Post by brobrent77 on Apr 8, 2008 2:36:08 GMT -5
THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY or LAWLESSNESS
Do you KNOW Yeshua? Have you patiently endured much insult and ridicule for faithfully proclaiming the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our G-d? Have you been hearing the L-rd say "come out of her my people" and see no place to go? Where can you meet with God's people and/or worship on the Sabbath? Among those who claim to be part of the faithful remnant, where is the REALITY that should be evident among the faithful remnant? How few even know what faith or grace mean beyond quoting the heresies of the false teachers. Is there a church without the influence of the spirits of Nicolaitane, Balaam, and Jezebel? Is there not hypocrisy, or at least inconsistency, to reduce Christianity to "just be nice?" Churchianity says, "They have professed Jesus is Lord, nothing more is required. How dare you give offense or be judgmental?" We have witnessed the mystery of iniquity or lawlessness become full by those who have come saying "Jesus is Lord!" For this cause His Name is blasphemed among the heathen. What can we do? What must we do?
Let us begin by identifying the 3 spirits which Yeshua said would take over and seek to completely destroy all but a very small remnant of redeemed believers in the last days.
Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
NICOLAITANS (Nihk oh lay' ituhns) personal name meaning "conqueror of the people."
If the Lord says twice this is something that He hates, we need to know what it is all about, and make sure we don't do it. Some churches had an elevated class of members. A clergy and a laity perhaps. We need to be under authority. However, if God is no respector of persons, how dare we be. Many churches elevate the status of their pastors, teachers and leaders above the body and above the Word. Consider the following as preferring church leaders to being led by the Spirit is idolatry: 1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 1Sa 10:19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us.
The Lord hates striving for status in His church. If you want to be great in God's kingdom learn to be the servant of all. Like the watchman says, "It is a race to the bottom." Everything we do for someone less fortunate we do for King Yeshua. There was also an heretical group in the early church who taught immorality and idolatry. They are condemned in Revelation 2:6,15 for their practices in Ephesus, Pergamon and Thyatira. Apparently they had resisted the false prophecy being preached (Rev. 2:20-25). The Nicolaitans have been linked to the type of heresy taught by Balaam (Num. 25:1-2; 2 Pet. 2:15).
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Let us call and identify just what BALAAM is today. Balaam was first and foremost a "Prophet for Profit." The teachers of the pre-tribulation rapture, who are profiting from their teachings of this strong delusion, represent BALAAM. Just be nice because we are not under law but under grace is the catch phrase of NICOLAITINE, BALAAM, and JEZEBEL.
There is more to Balaam. He makes unity of the body impossible. Those who know the truth of the Word of God by the quickening of the Holy Spirit, will not yield to Balaam. They are therefore blamed for the schism of Balaam. The real source of the schism is the mystery of iniquity propagated by Balaam, Nicolaitine, and Jezebel. The mystery of iniquity is the CLAIM TO BEING CHRISTIANS, WHILE THEY ARE AGAINST GOD'S ROYAL LAW AND HIS ESTABLISHED ORDER. If you resist Nicolaitine, Balaam, and Jezebel and stand for the truth of ALL of God's word, expect to be labeled as heretics, crazies, and unloving. The doctrine of Balaam is pleasant to the itching ears of the majority, who will listen only to the prophets who tell them what they want to hear.
Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations;
Earlier in the passage to the Thyatira church we come across Jezebel. JEZEBEL is a personal name meaning "Where is the prince?" Have you heard Jezebel saying "Where is the prince, antichrist, doesn't matter to us, because we will be raptured out before he is revealed." We are called to take the good news to the "Jew First." It certainly is inconsistent if not hypocritical to say we believe we will be out of here during the "Time of Jacob's Trouble" the time when we know that "all Israel shall be saved." Jezebel will also license, encourage, or excuse idolatry and immorality. Jezebel also wants to know "where is the prince" or church leader, so that she can seduce him. Often Jezebel (the false church) exalts herself over her husband...does not reverence her husband...tries to tell Jesus what to do.
The LAW does not save anyone. However, the way any redeemed or saved person is able to prove it to HIMSELF, or anyone else, is that Yeshua, Jesus, gives the power of the HOLY Spirit, the Spirit of TRUTH and HOLINESS, to KEEP and DO God's commands. They are commandments of God, not suggestions. The Holy Spirit empowers us to delight in His Royal Law, not just the power to pontificate, or practice feigned affection. Do you LOVE the TRUTH?
Grace is the God given gift to be able to REPENT. You cannot repent apart from God's grace. We are all creatures of vanity. It is not possible for any vain creature to repent without Grace. The Holy Spirit along with grace empowers man to obey from the heart. Anything less than that, including the idea of salvation by grace alone, with no requirement other than professing belief, without free will repentant action, is, and should be, regarded as gross evil. This is the false faith of Nicolaitine, Balaam, and Jezebel's phony baloney faith. Such faith is not Christian.
WE MUST ASK WHAT LAW? Ask the Holy Spirit "What Law" whenever you read that important little 3 letter word in scripture. Ask anyone who ever mentions the word "law," what law are they talking about.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
1 John 2:3-5 And hereby we do KNOW that we KNOW him, IF we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby KNOW we that we are IN Him.
ANY TIME WE SEE THAT WORD LAW IN SCRIPTURE WE BETTER KNOW WHICH OF THE 4 POSSIBLE TYPES OF LAW MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. WHENEVER ANYONE MENTIONS LAW BE SURE TO ASK THEM WHAT LAW THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT? THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY IS THOSE WHOSE RELIGIOUS EXTERIOR COVERS A HEART THAT IS AGAINST GOD'S ROYAL LAW. ANTI-NOMIAN MEANS AGAINST-LAW. THOSE CLAIMING TO BE CHRISTIANS ARE EXPECTED TO KNOW, LOVE, KEEP, AND DO GOD'S ROYAL LAW.
Here are the 4 basic types of LAW we find in scripture:
1. THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH - This is the Law that the Blood of Jesus saves us from. The curse of the law of sin and death, is death. The Law of sin and death is the Law from which the Blood of Yeshua saves us. What is the law of sin and death? Romans 6:23 or Ezek 18 will give you the answer. The wages of sin is death. The soul that sins shall die. The Blood of Yeshua is the ONLY hope of having a part in the FIRST Resurrection.
2. THE LAW OF MOSES - 613 Commandments, laws, ordinances, Mitzvoth. Even to this day, 613 laws. Some of these, like circumcision, and the Levitical priesthood are done away in the new covenant, through the better priesthood of our GREAT HIGH PRIEST, Yeshua ha Massiach, Jesus THE Christ. If we were smart enough, we would see that many of these make very good sense today; however, we have glorious freedom in Messiah.
3. ORAL LAW - This is the additions and deletions and changes which religious men make to Laws of Scripture. You find Yeshua giving His strongest rebukes to religious people over this oral law, with its additions, deletions, changes, traditions, and perverse doctrines of religious men that you do not find in the Holy Bible. This is often the law to which Paul and the apostles were referring.
4. GOD's ROYAL LAW - The 10 commandments - The Everlasting Covenant - Jesus wrote these with His finger in stone so that NO ONE could change these 10 instructions in Love, Life, and Liberty. This is the Law that the Real Holy Ghost, the one that makes you holy, writes on every circumcised heart. The Holy Ghost causes born again believers to "WANT TO" keep that Royal Law of LOVE, Life, and Liberty. Born again people see this to be the only RIGHT response to the Great Love of God in Messiah Yeshua dawning in one's heart. Break these laws, and you deceive yourself, if you think you will escape.
Yes, it still includes the 4th commandment. It is an insult to God to call Lucifer's sun-god day the Lord's Day. If we don't keep all of His 10 commandments in the tribulation, we will not likely be one of those who is able to endure to the end of the great tribulation. If we don't love and delight in GOD's SABBATH, we are in trouble and don't even know it. It is unrighteousness by definition. This is why Jesus said to pray that your flight not be on the SABBATH. Tribulation is the time context of that neglected instruction.
Yeshua did not come to do away with the law but to fulfill it. He magnified God's royal law. His blood is the propitiation, the payment, for our sins that are PAST! He empowers us by His Holy Spirit to stop sinning. He gives us the grace to walk in repentance and true righteousness and holiness. Yeshua is the REAL Savior who gives the grace and power to stop sinning. Redeemed people stop walking in the lust of their flesh. Redeemed people are sanctified. Sanctification is the will of God for every redeemed person. Sanctification has a beginning, and continues growing in grace (the ability to repent), to finally see Him as He is. While growing in grace one gets to know Yeshua, better and better, by reading the Word of God and prayer, to answer correctly to the question What Would Jesus Do? Sanctification must have the power of the Spirit of Truth to answer What Would Jesus Do with truth to ourselves and others. Sanctification is the process of taking every thought captive to the Mind of Messiah Yeshua. As the prophet Elijah says, "Be a God Pleaser - not a self pleaser or people pleaser."
The teachings of mystical identification with Christ and the power of the Spirit are complete and openly available in scripture. Christians should not be misled into turning aside into new, private revelations from the heavens or the deep that pretend to overturn the scriptural revelation.
Deu 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
Deu 30:12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Have you ever heard that some people just don't show much change when they become Christians, and that does not mean anything about their salvation? I would have to say that suggests that Jesus was wrong to say you really don't know them by their fruit after all. I would have to say that suggests that Paul was wrong when he told us: 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. A simple "Sinner's prayer" is not the same as "repenting and praying through, calling on the Name of the Lord" (until He answers). Too many CLAIM to know Him. Too few really do.
Nicolaitine, Balaam, and Jezebel seek to control with their deep revelations and great human spirituality. Don't be impressed. Watch out and take heed whenever you find biblical standards being replaced with natural human morality. These spirits, that we are to resist, will put emphasis on revelation from within ahead of scripture. Watch out whenever natural human spirituality is interpreted as the revelation of God passed through the soul without solid scripture, in full context, to back it up. We must search the scriptures and learn to rightly divide the word of truth. Show me where to find it at least twice in the bible. Never allow personal revelations to contradict the Word of God. One of the most common techniques of the spirits we are to resist is to produce a secret revelation from Messiah that came after the New Testament was completed. Watch out for progressive revelation. It MUST be verified by the Authorized (KJV) scriptures. Do not allow anyone, including the pope, to have the right to overturn and modify the Authorized word of God.
Look again at how Paul warns against seeking a private revelation from the Spirit when it contradicts the plain, open apostolic teaching in the first-century church.
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Everything that pertains to life and godliness is contained in the Authorized scriptures. We therefore must resist the progressive revelations of Nicolaitine, Balaam, and Jezebel. They may forcefully and strongly argue that they are obedient. This is a good example of why it is called "the mystery of iniquity" or the mystery of lawlessness. Outwardly it does not appear to be what it really is. It argues for obedience. But the obedience it tries to enforce, is to a private revelation, that replaces the teaching of Yeshua and the apostles in the New Testament.
CHEAP GRACE IS NOT GRACE - Grace is simply the time that God gives us while our spirit is still in our body to conform ourself to the Word of God. Grace is the gift of God that can make a vain creature, and every man is a vain creature, be able to repent. No man can repent without God's grace. Grace is unmeritted favor. But that is about as incomplete of an understanding of grace as one could have. Jude and Peter make it very clear that the principle of law and grace and punishment for disobedience continues on in the New Testament.
Jude 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Jude 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jude 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
Jude 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
2 Pet 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
2 Pet 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
2 Pet 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2 Pet 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2 Pet 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2 Pet 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Verse 10 is an account of these seducers, as exceedingly wicked
2 Pet 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Peter tells us to look at the examples of Noah and Lot to see how God showed mercy to faithful (obedient) individuals. In verses 5 and verses 7-9 he compares them to obedient (faithful) Christians today.
Loyal, faithful, obedient, or in other words, REPENTANT Christians are under grace. The unrepentant are not under grace. They may expect, and are under the full penalty of disobedience to God's Royal Law. For the repentant Christian, the law and its penalty are no threat. Peter clearly tells us that the willfully rebellious and disobedient are not under grace. They are under the law and they will bear the full punishment for their rebellion and disobedience. That is how it is in the New Testament and the whole Bible. Repentance is a changing of the mind, or a turning from sin to God. No one can do this without God's grace. Repentance means a reorientation of the sinner to God.
A direct connection between the prophets and the New Testament is found in John the Baptist. Appearing in the wilderness, he, like they, issued the call to his own generation for this radical kind of turning. He baptized those who by confessing their sins responded to his invitation (Mark 1:4-5). Likewise, he expected that those who had made this commitment would demonstrate by their actions the change which they had made in their hearts (Luke 3:10-14). He differed, though, from the prophets in that his message of repentance was intricately bound up with his expectation of the imminent coming of the Messiah (Luke 3:15-17; see also Acts 19:4).
The Messiah came also preaching a message of repentance (Mark 1:15). Stressing that all men needed to repent (Luke 13:1-5), Jesus summoned his followers to turn and become like children (Matt. 18:3). He defined His ministry in terms of calling sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). Moreover, He illustrated His understanding of repentance in the parable of the prodigal who returned to the father (Luke 15:11-32). Like John, he insisted that the life that was changed was obvious by the "fruit" that it bore (Luke 6:20-45). NEVER FORGET the Father let and allowed the prodigal to walk away and leave the Father. The Father considered the son dead until he repented, turned back in repentance, and took action to come back to the Father. No one can take you out of the Father's hand but you. If you want to walk away you will be allowed to do so. The Father sets free from bondage. You bind yourself to him and you are always free to go even to hell if you do not repent.
Cheap grace, or grace without repentance and obedience to God's royal law, is no grace at all. NO ONE CAN EARN SALVATION. Just one sin makes one a sinner. No amount of perfection can make up for any sin. Only the blood of Yeshua can do that for any PAST sin. Does God require future obedience? Yes! If we believe He does, are we falling into the trap of trying to earn salvation? No! What is required of us? How do we avoid the mystery of iniquity trap which says that after becoming a Christian you should be a good boy, but it is really optional and in the final analysis anything goes? If we say that obedience is required, how do we avoid the trap of trusting in works for salvation?
The biblical answer is the doctrine of repentance. Yeshua is the Way. The way is the way of repentance. Understand what repentance is. Understand what we are to repent from. Understand what defines sin. Are you going to use God's definition or natural human judgment according to the commandments and traditions of men. Understand that repentance is not something that happens only once but is to become a way of life as God gives grace to repent. Will we walk in the grace to repent or frustrate the grace to repent in the way of rebellion? Choose ye this day whom you will serve. God or self. God or the world. God or the lust of the flesh. God's law or man's law.
Repentance is an attitude, and a state of mind. Repentance includes a sincere intent to obey God. If you have been fooled by the mystery of iniquity and the mystery of lawlessness, I MUST TELL YOU TO REPENT. No lawless theories, exempt anyone from God's rules. Believing you are right does not make you right. Doing what God says is right, makes you right. The mystery of iniquity replaces God's rules for your own rules, or no rules at all. If you think any standards are an adequate replacement for biblical law, as a more spiritual standard, you have been deceived by the mystery of iniquity. The true apostles, the 12 that Yeshua chose to have their names on the 12 foundations of New Jerusalem, were extremely harsh regarding the lawless people who claim to be Christians. Those who promote the mystery of iniquity and lawlessness are described as children of Satan in I John 3. Jude's accusations are specifically directed against Christians who believe in Yeshua's grace; BUT, who pervert His true teachings of grace into excuses and tolerance for sin. Peter is equally as harsh on those in the church who excuse and tolerate sin. Paul also condemns the mystery of iniquity. Yeshua condemned sin in the flesh most harshly of all. I John 3 really nails it, for what it is, and we shall see he calls the mystery of iniquity workers the children of Satan, the devil.
Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (debauchery; indecency; lewdness; sexual sin), and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Pet 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in d**nable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Pet 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2 Pet 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their d**nation slumbereth not.
Acts 26:20 But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
It is unreasonable to think repentance will result in perfect obedience. However the intent to obey God implies changing one's conduct to conform to a new standard. The standard is biblical law, not your brand, or anyone else's brand, of natural human morality.
Perfect obedience is not required for repentance. HOWEVER, REPENTANCE DOES INCLUDE THE INTENT TO OBEY GOD. Not only are repentance and grace compatible but repentance is impossible without grace. It is absolutely impossible to have a personal relationship with Yeshua without repentance. Many people can easily be deceived and/or deceive themselves. Forgiveness of sin is by His grace alone. Messiah does not apply His grace to those who do not believe in repentance to His will as revealed by the Word of God. After all Yeshua is the Word of God. Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. We must read the word of God and get to know Yeshua well enough to know What Would Jesus Do? Then by the power of His Spirit of Truth and Holiness DO WHAT JESUS WOULD DO! "We must read the word of God and get to know Yeshua well enough to hear His Voice and do what He says." Heb 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Mixing spirituality and lawlessness is the ultimate absurdity of Christian lawlessness. This is the essence of the mystery of iniquity, which seems to have become full in these last few years. The world is on a collision course with judgment. The judgment will begin with the house of God.
1 Pet 4:17 For 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?
1 Pet 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
The great mystery of iniquity, is a mystery, because its lawless nature is hidden under claims of obedience to a higher spirituality.
Now let us conclude with what John had to say. It is he who by the inspiration of Yeshua's Holy Spirit of truth tells us that those who believe in and INTENTIONALLY practice lawlessness are the children of Satan. Child of God, that is much more serious than losing your reward. John tells us:
2 John 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2 John 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
John really nails it in I John chapter 3:
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
The purifying influence of the hope of seeing Christ, and the danger of pretending to this, and living in sin
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
1 John 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.
1 John 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.
1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Love to the brethren, according to Biblical standards, and not human morality, is the character of real Christians
1 John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
1 John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
That love is described by its actions. Real love is DOING God's 10 commands of His royal law.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
The advantage of faith, love, and obedience
1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Believers are cautioned against giving heed to every one that pretends to the Spirit
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
John says it forward, backwards, sideways. God and sin do not mix! You can be deceived or deceive yourself. However sin separates people from God. God is a Holy God. Without holiness no man will see the Lord.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
1 Th 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
There is not a true relationship with God if one believes in the mystery of iniquity, that sin is OK, and that one does not have to intend to stop sinning. John says it any way you could want to look at it. Just say NO to those who excuse sin, with their mystery of iniquity. Walk in grace which is the power that God gives to repent and stop sinning. The true God forgives sins. God wants to forgive more than we want to be forgiven. Repentance must include the intent to sin no more. We should seek a zero tolerance for sin in our life. If people want to live in some "nice" kind of spirituality which tolerates, excuses, and encourages violations of the word of God, just say NO! Remember Adam was being "nice," when he followed Eve after the "nice" fruit, at the suggestion of the "nice" serpent. Back before "gay" meant sodomite, "nice" used to mean ignorant, stupid, and wanton.
Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Of course, reproving and rebuking will get you HATED by the apostate church...and then you get to partake of the fellowship of His sufferings.
Mt 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Do you KNOW Yeshua? Have you patiently endured much insult and ridicule for faithfully proclaiming the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our G-d? Have you been hearing the L-rd say "come out of her my people" and see no place to go? Where can you meet with God's people and/or worship on the Sabbath? Among those who claim to be part of the faithful remnant, where is the REALITY that should be evident among the faithful remnant? How few even know what faith or grace mean beyond quoting the heresies of the false teachers. Is there a church without the influence of the spirits of Nicolaitane, Balaam, and Jezebel? Is there not hypocrisy, or at least inconsistency, to reduce Christianity to "just be nice?" Churchianity says, "They have professed Jesus is Lord, nothing more is required. How dare you give offense or be judgmental?" We have witnessed the mystery of iniquity or lawlessness become full by those who have come saying "Jesus is Lord!" For this cause His Name is blasphemed among the heathen. What can we do? What must we do?
Let us begin by identifying the 3 spirits which Yeshua said would take over and seek to completely destroy all but a very small remnant of redeemed believers in the last days.
Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
NICOLAITANS (Nihk oh lay' ituhns) personal name meaning "conqueror of the people."
If the Lord says twice this is something that He hates, we need to know what it is all about, and make sure we don't do it. Some churches had an elevated class of members. A clergy and a laity perhaps. We need to be under authority. However, if God is no respector of persons, how dare we be. Many churches elevate the status of their pastors, teachers and leaders above the body and above the Word. Consider the following as preferring church leaders to being led by the Spirit is idolatry: 1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 1Sa 10:19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us.
The Lord hates striving for status in His church. If you want to be great in God's kingdom learn to be the servant of all. Like the watchman says, "It is a race to the bottom." Everything we do for someone less fortunate we do for King Yeshua. There was also an heretical group in the early church who taught immorality and idolatry. They are condemned in Revelation 2:6,15 for their practices in Ephesus, Pergamon and Thyatira. Apparently they had resisted the false prophecy being preached (Rev. 2:20-25). The Nicolaitans have been linked to the type of heresy taught by Balaam (Num. 25:1-2; 2 Pet. 2:15).
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Let us call and identify just what BALAAM is today. Balaam was first and foremost a "Prophet for Profit." The teachers of the pre-tribulation rapture, who are profiting from their teachings of this strong delusion, represent BALAAM. Just be nice because we are not under law but under grace is the catch phrase of NICOLAITINE, BALAAM, and JEZEBEL.
There is more to Balaam. He makes unity of the body impossible. Those who know the truth of the Word of God by the quickening of the Holy Spirit, will not yield to Balaam. They are therefore blamed for the schism of Balaam. The real source of the schism is the mystery of iniquity propagated by Balaam, Nicolaitine, and Jezebel. The mystery of iniquity is the CLAIM TO BEING CHRISTIANS, WHILE THEY ARE AGAINST GOD'S ROYAL LAW AND HIS ESTABLISHED ORDER. If you resist Nicolaitine, Balaam, and Jezebel and stand for the truth of ALL of God's word, expect to be labeled as heretics, crazies, and unloving. The doctrine of Balaam is pleasant to the itching ears of the majority, who will listen only to the prophets who tell them what they want to hear.
Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations;
Earlier in the passage to the Thyatira church we come across Jezebel. JEZEBEL is a personal name meaning "Where is the prince?" Have you heard Jezebel saying "Where is the prince, antichrist, doesn't matter to us, because we will be raptured out before he is revealed." We are called to take the good news to the "Jew First." It certainly is inconsistent if not hypocritical to say we believe we will be out of here during the "Time of Jacob's Trouble" the time when we know that "all Israel shall be saved." Jezebel will also license, encourage, or excuse idolatry and immorality. Jezebel also wants to know "where is the prince" or church leader, so that she can seduce him. Often Jezebel (the false church) exalts herself over her husband...does not reverence her husband...tries to tell Jesus what to do.
The LAW does not save anyone. However, the way any redeemed or saved person is able to prove it to HIMSELF, or anyone else, is that Yeshua, Jesus, gives the power of the HOLY Spirit, the Spirit of TRUTH and HOLINESS, to KEEP and DO God's commands. They are commandments of God, not suggestions. The Holy Spirit empowers us to delight in His Royal Law, not just the power to pontificate, or practice feigned affection. Do you LOVE the TRUTH?
Grace is the God given gift to be able to REPENT. You cannot repent apart from God's grace. We are all creatures of vanity. It is not possible for any vain creature to repent without Grace. The Holy Spirit along with grace empowers man to obey from the heart. Anything less than that, including the idea of salvation by grace alone, with no requirement other than professing belief, without free will repentant action, is, and should be, regarded as gross evil. This is the false faith of Nicolaitine, Balaam, and Jezebel's phony baloney faith. Such faith is not Christian.
WE MUST ASK WHAT LAW? Ask the Holy Spirit "What Law" whenever you read that important little 3 letter word in scripture. Ask anyone who ever mentions the word "law," what law are they talking about.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
1 John 2:3-5 And hereby we do KNOW that we KNOW him, IF we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby KNOW we that we are IN Him.
ANY TIME WE SEE THAT WORD LAW IN SCRIPTURE WE BETTER KNOW WHICH OF THE 4 POSSIBLE TYPES OF LAW MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. WHENEVER ANYONE MENTIONS LAW BE SURE TO ASK THEM WHAT LAW THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT? THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY IS THOSE WHOSE RELIGIOUS EXTERIOR COVERS A HEART THAT IS AGAINST GOD'S ROYAL LAW. ANTI-NOMIAN MEANS AGAINST-LAW. THOSE CLAIMING TO BE CHRISTIANS ARE EXPECTED TO KNOW, LOVE, KEEP, AND DO GOD'S ROYAL LAW.
Here are the 4 basic types of LAW we find in scripture:
1. THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH - This is the Law that the Blood of Jesus saves us from. The curse of the law of sin and death, is death. The Law of sin and death is the Law from which the Blood of Yeshua saves us. What is the law of sin and death? Romans 6:23 or Ezek 18 will give you the answer. The wages of sin is death. The soul that sins shall die. The Blood of Yeshua is the ONLY hope of having a part in the FIRST Resurrection.
2. THE LAW OF MOSES - 613 Commandments, laws, ordinances, Mitzvoth. Even to this day, 613 laws. Some of these, like circumcision, and the Levitical priesthood are done away in the new covenant, through the better priesthood of our GREAT HIGH PRIEST, Yeshua ha Massiach, Jesus THE Christ. If we were smart enough, we would see that many of these make very good sense today; however, we have glorious freedom in Messiah.
3. ORAL LAW - This is the additions and deletions and changes which religious men make to Laws of Scripture. You find Yeshua giving His strongest rebukes to religious people over this oral law, with its additions, deletions, changes, traditions, and perverse doctrines of religious men that you do not find in the Holy Bible. This is often the law to which Paul and the apostles were referring.
4. GOD's ROYAL LAW - The 10 commandments - The Everlasting Covenant - Jesus wrote these with His finger in stone so that NO ONE could change these 10 instructions in Love, Life, and Liberty. This is the Law that the Real Holy Ghost, the one that makes you holy, writes on every circumcised heart. The Holy Ghost causes born again believers to "WANT TO" keep that Royal Law of LOVE, Life, and Liberty. Born again people see this to be the only RIGHT response to the Great Love of God in Messiah Yeshua dawning in one's heart. Break these laws, and you deceive yourself, if you think you will escape.
Yes, it still includes the 4th commandment. It is an insult to God to call Lucifer's sun-god day the Lord's Day. If we don't keep all of His 10 commandments in the tribulation, we will not likely be one of those who is able to endure to the end of the great tribulation. If we don't love and delight in GOD's SABBATH, we are in trouble and don't even know it. It is unrighteousness by definition. This is why Jesus said to pray that your flight not be on the SABBATH. Tribulation is the time context of that neglected instruction.
Yeshua did not come to do away with the law but to fulfill it. He magnified God's royal law. His blood is the propitiation, the payment, for our sins that are PAST! He empowers us by His Holy Spirit to stop sinning. He gives us the grace to walk in repentance and true righteousness and holiness. Yeshua is the REAL Savior who gives the grace and power to stop sinning. Redeemed people stop walking in the lust of their flesh. Redeemed people are sanctified. Sanctification is the will of God for every redeemed person. Sanctification has a beginning, and continues growing in grace (the ability to repent), to finally see Him as He is. While growing in grace one gets to know Yeshua, better and better, by reading the Word of God and prayer, to answer correctly to the question What Would Jesus Do? Sanctification must have the power of the Spirit of Truth to answer What Would Jesus Do with truth to ourselves and others. Sanctification is the process of taking every thought captive to the Mind of Messiah Yeshua. As the prophet Elijah says, "Be a God Pleaser - not a self pleaser or people pleaser."
The teachings of mystical identification with Christ and the power of the Spirit are complete and openly available in scripture. Christians should not be misled into turning aside into new, private revelations from the heavens or the deep that pretend to overturn the scriptural revelation.
Deu 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
Deu 30:12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Have you ever heard that some people just don't show much change when they become Christians, and that does not mean anything about their salvation? I would have to say that suggests that Jesus was wrong to say you really don't know them by their fruit after all. I would have to say that suggests that Paul was wrong when he told us: 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. A simple "Sinner's prayer" is not the same as "repenting and praying through, calling on the Name of the Lord" (until He answers). Too many CLAIM to know Him. Too few really do.
Nicolaitine, Balaam, and Jezebel seek to control with their deep revelations and great human spirituality. Don't be impressed. Watch out and take heed whenever you find biblical standards being replaced with natural human morality. These spirits, that we are to resist, will put emphasis on revelation from within ahead of scripture. Watch out whenever natural human spirituality is interpreted as the revelation of God passed through the soul without solid scripture, in full context, to back it up. We must search the scriptures and learn to rightly divide the word of truth. Show me where to find it at least twice in the bible. Never allow personal revelations to contradict the Word of God. One of the most common techniques of the spirits we are to resist is to produce a secret revelation from Messiah that came after the New Testament was completed. Watch out for progressive revelation. It MUST be verified by the Authorized (KJV) scriptures. Do not allow anyone, including the pope, to have the right to overturn and modify the Authorized word of God.
Look again at how Paul warns against seeking a private revelation from the Spirit when it contradicts the plain, open apostolic teaching in the first-century church.
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Rom 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Everything that pertains to life and godliness is contained in the Authorized scriptures. We therefore must resist the progressive revelations of Nicolaitine, Balaam, and Jezebel. They may forcefully and strongly argue that they are obedient. This is a good example of why it is called "the mystery of iniquity" or the mystery of lawlessness. Outwardly it does not appear to be what it really is. It argues for obedience. But the obedience it tries to enforce, is to a private revelation, that replaces the teaching of Yeshua and the apostles in the New Testament.
CHEAP GRACE IS NOT GRACE - Grace is simply the time that God gives us while our spirit is still in our body to conform ourself to the Word of God. Grace is the gift of God that can make a vain creature, and every man is a vain creature, be able to repent. No man can repent without God's grace. Grace is unmeritted favor. But that is about as incomplete of an understanding of grace as one could have. Jude and Peter make it very clear that the principle of law and grace and punishment for disobedience continues on in the New Testament.
Jude 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Jude 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jude 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
Jude 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
2 Pet 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
2 Pet 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
2 Pet 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2 Pet 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2 Pet 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2 Pet 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Verse 10 is an account of these seducers, as exceedingly wicked
2 Pet 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Peter tells us to look at the examples of Noah and Lot to see how God showed mercy to faithful (obedient) individuals. In verses 5 and verses 7-9 he compares them to obedient (faithful) Christians today.
Loyal, faithful, obedient, or in other words, REPENTANT Christians are under grace. The unrepentant are not under grace. They may expect, and are under the full penalty of disobedience to God's Royal Law. For the repentant Christian, the law and its penalty are no threat. Peter clearly tells us that the willfully rebellious and disobedient are not under grace. They are under the law and they will bear the full punishment for their rebellion and disobedience. That is how it is in the New Testament and the whole Bible. Repentance is a changing of the mind, or a turning from sin to God. No one can do this without God's grace. Repentance means a reorientation of the sinner to God.
A direct connection between the prophets and the New Testament is found in John the Baptist. Appearing in the wilderness, he, like they, issued the call to his own generation for this radical kind of turning. He baptized those who by confessing their sins responded to his invitation (Mark 1:4-5). Likewise, he expected that those who had made this commitment would demonstrate by their actions the change which they had made in their hearts (Luke 3:10-14). He differed, though, from the prophets in that his message of repentance was intricately bound up with his expectation of the imminent coming of the Messiah (Luke 3:15-17; see also Acts 19:4).
The Messiah came also preaching a message of repentance (Mark 1:15). Stressing that all men needed to repent (Luke 13:1-5), Jesus summoned his followers to turn and become like children (Matt. 18:3). He defined His ministry in terms of calling sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). Moreover, He illustrated His understanding of repentance in the parable of the prodigal who returned to the father (Luke 15:11-32). Like John, he insisted that the life that was changed was obvious by the "fruit" that it bore (Luke 6:20-45). NEVER FORGET the Father let and allowed the prodigal to walk away and leave the Father. The Father considered the son dead until he repented, turned back in repentance, and took action to come back to the Father. No one can take you out of the Father's hand but you. If you want to walk away you will be allowed to do so. The Father sets free from bondage. You bind yourself to him and you are always free to go even to hell if you do not repent.
Cheap grace, or grace without repentance and obedience to God's royal law, is no grace at all. NO ONE CAN EARN SALVATION. Just one sin makes one a sinner. No amount of perfection can make up for any sin. Only the blood of Yeshua can do that for any PAST sin. Does God require future obedience? Yes! If we believe He does, are we falling into the trap of trying to earn salvation? No! What is required of us? How do we avoid the mystery of iniquity trap which says that after becoming a Christian you should be a good boy, but it is really optional and in the final analysis anything goes? If we say that obedience is required, how do we avoid the trap of trusting in works for salvation?
The biblical answer is the doctrine of repentance. Yeshua is the Way. The way is the way of repentance. Understand what repentance is. Understand what we are to repent from. Understand what defines sin. Are you going to use God's definition or natural human judgment according to the commandments and traditions of men. Understand that repentance is not something that happens only once but is to become a way of life as God gives grace to repent. Will we walk in the grace to repent or frustrate the grace to repent in the way of rebellion? Choose ye this day whom you will serve. God or self. God or the world. God or the lust of the flesh. God's law or man's law.
Repentance is an attitude, and a state of mind. Repentance includes a sincere intent to obey God. If you have been fooled by the mystery of iniquity and the mystery of lawlessness, I MUST TELL YOU TO REPENT. No lawless theories, exempt anyone from God's rules. Believing you are right does not make you right. Doing what God says is right, makes you right. The mystery of iniquity replaces God's rules for your own rules, or no rules at all. If you think any standards are an adequate replacement for biblical law, as a more spiritual standard, you have been deceived by the mystery of iniquity. The true apostles, the 12 that Yeshua chose to have their names on the 12 foundations of New Jerusalem, were extremely harsh regarding the lawless people who claim to be Christians. Those who promote the mystery of iniquity and lawlessness are described as children of Satan in I John 3. Jude's accusations are specifically directed against Christians who believe in Yeshua's grace; BUT, who pervert His true teachings of grace into excuses and tolerance for sin. Peter is equally as harsh on those in the church who excuse and tolerate sin. Paul also condemns the mystery of iniquity. Yeshua condemned sin in the flesh most harshly of all. I John 3 really nails it, for what it is, and we shall see he calls the mystery of iniquity workers the children of Satan, the devil.
Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (debauchery; indecency; lewdness; sexual sin), and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Pet 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in d**nable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Pet 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2 Pet 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their d**nation slumbereth not.
Acts 26:20 But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
It is unreasonable to think repentance will result in perfect obedience. However the intent to obey God implies changing one's conduct to conform to a new standard. The standard is biblical law, not your brand, or anyone else's brand, of natural human morality.
Perfect obedience is not required for repentance. HOWEVER, REPENTANCE DOES INCLUDE THE INTENT TO OBEY GOD. Not only are repentance and grace compatible but repentance is impossible without grace. It is absolutely impossible to have a personal relationship with Yeshua without repentance. Many people can easily be deceived and/or deceive themselves. Forgiveness of sin is by His grace alone. Messiah does not apply His grace to those who do not believe in repentance to His will as revealed by the Word of God. After all Yeshua is the Word of God. Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. We must read the word of God and get to know Yeshua well enough to know What Would Jesus Do? Then by the power of His Spirit of Truth and Holiness DO WHAT JESUS WOULD DO! "We must read the word of God and get to know Yeshua well enough to hear His Voice and do what He says." Heb 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Mixing spirituality and lawlessness is the ultimate absurdity of Christian lawlessness. This is the essence of the mystery of iniquity, which seems to have become full in these last few years. The world is on a collision course with judgment. The judgment will begin with the house of God.
1 Pet 4:17 For 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?
1 Pet 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
The great mystery of iniquity, is a mystery, because its lawless nature is hidden under claims of obedience to a higher spirituality.
Now let us conclude with what John had to say. It is he who by the inspiration of Yeshua's Holy Spirit of truth tells us that those who believe in and INTENTIONALLY practice lawlessness are the children of Satan. Child of God, that is much more serious than losing your reward. John tells us:
2 John 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2 John 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
John really nails it in I John chapter 3:
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
The purifying influence of the hope of seeing Christ, and the danger of pretending to this, and living in sin
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
1 John 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.
1 John 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.
1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Love to the brethren, according to Biblical standards, and not human morality, is the character of real Christians
1 John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
1 John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
That love is described by its actions. Real love is DOING God's 10 commands of His royal law.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
The advantage of faith, love, and obedience
1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Believers are cautioned against giving heed to every one that pretends to the Spirit
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
John says it forward, backwards, sideways. God and sin do not mix! You can be deceived or deceive yourself. However sin separates people from God. God is a Holy God. Without holiness no man will see the Lord.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
1 Th 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
There is not a true relationship with God if one believes in the mystery of iniquity, that sin is OK, and that one does not have to intend to stop sinning. John says it any way you could want to look at it. Just say NO to those who excuse sin, with their mystery of iniquity. Walk in grace which is the power that God gives to repent and stop sinning. The true God forgives sins. God wants to forgive more than we want to be forgiven. Repentance must include the intent to sin no more. We should seek a zero tolerance for sin in our life. If people want to live in some "nice" kind of spirituality which tolerates, excuses, and encourages violations of the word of God, just say NO! Remember Adam was being "nice," when he followed Eve after the "nice" fruit, at the suggestion of the "nice" serpent. Back before "gay" meant sodomite, "nice" used to mean ignorant, stupid, and wanton.
Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Of course, reproving and rebuking will get you HATED by the apostate church...and then you get to partake of the fellowship of His sufferings.
Mt 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
