a closer look at the book of acts

Text Box: 2 Ths. 2:9-12, ‘The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who PERISH, because they did not receive the LOVE OF THE TRUTH, that they might be saved. For this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.’ 2 Cor. 5:10, ‘For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each [believer] may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.’ Mt. 25:31-46, ‘When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then he will sit on the throne of His glory. All the [religious people] will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep [true disciples] from the goats, [religious, disobedient believers].’

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ASSAULT FROM WITHIN

Continuation:

THEIR SPIRITUAL CONDITION:

A closer look at the book of Acts reveals that it ‘is a record of practicing newfound faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. It teaches believers how to live together in meaningful fellowship, sharing freely with one another, (2:42; 4:32-35.) Acts also shows that [although they had disagreements through a huge lack of contextual knowledge,] there was still a willingness to listen and to submit to one another, (15:6-14.)

‘One of the most prominent characteristics of these early believers was their [reverent] fasting and [earnest] prayer, (2:42; 6:4; 13:3,) and the SIGNS [or gifts] of the Spirit did indeed follow those who believed!’ - S.F. Bible.

But sadly, widespread spiritual corruption among disciples of The Way ran deep.

Paul did not preach ‘unconditional security’:

The eternal security of the sincerely born again believer, who continually grows in knowledge, faith, and grace, is not the issue, (Jn. 15.) All sincere believers stand solely by Grace. But those who non-repentantly and willfully continue in sin are NOT born again, saved, or part of the spiritual Kingdom of God. Such we will know by their continual sinful behavior or bad ‘fruit,’ (1 Jn. 1:7-10; Jam. 3:2; 2 Ths. 1:8.)

Contrary to what the doctrine of ‘once saved, always unconditionally saved’ teaches, Paul warned in Eph. 5:5-7, ‘No fornicator [or] covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of God…’ He continued in Gal. 5:19-21, ‘…Those who practice adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outburst of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries… will NOT inherit the kingdom of God.’

In the context of deliberate, persistent sin, (and may we all remember that false teaching and false religious practices are of the worst kind,) Paul did not even mention the kingdom of heaven; he spoke of the spiritual Kingdom of God, which resides in the spirit or heart of every sincerely born again disciple of Christ!

Paul did not judge the person, but his behavior:

When Jesus commanded in Mt. 7:1, ‘Judge not, that you be not judged,’ He did not ‘forbid [constructive] criticism, opinions, or the condemnation of wrongdoing. He forbade censoriousness, the spirit of faultfinding that overlooks one’s own shortcomings and sin, [and the attack on and destruction of personal character, which is spiritual- and emotional murder, Mt. 5:22,] while assuming the role of supreme judge in regard to the sins of others.’ – [Spirit Filled Bible.]

In obedience to the contextual commandments of Jesus, Paul wrote to his epistles to warn believers ‘like the Corinthians, who were deceived into thinking that life-style is relative for believers, that if they willfully and unrepentantly persist in the evils of the wicked, they face the same final danger as the wicked.

‘His point is to arrest their attention and stop their deception, so he does not address the question as to WHEN such practiced behavior causes saints to cross the line to being ‘disinherited’ in God’s sight, nor does he draw conclusions regarding the issue of believers [as himself,] yet caught in the struggle against sinful habits, but who sincerely desire freedom.’ – [See Rom. 7:7-25, where Paul writes in the first person— S.F. Bible]

A lack of knowledge and sin were addressed:

The servant-‘elderly’ of Christ’s ecclesia boldly addressed false teaching, widespread greed, idolatry, drunkenness, incest, and sexual immorality among believers. There were even those among the ecclesia who were supposedly redeemed from paganism, but continued in vile forms of prostitution, (1 Cor. 5 and 6:13-20.)

Like many of today’s unholy church leaders, cultic leaders among the ecclesia also promised a rapturous afterlife without concern for moral or ethical behavior, (1 Ths. 4:1-8.) Just as in most modern churches, ‘preference for religious leaders based on their assumed superior wisdom became widespread’, (1 Cor. 1:10-17.) Furthermore, there were popular philosophers, preaching ‘morality based on ethical systems of behavior’ with little Scriptural foundation - which sounds a lot like modern Christian psychology, (1 Cor. 1:20-25.) Consequently, Paul taught that the process of sanctification which follows the rebirth, [the renewal of the mind, which will result in continual repentance from sin and a lack of knowledge,] is the ‘will of God... For ALL believers [every one who sincerely accepted Christ,] can affirm that it is God [Himself, and not the disciples,] Who has given us His Holy Spirit,’ (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Ths. 4:8.)

Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians also addresses a ‘sectarian spirit, lawsuits, marriage, and divorce among believers, eating of food offered to idols, and fallacies concerning the resurrection of the physical body.’

In addition, he attempted to rectify deep flaws in the ‘lively charismatic character of the worship and prophetic activity’ of the ecclesia.

‘Some of the former pagans had problems in not transferring previous [demonic] experiences to the ministry experience of the Holy Spirit. They may have associated some of the frenzied antics of paganism with the exercise of spiritual gifts.’ Thus, Paul’s voice still echoes across the centuries, addressing the mad confusion of the modern church, when he clearly and plainly explains, ‘Concerning spiritual gifts, [the signs that follow believers, Mark 16:1-18; 1 Cor. 14:22,] I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols… Therefore I make known to you…’ and throughout chapters 12-14 he clarifies the source, purpose, ministration, and diversities of the gifts of the Spirit.

[From: The Amplified Bible; KJV of the Bible; Spirit Filled Bible; Matthew H. Commentary; Readers Digest, ‘Jesus and His Times,’ ‘Great People of the Bible and How they Lived.’]

GOD’S EXPANDING REVELATION:

Paul wrote most of his epistles during the year AD 50 to AD 60. When he wrote the epistle to the Romans… ‘Paul had not yet been to Rome, but he had been preaching since AD 36… This epistle is therefore a MATURE STATEMENT of his understanding of the Gospel,’ [as Paul, too, had to grow spiritually through the renewal of his mind, his growing obedience to the Word, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.] - S.F. Bible.

As in most modern churches, some of Paul’s so-called ‘new’ teachings did not fit into the chaotic criteria of the early assemblies. As a result, he wrote a second epistle to the Corinthians, ‘defending his conduct and ministry, addressing the neglect of poor followers in Judea, urging them to GIVE [not tithe!] ‘liberally and cheerfully’ to the POOR: (2 Cor. chapters 8-9.)

In 2 Cor. chapters 10 to 13 Paul even had to focus their attention on the spiritual battle for the mind of men, comparing this battle to the false teachings of the Kingdom-Now cults that were ministering from their midst. While he was confined and awaiting trial in Rome, Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. ‘It appears that after these writings, and especially in his epistle to the Colossians, Paul was deeply stirred by an EXPANDING REVELATION about the [ecclesia.] Now seeing the [ecclesia] as Christ’s body and as God’s instrument to confound and overthrow evil spiritual powers,’ Paul began to grasp and unveil the full mystery of the body of Christ. He finally began to understand God’s ‘secret intention to form a body to express Christ’s spiritual fullness on earth (Col. 1:15-23.) To do this by uniting one people, [Jews and gentiles, men and women, slaves and free,] in whom God Himself dwells, (2:11-3:7.) To equip, empower, and MATURE [the sincere members of His] body to the end so that they extend Christ’s spiritual victory over evil (3:10-20; 6:12-20.)’ – S.F. Bible.

No one knows for sure who wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews, but written before the destruction of the temple in AD 70, ‘this book compares the outdated covenant of the Old Testament with the covenant of the New Testament. It presents the High Priestly ministry of Jesus, not after the order of Aaron, but after the order of Melchizedek. Thus, Christ and His NT priesthood, [the entire sincerely born again ecclesia,] did not receive ministry by inheritance (5:5-6,) but by the direct call of God, (Jn. 3:16-17.) In striving to keep his readers from apostasy, the writer emphasizes the superiority of Christ to all that has gone before in Old Testament times.’

The Jewish historian Josephus indicates that James was stoned to death in AD 62. As if he too, addresses the contemporary church directly, James, [in chapter 2,] rebuked the ‘shameful neglect of the ecclesia’s duties.’ These are the expression of the Royal Law of Love that governs all those who call on the Name of Jesus; the only New Testament Law, the law of giving and self-sacrifice, which will judge us when we have to give account before the throne of Christ - Mt. 25:31-46.

Peter wrote his first epistle towards the end of his life in AD 64, when he, too, was maturing spiritually through the renewal of his mind. Here he ‘encourages believers who are suffering because of their obedience to Christ, and focuses their attention on the [Spiritual] Kingdom of God.’ However, Peter’s second epistle is a fiery apologetic writing, which exposes ‘false teachers WITHIN the fellowships who would lead them into apostasy. These teachers denied the Lord, exhibited a sensuous lifestyle, and ridiculed the idea of the Lord’s return.’ [Not unlike modern Kingdom-Now preachers, who ‘will even conquer that last enemy, death, ‘restoring’ God’s Kingdom Now on earth before Jesus’ return!’]

‘These [idolatrous] characteristics fit the Gnostic heresy, which developed more fully in the second century, but whose roots were fixed during the first century.’

John, in his first, second and third epistles, written about AD 90 when John was also near the end of his life, brings the Gospel of Christ entirely into perspective. As if John, too, is addressing the growing need of modern believers, he focuses on assurance of eternal life through faith in, acceptance of, and OBEDIENCE TO Christ (1 Jn. 5:13.) So, he addresses ‘the uncertainty of early [and modern, sincerely born again] believers about their spiritual status, caused by unsettling conflicts with false teachers. These teachers traveled from house to house, abusing hospitality, and confusing the disciples. John wrote that genuine [followers of The Way,] who could be recognized by [their fruit; the contextual truth which they lived and preached,] are worthy of aid, but heretical teachers are to be rejected.’

The epistle of Jude or Judas, a brother of the Lord, (A.D. 65-80,) ‘stresses affirmation of God’s action on behalf of believers.’ He also accents strongly that believers themselves are to contend earnestly for the faith, (v. 3,) ‘exhorting them to exercise their responsibilities and Godly duties.’

Jude was saying that every believer will personally give account before God.

We will not be able to bring the toxic influence of false leaders as an excuse for apostasy. Our salvation, in the grace of Christ and through our continual relationship with Him, will always remain our personal responsibility: v. 20-21.

ANOTHER THREAT BEGAN TO EMERGE:

Riding high on the scarlet, political beast from the sea, the harlot of Judaism, who tortured and killed the Savior and His disciples, slowly but deliberately changed her clothes, arraying herself in the red and purple robes of the Vatican, readying herself to possess and control ALL the souls on planet earth, (Rev. 13:8.)

Although the ecclesia (and even early Catholic Christians) still suffered martyrdom under Roman emperors, a well-planned, full-scale persecution, executed by the Roman Catholic Church, began to emerge. Catholicism trusted her spiritual offspring to disseminate her temple-servant religion by brute force, not tolerating even the slightest resistance. Through the evil hearts, minds, and hands of her church fathers, she would indeed establish her Kingdom-Now giant on a global scale.

Main page

Repent from false doctrine and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior

CHAPTER 1, The Kingdom-Now Beast that Crucified Jesus

CHAPTER 2, The Holy Ghost Baptism

CHAPTER 3, Tongues, and Other Questions

CHAPTER 4, Martyrs At the Gates of Hell

CHAPTER 6, Christian Giants, Fairy Godmother and the Church Ring

CHAPTER 7, The Ecclesia Converted to Christianity

Should we call Him Jehovah, Yeshua, Jeshua, or Jesus?

The Seventh-day Adventist Church

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Water Baptism and Repentance