-Pacific Justice Institute’s 2009 ‘Hall of Shame’

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Below is a re-cap of 2009’s current moral fiber … in California alone.

2 Timothy 3 –
1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power.

The Pacific Justice Institute specializes in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties.

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 Contact: President Brad Dacus (916) 857-6900 PJI Announces “2009 Hall of Shame” Sacramento, CA – As we look back on 2009, the Pacific Justice Institute recalls ten of the worst attacks on faith, family and freedom we encountered this year. Atheist Michael Newdow went to federal court seeking to stop prayers at President Obama’s inauguration, and the use of “So help me God” in the presidential oath.  PJI successfully represented defendants Drs. Rick Warren and Joseph Lowery, Jr., in getting the suit dismissed. It is now on appeal. A school board in Alameda, California, turned a deaf ear to hundreds of parents and adopted a curriculum that pushed acceptance of homosexuality to students beginning in early elementary grades. After the school district then rejected parents’ attempts to opt out of the curriculum, PJI filed suit. A church appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals after a federal judge in San Francisco decided that the church had grown too much and should split into smaller congregations, rather than turning a vacant building into a worship center. PJI represents the church. Atheists asked a federal appeals court to ban the use of memorial crosses to mark spots along Utah highways where officers were killed in the line of duty. PJI filed an amicus brief opposing the atheists. Gov. Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill encouraging schools to celebrate the birthday of homosexual icon and sexual predator Harvey Milk. The Freedom From Religion Foundation threatened city councils in California and elsewhere over traditional invocations at meetings. PJI sent legal opinion letters to several city councils offering advice as to how they could constitutionally continue their invocations. A school district in Castro Valley, California, refused to provide information to parents about a talk given by a lesbian minister to math and science classes. PJI filed suit on the parents’ behalf. A school district in Oakley, California, stopped a second-grader from performing sign language in a talent show because her chosen song had Christian lyrics. Pres. Obama signed a controversial federal hate crimes bill into law. The bill prioritizes crimes based on sexual orientation over crimes against the elderly.  It also could be used by overzealous prosecutors to intimidate and punish pastors who preach against immorality. The City Council of Washington, D.C., voted to allow same-sex marriage while refusing to allow citizens a vote on the issue. About The Pacific Justice Institute: Pacific Justice Institute is a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties. Pacific Justice Institute works diligently, without charge, to provide their clients with all the legal support they need. Pacific Justice Institute’s strategy is to coordinate and oversee large numbers of concurrent court actions through a network of over 1,000 affiliate attorneys nationwide. And, according to former US Attorney General Edwin Meese, “The Institute fills a critical need for those whose civil liberties are threatened.” “Through our dedicated attorneys and supporters, we defend the rights of countless individuals, families and churches… without charge.”

The Pacific Justice Institute takes on Christian cases/causes free of charge many times, relying on donations alone.

Would you consider supporting this wonderful Organization in 2010?

{I am in no way affiliated with PJI …. I just love the work they have done for Californians}

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-A Merry Christmas Message

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In the  most recent article that I received in my email box  from Jack Van Impe, he wrote a  letter “challenging” Christians to teach about the Birth of Christ this Christmas Season, as we sit around our tables opening gifts and eating Christmas Dinner.

I loved his outline and choice of  Scriptures which could be read to the family,  so wanted to post his outline here.

God bless you and your family this Season, and may we remember to let those around us know:

Jesus is the Reason for this Season

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May I include the following outline for the family to share? Use this editorial on Christmas Day. Begin with:

1. Matthew 1:18-25
2. Matthew 2:1-11
3. Luke 1:26-38
4. Luke 2:1-14

After reading these passages from God’s Word, read the following verses. They present the true meaning of Christmas, and complete the story of Christ’s deity and mission

1. Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever (Romans 9:5)
2. Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16)
3. [He] took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:7,8)
4. It is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul (Leviticus 17:11). The reason Christ took a body was that He might shed His blood for sinners.
5. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission [of sin] (Hebrews 9:22). Animal blood could not take away sin – only cover the sin until the greatest sacrifice took place. This was in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.
6. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he [Christ] cometh into the world, he saith … a body thou hast prepared me (Hebrews 10:4,5).

In this body He would take away sin (see John 1:29). This He did at Calvary when He died for the sins of the entire world. Because God came to earth in a body with blood, and because He shed that blood, sinners can find forgiveness. This is why Revelation 1:5 declares, Unto him [Christ] that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Paul could say in 2 Corinthians 9:15, Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. At this point your family should pray with praise-filled hearts, thanking God for the gift of His Son.

Merry Christmas to my readers  and abundant peace and an awakening to  Truth for 2010!
{Ephesians 5:1-20}

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-Is stealing okay, sometimes?

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1 Corinthians 6 states –
9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor THIEVES  nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

but I think the priest in the below News Article didn’t read that verse in the Bible.

His preaching reminds me of  2 Timothy 3 which states –

1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

Click HERE to read the original News Article, found below,  in full

By GREGORY KATZ, Associated Press Writer Gregory Katz, Associated Press Writer – 8 mins ago

LONDON – For a priest in northern England, the commandment that dictates “thou shalt not steal” isn’t exactly written in stone.

The Rev. Tim Jones caused an uproar by telling his congregation that it is sometimes acceptable for desperate people to shoplift — as long as they do it at large national chain stores, rather than small, family businesses.

Jones’ Robin Hood-like sermon drew rebukes Tuesday from fellow clergy, shop owners and police.

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-Are You Saved AND Rapture Ready?

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Many, if not most, Christians today would say that all one has to do to be “saved” is to BELIEVE.

They would quote Scriptures like:

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house“
{Acts 16:31}

and/or

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
{Romans 10:9}

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But is this the FULL gospel that Paul preached?

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Let’s take a look at a couple Scriptures which show that something more than just believing is required of us, so that we will be ready to meet our Lord Jesus Christ upon His return:

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ“
{Titus 2:11-13}

In this one Scripture alone, we can see that we are to DENY, or stay away from ungodliness and worldly lusts;  we should be living soberly or in self-control;  living righteously and godly in this present life as we watch for the return of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Is this being preached today?  Are Christians — at least in the U.S. –  living this way today?   Or are Christians so looking like the rest of the world, that no one can tell who is a Christian and who is not?

How about the Scripture to the Thessalonians:

“You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.   For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.  But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.  For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
{1 Thessalonians 5:5-11}

I see a couple of important points brought up in this passage:

1 – clearly, we are light and should not live or look like, or act like darkness or like  those who are asleep and dead in their trespasses

2 – the acts of righteousness are again outlined for us:  self-control, faith, love, hope …  Side thought:  did you know FAITH is not a one time “I believed and got saved” act, but FAITH is on-going?   If we BELIEVE God at His Word,  we will obey what His Word tells us to do.

3 – the passage then goes on to say “FOR God did not appoint us to wrath”.  Here Paul is warning Believers, WRATH comes upon the disobedient.  But  God has appointed us to salvation, therefore don’t walk in disobedience and therefore fall under WRATH.

Am I correct?  Let’s look at another  verse:

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.  You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator”
{Colossians 3:5-10}

Note verse 6:  “Because of these, the wrath of God is coming“.   Because of what?  Because of the noted sins of the flesh.  We must, therefore,  rid ourselves of such lusts and sins of the flesh in order to avoid God’s wrath.

Paul goes on to state in the 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 verses which  I have quoted above, that we should encourage each other with the words of holiness as we look for the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,  even as the writer to the Hebrews said such when he wrote:

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin”
{Hebews 3:13}

To each dear brother and sister who reads this Blog, I encourage you …. check your lifestyle today.

Addictions, lusts, and habits can be hard to break, but break them we must if we want to be “unashamed” at Christ’s appearing.

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming
{1 John 2:28}

Start praying and fasting for yourself, if you have a sin that just doesn’t seem to want to let go of you.  Ask God for a revelation of His power which was given to you when you were Born Again, which enables you to walk in holiness and in authority over all the wiles and power of the devil {Luke 10:19, Ephesians 1:19}.

Is it worth your eternal destination, to you?   Is it worth going through the Great Tribulation, to you?  Isn’t it worth taking some time to fast and pray so that you will be counted worthy to stand in His presence unashamed?

Please do not continue to say, “It is just too difficult, and  it doesn’t really matter … afterall we are all just sinners saved by grace anyway”.

There is no Scripture to support this statement or mindset.

Please, brothers and sisters.  Take a closer look at yourself.  Purify your hearts;  cleanse your hands {James 4:8}.

Make yourself ready for the appearing of our Lord.  Don’t be one of the 5 foolish virgins! {Matthew 25:1-13}

We still have time.  Awaken your soul to care about how you are living for God.  Stir yourself up to ready yourself for the coming of the Lord!

Even as the Hebrew writer warns:

We have come to share in Christ IF we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first
{Hebrews 3:14}

Grace and peace and wisdom to all who read this Blog Post.

The time is short.

Amen.

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-Ahmadinejad denies plans to test nuclear bomb trigger

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View Ahmadinejad’s Interview and read  entire Article HERE

Ahmadinejad denies Iran nuclear bomb trigger tests

President Ahmadinejad: “They are a fabricated bunch of papers”- courtesy ABC News

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has dismissed as a US forgery a document allegedly showing plans by Tehran to test a nuclear bomb trigger.

In a US TV interview Mr Ahmadinejad said the report in the Times newspaper was “fundamentally not true”.

He said criticism of Iran’s nuclear programme had become “a repetitive and tasteless joke”.

Iran denies claims it wants to build atomic weapons, saying its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.

The BBC’s Jane O’Brien in Washington says the interview offered a rare opportunity to see an Iranian leader being questioned by the US media.

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1 Peter 3 –

7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.^a

11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.^b That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

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-a planeload of ARMS seized, heading to IRAN

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View Entire Article HERE

Report:  Seized North Korean weapons were bound for Iran

Wall Street Journal cites documents obtained by arms trafficking experts as saying planeload of arms seized in Bangkok this month were bound for Iran

AFP

Published:

12.21.09, 10:52 / Israel News

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A planeload of weapons from North Korea seized in Bangkok this month was bound for Iran, a newspaper report said Monday, citing documents obtained by arms trafficking experts.

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- Derek Prince – Quote of the Day

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Quote by Derek Prince
From
“Uproar In The Church“

… correct discernment is possible only for Christians who have become mature through regular feeding on the “solid food” of Scripture. The failure to distinguish between the spiritual and the soulish can have disastrous consequences. Speaking of a certain kind of wisdom found among Christians, James says:

• This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly [on the earthly plane], sensual [soulish], demonic (James 3:15).

James points out three stages in a disastrous decline. When Christians move out of the realm of the truly spiritual and descend to the earthly, it is then all too easy to move from that to the soulish, and from the soulish to the demonic. Experiences or manifestations which were initially spiritual become an open door for the activity of demons. All too often, however, Christians do not realize that they have passed from the realm of the spiritual through the soulish to the demonic.

Here is one example. Exuberant, hilarious joy can be a precious work of the Holy Spirit. God is delighted when His people delight themselves in Him. He loves a hilarious giver (see II Corinthians 9:7). But sometimes Christians can take their eyes off the Lord and begin to focus on their own subjective experiences. Their goal becomes their own personal enjoyment and their worship becomes a form of entertainment. In the end, true joy is replaced by frivolity and flippancy.

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-China House Church Leaders sentenced to Prison

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Rather than just rolling on the floor laughing and enjoying ourselves Church, let’s fast and pray for  protection, joy, and strength for our  brothers and sisters to stand up under harsh persecution in China.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
{Acts 16:25}

Wednesday, 02 December 2009 10:41 AM EST Compass Direct News

Read Original Article HERE

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Bypassing the court system, China arbitrarily sentenced five more leaders of the Fushan Church in Linfen City, Shanxi Province, on Monday, this time to re-education labor camps for two years, according to China Aid Association (CAA).

A Chinese court last week sentenced five house church leaders to three to seven years in prison after they were arrested en route to Beijing to file a complaint about an attack on their church, according to the advocacy organization. The five leaders sentenced to labor camps this week were accused of “gathering people to disturb the public order” after they organized a prayer rally of 1,000 people the day after military police and others attacked their church members and building on Sept. 13.

Pastors Yang Rongli (left) and Wang Xiaoguang, shown In this image released by China Aid Association, were among 10 house church leaders sentenced to prison or hard labor in recent weeks.

In what CAA termed “an arbitrary administrative sentence by the Public Security Bureau enacted so the leaders would not be ‘required’ to go through the court and prosecution system,” China delivered the verdicts to church leaders Li Shuangping, Yang Hongzhen, Yang Caizhen (wife of Pastor Yang Xuan, who was sentenced to three years of prison on Nov. 25), Gao Qin (also known as Gao Fuqin), and Zhao Guoai.

“Yang Caizhen was seen being beaten severely during an interrogation,” CAA said in a press statement. “Having had one of her front teeth knocked out during a beating, and fasting and praying during her detention, Ms. Yang is reported to look very fragile.”

The church leaders, the latter four women, were arrested on Nov. 11. They had helped to organize a prayer rally after the Sept. 13 attack on the Fushan Church branch congregation in Linfen, when some 400 uniformed police and civilians bearing shovels, batons, bricks, iron hooks and other weapons had beaten members of the church who were sleeping at the nearly finished factory building used as a worship site.

With several Fushan County officials involved in the attack, more than 30 Christians were seriously injured among the 100 Christians who were hurt, CAA reported. According to the Epoch Times, a church member’s relative obtained a license to build the shoe factory and was allowing the group to meet there, as the church was growing too large to meet in homes and the building could hold up to 400 people.

As Chinese authorities had kept the families of Gao Qin and Zhao Guoai under tight surveillance, CAA relied on church sources to confirm their sentences to labor camp. The organization said family members had confirmed the sentences of the other three.

“Linfen house church Christians continue to be monitored by Chinese military police, including neighboring Golden Lampstand Church (Jin Dongtai) in Linfen City,” CAA stated.

The organization said authorities violated Chinese law by refusing to provide family members of the prisoners with copies of documents notifying them of the sentences.

All 10 of the Fushan Church leaders plan to appeal their sentences, according to CAA.

“To arbitrarily send five innocent citizens to labor camps is in direct violation against the international human rights covenants and norms the Chinese government has signed and even ratified,” said CAA President Bob Fu.

The five pastors previously sentenced were arrested on Sept. 25 without a warrant, according to CAA. Yang Rongli was sent to prison for seven years for “illegally occupying farming land” and “disturbing transportation order by gathering masses.”

She and four other pastors were sentenced on Nov. 25 at the People’s Court of Raodu district, Linfen City, Shanxi Province. Yang’s husband, Wang Xiaoguang, was handed a sentence of three years on the charge of “illegally occupying farming land.” Cui Jiaxing was sentenced to four and half years, and Yang Xuan to three and half years, on the same charge; Zhang Huamei received four years of prison for “disturbing transportation order by gathering masses.”

The pastors were arrested by Shanxi Province officers of the Public Security Bureau (PSB). Fu characterized their trial as a farce, saying the case demonstrated a deteriorating state of religious freedom in China.

Yang Rongli and Wang Xiaoguang had led the Fushan Church, part of a 50,000-strong house church network in Linfen and the surrounding villages, for more than 30 years.

The Beijing PSB has misrepresented the demolition and attack on the Linfen branch church as a response to a “violent uprising,” Fu said.

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-Testing the Spirits – Protection from Deception

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The well known Bible Teacher, Derek Prince, had been invited to the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship {the TACF} in the 1990’s and wrote a Booklet entitled, Protection From Deception, outlining his observations and the teachings he had come in contact with at the TACF.

I am posting below, a copy of the Booklet.

In providing a summary of the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship and its teachings, Dr. Prince states:

that it’s “a mixture of spirits, both the Holy Spirit and unholy spirits, they are mixed together. Now in Lev 19:19 God warns us against mixture. He is opposed to mixture.” The result according to Mr Prince is always confusion and division, which is precisely the fruit of Toronto.

I am praying that this Booklet will help those in the Body who are finding themselves “confused” regarding the teachings and the manifestations and the prophecies coming out of the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, IHOP, Harvest Rock and the likes.

I am praying that this Booklet will give answers as to why there are “checks” in the spirits of fellow Christians as they enter these meetings, even though some of the prophecies and/or words seem so ‘godly’ or ‘right on’.

And I am praying that this Booklet will give such Christians true insight and  wisdom to know whether they should return to such meetings or not.

Father God, please bless the readers of this Blog with “knowledge and every kind of discernment so that (they) can determine what really matters and can be pure and blameless in the Day of Christ ...”  {Philippians 1:9-10}  Amen.

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Protection From Deception

Navigating Through The Minefield
Of Signs And Wonders

by Derek Prince

Based on a series of talks given by Derek Prince to his coworkers in Derek Prince Ministries in 1996

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View this document on Scribd

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Remember Church
“Test all things; to hold fast that which is good“
{1 Thessalonians 5:21}

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Whenever the church moves into the realm of the supernatural, it opens up exciting new possibilities of ministry, but it also exposes us to new forms of danger. The Bible clearly indicates-and church history abundantly confirms-that Satan is fully at home in the supernatural realm and that he prepares special traps and snares for Christians who move into this realm. In particular, in dealing with “the last days,” the danger against which the Bible most persistently warns us is that of deception. We are instructed to “test all things; to hold fast that which is good” (I Thessalonians 5:21),

What sort of people do we need to be if we are to apply the appropriate tests? The answer is in Hebrews 5:14: “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (NIV).

There are two requirements: First, we must continually practice discernment in every situation that we encounter. The old saying, “practice makes perfect,” applies in the spiritual realm as much as in the natural. Discernment must become as much a part of our spiritual walk as prayer or church attendance. Second, we must cultivate a diet of solid spiritual food. A superficial acquaintance with a few familiar passages of Scripture is not enough. We must build a solid foundation of the great central doctrines of the Christian faith and learn how they apply to the various situations we encounter. Being a Christian is a full time job!

Quote by Derek Prince:
“Uproar In The Church“

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-James- Is holiness or good works NECESSARY for salvation?

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Ahh, the book of James.

It can be on of the “Legalist’s” favorite  Epistles in the New Testament.

And for the proponents of “Grace alone”, it can be the one book that they wish wasn’t actually in the Bible, even as Martin Luther remarked that the  Book of James was, “a right strawy epistle“.

I maintain and believe that ALL the Words of God uphold one another,  supporting each other and giving insight to each of the other statements and doctrines of the Bible,  and so let’s take a look together to see what the Book of James teaches the Body of Christ regarding GRACE and HOLINESS and GOOD WORKS.

Are Holiness and Good Works NECESSARY for salvation?

Consider the following Scriptures:

James 1:12 –
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has BEEN APPROVED {or PASSED THE TEST}, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him

James 1:15-22  –
Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when SIN  is accomplished, it brings forth DEATH … and in  knowing this, we must be “quick to hear, slow to speak {context is, regarding this topic of ‘works’ and staying pure in the midst of temptation}  … putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness … in humility receive the Word implanted, which is able to save your souls.  But PROVE YOURSELVES DOERS of the Word, and not merely HEARERS who DELUDE themselves”

James 1:23
“For if anyone is a hearer  of the Word and NOT A DOER, he … has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was”

James 1:25 –
“But one who looks INTENTLY {focused, concentrated, engrossed} at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and ABIDES {continues in, remains in, lives in, dwells in} by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an EFFECTUAL DOER this man will be blessed in what he does
{This verse does not state the forgetful doer will die and go to hell, but does teach  the one who does NOT DO what the Word states will not be blessed}.

James 1:27 –
“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this:  to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself UNSTAINED by the world“
{Does this Scripture state that by good deeds AND ‘keeping oneself unstained by the world’ one has a pure, or correct,  religion   VERSUS   being self deceived, thinking one is religious, and not actually being saved at all?}

How about  James 2:14, 17 –
“What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has NO WORKS?  CAN THAT FAITH SAVE HIM?  … Even so faith, if it has NO WORKS, IS DEAD, being by itself“

James 2:19-20 –
“You believe that God is one.  You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.  BUT are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith WITHOUT WORKS IS USELESS?”

James 2:22-26  –
“You see that faith was working WITH HIS WORKS, and as a result of the WORKS, faith was perfected   … You see that a man is JUSTIFIED by WORKS and NOT BY FAITH ALONE.  In the same way was not  Rahab the harlot also justified by WORKS … For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.”

And forging ahead, we see in Chapter 4,

James 4:4 –
“You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?   Therefore whoever  wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an ENEMY OF GOD.”

James 4:7-11 –
“Submit therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  CLEANSE your hands, you sinners; and PURIFY YOUR HEARTS, you double-minded.  Be miserable and mourn and weep …. humble yourselves … Do not speak against one another ...”

James 4:16-17 –
” … all such boasting is evil.  Therefore, to one who knows the right thing TO DO and does not do it, to him IT IS SIN.“

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Okay.  These are very strong Scriptures which a Legalist can hold up and take a stand stating that it is indeed BY WORKS with faith that one is saved.

But again, lets look at all the intent of the entire New Testament, so that we will correctly be interpreting what is taught in this letter.

FAITH.

What is the  Bible’s definition of FAITH?

Bible Faith is defined as,   when one hears the Word of God, one believes it at face value and acts upon it as though it were  absolutely true, even before one sees, feels, or experiences its Truth in the natural realm.

Example:

Christians do this  for  Salvation.

a)  We’ve HEARD  the Word preached that Jesus died for our sins,  then we
b)  BELIEVE the Word is True,   then we
c) STATE with our mouth that we believe the Word is True,    and  CALL ourselves Christians,   then we
d) ACT as Christians for the rest of our earthly days (or so we should do so, as I am revealing in my HOLINESS studies)

This is FAITH with ACTION.
Or, as James teaches, Faith with Works.

2nd Example:

Abraham is our Old Testament example of the exact same principle.

Abram
a) HEARD the Word / the Promise that he would receive a child,   he then
b) BELIEVED the Word / Promise was True,   and so
c) CALLED himself “Father of Many Nations” or “Abraham” even before having the Promised child.

d)  Then Abraham SHOWED that believed so strongly in God’s Word / Promise, that when asked to sacrifice that one and only Promised child, Abraham did not disobey God’s request but tied Isaac to the altar and raised the blade to kill him.  Abraham WALKED OUT his faith.  Abraham showed  ACTION with his faith.  Abraham DID what God requested.

And I believe this is what James is teaching the Body of Christ regarding FAITH WITH ACTION  or WORKS

I believe the Book of James shows us that actual Christian FAITH is always a VERB.

True Faith will always be acting out, or  always  revealing itself, or always  doing some good work or revealing  some Biblical fruit.

I do not see FAITH taught in the Bible  as a one time action which is never to be used, or exerted, or revealed  ever again.

Not a one time faith  which says, “I prayed the prayer of salvation 10 years ago and so I am saved” but then has never changed its lifestyle or outlook on life since.

It seems to me, throughout the New Testament, that our FAITH will continually show itself to outsiders, by walking in a lifestyle that is written in the Bible.

For if we truly BELIEVE in the God of the Bible, and if we truly BELIEVE in the Bible itself, and if we truly BELIEVE  the passages which tell us that God judges  unrighteous acts, or that “without holiness NO ONE will see the Lord” {Hebrews 12:14} then we will have a reverent fear of God and desire to walk in the holiness or good works that we are told to walk in, to be sure we are pleasing to our Father.  If we  have FAITH that His Word is True then our FAITH will  spur us on to the holiness and good works outlined in the New Testament.

Therefore, I believe the totality of the Book of James, along with every other New Testament Book,  teaches the Body of Christ that if we TRULY BELIEVE God’s Word / Promises, we WILL HAVE ACTION.   We WILL perform GOOD WORKS.  We will walk in GOOD DEEDS.  We will walk in HOLINESS.

So James isn’t teaching that our Good Works or Holiness SAVES US but he IS teaching Good Works or Holiness WILL ACCOMPANY THE SALVATION EXPERIENCE.  It just will.  Because we will BELIEVE God at His Word that we must be doing such.

Thank You, James … the half brother of Jesus, who grew up in the same household with Jesus,  listening to Jesus’ wisdom and teachings … thank you for teaching us what salvation should look like / what salvation really means.

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All
“Scripture  taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R).  Copyright (c) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.  www.Lockman.org”,
unless otherwise noted

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Four Other Topics  Found in the Book of James:

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1

The Coming of the LORD

Praise the Lord.

James 5:7 reminds us –
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the COMING OF THE LORD … You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the COMING OF THE LORD  is near.  Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged;  behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.“

This is the focus of this Blog  …  The Coming of the Lord!

And here in the Book of James we see Christ’s Return mentioned again, as the writer encourages his readers to WALK IN HOLINESS or GOOD DEEDS.

Reminding ourselves to keep looking for Christ’s Appearing, reminding ourselves to keep  our eyes open  looking for the Return  of our Lord in the sky, WILL encourage us to keep our “hands clean” and “our hearts pure” {James 4:8} …  afterall, who wants to  be “caught” in sin / committing sin / continuing in sin / living in sin, when He Returns for us.

So be encouraged saints!

Follow the Words and encouragement  of the writers of the New Testament to keep yourself from sin, so that when Christ appears to take us home, we will not be “ashamed” at His appearing   {1 John 2:28}

Hallelujah!

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2

Once Saved Always Saved?

Does the Book of James make any mention that such is true or false?

Consider the Scripture:

James 5:19-20 –

“My brethren, if any among YOU strays FROM the Truth and one TURNS HIM BACK  let him know that he who turns a SINNER from the error of his way will SAVE his soul  from DEATH and will cover a multitude of sins.“
{What I see taught in this one Scripture is that one CAN fall away from,  or turn away from,  their salvation, for in talking to the BRETHREN, James says  YOU, meaning a BROTHER  can turn away.   Then James goes on to state that this person has returned to the state of being a SINNER, as James no longer calls him a BROTHER.  I believe this one Scripture supports the doctrine that one can indeed fall away from, or turn away from, their salvation / loose their salvation.}

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3

Below are the Scriptures which  support that by  GRACE ONLY are we saved
{as I supply in my other Holiness Studies}

Consider the following Scriptures:

James 1:18 –
“In the exercise of His will He brought us forth {or gave us new Birth} by the Word of Truth
{thereby showing by GRACE and God’s will we are saved, not by WORKS}

James 2:10-13 –
“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all {of breaking all the law} …  mercy triumphs over judgment”
{The context here is that we are all law breakers, but mercy will triumph to those who show mercy … and it is MERCY that God has poured upon us by putting the punishment of our sins upon  Christ  — 1 Peter 2:10, Titus 3:5}.

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4

Finally, keep giving!

James 5:1-6 –
“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you …. you gold and your silver  … will be a witness against you … It is in the last days that you have STORED UP your treasure … pay of the laborers … withheld by you … and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.  You have lived luxuriously on the earth …“
{The “good work” needing to be done in these particular Scriptures is the giving of money to missionaries / gospel workers who are doing the harvesting for the Lord versus  HOARDING by people who have money.   Just thought I’d remind us rich Westerners of the Lord’s teaching that we should be giving and not hoarding or spending only  on ourselves} 

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