The God of the Old and New

The Israel of God

Many people that claim to be religious find it hard to believe that before Jesus was born of Mary he was in fact God. However, this is nothing new because the Pharisees and other religious leaders of Jesus day found this fact just as hard to believe back then. They even attempted to stone Him on numerous occasions because of statements He made alleging Himself to be God. “The Jews answered Him, saying, for a good work we stone thee not; but for a blasphemy: and because that thou being a man, makest thyself God.” (St. John 10:33)  I guess all the uproar has been over the question: How can God be born of a woman?  Supposedly rational minded people find this impossibility.  Never the less, these same people do not seem to cringe at the idea that God hung the world on nothing (Job 26:7), or that he created man from dirt, (Genesis 2:7)  Even the idea that Eve was made of one of Adams ribs does not seem such a hard task for the Almighty God. Well then, why the rejection of the idea of Jesus being God, when the entire bible supports it? Before Jesus came in the flesh, the prophet Isaiah wrote that he (Jesus) would be “despised and rejected of men” (Isaiah 53:3), and “for a stone of stumbling and rock of offence to both the houses of Israel” (Isaiah 8:14).  In other words, Isaiah knew that when Jesus came into the world He would not be received graciously, even though He made the world (St. John 1:10-11).

What are some of the things Jesus said that support Him being God?  In (St. John 5:37) He said, “And the father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me, ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.”  Well, if no man has heard or seen the Father at any time, who did Moses and the elders of Israel see in (Exodus 24:9-11), where the bible says twice that they saw God?  They saw Jesus, the God of the Old Testament, the God of Israel.  Paul clarifies this in (1 Corinthians 10:1-4) when he has let us know that Jesus was the “Rock” that led the Israelites through the Red Sea. This is the same “Rock” that Isaiah said many would be offended by.  Now, what was Jesus doing at the Red Sea if his beginning was with Mary?  Here is the explanation; “And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” (St. John 1:14).   But prior to that, he was God with God.  That’s why St. John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made.”  Jesus is called the Word because He is the spokesman for the Father.  Now we can under stand why Jesus said no man has heard the Father’s voice at anytime.

 What did Jesus mean when He said, “Before Abraham was, I am?” (St. John 8:58), here not only Jesus is telling us that He was in existence before Abraham was, (Who was born over 1,200 years before Jesus was born of Mary) but He is also telling us that He has always existed.  That’s why He said, “Before Abraham was I Am”.  Furthermore by saying, “I Am” He repeated what He had told Moses at the burning bush.  ”And God said unto Moses, “I AM THAT I AM:” and He said, “Thus shalt you say to the children of Israel, ‘I Am hath sent me unto you’.” (Exodus 3:14) Moses wanted to know God’s name and the Lord told him “I Am that I Am” therefore He called Himself I AM. This is what He told the people in St. John the eighth Chapter. “I AM.”

There are many more examples that I can give proving Jesus was the God of the Old Testament but I’ll only mention one more. When Isaiah prophesied concerning the birth of Jesus by a virgin he called his name Immanuel, (Isaiah 8:14)  When Matthew testified of the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-23) he let us know that his birth was fulfilling the words of the prophet.  He also gave us the meaning of Immanuel.  GOD WITH US.  The prophet and the apostle here clearly let us know that God had been born of a virgin. So we see that the Old and New Testaments give evidence that Jesus is the God of all times.  Remember, Jesus said himself, “Before Abraham was I AM.”

Source:  The Israel Of God/Text Lessons

 Source:  The Israel of God Bible Study Class

In mainstream Christianity, when we try and correct someone with the bible and show them what the word of God says, some are quick to go on the defensive especially when what you say goes against what they are being taught and what they believe. That’s when the “Who are you to judge me?” comes out. Even my own mother told me that we serve the same God but in different ways. We were taught to be “opened-minded” and to tolerate other people’s beliefs and ideas. In a democratic and “multicultural” society, this approach has its merits, for people do not want someone else’s religion or other ideas forced down their throats. But there is a grave danger in this approach. Although it is good to be kind and to be “tolerant” of others’ ideas and religions, this approach can very easily degenerate into religious confusion—into a situation where millions of people begin to assume that there are no absolute truths, and that God will put up with anything and anybody.

We are at risk of reflecting the worldly cynicism that Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judah, showed when he examined Jesus Christ. (John 18:37-38) (v.37) Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (v.38) Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. Jesus is telling you that everyone that is of the truth hears his voice. Surely every doctrine that is being taught in the name of Jesus is not true. So how can you be absolutely sure the voice that you are hearing and following is that of the true and living God? (John 17:17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. That’s the only way that you can be sure that you are following the God of this bible and not some god created in the mind of this self-serving man. You must at all times stay close to the scriptures and don’t lean on the understanding of others, or even your own understanding for that matter.

(Pro 3:5) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. If you truly believe in the God of the Bible, you must believe that there is absolute truth. For the inspired Word of God clearly indicates this, again and again. In our desire to be “nice” or “tolerant,” we may unwittingly water down our entire concept of right and wrong. In this “tolerant” spirit, some assume that all religions are equal—that God has not revealed unique truth through His Word or through Jesus Christ. However, if you truly believe the Bible, you will understand that this is wrong. Even the Apostle Paul—whom many think of as expanding the Christianity that Jesus preached—gave a pointed reminder to the uncircumcised Gentiles of Ephesus, describing their condition before coming into the Truth: (Eph 2:12) That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. This same message is for the world today, whether you are a Gentile, Hamite, or Shemite you are without God if you don’t repent and come up out of this Roman Christianity and stop serving man and start serving God. How would that message be received in today’s “tolerant” society? Similarly, preaching to the Jews of his day, the Apostle Peter powerfully proclaimed the uniqueness of Jesus Christ’s name and authority, stating: “This is the ’stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11-12). This inspired passage certainly gives no hint of “exclusivist” or “ecumenical” feeling, or that “all religions are the same.” And the Word of God repeats this point, again and again!

Millions of professing Christians attend church each Sunday, singing songs, clapping hands and wanting to “feel good” about their acceptance of The Person of Christ—at least their idea about Christ. Yet the true Christ of the Bible warns us all: (Mat.7:21-23) (v.21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (v.22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (v.23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. These are church people that Jesus is going tell to “Depart from me I never knew you, ye that work iniquity”.  Iniquity is just another word for sin and the bible clearly tells you that sin is that breaking of God’s law (1John:3:4). The problem is that no one wants to keep the commandments of God. Excuse me, I stand corrected-in these days of “Salad-Bar Christianity”  people think that they can pick and choose which of the commandments they will and will not keep.

That might work with man but I guarantee you it will not fly with God. In decrying lawlessness, Jesus was talking about mankind’s failure to keep God’s spiritual Law, the Ten Commandments. Many churches today give “lip service” to the commandments just as the word of God prophesied they would; (Eze.33:30-32) (v.31) Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. (v.31) And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. (v.32) And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. You hear what thus saith the Lord but you aren’t going to do it. Oh, it sounds like a very lovely song and a pleasant voice when you hear it, you hear what the Word of God says but you do them not. Some churches are quick to say we teach and keep the commandments but their members become some what confused if they are reminded that the fourth commandment directly tells us to worship God on the seventh day of the week, which we know as Saturday not the ancient, pagan “day of the sun, Sunday.  “Oh, but that’s too strict,” some will say. “We don’t need to take Jesus’ statement so seriously.” Really? Perhaps we should not take Jesus’ statements about not killing so seriously, either. Perhaps we should not take Jesus’ prohibition of lying so seriously. Perhaps we should not take so seriously His condemnation of wanting divorce (except for the very few strict biblical exceptions). What about “Thou shall not steal”? Maybe we shouldn’t take that so seriously either?  Right?  Of course not! (James 2:10-11) For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (v11) For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. For he that said not to commit adultery is the same that said also, do not kill, and he that said not to kill said also remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. You can not pick and choose which of the commandments you are or aren’t going to keep, it’s either the Lord’s way or the highway, and that highway leads straight to the lake of fire.

The truth is that we have become, in large part, a society of Salad-Bar Christians. Many like to profess that they follow Christ, but few actually follow Him! Many like to profess that they believe in the Ten Commandments, but they are extremely quick to “water down” the commandments when it suits their purpose—and our modern “lifestyle.” We like to think that we stand for truth. But how many of us resort to lying “a little” when it suits our purpose? How many of us actually keep the dietary law of the bible. Again, the word of God is very clear. For the Apostle John quotes the word of God promising: (Rev 21:7-8) (v.7) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (v.8) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. The liar and the murderers along with the whoremongers and the abominable will receive the same reward. Let’s take a quick look at one way that you can make yourself abominable in the eyes of the Lord. (Lev 20:25) Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. You mean you didn’t know that you could make yourself unclean and abominable by eating certain manners of food? Yes, what your diet consists of could very well have you tossed into the fire with the liars and the murderers and the whoremongers. Sisters and brothers, I urge you to read the bible for yourself and pray for some understanding. But since our western society is too “educated” and likes to “compromise,” we do not really want to believe do we? Sisters and brothers, I pray that as thousands have already done, more and more of you will open your hearts and minds and be willing study your bible and to understand and practice the full Truth.

We do need to take seriously the inspired Word of God! The Apostle Paul was inspired to tell us that; (2 Thess 2:10-12) (v.10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. In order to be saved you must learn and practice the truth; learn what thus said the Lord and do it. (v.11) And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: And if you keep playing games with the Word of God, he will give you a strong delusion and you will actually start to truly believe those lies that you deal with, and you know the ones that I’m referring to. If you keep finding reason to deal with the paganism of the Roman Catholic Church, you are going to wake up one day and find yourself stuck in the land of no return and it is called the Lake of Fire. (v.12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. When lessons like this are put before your face check it out and prove us wrong, or are you going to be one of the many that believe not the truth. Or are you going to do what the bible tells you to and; (1 Thess.5:21) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. That’s what you are supposed to do – “Prove all things”. Get off into your bible and read it for yourself and quit letting someone dictate it to you. Read your bible and pray for understanding and the word will strengthen us, so that we can stand up against all the human argument and reasoning against the knowledge of God, and so that we can truly bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ!

Certainly, none of us are perfect. We all need time to grow and to change. But we must start somewhere. We must be willing. And we need to learn to go all out with a zeal and enthusiasm that shows God that we want to be in His Kingdom and to fulfill His will in our lives with all our hearts. We must learn to aim high. For Jesus tells us: “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). We know as long as we are in the flesh we can’t be perfect but we must strive for it. We must try and be like God, after all God is recreating God. I hope that each of us can come to realize how easy and how dangerous it is to be a Salad-Bar Christian and just “go along” with this world’s society, for the attitudes of lethargy and compromise are all around us. God knew that this would happen! That is the reason He specifically described the last era of the Church the Laodicean era in this way: (Rev.3:14-16) (v.14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (v.15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (v.16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. The Lord is warning you that if you are neither hot nor cold then you are lukewarm. You shouldn’t be a lukewarm Christian. You are either with the Lord or against him, there is no in between.

You can’t straddle the fence. You can’t be a Salad-Bar Christian! The Lord has warned you (Jer.10th) about the paganism of Christmas and how it has nothing to do with the God of this bible and he told you don’t learn these ways. But you say, “I know that Christmas is pagan but I do it for the kids”. The Lord told you out of his own mouth that the sign that he was the Christ was the sign (Mat.12:40) of the prophet Jonah. Just as the prophet Jonah was to be three days and three nights in the belly of a whale, so was the Son of man (speaking of himself) to be three days and three nights in the heart (grave) of the earth. You know that you can’t get three days and three nights from Good Friday, bad Friday or any other Friday to Sunday. But just about everybody that calls themselves a Christian will keep this pagan holiday. When you go to church on the first day of the week (Sunday) instead of going on the seventh day of the week (Saturday) as commanded, you are compromising the word of God. Ash Wednesday, Lent, going to heaven, praying to the Virgin Mary, “you can eat anything as long as you pray over it”- these and many other things are ate up at the salad-bar that’s being served to Christendom. You won’t read, you won’t research, and you think that you are just going to waltz into the kingdom of God. (Pro.8:17) I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. If you would only read the bible for yourself and not just the one or two scriptures that you are programmed to read by your pastor, then you wouldn’t be walking around deceiving people, telling them that God loves everybody. This one verse, if it was read in the church, would help many people clean their act up in a hurry. God doesn’t love everybody because if he did, then who are the people that going to end up in the Lake of Fire?  That’s a hellava way to show your love for someone!  God loves those that love him. Let’s take a look at how to love God. (John 14: 15) If ye love me, keep my commandments.  Jesus just told you how to love, by keeping his commandments and everything that comes up under them including; (Lev.20:13) If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. I didn’t write the bible, I just read the bible and took it for what it said. God is all wise, he knows exactly what he is doing. He said that a man shouldn’t lay with a man as he lay with a woman and the same thing with a woman on woman. In other words, there is no such thing in the eyes of God as a gay Christian. And according to the bible, if you consider yourself a gay Christian it’s because you are following that other Christ that Paul so strictly warned you about. (2Cor.11:3-4) (v.3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. The word of God is as simple as you make it, learn what thus said the Lord and live it! I urge you, I even beg you in the name of Jesus; don’t be a Salad-Bar Christian. Keep the commandments of God and live, even eternally. (v.4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. It is that other Jesus, that other Christ that allows you to get away with anything, but not the true Christ of the Holy Scriptures.

Please understand millions of lukewarm people are very nice. They may be good friends or family members. They may be pleasant and agreeable workmates. God may not have called them yet, but if he has or if he’s calling you, be sure that you do your part to; (2Peter:1:10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. Certainly, one may compromise about which restaurant to visit, or which ballgame to attend. It can be good to be agreeable and let others decide in ordinary human situations. But when it comes to God’s law, you and I must truly learn to fear watering down or compromising God’s truth in the way we teach or live. We in this work cannot help you by telling you anything less. We can’t lie to you and attempt to smooth God’s word over. But we that know the truth must teach God’s word accordingly. May God help you to understand, and then to find a place where the full truth is being taught and to act on that truth with all your heart! (Luke 4:4) And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Every word of God is what man shall live by.

(Pro.30:5-6) (v.5) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. (v.6) Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Who are we to add or subtract from the holy words of this bible, like we are on the same level as God? (Job:8:2-4) (v.2) I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? (v.3)  If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. (v.4) He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? God could ask you a thousand questions and you couldn’t answer one correctly. (Jer.26:4-5) (v.4) And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, The Lord God sets his law (commandments) before every generation. (v.5) To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened; And generation after generation refuses to keep his commandments, attempting to hide behind his grace instead, which they obviously know very little about.

(Deut 30:19) I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: What did the Lord set before you that contains life and death?  He set before us the commandments of God, all ten of them and everything that comes up under them. In this world of Salad-Bar Christianity you do have one choice, eternal life or eternal death. Sisters and brothers please choose life and live.

I believe therefore I speak.

Always remember that there is peace in Jesus.

May the Lord God give skill and understanding to all who truly seek the truth.

In Jesus name, A-MEN.

The Israel of God Bible Study Class

2515 E. 75th Street

Chicago, IL 60649

(773) 374-6413 or (800) 96-BIBLE

Please click on Scriptures

In recent days I have been thinking about humanity, in general, and I have arrived at the conclusion that we, humanity, have a fatal flaw, passed on to us from our original parents, Adam and Eve.  I will not attempt to keep you in suspense, the flaw, and it is fatal, is that we are prone to, no scratch that, we love to believe a lie, Genesis 3:4.

The Bible is chock full of examples, the first being Genesis 3:4.  Now stick with me here friends.  God had given Adam a definite directive/command, Genesis 2:16-17.  They heard what God had said, however, they did not heed (listen and obey).  This fatal flaw was imprinted in the human psyche, that day, and continues to proliferate up to this very minute.  Deceit and lies are the main staple of the day.

Satan planted the seed, we have added the water of faithlessness and the harvest is as long and wide; thick and deep as the Amazon Rainforest (used to be).  We are living in the time that the prophets and the Apostles were shown.  The time when the truth of God is prophesied to “lay in the street”, Isaiah 59:13-15; Isaiah 30:1, 8-10,;  the time which Paul related to Timothy that men would not endure sound doctrine and would require their “shepherds” to speak lies and smooth things, 2Timothy 4:1-4.

Abraham was no different in substance from any other man born of a woman, however, his character was such that he chose to do what his (and our) original parents failed to do:  He believed God, Genesis 12:1-4, Hebrews 11:8-9.  He believed God would provide an inheritance for him when the Lord told him to leave his father’s people with their idols and false gods, Joshua 24:2, and walk in His ways and be perfect before Him.

People today try to paint Abram as a liar, but he wasn’t, Genesis 20:12.  He was merely a man with all the same frailties of humanity, as is present in modern day mankind, except for one clear cut distinction:  Abraham chose to believe everything that God told him; every request/commandment spoken to him he performed, and taught his children to do the same, Genesis 26:3-5. 

If we turn to Hebrews 11, the faith chapter, the first to be mentioned is Abel; Hebrews 11: 4 , the Lord had communicated to man His laws, statutes, and judgments, Genesis 4:3-9.  Why do I say this?  Because SIN is the transgression, (breaking), of the law.   If there is NO law, there is no sin.

Abel was obedient to whatever the law was in regard to the first fruit offering, and Cain was not.  Hebrews 11:4 says, “a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” and it was by his action that Abel “obtained the witness that he was righteous”, and though Abel is dead he will receive the promise:  To be raised in the first resurrcetion. 

Noah was warned by God of the wrath that was to come and was given a specific set of instructions which he followed to the letter, and because of his obedience he, he wife, his three sons and their wives were the only humans to survive the great flood, Hebrews 11:5-6, Genesis 6:3.  FAITH is your belief in action.

Enoch, Noah’s grandfather believed God and demonstrated his faith by his obedience to whatever the Lord required of him and after 300 years of faithful obedience Genesis 5:21-29,  he received the promise that we are looking to receive:  Eternal Life.  The difference being, Enoch did not die, his body did not see corruption, Hebrews 11:5. 

That was to be the destiny of mankind, had it not been for disobedience.  The Bible tells us there were two “trees” which did not grow out of the ground; the “Tree of Life” and the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil”, and it also tells us that there was a restriction on only one “tree” in the garden.  It was then, just as it is now:  the choice is yours.  To partake of the Lord’s table and live for eternity with the Lord, or to continue to partake of the Devils table and live for eternity in the Lake of Fire, Matthew 25:41.

Lies, in my estimation, are the Dom Perignon, the Cristal Champagne of sin, because every other sin is conceived and birthed by a lie.  Think about it.  When the Lord gives us a command, He  expects and deserves, unfailing obedience from His children, however, that is far from what He receives from us.

The vast majority of “modern-day Chistendom”, do not serve the Jesus Christ of the Bible they serve “another Jesus”.  If you mention to them about obeying the laws of God, they will quickly come to the devil’s defense, saying, “Jesus nailed the Mosiac laws to the cross—which is a lie, Psalm 119:160.

These “Christens” will quickly quote their pet scriptures and dismiss your position as heretical, damnable, delusionary, or say that you are in a cult.  They will condemn you, your congregation, and your Shepherd to the “wide road that leads to destruction”.  They never stop to ask themselves, “Have I diligently searched the scriptures as the Bereans did?

“Christendom” has bought the lies of the devil, hook, line and sinker.  Gather together a group of “Christens” and ask them a few question and no matter what the demonization, they all have the ribbon of lies woven intermittently throughout their doctrines.  These lies are the polar opposite to the truth of God’s Words and yet the vast majority are blind, and refuse to see.   The real truth is that mankind has a problem with submitting to another’s authority, especially, God’s authority.

Here in the blogosphere, I have come upon those who say that the laws of God are a yoke, which is a reprehensible statement of those who claim to be followers of Christ.  To be called a Christian means that you are Christ-like.  During His thirty three and a half years on earth He obeyed every law of God.  That is why He is described as “the lamb without spot or blemish, He sinned NOT–in word nor deed.  What really distinguishes Him from us?  He was truly man while here on Earth; the only difference between Him and us is that He was obedient up to His death for the Word of God.

Every commandment given, He adhered to (obeyed); all the prophecies referencing His first coming, He fulfilled, and He has reclaimed His rightful position as God at the right hand of the Father, as our High Priest, our Savior, our Lord, and our coming King.

People, “Christens”, all over the world have no idea who Jesus is, they see His vengeance being poured out on “the other people”—the sinners.  These “Christens” are those who have left their salvation up to –“more learned men (and women)” than themselves.  They do so even though the Bible by the mouth of Paul says, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”.  They rely on “scholars” who have virtually taken all of what God intended the Bible to say, and mean, out and explained it away.

Humanity is so wicked that Satan has instigated a “Gay/Lesbian Bible”.  Stop and think about all of the blasphemous books (and movies) that have been and are being published and produced, at a phenomenal rate in the past two decades.  Do you see that we are living in times very much like the people before the great flood?  Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27.

You are probably wondering, “What lies could King’s Kid possibly be speaking of?

·        Sunday is the Christian Sabbath, the Lord’s Day.

Exodus 16:29   Exodus 20:8-12  Exodus 31:13-15  Leviticus 23  Deuteronomy5:12

·        The “good” dead are in heaven and the “bad” dead are in hell.

Genesis 3:19   Psalm 104:29   Ecclesiastes 9:19-21   Ecclesiastes 12:7

·        You can eat anything, as long as you prayer over it.

Leviticus 11   Deuteronomy 14:8   Isaiah 65:4   Isaiah 66:7   Acts 10:10-20

·        The Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead.

“Is the Holy Spirit God?  Pt 1“

“Is the Holy Spirit God?  Pt 2“ 

·        Man is triune—body, soul, and spirit.

Genesis 2: 7    Job 27:3   Job 33:1-6   Ecclesiastes 9:19-21

      ·        The circumcision is no more (How can this be?  The circumcision is a sign of the Covenant.

 Genesis 17:9-14, 23-27   Exodus 4:25-26   Exodus 12:43-45, 47-49   John 7:23   Acts 7:8   Acts 15:1-25 Acts 16:2-4

I placed Acts 16 here to show that if Paul “said” it is not necessary for men to circumcised, then why did he circumcise Timothy??

·        OSAD—once saved, always saved.

       Ezekiel 3:20-21   Matthew 10:22    James 1:12

·        The Lord loves everybody, unconditionally.

Deuteronomy 12:31  Deuteronomy 16:22   Deuteronomy 32:19   Psalm 4:7   Psalm 5:5   Psalm 11:5   Psalm 106:40   Malachi 1:2-3

I add these and ask you, “How does the Lord feel about those who do not keep His commandments?”

Exodus 20:6    Deuteronomy 7:9    Matthew 19:17    John 14: 15,  21    John 15:10    1 John 2:3-4    1 John 3:22-24    1 John 5:2-3    2 John 6    Revelation 12:17     14:12     22:14  

·        The Lord will rapture His people off the Earth before the Great Tribulation.

 Matthew 24:29-31   John 6:39-40,  44,  54

·        Good Friday, Easter, Christmas.

 Leviticus 23    Outlines the Feast of the Lord that are to be observed for ever.

In closing, I ask you to internalize this verse, Luke 13:24-27.  Examine your Bible without preconceived suppositions; just read it for what it says and ask yourselves why one of the many themes of the Bible is, “Be not deceived—Let no man deceive you”.

 Peace

King’s Kid

Most ”modern day Chirstens”, when they learn of someone advocating the keeping of God’s Law, are quick to call that one a legalist.

  _________________________________________________________________

 This segment is excerpted from the book, “Too Long in the Sun”.

The dictionary defines legalism as: “strict, literal adherence to the law, or to a particular code, as of religion or morality.” Quote: “Legalism relates to principals of right and wrong behavior.

The question arises: Is being categorized as legalistic an insult or a compliment?

It should be noted that the word legalism or legalistic is not found in the Bible, however, its moral synonyms are: – - honorable, chaste, pure, virtuous, just, honest and righteous. In fact, they are mentioned over 500 times. Could it be that use of the word legalistic is an attempt to avoid dealing with these important Biblical issues?

Can we know for sure what is right and wrong? Is there absolute truth, a dependable value system? Should believers be adherents to the moral values of the Bible, or should every man do that which is right in his own eyes?

The Bible records that throughout history the will of God has been revealed to His people: “Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee,”

The results: “…they wrought great provocations.”

The Bible says that in the last days there will be false prophets and those who have a form of godliness, yet they are “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.”

Jesus said: “If you love me keep my commandments.”

Many who use the term “legalistic” as an attempt to discredit those who want to follow God’s instructions, label them as being self-righteous. Let me say now: “It is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”

Being accused of obedience to God is definitely a compliment. The next time someone says that you, a believer in Christ, keeping God’s commandments, are being legalistic: The best response would be to simply say, “Thank You” Why? Because they are calling you a saint!

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

This segment is excerpted from the book, “Too Long in the Sun”.

The invitation is open Come join us for,

“BLACK HISTORY TOLD BY THE PROPHETS”

 for Those who live in Chicago Area and can attend

address

2515 EAST 75TH STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60649
PHONE 773 374-6413  

10:00AM  &  1:30 Pm  CST 

In February, “Black History Month”, our church,

The Israel of God,

In Chicago, Illinois,

under the leadership of

Brother Henry Buie,

Please take The opportunity to feast on

the Series:

Color — Slavery — Spiritual Death & Resurrection — Israel:  The Priest of God

I am officially inviting you to attend and partake of the wealth of scripture and history as it relates to the so-called African-American. 

The series will begin Today  

February 7–28, 2009.   

You are welcome to join us via the internet.   

10:00 AM and 1:30 PM CST

http://theisraelofgod.com

Click Above

Sabbath Live 

 In His Love,

King’s Kid

After years of perusing “Christian” web-sites and blogs, I am convinced that the Word of God is being trampled underfoot.  It is to the point that it has no resemblance to that which God intended. 

Man-made doctrines abound and modern day Christendom will fight “tooth and nail” to maintain the status quo.  As God has said, “They refuse to hear”; Psalms 78:10, Jeremiah 5:3, Jeremiah 8:5, Jeremiah 9:6, Ezekiel 5:6-9.

These are descriptions of ancient Israelites, yet it is just as revealing of today’s Christens.  Because the Israelites of old failed to “hold fast” to the truth of God’s Word, He promised:

A FAMINE IN THE LAND

In John 21:14-17 Jesus is speaking to Peter, however, this also applies to all those who call themselves disciples of Christ.  “Feed My sheep” the Words of God.  As an offshoot to these scriptures which say, “So when they had dined, Jesus saith…”, which proves the “last supper” farce to be a lie. 

Amos 8:1-3  The summer fruit is Israel whom the Lord rejected. 

8:9-13  This speaks of Jesus’ death on the cross and of a famine of the Word of God.  The people are seeking the Word, however no one is feeding them, because Israel failed to do what God commissioned them to do.

Isaiah 5:11-14  Even today none consider the work of the Lord or the operation of His hand.  Israel is in captivity because they broke the Lord’s covenant and they have no knowledge.

Isaiah 9:14-16  The Lord cut off Israel (His teachers) and they were replaced by storytellers who report fables.

Jeremiah 8:5-9  The Lord said Israel was in a perpetual backslidden state, and they refused to know the judgment of the Lord, and all, from the least to the greatest were given to covetousness and dealing falsely.  Sounds like modern day Christendom, right?

Isaiah 28:1  These are not drunk on alcohol, but with false doctrine. 

28:7-8  The Lord says that ALL tables are full of vomit.

Isaiah 29:9-10  The Lord says since you refuse to be sober, He has poured out the spirit of deep sleep and has closed our eyes.

Revelation 17:1-5   The whore that sits upon many waters = religion over many people.  Israel is the Lord’s bride, not the “Mother Church” whom He likens to a whore and the Protestant churches  as her daughters, the harlots.  The beast describes the Gentile Dynasty.  The Mother Church gave man-made doctrines:  The filthiness of her fornication?  Sunday worship, the Law was nailed to the cross, Christmas, Easter, going to heaven, you can eat anything just pray over it. etc., etc.

17:9 Do a Google search and you will find that the only nation built on seven hills is ROME.

Revelation 13:1-5  The beast is the Gentile dynasty:  ten horns =  European Union; Roman Empire, the leopard = Greek Empire, the bear = Medo-Persian Empire, the lion = Babylonian Empire.  They worship the dragon/Satan, who gave his power to the beast and the world worships the beast, thereby worshipping the one who gave the power, namely Satan.

13:11  This “beast is the Military/Political man and the False Prophet, who appears as a lamb but speaks like the dragon/devil.

2 Corinthians 11:1-4  Paul warns Christians that the lies of Satan will corrupt them from the simplicity of Christ.  When he comes with his lies of another Jesus, another Gospel, be careful not to bear (go along) with it; and that Apostles of Satan come to you as Apostles of light, whose end shall be according to their works.

1 Corinthians 10:20-21  Paul, “the deity of modern day Christendom” says, the Gentiles sacrifice to devils, and warns us not to fellowship with devils.  You can not drink from the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils, nor partake of the Lord’s table and the table of devils.

1 Timothy 4:1-4  This scripture is used as a means to kill the dietary laws of God, however, it does not.  Departure from the TRUE faith was a prophecy of the Catholic religion.  These scriptures say, “For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”, sanctified means to be set apart by God, which He did in Leviticus 11.  Do a Google search of  the “Benedictine Order”. 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12  Before the Lord returns this shall come to pass:  He exalt  s himself above Christ, “seek to change time and laws”.  God said the day begins at sundown, Rome said it begins at midnight; God gave the seventh day as a day of rest, Rome gave the first day; God said He desires to to live on the earth and set His kingdom up here, Rome says you are going to heaven, God said “These are the beast you shall eat” and Rome says you can eat anything, as long as you pray over it; Jesus said He would be in the grave three days and three nights, Rome says He died on Friday and rose Easter Sunday morning.  Rome has contradicted everything that God has put in His Book. The man of sin’s coming is after the workings of the “Father of Lies”.  God will (has) sent strong delusions, so that they believe a lie.

Matthew 15:1-3  Jesus asked “Why do you transgress the commandments of God by your traditions?”

15:7-9  You draw near me with your mouth and honor Me with your lips, but you hearts are far from Me. But in vain (for nothing) do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Isaiah 29:10-16  The world says “God has no understanding”

Isaiah 28:9  Those who are to be taught knowledge must be weaned from the milk and drawn from the breast = be not babes, be able to digest meat.

1 Peter 2:1-2  The milk spoken of in Isaiah is the “milk of God’s word”.

Ecclesiastes 12:9-13  The wise preacher teaches the people knowledge which are the words of TRUTH which come from One Shepherd—the Lord.

Isaiah 28:1-12  This is how knowledge is taught, but yet you will not hear/listen.

1 Corinthians 14:20-21  Be children in malice, but be adult in understanding.

2 Timothy 4:1-4  Preach the Word of God, even though people of today will not endure sound doctrine, they have turned from the TRUTH and turned to fables/lies.  There is no where in the Bible that says that you are going to heaven, yet all demonizations contradict the Word of God, and will sic the “hounds of hell” on you if you try to say otherwise.

Matthew 7:13-14  The Lord warns us to be careful because broad is the way that leads to destruction and MANY will go that way.

7:20-21  This is not the conversation of “street people” (sinners), but of “church people”.

Jeremiah 16:19  This is prophetic scripture,  after the Lord returns.  This scripture make it obvious that modern day Christendom have been taught lies by the Gentiles—vomit.

Isaiah 55:1-3  Come to the Word for your refreshing, hear the Words of the Lord and live, seek the Lord while He may be found.

Peace to All

December 24, 2008 | From theTrumpet.com

Many Christians are indignantly insisting that people stop de-Christifying the celebration of Christmas in the name of political correctness. Are they even aware of this holiday’s decidedly non-Christian origins? By Mark Jenkins and Carl Hilliker

The traditions surrounding Christmas stir warm feelings in the hearts of many—young and old alike—all over the Earth. Families come together. Shoppers go into a frenzy. Children await the day they’ll receive their presents. There is no other time quite like it.

The attachment people feel to these days isn’t surprising. After all, these traditions have been going on for hundreds of generations. Consider the following description in the Bible: “[F]or one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not” (Jeremiah 10:3-4). That description, clearly describing a Christmas tree, was recorded in the book of Jeremiah hundreds of years before the birth of Christ.

But consider the opening of verse 3: “For the customs of the people are vain.” Vain? This couldn’t be talking about Christmas, could it?

What does God think of Christmas? Rest assured, He is very interested in this holiday and its yearly celebration.

Most people simply follow the customs of their family, region or nation without knowing where those customs originated or why they are kept. Most never ask about the origins of Christmas, why people exchange presents on this day, or even whether this holiday really represents the birth of Jesus Christ, after whom it is named.

Does the Almighty God command its observance? If not, does He forbid that we partake in it?

Let us obtain the true facts about Christmas.

The date of December 25 is widely associated with the birth of Jesus Christ. But is this really the correct date of His birth?

When Jesus Christ was born, “there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). December is in the midst of a cold, rainy season in Judaea. The shepherds always brought their flocks in from the fields and mountains to be corralled by mid-October at the latest, for their protection. Song of Solomon 2:11 and Ezra 10:9 and 13 show that winter was a rainy season, thus confirming that the shepherds would not have been in open fields on December 25.

Why then would Christ’s birth be celebrated on this day? The Encyclopedia Britannica states, “The reason why Christmas came to be celebrated on December 25 remains uncertain, but most probably the reason is that early Christians wished the date to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking the ‘birthday of the unconquered sun.’”

In addition, the Catholic Encyclopedia makes many startling admissions. Here are just a few:

“Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the church ….” That’s right—Christmas was not instituted by Jesus Christ, nor was it observed by any of the apostles personally instructed by Christ.

In fact, we are told that “The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ, first found in 1038.” That is 1,000 years after the death of Christ.

“The first evidence of the feast is from Egypt” (not Jerusalem). About a.d. 200 Egyptian theologians began celebrating the birth of Christ on the 25th of Pachon, which corresponds to May 20 on our calendar.

The truth is, the early Christians did not observe birthdays—not even Christ’s birth. The Christian theologian Origen (a.d. 185-232) asserts, “[I]n the Scriptures sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthday.”

As you can see, secular and Catholic history shows that, originally, Christmas was definitely not about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. In order to find the true origins of Christmas and the traditions surrounding it, we must look back even further to another historical source: the one true source of living knowledge—the Holy Bible.

Jesus Christ was not born on December 25. But this date is not without origin. It can be traced back to Genesis and a man named Nimrod.

Nimrod, grandson of Ham and son of Cush, was the founder of a great false religious system that has always opposed the truths of God. Genesis 10:8 says that Nimrod “began to be a mighty one [or tyrant] in the earth.” He set out to conquer and exploit other people by forming the first “kingdom” on Earth at Babylon in Shinar (verse 10). Nimrod also built the infamous tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9).

Nimrod rebelled before God in everything he did, but especially in the establishment of a great false religion. Nimrod not only wanted to lead his people, he wanted to be worshiped by them. It is said that he married his own mother, Semiramis. She became known as the “queen of heaven” and Nimrod as the “divine son of heaven.” He claimed to be the “savior” of all mankind and came to be worshiped as their messiah—their great deliverer. The problem was, he was attempting to save man from God, not from their sins! Nimrod was an outspoken rebel against all that God stood for, and, the Jewish historian Josephus reported, he taught the multitudes that it was “cowardice to submit to God.”

While Nimrod was alive he put himself in the place of God, and when he died Semiramis saw to it that he was still worshiped as a divine hero and given the name Baal, which means master, or lord. That is the name of the false god found throughout much of the Old Testament.

Shortly after Nimrod’s untimely death, Semiramis gave birth to an illegitimate child, which she claimed was begotten by a “spirit” as a rebirth of Nimrod. This “mother and child” soon became the chief objects of worship throughout the world. There are many versions of this story, one for each nation and tongue as they were scattered from Babel by God, but whether they worshiped the mother and child under the Egyptian names of Isis and Horus, or the Roman names of Venus and Jupiter, or under the eventual Christian names of the “Virgin Mary” and the “Christ child,” it was the same old Babylonian religion. Even in China, Japan and Tibet, the counterpart of the Madonna and child were worshiped long before the birth of Christ. Every Christmas season you will hear many hymns such as “Silent Night” having this age-old mother-and-child theme, though there is no biblical admonition to worship Mary, Jesus’s mother.

Semiramis also claimed that a full-grown evergreen tree sprang up overnight from a dead stump, symbolizing the new life of Nimrod. She claimed that Nimrod would visit the evergreen tree and leave gifts on each anniversary of his birth, which happens to be on December 25. This is the true origin of the Christmas tree, and the history behind the gifts people place there to this day. This is why the Prophet Jeremiah knew of the “Christmas tree” so long before Jesus Christ was ever born.

Again we witness the remnants of a custom established centuries before the birth of Christ, yet promoted into Christianity with no scriptural instruction to do so.

During the time of the Roman Empire, for hundreds of years prior to “Christianity” coming into the mainstream of Western culture, pagan festivals were celebrated. “In the Roman world the Saturnalia (December 17-23) was a time of merrymaking and exchange of gifts. December 25 was also regarded as the birth date of the Iranian mystery god Mithra, the Sun of Righteousness. On the Roman New Year (January 1), houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and gifts were given to children and the poor. To these observances were added the German and Celtic Yule rites when the Teutonic tribes penetrated into Gaul, Britain and central Europe. Food and good fellowship, the Yule log and Yule cakes, greenery and fir trees, and gifts and greetings all commemorated different aspects of this festive season” (Encyclopedia Britannica).

Is it coincidence that these customs are so closely associated with Christmas to this day?

We need to understand that every one of the pagan customs that now pollutes mainstream Christianity began out of deliberate rebellion against the Creator God, the same Being who came to this Earth to educate us with the truth and save us out of our deception and our sin.

Christmas is a pagan festival. That is absolute fact. Research any Christmas custom and you can quickly discover the pagan origin. Some people take offense when these things are pointed out, but God commands His faithful Church to proclaim such things (Isaiah 58:1).

Yet those Christians who know these pagan origins are quick to respond, “But we do not worship any pagan sun-god today! We are simply honoring the birth of Jesus Christ.”

How does God answer such reasoning? Aside from the fact that God does not command Christmas, aside from the fact that Christ wasn’t born on December 25 and that its customs are steeped in paganism, does it matter if we keep Christmas for the “right” reasons? “Take heed that you be not ensnared to follow them [the pagans and their customs] and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do likewise.’ You shall not do so to the Lord your God; for every abominable thing which the Lord hates they have done for their gods” (Deuteronomy 12:30-31, Revised Standard Version).

Popular opinion should not prevent individuals who know the truth from turning away from a festival season steeped in paganism. Jesus said that, in order to be His disciples, there would be times when we would need to forsake the desires of our family and friends and follow Him (Luke 14:26-27).

God does give us a command to memorialize Jesus Christ: He commands us to observe the day of Christ’s death (1 Corinthians 11:24-27)—not His birth. God also commands that we keep other holy days, a listing of which can be found in Leviticus 23. If you want more information, we suggest reading online or requesting a free copy of our booklet Pagan Holidays—or God’s Holy Days—Which? •

Source:  The Philadelphia Trumpet

December 24, 2008 | From theTrumpet.com  

Reflections on this holiday season.     

Joel Hilliker

I am reading a remarkable book about Jesus Christ.

It is called The Law of the Offerings, by Andrew Jukes. Written over a century ago, it demonstrates how the five tabernacle offerings described in the first seven chapters of the book of Leviticus symbolically portrayed, in advance, the life and death of the Messiah.

I realize this isn’t a subject you would ordinarily read on a news site. But if you will, please bear with me a moment.

Of Christ’s wholehearted devotion to His Father—typified by the burnt offering—Jukes wrote, “As a man, His thoughts were human thoughts; His affections human affections. But how much of these did He reserve for self, for His own ease, or credit, or pleasure? What one act recorded of Him was for His own advancement? What one word which was not in entire devotedness to His Father? … Such was ‘the whole burnt-offering’: the entire surrender of self to God in everything.” Then, the follow-up statement, to prick the heart: “With us how many thoughts are there for self; for our ease, our pleasure, our interests. How much of our walk, how much of our affections, is consumed on anything rather than the altar!”

Of Christ’s total fulfillment of the second tablet of the Decalogue, enjoining love toward fellow man and typified by the meal offering, Jukes explained, “[R]ejected when He would minister blessing; misunderstood when He gave instruction … He goes forward without the slightest faltering; He never stops for a moment in His devoted service to all around Him. To the very end of His course, as at the beginning, He is the meat of all who need and will accept Him.” Then, again, the challenge to compare ourselves to that example: “We think there must be a limit to our self-sacrifice. … We think when our kindness is rejected we need not repeat it; we think our times of rest and relaxation are our own. Oh, how unlike to us in all was our blessed, lowly Master!”

I find this book deeply moving for a number of reasons. In explaining the significance of these ancient rituals, it illuminates the seamless cohesion—indicating the singularity of divine authorship—between the Old and New Testaments of Scripture. It confirms that the God of the Bible does everything with purpose and design, even what most “Bible believers” would dismiss as irrelevant.

Above all, though, it shines a searchlight on details and facets of the life of the most important man ever to walk the Earth—details that both intensify the reader’s love for Him and challenge the reader to better emulate Him.

The reason I relay all this is to highlight a profound contrast that has come forcefully to my mind. That is, the contrast between this penetrating view of the life and death of Jesus Christ—and the image of a helpless baby born in an animal’s manger that is fixated on each year around this time, in those increasingly rare instances where Jesus is mentioned at all.

For the apparently dwindling number of those who still view Christmas as a religious holiday rather than merely a secular custom or a marketing gimmick, the diminishing role of the figure after whom it has been named causes no small amount of consternation. Every year it seems, amid the noise of commercialism, materialism and excess, some few endeavor to remind everyone that this holiday is actually supposed to be about the Son of God. He is, they say, “the reason for the season.”

But is He really? Have you ever looked it up? If you just scratch the surface of any of the traditions associated with Christmas, you immediately start finding some rather grotesque things.

That December 25 isn’t Christ’s birthday is easy to prove. According to ChristianHistory.net (a service of Christianity Today), it was the day of the Roman “birth of the unconquered sun” and the birthday of the Iranian “Sun of Righteousness,” Mithras. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge says that the pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and Brumalia were popularly held on that date. Further into antiquity, the Egyptians marked December 25 to celebrate the birth of the son of Isis.

So “Christmas” celebrations preceded Christ’s birth by centuries. And somewhere around three centuries after Jesus’s death, church leaders decided to preserve the celebration but affix Christ’s name to it. “The pagan festival with its riot and merrymaking was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to continue its celebration with little change in spirit and in manner,” says Schaff-Herzog.

This didn’t sit well with many pious believers at the time. Nowhere does Scripture advocate celebrating Christ’s birthday—or any birthday, for that matter. Unsurprisingly, then, as Christian History explains, many believed “it would be wrong to honor Christ in the same way Pharaoh and Herod were honored. Birthdays were for pagan gods.” Schaff-Herzog further says, “Christian preachers of the West and the Near East protested against the unseemly frivolity with which Christ’s birthday was celebrated, while Christians of Mesopotamia accused their Western brethren of idolatry and sun worship for adopting as Christian this pagan festival.” If only they could see how “Christ’s birthday” is celebrated today.

Christian History says, “The pagan origins of the Christmas date, as well as pagan origins for many Christmas customs (gift-giving and merrymaking from Roman Saturnalia; greenery, lights, and charity from the Roman New Year; Yule logs and various foods from Teutonic feasts)”—and to this list we could add Santa Claus, an import from Nordic mythology—“have always fueled arguments against the holiday. ‘It’s just paganism wrapped with a Christian bow,’ naysayers argue.”

Count me among the naysayers.

What is astonishing to me is how, for the Christian History writer and, evidently, many other churchgoing types who have learned of this background, the pagan roots of this mid-winter celebration are nothing to be concerned about. Here is how Christian History concludes: “But while kowtowing to worldliness must always be a concern for Christians, the church has generally viewed efforts to reshape culture—including holidays—positively. As a theologian asserted in 320, ‘We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of him who made it.’”

And just like that, the appropriation of a whole closetful of pagan customs moves from “kowtowing to worldliness” to “efforts to reshape culture.”

They assume God smiles on such efforts. But notice Jeremiah 10:2-4: “Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen … For the customs of the people are vain [or false]: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.” Given this clear biblical directive, why would anyone cut down a tree, fasten it down in his home, and decorate it in order to celebrate anything, let alone a holiday supposedly intended to celebrate the Jesus of the Bible?

Doesn’t God have the right to tell us how and how not He wants to be worshiped?

“We hold this day holy,” this anonymous theologian said of Christmas. On whose authority? It was not holy to begin with. And human beings cannot make anything holy. The best we can do is to keep holy what God has made holy—as He commanded men to do with His Sabbath day (Exodus 20:8).

Though Scripture does not say when Christ was born and does not enjoin the celebration of His birth, it does command the annual remembrance of His death—the death that made possible the forgiveness of sin and the reconciliation of man and God. Just as the tabernacle offerings that God required of the Hebrews foreshadowed the perfect offering of Jesus Christ, so too did the annual celebration of the Passover—on which each family killed an unblemished lamb—foreshadow the crucifixion of the Lamb of God (Exodus 12:1-6; John 1:29). Jesus instructed His disciples to continue this annual memorial, not with an animal sacrifice but with new symbols of His broken body and shed blood (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

In Christmas—a humanly devised holiday—a Christian must overlook a profane pedigree, accept a host of quirky pagan customs, and excuse the gross profiteering and material excesses that becloud the whole season, simply to get a view of a newborn baby.

In Passover—a God-ordained memorial—a Christian remembers the history of a people of promise, reflects on miraculous protection from death and redemption from sin (not just Israel’s but also his own), and sees the culmination of the perfect life of the Son of God, lived in service to God and man, offered willingly as substitutionary payment for the sins of humanity—the greatest-ever act of love.

But Passover is only the first of seven biblically mandated festivals that collectively tell the story of God’s entire master plan, past, present and future. In stark contrast to Christmas and other holidays with origins in paganism, the deeper one studies into these holy days, the more divine beauty and perfection one beholds. They too demonstrate seamless cohesion between the Old and New Testaments and confirm that the God of the Bible does everything with purpose and design.

And what purpose He has for the plan that began with the perfect offering of Jesus Christ—the life and death of the Messiah! It is far, far greater, much more inspiring, than is generally realized. If you would like to learn more about it, and how it is presented in glorious symbol through God’s annual holy days, read or request a free copy of Herbert W. Armstrong’s wonderful booklet on the subject, Pagan Holidays—or God’s Holy Days—Which? •

Source:  The Philadelphia Trumpet