The just shall live by faith!

Saints, I have an important question to ask: Is there such a thing as Protestantism anymore? I’m not referring to a particular denomination; I’m referring to a historical Christian movement. This movement, at one time, stood up for the Gospel of grace: the declaration in Scripture that man is deemed just and right in the sight of God on the basis of faith alone, in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. It also once stood up against a religious system that contradicted what is clearly declared in Scripture by its traditions; it protested traditions of this system, hence the label of “Protestant.”

The religious system, of course, is that of the Roman Catholic Church. In God’s word Paul declares that “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17) Roman Catholic tradition, on the other hand, declares that the just shall live by faith AND works. What is scary is the fact that certain manmade traditions have been elevated to the height of Scripture, even above Scripture in some cases. Now, what is even scarier is that many professing Christian Churches today, which at one time protested this system, are now embracing her as part of the body of Christ. This really should not be! Another gospel, as warned about in Galatians 1:8-9, is being preached from her pulpit. Christian, you are not doing the Catholic a favor by saying that everything is alright, and that we are all a part of the body of Christ. If any man depends upon a system in order to be justified before a holy God, they have absolutely no hope. You are doing nothing but giving them a false hope, a false assurance.

How can I say such a thing?

Read on…

“If anyone saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to obtaining the grace of justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema” (Council of Trent, Canons on Justification, Canon 9).

“If anyone saith that the sacraments of the New Law [ie., the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church] are not necessary for salvation…and that without them…men obtain from God through faith alone the grace of justification…let him be anathema…”

“We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will. In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere ‘to the end’ and to obtain the joy of heaven, as God’s eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1821).


Is this the Biblical Gospel?

What is wrong with teaching that we must co-operate with our works alongside our faith in Christ in order to be justified?

When we (mankind) say that we must do our part, what are we doing in reality?

1 – We are denying the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for our justification.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30)

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Peter 3:18)

2 – We are denying the efficacy of Christ’s blood to justify us and save us from God’s wrath.

“…God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:8-9)

3 – We are denying the power of Christ’s resurrection to bring our justification.

“Who (Jesus) was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)

4 – We are denying the power of the Gospel to bring our justification.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

5 – We are denying the Lord Himself, who is the Justifier of those who simply believe.

“To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26)

6 – We are denying the fact that justification is free by God’s grace.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3:24)

7 – We are denying the fact that justification will never come by works.

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)

8 – We are denying a man the true liberty he could have in Jesus Christ.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Galatians 5:1-5)

9 – We are denying a man the true peace he could have with God through Jesus Christ.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2)

10 – We are denying the fact that the righteousness of only One, Jesus Christ, brings our justification.

“Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life.” (Romans 5:18)


Saints, it truly is (and always has been) ALL about Jesus,

Stand up for the truth!

One Clay Soldier among many

Interreligous relations?

I read an article the other day in The Salt Lake Tribune about a man by the name of Charles Randall Paul (Alpine-developer-turned-scholar): “At the national level, Paul hopes one day to develop a corps of what he calls “interreligious diplomats,” who would be respected members of one faith who are authorized to become immersed in order to explain religious teachings from one group to another. A Christian who speaks with Buddhists. A Muslim who knows Judaism. A Hindu who understands Sikhs. A Catholic who studies Southern Baptists. Humanists working with Theists.” (The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah Living – Faith, “Foundation fosters dialogue among believers,” by Peggy Fletcher Stack. January 21, 2006)

Can you base what is being said here on truth? The sure way of testing something, in order to reveal its truth, is by comparing it to the solid truth of God’s word, the Bible. Let us test what was said here by comparing it to the Bible:

First, where in the Bible does God lead His children into having “interreligious” relations with unbelievers? Does He ever encourage them to “become immersed” in any way with others of another faith? This cannot be found anywhere in Scripture, as you most likely already knew I was getting at. It’s true though; nowhere in the Bible does He lead His people into having spiritual union with those who are not His. In fact, He tells us quite the opposite.

Here are some passages from the Bible which confirm this:

Jesus makes it clear:

“…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

You either believe or you don’t:

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36)

There are only two possibilities, the broad way or the narrow way:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

There are only two types of children in the world:

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." (1 John 3:9-10)

God forbids spiritual unity (“interreligion” or “immersion”) with non-believers:

(Note: I’m not saying that Christians cannot associate with unbelievers in any way, shape, or form. Jesus Himself was accused of being a “friend of sinners” because of how close his association was.)

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

By the truth of God’s word, we must be counted out.

Serving Him,

One Clay Soldier among many

He said that She said…

Recently I read an article in The Salt Lake Tribune about a visionary from the Roman Catholic Church, which had this caption: “Visionary delivers message from Virgin Mary.” Before we actually take a look at the article and what she allegedly said, let’s first take a look at what the Bible says:

1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 – “Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

1 John 4:1-3 – “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world…” (Pick up your Bible to read the entire passage.)

Acts 17:10-11 – “…These (the Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Pick up your Bible to read the entire passage.)

Matthew 24:24 – “…For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 – “If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn [you] away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.”

The Bible tells us to not despise prophesyings (words from the Lord, which this visionary claims through Mary). However, it also gives us wisdom to: prove all things; believe not every spirit, but rather try (test) the spirits to see whether they are of God; search the Scriptures daily to see whether these things are so; beware of false prophets (even with their signs and wonders), who bring in deceit; and to test a prophet by comparing what he is proclaiming to the Bible.

With so many different people in the world, from a multitude of religious backgrounds, claiming to speak for God, it is vital that we live by what is declared here in Scripture in order to discern what is true and what is false.


Now for the article…

According to the article the visionary, Ivan Dragicevic, is “one of six visionaries who say that Jesus Christ’s mother began appearing to them in 1981 outside the village of Medjugorie in what was then Yugoslavia, but now is Bosnia-Herzegovina…”

This is what he claimed to have seen:

“Invisible to others, Dragicevic said she was as real as the person next to him. She was accompanied by three angels, “happy and joyful,” and was dressed as always in gray dress and white veil, Dragicevic said. Her eyes are blue, her hair is black and her cheeks are rosy, he said. She was on a cloud. “The beauty of Our Lady is hard to describe,” he said.

Her message is this:

* “She is coming as a mother of hope…she is bringing to us devine medicine…Our Lady wants to wake us up from this spiritual coma this world is falling in.”

* “…all families must pray together…”

* “Let this time be a time of renewal…Let the river of love flow into your hearts…(He said that She said…) She extended her arms over those gathered and “blessed us all with her motherly blessings…”

* (Her first words to the visionaries in 1981) “I am the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace. I am coming because my son is sending me to you…Dear children, peace, peace, peace.”

* (She also said this in the first message) “Humanity was in great danger of destroying itself if people did not turn back to God…”

* Mary’s prescription for what ails the world, Dragicevic said, has been prayer, fasting, conversion of heart, a return to Christ, reconciliation, penance, love, forgiveness and hope.

Is this visionary’s message based on truth? Does it line up with Scripture? Are these visitations or appearances of Mary from God?


According to the Bible, the answer is “no” on all counts.

Why? Three reasons:

1 – There is only One who is devine in essence, that is God.
2 – There is only One mediator between God and man, Jesus.
3 – There is only one Gospel by which we are saved.

1 – In the article it reads: “The Rev. Javier Virgen, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, reminded those gathered for the mass that Catholics do not give the Virgin Mary the honor that is due to God alone.” (O.K., that sounds right. However, he goes on to say…) “But we ask for her intercession…” Question: Who alone can hear the prayers of millions and also answer them simultaneously? Only one with a devine essence can do so, only God can, not Mary. She was solely God’s creation; one whom God had chosen to use as a vessel to bring His Son physically into this world. Indeed “blessed among women,” but not to be elevated. To elevate her into a position as seen in the Roman Catholic Church, in reality, is giving her devine characteristics…elevating her into godhood.

The Bible says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)

2 – In her message she claims that Jesus sent her to this world and that her desire is to turn us back to God. According to Roman Catholic tradition Mary is considered to be the co-Mediator with Jesus.

The Bible says, “For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5)

3 – Mary, the Queen of Peace, is leading many people into the religious system of the Roman Catholic Church, a system that truly preaches another gospel. According to the Scriptures, a man is saved by grace alone, on the basis of faith alone, in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. But according to Roman Catholic tradition a man is saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus AND on the basis of works. Faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross is not enough:

According to the Council of Trent and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, anyone believing that the Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church were not necessary for salvation and anyone believing that they could obtain justification through faith alone, were labeled as Anathema (cursed, which leads to excommunication). (Refer to the Council of Trent, Canons 9, 12, and 14, and to the 1993’rd paragraph of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.)

The Bible says, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) (Refer also to the book of Romans for an extensive look at the Gospel of grace.)

The Bible says, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9)

CONCLUSION: My response to the article and the visionary is this: He may have said that She said, but it is far more important what HE, the true and living God, said. According to the word of God, he is called upon to repent and heed the warning as given in Deuteronomy 13:1-5. He is turning people away from the true and living God to serve a strange god (the Queen of Peace; also referred to as the Queen of Heaven: See Jeremiah 7:18 and 44:17-25.) Also, as Joshua said, “…put away, [said he], the strange gods which [are] among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.” (Joshua 24:23) And finally, as said by our Lord Jesus Christ on the shores of Galilee, “…The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

By grace are ye saved,

One Clay Soldier among many

RULDS2?

As you drive through the beautiful valley of Salt Lake City, Utah, and other parts of the "Beehive state," you may see this sticker on the back of vehicles. What does it mean? Translation: “R” = Are; “U” = You; “LDS” = Latter-Day Saint; “2” = Too. Are you Latter Day Saint too? It’s a clever way for individual members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Mormons, to share their religion with others. My answer to this question is simply this: “No, I’m a Christian.” Someone then may ask, "Why are you not LDS?" Answer: “I have Jesus Christ. Truly, there is nothing more that I need.” According to Biblical truth, I and all who are born of the Spirit of God are in need of nothing and no one else. Christ is everything. Salvation is of Him and Him alone. Religion has never saved a man’s soul, nor will it ever save a man’s soul. (Pride says otherwise.) The most important question is this: “Are you truly free?” You will see why I pose this question by reading the following passage:

Jesus said, “…If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: [but] the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:31b – 36)

What truths can be learned from this passage?

* The Lord’s word is a witness of the truth.
* The truth is what makes a man free.
* Every man is a servant, either to sin or to the Son.
* The Eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ, is the only person who can make a man free.

So, in light of this passage, the question is posed once again: “Are you truly free?”

The main point I am getting at is this: Who is Jesus Christ and do you know Him? Knowing Him, according to the Scriptures, is eternal life. (Read John 17:1-3) Like I said earlier, He alone is the only One who can bring you true freedom.

John 1:1-3, 14 says this of the Lord:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Is this the Jesus Christ you know? Does your doctrine agree with what is clearly declared here, and with what is declared in the whole of Scripture? If your doctrine does not agree, throw that aside and embrace the Son of the living God, the Lord, as declared in the Bible.

Standing by Him,

One Clay Soldier among many

What ever happened to good old-fashioned obedience?

Jesus Christ said this:

“But what think ye? A [certain] man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I [go], sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of [his] father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen [it], repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” (Matthew 21:28-32)

Notice that there is one command here, but two different responses: one of obedience and one of disobedience. The command was very clear: “…go work today in my vineyard.” “Go” … “Work” … When? "Today."

“I will not,” the first said, but then he repented and did what he was told, in obedience. The second, however, said, “I go sir,” and did not do what he was told, in disobedience.

Which of the two men could you use to describe a good portion of the professing church of today? Who are you of the two? Who am I?

Would to God that we would be honest with ourselves and God, and that we would stop making up excuses.

Isn’t it the will of the Father that we would obey His commands, which are holy, just, good, and in no way grievous? Are not His commands just that, commands, and not just His suggestions or good advice on a way of living?

In the context of this passage in Matthew, who was Jesus confronting? Religious people; men of the chief priests and elders. People who would appear righteous in the world's eyes today. However, even though they were "religious," these men, who were actually self-righteous, questioned the very authority of the Lord. These men believed that they already knew the ways of God and did not need to be instructed any further. The fact is that they were not willing to submit to the word of the Lord.

Are there people in the world today who are not willing to submit to the Lord’s authority? Well of course! There are many. But how about in the church? Sadly so, yes. How often is the authority of the Lord’s word, the Bible, called into question…even in the church.

Saints, we need to take a close look at our own hearts: Do we question the Lord’s authority today by dismissing what He has clearly told us in His word? For example, when He has told us to “Go” and to “Work,” what is our response?

May it always be one of obedience!

Jesus said, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

IMPORTANT NOTE: With all of this said, something else must be said: Without Christ you can do nothing (John 15:5); Christ in you is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27); and your greatest resource for obedience is God’s grace through Christ (Romans 1:5). Jesus is the only way.

IMPORTANT NOTE #2: One more thing must be mentioned: The Bible teaches us that justification before a Holy God (which is a one-time, for all-time deal) is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. It is not by works; neither is it by faith and works. (Read the Book of Romans, specifically chapters 1-3, and the Book of Galatians for the evidence.) Seeking justification before God by keeping His Holy Commandments is futile, for you will eternally fall short. And for those of you who will use James 2: First, remember that there is the context of the entire Bible to deal with. Second, James was making a specific point: This is what man with a genuine faith looks like to others. A man with genuine faith will produce good works. His good works justify him before others (Not God, Romans 4:2) as having genuine faith. Someone with genuine faith would not offer just lip-service, which someone with a dead faith would always offer.

Standing on the promises of His Word,

One Clay Soldier among many