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"A Negative Christ"
by Judith Gayle Smith-Owens Vitouswykegardinerclark As you read this, please think of a photograph of someone you love dearly - and imagine only having the negative, and not the actual photograph. Pretty dim... ___________________________________________________________________________ 1JO. 2:18 "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time." TIME IS WITNESS TO CHRISTIANITY'S ABUSE OF BIBLES TO DEFEND SIN WITH PRIVATE INTERPRETATIONS, TO NEGATE THE POWER AND PURITY OF THE TRUE CHRIST TO CURE SIN, THAT THE WORLD USES IN ITS MORAL DESTRUCTION! INTRODUCTION Hundreds of thousands of Christians around the world profess the Christ, believing that a profession causes them to become Christian (saves them). They commit Bible Libel when they use that profession to defend their sin. Rather than allowing the Christ's purity and power rule over their lives, they willingly turn their souls over to worldly religious philosophies that are anti-Christian and Biblically incorrect! These counterfeit Christians believe they can continue to sin with permission from GOD, while promoting immorality, destroying the world by misusing the word of GOD in Bibles. Turning their backs on the free gift of Salvation, they pay a higher price for their absence of holiness than they would if truly converted to Christianity. Being taught to avoid GOD'S guilt and conviction, they must change the significance in Bibles to allow their sin. Especially the word advocate in 1Jo. 2:1& 2 to defend their sins, revealing just what their teachers and Christianity lacks. For real Christianity does not exist for them while they do not employ the Anointed One of GOD for the service He was appointed for by OD in their lives - to strengthen and keep them from sin. Using instead presumed religious substitutes for GOD'S Spiritual truth, preferring sin. This confuses and excuses their religious deception of "the truth" about themselves as disciples of the Christ, just as He implied in His sermon on the mount: Matt. 5: 13-17, 13 "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A City that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." MAN'S RELIGIOUS SUBSTITUTES FOR GOD'S LIGHT! What the Christ said was that if Christians were truly the salt (GOD'S righteous preservative) of the earth, they would be the primary motivating influence in their society with GOD'S morality. Instead they deny HIS morality by removing HIS Moral Law from that society and their lives! But ignoring HIS morality ignores the very savor of HIS righteousness (salt), to cause the world's and their own moral confusion, that degrades HIM and HIS Moral Law under their feet. For HIS morality is no longer honored among men for its intrinsic worth. So few, if any, regard, reverence or know HIS word's value well enough to use it as HE intended, to give mankind HIS practicing righteousness. Who is actually responsible for the present immorality of the world is what will be under discussion here. For either the world who has no knowledge of GOD'S holiness or word are responsible, or those who say they know HIM, but refuse to live like they do are responsible. If Christians were spiritually truthful and actually concerned about morality, they would readily admit that they, as all men, are born without GOD'S illumination into a natural state of darkness (immorality). That is selfish and must change for entrance into HIS holy eternal kingdom. Because when stimulated by that natural carnality, they too will become lawless again and uncontrollable, by demanding to serve their sins, by being carnal and without accountability to GOD. All sheep adhere to this premise naturally that protects their sins until they submit entirely to the Christ to allow themselves to be changed (converted) by Him. Sheep who are "religiously comfortable" with GOD, having a symbolic religion, are not changed to being the Spiritually redirected and motivated people of GOD - having the power of HIS Christ beyond their own sheepdom, to voluntarily obey HIS Moral Law through HIS light. They are either Spiritually regenerated by HIS light, or religiously educated and motivated by "a negative Christ". It is GOD'S light that gives all life the righteous direction needed to ensure that HIS morality is maintained, triumphing over their own chosen mores. In the pure life that is capable of inheriting the virtue of HIS sanctified eternal kingdom. Unchanged hearts seek only to justify themselves with any religious symbolism that appeals to them. Trying to hide behind that natural darkness, they sever HIS promises and hopes from them. So unless we intentionally seek HIS absolute faith (trust) through "the truth" about ourselves, we are only being insincere with ourselves, with a spurious gospel and its falsified religion. We therefore encourage your review of this human propensity to maintain sin. If our sin is not totally abhorrent to us as Christians, then we have only professed the Christ and do not possess Him! Profession does not guarantee possession, but possession always causes the Christ's power to demonstrate itself in our lives over our sin. But believing and submitting to the Christ are two very different subjects! While just believing sounds good to our human nature, it is too often easily accepted and modified by the flesh as permission to continue in what we lust after! Submitting to the Christ requires GOD'S fine tuning of our spiritual hearing to listen to His Spiritual presence telling us to obey His word. This can be done only by continually walking within the Christ, in His presence and holiness without having any power in life of our own. But Christianity today is full of self-defeating religious substitutes that hinder GOD'S moral values for Salvation from coming to fruition. That defeats that very holiness preparatory for HIS kingdom with men's education in religion rather than the Christ's power over sin. Choosing to follow our own or man's vain religious philosophies merely because they allow us the retention of sin means GOD'S regenerating power (of the Christ) over our sin has not been deployed. So all that counterfeit Christians can really do with their gospel, not being regenerated by HIS Holy Spirit, is talk about how righteous they are and/or complain about how sinful the rest of the world is! Not having been granted GOD'S power or reality over sin in a true Christian Salvation experience, they maintain a "negative Christ" religious philosophy. Our denial destroys the purity of GOD'S salt, treading down HIS sanctity with their religious works of darkness! This publication is a warning to those who do not manifest the pure knowledge of His Salvation, through a faithless profession. We need to be able to see ourselves clearly as we really are to be responsible enough to GOD and HIS Christ. We must re-examine this experience of a gospel that manifests itself negatively in our lives. This publication is dedicated to bringing "the truth of GOD'S word in Bibles". It is not meant to condemn any one, they do that themselves already with their sin. It is meant to be a help to them by making them aware of the real problem and its cure. Humanity, being the problem, needs a cure - by the power of GOD unto Salvation (Rom. 1:16) through what GOD'S word says absolutely about this vital subject of human salvation. We will provide HIS complete Biblical solution for the problems associated with so many diverse religious teachings that now confuse men. Choosing not to rid ourselves of this natural condition plainly shows an observing world and GOD our obstinacy to the Christ's purity when we deny His power in our lives. Unable to admit to ourselves (because of shame and embarrassment) that we have made a negative profession, manifested by our fleshiness due to unchanged hearts. We refuse to utilize the Christ's power to deliver ourselves from our natural desires, insisting we are Christian, while sinful. This His Holiness must reject (Isaiah 59:2) as it intentionally mocks His Spiritual office. "Second generation Christians" (unregenerate, but assume they are Christian due to parentage or having been born in America are "educated into" a Christianity) with their old nature, hate what it needs most from GOD Spiritually (Rom. 1). As long as they maintain their natural state they remain in need of HIS regenerative Salvation! But this is only half of the problem. The greater issue occurs when those of the world observe our response to GOD to emulate it in their own lives, destroying themselves by continually disgracing HIM and HIS light. But are merely "professing Christians" as safe or "saved" in Christianity from GOD'S wrath (Joh. 3:36) as we assume we are? The Apostle Paul warned us that we can not blame the world for its immorality. While we hold GOD'S truth while being unrighteous, we then are the direct object of GOD'S wrath and anything but safe or "saved"! Shaming the Christ and His purpose with our sins after merely professing Him! But have we really understood the underlying implications and principles of an unrighteous Christianity? Rom.1:13-18, 13 "Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of HIM from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even HIS eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:" If Paul is right and we really had the true faith of the Christ, would we not also have its righteousness? This was the primary reason Paul wrote his letter to those at Rome - to warn them that they lacked GOD'S true Salvation (the Gospel of the Christ). He affirmed this in sixteen detailed chapters! Christians know more about what sin is than the observing world, and are therefore more guilty and without excuse when they continue to commit sin! All men are guilty because they have already been shown GOD'S eternal power and Divinity (HIS GODHEAD) as Paul stated: (qeio,thj (thi-ot'-ace) derived from Strong's #2304; a noun fem used only once by Paul here in Rom. 1:20 often translated as Godhead but defined as divinity (of a divine nature). But disregarding that knowledge keeps our own way in life rather than obey GOD because the old nature is still in control. Yes, we may have been given a gospel and even professed the Christ, but we are unwilling to understand its deep implications above our personal lusts - having received a false gospel, another gospel, from someone that had a vested interest in our joining his/her church. While not wanting to make us feel guilty about what our life is really like. Without the Christ's truth about an unholy life from His Gospel, we have not have heard His Gospel! That's why, above all else, we must make certain that what we hear is not just "another gospel" (as heard by the church of Galatia). We must learn the absolute truth and purity of the entire Gospel message before being rejected from HIS eternal kingdom after a life of false hope at the very last second. For if HE had manifested Salvation to us and we continue to sin, HIS regeneration is not valid. Continuing to sin, we are not Christian, and are just as lost and unsaved as the world is - without excuse! The word manifest here is #5318 fanero,j (fan-er-os') derived from #5316; an adjective used in the KJV as manifest 9 times, openly with #1722 and #3588 3 times, known 3 times, abroad with #1519 2 times, spread abroad once, outwardly with #1722 and 3588 once, outward once, appear once; defined as what is apparent, manifest, evident, known or plainly recognized. The word for excuse is the Greek word avnapolo,ghtoj (an-ap-ol-og'-ay-tos). A negative particle a derivative of #626; an adjective used in the KJV as without excuse once, inexcusable once defined as having no defense or excuse, inexcusable. Therefore if GOD already has revealed to all mankind HIS eternal power and Divinity by HIS creation, then what is our excuse for sin? Counterfeit Christians know exactly how their lives have not conformed to the image of HIS righteousness. By the sinful "answers" they offer themselves due to intentionally misconstruing 1st Jo. 2:1 & 2 maintains their old nature with its sins and lusts, while still hoping to enter GOD'S kingdom. But what they believe remains just as divisive and Biblically untrue as it was before they learned a few verses to protect themselves with. They serve their self -interests! This unsaved condition occurs due to inadequate religion when Bibles are misconstrued to retain men's naturally unregenerate nature we refer to as "a negative Christ". A condition that selfishly engenders beliefs erroneous and divisive for "churches" as GOD'S Spiritual instructions. What is taught today is little more than the agreed upon opinions of carnally minded men enslaving those who accept their ungrounded Biblical beliefs that are not the truth of GOD'S word. BELIEF IS NOT ALWAYS TRUTH? This happens when we do not realize that a belief is nothing more than that, just a belief; one that GOD would not necessarily have HIS people practice Those believing often choose to believe what allows them to retain their sins, refusing the Christ's power by not proving those beliefs absolute as GOD'S instructions for Christianity. This indicates to HIM that what we "believe" we will also do in HIS eternal kingdom. Those things we actually allow ourselves to believe we can do are the result of a religious education that causes us to feel we are "saved" from HIS wrath. Using just enough illumination to justify walking in darkness, gives the advantage of feeling safer while in an unsaved condition. GOD'S word, however, permeates all the darkness of the natural heart. It has to, to prepare professing Christians for HIS eternity. The demands of holiness in HIS word therefore always show exactly what we need to know. Our natural desires protect sin with excuses that we allow. But HIS light not only reflects HIS Holiness, it actually reflects the darkness of our hearts by our lack of response to HIS holy illumination. This is manifested by how we manipulate a Bible's spiritual light to persuade ourselves and others. Absolute truth never contradicts itself. If a verse in a Bible appears out of GOD'S logical framework for spiritual truth, it shows why HE had it written the way HE did. To reveal just how much our old nature will take advantage of it. HIS word exposes our nature when we try to exploit HIS Spiritual wisdom (logos) for our advantage! But if we truly have that logos, we will utilize the information He gives us to correct our problems rather than ignoring them or manipulating HIS word to hide them. We do ignore its significance when we interpret it selfishly in spiritual darkness, by choosing to live in that darkness. This denies GOD'S sanctification after the Christ paid for the sins of all men with His death. Beliefs are never religious truth until proven absolutely spiritually true. As much as we may want to believe GOD'S word is consistent, we must believe our confusion is "the truth" if we have never attempted to prove HIS word to be consistent. But how can it be "the truth" unless we prove it to be? That can't be done when we allow our private interpretations (2Pe. 1:20 & 21) to regulate our religious beliefs, to reject HIS plan for our lives. Such private interpretations leave a legacy of groundless opinions that are nothing more than evasions of Spiritual truth. The verses in 1st Jo. 2:1&2 serve are just one example of this evasion, used by false Christians to defend and maintain their personal sin. Removing verses from their context destroys GOD'S word and its effectiveness with an anti-Christ philosophy to protect sin. These verses, used by unregenerate Christians as their first choice and excuse to sin, are a main contributor to societies' moral downfall. Teaching that GOD defends sin with HIS Christ allows pseudo-Christians to believe they can continue to sin without reprisal. They erroneously think they are free from sin's natural consequences and safe from GOD'S wrath, when they are not! The use of 1st Jo. 2:1 & 2 as a defense for sin clearly reveals the lack of GOD'S Spiritual light in their lives. We prayerfully submit the whole of GOD'S truth, hoping we can help strengthen a few of those misusing these verses to justify their sins. We pray that they realize their need for the truth of GOD'S word that only true Salvation through the Christ gives, before it's too late! So please read "A Negative Christ!" in its entirety, as difficult as it may seem. We will explain what is missing from today's Christianity in order to truly become sanctified Christians. When allowing these verses to defend unregenerate lifestyles that declare a very real need for GOD'S Salvation from enslavement to the flesh. Using these verses for an excuse to sin repeatedly tells everyone they believe the Christ defends their sins! There are several reasons why these verses cannot be used to defend immorality: KJV 1 John 2:1 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 1.) There is no Biblical precedent for such an idea; 2.) The Greek language does not support it; 3.) doing so removes it entirely from its Holy Spirit-inspired context to support an anti-Christ theology; 4.) It blasphemes the Spirit of Holiness by not permitting His Holy conviction on professing Christians to live righteously, (as the sin unto death). The fact that man will accept broad, diverse thinking, rather than demonstrating a willingness to follow GOD'S narrow way indicates the seriousness of the true Gospel. Herein we will also discuss evidence that an anti-Christ philosophy is being submitted to by those calling themselves Christian. With corrupted beliefs that produce diverse religious thoughts, with dogmas that divide and destroy the Christ's true church. Such teachings destroy GOD'S purpose for saving us through the Christ, by splitting His church into thousands of carnally disjointed denominations defending themselves with the sin of disunity, that opposes one another with private interpretations of Bibles. When there is no Biblical precedent that suggests the idea of GOD defending man's sin. NO BIBLICAL PRECEDENT FOR IT! First, and most importantly, there is not any Scriptural evidence that GOD has ever or will ever defend anyone's moral disobedience to HIM found anywhere in a Bible. Just a mention of wrong, without condemning it, does not mean agreement with it! Quite the contrary! The Christ of the New Testament did not come to remove, destroy or change anything within GOD'S moral law. He came to fulfill it by His becoming the only perfect sacrifice for it, once for all of humanity's sin! Men's confusion begins by not comprehending what law the Christ fulfills. It cannot possibly be GOD'S moral or 10 Commandment Law! If He fulfilled them, would we have been told to be perfect as GOD is perfect -in the New Testament so many times (Matt. 5)? We might understand why things have gotten so bad morally if HE had done away with the moral law, but then that too would show just how important it to maintain morality! The moral law is the very core of HIS commandment law for all men! But the commandment law cannot be the law the Christ fulfilled because it declares who and what is truly righteous and unrighteous in GOD'S eyes, in order to show who has obtained HIS Salvation! The moral law is the core of GOD'S commandment law. It cannot be what the Christ came to fulfill with HIS righteousness, but rather it identifies His relation to the law as its ultimate sacrifice for breaking HIS moral law naturally. That is what the Christ came to fulfill. The sacrificial law is the part of GOD'S law that has been fulfilled by Him without departing from GOD'S morality. Being the ultimate sacrifice for all men (1Jo. 2:2) who naturally break GOD'S moral law. It also means the Christ came to seek and save that which was lost (Luk.19:10). But what are men lost from or to? We are lost in the immorality of our natural sinfulness. Lost to ourselves and GOD by the choices we make in choosing not to follow the moral holiness of GOD or HIS Christ. Preferring our own broad way in life over His narrow strait way. If we are lost in sin, then the Christ must save us from that sin, not in it, or there is no true Salvation to enter GOD'S perfect eternal kingdom. If we are saying today's Christian beliefs oppose Christ, being anti-Christian, then what Biblical proof can we present for what His true purpose is? There are three areas of the Scriptures that tell of His purpose outright. We need to be familiar with these areas to understand the Christ's true purpose for our lives. Since we are promoting the understanding of absolute truth, we will not just give a single verse removed from its context just to make our point. We therefore include the verses surrounding the text verse to show you what the context of the paragraph is. This first area in Matthew's Gospel shows what the Christ does in fulfilling Isaiah's prophesy as Y'shuah, GOD'S Anointed One, (the Messiah): Matt. 1:18-21 "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD with us." This next area of the Scriptures declares John the Apostle's witness of John the Baptist, his office, Y'shuah the Christ, His purpose and divine relationship with GOD the Father, and the very reason for His earthly appearance (see verse 29 in particular): KJV John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear wit-ness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. 11 He came unto his own, and His own received Him not. 12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD.14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, HE hath declared Him. 19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for He was before me. 31 And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. 33 And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God." The third area is in John's 1st epistle. This deals with the actuality of what sin is (transgression of GOD'S Law), and the Christ's power that removes the temptation from those abiding in Him when He is called upon to help. Keep in mind this idea of abiding; it will be addressed more fully later. John states what true righteousness is. Those abiding in the Christ's righteous light follow that light, because they have been born of GOD, not the words of men convincing someone to join a church. 1Jo. 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." Since there is a Biblical precedent to love one another due to His sacrifice for the unity of the church, why insist on changing His word like we do this single loose translation of advocate to retain our sins, that shows that we are without His new heart to love the brethren? Should we even consider it a valid definition or of any doctrinal value for a Christian to follow when we are so fixated upon defending our sin we cannot even see our need to love one another? This is how a Bible's misinformation begins and causes the reverse of what GOD and HIS inspired writers intended, and why these verses are now the epitome and very pivotal point of an anti-Christ theology that works against the unity of His Christian church. With a theology that anyone can accept without being accountable or being rid of their sins, having such loose doctrinal values, that soon everyone will be convinced they are Christian! But with no distinction between the lost and the regenerate, how will we know spiritually who or what to lay our lives down for as our brothers or sisters in Christ, what to believe or not believe? All will be morally confused with its tragic results of sinfulness and negative effects. Who will administer or share the TRUE Gospel message to those who have never heard? Saving us from our sinful way of life includes replacing our human nature with a holy nature and way to live. This is what the Greek language supports, not our propensity to continue sinning! THE GREEK DOES NOT SUPPORT IT! No other place in the Scriptures uses the Greek word paraklhtoj as advocate Strong's #3875 (par-ak'-lay-tos) - a noun that many believe John said that GOD will defend a Christian's sins through the Christ. Many modern Greek dictionaries come close to defining paraklhtoj (not as advocate), but as the one Who is summoned by those tempted to sin, called to one's aid, but they do not define it completely. This Greek word is used exclusively by John in three other places, where it is translated as comforter in John 14:26, 15:26 and John 16:7. Resolving its seeming conflict as to whether it means comforter or exhorter by modern Christians requires knowing two things: knowing the unregenerate heart condition of those reading, and knowing the significance of its components of the Greek word being used, which are para and kaleo (see below). If its significance deals with sin - it is sin that is finally removed by the Spirit of Holiness and therefore is a comfort to the individual because of sins final resolution. Not understanding the true nature of GOD'S Gospel destroys HIS Grace, making unrighteousness (sin) excusable among Christians. Acting just as the lost of the world - taking GOD'S Gospel lightly does not make it right. The danger is increased when we miss the entire point of the Christ's ministry as the araklhtoj. We find in the Greek, another noun - paraklhsij.(par-ak-lay-sis) which appears in KJV 2 Corinthians 1:5 "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation (para,klhsij) also aboundeth by Christ." KJV Philippians 2:1 "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any (para,klhsij) comfort of We find in the Greek, another noun - paraklhsij.(par-ak-lay-sis). KJV 1 Thessalonians 2:3 "For our exhortation (para,klhsij) was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:" Which when broken down into its basic Greek components, para (One who comes alongside), and klhtoj, (the invited ones, a root of klesij as in ekklesia Greek for church) paraklhsij - therefore must have the same meaning to strengthen the called out (implied) ones of the Christ's one true church against their sin. Further, claiming this word paraklhtoj means advocate for the guilty when it means One Who pleads GOD'S cause, calling it the counsel for defense of the guilty is misleading. Because as GOD'S legal assistant its true definition does not declare one Who pleads (or defends) a guilty Christian's sin to GOD (in their defense) but rather one Who pleads GOD'S cause to the defendant (the Christian) as the exhorter of GOD'S righteousness. If advocate (the defender of sin) were the significance John intended, then Christians using it to defend and keep their sin without guilt; the very character and nature of the Holy Ghost is discredited. This would suggest that GOD seeks the lost of the world merely to ensure they remain unholy! How else can GOD prepare unholy men for HIS perfect and holy eternity without removing what naturally separates all men from HIM? Using it otherwise brings a deliberate misunderstanding of its content and significance. We condemn ourselves as the natural man forces us to misunderstand the context! MISUNDERSTOOD CONTEXT! To understand this point completely, we must first discuss what context is. What really is meant by context? After talking to many pretentious Christians about context, many seem to think they know what it is - but few really understand, nor can they define it. To help in this we direct your attention to a simple English lesson on sentence and paragraph structure. A sentence is a complete thought that contains a subject (noun) and a predicate (verb). While paragraphs may contain one or several sentences, all paragraphs must contain and focus on just one thought, represented by those sentences within. Context is the focus of all of those sentences within a paragraph, especially in GOD'S word. Having said that, it is still difficult to perceive when reading a Bible where paragraphs begin and end. Most Christians read Bibles with a verse by verse mentality, due to how they are taught from the pulpit. It takes practice to break this bad habit, but with a little effort and a test for proving a paragraph's context we can be back in the control of the proper significance. The Spirit of holiness can then put us back on track with GOD'S word by understanding what a Bible really says. The test for context is simply every sentence within an area of Biblical information must focus on (or point to) just one subject under discussion (the focal point). What is the context of 1st Joh 2:1&2 as a paragraph? The paragraph begins back in verse five of chapter one, showing not Who defends sin, as paraklhtoj as it states nothing about Him defending sin (as the word advocate suggests). It declares instead the Christ's exhortation as the one Who comes alongside the invited ones, exhorting them to GOD'S righteousness by pleading HIS holy cause to them. Thus verifying their true intent for the Gospel when they make wrong choices because their (natural man's) lust refuses to allow them to have the Christ's light. The paragraph we are speaking of in 1st Jo.. begins at verse five, extends into chapter two at verse eight. Let's begin by putting the paragraph before it into its context: KJV 1 John 1:1 "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with HIS Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." The context (focal point) of verses 1-4 is John's witness of GOD'S light as the redeeming message and its quality to us so that our joy may be full. The flow of thought continues into the next paragraph, where the focal point changes slightly, continuing the flow of thought: 5 "This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that GOD is light, and in HIM is no darkness at all. 6 "If we say that we have fellowship with HIM, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unnrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." The context does not change until we get to verse 8 of chapter 2. 2:1 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.4 He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him. 5 But whoso keepeth His word, in Him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in Him. 6 He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth." The context of verses 1:5-2:8 (see verse 7) is that by walking in GOD'S light (GOD'S righteousness), as He (the Christ) is in the light, it is there in that light where we are cleansed by the Christ's blood from all our sins. We can see, admit and reject our sin because of His light. "Saved" - has two syntactical forms often misunderstood in the Greek. Strong's #4982 sw,|zw sozo (sode'-zo) the verb form to make whole and (#4991 swthri,a soteria (so-tay-ree'-ah) the noun feminine form for deliverance), if truly born from above. That's why John said "GOD is light, and in Him (the Christ) is no darkness (unrighteousness) at all". How can GOD, WHO is so holy, possibly get unholy men to act morally responsible, Christian or not? There is but one way, without force, HE can move a person from habitual immorality to walking in voluntarily righteousness. HE must show them initially what is righteous with HIS light, what is morally correct, and the stark contrasting differences between HIS morality (HIS Moral Law) and what our response to it (immorality) has been. The only way HE can do that is by using convicting guilt! Anyone removing the convicting guilt of HIS light, by trying to make the Gospel and its new way of life "comfortable", must compromise HIS truth. Those without heart for GOD and for what is morally responsible cannot be expected to act morally. Without GOD'S Spirit exhorting them through the Christ to HIS righteousness, there would never be anyone righteous! When the Christ's exhortation does come, you must know it so you can know you are loved of the Father. But its rebuke comes in the form of bitter chastisement (the Christ's convicting Spirit) to show us we are not without the love of our Spiritual Father (Heb. 12:8). HIS love, however, does not guarantee that our response to it will be righteous, unless we have the same heart as the Christ with the same desire to live as He did. We cannot walk in the Christ's light if we refuse GOD'S new heart (desires), deliberately avoiding His exhortation (light) to righteousness. We must not deny the personal light and strength the Christ readily offers against our sin when in His presence and His power is with us. Our religious instructions will reveal what we have accepted and approved from denominational teachings conflicting with GOD'S pure doctrines for peace, unity and holiness in the Christ's one true church. We know this because Messiah said "A house divided against itself cannot stand" (Mat 12, Mar. 3 and Luk. 11). The death of true Christianity is caused by divisive doctrines that cater to carnal hearts, instead of the holiness prevailing to grant His harmony with all Christians, needed for the same spirit in the faith (Eph. 4). The wrong spirit prevails (one that we invited in that appears as a Christ, but influences us to sin) and blasphemes the Holy Spirit of GOD) as we follow a negative Christ! BLASPHEMES THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS! The Spirit of Holiness is the sanctifying aspect of GOD'S character and nature that transforms someone desiring it to be cleansed from the carnal flesh and born into a Spiritually regenerated child of GOD. In the Hebrew language, the word holy is: Strong's # 6944 vd,qo (ko'-desh), derived from 6942 a noun mas used in the KJV as holy 262 times, sanctuary sixty-eight times, holy, hallowed things fifty-two times, most forty-four times, holiness thirty times, dedicated five times, hallowed three times, consecrated once and miscellaneous three times; it is defined as separated, holiness, sacredness, separateness, sacredness, holiness of God; of places, of things set-apart and separated for holy use. Combined with the Hebrew word Strong's #7307 x;Wr (roo'-akh) from 7306; a noun fem used in the KJV Spirit or spirit two hundred and thirty two times, wind ninety-two times, breath twenty seven times, side six times, mind five times, blast four times, vain twice, air once, anger once, cool once, courage once and misc. six times. Its significance is wind, breath, mind, spirit, breath, wind of heaven, side, breath of air, gas, vain, empty thing, spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation), animating spirit of GOD, vivacity, vigor as the energy of life, ancient angel and later the Shekinah glory. The New Testament Greek defines it by Strong's #4151 pneu/ma| (pnyoo'-mah) from #4154 a noun neut. Used in the KJV as Spirit one hundred and eleven times, Holy Ghost eighty nine times, Spirit (of God) thirteen times, Spirit (of the Lord) five times, (My) Spirit three times, Spirit (of truth) three times, Spirit (of Christ) twice, human (spirit) forty-nine times, (evil) spirit forty-seven times, spirit (general) twenty-six times, spirit eight times, (Jesus' own) spirit six times, (Jesus' own) ghost twice and undetermined twenty-one times. It is defined as a movement of air (a gentle blast) of the wind, hence the wind itself, breath of nostrils or mouth, the spirit, i.e. the rational spirit, the power of GOD, a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting spiritually, life-giving spirit, used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting the bodies of men, the nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels and equal to GOD, the divine nature of Christ, God's power and agency, manifest in the course of affairs, its influence upon a theocratic body (the church). Combined with Strongs's #40 agioj (hag'-ee-os) from hagos (an awful thing) and adjective describing the noun, used in the KJV as holy one hundred and sixty-one times, saints sixty-one times, Holy One four times, and miscellaneous three times. Defined as most holy thing, a saint. This listing of definitions is to verify the character and nature of a Holy GOD WHO works within those desiring HIS holiness, by having received HIS new heart. If HE cannot convict us to live righteously as HIS spiritual offspring, then we obstinately oppose HIS purpose and that of the Christ when identifying ourselves as Christians. We are governed by a Biblically philosophic principle known as anti-Christ that destroys practical Christianity! Thus while the Spirit of holiness endeavors to convict us while we deny HIM access to our lives, we blaspheme HIM and HIS holiness. We nullify the very purpose for HIS salvation altogether by not turning away from sin. The confusion over HIS Gospel is due to thousands of divisive religious teachings that are subject to the private opinions and significance of created teachings that are unbiblical. There are 33,830 Christian denominations (see 2001 edition of Barrett's Encyclopedia), a very real problem behind the religious confusion of doctrines concerning what to believe or not accept as truth. That is why it's impossible for anyone to say with any amount of certainty, which denomination is Scripturally correct, who is spiritually wrong or who has the correct Biblical solution for sin and its confusion. Because while they disagree Biblically, they are wrong when they oppose one another spiritually or Scripturally. Granting concessions or compromising the truth on a few points in Ecumenical councils or merging denominations will never resolve the conflicts they will cause with eternity. So GOD must either maintain a GOD Squad to keep HIS eternal peace or these denominations must begin to seek out HIS absolute truth. Because churches no longer convey HIS full truth, it is time to consider what spiritual truth is, rather than accepting anything anyone tells us they read in a Bible. If the world is morally confused, how is it that Christianity is just as morally confused? They are confused when refusing the truth of GOD'S morality in spiritual unity found in HIS word, trying to use it to protect and retain their carnal natures that have not been dealt with by GOD by their confronting HIS truth. They cannot accept the prompting of HIS Holy Spirit, while protecting an obstinate antagonistic life filled with sin, fleshy passion and/or hatred for others who might very well be their spiritual brethren. This is not what HE had in mind for our Spiritual eternity. Choosing what is pleasurable to us above HIS holiness, attacking with the meager light we have shows a carnal nature. Using Biblical light to fight over what we believe may bolster pride, is carnal (1st Cor. 3) and does not mean we are saved or safe. When fighting over GOD'S word, how much of what we believe is actual truth of GOD'S word, without doubt and perfectly correct to practice? GOD'S concern is with how we use HIS word as our source of Spiritual knowledge as it reflects directly upon HIM. Just as it leads an observing society into accepting and using examples of anti-Christian behavior for "their truth" and whatever they justify "carnal excuses" with. This is where the world's reality and Christian excuses begin to merge into one vague compromised fleshy thinking, where everyone is Christian and there is no distinction between the worldly person and those who supposedly have new hearts! Therefore, how we obtain the truth of the Christ's presence and power from a Bible in a pure and genuine salvation is vital for trusting in Him. Pride disables that trust, because it will not allow us to see or admit when we are wrong Scripturally. That is why no one has ever known, naturally, GOD'S pure light. The impending result is chaos because we men invariably put the importance for life (Christians as well) upon our own prideful selves. While we lack the true humility needed in a salvation experience, our old nature (out of necessity for its survival) will remain to haunt us again and again with its sin and animosity towards others (Christians) who have been taught different sets of religious values by different denominations when we need unity in the spirit. Our self-limiting darkness dictates to us its lies, just so we can feel better about ourselves and our false Christianity. Denying the light eclipses it prevents it working, personally rendering true Christianity harmless against sin, overriding GOD'S preeminence (by choice) and truth that the Christ initially brought to illuminate us with. Absolute proof of what we have as the truth for our beliefs, GOD'S spiritual instructions, is imperative for our spiritual continuance and physical well being living as regenerated Christians. This begins as GOD reveals to us personally HIS practical holiness, with our relationship to HIS holiness. Life without the holiness of HIS Spirit guiding us brings us to spiritual death which can be restored by the Christ and His holiness. Whereas a denominational "reality" will continue to distort HIS word in order to be successful - dividing His church by trying to please everyone they can, compromising GOD'S truth to allow the infiltration of the lost into the Christ's church. This involves them in the protection of their sins with the competitiveness of Satan's divisiveness to promote complex and conflicting religious thinking that tries to please a broad range of people, while it produces diverse religious doctrines in today's Christianity. DIVERSE RELIGIOUS THINKING! Satan's influence speaks easily to man's natural carnality, creating diverse religious thinking to produce confused instructions over GOD'S unchangeable word. He seeks to destroy GOD'S righteousness in the Christ's church, to empty HIS eternity of worshippers. You will readily notice divisiveness in conflicted religious teachings not entirely from HIS word. We use the term "HIS word" as opposed to a Bible here because there are presently over 450 English translated Bibles available. If we are seeking the purity of GOD'S word, while knowing man's interference and propensity to hide their sin, which one should be used as HIS word? After all, the only common denominator separating 33,830 Christian denominations is their private interpretations! That is why SHECHINAH Research has undertaken to rectify Christian confusion with a Doctrinal Syllabus of the Bible. Using the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin (for its inter-linguistic qualities between the years 200 and 1600) to verify GOD'S word as the truth with its significance! With so many denominations teaching their forms of godliness, they deny GOD'S power, by being so pleasing and diverse in their beliefs. Paul the Apostle warned of those who have a form of godliness, to turn away from them (2Ti. 3:15) as they deny the power of GOD to remove their sin: 15 "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." Teachings that are powerless cannot deliver you from your sins through the TRUE Christ. One reason is the doctrines were never standardized for the Christ's Church, and must conflict at some point as they are not "GOD'S truth". Churches have split over smaller issues. What has happened to Christian harmony? Doctrinal issues go much deeper emotionally, and permanently strain human relationships with much longer lasting effects due to carnal retaliation. As far as resolvable subjects are concerned, religion is the most volatile. It is one of the big three you must never discuss we are told! Such things as the conflicts over pre-destination and free moral agency. Yes, each side of an issue will use their own arguments from the very same Bible, often with the very same verses. Putting a different spin on them because they believe something differently. Belief is still only a belief and never GOD'S absolute truth unless the entire Bible is consulted and codified for GOD'S doctrinally pure answers. That is because every person who has listened to what a Bible says will have their own opinion of what they heard. Can we qualify what they read as GOD'S absolute truth if it is influenced any way by the flesh? The one thing all people have in common is a belief, opinion or point of view for observing and living their lives, these always conflict with GOD'S prescribed way of life! Every person hearing or reading a Bible and the Gospel of the Messiah actually perceives it at the very least generally in one of three ways, with unlimited various combinations. The one they accept and operate their life from will determine their moral outcome, and subsequently eternity with or without Christianity: These three general points of view are: 1.) personal thinking perceived through an individual's emotions at the time; 2.) relative thinking emotionally through agreements with others in a specific group. 3.) absolute truth The first two ways of thinking operate solely under the influence of the emotions and perceptions of what is real, but never as the actual absolutes. This describes the third category, absolute truth, which is all of the spiritual facts found in HIS word. It is we who misconstrue verses by ripping from their context to substantiate what we believe. If we want GOD'S truth, we need the very essence of GOD'S thinking of what is actually and absolutely true, just, and everlasting. Men change over time by the mere influences and presence of time and emotions. These changes allow them latitude in their responsibility to GOD, depending on their immediate priorities, prior agreements, and emotional involvement with life. GOD'S priorities and truth never change and never will because what HE says is a fixed value! Contrary to popular belief that HIS absolutes are too limiting, HIS actuality for life must prevail or we would not be able to trust HIM! The first two viewpoints are very limited perceptions because of the many hidden emotions, agendas and excuses offered by the many substitutes of what is actual. Truth in the third viewpoint is absolute. Here is how those perspectives break down and work to either destroy or uphold Biblical facts for the men who will follow them. PERSONAL TRUTH! Personal truth is an individual opinion about how we live or feel we want to live. It may be and include - good or bad - early training, habits, thoughts and why we do some things while avoiding doing other things, and our justification for each. However, our priorities are constantly modified by us to meet our emotional demands, challenges, hopes, fears and personal plans that all bear directly upon our individual morality. Our likes and dislikes (emotions) constantly change, affecting our personal beliefs, behavior and level of moral constraint. Relying on this personal perspective for our religious beliefs and practice, we must remember we are trusting only opinions or beliefs that cannot and do not guarantee eternity as they are based upon our immediate pleasures. At the time these pleasures may seem more desirable than our concerns about eternity, as they are more real to us than something we cannot actually see or touch. When we meet someone who agrees with our personal opinions or has similar beliefs, we and they become relative beliefs. RELATIVE TRUTH! Relative truth, the most dangerous, is identical to personal truth because of its emotional ties, but less detectable because of them also. It has more potential for destroying GOD'S truth through the ignorance and persuasion of friendships that cause abandonment of GOD'S values. Because of the contagion of error that occurs in agreements we blithely and unconsciously make, we may never know if they are lies. Pleasurable group-think encourages fellowship around verses we agree upon, accepted because we all read it together in a Bible and want to believe such concepts are true. We may even suppose we alone have and are peculiar with GOD'S truth, because we believe the same way as other like-minded friendly folk do - so we must be right! But this is only agreement with others who have come to think the same way we do about what to believe and practice religiously. Too often, it is not the information we agree with as much as it is the agreeable personality that leads us to believe and agree with the information - friendly, full of platitudes, whose importance and influential activities we may admire and that we agree with. This type of truth has a greater potential for missing GOD'S absolute truth. As an imitation based on a religion about what or who we are pleased with, relative to opinions! Can we ever begin to obtain GOD'S absolutes with this perspective of human persuasion, and would HE allow us to have it from this perspective? We don't have HIS truth if we accept men's "opinions" who deny the power of GOD to remove sin. Religious organizations must capitalize on our communities by adding numbers to their memberships, persuading with a form that compromises HIS truth to guarantee financial success. By going into the world and making friends with flatteries and compromised truth. There is grave danger in joining those you've only just met by accepting their theological advice! Salesmen use the same ploy to woo and convince you to buy something you usually don't need. Everything you see in the media does just that! King Solomon warned "the lying tongue and flattering lip worketh ruin" (Pro. 26). Relative truth is VERY DANGEROUS because it supports error without absolute knowledge, by mere agreements to what may be error. This is no place to be if you're easily swayed, flattered by others and their opinions! Religion, politics, peer pressure of any type are not absolute in nature, just as memberships in denominations of any type are not absolute in nature, as memberships often blind you to the absolute truth by accepting and building upon their errors. Rehearsing them among themselves week after week fortifies and cements each one of them with those errors repeatedly. Inferring they are the only ones with the truth, with something no one else has, allows them to believe they are peculiar, special in GOD'S eyes - something they really are not. This is extremely dangerous because it puffs them up with the pride of life! What is taught, accepted and performed in the name of religious truth is seldom factually based. But by not wanting to appear offensive that may hurt someone's feelings when giving the real Gospel, they must compromise GOD'S truth for fear their listeners will lose confidence in who is giving what as gospel! Beliefs acquired in this manner cannot stand the test of eternity, remaining faithful to their priorities which must change as the group's priorities change to gather more people into their agreements. Their beliefs are unwittingly monitored by how they are persuaded to perceive, participate, believe and to say certain things as members of their group, or risk embarrassment or possibly expulsion. Relative religious truth is defined in and by the moment through the majority of the group as it agrees to the pressures and priorities of the controlling faction. Each member is accountable to his/her peers as he/she is "advised" and influenced according to their methods of speech, dress, grooming habits, mood, and yes - even their religious values controlled by the group! Absolute truth therefore is the only dictate of what is or is not acceptable in GOD'S religious practice. ABSOLUTE TRUTH! Absolute truth holds the same exact rules and values for everyone equally forever! It covers everyone, anyplace, in any situation, at any time and is unchanging. Having these absolute qualities and values gives us the trust we need for HIS eternity. Peter gave us what we call GOD'S any or all clause that guarantees HIS Salvation in his second epistle, chapter 3:9. Everyone professing the Christ must have reason to, so they must repent or they will perish and will not enter HIS life or kingdom. 2Pe. 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." The word perish is Strong's #622 avpo,llumi {ap-ol'-loo-mee} it comes from #575 and the base of #3639; a verb used in the KJV as perish 33 times, destroy 26 times, lose 22 times, be lost 5 times, lost 4 times and misc twice; so is used a total of 92 times. It is defined as 1) to destroy, to take out of the way entirely, abolish, make an end, to ruin, render useless, to kill completely, to put to death; metaphorically to devote or give over to eternal misery, to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed. 2) to destroy, to lose. Absolute truth therefore must include all Scripturally irrevocable facts representing GOD'S absolutes concerning our sin - who is or has done what, why, when, how exactly as it was done and where! That never changes throughout time from how it actually happened. That pack of gum you stole from the neighborhood store after school will always require the same repentance and restitution as any violation of GOD'S moral law, as it did when you stole it. The responsibility belongs only to the one committing the crime. Or its unresolved guilt will condemn and influence us in some small way throughout the remainder of life from doing what is right - living righteously before GOD in the Christ. It has emotional scars that will exist until we make them right by overcoming them with the reality of its truth in the original experience. True humility is required for the crime of defrauding another to be resolved, being truly grieved about the breakage of GOD'S morality. You must be able to readily admit, by your own conscience, that it was fully your own responsibility and thievery that caused someone else's loss of property. So you will (as a Christian) do everything within your power to restore it fully to the person(s) you actually defrauded. GOD'S absolute objective economy has no room for variations of what occurred. It must include where, when, how, why, with whom or what when GOD'S Spirit rests on you to convict you of its seriousness. It is that way with HIS initial Salvation, though every incident may not become completely apparent upon our first meeting with the Christ. His repentance will come if you're truly honest and humble with GOD. Unless there is an absolute GOD-initiated humanly acceptable knowledge and humility, there is no confronting "GOD'S absolute truth" about your life. Knowing these facts will take you from being an enemy of GOD, preferring your will over HIS, to a state of pliable humility. This humbles you enough to be able to receive the true Gospel of the Christ through GOD'S precious gift of repentance when HE sends it to you (Acts 11:18, 2Tim. 2:25, & see also 2Cor. Chapter 7 below for the various differences in the types of repentance). This truth depends totally upon our voluntary humility (1Pet. 5), because of what GOD has been trying to get us to confront (since birth) about ourselves. He uses Satan's persuasions, temptations and adversity (which everyone abhors) this is how HE tries to penetrate our veil of pride to send us the repentance needed to begin HIS work of Salvation in our hearts. With the promise of more of the same in the true Christian life (like the old-fashioned meat tenderizer), HE must soften our hearts and keep us tender to HIM to do a real work of righteousness in our lives. Salt, GOD'S righteousness has absolute light (the awareness of HIS morality) that has the same attributes as HIS truth. Bibles were inspired to impart to, sustain and preserve those men who will use it properly, with a peaceable holiness (Heb. 12:14). Man is born with naturally conflicting passions: to be reunited with his Creator, but with himself in control of his life (see Genesis 3). We must be cleansed of this natural malady of self or its contamination (as has happened) will spread to others who Co-written by Preacher Mike Smith and his wife, for the edification of those who have had doctrine preached to them with little clarification of why and how God set His Laws in motion, and the entire purpose for which He sent Jesus, the Christ... Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |