By the Scripture’s Own Writers
We firmly believe that God shows His grace to those who seek Him with an honest heart. Matthew 7.8 An open-minded searcher of the Bible will learn that God has individuals today throughout the world, who serve Him and fulfill His purposes together, in harmony, as a people. Acts 15.14, Romans 12.5.
Once Israel was God’s people. However, after they ignored God’s commandments, He removed this privilege from them. Matthew 23.37,38. Who is His people today? The answer comes from the Scriptures:”Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism, but in every nation He accepts those who fear Him and do what is right.” Acts 10.34,35.
“God did look after to take out of the nations a people for His name.” Acts 15.14 What is God’s Name that this people was chosen for? Psalm 83.18 answers: “You, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, are the Most High over all the earth.” This sacred Name of God – Jehovah – appears almost 7,000 times in the original Hebrew Scriptures!
The Bible informs us that God’s people „will be called by a new name that the LORD Himself will give.” Isaiah 62.2 As seen in the above quote from Acts 15, this new name applies to individuals from all nations who uphold God’s Name.
How do they do this? By copying the example left by Jesus Christ and His disciples. Here is the example Jesus left for us:”I made known to them Your name, and will make it known.” John 17.26 Also, Luke 8.1 tells us that: “Jesus was traveling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him.” They were fully committed and active in witnessing for God’s purposes. Jesus Himself is called „the faithful and true witness.” Revelation 3.14
Consequently, the “new name” applies today to all those who sincerely serve God by sharing the same testimony Jesus shared, by witnessing for His cause. Thus this new name given by God is revealed: “You are My witnesses”… says the LORD.”You are My servant. You have been chosen to know Me, believe in Me, and understand that I alone am God.” Isaiah 43.10. We see this as the greatest privilege a human being can have. We therefore are witnesses for Jehovah.
Human society today is in a state of wilderness, where the refreshing and strengthening waters of truth are very difficult to find. This condition of wilderness is caused by the influence of Satan the devil in worldly affairs, because he has “turned the world into wilderness.” Isaiah 14.17. He has made it difficult for mankind to find and keep the truth.
What separates us from all non-Christian religions and beliefs is our discerning and understanding that the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, also known as the Holy Bible, come from and were inspired by our Heavenly Almighty Creator. We believe they were written to serve as a guide in our lives and provide us with meaning, purpose and a great hope. “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 3.16,17. “Have not I written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge, to make you know the certainty of the words of truth?” Proverbs 22.20
Proof of Divine inspiration of the Bible comes in the form of hundreds of foretold prophecies that were fulfilled in great detail, tens, hundreds and sometimes even thousands of years after they were spoken. “For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:21 The writers themselves often acknowledged that what they wrote, they could not comprehend, but in due time, their words were clearly understood. “And I heard, but I did not understand: then I said, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” Daniel 12.8
In spite of devil’s many efforts over the centuries to discredit and destroy it, the Bible has been preserved and made available for individuals to read and understand our Creator’s wonderful purposes. No man could stop it because “the Word of God is alive and powerful.” Hebrews 4.12
It’s impact on the lives of persons throughout centuries is unsurpassed as it can be clearly seen that there are more copies of the Bible translated in more languages and dialects than any other book in the history of mankind. We are convinced that the Bible is Divinely inspired, accurate and the channel of communication our Creator was pleased to provide us with.
Therefore, we are distinct from and cannot agree with any religion or faith that denies the fundamental truths of the Bible: Jehovah as the only true God: “I am Jehovah, this is My name; and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise unto graven images.” Isaiah 42.8; Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation: “In none other is there salvation: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, wherein we must be saved.” Acts 4.12; and God’s Kingdom as the only true hope for mankind: “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom…it shall stand forever.” Daniel 2.44.
A true Christian will pay close attention to the words of Jesus Christ. He said “Search the Scriptures… in them you have eternal life.” John 5.39. However, many churches have been promoting the exact opposite concept. They say “you can’t understand on your own, and therefore should not study the Scriptures, but let us explain God’s Word to you.” This belief has led to numerous erroneous interpretations of the Scriptures.
Unfortunately, most Christian churches today promote doctrines that originated from pagan cultures and religions, which find no support and in fact stand in direct opposition with what the Bible teaches. These circumstances have been foretold by Jesus Christ and His apostles. “I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Acts 20.29,30. Also, 2 Thessalonians 2.8-12 shows that a great fall from the true faith was to come.
Furthermore, the Scriptures foretold that few individuals today will understand and live in harmony with what the Bible teaches. “The whole world is under the control of the evil one.” 1 John 5.19; “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7.14.
In the following paragraphs we will compare several fundamental doctrines that most Christian churches teach with what the Bible actually teaches. You can draw your own conclusions…
In His preaching, Jesus always quoted the Scriptures, thus showing their full authority and Divine inspiration. When asked tough questions, He would cite the prophet books of the Bible. Also, He said clearly: “Search the Scriptures… in them you have eternal life.” John 5.39. The apostle Paul continues: “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 3.16,17.
However, the devil introduced subtle methods to turn mankind away from obedience to God. This he accomplished by the use of traditions, which come in direct contradiction with God’s Word. So, when trying to find support for a doctrine which is contrary to the Bible, religious leaders turn to their traditions and quote their previous leaders, rather than the Scripture. They say the Bible is more figurative and has a consultative role, but the ultimate understanding is not found in it.
Unfortunately, millions still believe and follow blindly because they are told “believe, and do not search”. And thus the words of Jesus in Matthew 15.1-9 are once again fulfilled: “you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition…in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
Other churches, like the mormon church put more value and give more attention to their leader’s book than to the Bible, ignoring the admonition of the Scripture: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him!” Galatians 1.8 Also: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.” Revelation 22.18
A true Christian will always treasure and highly esteem the Bible and will seek to learn it and apply it in his daily life, knowing that the Bible is indeed sufficient and contains direct and indirect answers to all of life’s questions. Let us have the same attitude king David had: “Oh, how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” Psalm 119.97, 105. More details here.
Taught by 99% of Christian churches, (yes, almost all) trinity is believed to be the core doctrine of Christianity. However, this doctrine was prevalent in pagan religions centuries before it was introduced among Christians. Also, the people of Israel, whom God chose as His people, never held the belief of a triune God. Rather, they were unique among the neighboring nations for their monotheist worship.
When asked: “What is trinity?” most believers respond “it’s a mystery”. Here is the definition: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, all 3 being 1 person, equal in power, authority and immortality. Besides the fact that such and similar definitions make absolutely no sense, we learn that the Bible, in its entire 66 books and over 2,000 pages has absolutely no mention of such doctrine and the word “trinity” is found exactly ZERO times in all Scripture. If trinity was true, that would be very strange, wouldn’t it? Especially since the Bible is the inspired Word of God, in which the TRUTH is revealed to sincere searchers.
Deuteronomy 6.4 tells us God is only 1. “The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” Not 3. God commands full obedience and worship to Himself: ”I am Jehovah, this is My name, And I will not give My honor to another.” Isaiah 42:8 In full harmony with this, Jesus instructed His followers to direct their worship to God, not to Him. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4.24. Yes, Jesus too has a God above Him. He said: “I ascend to my Father, and your Father, and to My God, and to your God.” John 20.17
Jesus Himself further proves that trinity is not Scriptural. He plainly said: “The Father is GREATER than I.” John 14.28. Defenders of trinity may say “this was only because Jesus was on Earth as a man, but when in Heaven, Jesus is equal to God.” The Bible shows the error of such claim, by clearly showing how Jesus is in submission to God, even when He is in full Heavenly glory, too: “When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be SUBJECTED to Him who put all things in subjection under Him, that GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL.” 1 Corinthians 15.28.
The Bible sheds light on what the Holy Spirit is, too. We are taught that it is God’s holy power, active force or in other words, His sacred energy. The apostle John, an eye witness of the event, tells us plainly: “Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20.22 If the Holy Spirit were a person, this verse would mean that Jesus breathed a person out of His mouth and told multiple disciples to be filled with a person. That is obviously not the case, because the Holy Spirit is an active force or energy, not a person.
By breathing Holy Spirit over them, He was filling them with holy power which increased their physical and intellectual capacities to perform miraculous healings, understand the Scriptures, and preach the gospel effectively, to help bring others to the true path.
Likewise, the Scriptures teach us that at Pentecost, 120 apostles were “all filled with Holy Spirit.” “And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” Acts 2.4. Could 120 individuals be filled with a person? No! Rather, they were filled with a sacred Divine energy that wonderfully enhanced their mental capacities and enabled them to speak in foreign languages without any previous training.
The doctrine of trinity is a false, God-defaming doctrine, unsupported and contrary to God’s Word. Jesus gave glory to God, by saying: “eternal life is to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17.3. Therefore, the failure to clearly understand who God is can be fatal, just as the accurate knowledge of God can be liberating and life-giving. More details here.
Most christian churches teach that humans have an immortal soul that lives on consciously after death. This statement is actually based on the first lie ever told on Earth, namely when Satan deceived Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit. When she argued that if she eats, she would die, the serpent told her: “Surely you will not die!” Genesis 3.4. These churches teach that when a person dies, their soul eventually ends up either in heaven or in eternal torment. Is this what the Bible teaches us?
First we need to clearly determine: what is a soul? The answer is in Genesis 2.7: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Man BECAME a living soul. The body and the breath of life from God, together formed the living soul. 1 Corinthians 15.45 further explains:“The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” Therefore, we don’t have souls, rather we ARE living souls.
Can a soul die or is it immortal? Most preachers and priests will answer “it is immortal.” But what does the Bible say? “The soul that sins, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18.4,20. The apostle James enforces that by stating: “he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his SOUL from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” James 5.20.
Moreover, immortality is not automatically given to everyone. God alone possesses it: “God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who ALONE has immortality.” 1 Timothy 6:15,16. Only those He wishes receive immortality as a reward for their faithfulness, as Romans 2.7 says: “To those who by persistence in doing good SEEK glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life.” Would they seek immortality if they already possessed it? Surely not. More details here.
One of the most offensive doctrines that claim to be Christian, but in reality are trying to put God in a wrong light is that of eternal torment. It is claimed by most Christian churches that anyone who doesn’t obey God will suffer as punishment an eternity of torment at the hands of Satan and his demons. Not 1,000 years, not 1 MILLION years, but eternity! More details here.
Such scare tactics do not work on an intelligent person. And Jehovah, who is “the God of love”- 1 John 4.8, would never come up with such a tyrannical punishment. He condemns such demonic practices, by saying: „They burned their sons as sacrifices to Baal. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed My mind to command such a thing!” Jeremiah 19.5
Such doctrine is not in harmony with the Creator’s character. His love and wisdom would not allow for such punishment. His justice would also not allow for it, as living a life of 70-80 years in sin cannot be reasonably punished with an eternity of torment. The Bible clearly expresses the punishment for sin: “the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6.23
Furthermore, it would be impossible for souls to be tormented forever, since at death, the sinful soul dies: “The soul that sins, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18.4,20 and ceases to exist: “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.” Ecclesiastes 9.5,10
We ask honest searchers of truth 3 questions: 1. During which day of creation was the place of eternal torment made and where was it placed? 2. If it is a place of weeping and gnashing, why does the Bible say that hell is a place of darkness and silence? “The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.” Psalm 115.17, Job 3:13-19. 3. Satan will be destroyed forever, as Romans 16.20 clearly states: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan.” Who would then torment souls?
Free yourself from illogical and enslaving doctrines that dishonor God!
More details here.
Lying intentionally in the name of God for selfish gain is an abomination and an unforgivable sin that religion is completely guilty and charged of. A great financial scheme devised by the Catholic Church has for centuries and continues to fraud millions of their hard-earned money. Claiming that giving money to priests to pray for someone’s deceased loved ones can help ease the dead one’s suffering in a place of temporary torture, called purgatory, is as low as a religious organization can get.
There is absolutely no Biblical support for such a place. On the contrary, the Scriptures clearly tell us that when a person dies, they are unconscious: “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.” Ecclesiastes 9.5,10
The only hope a dead person has was plainly expressed by Jesus: „Don’t be amazed at this, because the time is approaching when everyone in their graves shall hear the Son of Man’s voice and they shall come out: those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil deeds, to the resurrection of judgment.” John 5.28,29.
Resurrection from the dead is the only hope there is, and that comfort comes exclusively from God, who can’t be bought with money, as religionists would have you believe.
Here is what the apostle of Christ said to one who thought money can help gain favor with God: “Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!” Acts 8.20
The Scripture has warned that such abominable doctrines will emerge: “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies… Many will follow their evil teaching…In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.” 2 Peter 2.1-3 More details here.
There are hundreds of christian denominations in the world today, each with a different interpretation of the Scriptures. They can’t all be true. In fact, the Bible teaches us that “many paths may seem good to man, but eventually they lead to death.” Proverbs 16.25. Sincerity in error does not lead to life, but the true”knowledge of God and of His Son” does. John 17.3.
The concept of „,many roads leading to the same destination” is not Scriptural, as Jesus Christ clearly declared that there is only 1 true way to life, and that “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7.14. The apostle Paul further details this: “you were called in one hope of your calling;one Lord, one faith, one baptism;one God and Father of all.” Ephesians 4.4-6
If sincere people of all faiths and religions were accepted by God, even though they believe and hold fast to false doctrines, some of which are even defaiming God without them even realizing it, why would have Jesus went from town to town and preach the gospel to individuals throughout Judea? If anyone „good” from all churches would receive salvation, why did the apostles completely gave up personal comfort and risked their lives to travel the world, preaching the gospel while facing constant persecution and even death for it, often from priests who claimed to serve God?
They did this work because they found that narrow path to life and because Jesus Christ ordered them to share it and give hope to all who would receive the message; and the message was indeed well received. “The word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew very large. A large number of priests accepted the faith.” Acts 6.7 It was so well received, that even many priests renounced their religion and came to faith in Christ.
If it were true that sincere people of all faiths will be saved, there would have been no need for individuals to change their beliefs and actions. But that’s not what the Scriptures teach us. Rather, the Bible tells us plainly:”seek and you will find; knock and it will be open to you.” Matthew 7.7. God has provided us with His written Word, to show us the true path to salvation and it is the duty of every man and woman to conduct a careful analysis and study to clearly understand His Word, if they want to receive the gift of eternal life.
For this reason, the advice sounds:”Buy the truth and do not sell it.Yes, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” Proverbs 23.23 What is the price that you buy the truth with? The price is your TIME that you invest in studying God’s Word to discover that narrow true way to life.
This is truly the noblest quest a man should make in this life, because as Jesus said:”For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16.26 More details here.
The god of this world has created a visible organization composed of 3 main elements: religion, politics and commerce. He uses this organization to promote his propaganda for the sole purpose of turning mankind away from God. Religion plays a big role in this plot and the devil is careful to use it to his advantage. When it comes to educating the masses on the true hope mankind has, religion points them towards the leaders of this world, and teach them to provide support to worldly efforts that they claim are going to make this a better world.
Is this what Jesus did, too? Did Jesus seek out partnerships with Pontius Pilate or with king Herod or with the roman emperor Tiberius? Never. Rather, He declared: “My Kingdom is not of this world.” John 18.36 He wanted nothing with or from this world, because He knew that as long as Satan the devil is the god of this world, things will not change for the better.
When it comes to making this a better world, the Biblical principle applies:“who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.” Matthew 9.16. It follows that minor patches will not yield the desired peace and prosperity for all, but rather a complete destruction of this old, crooked system of things and a new system of things from God is what will give mankind the prosperity it’s been longing for so many centuries.
Therefore, the only true hope mankind has is this: “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.” Daniel 2.44. Isaiah chapter 35, Isaiah 65.18-25 and Micah 4.1-4 further show us what wonderful times are ahead for mankind. Blessed are those who will walk the Earth then! More details here.
One of the main motivations of a Christian, salvation is shown to be the reward of faith in and obedience to God. “Because you trusted Me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the LORD, have spoken!” Jeremiah 39.18
Simply believing in Jesus doesn’t of itself provide a guarantee for salvation. “On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God’s laws.” Matthew 7.22,23
The Bible instructs us that salvation is possible by faith in Jesus Christ as God’s way to life: ”He that believes in the Son has eternal life.” John 3.36; and by actions that confirm this faith: “Faith without works is dead.” James 2.26; Specific actions help: “For one believes with his heart and is justified, and declares with his mouth and is saved.” Romans 10.10. Also, personal spiritual development needs to be on-going all life. 2 Peter 1.5-8.
Many churches claim that once a person accepts Jesus as “their own personal Lord and Savior” they are saved. The concept of “once saved, always saved” is erroneous. The apostle Paul explains why: after serving Christ for many years with more zeal and results than any other apostle, he refers to the prize of salvation and eternal life, by saying: “My brethren, I do not consider myself to have obtained it, but I know one thing: I have forgotten that which is behind me and I reach out before me,I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3.12-14
Can someone today justly claim they are more approved than Paul? Can someone rightly boast that they are already saved? Even Paul himself was aware he could lose the prize at any time, if unfaithful:”I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.” 1 Corinthians 9.27. Not until a Christian dies faithful can he hope for salvation: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2.10
Salvation is not universal, either. It is exclusive for God’s servants. All others will perish. “Without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved–and that by God.” Philippians 1.28; “The LORD protects all those who love Him, but He destroys all the wicked.” Psalm 145.20
Therefore, while the door is still open: “Seek Jehovah, all you humble of the land, you who do what He commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of Jehovah’s anger.” Zephaniah 2.3 More details here.
The doctrine of evolution implies the Bible is a fairytale, that there is no God, and that everything that exists is a direct result of chaotic and random processes. The Bible implies the doctrine of evolution is false. They are mutually exclusive. One or the other is true.
Any church that tries to blend the two together is completely ignoring the Bible and it’s Author. The Bible record is very clear and a true Christian will not try to adapt it: Jehovah God is the Creator. It is Him “who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it.” Revelation 10.6
The apostle Paul addressing this topic, said: “since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–His eternal power and Divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what God made. So they are without excuse.” Romans 1.19-21
King David of Israel, made an even bolder statement:”Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!” Psalm 14.1
Fortunately for our generation, the advances of science now provide us with key insights in many scientific fields. Recent scientific discoveries prove that the statistical odds of the Universe being created by pure chance is about 1 to the 100 trillionth…That is 1 in 100,000,000,000,000!!
Also, if evolution did indeed occur, it would have taken so long, that by the time humans had reached our current stage, the Sun would have completely burned up the Earth, and therefore we would have ceased to exist.
The arguments that science provides today point beyond any doubt to the existence of intelligent design. And it is Jehovah God who is that intelligent Creator. “You are worthy, Jehovah, our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created.” Revelation 4.11 More details here.
The Bible has warned that in the days of the end, “a time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4.3
Considering that, it is not surprising to see how many Christian churches today support same-sex marriages. This practice is in direct opposition to the way God has created our race.
The Bible clearly tells us that God created man and woman and that the two became “one body”. The book of Genesis explains:”Then the LORD God made a woman..He brought her to the man.The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Genesis 2.22-24
When asked on this matter, Jesus replied:”“Haven’t you read, that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew 19.4-6
Based on this principle that ”what God united man shall not separate”, men are not to become one body with another man, nor women with other women.
The apostle clearly condemns these actions:”For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women turned against the natural function for that which is unnatural,and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their perversion.” Romans 1.26,27
He also warns of the consequences of such lifestyle choices. Since “they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done.” Romans 1.29 And therefore: “Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practicing homosexuality will inherit God’s kingdom.” 1 Corinthians 6.9,10
The rampant growth of such unnatural and immoral relationships further shows the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy regarding the end times we are now living in, which prophecy, among other things, foretold a large-scale “multiplication of iniquity.” Matthew 24.12
One of the greatest schemes the devil uses to turn mankind away from God is deception. He is having nations believe they are worshipping God, when in reality they are worshipping God’s enemy and his lies. He puts on the appearance of good not to draw people closer to God, but to turn them farther away from Him.
The covenant people of God, Israel, instituted the office of priesthood, to serve before the Lord on behalf of the nation. This covenant ended when Jesus became “the end of the Law.” Romans 10.4
From that moment on, Jesus Christ is the only Priest we need. He is the only Mediator between God and men: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”1 Timothy 2.5. Everyone else who claims they are the mediators between God and His people is an impostor and fraud.
Jesus called the priests of His time “sons of the devil”, even though they claimed to serve God. John 8.44. In Matthew chapter 23, He condemns their evil ways: “They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do is done for people to see: They make… the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others… Woe to you, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.You are like whitewashed tombs… on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.You blind guides!” Can you see the resemblance between those priests and today’s priests?
Jesus did away with the office of priests and told His disciples that they are all equal and to call no man “father”: “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and He is in heaven.” Matthew 23.8,9
Taking money for spiritual services was also forbidden by Jesus, a fact that is completely ignored by today’s money-loving priests. The commandment is clear: “Freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10.8. Furthermore, putting more emphasis on traditions of men rather than God’s Word makes priests an abomination. “You nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition…in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15.1-9
The apostle Paul concludes: “These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” 2 Corinthians 11.14,15
What did the sincere priests in the time of Jesus do? “The word of God continued to spread… and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” Acts 6.7 The ones who are sincere today should do so, too.
It is very unfortunate that millions of claimed Christians break God’s clear command regarding the use of images in the worship of God. Defenders of such practices claim that they only use the images to help them remind of who the image represents, and thus worship whoever the statue represents and not the image or statue itself.
This is exactly what God forbids. His commandment states clearly: “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them.” Exodus 20.4,5
Moses continues:”So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day the LORD spoke to you… do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female…If you act corruptly by making a carved image in the form of anything, and by doing what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, so as to provoke Him to anger… you will surely and swiftly be destroyed.” Deuteronomy 4.15-19,25,26
Jeremiah 10.1-10 further shows how useless images are. The prophet of God expresses his anger and indignation: “People who worship idols are stupid and foolish. The things they worship are made of wood!” verse 8.
King David in Psalm 97.7 also condemns this practice: “All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols.”
The apostle Paul goes even further to explain how vain this practice is:”Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man… They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator.” Romans 1.22-25
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4.24. Going to a place of worship and kneeling there before an image is a practice in direct opposition with what the Scriptures teach. On prayer and worship, Jesus said: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6.5-6
Did Jesus say: make an image of God or Me or My mother or my apostles and bow before it? No! Did any of the apostles of Christ ever even mention the use of any type of image when worshipping God? Never! Neither should you. Rather, pay attention to God’s warning: “I am Jehovah, this is My name; and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images.” Isaiah 42.8 More details here.
The catholic, orthodox and many other churches practice the veneration of saints. They kneel before and direct their prayers to “virgin Mary”, apostles of Jesus and other individuals whom they deem holy and whom they believe can help them. Such practices are clearly condemned by the Word of God as idolatry.
Worship is due only to GOD. Jesus is very clear about this: „You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.” Matthew 4.10; “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4.24. Everyone must worship Jehovah, including the powerful spiritual creatures of Heaven. “Worship Him, all you gods!” Psalm 97.7
We must not worship someone else, not even Jesus. Also, prayers must be directed only to God, not to men or women. “Truly I tell you: Anything you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.” John 16.23 Did Jesus say, ask of Me or My mother or My disciples or any other saints? No! He said: Ask the FATHER!
Once, when the apostle Paul during his missionary work made powerful miraculous signs through God’s holy Spirit, the people seeing the miracles wanted to worship him. What do you think his reaction was? Did he accept such worship? The record tells us: “But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting:“Men, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings–just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.” Acts 14.14,15
If when they were alive they condemned the practice of people worshipping other people, how much more detestable is it to worship the dead bones of a servant of God?
Furthermore, this rule does not limit to humans. When the apostle John was receiving the revelation of things to come, at the end he (yes, even him, an apostle of Christ) wanted to worship the angel that was near him: “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. But he told me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words in this book. Worship God!” Revelation 22.8,9 More details here.
Some churches hold the belief that a Christian must continue keeping the 10 commandments which God gave the people of Israel. They believe that the Law of Moses was separated into 2 different parts, the 10 commandments and the ceremonial law. They apply the quotes which refer to Jesus putting an end to the Law as referring only to the ceremonial part of the Law.
However, this claim is flawed because there is not even one reference in the Scriptures to a distinction between so-called multiple sets of laws, nor did any of the apostles ever mention one. As the apostle James explains: “For whoever keeps the whole Law but fails in one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” James 2.10
The apostle of Christ explains: “The Law was our tutor until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” Galatians 3.24,25. The Word of God is clear: “Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” Romans 10.4
The 10 commandments were part of a covenant God made with the people of Israel, through Moses as a mediator. When Jesus came, that covenant ended, and a “new covenant” made by God this time with those of all nations who obey Him, rather just one nation, through Jesus Christ as a mediator, replaced the previous one – “a new covenant, which is not written but spiritual, because the written text brings death, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3.6 Also, ”By calling this covenant “new,” He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.” Hebrews 8.13
Keep in mind what Moses said:”The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.Any person who will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.” Acts 3.22,23
As a direct consequence, today a Christian has 2 commandments, instead of 10: “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22.37-40 More details here.
Jesus said: “Put your sword back in its place…all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” Matthew 26.52. A true Christian will follow this principle and avoid engaging in any form of aggression of fellow men.
Unfortunately, many religious groups support and work hand in hand with the political elements of this world and urge their church members to go out and murder others. Going to fight wars, which are started and dictated by greedy political, religious and commercial leaders is a great sin. The Word of God clearly states: “Do not kill.” Exodus 20.13
Because a true Christian “is not a part of this world” – John 17.16, he will maintain a position of neutrality and will avoid giving his support to committing murders. This loyalty for God’s laws has cost many true witnesses for Jehovah God their very lives, at the hands of military courts. However, we are told:“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10.28
Even in danger of losing this life, our attitude should be like that of the apostles: “we must obey God rather than men” – Acts 5.29, knowing that „if you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it.” Matthew 10.39
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