Tue, Oct 6th - 5:42PM

LEVITICAL TITHES VS NEW COVENANT TITHES

PART 1

Brothers and sisters, as God our Father’s family of priests under Jesus Christ, God the Son, our High Priest, Saviour and Mediator of the New Covenant, let us give the sweet sacrifice of our abundant offerings of love, blessings, praise, worship, honor and glory, to God our Father who bestowed upon us the right to be called children of the living God, through His Son Jesus. God our Father loves us, and desires that we His Children, return His love.

Let you, me, us pour out to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God the Son of God abundant offerings of love, thanks, blessings, worship, praise, and peace who has reconciled us to God our Father, when we were yet His enemy dead in sins, who in His great love, still died for our sins, was raised for our justification and finished our work and given us eternal rest in Him. Jesus is the Head of the church. He is never passive, nor indifferent to His people, His eyes never close in sleep, He is the Good shepherd, the Anointed One.  He is our Advocate in heaven continually making intercession for His people before the throne of God our Father.

Holy brethren, let us in love and obedience go to our Lord Jesus’ table often and early where He, the Bread of Life, the True Manna of heaven always keeps His table set for us and will feed us fully and satisfy us with His Word of truth, comfort, wisdom and the solace of His undying love:  1 Jhn 6:53

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Jesus Christ is appointed by God the Father as the sole spiritual Nourisher and Nourishment of the Church. Without Jesus there is no salvation, no life, no church, no Nourisher no Nourishment, no nothing, no relationship to or with the triune God in any way or manner whatsoever:  1 Jhn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

Dearly beloveds, we know that to fully understand the study of the Levitical tithes vs the New Covenant tithes in a comprehensive manner it must be within the context of both the Old and New Covenants, held in the Standard of Christ bound eternally through, and finished in the New Testament, from the eternal final unchanging perspective of Jesus Christ from the cross: IT IS FINISHED, as commanded by God the Father.

There is much controversy, we know, around tithing pro and against. There are some who have not found the big payoff from tithing as promised, but instead have suffered small or great losses such as their homes, life savings, rent money, college tuition etc. There have been cases where some have gone to court to try and get their tithes back, but only a very small number of these cases have been successful.

Those who fail to grasp the difference between the two covenants in a comprehensive manner, we find trying to fit or mix the law of Moses of works in with the New Covenant law of rest in grace, believing that Christians must tithe or face the curse of God commanded against those who fail to obey the Law of Moses., by refusing to tithe.

Across this nation there are some servant officers in error pronouncing the curse of the law commanded by God against their congregations from the book of Malachi: Mal 3:9

Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Interestingly, such servant officers rarely if ever mention that God cursed all the priests under the law as well, because they were robbing God too, right along with the people and in more terrible ways than the people.

Some in error to encourage present day tithing, present the day of atonement as one designated by God to be a day of happiness and celebration for the nation of Israel and applies this for the church of Lord Jesus Christ as well. However, the truth is that God designated the day of atonement to be a day where the whole nation of Israel was to scream and cry in fear, because if the atonement was not done perfectly, the high priest would be killed and the nation destroyed by God.

Feel free to read further on your own, brethren, for God has given us the record of the Levitical priesthood under the law- its purpose, the good, bad, and ugly, along with a ring side seat of each step of the ritual the high priest had to perform perfectly on the day of atonement to be accepted by God, and avoid his death and the destruction of the nation of Israel:  Lev 10:7; Lev 16:29.

The people didn’t have it any better on the day of atonement or on the sabbath because if they didn’t perfectly observe the day of atonement or day of sabbath as God commanded, they would be put to death:  Exo 31:14.

Some teach in error that Christians have to obey the ten Commandments exactly as under the law. Any Christian or anyone obeying fully some of these mosaic laws today would be charged with a crime, some as serious as murder. We know that the Law of Moses had many many more commandments than ten. God commanded all of them to be obeyed without exception.

In the New Covenant the Law of Moses is referred to as the ministration of death for a reason: 2Co 3:7.

Next let’s take a closer look at the tithes under the law of Moses. 

love and truth forever, serola

Fri, Sep 25th - 1:21AM

THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD IS OVER HIS PEOPLE NOW

CONCLUSION

Brothers and sisters, as we patiently sit together in the Spirit at Lord Jesus’ table, to be nourished by Him, we comprehend that we cannot serve a God we do not know, and we cannot know God except as He Commands through the study and practice of His Word, rightly divided, unmixed with doctrines of men and/or devils.

We comprehend that we cannot do anything without Jesus. Jesus is the Word of God, the Bread of heaven, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Head of the church, the Nourisher and the Nourishment of the Church-meaning the people of God not the building they meet in.

By the will of God, the Father, we comprehend through the Word, that everything we have comes through faith in Lord Jesus the Son of God even our faith, and we can do nothing without Him: Rom 12:3

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Even our repentance comes from the mercy of God: Rom 2:4

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

We know, dearly beloved, that none of us have anything to boast about any human efforts to be saved, because Jesus saved us when we were sinners, still dead in our sins, and His enemies:  Rom 5:6 ;Rom 5:10; Col 1:21.

Salvation:  Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the permanent FREE gift of God:

Eph 2:9

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Eph 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

After salvation we see clearly and rejoice in the eternal truth and promises given to us by God settled forever in His scriptures that even our good works have been prepared by God for us, empowered by the Holy Spirit who strengthens us so that we can do them.

God forbids the comingling, adding to or taking away from His word. We know directly from the lips of our Lord and Saviour:  Mar 7:7

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

God does not receive/accept worship from those teaching any doctrines of mere men or devils, and it is totally useless/fruitless for anyone to do so.

Brothers and sisters, let us always keep in our remembrance consciously, willingly, that through faith in Christ, by the will of God our Father, the power of the Holy Spirit empowers you, me, us, to apply, live, practice, put the word of God to use over time, in public, private, in mind, thoughts, feelings, heart, in relations, work, or leisure time, whatever we do to the glory of God. We can be confident that over time with patient diligent study and practice that the Word of God becomes a part of our life as normal as breathing, causing us to bear good fruit unto God in word and deed.

I suppose holy brethren that we could give a list of bad works for they are abundant in scripture. For example, in Mat 5:46

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Mat 5:47

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Mat 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Perfect: properly, brought to its end, finished; lacking nothing necessary to completeness; perfect: Colossians 2:10; Phl 4:13; 1Co 15:57.

We find Lord Jesus in Mat 6:1-6 and other scriptures, judging every aspect of our lives whether in worship, faith, giving, in dealing with the world, one another, and finding fault in areas for which He cannot give a reward to His people.

Some might think that giving all or a lot of money will ensure that they will be rewarded for their charity in heaven. Yet, while Jesus commended the widow who gave all her living, we find later on in scripture that although one gives all that he has, including sacrificing himself to be burned His work is counted as nothing and receives no reward from God.

Now we know that God is not capricious nor teaching it’s. wrong to give or even sacrifice our lives for another or the kingdom. Our motivation for doing anything or work for God determines if He will give us a reward or not. The widow was commended by Jesus because she gave motivated out of love, and trust in God, but anyone who gives all he has and/ or even his life receives no reward because it was not given out of love and trust God.

Again, we see that God gives us a comprehensive understanding that what makes any of our works deserving of a reward from Him or not depends on whether or not it is done out of love and trust in God according to the scriptures.

The Levitical high priest was a mere  sinful man. He accepted whatever the people gave. He had no ability to know whether or not the people gave willingly or grudgingly, out of love or out of fear of punishment by God if they didn’t give. The Levitical high priest also had no way of knowing the quality of what was given; or whether what the people gave was stolen, from pimping a prostitute, or from honest labor. Tithes could only be collected and put into the treasury ONLY IF THE HIGH PRIEST WAS PRESENT.

If Lord Jesus were on earth He could not collect or receive a tithe, or serve in any capacity as a Levitical priest, because He is not of the tribe of Levi.  If Jesus cannot receive a tithe on earth, neither can any of His people.

However, in heaven our sinless High Priest Jesus Christ receives our tithes in the true tabernacle in heaven - good works or bad is put in our accounts in heaven to be given to us at the judgment seat of Christ. Unlike the mere man, which was the high priest under the law, who was unable to know the heart of those offering their tithes, Jesus is Fully Man and God from whom nothing can be hidden, nor can He be fooled. Jesus in His omniscience, omnipotent, omnipresence lives in His people and knows what is in the heart and mind of His children when they offer or do any good work, or when they are slothful and do as little as possible in His behalf. Again, holy brethren, we know that Lord Jesus sees every aspect of our lives, and the intrinsic spiritual value of all we say and do is assessed and taken up by Him as tithes and placed in our accounts in the true tabernacle in heaven. Heb 7:7

And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

Heb 7:8

And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

No man can serve as a mediator to take tithes of God’s people on earth to give to Jesus. Jesus alone is appointed by God the Father as the only Mediator between God and men. So we see the intimacy of our relation to Christ in that what we do or give to Him is strictly between Him and each individual believer.

Furthermore, His atoning work on the cross has done away with the Levitical priesthood, and brought in the New Covenant of grace where Lord Jesus is appointed by God as the eternal powerful High Priest/Advocate in heaven before the very throne of God making intercession continually for His people.

Hebrews 7:5-9 – Abraham’s tithe is used to illustrate a change concerning the priesthood.

Heb 8:4

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

Heb 8:5

Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Heb 8:6

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Again, and again, there is No need for any of us to go cray cray here in fear of being cast into hell at the judgment seat of Christ, which is totally inconsistent with the finished work of salvation through our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ through whom we are forgiven of all sins permanently, past, present, future, as a free gift not of any works that we have done. Nor do we have to reinvent the wheel so to speak in trying to figure out which of our deeds are good or bad.

 I once visited a church where the chorus sang a song with the lyrics “on the way to heaven someone slipped and fell”. Even as a baby Christian, I knew something was not right with such a song, even though I was not yet learned in scripture. What little I had been taught about Jesus led me to think He would never allow this to happen to believers. I never went back to that church. There is no justification for teaching the lie that at the judgment seat of Christ some Christians will be rejected and sent to hell. We must keep it clear that no Christian will ever be rejected or condemned by God.

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Saints (G40hagios), we should, at this point now, be convicted, convinced, and fully persuaded by God for whom it is impossible to lie, that at the judgment seat of Christ while our bad works will be condemned, His people remain PERMANENTLY saved, only our bad works will be burned up, but we still retain our salvation and inheritance which is the permanent free gift of God, not by any works we have done.

2Jo 1:8

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 

The authentic Christian will be confident and filled with hope and joy by 2 John 1:8 because John gives us the understanding, assurance, confidence that we have the God given ability/responsibility to diligently obey God out of love and trust, to get our full reward by avoiding slothfulness or neglect- (to let slip), the truth of God’s commandments, because God has given us everything we need to please Him and bring forth good fruit.

2 Peter 2: 3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,

Through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Jesus is with us to help us every step of the way. We are never alone, even our Christian family works together in helping each other to grow in grace.

1Co 3:11

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

We cannot serve a God we do not know, and we can only know Him from His word. Only in the foundational truth of the New Covenant can we know how to please and serve God.

1Co 3:12

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Whatever we build for the kingdom, must be based on the love and truth of the New Covenant. Any substitutes, alternatives, plan b’s, multiple choices=wood, hay, stubble.

1Co 3:13

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

1Co 3:14

If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

1Co 3:15

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

When Jesus ends the judgment of His people some will have rewards, and some will see their unacceptable works burned up. But we will all enter the kingdom of God, and those whose works were burned up will not have their losses pointed out to them forever. In fact, no further mention of it will ever be mentioned again, as though it never happened.

I will have mercy and not sacrifice.

Heb 8:12

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

1Co 3:16

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Dearly beloveds, let us as priests under our High Priest, Saviour, Mediator Jesus Christ, give Him our abundant thanks and praise offerings continually for His multitude of faithful guarding/guiding servant officers who without fail teach the whole gospel message, rightly divided without respect of persons, that the flock will thereby grow over time to spiritual maturity in the knowledge and will of God.

May our Lord Jesus reward them richly here on earth and in heaven for their great love of God and His sheep. Let us love and respect them highly for their work and faithfulness to the glory of God our Father: 1Th 5:13

And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

UPCOMING STUDIES

LEVITICAL TITHES VS NEW COVENANT TITHES

JESUS TEACHES ON THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD.

WOMEN SHOULD BE SILENT

IN THE CHURCH? 

THE HOLY SPIRIT ANSWERS.

BAPTIZED FOR THE DEAD? 

DID PAUL MAKE A NEW 

DOCTRINE?

love and truth forever, serola

Tue, Sep 1st - 6:38PM

GOD’s WORD CLEARLY TEACHES THAT JESUS CHRIST IS GOD THE SON EQUAL WITH GOD THE FATHER.

God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Ghost, ARE FOREVER three EQUAL eternal inseparable utterly holy Persons in one God lives in us and will be in us forever.

Jhn 14:28 - Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

Scriptures interpret scriptures without error nor any contradictions whatsoever. When Jesus said: “My Father is greater than I”. The false teacher will lie and pervert this to mean Jesus is less than God the Father.

The absolute truth is that It never meant, and will never mean that Jesus is lesser than or inferior to God the Father.

The absolute truth is clearly stated in scripture that what it means is that Lord Jesus in His earthly life/ministry voluntarily of His own free will chose to lower Himself/take on the form of a human being, while never ceasing to be sinless and God the Son. Only in this form could God the Father accept Jesus’ voluntary offer of Himself as the perfect sinless sacrifice to pay for the sins of all who believe in Him:  Heb 10:5

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, 

Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.

THE BIBLE ABSOLUTELY EXPLICITLY  TEACHES  GOD THE SON JESUS CHRIST IS EQUAL WITH GOD THE FATHER. GOD THE FATHER COMMANDS THAT GOD THE SON JESUS RECEIVE EQUAL WORSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER

Mat 1:23

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Jesus honored as God before and after His birth.

(Matthew 2:11)

God sent the wise men who worshipped Jesus when they found Him.

Jhn 5:23; Phil 1:2.

That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Jesus knew it wasn’t wrong for Him to be equal with God for He explicitly declared God the Father sent Him and commands that God the Son Jesus is to be worshipped the same/equally  with and as God the Father is worshipped.

Those who refuse to worship Jesus Christ are still dead in their sins, because God the Father rejects anyone who refuses to worship God the Son Jesus equally with and the same as God the Father is worshipped.

Matter of absolute eternal truth: 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.

Jhn 8:54

Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

Heb 1:8

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

God the Father, for whom it is impossible to lie, explicitly declares His Son Jesus Christ is God forever.

Lord Jesus didn’t steal the right to be God the Son, Phl 2:6.  God the Father Himself gave Jesus the right, because it belonged to Him from the beginning: Jhn 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 (Matt. 28:9).

The resurrected Lord Jesus received worship before His ascension:

Rev 5:8

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Rev 5:12

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Rev 5:13

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever

We explicitly see God the Son Jesus Christ receiving and being worshipped directly as well as receiving and being worshipped the same, equally directly with God the Father in heaven.

Phl 2:5 - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

We know, dearly beloveds that having the mind of Christ does not mean that any of us should get spooky, weird, or cray cray. The kind of minds we all are commanded by God to have are minds rooted in the everlasting truth of the principals and doctrines of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ our supreme example of faithfulness, service, love and trust in God. Jesus was never on an ego trip He put the work and will of God the Father above everything and everyone: Mat 10:37; Mat 10:38.

The kingdom of God is not a democracy it is a theocracy in which our Sovereign God reigns supreme. He never asks nor needs any voters’ approval regarding His word, work, and will for all mankind both the good and the evil.  

Phl 2:6 - Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Phl 2:7 - But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Phl 2:8 - And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

1Co 15:28 - And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

When the resurrected Lord Jesus arose from the dead, having completed His mission and finished His atoning work forever, that God the Father had commanded of Him, He ascended back to God the Father in all the glory and power He had from the beginning with the Father.

We know that there is a willing submission within the trinity. This doesn't mean that one is greater than the other. Jesus a loving Son honors and submits to His Father, trusts Him completely and does all His will knowing that His Father does only that which is good and best for all.  The wicked man thinks that Jesus is weak and inferior, because He loves and honors God His Father and puts His will above His own.

The wicked man thinks that if someone serves another or submits to another, then he is less than the other. The depraved, corrupt mind of the wicked man thinks only a fool serves another.

Jesus actually taught the opposite for God's very nature is to serve.

Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. (26) Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, (27) and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- (28) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Holy people, the Bible warns us that there are evil people who are children of the devil. They hate God and hate His people. They persecute the church, formulate many lies against our Lord and Saviour Jesus that His being part Man makes Him less than God the Father, or God the Father is greater because Jesus was part man. However, we know that Jesus is always fully God and fully man, equal with God the Father. Again and again, this has nothing to do with anyone who is saved but ignorant or any person yet to hear the gospel and be saved. The righteous will believe/ receive the truth of the gospel but the wicked never will regardless of how long or how often they hear it. This is about children of the devil who willingly/impenitently pervert the gospel to trick the gullible and turn them away from the truth.

The false teachers  have no shame in blaspheming Christ. The false teachers will even lie on the Holy Ghost to their damnation. We know the Holy Ghost will never contradict Himself, and the Holy Ghost will never teach that God is greater than Jesus or that Jesus is less than God, for that is the lying doctrine straight from the devil and brought to the world by false teachers who are children of the devil.

In the book of Revelation, the verses that the false teachers avoid at all costs are those showing both God the Father, and God the Son Jesus being worshipped equally together.

Mark 9:35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

The fact that Jesus willingly submits to the Father doesn't in anyway teach that He is less than the Father.

It just shows that He is God and God's nature is not like the nature of mere men without God, in particular the wicked who resist the truth willingly corrupt of mind, even their conscience is defiled. Without shame they blaspheme the absolute eternal efficiency, and efficacy of the body and blood of Christ in reconciling believers unto God through faith, and have pleasure in doing so, while exalting themselves as superior to God and men. The wicked man wants to be the greatest, wants to lord it over others, and promotes himself as superior to others.

Promotion is of the Lord: Luk 14:11 - For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Jas 4:10 - Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD IS OVER HIS PEOPLE NOW

Session 2

The judgment seat of Christ is a reward seat and portrays a time of rewards or loss of rewards following His examination, but it is not a time of punishment where believers are judged for their sins. Such would be inconsistent with the finished work of Christ on the Cross because He totally paid the penalty for our sins, past present and future.

We cannot know, grow/serve God without the gospel of Jesus Christ. God commands that the knowledge of the gospel is to be taught comprehensively unmixed to every believer by servant officers/teachers of the church and the believer is expected to continue to study, live, share it in the world. Some believers, even some churches, which are sincere have an incomplete understanding of the New Covenant.

We see examples in the Bible of believers such as Apollos, Act 18:24-26, and some of the churches who had an incomplete understanding of scripture, but received correction gladly and went on to teach and live it, such as in Galatia, and Corinth. The Bible warns us that its dangerous for any Christian/local church to be ignorant of scriptures.

Some in error believing it is a sin to go to a doctor have died of their injuries/medical illness. Some Christians pray for healing for their rotted teeth and lose them because they think it is a sin to go to the dentist. Some Christians have died trying to show their faith by performing dangerous stunts, handling snakes, etc.

Some children have been abused because sexual predators forbidden by law to have no access to any place with children, were allowed to have unmonitored access to them through the ministry of the church, because they felt that the predator had repented although still under court order. In some cases, this leads to the arrest of the church pastors and others and terrible injury and trauma to the children.

Some wives with children and/or pregnant have been left without housing or financial support suddenly because their husbands in error left them believing they were called to missions in other countries. These are a few examples, but we know that we could go on and on, and write volumes on the spiritual and physical damage done to the gospel and the people of God due to biblical ignorance.

We know that there are multitudes of churches that teach the word of God faithfully, to protect and grow their flock. Unfortunately, there are some local churches in which scripture is an afterthought, and their flock remains pew sitters who sincerely believe they have served God by showing up in a building and donating, then go out to live the same way as those who aren’t saved.

A gospel-less church is unsustainable. We can see the evidence in Google maps of many boarded up buildings by the thousands all over the country that had been local churches, some of them sold to be used for secular purposes.

Brothers and sisters, we know that each of us has the responsibility to study live and share the gospel message. We are not ascetic we know we have the God given right to enjoy life, without neglecting our work in the gospel. After our congregation was taught scripture, we were taken out to teach us how to witness. we continued on our own afterwards.

It was then while witnessing to the public that I was greatly saddened to meet some Christians who were suicidal, some having a history of repeated attempts. In these instances, I found an ignorance and or misinterpretation of salvation. It’s our responsibility to come alongside and help them with the knowledge love truth and assurance of the gospel, while not neglecting witnessing to unbelievers.

1Pe 4:17For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

2Co 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. God tells us why He is judging His people now:

1Co 11:32

But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Brothers and sisters, I thank our God for you, and for your patience with me in this study. God makes it clear in His word that He will never condemn His children with the world. Salvation and our inheritance is the free PERMANENT gift of God not by works that anyone should boast.

The New Covenant of Jesus Christ teaches that God keeps no records of sins after we are forgiven. The apostle John confirms that after being forgiven: 1Jo 3:9 - 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. The seed in the Christian is Jesus Christ.

John slams God’s absolute truth home again: the new birth is permanent, not temporary. The Christian cannot be lost, cannot be inhabited by the devil: 1Jo 5:18 - We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

All of this is made possible forever through the one time sacrifice of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

We are to live holy lives to the will of God as new creations in Jesus.

Again and again, this study is only about the rewards Christians will receive from Lord Jesus for their own works/deeds done in the body on earth. Dearly beloveds, say aloud- this study is only about the rewards for good or bad works/deeds Christians did on earth in their physical bodies.

Philippians 2:13 KJV

¹³ For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

The good news for you, me, us- every believer is that Lord Jesus is never passive about His church and makes it easy for us to get rewards. He guards His people, encourages, disciplines, and guides them. Through faith in Jesus the Holy Spirit in every believer gives us gifts, strength, and power to do the good works/deeds that God our Father has prepared for every one of us to do.   Obviously, holy brethren knowing how to do any good work of any kind God’s way starts by actually knowing God through His word and rightly dividing, living, sharing, and defending the gospel out of love and trust in Him and for His glory. God calls our good works fruit:

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Thanks be to God we have received everything we need to do good works, know and do His will.

Soul winning/teaching the gospel is one of the ways we can earn reward: Jhn 4:36

And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

We could make a to do list of good works, for there are many abundantly given throughout scriptures. However, saints (g40 hagios) God gives us the more excellent way to ensure our hearts in full confidence that all of our works will earn a full reward from Him when it is done out of love and trust in Him for His glory: 1Co 13:3

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

1Co 13:13

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.       

1Jo 3:14

Tue, Aug 25th - 6:29PM

THE WIDOW’S MITE

Brothers and sisters, let us go to Lord Jesus’ table where He invites us all often to drink and dine deliciously, and abundantly in Him. We know that Jesus our Saviour, Mediator, High Priest, King, Lamb of God, Lion of Judah, Elder Brother, First Begotten from the dead, Alpha and Omega, Nourisher, appointed alone by God our Father, can fully nourish and satisfy our hearts, minds, and spirits to the full, so that we can all over time become mature in grace, spiritually whole, in our understanding, knowledge, manner of living, thinking, behaving, and faith through Him to the glory of God our Father.

The Poor Widow's Offering

(Mark 12:41-44)

1And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Brothers and sisters, the widow could have chosen to give only a part of her living, but she chose to give it all. Some use her as an example in error to claim that even the poor must give and/or that God claims everything we own for Himself, which contradicts scriptures firstly in Deuteronomy and other books under the Mosaic Law the Levitical priesthood was to care for widows among others, and a portion of the tithes was to go for their care daily. The poor, widows among certain others were not commanded by God to tithe. There were certain commands by God for all the people to give. However, at those times, the poor, widows etc., were given money or goods from the people so that they could give of it to God.

However, the Levitical priesthood had become thoroughly corrupted. Instead of feeding the widows and the poor among others they were fleecing them and taking what little they had.

Shame to say but it is the truth today that some poor people have been made homeless by those who wrongly taught them to give their rent money as a sacrificial offering to please God, and/or that God would give them back more money than what they gave. The Bible is clear you, me, us are commanded to not tempt God. Having contracted a certain amount to the landlord, it was not ours to give to another source. If we promised our landlord rent so that he can continue his bills to maintain his property, we know we do not have the right to withhold our payments. It should not be a surprise that the landlord has to evict us for nonpayment of rent to get paying tenants and keep from losing his property. There can be terrible consequences for the ignorant or gullible who are deceived by those teaching a perverted gospel focused only on getting money from God. There is no question that more than a few deceived by the prosperity gospel, have lost homes, cars, and even their kids tuition for school.

Secondly, dearly beloveds, God calls for us to be good stewards, and to voluntarily share what we have wisely, God’s way, to help others, without depriving ourselves from having the means to also care for our own families or selves: 1Ti 5:8. Paul the apostle and our brother instructs us on giving: 2Co 8:12

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

2Co 8:13For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

THE BOTTOM LINE: 

2Co 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 

Therefore, dearly beloveds, we understand from the Word of God that the cheerful giver whose giving that God loves are those who willingly give out of love to God, but never at the expense of putting their family or themselves in need. Brothers and sisters do not allow mere men to cause you, me or us to give out of guilt or pressure. Do not give to get a big payday from God. Do not give rent, car, mortgage, school tuition, or agree/sign anything to give specific amounts of your income. Stay safe and do things God's way- is the only right way and the only right way is God's way according to His word, rightly divided.  Jesus didn’t condemn the widow but commended her for her great faith and love for God which compelled her to give all that she had. Jesus makes the widow's motives clear, she was not giving motivated by greed-to reap a big financial payback from God, she gave out of love not for financial gain. The Levites had perverted the Law in teaching her to give, although widows among others were exempted from giving the tithe by God. Lord Jesus strongly condemned the whole Levitical ministry: Mat 21:13

And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Feel free to study this further on your own. Your questions, and or comments are always welcome. Love and truth forever, serola

Mon, Aug 17th - 6:46PM

JESUS CHRIST IS GOD THE SON EQUAL WITH GOD THE FATHER.

Brothers and sisters, let us freely, continually, eat and drink to the full abundantly at the Lord’s table. NOTHING HERE IS ADDRESSING ANY WHO ARE SINCERE BUT IN ERROR MISINTERPRET SCRIPTURES, OR ANY UNSAVED PERSON YET TO HEAR OR UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL MESSAGE. The righteous will receive correction/believe the truth. However, the wicked/evil man or woman will never believe the truth no matter how long or how often they hear it, so save your sympathy, believe Jesus and keep yourself from harm: Mat 7:6

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 

The Bible warns us about false teachers in the world, and in the physical church on earth. They know the truth, but don’t want to believe any of it. The false teacher resists the truth and will never believe by choice. They don’t want anyone else to believe either. They lie and pervert scripture to deny the truth and turn people away from God to themselves. The false teacher unrepentantly/willingly teach lies about God and His people. They teach lies and want to deceive others to spread the lies that God is fickle, weak, won’t and/or is powerless or unable to permanently keep or forgive the Christian permanently, so that any Christian can or will fall away in sin and unbelief at any time, under suffering, persecution, temptation etc.  We know the absolute truth from the scriptures that it is impossible for God to lie, who keeps His people forever, that NO Christian can or will ever blaspheme the Holy Ghost:  Mat 7:18

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

1Jo 3:9

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. The Seed in every believer is the Sower Jesus Christ Himself the Word of God: Mar 4:14 The sower soweth the word. Mat 13:37

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

We also know that that the evil man or woman will willingly/without repentance always blaspheme the Holy Ghost the Spirit of Truth: Mat 7:18

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

The false teacher is evil. It’s a God given fact, the false teacher is the child of the devil: Mat 13:39

The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. No, evil people do not look evil, have horns, tails or are red in color, they look like ordinary people although some can even look like and present themselves as ministers of God: 2Co 11:14

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2Co 11:15

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

The false teacher cannot cease from sin, because he or she does not want to: 2Pe 2:14. The false teacher pervert’s scripture by turning the truth into lies: Rom 1:25 to deceive and keep people from knowing the truth.

Saints (G20 hagios), don’t ever flinch to say the truth about evil people, because it’s supposed to be rude, not polite, judging, by the standards of mere men. We are commanded by God to speak His absolute truth in love, regardless of whom it might offend. We are commanded by God to discern both Good and evil and to clearly know/teach the eternal difference between them:

Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Heb 5:14.

Dearly beloveds, No believer should ever be cowardly, ashamed, or  apologize for speaking the truth of God’s word. I make no apology about speaking God’s truth as He commands, and I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The depraved evil man or woman out of hatred for God willingly comes to blaspheme, deny, drag our Lord Jesus’ name in the mud and trample on Him by lies and outright perversion of scripture, to turn people away from Him, and to themselves.

Mat 12:31

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

Mat 12:32

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

The reason why the sin against the Holy Ghost can never be forgiven is because this specific sin is proof positive that a person is evil and of the children of the devil who like their father the devil hates God whose goal is to destroy God and His people and therefore, they will never repent of blasphemy. 

God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Ghost, ARE FOREVER three EQUAL eternal inseparable utterly holy Persons in one God lives in us and will be in us forever.

Jhn 14:28 - Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

Scriptures interpret scriptures without error nor any contradictions whatsoever. When Jesus said: “ My Father is greater than I”. The false teacher will lie and pervert this to mean Jesus is less than God the Father.

The absolute truth is that It never meant, and will never mean that Jesus is lesser than or inferior to God the Father.

The absolute truth is clearly stated in scripture that what it means is that Lord Jesus in His earthly life/ministry voluntarily of His own free will chose to lower Himself/take on the form of a human being, while never ceasing to be sinless and God the Son. Only in this form could God the Father accept Jesus’ voluntary offer of Himself as the perfect sinless sacrifice to pay for the sins of all who believe in Him:  Heb 10:5

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, 

Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.

Phl 2:4 - Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Phl 2:5 - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Phl 2:6 - Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Phl 2:7 - But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Phl 2:8 - And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

1Co 15:28 - And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

When the resurrected Lord Jesus arose from the dead, having completed His mission and finished His atoning work forever, that God the Father had commanded of Him, He ascended back to God the Father in all the glory and power He had from the beginning with the Father.

We know that there is a willing submission within the trinity. This doesn't mean that one is greater than the other. Jesus a loving Son honors and submits to His Father, trusts Him completely and does all His will knowing that His Father does only that which is good and best for all.  The wicked man thinks that Jesus is weak and inferior, because He loves, serves, and honors God His Father and puts His Father's will above His own will. I pray that you, me, us will follow our Lord's example, and do our Father's will, putting His will above our own to the glory of the Father, through love and trust in Jesus. God does not call any of His people to be doormats or allow anyone to abuse or take advantage of them.

The wicked man thinks that if someone serves another or submits to another, then he is less than the other. The depraved, corrupt mind of the wicked man thinks only a fool serves another. 

Jesus actually taught the opposite for God's very nature is to serve.

Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. (26) Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, (27) and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- (28) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Mark 9:35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

The fact that Jesus willingly submits to the Father doesn't in anyway teach that He is less than the Father.

It just shows that He is God and God's nature is not like the nature of mere men without God, in particular the wicked who resist the truth willingly corrupt of mind, even their conscience is defiled. Without shame they blaspheme the absolute eternal efficiency, and efficacy of the body and blood of Christ in reconciling believers unto God through faith, and have pleasure in doing so, while exalting themselves as superior to God and men. The wicked man wants to be the greatest, wants to lord it over others, and promotes himself as superior to others.

Promotion is of the Lord: Luk 14:11 - For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Jas 4:10 - Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Humbling ourselves is not optional. If we do not do it ourselves, our loving Father will discipline/correct us to help us do it.

Dearly beloveds, God has given us His Son Jesus as the supreme example of a humble faithful obedient Son who loves God His Father and His people, serving selflessly putting the will of the Father above His own out of complete trust in the goodness of the Father towards all men. We likewise ought to have the same mind as Christ- willingly subject ourselves to the will of God the Father, and seek not just our own interests, but the interests of others as well, lovingly serving God and one another out of love and trust in God. Gal 5:13 - For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

THE DEVIL IS A LIAR AND SO ARE HIS CHILDREN

The false teacher is a liar, denies that salvation is permanent by teaching the lie that 1 John 1: 9 means after the believer is saved, he or she has to confess every sin thereafter to stay saved and not lose fellowship with God. Many are deceived by these lies. Instead of resting in the security and peace of the eternal redemption given through faith in Jesus Christ they live lives of misery, depression, guilt, shame, defeat, fear of dying and going to hell because they might have forgotten to confess some sin before death.

We must look at 1 John 1: 9 within the whole context of Scripture to avoid misinterpretation of scripture. I John 1;9 means exactly what it says: 1Jo 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.

John is not saying after we are saved, we still have a sin nature, are still sinners and we have to keep confessing our sins over and over again to stay saved/not lose fellowship with God like those under the Law of Moses. John is saying we can be confident if we have confessed that we are sinners believing in Christ our Saviour, He forgives us for ALL sins, not just some sins.

Christ is all powerful Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent. Christ is not bound by time, although human beings are. However, by His power He forever destroys our sins, therefore we are forgiven and there is no need for God our Father to keep or remember a record, for there no longer is one. The believer will never stand with the wicked in judgement. The believer will stand before Christ to give account of His work, to receive a reward or a beating, but the believer will never lose their salvation nor inheritance, for these are a gift of God through faith in Christ, and not by works.

John proves clearly declares that Christ's atonement forever forgives the believer of all sins past present and future by the power of Christ’s atonement. ALL sin is finished is permanent, complete, has no expiration date: 1Jo 3:6 - Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

1Jo 3:5 - And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 1Jo 3:6 – Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 1Jo 3:7 - Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Repentance is turning to God in belief after hearing the gospel. Afterwards this same repentance is not a one-time event but is evidenced in the new nature by living/ consistently choosing not to practice any sin, but to obey God publicly and privately in our character, conduct, manner of living and in our treatment of others out of love and trust in God: We have new natures, and the mind like that of Christ:  1Co 2:16

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? 1Co 2:16

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

We love God evidencing it through our desire to consistently please and obey Him.

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. 1Jo 3:9 - 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.

 AGAIN, THE SEED IS CHRIST-IN YOU. with God the Father and God the Holy Ghost, guarding and guiding from inside of you, me, us, making us one in Him and one another. One Lord, One Faith , One Baptism of the Spirit.

John continues to confirm clearly the new birth is permanent, not temporary, cannot be lost, cannot be inhabited by the devil: 1Jo 5:18 - We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

We know that no apostle/disciple including John knowing it is impossible for God to lie, would NEVER contradict Jesus Christ whom God appointed Head of the church. John would never deny that the power of the one- time offering of the sinless sacrifice of the body and blood of Jesus Christ forever forgives believers of all sins and saves them that believe on His name forever. John would never deny the New Covenant:  Heb 8:12 - For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Therefore, dearly beloveds, let us look at this again; John agrees and clearly defends the fact that whosoever confesses, Rom 10:9-15, (covenants) is forgiven of all sins forever, and no record is kept of them nor remembered by God ever again. 1Jo 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This never means those who are forgiven can live sinful lives or habitually practice sinning. There is an abundance of scripture that clearly teaches the believer how to live holy lives after salvation, and God boldly commands every believer-you, me, us:

1Pe 1:15 - But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1Pe 1:16 - Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

God doesn’t call His people sinners He calls them saints (G40 hagios), children of God, the called-out ones, and many other endearments.

The New Covenant believer has a new nature because the old man with a natural old sin nature from birth is baptized into Christ's death and raised up or born from above again with a new nature, spirit, heart and mind that desires to please God: 1Co 3:16 - Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1Co 3:17 - If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 2Co 6:16 - And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of God:

Again, God through Christ completely forgives all who believe in Him of all sins past, present, and future, keeping no record of their sins for Christ's sake: Heb 10:17 - And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Heb 10:18 - Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Heb 10:26 - For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins…

Anyone after having understood the gospel message and who willfully choose/refuses to believe it proves that they are children of the devil and is damned/cursed by God forever. love and truth forever, serola