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For Conscience' Sake! (Book II) By Pastor Bill Taylor A publication of My Father's House, inc. Volume 10/ Issue 12 Prophecy: Blessed are you for your ears hear and your eyes see; blessed are you for you are those who partake of the presence of the Lord, those who stand before Me and know the pleasure, joy, and privilege of serving Me. Around are thousands of thousands who profess to believe in Me, go to “churches” and claim to be Mine but aren’t. They pretend to have church and play games of religion and hear a fifteen-minute sermon that’s already been preached to their own deaf ears over two dozen times. They try to convince each other they’re saved but go home and do their own things. It’s sad, and cursed are they, for they deceive themselves all the way to hell. But you, My little church, My little flock, who stand before Me and hear My voice, who feel My love and know My presence. You’re about to hear a message that these couldn’t hear once in a hundred years; but you’ll hear it in a day as you do everyday. You’ll receive of My Spirit and I’ll prophesy to you words these others could never dream to receive; but you’ll hear, know and understand them. You’ll share things from My Spirit that I’ve given you, things these fakers haven’t experienced in their lifetime – to hear Me, to receive revelations from Me for your brethren. Blessed are you, so rejoice for I’m with you and you’re Mt. Zion, My people in whom I dwell, thus saith the Lord. (Prophecy delivered at “My Father’s House”) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there’s no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. (Rom13:1,2,5) If you disobey the government, Paul warns you’re subject to the wrath of the government, but he adds you should obey also “for conscience’ sake.” To disobey a lawful government will defile your conscience, and the effects of that are as serious as being punished by the government. A defiled conscience destroys your fellowship with God. So don’t do anything that will offend your conscience after Jesus has cleansed it. Don’t just fear the wrath of the government, but be afraid of anything by which your conscience may be defiled. Having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck. (1Tim1:19) Children, obey your parents for conscience’ sake. Wives, submit to your husbands for conscience’ sake. Church, submit to your Pastor for conscience’ sake. For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. (2Cor1:12) Paul’s conscience confirms he’s lived a godly life. After Jesus cleansed him he’s been walking in the Spirit. Fleshly wisdom is the wisdom of selfishness; how to get your own way. But Paul’s living in the meekness of God’s wisdom. Who’s wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But the wisdom that’s from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (Jms3:13,17) Paul’s devoted himself abundantly to the administration of God’s grace towards the brethren. That’s his testimony – and there’s no sin in it! Paul has a good conscience. His conscience affirms the righteousness of a life in which by grace he’s overcome sin and is effectually serving the Lord. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb9:14) Before we can serve God our conscience must be cleansed. Jesus gave himself, shedding His blood not just to “save us” as is so commonly believed but to produce a people who’ll “serve the living God.” When people claim to be “saved” but aren’t serving God – they’re deceived. The proof of your salvation is you’re now cleansed and effectually serving God. For by one offering He’s perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Heb10:14) Being sanctified means we aren’t completely perfected in every sense. If we were we wouldn’t need to continue to be sanctified, as in May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord. (1Th5:23) So sanctification is a process that’s still going on in us as Paul also indicates in Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Col 1:28) Until our sanctification is finished, we’re not completely perfected in our body, soul and spirit. But Christ has “perfected forever” our conscience, and this is confirmed in how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb9:14) Dead works includes trying to make up for what we’ve done wrong. On your own, it’s not possible to make up for past wrongs. Only Jesus can atone for the past. But because Jesus has cleansed our conscience we can cease from our futile efforts of trying to do what can’t be done by us, but which by His grace He’s done for us. Rather we can now do the things God would have us do and which we can do in Christ. So let’s draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb10:22) An evil conscience is one that accuses you as in For when Gentiles, who don’t have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them. (Rom2:14,15) People who don’t know God’s Word can still know from their conscience whether they’re doing good or evil; so if they don’t know God’s law the conscience becomes their law. If they have a healthy conscience and obey it, their thoughts won’t accuse them, but will excuse them. But an evil conscience will accuse you of whatever wrong it knows you’re doing! This is one reason we must attain to blamelessness before the day of Christ’s appearing. When Jesus appears, if we’re to be found acceptable to Him we can’t have an evil conscience. There must be nothing our conscience can hold against us. We must have a clean conscience and a clean heart. Don’t marvel at this; for the hour’s coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His (Jesus’) voice and come forth--those who’ve done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who’ve done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (Jn5:28,29) Thus Paul strives, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection (of life.) (Phil 3:10,11) That we may attain to the resurrection of life is why we need to be blameless and irreproachable in His sight. To have confidence in God our heart must not condemn us. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart doesn’t condemn us, we have confidence toward God. (1Jn3:20,21) You can’t have faith if your heart’s condemning you. To have faith you must know you’re acceptable to God and actually pleasing Him by not doing anything rebellious or disobedient. Because he hopes to attain to the resurrection of life, Paul strives to have a conscience clean before God and man. (Act24:16) Our goal too is to attain to the first resurrection which is the resurrection of life. There are two resurrections and only those who’ve done good will be raised in the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (Rev20:6) Those who’ve done evil will be raised in the resurrection of condemnation. What separates one from the other is the conscience. Those whose conscience is blameless and irreproachable can hear, respond, have faith and be raised when Jesus calls them into the resurrection of life. But if someone dies in a state of condemnation, Christ won’t call that one to life! For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. (1Jn3:20) His evil heart has separated him from God and from receiving the good God could do him. So the one whose heart condemns him will remain in the grave until the resurrection of condemnation. He who’s unjust, let him be unjust still; he who’s filthy, let him be filthy still; he who’s righteous, let him be righteous still; he who’s holy, let him be holy still. Behold, I’m coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (Rev22:11,12) If you die in your sin (in a state of condemnation) your conscience will condemn you forever. Their worm does not die and their fire is not quenched. (Mk9:44) You can’t be raised unto life when your heart condemns you. When your heart condemns, you can’t have faith for God to bless but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. (Heb10:27) To attain to the resurrection of life, you must attain to blamelessness! God’s purpose in perfecting us is so we may attain to everlasting life as in “immortality.” Most so called “christians” think God will raise them to everlasting life just because they say they believe in Jesus, but He can’t raise them if they don’t have faith to be raised, and they won’t have faith to be raised if there’s anything in their conscience condemning them. The slightest bit of condemnation will keep you from “being changed in the twinkling of an eye.” Behold, I tell you a mystery: We’ll not all sleep, but we’ll all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead (in Christ) will be raised incorruptible, and we’ll be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1Cor15:51-53) Remember Lot’s wife? (Lk17:32) The least bit of sin or worldliness and you’ll come forth to the resurrection of condemnation. What’s in you is what you’ll be raised to. If eternal life is in you, you’ll be raised to life. If condemnation is in you, you’ll be raised to condemnation. He who hears My Word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life! (Jn5:24) Those who have everlasting life will be raised to life, but those in condemnation will reap eternal death. Therefore I said to you that you’ll die in your sins; for if you don’t believe I’m He, you’ll die in your sins. (Jn8:24) To die in your sins is to be forever lost. A good man obtains favor from the LORD, but a man of wicked intentions He’ll condemn. (Pr12:2) To be elect you must be brought into blamelessness before Christ’s appearing. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. (Mt12:41) This can only occur in the resurrection of condemnation! The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. (v42) There’ll be a public trial to show the wicked they’re condemned, and why it’s a just thing for God to condemn them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you’ll receive a greater condemnation. (Mt23:14) You’re better off being an open sinner than a bad “christian.” To pretend you’re righteous makes your wickedness worse, compounding your sin by deception. Put a warning label on poison and most people won’t drink it, but pour the poison into a milk bottle and you’ve just set a deceptive trap. True Christians have rivers of life flowing out of them. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, “out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (Jn7:38) To falsely call someone a “christian” who’s full of heresies, death and lies, is like putting poison in a milk bottle. Because you add deception to your wickedness your sin is greater, so your condemnation will also be greater! You say, “if we’d lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.” Therefore you’re witnesses against yourselves that you’re sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up then the measure of your fathers’ guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? (Mt23:30-33) How can you be righteous when your fathers were murderers? What makes you think you’re better than them? These people haven’t repented for the wickedness of their fathers. “Every seed brings forth after its kind.” (Gen1:12) They haven’t recognized they’ve the same proclivities toward sin as their ancestors. Being puffed up in religious pride their sins aren’t forgiven. Jesus isn’t saving them! They’ve rejected God’s only way of escape! Jesus is telling them in no uncertain terms they’re dreadfully damned! Self-righteous pride has ruined them! Assuredly, I say to you, “he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mk3:28,29) There are depths of depravity, sins so bad they can never be forgiven. There are places you can sink to in iniquity from which there’s no escape. For if we sin willfully after we’ve received the knowledge of the Truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. (Heb10:26,27) It should be very sobering to realize that if you succumb to the temptation to commit one of these unforgivable sins, by that one act you’ll be forever damned. There’ll be no mercy, no grace, and no intercession for you, ever! There’s a sin leading to death. I don’t say he should pray about that. (1Jn5:16b) If you give in to such a sin, there’s no hope for you. Your judgment is sealed. You’ll never have an opportunity to repent. Your damnation is certain. What’s most disturbing about these unforgivable sins is they aren’t committed by robbers, murderers, or rapists, but by Pharisees, false christians, and seemingly religious people. Blaspheming of the Holy Spirit is a sin of speech – saying something unforgivable! “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” It’s amazing that words alone can’t do physical damage to anyone but just a few of your own wicked words can forever destroy your own soul. Men should fear and tremble that God would grant us grace to keep our tongues. If anyone among you thinks he’s religious, and doesn’t bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. (Jms1:26) But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they’ll give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you’ll be justified, and by your words you’ll be condemned. (Mt12:36,37) And why not say, “Let’s do evil that good may come?”--As we’re slanderously reported and as some affirm we say. Their condemnation is just! (Rom3:8) Paul’s been accused of preaching wickedness. It’s a common thing for enemies of Godly men to lie about what we preach. False witnesses accused Jesus of threatening to destroy Herod’s temple. (Mt26:61) Actually Jesus was speaking of His own body. If the Jews killed Him, He’d rise in three days. (Jn2:19) To poison people’s minds against us, the wicked want to convince them we’re preaching “evil.” So they lie about what we preach. If they repeated what we really preach, they’d actually be helping to preach the Truth. They can’t do that, so they lie! You’re of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the Truth, because there’s no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he’s a liar and the father of it. (Jn8:44) Paul says, “Their condemnation is just!” Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. (Ps34:21) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering. (Col 3:12) If you believe you’re elect then act like you are, because if your behavior doesn’t show you’re elect, you’re not. The non-elect have a behavior that’s characteristic of them also, and one of their chief characteristics is they hate the righteous. Look how many people who claim to be “christians” have hated us? False christians hate us because our Christianity is real and theirs isn’t. We know the bible teaches real Christians must crucify the flesh and cease from sin. Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who’s suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. (1Pt4:1) Because they won’t do that they hate us for preaching the Truth even though our beliefs are correct, and agreeable to scripture. Do you think such people will go to heaven? How can they hate the righteous and go to heaven with the righteous? The bible says they won’t. Those who hate the righteous will be condemned. (Ps34:21) So the non-elect who hate us are damned. For we’re to God the fragrance of Christ among those being saved and among those perishing. To the one we’re the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who’s sufficient for these things? (2Cor2:15,16) This is confirmed in We know we’ve passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who doesn’t love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (1Jn3:14,15) We know we’re of God because of what we do in love for the brethren. For the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Rom8:2) When we’re walking in love we’re in the Spirit and we have God’s life. And when we’re walking in the Spirit our conscience doesn’t condemn us. There’s therefore now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Rom8:1) When people who claim to be Christians hate us, and do things they ought not, even trying to destroy our God-given ministries, what’s abiding in them? There’s no eternal life in them. Whatever religion they have isn’t Christianity. They’re very deceived. They think because they use the name of Jesus they’re Christians, but it isn’t Christianity if they don’t have Christ in them. And they don’t have Christ in them if they hate the true brethren, which means they don’t have eternal life either. Those who condemn the righteous will be condemned. Judge not, and you’ll not be judged. Condemn not, and you’ll not be condemned. Forgive, and you’ll be forgiven. (Lk6:37) Those who hate the righteous bear the marks of condemnation, not the marks of election! But if you’d known what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless. (Mt12:7) The Pharisees judge for the purpose of condemning. When Jesus says, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Mt7:1) He’s not talking about pointing out someone’s sins as in reproving or rebuking. To point out someone’s sin in order to convict them so they may repent isn’t evil, but it’s righteous to do that. Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. (2Tim4:2) Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the Truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (Jms5:19,20) But the Pharisees aren’t trying to convict in order to save. They’re condemning to destroy. “You’ve heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” And they all condemned Him to be worthy of death. (Mk14:64) In doing that they condemn themselves. For with what judgment you judge, you’ll be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Mt7:2) Therefore you’re inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. (Rom2:1) In condemning the innocent they prove themselves to be “judges with evil thoughts.” Have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? (Jms2:4) Don’t speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you’re not a doer of the law but a judge. There’s one Lawgiver, who’s able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? (Jms4:11,12) Don’t grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! (Jms5:9) Grumbling or complaining against others is akin to seeking “vengeance.” It’s not intercession as in desiring your brother to be convicted, forgiven and saved! Grumbling is hating your brother. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (1Jn3:15) Grumbling is an expression of the selfishness of your flesh, not love. But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things won’t inherit the Kingdom of God. (Gal 5:15,19-21) Grumbling and complaining and such things are the opposite of thankfulness and rejoicing which saints are commanded to do. Rejoice always, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1Th5:16,18) Often when we reprove or rebuke, false christians accuse us of not being in love, but they don’t know the bible enough to see that turning someone from their sin is to save a soul from death, and it’s love to do that. Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the Truth, and someone turns him back, let him know he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (Jms5:19,20) Love covers sins. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” (1Pt4:8) False christians believe if you “embarrass” someone it’s sin, because you don’t love them if you do that. The problem is, to “convict” a person of sin usually also embarrasses him, and the Holy Spirit has come to convict of sin so it’s not wrong to do that. And when He’s come, He’ll convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. (Jn16:8) There are great differences of opinion between us and the false christians, but which of us is following the scriptures? We know our doctrine’s from the bible and we’re obeying the Spirit, so our conscience is clean! Don’t grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! (Jms5:9) Grumbling is condemning. “Condemn and you’ll be condemned.” (Lk6:37) Who needs you to judge when God is our judge! What happens in a courtroom if someone tries to replace the real judge? The bailiff will carry you off. Instead of being a judge, be a doer. (Jms4:11) Make sure you’re doing right, and don’t be overly concerned about your brother, except so far as you can turn him from sin to save him. But don’t judge him to condemn him. You’ve heard the blasphemy! What do you think? And they all condemned Him to be worthy of death. (Mk14:64) What did they do? They condemned Jesus, but according to For with what judgment you judge, you’ll be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Mt7:2) what they really did is condemn themselves. By condemning an innocent man they’ve committed spiritual suicide. Christ says of them Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some you’ll kill and crucify, and some you’ll scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. (Mt23:32-35) They’re damned because they can’t recognize who’s righteous and who isn’t. It takes a righteous man to know a righteous man. Evil men can’t understand righteousness. So they make dreadful mistakes concerning their souls. He who believes in Him isn’t condemned; but he who doesn’t believe is condemned already, because he hasn’t believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (Jn3:18) They’ve no chance of salvation unless they turn to Christ in faith, but they hate Jesus for His righteousness, so how can they turn? The world can’t hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. (Jn7:7) You’ve condemned, you’ve murdered the just; he doesn’t resist you. (Jms5:6) The unbeliever is “condemned already.” (Jn3:18) One who’s “condemned” the just has condemned himself. (Mt7:2) James exposes the sins of people who’ve become rich by robbing the poor: Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You’ve heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You’ve lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you’ve fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You’ve condemned, you’ve murdered the just; he doesn’t resist you. (Jms5:3-6) The wicked misinterpret non-violence “he doesn’t resist you” as weakness and cowardice. Actually it requires great Spiritual strength and courage to refuse to use force to defend yourself. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here’s the patience and faith of the saints. (Rev13:10) Bullies like to prey on people who won’t fight back. They hate the just, and want to destroy them! For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. (Act13:27) He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. (Pr17:15) For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude4) The elect are foreknown by God from the foundations of the earth, but so are the condemned. God knows who’ll be saved, and who’s damned. (For God’s reasons in permitting “evil” see our Glory of His Grace publication “Resurrection Perfection.”) God permits the condemned to do things as will justify their damnation. In the Judgment everyone will know it’s a righteous thing for God to condemn the wicked because all will see the terrible things the wicked have done. God permits them to do wickedness so He can justly destroy them for being wicked. Even though God knows the wicked are evil, it wouldn’t be justice if He destroyed them before they did evil. To be fair, He gives the wicked opportunity to show what they are, then their condemnation is just! Thus evil must be permitted to manifest that it may be righteously destroyed. And how can evil be better seen as evil than when it strikes against the helpless, the good, the innocent and the righteous? This is the patience and faith of the saints! (Rev14:12) That the righteous bear with the wicked and even give themselves as martyrs provides opportunity for God to build an airtight case against them so they may ultimately be condemned and destroyed. I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. (Rev1:9a) The condemned are elected to condemnation, as the elect are to salvation, because of their behavior. Both the elect and the damned are foreknown by God from the foundations of the earth. What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction. (Rom9:22) Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked. (Ps94:12,13) In the Judgment as in a legal trial, evidences and witnesses will be presented, (Mt12:42) so everyone will see the wicked, the unbelievers, the false “believers” deserve what they’re getting. But just as the wicked will receive a just punishment for what they’ve done, so the righteous will receive just rewards because of the good they’ve done. In both cases what counts is – the doing! (Rom2:6-8) When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, “I’ll return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. (Lk11:24-26) Even though the house has been cleansed, in the end it’s worse, because it’s not enough to stop doing evil, but you must actually get involved in doing good to be saved! The house being swept clean can represent your baptism, receiving the blood of Jesus, the forgiveness of past sins, and your conscience being purged. Now you have a clean conscience, but that doesn’t make you a fruitful tree. Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which doesn’t bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Mt3:10) What caused you to be condemned in the first place was doing evil. Now that you’ve been forgiven you may not be doing evil anymore, but you’re not necessarily doing good either. So if you don’t want the devil to come back seven times worse, it’s not enough to just be forgiven, but you must actually get into doing good. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who’ve believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. (Tit3:8) You must fill your house with good works and good deeds. And to do this you must be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Jn15:5) Evil company corrupts good manners. (1Cor15:33) Make sure you don’t associate with faithless companions. “Come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord. “Don’t touch what’s unclean, and I’ll receive you. I’ll be a Father to you, and you’ll be My sons and daughters.” (2Cor6:17,18) Idle hands are the devil’s workshop. This was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. (Ezek16:49) It’s a grace of God if He allows you to be busy with His work. To be well occupied in “the Father’s business” keeps you out of trouble by leaving no space for the devil to get in. To just be forgiven and then sit there twiddling your thumbs is like waiting for trouble to come back upon you. I thank God for the many works He’s given me to keep me occupied in righteousness. I’m not feeling the sting of guilt anymore for doing evil because I’ve been forgiven, but now that I’m doing so much good, my conscience is actually bearing witness to the good. So I’ve a good conscience that doesn’t testify against me, but for me. Now my testimony is clean before God and man. I’m privileged to work hours everyday on the Glory of His Grace. And look how many letters we’re receiving where the elect are so grateful to us for our books that have set them free from the false christianity that’s overwhelming so many today. Because God’s letting us work in the Glory of His Grace ministry, His elect children are being set free to become real Christians. And those who are seeing the Truth are commending us. We’re being approved by God and man. Once your conscience is clean, you must be diligent to pursue righteousness. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. (1Tim6:11) Don’t go back to sin. I’ll hear what the LORD will speak, for He’ll speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. (Ps85:8) The false church thinks because we’re saved by grace through faith, not of (our own) works we can’t lose our salvation over a lack of “good” works. But God’s “good works” aren’t “our good works” To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work (of God.) (Tit1:15,16) These people say they know God, but they’ve no (godly) good works. Because of disobedience their works are sin! Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. (1Jn3:6b) They claim to be “believers” but Paul calls them unbelievers because their consciences are defiled. Having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck (1Tim1:19) So many people falsely claim to be christians who are really “unbelievers” because they don’t think having a good conscience is important. They think they’re saved by “faith without works” but the bible says Do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (Jms2:20) For by grace you’ve been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it’s the gift of God, not of (your own) works, lest anyone should boast. For we’re His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for (God’s) good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Eph2:8-10) Which means we may become “saved” without (our own) works, but we can’t continue to be saved without a zealous participation in God’s good works. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Tit2:11-14) Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, this is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who’ve believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. (Tit3:1,8,14) To be unfruitful is to be a castaway! Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I’m the vine, you’re the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone doesn’t abide in Me, he’s cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they’re burned. (Jn15:4-6) So gaining salvation is not by (our) works, but maintaining salvation requires the believer to participate in Christ’s good works, abiding in Him by faith and love. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (Gal 5:6) As the Father loved Me, I’ve also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you’ll abide in My love, just as I’ve kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (Jn15:9,10) The good works that accompany salvation “gained” are works of faith and love. Thus also faith by itself, if it doesn’t have works, is dead. (Jms2:17) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (1Cor13:3) If “works of faith and love” aren’t evident in the life of the “believer,” the believing is false. Having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck (1Tim1:19) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. (Heb12:14) This describes the fraudulent “faith” of the Baptist types. They’ve rejected holiness. Holiness includes having a pure conscience. They don’t think they need to pursue holiness or have a pure conscience to be saved, so they’ve rejected faith and a good conscience thinking all they have to do is keep confessing their sins and they’ll be forgiven. But Godly sorrow works repentance not to be repented of. (2Cor7:10) Jesus won’t accept your repentance, if it isn’t real. And if it has to be repeated it isn’t real. People who confess the same sins, over and over aren’t repenting, because to repent means to turn away from your sins and stop sinning. It’s wicked false believers who keep on repeating their sins and “confessing” while they have no real intention to stop sinning. Therefore, King Agrippa, I wasn’t disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. (Act26:19,20) Works befitting repentance are necessary to salvation. You can’t be saved without them because you’re repentance isn’t real unless you have “works befitting repentance” and you can’t be saved without a real repentance. This is similar to “faith without works is dead.” (Jms2:26) You’re saved by grace through faith, not of (dead or faithless) works, but your faith must have works befitting repentance or neither your faith nor repentance is real. So we’re not saved by works apart from faith, but neither are we saved by a faith apart from works of faith! Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance (Mt3:8) People who pretend to repent, but keep sinning are playing games and mocking God! They confess the sin and think they’re forgiven and they wickedly think they can do this over and over; sin, confess and be forgiven! But if we sin willfully after we’ve received the knowledge of the Truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. (Heb10:26,27) You’re lying to God if you repent, and then commit the same sin again. To truly repent, you must not only confess you’ve sinned but must agree with God you shouldn’t have done the sin and that you’ll never do such a thing again. When you “confess” are you admitting that you’ve done something you shouldn’t do? Then why do it again? But it’s happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit and a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” (2Pt2:22) Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance and God will receive you, but don’t think you can fool Him with these false repentance games and get away with it. By rejecting a good conscience, many “believers” have lost their souls and become shipwrecked. They’re not going to heaven. Jesus paid a terribly high price to perfect our conscience. Our goal as true Christians is to become irreproachable, blameless, and to keep that good conscience. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord. (1Th5:23) Because Jesus has perfected My conscience, He can now work on perfecting me in body, soul, and spirit. Since having a clean conscience is necessary to be sanctified body, soul, and spirit, then you should be careful to keep your conscience clean. Abstain from every form of evil. (1Th5:22) Be careful to avoid every kind of sin, and repent quickly perchance you fall. Stay in the place where you have a good conscience so God can work to make you irreproachable in His sight. The Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. (1Tim4:1,2) People who’s consciences are seared are so hardened they can’t feel guilty. It’s as if their conscience doesn’t exist anymore. “Conscience,” I say, “not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?” (1Cor10:29) I can only know what’s right or wrong, by my own conscience. No-one else can convict me if my own conscience doesn’t. So when someone loses touch with their conscience as in having a seared conscience – they can no longer discern right from wrong! They can’t be convicted so they can’t be saved! Paul of course doesn’t have a seared conscience. Here he’s meditated on some things concerning Godliness and he’s recognized for example, he can eat meat even though it was sacrificed to an idol. Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and there’s no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there’s one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. (1Cor8:4-6) The idol doesn’t really exist. It’s a false god so it’s actually nothing. And Paul knows the meat really comes from God, not from the idol, so his conscience is clean about eating it. However, there isn’t in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. (1Cor8:7) The weak brother hasn’t worked these things out in his mind so he thinks if he eats, he’s participating in idolatry. However, if he sees you eating meat sacrificed to an idol, he may decide you’re Spiritual and if you can do it I can do it. But here he stumbles for he can’t live by your conscience. He must obey his own. So he eats, then after he eats his conscience condemns him. The fact that he saw you eat doesn’t mean his conscience understands why it’s ok to eat. Because he doesn’t understand why it’s ok, therefore he’s violated his conscience. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he doesn’t eat from faith; for whatever isn’t from faith is sin. (Rom14:23) As far as his conscience is concerned, he’s participated in idolatry. And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. (1Cor8:11,12) Paul warns us not to let our liberty cause a weaker brother to stumble, but he also shows us the weaker brother stumbles because he does something that violates his own conscience. I know and am convinced by the Lord there’s nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it’s unclean. (Rom14:14) If he dies in guilt or condemnation he’ll perish, since to be raised in the first resurrection you must be under grace and have a clean conscience. So if you cause your brother to stumble he can perish and not be raised unto eternal life but unto condemnation. Don’t destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it’s evil for the man who eats with offense. (Rom14:20) The man who believed it was wrong and still did it sinned. He shouldn’t have done what he thought to be wrong. Whereas the man who knows it’s not a sin isn’t condemned, because he’s reasoned it out and knows it’s alright, so his conscience is clear. Even if he’s eaten meat sacrificed to an idol, he gives no credit to the idol, but gives all the glory and thanks to God. But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? (1Cor10:30) So for such a one the sin isn’t in the eating but if he contributes to his brother’s stumbling – that’s his sin. Even though for you there’s no sin in what you’re doing, you must be careful that what you do might not entice your weaker brother, who doesn’t know what you know, to do something he shouldn’t and thereby defile his conscience. To the pure all things are pure. (Tit1:15) But things often come upon us in this world that assault our innocence. When the bad appears I close my eyes or turn away! I don’t partake of it, and it doesn’t condemn me if I get an accidental glimpse of it, because I don’t have any lust or desire for it. There are so many sexual enticements thrown at us in what’s commonly called advertising that you’d have to pluck out your eyes to avoid them. Fortunately to the pure such things can’t Spiritually damage us. As real Christians we must be immune to the garbage the world throws at us, because we can’t avoid it all. But when I was young in the Lord I could be agitated by some of these things, so there are things I don’t want my boys to see because though I can handle it, they might not be able to. My wife and I often preview movies for the kids to make sure there’s nothing in them that might cause the boys to stumble even if it’s something we could ignore. If I let my boys see something that causes them to sin, they could perish. If their heart condemns them, they can’t talk to God or be led by the Spirit. Until they repent they’re in grave spiritual danger. So it’s important our liberty doesn’t become somebody else’s stumbling stone. Although there may be things in which you’ve a strong conscience, and they’re not harmful to you, still they may best be kept private lest you cause a weaker brother to perish. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn’t condemn himself in what he approves. (Rom14:22) Some kinds of faith are best kept “in house.” If you can “eat meat sacrificed to an idol,” don’t do it in such a way as your brother might stumble. This may include any number of things that are alright between you and the Lord, where it doesn’t bother your conscience, but could injure someone who’s weaker. So if you’re doing something your conscience is clear about, but in such a way a brother who’s new in the Lord might be led to imitate you even though it may offend his conscience, then because of your knowledge shall your brother perish? Suppose you’ve seen a youth restricted movie and mention it to a brother who if he watches may get excited by an overly sexual scene that meant nothing to you but could cause him to sin? How important is the conscience? A defiled conscience can cause you to perish for just ONE sin. Because he “ate meat sacrificed to an idol,” the weak brother may end up in hell. He can be so condemned by his sin that he never gets back to God; knowing he did wrong, convicted because he did wrong, and in his weakness not being able to find forgiveness. And this happens because in your strength you did something that enticed the weak brother to do something he wasn’t able to handle. But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. (1Cor8:12) How awesome this is! How important is the conscience? You won’t get to heaven unless your conscience is clean. You must get your conscience clean and keep it clean. And notice this weak brother who perishes has received the same offering as you. He’s been perfected forever regarding past sins and yet, he defiled what was perfected by the new sin of imitating you in disobedience to his conscience. Even though it’s not sin to you, it can be sin to someone else because he doesn’t have the right understanding. This is life and death on an eternal scale, yet how few in the so-called “churches” today understand these things. These people are lost who think they’re Christians but are so ignorant of the scriptures. (Bibs: bible ignorant believers) They think they’re Christians but they don’t believe a clean conscience is important to their salvation. Having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck. (1Tim1:19) Yet the bible says a “believer” who in doubt eats meat sacrificed to an idol because he saw a brother do it can end up in hell. He’ll perish because he did that one sin! If you want to make heaven you better get serious about protecting your conscience! We know that whoever’s born of God doesn’t sin; but he who’s been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one doesn’t touch him. (1Jn5:18) If you’re born of God what are you keeping? Your conscience! Jesus died to give you a clean conscience, now protect it and keep it clean. The wicked one can’t touch you as long as your conscience is clean. What Paul’s teaching us is you must not only keep your conscience clean, but help your brother keep his clean. Don’t do anything that might cause him to be defiled because Jesus died to give him a clean conscience too. Now that he has a clean conscience Jesus can fellowship and communicate with him. Don’t mess up that communion between Jesus and one of His because Christ has paid dearly to establish this relationship and you can’t interfere with it and think He won’t hold it against you. Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. (Mt18:6) Don’t be deceived, God isn’t mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he’ll also reap. (Gal 6:7) How can you damage someone else’s walk with Jesus and end up having a good relationship with Him yourself? Help people maintain a good fellowship with Jesus and you’ll have a good one too. “Conscience,” I say, “not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?” (1Cor10:29) You can’t judge me by your conscience. Every man answers to God for himself. (Rom2:25) As a Spirit led believer you can understand what the will of the Lord is (Eph5:17) because if we obey Him, the Spirit will lead us such ways that we’ll always find God’s will. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and Truth, finding out what’s acceptable to the Lord. (Eph5:9,10) Therefore if I “find out what’s acceptable to God,” and do it then all I do will be “harmless” to my conscience. There’s therefore now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Rom8:1) He who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He’s given us. (1Jn3:24) The proof I’m abiding in Him is I’m anointed by His Spirit. You can know you have the Spirit because He’ll be speaking to you, and showing you things other people haven’t seen. Also if you’re walking in the Spirit your conscience is clean. If your conscience were condemning you, you wouldn’t be receiving Jesus’ leading you and showing you these things. But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” don’t eat (even though you know an idol is nothing) for the sake of the one who told you. To eat under such circumstances you’d be sanctioning his sin. He obtained this meat by participating in idolatry. Now when he offers it to you, if you eat knowing it was offered to an idol, he won’t understand you’re eating because an idol is nothing, but he’ll think you’re eating because his idolatry is acceptable. But if you refuse to eat he’ll see you believe idolatry is sinful and be convicted by his conscience to repent. Don’t eat it for the sake of the one who told you and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” (1Cor10:28,29) “Conscience” I say, “not your own but that of the other;” the one who’s sinning! If any of those who don’t believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever’s set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. (1Cor10:27) Even if the meat was sacrificed to an idol, if you don’t know it and no one makes an issue of it there’s no harm done in your eating it. You’re not approving your hosts’ idolatry if he knows you’re not aware of it. Ordinarily when you eat something sacrificed to an idol, you’re NOT participating in idolatry because you don’t believe in the idol. But when you’re eating as a guest and your host tells you the food has been sacrificed to an idol, he’s making you a participant in his idolatry. Now to keep a clean conscience you have to say, “No! I can’t do this!” You don’t want him to think his idolatry is ok with you. If you were leading people to think their idolatry was acceptable by your participation and acceptance of it you’d be helping satan destroy their souls, and your conscience would be defiled for doing that. So again, Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn’t condemn himself in what he approves. (Rom14:22) If you have faith what you’re doing is helpful and isn’t self indulgence, then your relationship with God will be good. You’ve reasoned it out in the Lord and believe it’s the right thing to do. Even though others haven’t thought about it correctly and can’t do it, God will be with you and keep anointing you, because God knows your reasoning’s are from a good heart, and the way you’re thinking about these things is acceptable to God and your conscience. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. (1Cor10:23) Now she who’s really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. (1Tim5:5,6) If she “lives in pleasure” she’s dead even though she’s a “christian.” Even though her conscience has been perfected she’s dead! Because, whoever abides in Him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He’s righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil’s sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever’s been born of God doesn’t sin, for His seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he’s been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever doesn’t practice righteousness isn’t of God, nor is he who doesn’t love his brother. (1Jn3:6-10) We know whoever’s born of God doesn’t sin; but he who’s been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one doesn’t touch him. (1Jn5:18) What does it mean to keep yourself? There’s the old man, flesh, and the new Man, Christ’s Spirit! When you’ve been baptized and born of God, the new Man, Christ’s Spirit has been born from above into you, but you still have to make the choice of which man you’ll follow. Jesus’ Spirit is the new Man. Your soul is yourself – your consciousness of who you are. Getting your self/soul to acknowledge and obey Jesus’ Spirit completely in everything is the goal of Christianity and the end purpose of your “salvation.” When you’re walking in the Spirit there’s no condemnation and no blame whatsoever can be brought against you, because you’re walking in the new Man, Jesus, and Jesus doesn’t sin. You can only sin if you reject Jesus and go back to the old man – flesh! Now when this widow lives in pleasure, she’s gone back to the old man – flesh! For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Rom8:6) She’s choosing to “live” (die) in the old nature and reject the new nature of Christ in her, and therefore she’ll perish. When she rejects Christ’s Spirit to return to the pleasures of the old carnal nature, her conscience also becomes defiled because she’s chosen the pleasures of “sin” over Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who’s suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. (1Pt4:1) The fact that your conscience has been perfected, doesn’t mean it can’t be defiled anew! You must keep your conscience clean. The perfected conscience isn’t found in the old man. The perfected conscience is found only in the new Man; when your self/soul abides in the new Man your conscience will stay clean. So you must make up your mind to stay where Jesus is. It’s in Him, in His Spirit your conscience remains clean! The old man is the bad tree. (Mt7:18) He can’t do good. A bad tree can’t bear good fruit. (Mt7:18) This is the simplicity of Jesus’ teaching. You can’t get good fruit from a bad tree, and the flesh is bad. But when someone’s in the Spirit, everything they do prospers. They’re a good tree. Everything they do is good fruit. A good tree can’t bear bad fruit. When you’re in the Spirit everything the Spirit leads you to do will be fruitful. Cutting the grass will be fruitful. Prophesying in the church will be fruitful. Going to the store will be fruitful. Sharing your testimony will be fruitful. Everything you do is fruitful because the Spirit is always fruitful. If you’re out of the Spirit; nothing you do will be fruitful. If God didn’t ordain it that way, it would cause us terrible confusion, because you’d never see the need to get in the Spirit if you could bear good fruit when you weren’t in the Spirit. Now she who’s really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. Don’t let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number. (1Tim5:5,9a) But refuse the younger widows; for when they’ve begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they’ve cast off their first faith (promise). (1Tim5:11,12) A recently widowed young woman may promise to be faithful to God and pray night and day when she’s afraid of starving to death, but after time passes she may begin to feel like she wants a husband and family again. That’s when Paul says she may grow wanton against Christ and break her vow--For some have already turned aside after satan. (1Tim5:15) It isn’t her love for Christ that causes her to break her vow, but her love for self! Selfishness is of satan! And what does this show you about the importance of keeping your word. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No.” For whatever is more than this is from the evil one. (Mt5:37) The younger widow is a “christian.” She’s in the church. Jesus has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Heb10:14) Hasn’t she been perfected? Adam was created “perfect” but he didn’t keep his conscience clean. If she’s been properly baptized the young widow’s “New Man” according to the conscience has been perfected forever. (Eph4:24) If she stays in this New Man her conscience stays clean. But the old man (Col 3:9) can never be perfected. He has to be crucified. (Rom6:6) Now when a woman makes a vow to be a church widow, she’s promised to devote her life to praying and interceding for the church. For this service, the church will provide her sustenance. Only widows are chosen for this calling because only true (desolate) widows can really serve the Lord and the church without distraction. Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. Now she who’s really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. (1Tim5:3-5) But Paul says of the married There’s a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit. But she who’s married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her husband. And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what’s proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction. (1Cor7:34,35) These scriptures prove the Roman Catholic “nunneries” totally disobey God in making church “widows” of young women. They also sin in their “celibate” priesthood. Now the Spirit expressly says in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (1Tim4:1,3) Nevertheless because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It’s good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they can’t exercise self-control, let them marry. For it’s better to marry than to burn with passion. (1Cor7:2,8,9) Therefore I desire that younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. (1Tim5:14) These scriptures and many others prove the Roman Catholics follow doctrines of demons! (1Tim4:1) How can a “church” so disobedient to God, teach anyone to have a “clean” conscience? God’s church receives true widows who’ve no other means of support. In return, these widows pray fervently for the church. Now she who’s really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. (1Tim5:5) This isn’t to be a “rotating” ministry with new widows joining and others leaving at their will which could be a terrible distraction to the church leadership. This isn’t a temporary emergency support for indigent ladies, but a permanent position – given only to widows who make a life long commitment – so the leadership won’t be continually perturbed with the “changing of the guards.” Thus these widows must vow to serve permanently – much like a marriage – till death! Now if a few years later a widow decides to break her vow then she dies spiritually! She’s gone after satan, selfishness. Her conscience will condemn her from now on, because she’s reneged on her word, turned away from her promise to love and serve the Lord’s church, and returned to pleasing herself. In order to repent she must return to keeping her vow – bringing forth fruits worthy of repentance. (Act26:20) But if she doesn’t repent she’ll perish because she’s condemned. (Rom14:23) “It was an unwise vow and I shouldn’t have made it!” It doesn’t matter; you made it! Let your yes be yes, and your no, no! (Jms5:12b) When you make a vow to God, don’t delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you’ve vowed – better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Don’t let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? (Eccl 5:4-6) LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who swears to his own hurt and doesn’t change. (Ps15:1,4b) Can she get back to God? Can’t she just confess and repent? If she confesses and repents then she’s to go back to keeping her vow, otherwise she hasn’t repented. Vows are important to God. Keeping your word is very important to God. Be careful to keep your word when you give it. And if you repent for not keeping it, you must return to keeping it. (Mt3:8) If it’s impossible to keep your word; like if you owed money to someone who’s dead and has no relatives, do what the Old Testament says: Speak to the children of Israel: “When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit in unfaithfulness against the LORD, and that person is guilty, then he shall confess the sin which he’s committed. He shall make restitution for his trespass in full, plus one-fifth of it, and give it to the one he’s wronged. But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for the wrong must go to the LORD for the priest. (Num5:6-8) In the New Covenant that means give it to the church. You can’t profit from breaking your vow, and be forgiven. For by one offering He’s perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Heb10:14) Notice the “perfected forever” are those “being sanctified” which means only those who are actually putting on the new man are “perfected forever.” That you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness (Eph4:24) Don’t lie to one another, since you’ve put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who’s renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. (Col 3:9,10) Even though your conscience has been perfected, you can mess it up again if you don’t keep it clean. It’s important to keep your conscience clean. Anyone whose conscience condemns them won’t be raised in the resurrection of life but in the resurrection of condemnation. The resurrection of condemnation is for the damned: condemned! The only ones who’ll make the resurrection of life are those who are irreproachable and blameless. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Th5:23) Beloved, now we’re children of God; and it hasn’t yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He’s revealed, we’ll be like Him, for we’ll see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1Jn3:2,3) This is what Paul’s striving for. I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I’ve suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Phil 3:8-11) Now, if Paul needs to forsake everything, count it all loss and press toward the prize, (v14) then what do you need to do? “Well, Paul’s an apostle!” That’s right, and if he has to do it; you sure have to do it. Why would God make it harder for an apostle to get into heaven, than for you? The apostle is showing you the way by his example, and the way is – you must count everything loss in order to become irreproachable, blameless and fit for the resurrection of life, because that’s the only way you’ll make it. Don’t marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth--those who’ve done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who’ve done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (Jn5:28,29) I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there’ll be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. (Act24:15,16) What’s Jesus saying? What’s Paul saying? If you want to make it in the resurrection of life you must have a clean conscience. Jesus has cleansed your conscience. Now keep it clean! Prophecy: How could you think I’d pay so high a price as the death of My Son to perfect your conscience, but I wouldn’t also provide every possible means and abundance of grace to keep your conscience clean now that it’s perfected. How could I perfect your conscience then leave it to get dirty again. Don’t you know what I perfect, if you let Me, I’ll keep. What I’ve done to perfect your conscience cost a very high price and I don’t intend that price to be wasted, but I’ll bring forth the fullness of that perfection in those who have faith for Me to do this. Would I perfect the conscience and leave the mind and the heart defiled, and the body, and the spirit defiled? No! I’ve perfected the conscience so I can perfect the rest. The first step is a perfected conscience, and out of that I’ll bring forth a perfected body, soul and spirit – each blameless in the day of My appearing. How could you lack anything you need when I’ve paid so high a price; and how could I in any way fail to finish that work in you if only you’ll trust Me, saith the Lord. Prophecy: Understand and know the importance of the work I’ve done, and the importance of keeping your conscience clean. For Adam once walked with Me with a pure and clean heart. He had fellowship with Me without fear and trembling. He knew Me and was full of life, but that one transgression; that one disobedience, that one sin which defiled his conscience – separated him from Me. Death entered in and he no longer walked with Me. And I tell you all the work I’ve done in the sacrifice of My Son to perfect and to cleanse your conscience, is to bring you back into fellowship with Me that you may walk with Me again. Now, will you again defile your conscience and separate yourself from Me? My elect will by no means do this. My elect have come back into fellowship with Me, and they keep themselves with all diligence, because this is what their hearts have longed for, and this is what they’re reaching for; fellowship with Me! Most people today live in a state of condemnation, their consciences are defiled continually and they’re completely separated from God. Don’t be like them. My Elect desire to know Me and are longing and looking to be one with Me. Therefore send forth My Word and show My children how to keep a clean conscience, that they may return to an abundant fellowship with Me, saith the Lord. (Prophecies delivered at “My Father’s House”)
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