“Upon this Rock”

...I will build my Church

Some Christian sects see this as the very foundation of their church organization, and claiming Peter as the head thereof. It is worth noting when Jesus Christ told Peter about this. It was after Jesus and His Disciples went to Caesarea Philippi where people there saw and heard Him speak.

Mat 16:13 “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?”

It turned out that it was not enough to see and hear Jesus for people to recognize Him.

Mat 16:14 “And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.”

At this instance Jesus asked His Disciples.

Mat 16:15 “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Who among people from different sects would not say the same thing about Jesus being “the Christ and the Son of the living God” as Simon Peter confessed? But can they equally say this is the revelation of the Father, or only taught by somebody? Otherwise, we would not be hearing different identifications of Jesus:

• Some people say, “Jesus is only a man and not God”
• Others say, “Jesus is only a minor or mighty God for there is a supreme or Almighty God”
• Still others say, “Jesus Christ is the name of the Father and the Holy Spirit”
• Many say, “Jesus is both God and man and is the second person of the Trinity”

Perhaps it is to be emphasized, for many people seem to ignore it, that it takes the revelation of the Father to clearly recognize Jesus.

Mat 16:17 “And Jesus ...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.”

Recognizing Jesus, “by the revelation of the Father,” should follow identifying the Father also! Without this “miracle,” how many people will be exempted from the following rebuke?

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

But what we hear regarding the identity of God is, “The infinite Father God is a mystery incapable of clear identification with the finite mind of man?” For Simon Peter who recognized Jesus by divine revelation, no longer is he subject to this reproof! And it is at this point in time that our Lord told him:

Mat 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Basis for God’s choice

To note is the basis of Jesus Christ choosing Simon Peter established His Church on him. It is his true recognition of Him. While many people would profess, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God;” as proof that this came only “from flesh and blood,” can they equally claim “obeying” the “first of all the commandments?” This refers to the identification of the One True God -- the object of love. Take note of the proper sequence for this virtue.

First Step – To know the One True God of the Old and New Testament, the God of Abraham and Simon Peter, whom the chosen will meet in heaven and to be with in eternity.

SECOND STEP – To love Him by following “His will.” God’s will is the truth in His words as He expounds on them, sans human wisdom. 1 To remember, God is speaking in parables, 2 as Jesus Christ was prophesied to speak dark sayings of old. 3 All these came to pass in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. 3

THIRD STEP – To love one’s “neighbor” to be distinguished from fellowmen. The three steps are taken up in PART II.

“Thou shalt be called Cephas”

After Simon Peter truly identified our Lord Jesus, He called him “Cephas.” Let alone our Lord through His words what He means by “Cephas.”

Joh 1:42 KJV “...And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas,5 which is by interpretation, A stone.”

Cephas therefore indicates a “stone” to distinguish Simon Peter from Christ that signifies “rock,” a large mass of stone.6

1 Cor 10:4 “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”

Therefore, our Lord by saying, “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,” reveals the two distinct characters:

“Peter,” called Cephas, means a stone, and “Rock” refers to the strong foundation upon which the Church is built

While to many people taking the context is the way of understanding the word, to God here is His instruction:

Isa 28:10 “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.”7

Some verses refer to stones as symbol for the real believers that compose the Church:

1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Luk 21:5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones...” (Our Lord is speaking “spiritual things.”]

The temple is made up of stones built on a strong foundation. The foundation is the “rock.” 8 Clearly the “rock” refers to Jesus Christ in the following:

1 Cor 10:4 “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”

The “Rock” existed before Abraham. Jesus told the Jews about this but they did not believe Him:

Joh 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”

Truly so, the following is written about Jesus Christ, identified as the Rock. God touches our inner self by just thinking who the “rock” is:

Deu 32:4 “ He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”

1 Sam 2:2 “ There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.”

2 Sam 22:2 “And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer.”

Psa 62:6 “He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.”

Psa 78:35 “And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.”9

Psa 89:26 “He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.”

Who can refute that Jesus Christ is “The Lord our God is one Lord”10 in the following:

Psa 18:31 “For who is God 11 save the LORD? 12 or who is a rock save our God?”13

God demonstrated the “testimony of the two witnesses for the truth.” The first witness refers to the “letter” of the word -- Jesus Christ telling Simon Peter, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” The second witness is the revelation of the Holy Spirit14 indicating Simon Peter is the “church” or temple:

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

To note, the basis for Jesus Christ making Simon Peter the “church” or temple was his clear identification of Him by “divine revelation.” Like Simon Peter, Martha also identified our Lord.

Joh 11:27 “She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”

Joh 11:25 "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? “

So was Thomas, on realizing the testament of salvation of the Father was finally fulfilled at the death of Jesus.15 This is the victory that our Lord Jesus told Martha in John 11:25-26:

Joh 20:28 “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

Psa 18:31 “For who is God 16 save the LORD? 17 or who is a rock save our God?”18

Further proof that Simon Peter, Martha, and Thomas clearly identified the Father in the flesh19 is revealed to John in the following. “Unseen” by the Natural Man is “laying down the life of God” refers to the death of the body only, while His soul and Spirit are unaffected at all. Can we not see the similarity of this with the death of a person? It is the body that turns into dust, but the soul remains alive.

1 Joh 3:16 KJV “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Thus,

1 Joh 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, and eternal life.”

Unmistakably, the “church” or temples of God are the real believers, not only Simon Peter, Martha, and Thomas, but all “poor in spirit”20 who identified JESUS, “not with flesh and blood, but by the revelation of the Father.”

1 Cor 6:19 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price:21 therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

2 Cor 6:16 “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. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;22 and I will receive you.”

The Disciples who recognized Jesus by divine revelation were separated from the rest of the Jews. So are real believers today never should they have spiritual (not social, economic, political, scientific) fellowship with pseudo-believers.

Church founded by Christ

Therefore which is the Church founded by Christ? Definitely it is not a sect or human organization. Rather it is the individual believer and their group thereof, who have satisfied these conditions:

The first step to salvation – spiritual humility:

Mat 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.”

Designation after following the first step:

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

Characteristics following the first step – endowment of divine knowledge and wisdom which was true even in the Old Testament:

Mat 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.”

Isa 28:9 KJV “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.”

The Church is the “household of God,” and never the sect or human organization.

Eph 2:19 “...fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

In the narrower sense, the Church refers to the individual believers as in:

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

The binding force that unites the members of the “household of God” is not the human doctrines that we hear from sects, but the revelation of the Holy Spirit of the spiritual message on the “letter” of the word:

1 Cor 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

Although the chosen are in different places and have no way of communicating with each other, with the guidance of The Shepherd, Jesus Christ, they have a common understanding and perception of the word. We do not find this in religious sects where, in order for the members to have a common belief, the leaders impose a uniform doctrine to be followed.

“The gates of hell”

“Gates of hell” indicates the way to damnation, in contrast to the way to eternal life, as seen in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus.

Luk 16:23 “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”

Jesus Christ rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees who pretend to be holy and righteous before the people. Their doctrines therefore lead to the “gates of hell.”

Mat 23:15 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”

Mat 23:33 “ Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”

“Hell” is reserved to the damned and bad angels:

2 Pet 2:4 “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.”

Rev 20:14 “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

The “poor in spirit” plead to God to be delivered from the “gates of hell.”

Psa 9:13 “Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death.”

The religious sects in our time

All Christian sects claim to be the Church founded by Christ, and trace their routes in several ways like:

1. By incorporating the name Christ23in the organization

2. By claiming possession of the relics or vestiges of the first century Church24

3. By extolling the name of Jesus Christ with wonders25

The attraction of the sects is focused on the gratification of the senses.26 Another appeal is the psyche and feeling27 of the unsuspecting. All these are parts and parcel of the deception of the enemy.

Members take pride in the physical expansion in the form of chapels, churches and cathedrals. 28 This is believed to be the promise of our Lord, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

However, God’s revelation of the truth in His words exposes the abominable religious traditions and human precepts on which this attraction of the sects is centered. Jesus Christ warns:

Mar 7:13 “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”

Earthly prosperity and worldly adulation of religious leaders is a subterfuge of the enemy of God.29

1. Justification for chapels, churches and cathedrals is made by comparing these with the temple built by Solomon, supposed to be the “house of the Lord.”

1 Kings 8:17 “And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel . ”

1 Kings 8:13 “I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.”

Psa 134:1 “Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.”

Isa 2:3 “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up ... to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths...”.

Isa 56:7 “Even them will I...make them joyful in my house of prayer:...”

Luk 19:46 “...It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Unmindful is that God is speaking in parables:

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

And our Lord Jesus was prophesied to speak dark sayings of old:

Psa 78:2 “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old.”

Therefore the literal meaning does not convey the spiritual message. The physical temple cannot be the “house of the Lord.” Taking the “letter” of the word would disqualify a person to be a “minister of the new testament.”

2 Cor 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.”

To God the temple built by Solomon symbolizes the real believer as revealed to Paul, an outstanding “minister of the New testament.”

Act 7:47 “But Solomon built him an house. 48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands...”

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

Temple , as a “place for prayer” symbolizing the real believer, connotes continues relationship with God as in:

1 Thes 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Look how our Lord deemphasized the generally accepted form of prayer and worship:

Mat 6:5 “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”

Chapels, churches, and cathedrals are places where members pay “respect to persons.”

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

To justify violation to this edict, religious leaders cite the “virtue of respect” in politics, social and other human activities. These are distinct from the spiritual relationship among the chosen in the eyes of God.30

2. The joy of being with the greater number of membership is in contrast to what was demonstrated by our Lord Himself. Jesus Christ in His entire ministry where multitudes followed Him, and in one instance He fed 5,000 and in another 4,000 men, only 120 truly believed in Him. These were all the people worthy to receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost:

Act 1:15 “And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)”

Act 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. :2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost...”

3. Recognition of sects for material prosperity like the establishment of schools, colleges, universities; and civic undertaking like home for the aged, and hospitals; all these are classified as religio-civic achievement.

4. For the claim of elitism of members, our Lord’s followers were of the opposite. The Jews mocked our Lord for being with straw men or plebeians.

Never do we read in the four gospels and in the epistles where all these attractions are seen in the ministry of our Lord and His Apostles.

Indestructibility of the Church in the eyes of God

“The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” was amply demonstrated in the individual followers of Christ. Falsehood and deception of the enemy did not prevail in their firm belief of the truth.

While the sects of the Pharisees and Sadducees boast of material and earthly prosperity, the real believers boast solely on the truth in the word.

2 Cor 11:10 “As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting...”

This, to our Lord is “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” because confidence of the chosen few is founded on the infallible truth in the word. Christ is the Truth symbolized by a ROCK!

Keys of the kingodm

Mat 16:19 “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The “keys of the kingdom” were given to Simon Peter after recognizing Jesus “by the revelation of the Father.” The same “keys” were likewise given to Nicodemus when he came to Jesus Christ by night. This is evidenced by the fact that he followed our Lord thereafter. Together with Joseph of Arimathea they brought down the body of Jesus from the cross.31 These are the “keys” given to Nicodemus, means to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Joh 3:5 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom ofGod .”

The “keys” are the “two witnesses” to the truth:

1. “To be born of water,” and

2. “To be born of the Spirit”

“Water” symbolizes the “letter” of the word. To be “born of water,” therefore, is to accept all the written word of God.

Eph 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.”

To be “born of the Spirit” means to yield to the revelation of the Holy Spirit as regards the intended message of the “letter” of the word.

1 Cor 2:13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

Illustrations:

1. “Thou shalt not steal.” (Exo. 20:15)

a. For the “letter” of the word, as “first witness,” it simply means following the virtue of honesty. This to our Lord is “cleanliness on the outside of the cup and platter.”32

b. For the “testimony of the Spirit,” as “second witness,” it means to be honest to the spiritual truth in the letter of the word. This to our Lord is “cleanliness of the inside of the cup and platter.”

Joh 10:1 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

2. “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Exo. 20:14)

a. For the “letter” of the word as “first witness,” it simply means being faithful to the spouse.

b. For the “testimony of the Spirit” as “second witness,” it means to remain faithful to the spiritual husband – GOD. As spiritual wife to God, never should a real believer accept “seeds” or teachings other than the truth in the word.

Jer 3:14 “Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family...”

Isa 54:5 “For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name...”

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

a. For the “letter” of the word as “first witness,” physical female are not permitted to speak in the churches. However God does not recognize physical gender in:

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

b. For the “Spirit” of the word as “second witness,” only God is the “man” authorized to speak in the churches. All people in the eyes of God are “spiritual women.” This is what is meant by:

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

Taking the “letter” of 1 Corinthians 14:34 is the cause of division of Christianity. Religious leaders think they are the “men” authorized to speak in the churches. Unknown to them, they are “spiritual women” speaking and thus, unwittingly, taking the role of our Lord who alone is the sole authority to explain His words.

The “keys” of the kingdom of heaven therefore, “Born of water and of Spirit,” open the gate for conversion from a “spiritual goat33 to a spiritual sheep34.”

2 Cor 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Every real believer holds these “keys.” The evidence thereof is clear recognition of the Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and to understand and speak His “spiritual or heavenly language.”35

HOW DEEP IS THE MYSTERY OF THE HOLY TRINITY?

( The virtue of love)

FIRST STEP FOR LOVE – KNOW GOD

Mark 12:29 “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel ; The Lord our God is one Lord.”

How easy for many people to profess, “The Lord our God is one Lord.” But to Simon Peter it was revealed who the Lord and God “is” by divine revelation. Seriously speaking who is the One True God that the chosen will meet in heaven and to be with in eternity? What is His name?

Recognizing the Father and the Son Jesus

• Simon Peter identified Jesus “by divine revelation from the Father” 36
• As a result Peter truly recognized Jesus, thereby clearly identifying the Father also 37 .
• The truth is there is only one God 38 .
• As revealed to Paul, there is only One God and this is the Father 39 .
• This One God, the Father a Spirit 40 , made a covenant/testament of salvation with Abraham and His seeds 41 .
• In the eyes of God, there is no distinction as to physical forebears for, “there is neither Jew nor Greek” 42 .
• A covenant or testament can only be fulfilled by the death of the maker or Testator 43 .
• Father God, the Testator or maker of the testament, had to manifest himself in the flesh in order to fulfill it. 44
• There can be no other entity pointing to the Father in the Flesh but Jesus Christ 45 .
• Thus, the death of Jesus Christ fulfilled the testament of the Father. Otherwise if Jesus were not the Father in the flesh, until now the Testament of Salvation is yet to be fulfilled. This is the reason why Jesus Christ admonished His listeners:

John 8:24 [KJV] “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.”

Joh 14:8 “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?...”

This truth about the Father, the One God in 1 Cor 8:6a, is now confirmed in:

1 John 3:16 [KJV & Bishops Bible only)] “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us…”

• This led to the truth about Jesus Christ as revealed in:

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…”

• Truth is anathema to the dictate of the intellect and senses because the Son is relating to the Father. To the Natural Man, Father and Son are two separate and distinct entities 46 . “Spiritual blindness” does not permit seeing the two roles of Jesus. In His role as FATHER, the death of His body fulfills His testament of salvation. In His role as SON, He shows the Way 47 , by example 48 , as model to the chosen 49 . These are the two reasons for God manifesting Himself in the flesh.
• Jesus being called the “only begotten Son of God” [John 1:18 ] is revealed to mean He is “Father in the flesh” because real believers are simply called “sons of God” [John 1:12 ].
• Jesus as the Father : He accepted worship, and was addressed Lord, Master, and Teacher. The death of His body on the cross fulfilled the testament of the Father testator that requires His death.

Heb 9:16 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.” 1 Joh 3:16 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us...” Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head...”

• Jesus as Son: Jesus, showing the example as model, fully depended on the Father. He did not even accept that He is good.

Joh 5:19 “...Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do...” Luk 18:18 “And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.”

Recognizing the Father and the Holy Spirit

• In the Father God’s testament of salvation, He promised Himself to be the inheritance 50 to the priests. The priests in the New Testament are the real believers composing the Church 51 .
• But Father God in His Spirit manifestation is a frightening God 52 .
• Father God executes this plan making Himself acceptable to the beneficiaries by taking the characteristics of a “dove” 53 .
• At the fulfillment of the testament, 54 Father God was then ready to give the inheritance 55 .
• By “comparing spiritual things with spiritual,” 56 it is revealed that the Holy Spirit is the Fatherin His friendly and amiable manifestation 57 .
• Two roles of the Father:

Recognizing Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit

• Jesus Christ promised to come back and to be with His disciples till the end of the world 58 .

Joh 14:18 (Jesus speaking) “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

• Using human intelligence, the senses and intellect, Jesus Christ left His disciples and went up to heaven 59 . No wonder the Natural Man awaits the 2 nd coming of Jesus Christ:

1 Thes 3:13 “…your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”[Plus many more verses]

• Following this perception of the Natural Man, Jesus Christ has “not fulfilled” His promise of “being with His disciples till the end of the world,” because He is yet “to come.” But Christ will always be true to His words. This is God’s revelation of who the Lord and the Spirit is.

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

• There is only “one Lord Jesus Christ” 60 . The Disciples expected to receive the Holy Ghost as promised. 61 The Holy Ghost is the Spirit. 62
• With the unfolding of this mystery of the identity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, our Lord’s 2 nd coming is realized. Truly He is now with His disciples till the end of the world 63 .
• Therefore, the Spiritual Man 64 only awaits the 2 nd Appearance of Jesus Christ 65 !
• The Natural Man, 66 because he/she only recognizes Jesus with “flesh and blood” or human competence, is still waiting for the 2 nd coming of Christ, and due to “spiritual blindness” cannot see Jesus can never be remiss with His promise.

Joh 14:18 “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” 67

Mat 28:20 “...lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

With the use of the senses and intellect, the Natural Man relies on words of the two angels. People therefore conclude that Jesus is still physically residing up there in heaven.

Acts 1:10 “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee , why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

• “Unseen” by the Natural Man is Jesus’ capability to show himself visibly or invisibly after His resurrection.

John 20:19 “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.”

• Perhaps many people are wondering how could all these contradictory things regarding Christ’s second coming and His promise to be with these disciples made so confusing. Our Lord gave the reason in the following:

Mark 4:11 “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.”

• Thus the two roles of the Holy Spirit are fully exposed to God’s “chosen few,” but remaining hidden from the “many called” ones. Is not this a “stumbling stone” to many people?

Joh 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

The visible God

Father God is a Spirit, so is the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the visible God and in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

Col 2:9 “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

In Jesus Christ is seen the totality of the power of God.

Luke 22:69 “Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.”

Finally, it is revealed that the Son Jesus with His bodily form is really the Father in the flesh and that of the Holy Spirit. Is it impossible for God to change His form or manifestation in order to fulfill His testament of salvation?

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father…”

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, and eternal life.”

Isa 43:10 “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”

The name of God is Jesus Christ! 68

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

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Despite the advent of modern machines and equipment like the television, radio, satellite communication, computers, and the establishment of religious training centers, Jesus Christ remains unrecognizable to many people in the 21 st century as He was to the Jews 2000 years ago. The statement of our Lord is relived:

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.”

Many people professing to love God ignore the importance of the “first of all the commandments.”

Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

But to God’s chosen few who humble themselves like little children, He reveals everything to them whatever is needed to know. Foremost of these is His IDENTITY! Therefore, the so-called Holy Trinity is never a mystery to them.

SECOND STEP – LOVE OF GOD

After identifying the One True God follows the commandment of LOVING Him.

Mar 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...”

Loving God is to follow “His will.” God’s will is His explanation of His words, not man’s explication as this caused division in Christianity. That is why real praise to Him is through His word:

Psa 56:10 “In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.”

The pitfall

Overlooked is that God is speaking in parables. Many people think just because the Holy Bible is translated in English the Americans and British can comprehend the message already, Spanish to the Spaniards, Mandarin to the Chinese, and so forth. They forget that Jesus Christ when He was talking to the Jews was like speaking a “strange language” to them. Example, when He told them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” did they not mock and ridicule Him?

Joh 2:20 “Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?”

How many people observe the Disciples of Christ, acting as “babes,” just waited for our Lord’s explanation (by demonstration], 69 conscious of Mark 4:34. 70 Are not true “ministers of the New Testament” distinguished from professing ones in the following?

2 Cor 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.”

Without God explaining His words, how do professing Christians do “His will?”

In like manner, without God revealing the secrets in His words, do the chosen recognize the true Christ?

Take the Ten Commandments. Behind the “letter” is the spiritual meaning that the Teachers of the Law did not comprehend. Example: “Thou shalt not steal.” For not taking a single dinar, the Scribes and Pharisees professed following this commandment. To our Lord that is only “cleanliness of the outside of cup and platter.” 71 He called them hypocrites. They did not see the “spirit” of the word that our Lord revealed to His Disciple:

Joh 10:1 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

Another example is the law on TITHES. We do not read in the four gospels where Jesus preached it. Neither did His Apostles follow it literally. Yet our Lord said:

Mat 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Our Lord preached the law on tithes SPIRITUALLY, as evidenced in Paul enjoining the believers to follow him as he followed our Lord:

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

Paul worked with his hands and earned his living.

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

2 Thes 3:8 “Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you.”

He rebuked the believers who depend on others instead of working to supply for their needs:

2 Thes 3:7 “For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

THIRD STEP – LOVE OF “NEIGHBOR”

The third and final step refers to “love of neighbor.” Many people cannot distinguish “neighbor” from “fellowmen.”

Mar 12:31 “...Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

“Neighbor” is identified by our Lord in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. 72 The victim was leaving Jerusalem and going to the city of Jericho . Jerusalem is known for Godliness while Jericho a wicked place. 73 The act and description of “neighbor” may be compared with the child Jesus who was taken by Joseph and Mary from Judea , a place known for Godliness, to escape from Herod, a Jew. They brought Him to Egypt , supposedly a wicked place. Does not this speak well for the victim escaping from religious hypocrisy in Jerusalem and going to wicked Jericho that fittingly gave the message of our Lord in?

Mat 9:13 “...I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Now think of the victim of the thieves 74 that was ignored by the priest and Levite who, in the eyes of men were Godly people. However, our Lord sharply rebuked them as religious hypocrites. 75 “Neighbor” refers to a searcher of the truth, and a real believer. Therefore what help can the priest and Levite extend to the “victim” who themselves know not God? That is the message for ignoring the victim of the thieves. In the eyes of God, they are in the company of the spiritual thieves and robbers but because of “spiritual blindness” they cannot identify themselves. 76

To the Jews, the Samaritans are religious outcast for not having the pure blood of Jacob. Yet we find a Samaritan recognizing our Lord in this parable, and also the Samaritan woman by the well of Jacob. 77

Unknown to many people, the three steps for LOVE are embodied in the TEN COMMANDMENTS:

First Part or Step 1 – ON IDENTIFYING GOD

“I am the Lord thy God...” (Exodus 20:2)

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God...”(Exodus 20:4-5)

Second Part or Step 2 – LOVE OF GOD

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work...” (Exodus 20:8-10)

Third Part or Step 3 – LOVE OF “NEIGHBOR”

“Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12)

“Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13 )

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14)

“Thou shalt not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, or his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:17)

Look what God told His chosen people in the Old Testament before loving Him – His true identity. It is the same as in Mark 12:29. And just as our Lord Jesus “spake not except in parables,” so did God in the Old Testament. 78

Deu 6:4 “Hear, O Israel : The LORD our God is one LORD.”

PART III – THE “STUMBLING STONE”

Of all people, it was to the Jews that God entrusted His words as He did to Christianity. However, here is a prophecy that our Lord would be a “gin (trap) or a snare” to them.

Isa 8:14 “And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel , for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem . 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.”

This prophecy refers to Jesus Christ. Prophet Isaiah repeated the warning how our Lord would be “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence” that many would fall and be broken.

Isa 53:1 “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

Truly so when Jesus Christ the Messiah came, instead of loving Him they hated and mocked Him:

Joh 10:20 “And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?”

Jesus told them:

Joh 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...”

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

Joh 10:30 “I and my Father are one.”

The hatred of the Jews to Jesus Christ was fully demonstrated when they chose Barrabas to be set free rather than Jesus Christ.

Mar 15:11 “But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

Instead, the Jews crucified Him!

Mar 15:12 “And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? 13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.”

Today, how true is the prophecy of Isaiah regarding Jesus? On Sundays chapels, churches, and cathedrals are teeming with people praising and glorifying Him. As prophesied, and “heaven and earth will pass away the word will never pass away,” anybody saying these people hate Jesus Christ would be hated, and shouts of nonsense and baloney will be heard.

Jesus is the Truth!

While “many” people say, “Jesus is the Truth,” could they love the Truth and hate hypocrisy and falsehoods? All Bible readers are familiar with the following:

Mat 23:2 “Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat..”

Does not this refer to religious leaders’ position of honor in religious affairs? 79 We never saw this in the Apostles and Disciples of Christ knowing that “God is Jealous.” (Exo. 34:14)

Mat 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.”

Does not this refer to the religious leaders’ scheme of frightening the members of not paying TITHES as violation of the law in the Old Testament? 80 Never did we hear Jesus Christ and His Apostles preached the law on TITHES literally. Rather, they followed this spiritually as revealed through the word and demonstrated by their example. This is found in the article: TITHES & 0FFERING [In a pamphlet and article in the website: http://www.purechristianity.org/tithes.htm]

Example, Paul a leading apostle of Christ showed the case in point of earning his living and never depended on the people for his sustenance. 81 Another example of “binding heavy burdens” is the building of chapels, churches and cathedrals that never did we see the Apostles do. These structures are not at all necessary since “only a few” believe in the truth anyway. They conducted their “spiritual worship” in appropriate places only. 82

The TRUTH in the word is testified by “two witnesses”: the “letter” of the word and the revelation of the Holy Spirit on the word. 83 The spiritual revelation on the word is discerned by deeds/acts of the Apostles, they being the “spiritual foundation” of belief. (Eph. 2:19-20)

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

Did we see in the Apostles of Christ a flair for showmanship and distinction, except to simply voice what they heard from our Lord?

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

Rabbi means Teacher or Pastor . Never do we find any of the apostles ever addressed as Pastor or Father, much more Reverend (Rev.) or Holy. 84

Luk 22:24 “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so...”

Mat 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Does not “devouring widows houses mean greed for material wealth?" Is not “long and well-crafted prayer” of religious leaders made to make an impact on the members?

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.”

Does not this refer to zealousness in following the “letter” of the word that refers only to morality, but remaining “blind” to the “spiritual message” of the word that cleanses the soul?

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

One example is taking pride in the virtue of honesty, but remaining blind to the condemnable religious traditions and human precepts. Thus, unwittingly “not passing the door of the sheepfold is a thief and a robber” [John 10:1]

Mat 23:27 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

Let us all discern this that we may appreciate our Lord’s sharp rebuke unto the persons concerned.

Mat 23:13 “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”

How do religious leaders react to this truth that is laid bare before the people? Will they not discourage them from reading and believing these?

Mat 23:33 “ Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”

What is the Scribes and Pharisees’ perception of Jesus Christ?

Joh 10:20 “And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?”

How many people believe that Jesus Christ is the TRUTH? While professing, indeed, He is; are they willing to renounce unscriptural teachings and practices? Finally, Jesus Christ told them:

Mat 23:38 “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”

In the eyes of the people, the “house” of the Scribes and Pharisees was never deserted or in desolation. On the contrary, their group even prospered physically and gathered more members. But “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away,” says our Lord. 85

1. Did Jesus speak except in parables?

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

2. Were Peter, John, James, Paul, or any of the professing apostles today authorized to “expound on the words that are expressed in parables?

3. Did we hear Peter, Paul and other apostles being addressed as “Father”? 86

4. Did we hear Peter, Paul, and other apostles being addressed as “Rabbi” that means Teacher or Pastor and Lord? 87

Now it is clear that, indeed, “Truth is a stumbling stone and a rock of offense!” to many people.

END

footnotes...

1 1 Cor 1:19 “...I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”

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

3 Psa 78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

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

[Were Peter, John, Paul, or professing apostle of Christ authorized to expound on the word?]

5 1 Cor 15:4 “And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas (Simon Peter), then of the twelve.”

6  Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

Etymology: Middle English rokke , from Old North French roque , from Latin rocca
1 : a large mass of stone forming a cliff, promontory, or peak
2 : a concreted mass of stony material; also : broken pieces of such masses
3 : consolidated or unconsolidated solid mineral matter; also : a particular mass of it.

4 : something like a rock in firmness: (1) : FOUNDATION, SUPPORT (2) : REFUGE

7 And this is God’s warning:

Isa 28:11 “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.”

8 Declaring Jesus Christ is the “rock” is not enough without identifying Him, “by the revelation of the Father,” so as to have the revelation of the identity of the Father also:

Joh 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.”

9 Isa 44:24 “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.”

10 Deu 6:4 “Hear, O Israel : The LORD our God is one LORD.”

Mar 12:29 “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel ; The Lord our God is one Lord.”

11 1 Cor 8:4 “..., and that there is none other God but one.”

1 Co 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things...”

12 1 Cor 8:6 “... one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things...”

13  Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel : The LORD our God is one LORD:

Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel ; The Lord our God is one Lord:

14 1 Cor 2:13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

15 1 Tim 3:16 KJV “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh...”

1 John 3:16 K V “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us...”

16 1 Cor 8:4 “..., and that there is none other God but one.”

1 Co 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things...”

17 1 Cor 8:6 “... one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things...”

18  Deu 6:4 “Hear, O Israel : The LORD our God is one LORD.”

Mar 12:29 “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel ; The Lord our God is one Lord.”

19 1 Tim 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh...”

Isa 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father...”

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

Mat 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.”

Mat 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.”

Isa 28:9 KJV “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.”

21 The price paid is God’s death of His human body on the cross. <;/p>

1 Joh 3:16 KJV “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us...”

22 Isa 52:11 “Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.”

23 Church of Christ .... Church of Jesus Christ ...Assembly of Christ... Church of Christ of the Latter Day Saints...

Warning : Mat 24:23 “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before.”

24 Claiming, “We have the wood and nails for the cross of Christ; bones of the saints of so and so,” and so on and so forth...

Warning : 2 Cor 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight:”

25 Claiming, “The power of Christ is with us as evidenced by the different miracles.” Are these really ‘miracles” or just wonders? Miracles benefit the soul, while wonders the body. Miracles are superior to wonders as shown in the “serpent from the rod of Aaron swallowing all the serpents from the rod of the wise men of Pharaoh” (Exo.7:10-12)

Mat 24:23 “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before.”

Warning : Mat 7:22 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me...” [God requires mutual identification or recognition.]

26 1 Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

27 1 Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

28 Rev 12:9 “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

29 Isa 29:13 “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.”

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

31 Joh 19:38 “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus... took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes...40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.”

32 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.”

33 1 Cor 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.”

34 1 Cor 2:15 “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

35 Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

2 Cor 4:18 “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

36 Matt 16:16 “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And 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.”

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

38 1 Cor 8:4 “...we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.”

39 1 Corinthians 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things…”

40 Joh 4:24 “God is a Spirit...”

41 Genesis 17:7 (Father God speaking) “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.”

42 Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, ...for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

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

44 1 Tim (KJV & Bishop’s Bible only) 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…”

45 Philippians 2:6 “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

John 10:30 “I and my Father are one.”

46 Joh 14:8 “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?...”

47 John 14:28 “…I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.”

John 20:17 “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”

48 John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way…”

49 1 Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ ...leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.”

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

51 Ezekiel 44:28 [Father God speaking] “And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance…”

52 Ezekiel 44:15 “But the priests… 16…shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.”

1 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God…” (Also: Rev. 1:6)

53 Exodus 20:18 “And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

54 Mark 1:10 “…he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him.”

55 John 19:30 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

56 Acts 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost…”

57 1 Cor 2:13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with

spiritual .”

58 Ephesians 4:30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

59 Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

60 Acts 1:9“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

61 1 Cor 8:6 “But to us there is but … one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

Joh 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

62 John 7:39 “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.”

63 Matthew 28:20 “…lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

All these are contrary to the dictate of man’s intelligence. That is why our Lord tells us to be “converted like little children” so as not to be philosophical (Matt. 18:3, 11:25 ).

64 1 Cor 2:15 “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

65 Heb 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.”

66 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.”

67 Does not “leaving without comfortless” refer to the work of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit?

68 Zec 14:9 “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”

69 Joh 2:21 “But he spake of the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.”

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

71 Mat 23:25 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

72 Luk 10:25 “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.”

73 Joshua 6:1-27

74 Joh 10:1 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

75 The priest and the Levite in the parable refer to the Scribes and Pharisees. Read Matthew 23.

76 Luk 6:39 “And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?”

77 John 4:4-30

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

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

80 Rom 10:4 “For Christ isthe end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” And Rom7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual...”

81 1 Cor 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

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

82 Acts 20:20 “...have taught you publicly, and from house to house,”

Acts 9:20 “...he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”

Acts 16:13 “...we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down...”

83 1 Cor 2:13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

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

85 “Gates of hell shall not prevail against it” and “house not left desolate,” to Christian sects today justify these with their chapels, churches, cathedrals, and schools of learning, like seminaries, colleges, universities, and civic projects like hospitals which the Apostles did not even consider them.

86 Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.