A god who gave his people commandments and laws he knew they never could keep to it

Sayings that Jesus has to be God

Very often we encounter Christian writings where is said Jesus has to be God because no man is ever capable to be without sin or to keep to God’s commandments.

This month is not different to others. Once again we found a person saying on his website

If Jesus was not divine (aka, God), then He could not have been sinless and, therefore, His sacrifice on the cross would have been unacceptable to His holy Father. {in a reply to the Belgian Christadelphians on the article That’s the Spirit!}

Grow Pastor, Minister to Men, Ken Miller who is the pastor of spiritual growth at Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas, does believe God created man with the freedom to choose, though gives the impression that once the first man went wrong all the following people could never choose to follow God’s commandments.

Strangely enough he recognises that

We either want to create a god of our own making or make ourselves gods.

but does not see that he himself and his followers, like many other Christians, made themselves a god. Because we do not know his church, we only can know how it could be by looking at the available information on the internet.

To equip men to be agents of change in their everyday lives

We are being told that they have a simple mission: to equip men to be agents of change in their everyday lives, though according to him we do not have to change because that would require a work and we do not have to do any works.  In other words, their desire is to see men have an ongoing encounter with Jesus and as a result, actively engage their families, workplaces, and communities for the glory of God. Which sounds lovely. How the Christ chapel or church its ‘sanctuary’ is or looks like, we do not know, because we could not find pictures form the inside. So we do not know if there are hanging crosses and graven images of Jesus, which they consider to be God. Though than it would be against the wishes of God, Who clearly tells the world no graven images may be made of Him.

Though the pastor and his church do believe that Jesus Christ took the penalty for our sins by dying in our place and conquered death by raising from the dead (Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:21), they seem to overlook that God can not die. So either Jesus is not God or faked his death, which also would not be of any use, because God could straight ahead have solved the problem in the Garden of Eden and not have so many people suffering. Also when He would have solved the problem with his fake death and all the non-truth sayings, like saying at one point He is a spirit and at an other point saying he is no spirit, or saying He knows everything and at an other point saying he does not know when he would return or who would be seated next to him, makes it an untrustable and not confidential god, is it not?

An incarnated being able to leave himself behind to forsake himself

When Jesus would be the incarnation of God (though the idea of an incarnation being already something God is against) it is also strange that Jesus could be seen by so many people, though the Bible tells us man can not see God and live. Jesus also as God would be a very schizophrenic person praying to himself and telling others not to pray to him but to the Only One True God, the God of Abraham, who is greater than him Jeshua (Jesus), and Who is the Spirit Jesus claims to be his heavenly Father, to whom he (Jesus) also prayed to and even at one moment asked why God had abandoned him. [How can God or any other person (though the Bible tells us God is no person but a Spirit) abandon Himself?]

In the defence of his theology Ken Miller writes

Composites of the two sides of the face of the man who is said ot be existing of three units. – The oldest known icon of Christ Pantocrator – Saint Catherine’s Monastery. The two different facial expressions on either side emphasize Christ’s dual nature as both divine and human.

What set Jesus apart from all men was His status as the God-man. He was 100% God and 100% man, what theologians call the hypostatic union. Had He not been wholly divine and wholly human, He could not have lived a sinless life. He was not just another human being who lived a sinless life, fully obeying the will of God and thereby providing us an example to follow. That would contradict the rest of the Scriptures.{comment by the article That’s the Spirit!}

On the contrary all the Bible points out to God His Plan with creation and how Jesus fits into it. All the Books in the sanctified holy or set apart library show us the way to restore our relationship with God. All those writings try to bring man back on the right track showing that it is possible to live according to God His Laws.

Impossible or possible to live a sinless life and a begotten son

What the Christ Chapel’s preacher is insinuating is that no man can come to be living a sinless life. For him it seems to be clear that Jesus as a human being was never able to do God His Will. The Messianic writings  show us in the several books of the New Testament that Jesus did not want to do his own will but to do God His Will. Obviously when Jesus is God (as god the son), he always would have done his own will at all occasions. In the Tanakh we are told that the eternal God (= having no beginning and no end) sent Jesus to the world and declared him to be His only begotten beloved son.

Luke 1:30-35 (CPDV)
30 And the Angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God. 31 Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: Jesus. 32 He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity. 33 And his kingdom shall have no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the Angel, “How shall this be done, since I do not know man?” 35 And in response, the Angel said to her: “The Holy Spirit will pass over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And because of this also, the Holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God.

Luke 3:21-23 (CPDV)
21 Now it happened that, when all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized; and as he was praying, heaven was opened. 22 And the Holy Spirit, in a corporal appearance like a dove, descended upon him. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son. In you, I am well pleased.” 23 And Jesus himself was beginning to be about thirty years old, being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was of Heli, who was of Matthat,

Luke 22:37-46 (CPDV)
37 For I say to you, that what has been written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was esteemed with the wicked.’ Yet even these things about me have an end.” 38 So they said, “Lord, behold, there are two swords here.” But he said to them, “It is sufficient.” 39 And departing, he went out, according to his custom, to the Mount of Olives. And his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he had arrived at the place, he said to them: “Pray, lest you enter into temptation.” 41 And he was separated from them by about a stone’s throw. And kneeling down, he prayed, 42 saying: “Father, if you are willing, take this chalice away from me. Yet truly, let not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 Then an Angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony, he prayed more intensely; 44 and so his sweat became like drops of blood, running down to the ground. 45 And when he had risen up from prayer and had gone to his disciples, he found them sleeping out of sorrow. 46 And he said to them: “Why are you sleeping? Rise up, pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

Jesus and other gods

When Jesus is The God and not a human being or a god like angels, Moses, Pharaoh, Apollo, Zeus and many others which are also called god in the Bible, how could he ask for removing this cup from him and saying not his will had to be done but God’s Will when he himself would be the Perfect Al-knowing God Who is not afraid for man nor death because they can do Him (God) nothing (according to God His Own Words given to us in the Bible)?
Because Jesus was not yet “perfect”, although without sin. All his life, when he had to learn everything (though God knows everything) he withstood many temptations (though once again the Bible tells us God cannot be tempted).  All the time Jesus was here on earth he with his real human will had to face many conflicts, like we also have to face several conflicts in our lifetime. For this reason we do have Jesus as an example for us. In case he would be God his example would be worthless, the same as him faking his death and resurrection. When Jesus considered the ordeal that lay ahead, also within a conflict arose. Nobody can do God something. Nobody can see God and nobody can kill God or make an end to His existence or even to the existence of His Words. But being a man of flesh and blood, which he proofs after he had been three days in hell and came back onto the earth. (Why would God have to spend three days in hell and what would God proof to mankind with faking He came out of the dead?)

A god and The Greater God

Jesus very well knew that the heavenly Father is greater than him and that he could do nothing without God.

John 5:17-27 (CPDV)
17 But Jesus answered them, “Even now, my Father is working, and I am working.” 18 And so, because of this, the Jews were seeking to kill him even more so. For not only did he break the Sabbath, but he even said that God was his Father, making himself equal to God. 19 Then Jesus responded and said to them:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son is not able to do anything of himself, but only what he has seen the Father doing. For whatever he does, even this does the Son do, similarly. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and he shows him all that he himself does. And greater works than these will he show him, so much so that you shall wonder. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wills. 22 For the Father does not judge anyone. But he has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son, does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Amen, amen, I say to you, that whoever hears my word, and believes in him who sent me, has eternal life, and he does not go into judgment, but instead he crosses from death into life. 25 Amen, amen, I say to you, that the hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear it shall live. 26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so also has he granted to the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him the authority to accomplish judgment. For he is the Son of man.

Here too we can see that Jesus is an other personality than God Himself. It is God Who gave Jesus the authority to do things and to be the mediator between God and man, knowing the human beings very well, to intercede for them.

1 Timothy 2:5 (CPDV)
5 For there is one God, and one mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus,

Hebrews 12:24 (CPDV)
24 and to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Testament, and to a sprinkling of blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

He who transpired blood

God as a Spirit, according to His own Words given to us by the men of God in the Book of books, better known as the Bible, did even sweat blood, had streams blood rolling over his head when the crown of branches was placed on his head, and had his life ended in such away that he had to fight against the temptation to avoid the ‘cross‘. Those who say Jesus is God either forget that man can do God nothing, and/or minimise the suffering Jesus had to go through.

We may not forget Jeshua (Jesus Christ) his agony of mind which was so intense that he perspired what appeared to be blood. But he won the battle, and determined that he would willingly submit to whatever his Father would have him go through (Mark 14:35-36; Luke 22:41-44).

Mark 14:31-36 (CPDV)
31 But he spoke further, “Even if I must die along with you, I will not deny you.” And they all spoke similarly also. 32 And they went to a country estate, by the name of Gethsemani. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I pray.” 33 And he took Peter, and James, and John with him. And he began to be afraid and wearied. 34 And he said to them: “My soul is sorrowful, even unto death. Remain here and be vigilant.” 35 And when he had proceeded on a little ways, he fell prostrate on the ground. And he prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. 36 And he said: “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this chalice from me. But let it be, not as I will, but as you will.”

Told to work at our character

All the way throughout the Old Testament we are told to work at our character to become holy or set-apart. In the Kethuvim (Aleph and Bet) everything is directed to the sent one from God who we should come to follow and to recognise as the Way to God. We should come like him, but that does not mean we will become him nor that we would become like God.

It is not because Jesus managed to do the Will of God, which several preachers in Christendom say is impossible for man, and therefore Jesus has to be God, that those who believe in Jesus to be the Kristos (Christ) or the Messiah  (Saviour) are saying something against the Word of God that Jesus has the right standing with God through sheer human effort and therefore gained a right standing with God through works. That is not at all a violation of the Word of God.

Through works

Faith without works is dead. Jesus did not work for himself but for God. We as Christ should also aim for and work for God and not as such for man.

Colossians 3:23 (CPDV)
23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as for the Lord, and not for men.

One of the works people have to do is to look for the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 6:33 (CPDV)
33 Therefore, seek first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added to you as well.

James 2:13-26 (CPDV)
13 For judgment is without mercy toward him who has not shown mercy. But mercy exalts itself above judgment. 14 My brothers, what benefit is there if someone claims to have faith, but he does not have works? How would faith be able to save him? 15 So if a brother or sister is naked and daily in need of food, 16 and if anyone of you were to say to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and nourished,” and yet not give them the things that are necessary for the body, of what benefit is this? 17 Thus even faith, if it does not have works, is dead, in and of itself. 18 Now someone may say: “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works! But I will show you my faith by means of works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. But the demons also believe, and they tremble greatly. 20 So then, are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not our father Abraham justified by means of works, by offering his son Isaac upon the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was cooperating with his works, and that by means of works faith was brought to fulfillment? 23 And so the Scripture was fulfilled which says: “Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.” And so he was called the friend of God.
24 Do you see that a man is justified by means of works, and not by faith alone? 25 Similarly also, Rahab, the harlot, was she not justified by works, by receiving the messengers and sending them out through another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Liberation from death for free

Too often Christians forget that we are given liberation from death for free. By the death of Jesus all have received the grace of salvation because God accepted the ransom offering of His son. Not because God faked his dying and resurrection. No the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are as an example to what can come to all of us, to each man or woman whatever he or she may have done in his or her previous life. But to be partakers of the Body of Christ a person has first of all to come to the faith which shall demand lots of work, than he has to make the right decisions (what shall demand again some work).

Those who say people do not have to accomplish any or many works to be saved ignore that the Bible demands repentance, which demands the effort of giving yourself be known as having done faults. Further when a person has come to believe, by studying the Word of God (a work) the person has to make the choice to become part of the body of Christ, by giving himself or herself over (needs an action) to that body letting himself or herself being placed under water as a sign of whitewashing of sins (again needs an action or some work), and as such by having herself or himself baptised has to have done once more a work.

Justice and Divine Vengeance Pursuing Crime (Pierre-Paul Prud’hon, oil-on-canvas, 1808).

Once baptised it does not finish by doing works. It is not because one is baptised a person can commit evil, like for example, fornication, adultery or any sort of crime (stealing, murdering), he or she shall still have to work to go against the many temptations of this life (greed, jealousy)

Those preachers who say a new born person has not to do any works any more, keeps people fooled. Such pastor or priest misleads his followers and does not let them see and understand the parables of Jesus, which have all to do about the works and the manners we have to take on to be saved or to be able to come through the small gate into the Kingdom of God. To come to socially correct way of acting we have to constrain ourselves which may demand some work from ourselves. Restraining ourselves does not come from itself.

Some of those preachers seem to contradict on one writing of their blog with an other article on their blog, as “Like One Unclean” trying to tell us we do not need to do any work, but at the same time warning us if we do not do this or not do that we shall not enter God’s Kingdom.

Ken Miller in that article agrees that still though we are saved by the blood of Christ and see verses like the ones in Isaiah or Paul’s warnings to the first century Christians. The apostle Paul tells us that therein is the righteousness of יהוה {Jehovah} revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,

“The just shall live by faith”

For the wrath of Jehovah the Only One True God, is revealed from heaven against all wickedness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of יהוה {Jehovah} is manifest in them; for יהוה {Jehovah} had shewed it unto them. Those people who, when they knew יהוה {Jehovah}, they glorified him not as Elohim, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible Elohim into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore יהוה {Jehovah} also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves.

Romans 1:17-24 (CPDV)
17 For the justice of God is revealed within it, by faith unto faith, just as it was written: “For the just one lives by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven over every impiety and injustice among those men who fend off the truth of God with injustice. 19 For what is known about God is manifest in them. For God has manifested it to them. 20 For unseen things about him have been made conspicuous, since the creation of the world, being understood by the things that were made; likewise his everlasting virtue and divinity, so much so that they have no excuse. 21 For although they had known God, they did not glorify God, nor give thanks. Instead, they became weakened in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was obscured. 22 For, while proclaiming themselves to be wise, they became foolish. 23 And they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of flying things, and of four-legged beasts, and of serpents. 24 For this reason, God handed them over to the desires of their own heart for impurity, so that they afflicted their own bodies with indignities among themselves.

Ken Miller writes

That verse should send shudders down the spine of every believer. The very thought of God abandoning us to do what our hearts desire should scare us. Our natural man, left to its own devices, will always choose the wrong path. Our old nature, motivated by pride, lust, greed, and selfishness, will always gravitate toward rebellion against God. Even as redeemed children of God, we must never lose sight of the fact that our capacity to sin remains within us. It is only our dependence upon God and our reliance upon His indwelling Spirit that gives us the ability to live righteously instead of sinfully. Paul reminds us, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves” (Galatians 5:16 NLT). {Like One Unclean.}

For some Christians no need to go against our lusts and satisfactions

Strangely enough in articles and responses saying we do not need works he also writes in an article

If Satan can get us to fall in love with the world and seek our satisfaction and sufficiency from all that it offers, it will render us useless for the cause of Christ. {Left Behind, But Not Alone.}

How in one way can it we be useless for the cause of Christ when he considers we do not have to do any works any more?
Hopefully he knows we should give ourselves to God (a work) an become dependent on Him (an action or work again), but even more we shall have to work at ourselves to avoid falling in that continuous trap (which shall demand lots of effort or many works).

Funny enough he himself declares

Compromise and complacency are deadly temptations for each of us as believers. So Jesus prayed that God would keep us from the evil one. {Left Behind, But Not Alone.}

though he considers Jesus to be God himself, so there is no reason at all for Jesus to pray to himself to take action for man. He continues

He wanted us to remain loyal to our God and faithful to our commission, right up until the end. {Left Behind, But Not Alone.}

and as such contradict again with other sayings in his writings that we should not do anything any more because we are saved.

He again points out at a work we should do, though he considers we do not have to do any work to be saved and to enter God’s Kingdom. He writes

We must constantly remind ourselves that we are not of this world. {Left Behind, But Not Alone.}

He knows though that we are citizens of another kingdom and that most of us serve another King. He also agrees and testifies we

live according to a different set of standards or rules.

But then it seems that he come to speak about the real kingdom we should aim for (demands an action again). He seems to understand we also have to become citizens of a different Kingdom (which demands action taken). Though he seems toforget that many actions have to be taken before one can consider himself or herself to be

children of the King. {Left Behind, But Not Alone.}

 

He seems to agree that our salvation was completely God’s doing, though perhaps by saying that he thinks ‘Jesus’ doing’.

Our sanctification or growth in Christ-likeness is His doing as well. Our safekeeping and security as His children is up to God as well. He has not and will not lose a single one He has redeemed. Our faith is secure, not because we live up to a certain standard or keep ourselves from committing certain sins, but because God holds us in His hands and will never let us go. {Left Behind, But Not Alone.}

Suddenly he then comes up again with something we should do (contrary to his remarks to the Belgian Christadelphians in an other posting)

While we live in this world, we must constantly remind ourselves that our real home is with Him. {Left Behind, But Not Alone.}

To remind ourselves of what we might or might not do is demanding action from ourselves which has to result in a work, namely either to go for that home with Christ and with God, fulfilling the wishes of God, or fulfilling the wishes of this world and as such becoming part of this world, which Jesus warns us not to do.

Let us never forget that salvation came to us by the blood of Christ, the man who told his disciples not to let their hearts be troubled, which demands action to be taken such temptations. This Jesus asks us also to “Trust in God“, and also to trust in him, which denotes that they are two different personalities. To trust some one demands work or an action taken in our mind and an action taken in our attitude.

If we do not have to do works, according to Ken Miller, why does he write

We are being bombarded with messages that sound so compelling. And many of them are coming from those who claim to be speaking on behalf of God. But anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. We must filter out the rhetoric and rationalizations and listen to what the more sinister, hidden agenda behind the message might be. We must probe behind the surface of what is being said and discover the heart of what is being taught. We must ask whether what is being conveyed is in keeping with God’s Word. We must question whether their message is from God or from men. It may be appealing, well-worded, highly convincing, logical, and rational, but if it contradicts the Word of God, it is to be rejected. The problem is that much of what is being taught today doesn’t come across as heresy. It comes couched in terms that speak of God’s love, compassion, grace and mercy. It encourages us to be accepting, tolerant, and forgiving. It paints God as a cosmic force who exists to help men and women become all that they can be. He is portrayed as a life couch who wants to help each and every individual reach their full potential. He wants to give them heaven on earth, but based on their terms, not His. He is imagined as a God who wants everyone healthy, wealthy, happy, whole, and free to live their life according to their own standards. Sin gets redefined or eliminated altogether. Salvation becomes nothing more than a form of self-actualization. Holiness gets replaced with happiness. Jesus gets reduced to little more than a role model worth emulating, but not a Savior worth accepting. {Ears to Hear.}

Just all the things he seem to be doing in his other writings.

No works but still burning in hell when not careful?

Strangely enough lots of those preachers who always cry we are saved and have to do no works, mostly shout load about all sorts of damnations and even say people can get into hell (which they claim to be a place of eternal suffering in fire) if they do not what the pastor says. Why are they than preaching about

Condemnation to everlasting punishment; doom.

If no works were needed to enter in the Kingdom of God all those pastors their sermons are not really necessary and than people would also have no obligation to come together and to take part of services. Going to a church demands an action and as such is also a work, which according to them is not necessary to receive salvation. Though we are clearly told meetings are a necessary part of the works we have to fulfil to show our faithfulness to God.

We must know that the Word of God tells us that judgement is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy and that there are many people enough in the world who claim to have faith but live a life which by the Bible considered a life of the world but not acceptable for God. The apostle James shows us that a person who does not have works is dead being by itself. Faith has to be shown by works. Jesus clearly showed his faith. He also showed how much he gave for others. He throughout his life has put himself away for the other.

Blind teachers

In the New Testament we are also directed to what Jeshua taught. Jesus continued teaching his students what was written in the scrolls emphasizing basic themes he had taught them on the mountain. Rabbi Jeshua also illustrated the importance to make yourself ready for the coming Kingdom (= a work to be done) and also talked about the importance of really learning from a good teacher.

In this world we do have many who are blind guides. Several people do think because they are ‘theologians‘ or priests and pastors who went to special colleges to learn about the theos or godheads they should know. Lots of people do forget that if someone who is blind leads another who is blind, both will fall into a pit. Though every person being formed is not greater than his teacher, and it is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher. In this world we have seen enough people who preferred following the human doctrines instead of the Biblical doctrines, to be able to succeed and getting their degree, enabling them to earn money by saying they can profess the Word of God, though the preaching of God’s Word should not be a means to earn money!

The good teachers are those who take away the dust and fog created by man and guide those who are blinded by human traditions and human doctrines. We should try to follow Jesus as our teacher so that we also by lots of work, studying of the bible and working on our temperament, we can come closer to complete our training (though it will never be finished before we die), to become like our teacher Jeshua, Jesus Christ the Messiah.

Matthew 10:24-25 (CPDV)
24 The disciple is not above the teacher, nor is the servant above his master. 25 It is sufficient for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant, like his master. If they have called the Father of the family, ‘Beelzebub,’ how much more those of his household?

We should come to hear, which demands the work of opening our ears and listening (again an action) to what is said. And not only do we have to read the words of Jesus, we also do have to hear them and to take them up in our mind (a work). furthermore we do not only have to hear these words of Jeshua, we also have to obey them. When we do not obey them we shall not be like a man who dug deep (a work to be done) and laid the foundation of his house on rock (an other work we should do).  Jesus asks us to follow him, to go and preach into the world and to work at ourselves so that we can produce good fruits being careful for false prophets in sheep’s dresses, but within they are rapacious wolves. We should look at those teachers (a work) if they are living according to what they preach. By their fruits shall we know them.

Building on sand

Too many people do forget that though we are given the grace of salvation for free not every one saying to Jesus “Lord, Lord,” shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens. Jesus clearly tells us we not only have to have faith but that it is he or she who is doing the will of Jesus his Father who is in the heavens, will be granted entrance into the kingdom.

Also pastors and priests, those who say that they teach in Jesus name, or even say they cast out evil spirits, and in Jesus name do many powers shall have to come to hear what Jesus has to tell theme on the Last Day. We are told there shall be persons about whom Jesus says

I never knew you. Go away from me, ye working iniquity

Therefore, every one should remember the words of rabbi Jeshua, Jesus Christ,the son of man and son of God, who himself said he could not do anything without God who is grater than him (Jesus). We all have to hear Jesus’ words and do them, which means having to take action or doing a work. We are also warned that every one hearing these words of Jesus and doing them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, which built his house upon quicksand.

Matthew 7:15-27 (CPDV)
15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You shall know them by their fruits. Can grapes be gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 So then, every good tree produces good fruit, and the evil tree produces evil fruit. 18 A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, and an evil tree is not able to produce good fruit. 19 Every tree which does not produce good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire. 20 Therefore, by their fruits you will know them. 21 Not all who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does the will of my Father, who is in heaven, the same shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and perform many powerful deeds in your name?’ 23 And then will I disclose to them: ‘I have never known you. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity.’ 24 Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and does them shall be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. 25 And the rains descended, and the floods rose up, and the winds blew, and rushed upon that house, but it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them shall be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. 27 And the rains descended, and the floods rose up, and the winds blew, and rushed upon that house, and it did fall, and great was its ruin.”

One not three or triune

Let us remember that “God is one” and not “three” and that Jesus worshipped the same God as our patriarch Abraham who also was justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar. Many still have to come to see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works. Like Abraham believed God “and it was counted to him for righteousness,” so Jesus believed in the One True God and did everything (works) to have God be known by as many people has he could. Jesus, the one appointed not by himself but assigned by God, also asked his followers to go out into the world and to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (once again a work that has to be done.)

1 Corinthians 8:4 (CPDV)
4 But as to the foods that are immolated to idols, we know that an idol in the world is nothing, and that no one is God, except One.

Acts 10:42 (CPDV)
42 And he instructed us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the One who was appointed by God to be the judge of the living and of the dead.

Friends of God justified

Like Abraham, Isaiah, David, Jesus and many others we too have to become righteous people (a work) who can come to say about themselves to be a worthy friend of God. Too many forget the words in Scripture where is said

“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone”.

The Prostitute Rahab who lived in Jericho in the Promised Land and assisted the Israelites in capturing the city. – James Tissot, The Harlot of Jericho and the Two Spies.

Let us remember Rahab the prostitute who was also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way. For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Jesus did so many works for God, his heavenly Father accepted his ransom offering and took him with Him to be seated next to Him. In case Jesus is God he would sit on the throne of God and not at God’s right hand as it is written in the infallible Word of God, the Bible.

Therefore let show gratitude for what Jesus really did and recognise that he had to do a lot for it. Let us accept Jesus, try to become united with him as he is one with his heavenly Father. And let us remember that it was God Who saved us, by accepting the offer of His beloved son, and called us to live a holy life. Jesus was a man who really deserved a sanctification and to be taken up into heaven straight ahead. Jehovah God did not allow the salvation to come over us for free because we deserved it, but because that was His plan from before the beginning of time, having a universe of God’s people, God’s animals and God’s plants. From the Fall of man God added to it the salvation, to make an end to the curse of death and the curse of the Law, to show us His grace through Christ Jesus and not through Himself, which He could have done straight away when the first Adam went wrong. But God wanted to show mankind it was possible for man to live righteous and wanted to wait for the second Adam to prove it. And now God has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Saviour. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News (2 Timothy 1:9-10).

Models to follow

Those who say

Jesus’ sinless life was not a model to follow

may not forget that it is the best example given to us. By not doing his own will but by doing the Will of God he made a payment to God to cover the penalty of our sin and brought an end to all offerings which had to be done before in the temple.

We may not lose ourselves in human doctrines and think we are not able to work at our character to become good followers of Jesus, living according to the Laws of Christ and according to the Laws of God (which again shall demand some works). god started with the creation, but somehow it came interrupted and man had to continue to evolve from one who had gone wrong back to a man who is able to follow the commandments of God.

Cruel God

Those who say Jesus has to be God because no man is able to be without sin is implicating that God created human beings not able to be without sin. Then they also give the impression that God must have been a very cruel God, imposing Laws on them which He knew they would never be able to comply with. they than portray God as a dictator who imposed laws on his people he was sure they never could keep. Having commandments imposed on them which they would never be able to follow does not show us a very  nice loving god, though the Bible tells us that God is a God of love, reason, order and clarity. But when there are such uncertainties told in Scriptures, bringing so much confusion between God and Jesus , One God or a Triune God, this would mean that God is not one of clarity and order and with those characters sayings things which contradict each other it also would proof that such a god would not be a clear speaking god or a god not speaking the truth.

It is not because we were sinners once that we always shall stay sinners and never can come to be a person living according to the Will of God. Contrary what certain preachers say we do not have to do any works, for sure only a repentant sinner who tries to avoid sinning in his future life shall find grace. Since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. From the moment we have come into the faith we should rejoice (again a work) in the hope of God’s glory. We have Christ as our Saviour but this did not liberate us from all our sufferings and did not make our life easier. We still shall have to fight against many temptations and many agonies (again a work to do). Some Christians just shall get more opposition from those of the world. But as faithful believers in the grace of salvation and the hope given to us by the Word of God we do mind less and know that our suffering may produce endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.

No disappointing hope

those who are willing to believe in Jesus Christ being the son of god who is the sent one from God, given to us for our salvation, shall have a hope which shall not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in their hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to them. For the apostles were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners he gave us His only begotten son Jeshua as the Kristos who died for us.
Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by Jesus his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who said he is the Way to God, through whom we have now received this reconciliation. We should believe God Who has sent Jesus, and believe that son of man who came to this world to declare the works of his heavenly Father.

John 5:19-30 (CPDV)
19 Then Jesus responded and said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son is not able to do anything of himself, but only what he has seen the Father doing. For whatever he does, even this does the Son do, similarly.
20 For the Father loves the Son, and he shows him all that he himself does. And greater works than these will he show him, so much so that you shall wonder.
21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wills. 22 For the Father does not judge anyone. But he has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son, does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Amen, amen,
I say to you, that whoever hears my word, and believes in him who sent me, has eternal life, and he does not go into judgment, but instead he crosses from death into life. 25 Amen, amen,
I say to you, that the hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear it shall live.
26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so also has he granted to the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him the authority to accomplish judgment. For he is the Son of man. 28 Do not be amazed at this. For the hour is coming in which all who are in the grave shall hear the voice of the Son of God.
29 And those who have done good shall go forth to the resurrection of life. Yet truly, those who have done evil shall go to the resurrection of judgment. 30 I am not able to do anything of myself. As I hear, so do I judge. And my judgment is just. For I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

Notice also what is said in verse 29 of John’s chapter 5,

John 5:29 (Haweis)
29 and they shall come forth; they who have done good actions to the resurrection of life; and they who have been guilty of foul practices, to the resurrection of damnation.

In Christ Jesus the real followers of Jesus, who accept him as the son of God and their master teacher , will see that it was God Who showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

Romans 5:8-9 (CPDV)
8 But God demonstrates his love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, at the proper time, 9 Christ died for us. Therefore, having been justified now by his blood, all the more so shall we be saved from wrath through him.

Yes, we are justified (made right) with God through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God, not by a god son or by The God faking his death.

Hope in justification

It is not fully true that we

are justified (made right) with God through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God. Not through human effort or any amount of good works. That is the clear teaching of the Word of God. {comment by the article That’s the Spirit!}

We do hope you can see it was because God did A Work, namely sending His son, and accepting the works and offering of His son, a human effort, that we in case we comply with God’s commandments and repent for our sins committed (a human effort), working on ourself, trying to get a set-apart or holy character (by doing the right things or by an amount of good works, following the teachings of the Holy Scriptures (once again a work) that we shall see the clear teaching of the Word of God.

It is true that we are justified for nothing on our part, but that does not mean we do not have to do any works to enter in the Kingdom of God and to be partakers of the New World.

Telling people that Jesus is the God and that no works are needed to come into the Kingdom of God is putting sand in the eyes of people, making it that they do not see the Truth, but get many doubts or blindness.

The author of that article That’s the Spirit! also forget that it is the believe in the son of God and not the believe in a god son that brings people closer to the Only One True God.

We should not believe in god the son, but in the son of God and recognise that he really did die and that his heavenly Father Who cannot die, took him out of the dead as an example for us, so that we might believe in all the promises which were given in the earlier centuries. In Christ Jesus we do have the hope of a resurrection of man and of a going on marvellous life in God’s Kingdom.

Gainsayers

Christendom has brought lots of  people who twist the words of the Bible saying “god the son” instead of “son of God“. Jesus and his disciples also warned already in their time for false teachers who would try to condemn all those who want to keep to the Biblical truth.

Men of God several times showed we should not love the world so much that we adhere to it in such a way that we follow first human doctrines and than just chose that what we want to believe. It also showed that we should not bow down in front of any graven image or making ourselves any gods other than the One True God, about Whom me also may not make any picture.

Those who claim Jesus is God should know than they may not make any picture of him and may not bow down in front of any graven image as well.

Since we have been declared righteous by faith, we may know that we, who are under Christ, have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. It is for him that we are willing to bear the sufferings of this world (a work) and even come to rejoice in them (which shall demand a big effort perhaps), knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.

Those believing in Jesus their hope shall not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in their hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. By studying the bible (a work to be done) we shall be able to come to understand (a work) God’s Word and be able to transform by the renewing of our mind, which shall demand some effort or work, so that we may test and approve plus experience what is the will of יהוה Jehovah God – what is good, acceptable and well-pleasing and perfect.

Romans 5:1-6 (CPDV)

Romans 5
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, let us be at peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 For through him we also have access by faith to this grace, in which we stand firm, and to glory, in the hope of the glory of the sons of God. 3 And not only that, but we also find glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation exercises patience, 4 and patience leads to proving, yet truly proving leads to hope, 5 but hope is not unfounded, because the love of God is poured forth in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 6 Yet why did Christ, while we were still infirm, at the proper time, suffer death for the impious?

Romans 12:2 (CPDV)
2 And do not choose to be conformed to this age, but instead choose to be reformed in the newness of your mind, so that you may demonstrate what is the will of God: what is good, and what is well-pleasing, and what is perfect.

 

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Preceding article

Approachers of ideas around gods, philosophers and theologians

A dark skinned Jesus

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Additional reading

1. Only One God
2. God of gods
3. God is one
4. Almighty God above all other gods greater than all gods
5. El-Shaddai God Almighty Who no-one may see and live
6. No man see the Almighty God and live
7. The very very beginning 2 The Word and words
8. Written by inspiration of God for our admonition, to whom it shall be imputed if they believe
9. God-breathed prophetic words written torah and the mitzvot to teach us
10. Al-Fatiha [The Opening] Süra 1: 4-7 Merciful Lord of the Creation to show us the right path
11. The true light in recorded words
12. the Bible – God’s guide for life #4 Not to get the best from our diet– or from ourselves
13. Creation of the earth and man #1 Planet for living beings in a pre-Adamic world
14. Creation of the earth and man #13 Formation of man #5 Living soul
15. Creation of the earth and man #18 Man in the image and likeness of the Elohim #2 Assimilation of character
16. Necessity of a revelation of creation 1 Works of God and works of man
17. Necessity of a revelation of creation 3 Getting understanding by Word of God 1
18. Necessity of a revelation of creation 4 Getting understanding by Word of God 2
19. The Importance of the Prophetic
20. Jesus Messiah
21. Nazarene Commentary Matthew 3:13-17 – Jesus Declared God’s Son at His Baptism
22. Believing in the send one and understanding that one does not live by bread alone
23. Jesus begotten Son of God #8 Found Divinely Created not Incarnated
24. Jesus begotten Son of God #10 Coming down spirit or flesh seed of Eve
25. Jesus begotten Son of God #11 Existence and Genesis Raising up
26. Jesus begotten Son of God #13 Pre-existence excluding virginal birth of the Only One Transposed
27. Jesus begotten Son of God #14 Beloved Preminent Son and Mediator originating in Mary
28. Jesus begotten Son of God #17 Adam, Eve, Mary and Christianity’s central figure
29. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #12 Prayer #10 Talk to A Friend
30. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #14 Prayer #12 The other name
31. The Son can do nothing of his own accord
32. The meek one riding on an ass
33. No person has greater love than this one who surrendered his soul in behalf of his friends
34. Christian values, traditions, real or false stories, pure and upright belief
35. What others think about the tree of knowledge of good and evil
36. Forbidden Fruit in the Midst of the Garden 1
37. Forbidden Fruit in the Midst of the Garden 4
38. Genesis 1 story does not take away an evolution
39. Politics and power first priority #3 Elevation of Mary and the Holy Spirit
40. Looking for a primary cause and a goal that can not offer philosophers existing beliefs
41. A Jewish Woman and a Test of Faith
42. Follower of Jesus part of a cult or a Christian
43. Being in tune with God
44. How long to wait before bringing religiousness and spirituality in practice
45. Looking for True Spirituality 5 Fruitage of the Spirit
46. Looking for True Spirituality 6 Spirituality and Prayer
47. To find ways of Godly understanding
48. Not about personal salvation but about a bigger Plan
49. Christianity without the Trinity
50. the Trinity – the Truth
51. How do trinitarians equate divine nature
52. The Right One to follow and to worship
53. Sayings of Jesus, what to believe and being or not of the devil
54. Authority given to him To give eternal life
55. Why is it that Christians don’t understand Muslims and Muslims do not understand Christians?
56. Back from gone #2 Aim of godly people
57. The Question is this…
58. Truth, doubt or blindness
59. Not staying alone in your search for truth
60. Beautiful feet of those who announce the good news
61. Messiah for all 2015 in review
62. How To Get Started In Sharing Your Faith As a Christian
63. Summermonths and consumerism
64. Faith and works
65. A Living Faith #3 Faith put into action
66. A Living Faith #7 Prayer
67. Being Justified by faith
68. Obeying the King
69. Faithful to the listening ear
70. Growth in character
71. Character transformed by the influence of our fellowships
72. Disscusion Questions
73. We are ourselves responsible
74. Condemnation of the World and Illustration of Justification
75. Preaching to an unbelieving world
76. Not trying to make the heathen live like Jews #2
77. Count your blessings

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Further reading

1. It is a common belief that most Christians believe that Jesus is God that came down from heaven to become a man
2. Jesus – Son of God, not God the Son
3. Jesus Is Not My God
4. 10 Reasons why Jesus is not God!
5. 14 Bible Verses That Indicate Jesus Is Not God
6. 90 Verses says: Jesus is not God
7. Divinity of Jesus? An Inquiry
8. How can Jesus be God when he denies being absolutely good, and says that only God is good (cf. Mark 10:18)?
9. Jesus Christ is not God (the Way)
10. And the Creator spoke…
11. What Shall We Say?
12. The day the son of God became the son of man
13. Contradictions in Abraham and Exodus
14. Witnessing Tip of the Day December 23
15. Tip of the Day December 12
16. Epiphany
17. January 2016 Issue of Christian Worker (The Messiah in the Flesh)
18. Homily — Sunday OT 2 C
19. Where O Where is God?
20. Two Brothers Talking: A Running Dialogue on the Incarnation and Being Black, Part 4
21. The Face of God (Part 1)
22. The Water & The Blood
23. The Incarnation is rude
24. The Baptism of the Lord–Jan 10, 2016
25. Did Jesus Know he was God?
26. Jesus I come….
27. That Bright Shining Moment: How Certain Moments In Life Remain With Us & Inspire Us
28. Our Father Cares: Faith And God’s Promises 07/22
29. Intentional God
30. Faith in Action
31. The Sower of Seeds: A Parable of Jesus
32. The Book that Almost Wasn’t: Faith, Lists, and Works ~ James 2
33. Faith Without Works Is Dead
34. Are You a doer???
35. Mincing no Words
36. So Who’s Really Crazy Here!?!
37. Usefulness
38. Faith alone or faith plus works – Epistle for September 6, 2015
39. James, Part 2
40. Are You Willing to do more???
41. Faith Without Works
42. Tell it Tuesday w/ B. Parker| It’s 2am and No One is Answering…Who To Call?
43. Tell it Tuesday w/ B.Parker|How To Pray When Life Isn’t Going Your Way
44. Childish Thinking
45. Sneaky subjectivism
46. James 1:14-20 — Faith that Works!
47. Faith without Works ???
48. What Future?
49. The Works
50. Intentional Avoidance, Disconnected Ignorance, or Disinterested Forgetfulness?
51. Faith That Moves.
52. We Are All Damaged Goods…
53. The Subnormal Christian Life
54. 14 How to Work Your Way to Hell
55. Putting Legs to Their Faith
56. Faith Child – Forget the poor!
57. James 2 Part 2 – The Ride 1.24.15

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