Many will point out the simple and obvious scriptural answer: That we must have faith in Jesus. (Acts 16:31 ; Joh_3:16-18 ; Mat_10:32-33 ; Joh_6:47) Others will go so far as to assert just knowing the name of Jesus is all we need. The first group is right: The Bible says all who will gain eternal live must express faith in the sacrifice provided by God's son. (Acts 4:12 ; Acts_16:31) It even adds building faith in Christ is what we must do to be working the works of God. (John 6:28-29) Christ said we should not, however, believe those who say just calling on Jesus's name is enough. (Mat 7:21-23) Might we be wise to consider what it really means to express faith in the son of God? (John 17:3; Mat 7:21-23; James_2:19) Shouldn't we work to gain knowledge and understanding of Jesus's teachings? The simple fact is, Jesus himself said just knowing his name, and apparently even using it to cast out demons, is not all God wants. (Mat 7:21-23) How can that be?
We need both knowledge and understanding of what Jesus said because, according to him, some people are fooling themselves. Jesus also said some self proclaimed preachers would be trying to fool us (Acts 20:29-30; Mat 24:23-25) He went on to say it was not those individuals just knowing or calling on his name, but those "actually doing" his Father's will who would gain life. (Mat 7:21-23) Can you scripturally defend that you know what God's will is? (John 6:28-29; Acts 8:35) How could you know you are "doing" God's will if you didn't start with knowing and understanding what that will is? (Mat 7:21 ; John 12:48 ; Mat 12:50) Is it possible you could have been deceived by others, or even by your-own-self? (2 Thes 2:9-12) Remember above all else: Having (and trying to live by) your own personal knowledge of Jesus's teachings is the only thing that can protect you against being misled (John 8:31-32) in the midst of so many who are trying to deceive you. (Mat 7:15; Acts 20:29-30) Contrary to what most of the world tries to convince you, it is not hard to learn what the Bible teaches. When David was inspired to prophesy about the coming paradise, (where the righteous would live forever,) he said the law of God would be in the heart of those righteous persons; and their love of God, based in that Bible knowledge, would protect them. (Ps 37:31) Is it possible to love someone you don't even know? That is what Bible knowledge imparts: an understanding of God which in turn grants ability to love him! (1 John 4:19)
This website exists to share what Jesus taught. A big part of Jesus's teachings include his many warnings about the dangers of "religion." (Mat 23:1-15) [We thought of using the phrase "false religion" instead of just "religion." We felt (in the constructs of this webpage) that would be misleading: No religion thinks it is false!] We believe it is important (in God's eyes - 2 Chron 16:9a) that we distinguish between having religion; and having faith in the teachings of God's son (being a Christian). Religions are without number, and many of them claim Christianity. (Acts 20:29-30) All those self proclaimed Christendom groups affirm they are teaching only what Jesus taught. Few, if any, are actually doing so! Most all religious people assert (and even believe) they love and have a relationship with the one true God. Most also believe they are loved by Him because of their religious affiliation. (Luke 6:46; Mat 17:5) Many religious people are so self righteous they are quite happy to kill (or judge as spiritually dead) all who do not share their sectarian group's faith. Since many of Christendom's groups are diametrically opposed in their beliefs, they can't all be right. Religious people are correct in their belief non-Christians are dead, (Eph 2:1-5) but they are very wrong in imagining an approved membership in any sect of men can help them. (Mat 23:15; Mat 15:7-9; Mark 7:9; John 8:31-32; John 17:3) All Religionists ever do is huddle their "sheep" together and give them reasons to judge everyone who is not in the huddle as lost to God. Those people who openly spread hatred are obviously not God's Children. (1 John 3:10-12) Those who huddle together to feign love for others, as they pretend to follow Christ, can be harder to spot. (Mat 7:15) It is important for each and every person seeking Christian maturity (Eph 4:12-32) to understand the danger posed by all religion; and, in seeing that danger, to recognize their inherent need to dig out the truth for themselves. (Mat 13:44) It is not that hard! Everything you need to learn from Jesus, for now, is recorded in the four short books by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and the Apostle John. Please realize: God knows [is getting to know] who loves him (Rom 8:28 ; 2 Tim 2:19), and He is sorting those who do from those who do not. (Job 38:14-15 ; Lu 16:14-15 ; Mat 25:31-33) As individuals, we are each one deciding which of those groups we are in. We show whether we are lovers of God by our reaction to Jesus's teachings. (John 3:17-18 ; John 12:48 ; Rev 7:2-4 ; Eze 9:3-6 ; Rom 2:15-16) Having knowledge of this ongoing process by which we are judged helps us understand the one common and glaring failing among all religions: They all seek to do their own judging and sorting of who is good and bad. At the very least, they assert they know and are keeping record of who has been judged, and which way. They all believe (and teach) salvation depends on an approved membership in their cult. Their judgment is their membership activity. That judgmental spirit makes them part of a danger Jesus warned us about: They make themselves part of the "man of lawlessness" or "man of destruction." (2 Thes 2:3) All these religious groups serve only to distract potential servants of God (Mat 23:15) from their essential need to have personal knowledge of what Jesus taught. (John 18:37b) Instead of directing you to Christ, they want "their flock" (and they want you) to be worried about having their sectarian group approval. (John 12:42-43) They all tell you if you abandon their doctrine, you abandon Jesus. As Religionists direct you to their group instead of Christ, they become the disgusting thing that causes desolation standing in a holy place Jesus warned us about. (Mat 24:15) (They are "the disgusting thing that causes desolation" because they teach commands of men by creating their own doctrine. [Mark 7:9] They "stand in a holy place" by claiming they speak for Christ when they do not. [Mat 7:23])
Please consider the importance of recognizing who this "Man Of Lawlessness" manifests himself to be in our day in time. Recognizing this "composite wicked man" is made easier if we start by realizing we are each and every one caught in the midst of a spiritual war. As our friend Paul put it: (Eph 6:10-13 & Eph 6:13-19) BBE (10) “Lastly, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his power. (11) Take up God's instruments of war, so that you may be able to keep your position against all the deceits of the Evil One. (12) For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against authorities and powers, against the world-rulers of this dark night, against the spirits of evil in the heavens. (13) For this reason take up all the arms of God, so that you may be able to be strong in the evil day, and, having done all, to keep your place. (14) Take your place, then, having your body clothed with the true word, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) Be ready with the good news of peace as shoes on your feet; (16) And most of all, using faith as a cover to keep off all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. (17) And take salvation for your head-dress and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (18) With prayers and deep desires, making requests at all times in the Spirit, and keeping watch, with strong purpose, in prayer for all the saints, (19) And for me, that words may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make clear without fear the secret of the good news,”
Note Paul closed (in verse 19 of Eph 6) asking for prayers that he be able to make clear "the secret of the good news." That is what is now being published to you: "The Sacred secret" or "the secret of the good news." As part of that secret, Jesus told us he came for the purpose of starting the spiritual war Paul mentioned above and that we are all caught up in: (Mat 10:34-39) CEV Don't think that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came to bring trouble, not peace. (35) I came to turn sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law. (36) Your worst enemies will be in your own family. (37) If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples. (38) And unless you are willing to take up your cross and come with me, you are not fit to be my disciples. (39) If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for me, (or are willing to give it up) you will surely find it. ["Religious" groups are not specifically mentioned in those verses as ones we must avoid trying to please (as they try to mislead us to follow them instead of Christ). It is made obvious, however: As Jesus made it plain in the way he spoke to the religious leaders of his day. (Mat 5:20 ; Mat 23:1-15)] While Jesus there said (Mat 10:34) he came to bring war, elsewhere in the Bible Jesus is referred to as the prince of peace. The Bible also says there will be no end to his peaceful reign. (Isa 9:6-7) This is not a contradiction! Christ doesn't want war. Neither do his followers. The war Jesus came to expose was brought to life because those who hate Christ Jesus and his Father also hate those who love them. (1 John 3:11-12 ; John 3:19-20) Christ thus came to bring war only in the sense of bringing light and truth. Truth starts a war with those who hate it. (John 8:42-47) There can be no peace as long as Satan or any of his followers are alive. (Isa 57:20-21 ; Ps 119:165 ; Isa 48:18) The war Christ brings, then, is with those who do not love the truth. (2 Thes 1:8 ; John 8:42-45) The truth is being clearly manifest so "the good news of the Kingdom of Christ" remains "a secret" only to those who don't want to know.
Thus, Jesus didn't really start this war. He came to expose it and to destroy the one who did start it. (1 John 3:8b) The war was started 6000 years ago in the garden of Eden. (Gen 3:1-5 ; John 8:44-45) God's solution to restore peace has thus been unfolding and revealing itself (Rom 16:25-27) ever since. Jesus Christ came both to explain what God is doing to repair the damage caused by satan's rebellion, and to become the manifestation of God's solution. Christ's explanation of God's arrangement to break up the works of the devil, then, is "the gospel (or good news) of the kingdom." (Mat 4:23 ; John 18:37 ; 1_John 3:8b) Whether we choose to realize or not, (2 Kings 6:15-17 ; 1 Cor 1:18-31) our day witnesses the establishment of Christ's kingdom as it is bringing an end to the war. (1 John 3:8b ; Rom 14:10-13 ; Phil 2:5-11 ; 1 Cor 15:20-28) Since we are all caught in this spiritual war, you must take a side. (Ecc 8:8) You must choose because it is the right thing to do. God is good! (Mark 10:18) If we are not stationed firmly on the side that is working to expose and destroy the wicked "man of lawlessness", and thereby receiving God's protection, we will likely become casualties of the war. That seems to be what Paul was saying in Ephesians 6 above. Please realize: Religion, along with the nations they influence, comprise the many headed beast of Revelation. (Rev 17:3-6) They all need to be exposed; because they all hide who they are behind a facade of righteousness. All together, then, these varied religious sects create and represent the man of lawlessness (or man of destruction) Jesus warned about. (2 Thes 2:3) *1 GW (3) Don't let anyone deceive you about this in any way. That day [the "day" representing the end of this wicked system] cannot come unless a revolt takes place first, and the man of sin, the man of destruction, is revealed. Since the rebellion in the Garden of Eden was started, when satan misrepresented truth promoted lies to Eve, it has been lying religious leaders who have caused most problems: Usually, because they love money and/or their own glory among men more than God. (Luke 16:14-15) Now the Pharisees, who were money lovers, were listening to all these things, and they began to sneer at him. 15 Consequently he said to them: “You are those who declare yourselves righteous before men, but God knows your hearts; because what is lofty among men is a disgusting thing in God's sight. (John 12:42-43 ; Mat 23:13 ; Luke 11:52) Jesus said "The End" he spoke about, the end of all the suffering of mankind, can not come until this "man of destruction" gets to be revealed. Each and every part (every single head) of him has to be exposed in the light of truth. Then, while religion is being destroyed by the words from Christ's mouth, (Rev 19:15) the choices the individual members of these varied religious sects make is sorting them for life or destruction (they are being sorted by their response to the words of Christ Jesus). (Mat 25:31-33 ; John 12:48 ; Eze 9:4-6) Do you see why doing your personal best to expose those who promote "religion" is so very important? We are in a war and Satan is doing all he can to kill us all. Few will join Satan if they actually understand what they are doing. Satan's best tool, then, has been ignorance among those he sought to deceive. He has kept people ignorant by getting them to believe there is no God, or there is no satan, or even more deceptively, to believe they are being protected by God in connection with being blessed by membership in some group of religious men (Religionists who grant their members what they assert to be God's approval). What all such people have, you see, is religion rather than Christianity! It is the day of the revelation of Christ and of his followers! Bible knowledge is washing away the ignorance of religion in the light of truth. The teachings of Jesus are truth. (Mat 7:24) Building (or changing) who we are in the secret person of our heart, (1 Pet 3:3-4) around a foundation of truth, must be or become our life. (John 12:49-50 ; John 17:3-5 ; Prov 30:4) That is how we leave ignorance behind. By the very act of seeking truth, or of choosing to ignore it, we, as individuals, define whether we are Christian! So, then, avoid religion at any cost. Recognize religion to be the manifestation of the man of lawlessness! Seek faith based on truth. The teachings of Jesus are from God and are truth! (John 17:17 ; John 8:28 ; John 5:19)
As you endeavor to build faith, and to be able to defend your faith using the Bible, you will find many people who will want to ask questions. Some will be sincere, and some will not. (Mat 22:35) All God expects you to know, is what you have had time to learn from the Bible. A simple "I don't know," along with expressed faith in Christ based on what you do know the Bible says, is always an acceptable answer. We who promote this website lay no claim to special gifts, power, knowledge, understanding, or insight; beyond what the Bible gives. We do not embolden ourselves to judge those who support or condemn our work as righteous or as unrighteous. We simply make known from the Bible: Everyone is embroiled in this spiritual war and is in the act of judging themselves in/by their own conscience. (Rom 2:15-16) We all judge ourselves by means of our response to Jesus's teachings. (John 12:48) None of us have seen or known any of the people we read in the Bible about. They are from hundreds of years in our past. All we know about the Bible, or any of it's characters, is what we read that Bible writers have written. All we can then do, is try and make sense of it. We try and discern a logical and coherent theme of the Bible based on an understanding that harmonizes with everything else we know about it and about Creation. We try to make our mind over (or renew our mind), using our power of reason; but using God's word as the one and only standard for doing so. (Rom 12:1, 2) MWT 12 Consequently I entreat you by the compassions of God, brothers, to present your bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason. 2 And quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. That is what this website is for. That is what our lives should be dedicated to! Our understanding of “truth” is honed by conversations with others, and by the questions they ask. As we lovingly try to defend our faith using the scriptures, our defense of our “faith” helps strengthen it, and that faith defines who we are. It can do so, at any rate, if we apply what we learn from the Bible. Our hope and intent is to become persons whose feet are planted on the solid rock of faith in truth, (John 18:37 ; Eph 4:14-16 ; Phil 1:27-28 ; 2 Tim 2:18-19) being protected by the weapons of warfare Paul spoke about above. You see, we are left with no choice but to help kill the multi-headed beast (knowing, of course, it is actually Christ who is destroying Satan and his followers; initially by using "allowing" mere humans to expose him [by spreading Jesus's word so fewer people continue to serve Satan in ignorance], and finally by literally destroying Satan at Armageddon). There is a fable about murderous creatures called vampires who are destroyed if exposed to sunlight. That is the reality for Satan's princes who have seated themselves as Gods (2 Thes 2:4) by claiming the right of judgment over their fellow men and women. They (their power and influence [their ability to deceive people]) are destroyed when exposed in the light of truth. Our effort to expose them is not altruistic. We hope to cheat death in this system, by having someone to protect us: Christ Jesus. (1 Pet 3:20b ; Mat 24:36-39) We here introduce another facet of the "sacred secret (Rom 16:25-27) of the good news": While Jesus did say some would need a resurrection to gain life in paradise*2: John 11:24-25 BBE (24) Martha said to him, I am certain that he [Lazarus] will come to life again when all come back from the dead at the last day. (25) Jesus said to her, I am myself that day and that life; he who has faith in me will have life even if he is dead;. Jesus also told Martha the faithful who were alive when he returned would never die at all. [(John 11:26) "and everyone that is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all."
*2 Life in Paradise: (Luke 22:18 CEV) (18) “I tell you that I will not drink any more wine until God's kingdom comes." (Ps 37:29) 29 The righteous themselves will possess the earth, And they will reside forever upon it.]
Please take special note, the conversation Martha and Jesus were having was about the "last day": The day (or period) of the end of this wicked old system of things - and, the day of the resurrection. That "day" was off in the future for Martha; but it is not for us! The "day" (or period) when we are alive in the Bible's recorded timeline gives special meaning to what Jesus told Martha about that "last day." Bible prophecy indicates it is our generation Jesus was talking about when he told Martha those alive at the time he came in kingdom power would never die at all: John 11:26 BBE (26) And no one who is living and has faith in me will ever see death. Is this your faith? Both scriptural and secular indications are: "Our time" is that "last day!" (1 Pet 3:20b ; Mat 24:36-39)
Jesus ended his introduction of the hope of living forever by asking Martha: “Is this your faith?” We now ask: Is it "your faith"? Job prophesied about that same hope (of never having to die), a hope that would only become available during the "last day" or day of escape (Psalm 49:11-20) (which is the hope and day Jesus was speaking to Martha about). It was our day in time, then, that Job prophesied about: Job 33:24-25 Darby (24) Then he will be gracious unto him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. (25) His flesh shall be fresher than in childhood; he shall return to the days of his youth. Job 33:27-30 GNB (27) Each one will say in public, "I have sinned. I have not done right, but God spared me. (28) He kept me from going to the world of the dead, and I am still alive." (29) God does all this again and again; (30) each one saves a person's life, and gives him the joy of living.
So you see: We do not produce and support this website because we are nice. (Actually, we do hope that is part of why we do it.) We do it mostly because it is the right thing to do, and, because we have no choice: We want good and right to win, and by that outcome, to have life for ourselves. (Heb 11:6) Each and every one of us have to decide what truth is, and, we have to be right! We must live our lives according to what is truth - according to God's standards. (John 17:15-20) That is the purpose of the Bible! Serving God includes helping educate people about the hope available to them in Christ Jesus. We do that simply by sharing with them the scriptures we have learned. That includes sharing the teachings of Jesus which expose all the many groups who exist for the purpose of replacing Christ in your life. They try to replace Christ by promoting their belief that your salvation is tied to membership in their group. (2 Thes 2:3-5 ; Mat 23:1-12 ; Mat 23:15) As Peter taught he had learned from Jesus: Acts 10:34-35 BBE Then Peter said, Truly, I see clearly that God is no respecter of persons: (35) But in every nation, the man who has fear of him and does righteousness is pleasing to him. Jesus also explained what it means to do righteousness. (Matthew 22:34-40 BBE (34) But the Pharisees, hearing how the mouths of the Sadducees had been stopped, came together; (35) And one of them, a teacher of the law, put a question to him, testing him, and saying, (36) Master, which is the chief rule in the law? (37) And he said to him, Have love for the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. (38) This is the first and greatest rule. (39) And a second like it is this, Have love for your neighbor as for yourself. (40) On these two rules all the law and the prophets are based.) Make no mistake: It is your love for God expressed in love for neighbor that defines you as a Christian. It is NOT the approval of some man or group. It is based on your knowledge of what Jesus taught. (Mark 9:7; John 17:3; John 6:28-29)
Your own personal understanding of what is true, and your faith in that truth, defines your future. Your faith is your future! (Mat 8:13; Mat 9:22) Everyone says they love God, of course! Most actually believe they do. Even some who purposely harm others believe they serve and love God. (John 16:2) It is, however, showing love for/to other humans which demonstrates whether we really do love God. (1 John 4:20-21) We are each responsible to figure out how we can show love for others, based on our own abilities and circumstances, and on our personal love for God and his Word. That simple knowledge (of our individual responsibility) is what all these groups rob away from their flock. Religionists want to make you responsible to do work they assign you. Then, they want you to look to them for approval. An example of the bad influence of religion is seen in Paul's early life. Because of the influence of his religious leaders, Paul was busy in the religious work of killing Christians. In spite of his wicked actions, (1 Cor 15:9-10) God saw enough sincerity in Paul to reach out to correct his ignorance; so Paul could be used to preach the good news of truth. (Rom 1:1-7) God is still looking about in the earth to find who is sincerely trying to work righteousness, (2 Chron 16:9a) and those individuals are drawn to Jesus by God. (John 6:44a) It is less important how much good such righteously inclined (but sometimes very ignorant) persons are actually doing; it is their zeal for what they reasonably believe to be right and true that God sees. He then uses the teachings of Christ Jesus to remove the ignorance in them. (John 6:44 ; Acts 9:1-18) None of us are judges of that process: Judges of who is righteous and wicked. How dare mere men imagine they are!*3 We are all ignorant to one degree or another. Those who seek Christ, through knowledge of his teachings, are having the ignorance rooted out of them. We serve our King Christ Jesus, according to the will of his Father. (1 Cor 15:30-34 ; 1 Peter 1:16-21) We realize that might sound like we think we are special. Actually, we do! Only, however, in the same sense every single Christian is special. (Mark_9:38-40 ; Luke_9:49-50 ; Philip_1:18 ; 1_Cor_12:3) We all have gifts and talents we bring to our worship. We do all, however, wind up with the same opportunity and responsibility. In a spiritual sense, we must not be concerned when people unscripturally judge we are wicked. (1_Cor_4:1-3 ; John_16:1-4) We should all recognize: Exposing judgmental men to be part of the "man of lawlessness" is a very big opportunity! You must also realize: Religious people (the wicked) will not like being exposed! What ever we can do to help Christ Jesus destroy the many headed man of lawlessness,*3 by exposing him in the light of truth, is a truly good work. (2 Thes 2:4-10 ; Acts 12:21-23) Some among us, among those hoping in God to survive in this old world system, are being made homeless and then left to expend life's energy seeking food and shelter every day. Those favored with a good life, those with knowledge of truth and who have authority or stature to influence people, inherit the responsibility to try and help others become wise (to help them grow to Christian maturity). (Hebrews 6:1-12) Such fortunate individuals have the resources and ability to help those who have less: Foremost, to help them build faith for the preservation of life. (Hebrews 10:36-39) Those of us who are unlettered and ordinary, (Acts 4:13) or from among the lowliest of mankind, (Daniel 4:17) must do the very best we can as well. May יהוה grant us peace now and perfection on the far side of this war. (Romans_1:7 ; 1_Cor_1:3 ; Ecc_8:8) יהוה is God's Hebrew name as inspired recorded in the Old Testament. This war must be decisively won by יהוה and his son to bring an end to all the suffering surrounding us. (1 Cor 15:20-28)
*3 (2 Thessalonians 2:4-10 CEV) (4) He (the man of lawlessness) will brag and oppose everything that is holy or sacred. He will even sit in God's temple and claim to be God (by claiming your salvation depends on approval by them, instead of your faith in Christ). (5) Don't you remember that I told you this while I was still with you? (6) You already know what is holding this wicked one back until it is time for him to come. (7) His mysterious power is already at work, but someone (Christ and his apostles) is holding him back. And the wicked one won't appear until that someone is out of the way. (8) Then he will appear, (the "man of lawlessness" was well established by 300 or 400 AD, gaining power to bring about the dark ages, but he is now being exposed) but the Lord Jesus will kill him simply by breathing on him. (Those sharing Jesus's teachings with others are his breath upon them, to life or to death, by their choice.) He will be completely destroyed by the Lord's glorious return. (9) When the wicked one appears, Satan will pretend to work all kinds of miracles, wonders, and signs. (10) Lost people will be fooled by his evil deeds. They could be saved, but they will refuse to love the truth and accept it. (Mat_7:22-23) Religion has fooled people for some two thousand years, since Christ left. Their day is over! Please note Jesus's words: We need to love the truth and accept it. Truth is God's word the Bible, and God's Word is personified in Christ Jesus. (Rev_19:13)
If we are to become friends of God, we must first become accountable to him. That is one reason for the message Jesus brought: To give us accountability. (John 15:22) We become individually and personally accountable based on our response to Jesus's teachings. (John 12:47-50 ; Rom_2:14-16) If this Bible message about wolves in sheep's clothing, (Mat_7:15) the man of lawlessness, (2_Thes_2:3) and your personal accountability is offensive to you; please consider whether our message offends you based on your knowledge of Christ's teachings, or because of organized religion's influence on you. (Luke_11:43_&_45-46) If it is because of your religion, just change! Abandon religion in favor of Christianity. We believe what we present is Christ's message. Please read the scriptures we present! Consider Paul's example again: (Acts_9:1-15) While Paul was killing Christians, he was certainly not God's friend. His actions were wicked, but God did not hold him accountable, because Paul was ignorant and God could see his heart was upright. (1_Tim_1:12-13) Paul could not be God's friend while killing followers of God's son. When Ananias brought Paul the message Christ sent him, however, Paul changed. (Philip_3:4b-9) Paul then became an outstanding example of Christianity. (1_Cor_15:9-10) Even though the younger Paul had a zeal to serve God, he could never be God's friend as long as he remained ignorant. With knowledge of truth came Paul's accountability, as well as his opportunity to be God's friend. Accountability is a good thing for those who love יהוה through faith in Christ. Religion tries to steal away truth by assuring people it is approval by their group that grants life. Help Christ expose their lies!
It is all so simple and beautiful really: To be a person selected and protected to enter the paradise being established by God's appointed King [Christ Jesus (Mat_6:9-10)], we must have some knowledge of Christ's teachings. And, perhaps more importantly, we must have clearly demonstrated we are people determined to live by Jesus's teachings [no matter what the short term cost might be (Mat_26:39 ; Mark_14:35-36)]. In other words, we must be God's friend, as was Abraham of old. (Jas_2:23 ; Isa_41:8 ; 2_Ch_20:7) (If you have not made the choice to have God's protection, you might possibly retain the hope of a resurrection if "when" you die, as long as you have not shown yourself to be wicked. That is a very dangerous place to try to be! To be a protected survivor of the end of this system, however, we must be God's friends.) The establishment of the kingdom of Christ is the only real hope any of us have. (Matthew_6:10)
If you are a person of influence, who is there knowing whether it is for the purpose of making the kingdom known you have attained your stature in life. (Esther_4:9-17 – Please note verse 14.) It is not important you agree with every point we make on this website. Considering the scriptures we present is a wise course, for anyone! (Prov_27:17) What you do need to do, is the same thing we all must do: Find some method by which you can build faith in the Bible using as many scriptures as you can include in that faith. If you perceive this website is helpful to your learning what the Bible teaches, direct others to it. That is a good work! Best to all, in the will of our Father. (Mat_26:39)
*1 As you study the Bible, you will note some minor discrepancies among the different Bible translations available to us. There is no scriptural basis for believing any translation is inspired. Every translation amounts to the works of individuals or translation committees. Sadly, all translations are flavored (or distorted) in minor ways by the personal view (personal faith) of those doing the translating. [That does not make the different Bible translations something to be afraid of. We simply need to keep in mind that we study from a translation of the Bible, and not from the original Hebrew and Greek texts (which were inspired by God). Consult several translations if there is any problem understanding a particular scripture, or if it seems out of harmony with what you know about the Bible. The accurate meaning (or translation) will always be the one(s) in agreement with the theme of the Bible.] As an example of how a Bible translation can be effected by the personal beliefs of the translators, please note how the Douay-Rheims (completed between 1582 CE and 1609 CE) translation renders 2 Thes 2:3. These translators clearly believed our salvation was/is tied to the Catholic Church. Luther (and many other protestors against the Catholic church's abuses of the dark ages) worked to bring about the protestant reformation, and a decline of the dark ages. The Douay-Rheims translators believed the work of those protestant men and women to be part of the manifestation of the man of lawlessness. They didn't realize, such a judgmental attitude actually made them part of the man of lawlessness. Note their translation, then, with their skewed perspective: (2 Thessalonians 2:3 Douay-Rheims (3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition A revolt. . .This revolt, or falling off, is generally understood, by the ancient fathers, of a revolt from the Roman empire, which was first to be destroyed, before the coming of Antichrist. t may, perhaps, be understood also of a revolt of many nations from the Catholic Church; which has, in part, happened already, by means of Mahomet, Luther, &c., and it may be supposed, will e more general in the days of the Antichrist. . . 'the' man of sin, 'the' on of perdition, 'the' adversary or opposer. It agrees to the wicked and great Antichrist, who will come before the end of the world.) Clearly, the Douay-Rheims translation is skewed by the "faith" of the translators.
We often speak on this website about the great value of the actual teachings of Christ, as we note they are recorded in four short books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This letter illustrates one of the many ways the whole of the Bible is valuable. It helps to look at the whole of what is recorded in the Bible, alongside recorded secular history. Such an overview helps us have faith we are now living in the period Jesus called "the last days." It also helps us recognize: It is a grand time to be alive!
For additional scriptures supporting the hope of never having to die, please visit justbibletruth.com and click on the “What is our future?” link highlighted in orange about half way down that first page. (You can also view that webpage by typing- justbibletruth.com/WhatIsOurFuture.html -in your web browser address window.) The truth is a very big deal! Learn it for yourself and then help make it known. (John 17:17)
The iron of this letter (Pro_27:17) might make it sound like we believe all these religious men and women (who comprise the Man Of Lawlessness ) are wicked. Please let us make clear: We do not believe that, any more than we believe Paul was wicked when he was killing Christians in the ignorance of his youth. (Acts_7:57-58) We simply try to understand (and share) the difference between being a follower of Christ Jesus - and - having religion. Being a Christian means doing your best to go along with a movement started by Jesus 2000 years ago; doing so by building faith based on what you are careful to personally know Jesus taught. Having religion, on the other hand wrong hand, is grouping together with other people to assert your own righteousness along with your judgment over who is pleasing to God. While we don't judge Religionists wicked, we do believe they are ignorant of truth. We also fear many of them may be making the choice to remain ignorant; which will, in turn, transform their ignorance into stupidity and wickedness. (Acts_17:29-31 ; Rom_1:18-23) Such people are unable to hear so as to understand what Jesus said. (John 8:43) If any of us make the choice not to learn the truth, for any reason, we also make ourselves stupid and responsible before our Creator. (Pro_1:22-23 ; Ps_92:4-7 ; Deu_32:4-6) We don't want to be stupid people. If we are wrong, show us from the Bible and we will change. Isn't that what this whole thing is (or should be) about? The spiritual choices we make are important, but realize, we can't actually harm the truth. (2_Cor_13:8) Jesus is fixing everything done by even satan himself! (1_John_3:8b) How much more so any damage we do. The only thing we can do, that will have lasting effect on anyone, (Heb_12:3 ; Num_16:38) is to choose to support our Father. In so doing, we lastingly benefit both ourselves and others who will listen. (Isaiah_48:17) If we choose not to help others, however, someone will! (Luke_19:37-40 ; Esther_4:14)
The only real value any of us have, then, is to benefit ourselves (Isaiah_48:17) by being wise and making our Father rejoice. (Proverbs_27:11) May you May we all realize what a very great prize and privilege that is! We benefit ourselves by showing love for others. (Acts_20:35 ; Ecc_12:13 ; Isa_48:17) May we all expend our life's energy in doing so, whether it be for a short time [until our days are overtaken by the grave, and later, the resurrection (Joh_11:25 ; 2_Tim_2:18)], or hopefully, for an eternity (without ever seeing the grave)! (Job_33:24-25 ; Rev_22:20)
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