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Martin
Luther Was No Christian
By
David J. Stewart
"But
there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false
teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies..." —2nd
Peter 2:1
I am
amazed that so many believers today still recognize and actively promote Martin
Luther as a great man of God. The truth is that Martin Luther was a lying
heretic who taught Baptismal and Sacramental Salvation.
Martin
Luther believed wholeheartedly in the necessity of water baptism as a
prerequisite for salvation. In his Large Catechism, Luther
wrote:
[I]
affirm that Baptism is no human trifle, but that it was established by God
Himself. Moreover, He earnestly and solemnly commanded that we must be
baptized or we shall not be saved (1978, pp. 98-99). [emphasis added]
SOURCE: Luther,
Martin (1978), Luther’s Large Catechism, (Saint Louis, Missouri:
Concordia).
Mr.
Luther taught works salvation and tragically died in his own self-righteousness
without the blood of Jesus Christ!!!
If
you'd like to learn the shocking truth about the lying imposter, Martin Luther,
then please read the following free online excellent book by Pastor Max D.
Younce titled:
NOTE:
This 277-page book is in the Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) format, so
you'll need the Adobe Acrobat reader program if you don't
already have it. You can download the program here.
So many
people today ignorantly tout Martin Luther as the great reformer of the
"faith only" movement; but, in reality, Luther was a heretic who
fathered the Baptismal
Regeneration movement. Luther is tragically burning in
Hell. The damnable Martin Luther deception has caused Christians around
the world to remain silent concerning the evils of the Lutheran religion.
Lutheranism is of the Devil.
Just as
the heretic, C.S.
Lewis, who taught Baptismal and Sacramental Salvation, so did the unholy
Martin Luther.
"Now
the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from
the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
devils." —1st Timothy 4:1
What would be the greatest deception
pulled on the Christian Church that was looking for God to do something great?
Could there be such a close substitute that was wholly false, yet made people
think that it was the real thing? Could it be that today, in the disguise of
revival, we actually have an apostasy. A radical concept if indeed this is
true.
Before we jump to any conclusions, let's
look at a few scriptures. In Matt. 24:3-4, the disciples on the Mt. of Olives
ask Jesus when will these things be? What will be the sign of your coming and
the end of the age? Jesus answered, "Take care that no one, deceives YOU,
for many will come in my name saying 'I am the Christ and will
deceive many." Jesus warned three times of deception and of three things
to the Church in this discourse. False Christ's, false prophets and false signs
and wonders.
We see a warning given to the disciples in
Mt 24 "False Christ's and false prophets will arise and show great signs
and wonders so as to deceive even the elect, if it were possible."
The apostles were the elect hand picked for a specific purpose even as we are
elect for salvation today. If Jesus warned them first about possibly being
deceived, are we any less susceptible than they were? These false prophets who
work by false signs and wonders were to come into the church not just outside.
They would rise up from among our own ranks. How else would they deceive the
elect unless they were operating from within? So they will have a certain
amount of acceptance for the door to be open for them to operate inside the
church.
What is even more intriguing about Jesus'
statement in Matt. 24:3-4 is that they will say "I am Christ ,
"Christed", The word Christ means anointed (one)". So they will
say "I am anointed" too, they will claim to have power just like him.
They will also say Christ (the anointing) is in the inner rooms or out in the
wilderness, meaning he will be in different places all over the world. Today we
hear the anointing is falling in Toronto, in Pensacola and wherever next. Isn't
that exactly what we are hearing from those who are leading the church into
this new revival and a "new anointing"? This implicit statement
cannot be overlooked as just mere coincidence because this is at the very heart
of the revival being proclaimed by the messengers of this so-called "last
great outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh." They have even gone as far
as to promote the giving of the anointing from their hands to others as well.
Let us ponder 2 Thess. 2:7 which speaks of
the mystery of iniquity that is already at work. It was at
work in Paul's day and it is certainly at work in ours. There are two forces at
work, godliness (1 Tim. 3:16) and iniquity (2 Thess. 2:7). Both of these forces
are competing in the world for each one of us. One is the Holy Spirit the other
the Spirit of the Antichrist, the spirit of the world, lawlessness.
The word for "mystery is
"mysterion" which means ,something hidden or secret, not easily
detected or understood; that is revealed." In 2 Thess. 2:9, Paul writes:
"The lawless one is according to the working of Satan,
with all power, signs, and lying wonders." This evil working will be
equally powerful in terms of its manifestations but it will lie to us. However,
we can be awestruck by its strength. What's more, its author and source is
Satan who empowers the lawless One and those who serve him (2 Cor.11:14). These
wonders has an evil source with equal power in terms of their
manifestations but they are sent to deceive to us. Those who love of
the truth will be immune. You can't always tell a lie from what it
looks like or how it feels. Many times it can feel good. Those who trust in
experiences will all be fooled because they have no measuring stick. They are
not familiar with the word to use it to discern whether something is false,
neither do they care to do so. The reason is they don't have a love for the
truth. Only those who go to the word will be able to tell the true from the
false. To believe it one is immune from the deception means they are already
deceived and ripe pickin's for anything that is offered from the pulpit.
It is God who has given us the standard in
Isa. 8:20 "To the law and to the testimony if they do not speak according
to this word, it is because there is no light in them." God's Law Word.
One who discounts His Word, becomes a law unto themselves and is then rendered
"lawless". Jesus showed us by example how we must be subject to God,
this means to surrender to his leadership in all things. We do not surrender
our will to man but to God.
The purpose of the end time miracles by
those who claimed Christ is to deceive us Mt.24:24. Those who trust in
experiences and miracle manifestations have already bought into this model of
ministry and have been practicing it for some time. Deut. 13:1-6 "If there
arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a
wonder,2 "and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to
you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods'-- which you have not known--' and let
us serve them,'3 "you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or
that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether
you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your
soul. "You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him,
and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold
fast to Him. "But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be
put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD
your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the
house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the LORD your God
commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.
What is Mysticism and Gnosticism
Mysticism is
to contact the spiritual realm by so called getting into the Spirit. This is
learning by the experiential, if it is not felt or sensational or emotional
then God is not there. Mystical Christianity equates this with the presence of
God. This is a spiritual treadmill where experience takes precedent over fait
and the objective word of God. This does not mean one cannot have an experience
with God but experience does not take precedent over the word or reinterpret
the word.
Gnosticism is
basing ones knowledge by their experience. That one needs to go into the Spirit
for deeper truths. They believe it is wrong to interpret the Bible by the
Bible. By the Spirit, direct contact with hearing the voice of god determines
the true interpretation and supersedes the written word. The mystics and cults
have always sought divine authority within man, placing the inner voice of the
spirit over Gods word. When experience becomes the evidence of our relationship
with God it is Spiritually counterproductive. It is based on the subjective and
not the objective word of God. We need to be careful of a work from the outside
instead a work from the inside. We already have it and we need to let him come
out, but for this to happen we must die to our self and our desires. This may
mean to put to death your desire to see signs and wonders from your hands.
Satan and his emissaries always challenge
the validity of the Word of God. We find their base of operation will be
miracles not the teaching of the written word. In Thess.2:10, we find him
Working his unrighteous deception among those who are perishing because they
did not receive the love of the truth so that they might be
saved. Jesus told us emphatically that He is the Truth - The Word is the Truth.
If we love Him, we will...continue in His Word. This is an essential in these
last times to immerse oneself in the word of truth during this last days
deception that overtakes those who do not become disciplined hearers and
learners (disciples) of Him.
Peter who was one of the eyewitnesses of
Christ revealing his glory and hearing the fathers audible voice which probably
could be the greatest sign and wonder said after in 2 Pet 1:19 And so we have a
more sure word of prophecy (confirmed), which you do well to heed as a light
that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in
your hearts; " the prophets is what Peter pointed to as a surety, the word
of God is more steady than what we see.
Dan. 11:36-38 "Then the king shall do
according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god,
shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the
wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.
"He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women,
nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. "But in
their place he shall honor a god of fortresses (forces, power); and a god which
his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious
stones and pleasant things." A god of power is worshipped he is moral in
that he does not like women but he likes pleasant things. The similarities of
those with the new anointing leading the revival that also like pleasant things
is quite interesting. Magnifying himself above every god, (false ones are every
other god) Speaking blasphemies against the true one. How does one do this, by
claiming to be a god. This is another identification with some of those who are
leading the Church in the revival.
In 2 Thess. 2:11-12, we read "For
this reason, God will send them a strong delusion that they should believe the
lie, that they all may be condemned who do not believe the truth."
Because they have turned from God's Word,
to another mans word (those who claim fresh word from God?), God will allow
them to be deceived and be led astray into error and fraudulent portrayals of
power. Yet they will not be able to distinguish its falsehood because they are
not trained to go to the Word to discern. The devil gets more people into hell
with religion than with drugs, pleasure etc. the anti Christ will rule through
religion and operate through miracles. His thrust will be signs and wonders,
the "lie" will be the "lying signs and wonders", because
they are trusting in the power and not in God's word. They will, as 1 Tim. 4:1
states, "Some would fall away from the faith." Faith, which is the
objective Word of God, and its author, God Himself, will be traded for a
subjective experience of lies. Like Esau, who traded his birthright for a bowl
of soup thereby feeding his immediate need. They too will trade away their only
hope because they will not believe the Word. They had pleasure in
unrighteousness, meaning they were approving of and willing to believe the
miraculous signs and wonders. Signs and wonders are not the way to prove
what is true, you can't always trust your eyes. The scripture says the just
will live by faith, this is the very opposite of sight and experiences. It
comes by hearing the word not by seeing.
Deception takes on many forms, imagine
calling something a revival when it is really a departure from the true faith
found in the word. What greater deception would there be if people called an
apostasy a revival. The apostles had no failures in their miracles, this is
quite the opposite of today's anointed healers claims that all will be healed
and are not! Manipulating people to muster up faith to get their miracle and
continue in faith to keep it or they lose it. This not the way the apostles
operated.
Isa. 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil
good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who
put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" What looks great from the
outside when ingested can make the stomach turn. What greater magician is there
than Satan who can convince Eve to eat from the tree, is better than not
to. To trust in the showmanship of the master illusionist who is the
Deceiver will only divert ones attention from seeking truth . For
Christians to believe that every miracle they see in the church is from God is
no different. He'd love for them to look to miracle and wonder
itself than the word to see if its true.
Satan and his trump card is being played
out, we need to remember what 2 Thess. 2:7 says, "the mystery of
lawlessness is already at work" and will continue to increase until the
end. Pharaoh had his magicians copy Moses miracles, just as the false prophet
and the Anti-Christ will counterfeit the apostles miracles and Jesus'.
Jesus' whole warning in Mt.7:21 and Mt.24 is about the production of miracles
as the identification of the mystery of lawlessness. This will be found in the
signs and wonders at the end of time, as it reach's its apex then.
Is it revival time or something else
entirely? 2 Tim. 3:13 "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
WORSE, DECEIVING, and BEING DECEIVED."
The envelope continues to be pushed
further, and many are accepting things unheard of a few years ago.
Nowhere does scripture teach that things will continue to get better and
better before the return of Jesus Christ, instead they will get worse and worse;
"Paul says in 2 Thessalonians. "First comes the apostasy" those
who fall away from the true faith. More and more people will be deceived as
time continues on. Those who are the leaders in the deception will become more
engrossed in it and hardened, unresponsive to the truth as time goes on.
The Scriptures are not promoting a great world wide revival with
power but the very opposite for the future overall state of the Church. This
does not mean all will succumb to it. True Christians will not be deceived.
Luke 18:8 says, "Nevertheless, when
the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the Earth." To be in
the faith means to rely on God's word only for ones instruction and guidance.
Intro to Intersex
Intersex is a colloquialism for what is more formally titled Disorders of Sex
Development (DSD). Per psychiatrist Karl Benzio in an article published in Today’s Christian Doctor in 2015: “Intersex – People
who have anatomy that is not considered typically male or female or have
anatomy not matching their genetic sex of XX or XY. Most come to medical
attention because healthcare professionals or parents notice something unusual
about their bodies or puberty or fertility isn’t normal, but some are not known
until death/autopsy.”
The term intersex leans to the
ideological, and clarity is needed here. A DSD consistently means a definable,
objective underlying medical problem. We should not conflate a condition with
an identity. California’s 2019 Assembly Bill 201 makes precisely that type of error in
section 2295(a)(2): “Intersex people are a part of the fabric of our state’s
diversity to be celebrated, rather than an aberration to be corrected.” That is
both a straw argument and misdirection because a medical condition is something
one has, not who one is. Celebrate the person, yes, and recognize that person’s
disorder of sex development, which may or may not need correcting.
Sex
Sex is objective, identifiable and immutable biology, thus within the realm of
science. Biological sex is established at conception, declared in utero, and
recognized or not at birth. Every nucleated cell in our bodies has a sex. There
are only two gametes, sperm and egg, that participate in the generation of new
life. There is no third gamete active in that process. Sex differences are real
and of consequence. More than 6,500 shared genes are expressed differently in
human males and females. These differences impact our brains; organ systems;
propensity for developing certain diseases; differing responses to drugs,
toxins and pain; contrasting cognitive and emotional processes; behavior; and
more. To offer one example, sotalol has
triple the likelihood of provoking torsades de pointes in women compared to men.
Sex matters.
Gender
Gender is an engineered term that reportedly debuted in the academic literature
in 1955 in an article addressing “hermaphroditism” (as it was then known) by psychiatrist
Dr. John Money of John Hopkins University. (Dr. Money would go down in
ignominy with time, but I digress.) Gender identity refers to self-perception
and feelings that are subjective and prone to change. Gender is most often used
as a sex stereotype. My point is this: nouns have gender; people have a sex.
Intersex, Round Two
The nomenclature “intersex” acknowledges something between two sexes and not a
third sex. The term is intersex and not “extrasex,” therefore acknowledging the
binary nature of human sex. Biological sex rarely may be phenotypically unclear
in a given individual, but this does not represent a third one.
Evolutionary biologist Colin Wright rejects the “sex is a
spectrum” mantra with clear reasoning: “a spectrum implies a continuous
distribution, and maybe even an amodal one (one in which no specific outcome is
more likely than others). Biological sex in humans, however, is clear-cut over
99.98 percent of the time.” Dr. Wright continues, “any method exhibiting a
predictive accuracy of over 99.98 percent would place it among the most precise
methods in all the life sciences. We revise medical care practices and
change world economic plans on far lower confidence than that.”
Intersex/DSD is Not Gender Dysphoria or
Trans-identification
Intersex is not a subjective ideation. There is always an objective underlying
medical origin. The DSM-5 Gender Dysphoria criteria states: “Specify if:
With a disorder of sex development (e.g., a congenital adrenogenital disorder
such as 255.2 [E25.0] congenital adrenal hyperplasia or 259.50 [E34.50]
androgen insensitivity syndrome).” Intersex is what they mean, and it is
different than gender dysphoria.
Intersex/DSD is Rare
Wildly inflated claims of the prevalence of DSD are common, but untrue. Dr.
Leonard Sax exposed the source of some of this in his article, “How common is intersex.” Dr. Sax writes that Anne
Fausto-Sterling asserted in her 2000 book Sexing the Body: Gender Politics
and the Construction of Sexuality that intersex totaled 1.7 percent of
human births. However, Sax shows that she included in her calculations common
conditions having nothing to do with DSD. Dr. Sax notes that congenital adrenal
hyperplasia and complete androgen insensitivity syndrome are the most common
DSDs, which is in keeping with the previously stated DSM-5 Gender Dysphoria
specification. Dr. Sax concludes that DSD/Intersex, “far from being ‘a fairly
common phenomenon,’ is actually a rare event, occurring in fewer than two out
of every 10,000 births.”
Similarly, a 1992 Danish
study found their rate of “testicular feminization syndrome” to be
1:20,400. A 2001 Dutch study stated their rate of androgen
insensitivity syndrome “with molecular proof of the diagnosis is 1:99,000.”
And a 2016 Danish
study examining all their known 46XY karyotype females (androgen
insensitivity syndrome) born since 1960 found the prevalence at 6.4 per 100,000
live born females. Intersex/DSD is rare.
Conclusion
A disorder of sex development/intersex uniformly signifies the presence of a
definable, objective underlying medical problem. Intersex is a
condition—something someone has—and neither an identity nor a third sex.
DSD/intersex represent rare conditions requiring highly individualized
therapeutic approaches and timelines, not a blanket one-size-fits-all
prescription.
About Andrè Van Mol, MD
André Van Mol, MD is a board-certified
family physician in private practice. He serves on the boards of Bethel Church
of Redding and Moral Revolution (moralrevolution.com), and is the co-chair of
the American College of Pediatrician’s Committee on Adolescent Sexuality. He
speaks and writes on bioethics and Christian apologetics, and is experienced in
short-term medical missions. Dr. Van Mol teaches a course on Bioethics for the
Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. He and his wife Evelyn —both former
U.S. Naval officers—have two sons and two daughters, the latter of whom were
among their nine foster children.
Clearly, the goal of radical elements is
to highjack evidenced based biology to justify/ fulfill their agenda to normalize any
sexual behavior between any and every other person as acceptable and valid which
sensible people and Christians everywhere will ceaselessly resist.
Children and adults with these rare
medical conditions should not be victimized by radical elements, nor judged for
their appearance, whether in or outside of the church. These medical disorders in
some might affect females with virilization and males with feminization to some
degree in their outer appearance as well as inner bodies.
Here is a great historical irony. Fifty years ago choirs ruled the church. Usually, they were supported by a very loud organ. To be frank, many choir members were performers, and when the choir was large they drowned out the singing of the congregation. So, sadly, the very people appointed to help the congregation sing actually smothered congregational singing. Bit by bit, choirs disappeared. I think most churches didn’t mourn the loss.
Here’s the irony: we then replaced the choirs with song leaders (or, what we inaccurately call ‘worship leaders’). Over time the number of song leaders grew and grew until they became as big as a choir. Then we gave the song leaders full-volume microphones and electrical instruments, and many became performers. When the music team was large and the microphones were turned up they drowned out the congregation. So, sadly, the very people appointed to help the congregation sing actually smothered congregational singing.
Here’s the irony. The number of song leaders grew and grew until they became as big as a choir. When the music team was large and the microphones were turned up they drowned out the congregation.
A few years ago I wrote an article entitled, ‘The Slow Death of Congregational Singing’ (The Briefing, April 2nd, 2008). I now believe my title was too generous. In fact, what we are witnessing in our churches is ‘The Slow Killing of Congregational Singing’.
I’ve just returned from another National Christian conference. Never have so many people complained to me about the singing. So, I am motivated to write again. Or, to use a more appropriate metaphor, to bang the same drum—but louder.
Paul tells us in Ephesians that we should be, “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs…” (5:19). Similarly, in Colossians we are exhorted to, “teach and admonish one another with all wisdom with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (3:16). Singing is a corporate activity with a dual focus. We sing “to one another” and we sing “to God”. But now in many (most?) churches we are sung to by the musicians.
In the past I’ve been reluctant to accuse our worship teams of being primarily performers. I now believe I was wrong. Evidence suggests that most are performers, and the needs of the congregation they are meant to be ministering to are forgotten. Why do I say this?
Signs of Trouble
First, they don’t look at the congregation they’re meant to be leading. The musicians can, perhaps, be excused here but not the song leaders. I tell preachers I mentor there is nothing more important in delivery than eye contact. People must know that you are talking to them, and you must be able to see that they are attentive to your words. This is also true for the song leaders. Indeed, they need both eye and ear contact. Are people singing the songs they’re leading? In most cases I observe that it’s irrelevant to the song leaders whether the people are singing or not. Why? I conclude because the singing event is primarily about them.
Second, they sing new songs but don’t teach the new songs. At this conference it was announced that the next song would be a new one. At that point, the role of the song leader is to teach this song to the people. Mind you, I wonder if any of those leading singing are trained to teach new songs? This is important because a number of new songs are difficult to sing. But we were not taught the song. The band just began to play. If we were able to eventually pick it up, all well and good. If not (and in this case it seemed that many didn’t), no problem. Why? I conclude: because it’s not about the singing of the congregation it’s about the performance of the band.
Third, the amplifiers of the instruments and microphones are so loud that, normally, the only voices heard are the voices of the song leaders. Rarely is the volume turned down so that the congregation can be heard. Why? I conclude because it’s not about the singing of the congregation, it’s about the singing and performing of the band.
Fourth, the song choice often doesn’t take into consideration the makeup of the audience. Thoughtful song leaders would ask questions like, what songs do these people know? What songs do they enjoy singing? What songs are appropriate for this occasion? Are the words edifying and do they tell us the gospel story? Too often, the songs chosen seem to be the songs the band know and enjoy singing. Why? Because it’s not about the congregation.
Fifth, what does a music team do if they become aware that the people they are leading are not following? What do they do if, for whatever reason, the people aren’t singing the song? The answer is, they do nothing. Indeed, they are normally unaware of the fact because, as I said, their focus is not on the people to whom they are ministering. I remember some years ago we were singing a song (or meant to be) and for some reason the projector wasn’t working and none of the words of the song were on the screen. Since it was not a well-known song, nobody, apart from the song leaders were singing. We were half way through the third verse before any of the leaders realised that they were the only people singing. So, why don’t the musos stop to encourage and enable the people to sing? I conclude because it’s not about the singing of the congregation it’s about the performance of the band.
Why don’t the musos stop to encourage and enable the people to sing? I conclude because it’s not about the singing of the congregation it’s about the performance of the band
So, why does it matter and what do we do? It matters because congregational singing is such an important part of our weekly gatherings. Rob Smith and I develop this point in our book, The Songs of the Saints (Sydney: Matthias Media, 2017). If people seemed inattentive to the sermons, we’d be concerned. If people weren’t saying ‘Amen’ to public prayers, we’d want to rectify that. If the only voice heard in the recitation of the creed, or the public confession of sins were the leader of the gathering, then we’d remind people that this is a corporate activity. But if many people aren’t singing in church then we’re happy to permit this to continue. After all, we don’t want to offend the song leaders.
What to do? I’m calling for a moratorium on ‘worship leaders’. I attended a conference overseas recently. The singing was led by one woman with a microphone (not too loud) accompanied by a piano. More than 500 people were present and we heard each other singing. In a sense, the people were the real choir, and that’s how it should be. We don’t need 10 people on stage, all amped up to the max. We don’t have to follow the model of Hillsong and Planetshakers. In too many churches, and at too many events, the voices of the people have been hijacked and buried out of sight and sound. It’s time to reclaim our lost voices in congregational singing.
Answer: Many people today understand the church as a
building. This is not a biblical understanding of the church. The word “church”
is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as “an assembly”
or “called-out ones.” The root meaning of church is not that of a building, but
of people. It is ironic that when you ask people what church they attend, they
usually identify a building. Romans 16:5 says, “Greet the church that is in
their house.” Paul refers to the church in their house—not a church building,
but a body of believers.
The church is the body of Christ, of which He is the
head. Ephesians 1:22–23 says, “And God placed all things under his feet and
appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the
fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” The body of Christ is made
up of all believers in Jesus Christ from the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) until
Christ’s return. Biblically, we may regard the church in two ways, as the
universal church or as the local church.
The universal church consists of everyone, everywhere,
who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “For we were all baptized by
one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all
given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13). This verse says that
anyone who believes is part of the body of Christ and has received the Spirit
of Christ as evidence. All those who have received salvation through faith in
Jesus Christ comprise the universal church.
The local church is described in Galatians 1:1–2: “Paul,
an apostle . . . and all the brothers with me, to the churches in Galatia.”
Here we see that in the province of Galatia there were many churches—they had a
localized ministry and were scattered throughout the province. They were local
churches. The universal church is comprised of everyone who belongs to
Christ, in heaven and on earth, past, present and future. Members of the universal church on earth should seek fellowship and edification
in a local church.
The church is not a building or a denomination. According
to the Bible, the church is the body of Christ—all those who have placed their
faith in Jesus Christ for salvation (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Local
churches are gatherings of people who claim the name of Christ. Members of a
local church, that is a physical building, where members meet, may or may not be members of the universal
church, depending on the genuineness of their faith. The local church is where
believers can fully apply the “body” principles of 1 Corinthians chapter 12—encouraging,
teaching, and building one another up in the knowledge and grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ. However, the Christian where ever he or she may be is to practice and
live their faith within the standards and boundaries as set by God in the new
covenant of Jesus Christ. All scripture is accepted as valid, but salvation is
absolutely through the new covenant of Jesus Christ and none outside of or who resist this eternal inerrant truth can
be admitted or joined with in any manner whatsoever for all time.
The true church adheres to the gospel message, accepts
the whole of the Bible as inerrant, and finished in the gospel of Jesus Christ the
only Saviour appointed by God through whom all that believe will be saved. It firmly
and consistently attests that: Jhn 14:6 - Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.
Act 4: 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto
them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9If we this day be
examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made
whole; 10Be 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. 11This is the
stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the
corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
We clearly
and absolutely see the Bible’s consistent teachings in that the nation of Israel
itself is directed to the truth, that the long- awaited Messiah is come that
all men are commanded by God to worship.
Peter, the Jewish
apostle is absolutely directing Israel and all men to the eternal truth that
the Messiah whom Israel had long waited for is come in the person of Jesus Christ,
and there is no need to return to the Law of Moses.
Christ is the
end of the Law of Moses for all that believe.
The true
church steadfastly defies any and all attempts to mix the Law of Moses, and any
and all doctrines of men or the devil with the grace of the new covenant of Jesus
Christ. The true church believes, receives and steadfastly follows God’s plan
of salvation through Jesus Christ the Saviour alone, which its members adhere
to and take to all the world.
Name: Alex Bane ChristiansUnite ID: abundant Member Since: 2017-04-11 Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States Denomination: none About Me:
CHRISTIAN
Name: Alex Bane
