The Confusing Battle between Real Christianity and its Counterfeit

Actually, this is a link to another research website. I'll put the link here, but for those of you who'd rather not leave this website, I'll put the message here.
PS. THIS IS NOT MY WORK. No really, it isnt.

http://www.rockofoffence.com/SPcntfeit.html

The Confusing Battle Between
Real Christianity And
Its Counterfeit

Rock of Offence Special Commentary

       We currently live in perilous times. America (and the rest of the world) is removing the God of the Bible from every aspect of life. Generally speaking, religion is a "system of faith" that demands a righteousness acquired by self effort (also known as self-righteousness) or some type of "earned worthiness". Personal salvation (as defined by religion) is achieved through good behavior, church affiliation and some regiment of spiritual service and works. Some of these character attributes are good and acceptable for many reasons. Yet, radical changes took place in the spiritual world after Christ's crucifixion. The sacrifice of Christ began what the Bible calls "a new and living way" (Hebrews 10:19-23). When a "NEW WAY" starts, it's immediately understood that the "old way" is no longer valid. Under the previous Old Testament religious system (Judaism), God required a certain level of spiritual performance and obedience to laws in order to obtain salvation (eternal life). However, under the "new and living way" THAT BEGAN AFTER THE CROSS, God forbids these attributes to be used as a way to "earn or achieve" salvation (Galatians 1:6-8, Galatians 3:10-12, Galatians 5:4, Galatians 2:19-21, Romans 4:4-8). He forbids their use because His Son fully satisfied the performance and righteous requirements FOR US AS OUR SUBSTITUTE AND SIN-BEARER. According to Galatians 2:19-21….if we attempt to "earn or achieve" salvation through obeying law, religious performance and good behavior, IT CANCELS (VOIDS) WHAT JESUS PROVIDED AS OUR SUBSTITUTE. Yet, as previously stated, good works, good behavior and certain character attributes should be practiced by all Christian believers for other reasons. Salvation (or eternal life) takes on the new role as God's gift AFTER THE CROSS. It is received only through faith in the finished work of Christ. Romans 10:8-13 tells us how this valuable Divine gift is received.
The salvation that Christ now provides through His "new and living way" is extraordinary news. The Bible calls it "a great salvation". Yet, it doesn’t make everyone happy. Some religious leaders were upset because they used the requirements of the "old way" to exercise authority over their followers. To combat this loss, they attempt to reinsert tenants of the previous system into their gospel message (Saint Paul condemned the practice because it "perverts the gospel"). By allowing eternal life to take on its new role as God's unmerited gift, Jesus effectively destroyed a powerful "authoritarian tool" of religion -- and it angered many leaders who didn't want to lose this dominating power. The battle between the new way of Christ and the previous way of Old Testament Judaism still rages in the world-wide Christian Church today.

      Jesus Christ did not come to establish another world religion. TRUE NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A RELIGION BECAUSE IT’S ESTABLISHED ON GOD'S UNMERITED AND UNDESERVED GIFT OF SALVATION (ETERNAL LIFE), WHICH IS ENTIRELY BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY CHRIST. CONTRARY TO SOME POPULAR TEACHING, IT IS NOT BASED ON A "RELIGIOUS" TYPE OF SALVATION -- EARNED BY BEHAVIOR, SPIRITUAL SERVICE OR GOOD WORKS (Carefully read Titus 3:4-7, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:4-9, Romans 4:4-8, Romans 5:17-19 and Romans 3:24-26). Jesus condemned a similar type of corrupt theology when He said :

"...this people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN." (Mark 7:6-7)

The Old Testament Book of Proverbs warns of the eternal consequences of being fooled by good-looking counterfeit religion :

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12 KJV)

These Scriptures illustrate why Saint Paul commanded all believers to "examine and test themselves" to make sure they possessed authentic faith in Christ (Read 2 Corinthians 13:5). Similar to the deceptive nature of counterfeit money, counterfeit religious faith is a constant unrealized danger specifically designed to fool even the most educated Bible believer AND THEIR SEMINARY-TRAINED LEADERS.

Since the birth of the Church in the first century, many influential and popular spiritual leaders and their devoted followers have successfully redefined the redemtive program of Christ (eternal life) into a misleading religious system of faith, skillfully established on deceptive out-of-context Scripture. THE NEW TESTAMENT WARNS THAT GOD DOES NOT HONOR OR RESPECT THIS SYSTEM (Galatians 1:6-8, Galatians 3:1-3, 2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Corinthians 11:12-15 and Proverbs 14:12). Protestants and Catholics are two major groups (approximately 70-80% of the world-wide Christian Church) that have fought over their interpretation of Scripture and the true nature of salvation for more than 500 years. Yet, both these groups (and the countless sub-groups and various para-church movements related to them) are strongly influenced by the same misleading theological tenants of religion that continue to go unnoticed by the average church member. (Note: This is true for most of these groups, but thankfully not all.)

To a certain extent, authentic salvation (or eternal life) has little to do with the denominational label we choose to wear. The New Testament Scriptures (specifically the Epistles of Saint Paul) warn us that real salvation depends on whether you’ve placed your faith and trust “in the correct Jesus”. It has nothing to do with attending a particular earthly institutional church, especially the ones that claim to be "God's true church". The world is not necessarily rejecting the authentic Jesus of the Bible. The world is rejecting the counterfeit Jesus of "Christian religion". This involves one of the most horrific warnings given in the New Testament. We repeat the same warning in our commentaries to the point of sounding excessively redundant. Why do we take this risk? A vast majority of professing Christians are programmed to ignore the serious eternal consequences. They are wrongly taught that these different beliefs about the gospel are only personal opinions, which should be ignored and set aside to avoid controversy and division. Yet, the apostles of the early church believed that sounding a warning about the "counterfeit christ" (Paul calls him "another Jesus and his different gospel” in Galatians 1:6-8 and 2 Corinthians 11:3-4) was a necessary part of preaching authentic New Testament salvation.

Redemption's Song

I haven't written poems in a while, but God gave me the inspiration for this. Be blessed as you read.

                            "Redemption's song"

In perfection one was made, two existed in the glade
By the twisted serpent's verse, one deceived, both bore the curse
Sword of light to guard the tree, from the man who once was free
Man were they of Life's full breath, man were they who tasted death
Poison fruit of sin matured, birthing death in time assured
So corrupted was man's race, no way to the throne of grace
And man couldn’t pay the cost, to regain paradise lost

To redeem this worldly clan, Son of God turned Son of Man
And resisting Satan's pull, drank the cup of wrath to full
Now a man, was once the Lord, Jesus Christ the Son of God
Three days in Gehnenna's tower, broke the bands with fiercest power
Through the death of the Just One, life could be found in the Son
And man who in death was shorn, in the Son could be reborn
But some eyes still remain closed, but some lie in state reposed
Some have heard with ears shut tight, some see nothing in the light
To deliver, we must care, we must not be slaves to fear
"Veritas must be our creed, In their hearts we plant the seed
That light may in darkness bloom, Son-light in shadows of doom
Those whose eyes and ears were closed, to them truth will be exposed
So those blind may once more see, so those capive may be free

The Stanley Covenant

I saw this story on a website (rockofoffense.com), and I'd like to share it with you.
Happy reading, and God bless you.

The following story is from the exploits of two famous British missionary/explorers named Stanley and Livingstone who traveled the continent of Africa from the late 1800's and early 1900. The story is actually about Stanley. It illustrates how a blood covenant can heal even a hopelessly hostile situation. Whether we realize it or not, a "hostile" situation existed between man and God. In the Garden of Eden man rebelled against God’s revealed will. Where a love relationship once existed—eternal death, judgment and division took its place. God's response to this unacceptable situation was to cut a blood covenant that would end forever the enmity and would bring eternal reconciliation between Himself and the human race.

Stanley set out on his missionary journey to Africa with no idea of the circumstances he would face and the strange customs he would encounter. Upon entering Africa, he ran into trouble with different African tribes. One Chief in particular was very determined that he should leave and not return. Stanley had a guide and advisor during his travels. Being familiar with the customs, this guide suggested that Stanley make a "blood covenant" with the Chief. This involved a ceremony where incisions were made on the wrists of both men. Drops of blood from each man was mixed in some kind of drink (either wine or goats milk) and both drank from the cup. They then clasped hands as in a handshake allowing the blood from the wounds on their wrists to mix together. Drinking the wine mingled with the two bloods and the handshake symbolized the two men becoming one blood, one life, one new man. A substance was applied to the wounds that left an indelible mark where the cut was made. Wherever these men went they bore the "mark of the covenant." At this point, these two men were considered "blood brothers." The ceremony concluded with an exchanging of gifts where each gave the other something of great value. What the Chief wanted from Stanley was the goat he owned. As he had a stomach disorder, Stanley needed the milk from this goat and didn’t want to give it up. The guide persuaded Stanley that it would be wise to give up this goat. In exchange, the Chief gave Stanley his spear that had a large copper coil near the head. Stanley thought to himself, "Great! I give up my only source of food and relief and all I get is this spear!"

At that time, Stanley didn’t know that this Chief was the head of the most powerful tribe in all of Africa—and this man was now his blood brother. He soon discovered that everywhere he went in Africa that spear was recognized as "the" symbol of authority. Whole tribes would literally bow their knee to it. That spear was the key that opened up the whole continent of Africa! Any tribe that chose to stand against Stanley knew they had to deal with this Chief, Stanley's blood brother.

Stanley and Livingstone stated that to their knowledge a blood covenant was never broken on the continent of Africa. To break a blood covenant made you a condemned man. A broken blood covenant caused your own family to hunt you down and kill you. The thing I find interesting in this story is reconciliation. These two men start out as being enemies. The blood covenant turned them into committed friends.

Black or White?

Sorry I have been away from my blog for a while. Been working at school.
First of all, this isnt a song by Michael Jackson! :D 

A question- 

What do you do when you are stuck in a room with lotsa black tiles and a few white tiles, and the objective is to walk across the room on only the white tiles...
(if not you fall down a deep chasm to your doooommm)
... or something like that.

YOu could do two things:
1. Avoid all the black tiles- this'll be quite hard as you are basically surrounded by them.
2. Aim to walk on the white tiles. This is a whole lot easier (i think)

anyway, that's why Paul tells us that if we want to live as God's children, we should avoid all the works of the flesh????? Nope. He says we should walk after God's spirit.

And believe me, when you aim to walk on the white tiles, you avoid the black tiles as well without going too much trouble.
Shalom and have a good day.