Recently I published part of this writing (which I have to finish one of these days). I'm sure I cannot cope with the amount of things I see don't walk with Jesus' core teachings. Happily, I'm not in need of converting people to jewish traditions (such as circumcision or keeping along the passover and other jewish feasts), because I see Jesus -himself- keeping most of them up to his last breath, one of these holydays. He, in fact, fulfilled many promises God made in the Old Testament, just to ease the Gentiles access to Mercy and Grace, under a “New” Treaty or Testament of that Covenant.
In those days, like today, many argued on “their” works, their preaching and miracles. Many will say to me in that day, “Lord!, Lord! Have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:22). Some may say “we did this in the name of God”, but Jesus Christ crearly taught about OBEDIENCE, and this is the clue God will consider in selecting His people, as the mean source and criteria for human justification.
Moses served and met God, talking directely to Him and seing His glory, but -when being punished- he wasn't allowed to enter the promised land (What do you want immensely, that God may use it to put you under His tests?).
Some popular “doctrines” tend to promote we are not under the law, that we're freed from it; but many preachers use jewish messages targetted to gentiles (such as I Peter, when he addressed jewish people “as holy nation...”) to spur pagans to think differently of that they know it's true.
Jesus said: “Go to all nations” (...) (Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them) but He also said go to jewish people first: “Do not go by samaritan roads (...) but to those of the house of Israel”.
The former promises are for Israel's people, and these came to us (pagans) just to move jewish race to jealosy and real convertion: They kept the fruit of the law for themselves, they wanted to have exclusive rights in God's blessing. Coud I stop the sun from shining in latinamerican countries?
Deut. 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods (...), which regardeth not persons (...)
Deut. 10:18 (...) love the stranger
Deut. 10:19 Love (...) the stranger (...).
God's plan is a universal blessing, with jews and gentiles as one (jews largely made the mistake of considering themselves better than other nations and by several reasons, hindered gentiles the entrance to the benefits of the former covenant), but here I'll try to point to odd things.
1. Reaching the unreachable.
Most of Jesus' teaching was outside buildings, outdoors and public. There were 12 apostles who were trained for 3,5 years, and only 11 survived to do it in Israel -and outside that land, just for short years.
The great commission was not a passive invitation to draw people's attendance to a place, but to “go to nations” and “make disciples”. None of the twelve was ordered to make apostles or pastors, but disciples of Jesus' teaching (since He is the Lord and Master).
We, as His people, can do what he commanded to His former disciples; do we need a building and the cost of an finite structure?
We work to make our life more convenient, comfortably easy, and that's necessarily legal. What other way do we have to bring home food and the money we use to pay for services, dressing, housing and schooling? We've been given habilities, talents, to work on these to help us and beging to help others. That's logical!
The unreached feel the same and work for same reasons we ought to. Sometimes the think they're not getting enough and life becomes empty, meaningless, as we have felt. They cannot find a relief on drugs, alcohol, and some may live on relief for the abandonment they got for a couple of wrong decisions (but there still a chance).
I cannot talk about me, but I know people who live on God's provisions (there are many good books written on such experiences). Those who served in a ministry, and then swiched to secular work, and found themselves jobless when He wanted them to come back to the place He wanted them to be in. Does it sound familiar to you?
According to the Old testament, priests were to depend on God's provision and, in fact, they got enough to live. These things happened to many people in history, same way preachers and christian singers testify to be true, but the unreached keep on saying that it is not: There's no way to prove it unless God work around unbelievers with true believers (that's why christians ought to work hard and get more, just to have money and things to share) (if they want).
I've seen how God has helped me during these 10 past years. He has led my life without my concious noticing, and this happen to many people and nations. The unreached, later than never, will surrender to the One He has appointed as Lord of lords, and we have to confess before His throne.
Will the unreached go to our churches for invitations or real convertion?
I've seen how some parties are set and organized in churches. I've eaten well cooked food there, but this reminds me of such Christ himself gave (John 6:26). Why is it a cold and empty place for the unreached?
Attendance is not an indicator for teaching success neither it is the reason for churchy assemblies. Are we working to bring people to Jesus or to bring money for human goals?
Relationship, the real connetion, is the basic failure we -as humans- face. I cannot befriend anyone if she/he is not willing to, I cannot lead anybody is I'm not led by the Real Teacher, with the correct motivation: Pure Love.
To meet God He has to be willing to come near (that's God decision). We cannot hold a relationship by using emotional side arms, when giving a political hug or a forced smile in the face of a newcomer. We have to be true friends! (I confess this is a sin I have to work on these days).
The job to make connections and nurture living relationships is not only to pastors, but to believers (Luke 24:47-48). Otherwise, they'll be inviting people to serve tables and attend to religious shows.
Today we are free to go to Israel -if we've got the money, but there is not such Holy Temple built and God is outside working to draw his loved ones. We can pretend we're doing it well, but that's our common failure. Are we trying to make friends to bring them to church or to Jesus?
Jah witnesses work to bring people to somewhere... There were jews bringing proselytes to their sects in Jesus' time. What are we doing then?
I've seen some religious movements in Venezuela. These use political power to bring followers and money to grab some of them to their staff. Do we have to do the same?
The unreached are not unreachable, but these are on God's fingers and mercy. We, as christians, ought to visit poor homes, built sane relationships with sick people, imprisoned ones, and all the sort of human beings God thinks of we can work for.
2. Secularism.
Catholic sincretism has invented too many traditions to bypass those jews kept, as well as Jesus (a jew). Its secularism has mingled pagan traditions with “holy” days we yearly enjoy as vacations, while the crowd follow its hierachic structure and governmet, settled on 7 hills of Rome (read about these on Revelations). What about of those days of its inquisition?
By time, true christians won't follow the example of such worldly church: Babylon! We were insalivated as food by its teaching, same way as the internet seems to be part of its ultimate control over human race. Are there people willing to read from the Bible to learn by themselves?
It won't be easy to be amish. They would set certain amount of reasoning to avoid admiting me as fellow member, same as jews regret proselytes frrom my cultural background. Are we being save by following religion?
I'm amased for the need we human show to get the truth or an additional revelation. We hunger, within ourselves, to find a thing we consider lost or somewhere missing, and in this process of getting it, some go back and forth, indulging themselves in modeling surgery, drugs to remain young or mentally alive, the legal change of sex role and whatever thing anyone may consider serve to find that way: I won't say this is Jesus, because it is His business to show and save people, just by personal experience, not by religion.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Tearing down the traditional church teachings. Part I
What is the Scripture? Are all of these books inspired?
There are some odd teachings creeping within the Modern Church for years, inherited from te past. Certain religious traditions have been cherished for centuries and haven´t been dealt with contempt. Some of these unrealistic things conventionally accepted are: If I were a Priest (a Pastor), according to the law of Moses, I should be married to a young virgin… Are they easily found (and dealt with) today? Could I cope with a teen, being an old man?
At my age and just being once divorced, could I make it with some success? Since women are allowed to do -socially- many things as they are pleased, the way men do.
I´ve seen how people needed some fresh love elsewhere than in a church. A leading relationship within a new group, with nurturing friends. Sometimes I disagreed re-reading certain “Pastoral Letters” just because some “Teachings” are personal opinions of the writer, just human advice (I´m not telling they absolutelly lack some divine inspiration, but these are personal biased, these are human reasoning, same as I´m writing now).
The church we´re invited to attend has certain jewish roots it denies or neglects. Personal interpretations prevails over Jesus teaching, His personal insight and earthly work. So I beg you to let me point out just to a few, three things, that I consider wrong practices within the Christiany I´m engaged to.
• Is it the Lord´s “breakfast”?
What time (and date) do we have to celebrate or conmemorate it?
Is it a supper time or a breakfast celebration?
For me it´s clear we banned the passover. Jesus celebrated as jew, but don´t know how to engage in that jewish tradition, since Christianity is oppose to jews.
The passover was a covenant for those who belonged to that race (Exo. 12:43-45) and those who wanted to share in it (Exo 12:48-49). The appointed time was “night” (Exo.12:8, John 13:30) and the blood would serve to spare lifes, such as Christ´s spares ours, today (Exo. 12:23, ). The passover celebration was ordered for ever, as we can read in the Old testament records (Exo. 12:24-25, 42).
The traditional church is wrong in this subject, as you can see by yourselves. And some may argue that Christ made a “new” covenant(Matt. 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:19, John ), as we traditionally read on the Gospels, but most of the older versions do not have the word “new”, so this word seems to be added, to make the issue different. It´s true! There´s a new covenant (Heb. 8:8, Jer. 31,31-34) and that is believing Jesus, the Christ. Obviously, few jews would like a “new” covenant, since they thought the former would save them well, same way those who like old wine seldom like a brand new to drink (Luke 5:39). Do I have to circumcise then? John 13:34 is a broader extension of the passover prescription (Exo. 12:48-49). John reminds me of the same word God said to Israel, just to keep it and fulfill it, as it reads:
Deut. 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Deut. 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods (Angels and Human beings?), and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Deut. 10:18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Deut. 10:19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Can you see the same old covenant in the “new” extension? (John 13:34-35) This is the same covenant, but openly blessing all nations, as He said He would do to Abraham... and the new Israel. (Jonh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.) He is the pure and best pascal lamp! (Luke 22:20) In fact, He updated the same stuff to spare lives, just to include gentiles... like me!.
According to what I see and undestand, it wasn´t anything “new”, but the fulfillment of the progressive promises God made to His people; But churches commemorate the Lord´s supper at breakfast time, out of the appointed season, which is separated from the jewish tradition of the Passover.
Was it to be eaten all sunday mornings?
I better learn about the jewish feasts.
• Public recognition, is it needed?
At those days, like today, people needed to be “organized”. Jesus set his 12 disciple to help organize people, but the question is: Do they need hierarchy?
Often, some of His disciples wanted to be first, but He gave several lesson on being alike, iquals and just brothers. Some were selfcentered and wanted to rule over “their” team, by the time the Master were gone. Some disciples wanted to control “their” movement, but Jesus said something different (Mark 9:38, Luke 9:49). There was a mother asking for the best seat, but Jesus rebuked that (Matt. 20:20-27), and gave humanity a lesson of service to be in a leading position, but no leadership. (Matt. 23:10)
What was Jesus´teaching?
The Master, the Son of God, gave a practical lesson on humble service, in His last supper (John 13:3-17). He humbled himself -coming down to earth- to bring us into a relationship with the Holy Father. The traditional churchs is showy and love to be hierarchycal, just the way we see on both catholic churches and protestan ones.
One thing is disbeliving, another is disobeying, but this comes by ignorance. Jesus wanted His disciples to be a family, as simple brothers with one Father. Personal desires could seem legal, but some are to be banished. It´s normal to fight against this feeling that is unwillig to obey and do what God wants us to do, but we have to obey men also?
God´s kingdom is within us, but it is also paralled with human´s hierarchy. Here we see one wants to rule over God´s issues, not only Satan, but also men. What was Jesus´teaching? (Matt. 23:8-12).
First, follow Him (John 15:5). I cannot do anything better without him.
Second, human hierarchy could be convenient to ease certain things (Eph 4:2, 12), but not to rule His freedom. I don´t believe Eph. 4:11 is a vertical structure, but a horizontal “ministry”, although I believe the ministry is God´s, and no men or women is set to rule His people or house, besides Jesus. In fact, it is logically believed that no other men were set to be apostles like the former 12, but people believe what they want to, just as Paul thought of himself. In the wide sense, all christians are called to be apostles, ambassadors of the Gospel (Matt. 28:19-20) since Christ said so.
Paul, in that letter, explains the reasons for such offices in God´s ministry:
Eph 4:13 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
I don´t see Paul telling “this is abosolutelly true” (Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers...). I just see he wrote what he thought, and these are not the only ways christians serve God. Jesus came to earth to make perfectly what the mosaic law could not. He is an inclusive second chance to repent (Deut. 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.) and convert, to avoid being eternally punished. Formerly, the problem was disobedience. Now is disbelieving (plus the former unsolved things).
Why John, the Baptist, came saying: “Behold! Here´s the lamp of God, He who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) Something has to be dealt with (and Jesus did it). Are the law and the sins taken away?
Mosaic sacrifices served, but a little. Godly punishment to transgressions needed satisfaction... Have I paid for my faults? Have you? Just think about it! (about them) and Follow Him.
When people come to insist on five of “the ministries” (Eph 4:11) I show the contradiction I´ve found, since Jesus named only 12 apostles, and Revelations announces their place in Heavens, forming 24 elders (Rev. 4:4).
The great commision has three mean commandments: Go and teach the nations, and baptize them. The teaching are the observances Jesus followed, with the promise of being “always” present.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:G5213 and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
Did Jesus fulfilled the Law?
Did He wanted His people obeyed it? I have the whole Bible. These are not the original writings, but they have many things I can count on (Matt. 24:35).
There are several arguments to believe the law is abolished, that we´re freed!
Is it true?.
But how come I will follow jewish traditions? Things are very different now. Todays culture is quite different and secularism rules over some creeds and controls most parts of any church. Save us God!
• Mercy and forgiveness, overstressed.
Many boast about salvation. Proudly say: “I´m saved”. Really? The time is not yet come. Nobody knows is he or she is absolutelly accepcted to be in Heavens, but some insist on: “I´m going to live with Jesus”.
First, all have to be present before God´s judgement. He is the One to make that decision, with Christ (as lawyer). We have the right to boast (in secret), but He also has the right to say we were wrong (pretty wrong, sometimes).
Jesus, himself, said: Many will say to me in that day, “¡Lord, Lord! Have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:22)
Such boasting is foolish! This is the same mistake jews made when considering themselves better than other nations and hindering gentiles the entrance to the benefits of the former covenant... They didn´t realized God took them for a reason: His Love. ( Deut. 7:6, 7, 8.)
The main condition to be there is Obedience (Matt. 7:21), not such religious boasting that seems to be a biased faith.
Mercy and forgiveness are overstressed. Many say He is willing to forgive and very slow to correct in holy discipline. Some think He is dead, blind or gone. He is there! Loving, willing to forgive if we are willing to change. That´s the Father I´d like to love and meet (If He wills).
Some preachers “sell” mercy and forgiveness as detergents. They promise salvation and a cleansing without being sure they´re totally renewed. But I know God, and Jesus, are willing to help is we´re willing to change.
I will not offer what it is not up to me. Jesus is the answer, but I have to commit myself in obeying response.
Church people: Do not overstress anything to make “you are right” and the rest are wrong.
There are some odd teachings creeping within the Modern Church for years, inherited from te past. Certain religious traditions have been cherished for centuries and haven´t been dealt with contempt. Some of these unrealistic things conventionally accepted are: If I were a Priest (a Pastor), according to the law of Moses, I should be married to a young virgin… Are they easily found (and dealt with) today? Could I cope with a teen, being an old man?
At my age and just being once divorced, could I make it with some success? Since women are allowed to do -socially- many things as they are pleased, the way men do.
I´ve seen how people needed some fresh love elsewhere than in a church. A leading relationship within a new group, with nurturing friends. Sometimes I disagreed re-reading certain “Pastoral Letters” just because some “Teachings” are personal opinions of the writer, just human advice (I´m not telling they absolutelly lack some divine inspiration, but these are personal biased, these are human reasoning, same as I´m writing now).
The church we´re invited to attend has certain jewish roots it denies or neglects. Personal interpretations prevails over Jesus teaching, His personal insight and earthly work. So I beg you to let me point out just to a few, three things, that I consider wrong practices within the Christiany I´m engaged to.
• Is it the Lord´s “breakfast”?
What time (and date) do we have to celebrate or conmemorate it?
Is it a supper time or a breakfast celebration?
For me it´s clear we banned the passover. Jesus celebrated as jew, but don´t know how to engage in that jewish tradition, since Christianity is oppose to jews.
The passover was a covenant for those who belonged to that race (Exo. 12:43-45) and those who wanted to share in it (Exo 12:48-49). The appointed time was “night” (Exo.12:8, John 13:30) and the blood would serve to spare lifes, such as Christ´s spares ours, today (Exo. 12:23, ). The passover celebration was ordered for ever, as we can read in the Old testament records (Exo. 12:24-25, 42).
The traditional church is wrong in this subject, as you can see by yourselves. And some may argue that Christ made a “new” covenant(Matt. 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:19, John ), as we traditionally read on the Gospels, but most of the older versions do not have the word “new”, so this word seems to be added, to make the issue different. It´s true! There´s a new covenant (Heb. 8:8, Jer. 31,31-34) and that is believing Jesus, the Christ. Obviously, few jews would like a “new” covenant, since they thought the former would save them well, same way those who like old wine seldom like a brand new to drink (Luke 5:39). Do I have to circumcise then? John 13:34 is a broader extension of the passover prescription (Exo. 12:48-49). John reminds me of the same word God said to Israel, just to keep it and fulfill it, as it reads:
Deut. 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Deut. 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods (Angels and Human beings?), and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Deut. 10:18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Deut. 10:19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Can you see the same old covenant in the “new” extension? (John 13:34-35) This is the same covenant, but openly blessing all nations, as He said He would do to Abraham... and the new Israel. (Jonh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.) He is the pure and best pascal lamp! (Luke 22:20) In fact, He updated the same stuff to spare lives, just to include gentiles... like me!.
According to what I see and undestand, it wasn´t anything “new”, but the fulfillment of the progressive promises God made to His people; But churches commemorate the Lord´s supper at breakfast time, out of the appointed season, which is separated from the jewish tradition of the Passover.
Was it to be eaten all sunday mornings?
I better learn about the jewish feasts.
• Public recognition, is it needed?
At those days, like today, people needed to be “organized”. Jesus set his 12 disciple to help organize people, but the question is: Do they need hierarchy?
Often, some of His disciples wanted to be first, but He gave several lesson on being alike, iquals and just brothers. Some were selfcentered and wanted to rule over “their” team, by the time the Master were gone. Some disciples wanted to control “their” movement, but Jesus said something different (Mark 9:38, Luke 9:49). There was a mother asking for the best seat, but Jesus rebuked that (Matt. 20:20-27), and gave humanity a lesson of service to be in a leading position, but no leadership. (Matt. 23:10)
What was Jesus´teaching?
The Master, the Son of God, gave a practical lesson on humble service, in His last supper (John 13:3-17). He humbled himself -coming down to earth- to bring us into a relationship with the Holy Father. The traditional churchs is showy and love to be hierarchycal, just the way we see on both catholic churches and protestan ones.
One thing is disbeliving, another is disobeying, but this comes by ignorance. Jesus wanted His disciples to be a family, as simple brothers with one Father. Personal desires could seem legal, but some are to be banished. It´s normal to fight against this feeling that is unwillig to obey and do what God wants us to do, but we have to obey men also?
God´s kingdom is within us, but it is also paralled with human´s hierarchy. Here we see one wants to rule over God´s issues, not only Satan, but also men. What was Jesus´teaching? (Matt. 23:8-12).
First, follow Him (John 15:5). I cannot do anything better without him.
Second, human hierarchy could be convenient to ease certain things (Eph 4:2, 12), but not to rule His freedom. I don´t believe Eph. 4:11 is a vertical structure, but a horizontal “ministry”, although I believe the ministry is God´s, and no men or women is set to rule His people or house, besides Jesus. In fact, it is logically believed that no other men were set to be apostles like the former 12, but people believe what they want to, just as Paul thought of himself. In the wide sense, all christians are called to be apostles, ambassadors of the Gospel (Matt. 28:19-20) since Christ said so.
Paul, in that letter, explains the reasons for such offices in God´s ministry:
Eph 4:13 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
I don´t see Paul telling “this is abosolutelly true” (Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers...). I just see he wrote what he thought, and these are not the only ways christians serve God. Jesus came to earth to make perfectly what the mosaic law could not. He is an inclusive second chance to repent (Deut. 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.) and convert, to avoid being eternally punished. Formerly, the problem was disobedience. Now is disbelieving (plus the former unsolved things).
Why John, the Baptist, came saying: “Behold! Here´s the lamp of God, He who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) Something has to be dealt with (and Jesus did it). Are the law and the sins taken away?
Mosaic sacrifices served, but a little. Godly punishment to transgressions needed satisfaction... Have I paid for my faults? Have you? Just think about it! (about them) and Follow Him.
When people come to insist on five of “the ministries” (Eph 4:11) I show the contradiction I´ve found, since Jesus named only 12 apostles, and Revelations announces their place in Heavens, forming 24 elders (Rev. 4:4).
The great commision has three mean commandments: Go and teach the nations, and baptize them. The teaching are the observances Jesus followed, with the promise of being “always” present.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:G5213 and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
Did Jesus fulfilled the Law?
Did He wanted His people obeyed it? I have the whole Bible. These are not the original writings, but they have many things I can count on (Matt. 24:35).
There are several arguments to believe the law is abolished, that we´re freed!
Is it true?.
But how come I will follow jewish traditions? Things are very different now. Todays culture is quite different and secularism rules over some creeds and controls most parts of any church. Save us God!
• Mercy and forgiveness, overstressed.
Many boast about salvation. Proudly say: “I´m saved”. Really? The time is not yet come. Nobody knows is he or she is absolutelly accepcted to be in Heavens, but some insist on: “I´m going to live with Jesus”.
First, all have to be present before God´s judgement. He is the One to make that decision, with Christ (as lawyer). We have the right to boast (in secret), but He also has the right to say we were wrong (pretty wrong, sometimes).
Jesus, himself, said: Many will say to me in that day, “¡Lord, Lord! Have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:22)
Such boasting is foolish! This is the same mistake jews made when considering themselves better than other nations and hindering gentiles the entrance to the benefits of the former covenant... They didn´t realized God took them for a reason: His Love. ( Deut. 7:6, 7, 8.)
The main condition to be there is Obedience (Matt. 7:21), not such religious boasting that seems to be a biased faith.
Mercy and forgiveness are overstressed. Many say He is willing to forgive and very slow to correct in holy discipline. Some think He is dead, blind or gone. He is there! Loving, willing to forgive if we are willing to change. That´s the Father I´d like to love and meet (If He wills).
Some preachers “sell” mercy and forgiveness as detergents. They promise salvation and a cleansing without being sure they´re totally renewed. But I know God, and Jesus, are willing to help is we´re willing to change.
I will not offer what it is not up to me. Jesus is the answer, but I have to commit myself in obeying response.
Church people: Do not overstress anything to make “you are right” and the rest are wrong.
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