Knowing the Limits of Man-made Laws (Jesus Christ vs False Religion)

Increasing in Knowledge of the Limitations of the Law

Christ versus False Religion

Book of Colossians Chapter 2

When we see the word “law” in the Scriptures it usually means only one thing which is the “law of Moses”.

Let’s consider some of the laws:

1) Let’s consider that the law of nature is the will of God as to human conduct.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

2) The ceremonial law prescribes the rites and ceremonies of Judaism, Jewish worship.

Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

3) There was the Judicial Law, the law that directed the civil policies of the Jewish nation.

4) The “moral” law is also the revealed will of God as to human conduct, which are binding all of us till the end of time.

Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

4) There are positive laws which precepts are founded only on the will of God. These are manmade laws that coincide with the truth of God’s Word!

We must always remember when we must choose between human philosophies and divine revelation, there is truly not any choice at all. We must always choose the Word of God!

Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

This Scripture will always hold true till the end of time!

Let’s begin:

*****Col 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Col 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

The one thing we should understand about the Apostle Paul while he was imprisoned, he was like a soldier bound by chains craving to get into the battle of furthering and protecting the truth of the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”!

It is all the books of the Apostle Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) that teach the saint of God how to grow in the Lord.

For any church to grow then there must be some mature Christians!

Many count church growth only by numbers and that is great but church growth must first be about God’s people growing in the knowledge of the Lord!

We simply cannot remain “babes in Christ” all our Christian days!

Our failure to help one another in our burdens and fervent prayer for one another, is the major reason believers and churches remain “babes in Christ”.

It is a prayer of faith that says to God that He has the ability and the willingness to intercede on our behalf.
It is a prayer of faith that says to God that it is He that has complete control of all things, of all His creatures, and all their actions.

Prayer is our primary channel to communicate with God! This channel was provided by the Lord Jesus Christ!

You know, it is also ok to just talk to God without asking Him for a thing. God loves to just hear us talk to Him.

Regardless what others say, God has His way of talking back or showing us that He hears us!

The strength of any church lies in the prayers of its membership but we must also have Bible study!

A true Church will remain consistent in the Word of God and grow into maturity being unchangeable in the things of God.

Paul struggled in prayer and concern for this church he had never visited, and our Pastors today must do the same.

False doctrine had been introduced into this young church and this church had become confused because most of them were only “babes in Christ”.

The stronger the pastor is in the Word of God, the stronger the church.

It is also important for every pastor to pray for all the church to remain in the Word of God.

If they instill this into their congregations, then all Christians would be praying for the universal church that belongs to Jesus Christ!

The prayer of faith is still our most important weapon in this world today!

The prayer of faith can move the hand of God or He would not say so!

We should all be fervent prayer warriors for the church!

The immature church cannot stand against the Devil and it is obvious in our world that the church is becoming more and more immature.

People just refuse to study the Word of God and the perversions of the Word of God are gaining ground and souls are being lost!

Once someone realizes what they have been taught is a lie, then they believe there is no truth in any church!

The Lord will reveal Himself even to the babe in Christ if they pray in faith!

Faith in the truth of Jesus Christ is the strength of every Church and the universal Church.

As maturing in the Word of God grows in the church, then hearts will become strong, confident, and assured!

A strong church can beat back error with the knowledge of God, but a church full of “babes” is ignorant of the ways of Satan and the church will many times split, or struggle will arise within the parties involved.

The only answer to error is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Apostles Doctrine!

The Apostle Paul was in bondage, so he could not help this church physically to defend against false doctrine but by sending them this epistle which could lead them to defend the “Gospel”!

A strong church is filled with a blend of mature Christians and babes who are growing and whose hearts are strong for the Lord.

Mature Christians proved stability, and babes in Christ provide the energy and the fire.

A cold church is truly miserable!

Strong hearts come from the love of God and a fervent love for each other!

When false doctrine enters a church, it is like a cloud that hangs over the church, that requires strength in the truth of God to resist!

When a church is divided, it will lower its standards and become more liberal.

This is what we see in our world today!

Our standard must always be Jesus Christ and it is His standard we must reach for and not some man-made standard!

Strong hearts are made from the love of God and each other, not from religion, ceremony, rituals, or laws and regulations!

We must be sure we know that God exist!
We must know that God looks after our welfare!
We must know God in a personal way!
We must know there is life after death!

There is no mystery of God, God explains Himself very well in His Scriptures!
There are no secrets that God is hiding from us, God has revealed everything that we need to know!

To the Jews, the mystery of God is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father in relation to His Son!

It is only Jesus Christ that reveals God to mankind.
It is only Jesus Christ who can mediate between God and mankind.
It is only Jesus Christ who can intercede between God and mankind.

If there was a mystery to the Jews, then this is it!

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

It is in Jesus Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge!

There will be no growth in the church until we can understand the truth of the “Gospel” and acknowledge Jesus Christ as the God of the Bible!

1Jn 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

The Scriptures are very blunt about these things so, how can we question the truth of God and His Son Jesus, the Messiah, who has already come and who will return to save His church from the Wrath of God!

Wisdom in fact is the ability to use the truth, there can be no wisdom in a lie!

1Jn_2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Paul explains that we need to know all these things so that when false doctrine arises, and it will, we will not be deceived by its lies!

Paul was absent because of his bondage, but this great epistle has stood the test of the truth down through the centuries.

*****Col 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

Paul was never far from this church in his mind and in his prayers. Paul could say these things because the Lord is as near to us as a prayer and because He goes where we go!

When we can do nothing else to help our church, we can pray!

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

We must realize that when our minds are wavering, we are not being steadfast and unmovable in the Doctrine of Christ!

Religion and Christianity are two different things. True Christians are steadfast in the Doctrine of Christ!

Religionist are always wavering and movable in the things they believe or what they do not believe.

Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

When we know the Lord Jesus Christ, we must walk unwavering in the Lord!

*****Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Walking in the Lord, means this:

1) We received the Lord by “faith”, so we must walk in the Lord by “Faith”!

We trust that our sins have been blotted out and our names are written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and we need to act like this is true because it is!

2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2) When we received Christ Jesus, we received Him as Lord of this Universe and the Messiah.

Then we need to walk as if we serve the Almighty God, and our Creator!

We need to reverence our God as Almighty and our commitment be a lifetime commitment!

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

God expects us to be rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ!
God expects us to be rooted and grounded in a Gospel believing Church!
God expects us to be as a branch drawing its nourishment from the vine, that vine being the Lord Jesus Christ!

If we do not have that strong attachment to Christ, then we need to get someone to lead us through the Scriptures, so we will know the truth!

We need to walk as we have been taught by the Lord, by His example!

We must be established in the Word of God!

2Th 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
2Th 2:17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

We must be aware of the many deceivers in this world.

*****Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Philosophy in fact is, the love of wisdom and wisdom is supposed to be the proper use of that knowledge of truth.

Today like so many other things, philosophy is used “as an attempt to explain the reason of things”, or “to investigate the many causes of things”.

These things go against the true definition of Philosophy!

Philosophy has become worldly! There are some true philosophers just as there are some true scientist who acknowledge the truth but no one can hear them!

The noisy today are all those who when faced with the truth, search for any means to dispel the truth which is impossible!

The truth will always be the truth!

What we see is another of Satan’s nick-names, which is the “spoiler”.

What we see in this passage is Christ Jesus versus false teaching!

False teachers had made this newly founded church in Colossae a target for destruction!

We must always realize that as Christians, we are targets for destruction to these spoilers of Satan.

A spoiler is much like the robber, these men came to this church to steal the truth!

The saints here had been rescued from bondage, their eyes had been opened to the Light of Jesus Christ, they understood they were just pilgrims passing through this land called earth, but because of these spoilers they were now in danger.

As believers we must always beware and guard against worldly philosophy!

We will never have a perfect relationship with Jesus Christ when we search for answers in this world!

The answers to life cannot be found in the things of this world.
The answers to the truth cannot be found in the things of this world.

These things are meaningless and will be destroyed when the Lord returns to this world!

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Human knowledge cannot solve the problems of this world!

The very best worldly science and worldly philosophy can do is, maybe make life more comfortable, maybe safer, and maybe add a few years of good health.

If we understand these things, then this should be the goal of these people and they need to stay away from trying to change the truth of God!

In fact, it makes no sense, that if we can make the world a better place then, why is so much effort and so much money used to destroy the church. (this certainly makes no sense)

The answer lies in being the children of Satan who is also the father of the spoiler!

1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

If these spoilers would realize they are only fools, they might wake up and do some good!

We should also realize that the rudiments mentioned here include the heavens, the stars and planets.

So, those of Astrology who have the gall to proclaim that the answers to mankind are determined by the stars is utter foolishness!

These things are just inanimate objects that have no life themselves so how can they give answers to life. Shame on the people who fall into this trap of Satan.

Those that depend on a material world and the rudiments of this world, will never be a part of the “Spiritual World”, and they will never know Jesus Christ!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who possesses complete power over this world and all the Cosmos!

*****Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

In Him, inside Jesus Christ, in the 100%-human side of Jesus, dwelt all the power of God, which is rejected by most all Jews and most of this world!

Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

We are complete in Him, because He is the Head of all principality and power!

The Jews had developed a plan to substitute philosophy for Christianity not by denying it, but trying to explain it with worldly objects.

Christianity has never been an offshoot of Judaism!

Christianity stands alone as those who seek a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

Christianity is based on “Faith” and not “knowledge”!

The object of our “faith” is based upon the historical and doctrinal statements of the Bible!

The object of “knowledge” was to take philosophy and prove those statements.

Philosophy is void of the truth.
Philosophy is void of reality.
Philosophy is void of power.
Philosophy is worthless.
Philosophy is deceit!

We live in a world created by God where foolish people cannot believe that an all-powerful God could pour Himself into a body of flesh and live among us for a while.

How can we be so foolish to think we can place limits on the power of God to do anything He wishes to do!

1Co 1:20 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?
1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

We cannot be Christians unless we receive the fulness of Christ’s nature! (Born Again)

There was also a big discussion about circumcision so again Paul explains.

*****Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, “in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ”:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

It is easy to get caught up with religion. Religion is simply an oath or a vow to your god. Anything can be a god, just ask those who are Hindu.
We have even made sports stars and (forgive them Lord) but even celebrities to be gods.

Some have made riches and even automobiles their gods.

Christianity is making a personal oath to Jesus Christ!

Manual circumcision is the cutting off a small piece of flesh, while “Spiritual circumcision” is cutting off the whole body of flesh, which is our corrupt sin nature.

Only Jesus Christ can do this thing through “faith”!

The circumcision of the Christian is “Divine”, without hands but by the inward power of the Holy Spirit!

Being saved is committing ourselves to Jesus Christ our Savior, allowing Him to cut away the body of sins out of our flesh!

This true circumcision is realized only when we are in union with Christ. When we begin to develop our personal relationship with our Savior!

We follow this up with Believers Baptism to show other believers we are in union with our Savior.

Is this some sort of ritual? No, this is following the commandment of the Lord!

We are baptized by the Holy Spirit for our salvation, not with water!

Gal_3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

We are then baptized in water, only to symbolize, the death, burial, and the resurrection of our Savior!

Mat 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:

Next is training to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

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.

This is where the church is failing most today!

The new believer must realize through discipleship, that they are dead to their sins and to do their best to sin no more.

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Since we remain in this body of flesh, we are not perfect, and we are just sinners saved by the Grace of God and will remain that way until we meet the Lord. We must do our best not to sin but when we do we will be forgiven if we ask.

1Jn_2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

We must realize when we are baptized in water this only represents our spiritual death to sin.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus Christ paid that death for us and has given to the believer the precious gift of God, “eternal life through the work of Jesus Christ our Lord!

*****Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Once we realize our spiritual death, we are made a living soul and are dead to trespasses and sin!

We must also realize, we only differ from others by the “Grace” of God!

We must realize, that sin is anything that goes against the Word of God and being dead to sin we must do our best to avoid sin!

We must keep in mind that even when we are biblically sound we still must approach God just as He says and not as the world says.

We cannot take away from God’s Word and we cannot add anything to God’s Word.

We see so many so-called new Bibles today that do this very thing, to keep their own sin and say it is approved of God which is foolishness when God has already said not to do such things.

There is only one plan of salvation and it is the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ!

Jesus Christ would never have come into this world, if sin according to the Word of God was not real and the death of sins wages were not real.

The world may say we live and then we die, but that is just part of the story. The truth of death it is eternal, and the place of this eternal death is truly devastation.

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The truth of salvation is eternal life!

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

We need to take this thing called “death” very seriously!

Many today seek another way to live eternally in the body of flesh they now have and that is foolishness for these bodies of flesh were never designed to live forever.

Why are remedies for the skin so popular? People just have such a great fear of even the appearance of growing old or death.

Men can search this earth until time runs out and a way to live forever will never be found! God has the only plan for eternal life!

Mankind will never conquer death!

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

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

How foolish is this world we live in?

Jesus Christ took all sin from the past and all sin from the future and took it out of our way by nailing that sin to His cross!

Many people will tell you that sin does not bother them, but the truth is, most people live defeated lives because of their sin!
They are depressed, they feel unworthy and they feel unacceptable to this world and this is what sin will do to anyone it takes full control of.

These are those who are in bondage to Satan and know it!

2Ti_2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

There are still the many who are in that same bondage and just deny it or do not realize it, because they have been brainwashed by the teaching of this world.

1Ti_4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

They just do not realize that God loves them, their sin was nailed to the cross that Jesus bore for us all, and they need only believe, (to have faith in the work of Jesus Christ) to have those sins blotted out and their names written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life!

The reality of life is, mankind has always recognized that there are forces, and powers and even principalities at work with this universe.

The Bible declares that these other forces exist and that there is a spiritual world that surrounds this physical world of God’s creation.

What we see is that even these things are under the power of our Almighty God!

Though these things have never held any power over God, they have had power over mankind and by Jesus Christ, Satan has been defeated from any hold over mankind.

He only has the control you allow him to have, if you are a Christian!

Jas_4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Sins evil work is seen everywhere in this world and we must avoid it.

In fact, we must hate sin without hating the sinner, just as the Lord had done just before His physical death.

Luk_23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

When the Lord raised up from the dead after those three days as He said He would, the powers of evil were defeated!

God is a God of life, and death has never had a purpose in God’s creation!!!!!!!!

God has judged each believer and has justified each believer, we are not open to judgment by this world!

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

*****Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

We have been given Christian liberty but that does not mean we can freely sin!

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The truth is, God will honor anyone who honors His Son!

We tend to approach God trying to follow rules and regulations and even rituals in worship and this is wrong.

Many of the church have forgotten that the only way to approach God is through His Son Jesus Christ. There is simply no other way!!!!!

Rules and regulation are forms of religion, but they cannot give eternal life!
Rituals are forms of religion, but no ritual can offer eternal life!

These things were only shadows of things to come, but the Church body is of Jesus Christ!

The Church is the “Body of Christ” because Jesus Christ lives in each believer!

Jesus Christ rose from that grave to life and life eternal, so the Church is alive and cannot die!!!!!

The truth is when we follow Christ we should also live as Christ!

We should eat as Christ ate. Eating what is needed each day and eat things that are good for the body.

We must worship faithfully as Jesus Christ worshiped, which required much prayer!

We must live, soberly, righteously, and godly just as Christ lived!

Jesus Christ is to be our example in all things!

We must not be led astray by this world nor the works of Satan!

*****Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Col 2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

That word beguile means to rob, or to cheat, or to defraud. To goal of false teachers is to cheat you out of your heavenly rewards.

They intend to make you irrelevant in the army of God!

The biggest lie told today is, that there are other ways to get to Heaven, or that every religion has its on way to please God and get to Heaven.

This is an absolute lie and purely false teaching just to appease the followers of these sects!

There are those who say they had a new revelation of the Lord. Do not believe such nonsense. God says we have His complete Word and it is a fact there will never be a new revelation that goes against what God has already revealed!

Any false approach to God is called “spiritism”.

Here is the definition of spiritism that I got off an official site for spiritism:

Spiritism is, at once, a science, a philosophy, and a religion.

**The science of Spiritism studies the existence and nature of spirits, which are nothing more than the immortal souls of men, created by God.

**The philosophy, which was derived from a serious study of information received in communications with discarnate spirits, deals with the details of spirit life and the journey of evolution through the process reincarnation. A natural consequence of that that philosophy is the understanding of the role we play in our own spiritual evolution, which is ultimately achieved through the efforts we make to grow, both morally and intellectually.
**Spiritism helps us to understand the natural laws that govern that process of evolution. From a moral perspective, we follow the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ, as our model and guide.
**The religious aspect stems from the moral ties between ourselves, and others, and the direction that Spiritism leads us, toward God, our creator, by helping us to understand life and by teaching us, ultimately, how to develop the ability to love, in the greatest sense of the word.

Nonsense!

Notice the phrase “the role we play in our own spiritual evolution through the process of reincarnation”

Notice the phrase “the philosophy which is derived from a SERIOUS study of information received by discarnate spirits.

Notice the phrase “Spiritism helps us understand the natural laws that govern that process of evolution”.

We cannot worship God through Angels, or spirits, and/or visions.

This was the same teaching that had influenced this church in Colossae.

What was the attraction? “To develop the ability to love, in the greatest sense of the word”.

The Apostle Paul wrote (by the Holy Spirit) against these things in most all his epistles.

Remember heresy is any doctrine of salvation that cannot be found in the Word of God!

2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

One of the biggest problems of the church is, that we feel ashamed to approach God, so we feel the need of some intermediary to stand between us and God and this opens the door to “false teaching”!

We already have our intermediator and it is the Lord Jesus Christ and He cannot be replaced by some man!!!!!!!!

We cannot pray for the angels to help, they already fulfill their purpose given to them by God and in fact the Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord of the host of angels just as He is our Lord and Savior!

As Christians we have no contact with the spirit world, other than the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

Anyone who can actually talk to the spirit world is a disciple of Satan who has that power.

We will never contact a departed Saint of God until we reach the same place they are and that is the glory world of Heaven.

What is the one fact that we should realize?

The death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, removed the veil of the Temple, symbolizing that we now can go directly into the throne room of God!

Those who seek an intermediator other than Jesus Christ, are saying that they are to unworthy to approach God themselves, so their prayer life is non-existing and irrelevant.

Spiritism only takes your eyes off God and focuses on angels and spirits who can do nothing to help you make peace with God!

We have no business in intruding into the unseen world other than our “faith” in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can never approach God without the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church and that will never change. Any teaching that tries to change this fact is false and is heresy!

The church can only be nourished by Jesus Christ and then will increase as God sees fit!

The only Spirit we need to worry about is the Holy Spirit and it is He who we need to feed!

If we have taken up our yoke and followed the Lord, we then are dead to the rudiments of this world!

*****Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Col 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

It seems we can only equate death when one of our loved ones or some close friend’s life comes to an end but if the Lord Jesus Christ lives in your heart, you need to also equate death with your own flesh, because we have been “Born Again” and that old sinful flesh is just dead flesh waiting to be rid of.

If we then are dead in Christ Jesus, we are not subject to any man-made ordinance that are commandments or doctrines of men that try to add to the salvation plan of God!

The Jews had many rules of food to eat.

The Church is not subject to those things or any other ordinance involved with Judaism.

Many denominations have doctrines and rituals that try to add to or take away from the Word of God, the Church is not subject to them!

There are many sects in Spiritism and that teaching but the Church is far above such teaching already, because we are already in the Hand of God and no one man, or Satan can remove us from the hand of God!

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

We must clearly understand, there is no man-made approach to God that will ever succeed!

Man will always come up with a system of works that will always fail!

God is not interested in our works until after we have obtained the salvation that the Lord has provided!

There is no amount works before salvation that can save us and there is no amount of works after salvation that can keep us saved!

Jesus Christ did all the works necessary to save us and all the works necessary to keep us saved!

No one can work hard enough, No one can be made good enough, No one is righteous enough to impress God!

Only His only begotten Son could do this thing!

Religion can only fail you and send you to Hell.

Christianity, following the example of Jesus Christ, is the only way to make peace with God!

2Co 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

If we are risen with Christ Jesus, then we are fools if we do not seek things from above, according to the Word of God, that He has given to us!

It is Jesus Christ who sits on the right hand of God, not some angel, not some spirit, and certainly not Lucifer!

Amen

We Can Be Certain Of Christ’s Authority

The Certainty Of Christ’s Authority

Book of Luke 6:1-19

What is authority? Authority can be said to be “legal power”.

Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

The Scribes, which many of them were also Pharisees, for the most part, just read the Scriptures. They taught in a cold and lifeless manner.

They did not have the power of the Holy Spirit!

They taught more about themselves, in their own name, by their own interpretation and by their own authority!

Jesus taught as the Lawgiver.

120 times Jesus used the words “I say unto You” because He had the authority of Heaven and not of men!

Jesus had direct authority and all the power of the Holy Spirit!

Let’s begin:

Luk 6:1 And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
Luk 6:2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

When people speak about religion, they speak of form and ritual, rules and regulations, ceremonies and services.

What does God say?

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Placing religion above mankind and above the needs of mankind is exactly what the religionists do today!

This is exactly what these Scribes and the Pharisees and even the Sadducees did at the time of Jesus.

True Christianity is knowing that God is meeting the needs of His creation!

***Meeting man’s needs is much more important than religion and ritual!

***Doing good and saving life are much more important than religion and ritual!

Jesus came to seek and to save and these things remain the most important things for the Church!

The events of these Scriptures took place on two different Sabbaths.

Luke begins with “real needs” are more important than “religion and rituals”.

The disciples that followed Jesus were hungry that morning because they had not eaten since the previous day.

As they were passing a corn field they began to pluck and eat some of the corn.

There was no law against this, for it was permitted by the Laws of Moses to eat some of the corn as they passed by.

Deu 23:25 When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour’s standing corn.

Their crime, according to the Pharisees, was rubbing the corn in their hands to remove the husk and silks.

This was twisting the Word of God into a man-made false thing.

BUT, Working on the Sabbath day was a serious offence to these orthodox Jews.

Law after law had been written to govern activities on the Sabbath.

In fact many a person were condemned and actually lost theirs lives for breaking the laws of the Sabbath during the time of the Pharisees.

We should consider that God gave the seventh day, the Sabbath, as a day of rest during creation week.

Our good health demands that we have a day of rest!

To the Jews, it was the Laws of Moses that had kept them together throughout these centuries and all the Law was important to them!

The Temple and the Sabbath became the glue that held that nation together and made them a distinct people from all other people as they remain even in our day.

This is one of the reasons that Jesus was so greatly opposed by the Jewish religious leaders of that day and by all the false religions of today.

When we allow religion and ritual, ceremony and position, and security to become more important than the basic needs of human life, which begin with a personal relationship with God, compassion for all others, true worship and the mercy of God, then we have a false understanding of what God is saying!

Jesus Christ shows the entire world that human needs are far more important to God than religion and religious rules!

We should still consider:

1) We must not ignore the Word of God nor the worship of God but there are some needs that require an immediate solution.

Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

2) Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath and every other day of the week, and it is He who decides when a need supersedes religious ceremony and He gives us these examples.

Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

These Pharisees that approached Jesus this day were probably Scribes because of that word “certain”.

Many Scribes were also Pharisees but not all Pharisees were Scribes. Some Scribes were also called Lawyers.

Most of these Scribes were committed to the Jewish Faith.

These Scribes had two primary functions:

1) The Scribes made copies of the written Word of God, at that time only the Old Testament.

They were meticulous to keep count of every letter in every word!

They clearly understood that God had given them the Scriptures and those words were the greatest things in the life of the Jewish nation!

To the Jews the Word of God was considered the most precious possession in all the world.

This holds true today for every believer!

The Word of God is the most important thing that we can possess!

2) The Scribes, studied, classified, and taught, the moral law.

It was in this function where the Oral Law began to take it’s place.

There was at one time so many oral rules and regulations that they were contained in 50 volumes and these Jews began to place the oral Law above the written Law of God.

Mat 12:10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
Mat 12:11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
Mat 12:12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

The Scribes began to feel that it was they who produced the oral Law and it was they who had God’s final Word.

This is thinking with the exalted mind of man.

This is the way most every false religion has had it’s beginnings!

There are to many today who feel like it is their own interpretation of the Word of God that is correct and all others are wrong but that’s not what God says.

Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, “let God be true, but every man a liar”; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, “that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation”.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

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

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book”:
Rev 22:19 And “if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book”.

God says what He means and God means what He says and God has never given us the freedom to change the Scriptures He has given to us!

Christ Jesus answered them with a simple question!

*****Luk 6:3 And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
Luk 6:4 How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
Luk 6:5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

It is real important that we read and study the Word of God “ourselves”, so we can know when we are hearing the truth from those who preach and teach!

The “shewbread” in the Temple and in the Tabernacle symbolized the “Presence of God” who is the “Bread of Life”!

There were 12 loaves brought into the House of God and taken to the Holy Place by the Priests and placed on a table before the Lord.

This was intended as a “Thanksgiving Offering” expressing appreciation and praise to God for providing food for the people.

This bread symbolized the everlasting covenant between God and His people.

The bread was to changed every week and the old loaves became food for the priests.

There was great respect for King David for he had brought peace to all of Israel by defeating all her enemies.

The intent of the Words of Jesus was that no ceremonial law was to ever over ride the general principle of God providing for His people!

And Matthew made this thing even more clear, with that actual words of Jesus:

Mat 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

The Laws of God were never intended to be a burden!

The Laws of God are to be for our guidance and then our example of striving for perfection.

God is a God of “mercy”!

The Lord Jesus Christ must be our Lord everyday and that includes the Sabbath.

The Sabbath was the seventh day of the Jewish week and from Friday at 6 PM until Saturday at 6 PM it was to be a time of rest.

Works of necessity were always allowable on that Sabbath, after all the Sabbath was to be spent in the service and to honor the Lord of the Sabbath.

For instance, the shepherds had to work 7 days a week and the super religious despised them for this because they could not keep the oral laws they had put in place.

As Christians the seventh day is Sunday because Sunday was the day that Jesus Christ arose from the tomb and is therefore the Lord’s Day!

The blessings of Jesus Christ are promised to the suffering saints who live by the Word of God and the “Gospel” of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Woe to all those who trust in the riches of this world and show contempt to God’s people!

Those who were so super religious ignored the Word of God and condemned the Lord and Savior who is the fulfillment of all the Word of God that they so boasted about.

*****Luk 6:6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
Luk 6:7 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
Luk 6:8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.
Luk 6:9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
Luk 6:10 And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
Luk 6:11 And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

Jesus first showed the religionists that “real needs” are more important than religion and rituals.

Now Jesus will show them that “doing good and saving life” are much more important that religious rituals.

The truth is a one handed man has a major disability even in our day but in that day of Jesus it was a serious disability. This man would not be able to take care of his own needs.

Those who were super religious and had placed the oral Law above the written Word of God were like hawks ready to attack, if Jesus made an attempt to heal this man’s hand.

They were not watching for another miracle, they were watching that they may accuse Him of ignoring their precious “man-made oral Laws”!

Healing on the Sabbath was considered to be work!

Our God is “omniscient”, knowing all things, but He did not need that power to know what those religionists were doing this day!

Jesus was causing them to be honest in their conclusions and be willing to understand the truth of God!

To do good and save a life will always supersede religious rituals!

That’s what salvation is all about, doing good and saving lives!

Why preach the Word of God if salvation is of so little importance!

Salvation is the ultimate healing, the ultimate saving of life!

As it was on this day that this man stood before the Lord:

2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

In fact there is no better day to do good than on a day of worship!

If we refuse to help those in need, when we are able, no matter the day, then we are doing evil.

Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

And as religionists do, they became very mad, they were filled with madness!

We must consider that the nation of Israel was based upon the Word of God.

The Ten Commandments and the Books of Moses were the laws of Israel from their beginning.

It was these religionists who were causing these things to change and not the things that Jesus did.

America was founded on the principles of the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ and it is the Liberals and the Religionists who are changing everything we stand for and not the Word of God.

Extreme legalism and extreme devotion, were the two major traits of the Pharisees and most of the Scribes.

Those Sadducees were even more liberal than the Pharisees were legalistic!

These traits, when attached to someone with a self-centered heart will lead to abuse!

Legalism takes away from the “Mercy” and the “Forgiveness” of God.

God detests a “holier than thou are” attitude!

Pride is also a hindrance to every Christian!

There is no such thing as perfect obedience to the Word of God and any of us can easily become hypocritical!

Personal achievements do not influence the hand of God and nor does seeking recognition!

We must walk the talk. We cannot teach one thing and practice another thing in our lives!

And, God does not need our permission to work in someone’s life!

Doing good and saving lives is what God intends for us all to do!

God is still in the life saving business!

Mic 6:7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Mic 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, “but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God”?

What is the will of God?

It is the will of God that we all be more like His Son Jesus!

Luk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

If what we do makes the Liberals and the Pharisees of today mad, then we should also be like Jesus in this and continue on in the work of the Lord.

So what if they get mad, they will always be this way!

*****Luk 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Jesus was the perfect Son of God, so we must remember Jesus did not have to pray for forgiveness. In reality Jesus was always praying for His people, the lost and the saved!

It is a fact the God uses people to get His message of salvation into this world!

It does not matter about their size, their shape, their color, or their nationality, God is no respecter of persons!

So how does God choose His people?

1) Jesus chose His people after prayerful consideration!

Here we see that Jesus continued all night in prayer.

Most of the time we can count the time we pray all day in minutes and we are usually making requests for ourselves and then for the people we know.

We forget that prayer is also a great means of developing our personal relationship with the Lord!

God wants to hear from us, everything about our day!

We pray for the arm of God and forget to pray for the face of God!

When we climb in our closet and get alone with God it is then that we can just talk as friends talk.

Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

All other times as we go about our daily task, if we are aware of God’s constant presence, we will be talking to Him rather than talking to ourselves!

1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

Thinking of and talking to God is fellowship prayer and any improvement in our relationship with the Lord is always beneficial.

But we also need that consecrated closet prayer.

We need some time alone with God!

It was time for Jesus to pick those who would be the first messengers of the New Testament church and Jesus needed much closet prayer!

*****Luk 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
Luk 6:14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
Luk 6:15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
Luk 6:16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

Our Lord Jesus prepared all night for the decisions He made on this day!

A great example for us all!

Jesus had to be willing to choose those His Father had chosen!

Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: “those that thou gavest me I have kept”, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Did Jesus pray long and hard before He chose Judas, sure He did!

Joh 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

There many disciples following Jesus at that time.

The term “Disciple” means “to learn”, “a learner”, and it always means a pupil of someone else!

In the day of Jesus, a disciple would attach themselves to a teacher and follow that teacher wherever they went.

They not only learned from what that teacher taught but they learned from that teacher’s life!

After the ascension of Jesus back to Heaven, the disciples are all those who confess Jesus as the Messiah!

Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Jesus Christ chose twelve men in which 11 of those would be Apostles.

The term “Apostle” means a disciple “who is sent”.

An Apostle was a man chosen directly by the Lord Jesus and under the control of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus even said He was an Apostle sent by His Father:

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Jesus is called the Apostle and High Priest of our profession of faith, which is Christianity!

Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

There may have been others that were called apostles but there is a distinct difference between these and the ones that Jesus chose.

There were 12 Apostles chosen specifically by the Lord.

There were 12 Apostles trained by the Lord.

There were 12 Apostles that saw Jesus after His resurrection.

There were 12 Apostles that were to carry forth the message of Jesus Christ which came from His own mouth.

The Apostles are the foundation of the Church with Jesus being the Head Cornerstone!

When we stray from the teachings of the Apostles we stray from the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”.

Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Act 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Act 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

What was the Apostles statement of faith?

A belief in God the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary; crucified under Pontius Pilate, and buried; the third day He arose from the dead; He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father, from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. And in the Holy Ghost; the holy Church; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; the life everlasting.

To vary from this statement is to distance yourself from the Church of the Living God!

To believe these things is to acknowledge Jesus as God and to know that there is only one God and He is the God of the Bible and all religions simply do not worship the same God!

My God is Jesus and I am an ambassador for Christ!

I am a Christian only if I try to be like Jesus Christ!

And, It should not astound me that my Lord will choose some people for a special calling!

It should also not astound me that my Lord will choose people with very diverse personalities!

Many of the Apostles were fishermen but at least three were also businessmen. Peter James and John.

One was probably a rich man, Matthew.

One was a political Zealot and would have been an enemy of Matthew, Simon Zelotes.

It was the zealot’s goal to overthrow the Roman government and all Jews who worked with them, and Matthew was a tax collector.

One was deeply religious, Nathanael, his name meaning “gift of God” and also called Bartholomew.

All the Apostles were given to edify the Church:

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

The twelve that were chosen that day who were still called disciples were these.

1) Simon who is also called Peter, Simon Peter, and Cephas.

Simon Barjona or Simon son of John. Fisherman and Business man.

2) Andrew, the younger brother of Peter who spent most of his time in the background but whenever we see him, he is always bringing someone to Jesus.

3) James the son of Zebedee, fisherman and business man but also bold and full of energy. James was the first Apostle to die for the Lord.

4) John, younger brother of James, fisherman, business man, he said he was the disciple that Jesus loved and the only apostle who died of old age.

5) Philip lived in the same city of Peter and Andrew, Bethsaida. Philip”s best response when asked if Jesus was the real Messiah, was “come and see” for yourself.

6) Bartholomew also called Nathanael, “the Israelite with no guile”. Nathanael was from Cana and tradition says it was Nathanael who was the bridegroom at the wedding of Cana.

7) Matthew, son of Alphaeus. The Tax collector and also a rich man. He was also called Levi and hated by the Jews and called Matthew the publican which meant to the Jews that he was a worthless man.

8) Thomas, sometimes called Didymus which signifies he had a twin. Thomas is often seen as the doubter.

9) James, son of Alphaeus but not considered to be the brother of Matthew. Probably a cousin or at least a kinsman of the Lord Jesus.

Called James the less probably because he was short.

Some believe that Mary had another sister named Mary or Miriam and it was she that was married to this Alphaeus.

The Bible also says that Mary herself had a son named James and a son named Joses and one named Jude and a son named Simon, along with some other children.

10) Simon called Zelotes. Also called Simon the Canaanite. Before he was called by the Lord he was a member of a fanatical sect of religionists, that we may even say was a terrorist in our day.

11) Judas the brother of James the Less. Also called Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus.

12) Judas Iscariot, the traitor. Judas the man from Kerioth, also had a father named Simon.

Jesus chose men from all walks of life and a lot can be said about Judas Iscariot but the main thing we see is that God will give everyone a chance to repent even when He knows they will not.

No one that faces the Lord on Judgment Day, can say they did not get a fair chance.

Everyone that ended up in Hell and that will end up there, had to stumble over Jesus Christ to get there!

Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

There will be no excuses accepted on Judgement Day!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!