THE CHRISTIAN: THE BIBLE AND THE TESTIMONY

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16. THE CHRISTIAN AND THE BIBLE

One sure way in which to grow is to give yourself in the Spirit with prayer TO THE CAREFUL STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES. Would you say to your mother:

'Mother, I love you dearly, but I don't believe a word you say'; or to your father:

'Dad, I trust you completely, but I just wouldn't rely on anything you have said' ?

So with Christ. You CANNOT consistently say you love or trust the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet do anything less than rely on His words, His competence in providing them, His power in retaining them, His capacity in letting heaven and earth go, while HIS words remain, and these, they include His words on the words which were sent by His Spirit, beforehand (I Peter 1:10ff.). Indeed, many of those words SPOKE OF HIM, of His coming, tribe, death date, work to be done, miracles to be performed, atonement to be made, resistance to be found from Israel, Gospel for the word (cf. SMR Chs. 8-9, Barbs, Arrows and Balms 17, TMR Ch. 3).

Rest assured: the love of Christ, shed abroad in your hearts by the very Spirit of God (Romans 5:5) breeds in you a love of which the Lord has spoken and on which, set His seal (Romans 8:35ff., Ephesians 1:4-14). In this love, strong is the regard for His words which rest on His power and His wisdom for His will, set to preserve the faith for the faithful and bring the cutting edge of the everlasting Gospel to those who know Him not at all. Hence His words in John 14:21ff.: the one who does not care for Him does not care for His words either, but the one who loves Him, loves His words, and faith embraces them from the all-competent God! It also acts: it works because of love, it is free being unforced, it is constrained by love. Love ? it is stronger even than death, the love of God which in fact has even banished that ogre, the watch-dog that punishes sin, on the Cross, that launching pad for the exhibition of eternal life in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What then ? The God who gave you lips and thought and soul, knows very well how to speak Himself ( cf. Psalm 94:9,Amos 4:12‑13); and the Almighty Father who hears and knows all the parts and practices of those He brought into being as Creator, He sees the disorders, notes the chaos and observes the

hearts of men; nor is He blind to those who ignore Him, nor yet does He act as if the world were their plaything, and they were gods (Psalm 82:6, Ezekiel 28:9). He spoke, and in His power creation was; He spoke and in His grace, salvation was expressed; He acted, and in His love salvation was accomplished, requiring nothing more to pay, until judgment (Hebrews 1, 9-10).

Before anything was (John 1:1‑3), the eternal, self‑sufficient God was. It is not even a mere matter of 'was' ; HE IS ( Exodus 3:14, John 8:58), for TIME sequence is something which HE made, and signified in this delightful and decisive utterance, "BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM," and "I AM HAS SENT YOU". This the above quotations attest. Time, like space ( Romans 8:38‑39)‑ things future and past: all this is called 'creation'. WE are dealing with ‑ yes being dealt with by ... the Creator of ALL ( Revelation 4:11).

Thus, at the commencement of our world was the One who was (as always) sufficient for all that was to follow, and without Him, it would not because it could not‑ have followed. In creation, back of matter‑ with its law, form and constancy; back of mind ‑ with its law‑analysis and thought about things; back of spirit ‑ with its power to disobey law, and even to seek its own destruction: beyond all this, see the Person whose eternal thought made mind possible in man, whose eternal Spirit made the production spirit conceivable, its freedom among law and even against law ! Here lay the starting block for human love, human freedom without which it is meaningless for man, and because of which sin itself can readily raise its smashed head.

Beyond all this creation, there is the one whose unlimited deeds made matter with its inbuilt laws an offspring of His creation.

Let us look at an interesting statement by Beverley Nichols.

Here let us say that if you believe that, you are being unscientific and illogical at that point. For you must scientifically and logically supply a reason for these things; and if you refuse, you are denying the reason with which you reason. You must either, as it were 'uncreate' yourself, or else end up seeing that GOD IS: I AM, He says, and as we saw from the lips of Christ, BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM. Time's inventor is not a captive of it, but having created it, employs it at will.

The Psalmist puts it: “FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING THOU ART GOD” (Psalm 90:2),and “THOU ART THE SAME AND THY YEARS WILL HAVE NO END” ( Psalm 102:27).The divine nature and eternal power of God is obvious, says St Paul (Romans 1:20), charging that men have held down the truth like a wrestler, for they have not as a race desired it, being sick with sin (Romans 1:18 - this suppression concept is the force of the Greek; cf. Ephesians 4:18-19).

GOD IS and yet His creation which depends on Him for its thought of institution, program and design, laws and form and indeed for everything else which distinguishes the derivative and dynamised from nothing: this His creation clashes and hates and squabbles and breathes with considerable freedom, pride and vanity, both horizontally and... vertically. It utters lies and rejoices in injustice with the frequency of fantasy, groaning more obviously at its negative impact rather than lovingly instituting what is right.

To all such things, God has something to say. YOU THOUGHT I WAS LIKE YOU, He scolds in Psalm 50:21..."BUT I WILL REPROVE YOU, AND SET (things) IN ORDER BEFORE YOUR EYES."

brings out the hair-brained madness of vaunting, vaulting man, in more ways than one set to go zooming into space, without considering the earth below, and the Maker beyond.

Yes, God will set in order what is out of order, through the misuse of human and spiritual freedom. What could have been a path to glory for man, in that we as a race could be free lovers and co-workers of God, became shame, in that man left His side and set up on his own. And with what futility!

It will reach a point, said Jesus, such that if the end of the Age did not come,

¨ if Jesus did not return as Judge ( and indeed set things in order, cf. Matthew 25:31 ff., John 5:26 ff.), selecting His saints ( Matthew 24:30-31,39 ff.):

¨ then human beings just COULD not even CONTINUE to populate the earth
(Matthew 24:22, 7-12). "No flesh would be spared" - said Jesus Christ. If what ? If the time was not shortened, that led to His return. Irruption into return or else, if you will, nothing to return to!

(in heart, not necessarily is this REALISED within the confused and confusing smog of sin in which many CHOOSE to breathe spiritually, just as they MUST often do, physically)

then the very ELECT of God would be deceived. Praise God however, as Christ makes so clear, THIS CANNOT BE DONE (Matthew 24:24). As you watch the sects and false prophets from of old and new-made, you cannot help realising that their impossible task is being pursued with intense passion! Like many another passion, it will fail, but it will take many, as does al Qaeda physically, with it!

In its setting of multiplying wars and famines ( Matthew 24:7), all this is the peculiar inheritance par excellence of the twentieth century, a marvel of sects together with insufferable heresies

gaunt misled people, Jonesville and the deity-killing core of J.W.'s who witness to a Jehovah that never was, in contradiction to a Christ who is, acting as if to divide even the scriptural unity of Jehovah and Jesus: while as the Bible says of both Jehovah and Jesus, it is to HIM that every knee shall bow ( Isaiah 45:23, Philippians 2:10), it is Christ who IS the I AM and He SAYS SO (John 8:58). Removing Christ's credentials as Jehovah's complete self-attestation (Hebrews 1), they vainly make of themselves what they are not, and of Him, what is nothing but in their delusion.

Whole churches of famous reputation dally or depart, doctrines and myths contrary to scientific method, like organic evolution mystify even their proponents: leading professors (Wistar Institute cf. SMR pp. 128-137) noting at an international symposium, that there is no AVAILABLE CONCEPT by which such a theory as that can be conceived and reconciled with reality.

This is the great 'falling away' of which Paul spoke prophetically in II Thessalonians 2:1-3 (cf. I Timothy 4, II Timothy 3, II Peter 2 ... ). Do not in the least be disturbed by this; if it would not happen, the Bible would be wrong; it IS happening, merely one MORE verification, confirmation and expression of the Almighty's wisdom, power and concern: He has told us already, from thousands of years ago, in detail, that such things mark the end of the innings ... Thus HOLD on tightly to His hand, to His word and continue freely in His works. It is thrilling to see such a hews scoop from so many thousands of years ago; but

God said this of them: they "SHALL KNOW WHOSE WORDS SHALL STAND, MINE OR THEIRS"^*1
(Jeremiah 44:28). In fact, they fled to Egypt, instead of taking the determinate punishment under Babylon, which after all was only for 70 years (short compared with the result of crucifying Christ, some 19 centuries!), where as Jeremiah predicted, Nebuchadnezzaar of Babylon, there also, duly came!

"THY WORD IS TRUTH," said Jesus ( John 17:17); and there is no truth but the word (written in propositions, on the one hand, and incarnate as the living and eternal Person who is THE ETERNAL WORD, on the other), the word of God.

As He speaks, so it is. HIS is not mere response but knowledge: "THE LORD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF MAN, THAT THEY ARE FUTILE" ( Psalm 94:11), and among them is this "AND THEY SAY," HOW DOES GOD KNOW? AND IS THERE KNOWLEDGE IN THE MOST HIGH ?" (Psalm 73:11).

NOW YOU SHOULD SEE QUITE CLEARLY
THE NEED TO DELIGHT IN THE LORD AND IN HIS WORD,
AND TO CONTINUE IN IT, LEARN IT, MEDITATE ON IT, DIGEST IT

(John 8: 31, 15:7,10,15,14:21‑23, Psalm 119:9,32,38,92,97 ...
Jeremiah 15:16).

*1 As to the extent and composition of that divine deposition, that celestial confrontation, invitation and provision, the word of God written, prophets died for it, Christ died rather than impede its impact (Matthew 26:52-54), for its provisions were inviolable, both in history and in the mind of Him who gave it just as Peter declared (I Peter 1:10ff., II Peter 1:16-21) and Paul described (I Cor. 2:9-13,
14: 37 - "the things that I write to you are the commandments of the Lord"), just as Christ bound it (Matthew 5:17-19, 24:35, John 14:26, 16:13 - in speaking to His envoys).

As Moses bound it (Deuteronomy 4 and 12) to the letter, so did Christ; as John cut it off in Revelation 22:18-19, so had Moses done. As the Jews carried to us all the Old Testament (Romans 9:1ff.), so was the New recognised by the Church, most of it pulsing just as had the words of the prophets of old, whether liked or not, within it and recognised for the sacred and inviolable as above shown.

In the Lord's covering of His input, He caused consensus and agreement on the extent of these sacred books at the general ecclesiastical councils of Hippo 393, and Carthage, 397. Here was acknowledged the canon for the Greek New Testament; in its authenticity and authority, it stood as it had long been recognised, now formally secured.

For more on details of this result and its basic thrust, see SMR Appendix C, Ancient Words, Modern Deeds Ch. 11 where cited, and Sparkling Life ... Chs. 1, 2.

Some may even want you to subtract from the word of God written. For example many modern Anglican and Presbyterian, not to say Baptist (Southern Baptists are in the news for a quasi‑break away body which denies the infallibility of scripture) moves do exactly this. (For the Baptist case, see Moody Monthly, July‑August 1991 and for this and others in parallel see News 121 and SMR 684-70, with News 152 and 100 for further awareness in this field)

Like the R.C. failure to be faithful with the word (SMR pp. 1032 -1088H), so this one will be condemned. Remember, we are not talking just now of people, but of doctrines. God will deal with people; but let us be faithful witnesses, steering clear of these things and of course of those who do them (Romans 16:17, Ephesians 4:31-5:7, Titus 3:10, I Timothy 6:1ff., II Timothy 3:1-5, Proverbs 14:7, Jude 22-23, II John 7-10); and let us be ready, if led and enabled, to witness to those snared in these blind alleys. Where the truth is rejected AND perverted, the law is clear: move from such persons, do not associate, mingle and avoid fellowship. This does not mean that you may not pray for them, and seek some opportunity, if by any means the Lord may, as in Jude above, show you a way quickly to snatch the burning log from the fire, in time! It does mean that you do not burn in the same fire, or WITH it!

There is a false fire, and there is the Lord: they are as far apart as the East and the West, and further, since those are in one system, but the Lord excludes invention in His word, or association where it is to be found (cf. Leviticus 10, where Nadab and Abihu, though they had been in the holy mountain with Moses (Exodus 24:1), offered spurious fire to the Lord. This was carnal, by human invention, like that psychological extravanganza, contrary to the word of God (I Corinthians 14 cf. A Question of Gifts), which many in the Pentecostal domain offer, many speaking expressly as forbidden, at once, with no interpretation, just as Paul deplores. Rather, says the apostle, 5 words with the mind than 10,000 without it; though he tolerates limited use of this kind, it is something very different that he directs people actually to SEEK! Glory is not to be found in exalting this! (cf. Questions and Answers 2).

Just as false 'fire' can flame, instead of the Lord in His word, so can false 'fathers'! (contrary expressly to Matthew 23:8-10, in word and in portent: ONE is the Father, and as to Him, He is eternal, sinless and higher than the heavens).

Since however Jesus expressly said: "WHOSOEVER WILL DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN, THE SAME IS MY BROTHER AND SISTER AND MOTHER" ‑ Matthew 12:50, you can see the anti‑Biblical blasphemy of it all. I Just so, they used to create female idols in the days of earlier Israel (cf. Jeremiah 45:22-25).

*But what of this 'ex cathedra ? That is, binding, from 'his chair'. He says it in this manner, and that is it, allegedly over all, beyond all, binding all.

This is another fallen option to letting Christ rule from His celestial site, by His word. See Proverbs 30:6, Matthew 23:8-10, John 16:13 where Christ addressed the apostles to be concerning 'all truth', not popes who should never have been: since ONE master does NOT mean two or more, working in their own 'right', so that 'he alone is lord over princes', indeed said to hold on this earth the place of "God Almighty on earth" to use some of their own terms for themselves (see SMR pp. 931, 915, as per hyperlink).

In fact, to an infinite degree, that separating God as eternal and man as created: the word of God does not mean the word of a man - cf. Revelation 22:18-19, Jeremiah 23:28-29, far less one provided after the time of the apostles, Ephesians 2:20ff.. For this, refer to the church's own historic depiction of the canon of the New Testament, which includes no future dramas from the lips of popes, as above. See also Christ's own abomination and detestation, condemnation and excoriation of the use of tradition to 'add to' the word of God in Mark 7:7ff.. People who are willing to regard a man who is not God, as if he were able to occupy His place, and could actually even begin to bear that title, are in blighting danger of their lives.

I John 2:27 also expressly exposes the folly of such claims for the Pope. When God said ONE MASTER in Matthew 23:8ff., guess what ? He meant it!

Seek to the Lord and His word, not to man, for of what account is he! (Isaiah 2:22); and when he seeks to take over from the word of the Lord, in his own right, he is truly miserable (cf. Isaiah 8:20), and to go with such persons, is like accompanying al Qaeda devotees, in their ... very different mission, this time however, directly spiritual, and of course, deluded (cf. More Marvels ... Ch. 4).

Indeed, some Reformers found it likely that the pope was the antichrist, and such a view appears in the Westminster Confession of such fame, while the Church of England Prayer Book, in its 39 Articles (Article XXXI) referred to the mass in terms of "blasphemous fables, and dengerous deceits", which is true (cf. SMR pp. 1088Bff.).

However, though the antichrist has yet to be, in his place (which looms near now, cf. Answers to Questions Ch. 5), the pope assuredly has given a very close imitation of the conditions to be fulfilled by that party, as prescribed in II Thessalonians 2:4ff.. Now, the situation is ready, with Israel returned to its land, as necessary before the Age should end (Luke 21:24), and we have thus been historically introduced to s )uch licence and liberty from man, against God, even using His name, and showing its vehemence in the Inquisition, not a work of some 6 years, as with Hitler's holocaust, but of several centuries! (cf. The Frantic Millenium... Chs. 6 and 10). In fact, however, as seen in SMR, the final power in this world, before it is judged, will remove Romanism from its seat, and occupy power for itself (cf. Revelation 17:1-5,16, Ch. 18 cf. SMR pp. 946ff., 729ff., 1031C, and The Kingdom of Heaven Ch. 9).

God is Creator, infinitely superior: He knows His own mind and shares His glory WITH NO-ONE (Isaiah 43:8). When therefore the New York Catechism calls the Pope, God Almighty on Earth, the fact becomes at oncv. clear that this is not only wrong; not only blasphemy; not only folly of a high order: it is contention with Christ (if that were possible), it is treachery and antichristian. Thus the reformers were not slow to deem the pope an antichrist. Nor have things changed. The Pope John Paul 11 at his inauguration was busy to proclaim that the Vatican Council 1 was being re‑affirmed: and that ? It was the one where the POPE was set forth in all his wondrous infallibility. Similarly Pope John XX111 the architect of the 'new look' Romanist attitude to Protestants, was quick to state his TOTAL allegiance to the Council of Trent, which allows for State murder of people who do not see eye to eye with Rome on doctrine, and sets out the details such as this: that those who believe themselves forgiven solely through God's mercy in Christ, are to be damned. It is fairly clear, is it not, that this is not your place for worship, for co‑witness or for schools !

( See Council of Trent: Session 6,1547,Canon IX, and Fourth Session, April 8,1546.)

God has declared His mind and has no mind, as we see repeatedly, for other gods of any kind, even on the pretence and subterfuge of substitution or embassage. A substitute for the Almighty, an alternative to the infinite is rather past the propriety of plays, and sets new records in blasphemy.

In the face of divine judgment, it is useless to trust in ecclesiastical tresses; the Lord ALONE will be exalted in that day (Isaiah 2:11). So long as you recall the difference between God and man, Creator and

creature, the sinless and the sinner, the all‑knowing and the learner, the clear and the confused, the Wonder and the wanderer: you will not find due trouble here! CHRIST has the absolute advantage of being GOD‑AS‑MAN. Thus we have safety and sovereignty both; and in His presence and power can avoid the just curses of both Galatians 1:6‑9 and Revelation 22:18‑19, all of which Rome inherits, with many more.

In its UNAM SANCTUM of Pope Boniface V11 in 1302 (most infallibly..., Rome asserts power and sovereignty over princes, and is in fact in brief, the form of quasi‑Christianity which represents a 'Christ' ‑ a false Christ, one who would have fallen at the devil's suggestion that in exchange for all the kingdoms of this world, He had only to ... worship him ( the devil)!

THIS is THAT. In parallel with His earlier victory over temptation, Christ announced clearly to Pilate:

"MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD" (John 18: 36) .

THERE is the cleavage, and it is absolute In addition, Rome would make the sacrifice of Christ which,
the Bible expressly states, was performed only once and once for all, repeating and amplifying this
fact ( Hebrews 9:25‑26) to be:

The wrong person (priest) does the wrong action (offers the One who insisted on offering Himself) the wrong times ( often, not once). Vain for any play of words: IF the Mass is a real sacrifice so that the body in fact IS the body, then the sacrifice is repeated. IF it is not, then all the mangled and charred bodies of Smithfield and other places in the times of the earlier Inquisitions are remarkable: for ROME insisted that it was the body indeed, not mere thought or word, and the burned ones insisted it was not! Suicide, said one of them, it would be if Christ had meant the bread to be His actual body, and then broke it. Rome not merely repeats the 'real and actual' sacrifice of Christ, but claims that by this 'sacrifice', she gains the 'merits' of this cruel procedure, from this 'death' and so can distribute them: it is rather like a commercial company distributing the profits to the shareholders; but this is in the depths of hell.

For such ... benefits, Rome may wish some recompense, as in 'indulgences' to reduce the pangs of a Purgatory (or temporary horror before gaining access to heaven, after death) ... in terms of money, despite the entire prohibition clear from 1 Peter 1:18 It was made rather dramatic in the case of Gehazi, another who would use God's power for personal profit, when that servant of Elijah got leprosy for his pains (II Kings 5: 20 ff.) .

As to purgatory, this too is an addition which subtracts from the beauty of Christ's entire remission: I Thessalonians 5:9‑10, Romans 8:1, Hebrews 10:10,14, Luke 22:42-43, where questioned about results for a criminal crucified with Him, WHEN He would enter into His kingdom, He replied, “This day, you will be with ME in paradise; as also in Romans 5:1-11, John 5:24.

Worse, Rome denies any assurance of eternal life to the ordinary believer (categorically versus I John 5:11ff., John 5:24, 6:50ff., I Thess. 5:9-10, John 4:14, 10:9,27-28, Titus 3:3ff., I Timothy 1:9ff., Ephesians 1:11 for example…), insisting that this is conferred ‑ that is, when the ground for such a life is made clear ‑ only at absolution, on the death bed. In other words, you have to be confirmed by conforming to the church with it traditions (versus Mark 7:7ff.), say they, so that it will be in a position to consider your case! But it is CHRIST who has the keys of hell and death and NO ONE can get to those places of outcast solemnity, except HE should ACT; and certainly HE decrees, ONE IS YOUR MASTER, ALL YOU ARE BRETHREN (Revelation 1:18, Matthew 23:8). HIS sheep who enter through Him by faith, no one and nothing can alienate or remove, is His express declaration, and these, they have entered by Him as the door (John 10:9).

As we have seen, assurance is a scriptural norm, and the word gives it to those who are Christ's, and the 'Spirit testifies with our spirit', also, that “we are the children of God' ‑ Romans 8:16,17, 28-30 cf. I John 5:13.Heirs of Christ, His children will be glorified with Him, and those justified WILL be glorified (Romans 8:29-30), and those who have faith in the Saviour (Romans 4:25-5:2) are already justified.

Not so in the anti-scriptural, dis-faith muddle of Romanism. They make a new religion. In this way, the gift of eternal life, the gift by grace (Romans 5:15) is made to depend on the opinions of men who 'hold' the sacrifices and mete out the 'forgiveness' as seems to them good. If you fall for that anti‑Scriptural and voluntary bowing to men instead of God, you are right on the path to idolatry which, in I Corinthians 5:11, is treated such that you may not EVEN MIX with those who practise this ... not even make a practice of EATING.

Rome is altogether too much to swallow; and we must be separate, declares the word ( Romans 16:17‑19).

This way, then, you will not go, nor keep company with those in it, if you follow the words of Christ; nor will you, as we noted, marry a Roman Catholic, if you follow the word of God.( 11 Corinthians 6:14‑16 also applies for it is another Christ ‑cf. 11 Corinthians 11:1 ff‑ who is 'captured' and administered by Rome).

If someone you consider for marriage will not leave Rome when you faithfully witness, then that is the party from whom you must depart, in any such relationship. Obviously this applies no less wherever a personal involvement is voluntarily in view: as in business partnership. DO NOT MIX, it says. Of course, this is not to require you to see who is who and avoid , and so on: it is a word to your conscience regarding your fellowship and mixing practices.

Similarly, all the sects either add to or subtract from the word of God written. Simple books are available ‑and useful booklets‑ on these sects, including Rome.

The devil indeed attacks from all quarters ( rather like the appeal of the eyes to someone doing the shopping who is ... drawn to spend on SOMETHING ELSE); but if you keep to the words of Jesus, He declares, THEN ARE YOU MY DISCIPLES INDEED ( John 8:31). For this in more detail, see With Heart and Soul... Chs. 9, 10 with Epilogue and Appendix.

Again, in the churches themselves, men often would 'spy out your liberty in Christ Jesus' ( Galatians 2:4). Often, they do not realise what they are doing, for the god of this world blinds (II Corinthians 3:3‑4). Jude tells you how to deal with them... Jude 23! In II Peter 2, you find a whole discussion of such things, including the fact that they ere to 'blossom' (evil flowers) in the last times‑ where now, all the signs of the word assuredly put us, this itself not least.

Notice in particular, on this sort of error creeping ‑ or indeed at times storming - into Protestantism so widely now, the following Scriptures: I Peter 2:1‑3, 1 Timothy 4:1‑3, II Timothy 3:1‑7, II Thessalonians 2:1‑7, Luke 18-21. We have already given careful attention to some of the signals n Matthew 24. Observe ' clearly in II Timothy 3, some characteristics of these false prophets. That is, people who say they are telling you what it all means and what it is that God is saying or has said, yet, who do not do this, rather acting as if to confuse you, in ways clearly contrary to the words of God, or acting so as to seduce Biblical faith. These are crafty manipulators, as Paul indicates in II Corinthians 4:2, and even can be apostles of deceit and ministers of Satan ( II Corinthians 11:4,13).

In II Timothy 3, then, we note that they never KNOW THE TRUTH; they are always looking around the corner which never comes. They do it with the Old Testament, as with the New, asserting devious things without foundation, losing what is real and being unable to substitute what lasts, producing froth for faith, and fanaticism in place of spirituality. Popes are of this variety, as leaders in other sects, short on biblical truth, long on directive or not dictatorial assurance, and liberalism has sought to turn Protestantism into something as far from Christ as is Romanism, and the sects. MANY are the false christs and prophets, said Christ, in this last time (Matthew 24:24), and MANY they ARE!

With Rome, they ever know what the Pope will say next, while decIaring ... that all the rest of what was ever said REALLY means this or that; because he is so infallible'. This! it is infallible insecurity, and assured loss. Further, says Paul, they disbelieve the POWER of God, majoring on forms. They rely on natural processes. In the case of Romanism, they even make their own sacrilegious sacrifice of the Saviour, and trot it out frequently, as in a circus. Small wonder John Bunyan in his Pilgrim's Progress ‑ vastly in need of being READ - has the Pope crucifying to himself afresh the Christ in a cave. Cf. Hebrews 6:6 and 10:29.

Relying then on natural processes, or philosophical contradiction, as if to make Christ's symbolic breaking of bread, in fact the breaking of His own body, which nevertheless continued thereon, just as it was: this class of heresies would virtually dismiss God from His status, majoring in words without the power of God. They do not respect His authority, being more concerned with their own, and exhibiting the 'flesh' in religiousness, they do not keep God's truth (SMR pp. 1032-1088H, 946ff.). This can be deadly. AVOID such people, therefore (Romans 16:17‑19). Their fair speeches, says Paul, are deceptive. In Revelation 18, you see the clear call, COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE! It is no place to be, spiritually or even physically, as the end comes, as you can read in that chapter!

NO church or man is to be trusted when such a one departs from the words God recorded in Scripture; or adds to them. Professing to be wise, they replace God with their own tongues, and end worse than they began (II Peter 2:15‑21). Balaam , you remember, was a man who had something of a divine touch, but one who used it for his own profit ‑ or played with this idea.

What does Peter say of such a thing: "THEY MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU" ‑ II Peter 2: 3. When man seeks to measure man by man (II Corinthians 10:12), construct Christs by the philosophies of men, mere cultural christs, it is but ludicrous mental offal from the fallen heart, thus daring to use the name of heaven's choicest pearl (II Corinthians II:4) for their devious, deluded or depraved ends. This they do to obtain honour from men (John 5:44) - or mere profit (II Peter 2), whether it be spiritual honour or whatever else, but especially religious honour. MERCHANDISE is what the soul of man thus becomes, bought and sold without sanction, scripture or security (cf. Revelation 18:13 shows the grievous, the gruesome reality of such things).

Neither they nor their curious and spurious productions glorify God. Indeed, Christ asked, "HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE, WHO RECEIVE HONOUR FROM ONE ANOTHER" (John 5:44) ! HOW indeed... Money moreover is the reward of Judas, wholly ridiculous in the presence of the supreme and superb sacrifice of the Saviour (cf. I Peter 1:19-19).

Consider Ezekiel 13:6-11 on this, for the evil presumptions of false prophets on this earth is as old as the activities on this planet, of Satan himself!

All these things, Romanism, other sects, Protestant 'liberalism' and all the other theological philosophies, without truth, warrant or reality, neo-orthodox, neo-evangelical, indeed the whole host of them, are false witness.

Faithful witness, however, not only and of course avoids all these theological diseases, but the pride of having avoided them, and thanks God for the grace by which the heart has been saved, and freely attests it (cf. Ephesians 2). It moreover seeks and thus finds the Lord, and suffuses the aroma of His truth, the beauty of His holiness and the certainty of His return, amidst the wonders of His free pardon and absolute guarantee in grace, of salvation (cf. John 4:24, I John 5:12-13, Romans 5:1-11, John 10:9,27-28). But why is there such a todo to make it all so very unsure, in the sects and in Romanism and liberalism, that or so vague as to be meaningless ? It is because only then is there a PRESSURE POINT for you to be manipulated or pulsated or in any case managed by the power of the sect or theological propagandism, and only then is the power of man able to masquerade with some satisfaction to its own enterprise, as if it were in any sense the power of God.

For many, the knowledge God being absent, His power is not realised, and their puny management techniques are made verbal substitutes, like that of someone promising faithfulness to his wife, glass in hand, and mistress in waiting. They do not, because they will not realise that their doom is sealed, unless they repent! (cf. Revelation 2:18-23).

As noted, in the end, the confusion, deviousness and deceit of the antichrist will altogether forget the distinction between Creator and creature (II Thessalonians 2:4-12), having lost desire for truth, thus falling into a judgment of delusion so great that the lie is even BELIEVED!

	who thus deny the Lord; those
	who add to Him, subtract from Him;
	act as if to synthesise Him ( as in New Age works aplenty);
	to USE Him (as in the R.C. Mass, which after all is not conceivable on earth for the Christ, who is statedly in heaven, with the number of bodies MAN HAS, which one may remember is ONE, able to die ONCE ONLY (Hebrews 9:25ff. - Acts 3:21 cf. John 6:62-63, Acts 1:7-11);
	to distil Him as in the 'Social Gospel', making things social the work of things spiritual, as if identical; or
	to politicise Him, as in Liberation Theology which carefully re-defines what the Bible says, in a cultural and philosophic parody.

	"OR DO YOU THINK THAT I CANNOT NOW PRAY TO MY FATHER , AND HE WILL PROVIDE ME WITH MORE THAN TWELVE LEGIONS OF ANGELS?
	HOW THEN COULD THE SCRIPTURES BE FULFILLED,
	THAT IT MUST HAPPEN THUS ?
	"HAVE YOU COME OUT AS AGAINST A ROBBER, WITH SWORDS
	... BUT ALL THIS WAS DONE
	THAT THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS MIGHT BE FULFILLED"

	"They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord!’ But the Lord has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed. Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination?
	"You say, ‘The Lord says,’ but I have not spoken.
	^"Therefore thus says the Lord God: 'Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you,' says the Lord God.
	^{" '}My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel.
	" 'Then you shall know that I am the Lord God. Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace - and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar."

	"THE LORD COMMANDED ME AT THAT TIME TO TEACH YOU STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS, SO THAT YOU MIGHT DO THEM IN THE LAND TO WHICH YOU ARE GOING OVER TO POSSESS IT...
	"YOU SHALL OBSERVE TO DO THEREFORE AS THE LORD YOUR GOD HAS COMMANDED YOU: YOU WILL NOT TURN ASIDE TO THE RIGHT HAND OR OT THE LEFT...
	"YOU WILL NOT ADD TO THE WORD WHICH I COMMAND YOU, NOR WILL YOU DIMINISH ANYTHING FROM IT, SO THAT YOU MAY KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD YOUR GOD WHICH I COMMAND YOU" ( Deuteronomy 4:14,32,2).

	beside making the Pope such a MASTER and TEACHER that he can create doctrine
	(such as the infallibility of the Pope, decreed in 1871 - a convenient capacity for his formal ex cathedra* pronouncements ... something absolute which the Communist State equally blasphemously tried to take for itself, in its own way, and also in its own name),
	also made Mary Queen of Heaven, deeming her redemptrix ( female version), and the only hope of sinners: a woman who can change by her prayers the judgment of God!

	i) unfinished ( because continuing to be made in every 'mass'),
	ii) offered by a priest ( whereas Christ said He offered Himself and no man could take His life‑ John 10:17~18, cf. Hebrews 9:14,where it is by the eternal Spirit that Christ offered HIMSELF without spot to God).
	iii) repetitive (whereas Christ did it once as we see in the Gospel, proclaiming, IT IS FINISHED ‑‑‑`John19:30 cf. Hebrews 9:26‑28,6:20, Acts 3:19‑21,2:27).