Friday, June 29, 2012

LLM Question for 6-29-2012, and, Precious Things in the Bible

First the Question: The Body of Christ is NOT Israel. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 6-25-2012

Question: Can a Christian be active in the work of God, but grow very little, because they are not regularly studying the Bible? Yes or No?

Answer: YES! Christians often are unceasingly active in "Church" work, but grow very little, because they are not regularly and systematically studying the Word of God. A healthy Christian has a healthy appetite for the Word of God, an appetite satisfied by constantly feeding upon that Word. Jeremiah said, “Thy Words were found, and I did eat them, and Thy Word was unto me the joy and the rejoicing of my heart.” Jeremiah 15:16. Now, out of the 692 responses we received to this question, 93.1% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at...

Precious Things in the Bible

Some young Christians, as well as old ones, are unceasingly active, but growing very little, because they are not regularly and systematically studying the Word of God.

One of the signs of a healthy Christian is a real appetite for the Word of God, an appetite satisfied by constantly feeding upon that Word. Jeremiah said, “Thy Words were found, and I did eat them, and Thy Word was unto me the joy and the rejoicing of my heart.” Jeremiah 15:16.

Please read Leviticus 17:11; 1 Peter 2:4-9; 1 Peter 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-20; 2 Peter 1:4

This is the study of some very precious things. First look at, Leviticus 17:11, "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life." Now, let us prayerfully consider 2 Peter 1:4 and 1 Peter 1:19-20: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and PRECIOUS PROMISES; that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” “Redeemed with the PRECIOUS BLOOD of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and with¬out spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

Let me just say at this point, that there are pastors, preachers, and teachers, that do not believe that it was the Blood of Christ, the actual shedding of that Blood on the cross of Calvary that saves us.

There is no way a man can be saved and DENY the very precious Blood of Christ, that saves. These types of men are deceptive, and will say that the Blood of Jesus is very important; but, the truth is that they believe Christ's blood is only REPRESENTATIVE of His death. These are the type of modernists which we need to avoid and expose. And THESE are the liberals and modernists that have taken over this nation’s seminaries.)

The first PRECIOUS PROMISE in the Bible is the promise that the Seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head. (Genesis 3:14-15). That meant the death and the resurrection of the Seed of the woman. He is now alive in heaven and will come to earth again.

So many events have already taken place, in fulfillment of this PRECIOUS PROMISE, and many more are yet to be fulfilled.

When Christ was in the shadow of the cross He said, “Now is the prince of this world cast out.” (John 12:30-32). We read what the Holy Spirit said through the Apostle Paul, when he wrote, “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20). Satan is having a good time now, but we read in 1 John 3:8 that the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil. We certainly see the works of the devil all over this earth and he is also active as the head of spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies (Ephesians 6:11-14). But, now, read Christ’s victory over Satan in Luke 4:1-9. And then read of Satan in the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1-3).

The Lake of Fire has been prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10). However, the devil, now, like a roaring lion, is walking about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8-9). But he has a very special deadly work to do on this earth after the Body of Christ goes home to glory. (Revelation 12:10-12). Then, after one thousand years in the bottomless pit, he will reach his final abode (Revelation 20:1-10).

Make a special note as to what Christ had to do in order to destroy Satan’s “death” power, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood. He also Himself took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Hebrews 2:14).

That meant that Christ had to shed His PRECIOUS BLOOD. (1 Peter 1:18-20).

Christ was God’s own ELECT PRECIOUS CHIEF CORNERSTONE. (1 Peter 2:6). Chosen of God and PRECIOUS.” (1 Peter 2:4).

In addition to His Divine nature Christ took upon Himself human nature (John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 2:14) that believers might be partakers of His Divine nature in addition to their human nature and be delivered from the fear of death, and ultimately from death of any kind.

This Faith in God’s PRECIOUS PROMISES and HIS PRECIOUS STONE and the PRECIOUS SHED BLOOD OF CHRIST is called “PRECIOUS FAITH.” (1 Peter 1:7).

Is it any wonder that God says “PRECIOUS in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints?” (Psalms 116:15).

The Lord Jesus Christ, Who is God’s Elect, PRECIOUS STONE, and Who is PRECIOUS to believers, is the STONE of stumbling and ROCK of offence to the unbeliever. Note in the last five verses of the ninth chapter of Romans how Christ was the STUMBLING STONE for blind Israelites. With these five verses read 1 Peter 2:2-11.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "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 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

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Thursday, June 28, 2012

LLM Audio Doctrinal Messages

First the Question: Can a Christian be active in the work of God, but grow very little, because they are not regularly studying the Bible? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

Lion and Lamb Ministry Audio Doctrinal Messages

Here, for your edification, and to the edification of the Body of Christ, is a collection of select messages from The Lion and Lamb Ministry website in AUDIO, (MP3), format

The Lion and Lamb Ministry (LLM), is an online organization and home for members of the Body of Christ for the training and promotion of the Children of God as Ambassadors for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20). At the LLM website, in obedience to Ephesians 3:2-11, you will learn and be instructed in, particularly but not exclusively, The Mystery of the Body of Christ, The Dispensation of the Mystery, The Dispensation of Grace, and serious study of The Bible as the inerrant Word of God.

LLM's First Rule: Test The Things That Differ, click here to listen

The Investment of God, click here to listen

How to Become a Child of God, click here to listen

The Child of God and The Heavenly Father, click here to listen

The Child of God and The LORD Jesus Christ, click here to listen

The Child of God and The Holy Spirit, click here to listen

The Child of God and Security of Salvation, click here to listen

The Child of God, and, Satan, click here to listen

The Child of God and The Ten Commandments, click here to listen

The Child of God and the Two Natures Within, click here to listen

The Child of God and The Holy Scriptures, click here to listen

Four Magnificent Verses from The Bible, Click Here to listen

The Child of God as Ambassador for Christ, click here to listen

The Irrefutable Rapture of The Body of Christ, click here to listen

Free Will, Sin, and God in This Dispensation of Grace, click here to listen

The Difference Between Paul's Gospel and Peter's Gospel, click here to listen

When Ye Pray, BELIEVE!, click here to listen

*Bonus Message for Men and Women*

What Men Need to Know About Women, click here to listen

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "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 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

Sunday, June 24, 2012

LLM Question for 6-25-2012, and, Is The Bible the INERRANT Word of God?

First the Question: Can a Christian be active in the work of God, but grow very little, because they are not regularly studying the Bible? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 6-23-2012

Question: Is The Bible the INERRANT Word of God? Yes or No?

Answer: YES! The Greek word translated “given by inspiration of God” is “theopneustos”. This means “God breathed”. This is somewhat explained in 2 Peter 1:20-21, “Knowing this first, that NO prophecy of the Scripture is of any PRIVATE interpretation. For the prophecy came NOT in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were MOVED by the Holy Ghost.” The Holy Spirit is infallible. Men who wrote the Books of the Bible did not write their own ideas or doctrines. They were moved or “carried along” by the infallible Holy Spirit. Now, out of the 788 responses we received to this question, 90% of you agree that YES, The Bible IS the Inerrant Word of God! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at in depth,

The Bible: The INERRANT Word of God

The Bible is peculiarly the Book of God. It is the revelation of God to the human race. We must learn to view the The Bible as a message system. It's not simply 66 books penned by 40 authors over thousands of years, which, you have to admit, is a miracle unto itself! However, the Bible is an integrated whole; which bears the evidence of supernatural engineering in every detail!

The first Book is called Genesis. Genesis is the Book of beginnings. The first five Books of the Bible are called the “Pentateuch.” “Pente” means “five.” Some Jews refer to these five Books as “the Books of Moses.” The five Books are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Moses was born in Egypt. Moses was a descendant of Levi, who was one of the sons of Jacob, or Israel. Moses was the man whom God chose to write the first Books of the Bible.

The last Book of the Bible is called “The Revelation”, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” The Greek word translated “Revela­tion” is “Apokalupsis.” This word means “the unveiling”, (and NOT “The End”, as many believe). The human author, whom God used to write “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”, the last Book of the Bible, was the Apostle John.

While Jesus Christ was on earth He selected twelve apostles, four of whom were fishermen. These four apostles were Andrew and Simon and James and John. Andrew and Simon were brothers. Simon was later on named “Peter” by the Lord Jesus Christ. James and John were also brothers. They were called “Boanerges”. Mark 3:17, “And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and He surnamed them Boanerges, which is, the sons of thunder.” “Boanerges” means “the sons of thunder.”

Simon Peter and John were partners in the fishing business. Matthew 4:18, “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon, called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.”

Then He saw James and John with their father. They were in their fishing boat mending their nets. Matthew 4:21. The Lord said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” Peter and John became partners in the business of fishing for men. They labored together in the service of the Lord, witnessing concerning His life and works and ministry, His death and resurrection. Luke 22:8, Acts 3:1-3, Acts 3:11, Acts 4:13, Acts 4:19, and Acts 8:14.

John, the brother of James, outlived all the other apostles of Jesus Christ. He is called in the Bible, “that apostle whom Jesus loved.” John 13:23, John 19:26, John 20:2, John 21:7, and John 21:20. Like Moses, the first human author, the Apostle John wrote five Books of the Bible: “The Gospel of John” and three Epistles, “1 John”, “2 John”, and “3 John”, and “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Now, concerning Moses, note this statement in the Bible, Numbers 12:3, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Moses died about 1455 B. C. (Before Christ). Moses was 120 years old when he died. Deuteronomy 34:7, ”And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died.”

The Apostle John was about 100 years of age when he died. He died about 100 A. D. (Anno Domini), “the year of the Lord.” The last Book of the Bible was written between 1500 and 1600 years AFTER the first Book of the Bible was written.

Moses was God’s appointed deliverer and leader of Israel. Moses was God’s law-giver. God’s call of Moses is recorded in Exodus 3:4-14, “And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, ‘Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. “And He said, ‘Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.’” “Moreover He said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. “And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows.”

“Come now therefore and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt” Exodus 3:10.

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Exodus 3:14.

At the time of his call by God, Moses was a shepherd. Exodus 3:1. That was about 1495 B. C. At that time Moses was 80 years old. Exodus 7:7, “And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.”

Other shepherds who wrote Books in the Bible were David and Amos.

1 Samuel 16:11-13, “And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down until he come hither. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.”

Amos 1:1, “The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jereboam, the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.”

Thus we see that the first Book of the Bible was written by a shepherd and the last Book by a fisherman.

We learned also that Peter was a fisherman. Peter wrote two Books of the Bible: two Epistles, 1 Peter, and 2 Peter. Peter was quite an old man when he died. When Peter and the Lord Jesus Christ were here on earth together the Lord Jesus told Peter when and how he would die, John 21:18-19, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. Thus spake He signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow Me.” Shortly before his death Peter referred to the statement of Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 1:13-14, “Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance: Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.”

We have learned that Simon Peter, his brother Andrew, James, and John, were four of the twelve apostles whom Jesus Christ, while on earth, selected from His many disciples. Of His twelve apostles, John wrote five of the Books of the Bible, Peter wrote two of the Books, Levi (Matthew) wrote one. Matthew wrote the first Book after the death of Christ; it is called “Matthew”. It is generally believed that James, who wrote the Epistle of James, was one of the twelve apostles. This James is thought to be the James called “the Lord’s brother”. Galatians 1:19. He was not the brother of John. John’s brother, James, was killed by Herod about 45 A. D. Acts 12:1-2, “Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John, with the sword.” So we learn that Christ had two apostles by the name of James.

Then the sixty fifth Book of the Bible, one of the shortest Books in the Bible (one chapter of 25 verses) was written by Jude. It bears his name. It is generally believed that he was one of the twelve apostles. We have mentioned six of the twelve apostles, Simon Peter, John, James, Andrew, Jude, and James. It is thought that Jude was also called “Thaddaeus”. Matthew 10:3.

ADAM AND CHRIST - B. C. and A. D.

We have explained that B. C. means “before (Jesus) Christ”, that is, before He was born of Mary in Bethlehem. A. D. means years since that great event took place. Dating back B. C. from the birth of Christ to the creation of Adam there were about 4000 years of the history of the human race.

According to the Bible the first man was Adam. 1 Corinthians 15:45 and 1 Corinthians 15:47, “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening Spirit.” And, “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the Second Man is the Lord from heaven.”

If we date from the birth of Adam, we call the year “A. H.”, Anno Homini. This means, “the year of man”. Some people speak of A. M., “Anno Mundi”. This means, “the year of the world.” We can be quite accurate in fixing the date of the making of the first man and his wife, Adam and Eve. They were in the Garden of Eden about 4000 years “Before Christ”. Therefore Christ was born about 4000 Anno Homini, “the year of man”.

Note that about 4000 years elapsed between the time the first man was in the Garden of Eden and the time that the little Child Jesus was in the manger at Bethlehem.

GOD - CHRIST

Now, note the first verse of Genesis and the last verse of The Revelation, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1, and, “The Grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Revelation 22:21

Thus the Bible begins with God and the Bible closes with the LORD Jesus Christ. Note the words of Christ in Revelation 1:8: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the Almighty.”

The Bible is peculiarly God’s Book. It is God’s revelation to the human race. Note this plain and important statement in the Bible concerning the Bible in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

The Greek word translated “given by inspiration of God” is “theopneustos”. This means “God breathed”. This is somewhat explained in 2 Peter 1:20-21, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were MOVED by the Holy Ghost.”

The Holy Spirit is infallible. Men who wrote the Books of the Bible did not write their own ideas or doctrines. They were moved or “carried along” by the infallible Holy Spirit. Hence the following statements concerning God’s Word:

“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth and the flower thereof fadeth away: But the Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:24-25

“For ever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven.” Psalms 119:89

“I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy loving kindness and for Thy truth; for Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy name.” Psalms 138:2

“For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Now let us note what the LORD Jesus Christ said about the Scriptures and Himself:

John 5:39, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.”

Luke 24:25-27, “Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe ALL that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

Luke 24:45-46, “Then opened He their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.”

Then note several other Scriptures, spoken or written AFTER Christ went back to heaven:

Acts 4:27-28, “For of a truth against Thy holy Child Jesus, Whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were gathered together for to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done.”

Acts 26:22-24, “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gen­tiles. And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, ‘Paul thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad.’

1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “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.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned in the 27 Books, from Matthew to Revelation, by noun and pronoun, more than 6900 times.

The very heart of the Bible is the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ, Who was in the Godhead in creation, came down from Heaven to die for sin; that is, He appeared ONCE in the end of the ages to put away sin by the ONCE sacrifice of Himself. Hebrews 9:26. But note the fact also of His resurrection and ascension; for He went back to heaven where He now lives at God’s right hand, “This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:12.

This was all in fulfillment of God’s infallible Scriptures, according to God’s infallible Word. The Bible, God’s message system, in reflecting its supernatural origin, tells us, and explains to us that God’s free gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "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 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

Saturday, June 23, 2012

LLM Question for 6-23-2012, and, Is The Bible REALLY the Inspired Word of God?

First the Question: Is The Bible the INERRANT Word of God? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 6-21-2012

Question: Is The Bible Really the Inspired Word of God? Yes or No?

Answer: YES! INSPIRATION IS THE ACT OF GOD BY WHICH HE COMMUNICATED HIS WORD IN WRITTEN FORM AND DIRECTLY CONTROLLED THE WRITERS SO THAT WHAT WAS WRITTEN (original autographs) WAS FREE FROM ERROR! The Bible is not only “inspired of God”, it is also inerrant, meaning without error in the original autographs. It is the most translated and distributed book before the invention of printing (1450 AD) in the history of the world! No other writing is close to the KJV Bible manuscript evidence. Over 5500 Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin manuscripts, and over 1000 manuscripts in other languages...all before the invention of printing! Incredible to say the least! Now, out of the 801 responses we received to this question, 89.5% of you agree that YES, The Bible Really IS the Inspired Word of God! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at in depth,

Is The Bible REALLY the Inspired Word of God?

It is quite obvious to many believers that the Bible itself is under attack. The Bible was the textbook for America for over 100 years and we produced the greatest generation of scholars, scientists, lawyers, judges, doctors, teachers, and preachers that the world had ever seen!

Now, we are more sophisticated (we think!) and have become “judges” and “critics” of the Bible. Its historicity and accuracy is being challenged by many people, both secularists as well as religious people. We continue to question the authenticity of the Bible and the majority of Americans doubt that the Bible IS THE Word of God and that it is inspired of God.

SO, WHAT DO WE MEAN BY “INSPIRATION”?

Inspiration does NOT refer to the writers, but rather to the writings. 2 Timothy 3:16 says “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” 2 Peter 1:20-21 insists that the writers were controlled by the Holy Spirit so that what was written was accurate and exactly what God wanted to communicate to us.

There is “external evidence” (like manuscripts, historical and archaeological facts, geographical information, etc.) as well as “internal evidence” (what the Bible claims about itself) that affects what we mean by “inspiration.”

Here is a possible definition: INSPIRATION IS THE ACT OF GOD BY WHICH HE COMMUNICATED HIS WORD IN WRITTEN FORM AND DIRECTLY CONTROLLED THE WRITERS SO THAT WHAT WAS WRITTEN (original autographs) WAS FREE FROM ERROR!

The Bible is not only “inspired of God” - it is also inerrant (without error in the original autographs). It is the most translated and distributed book before the invention of printing (1450 AD) in the history of the world! No other writing is close to its manuscript evidence. Over 5500 Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin manuscripts, and over 1000 manuscripts in other languages - all before the invention of printing! Incredible to say the least!

Inspiration refers to ALL that was written - not just parts of it. If you can’t trust the Bible’s historical facts, then how can you trust its moral and spiritual teachings? The Bible is the most amazing book of all history - actually it is a library (like an integrated software system!) of 66 books.

The Old Testament has 39 books in the Protestant Bible (exactly the same as the Jewish Bible, the Tanakh, but organized differently in three major sections - the torah, the prophets, and the writings.) The New Testament contains 27 books. The ROMAN Catholic Bible has added some 14 Jewish apocryphal books, but the early church NEVER considered them inspired of God even though some of them do contain valuable history. There have been some modern attempts (Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Judas, etc.) to add books to the Bible as though they were on the level of the authorized canon of the Scriptures - but it won’t work! These “pseudo-graphic” writings clearly reveal that they are outside the realm of Biblical authority and authenticity.

The Bible itself will bring a person salvation Romans 10:17, 2 Timothy 3:14-15, 1 Peter 1:23-25; and give discernment to the believer as to what is right and wrong Hebrews 5:11-14. Through the Bible we gain effectiveness in prayer John 15: 7, 1 John 5:14; and we are enabled to live victoriously over sin Psalm 119:9-11, John 15:3, 1 Peter 2:2-3. Through the Bible the true believer can be equipped for every good work 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

But, how do we know that the Bible is a FINAL and COMPLETE revelation of God in written form? That's our NEXT message. Stay tuned!

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "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 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

Thursday, June 21, 2012

LLM Question for 6-21-2012, and, The Bible, Which Version?

First the Question: Is The Bible Really the Inspired Word of God? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 6-19-2012

Question: Does the Codex Vaticanus, used by modern versions of the Bible, such as the NIV, end at Hebrews 9:14, and exclude the the Apostle Paul's Pastoral Epistles and The Book of Revelation? Yes or No?

Answer: YES! Codex Vaticanus differs greatly from the Textus Receptus throughout the New Testament. The great Greek scholar Dean Burgon published in 1881 that in the gospels alone, Codex Vaticanus omits 2877 words, adds 536, substitutes 935, transposes 2098, and modifies 1132...making 7578 total changes! Codex Sinaiticus has 8972 changes from the Textus Receptus. Now, out of the 781 responses we received to this question, 72.7% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at in depth,

The Bible...Which Version?

This is a difficult issue to address in one message, but because of the continual questions we receive on this matter, we have put together an explanation of the evidence behind the Bible.

We, here at The Lion and Lamb Ministry, believe that in spite of certain so-called “archaic” words and in spite of what some have called “difficult English” for today’s contemporary generation, the Authorized King James Bible is based on solid manuscript evidence, and that most “modern” English versions are based on manuscript evidence that varies greatly from the King James, the Textus Receptus, the Accepted Received Text

Now, we are not saying that the King James Bible is the ONLY English Bible that should be used. We are in favor of “updating” the English of the King James whenever possible AS LONG AS the manuscript evidence is not altered or ignored. We do not possess any so-called “original autographs,” but the manuscript evidence that we DO have is greater than any other piece of literature in the history before the invention of the printing press. May the LORD use these simple facts to guide us all in getting the Word of God into the language of the people of this world!

INFORMATION ON THE MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCE BEHIND THE KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE

(called “Textus Receptus”, the Received Text or Accepted Text)

Our focus will be on the New Testament where most of the arguments come. It was originally given to us in the Greek language, the largest language in the history of the world!

The first edition of the Greek text to be published was that of Desiderius Erasmus in 1516 AD, followed by his edition in 1519 AND WHICH WAS USED BY MARTIN LUTHER for his German translation of the Bible. Erasmus also published editions in 1522, 1527, and 1535 AD, the last two of which contained some changes from the Complutensian Polyglot printed in 1514 AD, but not circulated until 1522 AD. This Complutensian Greek text was reprinted with only a few changes in 1571, 1572, 1573, 1574, 1583, 1584 AD, and in Geneva, editions were put out from 1609 to 1628 AD.

Simon Colinaeus, a printer in Paris, published an edition of the Greek text in 1534 AD based upon those of Erasmus and the Complutensian Greek NT. It was superseded by the famous editions of his stepson, Robert Stephens, who printed editions in 1546, 1549, and 1550 AD, the last one known as the “royal edition.” This was the primary Greek text used by the King James translators, along with additions by Theodore Beza, especially the one of 1598 AD.

The Elzevir partners, Bonaventure and Abraham, published editions of the Greek text in 1624, 1633, and 1641, following primarily the 1565 edition by Theodore Beza. The preface to the 1633 edition gave the name to this historical tradition of manuscript evidence and called in “Textus Receptus.” In the course of time, it was applied to the Stephens text of 1550 AD and those which followed. The primary edition behind this Greek text is that of F.H.A. Scrivener that was published by Cambridge University Press in 1894 and 1902 AD.

About two thirds of the NT Greek text was discovered in the 20th century AD. And these manuscripts that were discovered in the 20th century A.D. actually PRECEDED 300 AD, AND the famous Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, and Codex Alexandrinus. This is very important!

Codex Vaticanus, used for the Roman Church version differs greatly from the Textus Receptus throughout the New Testament

Codex Vaticanus differs greatly from the Textus Receptus throughout the New Testament. The great Greek scholar Dean Burgon published in 1881 that in the gospels alone, Codex Vaticanus omits 2877 words, adds 536, substitutes 935, transposes 2098, and modifies 1132 – making 7578 total changes! Codex Sinaiticus has 8972 changes from the Textus Receptus.

Now, pay attention here, the POPULAR Greek texts of TODAY are dependent upon TWO “ECUMENICAL” institutes in Germany. That’s right! RIDICULOUS!

So now let us consider the following: the 26th edition of the Nestle Greek text was done, according to Kurt Aland, “in cooperation with the appropriate agencies of the Roman Catholic Church.” Codex Vaticanus is the Greek text used by the Emphatic Diaglot which is behind the Watchtower Bible of the Jehovah Witnesses. Codex Vaticanus ends at Hebrews 9:14! And then excludes the Pastoral Epistles and the book of Revelation. It contains all 14 Apocryphal books, and worst of all contains 7579 changes from the Textus Receptus. Codex Sinaiticus has one half of its NT leaves missing! And then contains the Epistle of Barnabas and the Shepherd of Hermes. It has 9000 changes from the Textus Receptus. Tischendorf, the one who found Codex Sinaiticus, made 3369 changes in his 8th edition from his 7th edition. So, let’s review, what this means is that these two MSS make over 30,000 changes.

Today we have over 5500 Greek MSS, over 10,000 Latin MSS, and over 4000 in other primary languages. We also have over 86,000 separate references in the writings of early church leaders.

The King James Bible was translated by 54 men who labored from 1607 to 1610 AD. They spent hours in prayer and insisted on unanimous decisions on the readings of the text. It was indeed a remarkable effort and has been the Bible of the English speaking world for over 400 years.

However, after all this, the most important thing to consider is that this generation needs to return to the reading and study of the Bible itself, the Textus Receptus, The AKJV! May our pastors, preachers, and teachers, re-emphasize the importance of the Bible in everything we say and do!

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "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 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

LLM Question for 6-19-2012, and, Is the Order of God Today to the Jew First?

First the Question: Does the Codex Vaticanus, used by modern versions of the Bible, such as the NIV, end at Hebrews 9:14, and exclude the the Apostle Paul's Pastoral Epistles and The Book of Revelation? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 6-17-2012

Question: Is the order of God, for today, to the Jew first? Yes or No?

Answer: NO! The careful student of the Book of Acts, and the “Acts” period, will learn that during the first nine chapters of Acts, God’s order was, “to the Jews, and not to the Gentiles”, (Acts 3:29-32 and Acts 10:28 and Acts 11:19). Then from Acts 13 to Acts 28:28, God’s order was, “to the Jews first and also to the Gentiles” Acts 13:46; Acts 18:5-6; Romans 1:16, and Romans 11:11-30. Then in Ephesians and Colossians, Philippians, Titus, and 2 Timothy, written after the close of the Book of Acts, God’s order was NO LONGER “to the Jews first.” Now, out of the 735 responses we received to this question, again, 75% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at in depth,

Is the Order of God Today to the Jew First?

Please FIRST read Romans 1:16; Romans 11:7-15; Acts 3:26; Acts 13:30-36; Acts 13:46; Mark 7:24-30

Today we are considering the meaning of the statement in Romans 1:16, “TO THE JEW FIRST.” Is God’s order today “TO THE JEW FIRST?”

“To the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16). In Mark 7:24-30 we learn that the Jew was more than first, and the poor Greek had a difficult time getting in at all. The twelve apostles asked the LORD Jesus to send her away without a blessing (Matthew 15:23). Then Christ said, “I am not sent but unto Israel.” (Matthew 15:24). Christ said to that Greek woman this significant thing, “let the children (the Jews) FIRST BE FILLED.” “It is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to dogs.” (Mark 7:27).

Let us keep in mind that Christ “came unto His own.” (John 1:11). Christ was born to be Israel’s Saviour (Acts 13:23). Christ, (the Stone) had to be rejected by Israel, the Builders, (Matthew 21:42), before the salvation of Romans 11:11 would be sent to Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy. One of the most important keys to the truth concerning Gentiles salvation by Grace is the truth of Acts 5:29-32; that Christ was raised up TWICE to be Israel’s Savior, first in incarnation, and second in resurrection. This same truth is stated in Acts 13:23 and Acts 13:30-36. Christ said that His own, “the children of the kingdom,” would be cast into outer darkness. (Matthew 8:12). After that He wept as He pled with them. (Luke 13:34-35).

But as we turn from this sorrowful message of Christ in Luke 13:34-35 to Matthew 23:30-39, we turn from compassionate love and indignation to awful wrath and indignation; for, in Matthew, the children of the kingdom who were to be filled FIRST, were called serpents and a generation of vipers. (Matthew 23:33). This seems to be worse than the Gentiles. The Gentiles were dogs. The Jews were “serpents” and “vipers,” far worse than dogs. They were to have something worse than the darkness of Matthew 8:12; even the damnation of hell. (Matthew 23:33).

But as we think of Mark 7:26-27 and Matthew 23:33, the “serpents” and the “dogs”, let us also think of what the Apostle Paul said, years later, “to the Jews (the serpents) first and also to the Greeks (the dogs).” (Romans 1:16).

So, you must ask with me, why should “serpents” come before “dogs”? We must conclude that on the day of Pentecost the Jews were no longer considered “serpents,” or they would not have been first. IT WAS THE PRAYER OF CHRIST on the cross that changed them back from “serpents” to “children” (Acts 3:25-26). Read what Peter said to Israel:

“Unto you FIRST God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” (Acts 3:26). Remember “the children FIRST be filled.” (Mark 7:27).

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the Word of God should FIRST have been spoken to you (Jews): but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” (Acts 13:46).

In reading Acts 3:26 also read Acts 3:25 and note that the Jews had suddenly become “children” again. Compare the denunciation, condemnation and wrath of Matthew 23:30-39, with the tenderness and mercy of Acts 3:12-18. What changed the “serpents” back to “children”? The prayer of Christ on the cross (Luke 23:34); and the truth of Acts 3:17-18. Then Israel was again FIRST.

The Jews continued to be FIRST until something happened to them. The wrath of God fell again and God blinded Israel; after which Israel was to obtain mercy from God through the Gentiles. (Romans 11:31). The wrath of God came unto the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16). Then God’s order ceased to be “TO THE JEWS FIRST.” God expects His children to be wise enough to know that His order would not be “TO THE JEWS FIRST” after what God did to the Jews, according to Romans 11:7-11 and Romans 11:25.

God’s order was NOT to the Jews first in the Apostle Paul’s Prison Epistles. The careful student of the Book of Acts, and the “Acts” period, will learn that during the first nine chapters of Acts, God’s order was, “to the Jews, and not to the Gentiles”, (Acts 3:29-32 and Acts 10:28 and Acts 11:19). Then from Acts 13 to Acts 28:28, God’s order was “to the Jews first and also to the Gentiles” Acts 13:46; Acts 18:5-6; Romans 1:16, and Romans 11:11-30. Then in Ephesians and Colossians, Philippians, Titus, and 2 Timothy, written after the close of Acts, God’s order was NO LONGER “to the Jews first.”

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "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 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

Saturday, June 16, 2012

LLM Question for 6-17-2012, and, Why the Whole of Creation Groans in Pain

First the Question: Is the order of God, for today, to the Jew first? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 6-14-2012

Question: Does the theory of evolution, which states that man is and has been ascending, explain why the world is in worse condition and misery now than ever before? Yes or No?

Answer: NO! The theory of evolution preaches that man is improving in all ways, but then fails to explain adequately why man finds himself weak, poor, miserable, distressed, corrupt, perishing, and it fails to explain why he is so utterly helpless to lift himself from this state. Not only that, but it fails to explain his inherent sense of blameworthiness; but instead insists he has no cause for a "guilt complex." "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" Romans 8:22. Now, out of the 771 responses we received to this question, 75% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

Why the Whole of Creation Groans in Pain

Let us carefully note God’s warnings, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.” 1 Timothy 6:20.

The modern theory of evolution, of course, denies the Bible account of the fall of man and, of course, has much to say about "the ascent of man". However, evolution fails to account for, and actually criminally evades, that which lies at the very root of all man's troubles: SIN.

The theory of evolution preaches that man is improving in all ways, but then fails to explain adequately why man finds himself weak, poor, miserable, distressed, corrupt, perishing, and it fails to explain why he is so utterly helpless to lift himself from this state. Not only that, but it fails to explain his inherent sense of blameworthiness; but instead insists he has no cause for a "guilt complex."

"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Romans 8:22).

Where Evolution leads mankind, can be seen in our day. If man is not made in the image of God, but is only a developed brute, why should he not, as a brute, be killed? Lust and thrill murders are the result of the likes of a Friedrich Nietzsche, who wanted all the weak to be crushed and the superman, the blond beast, to be adored. Nietzsche was a consistent Evolutionist. The struggle for life was with him was simply a dutiful struggle for power. According to this theory Christianity must be destroyed; for numerically and financially, that is the weaker party. According to this cruel theory, euthanasia is perfectly justifiable, because there is no wrong in softly ending the miseries of a highly developed animal. Again, Nudism is just the right thing, for nakedness goes with the beasts of the jungle. Do you not see how Evolution has leavened the nations in our day?

In Genesis 1:12, and Genesis 1:21, and Genesis 1:24-25, we learn that in the vegetable kingdom and in the animal kingdom God’s law is “after its kind.” Plants cannot be changed to fish, fowl or beast. Fish, fowl and beast each propagate and reproduce “after its kind.”

Man was originally created in the image and likeness of the eternal, living, personal Creator. Man did not evolve from some lower order of life. Every theory of evolution has been disproved. At the present time there is not one scientific proof of any evolutionary hypothesis that is being taught in our schools. Improvement of the species is not an evolutionary change of species. Methods of planting corn may change, but the seed corn is the only seed that will bring forth corn.

Every man feels within himself or herself a disorder, a positive dislocation of things, which science, and, certainly the theory of evolution, is utterly unable to explain. Only the Bible account of the fall of man explains it and shows how all man's trouble and distress arise from his OWN nature, which is fallen and corrupt.

"BY ONE MAN SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, AND DEATH BY SIN; AND SO DEATH PASSED UPON ALL MEN, FOR THAT ALL HAVE SINNED" (Romans 5:12).

It is most important, for those who have not yet come to the saving knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ, to learn this lesson; to learn that it is not merely our sins, but our SIN that makes us unfit for the presence of God; not merely our deeds but our nature; not merely what we have done, but what we would do because we are essentially sinful as the children of Adam.

How profoundly grateful we should be, then, that God loves us despite our sins and our sinful natures, and that, "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "In whom we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace" (Ephesians 1:7).

Therefore, let us carefully note God’s warnings, “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.” 1 Timothy 6:20. AND, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "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 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

LLM Question for 6-14-2012, and, What Does the Roman Catholic Bible Teach About Roman Catholicism? Part 7 of 7

First the Question: Does the theory of evolution, which states that man is and has been ascending, explain why the world is in worse condition and misery now than ever before? Yes or No?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 6-12-2012

Question: Christ, in heaven, is the only priest that any believer needs. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! By His death Christ brought an END to the carnal ordinances, divers baptisms, and meats and drinks, of Hebrews 9:10. Colossians 2:13-16. “Let no man judge you” in these things. Colossians 2:16. The religious program imposed upon Israel was the SHADOW of things to come, but the BODY is Christ. Colossians 2:17. Hebrews 10:1-10. Christ’s death brought the END of the Law, with its ceremonies, the end of a special order of religious priests. Calvary is the only altar any sinner needs and Christ in heaven is the only priest that any believer needs. Hebrews 9:24. 1 John 2:1-2. 1 John 1:7-9. Now, out of the 723 responses we received to this question, I am very happy to report that 100% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

What Does the Roman Catholic Bible Teach About Roman Catholicism? Part 7 of 7

SO, WHEN WAS PETER IN ROME?

It does seem that the Roman Catholic Church would try to prove their claims to priority rights by quoting from the LETTER OF PAUL that was written to the first Christians in Rome; but that LETTER is God’s answer to the fanciful claims and false doctrines taught by the Roman Catholic Church.

In Romans 16, the Apostle Paul sent greetings to more than 25 saints whom he mentioned by name and to others not mentioned by name. Paul’s LETTER to the Roman Christians was written about two years BEFORE he reached Rome. But NOTICE, the Apostle Peter’s name was not mentioned by Paul among those to whom he sent his love. His name would not have been omitted, IF Peter were there. By comparison, just imagine anyone in the Roman Catholic Church Organization today with as high a standing in that church as the Apostle Paul had in the true Bible Church sending love to every saint or Christian in Rome EXCEPT the Pope.

Remember Paul’s words in Romans 1:7-15. He wanted to preach the gospel in Rome and establish the saints. Read those verses. Paul wanted fruit among the Gentiles, or heathen, in Rome. (Romans 1:13). Peter agreed to go to Jews. (Galatians 2:9). Now remember, the Apostle Paul’s rule was NOT to preach where Christ had been named; NOT to build on another man’s foundation. (Romans 15:20-21). You got that?

Perhaps, some things the Holy Spirit wrote through Paul in Paul’s Epistles written from Rome AFTER he reached Rome (Philemon, Philippians, 1 Timothy, Ephesians, Colossians, and 2 Timothy), called Paul’s ‘PRISON’ Epistles, were more difficult to understand than the Epistle to the Romans. The Apostle Peter acknowledged that some things in the Apostle Paul’s Writings were hard to be understood. But, acknowledge them he did! (2 Peter 3:14-16). In Paul’s ‘PRISON’ Epistles, written during the five to seven years that he was in Rome, he mentioned different saints who were in Rome. If Peter had been there from 62 A.D. to 68 A.D. and were really a pope, do you think Paul would have failed to mention Peter’s name, in all of those Epistles? Members of the Body of Christ, Students of God’s Word, the Bereans, searched the Scriptures daily to see whether the things spoken by the preachers are true. (Acts 17:11). All Christians should be Bereans today.

THE BLOOD AND BODY OF CHRIST IN THE MASS…THE SHORT VERSION

The celebration of the Roman Catholic mass, all the way from the prayers at the foot of the altar to the elevating of the host and chalice, as taught by the Roman Catholic Church, is not even hinted at in the Roman Catholic Bible any more than is the teaching that unbaptized infants go to limbo, or that even those who are Roman Catholic communicants must complete expiation in purgatory for either venal or mortal sins, or that the sprinkling of holy water takes away original sin or makes the baptized person a Christian.

The Bill of Rights, still, grants to every individual in this country, The United States of America, the freedom of worship and in that sense every Roman Catholic, evangelical Christian, Jew, or atheist, has the legal, constitutional right to his religious belief or unbelief. HOWEVER, no religious individual, group, or organization, who claims to propagate Bible Christianity, should substitute man made rules, laws, ceremonies, doctrines, and religious programs, for Bible doctrines and programs and call the substitution ‘Bible Christianity’. THAT is ridiculous!

Christ called Himself the ‘STONE’. (Matthew 21:42). Christ called Himself the “VINE”. (John 15:1). Christ called Himself the ‘DOOR’. (John 10:9). Christ called Himself ‘BREAD’. (John 6:48-51). Was Christ literally a ‘STONE’ or a ‘VINE’ or a ‘DOOR’ or ‘BREAD’? Don’t be STUPID! Every believer, saved by Grace through the Faith in the eternal Christ, is a partaker of Christ (Hebrews 3:14), a partaker of His Divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), a partaker of Christ’s sufferings (1 Peter 4:13), a partaker of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 6:4), a partaker of Christ’s Holiness (Hebrews 12:10) and a partaker of His glory. (1 Peter 5:1). In the Roman Catholic Bible more than seventy times the believer is said to be ‘IN CHRIST’. Christ is in the believer. (Galatians 2:20 and Colossians 1:27). If Christ is not in the individual, that individual is a reprobate. (2 Cor. 13:5).

CHRIST IN THE BELIEVER is the believer’s Hope of Glory. (Colossians 1:27). A wafer or a religious mixture in a cup, blessed by priests, although “Jesus, The Savior of Men” (I.H.S.) may appear on the chalice, is no hope for any poor sinner whether he be called Roman Catholic or Protestant.

Every Christian is supposed to be ready to give an answer to those who ask for the reason of his hope within. (1 Peter 3:15). The Roman Catholic may say that his hope of purgatory is Jesus in the cup. Surely the Christian taught the truth by the Holy Spirit knows that he has a much better hope, ‘THE HOPE OF GLORY’, Christ dwelling IN him. What a difference! No matter what the priests or his religious church superiors may do to the wafer and wine, after all their religious manipulations they still have bread and wine and not flesh and blood. When Christ spoke of the bread and wine as His body and blood, He was using the elements as symbols, just as the Paschal lamb spoke of the Son of God, as the Lamb of God dying on the cross.

The LORD Jesus Christ on the cross was not actually a LAMB, but a Divine human being. He cried on the cross ‘FINISHED’. (John 19:30-31). By His death Christ brought an END to the carnal ordinances, divers baptisms, and meats and drinks, of Hebrews 9:10. (Colossians 2:13-16). “Let no man judge you” in these things. (Colossians 2:16). The religious program imposed upon Israel was the SHADOW of things to come, but the Body is Christ. (Colossians 2:17). (Hebrews 10:1-10). Christ’s death brought the END of the Law, with its ceremonies, the end of a special order of religious priests. Calvary is the only altar any sinner needs and Christ in heaven is the only priest that any believer needs. (Hebrews 9:24). (1 John 2:1-2). (1 John 1:7-9).

AND WHILE MEN SLEPT…

We read in Matthew 13:25, “While men slept the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat.” Certainly men and women, by the thousands, are sleeping in the Body of Christ; and they need to hear and heed the words of Romans 13:11 before it is too late, “Knowing that it is high time to awake out of sleep, cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”

It is quite evident that very few Roman Catholics are going to be noble Bereans and search the Roman Catholic Bible daily to see whether their leaders are teaching them the truth as it is in God’s Word. (Acts 17:11). If their church leaders are blind, they seem to be willing to be blind followers of the blind.

HOWEVER, they are certainly NOT being aroused or enlightened by the great majority of so called evangelical Christians, who are in a state of utter apathy, many not even PROTESTING against the Modernists in THEIR midst, who are propagating their “christianized” agnosticism in the name of Christ, using Christian phraseology and Bible terminology, just as they are described in 2 Cor. 11:13-15, under the power of Satan as an angel of light. Sickening!

Many of the so called Protestant Church Federations are under the control of men who are walking in the way of Cain, men who are spiritually powerless, leading many with them to eternal perdition. They have only darkness to offer Roman Catholics or anyone else. Then think of the dead orthodoxy and the awful ignorance of the Bible among those who are saved members of some of the more than TWO HUNDRED different denominations, and the ever increasing number of fanatical “Christians”, and the rapidly growing metaphysical cults. Christ’s words in Matthew 12:25 are true; “a house divided against itself shall not stand.”

HOWEVER, to be sure, while Satan is rejoicing in his success in blinding the minds of millions (2 Cor. 4:3-4) and tossing Christians to and fro with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14), the Holy Spirit is holding together civilization until God completes ‘THE ONE NEW MAN of Ephesians 2:15, ‘THE BODY OF CHRIST’, ‘THE CHURCH OF GOD WHICH HE PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD’ (Acts 20:28). Then will come the great moment of 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 and Titus 2:13; and then that glorious PRESENTATION of Ephesians 5:27.

How blessed it is to have a real honest to goodness, ‘I know so’ salvation in such a world as we see around us today; to have a head AND heart knowledge of the Grace of God that hath appeared to all men, bringing salvation, and teaching Christians to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the Great God, our Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11-14).

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "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 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

Monday, June 11, 2012

LLM Question for 6-12-2012, and, What Does the Roman Catholic Bible Teach About Roman Catholicism? Part 6 of 7

First the Question: Christ, in heaven, is the only priest that any believer needs. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 6-10-2012

Question: The Apostle Peter had absolutely NO apostolic authority over the Apostle Paul. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Someone has said, if, in Galatians 2:1-14, Peter was a Roman Catholic, Paul surely was a Protestant. Peter had absolutely NO apostolic authority over Paul. Peter added nothing to Paul; but CONTRARIWISE, see Galatians 2:6-7. Now, out of the 803 responses we received to this question, a whopping 94.1% of you got it right! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

What Does the Roman Catholic Bible Teach About Roman Catholicism? Part 6 of 7

WHAT ABOUT THE REMISSION OF SINS

How did the Apostle Peter REMIT SINS? When Peter and Cornelius with his company met, surely Peter did not hold out a ringed finger for Cornelius to kiss, but said to Cornelius, “stand up, for I also am a man:” (Acts 10:26).

As we said, so far as we have any record in any Bible, Cornelius and his company were the only Gentiles to whom Peter ministered. Of course, we do not say that he did not preach to others, but we do state that it is significant that no others are mentioned by name, that he did agree to go to the Jews (Galatians 2:9). However, the Apostle Paul mentioned many Gentiles. But note how Peter remitted their sins, and you will know that any twelve year old saved Christian can today remit the sins of any sinner in the same manner. Read Acts 10:39-40, that Christ was nailed to the tree and raised from the dead, and then Peter added, “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through HIS NAME (THE LORD JESUS CHRIST) whosoever believeth in HIM shall receive remission of sins!” (Acts 10:43).And there it is! There is NO priest or pope here forgiving sins, or mass, or beads, or holy water, or confessional or penance, except as God granted to Cornelius repentance unto life (Acts 11:18). Cornelius and his company received the Holy Spirit and salvation BEFORE they received water baptism. (Acts 10:44-48). I do not see any water christening here to take away original sin. Do you?

WHAT ABOUT APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION

We have the one and only case of APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION mentioned in the Roman Catholic Bible in Acts 1:20, “his bishopric let another take.” Then after the casting of lots for the successor of Judas, Matthias was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:26). TWELVE apostles stood up on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:14) God did not permit the number ‘TWELVE’ to be reduced to ‘ELEVEN’ (by the death of James in Acts 12:1-2) until Peter had used the KEYS OF THE KINGDOM to the House of Israel and the House of Cornelius.

‘TWELVE’ is the number of God’s ‘KINGDOM’ nation, ‘ISRAEL’. ‘ONE’, the number used by the Apostle Paul, to whom the RISEN Christ revealed the hope and calling of members of the Church which is Christ’s Body, is the number of that Church, in Grace. This number ‘ONE’ is mentioned by the Holy Spirit in Paul’s Writings more than twenty times. It was through Paul that the LORD made known that He would not make the NEW ISRAEL of Isaiah 62:1-5 until He had completed and glorified ‘THE ONE NEW MAN’ of Ephesians 2:15. (Romans 11:25-26). Isn’t that MARVELOUS! Praise the LORD!

With the death of James, one of the ‘TWELVE’, the LORD was ready for the Apostle Paul to go forth, independent of the ‘TWELVE’, with the LORD’s new program. (Acts 13:2). God was getting ready to cast away Israel, temporarily, (Romans 11:15) and inaugurate ‘THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD’ (Ephesians 3:1-3) through ‘THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES’, who declared that a ‘DISPENSATION’ was committed to him. (1 Corinthians 9:17; Colossians 1:24-26). Therefore, no successor was required by the LORD to take the place of the second apostle of the ‘TWELVE’ to die, as in the case of the first (Judas).

There is a hint at apostolic succession in Paul’s farewell words to Timothy when Paul wrote Timothy to pass on, his (Paul’s) teachings to others, who in turn were to perpet­uate ‘the deposit’ committed to Paul. (Break out your Lexicons and see the Greek of 2 Timothy 1:12). Read carefully Paul’s words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1-9.

The Roman Catholics have made the great blunder that so many evangelical Christians have made. That is IGNORING the Apostle Paul’s instructions to Timothy, and failing to obey Ephesians 3:9, making God’s saints to see what is ‘THE DISPENSATION OF THE MYSTERY’. They have utterly confused the Apostle Peter’s Kingdom Keys, and Kingdom message, the building of the TABERNACLE OF DAVID, Peter’s message to the God fearing, devout, Jew loving, seeking, Cornelius, with GOD’S NEW DEAL for the human race in 2 Cor. 5:16-21; Romans 11:15; Ephesians 2:15, Paul’s Christ given ‘DISPENSATION’ and the new program of Ephesians 4:7-14, THE BUILDING UP OF THE BODY; THE PERFECT MAN.

Therefore, they have been numbered with the religious church members mentioned in Ephesians 4:14, “gone with the wind.” They are described as babes in Hebrews 5:11-14, and have NOT gone on to perfection. (Hebrews 6:1; Ephesians 4:12; 1 Corinthians 13:8-11). Christians, who build intelligently with God in this current Dispensation of Grace, must give heed to 1 Corinthians 3:10, and go to the Apostle Paul, rather than to the Apostle Peter, for God’s blueprints and specifications, not fixing the open ‘Faith’ door for Gentiles of Acts 14:27 at Israel’s Pentecost of Acts 2, BUT RATHER after the apostles were reduced from TWELVE to ELEVEN.

Someone has said, if, in Galatians 2:1-14, Peter was a Roman Catholic, Paul surely was a Protestant. Peter had absolutely NO apostolic authority over Paul. Peter added nothing to Paul; but CONTRARIWISE, (Galatians 2:6-7). The LORD’s ‘Grace’ message by the Apostle Paul was, “By Grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; not of works.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). “Not by works of righteousness which we have done.” (Titus 3:5-8). All who were thus saved by Grace, baptized into the one true BIBLE CHURCH, made a part of the ONE NEW MAN of Ephesians 2:15, added by the LORD to the CHURCH, were God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. (Ephesians 2:10).

We challenge any Roman Catholic to prove by the writings of the Apostle Paul in the Roman Catholic Bible that a Gentile had to do one good deed or obey any ritual of an organization to be saved or become a member of the one true Bible Church after the RISEN Christ directed the Apostle Paul to make known the Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:24), which gospel Paul did NOT receive from the Apostle Peter, but by direct revelation from the RISEN Christ in heaven. (Galatians 1:9-12).

AND WHAT ABOUT MARY

Less than two months after the resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ, Peter and the other Eleven apostles, and more than one hundred other disciples of the Savior were in Jerusalem waiting for the descent and outpouring of the Holy Spirit in obedience to Luke 24:49.

Among the one hundred and twenty was Mary, the mother of the LORD Jesus. (Acts 1:13-15). In Acts 1:14 we have the last mention in the Roman Catholic Bible of Mary. There is no Bible record of her death or when she became a member of the Body of 1 Corinthians 12:13, or that she is now more than a disembodied spirit in heaven, awaiting the resurrection of the saints when the blessed hope of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 or Titus 2:13 takes place.

There is not one single statement in the Roman Catholic Bible to support their teaching that Mary in a glorified body is an intercessor in heaven or that any member of the Body of Christ, the Age of Grace Church, should pray to her or through her.

The Bible clearly teaches that “THERE IS ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS” (1 Timothy 2:4-6); that if Christ were on earth He would not be a priest (Hebrews 8:4), because our LORD Jesus Christ came from the Tribe of Judah, and God’s priests on earth came from the Tribe of Levi. (Hebrews 7:14). God’s death judgment is pronounced upon any not of the tribe of Levi who usurp the office of priest. (Numbers 18:7). In this connection God’s word, spoken by the LORD Jesus, and recorded in the Roman Catholic Bible is very, very plain, “call NO man on earth your father.” (Matthew 23:9). The context and all of the Scriptures reveal that this command of the LORD applies definitely to Roman Catholic priests, including archbishops, cardinals and the pope.

We challenge the Roman Catholics to prove by the Roman Catholic Bible that there were any cardinals or popes in the Bible Church mentioned in the Writings of the Apostles. Peter called Mark his son (1 Peter 5:13), as Paul called Timothy his son (1 Timothy 1:2). When a believing sinner is saved under the preaching of some servant of the LORD, the saved one is referred to as the preacher’s spiritual son. We note in the Roman Catholic Bible, in the very same chapter where Peter calls Mark his son, that Peter called himself an elder (the Greek word is not ‘priest’) and he instructed younger and elder to be subject one to another (1 Peter 5:5), just as James wrote, “confess your sins one to another” (James 5:16); NOT to those who claim to be a special order of priests. The function of a priest is to present man to God: the function of a preacher is to present God (in The LORD Jesus Christ) to man. Every member of the Body of Christ is instructed to intercede for every other member, but through the one Priest in heaven, the LORD Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 6:18; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 8:1 and Hebrews 6:20). The priestly work of the LORD Jesus Christ is recorded in the Roman Catholic Bible in the seventeenth chapter of John’s Gospel. Roman Catholics should read Christ’s words to Mary in John 2:4 and then Mary’s word for them to obey Christ in John 2:5.

The Roman Catholic Bible does not teach that the Church is the door to Christ, as the Roman Catholics Hierarchy teach, but that the LORD Jesus Christ is the door to the Church; that the very moment the sinner receives Christ as his own individual, personal Savior, meeting God at Calvary, he becomes a member of the Body of Christ, is immediately identified with Christ in His third baptism, (his death on the cross (Luke 12:50), is buried with Him, is raised to walk in newness of life, (Romans 6:3-6), is seated with Him in the Heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6), there blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), is then and there joined to Christ and to every member of His Church (Body) in an inseparable, unbreakable, and eternal union and is complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10) (Romans 12:3-5). All of these glorious and blessed truths are taught in the Roman Catholic Bible, and that Bible also teaches that a person must receive the Holy Spirit before he can understand or with assurance claim these blessed experiences. (1 Corinthians 2:14).

This 7 part series of messages, "What Does the Roman Catholic Bible Teach About Roman Catholicism", should enable all of you to REFUTE the claim by Roman Catholics that God’s program for this Age and Dispensation, with their visible head or vicar of Christ, their college of cardinals, and their order of high and low priests, is being carried on by the Roman Catholic Church, and that their Church was the very first New Testament Church.

Every Bible Christian believes in the virgin birth and the eternal Deity of the LORD Jesus Christ, in Whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, (Colossians 2:9); but no Christian, who is a spiritual, intelligent student of the Bible, believes that God performed a miracle to make the Virgin Mary immaculate or sinless to give birth to the sinless Christ or that she remained a virgin after Christ was born. That’s beyond ridiculous.

Mary was conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity, just like you or I before becoming a member of the Body of Christ, and had to receive Christ at Calvary for her redemption and soul cleansing. The Romans Catholic religious teaching concerning Mary, whether called superstition or fiction, is surely, and absolutely, contrary to the plain teaching IN the Roman Catholic Bible.

All that the Roman Catholic Church teaches that is CONTRARY to the doctrines taught by intelligent, spiritual, Dispensation of Grace obedient Christians, (Ephesians 3:9), is contrary to the plain teaching in the Roman Catholic Bible.

The Roman Catholic Bible is the best answer to the false doctrines taught by the Roman Catholic Church Organization.

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "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 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Sunday, June 10, 2012

LLM Question for 6-10-2012: What Does the Roman Catholic Bible Teach About Roman Catholicism? Part 5 of 7

First the Question: The Apostle Peter had absolutely NO apostolic authority over the Apostle Paul. True or False?

Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 6-8-2012

Question: There is no Bible proof that the Apostle Peter was in Rome to establish a Church, or for any other purpose. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Can any Roman Catholic prove by the Book of Acts, in the Roman Catholic Bible, that the Apostle Peter or any of the other Eleven Apostles ever left the land of the Jews to preach to Gentiles? The Apostle Peter sent a greeting from Babylon, (and yes, it was the actual Babylon) in 1 Peter 5:13, but he never sent a greeting to Rome or from Rome, so far as there is any Bible record. There is no Bible proof that Peter was in Rome to establish a Church or for any other purpose. Now, out of the 794 responses we received to this question, 81.3% of you got it right! Once again, very good!! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,

What Does the Roman Catholic Bible Teach About Roman Catholicism? Part 5 of 7

THE APOSTLE PETER AND THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

It is most interesting to compare the commission of the LORD Jesus Christ on earth to Peter and the other Eleven Apostles, recorded in Matthew 10:5-10, especially the command, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles”, with the statement of Peter some twenty years later, recorded in Acts 15:7, “Peter rose up, and said unto them, men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles BY MY MOUTH, should hear the word of the gospel and believe.” When Twelve apostles stood up in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost it was by the Apostle Peter’s mouth that the LORD’s message was given to Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. (Acts 2:5 and Acts 2:14). Some to whom Peter spoke the LORD’s message that day were from ROME. (Acts 2:10). Some from Rome believed, and were in Christ before Saul of Tarsus (The Apostle Paul) was converted near Damascus, as Paul tells us in Romans 16:7. Some mentioned in Romans 16 were saved elsewhere. So there were perhaps some saints, and therefore an assembly, in Rome even before Paul was converted. But there was a Church in Jerusalem before there was one in Rome. But the fact we would here emphasize is, that Peter was the LORD’s spokesman for the TWELVE APOSTLES in using the KINGDOM KEYS (Matthew 16:16-19) beginning on the day of Pentecost for the Jews, and about seven or eight years later when “PETER OPENED HIS MOUTH” (Acts 10:34) and began his sermon to the household of Cornelius, the Gentile.

From the day Christ gave His command to Peter, in Matthew 10:5-10, “go not in the way of the Gentiles”, until he received the housetop vision, authorizing him to preach to Cornelius (Acts 10:20) about ten years later, the Apostle Peter rigidly obeyed the LORD’s command, saying ten years later that it was not lawful for him to preach to a Gentile. (Acts 10:28). When Peter did preach to Cornelius he was rather severely rebuked by his fellow‑apostles and others for opening his mouth to preach to Gentiles. (Acts 11:1-5).

Can any Roman Catholic prove by the Book of Acts, in the Roman Catholic Bible, that the Apostle Peter or any of the other Eleven Apostles ever left the land of the Jews to preach to Gentiles? By the Book of Acts?

The Apostle Peter sent a greeting from Babylon, (and yes, it was the actual Babylon) in 1 Peter 5:13, but he never sent a greeting to Rome or from Rome, so far as there is any Bible record. There is no Bible proof that Peter was in Rome to establish a Church or for any other purpose.

The Apostle Peter had an opportunity to preach to a Gentile while Christ was on earth, as we may learn in the Roman Catholic Bible by reading Matthew 15:21-27. But obeying the command of Christ in Matthew 10:5, instead of trying to get that poor, needy Gentile saved, he and the other apostles said, “SEND HER AWAY.” (Matthew 15:23). About eight years later he obeyed the ‘sheet’ vision and preached to Cornelius and his loved ones. Then several years later he agreed with Paul that he, Peter, would go to the Jews with the gospel and turn over to Paul the task of evangelizing the Gentiles. (Galatians 2:19).

Surely we must often wonder if the Roman Catholic clergy and laity have EVER EVEN READ Galatians 2 concerning Paul’s visit with the men who were apostles before him, including Peter.

Not one of these TWELVE apostles was responsible for the Apostle Paul’s conversion, so far as there is any record. Paul did not work under their authority when he was separated by the Holy Spirit to become the Apostle of the Gentiles. (Acts 13:2; Galatians 1:15-16) (Romans 11:13). The Apostle Paul received his authority and his Grace message from The RISEN Christ by direct revelation, and not from the TWELVE by communication. (Galatians 1:9-13). More than fifteen years after Peter preached to Jews on the day of Pentecost he still made his headquarters at Jerusalem (Acts 8:1; Acts 15:1-7; Galatians 2:1-11). Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and was in the perfect will of the LORD when he was using the keys of the kingdom of heaven and so he was in the will of God when he remained in Jerusalem. (Matthew 10:23).

Now this most interesting and significant question, how was it possible for Peter to “disciple all nations”, in obedience to Matthew 28:19-20, while remaining in Jerusalem or by agreeing to disciple Jews by going to them with the Gospel as recorded in Galatians 2:9?

Is it not also significant that Peter addressed his FIRST EPISTLE to the scattered STRANGERS and that ‘STRANGERS’ correctly translated should read ‘DISPERSION’, the Jews to whom other Jews referred in John 7:35?

Hear this fact, which to Roman Catholics should be astounding, considering the prominence they have given the Apostle Peter in the Church or Body of Christ. In all of the twenty seven Books of the Catholic Bible, called the New Testament Scriptures, no Catholic clergyman can find MENTIONED BY NAME one Gentile who accepted Christ or Christianity under the preaching of Peter other than the household of Cornelius. We say ‘mentioned by name’. Barnabas, Silas, Mark, Barnabas and other disciples who went out from Jerusalem were Jews.

Roman Catholics, as well as the large majority of evangelistic Christians, have apparently neglected the careful study of the Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3:10, “As a WISE MASTER BUILDER (architect), I have laid the foundation. Let every man take heed how we build together (sunoikodomeo) thereupon.”

NOW, WHAT ABOUT PURGATORY

We read in Hebrews 1:3, that when Christ had by Himself, ONCE for all, PURGED our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. In the matter of purging sin for the sinner’s salvation, this is the true PURGATORY in the Roman Catholic Bible, and in all Christians’ Bibles. Where sin abounded Grace did MUCH MORE (OVER) ABOUND. (Romans 5:20). The Blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from ALL sin, and by Christ all who believe are justified from all things. (1 John 1:7; Acts 13:39)

Roman Catholics do not like to be challenged concerning their ‘PURGATORY’ man made theory, for the same reason that certain men had the Apostle Paul arrested at Philippi, “when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas” (Acts 16:19).

PURGATORY, with the Roman Catholics, is certainly one big ‘hope of their gains’; but is wholly without Scriptural support. Certainly Luke 12:47-48 and 1 Corinthians 3:15, ‘many stripes’ and ‘few stripes’ and ‘saved so as by fire’ in no way teach the PURGATORY of the Roman Catholic Organization, for a Christian is not appointed unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our LORD Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 5:9), Yes, the Christian is delivered from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10), (John 3:36).

The Roman Catholics’ PURGATORY, being purged in fire for a long period, is WRATH TO COME. The believer shall not come into that judgment. (John 5:24). The Bible does not guarantee eternal life to Catholics or everlasting perdition to Non-Catholics, but it absolutely guarantees everlasting life and eternal glory to every believer saved by the infinite, matchless, abounding Grace of the God of all Grace, and eternal CONSCIOUS perdition to every sinner who refuses or fails to meet God by Faith at Calvary, where the LORD Jesus Christ ONCE for all put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself and where God perfects, FOREVER, all who are cleansed by the precious shed blood of the Lamb of God, Who beareth away the sin of the world. Read 1 Timothy 2:4; Hebrews 9:26; 1 Peter 1:18-21; Romans 5:1; John 1:29, and Hebrews 10:14.

God’s Word is clear, “THERE REMAINETH NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SINS”. (Hebrews 10:26 and Hebrews 10:12).

What does it mean to be justified FREELY by God’s Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus and His ONCE for all shed blood? (Roman 3:24-26)? The Greek word translated ‘FREELY’ is ‘DORIAN’, which word is translated in John 15: ‘WITHOUT A CAUSE’. Whether you are a Roman Catholic, a so called Protestant, a church member sinner, or some other kind of a sinner, believe that eternal life is God’s FREE GIFT through Jesus Christ. The Roman Catholic Bible says so in Romans 6:23; John 3:36; John 5:24; John 6:47.

No religious dignitaries or potentates were needed to canonize the thief who died on the cross, after his death, to get him out of PURGATORY, for the LORD said, “TODAY, shalt thou be with me in PARADISE” (Luke 23:43) For every member of the Body (Church) of Christ, death means, absent from the body and present with the LORD (2 Cor. 5:8), it means to depart to be with Christ. (Philippians 1:23).

Perhaps those who called the PURGATORY teaching a religious money making racket have been seemingly ungracious. The Apostle Peter spoke of religious leaders who made merchandise of people. (2 Peter 2:3). The teaching of PURGATORY is worse than that.

To the first Church of Rome the Apostle Paul wrote his Epistle, and in the sixteenth chapter he sent greetings to about twenty‑five saints by name and then added, “to all the saints that are with them.” (Romans 16:15). Many of the saints that Paul addressed in his different Epistles did not walk as becometh saints (compare Ephesians 5:3 with 1 Corinthians 3:3), SO, they were not saints because they walked as saints or behaved to please the LORD spiritually. The Corinthians became saints in the manner set forth in 1 Corinthians 6:11. The Ephesians became saints in the manner recorded in Ephesians 2:8-10. Sinners become saints by believing, not by behaving. They SHOULD behave as becometh saints AFTER they become saints BY believing, BY receiving the Grace of God, which they should not receive in vain. (2 Cor. 6:1).

***

In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "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 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

Holy Week Message, part 2: Jesus Knew ALL

. In part 1 of the Lion and Lamb Ministry Holy Week Messages , we learned that the LORD Jesus Christ is NOT divided, and that He is t...