“Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name saying: I am the Christ and will lead many astray- Mat 24:4- 5.” If you are a Christian, then here is your master, Jesus warning you. As I write, so many false Christs have come and have misled many, making them deny Jesus and reject his teachings while using his name.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever- Heb.13:8.” He is the Lord God of the Old Testament who created Adam, who led Enoch, spoke to Noah and later on spoke to Abraham and his descendants the prophets – see Ps.18:2, Cor.10: 4 “1 Pet.1:11.After calling Abraham and separating him from the gentiles, He gave him His teachings which were to later on form the foundation of the Old Testament on which is the covenant with Abraham’s descendants, the Jews-Gen.12:1-3, 17:7.
Later afterwards, the lord God led Israelites out of Egypt through Moses and at Mt. Sinai He reminded them of the covenant that He had made with their fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- Exodus 3:4, 6, 19:4-6. A covenant is an agreement between two parties. On God’s part, He demanded obedience from the people of Israel to the Ten Commandments- Exodus 20:1-17.
The laws are actually the covenant- Deuteronomy 4:13.On the part of Israelites, they promised obedience to God. Now, if we may wonder; what are these laws? They are the tree of life- Prov. 3:18. They are life- Prov. 4:22, Prov. 3:1-4. They are wisdom and understanding-Deuteronomy.4:6. Yes, these commandments which are amplified to form the whole bible are God’s life, explained to mankind through writing. God’s life is what God calls righteousness for He says, “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and forever thy law is true – Ps.119:142,144.” The people of Israel did not obey God and so they broke their covenant with Him- John. 7:19, making it faulty. Was it the covenant which was faulty or was it the people? It wasn’t the commandments but the people for the lord says, “He finds fault with the people- Heb 8:8”, thereby, planning a new covenant which all Christians regardless of race or tribe are partakers.
So, did the Lord God who changes not, change His life which he introduced to Israelites, and introduce a new one? If not, then why the new covenant?To answer this question, we need to understand why the Israelites were unable to obey the law, thus breaking the covenant.
SPIRITUAL LAW
God is spirit and so is His life which is defined by His law (see Rom. 7:12, 14. For details, request for our informative message namely, “THE TEN COMMANDMENTS”). He tells us that a carnal mind can’t obey or submit to a spiritual law, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law; indeed it can’t- Rom. 8:7.” And again, “For an unspiritual man does not understand spiritual things, for they are foolishness to him. And he is not able to understand them for they can only be understood spiritually- 1 Cor. 2:14.”
So, God gave his spiritual law to the Israelites who were carnal-minded which we have seen opposes the law. It became a burden to them. In their mind, they wanted to fulfill fleshly desires, but for fear of being stoned if they break the law, they acted physically, just as God told them saying, “These people honour me with their lips while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men learnt by rote- Isa.29:13.” See Ps. 78:36- 37. Here, it is very clear that the Israelites were unable to keep the law because they hadn’t the spirit of God which enables one to obey.
SACRIFICES AND REGULATIONS
Since breaking the law is what is defined as sin, (See 1 John 3: 4), and sin causes death, God introduced sacrificial laws and rituals. Through these laws, God began to teach them why they need a saviour. He began to show them how a death must occur to atone for their sins or else, they die themselves.
God clearly tells us that, “The law was added because of sin (and it was to continue) until the offspring (Christ) should come to whom the promise had been made- Gal. 3:19.” The laws and regulations were not therefore part of the covenant, for our Lord says this about them, “For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt , I did not command them about burnt offerings and sacrifices, but I gave them this command: Obey my voice and I will be your God and you shall be my people; — walk in my laws that it may be well with you – Jer.7:22-23.”So, after someone sins, he/she will take a lamb or goat, or even a dove to the priest who will slay it, spread the blood on the altar and the person is deemed clean. But this could not change the carnal mind from breaking the law; a good reason why our Lord says, “Sacrifices and offerings, thou has not desired but a body has thou prepared for me (Christ); In burnt offerings and sacrifices, thou has taken no pleasure—.- Heb. 10:5-7.”
The law therefore did not abolish the covenant, for God tells us, “The law which came four hundred years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void- Gal 3:17.”The purpose of this added law was to point people to Christ (the true sacrificial lamb).This is why it is called “…our custodian until Christ came – Gal. 3:24.”When Christ came, what happened?Remember the ten commandments are a summarized information of God’s righteous spiritual life which is also the life meant for man- see Prov. 3:1-4; Ps. 19:7-11.So, if it is man’s life also, how will man be able to obey a spiritual law while he is carnal-minded, a mind that can’t submit to the law?
THE NEW COVENANT
According to this custodian- law -arrangement, “…..gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of the (mind) worshipper, but deal only with food, and drinks and various ablutions, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation – Heb. 9: 9-10.” Which reformation, Christ’s coming, who had to “abolish the first (sacrificial law of rituals) in order to establish the second, by which we are sanctified through the offering (not of animals but) of the body of Christ, once and for all- Heb.10: 9-10”.
HOW DID HE DO THAT?
Remember God’s life which is defined by the law is eternal and can’t change. It is firmly fixed. “…tested pure words, like silver, refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.- Ps. 12:6”
God says, “What has been is what will be and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun- Ecles.1:9”Here, God is confirming His eternal permanent unchanging life. Let’s prove please.
We were created to be like God himself (Gen 1:26) in order to rule in his Kingdom here on the earth. This being made like God was to be in stages. The first stage was the physical body we are today, which is shaped like (the image of) God.The second stage was to acquire the knowledge of God and His life, which is our own life, thus putting on His mind and character, (God’s likeness).
The third and final stage was to be crowned with a spirit body at which point, God will have accomplished His desire of creating a man who is like Him, (Gen. 1:26).As we all know, Adam was deceived immediately after the first stage, when he chose to learn from Satan and put on the likeness of Satan, the mind and spirit which works in the hearts of most men in the today’s world. So, God’s creation for man stopped at this physical stage.After a time of hands-off-human-affairs, God decided to continue with creating the man by whom He will restore His kingdom here on earth. This, He did by sending His messenger, Jesus Christ.When Christ came, the message He proclaimed proved beyond reasonable doubt that, God is simply reminding man what he is, why he was created, what life he should be leading and what his destiny is.Get it please if you are given to understand.
“…..Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel (message) of God saying, “The Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the gospel (message)- Mark.1:14-15.”God created man to acquire His mind and lifestyle so that he could rule the world according to His will.
Man was deceived and led away from this purpose. Jesus is right here reminding as many as will believe. He is beginning where Adam stopped. Adam was deceived at his physical stage. Jesus came in the physical and rejected Satan, and instead, obeyed God, thus putting on the mind of God. This is why He is referred to as the second Adam-see Rom. 5:14-19, 1 Cor.15:45, 47-49.Anyone who believes in Christ rejects what he has learnt from Satan through Adam and accepts God’s life which is taught by His laws. At this point, God begins the stage-two creation which is developing His mind and righteous character in man, in preparation for entry into His kingdom .As we saw; the righteous character is the law. To prove this, when a certain teacher of the law asked Jesus what he should do to enter the Kingdom of God, Christ’s answer was very short and clear and, this was it, and it stands up to now for those who wish to inherit the kingdom. Yes, it stands for all true Christians. “If you wish to inherit eternal life in the kingdom, keep the commandments-Mat.19:17.”Remember that the stage- two- creation which is God’s righteous character is what the law defines. Of this righteousness, our Lord says, “Strive…for righteousness and holiness without which, no one will see God (no one will enter the kingdom)-Heb. 12:14.” The law is righteous, holy and true- See Rom.7:12, Ps.119:142,144&151.
But which law is Christ referring to? The false Christs are saying that Christ abolished the law and introduced another law of love. It is not a strange thing for them to lie using Christ’s name.
Listen to Christ denying them on the face, “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill them- Mat. 5:17.”But which law? Christ answers, “….you shall not kill, not commit adultery, not steal, not bear false witness, honour your father.-Mat. 19:18-19.”Here you are my friend. It is for you to choose whether to learn from and obey Christ or obey false Christs. The qualifications for entering the kingdom is obedience to the ten commandments, which through the prophets and apostles, were amplified to form the scriptures in the bible and were written for all who would want to live Godly lives in Jesus Christ, for he says through the apostles and prophets; “Write it down on a tablet and inscribe it in a book that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever –Isa.30:8.” And again, “Now these things were written down for our instructions upon whom the end of the ages has come- 1 Cor. 10:11.” Remember it was Jesus who was with the Israelites in the wilderness, who also spoke to all the prophets and is speaking the same things to those who will listen through the scriptures- see 1 Cor. 10:4, 1 Peter 1:10.
He further says, “All scriptures (which amounts to the commandments) are inspired by God, and are profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness that the man of God may be complete.-2 Tim. 3:16-17.”
THE LAW OF LOVE
If Christ taught us, and up to now is still upholding the Ten Commandments, why did He have to talk of a new commandment of love? Men! Little knowledge is very destructive to the owner.
Know and understand that the New Testament is simply a revelation of the Old Testament. Remember what we saw, that the Old Testament was written in a summarized way. Its details are what we read in the New Testament. Let’s confirm please.
The Lord God gave Moses two stone tablets on which were written the Ten Commandments. The first stone had four laws which have to do with man’s relationship with God while the other one had six laws which have to do with man-to-man relationship.
These two stones symbolized the stony stubborn hearts of the men which can’t obey the written spiritual law.
When Christ came in the flesh, He now gave the meaning of the law in two (not stones but) spiritual tablets namely, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart (1st stone) and Love thy neighbor as thyself (2nd stone). On these, stands the law and the prophets- Mat.22:37-40.”
Many people think that love is a mere good feeling towards someone. But I say, “It is treating someone in the right (right is what the law says) way which may not be good for those who do wrong, who will hate you for the right”
It is the law which explains what is right. When you obey God’s law, then you are an active love. A good reason why love is the fulfilling of the law- Rom. 13:10. “Anyone who disobeys God’s law cannot love for; loving is that we keep (obey) God’s commandments- 2 John 1:6.” So now, what happens to those who accept Jesus?
LAW IN MEN’S HEARTS
It is now very clear from God’s own words that those who believe in Jesus Christ and accepts His words actually accept the very life of God which is everlasting. For He says, “For I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them, and know in truth that you have sent me- John 17:8.” And again, “I have given them thy word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world (this civilization, this imaginative life style)-John 17:14.”
Note something here please. Those people who believe in the gospel of Christ do realize that all the knowledge they have, and all the life they have been living is actually a lie, and so they turn to God’s life which He is teaching through His spiritual law. Now, how will they do this in a carnal mind which can’t obey God’s law? Jesus says, “But to all who receive him, He gives the power to become children of God- John 1:12.”see also ROM.8:14.
When Adam accepted Satan’s lie, Satan gave him his evil spirit which formed Adam’s mind, the knowledge that gave him to live the evil destructive life we are seeing today, “…the spirit that works in the children of disobedience- Ephesians 2:2-3”, which forms, “The law of sin and death- Rom. 8:2.” In the like manner, when one accepts Christ, God gives such a one theHoly Spirit which begins to form God’s mind in him, the knowledge that makes one to start doing what God says. “The law of the spirit of life-Rom. 8:2.”
At this point, God begins to create man in the second stage which is, developing His mind and righteous character in man.
What happens when a man receives the Holy Spirit thus becoming a Christian? Does one reject God’s law, which is the only way of acquiring God’s knowledge? By no means.On the contrary, God through Jesus Christ enters into a New Covenant with that person, for He promised not to abolish the law but rather transfer them from the bible to His mind which comes by way of studying, for He says, “I will put my laws (not change them) in their hearts and write them in their minds – Heb. 10:16.”
So, what is the purpose of the Holy Spirit? It is to enable man understand and obey the spiritual law through which he begins to develop God’s character, for our Lord says, “In order that the just requirements of the law may be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit-Rom. 8:4.” And again, “When the spirit comes it will lead you into (not out of) all the truth-John 16:13.” And what is the truth? “Thy word is truth-John 17:17.” The law of God is true (Which is His word). Therefore the Holy Spirit can only flourish in the law (word) of God not outside. If you want to prove whether you have the spirit, it’s only by the commandments and not any other way, for He tells us, “All who keep His commandments abide in Him and He in them, and with this, we know that He abides in us by the spirit which He has given us- 1 John 3:24.”
LAW NAILED ON THE CROSS
After we receive the Holy Spirit, a certain change takes place, which so many misunderstand and give room to false preachers to mislead them.
In the Old Covenant, the added laws and regulations (which could only make those who adhered to them display an outward appearance of holiness) were a guardian to them, preventing them from breaking the spiritual law, but they couldn’t because of the evil spirit which occupied their minds.
But when Christ came, He gave those who believe, the Holy Spirit which is, “The shepherd and true guardian of your souls- 1 Peter 2:25.” The Holy Spirit makes one to think the law of God. And since there is that change of mind, there automatically comes a change in the way one does things ,changing one’s behavior (life) – see Eph 4:22-24. So, Christ abolished the first (Guardian law ),and established the second (Holy Spirit), the true guardian of our souls.
It’s by this that He “Cancelled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this, He set aside, nailing it to the cross –Col 2:14.”It wasn’t the Ten Commandments but the added laws. This is why today, Christians don’t sacrifice lambs; don’t separate physically from gentiles etc. Yes “He abolished in His flesh the law of commandments (see Col 2:20-21; Ex 12:49) and ordinances, that He might create in himself, one new man in the place of the two, so making peace – Eph 2:15.” Yes, the law demands which separated gentiles from the Jews, He removed by His death on the cross. “So then you are no longer strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household., Build upon what?Listen please……the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Old & New Testament) Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone – Eph 2:19-20.”
WATCH ON WOLVES
So now, why the law? Is it something one can abolish? Jesus’ answer is very clear. ”It is easier for heaven and earth to pass that for one dot of the law to become void – Matt. 5:18.”Why? Because the law is the very life of God explained through writings.It is for information about the right godly life. It is God’s standard of judgment and our mirror by which we know whether we are right or wrong. God says “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it- not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it- they will be blessed in what they do- James 1:25.”
Which is this perfect law? “The law of the Lord is perfect – Ps 19:7.” The law of the Lord is blessed- Ps.1:1-2.It is the very foundation on which the true church is built – Eph.2:20. It is the constitution of God’s kingdom. Brethren beware of wolves in sheep’s skin who wish to draw you away from Christ for their own benefits.For a true follower of Christ is one who, “Keeps the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ – Rev. 14:12.” Satan is strongly fighting this church for, “Keeping the commandments of God and bearing testimony to Jesus- Rev. 12: 17.” Whoever has ears, let him hear what the spirit is telling The Church.The grace of God be to those walk by this rule, “Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule- to the Israel of God- Gal. 6:16.”
For additional reading, request for our messages, titled:
- THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
- THE TWO TREES
This voice of the angel to the Laodicea is coming to you from, THE ENDTIME CHURCH OF GOD