Bible Matters 447 You’ve been Deceived

The gospel doctrine that Jesus brought to this earth is not about you.    You’ve been played by the teaching of man’s churches and the doctrine established by one witness testimonies.  This is exactly why God made it clear that out of the mouth of two or three witnesses you will know the truth. Twelve times in the bible God tells you how to understand the truth in his word. (See Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15; 1 Kings 21:10; 1 Kings 21:13; Matthew 18:16; John 8:17-18; 1 Corinthians 14:29; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Hebrews 6:18; Hebrews 10:28; 1 Timothy 5:19; Revelations 11:3). 

Twelve times is not random.  Twelve in the Bible refers to Governmental Perfection or Divine Authority.  To write twelve in Hebrew, they wrote two Hebrew letters: yod-beth. These signify the hand of the household in harmony under divine authority.   There were 12 sons of Jacob in the Old Testament and 12 apostles in the New Testament. There are 12 foundations in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:14). It also has 12 gates and 12 angels at the gates (Rev. 21:12) and 12 pearls at the gates (Rev. 21:21). The city is foursquare at 12,000 furlongs (Rev. 21:16). The wall is 144 cubits high (Rev. 21:17), which is 12 x 12. All of this is to portray the concept of divine government and order.  God’s perfection and divine authority is to be witnessed by understanding the truth in his word, twelve times in the Bible, that out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, you shall know the truth.

Paul’s epistles and John’s gospel are the witnesses most often quoted using one witness verses to create false doctrine which results in division amongst the Christian denomination.  That is exactly why Paul quoted five times and John quoted two times that out of the mouth of two or three witnesses you shall know the truth.  If God commands you twelve times, then you listen and obey.

1 Timothy 5:19 – Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

Paul tells you to judge the truth from the testimony of two or three prophets. 

1 Corinthians 14:29 – Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

Paul tells Timothy to study scripture; you then compare verses for reproof and correction.  Exactly how you get the truth.

2 Timothy 3:16 – All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Paul was trained as a leader of the Jewish religion and all matters of man’s churchianity as a Pharisee.    Paul was not an apostle of Jesus.  He did not spend any time with Jesus to learn God’s gospel.  Following his conversion to Christianity on the way to Damascus, Paul only spent 15 days with Peter and James, Jesus’s brother, learning of Jesus’s Walk on this earth.  Paul was responsible for the persecution of Christians and the stoning of the apostle Stephen, so he heard the stories of Jesus’s Walk on this earth.  Paul had many one witness testimonies that do not align with the teachings of the Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, James and Jude.  That is exactly why Paul told Timothy to study scripture!

Galatians 1:18-19 – Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

Paul was the only witness that said women should be silent in church.  God does not women silent in church.  If you are a woman and have a desire to serve God as a leader in his kingdom, then do it!  Make God proud. 

1 Corinthians 14:34 – Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

Paul was also the only witness that declared Jesus as the head of the church. (See Ephesians 1:18,22; Ephesians 2:20; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18).  You all know that God is the judge and head of his people, in the kingdom of God. 

Ephesians 5:23 – For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

And you guessed it.  Paul is the only one that said the husband is the head of the wife.  Without understanding the truth in God’s word, you’ll want to judge your self-righteousness against how others are living their life in sin.  God does not want you to judge anyone.   God just wants you to live his gospel of Love.   So, as you look at your service to God, your job function is clear.  Be a witness for God and manage your daily activities serving God and man in mind and spirit!   Your life of love is your witness. 

 Christian churches love to pick and choose verses from the Old and New Testament and come up with doctrine for you to live by and in so doing you have favor with God and eternal life is yours.  A Hindu man asked me this question when I gave him a nondenominational jail ministry lesson on love.  He said, “You worship one God and follow the teachings of Jesus.  Why is it that I can only go to heaven if I go to your church? “   

Some denominations believe that Jesus is God.  Others believe that Jesus is a prophet.  Using the preponderance of evidence from the testimony of two or three witnesses, you know that Jesus was a prophet sent by God.  Jesus called himself a prophet.  Jesus as the son of God was not God the Father. (See Matthew 21:11-13; Luke 4:24; Luke 7:16; Luke 13:33; Luke 24:19; Mark 6:4; John 4:19,44; John 6:14)

Matthew 21:11-13 – And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Mark 6:4 – But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

Jesus made it clear in his parables that a rich man will have trouble entering the kingdom of God. God made it clear in these three verses that it is impossible for man to save anyone and it is only possible with God.  God is the judge!  (See Luke 18:25-27; Mark 10:25-27; Matthew 19:24-26)

Luke 18:25-27 – For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?  And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Jesus was clear in his testimony.  Jesus couldn’t save that young man.  The young man followed the religious laws, but didn’t have love for the things of God in his heart.  Jesus didn’t offer water baptism to save the young man.  Jesus didn’t say, “believe in me and you will be saved.”   Jesus didn’t say to get baptized in water to be saved.  Jesus made it clear that salvation is a gift from God.   If you want a relationship with God, then “follow me.” To do as Jesus did.   (See Matthew 19:16-21,26; Mark 10:17-21; Luke 18:18-22)

Matthew 19:16-21,26 – And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

All eight witnesses have testified the commandments of the New Testament. Using the preponderance of evidence from their testimonies, the commandments are simply these for the New Testament believer:  Do not commit adultery; Do not kill; Do not steal; Do not bear false witness; Honor thy father and thy mother; Love God; Love neighbor.  If you break one of these, you break them all.  You are told to walk in the light doing the will of God with a pure heart and not serving the lusts of the flesh. 

Not once in the New Testament did Jesus tell you to keep the Sabbath holy.  God destroyed the man-made churches when the temple veil was rent in two during the death of Jesus on the cross.  God wants you to serve him seven days a week in his kingdom of God.  Jesus overthrew the tables and chastised them that turned the church into a den of thieves. (See Mark 11:17; Matthew 21:11-13)

Matthew 21:11-13 – And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.  And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Not once does Jesus tell you to give a tithe or 10% of your earnings to the church.  God knew that man would use the church as a money grab and fail to teach the truth out of his word.   God doesn’t need your money.   God wants your heart. 

Revelation 17:17 – For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

Performing works of religion does not make you righteous in the eyes of God.  Circumcision was a religious work of the Jewish religion.  Paul made it clear in Corinthians that circumcision means nothing.  He is telling you that religious works men’s nothing.  James warns you that man’s religion is vain. 

1 Corinthians 7:19 – Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

James 1:26 – If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

Jesus didn’t say to be circumcised to be saved.  Only one witness gave that testimony.

Acts 15:1 – And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Baptism by water means nothing and just gets one wet.  Only one witness, Peter, gave inference to water baptism saves. 

1 Peter 3:20-21 -Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

John the Baptist said that one would come after him that baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire! Five witnesses have testified that your baptism by the Holy Ghost will be your fire! (See Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; Acts 11:16-18).  God had John the Baptist thrown in jail when Jesus began his ministry.  God does not want works of religion to confuse your walk with God.

Luke 3:16 – John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

By faith and with a converted heart, believe that when you live a life serving the things of God that God will welcome you into his kingdom. Put your past behind you and from this point forward, turn from sin and follow the teachings of the witnesses. 

Romans 10:8-10 – But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  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.

God will deliver you out of sin and darkness.  God will judge you in the end.  Man can never take away your sins.  Only God knows your heart. 

Hebrews 10:11 – And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

1 Corinthians 14:25 – And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

Revelation 17:17 – For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

Murder is a direct assault on God’s Gospel of Love.  It is clear that when you love God and love your neighbor, you exercise a standard of living in the spirit, so as not to become a transgressor of the law.  That is to say, when you accept the forgiveness of sins offered by the grace of God, you seek to please God by doing his will.  Out of obedience you follow the commandments presented to you in the New Testament.  The witnesses are clear in their testimony that thou shalt not kill.

James 2:11 – For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Matthew 19:18-19 – He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,  Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

1 Peter 4:15 – But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

Luke 18:16-17,19-20 – But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

Mark 10:19 – Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

The witnesses are clear that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.  If you do these things, then you shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  (Matthew 5:21-22; 1 John 3:15-17; Revelations 21:8; Galatians 5:21; Romans 1:28-32)

Matthew 5:21-22 – Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

When you say you believe and evil emanates from your being, you defile self.  When you hate, murder or even promote murder, you blaspheme the Holy Ghost.  You are in danger of eternal damnation.  When you blaspheme the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven. (Mark 7:21-23; Luke 21:10; Matthew 12:31; Mark 3:28-29)

Mark 3:28-29 – Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:  But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

God tells you not to be deceived.  Do all that you can do, to keep yourself in the love of God. (Matthew 24:11; Mark 13:5-6; Luke 21:8; John 7:12; Romans 7:11; Romans 16:18; 1 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 6:3,7; Ephesians 5:6; James 1:22,26; 1 John 3:7; Revelation 20:10)

Galatians 6:7-8 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

1 John 3:7,9 – Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Take caution and beware of those simpletons that demand tithes and promise you salvation and being saved with the use of one-off bible verses.  Do not be deceived. 

Romans 16:18 – For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Do all you can do from this point forward to please God, do his will and live his gospel of Love.  God’s gospel of Love brought to the earth by Jesus is simple.   The truth starts with the understanding the truth in God’s word from the testimony of the eight witnesses.

•        Believe in one God

•        Repent of your sins and surrender to God.

•        Judge no one

•        Love God

•        Love your Neighbor

•        Keep yourself in the love of God, unto eternal life.

Jude 1:21 – Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

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