Introduction

How many people have seen the line separating God’s standard from man’s standard of good and evil? Who can accept the following having in mind man’s standard of righteousness?

Isaiah 64:6 “ But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags…”

Romans 3:10-12 “…There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Therefore, the starting point is to distinguish the Two Ways: God’s way or God’s Standard and Man’s way or Man’s standard of good and evil. If nobody is righteous in the eyes of God according to His standard, who could show the Way for divine approval and sanctification? Noah? Abraham? Moses? Elias? Jeremiah? Isaiah? Peter? Virgin Mary? John? Paul? NOBODY AND NO ONE! Only God is worthy for the ROLE! But how could He do it when God is a Spirit (John 4:24)? How can people, who are physical beings, follow the Way and example of a Spirit God?

God’s Plan

There is only ONE GOD and this is the FATHER, according to what is written:

1 Corinthians 8:6 “ But to us there is but one God, the Father , of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

How many professing Christians thought of the plan of this “ one God, the Father” “manifesting Himself in the flesh?”

1Timothy 3:16 (KJV) “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh …”

How many people see JESUS CHRIST as the “God in the flesh,” showing the Way to His disciples?

1 Corinthians 8:6 “ But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

The other reason for “GOD manifesting Himself in the flesh” is to fulfill His Testament or Covenant of salvation to those who believe.

Hebrew 9:16 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”

It is written in the different books of the Old Testament that the FatherGod is the one making this Testament, appropriately now called the Testator. Can many people now deny that JESUS CHRIST is the “Father in the flesh,” that God could fulfill His testament by death? This alone will reveal who “The Lord our God is one Lord” is, in Deuteronomy 6:4 and Mark 12:29. Emmanuel that means “God with us” is another confirmation for this truth. Well, that is what is written that many people perhaps have overlooked. To confirm this truth further, let us listen to the FATHER speaking:

Isaiah 52:6 “Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.”

Isaiah 44:6 “ Thus saith the LORD … I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”

JESUS CHRIST corroborated what the FATHER said in the following:

John 8:24 “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he , ye shall die in your sins.”

Revelation 1:8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

The very people entrusted with God’s words did not recognize JESUS CHRIST. And for that, He was ridiculed and despised. They did not see the “Way” as He said in:

John 14:6 “ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

1 Tim 2:5 KJV “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

Due to spiritual blindness, people who heard JESUS say this saw Him and the Father as two distinct persons relating to each other: The Father “sending,” and the Son “being sent.” No wonder, it required divine revelation for Peter to recognize JESUS:

Matthew 16:16-17 “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

Due to the hardness of the heart, people do not want to be like Peter. They try to recognize JESUS with their “flesh and blood” or with human capability. Our Lord therefore rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees for not recognizing Him by the “revelation of the Father.” Thus,

John 8:19 “…Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

John 8:54-55 “Jesus answered…it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God. Yet ye have not known him…”

As it is written the “wise and the prudent,” because of human wisdom, have not clearly identified God:

1 Corinthians 1:19-21 “…I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? …For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God…”

Who among the people who only recognized JESUS with “flesh and blood” can profess having also known the FATHER that He is no longer a mystery? The general assertion today is “The infinite God is a mystery, incapable of clear recognition with the finite mind of man.” Is this not spiritual blindness as our Lord saw in the religious people in His time?

Saul of Tarsus the persecutor

Saul of Tarsus before he was known as Paul was a zealous follower of the word of God. He persecuted our Lord, the Truth, for he was not of the truth. Can we not now say that, people may also be zealous followers of the word of God, and yet they could be persecutors of our Lord if they don’t have the Truth in the Word? Have people truly identified Who our Lord Jesus Christ is in relation to the One True God? Is not the identification of Jesus limited only to His physical being?

It was Paul who wrote that there is “only one God and that is the Father.” It was also Paul, who wrote, “And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh.” Paul therefore recognized Jesus Christ as the one true “ God in the flesh.” Unwittingly therefore, without truly identifying Jesus Christ and clearly recognizing the Father, many people are like Saul of Tarsus persecuting the Truth. For details on the real identity of Jesus Christ, read the articles:

JESUS OF THE ORIGINAL APOSTLES (http://www.purechrist ianit y.org/jesusof.htm), and

THE GOD OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT (http://www.purechristianity.org/godofthe.htm )

Paul followed the Model

Since no one is righteous and all fall short of the glory of God, there is only ONE who can show the Way to the people. This is JESUS CHRIST, the FATHER in the “flesh.” For being a model showing the Way to the chosen, He is called the Son of God:

1 John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God…”

Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, …to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

God in the person of Jesus Christ, as man, is an ideal model to His chosen. Thus,

1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

Saul of Tarsus, an enemy of Christ, after truly identifying his God, became the model who followed the Model. Thus, he said:

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

On one extreme, we may overlook the fact that first we have to identify ourselves with Saul of Tarsus before jumping to be identified with Paul. On the other extreme, it may be difficult for us to identify with Paul specially when it hurts our feeling and sensibility. With this truth before us, we must be ready to follow the Way trekked by him. First, we must accept that we are spiritually dead as Saul of Tarsus was. If he understood the truth in the word before, he should not have persecuted our Lord.

Proverbs 21:16 “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.”

It was only after Saul recognized Jesus as his God that he was given the privilege to understand the Truth in the words.

Acts 9:4-5 “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesuswhom thou persecutest…”

The “spiritually dead” Saul of Tarsus was “born again” (John 3:3). He was transformed from being a Natural Man (1 Corinthians 2:14) into a Spiritual Man (1 Corinthians 2:16), now known as Paul the apostle.

Mark 4:34 “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

This is where he enjoins all real believers to follow him as he followed our Lord:

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

Peter, John, James and the other apostles did not appoint Paul as an apostle. It was Jesus Christ who appointed him when He was no longer physically present.

Galatians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ…)”

This proves that Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit who executed this authority of appointing God’s servants. In the Old Testament, the Father was appointing God’s servants. Emmanuel, “God with us,” was Jesus Christ Who appointed His twelve apostles. And now the Holy Spirit, the same Emmanuel, appointed Paul as an apostle. From this act of God alone, we can see Who Jesus Christ, the Father, and the Holy Spirit is. There is only one God in different manifestations.

2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”

It is clearly seen that Paul was not a product of the “Apostolic Succession doctrine.” Neither did Paul follow and practice this doctrine of appointing “servants of God?” Can people now believe and accept what Paul said in:

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

Let us examine our position if we are “servants of God” like priests, pastors, ministers, or plain simple believers, whether we follow the path of Paul. Who appointed us, the sect leaders? If plain simple believers, do we follow the teachings of the so-called “servants of God” appointed by the religious leaders? Do we look up at people who appropriate honorific titles as “Father” or “Rabbi” (meaning Teacher, Leader, Pastor, or Shepherd), and addressed as “Reverend” when only God deserves these titles?

Matthew 23:8-9 “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

Psalms 111:9 “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.”

These people will try to justify their exalted position negating the following, and by giving a different meaning:

James 2:9 “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”

How many people realized and accept this principle ordained by our Lord?

Luke 22:25-26 “And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so…”

Never did we find Paul being addressed as: Rev. Paul, Pastor Paul, Fr. (Father) Paul, Bishop Paul, Dr. Paul, Your Eminence Paul, Your Highness Paul, Your Holiness Paul. Paul and the real believers followed the path of SPIRITUAL HUMILITY that our Lord showed by example. How many see the example of humility showed by our Lord Jesus Christ in the following?

Luke 18:18 “And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.”

For details on how Satan, the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9), read the article:

“Cornerstone and foundation”

It is from the TRUTH that our Lord showed the Way and which Paul followed that our FAITH should be unconditionally founded on:

Ephesians 2:20-21 “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.”

If God showed the Way in the person of JESUS CHRIST and this is followed by PAUL, who are we to look for, or veer away to, another way? For further reading exalting our Lord as the chief corner stone:

Humble beginning

In manifesting Himself in the flesh, God showed the example of His humble beginning. He was born as “babe” with nothing of His own to stand on and to be proud of. This lowliness and purity of heart as “babe” was shown throughout our Lord’s life. Thus,

John 5:19 “Then answered Jesus…Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself…”

Can we see Jesus, the man, actually the Father in the flesh, as model showing the Way? He underscored this when He told His listeners, as if telling them, “follow My example:”

Mat 18:3-4 “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

The Natural Man (1 Corinthians 2:14) must be thinking literally when our Lord said these things.

Matthew 18:5 “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”

He showed the example how He received His Disciples, who were all physical adults, by addressing them:

John 13:33 “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me…”

This lesson of spiritual humility of powerlessness and inadequacy was revealed to Paul when he wrote:

1 Corinthians 3:18 “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise…let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”

Neither did Paul consider himself above, nor wanting to be looked by, the other believers:

1 Corinthians 15:9 "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle…"

2 Corinthians 12:5 "… of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations…"

Our Lord showed the blessedness of the powerlessness and inadequacy of a spiritual “babe”. It is to them that spiritual wisdom is given and surprisingly denied to the “wise and the prudent.”

Matthew 11:25 “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”

In Christ’s time the “wise and the prudent” were the Teachers of the Law, the known authority of the word of God. Would this truth pass away in our time?

Isaiah 28:9 (KJV – King James version) “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.”

No wonder Bible scholars changed the punctuation from period (.) to question mark (?) in the following because they cannot accept the “spiritual language” of God:

Isaiah 28:9 (NIV – New International version) "Who is it he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast?

Isaiah 28:9 (TLB – The Living Bible) "Who does Isaiah think he is," the people say, "to speak to us like this! Are we little children, barely old enough to talk?

So also in the following where Bible scholars, in translating many Bible versions, changed the word “ teach” to “ make disciples” because they cannot accept the “unscripturality” of the APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION DOCTRINE. They cannot accept that Christ can still appoint His servants today (apostles, evangelists, prophets, pastors, and teachers) as He did to Paul. Following is a comparison of several Bible versions pertaining to a particular command of our Lord to His disciples. In all versions, Mark wrote preach:

Mark 16:15 (King James Version) “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, andpreach the gospel to every creature.

Mark 16:15 (New International Version) “He said to them, "Go into all the world andpreach the good news to all creation.”

Mark 16:15 (The Living Bible) “And then he told them, "You are to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.

How could Matthew write differently from Mark in the New International version and The Living Bible? Did he hear the command differently? In the King James version, Matthew wrote as Mark did regarding the command to simply “preach” and not “ to make disciples.” Look how, if only to promote and defend the APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION DOCTRINE, the Holy Bible containing the words of God is tampered with. Thus, religious leaders now are appointing “apostles of Christ” in their respective denominations.

Matthew 28:19 (King James Version) “ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

Matthew 28:19 (New International Version) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 28:19 (The Living Bible) “Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations,baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Never did we find the original apostles appointing “apostles, evangelists, prophets, pastors, and teachers.” They did, before receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, when they appointed Matthias as replacement for Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:16-26). But Christ appointed Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul instead (Gal. 1:1, 11-12).

Paul, who was appointed by our Lord in His physical absence, never appointed a fellow apostle. He received the great revelation that a spiritual “babe” is endowed with spiritual knowledge and wisdom. Thus, he wrote:

2 Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation…”

Are these revelations not enough to prove that God is speaking in parables?

Ezekiel 20:49 “Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

Are not these parables like prophecies that “not a jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass till all be fulfilled?”

Matthew 5:18 “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

And since God’s words are like prophecies, only He can interpret and should give meaning to them through His words:

2 Peter 1:20 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”

2 Peter 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Jesus, the Father in the flesh and now the Holy Spirit, is the sole authority to explain these parables through His words:

Mark 4:34 “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

What is deplorable, and this is the great deception of God’s enemy (Revelation 12:9), is that leaders of every religious sect take this authority to interpret the word of God.

Jesus is the Way

How easy for people to say, “Jesus is the Way and the Truth,” but accepting is another thing. Jesus never sanctioned the “Apostolic Succession doctrine.” Paul and the other apostles did not practice it. Where are all the denominations without this doctrine? For details, read the article: THE APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION DOCTRINE (http://www.purechristianity.org/apostoli.htm)

Romans 1:1 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.”

Christ appointed Paul (Ephesians 4:11) as an apostle in His physical absence, confirming that He is indeed the Spirit:

Galatians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ…”

It was Jesus Christ who taught and “trained” Paul as an apostle.

Galatians 1:10-12 “…do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

God will never be remiss with His promise of endowing knowledge and wisdom to those who trust Him. Can so-called “apostles of Christ” truly trust God? Now, where are all the denominations without the Seminaries and Bible schools? Is the kind of trust that they preach to the members in line with what is written? Read the article: THE MEN CALLED CHRISTIANS (http://www.purechristianity.org/men.htm)

James 1:5-8 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

1 John 2:27 “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie…”

The chosen servants of God act as the “speaker system” only. God is the sole authority to “speak before the microphone.” God is the TEACHER and the chosen servants “teach or preach” reflecting only what they “hear” from God. Distinction should be made between the TEACHER and the teacher. Today, who take the AUTHORITY to TEACH?

The Scribes and Pharisees thought of sitting in Moses’ seat for leading people to God. Today, how do religious leaders think of themselves? (Read the article: THE SHEPHERD (http://www.purechristianity.org/onlygod.htm))

Mat 23:2 …The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

Christ said, (Matthew 5:17) “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil,” yet we did not hear Him preached and followed the Law on Tithes. Paul followed the Way shown by our Lord and also did not preach and follow the Law LITERALLY. Our Lord and Paul followed the Law on Tithes SPIRITUALLY. Christ sharply rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees for LITERALLY following the law:

Matthew 23:4 “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”

Paul said:

Acts 20:33-34 “I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.”

For details read the article:

The Scribes and Pharisees distinguished themselves from the rest by their attire, and here is our Lord rebuking them for it. How do religious leaders today feel about this?

Matthew 23:5 “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

The Scribes and Pharisees were distinguished from the rest in social functions? How do religious leaders today feel about this?

Matthew 23:6 “And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues.”

The Scribes and Pharisees were called Rabbi (that means Master, Teacher, Leader, Chief, Pastor, Shepherd, Director) and /or Father and our Lord rebuked them. How do religious leaders today feel about this?

Matthew 23:7-9 “And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

Religious leaders today went one step further by appropriating the titles that solely belong to God. Is this not blasphemy of the highest order? [Read the article: CHRIST AND SATAN IN CONTRAST ( http://www.purechristianity.org/christ_and_satan.htm)]

Psalms 111:9 “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.”

For further expose’ of “spiritual blindness” that our Lord saw in His time, which many people today also “do not see,” read the following articles:

ORIGIN OF THE PASTORAL SYSTEM (http://www.purechristianity.org/pastoral.htm)

CLEANLINESS ON THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE (http://www.purechristianity.org/cleanlin.htm)

Jesus Christ is the Truth. How many people now can say, “I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior?” Stated in another way, who can say, “I have accepted these Truth in my life?” How easy for many people to claim being a Christian, saying, “I follow Christ and subscribe to the writings of Paul”! “God and the Lord” through His words is the sole Judge:

John 12:48 “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

Will many be saved following the Way shown by our Lord Jesus Christ? People say, “Many.” Jesus Christ is the Truth. Our Lord said:

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find.”

For details, read the article: THE CHOSEN FEW (http://www.purechristianity.org/chosenfe.htm).

The word “Christian” has become a generic term. Who are the real Christians today? Those who unwittingly follow religioustradition supported by Bible verses as the Scribes and Pharisees did, or those who walk after the footsteps of Paul in following the Way shown by our Lord as model? Let the word of God judge us as to WHO ARE WE?

• We are of different nationalities, with varied profession and occupation, bound by a common zeal in reading the Holy Bible. From this hallowed activity, we discovered the cause of disagreement among religious sects. Every denomination takes the authority to interpret the Holy Bible. Thus, the claim for the truth of each sect. ChristianityToday therefore became a "market place" for "truths." In our view, this fulfilled the prophecy of our Lord in Luke 12:51 "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division."
• We found that the Author alone, God, is the sole authority to interpret His words for they are like prophecies being fulfilled, as our Lord said:

Matthew 5:18 " For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

Thus, no one is authorized to interpret the words of God:

2 Peter 1:20 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."

• From this "discovery," ChristianityToday is exposed to have veered away from ChristianityYesterday. Today’s version, composed of 1001 denominations, is clearly ADULTERATED (from the word spiritual adultery) with human precepts and religious traditions that God condemns in spiritual matters. We believe the following and they are our by-words.

Matthew 11:25 "At that time Jesus…said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."

1 Corinthians 1:19-21 "...I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe ?... For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God ..."

• Because we do not want to stumble like the denominations, that are organized and run by men, no one among us is looked up as the leader. We are all "brethren." In our spiritual fellowships, we "tarry" as our Lord commanded His disciples "to be endowed with wisdom and power from on high." During this “waiting period," God chooses the most humble among us and these are given the revelation of His words. The "chosen servants" would then expound on the message of the word that should never contradict what is written. The message, because it comes from God, is clear and powerful, precise, and in perfect harmony with what is written, both in the Old and New Testament. Our Bible Study therefore is a "free for all." However there is perfect harmony because we are bound by the power of Truth.
• Because divine wisdom comes from God, the "brethren" speaking acts only as the speaker system. This is how the truth, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers" is made manifest in us. The most humble among us at a particular time, in the view of God, are the "appointed servants" who express the message. For an example, read the article: SPIRITUAL VS. RELIGIOUS FELLOWSHIP (http://www.purechristianity.org/spiritual_vs.htm). This is how we understand the following:

Isaiah 28:9 (KJV only) "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts."

2 Timothy 3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

• We never ask spiritual wisdom from anybody for only God is the sole Giver. We believe in His promise:

James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."

1 John 2:27 "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie…"

• We find great spiritual joy in sharing the truth to whoever would like to hear it. We therefore conduct Bible Studies "on the air," distribute pamphlets free of charge, and make this "spiritual discovery" accessible in cyberspace through the Internet, and in every means available to us. We finance our expenses by "digging from our pockets."
• We are all “brethren” and no one among us is looked up as the leader. There is therefore no financial-material benefit, nor honor, that redound to the benefit of any one of us.
• Like Paul who followed the example of our Lord, we observe the Law on Tithes and Offering spiritually, for we have seen the impossibility of its literal application:

Deuteronomy 14:22 "Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. 23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God…the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks;that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always."

(For details, read the article on: LAW ON TITHES AND THE TEMPLE MERCHANTS (http://www.purechristianity.org/tithes.htm).

• When asked WHO ARE WE, we give the example of the apostles and the Disciples. If Peter, John, Paul, Virgin Mary, and the other disciples are here with us, and asked the same question, would they say, "We are Roman Catholics, Lutheran, Born Again, Charismatics, Baptists, Presbyterian, Methodists, Pentecostal, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, etc.?" Perhaps, they will simply say, "We were called one by one by our Lord. We followed Him. Then He introduced Himself and His Father, that “God and the Lord” is no longer a mystery to us."

John 14:7 " If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."

Hebrews 8:11 . "And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest."

• God spoke in parables and, to our satisfaction, He explains everything to us, as He did to His disciples, through His very words:

Mark 4:34 "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."

• Christ revealed to us that TO KNOW the "One Lord and one God" is the "first of all the commandments", and this is a PREREQUISITE to the Two Great Commandments of Love:

Mark 12:28"And one of the scribes came...and asked him, Which is the firstcommandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel ; The Lord our God is one Lord:

It is only after KNOWING the "One Lord and one God" that our Lord began enumerating the Two Great Commandments:

Mark 12:30 " And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart… this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

• With human interpretation of the word of God, Christianity Today does "not see" the basic doctrine of recognizing JESUS: "not with flesh and blood, but by the revelation of the Father." (Matthew 16:16-17). Thus, the words of our Lord have not passed away for they are like prophecies being fulfilled:

John 8:19 "…Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also."

John 8:54 "… it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him…"

• We believe we are exempt from this rebuke. With the purity of the words that we aspire to know and our zealousness to follow them through God's guidance, we claim to be CHRISTIANS in the strictest sense of the word, the LOST SHEEP FOUND BY THE LORD, with "brethren" in several countries.

EMMANUEL “God with us”

God was “manifest in the flesh” to show the Way to the chosen. He is JESUS who alone is worthy for the role. The first step shown was to be born in a manger. This is the greatest lesson in humility, which was reflected throughout His earthly sojourn as He relates to the Father:

John 5:19 “…Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself…”

Look how this lesson is the same given by our Lord in:

Matthew 18:3 “…Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Isaiah 28:9 (KJV only) “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.”

Through the acts of Paul, we can see that he followed this Way of spiritual humility:

1 Corinthians 2:3-5 “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Jesus the man

The Father “in the flesh” is called Son of God, as the believers are also called:

John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe…”

It is in this state that our Lord performs His role as mediator with the Father:

1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

This must be foolishness to the Natural Man (1 Corinthians 2:14) for how can God make Himself “two” at the same time and relating to “each other,” one in PHYSICAL and the other in SPIRIT form? But is it impossible for God to do this in order to fulfill His plan of salvation to those who believe? This is what is written!For the true nature of JESUS CHRIST, read the article JESUS OF THE ORIGINAL APOSTLES (http://www.purechristianity.org/jesusof.htm).

As a man, 100%, Jesus hungers for food, thirsts for water, needs rest and sleep, etc., and has a feeling, like any other human being. Otherwise, He would not be an ideal model. This is the PHYSICAL LIFE of our Lord, like any person, having:

• BODY – consisting of the physical constitution and the senses.
• SOUL - consisting of the intellect and feeling

However, aside from our Lord’s PHYSICAL LIFE, He also has SPIRITUAL LIFE made up of:

• SOUL – consisting of the intellect and feeling
• SPIRIT – The Tree of Life or the Spirit of the Father

The foregoing description of Jesus, the man, is found in the following:

Isaiah 42:1 “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my souldelighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”

Matthew 12:18 “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom mysoul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.”

Jesus is the image of God at the creation of man:

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image…”

Man, upon creation, had those three components of BODY, SOUL, and SPIRIT. At the “fall,” however, the SPIRIT was “lost.” Man, therefore, became a “simple” NATURAL MAN (1 Corinthians 2:14) consisting only of BODY and SOUL. The SOUL is often referred to as the “ spirit of man” to indicate the invisible component of human beings.

At the “fall,” man became a NATURAL MAN and spirituallydead because without the SPIRIT “spiritual things” cannot be discerned;

1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the naturalman receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

The Natural Man tries to understand the words of God with the intellect, feeling, and senses. Truth in the word of God is “spiritual thing” that can only be “ spiritually discerned.” Hence, the Natural Man is spiritually dead!

Proverbs 21:16 “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.”

Salvation therefore, is achieved with the “restoration” of the SPIRIT ( Tree of Life or the Spirit of God) back to man. This is “ born again” (John 3:3).

Saul of Tarsus a “Natural Man”

Paul when he was still Saul of Tarsus was a NATURAL MAN because he could not understand the “spiritual language” of God. He was “spiritually dead” in the eyes of our Lord, because his understanding was limited to the “letter” of the law.

2 Corinthians 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

He was a zealous follower of the word, but this was not enough until he clearly recognized and identified his God:

Romans 10:2 “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.”

Because of spiritual ignorance or blindness, he only followed man’s standard of righteousness based on what he understood on the word of God:

Romans 10:3 “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

With human understanding of the Law, Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee, Nicodemus, a teacher of the word of God, and the Rich Young Ruler who followed the law since childhood, could only “clean the outside of the cup.” This is the MORAL aspect in the word of God. But the word requires more than MORALITY. That is why our Lord rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees for “hypocrisy” (Matthew 23). He was not simply referring to emotional or intellectual hypocrisy but for SPIRITUAL HYPOCRICY. Christ taught SPIRITUALITY, which is the “cleansing of the cup in the inside.” MORALITY, akin to RELIGIOSITY, refers only to the “outside of the cup.” For the distinction of the two kinds of “cleanliness,” read the article CLEANLINESS ON THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE (http://www.purechristianity.org/cleanlin.htm)

Unknown to Saul of Tarsus, Nicodemus, the Rich Young Ruler, and the Scribes and Pharisees, they have succeeded only in applying the word of God to their PHYSICAL LIFE. They had nothing to talk about their SPIRITUAL LIFE for they are “dead” in the eyes of our Lord.

“Born again”

Upon the fall of man, with the eating of the “ Tree of Knowledge of good and evil” representing the SOUL, the “ Tree of Life” symbolizing the SPIRIT was separated from man. This is where Nicodemus had to be “born again,” as Saul of Tarsus was, in the eyes of our Lord. They were Natural Men that requires conversion into Spiritual Men (1 Corinthians 2:16). Jesus showed the example of being a SPIRITUAL MAN. He had a physical BODY, consisting of the senses, a SOUL, that comprises the mind and feeling; and SPIRIT, the spiritual presence of the Father. Saul of Tarsus and Nicodemus, as Natural Men before being born again, had only the BODY and the SOUL or the “spirit of man.” For details on the “fall of man,” read the article THE SIN OF ADAM AND EVE ( http://www.purechristianity.org/sinofeve.htm).

Now it is clear why our Lord said, “the kingdom of heaven belongs to the ‘poor in spirit.’” Here, “ spirit” cannot refer to the “ spirit” as discussed without God contradicting Himself.

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Since the SOUL is also referred to as the “ spirit of man,” being “poor in spirit” means to have a humble SOUL as in a “little child.” A “little child” is less intellectual and less emotional. The “intellect and emotion” are the “forbidden fruits” of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. This is the basis for our Lord’s statement:

Matthew 18:3 “…Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

The power of the TRUTH in the word of God separates the " spirit" (the Spirit of God supposed to control the SPIRITUAL LIFE), and the " soul" (composed of the intellect and emotion that control the PHYSICAL LIFE):

Hebrew 4:12 KJV “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The " soul" is the dictate of the "mind and feeling," while the " spirit" has the divine revelation of God in His words. God's plan was to restore the " spirit" in the real believers. This is " born again" in John 3:3 and conversion into a SPIRITUAL MAN in 1 Corinthians 2:16. Thus, the letter to the Thessalonians who were real believers and therefore had already the " spirit" (Tree of Life or the presence of the Spirit of God):

1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV “ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Preservation of the body” refers to the obligation of the REAL CHRISTIAN to maintain good health and “cleanliness on the outside.” “Preservation of the soul” refers to the care for the “intellect and feeling” so as to conform to the “will of God.” “Preservation of the BODY and the SOUL” is what comprises the real believer’s “walk in the Spirit,” together with the “preservation of the spirit.” And, finally, “preservation of the spirit” refers to the will to perpetuate the Tree of Life or the Spirit of God in the life of the real believer. On close scrutiny, the real believer who is converted from a Natural Man to a Spiritual Man is now composed of:

• PHYSICAL LIFE – for the BODY and the SOUL, and
• SPIRITUAL LIFE – for the SPIRIT and the SOUL

It is the SOUL, composed of the intellect and feeling, that serves as the “connecting link” between the PHYSICAL LIFE and the SPIRITUAL LIFE. While the SOUL should take the stance of extreme humility in the SPIRITUAL LIFE, the same SOUL in the PHYSICAL LIFE should be used to the maximum to maintain the physical well being of the real believer. The PHYSICAL LIFE and SPIRITUAL LIFE must walk together in perfect agreement. This is one reference to:

Amos 3:3 (KJV) “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

Emmanuel “God with us” in the person of JESUS CHRIST showed the Way, by example, in preserving the body, soul, and spirit. Stated in another way, our Lord showed how He kept His PHYSICAL LIFE and SPIRITUAL blameless. Paul saw the Way and followed it, thus, enjoining the real believers:

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

The Spiritual Life of our Lord, consisting of His soul (intellect and feeling) and Spirit (the presence of the Father), is manifest in His earthly sojourn. He showed the Way to acquire it by humbling Himself before the Father. Thus,

John 5:19 “…Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself…”

John 5:30 “I can of mine own self do nothing…”

John 6:38 “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”

This is the equivalent of what our Lord told His disciples:

Matthew 18:3 “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

God is ready to reside in the life of a person who would be willing to humble himself as a “little child.” Humility, exemplified by our Lord, cannot have “fellowship” with pride. Lucifer “fell” because of pride. The cause of the “fall” of mankind is pride. For details, read the article:

Christ’s disciples were converted spiritually into “little children” that He addressed them as such:

John 13:33 “Little children, yet a little while I am with you…”

Like our Lord, the Apostles were endowed with knowledge and wisdom not otherwise given to the wise and the prudent:

Matthew 11:25 “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”

Isaiah 28:9 (KJV only) “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.”

To be truly “born again” is the greatest miracle of God in the life of a real believer. This is “rising up from the dead” in the earthly life of a person. How could this compare with physical healing and even rising from physical death that the Natural Man is concerned of? Our Lord’s raising Lazarus to life again has this spiritual message.

Proverbs 21:16 “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.”

“Born again” is the restoration of the Tree of Life that was separated from man. This marks the beginning of the residence of God in the real believer:

1 Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God , and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

With this great miracle, “eyes” are opened to see the “light.” “Ears” are opened to hear the “voice” of the Shepherd. “Lameness” is cured to be able to walk on the “Way.”

Man’s Role in Salvation

Man’s only role in SPIRITUAL LIFE is his humility. Jesus Christ, the epitome of humility cannot have fellowship withpride, the attribute of His enemy. To have real spiritual humility therefore is like giving our Lord a “free hand” to work in the life of real believers. Can TRUTH in the word have “fellowship” with FALSEHOOD? “God is all in all (Ephesians 4:6).”

1. Without spiritual humility, like a little child, how can a person truly recognize Jesus (Matt. 16:16 -17). Without truly knowing Jesus Christ, how can a person clearly identify the Father (John 8:19 )?
2. Without knowing “God and the Lord,” how can a person have access to the explanation of God in His words that are expressed in parables? (Mark 4:34)?
3. Without understanding His words, how can a person truly love God (Mark 12:30 )?
4. Without truly “loving God,” how can a person “love thy neighbor as thyself” the way our Lord loves us? He demonstrated “love of fellowmen” in the following:

Mat 25:32 “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:”

Mat 25:33 “And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”

Mat 25:34 “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”

Mat 25:35 “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”

Mat 25:36 “Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”

Mat 25:37 “Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?”

Mat 25:38 “When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?”

Mat 25:39 “Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?”
Mat 25:40 “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

He “feeds” the chosen with His words. He provides “water” when they are “thirsty.” He clothed them with the garment of salvation. He sets them free from spiritual bondage. All these are done with the TRUTH in His words. If God does not reveal the TRUTH, how can His chosen follow Him in “love thy neighbor as thyself?” This is the 2 nd and LAST commandment!

The “spiritual walk” of the chosen’ SPIRITUAL LIFE is the “ preservation of the Spirit till the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” in:

(1 Th 5:23 KJV) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Coming of our Lord” should be seen in the light of what is written about His second appearance for He is the Holy Spirit:

Hebrew 9:28 “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

PHYSICAL LIFE ( Body and Soul):

Looking at the Physical Life of our Lord, He lived as an ordinary man earning His living as a carpenter:

Mark 6:3 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?…”

Nowhere in the four Gospels can we see our Lord Jesus praying to the Father for His physical-material needs. Neither did we see Him receiving Tithes from His disciples, nor did we hear Him preach the Law on Tithes citing verses in the book of Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Malachi. Yet our Lord said, Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Paul, following the Way shown by our Lord, likewise earned his living working as a tent maker:

Acts 18:3 “And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.”

We never found Paul preaching the Law on Tithes citing verses in the book of Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Malachi. On the contrary, as an apostle, he preached the value of earning one’s living:

Acts 20:33 -34 “I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.”

Yet like our Lord, Paul “should not have destroyed the law and the prophets” on Tithes. Christ followed the Law on Tithes SPIRITUALLY and not literally-physically. Paul followed the example. For details, read the article:

TITHES AND OFFERING and the TEMPLE MERCHANTS

• How did our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles follow the Law on Tithes and Offering?
• What happened when God opened the windows of heaven in the past?
• Related to robbing God of tithes, what will happen if God open the windows of heaven?
• Was the incident, Jesus Christ driving out the merchants in the temple selling doves and sheep, a simple story?
• Do the words of God pass away in our time without seeing their fulfillment?
  
  http://www.purechristianity.org/tithes.htm

Paul practiced self-reliance in matters pertaining to physical life. He preached and articulated self-respect among the believers:

2 Th 3:10-12 “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.”

Never did we see Jesus, as model, prayed asking the Father for anything that benefit Him physically. Neither did we hear Paul nor the Apostles prayed to God and asked for material-physical blessings. People who followed our Lord only for their physical well being left Him.

John 6:26 “Jesus …said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”

Christ’s exhortation in the following takes a different view from man’s perception:

Luke 12:22-24 “And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?”

Luke 12:27-30 “Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.”

From man’s point of view, God seems to have promised to provide the material necessities, more so with what our Lord said in:

Mat 7:7-8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

To take this literally, it will contradict what our Lord showed by example, and which Paul followed. Thus, for expecting miracles to get these things, individuals live miserably, while “very religious” countries remain undeveloped and backward. Overlooked by many people is the meaning of ”for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him .”

With the example shown by our Lord working with His hands in providing for His physical needs, and Paul following the model, real believers are enjoined to do likewise. Jesus earned His living with His BODY AND SOUL. With the BODY and SOUL that God has given without asking for them, it is the real believers’ responsibility to provide for their material-physical needs. Thus, the different branches of studies in science, technology, economics, and politics, all for the physical well being of the people.

Satan the great deceiver, taking advantage of the “spiritual blindness” of the Natural Man (1 Cor. 2:14 ), uses the very words of God to waylay people for asking physical miracles to benefit the PHYSICAL LIFE. For details, read the article:

MIRACLES AND WONDERS

• Two super beings are performing supernatural acts: God and Satan!
• How many people can distinguish miracles from wonders?
  http://www.purechristianity.org/miracles.htm

For emphasis, from the acts of our Lord Jesus as model showing the Way, and Paul following His footsteps, it appears that the PHYSICAL LIFE of man is his responsibility. God has given everything needed to sustain it, the intellect and emotion and physical strength distinct from all other creations. Human rationality, no other creatures is endowed with, together with everything God created at our disposal, made our Lord to say, “ your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things,” and ”for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him .”

God’s words on the development of PHYSICAL LIFE:

Proverbs 30:25 KJV “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.”

Proverbs 6:6-11 “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”

Inspiring words from the “intellect” - ( “What will my reward be?”)

One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.

About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family. “You aren't going to catch many fish that way,” said the businessman to the fisherman. “You should be working rather than lying on the beach!”

The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, “And what will my reward be?” “Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer. "And then what will my reward be?’ asked the fisherman, still smiling. The businessman replied, “You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!” “And then what will my reward be?” asked the fisherman again. The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions. “You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!” he said.

“And then what will my reward be?” repeated the fisherman. The businessman was getting angry. “Don't you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!” Once again the fisherman asked, “And then what will my reward be?” The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, “Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!” The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, “ And what do you think I'm doing right now?” (Adopted)

On Human Relations from “feeling” – (Temper, Friends, and the Fence)

There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.

Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care.

On Happiness (As it relates to PHYSICAL LIFE):

“Try as you might, you cannot make yourself happy with what you do not have. When you wait for happiness or make it conditional, it never does materialize.

Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy. No person will make you happy unless you decide to be happy. Your happiness will not come to you. It can only come from you.

Happiness is what you are, not what you have. It depends solely upon your own attitude. You can be happy no matter what your circumstances might be. You can never get happy. You can always be happy. Lift your own self-imposed restrictions on happiness. Count your many blessings, and be happy. Spread your happiness and it will grow. (Ralph Marston)

Happiness as it relates to SPIRITUAL LIFE takes a different view. For details, read:

"HAPPINESS, JOY, AND PEACE"

• How many people see the line separating Happiness, Joy, and Peace?
• Who can discern God’s concept according to the Bible as distinguished from the notion of man?
  http://www.purechristianity.org/happiness_joy_peace.htm

“Wise as serpents and harmless as doves”

Our Lord admonished His disciples as He commanded them to go on their “journey” (in life):

Mat 10:16 KJV “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

The “serpent” is the tempter in the Garden of Eden. He is Satan, the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). Satan’s strong point is in the literal-physical. No wonder worldly people are proficient in the things of the world. For the PHYSICAL LIFE of the real Christians, they may learn many things from worldly people in economics, social, political, and scientific fields. Is it not written? “The goats shall feed the sheep.” This is what our Lord meant by, to be “wise as serpents.”

Some inspiring apothegm :

“In order to succeed we must first believe that we can.” (Michael Korda)

“You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.” (Beverly Sills)

“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.” (B.B King)

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” (Eleanor Roosevelt)

“Effective management always means asking the right question.” ( Rob ert Heller)

“Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.” (Barry LePatner)

“Every exit is an entry somewhere else.” (Tom Stoppard)

“In the space age the most important space is between the ears.” (Thomas J. Barlow)

“While experience is the best teacher, so they say, it is actually the worst teacher because it gives the test before presenting the lesson.” ( Vernon Law)

“He who knows others is clever; he who knows himself is enlightened.” (Lao-Tzu)

“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” (Colin Powell)

“A loud voice cannot compete with a clear voice, even if it’s a whisper.” (Barry Neil Kaufman)

To be “harmless as doves” is the example shown by our Lord in humility. This is to be followed in the real believers’ SPIRITUAL LIFE. Their only role is spiritual humility from the beginning to the end of their “spiritual walk.” (Gal 5:25 KJV) “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Therefore the real believers’ only role in salvation is their being spiritual babes, thereby attaining spiritual maturity with the guidance and strength coming from God.

To enjoy PHYSICAL LIFE

God gave the real Christians their PHYSICAL LIFE to enjoy it. The senses, intellect, and feeling have their respective gratification and satisfaction, but all these should be within the bounds of the “spiritual walk” with SPIRITUAL LIFE. Thus, real Christians live a normal life with the Natural Men, as Jesus and Paul did, in society, in economics, in politics, in science, and in any human endeavor. Real Christians, therefore, by virtue of the TRUTH in them are ideal citizens of any country wherever they are, as well as in the “heavenly kingdom” while still living on earth (Luke 17:20 -21).

To be separated in “SPIRITUAL WALK”

What God enjoins His chosen people to separate from the unbelievers is in their SPIRITUAL WALK, for how can “ light mix with “ darkness,” and “ Truth with falsehood and deceptions?” Thus, to come out from the tentacles of “Mystery Babylon the Great, the mother of spiritual harlotry” (Revelation 17:5).

Revelation 18:4 “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

And, from the “daughters of spiritual harlotry,” God commands His people to come out from among them:

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? …And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

For details on the subject, read:

TOWER OF BABEL & "The Religious Languages"

• Did not people before try to "reach God"?
• Are not people today doing the same thing?*** Can they "understand" each other?

http://www.purechristianity.org/towerof.htm

TRUTH IN MARRIAGE - IN SPIRITUAL LIFE

This is what God says of marriage as it relates to the SPIRITUAL LIFE of His chosen. In spiritual matters, gender is relegated to the background:

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek… there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

It is God who joins Himself in marriage with His chosen:

Jeremiah 3:14 “… saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family…”

God is the HUSBAND and the chosen, both male and female, are His WIFE:

Isaiah 54:5 “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer…”

Romans 7:4 “…my brethren, ye…should be married…even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”

The HUSBAND implants His seeds, the Truth in the Word (Luke 8:11 ), unto the wife bringing forth “spiritual children” or fruit(s). This is “cleanliness in the inside.”

Galatians 5:22-23 “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…”

Spiritual adultery occurs when Satan succeeds in implanting his “seeds,” which is FALSEHOOD from the word of God. This also brings forth “fruits;” the counterfeit love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance, which is MORALITY akin to RELIGIOSITY or simply “cleanliness on the outside.” This is spiritual hypocrisy that our Lord saw in the religious leaders in His time. Christ preached SPIRITUALITY but the religious leaders did not understand Him.

Our Lord Jesus expresses the inseparability of God with His chosen, as husband and wife, in:

Matthew 19:6 “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

John 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

The spiritual relationship between God and His chosen as Husband and wife is dictated by the truth in the word that does not change. God is immutable, so are His words remaining unchangeable.

TRUTH IN MARRIAGE – IN PHYSICAL LIFE

The union of man and woman in physical marriage, and their matrimonial relationship(rights, obligations, privileges, accountability, and dissolution), is delegated to the Government (Romans 13:1-7). Civil laws on marriage vary according to time, based on customs, morals, public policy, and public order.

Jesus showed the example of not meddling in the affairs of the Government that is entrusted to safeguard the PHYSICAL LIFE of the citizenry:

Matthew 22:21 “…Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

Never did we see any servant of God in the Old Testament joining His chosen people in marriage: Abraham with Sarah, Isaac with Rebecca, Jacob with Leah and Rachel, Moses with Zipporah. Nor did we see any Apostle, or even Jesus showing the example, ever joining a man and a woman in marriage. At the wedding at Cana , Jesus and His apostles were invited as guests only.

A religious tradition

The practice of leaders of Christian denominations conducting marriage among their members is only a religioustradition, unwittingly thought of as Scriptural. Religious traditions, the fruit of the intellect and feeling, are greatly appealing to the intelligence and rationality of man.

Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditionofmen, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

“DISAGREEMENT” OF PHYSICAL LIFE WITH SPIRITUAL LIFE

What happens when the PHYSICAL LIFE and SPIRITUAL LIFE cannot agree in their “spiritual walk?” If for example the PHYSICAL LIFE changes course from the SPIRITUAL LIFE, a case like the Prodigal Son ensues. These involve “ physical sins” where “uncleanness on the outside” sets in. Examples for this are David who took Bathseba and caused the death of her husband Uriah. David suffered his “torn in the flesh,” as Paul had, which indicates spiritual imperfection of the PHYSICAL LIFE. The chosen remain children of God but find themselves deprived of the “comfort in the house of the “Father.” The believers suffer as the Prodigal Son. The trouble and affliction represent the “chastening of the father on the children:”

Hebrew 12:5-8 “…despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

In an extreme case of “ physical sin,” Esau for valuing more his physical gratification sold his birthright to Jacob. He lost his “spiritual conviction” and this resulted in eternal damnation. Remorse, a dictate of “conscience,” is “too shallow” to merit forgiveness.

Hebrew 12:16-17 “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”

God marks His chosen “on the forehead”

God marks the people who follow His Way “on the forehead” to separate them from the rest:

Ezekiel 9:3 "And the glory of the God...was gone up...And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side; 4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city…and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. 5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: 6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark..."

What is this “ mark” of God “ on the forehead?”

Satan marks his prey “in the forehead or in the right hand”

Satan, the great counterfeiter likewise marks the people without the “mark” of God “in the forehead and in the right hand.” What is this “ mark?”

Revelation 13:15-16 "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:"

For the revelation of these distinctive marks, read the article:

THE "666" MARK - TODAY OR TOMORROW?

• There are two protagonists: God vs. Satan (or Devil, Old Serpent, Beast, Dragon)
• Do you know that both God and Satan mark their respective followers? God marks them "on the forehead." The Beast marks them "in the forehead or in the right hand."
• The "Mark of the Beast is "666." When do you think is this being done? In the past, now, or in the future?

http://www.purechristianity.org/the_666_mark.htm

“DISAGREEMENT” BETWEEN THE SOUL AND SPIRIT

The principle “Can two walk together, except they be agreed” also applies to the SOUL (intellect and feeling) and SPIRIT (presence of God) as these relate to SPIRITUAL LIFE. The cause for contention of the SOUL from the SPIRIT is pride. Example, Job was “righteous” as declared by God before Satan. But this refers only to “cleanliness on the outside.” Job was tested and, finally, pride set in from his heart and professed self-righteousness (Job 31: 1-40). This is the dictate of the SOUL, an “uncleanness in the inside” which is “ spiritualsin. ” Who alone is righteous anyway?

Luke 18:18 “And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.”

Job was chastened (Hebrew 12:5-8) as “gold is refined of its dross.” He repented and, like the Prodigal Son, was welcomed back in the “household of the Father.”

The example of King Saul is an extreme case of the SOUL disagreeing with the SPIRIT. With jealousy, a by-product of pride, he lost his “spiritual conviction.” How could he repent when he did not even know he was committing sin? Committing suicide did not only mean physical death for Saul, but more so of eternal damnation:

1 Samuel 31:4 “Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith…But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.”

Another example is Judas Iscariot who sold our Lord for 30 pieces of silver, a physical sin. This is “uncleanness on the outside.” But more than this, he “dipped his finger in the dish of our Lord,” a spiritual sin, which is “uncleanness in the inside.” This meant sharing with the “position and glory” of our Lord.

Mat 26:21-23 “And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.”

Pride set in the heart resulting in “spiritual blindness and deafness” that Judas did not even discern the warning of our Lord. Look!

Mat 26:25 “Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.”

With pride, Judas reverted to being a Natural Man as King Saul and Esau were. He realized what he did and later felt remorse, but there was no repentance for he lost his “spiritual conviction.” Like Saul, committing suicide is not only killing the body, but also means eternal damnation.

Matthew 27:4-5 “Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? …And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.”

“ Spiritual conviction,” the dictate of the SPIRIT, should be distinguished from “ conscience” that only comes from the SOUL. For details on the distinction between “conscience” and “spiritual conviction,” read the article:

CLEANLINESS ON THE "OUTSIDE" AND "INSIDE"

• Who can distinguish SPIRITUAL CONVICTION from CONSCIENCE?
• How does our Lord explain INSIDE in rebuking the Scribes and Pharisees for cleaning only the OUTSIDE?

http://www.purechristianity.org/cleanlin.htm

Irreconcilable differences of the SOUL from the SPIRIT will revert the chosen back to being a Natural Man.Thereafter it is impossible to repent anymore because “ spiritual conviction ” is lost. This means eternal damnation:

Hebrew 6:4-6 “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

Erasure from the “book of life”

True, in the marriage of God with His chosen, “let no man put asunder.” Only God has the sole authority to severe the relationship, without taking the free will of the “wife.” With this, God reserves the right to “blot out any name in the book of life.” Esau had the “birthright” of being a first-born. Saul, by virtue of his humility was chosen “king,” a political position to the Natural Man, but a spiritual station in the eyes of God (Revelation 1:6). Judas Iscariot became an apostle by virtue of his “conversion into a little child” like Paul and the other apostles. Thus,

Romans 11:22 “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God…but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”

Revelation 3:5 “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life…”

“Physical sin” relates to the PHYSICAL LIFE, while “Spiritual sin” relates to SPIRITUAL LIFE. Gravity of both kinds of sin, as demonstrated in Esau, King Saul, and Judas Iscariot, led to “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” that knows no forgiveness.

Matthew 12:31 “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

Sin against men, even against the “Son of man” referring to Jesus as a man, is forgivable. Example, Saul of Tarsus and the Roman Centurion, both were forgiven of their sins. However, rejection of the truth constitutes blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and this knows no forgiveness. How could there be repentance without knowing the sin? This is the “sin” that leads to “spiritual death.”

1 John 5:16 “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.”

“Praying” for a brother who commits sin that leads not unto death is forgivable. However, no “prayer” is needed for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. For details on the spiritual meaning of PRAYER, watch for the posting of the article on the subject in the website.

END

Footnotes...

1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Luke 18:20 “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. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.”

Mat 23:26 “Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also..”

John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 16:16-17 “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

John 8:19 “Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”

Mark 4:34 “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

Mark 12:30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Mark 12:31 “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

Jeremiah 15:16 “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”

Matthew 4:4 “…It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

John 7:37-39 “…Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

Isaiah 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness…”

John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

We are the disciples of our Lord in our time. We are sheep in the midst of unbelievers who do not know God.

John 16:1-3 “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.”

“Whosoever killeth you” does not necessarily mean physical murder, but simply hating us for the truth is:

1 John 3:13-15 “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life…Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Luke 17:20 “…the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you..”

Romans 13:1-7 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation…. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

Job 31:1“I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?”

Job 31:2 “For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?”

Job 31:3 “Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?”

Job 31:4 “Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?”

Job 31:5 “If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;”

Job 31:6 “Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.”

Job 31:7 “If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;”

Job 31:8 “Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.”

Job 31:9 “If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;”

Job 31:10 “Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.”

Job 31:11 “For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.”

Job 31:13 “If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;”

Job 31:14 “What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?”

Job 31:15 “Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?”

Job 31:16 “If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;”

Job 31:17 “Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;”

Job 31:18 “(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)”

Job 31:19 “If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;”

Job 31:20 “If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;”

Job 31:21 “If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:”

Job 31:22 “Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.”

Job 31:23 “For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.”

Job 31:24 “If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;”

Job 31:25 “If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;”

Job 31:26 “If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;”

Job 31:27 “And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:”

Job 31:28 “This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.”

Job 31:29 “If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:”

Job 31:30 “Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.”

Job 31:31 “If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.”

Job 31:32 “The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.”

Job 31:33 “If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:”

Job 31:34 “Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

Job 31:35 “Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.”

Job 31:36 “Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.”

Job 31:37 “I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.”

Job 31:38 “If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;”

Job 31:39 “If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:”

Job 31:40 “Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.”

Revelation 1:6 “And hath made us kings…unto God and his Father…”