The PathSeeker Gospel Message

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Welcome again,

I hope all is well for all and you are partaking in all the blessings God has in store for you. We are beginning a new week to be Thankful and in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you have been following with me in this weekly message then you already know the topic and which scripture reference I am using as the base of this conversation. If you are new to this, then please click archives and read the past messages to bring you up to where we are now.

I will begin now with the scripture reading again from Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. I believe this is a main focal point to fully understand the meaning of the mission of Jesus. I am still zeroing in on the traps we fall into at times of conforming to this world. Not that we are all guilty of these things but the temptations and easy to fall prey deceptions are always present. All I am trying to say is, be on guard for we are targets for the fiery darts of the evil one. And his goal in life is to rob from us the spiritual fruits and eternal life Christ has given us.

I have heard it said once you can’t stop the devil from coming down your street. But you can stop him from coming through your door.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

The enemy has you in his sights and like I said his life long ambition is to take you with him.

Now I have a statement and question I would like to make. You can’t stop Jesus from coming down your street. But would you stop Him from coming through your doors. Jesus was a not a rich or well to do kind of man. He even mentioned; the Son of Man has not even a place to lay his head. The people who Jesus spent time with were not of fine and upstanding positions and most were not even respectable.  There was even mention of His disciples of being non educated men, and a direct remark of Jesus from the people, “what good is there that comes from Galilee”.

The other night I was at home listening to Todd Agnew (My Jesus, listen to it some time). * Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church. The blood and dirt on His feet might stain the carpet. But He reached for the hurting and despises the proud. I think He’d prefer Beal St. to the stained glass crowd. But I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud. Is this the way it is in your church? Is this the way it is when you meet someone who has the same birth right as you? (The chance to meet Jesus and share in the birth right of our Father in Heaven)

James a brother to Jesus wrote of how we should not show favoritism in churches and even into our daily lives.

James 2:1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place, and say to the poor man, You stand there, or, Sit here at my footstool”, 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

It is not our place cast judgment and show favoritism to whom we decide we want in with God for eternity. It is not our place to be like kids on a playground choosing teams. Everyone has the same right to hear the Gospel and come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. But yet all too often this is what we do.

I ask people all the time, do you go to church? When they answer “;no”, I ask the question “why”. I am serious this has been an ongoing survey I have done now for years. The answers I get sometimes are original but the top answers are:

• You guessed it. The churches are full of hypocrites.
• The people are too judgmental.
• The people do not accept that I am Born Again

If you or your church falls into any of these reasons then we need to get revival started and soon. One of the things we are told not do is hinder anyone from coming to the Lord. Jesus said to go out and make disciples not run them off.

Back in the time Jesus and the early apostles walk this earth they had the same problems as we do in this day and time. Jesus constantly called the Pharisees hypocrites because of the ways they live the perfect life in front of people but behind closed doors they would take form the people and not give all their offerings to God, not only were they robbing the people they were robbing God as well. All the religious leaders of Jesus’; time judge Him in the facts that He did not spend all his time with the elite of their temples. He came from a place where they believed no good could come from; His friends were common fishermen, tax collectors and even the prostitutes and beggars.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Even after Jesus had returned to His seat at Gods throne, the early apostles were perceived as uneducated by the Sanhedrin. But the one thing that set them apart was they had been with Jesus and had learned from Him. Whom did Jesus say He would build His Church?

Even the writer of the majority of the New Testament had difficulties. He was formerly known as Saul the persecutor of Christians. But at a flash he was blinded to the world and made new. He became who we know as the Apostle Paul, Paul the missionary. At the first all the new Christians and even the Apostles were afraid of him. But Paul had been born again; he was a new creation just as Jesus had explained to Nicodemus in John 3. But yet the people still judged him for his past life.

The points I am trying to make here are let us deterrents of letting people come to Christ, but instead let us be as Christ and offer to all the gift of eternal life with the one who made us in His image.  Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery instead he gave her opportunity to be forgiven of her past sin and to go and sin no more.

“The Church” is not the place of worship. The Church is the WORSHIP

In closing I would like to say, that it is my hopes and prayers that all who read this to please take this into account and test these words to the words of God. Allow the Holy Spirit to be your guide in all of your studies of Gods word. And please ask of and always remember, to have Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

Thank you and God Bless,
Tommy Harmon

Use this link to read a simple prayer to open your hearts door and let Jesus in.

Please use the comments link below. I would like to hear your remarks to these messages.

*All scripture quotes are from the The New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible unless otherwise noted

*Todd Agnew - My Jesus From the album Reflection of Something

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world?

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand

Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?

Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side or fall down and worship at His holy feet

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we’d recognize Him

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?

Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet would stain the carpet
But He reaches for the hurting and despised the proud
I think He’d prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud

I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!

Not a poster child for American prosperity, but like my Jesus
You see I’m tired of living for success and popularity
I want to be like my Jesus but I’m not sure what that means to be like You Jesus
Cause You said to live like You, love like You but then You died for me
Can I be like You Jesus?
I want to be like my Jesus

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Welcome again,

This is another week and seems as though God is blessing us all with more time to live in the present Kingdom Christ has established for us. I have mentioned briefly at times here that one of the main topics of Jesus’ ministry here upon the earth was His authoritive fact of the present Kingdom of Heaven upon this earth. In order for us to be enabled as citizens into Gods kingdom we need to have an understanding of the differences between an earthly world view and a Godly world view. This is why I am spending so much time with this main scripture reading of Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.I have started here with first half of this verse to point out views of this world and some of the trappings we as Christian people are easily deceived into conforming to. We need to be able to conform our minds and lives to be as Christ, so that we may be able to prove the good and acceptable, perfect will of God.

Some of the most asked questions I am ever asked are: when is Jesus coming again? What about all the prophecies of The Revelations? What about the end times? What do I need to do to be ready? What about all these signs that are happening? It seems to me people are infatuated to pieces over this subject. I see this both in the world culture and in the Christian community as well. Jesus spoke and taught on this subject, and this is the answers I give to all who ask. Do not worry.  Do not fear these things. Just be ready.

I would like to begin here from the message we have come to know as the “Sermon on the Mount”. Here we can find Jesus speaking of worry, how it is the opposite of faith. Please take the time on your own to read this passage beginning with verse 25 but here now I am going to point out a few facts from this teaching. I am using the NIV version here for I feel it a more understandable translation for this particular passage.

 NIV Matthew 6:27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 

Jesus still goes on and to say,

NIV Matthew 6:30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own

So now the question is why do we worry about such things?

Just as the “Pagan” mentioned in the NIV or the “Gentiles” of the KJV or NKJV versions, a lot of the people within the Christian churches either still are clinging to worldly lives or have not realized that the Kingdom of Heaven is where new need to focus our attention. Not this world coming to and end and being left behind.

Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.

There are several misconceptions as to why worry about this topic:

1. Your focus is upon material things the world has to offer. You have plenty of time to make the decision for Christ later on.
2. You are layman and you are more interested in the misleading and lining of the pockets, than the proper direction God had for your service.
3. You have a conceived idea you can live life your way and at the last minute on your death bed give your life to God.
4. You want to push this grace thing to the limits (Romans 6:1-14)

Whatever the reasons maybe the answers to when is still not known to us, the angels in heaven or even to Jesus.

NIV Matthew 24:36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

From the time I was a small child I have heard “Jesus is coming soon!” “Repent for the day of the Lord is at hand”. It seems that every time something happens from the ordinary there is always someone who comes forward and boldly starts screaming “this is it Jesus is coming, the Revelations are being fulfilled”. Like at the beginning of “Operation Desert Storm” and again at the beginning of “Operation Iraqi Freedom” we have been bombarded by apocalyptic preacher declaring this is the begging of the battle of Megiddo.  The terrorist action of “911” has even been interpreted as a sign of the last days. Now even at this present time there were some who predicted that on June 6, 2006 (6-6-06) will be the day Jesus comes through the clouds, because of the numbers “666” in the date. There are tent meetings and large conferences scattered all over the nation and world in which the message are just this topic. People come and get scared into accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Great!!! This is a good thing right? Well the statistics show otherwise. People come to these meetings, get caught up in the moment and feel the guilt and the tug at their heart and feel the need to get ready.  After the attacks on 911 churches all across the United States were filled beyond capacities. Some people looking for answers as to why God allowed such a terrible thing. Some people expecting for that incident to mean the end was a hand and desired to make restitution with God and be made ready for the glorious day of Christ return. After a short period of time and people began to pick up the pieces and go back to their own lives. Each Sunday the number of people going to churches began to slowly fall.

In Mathew chapter 24 Jesus answers the question when asked by His disciples.

Matthew 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”

In verse 6 before He even starts to explain, Jesus first says “Do Not Be Alarmed!”

NIV Matthew 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

In Luke chapter 21 we find the same conversation

NIV Luke 21:9 When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

Here also Jesus at the first of the teaching, Jesus is at the beginning saying “do not be frightened or alarmed”. He goes on to a detailed description of signs of the things to come.

Jesus goes on to tell parables (stories or illustrations to portray a point of logic). Mathew chapter 24:42- Chapter 25.

1. The first Jesus tells that if the master of the house new ahead of time he was to be robbed. He would be ready at that particular moment for such an event to happen. Not after the fact, fore then it would be too late.
2. Jesus next goes on and speaks of the master who left his faithful servant in charge of his home. And upon the return of the master of the home, he arrives and everything is in order and the servant has kept all the affairs in order. But suppose the servant was evil, what would the master find upon his return? The house would be all disarrayed, all the cupboards in the pantry would be bare, and the other servants would be beaten to the point of being unrecognizable. Then the master would be angry and send the evil servant to the place for hypocrites and evil doers, where he will spend his days with weeping and gnashing of  teeth
3. Jesus goes on to tell the parable of the “Ten Virgins”, in this story we find 10 virgins all of whom all at one time had everything they needed in order to be prepared for the bridegroom. According to this parable there were five wise and five who were unwise. The ones who were wise kept their wicks trimmed and carried plenty of oil when the bridegroom arrived. Mean while the five foolish ones must go and try to replenish what they once had; only to find out it is too late fore the bridegroom had done come and gone.
4. Then Jesus goes on to tell the parable of the ten talents. The master gave five talents to one servant, then two to another servant and 1 to still another servant to hold and protect until his return. The one entrusted to five went and invested the five and they doubled in value. Likewise the servant with the two did the same and also doubled his investment. But the servant whom received one talent went a dug a hole and buried the talent for safe keeping. When the master returned to collect his property the servant with the five returned to him the five and the additional five from the investment. The servant with the two also returned his plus the two more gained. The servant who took the one and hid it returned to the master and told him he knew how the master was a hard man and harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed where you have sown. I was afraid and hid your talent. Here is the talent that belongs to you. Then in turn the master took each return and to the first servant he said good and faithful servant you have done well with such few things; I will put you in charge of so much more. To the second servant He also was pleased and said to him the same. To both of these servants he also told them to come and share in his happiness. But to the servant who buried his one talent, the master said to him you foolish man you know I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. You should have taken the talent and invested it and returned it to me with interest. He said to the others take his talent and give it to the one who has the ten and then take this man and send him to the place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

These parables describe the types of people who I mentioned earlier. The first parable describes the person in the first misconception listed above. The second parable describes the person in the second misconception above. As does the third parable describes the person in the third misconception. Finally the fourth parable describes the person in the fourth misconception. I pray that you reading this do not fall into any of these categories.

Yet there is still more to this chapter 25 of Mathew, not only are there signs for the end times but along with end times come the time of judgment. The last installment of this chapter brings forward another time that causes so much concern; The Time of Judgment. Although there has already been judgment in the parable afore mentioned, there will also be judgment to some who are deceived by their own self righteousness. This time of judgment Jesus describes as being the time to separate the sheep from the goats.

NKJ Matthew 25:31 ” When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 “And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 ‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 ‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 ‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 ‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

If you remember in the parable of the ten talents, the two servants who invested their talents and turned them into profits, the master was well pleased and invited them to come and share in his happiness. The investments they made were the investment of the time and desire to earn more for their master, not the fear of his return. Although the master seemed hard he was easily pleased and more than welcome to share his earnings with those who used their investments wisely. Use the talents Christ has given you. Do not be misconceived by the distractions of the evil one. To us all Jesus left us with one commandment, the way to invest your talents for a profitable return in which you will be able to share in the rewards of His shared happiness.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.  

It is the rewards of bringing others into the Love of God in which true investments are made. Being able to share the Gospel (the good news of Jesus Christ), not the fear of some apocalyptic fire ball. Being able to spread the Gospel without the fear of your destiny, for if you live your life in this accordance under the direction of the “True Shepherd” (John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep), you will be a sheep and will have already been separated from the goats.

In closing I would like to say, that it is my hopes and prayers that all who read this to please take this into account and test these words to the words of God. Allow the Holy Spirit to be your guide in all of your studies of Gods word. And please ask of and always remember, to have Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

Thank you and God Bless,
Tommy Harmon

Use this link to read a simple prayer to open your hearts door and let Jesus in.

Please use the comments link below. I would like to hear your remarks to these messages.

*All scripture quotes are from the The New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible unless otherwise noted

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 Welcome Again,I am pleased to here again writing this issue of the PathSeeker Weekly. This something I look forward to each week. I hope and pray all who read this are both uplifted and encouraged to seek and follow the very word God has left as our instruction manual. The Bible is not just for decent moral aspects of your life but also as a means for you to learn about Him on a personal level. Inside the Word of God is all the living and active aspects of our Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus came and through His saving grace enabled within us the rights and abilities to get know Him and the Father personally.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I am still covering the same topic I have been on for several weeks now. Also I am almost ready to go on to phase two of this line of scripture which will be the renewing of your mind towards the mind of Christ. But for now I am still focusing upon the first segment of this verse. As I mentioned here so many different times our enemy has been here longer than any of us and has developed for himself a wide arsenal of weapons and tactics to prevent and hinder our growth, closeness, and abilities to be with God. Hopefully I have been able to identify and assist in finding whether or not you yourself have been victims of some of these weapons.

One of the most serious weapons he has in his arsenal is the weapon on Legalism. From the beginning of the Christian Church we have been faced with this issue and we still fall prey even today. Through the sacrifice of Christ we have entered into a new covenant between ourselves and God. We know longer have to carry our sacrificial lamb to be slaughtered and sacrificed by a worldly or manly priest. Jesus became our sacrificial lamb by taking upon Himself to be our sin offering to God. Jesus also through His death and resurrection became the priest, or go between we need in order for us to be holy and acceptable before God.

In the times of the Old Testament under the law God had given Moses there was the need the need for a go between and that was the temple priest. God became angry with what, and the way the priest did not look after His people. The priest imposed laws and created expectations that no one could live up to, except themselves. The priest robbed the people of their offerings and they, themselves lived off the first fruits that were to be offered to God. According to the ways of the old covenant there was no way possible for the total forgiveness of your sins. The sin offerings were a constant reminder of the sins present in your life.

Ezekiel 34:1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 “You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. 4 “The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them.

Ezekiel 34:23 “I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them — My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 “And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken. 25 ” I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.

Jesus became the shepherd God was speaking of in this prophecy. John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. Jesus goes on in this context to explain how He will look after His sheep as a good shepherd. How He would not run and hide when evil comes and most important of all how He would give His own life in order to save His sheep. And one more thing which is really amazing is how He would also take in and shepherd over sheep that are not from His flock. He would take these sheep and shepherd over them as His own. Jesus did not just come for the lost children of God (the Jewish people) but also for others (the Gentile people) who did not know of the one true God.

“Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come — In the volume of the book it is written of Me — To do Your will, O God.’ ” 8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.

A new covenant, a covenant promised also in Ezekiel 34:25. With new covenant came the promise of forgiveness of sins through the blood offering, which was offered once and for all through the life of Jesus Christ. Not a covenant of a constant reminding. Not a covenant of deeds but a Covenant of Grace. Grace, because we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Grace, that for God so love you that He sent His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Before the Covenant of Grace it was a covenant of works or deeds. Works which detailed the person to bring an offering and the dependence of someone to make that offering, task which not only were annual reminders of sin but also played into the hands of the boastful religious elite of the times. This crowd of the religious elite would take and keep for themselves and put forth a show of holiness unattainable by the every day person. They would quote the scriptures at the drop of a hat, stand in public and pray long lengthy prayers to fool the people into believing they were perfect in every way. But Jesus had names for this self imposed, select group of people. Jesus addressed the men as snakes, vipers and hypocrites. They were as deceptive as a snake or viper through their play acting ways of self obtained holiness.

During the beginning of the Christian Church there were issues of detailed legalism. Some of the early missionaries began to impose upon the new gentile converts, the methodology of religious purification.

 Acts 15:1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.  

When they returned to Jerusalem with this news, there became great dispute over this issue.

 Acts 15:6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 “So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 “and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 “Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” 12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 “Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 “And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 ‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; 17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.’ 18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19 “Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 “but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 “For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” The Apostles agreed through prayer and the lead of the Holy Spirit to send this letter to the gentile newcomers:

Acts 15:23 They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” — to whom we gave no such commandment — 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. * see note at bottom of this message 

But this is not the end of this legalistic weapon from the enemy. The book of Galatians was a letter to address the same type of problems facing the Galatians’ church.  Directly after his greetings in the letter, the Apostle Paul strongly addresses this issue:

 Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Here again someone has come forward and began preaching of a ritualistic doctrine or religion. Not the same Gospel of Grace which was preached to the Galatians in the beginning. The writer goes on to scold the Galatians over their falling prey to such false gospels. He goes on to defend the true Gospel (Chapter 2) which was brought to them in the beginning. He exclaimed there is no return to the law (Chapter 2 verse 11), of how it is justification by faith (Chapter 3). He then takes the time to explain to the people of how the law brings a curse (Chapter 3 verse 10), the purpose of the law (Chapter 3 verse 19). And then He goes on to further explain as to how we are all heirs and sons of God (Chapter 3 verse26). He then goes on to explain his concerns, as to how they could be so easily preyed upon and fears of them falling back into their previous lives of bondage of the gods (Chapter 4 verse 8). Next he gives a shadow from the Old Testament of two covenants one of freedom and one of slavery. Then he goes on to proudly, boldly speak of the freedom you receive from Christ.  

This is just a highlight reading from this letter to the Galatians. This is a wonderful book in the New Testament of the bible. The Apostle Paul, who once was himself a victim of legalism, spoke of himself as being a Pharisee of Pharisees. He could quote the Torah and had lived a life as a slave to the law. He was a persecutor of the beginning of the Christian Faith, but yet one miraculous day he was made blind so that he may see. He went forth and boldly spoke, not of himself but of God, about the freedom of life free from human regulation but a life of being led by the Spirit of God.

Ever since these beginnings the Christian church has faced this same difficulty of holding to a spreading the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. Even today the religion or doctrine of legalism is alive and living with the Christian church. Today you can hear of your prayers not being answered because of non-forgiveness with in your heart, lack of a prayer life, you don’t read your bible enough, you are not a mature enough Christian, along with many other lawful, religious, doctrinal, man made excuses. Just as Paul wrote warning the Galatians of people trying to teach the wrong gospel doctrine, today we need to heed his warnings as well. 

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

For it by Faith in Grace we are able to walk and live the Christian life. Not by deeds that any man should boast. But instead use Love to fulfill the laws Jesus left for us to follow. Fore it was God’s Love that brought forth Grace, the deed of His Son. It is the Love you have for God and the Love you have for your brothers and sisters are the only deeds you need to be the Christian person you should be. Not a love of religious activities but a Love from the overflow of living water that fills the Heart.

# Read the Didache

In closing I would like to say, that it is my hopes and prayers that all who read this to please take this into account and test these words to the words of God. Allow the Holy Spirit to be your guide in all of your studies of Gods word. And please ask of and always remember, to have Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

Thank you and God Bless,
Tommy Harmon

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*All scripture quotes are from the The New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible unless otherwise noted