Jesus informed His followers that they would be persecuted and lied about for believing in Him. We live in a day when Satan is very happy to see millions of people ignoring the Ten Commandments and not trusting in the Bible as the true word of God. Those who have placed their trust in human error will not stand to listen to the word of God. In fact, they will develope hatred towards it and those who believe in it!
Even more sad are those who profess to be Christians and deny the moral standard of God. Many who claim to be Christians persecute those who believe in the Ten Commandments and make claims that the Ten Commandments were "nailed to the cross". They feel that those who keep the commandments of God are fanatics. "Thousands who pride themselves upon their wisdom and independence regard it as an evidence of weakness to place implicit confidence in the Bible; they think it a proof of superior talent and learning to cavil at the Scriptures and to spiritualize and explain away their most important truths." [E.G.White, GCp.583]
Please understand that it is Satan's work to destroy true Christian morality. "To deceive men, and thus lead them to transgress God's law, is the object which he has steadfastly pursued. Whether this be accomplished by casting aside the law altogether, or by rejecting one of its precepts, the result will be ultimately the same. " [E.G.White GCp.582] The war is between the "dragon" [Satan] and those "who keep the commandments of God." [Revelation 12:17]
"Already the doctrine that men are released from obedience to God's requirements has weakened the force of moral obligation and opened the floodgates of iniquity upon the world. " [E.G.White GCp.585] Look at the world, look at the shape that it is in. Truly we are living in the last days. Many true Christians will have family members turn against them with an evil hatred. This hatred is stirred in them because their pride doesn't want to make Jesus their Lord. Many want a saviour but not a Lord. They truly do not fear the Lord like they should so instead they attack the truth and those who proclaim it.
"The religious organizations of the day have refused to listen to unpopular truths plainly brought to view in the Scriptures, and in combating them they have adopted interpretations and taken positions which have sown broadcast the seeds of skepticism." [E.G.White GCp.586] Many so called "christians" of today have made idols of false doctrine. Why? They wish not to bow down to the perfect "law of liberty". "In rejecting the truth, men reject its Author. In trampling upon the law of God, they deny the authority of the Law-giver. It is as easy to make an idol of false doctrines and theories as to fashion an idol of wood or stone. By misrepresenting the attributes of God, Satan leads men to conceive of Him in a false character. With many, a philosophical idol is enthroned in the place of Jehovah; while the living God, as He is revealed in His word, in Christ, and in the works of creation, is worshiped by but few. Thousands deify nature while they deny the God of nature. Though in a different form, idolatry exists in the Christian world today as verily as it existed among ancient Israel in the days of Elijah. The god of many professedly wise men, of philosophers, poets, politicians, journalists--the god of polished fashionable circles, of many colleges and universities, even of some theological institutions--is little better than Baal, the sun-god of Phoenicia. " [E.W.White GCp.583]
I have received letters and testimonies from some who have gained from "The Adventist Way of Life" ministry. They have informed me that when they started keeping the true 7th day Sabbath of the Lord their families began to attack them verbaly. The fighting escalated into false accusations and hatred toward the Sabbath keeping family member. It is because the false Christians wish to loose themselves from the binding claims of God's Holy Law. "And as the claims of the fourth commandment are urged upon the people, it is found that the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath is enjoined; and as the only way to free themselves from a duty which they are unwilling to perform, many popular teachers declare that the law of God is no longer binding." [E.W.White GCp.587]
"The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly is now hardly distinguishable." [E.G.White GCp.588] True Christians will be "the light of the world". They begin to stand out as a "sore thumb" more and more as we approach the end. False teachings of Christendom will become a cloak for fake Christians to hide behind as they persecute the true Sabbath keepers. "As the teachings of spiritualism are accepted by the churches, the restraint imposed upon the carnal heart is removed, and the profession of religion will become a cloak to conceal the basest iniquity. A belief in spiritual manifestations opens the door to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, and thus the influence of evil angels will be felt in the churches." [E.G.White GCp.603,604]
"Blinded by Satan, the parent will exercise harshness and severity toward the believing child;" [E.G.White GCp.608] Jesus our Lord informed us: "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." [Matthew 10:36] "Affection will be alienated; children will be disinherited and driven from home. The words of Paul will be literally fulfilled: "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12. " [E.G.White GCp.608]
Ex-Seventh Day Adventist Christians will be some of our worst enemies. " Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them. " [E.G.White GCp.608]
I, Eric W. King, encourage all true Christians to not give up! Hang in there. Times will get difficult but God is on our side! "Christ's ambassadors have nothing to do with consequences. They must perform their duty and leave results with God." [E.G.White GCp609-610]
Compiled and written by Eric W. King [March 18,2008]
Please visit "The Adventist Way of Life" and hear Eric speak on TAWOL Radio!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Is our reliance of God mere speculation?
Recently I received an email from a person who had listened to one of my TAWOL radio shows regarding the topic of, "The state of the dead". Their response was simple. The response to the message was basically;
"All Bible topics are of mere blind faith and speculation."
Wow! How sad this response was to me. Do we serve an impersonal God? According to this person we do. If you have children and you raise them do you teach them to use "reason" and "understanding"? Or must they guess about such important topics as "life" and "death"?
Isaiah 1:18 says, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
And...
"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." Acts 17:11
So we can find truth in the Scriptures and we are told to "reason" with God. Jesus also said;
"If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." John 14:7
Jesus came so that each of us could know and understand God in a personal way. Jesus alone can bring meaning and purpose to life. The Bible is clear about Heaven and what it will be like. The Bible is clear that Jesus want's to give those who believe in Him "everlasting life". There is no speculation about the character and person of God.
Many who have studied philosophy and human reasoning fall into the trap of believing in a semi-personal if not all together impersonal God. Why? Because instead of reading their Bible they begin to trust human reasoning all together outside the realm of God's word. God asks us to use reasoning along with His word, the Holy Bible.
Tis' true that Life is full of unprovable assumptions. So do we as Christians trust only limited human reasoning so that we can never arrive at certanties? No! We as Christians do use human reason with God's word, and then God responds! Christians testify to a supernatural reality. Most of all, we trust that an ultimate wise God in the person of the Holy Spirit will lead, guide, direct, and protect us into all true! God does give us answers!
No friends, our faith is not mere speculation. We do not have to guess what happens at death. We can look at those who have experienced it in the Bible and listen to what the Bible says. Jesus experienced death and resurrection and said that He would come back for us that we too may be raised unto life everlasting. Why must we speculate about what God says so clearly?
Yes, our God is personal! And He loves us personally!
Written by Eric W. King [March 11,2008]
http://www.adventist.7p.com/
"All Bible topics are of mere blind faith and speculation."
Wow! How sad this response was to me. Do we serve an impersonal God? According to this person we do. If you have children and you raise them do you teach them to use "reason" and "understanding"? Or must they guess about such important topics as "life" and "death"?
Isaiah 1:18 says, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
And...
"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." Acts 17:11
So we can find truth in the Scriptures and we are told to "reason" with God. Jesus also said;
"If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him." John 14:7
Jesus came so that each of us could know and understand God in a personal way. Jesus alone can bring meaning and purpose to life. The Bible is clear about Heaven and what it will be like. The Bible is clear that Jesus want's to give those who believe in Him "everlasting life". There is no speculation about the character and person of God.
Many who have studied philosophy and human reasoning fall into the trap of believing in a semi-personal if not all together impersonal God. Why? Because instead of reading their Bible they begin to trust human reasoning all together outside the realm of God's word. God asks us to use reasoning along with His word, the Holy Bible.
Tis' true that Life is full of unprovable assumptions. So do we as Christians trust only limited human reasoning so that we can never arrive at certanties? No! We as Christians do use human reason with God's word, and then God responds! Christians testify to a supernatural reality. Most of all, we trust that an ultimate wise God in the person of the Holy Spirit will lead, guide, direct, and protect us into all true! God does give us answers!
No friends, our faith is not mere speculation. We do not have to guess what happens at death. We can look at those who have experienced it in the Bible and listen to what the Bible says. Jesus experienced death and resurrection and said that He would come back for us that we too may be raised unto life everlasting. Why must we speculate about what God says so clearly?
Yes, our God is personal! And He loves us personally!
Written by Eric W. King [March 11,2008]
http://www.adventist.7p.com/
Sunday, March 2, 2008
"Great swelling words"
In the second letter of Peter found in the New Testament we find some very important information regarding false teachers. Many Christians today have not really studied their own Bibles. If they have most have only approached the study of it from one or two points of view. Mostly an "evangelical" popular view or "baptist/calvinistic" type view. These have been the popular views.
Thus they may only have become grounded on one popular modern view of Christianity without feeling the need to go deeper. These students can easily fall prey to false movements. The Bible warns us about false teachers. Starting in 2 Peter 2:18 we read:
"For when they [false teachers] speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error."
Here Peter tells us that these false teachers speak "boastful words" [swelling words] by appealing to the lustful desires of human sinful nature. Here is described a false group of teachers who promise worldly glory. A regular teaching today within Pentecostal and Charismatic churches and ministries that compares to these false teachings that Peter is describing is the modern teaching that God wants all Christians to be financially wealthy. It seems that these false Christians also believed that to be "free from God's law" ment that they could break God's law. They thought that to be "not under law" ment that they were free from the moral restraint of God's law.
What does "free from the law" really mean? It simply means that Jesus Christ set us free from the guilt of the law. The law causes guilt because we cannot perfectly keep it. Jesus set us free from the "condemnation of the law" but Jesus never gave us license to break the moral standard.
Peter goes on in his explaination of the false teachers:
"While they promise them liberty [freedom], they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought to bondage." [2 Peter 2:19]
Here Peter suggests that those who do not want to be guided by God's moral standard inevitably get caught in sin and the bondage of it's grip. They become caught in the slavery of "self". True freedom from sin involves joyful "slavery" [service] to God. [see Romans 6:15-18] False teachers delight in making up their own rules to live by. To them "self" must always "feel good" and be "glorified".
It is easy to get caught in false teachings if you are not grounded in the Truth of God's word. People demonstrate what they value most by the time and energy they devote to something (see Matthew 6:21). When is the last time you truly studied your Bible? Many are waiting for somebody else to tell them what the Bible teaches, to follow the popular view, instead of searching God's word out for themselves.
Peter goes on in the passage that we are looking at to explain that these so called "christians" have returned to their sinful way of life while still calling themselves the followers of Jesus Christ. Their return to their old sinful ways showed that their knowledge of Christ was only superficial.
Peter says;
"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning."
"For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them."
"But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." [2 Peter 2:20-22]
So,dear Christian, where do you stand regarding these issues today?
Written by Eric W. King [March 2,2008]
Visit more at: "The Adventist Way of Life"
Thus they may only have become grounded on one popular modern view of Christianity without feeling the need to go deeper. These students can easily fall prey to false movements. The Bible warns us about false teachers. Starting in 2 Peter 2:18 we read:
"For when they [false teachers] speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error."
Here Peter tells us that these false teachers speak "boastful words" [swelling words] by appealing to the lustful desires of human sinful nature. Here is described a false group of teachers who promise worldly glory. A regular teaching today within Pentecostal and Charismatic churches and ministries that compares to these false teachings that Peter is describing is the modern teaching that God wants all Christians to be financially wealthy. It seems that these false Christians also believed that to be "free from God's law" ment that they could break God's law. They thought that to be "not under law" ment that they were free from the moral restraint of God's law.
What does "free from the law" really mean? It simply means that Jesus Christ set us free from the guilt of the law. The law causes guilt because we cannot perfectly keep it. Jesus set us free from the "condemnation of the law" but Jesus never gave us license to break the moral standard.
Peter goes on in his explaination of the false teachers:
"While they promise them liberty [freedom], they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought to bondage." [2 Peter 2:19]
Here Peter suggests that those who do not want to be guided by God's moral standard inevitably get caught in sin and the bondage of it's grip. They become caught in the slavery of "self". True freedom from sin involves joyful "slavery" [service] to God. [see Romans 6:15-18] False teachers delight in making up their own rules to live by. To them "self" must always "feel good" and be "glorified".
It is easy to get caught in false teachings if you are not grounded in the Truth of God's word. People demonstrate what they value most by the time and energy they devote to something (see Matthew 6:21). When is the last time you truly studied your Bible? Many are waiting for somebody else to tell them what the Bible teaches, to follow the popular view, instead of searching God's word out for themselves.
Peter goes on in the passage that we are looking at to explain that these so called "christians" have returned to their sinful way of life while still calling themselves the followers of Jesus Christ. Their return to their old sinful ways showed that their knowledge of Christ was only superficial.
Peter says;
"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning."
"For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them."
"But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." [2 Peter 2:20-22]
So,dear Christian, where do you stand regarding these issues today?
Written by Eric W. King [March 2,2008]
Visit more at: "The Adventist Way of Life"
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Do I have to be perfect?
Many people come to Jesus Christ in their early adulthood. They stay in a church or two for some time and then something terrible happens. I false teacher begins to tell them that they must be perfect or God will not accept them. Do you know who this false teacher is? It is the Devil!
It saddens me that many Christians that I talk to in my ministry say things like: "I used to go to church but I got depressed. I just felt judged and condemned all the time. Not only that, but all Christians are hypocrites!" You see, I notice that first they describe a sort of "guilt depression" which ends in anger towards all Christians.
Why does this happen? Many people want to believe in Jesus and want to live forever in Heaven but they are not quite sure how to really get there. This is where the root of the problem is. They look at the Ten Commandments and realize that they fall short of keeping them. So they look to Jesus and wonder if He really can help them become "perfect". You see, this is the problem.
People begin to focus on themselves instead of believing and trusting in Jesus. In the historical past of the Christian faith many different practices occurred that people invented. They beat themsleves, they starved themselves, they became celibate all in the hopes that this would get them to heaven.
Today people are turning to liberal churches for salvation. They want a religion with basically no moral standard at all, or at least one that they can re-write. This is the other extreme, and the more popular form of "inventive salvation".
The Bible is simple and clear about who makes it to Heaven. First the Bible instructs us to put our faith and believe in the person of Jesus Christ. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." [Romans 10:9,10]
So we see that we must truly believe. "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." [James 1:8] So if we truly believe in Jesus we will listen to what He says. Jesus said; "If you love me, keep my commandments." [John 14:15] Also, knowing that we cannot be saved by commandment keeping is very important. "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." [Romans 3:28]
So here are the characteristics of those who will be saved: "This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus." [Revelation 14:12] So we remain faithful to our Lord through belief in His word and second we obey His commandments through the strength that He gives us by the Holy Spirit. Our obedience is in response to His love.
We read; "This is love for God: to obey his commands." [1 John 5:3] So salvation is very simple! It is accomplished by, in, and through Jesus Christ alone and our faith in Him! The enemy will always attack this simple message. We read: "And the dragon [Satan] was wroth with the woman [Church], and went to make war with her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." [Revelation 12:17]
So it is not those who add special rules to their lives, or try and be celibate, or try and forget God's commandments all together. It is simply those who have found Jesus Christ and believe and trust in Him alone for salvation.
May you find Him today!
Written by, Eric W. King [March 1st, 2008]
Visit Eric's website at: http://www.adventist.7p.com/
It saddens me that many Christians that I talk to in my ministry say things like: "I used to go to church but I got depressed. I just felt judged and condemned all the time. Not only that, but all Christians are hypocrites!" You see, I notice that first they describe a sort of "guilt depression" which ends in anger towards all Christians.
Why does this happen? Many people want to believe in Jesus and want to live forever in Heaven but they are not quite sure how to really get there. This is where the root of the problem is. They look at the Ten Commandments and realize that they fall short of keeping them. So they look to Jesus and wonder if He really can help them become "perfect". You see, this is the problem.
People begin to focus on themselves instead of believing and trusting in Jesus. In the historical past of the Christian faith many different practices occurred that people invented. They beat themsleves, they starved themselves, they became celibate all in the hopes that this would get them to heaven.
Today people are turning to liberal churches for salvation. They want a religion with basically no moral standard at all, or at least one that they can re-write. This is the other extreme, and the more popular form of "inventive salvation".
The Bible is simple and clear about who makes it to Heaven. First the Bible instructs us to put our faith and believe in the person of Jesus Christ. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." [Romans 10:9,10]
So we see that we must truly believe. "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." [James 1:8] So if we truly believe in Jesus we will listen to what He says. Jesus said; "If you love me, keep my commandments." [John 14:15] Also, knowing that we cannot be saved by commandment keeping is very important. "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." [Romans 3:28]
So here are the characteristics of those who will be saved: "This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus." [Revelation 14:12] So we remain faithful to our Lord through belief in His word and second we obey His commandments through the strength that He gives us by the Holy Spirit. Our obedience is in response to His love.
We read; "This is love for God: to obey his commands." [1 John 5:3] So salvation is very simple! It is accomplished by, in, and through Jesus Christ alone and our faith in Him! The enemy will always attack this simple message. We read: "And the dragon [Satan] was wroth with the woman [Church], and went to make war with her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." [Revelation 12:17]
So it is not those who add special rules to their lives, or try and be celibate, or try and forget God's commandments all together. It is simply those who have found Jesus Christ and believe and trust in Him alone for salvation.
May you find Him today!
Written by, Eric W. King [March 1st, 2008]
Visit Eric's website at: http://www.adventist.7p.com/
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