21 - True or False

Years ago indians disguised beneath buffalo robes hunted and killed buffalo.  They could get close to their prey by pretending to be buffalo.  They killed their intended victims through deception.  When Jesus walked as a man on Planet Earth He met many of the great religious leaders of His day and called them hypocrites.  He said "You devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation."  They were interested in accumulating as much money and power as possible through the use of  religious deception.  When a man died they often deceived the widow into giving them her house for "religious purposes."  They covered their deceptive theft with "long prayers." Human nature has not changed.  Matthew 23:14.

We naturally want everything in life to be easy. Our natural heart wants an easy religion with no battles, no self-denial, and no separation from the foolishness of the world. No wonder that the doctrine of faith, and faith only, is such a popular doctrine. But what does the Bible say?

JAMES says "speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" "You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone." James 2:12-24.

What Does the Bible call Ministers and Christians who do Not Keep God's Commandments? Liars 

JOHN says that those who claim to know Christ and do not keep God’s commandments are liars.

 False Christian Leaders in Sheep's clothing Those who believe God's law is unimportant, and teach this to others don’t know God.

In Matthew  chapter 7, Jesus says that many who evangelize and "drive out demons" and do many wonderful miracles in the name of Jesus are not doing God's will and will never enter the kingdom of heaven. They may claim to be holy.  They may be popular.  They may preach and perform miracles in the name of Jesus.  But if they teach that God's law has been done away with, they are responsible for opening the floodgates of disobedience and filling the world with sin and suffering while at the same time professing to serve God.

Near the beginning of Christ's ministry He told those around Him many things that they had never heard from their religious leaders.  He said "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law. . . . Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments . . . shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."  He said we break the commandment "You shall not murder"  when we get angry with another and call him a fool.  He said we break the commandment that says "You shall not commit adultery" when we look at a woman lustfully.  Matthew 5:17,19-28, NKJV.

In the Bible book of Matthew, Christ warned that the false prophets and false Christians will look like outstanding Christians. They may fast and  pray and give to the needy and prophesy and call Jesus Lord and drive out demons and perform miracles. But if they don't do the "will of God" Christ says they are "false prophets." He says that they are ferocious wolves in sheep's clothing.  A person who fasts and prays and helps others, and prophecies, and casts out demons and performs miracles, is thought of by many as a great Christian leader. But Christ says none of those things count if the person is violating God's will--God's law.  Matthew 7:21-28. 

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"Many will say to me on that day.  Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?  Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers!  Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

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Christ says "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."   Matthew 7:21-23. The claim to be without sin is evidence that he who makes this claim is far from holy. People who have no true understanding of the measureless purity and holiness of Jesus, and the deadliness of sin, consider themselves holy. The one who sees himself as most righteous reveals the great distance between himself and Christ. He reveals a true ignorance of God’s character and His requirements.

Sanctification includes the entire person--spirit, soul, and body. May your "whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23, KJV. "I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God." Romans 12:1.

God has commanded that the offering be "without defect." So Christians are encouraged to present their bodies, "as living sacrifices, holy, and pleasing to God" Give Him the best service of your life!

"Abstain from (Avoid) sinful desires, which war against your soul." 1 Peter 2:11.

"Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." 2 Corinthians 7:1.

With the fruits of the Spirit--"love, joy, peace, kindness,  goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,"--Paul includes "self control" - Galatians 5:22, 23.

Many are destroying their godlike manhood by gluttony, by drinking alcoholic beverages, and by  indulging in forbidden pleasure. The church itself often appeals to the desire for gain or love of pleasure, to raise more money. What about smoking? Slaves of tobacco will not enter God’s kingdom. "No one who is impure will enter." Revelation 21:27. CWB

Don’t "you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you? You are not your own. You were bought at a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, NKJV. He whose body is the temple of the Holy Spirit will not allow a deadly habit to be in control. Christians should set an example of self-control, self-denial, and self-sacrifice.

Avoid "The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life."  "Come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord.  Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you.  I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18, NKJV.

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"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" Luke 11:13. "You may ask me for anything in My name,  and I will do it." "Ask, and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." John 14:14, 16:24.

Humility should be a part of our life. We do not need to live our lives with constant sadness and feelings of worthlessness. It is the privilege of everyone to live in a way that God will approve and bless. It is not the will of our heavenly Father that we should always feel condemned and in darkness. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,  because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength.  Nehemiah 8:10. "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!" "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.  Psalm 1:1-3.