Opposite of the Biblical Model!
In this message, I am going to try to show you that Churchianity, i.e. Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Mormonism, and JW’s…, in other words, the cults, all teach the opposite of what the Bible says in matters concerning our salvation. Seriously. No kidding. Just take a look at these examples for proof of this.
1. Churchianity teaches that when God made Adam he was made a spiritual being.
But, the Bible plainly says he was not spiritual.
We see this here- “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.”
2. Churchianity teaches that Adam’s sin was imputed to all men. And that this is why all men die.
But, the Bible teaches that Adam’s sin was not imputed to anyone.
We see this here- “For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.”
3. Churchianity teaches that the fact that all men die is proof that this is a penalty all men receive because Adam’s sin is imputed to them.
But, the Bible teaches that the reason men die is that they can not eat from the tree of life because “the man has become as one of us”.
We see this here- “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.” And here-
“And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever:
Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
4. Churchianity teaches that the first thing a person needs to know to be saved is that they are a sinner. So they are saying the first thing one must realize to be saved is that they are condemned.
But, the Bible teaches that the first thing God wants a person to know to be saved is that God loves them unconditionally and does not condemn them.
We see this here- “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”.
And here- “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
Please note that these are not inconsequential issues in regard to salvation. And also of note is that condemnation is only for those who of their own free will do not believe in Jesus. It is therefore not for all people from conception as the cults teach it is. So these are not what is referred to when speaking about things that are nonessentials of the faith. These are foundational to the faith. Because these are things the word of God teaches that men must believe when examining themselves to see whether they be in the faith as Paul instructed in 2Cor.13:5. These determine whether one is truly saved or not. Or are part the true church or a cult. Because as the foundation these have far-reaching consequences in our understanding of who God is, who Jesus is, and what happened in the atonement and what it is for.
Now I ask you, why would people who say they believe the Bible and love the truths found in it decisively and emphatically teach things that are the very opposite from what the Bible plainly says? For Mormons, it is because they believe a man, Joseph Smith, and follow his doctrines. This is by definition a cult. For JW’s it is because they follow a man, Charles Russel, and follow his doctrines. Again by definition a cult. For Roman Catholics, it is because they believe a man, Augustine of Hippo, and follow his doctrines. Again the definition of a cult. And for Protestants, it is because they also follow the doctrines of Augustine. Sadly once again the definition of a cult. Because they have believed what is clearly the opposite of what the apostles plainly taught. This is what makes all of these by definition a cult, right? I mean if they follow a man’s teachings instead of the truths found in what the Bible plainly says isn’t that the definition of a cult? Yes, it most certainly is.
By doing this they have joined themselves to a system, a religion, a model that has come to mean more to them in securing their salvation than any love for the truth that is only found in the plain language of the Bible. And John and Paul say this has happened because they have been deceived by the spirit of antichrist that John said was already in the world in his day and who is to come in 1John4:3. The one who Paul said is the man of sin who comes with all deceivableness of unrighteousness with a strong delusion so that they all would believe the lie. A deception made possible because they have no love for the truth. And instead, only have a love for the model their cult leader has shown them.
When we love the truth which is what is plainly written on the pages of our Bibles we will not be deceived by false teaching. So we have no problem when we hear points of view that are different than what we are familiar with. We do not reflexively emote toward what we don’t know. But, instead, when we hear them we critically search the scriptures, the final court of arbitration for the truth that God left to us, to see whether what we are being told, or what we have believed, is true. Like the Bereans that Paul praised. We rejoice in the truth and take great pleasure in helping those who are deceived to come to the knowledge of the truth.
This makes us malleable in God’s hands. Humble and ready to receive from His Spirit that is in us. Never proudly rejecting without consideration things that are different just because they are different. But, instead, we take great care that everything we believe is confirmed by the scriptures.
So it is a testament to the subtlety of the serpent that he is able to deceive so many into believing things that are the complete opposite from what the Bible plainly says. And an even more incredible feat to so convinces a person of those truths that are really not truths so that they will fight to the death in defense of them. Such is the case with those who have believed the false doctrines of sin nature and original sin.
It matters not to them that the scripture never says those things even once. So that what would otherwise be a red flag to any objective reader of the Bible becomes just so much background noise to them. Making objectivity in their Bible study loses all meaning because they have already discounted the plain language of the Bible as truth in exchange for their pet model or system of interpretation. So that what they really love is exposed to the unrighteousness that Paul spoke of in 2Thes.2:12. Leaving them to be damned as Paul said because they loved not the truth.
So no matter how long you have believed or taught what is the opposite of what we have seen the Bible plainly says you can still turn from that unrighteousness to the true God for eternal life. By making the Biblical Jesus that came as a man in the same flesh all men have so that He could join with us in our death as Heb.2:14 says, the Jesus you know and love and trust in for eternal life. To be righteous just as Jesus was by trusting in Him as He trusted in the Father as Paul tells us in Gal.2:16.
Will you be born of His Spirit so you too can inherit eternal life? Will you turn from the false system or religion you have been deceived by? Will you be born again? The fleshly birth only prepared you for this natural world where death reigns. Will you too be born again by being born of His Spirit? So that as His child you will now have for your inheritance His kingdom that is eternal where there is no death?
If you are reading this God is calling you. He loves you and wants you to know Him. Because knowing Him is this eternal life that provides you with the spirit that makes you God’s child.John17:3. Because while all men are created by God, not all men are born of His Spirit so that they are children of God. It is only those who have come to know Him that is spiritual because knowing Him is to be born of His Spirit. So if you do not know Him, but have now believed that He is Lord and that He has raised from the dead to conquer death for you, then please take the time right now to talk to Him and confess to Jesus that He is Lord of your life. And believe that He has raised from the dead to conquer death for you. If you do believe in Him then tell Him something like this and you will have eternal life:
Dear Jesus, I believe you. Thank you for joining with me in death so that by conquering death by your resurrection I could join with you in eternal life. Thank you that you raised from the dead so that I could raise from the dead too by trusting in, clinging to, and relying solely on you. Thank you for giving me a new spirit now Lord so that I can live with you in your kingdom forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.
By praying a prayer similar to this one and really meaning it from your heart you have been saved from death to life. From sin to righteousness. And from the wrath to peace with God. And now as you begin reading the Bible and believing what it plainly says it will begin to change the way you think and believe. Because when you trust in Jesus you leave the old life behind where you were only able to relate to and trust in what has been made. And now will be equipped for God’s kingdom because you are no longer only natural flesh and blood, but are a new creature made a spiritual being ready to inherit God’s spiritual kingdom. It is because of Jesus’ resurrection that He is the only WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. Because only Jesus has broken through the wall of death that the flesh and blood natural body can never get through. And only by the new birth are we made ready to receive the spiritual body that can go through the wall of death as Jesus’ did first so we could follow Him in the way He has prepared for us. And if you prayed this prayer then leave a comment in the section below so we can rejoice with you.
God Bless you in your new life in Christ.
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Amen Daniel. And yes you may quote from my articles. To God be the glory.
Great post.
I have learned that whenever something in Scriptures seems to contradict with another scripture, we must be very attentive
because something wonderful is being revealed.
Edward….may I quote from your articles on my website? – https://www.knowingforyourself.com
Money has no value there and the only one to follow is, Jesus Christ.
Daniel
There is no such thing as a sin nature inherited from Adam or any other way. If there were then babies who die go to hell. But, Jesus said “Of such is the kingdom of God”.
And there is no natural tendency to sin in man. If that were true then Paul could not have said, “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves” Rom.2:14.
In 1Cor.15:45-50 Paul says that when a man is born he is the same in every way as Adam was when God made him a living soul. Therefore, man does not have “the sin tainted blood of Adam” as you said. We are all “not spiritual but natural, of the earth earthy, flesh and blood” just as Paul says Adam was when he was made.
“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”
The doctrine of original sin is not Bible. It’s Roman Catholic.
The Curse of the Sin Nature — All Humans are Born with it.
Romans 5:12 teaches us that Adam’s spiritual death has been passed down to all of humanity. This means we are ALL born spiritually dead. Adam and Eve would have lived forever had they not sinned. This is why each person MUST be born-again! The term “born-again” means “being born for the second time.” There is the physical birth and then there is the spiritual birth. We are born spiritually dead into this world without God. We are all born with a fallen nature, a natural tendency to sin.
The sin nature has been passed down to us from Adam. No one needs to teach a child how to lie, steal, cheat, etc. On the contrary, children need to be taught NOT to lie, steal or cheat, etc. The only two individuals who were ever born into this world without a fallen nature (sin nature) were Adam and Jesus Christ. Adam of course sinned and took upon himself the sin nature; Jesus NEVER sinned, not even once. Adam’s love for Eve superceded His love for God. He chose to sin with Eve at the expense of facing the judgment of God. Adam became a sinner and died spiritually the moment he sinned. He would be a sinner from that day forward, even unto his death. The rest of mankind does not have a choice on the matter, we all have that same sin nature because Adam chose to have it. We are all descendants of our great ancestral father, Adam; therefore, we are all born with the same infectious curse of sin and death. We all have the sin-tainted blood of Adam. We are all born spiritually dead (the natural man). Jesus on-the other-hand NEVER sinned, not even once… “For he hath made him to be sin for us, WHO KNEW NO SIN” (2nd Corinthians 5:21). This was absolutely necessary if Christ was to offer Himself up as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind (as of a lamb without spot or blemish). I will cover this more later. You need to realize at this point my friend that you are a guilty sinner.
Adams sin not imputed to anyone? Paul thought so. “Wherefore, as by ONE MAN, sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so DEATH PASSED UPON ALL MEN , for that all have sinned:”
Please note Paul said death, not sin, passed to all men. And in the very next verse(vs.13) Paul is very careful to note that the cause of death was not because Adam’s sin was imputed to anyone. Because there was no law. And if you will read the Genesis account you will see in Gen.3:22 that sin died not cause death. But, the cause of death was that “the man has become as one of us to know good and evil”.
We are taught so badly by out of context scriptures about the love of God’s Son Jesus Christ and his words in the bible. God’s love 100% conditional from day one. We are taught so deceitfully by out of context verses from out of context preachers who is only preaching for your pocketbook and NOT for the saving of your soul. What we have are preachers behind the eighth ball with eighth ball teaching, with eighth ball religion. The world is growing in amount of reprobates because of their perverted and subverted teaching; causing man to loose out on the kingdom of heaven because they failed to obey and be obedient to the word of the Lord walking with rebellion to the truth while they are looking for your pocketbook and NOT for the saving of the soul.
Words that are conditional words and verses all over the bible which is basic English 101:
“If”
“Whosoever”
“Whoso”
“He that hath”
“He it is,”
“Who hath”
“He that overcometh”
“He that doeth”
Preachers from TV, Internet, local churches, and radio making you twofold more the child of hell then what they are by vain deceit. Adam and Eve had conditions to their love and that was, “Don’t eat of the tree of life in the middle of the garden!” We see what happened the end result from Rev Serpant\Rev Robber for obeying the unconditional love gospel, the wages of their sin was death and NOT life. Unconditional love is a gospel of eternal death and NOT eternal life, neither did the mouth of God spoke of such a thing. God can’t love anybody without Jesus Christ and his words in you. Jesus is very picky in choosing who he wants as his disiples. Without Jesus Christ the Son of God and his words in you man will only have a mirage for a God. That is what bewitches a man talk about God instead of talking about his Son Jesus Christ and his words.
No prayer saves a man no salvation in a prayer, it comes from the words of the Gospel of Christ Romans 1:16-17.
Rev 3:19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
[20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
John 3:18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
[19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
[20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
[21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Genesis 2: 16 ] And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
[ 17 ] But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
John 14: 21 ] ((He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them,)) ((he it is that loveth me:)) and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
[ 22 ] Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
[ 23 ] Jesus answered and said unto him, ((If)) a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
[ 24 ] ((He that loveth me not)) keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
[ 25 ] These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
John 15: 6 ] ((If)) a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
[ 7 ] ((If)) ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Luke 14: 26 ] ((If)) any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
[ 27 ] And ((whosoever)) doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
[ 28 ] For ((which of you)), intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
[ 29 ] Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
[ 30 ] Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
[ 31 ] Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
[ 32 ] Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
[ 33 ] So likewise, ((whosoever)) he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
[ 34 ] Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
[ 35 ] It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. ((He that hath ears)) to hear, let him hear.
1st John 2: 3 ] And hereby we do know that we know him, ((if)) we keep his commandments.
[ 4 ] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
[ 5 ] But ((whoso)) keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
[ 6 ] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Genesis 4: [ 6 ] And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
[ 7 ] ((If)) thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and ((if)) thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Exodus 19: [ 5 ] Now therefore, ((if)) ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
[ 6 ] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Matthew 7: 24 ] Therefore “whosoever” heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
[ 25 ] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
[ 26 ] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
[ 27 ] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Matthew 10: 32 ] “Whosoever” therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
[ 33 ] But “whosoever” shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Jeremiah 7: 22 ] For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
[ 23 ] But this thing commanded I them, saying, ((Obey my voice, and I will be your God,)) and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
Rev 3: 5 ] ((He that overcometh,)) the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
[ 6 ] ((He that hath an ear,)) let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
2nd Cor 5:16] Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
[17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Romans 1:16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
[17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Mark 8:[38] Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
It appears that you are saying that salvation is conditional because we must believe for it. But, the scriptures are clear that conditional salvation means it is dependent upon works, not faith. This is why Paul said we are saved by grace through faith and not by works in Eph.2:8,9. So I can agree with you that men must believe to be saved. But, I disagree that this makes salvation conditional. Because being conditional would mean salvation is dependent upon works. And it most certainly is not.
Committing Even the Smallest Sins Make Us Guilty of ALL
NOT BY WORKS of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5). Read the following words spoken in Isaiah, “But we are ALL as an unclean thing, and ALL our righteousnesses are as FILTHY RAGS; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). God hates sin so much that He can’t even describe it in words we would understand. So God instead tells us what He thinks about all the good things we do—they’re nothing but filthy rags in His sight. Don’t misunderstand—God loves good works, but God hates when we trust our self-righteousness to get us into Heaven. Salvation is receiving, not giving. If you are trying to please God with the nice things you do in hopes of making it to Heaven someday, you’re in for a horrible surprise! Why? Because committing ONE SIN makes us guilty of ALL in the eyes of God… “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet OFFEND IN ONE POINT, he is GUILTY OF ALL” (James 2:10). Whoa! That doesn’t sound too fair does it? The point is that a sinner is a sinner. Whether you sin once or a thousand times, you are still a sinner in need of a Savior. Adam and Eve sinned just once but that was enough to bring them under the condemnation and judgment of Almighty God.
Luke1:5,6 throws a cog in your sin nature wheel-
“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”
So it is clear that what you have interpreted from James… and elsewhere… you have clearly misunderstood.
No difference between Muslim or a Catholic or Protestant whatever so called abominable Christian of the hour, just a different title: same sin, same god of this world to blind their minds, same terrorist leader just a different tile, both are without Christ, same antichrist spirit, same wicked ghost, same demon of religion, same abominations, same unbelief, same vain deceit, same abominations, same rebellion to the bible words, same doctorine of devils and seducing spirits, same strong delusions to believe a lie, same lies, same garb, same beads, same Mary. Proud knowing nothing people for not consenting to the wholesome words of Jesus Christ.
Titus 1:10] For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
[11] Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
[12] One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
[13] This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
[14] Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
[15] Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
[16] They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
1st Timothy 6:3] If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
[4] He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
[5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
2nd Cor 4:3] But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
[4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2nd Thess 2:[9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
[10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
[11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
[12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Ezekiel 22:26] Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
[27] Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
Jeremiah 5:20] Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,
[21] Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
[22] Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
[23] But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
[24] Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
[25] Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
[26] For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
[27] As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
[28] They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
[29] Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
[30] A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
[31] The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Jeremiah 23:9] Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.
[10] For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.
[11] For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
[12] Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.
[13] And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
[14] I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
[15] Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.
[16] Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
[17] They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
[18] For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?
[19] Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.
[20] The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
[21] I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
[22] But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
[23] Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
[24] Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
[25] I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
[26] How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
[27] Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.
[28] The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.
[29] Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
[30] Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.
[31] Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.
[32] Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
[33] And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD.
[34] And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house.
[35] Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?
[36] And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.
[37] Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the LORD answered thee? and, What hath the LORD spoken?
[38] But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD;
[39] Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:
[40] And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.
Man Cannot Save Himself
As sinners, we cannot do anything of our own effort to reconcile ourselves with God—We must follow God’s plan of salvation. All of our GOOD WORKS CANNOT SAVE US… “For BY GRACE are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9). The truth could not be any plainer than this—you cannot earn your way to Heaven! You cannot brag about your self-righteousness to God because you have no righteousness of your own to offer. Adam and Eve could not make up for what they had done. All of their own good works could not get them out of the situation they had entangled themselves in. They had sinned and were bound for Hell. What were they to do? Ah, but God in His love had a plan to redeem mankind… Christ who knew no sin became as sin so that we who knew no righteousness could obtain Christ’s righteousness. Salvation is God’s FREE GIFT, paid for by Jesus at the cross. No amount of good deeds can undo the bad we have done.