Sat, Oct 31st - 5:20AM

IF YOU ARE NOT WITH ME YOU ARE AGAINST ME

Because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are given the Holy Spirit through whom knowledge and understanding of the Bible is poured into all of our hearts.  It is through the Holy Spirit that every pastor, church over seers, teachers in particular,  and the saints (G40hagios) in general is given the right, privilege, and command to partnership with Him in building up His people through the correct interpretation and living of the full gospel message. The Holy Spirit is not for rent, cannot be bought nor sold, cannot be earned in any school, cannot be granted by degrees handed down by men, cannot be given by the hands of men. The Holy Spirit is given to believers freely by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ alone. I pray that every Christian will run full on in embracing the entirety of the New Covenant of grace.

 Therefore, let us cease to make idols of men and the houses that men build and let us firmly take hold on the word of God without delay. And this we will do by His power.

Let us continue to be mindful that God does not ever condemn any Christian for being ignorant. None of us should be upset that we still have areas that we need to learn and grow in. it is God’s will that every believer be rooted in the complete understanding of the gospel message, and this God will do.

On the road to 1 John 1 we have to debunk the error that the apostle John tells us that the believer who sins after being saved becomes separated from God. Therefore making it necessary to confess their sins to regain God’s forgiveness and restore broken fellowship with God again, and again. I remind you brethren, there is not one passage in the New Covenant commanding the Christian forgiven under the New Covenant to beg God for forgiveness over and over again.

In ignorance such believers think that only their confession can end their separation, regain God’s forgiveness, and restore back fellowship with Him again, and again as often as they sin.

 Brethren, yet there are some that want to show these following scriptures to bolster their error that when believers sin it separates and breaks their fellowship with God, and loses His forgiveness.

Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

This was for those under the Law, not the New Covenant believer under grace. This causes so much needless misery and heartache today for the ignorant brother or sister that can only be abolished in the love of God, by taking hold on the truth:

 Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our Lord Jesus Christ early on gives us His eternal comfort and assurance of our permanent home in Him:

Jhn 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

The main reason no Christian can be separated from God is because we are made new spiritual creatures in Christ Jesus. Do you get it brothers and sisters? We are in Him, in fact we are all one in Him.

 Jhn 10:28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Christians are commanded by God to deal with sin the New Covenant way, never by Law. But this will be given in detail later on. Right now it is imperative to take hold on the New Covenant promises of God to rest in the assurance of His word that He will never allow anything or anyone, including yourself to separate you from Him. There is no power that can pluck us out of God’s hand. On the road of grace we rest in the goodness of God all the time, the faithfulness of God which never ceases, and the love of God that never waivers for those whom He has saved. I pray when any Christian is tempted to think in error that God will separate from them and eject them from fellowship with Him that they will stand on the word of God, and say in faith: JESUS SAID I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE NOR FORSAKE THEE IN ANYWISE.

love

serola

Sun, Oct 25th - 12:20AM

IF YOU ARE NOT WITH ME YOU ARE AGAINST ME

What is the answer then? Certainly we know absolutely that God cannot lie. We know absolutely that the Bible correctly interpreted is inerrant. So the problem is centered in the misinterpretation of 1 John 1: 9-10.

Beloveds, undoubtedly there are those roiling in defense of 1 John 1: 9-10, because there are numerous scriptures in the New Covenant noting instances of Christians who sin after salvation, while this is true it nevertheless does not nullify nor cancel out the New Covenant of Jesus Christ as some ignorantly claim.

It is clear throughout the entire Bible that God gives no one the license to sin. We must begin with scripture which correctly interpreted and understood ends all arguments against the truth of scripture. It is dangerous to misinterpret scripture. I say this, brothers and sisters, because the misinterpretation of 1 John 1:9 is deadly.  Some Christians of a fragile nature, break down emotionally and become deeply depressed, having beaten themselves mentally over their sins continually, and living in fear of trying to get back the broken fellowship they falsely believe is lost every time they sin, become beaten mentally and hopeless of ever pleasing God, become severely depressed, and some commit suicide. God’s way is the only right way and the only right way is God’s way.

No joy can be found in the incorrect teaching that Christians after salvation have to continually ask or even beg God for forgiveness each time they sin. The verse is most often misinterpreted and used to promote the error of keeping short accounts, and continually asking and even begging God for forgiveness over and over again.

The error of claiming that Christians have to continually ask for forgiveness over and over again for each time they sin, and even if they repeat the sin they were previously forgiven of grossly confuses and/ or comingles the Old Covenant of the Law with the New Covenant of Grace and fails to comprehend the power of the sinless blood of Jesus Christ.

Another misrepresentation related to this is that un-confessed sin separates the believer from fellowship with God, and confession is the only way to restore broken fellowship with God. There are huge problems with these incorrect interpretations, which is hurtful and very detrimental to those who have received salvation.  (See my previous posts on the Mosaic Law, explaining why it could gain only a temporary or impermanent forgiveness).

The incorrect interpretation of 1 John 1:9 has spun off a quagmire of disinformation, and a profusion of incorrect doctrines regarding what it means to be saved.

The incorrect teaching that 1 John 1:9 also means that un-confessed sin separates Christians from God, casts doubt on the faithfulness of God. It also impugns the truthfulness of God and slanders the final finished atonement of the sinless blood of Jesus Christ.

Thanks brothers and sisters for hanging in with me. Yes I use a lot of scripture as we all must so that we can be rooted in the Bible not our personal opinions. I exhort you to continue to rely on the word of God above all.  Let us continually love our God, one another and love the truth of His eternal message. Truth without love is mere intellectualism, love without truth is mere sentimentality. None of these posts should ever be seen as mere theological studies, these posts are for and to you WORSHIPPERS OF THE LIVING GOD. His word is revealed unto you who love God in spirit and in His eternal truth.

Psa 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. 

Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psa 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Next we will go to 1 John 1 to get the correct interpretation.

love

serola

Sun, Oct 18th - 8:32AM

IF YOU ARE NOT WITH ME YOU ARE AGAINST ME

We must ask the questions, brothers and sisters, does the Bible conflict with itself? Does some verses nullify the validity of others?

The answers are NO and NO. The main cause for teachings otherwise, among believers, is a lack of understanding the difference between the old covenant of the Law, and the New Covenant of Jesus Christ.

It goes without saying that not everyone in the Old Testament was under the Law of Moses. The Bible gives clear understanding of God's purposes for those before He inaugurated the Law, those  during the Law, and those upon the coming of our Saviour and after the inauguration of the eternal New Covenant. Beloveds, the New Covenant is God's final answer for all time. Each period of scripture backs up the New Covenant as the final answer for all mankind forever.

God has left the whole scripture so we can see and understand the magnitude of His power, mercy and love for all who will believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Father's plan from the beginning. The Father in the beginning knew man (Adam) would blow it in the garden, but in His magnificent omniscience He had his mighty hand out to keep all mankind from falling down forever in the pit, for all who would believe.

Let us put in place these three segments from the New Covenant that again, puzzles some Christians and terrifies others needlessly, because they appear to be giving with one hand and taking away with the other.

The New Covenant of Jesus Christ:

Heb. 10: 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

In Heb. 10:17 remember means: The KJV translates Strongs G3415 in the following manner: remember (16x), be mindful (2x), be had in remembrance (1x), in remembrance (1x), come in remembrance (1x).

In Heb. 10: 17 no means: οὐ μή ou mḗ, oo may; i.e. G3756 and G3361; a double negative strengthening the denial; not at all:—any more, at all, by any (no) means, neither, never, no (at all), in no case (wise), nor ever, not (at all, in any wise).

Therefore Heb. 10: 17 means that God will absolutely not remember, or recall to His mind our sins and iniquities ever again.

Now some unlearned Christians thinks Wow, God will never even remember my sins ever again, because they are forgiven and taken away through the sinless sacrifice of His Son our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ: (See Heb. 10: 1-10).

But here comes  1 John, shaking some unlearned Christians to the core:  

John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Now some unlearned Christians begins here to confess his or her sins over and over again,  and really feels good. Some perhaps become boastful that they are pleasing God by keeping short accounts.

But here comes John again and knocks some unlearned Christians for a loop:

1Jo 3:8 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.

Here some unlearned Christians begin to reel in fear and misunderstanding thinking, whoa God you won’t remember my sins, but John says I have to confess them, then Johns says Christians do not sin, what am I to do?

Brothers and sisters some unlearned Christians just adhere to 1 John 1: 9-10 and omit Heb. 10:11-17 as well as 1 John 3:8-10.

They think in ignorance to be safe and avoid easy believe-ism it is better to just go with 1 John 1: 9-10. Like the child that hides under the bed to avoid imaginary monsters, so some unlearned Christians hide from scripture that seemingly conflicts with scripture. Such Christians do not know the full joy of the New Covenant, yet God does not condemn any Christian for being ignorant. Thanks be to God no Christian has to stay ignorant. What is the answer then?

love

serola

Wed, Oct 14th - 11:13AM

IF YOU ARE NOT WITH ME YOU ARE AGAINST ME

1Co 3:1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye {G5748} not carnal?

Paul’s message is clear, brethren, anytime we exalt people, ourselves, personal opinions, aberrant doctrines, divisions, strife, and envying it shows that we are still babes on milk more concerned with the things of the flesh than the things of God.  

The Christian who fully understands and lives the salvation of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ is equipped, built up  by the power of God, through Lord Jesus Christ to deal with spiritual matters, as well as temporal matters; without any mixing or confusion between the two. The Bible informs every aspect of the Christian life, we need not falter in our walk and work on this earth when we diligently follow where our Lord leads. Through living the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will not be tempted to spiritualize the temporal, nor secularize the spiritual.

Without any condemnation, it is time for those on spiritual milk to freely take the strong meat of the gospel of Jesus Christ of the New Covenant. It is through the strong meat of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ that those who believe (Strong's G4100 – pisteuō: means to believe in, and rely upon Jesus Christ as one’s personal and eternal Saviour and to entrust one’s complete spiritual well-being to Him), will remain free of the bondage of men, and walk in the authority as empowered by God.

love

serola

Mon, Oct 12th - 3:05PM

IF YOU ARE NOT WITH ME YOU ARE AGAINST ME

Sun, Oct 11th - 2:08PM

IF YOU ARE NOT WITH ME YOU ARE AGAINST ME

IF YOU ARE NOT WITH ME YOU ARE AGAINST ME

Lord Jesus is absolute in His message.

Mat 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 

Luk11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

All  who refuse to recognize the New Covenant of Jesus Christ, written in His sinless blood, are working against Him, and hindering people trying to come to Him.

But you, beloveds, saints (G40 hagios),  know Him, love Him, work for His cause against all odds, in living and sharing His glorious message so that all can know Him and have faith in His glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ.  

Brothers and sisters, it is fitting that we end this particular study with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the most important baptism of all, without which water baptism is an empty act.

Romans 6:1-11 is speaking here of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. These verses are taught in error by some to pertain only to water baptism. Water can never do what the Holy Spirit can do, therefore it is certain that these verses have nothing to do with the physical baptism of water, but the spiritual baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

 Romans 6:1-11

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were  buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin ONCE FOR ALL; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, 3 reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

THE CHRISTIAN SAVED BY LORD JESUS CHRIST 

1.They (you) have died with Christ to their (Your) old self; (2) they (You) have been raised with Christ to become a new creature; (3) They (you) are dead to sin and freed from its power; (4) they (you)  are incorporated in their (your) new life with a living community of all believers of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ,  which looks for the coming of the Lord (Romans 6:1-11).

Dearly beloveds the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the true spiritual reality of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Confess to God the eternal spiritual reality of Romans 6:1-11. It is the  spiritual reality of the Holy Spirit who will enable you both to will and do the work of God, prepared for every believer in Jesus Christ.

love

serola

Fri, Oct 9th - 9:07AM

IF YOU ARE NOT WITH ME YOU ARE AGAINST ME

WATER BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST

(Joel 2:28-32; John 14:15-26; John 16:5-16; Acts 2:1-13; Acts 10:44-48)

Acts 8:14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard [this], they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7And all the men were about twelve men.

No study can be exhaustive feel free to study these instances in Acts further on your own, brethren. It goes without saying that only the apostolic ministry had God’s permission and authority  and were allowed to lay their hands on  believers in these circumstances,  who then received the Holy Spirit, after hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ, and being water baptized in the name of Jesus ( Col. 2:9 in Him dwells all the fullness of  the Godhead bodily).

Needless to say there is no issue whatsoever in believers also being baptized in the name of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit seeing these Three are One. (1Jo 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one).

In this first  instance (Acts 8; 14-17) the believers had already heard and believed the gospel, and were water baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, but the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them until the coming of the apostles. The delay was not a denial at all. I think when you read the rest of this chapter about, Simon the sorcerer, you will understand why in this instance the Holy Spirit was given out in a very specific way, rather than a general outpouring on all the believers at one time or amass.

Simon the sorcerer believed too, and was even water baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. It is clear that this man among the sincere believers was already filled with another spirit, the spirit of greediness, and wickedness. His intent was to pay the apostles to give him power to be able to lay hands on anybody so that he could get paid to give men the Holy Spirit,  exalt himself, and continue to promote himself as some great power. The Holy Spirit cannot fill an unclean vessel. The Holy Spirit is not for sale.

Let this be a warning to those so called “believers” hawking God’s name for money, and those making merchandise out of God’s people. I want to make it clear that this is not speaking of true overseers whose ministry to the people of God should be cheerfully and consistently supported to the best of our ability. 1 Cor. 9: 13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

We note in the second  ( Acts 19: 1-7) instance those who believed in John Baptist and received the water baptism of John did not receive the Holy Ghost, showing John’s baptism is no longer required by God ever again, and has no use anymore in God’s plan for His people. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ which must be believed and received by the hearer to be saved, all else is futility. There was no competition between Lord Jesus and John. John  the lesser looked forward to his own decrease, and great joy in the increase of the greater Lord Jesus Christ.

Brothers and sisters, the act of laying hands on believers to receive the Holy Spirit was allowed by God, limited to the apostles, and solely to the aforementioned circumstances. This does not promote any doctrine that the Holy Spirit can be given through men by the laying on of hands. If anything this doctrine teaches that those whose evil purpose and intent is to use the Holy Spirit for gain, self- promotion, and power, will never receive Him. Furthermore all such persons openly reveal themselves as wicked persons, bereft of the spirit and without scruples of any kind.

Man, this means women too, cannot control the Holy Spirit. Man has no power neither to sell nor buy the Holy Spirit. Man has no power to give man the Holy Spirit. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit is in control not and never man.

love

serola

Thu, Oct 8th - 11:07AM

IF YOU ARE NOT WITH ME YOU ARE AGAINST ME

WATER BAPTISM IN JESUS’ NAME

God has absolutely, and permanently done away with the Mosaic baptism and the baptism of John the Baptist. The baptism of the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with water baptism of any kind as aforementioned earlier in this study. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a spiritual baptism, water baptism is a public physical baptism. They are not the same, without the spiritual baptism of the Holy Spirit,  the physical water baptism is futile.

Water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is open only to those who have first believed and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit through faith in Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual birth is necessary, required and commanded by God before water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is done. God absolutely forbids water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ to be done to or for unbelievers i.e. unrepentant. Let us not forget, holy brethren, the spiritual baptism of the Holy Spirit is open to all who believe in Lord Jesus Christ.

Water Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ - What does it symbolize?

 According to the Bible, the symbolism of water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, means that the Christian makes a public profession of faith and discipleship. In the waters of baptism, the Christian witnesses, “I confess faith in Christ; Jesus has cleansed my soul from sin, and I now have a new life of sanctification, I am a part of the body of Christ. I belong to Jesus Christ and the New Covenant of God through Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who in error are insisting that water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is necessary to be saved would mean that a soldier who came to Christ on a battlefield and then died before water baptism is lost. The same would be for someone who made a death bed confession and died before water baptism would be lost. Anyone who believed, but on the way to be baptized died from accident, or natural death, would be lost. Anyone who believed, but never heard of or was never taught about being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and died would be lost. Salvation is not conditional, it is a finished work through Jesus Christ alone. Water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, therefore is the public confession of what Jesus Christ has already done for us. Water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is not to finish His work, but to also agree that His work is finished and we are resting in Him alone

love

serola.

Wed, Oct 7th - 11:16AM

IF YOU ARE NOT FOR ME YOU ARE AGAINST ME

WATER BAPTISM IN JESUS’ NAME

Brothers and sisters let us recall the doctrines of baptisms established and commanded by God the Father for His people:

1. Water baptism as done by John the Baptist also known as John’s baptism: Acts 19:3

2. Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:5

3. Water baptism in Jesus’ name. Act 8:16

The Lord Jesus Christ’s being baptized in water, as afore mentioned this was a special one-time baptism that God ordained for His Son alone. God absolutely forbids that this kind of baptism be given again, and absolutely can never be done for any other human being ever. The water baptism that Jesus Christ received must be understood that through God it stands for the ordination of His Son as the new eternal High Priest of the New Covenant, and signifies the coming end of the Levitical priesthood, upon Christ’s final and finished work of salvation for all men. The water baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist was never to establish John’s water baptism, but to establish that Jesus Christ is the New Covenant High Priest, and the true baptism of the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ.

Beloveds the Bible makes it clear that being dunked in or sprinkled with water cannot ever save anyone. Yet water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is an ordinance of God, established through and commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20).

Water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is done because this is what He wants of us, desires of us, and commands of us.