The 9 Lies of Religion
“I came into the world to testify to the truth,” said Jesus. “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:37).
Strong words, Jesus. Put them on your Facebook page and you’ll get flamed.
“Jesus, how dare you claim to have the inside track on truth? Why must we take sides? How ungracious. How divisive. What gives you the right? Who do you think you are?”
Jesus testified to the truth because only the truth can set you free. Religion, on the other hand, keeps you bound with half-truths, bent-truths, and damnable lies.
By religion I mean the universal quest for self-improvement. I am talking about the religion of the snake who said, “Do this and you will be like God.”
The lies of religion are contemptible because they throw shade on the good news and enslave those whom Jesus loves. Here are nine of the most diabolical lies ever preached:
1. God is keeping score
“He’s making a list and checking it twice. He’s gonna find out who’s naughty and nice.”
The picture of God as a bookkeeper is at odds with the one Jesus gives of God as the forgiving father.
Religion says, “God is recording your sins on video-tape.” But the good news declares, “Love keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Cor 13:5). God is not recording your sins (2 Cor 5:19) and he does not treat us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10).
“But didn’t Jesus say he might blot our names from his book?”
No, Jesus said he wouldn’t blot our names. The only thing God promises to blot out are your sins (Is 43:25), and he did that already. Why? Because he loves us and wants us to come home.
2. God is mad at you
“Sure, God loves you but he’s also mad at you. You have to balance his kindness with his sternness.”
Heard that one? It sounds Biblical, but it isn’t.
The Bible proclaims, “God is love” (1 John 4:16). Everything he does is an expression of his love for you. If the wrath of God scares you, then you have the wrong picture of wrath because there is no fear in love (1 John 4:18).
The gospel truth is that God was angry with your sins but he poured out all his wrath on the cross (Rom 8:3), and he is angry no more. As the hymn says, because of Jesus the wrath of God has been satisfied.
3. God is punishing you
“God scourges his children and burns the rest.”
Uh-huh. So how many people did Jesus scourge? How many people did Jesus punish? If it’s not true of the Son, it’s not true of the Father (Heb. 1:3).
The truth is that God doesn’t scourge his children, but he trains and instructs them as a father trains the son in whom he delights.
Religion wields the big stick of punishment to compel proper behavior, but in Christ you are eternally unpunishable! “The punishment that brought us peace was on him…” (Is. 53:5). As Spurgeon said: “How shall the Lord punish twice for one offense? If Christ took my sins and stood as my substitute, then there is no wrath of God for me.”
4. God makes you sick to teach you things
“God gave you cancer to teach you character.”
No he didn’t. God is certainly able to redeem our suffering, but he doesn’t give us sickness in the first place.
Under the old covenant, people got sick as a consequence of breaking the law (Deu. 28:15–28). But Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law that we might live healthy and abundant lives.
Religion says God teaches us with sickness, but Jesus says he teaches us through the Word and the Holy Spirit. The truth is that Jesus took sickness off people; he didn’t give it to them.
5. God gives and takes away
“Your baby died because God needed another angel in heaven. God took your job because you were enjoying it too much. Your car was stolen because it was an idol.”
Heed these damnable lies and you won’t resist the thief when he comes to plunder you.
Religion loves to quote Job because the man was self-righteous (Job 32:1-2), but he was also bitter (Job 27:2), and suicidal (Job 7:15) and spoke a lot of rubbish (Job 42:3). “Job is an ignoramus. He talks utter nonsense” (Job 34:35, MSG). Why listen to Job when you can listen to Jesus?
The truth is that Jesus came so that you may have life to the full. God gives good gifts and he never takes them back (Rom 11:29).
6. God might reject you
“Unfruitful branches are broken off and cast into the fire. Consider the Jewish branches that were broken off on and be afraid!”
Yet Jesus never said God breaks off unfruitful branches and nor did Paul.
Religion says, “You have to get on fire for God, or Jesus will vomit you out.” Not true. You are the body of Christ and Jesus doesn’t vomit out body parts.
Religion says work hard and God may accept you, but the truth is that in Christ you are 100% acceptable. Nothing can make you more or less pleasing to God than you already are.
7. God can be bought
“Grace is free but you have to prove you were worth it. God wants your service, your sacrifice, and your money.”
The endless appeals for sweat and coin are a hallmark of DIY religion. “Jesus died for you. What will you do for him?” It’s an anti-Christ message that prostitutes the love of God by putting price-tags on the priceless.
A holy God cannot be bribed and your Father’s love cannot be bought. You cannot pay for salvation, sanctification, or any of the blessings of God. The truth is that all the blessings of God are ours in Christ (Eph 1:3). We are not blessed because we give but because he gives.
8. God can’t be trusted
“You have to maintain your place in the kingdom by bearing fruit, pursuing holiness, and being a productive Christian.”
Nothing will kill your faith faster than the lie that says, “It all depends on you.” This is serpent theology: “If you fast, pray, give, and do a hundred other things, you’ll claw your way into the throne room. You’ll be a self-made god.”
The truth is that you are saved by grace and kept by grace. You can trust Jesus that the good work he began in you he will carry on unto completion (Php 1:6). You don’t stand on your promises to God, but on his awesome promises to you.
9. God doesn’t really love you
An angry God that keeps score, punishes you with hardships, makes you sick, and threatens to cast you aside, is not a God of love. He’s an idol made in our own fallen image, a perversion that reveals our fear and insecurity. Remove the religious mask and you will find it is Satan who is constantly accusing you and finding fault with you.
The God that Jesus revealed is nothing like this! “God is your Father in heaven who loves you and holds nothing against you! God doesn’t want to crush you, he wants to hug you and hold you and rejoice over you with singing, for you are the apple of his eye!
The gospel truth is that God loves you unconditionally, no strings attached. He doesn’t love you because you are good or kept the rules. He loves you because he is your Father. Period. Amen. The end.
What if I have bought into these lies?
Listen to the damnable lies of religion and you will bear the bad fruit of fear and doubt. You will lose your peace, joy, and freedom and end up anxious, insecure, and fallen from grace.
What’s the remedy?
Jesus said those who love truth recognize his voice. So fix your eyes on Jesus, get settled in his love, and let nothing move you.
Remain in your Father’s embrace and you will never be seduced by the lies of dead religion.
——-
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Please put this in a time machine and mail it to me a few decades ago. I’m coming to the conclusion that most of the church is simply operating in a Christianized version of the world’s system. We ask God to help us do good and avoid sin. Then we base what we think we deserve from God on how well WE did. Yes, God is helping us. But it’s still mostly us. We do pretty well because most of us, through this system, are pretty moral people and moral people ARE blessed.
But once I got a taste of grace and the favor that produces I no longer want any part of the above deal. I don’t want my reward – even on my best day – when I can have Jesus’ portion even on my worst day.
Haha! I’d like to mail it to myself too, Bob.
Thank you so much Paul for your faithfulness to the Good News. You are aptly named.
Bob,
My sentiments exactly. When I think of all the precious time I wasted doing what I thought were good works, I cringe. Actually, I’m ashamed that my self righteousness blinded me from the real truth of Jesus’ love for me. Wasting all that time, always troubled in my soul because of fear and doubt. I, like you have tasted of Grace and the favor that is manifested through our humbly submitting to our Lord knowing that we cannot do it ourselves, and resting in His Everlasting Arms. There is no going back, for those who have been exposed to the true Gospel to the lies that are being told in the organization called the “church”. We, the Redeemed, are the church–not a building or denomination, we are the Bride of Christ, for whom He is coming to claim at the Rapture, Praise and Glory to the Lord God Almighty for the things He has done!
Well said Terry!!
Never think that your time was wasted in good works, even if done for the wrong reasons, someone was blessed by it…now walk forward in GoOD works to bring Glory to God!
Hahahahahahhahhahahhha love this comment.you go Bob.
Church these days reminds me of going to the dentist – you go there because you are in pain, they inflict more pain on you, then they lecture you that you shouldn’t have been in pain in the first place and then they empty you of your life savings and demand that you come back more often.
What’s wrong with this picture?Spiritual masochists we all are!
Hahahaha!
That’s a very good comparison, Barry. Very apt and very tragic.
Nice, the church a christianized version of the world.I think your right to. “He who began a good work in you will finish it”. I’m convinced that is the reason I first came across Joseph Prince, then Paul with Escape to Reality. Religion had me so confused I had to start seeking elsewhere.
I love this
I think you covered the bases,keep up the good news
The religious don’t preach the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ correctly, if at all. Jesus is talking to the Jews in Matthew 24 and 25 not the church. We do not have to endure to be saved–we are saved and nothing will change what Jesus has done for us on the Cross. The Rapture is the Blessed Hope and all who hear the message purify themselves. We are to encourage one another with the promise of Rapture and the Second Coming. I believe that is the reason the church (religious institutions) are impotent and carnal. They are without hope. When things around us are so terrible in the world, Christians, who don’t have their hearts established in Grace and don’t hear the truth about our latter end preached, become terrified about the end times. The result — they plant their feet firmly in the world and slip further into carnality. Yes they will go up in the Rapture, but they will lose a lot of time suffering emotionally and not being truly useful in the Kingdom, due to fear and insecurity in their Salvation. May the Lord Jesus continue to draw these in through preachers of the true Gospel, like yourself and other saints who are established in Grace. God Bless you richly as you continue to preach the truth.
BRAVO!!!!!! Amen brother 😊👼🙏
Hi Paul,
I know you have said these before but we have other peaches;
You are a sinner as well as a saint
God can’t approach a sinner
We have to crucify the flesh and die to self daily by taking up our cross
Your ability to obey the ten commandments is a measure of how pleasing you are to God and a measure of the credibility of your faith
And best of all; preaching against all the above grants a license to sin.
(Massive sigh!)
Blessings.
Lewis,
First, thank you for presenting your views with civility.
Second, thank you for reminding me why I so love the freeing and loving message of the gospel.
Please keep reading and studying and hopefully you can find that same freedom.
Lewis,
Jimmi was adding to Paul’s list of 9 lies told to the church. He was not refuting Paul’s message.
Opps. Duh!! Sorry Lewis!! 🙂
Here is another…
“When you sin you’re letting God down.”
Or here is my unfavorite “You can lose your salvation.”
Excellent article and sound rebuttal of the lies of religion and tradition. Thanks Paul for the opportunity to bask in His goodness this early morning!
Hey Paul,
Huge fan!! This post is yet another liberating, awesome message. Here’s my top ten lies of religion:
1.) God withdraws his presence when you sin. He loves the sinner; not the sin.
2.) God cares about morals, and desires Christ-like behavior.
3.) Jesus died for you, so now you owe him [with worship, good works and tithings].
4.) Love is for other people. Not you.
5.) Who can know the mind of Christ? Not you. Stop asking questions.
6.) People with gifts of healing and prophesy are super rare and super special!
7.) You can’t really get drunk off the Holy Spirit. Love is not a feeling.
8.) God’s love is very soft.
9.) Why talk about Jesus, when you can talk about church!
10.) Once you’re a believer, you can no longer do anything you want.
Thanks Nate, for exposing these lies . Some of them were lurking in the fogbanks, firing cannons at me. Thanks for naming and shaming them. I think I will come read this article and the comments a lot. The Holy Spirit is using all this to do a bunch of spiritual warfare for me. Thanks Paul!
God does care about morals and desires Christ like behavior. 1Peter 1:15,16, 1 Peter 2:21 ,Ephesians5:5, Colossians 3:5-7.
I wonder if we do this in our strength or in celebration of Christ’s strength and a quiet confidence that we have nothing to prove or pay amends for (the bible was written by the worst whom God showed changed by showing undiluted grace and goodness towards)?
Also, I love the idea that we can do anything we want, never works for me. maybe grace is too good to be true. Or maybe it’s almost too good to be true. Makes a lot of sense. But I’m confusing issues and there IS an answer : Paul the apostle said ALL things are permissible. Where I must confess is that it seems that all things are not beneficial to the building up of the body of the bride of Christ, you and me. He won’t break our hearts. He gently leads us.
Oooh… #5!! People have somehow missed Paul advising us that “We have the mind of Christ.”
We have a song we sing at church that has one line, “Who can know Your glory?”…and every time we sing it, I reply “ME!!!!!! I can know the glory of God because He is in me and I am in Him!!”
#5 God gives and takes away.
I can’t help but think of an otherwise good song we sing in church (maybe called Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord) that has this line in it. I shut up quickly when this line comes around. God’s not like your earthly dad. His mood doesn’t change based on a whim or whether he had a bad day.
There are a bunch of lines in songs I don’t sing any more. “Create In Me a Clean Heart” is a good time to go get a drink of water or hit the bathroom.
Lol! I hear ya Bob. During these songs is about the time I get up to take my kids to children’s church. My preacher said the title of his message one day. Something about God bringing you struggle. I said, “ok kids, time to go to class.” And stayed with them in their class. Learned more truth in children’s church that day!
Defo Bob
I see these songs as an oppurtunity to spread the Gospel.
In blessed be the name at the bridge I up the volume -“He gives NOT takes away! !”
This is important the things we say and sing subliminally (& consciously) influence belief.
Ps “create in me a renewed mind!”
Blessings.
Pps
You’ve got me started now!
I’ll have to go on an anti-gospel lyric redubbing exercise.
I make make it a weekly item on my twitter.
Does anyone know if this might infringe any laws!!!
Be blessed.
Lewis, unfortunately you cannot change lyrics of a song….I don’t see why you can’t call them out though, in the ways they are inaccurate. Also, you can find songs that perfectly nail the concepts and talk about them and give them more ‘air time’
It is an abusive and irresponsible parent who always gives and never takes anything away from their children.
Do that and you will raise a pathological naricissist!
When Job said, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.” The Holy Spirit of the Father is very careful to agree with Job’s statememt in the next verse by saying, “In all this (this statement) Job never sinned against God.”
No Job wasn’t theologically wrong when he made this statement. GOD gave Satan permission to take everything from Job. If I as a Father give permission for an agent to take something from my kids – it is not the agent who is taking it away – IT IS ME!
Or the times I stood in church singing, “I will worship…with all of my heart etc.” while inwardly my heart was sinking, going, “I have no idea how to worship, let alone with even some of heart.” I didn’t realize that the only Son of man able to do it is Jesus and He did it perfectly for me on my behalf His whole life, especially at the cross.
I change that line when we sing it (not too often anymore, but I still pull it out on occasion because the rest of the song is great). I pull a line from U2 and instead of “You give and take away”, I sing “You give Yourself away.”
On another note, this is why I change the verb tense in “Reckless Love” to “I _didn’t_ deserve it.” The NEW CREATION is worthy and deserving of every good gift of our good Father!
Love that U2 line.
You have a way with words brother. Well done.
Fantastic list, Paul. I can’t be reminded too often of how ludicrous the demands of DIY religion are next to the loveliness of Jesus’ full supply. Thank you.
If I was going to add anything to the list, it would be the lie that says you have to “pay the price” to get what Jesus has already paid for e.g. to stay a “clean vessel”, get increased anointing for ministry, intimacy in relationship with God, “higher levels” of spiritual experience etc. I’m not even sure what “paying the price” would really involve but I’m pretty sure it’s beyond the reach of all but a few spiritual “superstars” and involves a LOT of religious sweat.
The price is paid – Hallelujah!!!! If He hasn’t already paid for it, I for one can’t afford it and don’t want it.
Happy Easter E2R friends!
Gilly
Another would be that we can be “fruit-inspectors”,determining others spiritual condition according to our own very faulty standards that law-based teaching has indoctrinated the Church with for years. We end up setting ourselves up as judges with evil thoughts per James 2:4,and perpetuate self-righteousness rather than the righteousness we have in Christ.Great article!
I’ve been a chief fruit inspector for decades, sadly made worse by going to church. Thankfully Jesus has born all that in His body on the tree for me.
A+
Thank you Paul, it helps in clearing some things up for me. Learning and growing day by day.
I was siting across the table having lunch with a well known evangelical pastor listening to the usual condescension, button holing and berating over my insistence that the real Jesus of the Bible doesn’t threaten, intimidate or guilt His people into making “deeper” commitments to deny themselves and to follow him. As He shouted and ranted angrily across the table insisting that “pew sitters today claim to know Jesus but they don’t act like him.” As I cowered in my chair I asked myself this question: is what you are demonstrating right now what the real Jesus of the Bible looks like? If He is like you I don’t want to know Him or follow Him! Will the real Jesus please step forward and identify Himself please?
Barry,
Well, it would not surprise me at all that the “pew sitters today” in this pastor’s church would “claim to know Jesus but they don’t act like him.”
Perhaps- although I am sure it was those “pew sitters” who laboured lovingly and in Christ like sacrificial generosity enabled that well known pastors kingdom, mega church structure, fame and fortune. Most of those pew sitters love Jesus and just want to please Him- and all of them are bought and paid for by Jesus own blood yet they are fleeced, beat down and are kept enslaved by this bogus performance orientated graceless false Christianity . Woe to those have a hand in this nascent abusive church culture. Yet God by his grace is raising up his freedom fighters who endure continual ridicule, accusation and rejection at the hands of these modern religious slave masters. I am happy to suffer together as the least among these freedom fighters.
Agreed, I know he raised me out if a similar culture.
I always wanted to know Him more; though deeply involved in a grace/performance ministry, for way too many years, my spirit was always discontent. Once I found the true Gospel, my heart leaped and I found the elusive peace.
Here’s one for you to end that “losing your salvation” debate:
“If you could lose your salvation, you would.”
How about: “If you don’t tithe, you are under the curse of Malachi chapter three”. I was actually in a pew and heard this in person. Plus, the denomination had worked out all the details, such as you must tithe on gross income not after taxes.
Hello David, since we are not under the law, it is not required for us to tithe. but under grace, you get to tithe! it is your privilege to give the best of what you have. your tithe.
as what I learned, Holy communion proclaims Jesus death. Tithing proclaims God is alive and taking all our gift like the high priest.
I don’t use the word tithe–giving to the Lord is a personal thing, as we are directed and led by the Holy Spirit. There are many believers who will pay their “tithe” and then wouldn’t give someone in need a nickel. They feel they are released from giving anything else. Yes, Grace leads us to give, under Grace generosity should be evident and prevail. I was delivered from the tithe lie many years ago after hearing what the previous poster, David said. It also says in Malachi that God will rebuke the devourer for us if we tithe. Well didn’t Jesus rebuke the devourer for us once and for all at the Cross?
I started searching and realized that tithing in the New Covenant is the wrong word. Under Grace, we become generous and want to give. They are offerings, and they are not necessarily for the benefit of the institutional church, but to all whom the Lord presents to us that are in need. Tithing, in the true sense of the word, is the law. God does not need our money, but we, who are in Jesus use our resources to support those in ministry and the needy as He leads. If tithing was still something, we as born again believers should participate in, wouldn’t the Apostle Paul have instructed the early church in that matter? The early church lived communally and they each helped each other, offering their excess for those in need. It is certainly something to peruse.
I’ve been tithing my whole walk and God has been so good to me. Never had debt, even when I was out of work a year. But when I finally got a revelation of grace I started to have a surplus of money like never before. I started to see remarkable blessings in EVERY area of my life, including financially. The old way was good, this new way is amazing. I still love to tithe. I just don’t quote the Malachi scripture to God all the time now to remind him of his obligation to bless me. 🙂 I’ve take myself out of the reasons why God blesses me.
Right, the tithe is just a start. If you don’t give how can the scripture do its blessing. As RG LeTourneau, perhaps the most inspiring Christian inventor, businessman, started out giving 10% and living on the remaining 90%, but ended up giving 90% and living on the remaining 10% and quite comfortably!
Ecclesiastes 11:1,
“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.”
Acts 20:35
“… words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Why? Cause if all one does is receive, then there will not be that blessing that, only giving brings to a soul! With Luke 6:38, as a good example; “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Its incontrovertible, one cannot out give God, other wise He would then be less and we would then be great. No, its God who is Great and we can take part in His great store house of abundance when we release out of our pitifullness. Remember the widows mite! God said “prove me,” Malachi 3:10
Tom,
God requires nothing from us except to accept the sacrifice He sent in Jesus Christ Our Lord. When we acknowledge that we are sinners and cannot do anything in and of ourselves to become righteous and accept what Jesus did at the Cross, then we are blessed. As Jesus is in Heaven, so are we. Generosity and Giving is a manifestation of Grace. Having a prescribed ritual or designated amount or believing we will receive because of our giving is the Law. As for “… it is more blessed to give than to receive…”, well, God is Love and He gave His only Beloved, Begotten Son to die on the Cross for us. Jesus is our all in all–He is our abundance, our provision, our healing our peace and joy. In Jesus is all things. There is nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, that we can do to perfect what was done on The Cross. Our inheritance is in Jesus Christ, the Holy one of Israel. Blessings for believers are not conditional on our giving money or anything else.
Jesus was addressing the Jews in this context. Additionally, all of this took place before the Cross and the New Covenant was not yet established. Basically, when Jesus was alive and talking to the people and His disciples He ministered from the Old Covenant scriptures. The Church was a mystery and was not established until after the Cross. Bless you dear one.
Terry, I am a bit slow and after reading this and looking at the scripture, I missed Paul saying, “how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak,..” which does fit the horizontal thought you shared, great point! So, it is blessing to give to “other’s”, horizontally. Yet, I cant help but remember also Jesus saying, What ever we do to the least of these, “you have done it unto me”, so, really there is no horizontal, vertical, as it is (at least in Jesus’ thoughts) all vertical. Thats why I disagreed with # 7, ” We are not blessed because we give but because he gives.” Also, you said earlier that; “Jesus was addressing the Jews in this context. Additionally, all of this took place before the Cross and the New Covenant was not yet established”. But Paul shared this with not only Jews but Gentile and it was part of the new covenant, or Paul would not have mentioned it. So, what blessing’s are these we might expect? I think the same blessing’s mentioned in the Gospels, written in the old testament time’s. Thanks
David,
The Malachi curse is not for New Covenant believers. That’s why I am opposed to the word Tithing. It wreaks of the law. Believers give because generosity is from the Heart of their Father who gave His only Begotten, Beloved Son to take our “bad” so we could have the “good” (sorry for the grammar just wanted to say it so it could be understood by all my “law” abiding friends). When we are blessed by Our Father it is natural for a believer to want to give to those who are in need and to their church. From where I stand at this point, I don’t even know a church I would support with the exception of those who preach the Grace Gospel and there are none of those where I live even within 300 miles. We minister to those to whom the Lord leads us and there is no shortage of those folks. When believers start to understand about Grace they will be delivered from the bondage of the Law and Rest as we have been commanded to do.
BOOM! If there is an OT curse on non-tithers, then that curse CANNOT trump “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law!”
hello pastor Paul , a good one, now that’s good news I would like to believe without fear, I could say ” Christ saved me from the world but the church killed me, but Grace Resurrected me” o today I can really ” heaven came down and glory filled my soul, when at the cross my saviour made me whole…….” I am enjoying the grace of God,
thank you pastor Paul for all your encouraging articles.
God bless you.
Every saying that says what we must do to be saved,blessed…and pleasing to the Father instead of what Jesus has done that through Him and His work we are already fully saved,blessed and pleasing to the Father…is a religious poison.
Ooh ooh I know one:
“God is in control.” People would flip to hear someone say that’s a lie. But I cringe when I hear people say it, because what they mean by it is that God is stealing, killing, and destroying. When the Bible clearly says that’s the thief!
A big one taught in church, our sin separates us from God. In that case, who could ever pray! I had a leader say you need to list every sin out before God will hear you. It still hinders my prayers sometimes. Stuff like that sticks with you as a kid.
The statement God is in control is a lie that I was also thinking of.
We are in control. How do we exercise our power of control?
We believe and SPEAK!. Jesus tells us to speak to the mountain and not in a complimentary way. We call things that are not as though they are until they become so.
Love this liberating stuff!
Why do some people say you have to be baptized to take communion? I’ve taken communion at home (I don’t have a church yet) and I don’t believe you have to be baptized to take communion. But lately I’ve been having an anxiety setback and now I’m trying to starve any doubts. It’s sad that religion wants to keep people fearfully and insecure. Thankfully, your site has truly been a blessing to me.
You don’t have to be baptized to take communion for communion is simply a time for remembering Jesus and his death. This Easter many non-believers will go to church. They will hear the gospel, they will hear about the grace of God, then they will be asked to stay away from the communion table. Just another example of how religion makes us stupid.
Thank you Paul for saying that. Many have been told that they have to examine themselves, confess all sins or they will partake unworthily. Worse yet, they will be sick and die prematurely. What a terrible, terrible lie! The Holy Communion is one of the most powerful things we can do to proclaim the death of our Precious Lord Jesus. Demons flee at the site of us partaking. Jesus said that as often as we do this we proclaim His death. There are no sins to confess –Jesus already took all our sins, confessing them is a mockery of the Cross. There is nothing, absolutely nothing we can do to make ourselves worthy outside of the Cross of Christ. I still stand in awe of the lies that come across pulpits all across the world. My heart breaks for all those who are discouraged from taking the Holy Communion. Jesus made us worthy and He asked that we do this in remembrance of Him. We partake at home almost daily as a family.
Hi Paul,
I’m very big on communion because Jesus said if I don’t chew on his flesh and drink his blood,I have no part in him and he has no part in me.
Hi Terry,
The unworthy thing is a big lie that I also like to talk to people about. Jesus died for unworthy people and told us how important it is for us to repeatedly and continuously partake of his supper. Then religious Christians come along and give us a list of reasons why we had better not.The apostle Paul does tell us that there are four unworthy ways that we can partake of the Lord’s supper. If we gorge on his body/bread,get drunk on his blood/wine,separate our selves from some of the church members when we partake,or fail to differentiate the Lords body from his blood,we take the Lords supper in an unworthy manner.
When God told Abraham,in Genesis,that he would inherit the land of Canaan,the land was just one part of Gods promise to him. When Abraham asked God how he would know that he had inherited the land,God told him to bring him a goat,a lamb,a dove,and a pigeon and the land/inheritance would come to him little by little.
God was telling Abraham how these sacrifices would proclaim/remind him of his son’s death to come. The dove and pigeon where animals that poor people would sacrifice. When we take communion,we proclaim/remind god of his son’s death that WAS.
Since we are joint heirs with Christ,we have a great inheritance that we posses little by little every time we partake of the Lords supper.
Baptism and communion are the two main ordinances of the Christian faith, but scripturally , baptism has always presided communion. Acts 8:37,38 and Acts 10:47,48. Notice, they did not offer communion, they offered baptism and were baptized right away. So, we must follow their example. Baptism was first, followed by communion.
Jesus is our example, as He was baptized , “to fulfil all righteousness” * Matthew 3:15. Communion, then, is to remember the body and blood of the one who made that righteousness possible.
Do you agree with this? X
Wait, aren’t preacher asking for wisdom before they preach? how was it possible that the gospel of grace are hardly being preached.
some teacher goes like this: “I prayed for wisdom and scriptures lead me to this: “be holy for I am holy. so do your best to follow what God has commanded us. By his grace, though we fail, He will take our hand and rise us up again”
I’m so so so new to this Gods Grace, hyper grace, etc. and like the other post/comment, how i wish theres a time machine so that this revelation may be given to me many years ago.
all the while I’m asking for wisdom and while unknowingly teaching the law. how was that possible?
Im so thankful now about the revelation of grace. like apostle Paul, i took a few blow/light beating (yes i’ve been reading your post… a lot).
How is it that the Gospel of Grace is so often not taught?
Because Satan doesn’t want us to posses our inheritance. If he can get us to believe that we are justified and/or sanctified by anything other than Grace or by Grace plus anything else,faith is void and the promise of our Father is made of no effect. He knows this so he doesn’t want us to. Since every other religion is dead and not a threat to Satan,he resides in the Christian church. He has no reason to reside anywhere else.
The Law/ten commandments is typically not maligned in the church. It is Grace that is commonly persecuted/removed from the church. In the story of Abraham,his son Isac,who was born of Abraham’s wife Sarah (a type of Grace) was persecuted by Ishmael who’s mother was a bond servant named Hagar (a type of works/the Law/fleshly effort). God told Abraham to send away the son of the slave (Ishmael) for he shall not be joint heir to a great inheritance with the son of the free woman (Isac). This shows us that even from the beginning our inheritance was a gift not of works.
Another big truth that we are taught in the story of Abraham is that we are blessed/enriched when we have Grace together with Faith. Abraham was a type of Faith. His wife Sarah was a type of Grace. Two different kings,on two different occasions took/removed Sarah/Grace from Abraham/Faith. Both times bad things happened when Grace was removed from Faith. Each of the two occasions that Sarah was returned to Abraham,he was enriched with animals,servants,gold,and silver. Each lime Grace was returned to Faith,Faith was enriched. This shows us that Grace is the essential component in the increase of our faith and Satan doesn’t want us to know this either. All churches believe in faith and it is never disputed. Faith is never removed from Grace. It is always Grace that is disputed and always has been from the beginning. If one of the two is removed from the Chuch,it is always Grace that is removed and has been so from the beginning.
grace cannot exist without faith. Biblical faith is faith in God therefore (biblical) faith is non existent without grace. Grace is Gods provision and response to Biblical faith Therefore where you don’t have grace neither can you have faith. If faith remains where grace has been removed it is not faith in God but faith in man. Faith in man is what replaces and removes both biblical faith and grace . Claiming you can have faith without grace is like saying you can have air without oxygen. Where there no grace there is.no faith in God and wherever you have faith in God there you will find grace.
Just as you can oxygen without air but you cannot have air without oxygen so you can have grace without faith but you cannot have faith without grace. Grace is the oxygen of the atmosphere of our faith.
Thanks guys but it still doesnt answer the main query…
preachers always asked for wisdom and most of the time they will begin with phrase like “cover me with your blood as i deliver your word”, “use me as a vessel”, “speak to your people”
most honest preacher I knew prepared the sermon for the whole week and they meditated on it asking Lord for wisdom.
then bam! Law or mixture preaching on the pulpit.
I understand that satan dont want it preached and will do something to take off grace. but what about the preachers asking wisdom?
whats your take about that?
Maxx, I used to be the preacher you described. I would pray and ask for wisdom and preach mixture, and I did it with the purest of motives and a desire to please the Lord. Thousands of preachers do this. How does it happen? I believe the Holy Spirit gives us nothing but good gifts, but what we see is filtered by what we are looking through. If you don’t know what makes the new covenant new, you will preach mixture.
As a preacher of mixture, I preached the pure grace and goodness of God. The problem was I then put price tags on his gift. The goodness of God is revealed by the Spirit of Grace; the price tags came from my own understanding. That’s how it happens.
Maxx,
Just because preachers are praying and asking for wisdom does not mean that they are hearing from God. If their hearts are not established in Grace, and they don’t understand what Grace is, they will preach from their tradition or the Law (most times not realizing it). I have been in the church for over 45 years and have yet to meet a preacher in my circle who does not preach from the mixture message. Basically, if what you are preaching does not line up with Grace — unmerited Favor of God — you are preaching a mixture message. If you, as a preacher, don’t have a true understanding of the scriptures you are using to “feed” your sheep then you don’t have any business preaching it. Any message that directs the “sheep” to do, say or give anything to “fix” themselves is from the Law and should be cast out. Right believing produces Holiness in us, because we are the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ and it is not we, but Christ who lives in us. Just as Jesus is in Heaven is as we are. Sin is no longer an issue because we must be righteousness conscious. As we establish our hearts in Righteousness and become rooted in Grace by knowing, believing and receiving the Love God has for us, through His Son Jesus Christ, sin becomes a moot point. All preaching and teaching must be from the point of Grace and nothing else. All else is as filthy rags and mocks what God has done for us through the Death and Resurrection of His Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus. It is FINISHED, as Our Lord said at the Cross! Nothing in our hands we bring, simply to the Cross we cling. Bless you brother.
thanks guys! that was enlightening.
Its like God gave signal(wisdom) to preach the gospel and our mind interprets it depending on our own understanding.
oh Lord! that’s why He said lean not on your own understanding. Now I get it.
They trust the Lord, and acknowledge Him but trust on their own understanding and think that the path is directed to direction God really wants.
God indeed has blessed you!
“God could ever accept you, you have gone to far.” Religion say’s you have to please God for him to accept you.
Thank God for His message of Grace. For 15 years as a believer I battled all these lies of the religion, enforced by teachers (including myself) of the bible. Man I was so condemned trying to please God. But thank God I have been set free by His Grace and Truth. Thank you Paul for sharing.
Thanks for the great reminders if why I love and rest in Grace. Several years ago our pastor taught a full year of Sunday School on the 50 Lies/Deceptions that Believers hear in the Church. We need to be wise and discerning.
The question one must ask oneself is: Which God is God – God of Genesis 1 or Lord God of Genesis 2? One is entirely, completely, eternally good – knows only good; creates only good. The other is obscured, viewed through a mist, the deep sleep, the Adam-dream, the “world on the face of the earth.” The belief in a God who “knows good AND evil” will produce the results of that belief in one’s experience. Jesus said that he came so that they might know the one TRUE God. Our thinking is of the utmost importance. The tares must be separated from the wheat, all thoughts must be taken captive to the obedience of Christ, and man – the image and likeness of God – must learn to use his/her God-given dominion rightly.
In my church I’ve heard we are infected with sin. Then we turn around and sing “Amazing Grace My Chains Are Gone.” Followed by “I’m a sinner saved by grace” with no mention of my new creation in Jesus and that I’ve been made a Saint. Wow!
Brad, “while we were yet sinner’s Christ died for us”. We are not “yet sinner” as that discribs a change, just as you mentioned Corinthians 5:17. We were sinner’s, but “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” We are not to manifest what the devils children manifest. As they follow in the steps of their father who sinned from the beginning, 1 John 3:10.. We are to follow in the steps of Jesus, who did no sin! 1 Peter 2:21,22.
Tom, I agree with you. My point is the church I attend at times mix Law and Grace, throw it in the blender and spoon it out to the congregation. I feel many of them do not have a firm grasp on Grace. I rest in God’s Grace with confidence and feel sad for those who feel they must perform to get/keep their Grace.
Terry, you say, as I just read an e mail, that we don’t need to examine ourselves and that there is no sickness and premature death associated with the communion. Yet contrary to your understanding, 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us to examine and 1 Corinthians 11:30 warns of premature death! The whole reason God sent His son was to pay the penalty of sin. Sin and sickness and yes death are very related. So much so that what James said and what Paul said correspond.
James 1:13-15. “ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempted he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is (1) drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth (2) sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth (3) death.”
Notice how its divided into 3 parts.1, drawn away, inticed (relates to weak). 2, When conceived brings sin (relates to sickly). 3, Finishes with death ( relates to sleep, death).
No, 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 is very clear
“But let a man examine himself (2 Corinthians 13:5), and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are (1) weak and (2) sickly among you, and many (3) sleep.”
Paul is not saying “Take communion wrong and you’ll get sick and die.”
Hi Tom, I have been remembering the Lords death in the communion celebration with the church for fifty and eight years now in many cultures, nations and Christian denominations. I have witnessed folk taking communion in virtually every imaginable moral, spiritual, emotional, mental, psychological and relational condition. Yet remarkably never once have I seen anyone of these people get weak, sick or expire from taking communion because of either not examining themselves for sin or for some moral lapse on their part. I have however witnessed cases of people getting weak and sick and even passing away who were rejecting Gods free offer of reconciliation, forgiveness, acceptance and peace with God through Jesus death alone in favor of attempting to secure and maintain Gods favor and blessing by their behaviour, by their performance or by their own moral standing (by walking in the flesh):
This is in complete agreement with biblical doctrine : .”For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,….
for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die;” Romans 8:6-13 NASB)
Barry, I love your comment. Basically, when you come down to it, the sickness, disease and premature falling asleep, mentioned in the Holy Communion “warning” is not anything placed on us, it is merely the consequence of not believing what Jesus accomplished at the Cross. for which we partake in Remembrance of Him. Believers simply will experience what the unbeliever experiences outside the New Covenant if they do not take the Holy Communion for what it is intended. Shalom!
To me it makes no sense at all that God would use the very memorial celebration of the forgiveness of our sins, of our propitiation from judgement and wrath for our sins and our deliverance from sickness and to turn around and make it a place of divine judgment and punishment for our sins and to punish us with sickness. Not only that but we are not forgiven, healed or delivered from judgment because we “examine ourselves for sin”. If that were the case Christ died for nothing. I see that passage teaching that you can disqualify yourself (fail to enjoy forgiveness and deliverance from judgment and sickness when you take communion yet reject the death of Jesus as the ONLY means of securing those very blessings . The deep irony is that this nascent false teaching that you’re gonna get sick or die if you don’t examine yourselves for sin is the VERY THING that may well cause you to remain sick or die!
Point 6, “Nothing can make you more or less pleasing to God than you already are”
! john 3:22, “ And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”
Point 7, “We are not blessed because we give but because he gives”.
“..remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35.
add one verse further: the command is to believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ. do that and you will be able to do command #2. to love one another. its not you loving one another. you cannot love the unlovable. only Jesus can. so when you believe in Jesus, He will operate in you to do the next command. your only part.. BELIEVE.
You can only bless other because God blessed you first. and i think this is totally out of the topic. lol. What Mr. Paul is saying is that you are being blessed because God wants to bless. not because you earn it by your charitable works and saying “God you need to repay me. i have donated a serious amount of money for your works”
Terry Benischek, you said; As for “… it is more blessed to give than to receive…”, …..
Jesus was addressing the Jews in this context. Additionally, all of this took place before the Cross and the New Covenant was not yet established. Basically, when Jesus was alive and talking to the people and His disciples He ministered from the Old Covenant scriptures.”
The Apostle Paul seems to not understand this, as he instructed the brethren with this very scripture, well into the new covenant. Acts 20:35.
Tom, a supernatural result of being in Christ Jesus is generosity and selflessness. The admonition…It is more blessed to be a giver than to be a receiver is a horizontal admonition–person to person, not vertical. God loves a cheerful giver and all believers are taken care of by God through Jesus Christ regardless of what we give and to whom. The Apostle Paul did not ask support of those to whom he preached because he did not want his message thwarted or tainted by the idea that he was doing it for profit. He, with his meager resources, gave to those who were in need as he came upon them. The preferential posture, therefore, is to be in a position to give rather than to be in the position of need, hence it is more blessed to give than to receive.
The grace message is a source of great hope, but I don’t know how to reconcile it with works based requirements taught by Jesus in for example Mathew 25 in the parable of the sheep and goats or Revelation 21 where being cowardly results in being cast into the lake of fire.
I find myself continuously caught between being immensely thankful for God”s grace to being paralysed by fear in not being able to measure up.
How does the message of grace deal with these onerous requirements of works with attached punishment too frightening to contemplate?
If you haven’t done so, I encourage you to subscribe to E2R. I have already covered 700+ challenging scriptures and will no doubt get to these ones soon. In fact, this week I have written on the parable of the talents (which is also in Matt 25) and I do touch briefly on the sheep and goats. That post will come out sometime after Easter.
Paul,
I believe Jesus was talking to the Jews in Matthew 24 and 25. The crucifixion did not yet occur. He was not talking to the church. And John’s question about Revelation is referring to the Tribulation folks.
I may be looking at it all wrong but I struggled with this as well until I realized I was not understanding the setting in the scriptures.
I am going to subscribe to E2R. Thanks again for your insight.
I just want to put this in here. First of all, Thank You, Paul for preaching the Truth of the Gospel! I really enjoy your weekly posts and have been for quite some time now. I also follow pastor Prince and Andrew Wommack. But the first time I heard the Truth preached in pure form I heard it from Creflo Dollar about 2 yes. ago.. It set me free, I received revelation and was in what I called ” Perfect Communion with the Holy Ghost”. And I don’t dwell in the pits of guilt and condemnation anymore. My wife and I were members of a local Baptist church for about 4 yrs. and never heard the truth. We’ve also visited several churches and were just going through the motions.We’ve also been led away from other ministers.. I recently got ahold of a 5 part DVD teaching from Wommack called ” The Power of the Cross”. You gotta love the man.. Anyway, I’m running long here (sorry) but just wanted to share… Grace and Peace…
Jonathan, I’ve listened to Prince and Wommack for a few years and they are spot on; God used them to change my life. I’ve periodically tuned in to Creflo Dollar over many years and he was always pretty good. And then I turned him on about a year ago and I knew within seconds that NOW HE REALLY GETS IT. He was so excited and so changed, not unlike many of us. It is wonderful when someone goes ALL IN and doesn’t hedge his bets. Let’s all let go of the religious and performance insurance.
I once read the superficially pious statement “If I believed what you believe I would crawl on bended knee over broken glass to preach the gospel to the four corners of England” .I may be missing something here but that sounds like a stupid thing to say especially as Jesus has effectively done that already!!
“The Africans are prepared to walk for three days to attend church and you can’t be bothered to get out of bed!!”
Our Father loves both equally.
Paul this is simply fresh from heaven. I felt every word permeate my soul and spirit. Unbelievably beautiful. God bless you my brother.
Thank you, Adnan.
Great post, Paul!
One I used to hear a lot: “If you have iniquity in your life, God will not hear your prayer.” Ps. 66:18 It instilled fear that the Lord probably wouldn’t listen, and the irrational conclusion that approaching him to confess might be an impossible proposition, like approaching an angry parent, requiring special sacrifice or good works in order to regain their good graces. Is it applicable to believers in Jesus Christ?
First, it is the Word of the Lord, so it’s NOT, in itself, a religious lie. But, misapplied to New Covenant saints by the religious, it is a misleading application of an Old Covenant axiom. I suppose if we had sin in our lives, it would be applicable. (Heb. 10:3-4)
The Father sees us holy and blameless in Christ. (Eph. 1:4) He laid all our iniquity on Jesus, and he carried it up to the tree, once for all. (Is. 53:4, 5, 6; I Peter 2:24; Hebrews 10:10-14) In perpetuity. Done. Fini. Caput.
How do we know if something is a lie about God or not? To me the most rudimentary and simplistic test of determining whether something is a lie or a truth about the invisible God is to ask this question: Is this what Jesus is like? “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 1:1-3 NASB
God has no other face, heart, mind, will that He comes to us in or will ever be known in but Jesus. If you want to know what God is like- look at Jesus! Does the thing you are hearing, thinking or imagining regarding God look like Jesus? Then it is a true representation of God. If it doesn’t look like Jesus – it is a lie about God. It’s just that simple friends.
I should have also mentioned this is also the SAME simple test to evaluate anything WE think, say or do as well: Is this thing I am thinking, saying or doing Jesus? If it’s not Jesus it must be rejected and put over to death on the cross. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. John 14:6 NASB)
That test is simple but it will either cause you to stumble on it or it will fall on you and crush you! For this is contained in Scripture: “B EHOLD, I LAY IN Z ION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, A ND HE WHO BELIEVES IN H IM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “T HE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, T HIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone, ” and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE “; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. (1 Peter 2:6-8 NASB)
I don’t know if anyone rationed this one, but one of the lies I would add would be that God is in total control. Once I understood what sovereign meant and that God gave man control of the earth, that changed everything for me! Insecurities, anxieties, worries that God may strike me with something horrible! No way to live. What a burden religion puts on us. No wonder I had horrible OCD and depression.
“Tithing”. I hesitated to comment on this,as I have experienced such negative reaction from fellow believers when I do…and I don’t want to hurt the unity of the Spirit.Most do not even know and have not studied what it is,who it was for,etc. Most thoughts that folks have about tithing are wrong from the beginning,because they have believed what they were taught and not studied to find out for themselves.It was never money..only food,it was not the best,but the tenth,it was completely inter-related with the levitical priesthood which is no more,the very poor did not tithe at all,the Levites received the tithe from their fellow Israelites because they had no inheritance in the land. There were48 levitical cities,and this was where most of the tithe went.The levites in turn gave a tithe of the tithe.In Malachi,it was not the common people whom God was rebuking,but the priests.The people were doing their part,but the priests not.They were the ones robbing God and offering Him lame animals.The common Israelite was not even allowed into the sanctuary or altar or they would die.Tithing was like our taxation,not our giving.It,like the rest of the law never worked,and of course…we are not under the Mosaic law but under Grace,ALL believers are priests with an inheritance.The way it is commonly taught today,it IS a lie.It troubles me because so many preachers who are so scripturally sound,practicing good hermeneutics and exegesis in all other areas of the Word,remain ignorant concerning tithing.It’s a chosen ignorance. No unbeliever should think that if they were to become a christian,God expects them to give 10% of their income to a church…yet that very thought is perpetuated to them regularly in our churches.
Love your blog. We struggled for years bringing up seven kids with the tithing thing. One of the cruellest doctrines. My pastor told a woman struggling on benefits that she was poor because she didn’t tithe enough. Plus gifts and offerings. He was very sound doctrinally apart from the money thing. My son in law challenged him that it wasn’t scriptural for us now and he REPLIED IT MIGHT NOT BE SCRIPTURAL BUT ITS PRACTICAL! HE ASKED ‘WHO’S GOING PAY MY WAGES’ ? A few years ago I couldn’t stand it any longer and challenged him and I was put out of the church. People who loved the pastor wouldn’t speak to me when they saw me in the street! Thank God he set me free!
patriciaannwalker ,tell him to get a Job
Hopefully you are talking about the Pastor of this lady’s church…
yes Terry, I was talking about the pastor,I had to read it again to see if I screwed up.
Thanks Earl, when I first read it I thought you were talking about the lady’s husband…
That’s awful! Tithing, when its mandated, can do so much damage to those struggling financially. I love how the new covenant’s emphasis is on giving – and it’s to do with our attitude towards it. It reminds me of that kid’s movie Robots – when the main robot says ‘see a need, fill a need’. That’s how it should be if we are able to do it.
Hi Tracy! I’m so glad I’m free from all that stuff now but it upsets me to think that it’s still being taught in some churches. Thank God for the liberating power of His Word from all that rubbish. No wonder non Christians reject the gospel when they hear religious clap trap. Thank God for this wonderful revelation of Grace!
Tithing is not rubbish, if it is done with the right attitude. It pre-dates the law. It is my privilege to give God the first fruits of my income. It is a fruit of my Jesus-purchased righteousness, not something I do to get blessed. All my blessings come from the cross. I believe tithing is still for new covenant, grace based believers. It shows a dependence on God and it is a good thing to give to others in the kingdom (Your local church operates by your offerings). If you feel it is a burden and mandated – then don’t do it. I don’t feel that way and will continue to do it, and even more.
I give far more now I’ve been set free from the bondage of legalism. My pastor told us we were cursed if we didn’t tithe. A lie of the enemy. Giving is a grace. And of course I believe in giving. I give far more than I ever did before.
Daryl, I love your boldness in expressing the Truth. What began for me as a search to understand Malachi 3:11–if Jesus died for our sins and basically to rebuke the devourer on our behalf, why would we have to pay God tithes for Him to do that? It opened up the whole can of worms on tithing. I believe the reason preachers continue to uphold the tithing lie is because they are afraid that if the truth be known they would be “out of business”. Similar to their objection and reason for not preaching Grace alone–the people will live and walk in unrestrained sin! It seems that the law is alive and well in many, many churches.
Another point revealed–if tithing was that important, that our very salvation, prosperity and all good things relating to life and Godliness relied upon tithing why didn’t the Apostle Paul and the rest of the apostles bring that point home strongly to the gentiles. It is not mentioned in the Epistles. Remember the gentiles were not aware of the Jewish law so they would not simply assume that tithing was still valid because they never practiced it.
Many may say that this is a “witch hunt”, not so, I and may family were in the dark for more years than I care to count because of wrong teaching. God in His infinite Mercy, through the Holy Spirit enlightens us day by day as we trust and rest in Him.
When we rest in the fullness of His Grace one of the manifestations is generosity–giving will be Spirit led as will the recipients of His generosity. IMHO there is no place or directive in the New Covenant for the word or practice of tithing. Bless you brother!
Bob tithing in the OT was never about money. And i am assuming your ref to stating that tithing predated the Law was when Abraham tithed to Melchizadek? Notice what he tithed? The enemies spoils of war. He did NOT tithe money – and did not even tithe his OWN possessions. So we cannot really use it as an example of modern day tithing. We are now new creations that are created to be generous. Tithing is no longer something we do – giving is who we are, if we are indeed, in Christ. But hey – if you tithe out of a heart that wants to give – praise God. It’s the attitude of giving that counts.
I loved your comment Tracy.
And I also loved the other comments about tithing being connected with the old do it yourself way of relating to God.
Christianity isn’t about what we do for God regardless of whether our motive is fear of losing out or whether our motive is better than that . Christianity is Christ in us- Christ living in us and giving is no different. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9 NASB)Giving is Christ giving first to us and then through us. This is why it’s not about having to give or even not having to give. Does Jesus sit around demanding that he doesn’t have to tithe or give. Never! He is generous in us! whenever we yield to His Spirit in us He will give the shirt off our back. Haha ! So much of the comments posted on this site are about what we don’t have to do instead of about what Jesus can do and wants to do for us, in us and through us.
Terry ,appreciate the positive response.Many people have “tithed”(not by the true definition of tithing,but faithfully giving a tenth of their income to the church they attend).Like Bob,they do so joyfully and feel blessed for doing so.That’s great and if they feel the Spirit continuing to lead them to do that,(though they are not under obligation to do so),by all means keep doing so as long as they are not neglecting debts,needs,family provision,etc. I am certainly not against people giving to their church,ministries,or charity. What I am against,is the prevalent teaching in churches that we all SHOULD be giving a tenth to the church.A tenth for someone who makes 2000 a week,is probably no big deal,as they still have quite a bit left for housing,car,groceries,savings….but for someone much poorer who maybe only makes 400 a week,a tenth is a huge amount,they probably cant afford a car or gas to put in it and forget about savings!It makes God a respector of persons which He isn’t. For every believer that feels blessed because they “tithed”,there are probably 10 who feel as though they are less spiritual,guilty,or lack faith because they didn’t. I agree with your thought that many church leaders teach it,”to stay in buisiness”..which is actually a lack of faith…that God would move in the hearts of His people to meet needs and bear each others burdens,providing all that was necessary. I highly recommend “should the church teach tithing?” by Russ Kelly.it is the most in-depth,scriptural,book on tithing.You can just google it and read it online.Be blessed.
Daryl, I heartily agree, however, those who “feel” good about tithing — their motives come into question. Self Righteousness can easily creep in and before we know it we are under the Law once again. Been there, done that. God does not need our money. Supporting one’s church is not a problem if the Lord has directed you to do that. We are not all called to support a ministry, especially one that commands that we support it. I know too many people who will go without food, not use their AC, not run their car, etc. because they cannot afford it after they pay their “tithes”. I’ve heard many say that its OK for them to suffer because the tithe is God’s due. The God I know would not support this process, He blesses us so we can bless others and care for our families. I Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” If you recall in the OT regarding tithing, most of the tithes were paid from excess or the spoils of war. I feel God blesses us with excess and the generosity that is a manifestation of the Love He has for us will prevail. Sadly, too many are fearful that if they allow the Spirit to direct their generosity, they will get God angry if they don’t tithe. Thank God for ministries that are being raised up to preach the truth which allow God’s people the freedom He has given us through His Son Jesus Christ Our Lord!
very good top 9 lies… and adding to Lewis’ mention of crucifying the flesh daily OR the OLD MAN will RESURRECT! (gives additional depth to resurrection day I guess?) and then Asia opened the can of communion worms!! Our church had huge arguments for a year over communion – examine and clean yourself up before you take the communion unworthily and get sick or die!… yeesch.
also some of the saddest (though all the lies are sad) are believing that in His Sovereignty God has you right where He wants you all the time – even if it ‘s in misery. Like t’s His plan for your life… I am pained by those whom I have seen suffering believing that their situation must be what God wanted for them – cause that is where they were… < which makes no sense. That's not how it works!! That's not how any of this works!!!
Hi Wendy- Jesus hasn’t changed – he is still the suffering servant in us and God still gives Him ( and us with Him) over to suffering. If we don’t suffer together with Him we won’t be glorified with him either (Rom. 8:17).
Just as it is written, “F OR Y OUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; W E WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:36-37 NASB)
But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief. (Isaiah 53:10 NASB)
For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. (2 Corinthians 4:11-12 NASB)
Hello Paul, I’m a newcomer here, first of all, thanks for the time you take to explain what you believe in. As much as I appreciate your list, I find that points 4&5 are not very convincing: apart for the horrible examples you gave (And I’m sadly sure many people said and will say those things) It seems that in point 4 you’re a bit out of context: at first you say that God doesn’t teach things with sickness, then you explain why God don’t send sickness to punish people after the new covenant. Not exactly the same argument, and I think something similar could be said of point 5. Anyway, It’s really good to see somebody speaking against the moneymilking attitude of many churches!
Barry, These scripture are not for speculation. They are firm warning’s from Paul. You say it makes no sense? What else can it mean? He is certainly not talking to the world, as he is speaking to Christians. Christians that should know the value of the elements involved with this ordinance, as they are taking it, yet something is wrong . . No, James connecting sin with death (I shared earlier) is the only biblical answer to this. “The soul that sin’s shall die”, yes and Romans 8:6-13 is appropriate. But, he also say’s in Galatians 5:25, “If we live in the spirit (our positional) let us ‘also’ walk in the Spirit (our practical)” So,” if we walk in the Spirit we won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh”! Examining ourselves is part of that “walking in the Spirit”, so we wont fulfill the flesh. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, say’s the Lord of hosts.” Zech. 4:6.
Could this possibly be what Paul is referring to here? They act as if they “counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith they are sanctified, an unholy thing,” Heb. 10:29 . Instead of being cleansed by his blood, they are guilty of his blood (v. 29). But, they “were chastened of the Lord, that they should not be condemned with the world,”v. 32. God love’s us even to this extreme.
Tom- you asked -“what else can the passage mean”
It can mean what it does mean-that folk got weak sick or died because they failed to recognize that the communion celebration was about Jesus purchasing freedom from self will, self effort , self improvement and do it yourself living. The passage nowhere states that we are to examine ourselves for sin in our lives- ( examine ourselves for our performance or behavior) . What then does the passage teach we should examine ourselves for then? It is teaching we should examine ourselves to make sure we are believing in what communion stands for – that Christ redeemed us from divine judgement and from the old do it yourself way if relating to God. If you fail to discern the true meaning of communion – namely sola fide- (by Jesus faith alone to make us right and keep us right with God) then we stand a good chance if becoming weak,sick or dying!
But its not chance, its Judgement. You shared yourself that,; .”For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,….
for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die;” Romans 8:6-13 NASB)“ You are straining at what sin is here. Sin is missing the mark, sin is sin and here Paul said it was dealt with by chastening judgement of God. Chance has nothing to do with it, as God will do what He will’s for our eternal benefit. I agree that it is by grace ,through faith that we are saved (no doubts here) Amen, but God does not change, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. 1 Samuel 2:6 relates to 1 Cor. 11:32. I know this is blasphemy (in your ears) but I hope Paul E. will post. Thanks
Hi again Tom- While is true that sin is sin- however “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. “(1 John 5:16 NASB)
When the Scriptures speaks of walking in the Spirit vs walking by the flesh it is not referring to a sinless walk of perfection vs committing specific individual sins; rather it is speaking of a life of trusting Christ and simply embracing what the Spirit is leading, motivating and empowering us for in our lives vs a life of independent self effort, self will and self improvement that puts self, moral principles and some derivative of the Law rather than Jesus as the moral umpire. Sins come from the root of this latter sin posture which brings the judgement warned of in I Cor 11 . But the posture of the former (walking by the Spirit) does not promise sinless perfection- only a trajectory towards ever increasing love ( which is the antithesis of sin).
While I do not adhere to Paul Ellis exegesis of the 1 Cor. 11 passage that declares that God isn’t the One who is judging Christians here “so that we will not be condemned with the world” (who else but God is the only Judge of both Christians and non believers?) .- However neither do I adhere to your exegesis of this passage that mistakenly assumes “examine yourselves before partaking” means “examine your own behaviour for some moral failure or for sins”. Rather the whole context of the passage as well as the entire letter clearly mean that we are to examine ourselves for our BELIEFS and WHERE OUR TRUST LIES- in self of in Christ alone . The ROOT of sin which is wrong beliefs about Jesus is what leads to every individual sin and the ROOT of wrong beliefs is what God judges (disciplines) His people over NOT for merely the fruit of sins. Sins are forgiven in every believer but the ROOT of sins which is wrong believing about Jesus is always disciplined by God as a responsible and loving Father (see also Hebrews 12).
Surely the sin unto death is REJECTION OF GOD’S OFFER OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS? Elsewhere we are told all manner of sin will be forgiven men. We cannot be rejected because of sin but only for refusing to accept God’s grace.
Healing myths:
‘God can’t flow supply/heaing into you if you’re bitter.’ (Tell that to Naomi) God is near to the broken hearted and saves those crushed in spirit. Where sin increases, grace hyper-abounds.
‘God can’t heal you if you have any unforgiveness towards anyone.’ (2 Cor 5:19 debunks that.) Sin is not imputed to me. I’m forgiven of my unforgiveness. Receiving grace will displace unforgiveness.
‘God won’t bless you if you have a bad attitude.’ Saul, road to Damascus.
‘Your healing can’t manifest if you have any unbelief.’ Thankfully Jesus lassoed that whopper with ‘whatever is not of faith is sin,” dragged it in kicking and nailed it to the cross with 2 Cor 5:19.
‘You are healed by YOUR faith.’ (Tell that to the guy lowered through the roof by his friends.) Galatians 2:20.The life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God. Yes! Jesus’ own personal limitless flawless faith – take that, infirmity!
‘You’re not allowed to be angry with God. You need to keep your anger hidden. Nice Christians are never angry. How dare you!’ I’ve found that it’s better to catch the little foxes and bring them to Him instead of trying to ignore them or hide them from Him.
‘You can’t be raw and real with God. Every thought/word must be nice and pretty. Put on a good face in your prayers to Him. Stuff your feelings. Make Him feel good. Fake it.’ Psalm 62:8 empowers me to pour out my heart before him, whatever’s lurking down deep in there, the good, the bad and the ugly.
‘You must have inner healing first before God can heal/deliver you.’ It’s all about the stripes, ‘bout the stripes, no trouble.
Barry, These scripture are not for speculation. They are firm warning’s from Paul. You say it makes no sense? What else can it mean? He is certainly not talking to the world, as he is speaking to Christians. Christians that should know the value of the elements involved with this ordinance, as they are taking it, yet something is wrong . . No, James connecting sin with death (I shared earlier) is the only biblical answer to this. “The soul that sin’s shall die”, yes and Romans 8:6-13 is appropriate. But, he also say’s in Galatians 5:25, “If we live in the spirit (our positional) let us ‘also’ walk in the Spirit (our practical)” So,” if we walk in the Spirit we won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh”! Examining ourselves is part of that “walking in the Spirit”, so we wont fulfill the flesh. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, say’s the Lord of hosts.” Zech. 4:6.
Could this possibly be what Paul is referring to here? They act as if they “counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith they are sanctified, an unholy thing,” Heb. 10:29 . Instead of being cleansed by his blood, they are guilty of his blood (1 Cor.11: 29). But, they “were chastened of the Lord, that they should not be condemned with the world,” (1 Cor. 11:32). God love’s us even to this extreme.
The revised mixture version Bible:
I came that they might have guilt and have it abundantly.
In the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed which is from faith to works.
Give and you will be pressured to give more- a good measure pressed down shaken together and running over .
Having been justified by faith we rarely have peace with God after that.
It is by grace you were saved through and this not from yourselves but from here in in its by works so that every man should boast .
The law came by Moses but a revised version of the law came by Jesus Christ.
Very good!
“The law came by Moses but a revised version of the law came by Jesus Christ.”
Thats a good one. 😀
Grace – /ɡreɪs/
i think they misheard the word /ɡreɪs/ (grace) and heard the word /ɡriːs/ (grease) instead.
so they end up thinking that Grace is like grease that allows you to follow the law. that even if you fail to follow the law, the grace of God will rise you up and lets you try again. endure the pain till you master it. once you mastered it, lets talk about “endurance”. a pre-requisite to 3rd stage “Holiness”… etc. etc…
dont worry if you cant make it. the grace is there to make you strong and keep trying.
Great comment, Maxx. You couldn’t be more right. Grace is completely misunderstood by many believers. If I had to sum up the change in my theology since I found grace it would be something like this:
I used to believe that God was empowering me to live a holy life, sin less and do more. I would base what I thought God would do for me on how well I performed (with His help of course!). So I never had full confidence in God because I was always lacking to some degree.
Now I believe that he has made me perfect and I have Jesus’ portion, which enables me to do better and sin less, etc. But even if I don’t I still have Jesus’ portion.
Joseph Prince made a very profound statement. He said something like: “I used to use my faith for all kinds of things, like healing, finances, overcoming sin, etc. Now I just use my faith to believe that all my righteousness comes from Jesus, and everything else seems to just fall into place.”
good comment Bob! If grace is hijacked for the purpose of gaining some good thing for myself that the cross has already secured it is not grace at all but some counterfeit that insults the Spirit of grace and regards as an unholy thing the blood of Jesus. For example if I want to use grace to secure Gods acceptance, blessing or favor in any way -God will never cooperate with my desire for grace because divine acceptance, blessing and favor are not secured by anything I do but by God’s own sacrificial offering of His Son. Not only that but if I expect to hijack grace as a means of securing some good thing for my own self interest instead of for the glory of God alone I have missed entire divine objective and purpose of divine grace which is “to the praise of his glory” (Eph 1) sola DEO Gloria!
Barry, then why did John say, 1 John 3:22, ” and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.”
Hi Tom- if you carefully exegete this verse it is not a command: (“You Shall keep,His commands and do what pleases Him” ) . Neither is Johns inspired statement here a conditional promise as you have assumed : (“IF you keep His commands and do what pleases Him THEN you will have confidence that when you ask He will answer.”) RATHER it is statement of fact concerning “we” ( meaning every believer) . The Spirit is not here undermining the entire New Testament and contradicting Himself – saying we get answers to prayer because of our own self effort attempts at keeping Gods commandments . The Spirit here is simply stating the gospel fact that because of the gospel (by Jesus grace alone) believers DO IN FACT please God and keep His commands and the result of that divine grace is that we have confidence before God. Clearly John earlier declares that a person who is truly justified and is truly a child of God DOES keep Gods commands and that if one doesn’t HE IS NOT EVEN SAVED. (Read I John 2:3-4) . Nonetheless this verse is not teaching that believers get their prayers answered BECAUSE they earn those answers to prayer by their own diligence or performance. If that were the case why pray in Jesus name? Then pray in your own name! That would be complete contradiction to every other teaching on prayer in the New Testament. Scripture never contradicts scripture.
Tom,
God’s only command, in the New Covenant, is that we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Once we are saved, we are the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and justified in the sight of God and have total access to the Throne of Grace where we obtain Mercy. Bottom line–man’s actions, works, giving, sacrificing, etc. does nothing to enhance our relationship with God, Our Father. It has all been done at the Cross and Jesus did it all. We take no credit for any of it. The nature of man cannot handle unmerited favor–it is unnatural, however, it is supernatural. All we are to do is Rest in what Jesus did for us, not in the sense of inactivity or laziness but we are not to be concerned about the things of this world, what we are to wear, eat, Basically, we move out of the way and let Jesus do His thing on our behalf, that’s where prayer comes in. Man has a free will and God would like us to willingly turn our requests over to Him so He can get to work on our behalf. Jesus is seated at the Right Hand of the Father and as He is in Heaven, so are we on the earth! Believers are pleasing to the Father, just as His Son was pleasing to Him on the Cross. The Love Our Father has for we believers is incomprehensible and Greater Love does not exist. When we read the Holy Scriptures or listen to Grace Preachers, the Love of God should be imparted to the Church taking us from Glory to Glory. We have been deceived for a very long time and it is about time the real Gospel (good news) is imparted to the Church so we can begin living the life God wanted for man from the time of Creation.
Terry, Barry said, “…blessing and favor are not secured by anything I do…” Yet you say, “When we take our eyes off Jesus and distance ourselves from our Lord and Savior/the Word, our affections for Him wain and we will not flow in the fullness of His favor”. Which is it ?
Seems John is saying our actions, or lack there of, effect our favor with God. in both 1 John 3:22 and John 15:7 . That favor, (answer to request) are from, not distancing ourselves from the word/the lord (John 15:7), which is “pleasing” (1 John 3:22) to Him.
Hi Tom- you are confusing divine blessings and favor which comes to us by the merits and righteousness of Jesus Christ alone with pleasing God. We do not secure blessings and favor BY pleasing God -unless it is by believing which without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:) Until you please God by faith alone in Jesus as the ONLY means to securing every blessing and favor NOTHING you do pleased God. Whatsoever is not secured by faith alone is SIN because it is not secured by faith righteosness but by works righteousness. “whatsoever is not if faith is sin.” “what the Jews tried to secure (Divine favor and blessing” they missed but the Gentiles secured it because they (the Jews) tried to secure it by works and not by faith.” (Rom .)
Righteousness is the currency of heaven by which every divine approval, blessing and favor comes. Attempting to secure these things by self righteousness ( by performance it behavior) always fails to secure them but securing divine pleasure, blessing and favor by the righteousness that is by faith in Jesus alone (by credited righteousness) always succeeds.
Until you are willing to submit to the righteousness of God FOR EVERY DIVINE BLESSING you will remain jaded and blinded in your interpretation of every Bible passage because one of the primary divine blessings that come from credited righteousness is the ability to see and perceive the Buble accurately.
You are blind and will remain blind until you submit to Gods righteousness. Be careful my friend or will continue to argue and defend your idol of self effort religion until it’s too late:
‘G O TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, “Y OU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; A ND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; F OR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, A ND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, A ND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; O THERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, A ND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, A ND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, A ND I WOULD HEAL THEM.”‘ (Acts 28:26-27 NASB)
Barry, Just as the pharisees who followed Jesus while He walked on the earth, there are those who “follow” Jesus but never know Him. They are familiar with Jesus, but not intimate. I trust the Holy Spirit will quicken them so they can really hear and discern the truth of the Gospel (good news) when it is preached and finally be free and abide. It is always a free choice. God Bless you Brother as you continue in His Word. Peace!
Tom,
When our affections for Jesus wain, the Favor of God is still upon us but we will not walk in its fullness because we have freely chosen to abide in other things rather than in Jesus. Be it the cares of the world, or the pride of life or the lust of the eye, when Jesus is not our main focus we will not reap all the blessings because we choose not to posture ourselves as sons/daughters. His blessings are plentiful and always available to us, it is ultimately our choice. That is why many members of the Body of Christ don’t seem to be walking in the fullness of His Favor, not because they are not saved or committed sin (that they have not “confessed”). Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, it is we who stray from His Love due to mixture message teaching and preaching. When we fall under condemnation and never fully understand that we are free and saved once and for all, we won’t believe we deserve anything in the line of blessings and favor from God. How could we enjoy the blessings and favor of God if we go in and out of our “saved” state? Real freedom is receiving what God did for us through Jesus Christ and abiding in that premise. Stress will be a thing of the past when you know, that you know that “…nothing can separate you from the Love of God in Christ Jesus.”
All I did was just quote a scripture. But, for sure, scripture never contradicts scripture. John said the same thing earlier, that “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7. Johns inspired statement here is a conditional promise, just as the latter.
Tom- the “abiding” Jesus is talking about here as a condition to answered prayer was not referring to some labor or some effort or performance or behavior on the part of his audience ( the 12 apostles) . Abide is the Greek word “meinete” . It is a word that describes a married couple who choose not to get a divorce but who keep their covenant to remain together until death. Jesus is here saying , “if you don’t renounce your faith in Me and divorce Me but instead hang onto my gospel Word -ask whatever you wish and it will be given you.” He is saying – if you remain a believer – you will bear fruit and will enjoy answered prayers. He is not – as you imagine – saying answered prayer and fruit bearing is by how well you behave as a Christian. That would be
Iike saying to your wife, “Honey if you obey me and work hard at making sure you do everything to please me all the time I will give you children (you will bear fruit) and I will give you whatever you ask of me- bit if you don’t – I’m going to cut you off and divorce you!”
Iare you are better husband to your wife that Jesus is to His church? May it never be!
Terry , No, I do not “actually believe or think that there is anything we can do to improve on what was done on Calvary. “
Barry, I don’t believe that I “have missed the “entire” essence of the Christian life as presented by the New Testament.”
I appreciate what you both have shared, as I too believe that there is nothing that we have done, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,…” Titus 3:5.
I can see how you both think I, believe or miss certain things, but Iam just a Christian that looks at the many scripture’s that Peter, Paul and John share that “seem” to say, by “doing” of said things, there is some benefit’s! What benefit? Certainly not saving of our spirits, but surly saving the soul (the mind), helping us grow, even keeping the faith (contending for, maintain, hold, claim,), But if none of these, there is for sure confirmation of said faith, James 2:18. Why do these 3 heavy weights speak thus? Here is just a few that makes one, maybe, challenged? Philippians 4:9, Colossians 1:10, 1 john 3:7, Titus 3:14, well I could go on.
I like the view you have, Barry, that “mere confession” can not approach the blood of Christ, But, sincerely, Isn’t it through it’s sister word “profession” that we are even able to inter in Christ (Romans 10:9,10) and thus, then, fight to keep? 1 Timothy 6:11-12. Thanks Bros.
Good thoughts those bro! I agree their are benefits to our obedience (which I see as a fruit of believing and not a “work”) . Obedience to God’s commands (faithfulness) is a fruit of the Spirit which is not for our benefit in the sense that it is our gifted and credited righteousness alone that secures every divine blessing and favor in life. But the fruit of the Spirit is for God (“This is to my father’s glory- that you bear much fruit.” ) and for our loved one’s benefit.
(Obedience to God’s command His by grace alone is nothing less than love to God and neighbour). The benefits of obedience are that we are WAY easier to live with!
Ask my wife, children, fellow church members and co workers if they like it better when I by grace alone obey God’s commands!
Obedience does beneifi me as well- when momma’s happy – everyone is happy. Haha!
Romans 6 vs. 1 says… What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
Vs. 15 says.. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
Vs. 22 says but now having been set free from sin. And having become slaves of God. You have your fruit to holiness. And the end. Everlasting life
vs. 23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You can’t just accept Jesus as your saviour then go back to your past sins or do whatever you want because of His grace upon your life or His love. He loves us so much..yes. He will welcome us with open arms when we confess our sins and turn to him or when we have lost the path to righteousness, He will guide us but not when we still entertain some sinful ways in our lives. We should always pray for the grace to do His will and to see us till the end.
Ifunanya,
There is nothing you can do to gain salvation, except receive what Jesus did at the Cross, nor is there nothing a believer can do to lose it. “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” Hebrews 10:17
Every sin we committed in the past, will commit now or in the future has been taken to the Cross. When we continue to learn of the Mercy and Grace of God through Our Lord Jesus Christ, sin no longer has dominion over us. There is absolutely no reason to confess your sins to God or Jesus because they have already been forgiven. Apologizing or asking forgiveness to someone you have wronged is another story. When we are born again we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, it is not we, but Christ who lives in us. Jesus is Grace and we received Him when we surrendered to Him at our new birth.
Our fruit to holiness is the Righteousness we have in Christ Jesus. I suggest you listen to Joseph Prince and/or keep listening to Paul Ellis’ teaching he is right on and makes it plain and simple. He cuts to the quick.
ROMANS 8 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, (if you read the Greek translation (Kenneth Wuest) – you will see that this last part was not in the original text and there is a period after Christ Jesus) who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Bless you as you grow in Grace.
“ who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” May not be there, but should, as it is saying the same thing in verse 4. As those in Christ Jesus that have now no condemnation , also might be fulfilled with, “righteous requirement of the law”, who who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Can’t have one without the other!
Condemnation comes from unrighteousness, One cannot have the righteousness while in the flesh. That’s why John wrote “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all ‘unrighteousness’.”
What John is speaking to, is any future sin of the saint. That’s why he said, “These things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And “if” anyone sin, we have an Advocate…” 1 John 2:1.
The Lord has already forgiven us of our sin, as Peter said, sin’s that are “past” 2 Peter 1:9, “ But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his ‘old sins’.”
Romans 3:25 , “Whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of ‘sins that are past’, through the forbearance of God;”
Any, future sin, “if” committed will need to be confessed.
Tom, all sins were future sins when Jesus went to the Cross. Sadly, those who thought it was a good idea to add words that weren’t written caused much suffering to saints, who to this day, are under condemnation and cannot enjoy the Righteousness of God in Christ they received when they surrendered to the message of the Cross. What is compelling — when believers who have listened to a mixture message, such as the one you preach and ascribe to, bad habits, addictions, adultery, smoking, etc. they remain in bondage because the Law negates Grace. You can’t preach Grace and Law they cancel each other out. It is man’s flesh that inserts the Law in New Covenant teaching. Man, by his very nature cannot accept the free gift of Grace. Man’s pride is strong and will reject anything that leaves his performance out of it. Shortly after listening to messages of the Grace and Mercy of God through His Beloved Son Jesus Christ, bad habits just fall off them without any effort. . The Law is about us and what we can do achieve a better life, etc., Grace is about Jesus Christ and what He did at the Cross. When people know who they are in Christ they are able to let go and Rest in the arms of our ever loving Savior and Lord Jesus and finally can address God as Father and have an active relationship with Him.
We are a performance oriented society. Receiving the message of Grace (unmerited favor) can only be accomplished through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. If you recall, when Jesus was on the Cross He addressed His Father as My God, He never did that prior to the Cross, He always referred to God as Father. At the Cross He was the perfect sacrifice who took all of our sins, past, present and future on His sinless person so God could pour out all of His fury and wrath on Jesus, the sacrifice, to redeem us from the curse of the law and the penalty of sin. We had a debt we owed God and couldn’t pay, Jesus had no debt but paid it on our behalf, He actually overpaid it. Do you actually believe or think that there is anything we can do to improve on what was done on Calvary?
Tom- Upon reading your comments and questions it appears you may have missed the entire essence of the Christian life as presented by the New Testament. Namely; the Christian life isn’t about confessing sins or not confessing sins- in fact – it’s not essentially about what we do at all but about what Jesus does for us, in us and through us. The Christian life is Jesus Christ . It is his life in and through us. Jesus didn’t say, “you and I are the way, the truth and the life.” He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” There is only ONE Christian life – Jesus! When you obsess and argue over whatever WE must do or not do, and what WE must produce to gain or lose freedom from condemnation or over how WE must perform in order to secure or maintain divine approval or answered prayer or divine blessings or promises you are tipping your hand my friend. You reveal that you perceive the Christian life as being about YOU -and you miss the entire essence of the gospel – which is Christ in us.
“I am the resurrection and the LIFE” Jn. 11
“Christ who is our LIFE” Col 3
” we proclaim to you THE eternal LIFE” 1 Jn 1
“I resolved to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” I Cor 1
There is ONLY ONE CONDITION to participating in the life Jesus : Trust Him alone ( This involves -believe in Him alone , have faith in Him alone, hope in Him alone, turn away from trusting in your self effort, your self performance, your self improvements, your self evaluations and your self will).
Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:28-29 NASB)
Believe in Jesus Tom -until you do you will be ceaselessly obsessing over endless minutia and you will have no rest or no peace inside and you will have little or no lasting joy.
But, “the words” are there, as I showed you. You just don’t want to see it. Yet you preach a message, were sin is no problem. That “if” you sin it is automatically dealt with.
We have too many “Christians” in church’s now that believe they are right with God, yet are living in sin. According to your preaching, there is nothing wrong with that as Gods grace will cover it. It certainly will, if we confess. James said we are to confess, one to another. Paul said, if we judge ourselves we wont be judged. No, its not automatic, there is effort, yet an effort, grace has provided and teaches, Titus 2:11,12.
You are right, “mans pride is strong”, even strong enough not to confess he has done wrong. That’s the flip side.
So, what do you do with the sin, “if” anyone sin?
Tom -no one is saying sin is not a problem in the believers life. Sin is a major problem in the believers life. In fact sin is such a major problem in the believers life the ONLY solution God has for it was to kill His Son! Do you really believe that after killing His Son as the ONLY MEANS to cleanse , propitiate, remove and forgive a believers sin that God would accept mere confession ? It is not we who preach the cross and the grace of Christ who trifle with and make light of sin . It is you who believe confession of sin will do the job that the blood of Christ has already done. You insult the Spirit of grace and trample under foot the blood of the covenant that makes believers holy by your false gospel. . Either you trust the blood plus nothing or you don’t trust it at all.
Never thought believing a verse in the Bible (1 john 1:9) was so. insulting.
Tom,
John 15:7 is not conditional on our works to maintain our right standing with God. If you read the whole context he is encouraging us to abide in Him and in His Words. When we take our eyes off Jesus and distance ourselves from our Lord and Savior/the Word, our affections for Him wain and we will not flow in the fullness of His favor. It has nothing to do with our Salvation being removed as some would perceive as Jesus’ affection for us never waivers or wains regardless of how we perform.
What if after I am saved by grace in faith and decide that because am saved forever and start committing immorality willfully and intentionally, fornicating and cheating and lying because I have believed in Jesus, and then Jesus comes, will I got to hell or heaven?
Do you love your wife? Does this love fuel a desire to run after other women? Of course not. Those who have been apprehended by the love of God have no desire to sin – none at all.
I’m reading your comment if the wrath of God scares you then you have the wrong picture of wrath. Very helpful. And your incredibly gracious nature helps. Praise God! Can you explain why it’s impossible to trust God alone completely. By the way I’m researching the judgments of God in scripture alongside your researched answers. And it’s like I’m thrilled but going a bit too trusting in someone’s eyes – probably someone under our feet.
Richmond, I noticed your own words; “… because I have believed in Jesus,”
Its ‘because’ you “have believed in Jesus” that you should be ‘dead to sin’ and being thus, you should live unto righteousness! This is found in Romans 6:1 and 1 Peter 2:24. Both Paul and Peter used this “dead to sin” to show that this is now our affinity (relationship) to our flesh, the world and the devil.
John said, in a warning, that he that does (practice doing) righteousness is righteous (1 John 3:7). That’s because Jesus is righteous, so we must do likewise, or exemplify Him (1 Peter 2:21). This doing righteousness is the manifestation of being a child of God (1 John 3:10), so if you are not “practicing doing” this, you are not really, as you said; “believing in Jesus”. I dare say, anyone who really truly believes in Jesus will not “willfully” sin. John also said, “…here is how we know that we know Him, if we keep his commandments. If you say you know Him and do not keep His commandments, you are a liar…” 1 John 2:3,4. Don’t be deceived, just believe, as Paul said; “I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12.
Whatever you do, don’t burn out, burn on. I quit church a few times and it was a disaster. I’m not saying feel guilty if you fail but feel something until it’s regular to rely on His higher way. We need to pastors gifts and your gifts. I’m not preaching self-effort, but faith in His might grace. There is no self-effort in the most powerful love of God.
Right, Roshan, it say’s we have no condemnation if we are “in Christ Jesus”. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world” (John 3:17), but to save it. No, But, though there is no condemnation, there is conviction! Another way to say it is a “convincing”, that there is sin. This is walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit. This goes right along with “if we judge ourselves we wont be judged, but when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, so that we are not then, condemned with the world”. 1 Corinthians 11:31,32.
It is about the “…faithful brethren in Christ “ and “…the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.” Colossians 1:2 and 2:5. Again, “to the faithful in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 1:1.
This is because “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;” Ephesians 3:17
Paul had to fight this good fight of faith, and had to keep the faith 2 Timothy 4:7
And as he told Timothy, so tells us, we are to, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,” 1 Timothy 6:12.
How do we do this? By “Looking unto Him”
If all this is not speaking effort, I really do not know what it is speaking of, do you?
But God punished David and made him reap what he has sown, killed Achan, destroyed Jericho, punished Isreal and allowed the devil tempt job and stole from him.
I don’t know if anyone else commented. But David survived even though Samuel smote his child. David lived under the old covenant but God was gracious because it’s nature to save the lost and David appreciated that. He overcame a weak worm of the dust mentality. The law covenant was very different. The prophets of the old covenant cannot serve any longer under the new covenant. There was a change. Jesus is high priest now. Not Levi. This is God’s doing. We were saved. It’s almost unbelievable. But I believe it.
There is a lot more to be said with relation to David and his error. Christendom would have us believe that David was forgiven his adultery due to Gods graciousness toward David and thus overlooked his sin. But please consider Ex 21: 1-4, In this instance the right of the master outweighed the right of the husband. 1Sam 8;10-18 then shows the rights of a king, he (the king) would become the “master” over all in the nation.. Now consider 2Sam 11:27, David was not accused of adultery (as he was the master) but rather the text says that he had done what was displeasing to God. The error was against Uriah (2Sam 12:9) in that David destroyed a man to cover his own hardhearted greed, rather than allowing all to see what he was doing (within his rights as King, or master). This can again be understood when we consider 1Kings 15; 5 as the error was in relation to Davids conduct with Uriah (not Bathsheba). Otherwise God had to go directly against his own commands in relation to adultery (Deut 22:22) and thus negate his own laws.
What I believe to one of the most deceptive lies religion has taught is that our sense of morality is more important than the principle of headship (1Cor 11: 3). Christ is now our King and as such our master for he now sits on the throne of David (Luke 1: 32-33). Thus we all belong to Christ. But not so back at the time of David and the kings of Israel.
This one understanding when taken to its end exposes one of the greatest most deceptive lies that has ever been used against true worship. We can discuss that later if you wish.
I thought I had heard everything but I have never heard anyone use scripture to justify David’s adultery.