Jews haven't fulfilled prophecies about Joseph!

Re: The United States is Manasseh


#39. To: Magician (#14)

I've never seen so much BS in my life.

Those who cannot debate, defame; cannot refute, ridicule. The plain truth about the Israelite origins, the Hebrew roots, of the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic peoples is overwhelming, recognized by a growing number of Jews and British Israelites and Gentiles (as prophesied). Brit Am Israel is a Torah-observant, Jerusalem based organization, that helps restore the identification of the Israelite tribes. However, there is nothing new under the sun: Joseph's brethren were blind to his identity and he stood right before them!

Since you go to a Reform "temple" in a self-imposed exile, failing to follow Judaism to the Jewish homeland of Israel - I'm not surprised this BIBLICAL TRUTH floors you. You undoubtedly still assume Judaism is nothing about race, in complete contradiction to the facts on the ground. Regardless if you remain in denial, these things remain true: The Bible is an ethnocentric book with  its focus on the family of Jacob; there are Twelve Tribes of Israel, the Lost Ten Tribes are ethnic peoples, Joseph isn't Jewish, it's the Promised Land of ISRAEL (named after an ethnic, tribal, patriarch) with biblical border definitions (which is why even secular Jews were wise enough to reject Uganda), and Israel and Judah are to ultimately become, collectively speaking, One Nation Under God, a truly United Kingdom.

Certainly NONE of the prophecies about becoming a GREAT NATION and a COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS, world powers, breadbaskets of the world, have been fulfilled in little Judah.

Your faithless kind must be who columnist Shmuel Schnitzer lamented as the new Jewish people who are "preparing to deny our [Jewish] rights, both the divine promise and in terms of REFERRING TO THE LAND BY THE NAME OF ITS PEOPLE, "The Land of Israel' -- a land which belongs to the Children of Israel, from then and to eternity...".

Years ago Mr. Schnitzer questioned, in the Israeli newspaper Maariv, “[W]hat kind of Jewish people will this be with no attachment to its land, without all the places of the book of Joshua, the wonderful vistas there, without the intensity of the prophetic vision, without the heritage of our fighters who spilt their blood for the country which was promised them and their descendants?” (Sept. 14, 1994). (excerpt from Do the Jews Belong in the Land of Israel?)

American Christian-Zionist David Ben-Ariel detained

"This reminds us of the case of the American Christian-Zionist David Ben-Ariel, who was imprisoned for allegedly trying to destroy the Dome of the Rock, to make way for the reconstruction of the Jewish Temple. Ben-Ariel repeatedly declared that he was there only to protest, not to destroy the mosque.

Attorney Naftali Wurtzberger, who defended Federman, also represented David Ben-Ariel during his trial in Israeli High Court and Jerusalem's Municipal Court. Ben-Ariel is now free and back in the United States. Yet, the Israeli government determined that Ben-Ariel cannot visit Israel, although he might be eligible to return in 2005. Why not deport the leaders of terrorist groups who are living, apparently with more rights, in Judea, Samaria and Gaza?"

- Is Administrative Detention Just?

Ben Ariel was not arrested on political charges...

Due to persistent false rumors that I, David Ben-Ariel, was involved in a plot to blow up the mosques in Jerusalem, even by lying religious leaders like Gerald Flurry of the Philadelphia Church of God (not just enemies of the plain truth of the Bible), I present here the State Department letter from former American Consul General in Jerusalem, Edward G. Abington, Jr. to Ohio Representative Marcy Kaptur. (Jr.'s hostility to the Temple Mount Faithful is explained in Why Edward Abington, Jr. Must Be Investigated! and his dubious character and conflict of interests in Something smells bad).

The United States is Manasseh

The United States is Manasseh
by Herbert W. Armstrong

From the prophetic blessings passed on by the dying Jacob, it is apparent that Ephraim and Manasseh were in a large measure to inherit the birthright jointly; to remain together for a long time, finally separating.

In Genesis 48 Jacob first passed the birthright on to the two sons of Joseph jointly, speaking of them both together. Then, finally, he spoke of them separately—Manasseh was to become the single great nation; Ephraim, the company of nations.

And in his prophecy for these latter days Jacob said, “Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall” (Gen. 49:22). In other words, Joseph—Ephraim and Manasseh jointly and together—was to be a colonizing people in this latter day, their colonies branching out from the British Isles around the earth.

Together Ephraim and Manasseh grew into a multitude, then separated, according to Jacob’s prophetic blessing of Genesis 48. Our people have fulfilled this prophecy.

But how can the U.S.A. be Manasseh when a large part of the population have come from many nations besides England? The answer is this: A large part of Manasseh remained with Ephraim until the separation of New England. But our forefathers were to be sifted through many nations, as corn through a sieve, yet not a grain to fall to the earth or be lost (Amos 9:9). The people did filter through many nations. Ephraim and much of Manasseh finally emigrated to England together, but many others of Manasseh who had filtered into and through other nations did not leave them until they came, as immigrants, to the United States after the New England colony had become the separate nation. This does not mean that all foreigners who have emigrated to America are of the stock of Manasseh, but undoubtedly many are. Israel, however, always did absorb gentiles, who became Israelites through living in Israel’s land and intermarrying.

The U.S. has become known as the “melting pot” of the world. Instead of refuting a Manasseh ancestry, this fact actually confirms it. The proof that the U.S. is Manasseh is overwhelming. Manasseh was to separate from Ephraim and become the greatest, wealthiest single nation of earth’s history. America alone has fulfilled this prophecy. Manasseh was in fact a thirteenth tribe. There were twelve original tribes. Joseph was one of these twelve. But when Joseph divided into two tribes and Manasseh separated into an independent nation, it became a thirteenth tribe

Could it be mere coincidence that it started, as a nation, with thirteen colonies?

But what about the other tribes of the so-called Lost Ten Tribes? While the birthright was Joseph’s, and its blessings have come to the British Commonwealth of nations and the United States of America, yet the other eight tribes of Israel were also God’s chosen people. They, too, have been blessed with a good measure of material prosperity—but not the dominance of the birthright.

We lack space for a detailed explanation of the specific identity of all of these other tribes in the nations of our twentieth century. Suffice it to say here that there is ample evidence that these other eight tribes have descended into such northwestern European nations as Holland, Belgium, Denmark, northern France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway. The people of Iceland are also of Viking stock. The political boundaries of Europe, as they exist today, do not necessarily show lines of division between descendants of these original tribes of Israel.

- excerpt from Mystery of the Ages [PDF]
by Herbert W. Armstrong
Chapter 5
Mystery of Israel

************

Joseph isn't Jewish!

Manasseh and The United States

The United States and Britain in Prophecy

The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy

Jeremiah 10

Jeremiah 10
1 Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.
2 Thus says the LORD:


“ Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;
Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven,
For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are futile;
For one cuts a tree from the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.
4 They decorate it with silver and gold;
They fasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not topple.
5 They are upright, like a palm tree,
And they cannot speak;
They must be carried,
Because they cannot go by themselves.
Do not be afraid of them,
For they cannot do evil,
Nor can they do any good.”
6 Inasmuch as there is none like You, O LORD
(You are great, and Your name is great in might),
7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?
For this is Your rightful due.
For among all the wise men of the nations,
And in all their kingdoms,
There is none like You.
8 But they are altogether dull-hearted and foolish;
A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine.
9 Silver is beaten into plates;
It is brought from Tarshish,
And gold from Uphaz,
The work of the craftsman
And of the hands of the metalsmith;
Blue and purple are their clothing;
They are all the work of skillful men.
10 But the LORD is the true God;
He is the living God and the everlasting King.
At His wrath the earth will tremble,
And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.

Jeremiah 10 condemns idolatry, both in the letter and in the spirit, whether a physical idol or an idolatrous tradition based upon HEATHEN CUSTOMS like the "Christmas tree" that history clearly exposes as pagan in origin. Those who adorn their Christmas trees and remain in denial about its pagan origin, who play deaf, dumb and blind to the facts, who attempt to dismiss or downplay how it's a heathen custom, are living a lie and shamefully reject the clear commandments of God that speak against such spiritual adultery, mixing and matching pagan error with biblical truth, and will suffer the consequences for being so dishonest and deceitful.

Pagan holidays like Christmas and pagan customs like Christmas trees are both abominations to God. True Christians shun both, we avoid them like the plague, because we love God more than idolatrous traditions of apostate men!

Why I No Longer Celebrate Christmas

Christmas is About Giving -- Says Who?

C.H. Spurgeon on Christmas and Roman Catholicism

Will God Curse Our Countries for Christmas?

The Plain Truth about Christmas

Pork isn't for Bible-believers

Re: Argentine president: Eat pork, spice your sex life

#6. To: beyond the sea (#0)

Argentines are among the world's biggest consumers of red meat, and most people here stubbornly reject the idea of replacing beef with chicken, pork or other meats. Despite Argentina lying along rich South Atlantic fisheries, seafood is rarely seen on dinner tables.

I didn't realize how much beef Argentina produces until I lived in Israel and worked as a volunteer for various kibbutzim (see God-given love for the Jews) in the kitchen (among elsewhere) and saw it stamped on the boxes. Being American, I thought most beef was from our beloved country. Maybe it is, haven't really checked it out.

Our Great Creator God blesses beef, chicken and certain seafood, so Bible-believing Christians and Jews should stubbornly reject any promotion of pork or other unclean foods that definitely aren't good for you, despite what serpents pimp.

Jesus Upheld the Biblical Dietary Laws
Unclean traditional Christianity has misled many with their lack of understanding of the Bible as a whole. They often take Scriptures out of context and totally twist their meanings, like they do when it comes to abusing Matthew 15 and slaughtering it to teach we can now eat anything.

Unclean Christianity vs. Peter's Vision
Unclean traditional Christianity teaches the religious lie that Jesus "did away with" the dietary laws, sinning against both God and man (1 John 2:4; Matt 5:17-20).

Is All Animal Flesh Good Food?
Were all animals made clean? What about the unclean animals shown to Peter in a vision? Here is a straightforward Bible answer, giving the New Testament teaching. This subject is important to your health and well-being!


http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Counterfeit Christianity has swallowed paganism hook, line and sinker!

Re: Herbert W. Armstrong's last letter to the Brethren & Co-Workers

#7. To: Lord Vader (#5)

Herbert W. Armstrong (and Garner Ted Armstrong)

Messrs. Herbert W. and Garner Ted Armstrong dared to share the plain truth of the Bible - whether about the baptized paganism of Christmas or Easter that counterfeit Christianity has swallowed hook, line and sinker - as well as proclaiming the GOOD NEWS of the WORLD TOMORROW: the KINGDOM OF GOD. Those who are honest recognize what they taught is true and don't get hung up on whether others (including C. H. Spurgeon) teach some aspects of these historical truths too.


http://www.davidbenariel.org/

Judaizer?

Re: Does the United States Appear in Bible Prophecy?

#120. To: McCain_Rocks (#88)

Judaizer

That's how apostate Christians, Gentilized Christians, misled by Romanizers, spiritual drunks and whores, hatefully refer those who reject their counterfeit Christianity to faithfully keep the same biblical ("Jewish") Sabbath, the same biblical ("Jewish") festivals, the same biblical ("Jewish") dietary laws and beliefs as Yahshua, the King of the Jews, and that the early Jewish Church of God observed and taught.

The Sabbath-keeping Church of God are pioneers of the wonderful World Tomorrow when all idolatrous traditions of unclean Christianity, baptized paganism pretending to be Christian, will be history! Come Lord Yahshua!

Do you follow Constantine or Christ?


http://www.davidbenariel.org/

What Is a True Christian?

By Roderick C. Meredith

More than 400 sects and denominations call themselves "Christian"—but they all have some basic, and often fundamental, differences. Would Jesus Christ recognize the organizations using His name today?

Have you ever met a true Christian? Have you ever attended a church full of true Christians? Are you sure? What is it that makes a person truly Christian?      America calls itself a Christian nation. We even print the words, "In God We Trust," on our currency. In many Western nations, Christianity is the official state religion.      Yet in our mixed-up, confused world, there are more than 400 sects and denominations calling themselves "Christian." They all have somewhat different beliefs and practices. Even so, every one of them is named after Jesus Christ! Partly because of this, many non-Christians scoff at the idea that Christianity is directly inspired by God.      And no wonder. For many of the greatest wars in modern history have been started by professing Christian nations. And statistics show that the incidence of rape, robbery and murder has been skyrocketing in many of the Western, so-called "Christian" nations over the past several decades.      Why?      Could it be that they do not really understand what Christianity is all about? Could it be that, even though millions are heavily involved in "churchianity," they do not really grasp—or live by—the plain, clear teachings of Christ?      Modern philosopher Sören Kierkegaard, in his Attack Upon Christendom, wrote: "The Christianity of the New Testament simply does not exist. Millions of people through the centuries have little by little cheated God out of Christianity, and have succeeded in making Christianity exactly the opposite of what it is in the New Testament" (pp. 32–33).      Why would he say this? Part of the answer is in the fact that the greatest and most bloody wars in all human history have been waged primarily in Europe—the very heart of western, "Christian" civilization. In fact, the professing Christian church directly instigated a series of "holy wars" during the Middle Ages, called the "Crusades." Here is one description of the supposed blessings which "Christians" put on the murderous and bloodthirsty activities of the Crusaders: "The knight who joined the Crusades might thus indulge the bellicose side of his genius—under the aegis and at the bidding of the Church; and in so doing he would also attain what the spiritual side of his nature ardently sought—a perfect salvation and remission of sins. He might butcher all day, till he waded ankle-deep in blood, and then at nightfall kneel, sobbing for very joy, at the altar of the Sepulchre—for was he not red from the winepress of the Lord?" ("Crusades," Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed.)      Were these men true followers of the humble carpenter of Nazareth who said: "Love your enemies"?      Yet remember that these men called themselves by the name of Christ—"Christian." It seems that nearly all western religions, philosophies and sects insist upon applying the name of Christ to their own ideas, teachings and practices. In ancient times, the pagans at least openly and honestly acknowledged their worship of the various "gods" and demon spirits of their own choosing. The NAME of Christ Is Often Misused      Since the life, death and resurrection of the Son of God, a great deception has resulted in the placing of Christ’s name on every type of pagan, heathen, perverted philosophy of man that has come along!      Shocking as it may sound, the fact that many churches, doctrines, ideas and practices of men are called "Christian" proves absolutely nothing!      Did Christ start these ideas and institutions? Do they follow His teaching and His example?      How can you know?      Almighty God inspired the Apostle John to describe the Devil as "that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world" (Revelation 12:9). Again, in Revelation 20:1–3, God describes how Satan will soon be restrained "that he should deceive the nations no more."      These inspired scriptures certainly show that most people and nations have been misled and deceived by Satan the Devil! This, very frankly, is the "key," which explains why there are so many obvious contradictions in our supposedly "Christian" society. It shows why this world is so mixed up and confused about what the word "Christian" really means. It shows that our civilization has not been following Christ, but has been deceived into going many different ways under Satan’s confusing influence!      Strangely, yet at least honestly, some of this world’s noted religious leaders and scholars have acknowledged that our professing "Christianity" has not even seriously tried to follow the literal teaching and example of Jesus Christ—its supposed Author!      Observe also this revealing and even shocking quote from highly respected historian Will Durant:      "Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it. The Greek mind, dying, came to a transmigrated life in the theology and liturgy of the church; the Greek language, having reigned for centuries over philosophy, became the vehicle of Christian literature and ritual; the Greek mysteries passed down into the impressive mystery of the Mass. Other pagan cultures contributed to the syncretist result. From Egypt came the ideas of a divine trinity… and a personal immortality of reward and punishment; from Egypt the adoration of the Mother and Child, and the mystic theosophy that made Neoplatonism and Gnosticism, and obscured the Christian creed; there, too, Christian monasticism would find its exemplars and its source. From Phrygia came the worship of the Great Mother; from Syria the resurrection drama of Adonis; from Thrace, perhaps, the cult of Dionysus, the dying and saving god.… The Mithraic ritual so closely resembled the eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass that Christian fathers charged the Devil with inventing these similarities to mislead frail minds. Christianity was the last creation of the ancient pagan world… [The Eucharist] was the conception long sanctified by time; the pagan mind needed no schooling to receive it; by embodying the ‘mystery of the Mass,’ Christianity became the last and greatest of the mystery religions" (The Story of Civilization, pp. 595, 599).      This noted historian plainly acknowledges that church leaders did not take Jesus’ life and His teaching as the standard for their so-called "Christian" churches!      Ask yourself, honestly: What other true standard could there possibly be?      Several years ago, evangelist Billy Graham was quoted as saying that, while many Americans believe there is a God, most "have not accepted true Christianity or Judaism or Islam. They believe the Bible, but they don’t read it or obey it." (U.S. News & World Report, April 4, 1994). This same article quotes famous pollster George Gallup, Jr. as saying that America is "a nation of biblical illiterates… the stark fact is most Americans don’t know what they believe or why."      This statement by Dr. Gallup is one of the key reasons why Satan has been so successful in deceiving the vast majority even of those who profess Christianity! These professing Christians "don’t know what they believe or why!"      They do not really study or understand the Bible. They only have vague ideas of what they think the Bible says. Other religious polls have shown that most Americans are unable even to name more than one or two of the four gospels—let alone understand them. Apart from a vague, sentimental recollection of the Lord’s Prayer or the 23rd Psalm, the Bible is truly a "mystery book"—even to most churchgoers. Jesus said, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God’" (Luke 4:4). How can one live by "every word" of the Bible and yet not even know what the Bible says!      Yet the Bible provides the foundational knowledge upon which true Christianity is built. For unless one proves—to his own satisfaction—that the Bible is God’s inspired revelation to mankind, then one is "lost in the fog." But today most people follow the dictates of their own conscience without biblical understanding in religious matters. People make up their own religious ideas and concepts as they go along.      As a result, you have utter confusion. "Here is the way I feel," some will say, or "Here is the way I look at it." How you and I "look at it" may make interesting coffee-cup chatter, but what truly matters is: "How does God look at it!" Are Denominations "Christian" Because They Do Good Works?      There is no question that good works have been done by a wide spectrum of religious organizations. As people treat their neighbors well, they and those around them experience blessings. Speaking of the spiritual laws and principles of the Bible, Jesus said, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). In other words, these inspired words describe intrinsic values and forces that operate automatically in many cases—just like the law of gravity. If a person does good to others and treats them with love and kindness, it almost automatically works out that he is going to be blessed in one way or another. This principle holds true no matter what someone’s religion might be.      However, actions like being personally helpful and loving—or doing "good works" in some kind of organized effort—in no way, of themselves, qualify people for eternal life in the Kingdom of God. I have had fellow ministers of Christ tell me more than once that some of the most loving, generous and religiously devoted people they have ever known are the Thai Buddhists. Many exhibit a personal warmth, grace, gentleness and spirit of service that is seldom seen even in the Christian world—despite the general destructiveness of their false religion, which rejects the very Savior of all humanity, Jesus Christ. Many professing Christian organizations today—as well as secular ones—ought likewise to be commended for their service and acts of charity on behalf of the needy or disadvantaged. But if these same groups reject God’s laws and the entire way of life that Christ revealed, then what will be the end of their good works?      The point is that, historically, these people may do "good works" one day and the very next day pull out their long knives or guns and butcher their neighbor! Not truly knowing or fearing the true God—and not being led by His Spirit—they do not have the capacity to live, consistently, as Christians should live.      Jesus Christ said, "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’" (Matthew 7:21–23). And Christ spoke further about those who worshiped Him to no avail: "‘In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men’" (Mark 7:7–8).      So although doing good works is an integral part of Christianity, there is much more. Yes, we certainly do need to work on developing gentleness, kindness and service toward others. But we must also—in a very real sense—be conquered by God. Realizing that our own righteousness is simply not good enough (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23), we must be totally surrendered to do God’s will in every phase and facet of our lives—not just in "good works." We must obey His Ten Commandments (Matthew 19:17), keep holy the days He made holy (Exodus 20:8) and let Jesus Christ live His life within us fully through the Holy Spirit (cf. Galatians 2:20, KJV). For we should, in fact, be preparing now to be kings and priests in Christ’s soon-coming world government (1 Corinthians 6:2–3; Revelation 5:9–10). Christ and the Father need to know where we stand. We must demonstrate consistent obedience and genuine good character—a truly surrendered attitude—in order to be fit to assist Christ in His coming kingdom!      The major "Christian" denominations, down through history, have not really taught these truths at all. And they have not been explaining God’s awesome plan and purpose for mankind. They have not been actively preparing their followers to be kings and priests in the soon-coming Government of God to be set up on this earth under Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:26–27). They have not been preaching the Bible’s prophetic warnings about end-time events that our people so desperately need to hear. In fact, most of them have virtually no understanding of the vital one-fourth of the Bible devoted to prophecy—so they seldom have anything to say about it. And so, because of all this, these major denominations are not doing the Work of God or preparing their people for the Kingdom of God.      So read (and carefully re-read!) this vital booklet—so that you can understand what true Christianity is really all about! A Planned Deception      The fact is, true Christianity—and true Christians—do exist. But they may be harder to find than you would think. If you will examine what the Bible teaches, you will find out why there are so few true Christians.      Let me explain. Jesus said, "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many" (Matthew 24:5, KJV). Notice that these people do not come in their own name! Many people erroneously believe that this verse refers to a multitude of "false Messiahs," each pretending that he, personally, is the true Christ. Some misguided men have, in fact, made such blasphemous claims. A famous recent example is David Koresh, who died at the besieged Branch Davidian compound in 1993.      But common sense should tell us that this is a misinterpretation of the Scriptures. Remember that the Bible says "many shall come," and shall "deceive many." The fact is, there just have not been many who have personally claimed to be Christ. And there most certainly have not been many who were taken in—"deceived"—by them. David Koresh himself hoodwinked no more than a few. He definitely did not sway teeming millions of human beings into believing that he, personally, was the Messiah!      What, then, is the answer? Is Jesus mistaken in His claim? Not at all. The correct interpretation of Matthew 24:5 is that many people would come and claim that Jesus Christ was the Messiah—but that they would "deceive many" by subverting, twisting and perverting all that Christ taught and stood for.      These false prophets, then, come in Jesus’ name and tell people that He is the Christ. Using His name, they go on to palm off their own false religious ideas and philosophies under the banner of "Christianity"!      Some of these "false prophets" go so far as to take for themselves titles that rightfully belong only to Jesus Christ Himself. They may compose their own "prophecies" and pass them off as "divinely inspired" or "revealed by an angel." Some may try to exalt their own writings almost to the level of Scripture—all the while claiming falsely to have derived their prophecies and their authority from Christ. In the name of "Christianity" they draw people further and further away from the true Jesus Christ of the Bible.      You see, if people are "clever" enough, they can apply the term "Christian" to almost anything. They can wrap an idea or philosophy in nice, religious-sounding phrases and get others to believe it.      But there is even more to it than that. For behind misguided men and women, there is a powerful spirit being called Satan the Devil. Formerly an extremely wise and beautiful cherub or angel (Ezekiel 28:12–15), he is now fiendishly clever and still very attractive and compelling in his appeal to unsuspecting individuals (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:14).      God calls Satan the "prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). And Satan is further described in Revelation 12:9 as the "great dragon… that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world."      So if Satan works in the sons of disobedience, and if he "deceives the whole world," then obviously billions of people are taken in by him!      The point is that, under the invisible but powerful influence of Satan, there have been all kinds of ideas presented as "Christian" that are not Christian at all. Some of them come directly from paganism. Furthermore, the clear, straightforward teachings of Jesus Christ about a way of life have been virtually buried under an avalanche of strange creeds, doctrines and liturgy.      Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, in his handbook, The Story of the Christian Church, makes this striking point:      "We name the last generation of the first century, from 68 to 100 A.D., "The Age of Shadows," partly because the gloom of persecution was over the church; but more especially because of all periods in the history, it is the one about which we know the least. We have no longer the clear light of the Book of Acts to guide us; and no author of that age has filled the blank in the history. We would like to read of the later work by such helpers of St. Paul as Timothy, Apollos and Titus, but all these and St. Paul’s other friends drop out of the record at his death. For fifty years after St. Paul’s life a curtain hangs over the church, through which we strive vainly to look; and when at last it rises, about 120 A.D. with the writings of the earliest church fathers, we find a church in many aspects very different from that in the days of St. Peter and St. Paul" (1970, p. 33).      In the above quote, this mainstream Protestant author acknowledges that the professing Christian church became vastly "different" after the original Apostles died. Why? Who gave anyone the authority to change the beliefs and practices of the Church? Or did deceived men just take it on themselves to make these profound changes? What Jesus Actually Taught      To understand how the various churches have become so "different" from one another, we need to get back to the source of Christianity—Jesus Christ. If anyone knows what true Christianity is, it would certainly be Christ Himself!      As a young Jew in Israel, Jesus was reared to keep the Ten Commandments. He observed God’s weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days that God had revealed to ancient Israel. It seems easy for Bible scholars to forget these simple facts, gloss over them or pretend they are irrelevant.      But as we shall see, the fact that Christ kept God’s laws makes a huge difference. And those who pretend otherwise do so at great peril to their eternal lives!      Listen!      Jesus was asked by a young man: "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life." Christ answered: "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." The young man then asked: "Which ones?" And Jesus replied: "‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’" (Matthew 19:16–19).      So Jesus clearly taught that the way to eternal life was to obey God by keeping His Ten Commandments!      In His "Sermon" on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly magnified the Ten Commandments. He said: "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:19). A careful study shows that far from "doing away" with these commandments, Jesus made them even more binding. Christ revealed that they formed a spiritual law, including, but far greater in scope than, the literal requirements God had given to ancient Israel. He taught that His followers were not only to refrain from murder, but also that they were not even to harbor the spirit of murder—misguided anger, hatred and rage—in their hearts (Matthew 5:21–22).      He went on to show that not only must a true Christian never commit adultery, but that "whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (v. 28). So even the spirit or attitude of adultery is breaking God’s great spiritual Law, the Ten Commandments. And who, pray tell, had the authority to "do away" with this clear instruction? The Law of Liberty      Think of it! If the whole world would start living by the Ten Commandments—as magnified by Jesus Christ—we would have no crime, no murder, no adultery, no broken homes, no displaced children and no wars! The deep sense of stability, peace and security that would then fill the world would have a definite healing effect in every way. The incidence of depression and mental disease would greatly diminish. Even physical sickness and suffering would decline because mental attitudes affect our physical health.      Obedience to God’s law frees us from harmful conduct. The Apostle James called it the "law of liberty." He wrote: "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty" (James 2:10–12).      This New Testament Apostle, then, was inspired to urge us to keep the law of God—summarized by the Ten Commandments! He also said that if we obey only part of that law, while disobeying other parts, we are "convicted by the law as transgressors" (v. 9). So the Ten Commandments were not done away or "nailed to the cross"—otherwise, they could not convict anyone of anything!      As magnified by Christ, God’s wonderful "law of liberty" would indeed provide humanity with world peace and individual happiness—if it were universally obeyed! But will that ever happen?      Yes, indeed!      Jeremiah’s inspired prophecy describing the coming 1,000-year rule of Christ is quoted in the letter to the Hebrews: "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them" (Hebrews 8:10–11).      So it is clear that the very basis of life in the Millennium will be God’s spiritual law, the Ten Commandments. All will come to love, adore and worship the true God—and do what He commands. All will learn to love their neighbors as themselves. Through true conversion and the empowerment of God’s Spirit, they will gradually learn to "get inside the head" of their fellow men and—with understanding—be able to help, serve, build and encourage all human beings to lead happy and productive lives.      As stated above, when God’s "law of liberty" is universally understood and obeyed, the world will truly be "at peace"—in a way it has never been since Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden. What Should You Do?      If you want to become a true Christian—the kind of Christian the Bible describes—there are several things you need to do.      First, you must absolutely prove to yourself that there is a real God—not an "essence of good" somewhere out in the heavens, but the actual Spirit Personality who created and now rules the entire universe. As the book of Hebrews tells us: "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (11:6).      Furthermore, you need to prove to your own satisfaction that the Bible is truly God’s inspired revelation to man. As Paul explained: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).      Then you need to begin to really study the Bible! Do not just "read" it. Rather, with different translations, a concordance and other study aids, begin to carefully pore over the Bible. Meditate on what you read, pray about it and determine to obey God’s Word—to do what God says.       For Jesus said: "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God’" (Luke 4:4). So you must sincerely yield yourself to live by every Word of God! Then, through this personal, genuine approach of seeking the true God and His will, you will no doubt be led by His Spirit to see that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is indeed the Son of God and Savior of the world—that He is your Savior from your sins.      Paul describes it this way: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life" (Romans 5:8–10).      So we are "justified," that is, made right—reconciled to God—by our heartfelt acceptance of Christ’s death as payment for our personal sins. We all must continually have a deep, personal sense of appreciation and loyalty to Jesus for having so "emptied Himself" on our behalf. The Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 2:5–9: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name."      For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gave Himself for us! And now He is our faithful High Priest, sitting in glory at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us as we seek God in prayer (Hebrews 4:14–16). Christ is also the Living Head of His Church (Ephesians 1:22–23). And He is coming soon to reign as King over the whole earth (Revelation 11:15).      You, personally, must accept the real Jesus Christ of the Bible as your personal Savior, your Lord and Master, your High Priest and coming King. Your commitment to Christ must be absolutely genuine!      But next is a vital "key."      You must not merely accept Jesus’ person. You must also believe in His Message—in what He taught and stood for! For Jesus Himself asks: "But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).      We have already noted this same sentiment in Matthew 7:21: "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."      So what was the Message that Jesus preached? "Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel’" (Mark 1:14–15).      Jesus came preaching the Good News of the Kingdom or Government of God. As we have already seen, He clearly taught that the laws of that Kingdom are based on the Ten Commandments.      Therefore, to be a true Christian, you must repent of your sins and dedicate yourself to begin keeping the laws of that coming Government, to believe the Good News about the Kingdom of God and to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior from sin and your Lord—your absolute "Boss" whom you willingly and lovingly obey!      If you would like more information about the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, please call or write to request your free copy of our eye-opening booklet, Do You Believe the True Gospel? Repent and Be Baptized      We have already seen from James 2:9 that sinners are convicted by the law. James also states: "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all" (v. 10). The law has ten fundamental points—the Ten Commandments. If we break any of them, we are convicted by the law.      The Bible makes it very clear what sin is. Near the end of his life, John wrote: "Sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4, KJV). He further wrote: "And whatever we ask [of God] we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight" (v. 22). This verse clearly shows that keeping God’s law is so important that even the answers to our prayers depend—at least in large measure—upon it. How vital it is that true Christians come to grasp the fact that they are accountable to God to keep the Ten Commandments!      The New Testament tells us what sin is. It never says that sin is dancing or going to a movie. For sin cannot, in every case, be defined simply by what you do. But sin always involves wrong thoughts or attitudes that violate the spirit of the law of God.      Certainly, the kind of dancing that incites sexual lust is always sinful. And viewing movies that glorify violence and lust will undoubtedly ease the way for sinful thoughts to rule your mind. But remember that the standard is not "here’s the way I look at it" or "here’s what so-and-so says." The true standard for determining right and wrong is the law of God. "Sin is the transgression of the law." Could anything be clearer?      A true Christian, then, must internalize God’s law so that it becomes part of his thinking and identity—the very fabric of his being. For that to happen, he must be filled with, and led by, God’s Holy Spirit. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God," Paul stated, "they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14, KJV).      But how do you receive the Holy Spirit? And how does it function? The way to receive the Holy Spirit was revealed by the Apostle Peter. He said: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).      Since your old self must be baptized, that is "immersed"—figuratively buried—in water for the remission of sin, you must repent of, or turn back from, sin! Recall that "sin is the transgression of the law." So you must turn back from breaking God’s Law!      You must be baptized in a "watery grave" as an outward acknowledgment of both the death penalty you have brought on yourself by disobeying the law of your Creator and your willingness to let the old self die.      God’s Word tells us: "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3–4). A Covenant with Your Creator      So when you decide you want to become a true Christian, you need to be willing to "bury" the old selfish self in baptism. Frankly, only God can grant you the real repentance you need to fulfill His will (Acts 11:18). But if He is, in fact, opening your mind to grasp what true Christianity is all about—and calling you to be in the first resurrection—then you must utterly surrender your will to the Creator. You must sincerely and bitterly repent of having carelessly gone your own way all these years—and repent of continually breaking and smashing God’s Holy law in both your thoughts and your actions. Real repentance means to be profoundly sorry—so sorry that you turn around and go the other way! You must, then, make a covenant with your Creator not only to stop breaking the Ten Commandments but—with the power of God’s promised Holy Spirit—to start keeping them as a way of life.      You must determine that, with God’s help, you will never let any desires or vanities or other "gods" come between you and the true God. That you will remember to keep holy His Sabbath day. That you will truly honor your parents. That you will not only refrain from committing murder, but will carefully guard your mind against even entertaining murderous thoughts of hatred or violence against your neighbor. That you will not only refrain from ever committing adultery, but you will not even let your mind dwell on lust (Matthew 5:27–28). You must also determine that you will constantly ask God for the strength not to steal, not to lie and not to covet. As we will explain, it is the power of Christ in you which enables you to keep the Ten Commandments as a way of life.      Remember, after real repentance from rebelling against God and a heartfelt disavowal of your own carnal ways and desires, you should be baptized—signifying your acceptance of, and faith in, Christ’s shed blood as payment for your past sins. After baptism, you are promised the "gift" of God’s Holy Spirit. Then, through His Spirit, Christ places His nature within you—His love, His faith, His strength to overcome your weaknesses and the temptations of Satan and this world.      The love you receive through God’s Spirit is not mere human love. It is the very love of God, "because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5).      Now how does this love operate? Let God’s Word give the true answer! "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3). Through God’s love placed in us by His Spirit, we are able to keep His commandments!      It is not through your mental strength, but through God’s spiritual power—which His Holy Spirit imparts—that you can follow the perfect example of Jesus Christ! You can yield to let Jesus live the same kind of life in you that He did live almost 2,000 years ago—keeping the same laws of God, worshiping on the same Holy Days that God ordained, remaining separate from this world’s society, politics and wars. And—through earnest prayer, constant Bible study, occasional fasting and consistent spiritual overcoming and growth—you can yield to let God fashion you in His image, to be resurrected as His Spirit-born child—possessed of His very nature!      This is, in fact, the very purpose of your existence! The Spiritual POWER You Need      As we have seen, in order to keep God’s spiritual law and to overcome our own sinful ways, we need the love that only God can give. And this He has promised through His Spirit. Furthermore, we have just learned from 1 John 5:3 that God’s love operates through keeping His law.      Again, John—the Apostle Jesus especially loved in a personal way—writing near the end of the Apostolic Era, tells us that God’s love leads us to "keep His commandments." And in spite of clever modern theological arguments to the contrary, John says God’s "commandments are not burdensome."      A true Christian, then, will have God’s love flowing through him like "rivers of living water" (John 7:38–39). As he deeply studies the Bible and feeds on it, and as he fervently prays to God every day on his knees for the spiritual strength, faith, guidance and love he needs, the true Christian grows spiritually.      It is obvious that millions of professing Christians never change! They may have "grown up" in a particular church. Or they may have "accepted Jesus" in some evangelistic meeting. But in most cases, the "Christ" they have accepted is not the true Christ of the Bible! In most cases, the "gospel" they have been taught is not the Gospel of the Bible! Far too often, it is just an incomplete message about the person of Jesus Christ—teaching that the only thing we need to do is "believe" that He died for our sins.      Usually, these unwitting victims of Satan’s massive deception are not told to keep the Ten Commandments! They are not told that Christ must live the same kind of life within them that He lived as a human being almost 2,000 years ago. They are not told about the glorious good news of Tomorrow’s World—that all true saints are preparing to be kings and priests who will assist Christ in ruling the world (1 Corinthians 6:2–3; Revelation 2:26; 3:21; 5:9–10). The Apostle Paul was inspired to warn us about this false Christianity, which was already beginning in his day: "For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you may well put up with it" (2 Corinthians 11:4)!      Unwittingly, most of us have "put up" with the kind of empty, namby-pamby "gospel" described above! Many people prefer this kind of watered-down "gospel" message, because it lets them feel comfortable in their sins. It is a kind of "cheap grace" (as Dietrich Bonhoffer put it) that by neglecting God’s Law tempts its adherents to "crucify again for themselves the Son of God" (Hebrews 6:6).      But the true Gospel tells Christians to grow and change—to develop the very character of God (cf. 1 Peter 1:15–16). The true Gospel—the real "Good News"—tells us that we are to be kings and priests in the soon-coming Kingdom of God (Luke 19:11–19; Revelation 20:6). Paul challenged the Corinthians: "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?" (1 Corinthians 6:2–3).      So, in this life, we are to wisely use the natural abilities God has given us to prepare for the goal of assisting Jesus Christ in bringing genuine peace and joy to this earth through a government based on God’s spiritual Law—the Ten Commandments. As all the world will eventually experience, we must have God’s Law written in our hearts and minds now: "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: ‘I will put My Law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people’" (Jeremiah 31:33).      As we actively surrender to allow God—through His Spirit—to build His very character within us, we should genuinely become better, kinder, more loving neighbors. We should become better, wiser, more dedicated workers or professional people. We should become more thoughtful, loving and patient fathers and mothers, husbands and wives. And we should become more zealous bondslaves of Jesus Christ in the great Work of His true Church—proclaiming the Truth to all nations.      As Paul wrote: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20, KJV). That is what true Christianity is all about—not merely believing in Christ, but having the Living Jesus Christ live within us by the power of the Holy Spirit! That is what gives us the spiritual strength and love to live by God’s law. It is not our strength. It is Christ’s strength—His power and His spiritual love placed within us by the Holy Spirit! For Christ lives within the true Christian. That is the key!      Bit by bit and step by step, each of us must "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Through God’s help and His Spirit in us, we are to surrender ourselves daily to let Jesus Christ live His life in us.      God’s Word tells us: "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s" (1 Corinthians 6:20). Since Jesus Christ bought and paid for each of us by shedding His own blood, true Christians need to realize their responsibility to seek God’s will daily in everything they think, say and do.      Certainly we will all stumble at times, falling short of the goal of letting Christ live in us. One must not be discouraged by this. It happens to everyone. John, the "Apostle of love," wrote about this problem to the true Christians of his day: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8–9).      So when we "slip up" after conversion and repeat old mistakes (or make new ones!), if we are truly repentant and confess these sins to God, He will forgive us. Further, as John stated, God will "cleanse us from all unrighteousness."      Overcoming, then, takes time. It does not happen all at once. That is why we must never get discouraged and give up. Is There Hope for Me?      Many people are wrongly convinced that God could never forgive them because their sins are so awful. Yet, speaking as a sinner in serious need of forgiveness, the prophet Micah wrote: "With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the High God?… .Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" (Micah 6:6–7).      The answer seems too good to be true: "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (v. 8).      Jesus Christ, the Lord God of Israel, came into this world to save mankind—not to condemn us, but to condemn sin (cf. John 1:1, 11–14; 3:17; Romans 8:2–3). Our part is to repent, to accept Christ as our Savior, to turn toward God and His perfect law with our whole being—and to be baptized for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38). God will completely forgive and forget the past sins of every person who takes these actions sincerely (1 John 1:8–9). There is no limit to the mercy and goodness God will show to every person who seeks Him wholeheartedly (cf. Jeremiah 29:12–13). The Fruits of a True Christian      Jesus said: "Therefore by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:20). The "fruits" or results of God’s Holy Spirit working in our lives show whether or not we are truly Christian. Jesus explained the most important thing for a Christian to do when He said: "‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’" (Matthew 22:37–39).      For the true Christian, God becomes the center of everything. The genuine Christian is really God-centered. He will want to please God in all his thoughts and actions. He will constantly remember that God is his Father and that Jesus is his Savior, his High Priest and his living, active Head. Therefore he will not be looking for clever trick arguments to "get around" keeping God’s commandments or His inspired Holy Days.      Rather, he will "feed" on Christ by constantly studying and drinking in the inspired Word of God, the Bible (cf. John 6:56–57). He will learn the habit of seeking God in earnest prayer as Jesus did (Mark 1:35). In all of this, he will learn to "walk with God"—to have his thoughts and actions more in tune with God and Christ every day of his Christian life.      A genuine Christian will also be led by God’s Spirit to "love his neighbor as himself." He will strive, with God’s help and guidance, to be kind, loving and giving. The real Christian will seek to live by Christ’s instruction: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).      A genuine follower of Jesus will strive to be a "giver"—to help, serve, encourage and lift up his fellow human beings. And he will put his whole heart into helping to give God’s precious Truth to others. As Daniel wrote: "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:3).      In his own life and personality, the Christian will, more and more, manifest the spiritual "fruit" that Paul described: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22–23).      Through Christ’s Spirit living within him, the true Christian will demonstrate love—a sincere, outflowing concern for all men—and warmth and affection for all those around him. And the true Christian will always have a deep and abiding love for God and for Christ His Savior. He will appreciate forever the fact that Jesus Christ came down to this earth to suffer, to shed His blood and to die in order to reconcile us with God. So the genuine Christian will have an everlasting feeling of love and loyalty to Jesus Christ!      Furthermore, true Christians will experience inward joy and peace, which are priceless. As the Apostle Paul wrote: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). And all Christians will grow in the spirit of kindness, longsuffering, goodness and gentleness that the above passage describes.      Another vital fruit is faith—the spiritual strength to trust in God and demonstrate commitment to that trust in every area of life. As King David was inspired to state: "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield" (Psalm 5:11–12).      The final fruit of the Spirit is self-control—the spiritual strength to master one’s sins and lusts in order to obey God. Again, if you truly surrender your heart, mind and will to God, accept Jesus Christ and are baptized in His name, you are promised the power of the Holy Spirit to give you this kind of strength and self-control.      Paul wrote to Timothy: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). Through God’s Spirit, He gives us the power to obey His commandments. And our obedience shows that we have that Spirit. As John wrote, "he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us." (1 John 3:24).      John also states: "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked" (2:3–6). The Living Bible paraphrases these last two sentences: "That is the way to know whether or not you are a Christian. Anyone who says he is a Christian should live as Christ did." And, as we know, Christ kept His Father’s commandments—including the fourth commandment—setting us an example. And as we know, Christ set us an example—by keeping the fourth commandment and all of His Father’s commandments (John 15:10).      But we should not expect "perfection" in our lives all at once! We have already learned that we are to "grow in grace and in knowledge." The true Christian life is one of overcoming and growing to become more like Jesus Christ—even in our innermost thoughts and desires.      But for the true Christian, the magnificent future makes all the trials, tests and "growing pains" more than worth it (cf. Romans 8:18).   Keep Your Eyes on the GOAL      If God has called you to true understanding and you grasp what you have been reading in this booklet, you have undoubtedly been called to become a full son or daughter of God (2 Corinthians 6:18). The meaning and ultimate purpose of your calling is awesome.      For as you daily yield your thoughts, your time, your energy and your very life to letting Jesus Christ live His life in you, you will be building more and more of the very character of God. Month by month and year by year, you will be learning to think, act and live like Christ Himself.      Finally, at Jesus Christ’s return to this earth as King of kings, you will be either resurrected or changed from flesh into spirit (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). As a Spirit-born child of God, you will then join with Jesus Christ in ruling the nations of this earth (Revelation 2:26) and in bringing the entire world genuine peace and joy at last!      In your own right, you will then be glorified as a ruling member of the Kingdom or Government of God. The Apostle John writes: "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).      In the resurrection, the true saints will be fully like Christ. They will be offered the awesome opportunity and responsibility to help rule the cities and nations of this earth. The Apostle John was inspired to reveal to us the "prayer of the saints" in Revelation 5:9–10: "And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.’" The saints will then have glorified spirit bodies that will enable them to do the job. For they will never become tired, never become sick and never die!      Composed of spirit, filled with drive, energy and joy, the resurrected saints will live forever in the very Family of God. For they will have surrendered to let God build within them the very wisdom and character of Christ in order to assist Him in ruling this entire world and even judging angels!      Thus John continues: "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:3). Truly there is a transcendent reason to become a genuine Christian!      If you would like to know more about the glory and power ahead for true Christians, then call or write today for our truly exciting booklet, Your Ultimate Destiny. It is offered to you free for the asking—just phone us, or write to us at one of the addresses listed in the back of this booklet. If you have access to the Internet, you can view or download all this material, and more, from our Web site. Just go to www.tomorrowsworld.org and you will find dozens of booklets and articles, along with audio and video programs, to help you learn more about these vital topics.      And if you wish to talk to someone personally about baptism, meet with others who believe the Truth, or inquire about related matters, please write or call us and request a visit. And also request our very informative booklet, Christian Baptism: Its Real Meaning.      All of us who understand God’s Truth have every good reason to want to yield to the God who made us, accept His Son as our Savior and Lord, surrender our lives to live by every Word of God, keep His commandments, allow him to build within us His character and so prepare for the real Tomorrow’s World—the soon-coming Kingdom of our God to be set up on this earth.

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What Is a True Christian?

Replacement Theology Refuted!

The Bible clearly teaches that the Hebrew God chose Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for a special purpose to ultimately affect all humanity.

God first revealed Himself to "the Fathers" and promised to be their God and the God of their descendants. The rest of mankind was "temporarily" left in the dark and to their own devices.

God drafted the Twelve Tribes of Israel to become His Servant Nation. Moses rejoiced in ISRAEL'S UNIQUE CREATION (Deut.4:32-34).

The Great Creator God had never chosen any other people to represent Him. He had never inducted any other nation into His international service. He had never revealed Himself and entrusted His "Instruction Manual for Mankind," His holy Law and Word, His Divine Constitution, to any other nation or people in history!

Of physical Israel, God declares: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth" (Amos 3:2), and "He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any nation; And as for His judgments, they have not known them. Praise the LORD!" (Ps. 147:19-20).

Yes, God ordained Israel to serve as His Custodian of Divine Revelation, specifically the Jews who have been entrusted with the oracles of God (Rom. 3:1-2). And please note that this was written after the Church of God was founded and Jesus had given certain authority to his apostles.

The lying proponents of "replacement theology" deny that there's any advantage to being a Jew or an Israelite. The apostle Paul, under inspiration, strongly disagrees! He wisely continues Jesus' recognition of the Jews' God-given authority: "The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do" (Matt. 23:2-3). And Moses prophesied that the Jews are to retain their God-given authority until Christ restores Israel as "One Nation Under God."

Moses didn't say that Gentiles or the Church had any right to covet or steal that responsibility from the Jews: "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, UNTIL Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be" (Gen. 49:10). Jesus didn't do that at His first coming, which is why His disciples asked Him after His resurrection and just before His ascension: "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). The King of the Jews will accomplish that divine mission when He returns.

God formed Israel as His Holy Nation, instructed them as His Son, and inducted them into His Divine Service. They received a special calling to become a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS, a MODEL NATION, a LIGHT TO ALL NATIONS. God decreed Israel would be "above [not equal to] all people, And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation" (Ex. 19:5-6).

NO OTHER NATION CAN COMPARE TO GOD'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL AND HIS REVELATION TO THEM! (Deut. 4:5-8). Please understand that this utterly unique relationship and revelation is what made Israel great, it wasn't something inherent within them. It was a gift and a blessing they had received from God, despite themselves. It wasn't because they were any better than anybody else; it wasn't because of their race; it was because of GOD'S PURPOSE AND GRACE (Deut. 7:7-8; 9:5; Matt. 3:9; Rom. 3:23; 9:10-18).

The apostle Paul wrote to Church brethren, about their different gifts and calling (they weren't all equal): "For who makes thee to differ from another? And what do you have that you didn't receive? Now if you received it, why do you glory, as if you hadn't received it?" (1 Cor. 4:7). It is by God's design that individuals and nations should have different and distinct gifts and callings. We must respect diversity - not destroy it!

It is our Heavenly Father who directs and establishes us where we belong in His plan, whether it's in the family, Church or among the nations (Deut. 32:8). Who are we to question His wisdom or to quarrel about positions? (Isa. 45:9-10; Matt. 20:23; 1 Cor. 12:18). Jesus is the Firstborn of many brethren, the Church is the collective firstfruits of humanity, and ISRAEL IS THE FIRSTBORN OF MANY NATIONS! In fact, Isaiah 19:25 pronounces: "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance." God has dealt with those three nations more than any others on earth. That is His choice and prerogative. But for now, God has privately tutored Israel like He commands fathers to teach their sons (Deut. 6:7).

God has never referred to any other nation as His Son! Only Israel has that honor: "Thou art my Son" (Ps. 2:7), and "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt" (Hos. 11:1). We're the little boy that will show the way to the whole world, once God has subdued our sins, conquered our enemies and changed their bestial natures to befriend us (Micah 7:19-20; Isa. 11:6; Zech. 8:23).

We need to grow up and we will. Israel has been given a head-start in spiritual education, a special advantage, compared to others. We're not yet mature as a grown man but at least we're a child while others are still acting like animals! (Lev. 26:22; Rev. 13:18). Nevertheless, "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light to the Gentiles; I am the LORD and my glory will I not give to another" (Isa. 42:6,8).

God will faithfully fulfill His purpose for calling physical Israel. He will finish what He's started with our nation! He won't offer that opportunity to any other! God promises, despite the demonic doctrine of replacement theology: "This people [Israel] have I formed for myself: they shall show forth my praise" (Isa. 43:21). Not Germany or Italy or Ethiopia! Do we believe God? Do we doubt He's capable of redeeming Israel? Replacement theology doesn't trust God and denies His saving power! It attempts to limit the Holy One of Israel!

God refers to future events as if they had already happened, since He knows He'll bring them to pass! (Rom. 4:17). Israel is the first nation that God has called out of spiritual Babylon, but they're only the first and not the last. God has called physical Israel to prepare them to serve as a CONVERTED NATION with but under His brilliant Kingdom of God-Beings, just like the GLORIFIED CHURCH is destined to serve as immortal Priest-Kings, with but under Christ! (Rev. 3:21; 20:6).

ISRAEL WILL BE THE FIRST NATION TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!(Ezek. 39:29; Isa. 44:3). Then we'll share our spiritual blessings with all mankind: "But ye [Israel] shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God; And [Israel's] seed [physical descendants] shall be known among the Gentiles, and their [literal] offspring among the people: all that see them shall [finally] ACKNOWLEDGE THEM, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed" (Isa. 61:6,9; Isa. 60:14). And at that time the tribes of Israel will acknowledge Judah for faithful service (Gen. 49:8, Zech. 8:23).

Christ will rule from Jerusalem as Israel's God-King, and yet there will also be a human prince and other mortals reigning under Him (Jer. 30:21; 33:26; Ezek. 46; Zech. 14:16). Likewise, internationally, the human nation of Israel will rule with but under the divine Kingdom-Family of God, and Zadok's physical descendants will faithfully serve in the Temple at headquarters (Ezek. 44:15).

All of the above glorifies God for his tender mercies and faithfulness to our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It reveals that "with God all things are possible." It confirms that "I would not, [Gentile] brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so, all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins; as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), FOR THE GIFTS AND CALLING OF GOD ARE IRREVOCABLE" (Rom. 11:25-29).

Those who foolishly push replacement theology are "wise in their own conceits." They have shamefully twisted the Scriptures that refer to spiritual Jews, to spiritual Jerusalem, the spiritual Temple and spiritual Israel - that generously admits repentant Gentiles into the SPIRITUAL COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL - to spiritualize away God's faithful promises to physical Israel! Now that they've been admitted, they jealously want to exclude Judah and usurp Israel from their rightful place in God's plan! (Rom. 11:24). Individual Israelites may fall away, converted Gentiles grafted in, but the NATION OF ISRAEL is here to stay!

"O LORD, why have made us to stray from Your ways, and hardened our heart from Your fear? Return for Your servants' sake, the tribes of Your inheritance... We are thine: thou never barest rule over them [Gentiles]; they were not called by thy name" (Isa. 63:17-19).

Some Gentiles have forgotten that God hasn't called Israel to become spiritual Gentiles, but has called everyone to become spiritual Israelites! They've forgotten that ISRAEL IS THE HOLY ROOT to which they've become attached. Paul warned them: "Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee" (Rom. 11:18).

They forget that the Church is CONVERTED ISRAEL that embraces righteous Gentiles. They've ignored the biblical principle of DUALITY. That there's the physical and there's the spiritual, and that both have their ordained place. Satan is the one who would love to spiritualize Israel away into oblivion. He wants God to break His promises to physical Israel and let them die in a spiritual holocaust!

However, God refuses to forget His physical people Israel and His holy purpose for them! "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee" (Isa. 49:14-15; Jer. 31:20).

We're supposed to ENCOURAGE ISRAEL TO REMEMBER THEIR ROOTS AND JUDAH HIS RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE GOD, not discourage them. Nevertheless, God remembers them and places His special protective seal upon 144,000 Israelites before the Day of the Lord (Rev. 7:4), and purposely names the 12 gates of the New Jerusalem after the 12 Tribes! (Rev. 21:12). This ought to prove that Israel remains first and foremost in God's Mind (Zech. 2:8). After all, salvation is to the Jew first and then to the Gentile (Acts 3:26; Rom. 1:16).

Paul addresses the nonsense of those who would belittle Israel by asking, "Has God cast away his people? GOD FORBID!" He goes on to show that God has always graciously preserved an ISRAELITE REMNANT, a "holy lump," even when He permitted the majority of Israel to go astray so that He could meanwhile recruit Gentiles (Rom. 11:1,5,16).

Those who preach the polluted propaganda of replacement theology would say physical Israel doesn't matter any more, but Paul clearly fought against such damnable lies! He also reminded his Gentile audience that it's the Israelites who were given everything from the holy Land Covenant to the Law (Rom. 9:4-5).

Those who preach Satan's lies against Israel had better read and believe and take warning! God says, despite Israel's horrible sins, "I WILL NOT CAST THEM AWAY, nor will I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. But for their sakes I will remember the covenant of their [physical] ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD" (Lev. 26:44-45).

And with physical Israel and Judah, God promises to enter into a new or renewed covenant: "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a NEW COVENANT with the House of Israel, and with the House of Judah" (Jer. 31:31). God also states emphatically that just as surely as the sun, moon and stars continue to shine, "If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a NATION before me forever. Thus saith the LORD: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD" (Jer. 31:35-37).

Again, God has heard the lies of those who say that He's spiritualized away His precious promises, that the TWO PHYSICAL FAMILIES OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH (and literal descendants of David and Levi) aren't important anymore, and says such blasphemers "Have despised my people, that they should be no more a NATION before them. Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; Then will I cast away the SEED of Jacob [unconverted Israel], and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be RULERS over the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them" (Jer.33:17-26).

GOD'S WORD STANDS: Those who deny it will be history! "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed" (Malachi 3:6). God will keep His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to their physical descendants: Israel will become His model nation, His Kingdom of Priests and His light to all nations (Lk. 1:68-75). We can bet our lives on it!


Replacement Theology Refuted!