Sunday, May 23, 2021

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

 CORRECTLY HANDLE THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

Hebrews 4:12,

“For the Word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword.  It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17,

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Ephesians 6:17,

“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”

2 Timothy 2:15,

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth.”

Correctly handled, the Sword of the Spirit/Word of God/Word of Truth can lead a person to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and correct and encourage those who belong to Christ.  Mishandling the Sword of the Spirit can result in preaching a false gospel (i.e. By grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, plus water baptism, plus Law, plus turning away from sin [turning away from being a law breaker to being a law keeper]) that won’t save a person from the wrath of God, and can strike fear and terror into the hearts of those who belong to Christ when that should not be done.  It’s important that we have the Sword of the Spirit.  It’s also important for us to learn to handle the Sword of the Spirit correctly, to rightly divide the word of truth, so that we don’t unduly injure or mislead someone else or ourselves.

I’ve been a believer in Jesus Christ since December of 1981.  Over the years I’ve done extensive traveling, and as a result I’ve attended many different churches and denominations.  Learning what I’ve been learning for the past couple of years about right division (rightly dividing the Word of Truth and correctly handling the Sword of the Spirit), when I look back over the  previous thirty eight years, I don’t remember ever hearing a pastor or teacher giving a message that wasn’t a mixed message, that is, mixing the teachings and instructions of the Kingdom Gospel meant for Israel with the teachings and instructions of the Grace Gospel revealed to the Apostle Paul after the Jews rejected their King and as a result the earthly Kingdom promised to the Jewish patriarchs was put into a state of postponement.  In other words, not rightly dividing the word of truth.  I know that some will balk at the idea that there are two Gospels, but I would encourage you to read on, and if necessary, do more research.

Galatians 2:7-9 Greek,

“But on the contrary, having seen that I (Paul) have been entrusted with the Gospel of the uncircumcision, just as Peter {with that} of the circumcision the {One} for having worked in Peter for apostleship of the circumcision did also in me toward the Gentiles-- and having known the grace having been given to me, James and Cephas and John, those esteemed pillars to be, {the} right hands gave to me and Barnabas of fellowship, that we {should go} to the Gentiles; they however to the circumcision.”

The Gospel/message of the Uncircumcision to the Gentiles, and the Gospel/message of the Circumcision to the Jews.  Two Gospels.

The reason I’m writing this is because through the years I’ve experienced confusion, distress, torment and even terror as the result of mixed teachings.  Being told on one hand that I was secure in Christ (the Gospel of the Grace of God) and on the other hand that I wasn’t (the Kingdom Gospel), and different Scriptures being used to back up each position.  I’m assuming some of you that will be reading this have, to some degree, experienced some of this yourselves.  I would like to encourage you that rightly dividing the word of truth will put these negative responses to rest.

First, I’m going to show through Scriptures how the theocratic earthly Kingdom that God promised to the Jewish Patriarchs is not here, but in a state of postponement as the result of the Jews rejecting their Messiah/King, and will be established when Jesus returns and sits on the Throne of David to rule and reign over the whole earth. The reason for doing this is because if someone can convince you the earthly Kingdom is here now, in spiritual form, they can then convince you that you are under the instructions of the Kingdom Gospel.  Second, I would like to show through the Scriptures that there are two Gospels, that we’re not under the instructions of both, that the two should not be mixed, and that not being under both, you will come to understand you are secure in Christ.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

When you read about the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, what you don’t read is a definition of what those terms mean.  There’s a reason for that.  Two thousand years ago the Jews would have understood what those terms meant.  They didn’t need a definition.  They had the Old Testament definition.  The Kingdom of God/Kingdom of Heaven would be the fulfillment of covenants and promises God gave to the Jewish fathers concerning a literal earthly Kingdom that God would establish on literal real estate in the Middle East and a King of His choosing would sit on the Throne of David and rule and reign over the whole earth.  But there have been many who have made the decision to make up their own definition of those terms and convince others that God spiritualized all of it and that the earthly Kingdom of God is here now in spiritual form.  They’re wrong.  It’s important to let Scripture interpret Scripture and not read into Scripture something that isn’t there.

If the theocratic earthly Kingdom God promised to the Jewish Patriarchs was here, then the following associated with the Kingdom would also be in place:

The Jews would possess all of the land promised to Abram in Genesis 15:18-21,

“On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”

The Israelites have yet to possess all of this land.

There should be a Temple in Jerusalem as described in Ezekiel 40-47.  That Temple is not there.

There should be a river flowing out from under the Temple into the Dead Sea, a river too wide to swim across, flowing into the Dead Sea and turning the salt water into fresh water, with a great number of trees on either side of the river with leaves and fruit that don’t fail for food and healing.  Ezekiel 47:1-12,

“The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east).  The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.  He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side.  As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle deep.  He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep.  He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist.  He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross.  He asked me, ‘Son of man, do you see this?’ Then he led me back to the bank of the river.  When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river.  He said to me, ‘This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down in the Arabah, where it enters the Sea (Dead Sea).  When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh.  Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows.  There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.  Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets.  The fish will be many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea.  But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.  Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river.  Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail.  Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them.  Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

The temple, river, fish, trees, leaves, fruit and fresh water are not there.

Jesus should be sitting on the Throne of David as told in Psalm 2:6-9,

“I have installed My King on Zion, My holy hill.”  I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, “You are My Son; today I have become you Father.  Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.  You will rule them with an iron scepter; You will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

and in Isaiah 9:7,

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”

and in Luke 1:31-33,

“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

At this time Jesus isn’t sitting on the throne of David, but as we read in Acts 7:56,

“Look,” he said, “I (Stephen) see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

and in Romans 8:34,

“Who is he that condemns:  Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

and in Ephesians 1:20,

“…which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…”

and in Colossians 3:1,

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”

and in Hebrews 1:13,

To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

At this time Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God, not on David’s Throne.

There should be peace in Israel as written in Ezekiel 34:25,

“I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety.”

There is no peace in Israel today.

There should be peace in the world as written in Isaiah 2:4,

“He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.  They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”

There is no peace in the world today.

There should be peace in the animal kingdom as were told in Isaiah 65:25,

“The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food.  They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.

At this time there is no peace in the animal kingdom.

There should be peace between humans and animals.  Isaiah 11:8,

“The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest.”

Today, there is no peace between animals and people.

The Israelites don’t possess all the land promised to Abraham.  There is no Temple in Jerusalem.  Jesus isn’t sitting on the Throne of David at this time.  The Dead Sea is still salt water.  There isn’t peace in Israel.  There isn’t peace in the world.  There isn’t peace in the animal kingdom.  There isn’t peace between people and animals.

Everything associated with the theocratic earthly kingdom God promised to the Jewish Patriarchs is not here.  Therefore, the earthly Kingdom is not here.

Some would use Luke 17:21 to make the argument that the Kingdom of God is here in spiritual form where in some translations we read that Jesus said the Kingdom of God is within you.  However, in some translations it is translated that the Kingdom of God is in your midst or among you.  I would argue against “within you” and choose “in your midst” or “among you” because of what we read in Acts 1:6-7 after Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and just prior to His ascension,

So when they met together, they (the disciples) asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the Kingdom to Israel?”  He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority.”

We see in these two verses that Jesus had not spiritualized the Kingdom of God on earth as some translations might imply in Luke 17:21, that the Kingdom had not been restored to Israel at the time of Jesus’ ascension, and that the promised earthly Kingdom was postponed and is still future and will be established when Jesus returns.

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM

We find in Romans 15:8 that Jesus was sent to confirm the promises made to the Jewish Patriarchs,

“For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs…”

Jesus Himself said in Matthew 15:24,

“I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

and in John 20:21 Jesus says to the Apostles in Jerusalem,

“As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.”

When Jesus sent out the Twelve in Matthew 10:5-6 to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom He said to them,

“Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.  Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.”

We see that the message that Jesus and the Twelve preached concerning the Gospel of the Kingdom was a message for the Jews, the lost sheep of Israel.  And even after Jesus’ ascension the Apostles in Jerusalem continued to preach the Kingdom message only to the Jews:

In Peter’s first famous sermon in Acts chapter 2,

In verse 14,

“Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem…”

and in verse 22.

“Men of Israel…”

and in verse 36,

“Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this…”

In Peter’s second famous sermon in Acts 3,

In verse 12,

“Men of Israel…”

and in verse 13,

“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our Fathers…”

and in verse 25,

“And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers.”

The believing Jews who were scattered as the result of the stoning of Stephen in Acts 8:1,

“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the Apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.”

took the message only to the Jews.  Acts 11:19-20,

“Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews.  Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also (Grecian Jews, or Jews who had assimilated into Greek culture), telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.”

And we see in James 1:1 that James wrote his letter to the Jews,

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.”

In 1 Peter 1:1 we see the Apostle Peter writing to the Jews,

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered (Acts 8:1) throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia…”

and in 1 Peter 2:9,

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…”  This is a covenant God made with the people of Israel in Exodus 19:5-6,

“Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession.  Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.  These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

and in 1 Peter 2:12,

“Live such good lives among the Gentiles…” Peter’s audience are the Jews living among the Gentiles.

and in 1 Peter 4:3,

“For you have spent enough time in the past doing what Gentiles choose to do…”

And in 2 Peter 3:1  we find Peter writing to the same Jewish audience,

“Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you.”  Same audience.

And we see the Apostle John writing to a Jewish audience.  1 John 2:2,

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins (the Jews), and not only for ours (the Jews) but also for the sins of the whole world (the Gentiles).”

And the Book of Hebrews was written to the Hebrews/Jews.  Some would say that the Apostle Paul wrote this letter, but Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 3:17,

“I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters.  This is how I write.”  Paul made sure to identify himself in his letters.  There’s no indication in the Book of Hebrews that Paul identified himself.

Again, the Jews were the audience of the Book of Hebrews.  Hebrews 8:8-12, quoted by the writer from Jeremiah 31:31-34,

“The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.  It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.  This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord.  I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.  I will be their God and they will be My people.  No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.  For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”  This is a covenant God made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  This is not a covenant God made with the Gentiles.  The audience of the Book of Hebrews are Jews.

Galatians 2:7-9 Greek,

“But on the contrary, having seen that I (Paul) have been entrusted with the Gospel of the uncircumcision, just as Peter {with that} of the circumcision the {One} for having worked in Peter for apostleship of the circumcision did also in me toward the Gentiles-- and having known the grace having been given to me, James and Cephas and John, those esteemed pillars to be, {the} right hands gave to me and Barnabas of fellowship, that we {should go} to the Gentiles; they however to the circumcision.”

The Apostles in Jerusalem continued to take their message to the circumcision, the Jews.

The message/Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus and the Apostles in Jerusalem preached was a message specifically for the Jews, the lost sheep of Israel, concerning the theocratic, earthly Kingdom God promised to the Jewish patriarchs.  This message was not for the Gentiles.  Jesus was sent to confirm the promises God made to the Jewish patriarchs.  Jesus was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom.  Jesus sent His disciples to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom only to the lost sheep of Israel, not to the Gentiles.  Later, the disciples/Apostles in Jerusalem wrote their letters only to the lost sheep of Israel.  The message in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter, 1-3 John and Revelation were written to the lost sheep of Israel concerning the Gospel of the Kingdom, the earthly Kingdom God promised to the Jewish patriarchs.

 

THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD

After the Jews had rejected their Messiah/King in Luke 11:14-15,

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute.  When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.  But some of them said, “By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, He is driving out demons.”

and in John 19:15 the chief priests told Pilate,

“We have no king but Ceasar.”

and in Acts 7, Stephen being stoned as the result of testifying of Jesus, the earthly Kingdom promised to the Jewish patriarchs was put into a state of postponement. 

about a year later Jesus appeared to Saul (who would become the Apostle Paul) in Acts 9:5,

“Who are you, Lord?”  Saul asked.  “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.  “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

We get more detail of what Jesus said to Paul on the road to Damascus in Acts 26:15-18,

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the Lord replied.  “Now get up and stand on your feet.  I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.  I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles.  I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”

Jesus revealed a mystery to the Apostle Paul that had previously been kept hidden in God:

Ephesians 3:2-3, “Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.”

Ephesians 3:9, “…and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.”

Colossians 1:26, “…the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations,  but is now disclosed to the saints.”

Romans 16:25, “Now to Him who is able to establish you by my Gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past…”

Today, God establishes a person by the Gospel Jesus entrusted to the Apostle Paul and the proclamation of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery that was revealed to Paul.   So, what is the mystery Jesus revealed to the Apostle Paul?

That we are not brought near to God through Israel or the covenants or the promises made to Israel: the earthly Kingdom program.  We are brought near to God through the blood of Christ.  Ephesians 2:11-13,

“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (that done in the body by the hands of men)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”

At the end of this post I’ll paste the link to the post that reveals in detail the Gospel of the Grace of God that the Apostle Paul preached, the Gospel wherein is the power of God today to save a person from the wrath of God.  But now I’d first like to show you some of the the differences in the instructions Jesus gave the Apostles in Jerusalem to teach to the Jews concerning the Gospel of the Kingdom which is a Gospel of faith plus works, and the instructions Jesus gave to the Apostle Paul to teach us concerning the Gospel of the Grace of God which is by grace alone through faith alone in what Christ has done alone.  The instructions are different.  Things that are different are not the same.

BAPTISM

In Matthew 28:19 Jesus instructed the Apostles in Jerusalem to baptize,

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”

Under the Kingdom Gospel a person had to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins, or the cancelation of their sin debt.  Acts 2:37-38,

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

But in 1 Corinthians 1:17 we find Jesus didn’t instruct the Apostle Paul to baptize,

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”

Since Jesus didn’t send the Apostle Paul to baptize, how do we receive the forgiveness of sins, the cancellation of our sin debt?  What did Jesus instruct the Apostle Paul to teach us concerning this matter? 

Ephesians 1:7-8,

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”

We have the cancellation of our sin debt through the blood of Christ, not through water baptism.  We are taught by Jesus through the Apostle Paul that there is only one baptism in Ephesians 4:5,

“…one Lord, one faith, one baptism…”

and what that one baptism is in 1 Corinthians 12:13,

“For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

Under the Gospel of the Grace of God, water baptism is neither required for salvation, nor required after salvation. 

It’s important to note here that the disciples/Apostles in Jerusalem, when preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom during Jesus’ earthly ministry, did not preach the cross, the blood of Christ: the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

Luke wrote the book of Luke for Theophilus.  In Luke 1:3 we find Luke wrote an orderly account,

“Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus.”

First Jesus sends the Twelve out to preach the Kingdom of God in Luke 9:1-2,

“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

And then he sent the seventy-two out in Luke 10:1,

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.”

And then after these two events Jesus tells the Twelve about his death and resurrection in Luke 18:31-33,

Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.  He will be handed over to the Gentiles.  They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him.  On the third day he will rise again.”

And then the Holy Spirit tells us in Luke 18:34, in three different ways, that the Twelve didn’t get it,

“The disciples did not understand any of this.  It’s meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.”

And we read is John 20:9, after Jesus’ resurrection,

“They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.”

The message of the Cross wasn’t part of the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom.  In fact, if you read the Apostle Peter’s first and second sermons in Acts 2 and 3, you’ll find Peter not preaching the benefits of the Cross, but an indictment against the Jews for killing their Messiah.

Under the Gospel of the Kingdom a person had the cancellation of their sin debt through water baptism.  Under the Gospel of the Grace of God a person has the cancellation of their sin debt through the blood of Christ.

FORGIVENESS

Under the Kingdom Gospel, in Matthew 28:20 Jesus instructed the Apostles in Jerusalem to teach others to obey everything He had commanded them,

“…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  Which would include forgiving in order to be forgiven:

Matthew 6:12,

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven out debtors…”

Matthew 6:15,

“But if you do not forgive men their sins, you Father will not forgive your sins.”

But under the Grace Gospel Jesus instructed the Apostle Paul to teach us that all of our sins have already been forgiven.

Colossians 2:13,

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins…”

And to forgive because we’ve already been forgiven.

Ephesians 4:32,

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Colossians 3:13,

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Under the Gospel of the Kingdom a person had to forgive in order to be forgiven.  Under the Gospel of the Grace of God a person forgives because they have already been forgiven of all of their sins.

ENDURE

Again under the Kingdom Gospel in Matthew 28:20 Jesus instructed the Apostles in Jerusalem to instruct others to obey everything He commanded, which would include enduring until the end in order to be saved.

Matthew 10:22,

“All men will hate you because of Me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Matthew 24:13,

“…but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

But under the Grace Gospel Jesus instructed the Apostle Paul to teach us that we were sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.  What is the day of redemption?  Romans 8:23,

“Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”  The redemption is when we receive our new bodies.

The Holy Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance with the Lord from the moment we first believed until the redemption.  Ephesians 1:13-14,

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.”

Ephesians 4:30,

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

2 Corinthians 1:21-22,

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.  He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

2 Corinthians 5:5,

“Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

Under the Gospel of the Kingdom a person had to endure until the end in order to be saved.  Under the Gospel of the Grace of God a person is sealed by the Holy Spirit the moment they first believe, and the Holy Spirit is a deposit in that person guaranteeing what is to come.

THE LAW

Again under the Kingdom Gospel in Matthew 28:20 Jesus instructed the Apostles in Jerusalem to teach others to obey everything He had commanded which would include obeying the commandments.

Matthew 19:17,

“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied.  “There is only One who is good.  If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

Matthew 23:1-3,

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.  So you must obey them and do everything they tell you.  But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”

But under the Grace Gospel concerning the law Jesus instructed the Apostle Paul to teach us:

Romans 3:20,

“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.”

1 Corinthians 15:56,

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.”

Romans 5:20,

“The law was added so that the trespass might increase.”

Romans 7:5,

“For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.”

Romans 6:14,

“For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

Romans 7:4,

“So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.”

Galatians 5:1,

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (the law).”

Under the Kingdom Gospel a person had to obey the Commandments in order to enter life.  Under the Grace Gospel a person isn’t under law.

CONCLUSION

Under the Gospel of the Kingdom a person received the cancellation of their sin debt through water baptism, had to forgive in order to be forgiven, endure until the end in order to be saved, and obey the commandments in order to enter life.  Under the Gospel of the Grace of God a person has the cancellation of their sin debt through the blood of Christ, forgives because they’ve already been forgiven, is sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption, and is not under the law.

Things that are different are not the same.  The Gospel of the Grace of God that Jesus gave to the Apostle Paul to teach us is not the same as the Gospel of the Kingdom intended for the Jews.

We see that the content of the instructions Jesus gave to the Apostles in Jerusalem to teach the Jews concerning the Gospel of the Kingdom is different than the content of the instructions that Jesus gave the Apostle Paul to teach us concerning the Gospel of the Grace of God.  These two Gospels are not the same, and are not to be mixed.  Today God is dealing with man through the Gospel of the Grace of God, not through the Gospel of the Kingdom which is in a state of postponement.  The instructions Jesus gave to the Apostles in Jerusalem concerning the Gospel of the Kingdom for the Jews are not how a person is saved from God’s wrath today.  As the result of the Jews rejecting their King, Jesus revealed a mystery to the Apostle Paul that had been hidden in God.  Today a person is not saved by following the instructions concerning the Gospel of the Kingdom.  A person is not saved today by going through Israel.  A person is not saved through God’s promises to Israel.  A person is not saved through Israel’s covenants.  A person is not saved through obedience to the law.  A person is brought near to God today through the blood of Christ, what Jesus accomplished for you at the cross, by grace alone through faith alone in what Christ has done alone:

https://rightlydividingthewordoftruth77.blogspot.com/2021/03/gospel-of-grace-of-god.html

Monday, October 21, 2019

DISASTER

Isaiah 45:7, "I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things."

Amos 3:6, "When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble?  When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?"

These are verses no one likes to talk about.  God is love, right?  Yes, He is love.

1 John 4:8, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

But we don't talk about the fact that He is also just, and that He brings judgment.  We have seen, heard and read about the trouble that has come on the earth from the beginning of time.  We can read in the Scriptures about the flood.  We can read how God used the Jews to bring judgment on the Canaanites.  We can read how He brought judgment on the Jews through the Babylonians.  Today we hear of wars, threats against Israel, the North Korean and Iranian nuclear threat.  We remember 9-11, Katrina and Harvey.  And if we read prophecy we learn of trouble to come.

Matthew 24:6-8, "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.  Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginnings of birth pains."

The message, "...see to it that you are not alarmed,"  in the above passage is for those who belong to Christ.  If you don't belong to Christ, there is good reason to be alarmed.

Revelation 6:8, "I looked, and there before me was a pale horse.  It's rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.  They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by the sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth."

Revelation 8:7b, "A third of the earth was burned up, and all the green grass was burned up."

Revelation 8:8b-9, "A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed."

Revelation 8:11b, "A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter."

Revelation 9:15, "And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind."

Revelation 9:20-21, "The rest of mankind that were not killed by plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshipping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood--that cannot see or hear or walk.  Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts."

Revelation 20:13, "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

So, we have to ask ourselves if the current condition of the planet is due to climate change, or is it due to God's judgment against a rebellious creation.

Romans 1:18-19, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them."

Are the disasters we've seen come on the earth and have been told will come on the earth man made?  Yes.  But it's not CO2.  It's sin and rebellion.  God is righteous.  He is also just.  And He also judges.

And God is love.  That's why He sent His Son Jesus who led the justice of God concerning you to victory at the cross.  He was your substitute.  He paid your penalty for your sins against God.  He wants to reconcile you to God so that you won't face judgment.  How?  Please click on the following link to find out:

https://downtownministries77.blogspot.com/2019/04/gospel-of-grace.html

Monday, April 22, 2019

483 Years

You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor

The Lord appeared to Abram and said,
"To your offspring I will give this land."

God told Abraham, ..."because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."

The Lord said to Jacob,
"I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying."

--------------------

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

--------------------

To the Jews is the adoption as sons.
To the Jews is the divine glory.
To the Jews are the covenants.
To the Jews is the receiving of the Law.
To the Jews is the Temple worship.
To the Jews are the promises.
To the Jews are the Patriarchs.

And from the Jews is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah,
who is God over all, forever praised!  Amen.

"And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

--------------------
--------------------

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them
in all their vast order.

As a result of the serpent, Adam chose to disobey God and brought sin, physical death,
and seperation from God to all mankind.

God covered the shame of Adam and Eve
with the skins of animals He had to kill.

God then cursed the serpent and told him one would come from the woman.
The serpent would bruise his heel,
but he would crush the serpent's head.

The origin of the One who would come from the woman
would be from ancient times
and He would be called,
"God with us."

This One would come from the Jews.
He would be born in Bethlehem.
He would be from the tribe of Judah.
He would be heir to the Throne of David.

He would heal the deaf and the blind and the dumb.
He would preach to the poor and the broken hearted and the captives.

He would carry our sorrows and bear our sicknesses.
He would be pierced in His hands and feet and side.

He was pierced for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities,
punished for our peace,
wounded for our healing.

He would die as a guilt offering for God's people.

But after the suffering of His soul,
He would see the light of life and be satisfied.
By His knowledge,
the righteous servant of God would justify many.
He was numbered with the transgressors
and bore the sin of many.

WHO IS THIS ANNOINTED ONE?

69 sevens (483 years) after King Artaxerxes
issued the decree to rebuild Jerusalem,
the Annointed One of Israel would be cut off.

What happened 483 years after King Artaxerxes issued that decree?

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

--------------------

And from the Jews
is the human ancestry of the Messiah,
who is God over all, forever praised!
Amen.

http://rightlydividingthewordoftruth77.blogspot.com 

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet


 

  1. We thank thee, O God, for a prophet
    To guide us in these latter days.
    We thank thee for sending the gospel
    To lighten our minds with its rays.
    We thank thee for every blessing
    Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.
    We feel it a pleasure to serve thee
    And love to obey thy command.
  2. When dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us
    And threaten our peace to destroy,
    There is hope smiling brightly before us,
    And we know that deliv'rance is nigh.
    We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness.
    We've proved him in days that are past.
    The wicked who fight against Zion
    Will surely be smitten at last.
  3. We'll sing of his goodness and mercy.
    We'll praise him by day and by night,
    Rejoice in his glorious gospel,
    And bask in its life-giving light.
    Thus on to eternal perfection
    The honest and faithful will go,
    While they who reject this glad message
    Shall never such happiness know.

Yesterday I was watching the 185th General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).  This was one of the songs they sang, a praise to Mormonism’s prophet Joseph Smith.  But is he a prophet that was sent from God?  From the beginning of Scripture to the end of Scripture we find there are many prophets, and many more to come.  But we read that there are prophets who are sent from God, and there are prophets that are not sent by God (false prophets).  And we are told by Jesus and His disciples that in the last days there would be many false prophets:

Matthew 7:15, “"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

Matthew 24:11, “…and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”

2 Peter 2:1-3, “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”

So we find in the Scriptures that destruction is waiting for false prophets.  What is waiting for those who follow them?

Jeremiah 14:14-16, Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.  Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine.  And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons and their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.”

Those who follow the teachings of false prophets are not safe from the wrath of God.  Nor are their families.  So innocently following a false prophet, though with good intentions, will not deliver a person or their family from the wrath of God that is coming.

I know that Mormons are taught to follow the Mormon church, the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith by receiving a “burning in their bosom.”  But that is not the criteria God gave us to test whether a prophet is sent by God or not.  He has given us two ways to test a prophet, and He expects us to use them.  To not use them and to follow a person blindly can lead to a person’s certain destruction.

I remember a number of years ago, when I was a teenager, I was hitchhiking on L Street in Omaha, Nebraska.  A police officer pulled over and was giving me a ticket for this.  I said there were no signs saying I couldn’t hitchhike.  He pointed out a bank on the street corner.  He said, “Do you see a sign saying not to rob me?”  I said no.  He said ignorance of the law is no excuse.

As we see in Jeremiah above, following a false prophet in ignorance is no excuse.  Destruction will still come.

So, let’s start with the first test God gave to us to determine whether or not Joseph Smith is a prophet sent by God:

Deuteronomy 18:22, “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.”

Joseph Smith gave prophecies.  Did they come true?  Go to the following link and read Joseph Smith’s false prophecies:


And what about Joseph Smith’s revelation to go and sell the copyright to the Book of Mormon in Canada?

Brother Hyrum said it had been suggested to him that some of the brethren might go to Toronto, Canada, and sell the copy-right of the Book of Mormon for considerable money: and he persuaded Joseph to inquire of the Lord about it. Joseph concluded to do so. He had not yet given up the stone. Joseph looked into the hat in which he placed the stone, and received a revelation that some of the brethren should go to Toronto, Canada, and that they would sell the copy-right of the Book of Mormon. Hiram Page and Oliver Cowdery went to Toronto on this mission, but they failed entirely to sell the copy-right, returning without any money. Joseph was at my father's house when they returned. I was there also, and am an eye witness to these facts. Jacob Whitmer and John Whitmer were also present when Hiram Page and Oliver Cowdery returned from Canada. Well, we were all in great trouble; and we asked Joseph how it was that he had received a revelation from the Lord for some brethren to go to Toronto and sell the copy-right, and the brethren had utterly failed in their undertaking. Joseph did not know how it was, so he enquired of the Lord about it, and behold the following revelation came through the stone: 'Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of men: and some revelations are of the devil.' So we see that the revelation to go to Toronto and sell the copy-right was not of God, but was of the devil or of the heart of man. When a man enquires of the Lord concerning a matter, if he is deceived by his own carnal desires, and is in error, he will receive an answer according to his erring heart, but it will not be a revelation from the Lord. This was a lesson for our benefit and we should have profited by it in future more than we did (An Address to All Believers in Christ, 31).

And what about the Kirtland Bank failure?

Warren Parrish, who had been an officer in the bank and had apostatized from the Church, made this statement: "I have listened to him [i.e. Smith] with feelings of no ordinary kind, when he declared that the AUDIBLE VOICE OF GOD, INSTRUCTED HIM TO ESTABLISH A BANKING-ANTI BANKING INSTITUTION, who like Aaron's rod SHALL SWALLOW UP ALL OTHER BANKS (the Bank of Monroe excepted,) and grow and flourish and spread from the rivers to the ends of the earth, and survive when all others should be laid in ruins." (Painesville Republican, February 22, 1838, as quoted in Conflict at Kirtland, page 297)

 

 Wilford Woodruff, who remained true to the Church and became the fourth President, confirmed the fact that Joseph Smith claimed to have a revelation concerning the bank. Under the date of January 6, 1837, he recorded the following in his journal: "I also herd [sic] President Joseph Smith, jr., declare in the presence of F. Williams, D. Whitmer, S. Smith, W. Parrish, and others in the Deposit office that HE HAD RECEIVED THAT MORNING THE WORD OF THE LORD UPON THE SUBJECT OF THE KIRTLAND SAFETY SOCIETY. He was alone in a room by himself and he had not only [heard] the voice of the Spirit upon the Subject but even an AUDIBLE VOICE. He did not tell us at that time what the Lord said upon the subject but remarked that if we would give heed to the commandments the Lord had given this morning all would be well." ("Wilford Woodruff's Journal," January 6, 1837, as quoted in Conflict at Kirtland, page 296)

The Kirtland Bank was created in the State of Ohio by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. Joseph was the Cashier and Sidney was the President. Unable to obtain a Banking Charter, Joseph and Sidney created an "Anti-Bank" Bank. Depositors were lured in because Joseph Smith told his followers that as a Prophet of God, the Bank would never fail.

Joseph Smith's delusions left them empty-handed and the bank declared bankruptcy. Many faithful Mormons lost their life savings and investments - and their faith. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon fled Kirtland under the cover of darkness in January of 1838 to escape bank depositors who were given worthless bank notes in exchange for gold and silver deposits.

So Joseph Smith has failed the first test God has given us to give to a person claiming to be a prophet sent by God.

What about the second test?

Deuteronomy 13:1-5, “If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,   and that sign or wonder he has promised you comes about, but he says, ‘Let us follow other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us worship them,’   do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.   You must follow the Lord your God and fear Him. You must keep His commands and listen to His voice; you must worship Him and remain faithful to Him.  That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he has urged rebellion against the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the place of slavery, to turn you from the way the Lord your God has commanded you to walk. You must purge the evil from you.”

The second test is if a prophet prophecies something that comes to pass, does that prophet lead people away from the truth to follow other gods?  Read the following link to see how Mormon teachings and doctrine are contrary to the truth of God’s Word:


Joseph Smith was a prophet, but a false prophet.  The tests God has given us to use prove this.  And God expects you to use these tests and is holding you accountable for this.  Remember the verse in Jeremiah: “And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons and their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.”

Joseph Smith preached a gospel other than the one Paul the Apostle preached.  Galatians 1:8, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned.”  Unless Joseph Smith repented from what he preached, he is eternally condemned.  If the modern prophets of Mormonism don’t repent of preaching this different gospel, they will be eternally condemned.  Unless those who follow Mormonism’s different gospel repent, they will be eternally condemned.  God says He will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.

What is this calamity?  Death.  The second death.  Revelation 20:13-15, “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Most people misunderstand what death means.  The death of a marriage means two people split.  They move on, but their marriage is dead.  When a person dies they don’t cease to exist.  Their body is laid in the ground, and they move on into eternity.  The second death mentioned in Revelation doesn’t mean a person is annihilated.  It means a person exists in eternity apart from the life of God, an object of God’s wrath, under eternal condemnation and punishment.

How does a person escape this?  Through the real Gospel, the Good News:

Progressive Revelation (or making the God of the Bible out to be a liar)



Recently I read a Mormon article about “progressive revelation.”  Throughout the day I kept thinking about this and then it occurred to me that Mormonism’s progressive revelation is not what it appears to be.  In reality, it makes the God of the Bible out to be a liar.  But Numbers 23:19a tells us, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind.”

Progressive revelation can be likened to a rose.  First you see the bud, and as time goes on and it begins to open up, you begin to see the beauty that was hidden inside.  It was always there,  but you couldn’t see it.


Now Mormonism’s progressive revelation does not reveal something more to us that is already contained in the Scriptures.  Mormonism’s progressive revelation in reality contradicts what we read in God’s Word and makes the God of the Bible out to be a liar.


Let’s say I were to meet with you for a cup of coffee and some conversation.  During the course of our conversation I relate to you that I have never had a drink in my life.  Two weeks later we meet again for coffee.  At that point I tell you I used to be an alcoholic.  What I have just relayed to you makes my first statement to you a lie.  That’s not progressive revelation.

But this is what Mormonism makes God out to be, a liar.  What God has revealed to us in Scripture, they change completely.  This is not progressive revelation.  Following are some examples:

  1.  Isaiah 43:10, “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He.  Before Me no God was formed, nor will there be one after me.”
     
    So we see from this verse that God clearly says He alone is God and will always be the only God.
     
    Joseph Fielding Smith said, "Our father in heaven, according to the Prophet, had a father, and since there has been a condition of this kind through all eternity, each Father had a Father" (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:47).
     
    And Joseph Smith, the first Mormon prophet  said, “It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, ...and that He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did; ...you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another,... from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings. and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power" (History of the Church, Vol. 6, Ch. 14, p. 305-6).
     
    So we see that the God of the Bible said there are no gods before Him and there will be no gods after Him.  But Mormonism by its teachings makes the God of the Bible out to be a liar by their teachings that there are gods before God and that we can become gods.  This is not progressive revelation.
     
  2.  Here’s what the God of the Bible tells us of how Jesus came to this earth. 
     
    Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign:  The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.”
     
    Matthew 1:20-23, But after he (Joseph) had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel”—which means “God with us.”
     
    The God of the Bible clearly tells us that Jesus would be born of  a virgin and that which was conceived in her was of the Holy Spirit.  But following is what Mormonism teaches about how Jesus came to this earth:
     
    Brigham Young taught: "The birth of the Savior was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood---was begotten of his Father as we were of our fathers" (Journal of Discourses vol.8, p.115); and "when the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness [flesh and blood]. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost" (Journal of Discourses, vol.1, p.50).
     
    Bruce McConkie (LDS apostle) states: "Christ was begotten by an Immortal Father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers" (Mormon Doctrine, p. 547, 1979).
     
    Carfred Broderick (Mormon author) writes: "God is a procreating personage of flesh and bone...latter-day prophets have made it clear that despite what it says in Matthew 1:20, the Holy Ghost was not the father of Jesus...The Savior was fathered by a personage of flesh and bone" (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Autumn, 1967, p.100-101).
     
    The God of the Bible tells us that what was conceived in Mary was of the Holy Spirit and that Mary was a virgin.  Mormonism teaches God lied when He told us these things.  That Mary conceived Jesus by having relations with God the Father and that what was conceived in her was not of the Holy Spirit.  This is not progressive revelation.  This makes the God of the Bible out to be a liar.
     
  3.  Colossians 1:16-17, “For by Him (Jesus) all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
     
    God tells us in this verse that Jesus created all things and is before all things.  Yet Mormonism teaches that Jesus and Lucifer, a fallen angel, are brothers:
     
    Milton R. Hunter (one of the LDS General Authorities) explains "The appointment of Jesus to be Savior of the world was contested by one of the other sons of God. He was called Lucifer…this spirit-brother of Jesus desperately tried to become the Savior of mankind" (The Gospel Through the Ages, p.15, 1945).
     
    "And Satan came among them, saying: I am also a son of God" (Pearl of Great Price, Moses 5:17).
     
    The God of the Bible tells us that Jesus created all things (which would include Lucifer).  But Mormonism would teach us that the God of the Bible lied to us and that in reality Lucifer is Jesus’ brother.
     
  4.  Isaiah 43:11, “I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from Me there is no Savior.”
     
    John 14:6,  Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
     
    Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
     
    Pretty clear.  The God of the Bible tells us there is NO savior apart from Him.
     
    But Mormonism tells us this:
     
    Brigham Young taught: "Sin is upon every earth that ever was created ... Consequently every earth has its redeemer, and every earth has its tempter" (Journal of Discourses, vol. 14, p.71).
     
    Bringham Young said, "From the day that the priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding up things of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are -- I with you and you with me. I cannot go there without his consent" (Journal of Discourses 7:238).
     
    The God of the Bible tells us He is the only Savior and that the only Name given by which a person can be saved is the Name of Jesus.  Yet Mormonism would make God out to be a liar by saying there are many saviors and for this world you must be saved by the certificate of Joseph Smith.
     
    There are many more instances where Mormon teachings are proven to not be progressive revelation, but in reality makes the God of the Scriptures out to be a liar.  It’s important to know the difference. 
     
  5.  I would like to make one more point.  God has revealed His gospel to us through the prophetic writings (the Bible).  The Gospel means “Good News.”  Mormonism would teach that the God of the Bible lied when He said salvation from judgment was by grace alone through faith by saying that salvation from judgment is by grace and works.  Read the following link to find out how to be saved from judgment: