They Can't All Be Right...can they?
Religion has persuaded most people in Christendom that it is so spiritually legit that they fail to realize the debt of deception that it is predicated upon. Therefore, the results of religion...judging, guilt and condemnation are so shrouded with self-righteousness that it is difficult to identify by the masses that are caught in its deception. But, when believers breaks free from religious bondage Grace’s power provides the freedom Jesus died for us to liven in.
Rather than trusting in the Grace of God religion trusts in the arm of the flesh practicing rules and regulations to grow spiritually and maintain a relationship with God. Religion is the greatest hindrance the the plan of God, both for the Community of Humanity and the Community of the Redeemed.
Spiritual maturity does not depend on reaching some standard based on how high you can get on the rule keeping religious measuring stick such as going to “church”, paying tithes, or signing the membership form. Spiritual maturity comes only by what Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection. Doing religious do's or or not doing the don’ts do not MAKE you righteous.
Righteousness comes by only trusting in Jesus' righteousness which He has appropriated to us.
If you'll listen to some modern day grace preachers and read their books you'll find that there are far more deception in modern day grace movement than among various religions so I am not as much cancer Ned about religious deception as I am about what is creeping in body of Christmas today under the banner of grace.
ReplyDeleteI could give you a dozen examples but I'll just give you one. Many modern day grace teachers are teaching that God is so loving that today God won't judge anybody today especially Christians.
But when we read the book of Acts we find that God was so loving that when Anaias and his wife went to a revival meeting and lied about how much money they gave He struck them dead right in church.
The Apostle Paul also rebukes this hersey that many are teaching when he says that judgment must begin at house of God and if it begins at house of God then where will ungodly stand.
By Cayce Talbott
DeleteBy Cayce Talbott
“1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.” (Acts 5:1-10)
Many people feed on the lie of Ananias & Sapphira being judged but Jesus was already judged FOR US and took our punishment!
Okay, first of all, notice that the Bible NEVER says that Ananias and Sapphira were ever Saved… As a matter of fact, there is strong evidence to show that they were not saved since they tried to trick the Church and Peter the apostle, as well as lying to the Holy Spirit about giving a certain amount of money to the Church, when in fact they did not. It would even appear that the two of them concocted this lie together in advance before submitting their so called gift to the Church in order to get their stories straight…. The truth is that they were not required to give anything to the Church, but for whatever reason, seemingly did so to gain a higher status among the Church…. bascally, they were trying to buy their way into the Kingdom of God.
Here’s another piece of evidence to show that the were not really followers of Jesus….
If you’ll notice that in all the New Testament epistles from the book of Acts to Revelation… whenever the Bible mentions the name of a follower of Jesus for the first time, it ALWAYS calls them by a title to identify them as part of the Church; such as, apostle, deacon, brother, sister, the righteous, follower of Christ, or Saint…. And we can see that when it talks about Ananias and Sapphira, that the Bible gives them NO title, and makes NO reference to them as being followers of Jesus Christ, or part of His Church… it only says that the GAVE money to the Church, or even mingled together with the Church.
Now remember in Matthew 13:24-30 that Jesus warned us about TARES (unbelievers) mingling with the WHEAT (believers), and how the Tares would take on the appearance of the Wheat until they were gathered up at the end and then separated by God Himself as He cast the Tares into the fire (Hell), and put the Wheat into HIS barns (Heaven) …. So it is doubtful that Ananias and Sapphira were truly born again, but actually only pretending to be to as a way to secretly slip into the Kingdom of God with those who were truly saved without God being able to notice them…. But nothing escapes they eyes of God.
Second… The Bible does NOT say that it was God that killed them, but only that Peter prophesied their deaths… I personally do not believe that God struck them dead… but rather, that when they lied to the Holy Spirit that they opened up a door to the devil and were not under God’s protection because they were not really saved…. So it makes more sense that it was SATAN that jumped in and struck them dead because they gave the appearance of believers, but had no hedge of protection around them… The very fact that Peter said to Ananias that Satan had filled his hearts to lie to the Holy Spirit is evidence that this entire event was manufactured by the devil, and Ananias and his wife were his unfortunate pawns by allowing themselves to be led around by him.
Delete“There is no truth in him (Satan). When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Lastly… We know that the Bible often uses names, numbers, colors and various objects to show a symbolic representation of a deeper meaning of the Word of God… With that being said, in the Bible, the name “Ananias” in Hebrew actually means “God’s Grace”… While the name “Sapphira” is a reference to a type of polished STONE, or SAPPHIRE, which is exactly what it is believed that the TEN COMMANDMENTS were made of….. In Exodus, the Bible tells us that when God came onto Mount Sinai to carve His commandments out of Stone, that He came as FIRE of a great furnace which caused the mountain top to be blackened and filled with smoke…. Thats exactky how the precious Stone of of Sapphire is made… by intense heat onto rock…. To this very day, the mountain top of the actual Mount Sanai in Arabia is still blackened from God’s intense fire from 3,500 years ago when He met Moses there at the top.
“Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.” (Exodus 19:18)
So ”Sapphira” is a type of STONE, and any time you see the word STONE used in the Word, it is a symbolic representation to the LAW, because the TEN COMMANDMENTS of the LAW were carved into STONE… into SAPPHIRE to be exact….
So, “Sapphira” represents the LAW, while “Ananias” represents GRACE….. and the New Testament teaches us that when you mix LAW & GRACE together, you lose them both, resulting in DEATH…. This whole story shows how Ananias and Sapphira were perfect representations of what happens when we start mixing LAW with GRACE.. We may take on the appearance at first of being righteous, but when God examines us, He sees the truth and has no choice but to reject us, and the end result is that of one which leads to DEATH… Just like Ananias and Sapphira, since they both came pretending to be Christians, and DIED as the result.
The conclusion here is that God did NOT strike down or punish those of His own who were made righteous through Faith simply because they sinned…. There was NO Judgment involved on God’s part; but rather just a deception by Satan himself, and by two unsuspecting persons who fell prey to his schemes and allowed the devil to devour them up unto death because they believed a lie rather than believing that all of their dead works of giving came to no avail since it was never done in faith, because their faith was never actually directed towards the one true Savior who was waiting redeem them… The Lord Jesus Christ.
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to Redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (Gal 4:4-5)
Also a man you have respect for as a Grace Preacher, also believed that they were not believers...Joseph Prince...maybe you should heed some of what he teaches more.
DeleteJoseph Prince is one of the better grace preachers today. I have listened to him on radio and in person but that doesn't mean I agree with everything he says.
ReplyDeleteI have to do same with him as I do with other preachers even denominational ones. I have to eat the meat and throw away the bones.
Well Hubert, you need to change your chef, because the meat that God serves is boneless, it is pure. If you have bones in the spiritual meat you are eating, your are dining on polluted meat that is full of the bones of man-made doctrine, or worse still doctrines of deamons and the deception you are in convinces you you are eating the true meat of God. Change your cooks man.
DeleteSo what are you saying if a person is an anointed man of God he won`t say anything wrong. So I should look for someone who I agree with 100 % so I wouldn`t have to pick out the bones. I`m afraid I will never find anybody.
DeletePaul said in Eph.4:11 that God had placed pastors, teachers and evangelist in church but that doesn`t mean that we are to accept everything that they say as true just because God has placed them there. According to 2 Tim.3:16 we can use the Scripture to reproof and correct them when they say what is wrong. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Just because a pastor or teacher says something wrong doesn`t mean we have to write him off and not listen to him. Now he may cross that line and apostatize where we won`t be able to listen to him.
1 Cor 2:15 says But he that is spiritual judgeth all things...We have a right to judge what they say and hold them accountable.
1 Thes. 5:21 says we are to Prove all things that they say and hold fast that which is good.
God would never have given us this admonition if everything that his children said was without bones.
Even in the assembly of saints when one gives a prophecy or tongues and interpretation we should judge them.
Paul says in1 Cor.14: 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
Paul didn`t do what one modern day apologist did. Have a conference and call it a wildfire conference and slander all Charimatics and Pentecostals as of the devil. While Paul recognized there was potential there for wildfire he gave instructions on how to worship and prevent things from getting out of hand when he said let others judge.
So for your information I have the right chef. The problem is we have this treasure in earthen vessels (2 Cor4:7) and sometimes the vessels that he uses makes mistakes and the gifts and callings of God are without repentance. God is not going to repent that He called somebody just because they made a mistake.
Even Peter didn`t say everything perfect. Christ had to rebuke him and Paul had to disagree with him but you can`t say he wasn`t a good chef.
Paul didn`t agree with everything Barnabas said. (Acts 13)
Acts 15:39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;