Closed Church

Bible Matters 553:  Closed Church

God’s Gospel of Love is presented simply in the first chapter of Peter.  No mystery.  No magical revelation.  Just pure and simple, when you believe, you live your life for the glory of God. You must repent, be born again and turn your walk from sin to a walk of righteousness by the word of God.  Endure to the end and God will be waiting.

1 Peter 1:14,23 – As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever.

God is the judge.  Your goal is to perform works of love. 

1 Peter 1:17 – And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Obey the truth in God’s word with love of thy neighbor.

1 Peter 1:14,22 – As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Endure to the end with hope and salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:9,13 – Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

The above is God’s plan of salvation was presented by Jesus and recorded by all eight New Testament witnesses, Muhammad and Shem.  A simple plan presented by three prophets.  That plan is too complicated for man’s religion.  When I presented a “Love” jail lessons from the bible to a Hindu man, he asked me what denomination was it based on.  I told him it was non-denominational.  He said he didn’t understand Christianity.   You all worship God, the creator of heaven and earth and follow the teachings of Jesus, but the only way I can get to heaven is to go to your church.  My fifty-church witness proved his observation to be 100% correct. 

The Catholic church is one of the original closed churches.  You can’t partake of the bread and the wine at church service, unless you are baptized Catholic. 

I was at the large church from which I acquired the jail ministry.  Three pastors were involved.   I overheard the two elder pastors talking and the one said it wasn’t working.  The other asked, what wasn’t working.  The one said we are saving people, but they are not coming to church.   The other asked what should they do.  The one said that this is what we will do:  We will save them and then tell them they need to participate in the bread and wine at church service.   To participate, they will need to get baptized at church!  It was clear that the pastor wanted to create a Catholic Church type of closed church model.  

Later, one of the ministers “saved” a man and the man was at church with his wife and three children.   The  minister asked the man when he wanted to get baptized.   The man looked at the minister and said that he has been baptized three times already and he didn’t see the need, nor did he feel that God would require it.  He went and removed his three children from Sunday school classes and left with his wife.  Never to be seen at that church again.

This large church would guide many smaller churches with practices on how to grow their church.  The closed church model was flowed down to these churches.  So, it was no mystery for me, when the church that spoke the “truth” pulled the bread and the wine from the alter after I arrived into the congregation for that church witness with “A Bride of Christ”, before Easter. 

From the testimony of the New Testament witnesses, it is clear that Jesus said to celebrate the bread and the wine as his body and blood in memory of him.  Nothing else.   This closed church model further drives a wedge between Christian denominations and true to the Hindu man’s observation, it drives the atmosphere that the only way you can get to heaven, is if you go to that church. 

From the testimony of two or three New Testament witnesses, there is no such thing as a closed church.  Not one verse supports such heretic behavior.  God put me into a position to be able to hear, see and record such malicious behavior in abusing God’s word.   This was God’s plan.  That is exactly why this ministry does not discriminate against any person wanting to learn and share God’s word. 

Man is impatient.  Thus, the simple plan of salvation is born.  Create a man-made law, like water-baptism, to tell you that you now have the Holy Ghost.  Think about this.  If Jesus could not send the Holy Ghost at the will of man, then I’m pretty sure that God does not send the Holy Ghost at an act of man.  Water Baptism will not likely send the Holy Ghost.  The gift of the Holy Ghost cannot be bought.  God sends the Holy Ghost when you decide to live your life for the glory of God. 

John 20:21-22 – Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

The Holy Ghost did not come from Jesus’s breath.  All power comes from God above. 

 John 19:11 – Jesus answered, Thou could have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

1 Peter 1:5 – Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

James 1:16-17 – Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

John 3:8 – The wind blows where it listeth, and thou hears the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 3:27 – John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

Acts 1:7-8 – And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The gift of the Holy Ghost cannot be bought.  When your heart is right with God, then God sends the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:18-21 – And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

Do not be deceived.  Decide today to study God’s gospel of Love and go live your life unto good works, for God’s glory.  Endure to the end, with the hope of everlasting life.  Pray to God for strength, power and opportunities to give him the glory by being his witness. 

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.