Tag: sadducees

Studies

Warnings and Commandments About Deceivers

Peter

False Prophets, Brethren, and AntiChrist’s

Greetings to the scattered pilgrims abiding in the hope of the glorious Gospel and the Promise of salvation. Peace and Grace to you as we continue to grow together in the knowledge of the Lord’s Grace.

The weight of Scripture warning about false Christians of all types is big for a reason. We interact with many deceivers on our journey, waiting for the Promise to come and later walking out our faith. The Lord makes all things, including those who are deceived and those who deceive.  Deception is all worked by the Lord to winnow and test the flock and teach us to obey His commandments in all ways.  It is all being worked per the counsel of His will.  We all need to overcome the wicked one within us, who deceives us all with carnal reasonings [lies, fables, vain babblings we tell ourselves], until the Lord has mercy and saves us from our enemies.  All things are ours to fulfill, and the written lessons and warnings guide the way.

Tit 3:3  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another

Our time in orthodox churches was undoubtedly under the wing of false teachers and brethren, as none of them know the Lord in Spirit and Truth.  So also was our time spent in past fellowships where the mystery of the Gospel, the Promise, remained hidden from our eyes, yet we began to learn some truth.  These warnings about false teachers, prophets, and antichrists were not for back then; it is for NOW, after the Gospel, the Living Truth of God has been preached.  We tarry together, completing our baptism by John and waiting for Christ, the Promise to come.  After the day of Christ, we walk out our faith in obedience and are commanded to remain vigilant to the very end.  The stakes are raised, the trials of faith are increased, and we are commanded to take heed and carefully guard our doctrine, holding fast to the Gospel we have heard.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 

Once the Holy Spirit comes, we are not to entertain any words to the contrary, no matter who speaks them.

Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 

Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 

We do not go back from whence we have come.  We are now free in Christ by the perfect law of liberty that lives in us.  We give no subjection to false brethren who bring a different message than the Gospel.  We shun these deceivers and remain steadfast in the Gospel.

Gal 2:4  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 

Gal 2:5  To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 

These experiences with deceivers and false prophets are among the many perils we endure, which mold and shape us.  They teach us spiritual discernment and instill the fear of God deeply in us.  These dealings are not enjoyable but necessary, and rejecting those of our own house and spiritual family makes obeying the Lord much harder.  We face what Paul calls many perils, which are spiritual life-threatening experiences.  We obey the Lord to escape these perils and stay alive in the Spirit, including false brethren.

2Co 11:26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren

It takes only a little leaven to corrupt the Lord’s commandments and mix in the flesh and the reasoning of the carnal mind.  This is how deception works; it is seductive, or else one is not deceived.  Words are readily added to or taken away from the commandments, and one quickly departs from Christ, the Truth, the way, and the life.  Paul was often concerned about this, as for Christ to come in power and the Spirit, we are prepared as chaste virgins, meaning having no leaven in our doctrine.  Our baptism of John is not complete until we are cleansed of all the lies and false doctrines, and thus, the promise never comes if we are not ready.  Many come preaching another Jesus that sounds the same to the undiscerning, but the subtle differences deceive the unwise and undiscerning.

2Co 11:3  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. 

2Co 11:4  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

The Promise cannot come until the will of God, our sanctification, and abstaining from fornication, is completed.  This is the preparation step, the day of preparation that precedes the coming of Christ.  Anyone following a deceiver is fornicating, and the will of God has not yet been accomplished until they repent of said fornication and complete their baptisms of John.

1Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 

If we are led astray into error, Christ does not come with the Promise, and we remain outside the faith of Jesus Christ despite the outward appearances.  Some grow impatient, decide they do not want to wait, and thus are led astray by the many deceivers, false brethren, and antichrists who deny the truth and claim many lies, such as there is no waiting or they already have the Promise.  This fornication must stop for the will of God to be completed, for the Promise to come.

Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 

From a practical standpoint, we are not to look for spiritual food outside the place the Lord has chosen for you to hear and receive the Gospel. The Lord, not ourselves, sets the place of His offerings and sacrifices, which is where we spiritually eat and make our sacrifices.  Those who eat at many places [Websites, YouTube, physical churches, writings of dead people] are unknowingly fornicating and are not ready for the Promise, still being under the influence of deceivers.

Deu 12:5  But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: 

Deu 12:6  And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: 

Marking Deceivers and Separating

Those weak in the faith in Christ, we receive and never send them away, so long as they do not proclaim and speak false doctrines in the assembly.  We feed them the truth, the Gospel that washes them and wait on the Lord to finish the baptism and then bring them His Faith.

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 

The Lord says to beware of false prophets, as they are hard to spot.  False prophets come disguised as sheep but are inwardly, in their hearts, ravening wolves.  Outwardly, they look like true brethren who love the Lord, but we know them by their words and actions that become evident over time.

Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 

Mat 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits.  Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 

Paul said the same here as a second witness for how deceptive the deceivers can be.  Satan, the carnal mind of every man, comes looking like a sheep and even like the angels of God who preach the true Gospel.  Not everyone working for Christ is sincere and in the Truth.  Beware.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 

2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 

Deceivers can be spotted through their words and deeds, known as their fruits.   Are they manifesting the fruits of the Spirit [Gal 5:22 – Love, peace, joy, gentleness, meekness, temperance, longsuffering] or not?  If spiritual thorns and thistles are evident, the accusing and excusing words and actions of the carnal mind, we had best take heed.  The works of the flesh [Gal 5:19-21] include speech and acts such as evil speaking, strife, bitterness, envy, drunkenness, hatred, sedition against the leaders, and are a sure sign of a deceiver.  A tree established by the Lord will not bear such fruit; this kind of tree is from the wicked one.

Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 

Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 

Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

What comes out of man is what defiles him, so we can be sure that when someone speaks words of strife, murmuring, envy, hatred, rebellion, or any works of the flesh, the fruit is bad.

One’s popularity among men is no compass to determine who is true and who is a deceiver.  The Lord’s way is narrow; few find it, and those who do are spoken about as evil by those not chosen of God who have not been washed in the truth.

Luk 6:26  Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. 

The commandments to dissociate, withdraw, and cut off false brethren do not seem like love to our carnal reasoning, yet they are the love of God, required of us. Disobeying the many commandments to separate is the opposite of the love of God; it is disobedience.

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 

Judging in the flesh, by the carnal mind, mixes in fleshly emotions that lead to error and not righteous judgment.  We are to judge only by the Word and be no respecter of persons.  Keeping the assembly holy and not eating the Lord’s supper with those practicing sin, despite the forms of external godliness, is a commandment.  It is not just fornicators we do not eat with, but it includes virtually all the works of the flesh being openly practiced without shame.  We cannot eat with them and cannot allow them to remain in our congregations.

1Co 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 

1Co 5:13  But them that are without God judgeth.  Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 

How and with whom we eat the Lord’s supper is super important, as all the matters of our spiritual health and the health of the entire flock are at stake.  We must judge ourselves in this regard, or the Lord comes to do it.

1Co 11:29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 

1Co 11:30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 

Watchmen Guard the Sheep

Watchmen sit on the wall of the Temple, which are the commandments, and watch over the sheep and the holy city.  Thus, one reason the Lord installs overseers and leaders in His assembly.  These are the first line of defense, the faithful watchmen who must care for the sheep, be discerning, and keep the sheep safe from devouring wolves and spiritual dogs.  Near the end of his physical life, Paul reminded the Ephesian elders of this responsibility, a warning he often gave to the church in tears.

Act 20:27  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God [including warning about false brethren and cutting them off in obedience to protect the sheep].

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 

Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 

Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. [Examples of perverse lies include: all are holy; we cannot be perfected, stirring up sedition against those set to rule]

Act 20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

The weight of Scripture on false brethren and teachers should not have us underestimating how severe and expected these trials with deceivers are to be.  Those who cause divisions and offend on doctrine make fair speeches that can easily seduce and persuade the young ones who have yet learned spiritual discernment.

Rom 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 

Rom 16:18  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 

We are commanded to try the Spirits and prove all things so we are not deceived by Satan’s [a carnal mind’s] appearance as an angel of light.  Any spirit confessing the Living Christ with the power in our flesh is of God, the others are not of God.

1Jn 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. 

1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 

1Jn 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. 

We are not to be kind and gentle to antichrists; we are to act like Phinehas in Numbers 25 and rise immediately, and get them out of the congregation.  That is the role of the shepherds of the sheep, who care for the sheep and do not engage in carnal reasoning with those who are causing spiritual harm by their works of the flesh.  Love unfeigned is acting swiftly to protect the sheep and accelerate the needed sorrow and repentance for the fallen brethren.

1Co 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 

These are difficult trials of faith, as cutting off someone we have known for years and walked with, pursuing the Lord, seems contrary to what we think is forgiving and long-suffering.  Shepherds act, and the hierlings flee when the thief enters.  The overseers who act obediently to the Lord are accused of many evil things by those who are young and yet carnal.  But the shepherds the Lord raised were appointed to please God and not men, and give their lives for the sheep.

Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

Joh 10:12  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 

Joh 10:13  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 

Stopping the mouths of deceivers is an often-repeated commandment, as entire houses [flocks of God] can be subverted.

Tit 1:10  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 

Tit 1:11  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 

The Lord hates those who speak lies and sow discord among the flock.  It is one of the seven things He hates.

Pro 6:19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 

 Warnings in the Latter Days – NOW

The warnings of false brethren and deceivers are mostly about those we encounter in the last days, meaning the time just before the Promise comes.  The Lord is constantly winnowing the flock, and we do lose brethren to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, once the Gospel has been preached as we are now in the latter times.  The reason for them showing up in the latter times is that the Gospel being preached, the Living Commandments, is unappealing and contradicts those who think they are already rich and increased with goods and lack nothing.   The wheat and the tares are planted at the same time, the good seed by the Lord and the bad seed by Satan, our carnal mind.  Both grow together until the harvest, which is when the Promise comes.  Only then, in the latter time, are the tares removed.  This is how deceivers creep in unawares and are not made manifest until the latter time.

Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. 

When the Lord establishes and sends forth His angels to preach the Gospel, rebellion is initiated in the hearts of those the Lord has blinded, and they become active deceivers and anti-Christ’s.

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 

1Ti 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 

1Ti 4:3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats [the Gospel, the meat of understanding], which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the Truth. 

Some disciples [brethren] stop walking when the Gospel comes, when the emphasis shifts to the doing and not the hearing the commandments, and gaining knowledge is not the priority anymore.  This new wine is not tasty to the carnal mind, which would rather hear and not do, and call themselves delivered.  The true ones on whom Father has mercy, do not stop walking; as they have their ears tuned to Christ and His Christ who speak the words of eternal life.

Joh 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 

Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 

Joh 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go?  thou hast the words of eternal life. 

The very Elect of God, chosen before the world was formed, will not be deceived by the false workers of God.  We are given the requisite spiritual eyes and ears from the Lord, which allow us to discern them and thus keep ourselves and the camp of Israel safe.

Mat 24:23  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 

Mat 24:25  Behold, I have told you before. 

Many AntiChrist’s are Come

The antichrist is not out there in the future; they are in our midst now, the last times, as we wait for our day of Christ or mature in the knowledge of the Lord’s grace after He comes.  An antichrist means an opponent of the Messiah or an adversary of the anointed one.  Everyone is an antichrist until the Lord draws them near by His election.  The world is full of antichrists, and the church is warned to be on the lookout for them in our assemblies and fellowships.  Here John introduces the term antichrist and links them to those who fellowshipped with us and then left us and walked no more with Christ.

1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 

1Jn 2:19  They [antiChrists]went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 

Antichrists are liars who deny the power of God to save them completely from all sin.  It is a spirit of unbelief, the spirit of error.  While antichrists have some truth, it is mixed with lies, just as the devil deceived Eve in the Garden.  The Truth has no lie in it, and thus a little lie makes all of it a lie.  The liar is a son of Satan, the carnally minded, father of death, who denies the Father and the Son, the Promise of God coming to live in our flesh.

1Jn 2:21  I have not written unto you because ye know not the Truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the Truth. 

1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?  He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. [The Promise]

This is why being washed in the commandments, knowing them, and studying them all is the means of avoiding straying from Christ and being deceived.

Enmity Against the Truth

Many other names are used to describe those who walk in error to deceive those who profess the name of God.  Some of those terms from the Scriptures are:

  • Sadducees and Pharisees
  • False Teachers
  • False Prophets
  • False Circumcision
  • Spiritual Dogs
  • Deceitful Workers
  • False Apostles

Most of the deceivers and opposition seen in the New Testament church were from those of the “circumcision”.  Circumcision symbolizes that one has walked many years seeking the Lord and knows the Scriptures well in the letter.   It was those of the “circumcision” who contested the Gospel and rose up against the Apostles, stirring up Jews and Gentiles alike against them.  These deceivers are the rich young rulers, unwilling to forsake all their spiritual riches and follow the Living Christ they have now encountered.

Act 11:2  And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 

Act 13:45  But when the Jews [the circumcision] saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 

These deceivers magnify themselves against those the Lord sets in His church to preach the Gospel, and so it is today.  The root of this is a spirit of envy and jealousy, which are works of the flesh of the carnal mind of Satan.  This envy is the reason the leaders of Israel sought to crucify Jesus Christ, as He took away much of their esteem and following.  The Scriptures tell us that Pilate knew the real reason Christ was turned over to him to be crucified was because of the Jews’ envy.

Mat 27:18  For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 

The Jews of the circumcision of knowledge seek to kill the risen Christ, who makes them envious and bruises their pride.  Who do you think you are is their carnal response when Christ appears in their synagogues.  When we encounter these unruly deceivers, the commandment is to withdraw from them and not give in to their subjection for even an hour.

1Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 

1Ti 6:4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 

1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the Truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 

2Th 3:14  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 

Deceivers who opposed the Gospel

Deceivers overthrew and shipwrecked the faith of some who were waiting for the Promise, being the unborn children of God still in the womb.  If the appointed watchmen fail to act in obedience and fear men instead, it is put to their charge, and they will be judged harshly.  We review some of the named deceivers in the Scriptures, identify the spirit and the consequences, and the upset that befell the house of God.

Alexander the Coppersmith:  Alexander spoke against Paul’s authority and the preaching of the Gospel.  He created strife and sedition against the order that the Lord put into His Church.  The result was that many abandoned the faith and followed the deceiver instead.

2Ti 4:14  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: 

2Ti 4:15  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 

2Ti 4:16  At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 

Alexander and Hymenaeus:  We do not know if this is the same Alexander as the Coppersmith, but we do know that, along with Hymenaeus, Paul put these deceivers out of the congregation because they were making a shipwreck of the faith of the young ones waiting for the Promise.  These two had blasphemed, meaning they spoke evil of the Lord’s work or His ministers.  We also know that Hymenaus believed the resurrection was already past, meaning he claimed to have the Holy Spirit already when he did not.  Loving these deceivers is turning them over to Satan, getting them out of our feasts so they come to knowledge of the Truth in due time.  Godly sorrow works true repentance, not worldly sorrow, and requires being separated from the living Christ.  Enduring spiritual famine and thirst by separation is how the Lord brings about godly sorrow in its time.

1Ti 1:19  Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 

1Ti 1:20  Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 

Hymenaeus and Philetus: Here we see Hymenaeus mentioned with Philetus, who both spoke lies to the sheep and had erred.  They claimed the resurrection was past, meaning everyone already had the Spirit of God, and there was no need to wait for the Promise and be baptized by studying the commandments.  Their false words brought disease into the congregation, and many strayed from the Truth.

2Ti 2:17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 

2Ti 2:18  Who concerning the Truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 

Demas and Titus:  A beloved son of Paul, whom he begot in the Gospel, was Titus, and we even have an epistle addressed to this once dear brother.  Demas likewise was a leader in the church.  While it is not said, it is a good bet that the works of deceivers such as Alexander the Coppersmith, Hymenaeus, and the canker being spread impacted these once dear brethren who abandoned their walk with Christ.  Paul was left with only Luke standing in the faith.  These lessons warn and encourage us as we face similar trials with beloved brethren who the Lord leads astray and do not walk the straight path.

2Ti 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 

2Ti 4:11  Only Luke is with me.  Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 

Diotrephes: Jealousy and envy are works of the flesh, and anytime that spirit is in play, the Spirit of the Lord is absent.  We have many admonishments of false teachers and brethren who speak evil of dignities, meaning those whom the Lord has made into Apostles and Prophets.  One such deceiver, the Apostle John encountered, who would not receive John or other brethren, forbade others from receiving them also.  Having preeminence is not serving the Lord; it is self-exaltation and is better known as man’s pride.

3Jn 1:9  I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 

3Jn 1:10  Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 

This does not mean there is no order and rulership in the church, because there absolutely is, but the Lord does the appointing, not man.  A deceiver has appointed themselves, and we know by examining their fruit.

Beware of the Sadducees:  The Sadducees are the worst offenders in opposing the Gospel and the Lord’s appointed ministers.  These are Jews with lots of knowledge who have sought the Lord for many years.  They are gathered in Jerusalem (think spiritually, not out there), and the Lord uses them to sharpen the skills of His appointed Apostles and leaders.  Most of the contention with Jews against the preaching of the Gospel, in the early days when the true foundation was being laid, came from the Sadducees.  They are the rich ones who need nothing and claim there is no resurrection because it is past for them and deny the Lord’s angels, His ministers sent to preach the Gospel.  It is these Jews of the circumcision, the Sadducees and the Pharisees, who bring division into the house of God and who stir up most of the contention in the church.

Act 23:7  And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 

Act 23:8  For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 

All these stories in Acts of the Apostles are not history lessons; they are written for our admonition to learn thereby and be alert as we ourselves fulfill these words in the appointed time.  Sadducees seek to bind the Apostles [put them in prison], and take away their ability to preach the Gospel in the house of God by stirring up dissension and strife.  All of Acts is a parable.

Act 5:17  Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 

Act 5:18  And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 

The Word of God is not bound and will be preached; thus, the Lord does not allow His Apostles to be shut up; the Gospel will be preached.

The Sadducees appeal to the flesh of their hearers, which naturally does not want to be ruled over.  But rulership is the way of God’s house, and when Christ comes, He comes by way of His Christ, His chosen Apostles, and the leaders He raises who rule the house of God with a rod of iron.

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 

Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 

Speaking Evil of Dignities:

Beyond knowing them by the fruits, false brethren do not receive the Lord’s words in Spirit and in Truth.  They count on their feigned words of godliness to deceive the simple and speak evil of the way of the truth that is the Gospel preached by the leaders the Lord sets in the church.

2Pe 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 damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 

2Pe 2:2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of Truth shall be evil spoken of. 

2Pe 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 damnation slumbereth not. 

One telling behavior pattern in deceivers’ works is that they speak against government and the rule of order that the Lord sets in the Church.

2Pe 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.

These deceivers are not set apart, manifesting all the works of the flesh and readily deceiving [beguiling] the young in the faith, which is why faithful watchmen must act.

2Pe 2:14  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 

The Apostle Jude wrote similarly to Peter, reminding us to be diligent, contend for the faith, and not let these deceivers enter and defile the flock.

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 

Jud 1:4  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, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 

These filthy dreamers despise the dominion of the Apostles and Prophets the Lord has established in His church, and they speak evil of them.

Jud 1:8  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 

We do not speak evil of them, as their deception is all by the Lord’s will, who has not had mercy on them.  But we do rebuke them sharply with the Word.  Jude brings it all back to the fruit as these deceivers promote themselves, feast with us at the Lord’s table, bringing no Spirit [water] in their witness and showing no fear of the Lord.

Jud 1:11  Woe unto them!  for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 

Jud 1:12  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 

We are to separate from those who murmur, complain, and walk after their own lusts and who speak great swelling words and with feigned admiration seek to gain advantage and deceive.  From such we must turn away.

Jud 1:16  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. 

Dealing with false prophets and deceivers is not just in the New Testament; the Truth is throughout the Scriptures, preserved to warn and teach us the right way to walk.  We quickly look at just a few Old Testament passages.

False Prophets in the Old Testament

The commandments of the Lord regarding false prophets and deceivers have not changed.  Deceivers have never been allowed to remain in Israel and are always to be cut off from the people of God.  False prophets speak lies out of their own deceived heart, as they do not know the Lord, only of Him.  Spiritually speaking, this says they do not believe in the Living Promise, the Gospel that saves.  Upon close inspection, their Jesus is another Jesus,  having NO power unto salvation.  They act in pretense, deceiving and being deceived, boasting in themselves and magnifying themselves against the Lord’s servants.  False prophets are to be cut off and live in spiritual famine to be humbled and saved in their appointed day of the Lord.  Let’s review some key passages.

The mixed multitude that grows up with us are the tares, weeded out in the time of the harvest.  As the true temple is being built, after we have come out of Spiritual Babylon, this becomes evident.  Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of the temple outwardly, which symbolize the commandments surrounding and protecting the city.  They realized then that no Moabite or Ammonite was to be in the congregation with Israel. Moabites and Ammonites are those formed by the seed of the wicked one to keep the flesh alive.  [See Genesis 19 about Lot and his daughters].  When we eat the commandments, read the law, we see this and withdraw them from us so the wall and temple can be completed.

Neh 13:1  On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; 

Neh 13:2  Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. 

Neh 13:3  Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude

This mixed multitude has been with the true Israel of God all the way since we first began the journey and left Egypt, symbolizing the world.  We do not realize they are with us until the commandments, the Gospel is preached.

Exo 12:38  And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.

False prophets and teachers have all the appearances of being legit, even showing signs and wonders.  Yet the discerning see the spirit of error that leads away from the Lord’s commandments.  This evil is to be put out of the camp of the saints.  It is for their own good, as this way the Lord uses Satan to destroy their carnal mind and remove the pride so that they can be restored in the appointed time.  Do not follow them into their error.

Deu 13:1  If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 

Deu 13:2  And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 

Deu 13:3  Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 

Deu 13:4  Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. 

Deu 13:5  And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in.  So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. 

The Lord is against the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit of the carnal mind and not the Lord.  Their visions and speech are lies and come to nought, and they do not prosper.  They do not stand in the gap or guard the house of God or go to battle against sin as they have already arrived.  They are cut off from the land of Israel, not written into the Book of Life and are to be removed from the assembly of the church.

Eze 13:3  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! 

Eze 13:5  Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD. 

Eze 13:6  They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope [deceived them] that they would confirm the word. 

Eze 13:9  And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD. 

Deceivers claim a peace, a false peace that does not exist. Their own works and fruit reflect this, but the Lord blinds them.

Jer 23:16  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. 

Jer 23:17  They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. 

Final Exhortation

The weight of Scriptures warns us about deception and teaches us how to spiritually discern who is of God and who is not.  We cannot judge by appearances anymore, especially in these latter days.  We are to try the Spirit and examine the fruit and what comes from every man’s mouth.

When the Gospel is preached, the harvest is ripe, and the time has come for the separation of the wheat from the tares. Christ, the Living Word, divides the sheep from goats and the wheat from tares, through the work of His angels.

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 

Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 

Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 

All in Christ shall suffer persecution from those the Lord has deceived.  It only worsens the further we walk, as the flock is continually winnowed, so only the called, chosen, and faithful remain in the end.

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

The house of God is a great house that includes both vessels of honor and of dishonour.  When we purge ourselves of the latter, we can be sanctified, having done the will of God, prepared as the Bride for every good work.  Then the Promise comes.

2Ti 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 

2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 

We salute the brethren in Arizona and elsewhere.  Peace and Love in Christ.

Letters

Be Ye Perfect as Your Father in Heaven

Peter

Sin Shall Not Have Dominion Over You

With Grace, peace, and love to the brethren.  May these words be received with thanksgiving and encourage all to press onward to the high calling.

The Lord requires us to correct and clarify a key doctrine not adequately addressed in a recent gathering.  It is essential to quickly cut off any inroads of our adversary into our heavens, not to defile the faith and defraud our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We hope all receive the correction in meekness, as the Scriptures witness, so we can continue to grow together.

When Jesus Christ comes to us the second time, it is for salvation apart from sin.  Christ’s coming for salvation is a tremendous promise that few are given the faith to believe.  When He comes, the end of sin is in view.

Heb 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 

The power of God to overcome and cease from sin in this age is the Promise we have been covering of late in our studies.  It is not some theory; it is the very Promise of God who cannot lie.  One of the biggest lies in the orthodox churches of men that carries over into our time in Spiritual Babylon is the lie that we cannot cease from sin.  This giant plank ensures one remains blind, with this lie being on par with the lies of eternal hell, free will, and the trinity.  Such a belief is a complete denial of the faith when we say one cannot overcome sin through the power of the Living Christ.  Such a doctrine is not of faith and denies the power of God.  It is another Jesus and is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is a denial of Jesus Christ, the Scriptures and the power of God.

Mat 22:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 

We do not exit Spiritual Babylon until this doctrine of devils is removed from our eyes.  Then, if the Lord wills, we can receive the true Gospel.  Until we are awakened from this lie, we are not overcoming our sins, as we lack the requisite faith in God and His power unto salvation.  May some awaken out of their sleep and receive the light of the truth.

Eph 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 

Before truth comes in Spirit,  we have been told many lies, including that there is no ceasing from sin in these clay vessels.  Please do not downplay the power of God or any of His promises in any way.  This belief that one cannot stop sinning because we still abide in sinful flesh denies the Lord.  It is unbelief in the promises of God and even the Words of Jesus Christ.  We can be perfect and will get there if we endure in the faith.

Mat 5:48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 

If we gather in the heavenly Jerusalem, the church, we are gathered with spirits of just men made perfect, being with Christ who now lives in the hearts and minds of His Elect.

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 

Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 

Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 

The Lord does not command us to do anything, like being perfect, that He does not equip us to accomplish.  When the Promise comes, the power of God comes, and then we can be perfect as our Father, who sits in our heaven, is perfect.  Few believe they can be perfect, as they must be given the faith to believe it and get past all the lies, and then wait for the Promise.   Believe the Lord and not any man.  He has meat to give us, but we do not know of it until it is given.  It is the power to overcome sin.

Luk 24:49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 

When we have been born again of the water [John] and the Spirit [Christ], we sin not and we keep ourselves in obedience by the indwelling power of God.  The tempter no longer wreaks havoc in our heaven.

1Jn 5:18  We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 

Once the Promise comes, we have been given everything we need to produce godliness and be holy in all our behavior.  Nothing lacks.

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

We have the power of the Living Word of God sitting in our heaven and have cast out the devil who is the father of the carnal mind not subject to the law of God [See Rev 12:7-10].  We have new understanding of the Scriptures for correction, instruction in righteousness and preach the Gospel so everyone may be made perfect in Christ Jesus.

Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 

Sadducees believe there is No Resurrection:

A spiritual Sadducee believes there is no resurrection from death [sin] in this life.  They do not believe the Lord or that His power utterly saves us from sin while we abide in vessels of flesh.  They are convinced one remains in their sins, contrary to the Scriptures and the words of God, for their entire physical lives.  As a result, the Sadducee says there is no overcoming of sin in this life, meaning one cannot be made perfect.  As your faith is, so be it unto you, says the Lord.  As a result, Sadducees do not overcome, remain dead in their sins, and are not saved until the next age despite their profession of faith.  Sadducees do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God, denying the resurrection, the Lord’s angels, and the power of the Holy Spirit to deliver us from sin.

Act 23:8  For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 

Christ warns us to beware of the leaven of the Sadducees and the Pharisees, which is the lies they speak and obey.  These are fellow Jews, our brethren of Israel, and we reason with them to persuade them of the truth.  They have a known zeal for God but without knowledge.  Only the Lord can give the increase according to His will.  [See Romans 10:1-4]

Those who preach and live by the Gospel are commanded to judge the law of faith and correct lies that creep in and can devour the flock.  The lie that one cannot overcome sin has no place in the household of God.   If we do not act to burn up the lie, the blood of the saints taken astray would be on our hands.  We are bringing judgment on this critical matter of doctrine.

Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

All of us are Sadducees for a season until the Lord has mercy, opens our eyes, and brings the Promise in the appointed time.  Lord willing, some brethren can be awakened from their slumber.  For the hope of the resurrection, the faith that we do overcome sin, the ministers of the Gospel are persecuted by those who still walk in the flesh, not having the Promise. Flesh does not want to hear the truth; it would rather stay in its sin, warm itself by the fire, and say they have already been delivered.

Act 23:6  But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 

Overcoming sin requires suffering.

Overcoming sin requires much suffering.  To follow Christ, we must deny ourselves, pick up a cross, and follow Him.  It is not going to be comfortable; it is going to be painful for a while.  The way is not easy, but if we believe and wait for the Promise, we receive the Comforter living inside of us that brings the power to succeed.  Don’t deny the faith.  If we suffer with Him, we are reigning with Him, right now, as the time is at hand, if we have the Spirit.  We follow the example of the Lord, and this is how we cease from sin.

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;[Now, not out there]

1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Our lives are no longer ours; we have been redeemed for a price.  We belong to God, and our life is sacrificed to the Lord.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

When the Promise comes, we are justified by the measure of Christ’s faith we are given, but we still have to walk it out and suffer.  Jesus Christ is not a minister for sin, and we cannot continue to live in sin, being sons of God.  Any lie to the contrary needs to be burned out of our hearts.

Gal 2:17  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin?  God forbid. 

Without the shedding of blood, our suffering in the flesh, there is no remission of sin.  We shed blood by laying down our lives to follow the Lord, striving against all impulses of sin.  The Lord helps us with the Spirit, our Comforter, who is the Promise and brings the needed power and chastening.

Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

We need Christ’s faith and power to resist to the shedding of blood and overcome sin.  Flesh is too weak.  That is why we exhort all to believe, tarry, and pray for the Lord to come with His salvation by the Promise.  Ask, and you shall receive it in due time.  Ask the Lord for the Promise.

Mat 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 

One has to live through the seven plagues to enter the Temple and finish the race.  Those who finish the race, enduring to the end, are saved from their sins now.  Their judgment is completed, and they overcome sin now, not in the age to come.  Today is the day of salvation when Christ comes.  John had a vision of those who had overcome, the angels of the Lord, whom the Sadducees also deny.

Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 

We get the fullness of the Spirit when we depart these clay vessels, never dying, yet we overcome now in our day of the Lord with the earnest deposit of the Spirit.

All the Apostles agree that we overcome sin now in these bodies if we have the Spirit of God, the power on high, in us.  Here is Paul.

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 

Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 

If we have received the baptism of Christ, we are indeed dead to this world as Christ lives in us and we SHALL be in the likeness of His resurrection.  It is not a maybe.  Having Christ living in us, the body of sin is destroyed, and we no longer serve sin.  Without the Promise or its hope, we remain dead in our sins, no matter what faith we express.  If Christ lives in us, sitting on His throne, we are dead to sin, and Christ is revealed in all our behavior, and all things are made new.

Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.  And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 

We mortify [kill] the lusts of the devil that live in our sinful flesh [the earth] by the power of the Spirit, the Living Commandments of faith we have been given.  If Christ is risen in us, we overcome sin; there is no other outcome.

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 

Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 

We are to be dead to sin and alive to Christ.  Christ only dies once for salvation.  He does not continually die for our sins after He comes to us; He comes once for salvation.  If Christ comes and dies for us and is raised in our heavens, we are caused to live for God and no longer ourselves.  That is the work of grace, living in us, in the throne that chastens us to sin not.

Rom 6:10  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Rom 6:12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 

Rom 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 

Rom 6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 

Once the Promise, the Truth comes into us, there is no longer a sacrifice for sins.  If we willfully continue in sin, we will have every expectation of fiery judgment that will consume the adversaries of God.  His grace shall prevail. See Hebrews 10.

After the Promise comes, a season is needed to establish ourselves and be settled, but it is not long.  Satan knows his time is short, and the Lord works quickly on the earth.  We resist steadfastly in the commandments, and we overcome, and in a little while, we are settled and established.

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 

We strive to be perfect and holy at every turn, knowing the Lord is faithful to finish the work and bring salvation.  Being young in faith, we may fall until we are established and strengthened in the grace of God.  Yet we never turn the grace into a license to keep sinning so that grace may abound.

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 

But this little season is far different from a belief that says we do not overcome and stop sinning.  Even in a body of sinful flesh, the power of God is greater.  When we walk in the Spirit, we resist, overcome, and gain victory through the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory? 

1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

This victory over sin is right now if we belong to Christ and have the Spirit in us.  It is not out there in the future, which is the Spirit of the Pharisee.  It is TODAY.  Is the Spirit in you?  We have an easy test to find out.

Rom 8:9  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. 

Rom 8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 

Rom 8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 

If we are still walking in the flesh, being overcome by sin, we do not have the power of God working in us.  When Christ comes for salvation, apart from sin the second time, we have been redeemed and belong to Him.  We are made debtors or also spoken of as bond servants.  By the power of God now dwelling in us, we mortify the lusts of our flesh, meaning we overcome sin.  We are either sons of God or not, and our fruits tell us what is true.

Rom 8:12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 

Rom 8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 

Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 

This does not mean we won’t stumble, particularly in our youth, after receiving the power unto salvation.  It takes a season to be settled and strengthened in the new realm in which we live.  But those lacking faith, take this and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness and a justification to remain dead in their sins.  Worse, they think they already have the Spirit and no longer hope or pray for it to come.

We never rest from doing the Lord’s work and say we have arrived, but continually press onward and upward for the high calling.  We get our crowns of glory, the fullness of the mind of Christ, when we depart the physical realm to be with the Lord in Spirit.  We never stop running until then.

2Ti 4:6  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 

2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 

2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 

Twisting Scripture to Stay in Sin

We need to address some Scriptures often used, to the exclusion of scores of others [many included here], to support a doctrine that there is no overcoming of sin in this life, even with the Spirit.  This set of Scripture does not nullify the scores of other Scriptures that tell us we are made perfect, as our Father who sits in heaven is perfect.

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

This is not the sum of the Word, not even the sum of John’s first epistle.  Some of the Apostles’ letters are written to those who do not yet have the Promise [Corinthians, Thessalonians], some to churches having received the Promise [Galatians, Ephesians], and some to a mixed audience, such as Hebrews and John’s first epistle.  Understanding this hidden truth is essential to rightly dividing the Scriptures.  Once the Promise comes, the Living Christ with the Power, sin no longer has dominion over us, and we do not cling to the lie that we do not fully overcome our sins.

The same epistle of John also tells us that if we stand in the grace of God [the Living Promise] given to us in Christ, we cannot sin and we do overcome.

1Jn 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. 

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 

John also writes that if we do not keep His commandments, the Spirit of Truth is not in us, and we do not yet have the Promise and are not in Him.

1Jn 2:4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 

1Jn 2:5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 

1Jn 2:6  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 

John warns us not to be deceived by the lie that we are righteous even when we do not overcome sin.  If we are still sinning after our little season, we remain of our father the devil, and have not the Spirit of Christ.  Jesus Christ does not fail to take away all sin in whom He comes.  We need to repent of our unbelief and then be baptized.  Do not be deceived.

1Jn 3:7  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 

1Jn 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. 

1Jn 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. [Loving brethren is obeying God]

The narrow way of reconciling all of this is to acknowledge our failings, which are sins, which disappear as we mature in faith and learn to walk in the power of the Spirit.  We never boast or claim to be without sin because we know what we are without the Spirit of the Living God leading us.  Yet to say one cannot be perfected in this age is a lie that shipwrecks the faith of many.  Perfection, which is holiness, is the very reason the Lord comes.

We still abide in a flesh body that has sin in its members, but now we have the power of God working in us.  We struggle and groan, yet we still overcome because Christ, the Lord of the universe, is stronger than the flesh and the devil.

Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 

Perfection Comes on the Third Day

This prophecy is not a maybe; it is a promise that the Lord is faithful to perform for all those given the gift of faith.

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected 

Following Christ means striving to be perfect and holy in all our behavior. Anything less than that is a lame sacrifice not acceptable to God, and we remain blind and lead ourselves and those who follow us into a ditch.  We need to be perfect, as our Master in heaven is perfect and guides us to be.

Luk 6:39  And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind?  shall they not both fall into the ditch? 

Luk 6:40  The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. 

If we continue in sin, we are not following the Lord or walking in the Spirit.

Through the blood of the everlasting covenant, the great shepherd of the sheep, the Living Lord Jesus, is making us perfect in all ways.  He finishes this work before our race in these clay vessels ends.  Do not let anyone steal your crown as you run this race with endurance.

Heb 13:20  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 

Heb 13:21  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.

How do we become Perfect?

We must let go of our false glory [the shadow] and the spiritual riches we have accumulated over many years of seeking God.  This is difficult, and few are made willing to make this deal with the Lord.  The parable of the rich young ruler gives the lesson.

Mat 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Mat 19:22  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

To follow Christ, all the past glory and religious experiences we hold dear need to be let go, as they are just the shadow of the truth.  The shadow of Christ, the law, has some glory, yet is only a temporary schoolmaster to hold us until the Living Christ, the Promise, comes.   Many who hear the true Christ, which is the Gospel and the Promise,  cannot let go of these riches, thinking they need nothing, not knowing they need the Promise.

Mat 19:23  Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 19:24  And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

A rich young ruler is under the spell of the false prophet who lives in them until the Promise comes and burns that spirit up in the fire.  Our inward beast and false prophet are tossed into the lake of fire when Christ comes the second time for salvation apart from sin.  [See Rev 19:20]

The one thing the rich young ruler lacks is the Promise, which is the faith of Jesus Christ.  Sadly, he was unwilling to give up his possessions [the spiritual riches] to follow the Lord in Spirit and Power.  Conversely, Paul was willing to sell all his possessions to follow Christ and immediately saw all those prior religious experiences of glory and spiritual riches as dung.

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 

We attain the fullness of our crown when we depart the clay, so we always walk pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling, which is the crown of righteousness and glory we receive when we finish the race.

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 

Php 3:16  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. [being perfect in all]

When Christ comes in power, all our past glory and spiritual riches instantly become dung.  It is why, for example, we have taken down scores of older studies written in the dead letter and not with the power of the Gospel.  None of our prior walk or work was in the power of the resurrected Jesus Christ within us.  When brethren believe they are already rich and lack nothing, the Promise is not needed, and the asking price is too high.  Remaining in the letter of Christ and not the power, there is little overcoming, and one does not seek the very thing they desperately need.  The Living Christ remains far off.  The Lord must bring us to the point of selling all those spiritual riches to buy the pearl of the Living Gospel.

Denying the Resurrection

Believing one cannot completely overcome sin is saying Christ is not raised from the dead inside of them.  This belief denies the resurrection and thus proves that Christ is not now in them.  All Scripture is written in parables to have one think outwardly instead of in the Spirit, meaning “within you”.

1Co 15:12  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?  [within you]

1Co 15:13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen:[within you]

1Co 15:14  And if Christ not be risen [within you], then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

If we continue in sin, it’s a litmus test that Christ has not yet risen in us.

1Co 15:16  For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen:

1Co 15:17  And if Christ be not raised [within you], your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

Thankfully, the Lord is the Saviour and His Word and Promises are true.    We are witnesses of His resurrection within us, and we hope for this blessing to come to all the brethren.

1Co 15:21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Victory Through Christ

Today is the day of salvation if one has received the Promise.  Today is the third day, the day of the Lord, once the Promise comes.  It is not past, it is not in the future, it is TODAY.   We do not receive the grace of God in vain.

2Co 6:1  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 

2Co 6:2  For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 

Paul’s showing us the mystery below does not speak of the end of the physical age, as we all once believed.  The mystery is Christ coming for salvation now, in this age, with His Promise while we are in clay bodies.  In the twinkling of an eye, He is raised within us, and everything changes.  We are a new creation immediately and no longer know Jesus Christ in the flesh.

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Once raised with Christ, death is no longer applicable.  Those who receive the Promise have been resurrected from the dead with Jesus Christ.  We shall never taste death, as we have been resurrected unto eternal life.

Mat 16:28  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. 

If we are God’s elect, we are perfected on the third day, our day of the Lord, and are given dominion over sin.  We are ruling and reigning with Christ RIGHT NOW and have become His kings and priests on the earth.  We reign for a thousand years, one day to the Lord, and wait for the rest of the dead, representing all humanity, to be raised in the age to come.  The chosen few are the blessed, receiving the first resurrection now, so we, in turn, can be used to bring the blessing to others in the lake of fire.

Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.[today, which is our third day]

Given the Spirit of Promise, we now reside in the Lord’s courts and become doorkeepers in the house of God.  A far better place to be than to dwell in the tents of wickedness, who are all men who have not the Spirit of the Living God dwelling in them. [See Psa 84:10].

Living in John’s baptism, while we tarry, we abide in hope and our faith and wait for the Promise that comes with the power unto salvation.

1Jn 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 

1Jn 2:29  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 

We recently studied Pentecost coming to the Church at Ephesus in Acts 19. Those disciples were quickened and raised from the dead, receiving the Baptism of Christ. Paul writes to them in the past tense of their old way of life before the Promise came, which has now given them overcoming. They have been quickened and raised out of their sins into life in the Spirit.

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 

Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Once raised by the Promise coming, we are God’s elect walking in power.  The Holy Spirit cleans us and causes us to obey the commandments.

1Pe 1:2  Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 

We run our race with endurance.  Yes, there are falls at the start as we learn to walk worthy of our calling and election into the grace of the living God.  The young in the faith are exhorted to resist and strive until Christ is fully formed in them.  That is the role of the Body to wash feet, comfort, admonish, and exhort the young onwards to maturity.  The chastening of our Father works the work of righteousness.  He does not fail to bring total salvation and loses no sheep.

Beware antichrists in the World

We do not yet know the Lord; if we claim one cannot be perfected in this life, our faith is unbelief in the Promise of God.  Such are the deceived and deceivers, the antichrists who deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.

1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 

1Jn 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. 

Denying Christ has come in the flesh is spiritual language, meaning one denies the power of God in their flesh to give them overcoming and complete salvation from sin.  We try to persuade our brethren caught up in this lie to repent with one or two admonitions.  If they do not repent, we sin ourselves if we continue to eat and assemble with them.  We cannot let anyone fleece and devour the flock the Lord has set before us.

2Jn 1:7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.  This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 

2Jn 1:8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 

2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.  He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 

2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 

2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

We do not wish this on anyone, but we must obey God and not men, having no respect of persons.  The way is narrow, and very few are given to find it.

Strive to be perfect until the race is over.  The Lord does not fail to perform what has been Promised.  Be ye holy because your Father in heaven is Holy.