The Bible is the most read, and most misunderstood, book in the world. Why is that?
Jesus gives us the answer: "For
whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but
whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled", which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive'. ~ Matthew 13:12-14
To understand the Bible, you must realize that it is written on two levels.... physical and spiritual. Everything in the universe comes in "twos". The knowledge of good and evil, right and wrong, true and false grows on the same tree. It's the job of a Christian to know the difference and act accordingly.
Your brain is physical, your mind is spiritual. God is Spirit and the Father of Spirits. The only way to truly understand the Bible is to "have the mind of Christ*" and be led by the Holy Spirit who "will teach you all things". Read these Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 2:16; Hebrews 12:9; John 4:24; John 14:26
*Having the mind of Christ means knowing the
plan and purpose of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus did not say, 'Follow your Church doctrines or some celebrity pastor'. He said "Follow ME" ~
John 10:27
There
are two types of Christians… overcomers and non-overcomers.
Non-overcomers believe the purpose of salvation is to populate heaven
with “saved sinners”. Overcomers know the real purpose of salvation is to
become like Jesus. Do what He did… crucify the works of the
flesh, and get what He got… the crown of Life. Read it for yourself in James 1:12 and Revelation
3:21.
*Notice, "eye" is singular. Job sees with his spiritual eye.
Do you abhor yourself for falling for the deceptions of Churchianity? I know I did. I was shocked to learn that my denomination's doctrines were mostly false. From 1974 through 1979 I did a word by word, verse by verse study of the Bible. And I am still learning to this day.
I view denominational Christianity as a nursery for baby Christians. It is only necessary until we are "weaned from the milk" as the apostle Paul said: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which are the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (or true and false). ~Hebrews 5:12-14
Satan is a very good counterfeiter. He takes the word of God and twists it into something that God never said, or never meant. Don't be fooled by false preachers. Don't let the way they dress, good communication skills, charisma, books they have written, popularity, sweet talk, and their acceptance of "cultural christianity" deceive you. If their preaching is not in line with God's Word, then they are either deceived or they are deceivers.
Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ~ 2 Timothy 2:15
So let's do some "rightly dividing." Let's begin with one of the most popular traditions of men... Easter. What does your pastor teach?
Christ is our Passover Lamb, not our Easter Bunny
Organized religion observes Lent, 40 days before Easter.
And He taught His followers to observe the Passover. ~Matthew 26:2-19
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions (4 squads of 16 Roman) soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
Jeremiah 8:8
How do you say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes (translators) is in vain. (totally worthless)
2 Peter 2:1-2
But there were false prophets also among the people (in the time of Jeremiah), even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily (secretly) shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
How Jesus Describes Deception
And because iniquity (ignoring God's commandments) shall abound, the love of many (of the truth) shall wax cold. ~Matthew 24:12
Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ~Mark 7:7
Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent. (turn in the right direction)
These (Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Jesus' Own Words
If you love Me, you will be keeping my commandments. ~John14:15
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: (not man's words) and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. ~John 14:21-24
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide (popular) is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. ~Matthew 7:13-14
And He (Jesus) said to those who sold doves (and cards, candy, flowers, baby chicks, ducks, rabbits, toys, etc.) “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” ~John 2:16
Once the Church doors were open.
John 10:2-3 But he that enters by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. (Out of what?... out of false doctrines)
Organized religion is run as a business with paid staff, housing, car, medical insurance, paid
vacations, retirement plan... the whole nine yards. The gospel has become a
commodity to be sold by 501(c) preachers for profit. And Jesus said: "Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”
~John 2:16
Now the doors are closed. All denominations have their pet doctrines and are closed to any revealed Truth. The less Holy Spirit they have, the more coffee and donuts it takes to keep their Church going.
Are the doors of your heart open to Truth?
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
I highly recommend Stone Kingdom Ministries as a good source for Bible study material... https://stonekingdom.org
Although I recommend Stone Kingdom as a resource, it is not a blanket endorsement. No Church has a franchise on God or a monopoly on the truth. Don't fall for that old "we're the one and only" trick.
The purpose of this post is to get people to think about what they believe and why they believe it, not debate who's right or wrong.
To
learn the revealed truth of God we must know and understand the true
meaning of the words God inspired to be written. Use Strong's
Concordance to check the original word before it was translated. Do your own research, make up your own mind, rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you.
