like “dream sleep” and other mystical terms.  But the Bible teaches that the only ones in heaven today are Enoch, Moses, Elijah, and those resurrected with Jesus.  With the exception of those men, none from the human race are in heaven today.  Nor will life be restored to them until Jesus comes at His 2^nd Advent.  That’s what “the power of His resurrection” is all about: to raise from the grave the righteous among men!  Enoch and Elijah, who were translated from the living (Gen.5:24; II Ki.2:11); Moses, who was resurrected immediately after his death (Deut. 34:5; Jude 9); and those resurrected with Jesus Christ at His resurrection (Matt. 27:52,53) are the assurances that Christ will come again to raise the dead and translate the living, taking every faithful soul to His “Father’s house” in heaven (Jn.14:2) to spend a thousand years reviewing the history of Earth (I Cor.6:2,3; Rev.20:4).  Apart from those holy men cited above, all others, from Adam to the last man remain unconscious in the grave until Christ returns as Jesus so plainly said: “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Jn.6:40.  “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house on the sand” “and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.” Matt.7:26; Deut.32:15.  Throughout history, the Roman church has declared, “The Church is above the Bible.”—The Catholic Record, September 1, 1923.  They use the Gospel of Christ as a lure, but then they betray His words, binding every Catholic to the shackles of sin and deceitful doctrines.  This includes the idolized Virgin Mary and the dead saints that Catholic priests teach are alive today and intercede for those faithful to the Catholic Church.  But the Bible teaches that only One is fit to be our “Intercessor” and “high priest,” for “there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (I Tim.2:5).

         The Holy Bible repeatedly prophesied that the church of Rome will never obey (Dan.7:25; 12:1; Rev.ch.13-18).  While pretending their fidelity to GOD these religious leaders in their rituals of reverence, in their decorative robes of illusionary righteousness, defy and deny the Law Jesus obeyed: the only Law where we are safe in one another’s care: the only Law where utopian life may be found: the Law that will be honored forever in the “new earth” including the “seventh day” Sabbath (Isa.66:22,23).  “All His commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever.” Ps.111:7,8.  These ceremonies and luxurious furnishings in the church are no indicator of righteousness in the eyes of our True “Holy Father” and His Son, Jesus Christ (Jn.17:11).  Even the priests at the confessional: selling indulgences and commanding the penance of: “Ten Our Fathers,” “Twenty Hail Marys” etc. for the forgiveness of sin will never hear the words of our LORD & KING: “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be ye not therefore like them.” Matt.6:7,8.  The trademarks of apostasy are all there and the doctrines of the church bear witness to the apostasy.

         Jesus and His Apostles warned that “false apostles” from every church denomination will stand condemned before Him in the Great Judgment day (II Cor.11:13-15).  And yet, these are men and women who continually assure everyone of their fidelity to Christ, claiming to be His loyal subjects.  Nevertheless, standing before “the Saviour” these disobedient ministers, leaders, teachers and theologians will declare: “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”  Jesus will reprove every apostate, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt.7:22,23.  Paul warned of this: “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Rom.16:18.  The issue lies in the fact that Christ was not their Indwelling Companion in their “many wonderful works.”  They had some cherished sin in their lives and grieved away the Presence of Jesus from their souls (Isa.59:2; Mk.3:28,29; Eph.4:30).  Their mingling of good works in the midst of living a sinful life demanded that GOD obey their gospel: a gospel that allows a life of sin.  Thus, they will demand that Jesus give them eternal life as if Christ’s Word is unqualified to judge who is worthy of “everlasting life” (Lu.19:14).  We must be wise to understand the Bible’s boundaries of salvation!  Jesus plainly said what will judge every man: “the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” Jn.12:48.  His Word is found in the “Received Text” manuscripts used for the KJV Bible.  The KJV translators used the magnificent work of the 3^rd century scholar, Lucian of Antioch, who edited the Apostle’s original Greek manuscripts.  These were restored to western Europe in the 16^th century through the Dutch scholar, Erasmus.  In addition, the translators compared the “Received Text” with the original Latin Vulgate of the Waldenses called the Itala, (from the early 2^nd century: long before Jerome’s corrupt vulgate).  It was meticulously copied and preserved through the centuries until the Reformation.

         But then there are Satan’s grand displays of power, leading the churches to ignore the Bible’s warnings about the dangers of sin: miracles that oppose the key doctrines of salvation through Jesus Christ.  Again, we ask the question: Do miracles occur to foster rebellion against the Word of GOD?  Ten thousand apparitions of Satan cloaked as the Virgin Mary have been recorded; even giving visions to Bible illiterate souls from the pope on down to little Catholic girls who stood outside of GOD’S jurisdiction to protect them from Satan’s bewitching power.  Fear and cruelty are his weapons of deception to corrupt people’s view of Jesus Christ, slandering His benevolent character of self-sacrificing love.  But Satan also uses a variety of peace and safety messages, leading people down ‘the garden path.’  Satan’s miracles have led entire nations into sin; and thus, to their temporal and spiritual ruin; even those nations with a heritage of GOD’S personal leading, including Germany, England and America.  But GOD has provided every guideline to help us discern the boundaries between the true and false demonstrations of the miraculous.  Jesus gave His assurance on this: “Behold, I have foretold you all things.” Mk.13:23.

6. What about "life-after-death experiences" that are

     so popular in both the church and the world?

Matthew 24:24  For there shall arise false Christ's, and ________  __________, and shall shew ________  ________  _____  ____________; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall ____________  _____  _______  __________.   

Revelation 16:14  For they are _____  _________  ____  _________, ___________  ____________, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

            Anything that implies a continued consciousness after death is a ploy of the devil to deceive people into believing that the church of Rome and nominal Protestantism are GOD’S true ministers, even while they live in open sin and evangelize others to share in their sins.  The testimonies range from men who descended down a long, dark and fearful corridor, or others who describe ascending to a warm light, or those who received an angel’s escort to heaven, or those who saw and spoke with deceased family members: all of these “visions” stem from “the prince of this world” and have no sanction from Scripture.  True Bible doctrine must be continuously reliable no less than man relies on his knowledge of the laws of physics to determine the safe boundaries for his engineering and technology.

7. Are church members ready to discard Scripture at the

    first sign of anything miraculous?

Acts 8:9-11  But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: [v.10] To whom they all gave heed, from _____  _________ to _____  ____________ saying, This man is _____  ___________  ___________  ____  ______.  And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

II Thessalonians 2:8-12  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the LORD shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [v.9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan _______  _____  __________ and ______ and ________  ___________, [v.10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because _______  ____________  _____ the love of the truth that they might be saved. [v.11] And for this cause GOD shall send them __________  _______________, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who _____________  _____  _____  __________ but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

          Those words lie at the very heart of all apostasy against GOD.  But all who love “his truth” will He guide as he promised (Ps.57:3).

     prevailing tide of disobedience to the Gospel of Jesus

     Christ?

Revelation 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that _______  _____  ___________________  ____  ______, and the _________  ____  __________. 

Revelation 22:14  ___________ are they that ____  ______  _____________________, that they may have right to the tree of life, and ______  _________  ____ through the gates into the city.

         Please note: Modern translations have removed from the Apostle’s manuscripts the words of Jesus blessing those who obey the Ten Commandment Law.  The New International Version and twenty more “modern” Bible versions say it this way, “Blessed are those who wash their robes…”  While the NIV translators boast in their Preface of using the “best manuscripts,” they have arrogantly removed many precious words of Jesus Christ from the Holy Bible.  One of many verses they removed: “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.” Lu.9:56.  Even the closing words of the LORD’S Prayer were deemed unfit to be included in their bible: “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matt.6:13.  Among the most sacred words of Christ—Deleted!

        The Bible affirms that only those Christians who give the invitation for GOD’S Presence to live out the righteousness of His Holy Law through them truly give honor to the sacrifice of Jesus.  Only in them does the Holy Spirit dwell (Rom.2:13; 8:11).  And yet, most Christian leaders do not teach this most basic doctrine of salvation.  Their false gospel even removes the age-old call of GOD to every man: “Repent!”  Even when Christ began His public ministry His first command was the very same call as John the Baptist’s: “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mk.1:15).  Scripture warns every minister of the Gospel that any determination on their part to remain in sin “they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” Heb.6:6.  Christ and holy angels are openly mocked by Satan and demons when men in the church “obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ps.35:17-26; II Thess.1:8).  In this, they bring shame to His Holy Name!

Romans 2:13  For _____  _____  ____________ of the law are just before GOD, but _____  _________ of the law shall be justified.

Romans 7:12  Wherefore _____  _____  ____  ________, and the __________________  ________, and ________, and ________.

Matthew 5:19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called _____  __________ [Greek text: insignificant, unworthy] in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called __________ in the kingdom of heaven.

         There is only one issue in the great controversy between Christ and Satan: the legitimacy of the Ten Commandments as the standard of life’s government and wellbeing.  And there is only one verse needed to show the threat facing every Christian: "And the dragon [Satan] was wroth with the woman [the church of Christ (Jer.6:2)], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of GOD, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12:17.  This one verse sums up Satan’s work against the human race.  He has deceived the church leaders to impose on the congregation “the transgression of the law:” the same Law that condemns Satan himself to everlasting destruction (I Jn.3:4; Eze.28:16,18,19).

         Since the Sacred Law is openly disregarded, this opens the floodgates for false doctrine to subvert true doctrine in order to excuse the sins of the church.  Example: While the Bible declares that mankind is no longer “under the law” but “under grace,” today’s religious leaders ill-define the manner in which “the law” was done away.  The Apostle Paul taught a different Gospel than the one preached today.  He taught that to be “under the law” referred to the inheritance of condemnation that we all received from our Premier Father, Adam, when he sinned.  Paul verified this when he said: “God sent forth his Son, made of woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law.” Gal.4:4,5.  “The Son of God” was born under the same inherited condemnation of death as every son of Adam receives.  Therefore, through the victory of “God in Christ,” the whole human race has received a new inheritance.  The death sentence we all inherited (without our consent) has been removed!  Christ’s victory over sin and the grave gives Him the legal right to raise the entire human race from the grave, to stand in either one of two camps: “the righteous” or “the wicked” (I Cor.15:22).  The sinless history of Jesus Christ is now the new inheritance of man because the Bible calls Him “the last Adam.”  Through Christ all men are now “under grace.”  This new inheritance is verified by the words: “Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputed not iniquity,” “that righteousness might be imputed unto them,” but “especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Ps.32:2; Rom.4:11; Gal.6:10. 

Christ’s words perfectly reinforce the foundational doctrine of His Gospel: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Jn.5:24. This deliverance from sin’s condemnation through faith in Jesus and GOD the Father was the original message the Apostles took to the world.  “This gospel” is the message that “turned the world upside down!” Matt.24:14; Acts 17:6.  To believe our Heavenly Father opened the way for us to receive the very Presence of Jesus through our simple invitation for Him to come and reside in our souls to live out His victory over sin—in us, and thus, receive His everlasting life, is “the mystery of godliness” (I Tim.3:16).

         The “power of God unto salvation” (Rom.1:16) also addresses the second dilemma we face: how we still need deliverance from our sinful nature.  While our fallen nature will continue to tempt and annoy us until the LORD comes “who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Phil.3:21), the Bible invites us to overcome temptation in the same way Jesus always met temptation: “It is written.”  That’s where freewill becomes paramount: to apply in our lives what we see in the perfect example of the life of Jesus.  He is our Perfect Role Model.  In addition, the heavenly wisdom provided by Christ through the Holy Ghost will keep us from being sinning sinners, as we give Him permission every day.  This is why Paul said, “I die daily” (I Cor.15:31).  Therefore, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil.4:13).  Through the Indwelling Christ, we have access to receive His faith to abstain from sin (I Jn.2:1).

It was our total incapability to live a righteous life apart from GOD that called for His Divine rescue.  Man cannot, in and of his own strength obey the Sacred Law without “the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit.3:5; Rom.8:7).  So Jesus, after His ascension to Heaven, returned to the Earth as He promised (Jn.14:18), united with the Omnipresent Power of the Holy Ghost.  And with waiting heart He aspires to hear the invitation of every man on Earth for Him to come and take up residence in our minds and hearts.  He hopes to hear the response, “Here am I” to His call on the heart as did  Abraham, Moses, Jacob and Samuel.  This is the “new covenant” where “the LORD” writes His Law in our hearts (Heb.12:24; Eze.11:19).  And through His sanctifying power, step-by-step, lesson-by-lesson, victory-by-victory the saints are restored into the fullness of His Image as it is written, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil.1:6.  And to reflect the Image of His Perfect Character should be our continual desire and prayer! For in Him alone lies the restoration of the wisdom, peace and joy that GOD gave to man, “In the beginning.”

            “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth.” “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man,” “for vain is the help of man.” Jn.14:27; Ps.118:8; Ps.60:11.