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Does it really make a difference what a person believes?Will all religions take us to the same place in the end?
By Bill White
What could be any more important than knowing where you are going to spend eternity? Perhaps the thought of what will happen to your soul after you die has crossed your mind over the years but somehow you manage to squash the thought whenever that happens. Today I would like you to consider that thought and follow it through as I address the question of whether Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. Of course this article will be answering that question in the affirmative and I will be using the Bible, which I believe to be the Word of God, to defend my position.
Bible Study Synopsis
Jesus Declared That He Was The Only Way - to the Father (John 14:6) - his Father is in heaven ( Matthew 7:21, 10:32-33) so He was telling us that He was the only way to heaven. Jesus also said that some who called Him Lord were not truly His children (Matthew 7:21) but only those who do the will of the Father. Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was, and Peter acknowledged Jesus to be the Christ (Messiah) (Matthew 16:13-17). Either Jesus Christ is the Messiah or He is not! That means that every person on the planet, whether Jewish or Gentile, has a choice to make concerning the Messiah.
The Disciples Found The Messiah - Andrew declared unto Simon Peter that “we have found the Messias (Messiah) (John 1:40-42) which is another confirmation that Jesus is indeed the Messiah.
Jesus Revealed Himself As The Messiah - To a Gentile Woman - who was a Samaritan. (John 4:21-26). This woman believed in Jesus Christ, along with many others from her village, which shows us that Gentiles were getting saved before Christ died on the cross. Jesus also told this woman that God must be worshiped in “spirit and in truth” showing her that spiritual worship (from the heart) is not and cannot be limited to a physical place, including Jerusalem.
Jesus The Messiah Is Also The Savior - Having proven the case that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) it can be easily shown that Jesus is the Saviour also, and therefore the only way to heaven for anyone.
Jesus Declared That He Was The Only Way
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
This is a very well known verse of scripture and this is the verse where Jesus makes the claim that He is the only way to the Father. I would like to go to some other scriptures in the Bible where Jesus mentions the Father, and heaven, in the same breath so that you can see the point that I am trying to make. I am doing this because Jesus did not mention heaven in John 14:6 and I know that there will be some that will try to twist the scriptures to say something that they do not say. I want to emphasize the point that Jesus Christ is absolutely the only way to heaven and that there is NOT an alternate route to get there.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33)
In the verses above we can see that the Father is in heaven. Given the fact that Jesus said that He was the only way to the Father, then it can also be said that Jesus is also the only way to heaven where His Father resides.
The Disciples Find The Messiah
One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (John 1:40-42)
Here is a very clear verse in the scriptures which show us that Jesus Christ was recognized early on to be the Messiah. Please do not believe those who tell you that there is a different plan for the Jewish people and the Gentile people. There is only ONE Messiah and ONE Saviour according to the scriptures, and His name is Jesus Christ.
I would like to look at some other scriptures from the Word of God just to prove the point that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and that He came at a certain prophesied moment in time. The one thing we must remember is that Christ became the sacrifice for sin, so I am moving through the scriptures with that in mind.
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16:13-17)
WHO DO YOU SAY THAT “I AM”?
Here we are getting to the very root of the question as to whether or not Jesus is the only way to heaven. Here Jesus was asking His very own disciples (followers) what the rest of the people were saying about Him. They responded by telling Jesus that some of the people thought that He was John the Baptist, (resurrected) while others thought that Jesus was the prophet Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets of the past.
At this time Jesus put the very same question to them “But whom say ye that I AM?” And Peter responded by telling Jesus that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. By the way that word Christ means Messiah, so Peter was in fact telling Jesus that He was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Now Jesus makes a very important statement here in telling Peter (Simon Barjona) that he was a blessed man because that spiritual revelation did not come from flesh and blood (meaning another human being) but from His (Jesus) Father in heaven.
Keep in mind that the disciples were hearing the Word of God directly from the mouth of the Lord, which later became part of the book that we now know as the Bible. The Word of God, which is the truth, came directly into the heart of Peter. His “spiritual light” was turned on to the truth that Jesus was in fact the Messiah
Jesus Reveals Himself As The Messiah
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias (Messiah) cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee AM HE. (John 4:21-26)
In this passage of scripture the Lord comes into contact with a Samaritan woman by divine appointment. This woman was surprised by the fact that Jesus was even conversing with her because the Jews and the Samaritans did not get along with each other. The woman got a glimpse into the prophetic realm when Jesus revealed her sinful past and the fact that she had five husbands, and that she was currently living with a man that was not her husband. (John 4:16-1 
The conversation then turned to spiritual things. The Lord made it clear to the woman that God must be worshiped “in spirit and in truth” stressing the importance of worship from the heart. It had nothing to do with a geographical location. After a while the Lord revealed to this woman that He was the Messiah. (John 4:26)
Do not miss the fact that the Lord specifically mentioned Jerusalem here when He was speaking on the topic of true worship. Jerusalem in Israel is a city much like many other big cities around the world. In that city there are some who worship the Lord Jesus Christ, but for the most part, He is still rejected, as He was when He walked in Jerusalem back then.
Jesus told us that God must be worshiped in Spirit and truth.
Jesus told the woman that a geographical place, including the earthly city of Jerusalem, did not matter because true worship in Spirit and truth precluded that.
Jesus was able to see into the sinful lifestyle of the woman.
Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah to this same Gentile woman.
When the Lord’s disciples showed up, they were just as perplexed as she was, that Jesus was speaking with a Samaritan woman. The woman then decided to go back and testify to the people from her village.
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:39-42)
Lessons Learned
The Samaritan woman got saved.
The Lord is able to save anybody in the whole wide world, Jewish or Gentile.
The Lord knew the Samaritan woman’s past but still offered her mercy.
The Samaritan woman became an instant evangelist for Jesus.
Other Samaritans testified that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah).
Other Samaritans testified that Jesus was the Saviour of the world.
Jesus the Messiah was saving Gentiles even before the cross
Jesus The Messiah Is Also The Saviour
We have learned through the most recent passage of scripture that many of the Samaritans came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ calling Him the “Saviour of the world”. Given the fact that the Lord revealed Himself to the “woman at the well” as the Messiah, we can naturally conclude that Jesus is both Messiah and Saviour. We can also conclude that Jesus is offering salvation to both Jew and Gentile.
I would like to look at just a few scriptures in the Bible that contain the word Saviour to further prove that Jesus is the only Saviour.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)
This verse tells us clearly that the Saviour is Jesus Christ and it mentions the city of David, which is Bethlehem, where Christ (Messiah) was born. That was the very place where Micah the prophet said that He would be born. (Micah 5:2)
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. (Acts 5:29-32)
In the passage above we see that Peter confronted the Jewish religious leaders, including the High Priest, and told them that obedience to God was more important than obedience to men. He told them the “God of our fathers” (meaning the God of Israel) was the one who raised up Jesus (from the dead)! Jesus, the one that they killed! Peter then went on to say that Jesus was exalted to be a prince and a Saviour offering forgiveness to Israel. Peter then includes the Holy Ghost in his list of witnesses.
The main thing that I want you to get is that the people of Israel were given the same opportunity that the Gentiles were given to accept this person of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Paul himself said that the gospel was for the Jew first:
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. (Romans 1:16)
In this next passage of scripture Titus mentions “God our Saviour” and “The Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour” within the span of two verses. This not only proves Jesus to be the Saviour but it also proves Jesus is God.
But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. (Titus 1:3-4)
In the next two verses of scripture we learn that there is no other God beside the one who is the just God and Saviour:
I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. (Isaiah 43:11)
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. (Isaiah 45:21)
In the New Testament book of Acts the same theme is followed, telling us that Jesus Christ is the only name by which a person can be saved:
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)
Considering the fact that all people on planet earth have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and that there are none righteous (Romans 3:10-11) there can be no other way for anyone to be saved apart from the Saviour whom God has provided for us. The blood is the only thing that will atone for the soul (Leviticus 17:11) and the blood that Jesus shed on the cross is the blood that was shed for all mankind.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:8-9)
We have proven through the scriptures that there is only ONE Messiah who also is the ONE Saviour. Jesus Christ is still the “way, the truth and the life” and there is NOT a single person who will enter heaven unless they come through Him.
The Ethiopian Eunuch Gets Saved
And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:25-39)
The angel of the Lord sent Philip to witness to this man.
The angel saw the man studying the book of Isaiah (53:7-8).
The Ethoipian man inquired as to whom Isaiah was speaking about.
Philip immediately preached Jesus unto this man.
The man was baptized and made a public profession
This is the choice for you today, salvation in Christ or damnation without Him.
That is what Jesus taught.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-1
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:14-16)
Review
Jesus declared that He was the only way to the Father. (John 14:6)
The Father is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21,10:32-33)
The disciples found the Messiah. (John 1:41-42)
Peter recognized Jesus to be the Christ, the Messiah. (Matthew 16:13-17)
Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah to a Gentile woman. (John 4:21-26)
The Samaritans recognized Christ to be the Saviour. (John 4:39-42)
Titus told us that God was the Saviour. (Titus 1:3)
Titus told us that Jesus Christ was the Saviour. (Titus 1:4)
Isaiah declared that there is only one Saviour. (Isaiah 43:11, 45:21)
There is none other name to be saved by but that of Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:10-12)
The BLOOD of Jesus Christ was shed for YOU. (Romans 5:8-9)
Believers in Jesus Christ are not condemned. (John 3:16-1
Those who do not believe in Christ are condemned already. (John 3:16-1
Salvation in Christ or damnation outside of Christ. (Mark 16:14-16)
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE = AUDIO OF THIS MESSAGE
It is nothing less than amazing when you see how the scriptures fit together so well. It is an awesome when you read the Bible and you see how all of the Old Testament sacrifices pointed to the person of Jesus Christ. The Jewish apostle Paul said this:
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Paul referred to the crucified and risen Jesus Christ as our passover, because Jesus was in fact the very true fulfillment of the Passover and every other sacrifice also. In the Old Testament book of Exodus the children of Israel were told to take a lamb without blemish and then apply that blood to the side and upper posts of that their doors. [Exodus 12:5-7]
For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the BLOOD shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the BLOOD, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:12-13)
What beautiful words are they indeed: “When I see the BLOOD, I will pass over you..” The Lord protected His people and the firstborn were saved from destruction, by simple faith in their Lord. Fast forward to the 21st Century and their are literally millions of people who serve the very same Lord that those children of Israel served back then. I serve the same Lord that Moses served and His name is Jesus Christ. I can say today that His BLOOD is upon the doorposts of my heart, and that I too will be saved from destruction because of the BLOOD of Jesus Christ. In fact the BLOOD that Jesus Christ shed is the reality of all of those types and shadows which pointed to Him.
If one were to study the Day of Atonement they would learn this also pointed to the person of Jesus Christ. On that day the Jewish High Priest would enter into the Holy Place [Holy of Holies] behind the veil into the very presence of God. He would bring the BLOOD and apply that BLOOD to the mercy seat which covered the ark of the Covenant. The BLOOD was to atone for the sins of the people. But there is a greater BLOOD sacrifice which took place almost two thousand years ago, that superseded, and put out of commission all of those Old Testament sacrifices, and that was the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross.
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the BLOOD of goats and calves, but by his own BLOOD he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the BLOOD of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the BLOOD of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:11-14)
The big difference between those Old Testament sacrifices, [offered under the Law] and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, was the fact that Jesus Christ offered Himself willingly. Jesus Christ left the glory of Heaven and was manifested in the flesh for that very purpose.
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament [covenant], that by means of DEATH, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15)
The New Covenant is in the BLOOD of Jesus Christ because it was He who laid down His life for the sin of the world. If you travel to Israel you will not see a Tabernacle, or a Temple anymore, because the Lord Jesus Christ was the final sacrifice for mankind. There will be no more sacrifices. To reject the very Son of God is a most serious matter, because this is the only one who was sent by the Father to die for our sins. It does not matter whether a person is Jewish or Gentile, the BLOOD of Jesus Christ is still the only atonement for any person alive today, and the only BLOOD that will keep you out of Hell.
For the life of the flesh is in the BLOOD: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the BLOOD that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)
When Jesus Christ died on that old rugged cross the veil in the Jewish Temple was torn in half from top to bottom by a supernatural act of God.
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost [DIED]. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (Matthew 27:50-51)
That happened because Jesus Christ the ultimate High Priest had just entered behind the true veil, Jesus Christ cried out “It Is Finished” [John 19:30] because it WAS finished and He knew that. To reject this BLOOD atonement is to reject salvation itself and to remain in ones sins. It is that simple and it is that clear.
And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:23-24)
What heavy words did the Lord Jesus Christ use against the religious leaders of Israel when He spoke right there. Could it be any clearer than that? The Lord Himself declared that the Jewish people were doomed without faith in Him. God is an equal opportunity God, and He shows no partiality. Those words apply not only to the Jewish people, but to every single one of us. The majority of people in the world still reject Jesus Christ and therefore they will die in their sins without Him.
We would all be in sad shape if the story ended on the cross where Christ died, but I thank God that it did not end there. The Lord rose from the dead just like He said He would.
And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:38-47)
The Lord is the only Passover Lamb who got back up from the dead. Is that not awesome? The Lord was the perfect unblemished Lamb of God, of whom John the Baptist spoke about when He first saw Him:
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
The BLOOD of Jesus Christ, is still as powerful to save souls as it was back then when He died on the cross.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:8-10)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)
JESUS CHRIST CREATED ALL THINGS
Did Jesus really create ALL things? Yes He did, and the scriptures make that very clear.
A May 11, 2007 New York Times article entitled “Pope Canonizes Brazil’s First Native-Born Saint” by Larry Rohter and Ian Fisher, Sao Paulo, Brazil, said this:
“After canonizing Brazil’s first native-born saint and receiving a bracing dose of Brazilian-style religious fervor at an outdoor mass here today, Pope Benedict XVI called for more forceful evangelization efforts throughout Latin America to counter growing conversions to Pentecostal Protestant groups.”
I did not realize until I was born again of the Spirit that the biblical way of becoming a saint is diametrically opposed to the Roman Catholic way of becoming a saint.
In the Roman Catholic Church it is the Pope who ultimately has the authority to “canonize” a person and make them a saint. It is is based upon what they have done in their life and other strict qualifications of the Church.
In the bible we learn that the term “saint” is applied to living believers in Jesus Christ. In his letter to the Corinthians Paul wrote the following:
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:1-3)
We can see how Paul relegated the title “saint” to “… all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord …”
Paul wrote this to the church at Ephesus:
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:1-3)
Once again Paul is referring to living believers in Jesus Christ. Paul writes “… to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus…” Paul was simply referring to people who had placed their faith in Jesus Christ and continued to follow Him.
We must not forget that Paul was once a severe persecutor of Christians ” …breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord…” (Acts 9:1) until the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to him out of heaven. (Acts 9:1-6)
This Jewish apostle of Jesus Christ, by his own admission, consented unto the death of Stephen who was a faithful man of God. (Acts 8:1, 22:20) We can therefore justly say that Paul was an accomplice to his murder. So now we have a former murderer preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and writing letters to other believers whom he refers to as “saints.”
The point that I am making is that every person in this world has the opportunity to become a true “saint” of God, by repenting and believing the Gospel. (Mark 1:15) That is true biblical faith.
The true story about Paul should be an encouragement to all of us that our God is truly a God of love and mercy.
A person cannot truly come to Christ and become a “saint” until they see that their sin separates them from a holy and righteous God.
The Bible makes it clear that there are “none righteous” (Romans 3:10) and every single one of us falls short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) That is the very reason why we need a Saviour and that is the very reason why Jesus Christ came to this earth. That is the very reason why Jesus Christ went to the cross and shed His perfect sinless blood for people like us. (Romans 5:8-9)
The Jewish apostle Paul wrote this many years after he came to Jesus Christ:
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:15-16)
Are you a saint yet?
What would the verdict be for you if you were to be judged by Almighty God, the only true and perfect judge? Innocent or Guilty? If you were to die tonight, where would YOU go? Heaven or Hell?
IN GOD’S COURTROOM
What would the verdict be for YOU if YOU were to be judged by Almighty God, the only true and perfect judge? Innocent or Guilty? If YOU were to die tonight, where would YOU go? Heaven or Hell?
When Jesus the Christ [Messiah] came to this earth He was not received by His own people, and yet the offer is still there for all people , both Jewish and Gentile to be reconciled back to God.
He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:11-13)
ISRAEL AND THEIR REJECTION OF JESUS THE MESSIAH
YOUTUBE VIDEO: MARIAN APPARITIONS: DIVINE OR DEMONIC?
A woman named Maryann recently commented on my personal testimony which I have posted on this blog. In my testimony I tell of how the Lord delivered me out from the darkness of Roman Catholicism. Maryann testified of how she also left the Catholic church as a teen, after she questioned the teachings of the church. Maryann’s mom told her that she was an atheist when she heard her daughter say that she believed the apparitions (appearances) of Mary were Satanic.I was not surprised at all by the reaction that Maryann received from her mom. Why? Because I know that we are involved in spritual warfare, and I know because I was once on the other side of the fence. I was also a staunch defender of the Marian apparitions at Medugorje, Yugoslavia.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the subject at hand, let me give you a brief explanation. Websters New World Dictionary gives the following definition of the word apparition:
1) anything that appears unexpectedly, or in an extraordinary way; esp, a strange figure appearing suddenly and thought to be a ghost
2) the act of appearing or becoming visible. [Websters New World Dictionary, Second College Edition, Prentice Hall Press]
When I speak about the “apparitions of Mary”, I am speaking about the alleged appearances of “Mary” which have occurred over the centuries in places such as Guadalupe in Mexico, Lourdes in France, Fatima in Portugal, Akita in Japan, Medugorje in Yugoslavia and other places. Here are two of the messages which came forth from the apparition of Mary in Medugorje, Yugoslavia which is the “appatrition” that I am well acquainted with.
July 18, 1985 “Dear Children, Today I am begging you to put more blessed objects in your homes, and that every person should carry blessed objects on himself. Let everything be blessed so that satan will tempt you less because you are armed against him. Thank you for your response to my call.”
If you search the scriptures you will find no such command from God, regarding placing blessed objects in ones home, or on their person. Growing up as a Roman Catholic I was taught to pray before a crucifix, and I was also taught to wear Marian scapulars which were used as a ” spiritual form of protection”. I also wore the “miraculous medal” which had a graven image of “Mary” on it. That medal came about as a result of another apparition of “Mary” seen by a woman named “Sister Catherine” back in 1830. What does the Miraculous Medal medal have written on it? “Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee”
The Bible does not teach us that Mary, the mother of Jesus was conceived without sin, but it teaches this:
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)
Regarding the spiritual battle against Satan, the Bible teaches the following:
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:11-12)
We are told in the scriptures about the “spiritual armour” required to fight against those wicked powers. We are told to have our “loins girt with truth” and to put on the “breastplate of righteousness” and to have our “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace”. We are also told to take the “shield of faith”, the “helmet of salvation”, the “sword of the Spirit” and then we are told to pray. (Ephesians 6:10-1
Another message from the “Mary” of Medugorje:
August 8, 1985 “Dear Children, I am calling you to pray against satan in a special way. Satan wants to work more now that you know he is active. Dear children, dress up in clothes of armor against satan; with rosaries in your hands you will conquer. Thank you for your response to my call.”
I assure you that this apparition of “Mary” is NOT the Mary that the Bible tells us about. It is a demonic counterfeit and a camouflage which is meant for the destruction of the soul. I know that because it was the Spirit of truth who brought me out of that very darkness, and He showed me the truth which is found in the scriptures (the Bible).One of the weapons that the Jewish apostle Paul wrote about was the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17)The word of God is the weapon that exposes this apparition as being a demonic counterfeit because the message tells its followers to “pray the rosary” which are mainly prayers to Mary. The rosary is not included in the list of spiritual weapons that Paul gave to us. The Bible also informs us that there is only ONE mediator that we need to go to and His name is Jesus Christ.For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5)Jesus is the only mediator because He is the ONLY one who was (and is) both God and man. Jesus Christ is the only one who was without sin and therefore He is the mediator of the New Testament.And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15)Here is another one of the messages from the “Mary” of Medugorje:July 25, 1985“Dear Children, I want to shepherd you but you do not want to obey my messages. Today I call you to obey my messages and then you will be able to live everything that God tells me to relate to you. Open yourselves to God and God will work through you and give you everything you need. Thank you for your response to my call.”The only problem with the message that came forth from this apparition of “Mary” is that it is in conflict with the very words of Jesus Christ who said:I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:14-15)Jesus Christ is the only good shepherd, and He is the only one who laid his life down for the sheep. His true sheep know the “voice” of the shepherd through His word.Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as the comforter and also as The Spirit of truth:But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)There is the key. Jesus told us that the “Spirit of truth” would testify of HIMSELF and then He said: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:13-14)The Spirit of truth (the Holy Spirit) will guide us into all truth and He will glorify JESUS. The apparition of “Mary” spoke about wanting to “shepherd” her followers, but Jesus is the only good shepherd, and the only one that can lead you to heaven. (John 14:6, Acts 4:10-12)We can discern the very source of a messenger by the contents of the message. If the message is in contradiction with the word of God, then God is most definitely NOT the source of that message. Do not ever forget that!The apparitions at Medugorje have been occurring since 1981. There have been numerous books and videos written in favor of them, not to mention the millions who have gone to visit Medugorje. I have a book entitled “God Sent: A History Of The Accredited Apparitions Of Mary” [ By Roy Abraham Varghese The Crossroad Publishing Company, New York] which has a picture on the back cover of the late Pope John Paul II blessing a copy of the book. That particular book devoted pages 184-213 to the apparitions at Medugorje, so I can only assume that the apparitions at Medugorje were never rejected by that Pope.Idolatry is the main fruit which comes forth from all of the apparitions of “Mary.” Statues, medals and scapulars are just a few examples of that, and over the years they have sold in the millions. About a week ago I was talking with a Roman Catholic woman and she was in agreement with me that Purgatory, a Catholic teaching, does not exist. She told me that there is only a heaven and a hell. I then told her that the apparition of “Mary” teaches about purgatory and the souls that are still there. I then asked her if she still believed that it was the real Mary appearing in Medugorje. She answered “Yes, I still believe that the apparition is the real Mary. ”Why is it important to talk about these things? Simply because these are precious souls for whom Jesus Christ died. If we do not sound the alarm and warn them then who will? Do I believe that ALL of the apparitions are demonic in nature? Yes I do, and I will continue to sound the alarm because that is exactly what the word of God commands us to do!. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE = AUDIO OF THIS MESSAGE
CLICK HERE FOR THE AUDIO MESSAGE : THE DECEPTION OF MARY WORSHIP!
I turned on the television the other night and realized that there was a convention being televised for Christians United For Israel (CUFI). The CUFI is an organization which was founded by Pastor and author John Hagee which encourages Christians to stand with the modern state of Israel. The person speaking was a Jewish man by the name of David Brog (Executive Director of CUFI). I listened as he sang the praises of former US President Harry Truman, because President Truman recognized Israel as a state. President Truman was the president that authorized the use of atomic bombs over in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Mr Brog then sang similar praises about John Hagee, who received a standing ovation as he was introduced.
I listened as Mr Brog spoke in a room filled with people claiming to be Christians. He told them that their Christian theology demands that they stand with Israel. I knew where he was coming from and I am fully aware of what is being taught in many evangelical churches today. I used to believe certain dispensational teachings, such as the land belonging to Israel, because that’s what was being taught in most churches. However my further study of the scriptures revealed otherwise. I never believed for a moment that a person Jewish or Gentile could be saved apart from faith in Jesus Christ. I had no idea that many of the Bible teachers taught that the Jewish people were still God’s chosen people and that they are still in covenant with him, even though they do not believe that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah).
In recent years , I have been hearing Bible teachers talk about the church of Jesus Christ as being a mere parenthesis in God’s plan and that the Jewish people are under a different covenant. I came across an article by the Christian Research Institute regarding Pastor John Hagee, which was Statement DH005. Here are a few excerpts from that statement:
“Trying to convert Jews is a waste of time he (Hagee) said.
Everyone else whether Buddhist or Baha’i needs to believe in Jesus, he says. But not Jews, Jews already have a covenant with God that has never been replaced with Christianity he says.
The Jewish people have a relationship with God through the law of God as given through Moses, Hagee said. I believe that every Gentile person can only come to God through the cross of Christ. I believe that every Jewish person who lives in light of the Torah, which is the word of God, has a relationship with God and will come to redemption.
The Law of Moses is sufficient enough to bring a person into the knowledge of God until God gives him a greater revelation. And God has not said Hagee.”
[Statement DH005 , Christian Research Institute, Charlotte, NC]
SALVATION FOR THE JEW ACCORDING TO JESUS CHRIST
It is absolutely amazing to me that John Hagee could make such statements as those above considering the overwhelming proof in God’s Word that contradict what he said. The greatest revelation that God has given to the Jewish people and the rest of the world is found in Jesus Christ. In other words Jesus Christ is God’s last word to mankind, and that most certainly includes the Jewish people. Listen to what Jesus Christ said to the Jewish people of his time:
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5:39-40)
To totally understand the impact of the words above, we must not forget that the one who is speaking is Jesus Christ. Many do not realize that the word CHRIST actually means MESSIAH. So it is Jesus the Messiah who is doing the talking. Jesus is the one who was sent from the Father above to preach the Kingdom of God, and ultimately become the BLOOD ATONEMENT for the sin of mankind.
Jesus the Messiah encouraged the Jewish people to search the scriptures (their very own Torah) because they thought they had eternal life. Jesus then made it clear to them that their own Torah testified about him, but they still would not come to him, that they might have life. Please do not miss this folks, because Jesus was telling the Jewish people that the very life and salvation which they desired, could only be found in him. Jesus went on to say this to them:
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? (John 5:45-47)
Jesus was pushing home the same point once again, that the scriptures (the Torah, the books of Moses) had enough in them to show that he (Jesus) was the prophesied Messiah. That is why Jesus told them, that if they believed Moses then they would have naturally believed him. In the New Testament book of Acts there is a portion of scripture that will help us understand this better:
For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. (Acts 3:22-26)
The words above were spoken by the apostle Peter to the people of Israel after the miraculous healing of a lame man at the temple gate. Peter told the people of Israel that the man was healed by the power of Jesus Christ. Peter then told them that this same Jesus was “the Prophet” whom Moses spoke and wrote about in (Deuteronomy 18:15-18), and that those who would not “hear that Prophet” (Jesus the Christ) would be destroyed! Peter then went on to say that all of the prophets (in the Old Covenant scriptures) foretold of the days which were taking place right then and there. Peter then went all the way back to Abraham to show the people that all the people of the earth (that includes absolutely everybody) would be blessed through Abraham’s seed (offspring) and that seed (offspring) is Jesus Christ.
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of ONE, And to thy SEED, which is CHRIST. (Galatians 3:16)
In plain and simple language, the Jewish apostle Paul told the people that Jesus Christ was, and is, the promised seed (offspring) by whom ALL of the nations of the world would be blessed. Paul told them the very same thing that Peter told the people of Israel after that awesome miracle. The whole of the Old Covenant scriptures pointed to the time when Jesus the Christ (Messiah) arrived on the scene. The message that Peter gave regarding that “Prophet” is right in line with the salvation or damnation message that Jesus gave after he rose from the dead. (Mark 16:15-20) The words of Jesus Christ below, become absolutely meaningless if a Jewish person could be saved without faith in Jesus Christ, by living in light of the Torah.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
Jesus declared that NO MAN would be able to come to the Father unless thay came through him, because the Father is the one who sent him. That means that there will not be any person Jewish or Gentile (the rest of the world) who would be able to go to the Father (in heaven) unless they come though the Son whom he sent. Peter spoke along those very same lines when he spoke to the people of Israel:
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)
Could the scriptures be any clearer than this? The people of Israel are being addressed here by the apostle Peter and he told them that there was no other name by which they might be saved outside the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Read it again. Peter was speaking to the children of Israel there and the message that he gave them back then has not changed one drop since that time!
The passage below was written by the Jewish apostle Paul:
But God forbid that I should glory, save (except) in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:14-16)
Paul made it clear in that passage of scripture that he gloried only in the cross of Jesus Christ, and then he linked those who would walk according to that same rule to the “Israel of God.” Paul also wrote the following:
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: (Romans 9:6)
Paul was obviously putting a difference between the people of ethnic Israel and those of the “Israel of God” who recognized Jesus as the Messiah!
David Brog stated, at the CUFI convention the other night, that Christian theology demands that Christians stand with Israel. I would like to tell Mr. Brog that my theology demands that I stand for the truth, and that I preach the gospel to both Jew and Gentile. Any Gospel preacher who is worth their salt would tell him the same thing. Jesus declared the truth plainly and with boldness and to water down the message of the gospel is a fatal mistake:
And he (Jesus) said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:23-24)
The Lord Jesus Christ told the Jewish people of his day that he came from above (heaven), and that the consequences of not believing that he was the one who was sent from the Father (the Messiah), would be to die in their sins. The plain and simple truth is that every person who sat at that convention, whether Jew or Gentile, who rejects Jesus Christ as their Savior, will die in their sins and end up in hell. To preach anything other than that is to preach a bogus gospel. If ever there was a people who are responsible before the Lord it is the Jewish people. To declare that God has not given them the necessary revelation is nothing less than mind boggling. The Jewish apostle Paul consented to the murder of Christians before he was saved (Acts 8:3, 22:4, 26:9-11). He then made a complete about face and preached that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah). He wrote the following words:
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. (Romans 1:16)
Paul, the Jewish apostle of Jesus Christ, tells us that the gospel was to go the Jew first. In fact Paul identified those who are the children of Abraham:
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7)
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:28-29)
That very same Jewish apostle Paul told us that there is absolutely no difference between the Jew and the Greek (Gentile). No difference! The only ones who can be called the children of Abraham are those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. John Hagee spoke about the Jewish people living in light of the Torah, but the Torah contains the Ten Commandments which stops and silences any person from justifying themself before a righteous God! (Romans 3:19-20) In fact the Torah contains everything about the sacrificial system which is gone forever. The Bible declares that there is NO atonement for the soul without the blood.
THE NEW COVENANT REPLACED THE OLD COVENANT
Right before the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross, he cried out “It Is Finished” (John 19:30) which means that everything had been fulfilled at that moment, and his death was the perfect and final sacrifice for sin. It was at that very moment that the veil in the Jewish Temple was torn in half, signifying that the Old Covenant sacrificial sytem was to be no more.
And the veil of the temple was rent in twain (two) from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. (Mark 15:38-39)
Where is the Jewish Temple today? It is not to be found and there can be no atonement for the sins of the people without the shedding of blood. The Temple sacrifices were not accepted in the sight of God after the ultimate, final and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That was the very purpose of the veil in the Temple being torn on half when Christ died. The high priest went into the temple and entered through the veil once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur-The Day of Covering). The high priest took the blood from the animal sacrifices and sprinkled it on the mercy seat for the atonement of sin. But all of that stopped in the sight of God when Jesus, the great high Priest, entered into the true holy place in heaven.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)
The Old Covenant has been completely done away with and if somebody tells you something else then they are preaching falsehood to you. All of the sacrifices pointed to Jesus Christ. The Passover pointed to Jesus Christ also and that is why John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God:
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
Paul the Jewish apostle of Jesus Christ wrote the following words almost two thousand years ago:
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his BLOOD we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:8-9)
The blood that was shed by Jesus Christ is now the ONLY blood that can reconcile a sinner back to God. Friends, that is the absolute Bible truth. That was the very purpose Jesus Christ came to this world. The gospel message is still for both the Jew and the Gentile, but there is no special revelation or reservation for the “ethnic” Jewish person when it comes to salvation. In fact if there were a special revelation or reservation for the Jewish person, then everything that Jesus Christ preached meant absolutely nothing. If a fair minded person will read through the gospel accounts they will see that Christ was dealing with the issues of the heart, and he was constantly rebuking the Jewish Pharisees for their outward form of religion. The Jewish apostle Paul wrote the following also:
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. (Romans 2:28-29)
It all has to do with the heart and nothing to do with a persons ethnic background. Jesus told Nicodemus, a Jewish ruler, that he needed to be born again or he would not see the Kingdom of God. Jesus did not say maybe, or could be, or should be, but MUST BE! The Kingdom of God is open to all people on planet earth, and their sins can be forgiven through the BLOOD of Jesus Christ.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:6-7)
BEWARE OF THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES
John Hagee mentioned the fact that Christians are the wild branches that have been grafted into the good olive tree, and he was obviously referring to the verses from Romans Chapter 11. I am in full agreement with the truth that the Jewish people represent the good olive tree, but please do not forget to mention that this is speaking about the Jewish people who followed the Lord and recognized the Messiah when he came. The Jewish people who did not recognize the Messiah were broken off branches because they rejected the very one whom God the Father sent!
The Gentile people who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ have been grafted into the “good olive tree” and they are there along with the Jewish people who also believe in Jesus and recognize him as the Messiah. For the past two thousand years Jewish people have received the very SAME Grace that the Gentiles have recieved and they have received eternal life in Jesus Christ. There is NO difference between the Jew and the Gentile.
Beware of the phrase “replacement theology” because it is a term used by Christian Zionists. It paints a picture that portrays people who do not agree with their false theology appear anti-semitic. Do not be intimidated by that term, because the Lord Jesus Christ is the searcher of hearts and he knows what is going on inside your heart.
BIBLICAL WARNINGS ABOUT AN ANTICHRIST SPIRIT
To declare that the Jewish people can still be in covenant with the Lord under the Old Covenant, living in light of the Torah, is to agree with the Pharisees who rejected Jesus Christ two thousand years ago. To declare that message is to oppose the very message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not only that but the apostle John warned us about those who have an “antichrist spirit” and he described them as follows:
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22)
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:3)
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John 1:7)
If you were to ask many of the Jewish people who were present at that convention meeting the other night, whether or not they believed that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah, they would answer no without any problem at all. The very reason that the Jewish apostles were persecuted and put to death by people like Paul (before he was saved) was because they preached Jesus Christ as the Messiah! So here we are almost two thousand years later, being told by a “Christian” minister that the Jewish people can be saved by living in light of the Torah. Once again I tell you that it makes the gospel message that Peter and Paul preached, and all the others preached, seem like a waste of time. After Paul was converted the Jewish people wanted to kill him, but the Lord preserved him. Many times Paul was beaten to a pulp, and even left for dead, but the Lord kept using him for his glory. In fact if Paul were a “bug on the wall” at that convention meeting he would have been aghast at what he heard.
IS WAR ON THE HORIZON?
Toward the end of this one hour television program, there was a man dressed in an Israeli miltary uniform who walked out from the audience, up to the front of the room, and then knelt down to pray. He was wearing a prayer shawl of some sort over his head. Then another man dressed in an American military uniform came from the audience and tapped the praying Israeli soldier on the shoulder, offered his hand to him , and they shook hands. Is there a message being sent here? What was this supposed to mean? Could this be a statement being made here? Is this some type of propaganda? Could there be another war on the horizon?
John Hagee is the Pastor of the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas. He can be seen all over the airwaves throughout the world. His preaching is often accompanied by very colorful video graphics which appear on a screen behind him. He is known to preach against what he calls ”Isalmo Fascism” in no uncertain terms. I thought that I was hearing things when I heard him talk in favor of a pre emptive attack on Iran. Wait a minute, did I hear correctly? Please tell me if I heard wrong. Can we as Christians rightly call for an attack upon any nation, which would most certainly end up killing innocent civilians? What on earth is going on here? What about the words of the master teacher and Saviour of the world Jesus:
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44)
Do you remember when the band of men came looking for Jesus at the place in the garden where he usually prayed? Do you remember what Peter did to Malchus?
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. (John 18:10)
Sometime you can read a Bible verse and miss what really happened. Peter did not politely walk up to Malchus and start slicing his ear off. It is quite obvious that Peter went to take the guys head off with a wild swing, and caught only his ear. But what did Jesus do after that? Jesus actually healed the guys ear! (Luke 22:51) and then he made a prophetic statement:
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? (Matthew 26:52-54)
What about the words of Jesus Christ as he was dying on the cross?
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:33-34)
Sometimes we must take a few steps back and analyze what is going on, and ask ourselves the question, Is this the Spirit of Jesus Christ at work here? Is it the Spirit of Jesus Christ that is calling for an attack against a nation or is it a “another spirit?” Is it the spirit of Jesus that would call for an attack upon innocent Muslim people or is it “another spirit”? Where is the fear of the Lord in all of this?
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36)
Only time will tell what is going to happen in the following days. We need to keep our eyes on the Lord like never before. One thing I do know is that the Lord is merciful and that he abhors the killing of innocent people, and we have seen more than enough of that in recent years. That is what has stirred me to write this article. As Christians we like to take our stand on pro life issues such as abortion ( I am also pro life), but then we don’t even blink an eye when hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Muslim people are killed.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. (2 Corinthians 10:4)
Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (Hebrews 13:13-14)
THE JERUSALEM WHICH IS ABOVE
The scriptures tell us that HERE (on this earth) we have NO continuing city, and that includes the earthly city of Jerusalem. We, as Christians, are looking to the Jerusalem which is above (Galatians 4:26), not to the city in the Middle East.
But Jerusalem which is above is FREE, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:26)
The Lord Jesus Christ had a conversation with a Samaritan woman, who was amazed that Jesus was even talking with her, because the Jewish people and the Samaritan people did not get along with each other. Jesus talked to her about true worship:
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias (Messiah) cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee AM HE (John 4:21-26)
The Lord made it ever so clear to this woman that physical location did not matter anymore, because God must be worshiped in spirit and truth. Jesus said the hour was coming AND NOW IS when true worshipers would worship God in spirit and truth, which means that the hour had already arrived. The Lord Jesus Christ then went on to inform this woman that he was in fact the Messiah. Now either Jesus was telling the truth or he is a liar. If Jesus declared to this woman that he was in fact the Messiah, and that the hour had arrived when people could worship him from anywhere in the world, then I would not dare to tamper with the word of God. That same Samaritan woman went back to her town and brought others back to hear Jesus for themselves and, as a result, many were saved.
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him (Jesus) for the saying of the woman, which testified, He (Jesus) told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:39-42)
The same living waters (spiritual) that Jesus offered to this Samaritan woman has been offered to both Jew and Gentile alike, for nearly two thousand years. There is no postponement, no other covenant, no other way, but the way which God has provided through his Son Jesus Christ.
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Corinthians 11:3-4)
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE = AUDIO OF THIS MESSAGE
COMMENTS:
Here are some recent comments on this article.
“PJ Miller” wrote the following:
“Beware of the phrase “replacement theology” because it is a term used by Christian Zionists. It paints a picture that portrays people who do not agree with their false theology appear anti-semitic. Do not be intimidated by that term, because the Lord Jesus Christ is the searcher of hearts and he knows what is going on inside your heart.”
Thank you… I wept as reading this post, but that statement spoke to me personally. I cannot tell you the tears I have shed in prayer over this entire Christian Zionist movement. At first it confused me…but the more I read about it and poured through the scriptures, the more ‘wrong’ it appeared to be.
To be honest, I just plain didn’t get it!
The Lord has had me working on a couple Christian boards/forums for some years now..and it seemed every time I tried to point out what I saw as error in this, either my comments were ignored or someone would come back replying about replacement theology.
I began to doubt myself…wondering if it was me who was wrong, even crying before the Lord asking him to search my heart in case I had even a tinge of antisemitism lurking within. I never ‘thought’ I did…but wanted to be sure.
Years ago I believe the Spirit of God showed me there were to be many ‘faces’ to the apostasy and last day delusion…many layers, like an onion.
That Satan would slip in teachings and error, which would not be as obvious, as the ones which stick out like a sore thumb today.
This is one of those layers…I’m convinced.
Forgive my rambling, but only God knows how much I needed to read your post.
thanks again…and God bless.
Editors Note: I emboldened certain sentences from this comment, because I believe that they are very important. I do not consider what PJ Miller said to be rambling at all. In fact there is no doubt in my mind that PJ Miller was speaking “in the Holy Ghost” when they penned this comment, and I am thankful that this person had the courage to speak up about this issue. There is a suffocating silence within the walls of the organized church that many true Christian’s are beginning to see. The Lord is raising those same people up to be His bold witnesses in these last days. Thanks to PJ Miller once again for your honesty and obedience to the Lord. [Bill White, Soulrefuge blog]
Here are some words of wisdom from ”oxysmoron”:
Cannot Beware if not Aware…
Thanking Jesus.
Lord bless this one who has spoken Truth and keep Your hedge about him. Amen
(2 more comments below)
My name is Bill White and I was born in 1952, in Queens, New York. My family moved to Long Island and lived there for five years before moving back to Queens. While living on the Island I attended a public school. We were permitted to attend “religious instruction” classes once a week at the local Catholic School, and that’s where I was taught the Catholic Catechism.
I was taught that there were two types of sin, one was “mortal sin” (the more serious) and the other was “venial sin” (the less serious). I remember thinking to myself “how can anybody keep up with all of that stuff?” I was taught that it was a mortal sin to miss Mass on Sunday which I had already done, and I knew that I had committed more than my share of “venial sins”, so I started to become a little concerned about my soul. I was taught that there was a heaven, a hell, and another place called purgatory. Purgatory was described as a temporary place of punishment where the Catholic would stay until their love for God was perfect, and then they would proceed to heaven. Even at that young age their was enough conviction within my own heart to block out any thought of going to heaven, and even purgatory looked like a longshot to me. I went on to become an altar boy and being one of nine children I witnessed many “First Communion” and “Confirmation” ceremonies within my family. I must say that I always had a nagging question in the back of my mind, which was “where would I go after I die?”
During the 1970’s I had an insatiable desire to know the truth. I would travel to a shopping mall on Long Island, because there were two large bookstores in the mall. I would head straight to the philosophy and religious section where I would browse through the books, shelf by shelf, from bookcase to bookcase. After the first bookstore I would head to the other bookstore and repeat the same process over again. I wanted to know the truth and I eventually filled a large box with books on a variety of topics. I read books on Zen and I read books on meditation. I bought books on self improvement and how to improve the mind. You name it, I bought it and I read it.
One night in late 1980 I was drinking at a club and around midnight I decided to leave. I headed out to the south shore of Long Island to check out another club. I had been drinking for a couple of hours, and I was tired, but I can remember thinking that I wanted to get my “moneys worth” out of the weekend because it was back to work on Monday. I met my wife Cathy that night, and I remember when I left the club there was a ticket waiting on my windshield for parking on the street after 4AM. That was a typical weekend for me and many others of my age group during that time.
Cathy and I got married in July of 1981 and I still had the same desire and interest to seek out the truth. I read about a free seminar on mind control that spoke about improving ones mind power and memory. The seminar was being given a few miles from where we lived and I convinced Cathy to go with me. At the beginning of the seminar the teacher was talking about relaxation, emptying the mind, and visualization techniques. During this part of the class the teacher forgot what day it was and that just struck my funny bone. I could not stop laughing, to the point of tears, and this made Cathy laugh also. The teacher noticed us but simply smiled. The rest of the class had their eyes closed and they were in “visualization mode.” As I look back on that day I truly believe that it was the Lord who protected us from becoming involved in that sort of thing. I believe when a person starts “emptying their minds” that they can open themselves up to the occult, which in reality is the realm of the demonic.
During the mid 1980’s Cathy and I became aware of the Catholic Charismatic movement. The Mass was livelier and the songs were similar to those sung in Christian churches. We attended “healing masses” which focused on healing and praying the rosary. The rosary contains prayers which are mostly “Hail Mary’s”. At that time we became aware of what was known as the Marian apparitions at Medugorje. The “Virgin Mary” was allegedly appearing before some young men and women and bringing forth a monthly message. We were fascinated by stories of rosary beads changing colors, from silver to gold, when people went to Medugorje.
During this same period we began visiting a church in New York City where the gospel of Jesus Christ was being preached. We heard testimonies of how people’s lives were being changed by the power of Jesus Christ. This fascinated us also because we were so accustomed to the rituals and rote prayers we said every Sunday at the Catholic Mass. As time went on we would attend Mass in the morning and visit the other church in the evening, and the power of God’s Word was bringing us into the knowledge of the truth.
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32)
Cathy told a Christian woman at that other church about the alleged appearances over in Yugoslavia. The woman quoted a verse of scripture to her:
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14)
This troubled Cathy and she went before the Lord and asked Him to show her the truth no matter what. She prayed before the Lord with an open Bible and an open heart, and began to see many scriptures which contradicted the messages that were coming from the “apparition of Mary” in Yugoslavia. This was very upsetting to her because we were really into this apparition thing. We had purchased videos and invited others to come to our home to view them with us. We also handed out pamphlets which promoted the apparition. We were evangelists for Mary at that time. Cathy was convinced that this whole thing was not of God and she tried to convince me, but I was not willing to listen. This went on for several weeks until one day she came down the stairs with tears in her eyes and asked me to listen to her. Something inside my heart told me to listen, and I did, and I told her that I would pray about it.
I knew that I had a choice to make. It was either the word of God (the bible) or the messages of “Mary” from Medugorje. I chose to believe the word of God. I can remember the day when the Lord lifted the spiritual veil of deception which had covered my eyes. I was reading the gospel of John and it seemed that the words were jumping off the page at me. I knew at that moment that the Lord Jesus Christ was the Son of God who came down from heaven. I knew that the Lord Jesus Christ was persecuted and slain on the cross for my sins. This was “head knowledge” before but now it was revelation truth from heaven straight into my heart. The Lord Jesus Christ had become ever so real to me and I knew that He died for me. A change had taken place inside my heart, and I was born again in the true biblical way. Jesus said this:
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:6-7)
Cathy and I researched the messages from Medugorje and it was as if the Holy Spirit had taken a fluorescent hi-liter pen and began to expose the contradictions and falsehoods within those messages. We did the same with the other apparitions of Mary and we found them to contain similar errors.
As new Christians we now believed what Peter said and that we were now part of the “priesthood of believers” (1 Peter 2:9) which encompasses people from every nation on plane