The Unbeliever

      We are all hell-deserving sinners, worthy of death and punishment.  Whether we agree with the Bible or not, the truth cannot be changed.  If a person claims that hell does not exist and that a loving God would not send someone to burn in hell forever, then that person is an UNBELIEVER.  He or she simply does NOT accept the plain teachings of God's Word.  If you do not believe the Bible is God's Word, you are an UNBELIEVER.  No true Believer with Christ in their heart can honestly DENY that the Bible is God's Word.  Revelation 21:8 makes clear that UNBELIEVERS will someday be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity (the second death), "But the fearful, and UNBELIEVING, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."  It is the UNBELIEVER who will burn in hell down-the-road when this life comes to an end.  NO ONE escapes dying! 

As a matter of fact, the UNBELIEVER is the ONLY person that will burn into Hell someday.  When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, you are no longer under the condemnation of God's Law.  Your sins have been placed on Christ's record and Christ's righteousness was placed on your record.  This is called "imputation."  The dictionary defines the word "impute" as "the attribution to a source or cause."  In other words, your sins are attributed to Christ and His righteousness is attributed to you.  "For he hath made him to be sin for us, WHO KNEW NO SIN; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2nd Corinthians 5:21).   Jesus became as sin for us and died a sinners death on the cross that we who knew no righteousness might be made as the righteousness of God.  What a wonderful Savior!   When a man trusts Jesus Christ as Savior to forgive his sins, that man is JUSTIFIED (Just-if-I'd-never-sinned).   There are only two types of people in this world: the WHOSOEVER WILL'S and the WHOSOEVER WONT'S.   "For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).   Either you are trusting Jesus Christ OR you are not, plain and simple!   If you are NOT, then you are an unbeliever in danger of hell-fire and damnation.   

God judgeth the righteous, and GOD IS ANGRY WITH THE WICKED EVERY DAY" (Psalm 7:11).  It is not a trifle or light matter with God that people live in sin.  Many people in society have denounced the institution of marriage, saying it's better to just live together without any commitment.  This free-love style of living is sinful!  This is the hippie (do-your-own-thing) mentality.   This type of living is nothing but a cover for an adulterous life.  People want to do as they please and sleep around under the umbrella that it's ok because they are single.  This lifestyle and reasoning is an abomination unto God.  If you are NOT married, then you are sinning by partaking in sex.  This is not a light matter to be laughed at, "Who KNOWING THE JUDGMENT OF GOD, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" (Romans 1:32).   These type people not only live in sin but also enjoy watching others commit the same sins (it's called TV).  The Bible says that these people KNOW judgment day is coming yet continue in their sins.  Why?  Because they are enslaved to sin!!!   "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the SERVANT OF SIN" (John 8:34).  Let's go a step further, "He that committeth sin is OF THE DEVIL" (1st John 3:8).  It is Satanic to live in fornication outside the proper boundaries of Marriage.  No matter how unpopular it may become or how inconvenient it may seem, marriage is still God's diving plan for a man and a woman. 

Misconceptions Concerning Christ

  By David J. Stewart

There are many misconceptions concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.  False religions have portrayed Jesus Christ as everything from a space alien to merely a myth.  Many people believe that Jesus was only a prophet.  The Bible teaches that Jesus is God, Almighty God.  He came to earth as the Son of God, God in the flesh.  He has existed and will exist for all eternity, without beginning or end.  Jesus was never created but He is the Creator of all things.  Jesus existed in heaven before He ever took on the form of a man in the flesh.  At times, Jesus made physical appearances in the Old Testament (to Abraham and Sarah, Jacob, Nebuchadnezzar, etc).   Jesus is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (everywhere).  Jesus lives within the heart of every Believer as the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is named as the second person of the Godhead—One God Who has manifest (revealed) Himself to mankind in the form of three distinct individual Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.  By the way, the Holy Spirit is a person.  I often hear Believers say, "something spoke to my heart."  That "something" is the Holy Spirit.  Do you recognize the Holy Spirit in your life?  Every Believer needs to acknowledge the Holy Spirit's presence and welcome Him because He is God and He already lives within your heart. 
 

Jesus is Almighty God

Perhaps you ask, "can a person be saved if he or she doesn't believe that Jesus is God?"  The Answer is that a saved person WILL believe that Jesus is God.  A saved person WILL believe in the virgin birth of Christ.  A saved person WILL believe that Christ died on the cross.  Now when I accepted Christ as my Savior as a teenager, I had never heard of the deity of Christ.  I didn't know that Jesus was God until a few years later, BUT when I learned that Jesus was God I readily accepted that truth and have never doubted it one time since.  The Holy Spirit bared witness with my spirit that this was the truth.  If you were to tell me that you do NOT believe Jesus is God, then I would have no doubt that you are NOT saved.  No way!  Listen to the Words of Christ, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24).  If you look in your King James Bible, the pronoun "he" is in italics.  Italics were added by the 48 King James translators because they felt it was necessary to add clarity to the original meaning.  One language doesn't necessarily mean the same thing in another language so the translators had the great responsibility of making sure that the proper original meaning was conveyed into the translated Bible.  The added words were put into italics by the translators out of fear of making a mistake.  They left the final decision up to us—This was very scholarly of them because they wanted to be as honest and accurate as possible in their translating work.  This allows us to decipher the meaning for ourselves without any translator's bias.  You won't find any italics in other versions of the Bible—They all foolishly assume they are correct.  The result is much heresy and errors.  The King James Bible is a beautiful work of art and scholarship.  So what John 8:24 literally says is "I AM."  Jesus was claiming to be the "I AM" of Exodus 3:14, "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."   If you don't believe me then take a look at John 8:57,58, "Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM."   Jesus claimed that He existed before Abraham was ever born!  This made the Jews very angry because they knew what Jesus was claiming—to be God Almighty.  They began to stone Jesus, "Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by" (John 8:59).   Jesus said that the person who does not believe that He is the "I AM" will die in their sins.  Do you believe Jesus is the "I AM?" 

You MUST Believe Upon the Biblical Jesus to Be Saved

Ignorance concerning Christ won't keep you from being saved BUT a misconception of Who He is may.  If you will only believe on the "True" Christ—You may be saved!!!  The only way to be saved is to simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ apart from all else.  However, if you've been taught that Jesus is not God and you refuse to admit that your thinking is corrupt, you are in danger of hell fire!  You must believe on the correct Jesus.  You must acknowledge Christ as He is.  If you only view Christ as a prophet or as a good man, you can trust him all you want but it won't do you any good because you have found another Jesus.  "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  For if he that cometh preacheth ANOTHER JESUS, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him" (2nd Corinthians 11:3,4).  The Apostle Paul warned of false prophets who would bring in damnable heresies, teaching ANOTHER JESUS which was not of the Scriptures.  If you say that you are trusting Christ AND keeping the seven sacraments to be saved, then you have never completely trusted Christ.  I have witnessed to many folks who will tell me that they are trusting Jesus AND something else (baptism, good works, church membership, confirmation, confession, religion, Saint Anthony, uncle Joe, etc).   You must trust Christ alone to save you!  You must come empty-handed to the Savior if you want to be saved—You can bring nothing of your own to merit salvation—It must all be of Jesus because only Jesus can save.

       Our faith + Jesus and good works = hell

       Our faith + Jesus = heaven

It's as simple as that folks!

       Our faith + the wrong Jesus = hell

       Our faith + the true Jesus = heaven

We must make sure we are completely trusting the "Jesus" of the Scriptures and not some mythical or fictitious Jesus.  Most religions have a misconception of Christ and nearly all false religions diminish Christ's deity.  We read in John 6:40?  "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which SEETH THE SON, and BELIEVETH ON HIM, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."  Do you see Jesus?  How do you see Him?  Have you been viewing a counterfeit Jesus?  Hopefully you have found the true Jesus and are trusting Him.  This chapter "misconceptions concerning Christ" has been written to help you see the correct Jesus of the Bible.  All you need to do is simply believe on Him.   Call upon His name for salvation and the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus will not disappoint you. 

when I became a Christian, I was green behind the ears and very ignorant concerning Who Christ was; however, I did not have a distorted image of Who Christ was either.  There's a big difference.  If I had been in a false religion or had been influenced by a corrupted perversion of the Bible, I would have had a more difficult time getting saved.  Why?  Because I would have had to admit my thinking was wrong in order to grasp the truth.  This is very difficult for some people.  False religion is one of the most common methods which Satan uses to blind people.  I've often said, "The hardest thing about getting people saved is getting them lost."  Fortunately, when I was saved it was only a matter of accepting and believing the truth.  All I knew was that I was a lost sinner and needed Jesus to save me.  I only knew that Jesus had died on the cross for me.  That's all you need to know to be saved.  God only requires a child-like faith to be saved.  Salvation is NOT difficult. 
 

Many People Have the Wrong Jesus

The problem is that many people have been taught misconceptions concerning Christ.  As I've already mentioned, you'd be surprised how many people will say they're trusting Jesus AND SOMETHING ELSE.  This is NOT acceptable to God.  Seventh-Day Adventists claim to have faith in Christ yet will tell you that their faith in Christ alone cannot save.  They believe that when a person dies that their works follow them afterwards.  In other words, the bad or good they did in life can have an affect on their salvation after they're dead and gone.  They believe that Jesus will decide whether or not they are worthy to be resurrected and enter heaven.  This of course is a lie and totally unscriptural.  To be saved, these folks would have to admit the errors of their thinking and then turn to Christ ALONE for salvation.  No one is worthy to be saved, no one.  Salvation is a GIFT from God, paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  If we believe on Jesus, that ALONE is perfectly sufficient and acceptable to God for salvation. 

I AM simply saying that you CANNOT be saved if you willfully maintain certain distorted views of Who Jesus really is.  Certain misconceptions would not matter.  For example: some people view God as a big ogre up in heaven with a big stick ready to beat us over the head when we sin.  This is FAR from the truth!  However, this misconception would NOT keep a person from getting saved.  However, If you believe as Islamic Muslims do—that Jesus never died on the cross—then you CANNOT be saved until you repent of your unbelief, you are an unbeliever.   Sadly, there are over one billion Muslims in the world who do not believe that Jesus was ever crucified.  "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit?  there is more hope of a fool than of him" (Proverbs 26:12).  "Conceit" (stubborn pride) has sent billions of unrepentant souls to hell.  We must NOT create God in our own image.  There are over one billion Roman Catholics in this world who believe sacraments and good works are necessary to salvation.  They believe that Mary (Jesus' earthly mother) is a co-savior with Jesus.  This is a lie of the devil and NOT found in God's Word.  Mary was a mere human, no more.  She is no different in heaven today than any other saint in heaven.  She is a sinner saved by grace, as ALL God's Children are.  The Bible says there is more hope for a complete fool than for someone who is too blinded by pride to admit the errors of their way.  It is a foolish thing to create God in our own image.  We must realize that we are created in God's image.  Good works are NOT a necessary part of salvation and WILL prevent you from being saved if you trust in them for salvation.  Mary CANNOT save you and praying to her is idolatry.  "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you THE TRUTH?" (Galatians 4:16).   This is plain old-fashioned Bible teaching. 
 

Satan is a Master Deceiver and Counterfeiter

Many of the misconceptions concerning Christ have resulted from watered-down perversions of the Bible.  There are many counterfeit bibles selling on the market and being used in churches today.  It should NOT surprise you to learn such a thing, for the devil is a master counterfeiter.  "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, TRANSFORMING themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is TRANSFORMED into an angel of light" (2nd Corinthians 11:13,14).   The word "transformed" here means that Satan has the ability to "change" his appearance.  He comes to us as a wolf in sheep's clothing.  He offers us a new and better bible.  He offers us a new religion, another Jesus.  The devil promises us a better life that he CANNOT deliver.   We must not be ignorant of Satan's tactics or methods.   It's been said, "Satan is to be dreaded as a lion, dreaded even more as a serpent and dreaded most of all as an angel."

Many misconceptions about Christ have their source in people's ignorance concerning God's Word.  The following Scriptures reveal the Heavenly father's desire concerning our attitude towards Christ.  "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.  Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; HEAR YE HIM" (Matthew 17:1-5).   Moses and Elijah had appeared.  Peter said he wanted to build three tabernacles: one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah.  God the Father stepped in and said, No way!  You magnify Jesus only!  The message is clearly—we must worship, praise and listen to the Words of Jesus Christ only.  "And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.  And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.  And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, SAVE JESUS ONLY" (Matthew 17:6-8).  God wanted to make sure that only Jesus was worshipped and glorified so He immediately removed Moses and Elijah.  Peter, James and John looked up and only Jesus remained.  This is a lesson to us also that ONLY JESUS is to be worshipped; not Mary, not the Pope, not Allah, not Buddha, not Confucius, not a denomination, not a religion, not a man—ONLY JESUS.  Beware of any doctrine, religion or person that diminishes (makes less) of Jesus Christ in any way. 
 

Misconceptions Concerning Christ as Creator

Another misconception concerning Christ is that he was created with Lucifer—This is a lie.  Jesus is the Creator of the universe, He was NOT created.  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD.  The same was in the beginning with God.  ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; and without him was not any thing made that was made.   In him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1:1-4).  Jesus is the Word that is God.  It is Jesus Christ Who created ALL things.  This should not be a surprise in the least seeing that Jesus is Almighty God.  God had no creator for He has no beginning.  "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  FOR BY HIM WERE ALL THINGS CREATED, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist" (Colossians 1:14-17).   "Firstborn" refers to the fact that Jesus was the first to receive the resurrected body.  We will receive our resurrected bodies at the rapture when Jesus returns "FOR His own."  Jesus came the first time "TO His own" when in Israel, He is coming at the rapture "FOR His won" and Christ will return seven years after the rapture "WITH His own" at the second coming.  We read in Acts 17:25, "GOD THAT MADE THE WORLD and all things therein, seeing that HE IS LORD of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing HE GIVETH TO ALL LIFE, AND BREATH, AND ALL THINGS."  Jesus is the Creator!  Jesus is the Lord!  Jesus is God!  The Eternal Godhead of the universe walked this earth in the visible body of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). 
 

Misconceptions Concerning the Godhead (Trinity)

The doctrine of the trinity is often attacked by false religion and the unbelieving.  The word "trinity" is NOT in the Bible, but the word "Godhead" most certainly is.  This doctrine cannot be denied for it is taught throughout the Bible.  "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and WE will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:23).  Who is "We?"  God the Father and God the Son of course.  When you accept Christ into your heart as your Savior, you get the full package.  If you are saved, God the Father and God the Son live in your heart in the form of God the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit merges and unites with your dead spirit at salvation and you are "quickened" or "made alive."  "And you hath he QUICKENED, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1).  If you are saved, you don't have a problem believing in the trinity because He lives in your heart.  I say "He" because there is only ONE GOD.  "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is ONE LORD" (Deuteronomy 6:4).  There is only ONE God.  Those who believe in the trinity are sometimes accused of being "polytheists" (a belief in multiple god's).  This of course is far from the truth. 

The Bible teaches that there is only ONE true and living God.  However, we cannot dismiss the fact that this ONE God has revealed Himself to mankind as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  Three distinct persons all equal in power, might and knowledge. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the SPIRIT of CHRIST, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9).  This Scripture is clear—if you do NOT have the Holy Spirit living within your heart—you are NOT a Child of God.  Notice that the Holy Spirit is called the "Spirit of Christ."  This is simply because they are both one in the same Spirit of the same ONE God.  Jesus Christ lives within my heart as the Holy Spirit.  They are the same God, yet two distinct persons.  Notice the Bible prophecy concerning Christ in Isaiah 9:6-7, "For unto us a child is born (Jesus) , unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder (during the Millennium): and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The EVERLASTING FATHER, The Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever…"  What a wonderful promise from God!  One can only await with great anticipation for the day when Christ will reign and the world will be under His perfect government—no more political scandals, no more corruption, no more bribes, no more favoritism, no more injustice, no more treason, no more lies, no more taking advantage of the less fortunate.  What a day that will be! 

Notice the phrase, "the EVERLASTING FATHER" in Isaiah 9:6. Jesus is called the "Everlasting Father."  Jesus and the Father are ONE.  Jesus is as much the Father as the Father is the Father, yet they are two distinct persons.  "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST" (Matthew 28:19).   Three persons, ONE God.  If you are saved, you believe this—You may not understand it, but you wholeheartedly believe it.   "But wisdom is justified of all her children" (Luke 7:35).   Are you a Child of Wisdom, a Child of God?  Notice the powerful words of Romans 1:20, " For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and GODHEAD; so that they are without excuse."  We covered this in an earlier chapter.  "Godhead" refers to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  The invisible spirit world is clearly seen by the things which are made.  This means that every person knew at one time in their life that there was a God.  It is only when a person fails to glorify God in their life that their foolish heart is darkened and grows cold. 

I don't believe anyone is born an atheist.  Somewhere at some point in their life, they knew God.  Life and people can sometimes be cruel. This often turns many people away from God and His Word.  They fail to differentiate between God and religion.  God is God and religion is religion—don't confuse the Two.  I'm saying, don't blame God because man fails you!  Religion can often be a very bad thing.   The great preacher and pastor, D.L. Moody, once said, "People have just enough religion to be miserable."  This is so true.  Let's take a look at another Scripture concerning the "Godhead."  "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the GODHEAD bodily" (Colossians 2:9).   Jesus came to this earth as God (the Son) in the Flesh, but He was also the Father and the Holy Spirit in the flesh.  Jesus had the absolute fullness of the Holy Spirit, "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God GIVETH NOT THE SPIRIT BY MEASURE UNTO HIM" (John 3:34).  Jesus had unlimited power while on the earth.  He said He could have called twelve legions of angels to come to His rescue if He simply spoke the word (Matthew 26:53).  Jesus had the Holy Spirit "without measure."  This is amazing! 

As Believers, the Holy Spirit "indwelt" us at salvation.  That is to say, the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) moved into our heart and united with our spirit (which was dead).  We became a Child of God, a member of the body (family) of Christ.  This simply means that He came into our heart to live forever.  He united with our spirit in a spiritual marriage.  However, even though God now lives in our heart, we need to daily "yield" our will to obey His will.  To do so brings the "fullness" of the Holy Spirit.  You see, the Holy Spirit can't fill our mind and heart if we are full of ourselves.  If we want the fullness of the spirit, we must empty our minds of the world and fill it with God's Word.  We must keep our heart close to the Lord in truth, gratitude, humility and holy fear.  The Christian life can only be lived ON PURPOSE.  This requires a sincere desire on our part to live according to God's Word.  Many people do not want to live for God.  However, Jesus had the 100% fullness of the Holy Spirit.  Nowhere in the Bible is it ever said of any other man that he had the Holy Spirit "without measure"—This was only said concerning our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   Truly this was the Son of God, God reincarnate.
 

Jesus Died for the Sins of the Whole World

Another misconception concerning Christ is that He only died for Adam.  Others believe that Jesus only died for the saved.  These are erroneous teachings.  1st Corinthians 5:21 reads, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."   Some people believe this verse only applies to the saved because "us" and "we" refer to the Believers unto Whom this epistle of Paul was written.  Though this letter was indeed written to the Believers at the Church of Corinth, we must consider other Scriptures before making such faulty assumptions.  The Bible says in 1st Timothy 2:4-6, "Who will have ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time."   "ALL" people everywhere may be saved.  God is no respecter of persons and "ALL" are welcome at the feet of Jesus. "For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).  God says, "WHOSOEVER" desires salvation may come to Jesus for salvation—that means anybody.   "For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).  There's that word "WHOSOEVER" again.  Notice that God loves the entire world.  God loves people—all people, in every nation, of every race, of every background, of every village, of every upbringing, of every heartache, of every deformity, of every handicap, of every mistake, of every sin, of every attitude, of every religion, of every belief—God loves people!  "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (the promise of His return), as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE" (2nd Peter 3:9).  God loves ALL people and does NOT want one single sinner to perish into hell.  God doesn't send anyone to hell, we choose to go there by our own unbelief and love for sin.  The Scripture we just read tells us why Jesus hasn't returned yet—because God is patiently waiting for more sinners to repent and get saved.  God wants people to repent of their "unbelief."
 

There is Only One Jesus, but Many Fakes

The Sinfulness Of Mankind

 

To be Saved, We Must Recognize Our Own Sinfulness

You must realize and admit that you are a sinner according to the Scriptures.  Romans 3:23 tells us  "For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  Again in Romans 3:10 we read the words "There is NONE righteous, No NOT ONE".  We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners.  "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12).  Adam was that "one man" who committed the original sin.  God had told Adam and Eve that they would die on the very day they sinned.  "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the DAY that thou eatest there of it THOU SHALT SURELY DIE." (Genesis 2:17).  Interestingly, Adam and Eve lived many years thereafter.  How could this be?  The reason is because they died spiritually, NOT physically when they sinned.  Their perfect relationship with God was over.  They now had the sin nature and were at enmity with God.  The days of paradise in Eden were at an sudden end. 
 

The Curse of the Sin Nature - All humans are born with it.

Romans 5:12 teaches us that Adam's spiritual death has been passed down to all of humanity.  This means we are ALL born spiritually dead.  Adam and Eve would have lived forever had they not sinned. This is why each person MUST be born-again!  The term "born-again" means "being born for the second time."  There is the physical birth and then there is the spiritual birth.  We are born spiritually dead without God in our heart.   We are all born with a fallen nature, a natural tendency to sin.  The sin nature has been passed down to us from Adam.  No one needs to teach a child how to lie, steal, cheat, etc. On the contrary, children need to be taught NOT to lie, steal or cheat, etc.  The only two individuals who were ever born into this world without a fallen nature (sin nature) were Adam and Jesus Christ.  Adam of course sinned and took upon himself the sin nature; Jesus NEVER sinned one time.  Adam's love for Eve superceded His love for God.  He chose to sin with Eve at the expense of facing the judgment of God.  Adam became a sinner and died spiritually the moment he sinned.  He would be a sinner from that day forward, even unto his death.  The rest of mankind does not have a choice on the matter, we all have that sin nature because Adam chose to have it.  We are all descendants of our great ancestral father, Adam; therefore, we are all born with the same infectious curse of sin and death.  We all have the sin-tainted blood of Adam.  We are all born spiritually dead (the natural man).  Jesus on-the other-hand NEVER sinned, not even once.   "For he hath made him to be sin for us, WHO KNEW NO SIN" (2nd Corinthians 5:21).  This was absolutely necessary if Christ was to offer Himself up as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind (as of a lamb without spot or blemish).  We will cover this more later.  You need to realize at this point my friend that you are a sinner. 
 

Man Cannot Save Himself

As sinners, we cannot do anything of our own effort to reconcile ourselves with God—We must follow God's plan of salvation.  All of our GOOD WORKS CANNOT SAVE US.  "For BY GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT OF GOD:  NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9).  The truth could not be any plainer than this—you cannot earn your way to heaven!  You cannot brag about your self-righteousness to God because you have no righteousness of your own to offer.  Adam and Eve could not make up for what they had done.  All of their own good works could not get them out of the situation they had entangled themselves in.  They had sinned and were bound for hell.  What were they to do?  Ah, but God in His love had a plan of redemption.  Christ who knew no sin became as sin so that we who knew no righteousness could obtain Christ's righteousness.  Salvation is God's FREE GIFT, paid for by Jesus at the cross.  No amount of good deeds can undo the bad we have done. 
 

Committing Even the Smallest Sins Make Us Guilty of ALL

NOT BY WORKS of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us" (Titus 3:5).  Read the following words spoken in Isaiah, "But we are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL our righteousnesses are as FILTHY RAGS; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Isaiah 64:6).  God hates sin so much that He can't even describe it in words we would understand.  So God instead tells us what He thinks about all the good things we do—they're nothing but filthy rags in His sight.  Don't misunderstand—God loves good works, but God hates when we trust our good deeds to get us into heaven.  If you are trying to please God with the nice things you do in hopes of making it to heaven someday, your in for a horrible surprise!   Why?  Because committing ONE SIN makes us guilty of ALL in the eyes of God.  "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet OFFEND IN ONE POINT, he is GUILTY OF ALL" (James 2:10).   Wow!  That doesn't sound too fair does it?  The point is that a sinner is a sinner.  Whether you sin once or a thousand times, you are still a sinner in need of a Savior.  Adam and Eve sinned just once but that was enough to bring them under the condemnation and judgment of Almighty God. 
 

There is None Righteous

We are all sinners.  God is simply trying to show you that your NOT as righteous as you may have thought you were.  As a matter of fact; "There is NONE righteous…" (Romans 3:10).  First John 1:10 declares that if we deny that we have sinned, we are calling God a liar.   It is the LAW (commands of God) that show us just how wicked we really are, "...for BY THE LAW is the KNOWLEDGE OF SIN" (Romans 3:20).   The law condemns us and points us to Christ.  As with any court, ignorance is no excuse for the law.  Cain killed Able before the law of Moses was ever given but God still held him accountable.  The law simply reinforces our moral conscience.  Let's read the purpose of the Mosaic law (which includes the 10 commandments) in Romans 3:19,  "Now we know that what things so ever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and ALL THE WORLD MAY BECOME GUILTY BEFORE GOD.   The purpose of the law of Moses was to reveal to Israel and to the rest of humanity just how wicked we really are.  No person alive can keep the whole law of God perfectly, NO ONE.  The law shows us our hopeless condition and then graciously points us to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.  Salvation is in Christ, NOT ourselves.  "Wherefore THE LAW WAS OUR SCHOOLMASTER TO BRING US UNTO CHRIST, that we might be JUSTIFIED BY FAITH" (Galatians 3:24).   Keeping the ten commandments will not save anybody!  Being a nice person CANNOT help you earn you heaven!   Getting baptized simply won't help!  The law shows us our need for Christ's atoning work.  The law was given to us by God that our sin might become "exceeding sinful" in our own eyes.  "...that SIN by the commandment might become EXCEEDINGLY SINFUL" (Romans 7:13).  Having done it's job, we must admit our sinful condition and turn to Christ for our salvation. 
 

The Reason Why People Become Self-Righteous

Satan's Miracles!

"And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.  Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.  For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods." -Exodus 7:10-12

God had sent Moses to deliver the children of Israel out from under hard bondage in Egypt.  Finally, after 400 years of torment and slavery, the Israelites were about to be freed from Egypt.  God sent Moses and Aaron to confront Pharaoh, demanding the release of the Israelites.  Aaron accompanied Moses as his spokesman.  God told Moses and Aaron that Pharaoh was going to demand to see miracles.  God had instructed them what to do.  When Pharaoh did ask to see a miracle, Aaron tossed his rod down to the floor and it became a serpent.  It should be to no surprise to a Christian that God is a miracle working God. 

However, what may be surprising to a newer believer who hasn't grown yet in spiritual understanding is that SATAN ALSO PERFORMS MIRACLES!  The fact that Satan and his false prophets can perform miracles is documented in the Scriptures. 

Exodus 7:11, "Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments."

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Exodus 7:22, "And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said."

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Exodus 8:7, "And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. "

 It is no surprise to the knowledgeable believer that Satan has power given to him by God.  When the devil tempted Jesus in Luke chapter four, the devil made an interesting statement to Jesus...

 "And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it." -Luke 4:6

Satan is an "finite" being.  The devil is NOT omnipotent, NOT omnipresent, and NOT omniscient.  Satan is a murderer.  It wasn't God who murdered those 2,000 babies at the time of Christ's birth, it was Herod.  Herod was so obsessed with keeping control of his reign over Rome that he was willing to murder 2,000 little innocent children in an attempt to kill the Christ child.  Mass murderers ARE SATAN POSSESSED (murderers such as: Hitler, Nixon, Kissinger, Pol Pot, and the Roman Catholic Church during the early centuries and again in the holocaust).  The Catholic Church has yet to officially condemn the holocaust of WWII.  This is Satan's power-- TO MURDER, Steal and DESTROY (John 10:10).

Satan is a limited being, corrupt and perverted in every sense of the term.   Satan is a master of deceit, a liar through and through.  It's interesting that the occult (illuminati, Skull and Bones, etc) likes to flaunt Satanism blatantly in front of our faces.  Not to my surprise, the large majority of society either doesn't see the evil or doesn't care.  It does not surprise me because most people do not know the Lord Jesus Christ personally.  They have never been born-again.  Society is filled with religious people, even professed "Christian" people who know all the lingo and jargon, but their hearts are far from God.  They are phonies, on their way to hell.  The only way any person can go to heaven is to have their sins forgiven.  Only Jesus Christ can forgive sin because only Jesus has the nail-scarred hands and feet.  Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" -1st Corinthians 15:3

The Bible is history written in advance.  The following verses from the book of Revelation reveals that the antichrist will perform miracles to deceive the masses.

"And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." -Revelation 13:14

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"For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." -Revelation 16:14

"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone." -Revelation 19:20  

The devil is a master counterfeiter with his false bibles, false religions, false prophets, false doctrines, false people, etc.  As believers, we have the Holy Spirit of God living within our hearts (1st John 4:4).  Greater is He (the Godhead) that is in us than he that is in the world (the devil).  We must diligently analyze any miracles or wonders to decipher whether they be of God or Satan.  Remember that Pharaoh's magicians had Satanic power to do miracles.  Remember that the antichrist WILL deceive the masses with miracles, signs, and wonders.  The Holy Bible clearly teaches that God speaks to us in these last days through His Son (Jesus Christ, the Word of God--Revelation 19:13; Hebrews 1:2).  Let the Word of God and the Holy Spirit be your guide.

As born-again Christians, we must expose SATAN'S WORKS!  If we don't do it, then who will?  Do you think the Wiccan witches are going to expose the evils of Harry Potter?  Do you think Oprah Winfrey is going to expose the New Age Movement?  New Age is fast-becoming the biggest religion on earth.  New Agers teach that there are MANY paths to Heaven; BUT, the Bible proclaims there is ONLY one, by faith in Jesus Christ alone (John 14:6; Acts 4:10-12).  Please do not be deceived... "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:14). 

In Jesus' name, David J. Stewart

The Worst Thing About Hell

By David J. Stewart

The Word of God describes Hell as a PLACE of tormentuous suffering, and agony.  In Mark 9:43,44 Jesus warned of the danger of being cast "...into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."  In Matthew 8:11-12, Jesus prophecies of the future time when He shall return to set up His earthly Kingdom.  Christ will gather the nations together in Jerusalem, and there will be a judgment.  The saved (sheep) will be separated from the unsaved (goats). The saved will enter into the Millennial Kingdom of Heaven.. "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven."  Concerning the unsaved, Jesus said... "But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  This describes Hell--a place of DARKNESS, WEEPING, and GNASHING OF TEETH.  Oh! How horrible!  We are warned by God in 2nd Thessalonians 1:8, "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."  How much clearer could the Bible, God's Word, be concerning the reality and indescribable suffering of a literal Hell? 

The Word of God teaches that those presently in Hell will one day be delivered before The Great White Throne of Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15), judged according to their works, sentenced, and then finally cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity.  There are 3 different Greek meanings for the English word "Hell" in the New Testament.  Hades always refers to the present place of Hell, and Gehenna always refers to the Lake of Fire.  In Revelation 20:14, it says that Hades was cast into Gehenna, or ... Hell was cast into the Lake of Fire.  Thus, if you die in your sins without the blood of Jesus having taken your sins away, you WILL BE CAST INTO GEHENNA!  This doom is the second death.  So if you're born ONCE, you die TWICE; but if you're born TWICE, then you only die ONCE.  Ye must be born again! 

The worst thing about the Lake of Fire won't be the flames of torment, the darkness, the gnashing of teeth, or the screams of the damned.  No, the worst thing about Hell will be that it NEVER ENDS!  The second death is irreversible.  A lot of believers mistake the second death for spiritual death.  The truth is that you are ALREADY spiritually dead if you haven never been born-again.  If you die in your sins without Christ, then you will be cast into the lake of Fire, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8).  Even after one trillion years (i.e., 1,000,000,000,000 years!), your eternity in the flames and torments of Hell won't even have begun.  Think about that for a moment, please!  Are you willing to risk spending all eternity, WITHOUT END, burning in the flames of Hell?  Why would you take such a chance? 

I hear unsaved people bragging that they want to go to Hell to party.  I can assure you that no one will be enjoying Hell even in the least degree!  Hell will be a place of God's flaming vengeance, because you deliberately rejected His free gift of eternal life (2nd Thessalonians 1:8).  Romans 6:23 states... "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  I also think one of the most painful things about Hell is going to be the knowledge that you could have went to Heaven for FREE, but you arrogantly and defiantly spit in God's face by rejecting Christ as your Savior.  Why go to Hell when you don't have to?  Going to Heaven doesn't require you to live a religious life.  You don't have to give up anything to be saved, not even your unbelief.  In Mark 9:24 we read, "And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."  The father had faith in spite of his doubt, and the Lord healed his son.  I don't care how much doubt you may have, if you REPENT (i.e., turn) in your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, He will save you.  How much faith do you need to be saved? ... just enough to obey the Gospel and trust upon the Lord, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  One of the worst things about Hell will be the awareness that you could have gone to Heaven simply by believing upon Jesus as your Savior, but you said "NO"!  In John 14:6 Jesus adamantly declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  It's Jesus or Hell.

Please don't go to Hell.  If you do, you will spend eternity there, with NO HOPE of escape--not today, not tomorrow, not 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years from now!!!!!!!  And to think, you could have gone to Heaven, simply by placing your faith in Jesus, who shed His precious blood to take away all your sins... "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1st Peter 1:18,19).  Will the Lake of Fire be your eternal doom?

"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." -Revelation 20:13-15