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We Know! (Book II) By Pastor Bill Taylor A publication of My Father's House, inc. Volume 11/ Issue 4 There are many important truths real Christians know that ordinary people don’t. For this reason I won’t be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present Truth. (2Pt1:12) Peter says we must be continually reminded of these things and calls them “present Truth.” (See our Glory of His Grace publication “Present Truth.”) John says concerning true believers, You have an anointing from the Holy one, and you know all things. I haven’t written to you because you don’t know the Truth, but because you know it, and no lie is of the Truth. (1Jn2:20,21) Throughout the New Testament there are continual references made to specific truths the believers “know.” These are the very important things that constitute the body of Truth in those of “like precious faith.” (2Pt1:1) Many so called “believers” today show a dreadful ignorance of things the bible says true believers know. This is an infallible proof that such ignorant “christians” can’t be “true believers.” Since the scriptures tell us the true saints know these things – then those who don’t know them aren’t among the true saints. For example, Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. (1Cor9:24) And, You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who enlisted him as a soldier. (2Tim2:3,4) The true saints know their race must be run God’s way. You can’t run it just any way you feel like! The sad fact is, the vast majority of people who call themselves “christians” today aren’t running in the way they can obtain the prize. They’ll lose their race because they know very little about the lawful way to run it. (2Tim2:5) Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. (1Cor9:25) The first thing Paul says is necessary to win your race is you must have self control or temperance. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there’s no law. (Gal 5:22,23) How many “believers” in today’s churches have actually acquired the godly fruit of temperance so they can run their race to win? (See our Glory of His Grace publication “Who The World Hates/ Self Control”) But Paul also says, “I don’t run with uncertainty.” (1Cor9:26) The double-minded man receives nothing. The things of God aren’t speculative! They’re not maybe this and maybe that. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose he’ll receive anything from the Lord; he’s a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (Jms1:6-8) But as God is faithful, our word to you wasn’t “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us -- by me, Silvanus, and Timothy – wasn’t “Yes” and “No,” but in Him was “Yes.” For all the promises of God in Him are “Yes,” and in Him “Amen,” to the glory of God through us. (2Cor1:18-21) Faith must be founded on knowing not guessing! It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. (Lk1:3,4) Luke is confident he has a perfect understanding of the gospel. He’s not speculating, he knows! And he’s sharing what he knows with his friend Theophilus, that Theophilus also may be certain of these truths. John writes his book for a similar reason. And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which aren’t written in this book; but these are written that you may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (Jn20:30,31) This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know his testimony is true. (Jn21:24) John gives his testimony and certifies it’s true so you can be sure you know the Truth and believe. John also writes what could be called the “we know” epistle. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. (1Jn2:3) The word “know” occurs in this little book over 25 times. But whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know we’re in Him. But you have an anointing from the Holy one, and you know all things. 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. We know we’ve passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who doesn’t love his brother abides in death. (1Jn2:5,20;3:2,14) According to John, if you’re a true believer there’s no guessing about these things, you know them! Examine yourselves as to whether you’re in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you’re disqualified. (2Cor13:5) If you don’t have the Spirit of Christ, you’re not saved because you’re not His. Now if anyone doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he isn’t His. (Rom8:9b) If Christ isn’t in you, you’re disqualified as a Christian; you’re not in the race. Christianity today, in almost every place it’s practiced, is completely presumptuous about Christ actually being in the believers. They just assume He’s there without ever examining themselves to see if He really is! Yet, the bible commands us to examine ourselves to see if Christ is really in us, and we’re given numerous scriptures by which we may determine the certainty of whether Christ is in us or not. Because if He’s not in you, you’re lost. Now, by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. (1Jn2:3) How many so called “christians” can you ask, “Do you keep His commandments?” and they’ll answer, “I don’t know!” Which means they aren’t keeping them because if they were they’d know. “I don’t know” often means they don’t even know His commandments, and if they don’t know His commandments, it’s for sure they aren’t keeping them. But if they knew Him, they’d know His commandments, since you have to keep His commandments to know Him and you have to know His commandments to keep them. Others will answer, “I’m trying!” which means, “I’m not keeping His commandments” because if they say they’re “trying” they know they aren’t succeeding, which is why they can’t say, “Yes, I’m keeping them.” So if they know they’re not keeping His commandments, then they don’t know Him. For Christ to be in you, you have to know Him and to know Him you must keep His commandments. What’s being practiced today as “christianity” isn’t Christianity. Christ in you is Christianity! (Col 1:27) This is how we know He’s in us, we keep His commandments. He who says I know Him and doesn’t keep His commandments is a liar and the Truth isn’t in him. (1Jn2:4) If the Truth isn’t in you, Jesus isn’t in you. But the anointing which you’ve received from Him abides in you, and you don’t need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and isn’t a lie, and just as it has taught you, you’ll abide in Him. (1Jn2:27) The anointing isn’t in you if you don’t keep Jesus’ commandments. You know the Truth, I’m writing to you not because you don’t know it but because you do know it. (1Jn2:21) John’s first epistle is written only to the people who know the Truth. That also means only to the people who keep Christ’s commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and doesn’t keep His commandments, is a liar, and the Truth isn’t in him. (1Jn2:4) Thus if you can’t truthfully say, “I keep His commandments,” John’s book isn’t written to you. John is writing only to those who know Jesus and know they know Jesus because they keep His commandments. Whoever keeps His Word truly the love of God is perfected in him, by this we know we’re in Him. (1Jn2:5) How important is it to know we’re in Him? Knowing we’re in Him is salvation. If we aren’t in Him we aren’t saved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. (Eph1:7) Knowing we’re in Him has everything to do with answered prayer. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you’ll ask what you will and it shall be done unto you. (Jn15:7) Only if we’re keeping His commandments does He hear us. (1Jn3:22) Jesus said of His Father, “I know You always hear Me.” (Jn11:42) Jesus knew He was keeping His Father’s commandments. (Jn14:31) If we’re true believers, then we’re God’s temple, (1Cor3:16) and a very important characteristic of the temple is the Lord is there. (Ezek48:35;1Kng9:3) It’s the place where God HEARS the prayers of His people. (1Kng8:48,49) And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions we’ve asked of Him. (1Jn5:15) So we can only consider ourselves to be God’s temple if He hears us. And we can only know He hears us if we keep His commandments. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. (1Jn3:20,22) Templeship then is also dependant upon keeping the commandments. Jesus said, “I always do the things that please My Father.” (Jn8:29) So we too must always do the things that please Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1Jn2:6) Jesus walked in complete obedience to God; in continual faith, never doubting. And that’s how we’re to walk if we’re to be His people. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there’s no cause for stumbling in him. (1Jn2:11,10) The one who loves his brother demonstrates that love by doing things which actually benefit his brother. (3:18) This doesn’t mean giving him what his flesh desires or engaging in flatteries and such. But godly love will do the things that help save your brother’s soul and benefit him on an eternal scale. He who loves his brother abides in the light. By this we know we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. (1Jn2:10;5:2) How do you know you abide in the light? Because you love the brethren. How do you know you love the brethren? Because you keep God’s commands. In this short epistle, John reveals to us many things that real Christians know and most of which so called contemporary “christians” don’t know. Thus the majority of those calling themselves “christians” today aren’t real Christians. And they’re certainly not running their race lawfully. (2Tim2:5) Again, to run lawfully you need temperance. (1Cor9:25) But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, (So the body is not ruling over me, I’m ruling over it) lest, when I’ve preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (vs27) If Paul the great apostle has to discipline his body lest he be a “castaway” (OKJ), how much more do you as a lesser “Christian” need that discipline if you’re to “stay” saved. Notice that to become disqualified or be “castaway” indicates you were “saved” but by not continuing rightly in the things pertaining to your salvation you became disqualified and lost your salvation. (Such verses irrefutably prove Once Saved/Always Saved to be an unscriptural heresy.) So to win your race for salvation like Paul you must not let your flesh run. You must stay in the Spirit and keep the flesh crucified. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2Tim2:3) Enduring hardship is another expression of temperance. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. (2Tim2:4) You must protect your availability to serve the Lord. If you belong to Christ, you have no right to make commitments or become involved in things that would prevent you from having the freedom to fully serve Christ. You were bought at a price; don’t become slaves of men. For he who’s called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who’s called while free is Christ’s slave. (1Cor7:23,22) True Christians must jealously protect their liberty to serve Christ and never entangle themselves with anything that would interfere with that freedom. All things are lawful for me, but all things aren’t helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I won’t be brought under the power of any. (1Cor6:12) For example, partaking of an addictive substance, even a “legal” one such as tobacco or caffeine, could bring you under its power and interfere with your freedom to serve Christ by keeping you in bondage. Or getting into excessive debt might force you to work extra jobs or such and much hinder your spiritual life. Many believers were already involved in entanglements before they came to Christ and aren’t as free to serve Christ as others; people who’ve come to know Christ in the military or in prison, for example. But Paul says even if you’re called while a slave, don’t be concerned about it because Christ has accepted you in the circumstances where He saved you. So He’ll accept what you can give and do for Him in your situation. He doesn’t require of you what you can’t give because He understood the limitations of your position even before you came to Him. Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. (1Cor7:21) If you can be made free do it, because you can serve Christ better if you’re free. So in order to give Christ the best service, if you’re able to, get free and stay free. But also recognize that the condition He saved you in, He accepted you in. You can serve Him and be useful to Him where you are. So give Him your best while you’re there, but if you have the opportunity to get free, “get free!” The freer you get, the better you can serve! If anyone competes in athletics, he’s not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. (2Tim2:5) There are many “commandments” pertaining to you being worthy of the Kingdom of heaven. One criticism a foolish Baptist made against me was, “Don’t you think you’re making Christianity too hard on people?” My answer is, “Pick up your cross and follow Me!” (Lk14:27) How hard is that? “Unless you forsake all you can’t be My disciple.” (vs33) How hard is that? “No one having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Lk9:62) How hard is that? The problem isn’t that I’ve made it too hard; the problem is these wicked false christians have made it too easy! To them, Christ’s words seem too hard so they’ve subverted His true way of salvation by twisting or ignoring His commandments. They’re like the disciples who left Jesus when His Word became too hard. (Jn6:60,66) They’ve exchanged Jesus’ gospel for an “easier” one, because Jesus’ words are too hard! I couldn’t possibly make “salvation” harder than Jesus has. Losing your life is as hard as you can make it. Loving Jesus more than mother, brother, father, sister, and your own life also is as hard as you can make it. (Mt10:37) There’s no way to make it harder. Jesus warned us salvation is difficult because it’s impossible to the flesh. Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Mt7:14) Christ’s way of salvation has to be hard enough to crucify the flesh. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God! (1Cor15:50) There’s only one way into God’s Kingdom, and that way is dying to this world. But these wicked Baptists are trying to find another way. They’re trying to make the gospel easier so they can be “saved” without crucifying the flesh. They don’t want to die to this world and they don’t want to suffer with Christ. (1Pt4:1) These false christians are looking for an entirely different Christ who’ll let them into heaven without them having to pick up the cross, without them having to forsake all, without any fellowshipping in the sufferings of Christ. (Phil 3:10) You can’t make the true gospel any harder than it is. The gospel kills the old man to the world and vice versa. But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Gal 6:14) And once the old man is crucified (dead) you can’t make him any deader. But these false christians think they can make the gospel easier. These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Thus you’ve made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. (Mt15:8,9,6b) What they’re really doing is destroying their own salvation. Since their “easy” gospel doesn’t crucify them to the world or the world to them it doesn’t save them. And that makes them an antichrist church! They’re “anti” what Jesus says. They speak against almost everything the bible requires for a real salvation. The bible says we must run this race in a way to win (1Cor9:24), but they won’t do that. They think they’re guaranteed a victorious finish just because they’ve begun the race. But if that were true Paul wouldn’t have to warn us to run our race in a way to win. They’ve twisted the scriptures to their own destruction. (2Pt3:16) The true words of Jesus they’ve perverted into lies. If anyone teaches otherwise and doesn’t consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he’s proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the Truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. (1Tim6:3-5) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that’s in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. (1Pt3:15,16) Real Christians are witnesses to Truth. (Mt10:27) Don’t be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1Cor15:33) If you want to run your race to win you must not fellowship with false believers. “Therefore come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord. “Don’t touch what’s unclean, and I’ll receive you.” (2Cor6:17) If you’re a true believer, Don’t you know you’re the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1Cor3:16) In the Old Testament it’s not just God’s temple that’s holy, but the entire area of land that surrounds it, and nothing unclean is to be permitted near God’s holy temple. This is the law of the temple: The whole area surrounding the mountaintop is most holy. (Ezek43:12) If you’re really a temple of God, you must sanctify your surroundings! Awake to righteousness, and don’t sin; for some don’t have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. (1Cor15:34) In the Corinthian church some of the members don’t know God. And what Paul is specifically relating that to is holiness. Be holy, for I am holy! (1Pt1:16) If you know God is holy, then you know you must be holy. (vs15) Without holiness you won’t see the Lord. (Heb12:14) 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’s pure. (1Jn3:2,3) Paul sees these Corinthians as we see many who call themselves “believers” today thinking they can be “christians” while they participate in worldly activities, even fraternizing with wicked unbelievers. Concerning such Paul says the church should be ashamed of them because if they behave that way they don’t know God. Whoever abides in Him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. (1Jn3:6) Isn’t it shameful to have people in your church who don’t know God? This wasn’t the first time Paul rebuked the Corinthians for this. It’s actually reported that there’s sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as isn’t even named among the Gentiles… And you’re puffed up, and haven’t rather mourned, that he who’s done this deed might be taken away from among you. (1Cor5:1,2) It’s a serious problem with the Corinthian church that they weren’t upholding Christ’s standards of holiness. There were so many things going on in that church that shouldn’t have been. Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians is a continual series of rebukes. Whatever they’d been learning in Corinth about Christ was probably concerned only with their sins being forgiven. I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake. (1Jn2:12) But they weren’t being taught how to run their race to win. (1Cor9:27) They seemed very ignorant of the standards required in true Christians. And the carnality of the Corinthians is no excuse for “believers” today to remain carnal because Paul is rebuking them. They won’t get to heaven if they don’t repent! As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. To him who overcomes I’ll grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Rev3:19,21) Your glorying isn’t good. Don’t you know a little leaven leavens the whole lump? (1Cor5:6) One thing every Christian should know is you can’t allow sin in your church or it will grow. In the battle we fight to attain to the glorious church, we must recognize sin isn’t static! Blemishes and spots grow if they’re not dealt with. So if we’re to pursue holiness and the glory of God, any time sin arises we must rebuke it and expunge it. Anything that’s not of the Spirit and love of Christ is a leaven to be purged out. (1Cor5:6,7) Carelessness, worldliness, lukewarmness, timidity, whatever isn’t diligent about fulfilling the will of God must be corrected as soon as it appears. In Corinthians Paul’s dealing with a people who are glorying in their salvation, yet allowing their church to degenerate. As Christians, they ought to know evil company corrupts good manners. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” If you don’t know that, you don’t have the knowledge of God. (1Jn3:6) Awake to righteousness, and don’t sin; for some don’t have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. (1Cor15:34) Whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we’re in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (1Jn2:5,6,28) If you aren’t abiding in Him, you’ll be ashamed when He appears. If you’re ashamed when He appears, you won’t be among the saved. When He appears, Jesus will say, “Well done” to your glory or “Depart from Me” to your shame. In that day, it will be too late to repent to be “saved” – you need to repent and abide in Him now! If you know that He’s righteous, (Do you know Jesus is righteous? You’d think everybody would know that!) you know everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. (1Jn2:29) But not everyone does know that! Many so called “believers” today claim to be born of Him, yet they’re still sinners who don’t practice righteousness! It’s the “I’m just a sinner saved by grace” heresy so often taught in the wicked Baptist churches, where they think “grace” excuses their sin so they can sin and still be saved. But that’s a lie. For the grace of God that brings salvation (saving grace) has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. (Tit2:11,12) So those who don’t know being born of Jesus makes you righteous in behavior don’t really know Jesus is righteous! (1Jn2:29) The source of our righteousness is Jesus. No one can be righteous apart from Him and no one can be “in Him” and be in sin. Jesus said, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but one!” (Mt19:17) And, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees you can’t enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” (Mt5:20) So, when John says, “Everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him” he’s not talking about the kind of righteousness a Pharisee has. He’s referring to the kind of righteousness found in Jesus. If you know that He’s righteous, you know that everyone who’s righteous (the way Jesus is righteous) is born of Him. (1Jn2:29) The righteousness John speaks of comes only from God. It’s not self-righteousness or the world’s kind of righteousness. Can you discern the difference between Jesus’ righteousness and these other kinds? What characterizes Jesus’ righteousness? The source of Jesus’ righteousness is the immediate leading of God, obedience to the Spirit; doing what God is showing Him at all times. The source of pharisaical righteousness is the law. The source of worldly righteousness is worldly wisdom; trying to determine what’s good and bad by what best serves selfish and temporal interests. Self-righteousness is judging yourself morally superior to others by standards you determine yourself, which of course you choose and find relatively easy to keep. Do you think God doesn’t see the bias there? Godly righteousness is living up to God’s standards, not society’s and not your own self appointed rules. Godly righteousness is the opposite of iniquity. Iniquity is departing from God, not obeying Him; but doing things your own way. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Is53:6) Iniquity doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a criminal breaking civil laws. You can be very iniquitous and never go to jail. Iniquity just means you’re doing things on your own, without God. You aren’t led by God. The one who’s truly righteous is being led by God, not himself. He does what God shows him to do. So everything he does is the righteousness of faith. The righteousness of faith comes from hearing and obeying God; the “hearing of faith.” (Gal 3:2,5) It’s not the righteousness of the law, not self-righteousness, not social righteousness, not human reasoning righteousness. The righteousness of faith means you have God’s presence and you’re led by His Spirit. Because you have faith for Him to lead you, you do what He shows you to do. The righteousness of faith produces godly fruit. As Jesus said, “Whatever you ask, I’ll do if you abide in Me and My words abide in you.” (Jn15:7) God confirms a real faith by causing it to bring forth fruit. The Spirit shows you what to do, you do it and it works. At the beginning of today’s service, I prayed for Elie’s healing and God healed her. I heard God, obeyed God in faith and it worked. The fruit that proves the faith is the healing! Now, why could I hear God? For one thing, it’s because I’m seeking Him. To me it’s an insult to God and to us that we should have sickness in God’s church. We can’t tolerate sickness in the Lord’s house! We must do something about it! So I’m crying out to God, “What will you have me to do?” And when He shows me, I do it. Today I did something in a different way than we’ve usually done it. Elie was healed in the beginning of the service because that’s what God showed me to do. Usually we pray for healing later in the service or even at the end. But God showed me to do it differently today. He wanted Elie to put “works” to her faith, to pray and sing and use her voice to demonstrate her healing and glorify God in the worship and sharing services. After being healed of her sore throat, using her voice became a step of faith for her. The righteousness that saves comes by faith. To be led by God you must have faith and be seeking to be led, then you must believe you’re being led. By faith you ask the Lord to lead you and then you do what He shows you to do. That’s the righteousness of faith. And that’s how Jesus lived all His life. If you know He’s righteous, (Do you know He’s righteous? What makes Him righteous? He’s righteous by faith. He showed and demonstrated the righteousness of a perfect faith in His Father at all times!) you know everyone who practices (that kind of) righteousness is born of Him. (1Jn2:29) How many people who claim to be Christians are demonstrating real righteousness? The truth is, most so called “christians” today aren’t of God. They don’t understand the righteousness of faith. They don’t understand “as He is so are we in this world.” (1Jn4:17) Their “salvation” is based on misinterpreted scriptures, not on scriptural Truth. True Christians know the reality of salvation because we know what kind of righteousness comes from God; the kind of righteousness Jesus demonstrates. It’s a living by faith righteousness where you’re hearing God and you’re following God in everything you do. (Gal 3:2) “We know” it’s Jesus in us when we see that. There isn’t any other kind of righteousness that looks anything like Jesus. Legal righteousness doesn’t compare. It’s nothing like Jesus’ righteousness. Self-righteousness doesn’t compare. The righteousness that comes from walking in the Spirit, knowing God is leading you, seeking and receiving His guidance is the stamp of authenticity to Christianity; it proves you’re a son of God when you’re led by the Spirit, (Rom8:14) and it’s the only criteria by which you can validate your Christianity as real! God told me from the beginning how things were terribly wrong in what was calling itself His church, but I’m telling you, even after He told me I really had no idea how bad it actually was. And everyday God shows me something more, and I see it’s worse than I could have ever imagined. It’s not a joke that what they call “christianity” today isn’t real! God shows us real Christianity is “light,” but what most so called “christians” today have is darkness. Are you born of God? Can you demonstrate you’re born of God? We know whoever is 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) Do you know you’re being led by the Spirit and everything you do comes from the Lord’s guidance? Are you receiving His guidance by faith and doing all He shows you to do? Only if in truth you can answer “yes” to these things are you in fact a real member of the body of Christ. To be fully established in Christ is a goal we must attain to, (Col 1:28) and God gives room to grow that we may become established in the faith. He doesn’t reject you when you’re inexperienced and still learning. If we confess our sins, He’s faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1Jn1:9) But the purpose of forgiveness is that we may be cleansed so we can go on to perfection! And if we’re really born of God, we must demonstrate the righteousness Jesus demonstrates. Jesus is the Son of God! We also must be “sons of God!” Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children (sons) of God! (1Jn3:1a) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Rom8:14) You must be led by the Spirit to be a son of God. And you must have the kind of righteousness that Jesus has to be born of God. If you know He’s righteous, you know everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. (1Jn2:29) Jesus’ righteousness is the righteousness of a faith that’s perfectly obedient to God. So in Jesus you must have faith to be led by God and to do what God shows you to do, not trusting in your own understanding, or following man, or following the wisdom of the world, etc. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1Jn3:1a) God has invited us to become His children. He’s given us the promise of the Spirit so we can walk in the Spirit by faith, and when we walk in the Spirit we become His sons. As God’s sons we demonstrate the righteousness of God before men! We’re God’s temple in the earth. Come out from among them and be ye separate, don’t touch what’s unclean and I’ll be a Father to you and you’ll be My sons and daughters and I’ll be your God and you’ll be My people. (2Cor6:17,18,16b) Therefore, having these promises beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2Cor7:1) Holiness without which no man will see the Lord. (Heb12:14) Be ye holy as I’m holy! (1Pt1:16) If you don’t know this, you don’t have the knowledge of God. (1Cor15:34) Therefore the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know Him. (1Jn3:1b) To know God is eternal life. (Jn17:3) So those who don’t know God don’t have eternal life. And whoever says, “I know Him,” and doesn’t keep His commandments, is a liar, and the Truth isn’t in him. (1Jn2:4) For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. (1Th5:2) The true saint knows the Lord’s coming will be a surprise – He’ll come so suddenly that no one will be able to prepare if they aren’t prepared beforehand! Therefore the true saints know they must always stay prepared if they’re to be ready in that day! For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, aren’t in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You’re all sons of light and sons of the day. We aren’t of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let’s not sleep, as others do, but let’s watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. For God didn’t appoint us to wrath. (1Th5:3-7,9a) But God has appointed the lovers of lies to wrath. (Rom2:5) He’s sending them strong delusion and they’ll all perish because they didn’t receive the love of the Truth. (2Th2:10,11) But we who are of the Truth are appointed to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. (1Th5:9b,10) Paul says we know perfectly the day of the Lord will come as a surprise. To know this perfectly means you must behave in accordance with what you know. For example, Beloved, now we’re children of God; and it hasn’t yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know 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’s pure. (1Jn3:2,3) We know He’s coming as a thief, and we know if we’re to be received by Him when He comes we must be like Him. To attain to the glorious body we must be as pure as Christ, so we purify ourselves. 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 will be raised incorruptible, and we’ll be changed. (1Cor15:51,52) The saints will be changed before they meet Christ. God’s elect will be changed when we hear the trumpet blow. Then we’ll meet Him. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1Th4:16,17) When we meet Him we’ll already be like Him. We’ll be “glorified” saints. This is the first resurrection, also called the “resurrection of life.” (Rev20:6;Jn5:29) So what should we be doing now if we know this? We should be preparing to be found acceptable in His sight so He’ll call us and choose us to be a part of the first resurrection. 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’s pure. (1Jn3:2b,3) Because we know to see Him when He’s revealed we must be like Him. This also proves the resurrection and glorification of the saints must occur before Jesus’ second coming to earth (not to meet the saints in the air – 1Th4:17) when, Behold, He’s coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. (Rev1:7) Here in the second coming to earth everyone sees Him, but in the rapture, when the saints are changed, raised and glorified, only those who are like Him will see Him! Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is transgression of the law. And you know He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there’s no sin. (1Jn3:4,5) How many “christians” today actually know Jesus takes away our sins? He doesn’t just forgive our sins but takes them away and so changes us from sinners into saints who sin no more. 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) When “christians” don’t know these things John says real Christians “do know” then such “don’t know christians” can’t be real Christians. Real Christians do know these things. John’s one of the gentlest of the pastors and apostles. He speaks softly of “little children,” “brethren,” “beloved” yet he began as a son of thunder. (Mk3:17) Now because he seems so compassionate, some people take what he says as tongue in cheek. They don’t recognize the power in what he’s saying. John is talking to his sheep, the flock Jesus has entrusted to him. But he’s saying things like, You have an anointing from the Holy one, and you know all things. I’ve not written to you because you don’t know the Truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the Truth. (1Jn2:20,21) So John is reminding his true believers of what they know. Is it possible there are things you know that you don’t know you know? For the true believers, this is a certainty. For example, Do you know He (Jesus) is righteous? Of course you do. Do you know every seed brings forth after its kind? (Gen1:12) Then you must also know that everyone who does righteousness is born of Him. (1Jn2:29) Because Jesus is the righteous Seed of which we’re born. So even if you hadn’t seen it in 1st John 2:29, you still could have known it. Because if you consider and think about the implications of those things you know for sure to be true, you’ll see they lead you to other things that must be true. So if you’d spend more time looking at what you know, you’d see you know even more than you thought. Also, But you have an anointing from the Holy one, and you know all things. (1Jn2:20) The anointing John’s referring to is Christ in you. If Christ is in you leading you by His Spirit, then in every situation He’ll show you the right thing to do. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or whenever you turn to the left. (Is30:21) Anything you need to know is always available to you in Christ. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (Jms1:5) Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you’re complete in Him, who’s the Head of all principality and power. (Col 2:8-10) But the anointing which you’ve received from Him abides in you, and you don’t need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and isn’t a lie, and just as it has taught you, you’ll abide in Him. (1Jn2:27) Both John and Peter are talking to real churches and confirming they have the real thing but must fight to hold onto it because false prophets are trying to lead them astray. John and Peter were both called by Jesus personally, but many wicked false teachers who don’t know Jesus are rising up to say the apostles are wrong and these newcomers are right! John calls them “antichrists.” Little children, it’s the last hour; and as you’ve heard the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know it’s the last hour. (1Jn2:18) Peter warns, But as there were false prophets among the people, even so there’ll be false teachers among you, who’ll secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the Way of Truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they’ll exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment hasn’t been idle, and their destruction doesn’t slumber. (2Pt2:1-3) Jesus said of the “beginning of sorrows,” “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” (Mt24:11) So the multiplicity of false preachers and false christians today is a fulfillment of prophecy, and it’s not surprising that anywhere we go we’ll encounter numerous religious pretenders who’ve set up erroneous ministries without knowing God or even asking God what He wanted them to do. (2Tim1:9) I was called by God! Jesus Himself audibly told me to start “My Father’s House” and on another occasion He told me to publish The Glory of His Grace. All real ministers must be called by Jesus as in, He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (Eph4:11) Yet we true apostles, etc., are often slandered by false preachers and false “christians” who’ve never met or heard Jesus themselves but have only been followers of their “denominational doctrines,” many of which are very heretical. They foolishly believe the things they’ve learned from man make them superior to those who haven’t attended their heretical schools. Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ (Am7:14,15) Similarly, I didn’t call myself. I was content, making a fine living as a self employed gemologist when Jesus called me and put me in His service. Yet these people in their self proclaimed “professional” ministries think they know something, when they don’t even know Jesus. (1Cor8:2) He’s never called them and He doesn’t teach them! They think they know Jesus but they only know some things “about” Jesus. And what they’ve learned they didn’t learn from God. They aren’t of those the bible says “shall all be taught of God.” (Jn6:45) But they are those who, Desiring to be teachers of the law, understand neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. (1Tim1:7) The reason so many are corrupting the gospel is Jesus didn’t call them. They’ve called themselves and they’re taught by men. Some of them are lusting for respect, attention, authority. Some are lovers of money. Most are intellectually prideful. They think they’re smarter than other people and because they can learn things faster than most, they’re more worthy to teach “christians” than ordinary “believers.” In reality, they’re Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth. (2Tim3:7) For God knows the proud from afar. (Ps138:6) And if anyone thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. (1Cor8:2) For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he’s nothing, he deceives himself. (Gal 6:3) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. (2Cor3:5) These proud fools aren’t taught by Jesus. They don’t know God so they have no sufficiency.
John’s first epistle is reminding Christ’s church
of how much real Christians know the Truth. John wants them to be so well
established in Christ there’ll be no possibility of their being deceived by the
antichrists who are perverting and opposing the truths of the gospel. The things
John is reminding them of are things all true saints know. John is
fighting to protect God’s elect from the antichrist “Gnostics.” Gnosticism was
one of the most dangerous heresies in John’s days. “Gnostic” in greek means
knowledge. Real Christians know the things John says his people know. John defines his brethren as “we are of God.” (1Jn4:6) Most “believers” today read “We are of God!” and presumptuously think John’s talking about them. But he’s not. He’s talking about the true brethren. John’s church is of God, that’s a certainty! John knows his people and he’s seen the proof of Christ being in them. Concerning most “believers” today, there’s no certainty they’re of God. To be sure we’re of God we must examine ourselves and find the required evidences! (2Cor13:5) What John gives us is the criteria for this examination. One reason we can know we’re of God is because we keep His commandments. (1Jn2:3) Another is we purify ourselves. (3:3) Also to be born of Him we must practice the righteousness Jesus shows us; the righteousness that comes by faith. (2:29) We know He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there’s no sin. (1Jn3:5) So we also know whoever abides in Him doesn’t sin. (vs6a) These are things John says real Christians know. These are essential characteristics that define real Christians by doctrine and behavior. But most who claim to be “christians” today don’t know these things; they don’t practice them, and they don’t believe them. The wicked Baptists act like the book of 1st John isn’t in their bible. Mostly they read the bible to find scriptures they can twist into seemingly supporting their heresies. Whatever doesn’t agree with their lies, they ignore. Consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation -- as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. (2Pt3:15,16) 1st John is so profoundly simple it’s virtually impossible to misunderstand. How could anyone not understand when John says, whoever abides in Him doesn’t sin? (vs6a) That’s a plain statement no sane believer could argue with. There’s no room to misinterpret this, is there? People who claim they can’t understand this are lying. They understand it quite well, they just don’t want to believe it. They know they’re sinners and still sinning daily yet they want to believe they’re saved. So they develop a kind of christianity where false doctrines support their erroneous beliefs; like they can be sinning regularly and still be accepted in Christ. Thus they think they have “salvation” in a christianity that forgives their sin but doesn’t break the power sin has over them. As Baptists their salvation “experience” is to believe they’re “saved and forgiven” while still basically sinners practicing and in bondage to sin. Their experience disagrees with God’s Word but they choose to believe their experience and call God (or John) a liar. Whoever has been born of God doesn’t sin, for His seed (Christ) remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he’s been born of God. (1Jn3:9) They’ll say, “Well, I’m born of God and I sin – so this verse can’t mean what it seems to.” And though the verse is plain and easy to understand they reject it because it disagrees with what they say, claiming to be born of God while still sinning! The bible doesn’t agree with the kind of “christianity” they practice. Yet they demand that we believe them and agree with them and their lying doctrines, and they hate us if we stand with God and believe His Word instead! Of course, it’s comforting to them to think they’re saved while they’re still sinners so they love the lie. And when we show them the truth it disturbs their false assurances – so they hate us for speaking the Truth. While they fight to hold on to their comfortable lies they’re actually fighting to hold on to their sin. They do this because they’re selfish. Their nature hasn’t been changed from darkness to light. They aren’t born again. The love of God (and Truth) hasn’t been shed abroad in their hearts. (Rom5:5) Selfish people want to believe selfish things. From this you can see they actually hate the real God because they hate His Word and they hate those who keep His Word. They claim to believe in God but they only believe in a god who agrees with their heresies, not the real God. So they refuse to receive God’s Word. They can’t agree with it because it disagrees with them! It isn’t that they can’t understand. Their problem is unbelief! If they were to believe what John says, they’d have to admit they aren’t real Christians! So they slander John and say things like, “He really didn’t mean that” as though the apostle has some secret meaning or he’s become senile in his old age. But the bible shows that holy men get holier as they get older, not less holy. And the Scripture isn’t of private interpretation. (2Pt1:20) Who are these arrogant people who think they know more than the apostles? John, the apostle who outlived all the others, is a holy, holy man. Yet they dare to argue with him? Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries (holy men). (Jude8) Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. (Mt5:19) Some interpret this as, “They make it to heaven, but they’re the least of the saints.” But, If you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? (1Cor6:4) When Paul says “least esteemed,” he’s talking about unbelievers. They’re the least esteemed by the church and the church is of the Kingdom of heaven. Unbelievers are esteemed the least because what wisdom can they have if they’ve rejected God, His Word and His salvation? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Pr9:10) So unbelievers can’t even have the beginning of wisdom. Then why would a believer submit himself to an unbeliever’s judgment? If they can’t even judge what’s right for their own souls, how can they judge righteously concerning you? True believers must esteem unbelievers as most unwise and unworthy of commendation. So when Jesus says, “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.” (Mt5:19) That means, he’ll be esteemed an unbeliever. It doesn’t mean he just barely made it to heaven, it means he isn’t in the Kingdom, because everyone who’s in the Kingdom will be highly esteemed. The true saints enter God’s Kingdom on a “Well done!” not on a “Shame on you!” Whoever abides in Him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. (1Jn3:6) Whoever teaches men to sin (break one of the least of God’s commandments) doesn’t know Christ and won’t be esteemed worthy to enter God’s Kingdom. We know we’ve passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who doesn’t love his brother abides in death. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1Jn3:14,16) Real love is expressed in the giving up of one’s self for the sake of others. The ultimate expression of Godly love is Christ’s sacrifice of Himself for us. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. (1Jn4:7) Love is the evidence we’re actually born of God and have eternal life. We know we’ve passed from death to life if we’re actually loving each other with God’s love. John says we must love in acts of love. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in Truth. (1Jn3:16,18) Paul confirms his apostleship saying, are they ministers of Christ? -- I speak as a fool -- I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. (2Cor11:23,28) These things Paul does demonstrate his love for the brethren in the constant laying down of his life on their behalf. Likewise, I personally know I’ve passed from death to life because of the laying down of my life for God’s church in many deeds of love. I know it’s Christ’s love in me that makes me do this and I know I’m abiding in His eternal life because of that love. There’s no question or doubt! Do you see how much certainty there can be to a real saint concerning these things? In the average “church” today most of the people are very uncertain about many things, yet when it comes to their salvation, “Oh, I’m sure I’m going to heaven!” They’re certain of that. But more often than not they’re believing a lie. Because most so called “christians” today base their salvation upon the presumptuous misinterpretation of a very few scriptures, while in reality they have no deeds of love to prove they’ve actually passed from death to life. So even what they think they’re so sure of concerning “their salvation” isn’t true! Ask them about many of the things that accompany salvation and they’re very uncertain. “Are you sure you’re keeping the commandments?” “Oh, no, I’m not sure I’m doing that.” “Are you sure you’re properly loving the brethren?” “No, I’m not sure of that.” “Are you laying your life down for the brethren?” “Well, I’m probably not doing enough of that.” “Are you sure you’re abiding in Christ?” “I’m trying, but nobody’s perfect!” “According to the apostle John, if you’re born of God you don’t sin. (1Jn3:9) Are you sure you aren’t sinning?” “Oh, I couldn’t say that, I think we’re all sinners.” You could take 1st John like a scouring pad and scour every “church” in this country clean. In many so called “churches” if they’d believe what’s in it there’d be no one left who’d claim to be a Christian by the time you’re done reading 1st John to them. Most “church” people today aren’t saved. What so clearly defines the true saints in these scriptures doesn’t describe them. They don’t believe the things John says about believers in this book. They don’t do the things true believers do according to these scriptures. The things the apostle John says are found in the real saints aren’t found in them. They don’t have the anointing to know all things. (1Jn2:27) They don’t have the Spirit who proves they’re abiding in Him. (1Jn3:24;2Cor13:5) They can’t answer “yes” to the simplest of questions that define real Christians. They’ve no certainty whatsoever of these things. By this we know love because we lay our lives down for the brethren, and by this we know we’ve passed from death to life. (1Jn3:14) By such truths you can examine yourself and know whether you’ve passed from death to life. John also teaches we must know we love in deed and not in word only! (1Jn3:18) So you can’t truthfully say you’ve passed from death to life unless you can give examples of your deeds of love. I can give you examples of my deeds of love. You’re holding one in your hand right now: The Glory of His Grace! You’ve no idea how much of my life I’ve laid down in Christ’s love in order to put these Truths in the hands of God’s elect! How much of God’s love are you manifesting? Because it has to manifest in deeds or you haven’t passed from death to life. And it has to be the kind of love that lays your life down, laying down your things to do such things as help the brethren. My little children, let’s not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in Truth. And by this we know we’re of the Truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. (1Jn3:18,19) That’s how we know we’re saved. There’s no guessing about this! Salvation isn’t so mysterious that we’ll never really know if we’ve made it until we get to the judgment. The apostle John is giving us rock solid evidences so we can know we abide in Christ and we can know we have eternal life now! We know we’ve passed from death to life because the things we do express the kind of love in which we’re laying our lives down for the brethren! We keep Jesus’ commandments so, 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) That’s what makes us God’s temple, that’s what makes the church a habitation for God in the Spirit, and that’s where real Christianity is found and it’s the only place real Christianity is found. Everything else is a fraud. Prophecy: So often today “believers” pridefully think they’re smarter than My apostles, even smarter than James and John. I tell you, John laid his head on My breast. He heard My Words and he knew Me intimately and personally. And what he speaks of Me is Truth and what he speaks can’t be refuted or ignored. For if you’re truly in My church, then you’re doing all that My servant John has said. I’ve shown you there are many who claim to be Mine, yet they know nothing of the things My true children know! They don’t even know He who’s born of God doesn’t sin. Thus I’m showing you the way to expose the false brethren and bring them under conviction. For I’m against those who fight against My Word and try to prove that even in their sin they can still find a way to be saved. I tell you, there’s no sin in My new man who’s created in true righteousness and holiness. There’s no sin in those who are walking in My Spirit. It’s time for all to see that what I’ve called forth in My church is holiness. Mine is a church that has put away the sin, and crucified the flesh. My people are following Me and My ways and doing My will. For I tell you, it wouldn’t be written in My Word if it weren’t true. And it is true! And it’s time for My church to be all that I’ve called her to be and for those who refuse to obey My Words to repent or be cast out of My church in shame, thus saith the Lord. Prophecy: What’s the point in My commanding you to run a lawful race if My law can’t be known? What’s the point in Me calling you to sonship if you can’t know what a son is to be? I haven’t set up a lawful race without making My laws known. Nor have I called My children to sonship without showing them clearly what My sons are to be. I’ve given all that’s needed for you to know how to run your race rightly, and I’ve given you the power to become sons of God, yet the “churches” are filled with people who comfort themselves in the lie that they can’t know what a son of God is, and who believe in their minds they can’t see how to run their race because only God knows. And because they believe the lie that only God knows they also erroneously think they can be whatever kind of “christian” they want and still be “saved.” But if they actually looked at what I clearly say in My Word a son of God is to be, they’d see they aren’t My sons. For only those who are led by My Spirit are the sons of God. But they comfort themselves in the lie and in the heresy that only God knows those who are His when I’ve clearly shown in My Word who are My true sons. And My people are those who’ve crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Can you not clearly see who’s a son? Jesus is God’s Son. Then who’s a son but he who walks as Christ walked. You can see who My true sons are, for I’ve shown you. And I’ll back My true sons up with My power to shine forth their sonship in this day and this age. And many elect shall see and know and come forth and also become My sons. For I’m destroying this lie by the presence, the knowledge, the wisdom and the power of God and I’m making My true children know they’re the sons of God even in this evil day and apostate age, thus saith the Lord. (Prophecies delivered at “My Father’s House”) The LORD will perfect that which concerns me. (Ps138:8) Perfect means to complete; and of course what’s made perfect has been completed. If it’s perfected there’s nothing more to do so it’s complete. And if it’s complete there’s no more to be added so it’s perfect. I’ll worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your Truth; for You’ve magnified Your Word above all Your name. (Ps138:2) God’s name couldn’t be highly regarded if he didn’t keep His Word. Therefore by the keeping of His Word His name becomes most righteous. Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar. (Ps138:6) He doesn’t know the proud as friends. As we keep our friends near to us so God keeps His friends near to Him. But He knows the proud from afar because obviously they aren’t His friends! The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; His mercy is one reason He’ll perfect that which concerns me Don’t forsake the works of Your hands. (Ps138:8) True believers are the works of God’s hands. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Eph2:10) The true believers are created by God “for good works.” So no one who isn’t involved in those Godly good works can be considered to be the work of God’s hands. And the LORD will perfect that which concerns me can only be true if indeed I’m a work of God’s hands; God has no reason to perfect anything except His own works. But if I’m truly a work of God’s hands and involved in His good works, it’s for certain the Lord won’t forsake me but will perfect me. Unfortunately many people today who claim to be “christians” are by no means the work of God’s hands. They’re often the work of some demon’s hands, some heretical theologian’s hands – something of that nature – not the work of God’s hands! But for the true sons of God, Your hands have made me and fashioned me, an intricate unity. If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I’ll wait, till my change comes. You shall call, and I’ll answer You (This is the resurrection – Jn5:28,29) You shall desire the work of Your hands. (Job10:8;14:14,15) God will remember me because He made me, and He wouldn’t have made me if He didn’t desire what He’s made. If God’s made you, He wanted you. And when God is finished working, He always likes what He’s made! Then God saw everything that He’d made, and indeed it was very good. (Gen1:31) God wouldn’t make something He doesn’t like. The things He doesn’t like are things that were good when He first made them, but have become corrupted through satan and sin. If you qualify as the present work of His hands then you’re something God takes pleasure in. Always, every time you see God do anything, He looks at it when He is done and says it’s very good. (Gen1:31) And that’s what he’ll do with us if we allow Him to finish the work of perfecting us. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Eph2:10) We are also His work in being built up together as His temple. Now, therefore, you’re no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Eph2:19-21) So God is building His temple of His true saints, and this also is the work of God’s hands through us! As in, But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me wasn’t in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (1Cor15:10) If I’m God’s workmanship then God has made me what I am. And also, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil 1:6) What God has begun He’ll complete if you’ll cooperate with Him and not resist Him. Just as it’s right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. (Phil 1:7) Paul says, “I see the same grace in you that’s in me.” Paul knows he has the real God and true grace in Him and since he sees the same thing in them, he knows what God’s begun in them He’ll complete. Now, the false “church” likes to quote, “God will finish the work He’s begun in us” but if they’re following presumptuous lies and traditions of men it isn’t God who’s working in them so what’s there to complete? God will finish the work only if the grace in you is real, and if the grace in you is real you’d be defending and confirming the true gospel (Jude3) against the myriads of heresies and false forms of christianity that flood the “churches” today! For it’s God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Phil 2:13) If it’s God who’s really working in you, then no doubt He’ll continue His work and finish it as long as you continue in faith for Him to do that. If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and aren’t moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard. (Col 1:23a) The LORD will perfect that which concerns me. (Ps138:8) David is confident that what God’s begun He’ll complete. And of course, God wouldn’t have begun the work if He didn’t wish to complete it. But are you striving to be complete; striving for the good work God has begun in you to be finished? If you’re God’s workmanship, then what’s going on in you must be God conforming you to Christ because that’s the main work. And unless that work is going on there’s nothing for God to complete. Unless God actually has a work going on in you, how can He finish that work? And where He has a people in whom He’s really working, the work He must finish that the scriptures may be fulfilled is to present every man perfect in Christ (Col 1:28); to bring forth a glorious church without spot and wrinkle (Eph5:27), the fullness of Him who filleth all in all. (1:23;3:19) Coming to the fullness of the stature of Christ is what it’s all about. (4:13) That’s the work that must be going on in every true believer and every true church. But in most so called churches today they aren’t even considering these things as being a needful part of “salvation.” They claim to be saved “by His blood” and forgiven, but they’ve no sense whatsoever of the work that must be completed in conforming the believers to Christ, the Son of God, if they’re truly to be saved. So how can we say He’ll finish the work in a people like that? How can they think Christ will finish the work when there isn’t even a work going on in them? And again, this must be a work of faith! Without faith it’s impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and He’s a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb11:6) As a believer, you ought to know that without faith it is impossible to please God. (Heb11:6) In order for God to complete the work of conforming you to Christ, you must have a real faith and be diligently seeking Him to complete it. If you don’t have that kind of faith, God won’t even begin the work! So you must examine yourselves to see that you’re actually in the faith (2Cor13:5), and that God is actually working in you. (Phil 2:12) Prophecy: My elect know Me as an awesome God and they glorify My Name. But I’ve said in My Word that I magnify My Word above My Name, as you can see in this; the day I spoke to Mary by My Spirit, when I called her blessed because she believed the Word that was brought to her by My angel. And because she believed My Word, there was a fulfillment of the things that were spoken. And in that I tell you, I was seen to be an awesome God even by the shepherds who witnessed the fulfillment of the things that were spoken to Mary when they saw the Christ child in the manger. I tell you, it wasn’t because Mary could see the future through her natural eyes, but Mary took hold of faith and she believed My Word; and she held onto My Word until there was a manifestation. And what came forth was an awesome reality, and that reality was seen. Because Mary loved the Truth, she honored My Word, therefore My Name was honored, My Name was exalted, and My Name was glorified. So I tell you My people, go forth and do as Mary did, and believe My Word; hold on to it, never let go of My Truth until I fulfill My Word and manifest My glory. For if you don’t look at the things that are, but at what I say will be as Mary did, then My glory will come forth in your life. For as I did for Mary, I’ll do the same for you who keep My Word, thus saith the Lord. Prophecy: And what was it specifically that Mary believed? She believed the Christ would be formed in her. And what is it that you are to believe but that Christ will be formed in you. And if you believe, there will be a fulfillment and there will be a manifestation of the living Christ in your life, saith the Lord. (Prophecies delivered at “My Father’s House”) Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. So then those who are of faith are blessed with (faithful or) believing Abraham that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Gal 3:7,9,14) Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who’s the father of us all. (Rom4:16) Jesus said to His disciples, “You don’t know what manner of Spirit you’re of.” (Lk9:55) But John speaks to the believers who know what they’re of because John tells them exactly what kind of Spirit they’re of. We’re of God. He who knows God hears us; he who’s not of God doesn’t hear us. By this we know the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. (1Jn4:6) Now 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) And we know if we have Christ’s Spirit. For The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there’s no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal 5:22-24) How could you not know you’ve crucified the flesh? If you have God’s love, joy, peace, you know you have the Spirit. There’s no wondering here! But 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. (vs19-21) You know when you’re behaving badly you don’t have the Spirit. And there are many such ways we can tell whether we have the Spirit or we’re in the flesh. And we’ve known and believed the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (1Jn4:16) That’s the Spirit we’re of and we know that’s the Spirit we’re of by the things we think about and the things we do! 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. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in Truth. (1Jn3:14-18) We know we love the brethren by the things we do. We know we’ve passed from death to life by the things we do. And when Jesus says, “You don’t know what spirit you’re of” (Lk9:55) it’s because of what His disciples want to do. They’ve asked Him to send fire to destroy people that Jesus has come to save. So the disciples don’t know the love of God yet. Also you can’t know what spirit you’re of unless you’re in faith. To be in Christ you must have the Spirit of faith and faith works by love. (Gal 5:6) Since we have the same Spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak. (2Cor4:13) The strongest indications of whether or not you’re in faith are found in what you say. Wherever there are behavioral problems in Christianity, where people go to church but don’t get blessed, don’t attain to wisdom but continually fall into foolishness and stumble into sin. Wherever such things are going on it’s certain there’s a love failure and there’s a faith failure. Such “christians” are in a spirit of religious selfishness because they don’t know what Spirit real Christians are of; the Spirit of faith and love! But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me (LOVE) in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore don’t cast away your confidence, (FAITH!) which has great reward. (Heb10:32-35) Compassion is love and confidence is faith. So here we see a people who know what Spirit they’re of…faith and love. Their Christianity is demonstrably real because of what they do. One of the most common faith failures is when “christians” don’t show they believe God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. (Phil 4:19) An often seen example is when unexpected expenses show up and so called “believers” react with doubt and fear as though God didn’t know this would happen even before the foundations of the earth and as though He’s too taken by surprise to supply their needs. Just because something unexpected shows up in your life, you think God didn’t know about it? God can’t handle it? It’s unexpected to God? Where’s your faith? Instead of speaking faith as in, “Glory to God; I know the Lord will meet this need!” what comes out is whining and complaining, fear and doubt like, “I don’t know how we’re ever going to pay this bill.” Or, “This is too much! God can’t expect me to deal with this?” Such people live by what they see and not by faith. For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2Cor5:7) If you’re living only by what you know you have and what you know you owe but you aren’t living by, Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Mt6:33) Then you won’t have faith to receive what God says will be “added” to meet your need. God’s Word isn’t real to you! So what comes out of your mouth is unbelief. And when that happens, you cut yourself off from God and His blessings. You won’t have a testimony of God giving you a great victory. You won’t be a demonstration of, You’re of God, little children and have overcome them, because He who’s in you is greater than he who’s in the world. (1Jn4:4) Instead of being a glory to God, He’ll be ashamed of you because in departing from faith you’ve departed from the living God! (Heb3:12) You’ve become like the ten evil spies. If you’re refusing to believe God will give you the victory, then your faith has failed; God can’t help you, you can’t hear God and you’re on your own now because you chose to believe your own doubts and fears instead of believing God’s Word. So there’s no glory to God in what you’ve done, but only shame on you. Whereas, to the man who takes the plundering of his goods with joy, there’s consolation now and an everlasting reward in the Kingdom! For you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. (Heb10:34) Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb12:2) The Hebrews joyfully endured the plundering of their goods because they knew God wouldn’t fail them. They knew Christ had incredible treasures in store for them in heaven. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom8:18) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (2Cor4:17) They also have God’s promise to take care of them here and now. Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Mt6:26) He takes care of the birds, He’ll take care of me. So a true Christian won’t let unbelief come out of his mouth, but he’ll give glory to God, and by walking in the steps of the faith of Abraham, he’ll prove to be a son of Abraham who is the father of all true believers. (Rom4:11) If you were Abraham’s children, you’d do the works of Abraham. (Jn8:39b) Who’s the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. And not being weak in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He didn’t waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He’d promised He was also able to perform. (Rom4:12,19-21) There can be no Christian testimony except from faith! There can be no victory except by faith. For whatever’s born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. (1Jn5:4) These Hebrews have a testimony and a victory because they know what Spirit they’re of! Righteousness, peace and joy, love and faith. (Rom14:17;1Tim1:5) We true Christians are a people of faith or we’re nothing. We’re a people of love or we’re nothing. And we know when we’re in faith and when we’re in love. And when we’re in faith and love we know we’re in God! Prophecy: When one’s in a spirit of fear, in a spirit of covetousness, or in a spirit of doubt, I don’t know that one because I’m not of that spirit. When one’s in a rebellious spirit, I don’t know him because I’m obedient. But when one lays down his life in faith and love, I know that one because I’m of that Spirit, and it’s My Spirit in him. I’ve given you Truth by which you may examine yourself to see what Spirit you’re of; and I admonish you, take hold of My faith, take hold of My love, because these are of My Spirit. And the faith and the love I have is for My church, and for My bride, and for My brethren, and for My Father God. I say, stir up My Spirit in you. You have the Spirit of faith here at “My Father’s House.” You have the Spirit of love here at “My Father’s House.” So increase! My grace is with you to increase! Those who are of My Spirit are the work of My hands, and I’ll complete My work in you and you’ll be conformed to My image if you’re of My Spirit, saith the Lord. (Prophecy delivered at “My Father’s House”)
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