If God Changes Not...Why Does The Church?*

We will see that the Word of God assures us that neither God, nor His Word, changes. It is true and constant. However, we see so much coming out of the Church today that is not part of scripture, and runs in contradiction to it. Hebrews 13:8-9 says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." Church doctrines and the whittling away of scripture have both been done to reflect modern custom, rather than the eternal truth of God's Word. Paul wrote to those in the Church to examine themselves, as to whether they are in the faith - to prove ourselves in this. (2 Cor. 13:5-6). To leave the faith that is based upon the Word of God is to be a reprobate regarding the faith. "Now I pray to God that ye do not evil...For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth." (v. 8). Jesus told us that scripture cannot be broken. It is evident that evil is around us as we see instances of senseless murders every week. The Devil is going to be in Hell, and he wants us in Hell with him. Remain in the faith and do not do evil. Paul wrote that just because we have received the gift of grace from God through His Son, it does not mean that we can continue to sin. "God forbid.", he wrote (Rom. 6:1-2). Continuing to sin undermines the salvation of Christ for us, which says that we died with Him, and we are raised with Him. But the dead do not sin! "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin." (v. 2-7). John wrote that if we confess our sin, He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us of our sin. If we deny our sin, the truth is not in us (1 Jn. 1:9). Death has no more dominion over Christ. He died unto sin once, and He lives unto God, and this is our truth also, as we remain in Him (v. 9-11). "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." (v. 12). Again Paul repeated for us not to continue in sin because of the grace we have received (v. 15). "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (v. 23). By joining Christ in His death and resurrection, we were made free from sin, and we became servants of righteousness (v. 18). So why is the Church saying that the meaning of sin has changed, and is no longer sin? It doesn't matter what anyone says, no matter who they are in importance, if the Word of God says it is sin then it is sin. Neither God, nor His Word, have changed. David sinned but the Lord said of him that he was "a man after God's own heart". God said this because David repented of his sin, and sought cleansing and renewal from God (see Ps. 51). The free gift from God is available, but men accept it or reject it by their free will choice. Paul assured the believers: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:8-11). In the time of the flood, men's hearts were evil continually, and God repented that He had created man. However, Noah found grace with God. Sodom and Gomorrah were completely burned because of their sin, but Lot and his family were delivered out of that judgment. Abraham interceded, and we can wonder if the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah would have been different if Abraham had interceded beyond the presence of tem righteous in the cities. Jude, the brother of Jesus, and the brother of James the Apostle, wrote about the gift of being sanctified, preserved and called in Jesus Christ. He urged the saints to earnestly contend for the faith which had been delivered to them (v. 1-2). It becomes necessary to contend for the faith, because the faith comes under attack. Jude warned that there were those present that have crept in while we are unaware: "..who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 4). These are of the same rebelliousness as the angels who left their first estate and habitation, who are condemned in chains and darkness. It is the same rebellion as Sodom and Gomorrah, who gave themselves over to fornication and strange flesh, and who suffered the vengeance of eternal fire as an example for us. It is of the same rebelliousness that led to the destruction of Israelites in the wilderness for their unbelief after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt by God. (v. 5-7). It is the same error that led Cain, Balaam, and Korah to follow the way of greediness. It is the same kind of men who attack the faith in Christ then and now. However, as Enoch prophesied, these are the same that will experience judgment when Christ appears with His saints (v. 14-15). There are murmurers, complainers, mockers, as prophesied for the last times, which are led by their lusts, not having the Spirit of God: "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (v. 20-21). God is able to keep us from falling, in order to present us faultless to Himself (v. 24-25). The Prophet Malachi wrote of how God was sending His Messenger to be a Purifier and Refiner of His people, even as gold and silver go through a refinement process. His people were guilty of robbing Him in tithes and offerings, and speaking against Him, saying that it was not worth keeping God's ordinances, when the wicked continue, and even profit, without punishment (Mal. 3:1-15). However, for those who fear the Lord, and gather together to speak of Him to one another, "...a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." (v. 16-17). Malachi warned that the day was coming that will burn as an oven, burning up all that do wickedly. "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked..." (Mal. 4:1-6, excerpt). God is not willing that any should perish. What makes the Church think that they can do well by changing the Word and Everlasting Covenant of God? God changes not, so why does the Church? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 7/10/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and endtimeschool, also on Facebook.

Confirm Scripture With Scripture*

We mentioned last week that we were going to begin to unlearn error so we can learn truth. One of the strongest confirmations that the scriptures are truth, and inspired by God, is the fact that it contains prophecies, especially dealing with the Messiah, that have been fulfilled. If the books of the Apocrypha also contains fulfilled prophecy, then why are they not also considered inspired scripture? These books were once included in the King James Bible, and they are still included in the Catholic Bible. Jewish religious leaders first contended that the books of the Apocrypha did not rise to the level of scripture. However, these same books point directly to the Messiah being Jesus. Could this be the reason that these books began to be disregarded? Jude, the writer of one of the books of the New Testament, and one of the brothers of Christ, who also held the position of Bishop of Odessa, quoted from the Book of Enoch, one of the Apocryphal books. Jude wrote: "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken aginst him..." (v. 14-21, excerpt). In another example from scripture, the Apostle Paul, speaking to the Greeks, told of how the LORD created all peoples from one blood, and determined beforehand the geographical boundries of their habitations (Acts 17:24-27). Genesis 10 tells us of the three sons of Noah and their sons after the flood. From those sons, came the various people, both Gentiles and Jews, with their physical locations named after them. In the beginning of the earth's creation, all of the seas were gathered in one place, and the same being true of all of the land, which the LORD called "earth", or eretz in Hebrew (Gen. 1:9-10). However, along the descendants of Noah was born one named Peleg (meaning "division"), because it was in Peleg's days that the land, or eretz, was divided (Gen. 10:25). As we see on maps today, the continents could fit together like puzzle pieces, if we brought them together without the water dividing them. This could be one reason why various peoples, including Native Americans on this continent, show a DNA relationship with Middle Eastern Jews. Many of God's people, the Israelites, have been, as Moses prophesied, rooted up from their land (Deut. 29:19-29): "And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day." According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, Columbus' explorations and discoveries were based in part upon the earlier astronomical and geographical writings of learned Jews. He also took several Jews on his voyages to the new world. This is during the same period when Spain was expelling Jews from their nation, and those Jews were seeking new homelands. The Apocryphal Book of Esdras 2, Chapter 13, includes descriptions of Jews, ejected from their lands because they did not keep the ways of the Lord. They became determined to keep His ways in their new lands where men had never before dwelt: "...37 And this my Son shall rebuke the wicked inventions of those nations, which for their wicked life are fallen into the tempest; 38 And shall lay before them their evil thoughts, and the torments wherewith they shall begin to be tormented, which are like unto a flame: and he shall destroy them without labour by the law which is like unto me. 39 And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him; 40 Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land. 41 But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt, 42 That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land. 43 And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river. 44 For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over. 45 For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Arsareth. 46 Then dwelt they there until the latter time; and now when they shall begin to come..." In the Gospel of Matthew, when Jesus was crucified, He was mocked, reviled and scorned by spectators, saying, "If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross." Even the religious leaders mocked Christ saying, "He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross and we will believe him. He trusted in God, let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God." (Mt. 27:39-43). The Apocryphal Book of Wisdom (of Solomon), Chapter 2, tells of an identical event: "16 We are esteemed of him as counterfeits: he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness: he pronounceth the end of the just to be blessed, and maketh his boast that God is his father. 17 Let us see if his words be true: and let us prove what shall happen in the end of him. 18 For if the just man be the son of God, he will help him, and deliver him from the hand of his enemies. 19 Let us examine him with despitefulness and torture, that we may know his meekness, and prove his patience. 20 Let us condemn him with a shameful death: for by his own saying he shall be respected. 21 Such things they did imagine, and were deceived: for their own wickedness hath blinded them. 22 As for the mysteries of God, they knew them not: neither hoped they for the wages of righteousness, nor discerned a reward for blameless souls." As is mentioned in the above Book of Wisdom, the Apostle Paul also spoke about the spiritul blindness that had in part come upon the Jews for the sake of the Gentiles, until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in (Rom. 11:25). However, let us also keep in mind the next verses concerning Israel, which includes: "As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes." If the Apocrypha is judged the same way that we judge scripture, as containing fulfilled prophecy especially those dealing with the Messiah, we can see why these Books had originally been included in our scriptures. We can also see, why they have likewise been removed: because they testify specifically and in detail as to Jesus being the Messiah. It is time to unlearn error, and learn the truth. We can do that by confirming scripture with scripture. *Based on the 12/6/20 message of Dr. Stevenson to the Church; To Contact: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705, Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com