(May I invite you to first go read the last 2 paragraphs of yesterday’s message before starting this one, which will explain the ‘meme inset’ I used today. No offense intended)

If you are sitting in a church today that teaches, in addition to the fact... not only have you ‘been a sinner’ (which we ALL were – Rom..3:23; Eph. 2:1-3)... but continue... to be a ‘sinner’ ...and will ‘always be...a sinner...saved by grace’...since you will 'always sin'...you are sitting in a church teaching false doctrine.

I don’t know how else to say that any plainer. And if reading that offends, or even angers you, you might give pause and ask yourself why that is. If you were on death row in prison, and the warden came to you informing you that you had been given a full pardon and you were now free to walk out, would you be offended?

Do you think the slaves who were freed in Texas some two years later after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed...were mad to be told they were no longer slaves and were now free? 

I will also admit it has taken me quite a bit of time and study to come to a place to make such a bold and public proclamation. Where I will stop short though is suggesting that I know the motives and the intents of the hearts of those who preach such a false message. But Jesus did warn of ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ being ‘false prophets and teachers’ that would abound these days. (Matt. 7:15; 15:13-14; 24:4-5,11,24; Acts 20:26-30; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Cor. 11:3-4).

I have to believe that many in the pulpits today are simply blinded to this truth I proclaim with humble confidence. I was there myself, for years. (2 Cor. 3:4-5; 2 Tim. 3:5,7)

You do realize we can be ‘sincere’ in our faith...yet be ‘sincerely wrong’. Paul wrote about these types of people saying “they have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” (Rom. 10:2-3). That pretty well sums up where most of us have found ourselves in with all our various ‘denominations’. Allow me to explain what Paul speak of here...

God says we are to ‘be holy as He is holy’...in "ALL our conduct". (1 Pet. 1:14-16 ). Most everyone will teach you that you could ‘never be holy enough for God’....'so just do this and this and you're good'.

God says “Be perfect as I am perfect’ (Matt. 5:48). Most everyone teaches that is impossible.

God says to ‘abide in Him’, and to ‘walk just as Jesus walked’ and those who do ‘abide’ will no longer sin’. (John 15:1-8; 1 John 2:6; 3:6,). Most everyone teaches that can’t happen and anyone who suggest such a thing is teaching ‘error’. ('doctrine of sinless perfection'...anyone?)

God’s word teaches we are to be ‘born again’ if we have any hopes of entering, let alone seeing...the kingdom of God (John 3:3,5). God’s word also teaches us that ‘whoever is born of God no longer sins’ (1 John 3:9; 5:18; Rom. 6:2; 1 Pet. 2:24; 4:1-2).

And Jesus also taught us to ‘go and sin nor more or something worse might happen to you” (John 5:14; 8:11)

When confronted with multiple passages as I just laid out here, these truths pose a problem for most in the ‘church’ today, because they don’t fit the narrative we’ve all been taught to believe.

So then we have to come up with 'spins'... and begin twisting the word of God, while posing controversial questions and statements; you know...things like “Are you saying you don’t sin?” or... “I don’t know anyone who lives like that!”. Then we throw in cute little phrases to make our point, like “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven”, or...”I’m a saint who sins.”

Are you aware that when confronted with the truth of God’s word, if your first instinct is to toss up and deflect with ‘personal situations’ that might seem to suggest God really didn’t mean what He said because...’such and such’; or ‘so and so’...did this or saw this happen... what you are doing then is trying to refute or undermine what God has made clear. And do you know where this started? Back in the garden when the serpent reared his head asking “Did God really say that?”...surely He did not mean that. (Gen. 3:1)

Yes...God did indeed tell Adam that if they ate off the one tree, they would surely die! (Gen. 2:17). The serpent then began twisting and turning what God said around, adding this and that before flat out saying just the opposite: “You surely shall not die” (Gen. 3:4). Do you know what he did here? He constructed the first ‘alternate gospel’, or spun the first ‘false doctrine’ that ushered sin into the world that brought death and separation from God. That is what it means to be ‘dead’...when we are separated from God.

I had a woman some time back say that clearly... Adam and Eve did not ‘die’ after they ate the fruit from that one tree. So God either lied, or we don’t understand what it means to truly be ‘dead’ or ‘alive’. But sin separates us from God; always has and always will (Isa. 59:2). Why did Jesus tell those ‘Bible scholars’ that they could study the word all day long seeking life, but unless they ‘came to Him’, they would never have ‘life’ (John 5:39-40). Why would Jesus come ‘offering us abundant life’ (John 10:10) if we were already ‘alive’? And Eph. 2:1-3 will tell you plainly why we were ‘dead’- it was because we lived in ‘sin’.

So when confronted with these troublesome passages that don’t fit our personal, or ‘denominational’ doctrines, we need to alter or construct new ones. Hence the plethora of ‘alternate ways’ or avenues in which ‘men can be saved’. One church teaches this, another teaches that...’do this’ or ‘experience that’...or ‘say these words’...etc...etc. It’s like people are trying to build their own tower into heaven which has interesting ties to the ‘tower of Babel’ that we read about in Gen. 11. Mark 7:5-9, 13 will offer more insight as well if you are willing to take the time and ask the Holy Spirit to 'enlighten' you.

That’s what it means to ‘establish our own standard of righteousness’ that Paul spoke of. And many people are going to be shocked when their ‘pet doctrines’ are tested by the ‘flood of destruction’ that is coming on the earth (Matt. 7:24-27). And do we really need any more graphic and horrifying ‘natural examples’...as to how quickly ‘floods can come in and destroy’ than what we are witnessing around our country these days? [Don’t rush to assumptions here, please!]. Jesus warned us what the ‘thief’ comes to do in John 10:10. Peter tell us to be vigilant and on guard because of that ‘enemy’ (1 Pet. 5:8) who is known to ‘come in like a flood’ (Isa. 59:19). And when Jesus spoke about the days leading up to His return, what sobering example did He point to that illustrated what those days would resemble? Would you take a quick look at Luke 17:26-27 and be sure to underline vs. 27.

I’ll meet you back here tomorrow....Lord willing.