Why did the Pharisees reject Christ and are will better than them?

I would venture that the Pharisees felt they were upholding the Law and all the laws added since Moses. They most probably felt this Christ fella was a new kid on the block and just trying to stir up the people with his "Love and temperance" theology.

No. For the most part, we are most probably not even as righteous as they were. We have gone too far to the far left.

Justin Mangonel said:

Dear all,

Why do you think the Pharisees rejected Christ? Are we better than them and if so why? Are there modern day Pharisees amongst us?

I personally believe that the Pharisees rejected Christ because of jeleously and legalism. I personally believe that much of the church and expecially its leaders are in virtually the same place as they were.

Click to expand...

I don't believe that there are specific people who are modern day Pharisees. I think we all can be Pharisees at times. We are no better, because there are times when our actions basically cry, "We have no king but Caesar!"
And there are times when we condemn people because they don't comply with the rigid laws we lay down which God never ordained or wanted ordained.

Justin Mangonel said:

Dear all,

Why do you think the Pharisees rejected Christ? Are we better than them and if so why? Are there modern day Pharisees amongst us?

I personally believe that the Pharisees rejected Christ because of jeleously and legalism. I personally believe that much of the church and expecially its leaders are in virtually the same place as they were.

Click to expand...

This matter goes much deeper than just the idea of human vices being the cause.

Jude 1:3-4
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
(KJV)


One of the on-going Biblical ideas since what Cain did is how God's people are constantly having to deal with Satan's workers that try to usurp what God has given His.

Gen 12:5-7
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
(KJV)


1 Chr 2:55
55 And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.
(KJV)

Per Gen.15, the Kenites were peoples of the nations of Canaan before Abraham ever went there. Many of them wound up becoming scribes of Israel by the time of Christ's first coming.

The Pharisees were religious zealots who had their own idea of God, and Christ was not it. They were also the authority, the power, and the money, Christ interfered with all 3, so he had to go. (Matthew 7:21-23)

I believe religious people can develop a similar attitude as the Pharisees had, by getting all caught-up in religious tradition,vain interpretations, and misconstruing scriptures to suit & benefit themselves. (Romans 16:18, Philippians 3:18-19)

Dan57 said:

The Pharisees were religious zealots who had their own idea of God, and Christ was not it. They were also the authority, the power, and the money, Christ interfered with all 3, so he had to go. (Matthew 7:21-23)

I believe religious people can develop a similar attitude as the Pharisees had, by getting all caught-up in religious tradition,vain interpretations, and misconstruing scriptures to suit & benefit themselves. (Romans 16:18, Philippians 3:18-19)

Click to expand...

Not discounting that. But there's a deeper matter our Heavenly Father wants us to understand about this, and it goes beyond men's simple ideas of human weakness and vices.

When God brought this present world and formed man's flesh, the spiriutal battle against Satan and his host began. That's how deep this matter goes. I quoted a Scripture link to the Kenite scribes of OT history that were the later scribes our Lord Jesus contended with. Per God's Old Covenant which was still in effect at that time, Israel was not supposed to allow foreigners to hold the office of priests and such. The Levites got lazy and allowed them in. God reveals this very warning early on in His Word to Israel, and it is still in effect today for Christ's Church as the Epistles of Jude, Paul, and Peter do show.

This is HOW some Christian Churches today are bringing into their congregations pagan dances and lecturers of other religions and even teaching things like Oriental transcendental meditation, chanting of mantras, etc. It's a movement that is pointing to the coming a one-world religion, a special setup for the coming Antichrist to rule over all religions. Christians who stay in those kinds of Churches today will receive their portion of the cup of God's wrath as those crept in that are responsible for all that, just as the rebellious of Israel also received in OT times because of falling away to worship of idols and gods of the pagans which are no gods.

Much of the problem that is in the church today is prophecy teaching. Prior to Israel becoming a nation again, there was a revival going on in America and the rest of the world. The Holy Ghost and the Pentecostal movement was alive and growing. When Israel became a nation the prophecy teachers begin to preach that we were in the generation of the coming of the Lord, and the end of the world. Adding 40 years (biblical generation) they added that to 1948 and proceeded to preach that strongly until 1988. Then the whole world started laughing and many people moved away from religion. The churches, for the most part, have never conceded that they were wrong. They just keep on keeping on extending the time of the end. They are still hoping that people will stop laughing and come back to church.

Good people, the end of the world that Jesus and Revelation spoke of has already happened. It was an age not a natural world.

I think it bears contemplating about the original transgression which came from Lucifer. He made the conscious decision to sit on the throne as God, as it were. The generic term for this is pride or self righteousness. This was the fault of the Pharisees and I believe is the main issue that God is testing with free will agents. Hence the story of the two praying on the street corner in Luke 18:10-14. The man who humbled himself was justified. The prideful Pharisee was not. Jesus concluded that he who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted. And James said that God gives grace to the humble and resists the proud.
Those who are of the works of the law, who feel in their heart that they are justified by thier obedience to it, are in the original transgression. This is why Paul was so hard on the Galatians, and this was the main reason for the religious opposition and persecution against him. I believe the Pharisees persecuted Jesus from out of their own self exaltaiton.

We can find many faults with modern Christianity, but this original sin I feel is that which God is judging first on individual basis.

When our Lord Jesus and His Apostles warned us about those who creep in to subvert the Gospel and Christ's Church, the Jude 1:4 Scripture is what they were pointing us to, a specific group of workers on this earth. Hard to believe that some men were "before of old ordained to this condemnation" of working against The Father and His Son, but that's the very idea in God's Word...

Jude 1:4
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
(KJV)

That Greek word for "ordained" is prographo, meaning 'to write before (of time), to prescribe' (Strong's no. 4270). No getting around that, those men were destined to do this working against Christ and His Church, for this present world. That means God Himself ordained they would do it, and not because of their... own will.

This naturally creates a paradox in the minds of many brethren, because most think those can easily turn to Christ at the drop of a hat, since it is believed they do evil against Christ because of human vices such as self-pride, greed, jealousy and envy, etc. It goes deeper than that. And there is a reason why those certain men were ordained to that condemnation, which I will not go into here.

This matter is what the Old Testament subject of the "workers of iniquity" is about. It is the "mystery of iniquity" that Apostle Paul mentioned in 2 Thess.2. It is the "many antichrists" idea per Apostle John.

It is not supposed to be a 'mystery' to God's people under Christ Jesus. Because Christ explained His parable of the tares of the field in Matthew 13 to His disciples, and it was written down for us, that reveals we're supposed to understand this mystery of iniquity, about those ordained to that condemnation.

Our Heavenly Father began revealing it to us starting in Genesis 3 with what Cain did, which is why Jude brings up the ways of Cain subject there in Jude 1. I've tried to reveal this to brethren here in several threads, and I can imagine the looks of confusion on many's faces when they read my writing about it and Scripture proofs from the Old Testament Books.

The fact that our Lord Jesus and His Apostles warned us about it means they knew (Matt.13:24-30 for the tares parable, Matt.13:36-43 for Christ's explanation of it; Acts 15:24; Gal.2:4; Eph.4:14; 2 Tim.3:6; 2 Pet.2:1-2, Jude 1). How is it that today the majority don't know about this matter?

This is why our Lord Jesus told us how to watch out for those tares, by their fruits (Matt.7). You don't get good fruit off a corrupt tree, nor evil fruit off a good tree. He showed us that we can never be certain who is a tare and who is not also, because of how they work in secret, so judging the fruit is not going to reveal them for certain, as one of God's people can be deceived by those 'tares' to do their bidding (like Apostle Paul before Christ converted him).

So why... did our Lord Jesus and His Apostles want His Church to know about this mystery of iniquity? To what benefit is it to His Church? It's part of His command for us remaining sober and watching (Luke 12:45-46; 1 Thess.5:6-8; 1 Pet.5:8). It is a call to not only watch our own actions and thinking, but to also be aware of those ordained to work Satan's works on earth, even when trying to convert them to Christ Jesus.

Dan57 said:

The Pharisees were religious zealots who had their own idea of God, and Christ was not it. They were also the authority, the power, and the money, Christ interfered with all 3, so he had to go. (Matthew 7:21-23)

I believe religious people can develop a similar attitude as the Pharisees had, by getting all caught-up in religious tradition,vain interpretations, and misconstruing scriptures to suit & benefit themselves. (Romans 16:18, Philippians 3:18-19)

Click to expand...

True. Jesus threatened the Pharisees way of living. He threatened the religious system that they created to control men. The Pharisees remarked one time, "Look the people are going after Him".

Mar_11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

Also, they hated Jesus because He exposed them. Jesus does not like religious bullies.
Mar_12:12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

Luk_20:19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

Luk 19:46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Luk_19:47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,


The Pharisees were afraid they would lose their following and thus lose their livelihood. To them "Godliness was gain". Of course they did not know that they were being ruled by Satan. Jesus told them that their father was the devil because they did the things of their father. They were deluded and self-deceived into thinking they were serving God. The Pharisees were covetous and many religious leaders today have the same problem.

Luke_16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

Jesus said to them, "Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." (Luke_16:15)

Axehead said:

True. Jesus threatened the Pharisees way of living. He threatened the religious system that they created to control men. The Pharisees remarked one time, "Look the people are going after Him".

Mar_11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

Also, they hated Jesus because He exposed them. Jesus does not like religious bullies.
Mar_12:12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

Luk_20:19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

Luk 19:46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Luk_19:47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,


The Pharisees were afraid they would lose their following and thus lose their livelihood. To them "Godliness was gain". Of course they did not know that they were being ruled by Satan. Jesus told them that their father was the devil because they did the things of their father. They were deluded and self-deceived into thinking they were serving God. The Pharisees were covetous and many religious leaders today have the same problem.

Luke_16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

Jesus said to them, "Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." (Luke_16:15)

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I wouldn't characterize ourselves as "better than the Pharisees". Jesus told them that they would not come to Him that they might have life. He said, the "Scriptures speak of me, but you won't come to me". So, if you want to be different than the Pharisees, come to Jesus and don't just stop at the Scriptures. They point to Him, so come to the Living Christ and surrender and submit to His authority in your life. Then you will be different than the Pharisees who would not come to Him.

Justin Mangonel said:

Dear all,

Why do you think the Pharisees rejected Christ? Are we better than them and if so why? Are there modern day Pharisees amongst us?

I personally believe that the Pharisees rejected Christ because of jeleously and legalism. I personally believe that much of the church and expecially its leaders are in virtually the same place as they were.

Click to expand...

THE WARNING

Jude 1:3 (KJV) Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Jude 1:4 (KJV) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Titus 1:16 (KJV) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.


Rep-ro-bate (rep’re-bat) adj. 1. Utterly depraved; profligate; corrupt. 2. Theol. Abandoned in sin; condemned. – n. One who is reprobate. – v.t. –bated, -bating 1. To disapprove of heartily; condemn. 2. Theol. To abandon to damnation. [<LL reprobare reprove} --rep’ro-ba’tion n. –rep’ro-ba’tive adj.


SCRIBES, PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES

Matthew 5:20 (KJV) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 16:6 (KJV) Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Matthew 16:11 (KJV) How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Matthew 16:12 (KJV) Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Matthew 23:13 (KJV) But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Hosea 4:6 (KJV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Matthew 15:7 (KJV) Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

Matthew 15:8 (KJV) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Matthew 15:9 (KJV) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.


ESAIAS THE PROPHET

Matthew 13:13 (KJV) Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Matthew 13:14 (KJV) And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:


Matthew 13:15 (KJV) For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Mark 7:5 (KJV) Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

Mark 7:6 (KJV) He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Mark 7:7 (KJV) Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Mark 7:8 (KJV) For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

Mark 7:9 (KJV) And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

John 12:37 (KJV) But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

John 12:38 (KJV) That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

John 12:39 (KJV) Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

John 12:40 (KJV) He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

John 12:41 (KJV) These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

John 12:42 (KJV) Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

John 12:43 (KJV) For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.


GOD WILL TEACH YOU

Ephesians 1:17 (KJV) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

John 14:26 (KJV) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

I Corinthians 2:12 (KJV) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

I Corinthians 2:13 (KJV) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

I Corinthians 2:14 (KJV) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Colossians 2:8 (KJV) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.


OLD TEMPLE OF GOD (Made by hands)

Isaiah 56:7 (KJV) Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

Matthew 21:13 (KJV) And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

John 2:16 (KJV) And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

John 2:19 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.


THE VEIL (Lifted by Jesus Christ)

Mark 15:37 (KJV) And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

Mark 15:38 (KJV) And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

Hebrews 10:19 (KJV) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Hebrews 10:20 (KJV) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Hebrews 10:21 (KJV) And having an high priest over the house of God;

Acts 15:5 (KJV) But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Acts 15:6 (KJV) And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

Acts 15:7 (KJV) And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Acts 15:8 (KJV) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Acts 15:9 (KJV) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.


Con-se-crate (kon’se-krat) v.t. –crated, -crating 1. To set apart as sacred; dedicate to sacred uses. 2. To dedicate solemnly or devote: consecrate one’s life to a cause. 3. To make reverend; hallow. [<L com- thoroughly + sacer holy] --con’se-cra’tion, con’se-cra’tor n. –con-se-cra-to-ry (kon’se-kre-tor’e, -to’re) adj.


NEW TEMPLE OF GOD (Not made by hands)

Acts 7:47 (KJV) But Solomon built him an house.

Acts 7:48 (KJV) Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

Acts 7:49 (KJV) Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

Acts 7:50 (KJV) Hath not my hand made all these things?

Acts 17:24 (KJV) God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Hebrews 9:11 (KJV) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

I Corinthians 3:9 (KJV) For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

I Corinthians 3:16 (KJV) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

II Corinthians 6:16 (KJV) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Hebrews 9:24 (KJV) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:


A NEW PRIESTHOOD

Hebrews 7:12 (KJV) For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Hebrews 7:13 (KJV) For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

Hebrews 7:14 (KJV) For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

Hebrews 7:15 (KJV) And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

Hebrews 7:16 (KJV) Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Hebrews 7:17 (KJV) For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.


Si-mil-i-tude (si-mil’e-t-ood) n. 1. Similarity; correspondence. 2. One who or that which is similar; counterpart. 3. A point of similarity. [<K similis like]


I John 2:27 (KJV) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.


A SYNAGOGUE DEFINED

Syn - a - gogue (sin’- gog, - gog) n. 1. A place of meeting for Jewish worship and religious instruction. 2. A Jewish congregation or assemblage for religious instruction and observances. Also syn’ a-gog. [ < Gk. synagoge an assembly ]

Synagogue, n. – syn. Place of worship, temple, Jewish synagogue, house of God; see church 1.

Church (church) n. 1. A building for Christian worship. 2. Religious services in a church. 3. A congregation of Christians. 4. Usu. Cap. A body of Christians having a common faith; a denomination. 5. Christians collectively. 6. Ecclesiastical organization and authority: separation of church and state. 7. The clerical profession. [ < Gk. kyria-kon (doma) the Lord’s (house)]

Church, n. 1. [A building consecrated to worship] – Syn. House of God, Lord’s house, cathedral, temple, synagogue, mosque, oratory, place of worship, house of prayer, meetinghouse, chapel, minster, basilica, tabernacle, bethel, abbey, sanctuary, sacellum, chantry, pantheon, conventicle, collegiate church, mission, shrine, duomo (usu. In Italy), pagoda, kirk (Scottish); see also cathedral, temple.


THE CHURCH & THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH

I Corinthians 3:3 (KJV) For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

I Corinthians 3:4 (KJV) For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

I Corinthians 12:12 (KJV) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

I Corinthians 12:13 (KJV) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

I Corinthians 12:14 (KJV) For the body is not one member, but many.

I Corinthians 12:23 (KJV) And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

I Corinthians 12:24 (KJV) For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

I Corinthians 12:25 (KJV) That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

I Corinthians 12:26 (KJV) And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

I Corinthians 12:27(KJV) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

I Corinthians 12:28 (KJV) And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teacher, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

John 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 (KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Ephesians 5:23 (KJV) For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Colossians 1:18 (KJV) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

John 1:10 (KJV) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Matthew 18:20 (KJV) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Revelation 2:17 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.


Car-nal (kar-nel) adj. 1. Pertaining to bodily appetites; not spiritual. 2. Sensual; sexual. [<L caro, carnis flesh] --car’nal-ist, car-nal-i-ty (kar-nal’e-te) n. –car’nal-ly

Schism (siz’em, skiz’em) n. 1. A division of a church into factions because of differences in doctrine, 2. A splitting into antagonistic groups. [<Gk.. schizein to split]

Pre-em-i-nent (pre-em’e-nent) adj. Supremely eminent; distinguished above all others. –pre-em’i-nent-ly adv. pre-em’i-nence n.


I Corintians 1:10 (KJV) Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

I Corinthians 3:9 (KJV) For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

I Corinthians 3:10 (KJV) According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

I Corinthians 3:11 (KJV) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.


MANY ANTICHRISTS

John 5:38 (KJV) And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

John 5:39 (KJV) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

John 5:40 (KJV) And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

II Thessalonians 2:10 (KJV) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

I John 2:18 (KJV) Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

I John 2:22 (KJV) Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

I John 2:23 (KJV) Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

I John 4:3 (KJV) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

II John 1:7 (KJV) For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

II John 1:8 (KJV) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

II John 1:9 (KJV) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

James 4:4 (KJV) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

I John 2:15 (KJV) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

I John 2:16 (KJV) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

I John 2:17 (KJV) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Mark 4:19 (KJV) And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

I Corinthians 14:33 (KJV) For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

James 3:16 (KJV) For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

James 3:17 (KJV) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.


En-mi-ty (en’me-te) n. pl. –ties 1. The spirit of an enemy; hostility. 2. The state of being an enemy; a hostile condition. [<L inimicus hostile]

Hy-poc-ri-sy (hi-pok’re-se) n. pl. –sies A pretending to be what one is not; extreme insincerity; dissimulation. [<Gk. hypokrisis acting a part, feigning] –Syn. Pretense, dissembling, affectation, sham, fakery.



CHRIST FORTELLS OF THE TRUE WORSHIPPERS OF GOD

John 4:19 (KJV) The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

John 4:20 (KJV) Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

John 4:21 (KJV) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

John 4:22 (KJV) Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

John 4:23 (KJV) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

John 4:24 (KJV) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

John 14:17 (KJV) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.


I Corinthians 6:19 (KJV) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

I Corinthians 6:20 (KJV) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.




Always remember,

Love by Faith, Faith by works…

SON OF THE LIVING GOD

Very long post above. I would like to comment on this part:
Matthew 5:20 (KJV) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees for one reason and one reason only. That is because we are righteous by faith and not by works. We are the righteousness of God IN CHRIST. We have His righteousness, not our own.

Make no mistake. All of the above quotes from various contexts, are not about qualification for life. Let us always remember to keep this in proper context. Our behavior is important and should not be taken lightly. However, it does not qualify us for life and will not disqualify one after the fact. We all bear fruit. The only one who is in danger is he who refuses to bear any fruit, as the man who dug a hole and buried his talent. The master indicated it would have been sufficient if he had just put it in the bank and collected interest. Even a little fruit is enough for the Lord to work with. We are not changed by our behavior. We are a new creation by faith and by faith alone, saved by our faith and our confession. (Rom.10:9,10). Our new nature is His work, not ours. Have a pleasent day, stay humble, Howie

williemac said:

Very long post above. I would like to comment on this part:
Matthew 5:20 (KJV) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees for one reason and one reason only. That is because we are righteous by faith and not by works. We are the righteousness of God IN CHRIST. We have His righteousness, not our own.

Make no mistake. All of the above quotes from various contexts, are not about qualification for life. Let us always remember to keep this in proper context. Our behavior is important and should not be taken lightly. However, it does not qualify us for life and will not disqualify one after the fact. We all bear fruit. The only one who is in danger is he who refuses to bear any fruit, as the man who dug a hole and buried his talent. The master indicated it would have been sufficient if he had just put it in the bank and collected interest. Even a little fruit is enough for the Lord to work with. We are not changed by our behavior. We are a new creation by faith and by faith alone, saved by our faith and our confession. (Rom.10:9,10). Our new nature is His work, not ours. Have a pleasent day, stay humble, Howie

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The one who refuses to bear fruit is the one that refuses to abide in Christ because that is the only way you can bear fruit. They just give lip service and make a good showing in the flesh. And that is what the Pharisees do, lip service and good showing in the flesh. The outside of the cup is clean but the inside is filthy.

Our righteousness will be no better than the Pharisees if we stop trusting in His righteousness and begin to lean upon the arm of the flesh again.

I would like to add my interest lately in bond servitude, to the parable If you don't mind.

Its written in the law that a man "brother Hebrew" could offer himself to another to redeem a debt.
On the sabbath year the 7th year, the master was obligated to relieve him of his debt and allow him to go free.

Or he could ask to become a bond servant, this means that the master as well as the servant agreed to be forever joined.
The master places the ear of slave to the door of the house and pierces his ear marking him as a bond servant for life. The master as well as the bond servant are obligated to forever be joined. That means the master can never sell or trade the bond servant, he agrees to keep him and never send him away.

My point in comparison is this, the master is under no obligation as well as the slave, it must be agreed upon by both master and slave and witnessed by the judges.
Now if your a problem servant unproductive or lazy not watching after the masters affairs by not tending crops or livestock then you may find when the sabbath years comes the master may not choose to pierce your ear.

Even though the brother dwelt in the house for six years Matt 7:22 he was not chosen to become forever bonded to the door of the masters house.
Just where is this good masters house? I to would like to be joined to his door. I'm told that there is but one door and the master as appointed his son to keep it.

Axehead said:

The one who refuses to bear fruit is the one that refuses to abide in Christ because that is the only way you can bear fruit. They just give lip service and make a good showing in the flesh. And that is what the Pharisees do, lip service and good showing in the flesh. The outside of the cup is clean but the inside is filthy.

Our righteousness will be no better than the Pharisees if we stop trusting in His righteousness and begin to lean upon the arm of the flesh again.

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Well said. I would add that the Pharisees could not bear the fruit of the new man as we can, as they did not have the new man, nor were they in personal relationship with God. As Paul told the Phil. church.(3:7).." not having my own righteousness, which is from the law" , "but that which is through faith in Christ" . Paul was previously a Pharisee as well, and claimed that he was blameless by the righteousness found in the law. However, this is man's righteousness and is as filthy rags, which is why Paul left it behind and counted it as rubbish. There is an aspect of humility here. Our fruit does not save us. But whom is he who bears no fruit at all? I venture that we are not mandated to be going around pointing that finger. For how does one know what life a person would have had if he had not come to Christ. I cringe when I see people comparing people to people. The fruit of the Spirit has a bit of reletivity to it. How much love and patience and gentleness, etc, does one have compared to another? Are any of us perfect in these? Jesus will not break a bended weed, not as a man (Pharisee) would. They hated Jesus. Sinners loved Him. I wonder why?

The Pharisees were looking for a warrior. They assumed that the Messiah would be an iron fist that put Jews on top. They did not like Jesus because he was not what they wanted.

Jesus told us in John 8 those who sought to kill Him were workers of the devil, and their father was the first murderer.

So how could a brother in Christ Jesus even assume they were no different than us? Is that the level of ignorance being preached in today's pulpits???