Section IV. In the World

All believers in the name of Christ Jesus must understand the simple fact:

Jesus did not come to send peace on earth. He came to send a sword of

division. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to

send peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34. The pure Word is that divisive sword.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged

sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the

joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the

heart. Hebrews 4:12. The Word divides households and extended families too.

For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter

against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And

a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. Matthew 10:35-36. On one

side of the division are those that have the Spirit and live as part of the body of

Christ doing God’s will as a child of His—on the other side are the children of

disobedience/unbelief of God’s Word/will who are of the world from whence we

came out.

We who are alive in Christ have left the family of our “old man” for a new

family of brothers and sisters born of the Spirit in Him as we are. As our old man

has died, so to has the contact with the family of our old man in many ways.

Still, as we live in the Spirit as part of His royal family, the family members of

our “old man” shall attempt to chastise and persecute us for rejecting the lives

and lifestyles they cling to and continue to defend. Blessed are they which

are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say

all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matthew 5:10-11. In so

doing, they seem to forget we left behind and now repudiate the same lifestyles

they prefer for the life in Christ we now have.

We are well aware of what we have given up, and know full well the difference

between the “lives” of our “old man” and our “new man”. Therefore, they need to

accept the fact we won’t be “going back” to who we were to please anyone. For if

after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge

of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and

overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had

been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than,

after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered

unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The

dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her

wallowing in the mire. 2 Peter 2:20-22.

With reference to His disciples, Jesus said if anyone does not hate their fleshly

family that person cannot be His disciple. And there went great multitudes

with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and

hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and

sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:25-26.

Is the “sanctioned” hate of Luke 14:25-25 unloving if the person(s) we “hate” as

per Luke 14:25-26 are self-professing Christians? No.

The hatred Jesus spoke of is directed to anything and/or anyone that gets in

the way of His disciples living by the pure Word and doing the will of God. For

instance, when Peter unwittingly opposed the death of Jesus according to the

Word as the will of the Father, Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get behind me

Satan.” From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that

he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief

priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then

Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord:

this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee

behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the

things that be of God, but those that be of men. Matthew 16:21-23 (Emphasis

added); see also, Mark 8:31-33.

The words Jesus spoke to Peter were clearly not words of man’s love. As the

Word and as God, Jesus loved Peter and hated the devil’s advocate in Peter. The

brethren rightly consider Jesus’s rebuke of Peter as the Lord’s chastening out of

this love for him. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth

every son whom he receiveth. Hebrews 12:6; see also Revelation 3:19. But note,

Jesus said the same thing to Satan himself, and Jesus most assuredly does not

love Satan. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and

the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will

I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus

answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written,

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Luke

4:6-8 (Emphasis added). The difference is clear. The brethren are penitent and

live in the Spirit to do the will of God. The devil and his children do not.

As part of His royal family, we leave the

life of our old man (person) behind as

having died, and we live the life

of a child of God!

As to “Christians”, ALL Christians are supposed to be disciples first! …And

the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts 11:26. As disciples–

the saved, we rejoice in the cross. For the preaching of the cross is to them

that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18. In fact, we who live in Him “take up” our own cross and

follow Him. Hence, we prove our discipleship by taking up our cross, personally

and individually, and following Him at all costs. And whosoever doth not

bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you,

intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost,

whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the

foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Luke 14:27-30.

Otherwise, we prove we are unworthy of Him and the love of God by the Spirit

He brings. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not

worthy of me. Matthew 10:38.

The cross we take up is “to do thy will, O God” (Hebrews 10:7 and 10:9-

10) as He did. As he suffered, the brethren know their flesh will suffer too when

they “take up” their own cross. When we suffer, we do so for the sake of the

pure Word, and honor Jesus. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ,

not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Philippians 1:29.

But note, our suffering does not compare to the torture He endured for us. For

consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself,

lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto

blood, striving against sin. Hebrews 12:3-4.

When we honor Him, we please our Father. We are His children and the

joint-heirs with Jesus as we live in Him. And if children, then heirs; heirs of

God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we

may be also glorified together. Romans 8:17. As He is now, so are we in this

world–alive in the Spirit, “dead” to the flesh, and servants of God the Father.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of

judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17.

As part of Christ and servants of God, we are sent by Him to share the

knowledge of the Spirit and eternal life just as He was sent by the Father. Then

said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even

so send I you. John 20:21. Hence, we are the ambassadors for Christ. Now then

we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we

pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20.

As the ambassadors for Jesus the Christ, we act in His stead in both word and

deed. For example, He laid His life down for us as His friends. Greater love hath

no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.

Living in Him means we lay our lives down for the brethren. Hereby perceive

we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay

down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16 (Emphasis added). When we do, we

know we have passed from death through the flesh unto life through the Spirit,

because we love the brethren. We know that we have passed from death unto

life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in

death. 1 John 3:14.

However, the brethren do not lay their lives down for the non-brethren, i.e.,

those who are not of the Spirit. Why not? Jesus already gave His life for all of

mankind. (Romans 5:8). He fulfilled that task completely, and there is nothing

for us to do to secure the possibility of salvation for anyone else.

We are supposed to love our neighbor in the same way we love ourselves. …

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Matthew 22:39. And, man cannot

love God unless he loves his brother/brethren (i.e., humankind). If a man say,

I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his

brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

1 John 4:20. The love we show our neighbor who we know is not a brother in

Christ most certainly is the love from God in us by the Holy Ghost, but we don’t

“die” for them.

Of course, the brethren never seek to justify themselves by asking, “Who is

my brother?”, but how can we: 1.) love our neighbor, 2.) give our lives for the

brethren living in Christ, but not give our lives for the non-brethren, 3.) and not

be able to love God unless we love our brother as in all mankind? How are these

verses reconciled? Simple, the brethren do not withhold the love of God from

anyone. The love of God is also the truth from the Spirit of Truth. We make sure

the lost know Jesus gave His life for them, and we do not give our fleshly lives for

the unbelieving. We give our lives for anyone who wants the truth. The brethren

is anyone who wants the truth about the Spirit, and is sincere about doing the

will of God.

Thus, obedience of the brethren to the will of God, personally and individually,

is the primary concern of the brethren. Because each disciple has their own

role in the body of Christ, the will of God for each disciple should not be the

concern of others. Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this

man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that

to thee? follow thou me. John 21:21-22.

Pure religion is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to

keep ourselves “unspotted” (uncorrupted) from the world. Pure religion

and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and

widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

James 1:27. Hence, if there truly is one spirit, one God, one heaven, one eternal

life, and something is or is not “sin” as the Bible says, how can there be so many

different flavors of the Christian religion? The simple answer is there shouldn’t

be, but every “denominational religion” began with the recognition and exaltation

of the doctrines, theologies, and/or pursuits of men over Jesus.

Well intended, well meaning, or not, the fact is Luther and his followers

started Lutheranism, Wesley and his followers started Methodism, the followers

of John the Baptist started the Baptists (or Anabaptists), the followers of Peter

and his lineage continue as the Catholics, and on and on. However, Paul the

apostle specifically discouraged being a follower (i.e., disciple) of anyone other

than Christ Jesus. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul;

and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was

Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 1 Corinthians

1:12-13. Paul characterized His life in Christ as being a “prisoner” of Jesus Christ,

and none other. Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother,

unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, Philemon 1:1; see also

verse 1:9, and Ephesians 3:1.

What about the beliefs of the various denominations and sects thereof? While

all of the denominational religions and sects thereof will claim to follow the pure

Word, they lie when they say, “We all agree as to the basics.” For proof, the most

basic element of Christianity is forgiveness of sin (including transgressions of

God’s will), and salvation unto eternal life through repentance. Even with this

being the most basic element possible, we know one sect within a denominational

religion will declare something as sin (or transgression), while another sect

will say the same conduct is not a sin (or transgression). How can there be agreement

as to the “basics” if the various denominational religions of Christianity,

and the sects thereof, cannot agree on the most basic of all principles? This is not

agreement, but religious proselytism among the sects. Woe unto you, scribes

and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte,

and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than

yourselves. Matthew 23:15.

God almighty, the one true God and Father of all, never intended men to

teach their own doctrine, but to live His. In fact, the ONLY doctrine Jesus ever

advocated was attributed to the Father, and that doctrine is do the Father’s will!

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent

me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether

it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. John 7:16-17 (Emphasis added).

Still, most “Christians” of the self-righteous religious kind do not like the word

“repentance”, even if repentance is His will. Instead of repentance they prefer

their abundant cheap grace doctrines to justify the sin they wish to retain.

By way of example, on my way out after a Sunday sermon I attended years

ago while visiting my mother-in-law’s Methodist church, the one she still attends

and sings in the choir today, I said to the robed seminarian that delivered the

message, “You didn’t mention repentance as the Bible says.” (The King James

Bible specifically mentioned repentance and stressed it as the underlying theme

of the sermon. This robed one used a modern watered down translation of the

bible that excluded the concept, and never said the word “repentance.”)

After he wiped off his look of surprise, the robed one gave me this reply, “It’s

in there,” and smirked. Then, he looked away, motioned me on as he said farewell

to the few others in attendance. At that moment, I wanted to wipe the dust

from one of my shoes onto his robe knowing he was unworthy of the dust from

both, but I knew I would soil my sole in the process. And whosoever shall not

receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city,

shake off the dust of your feet. Matthew 10:14; see also, Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5,

and Acts 13:51. (A fact worth mentioning is that robed worker of iniquity teaches

in a Methodist seminary, and has now gone on to “lead” another “blind church”.

His replacement chants a “free love” mantra, and the same blind followers like

the new guy better. The choir director remains an openly self-professing gay man

who dons the “holy robe” and leads the singing of “praises” to God before the

cross he faces on the wall when he leads the choir.)

This begs the question: Why does anyone try to justify their fleshly lifestyle

with an interpretation of God’s Word contrary to His will? Jesus used the

following parable to share this truth. And he spake many things unto them in

parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed,

some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith

they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun

was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered

away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked

them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an

hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let

him hear. Matthew 13:3-9; see also Mark 4:2-13.

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto

them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto

you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not

given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more

abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even

that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see

not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 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: 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. Matthew 13:10-15 (Emphasis added).

Explaining the parable of the sower, Jesus then said: Hear ye therefore the

parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and

understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that

which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth

the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but

dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the

word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns

is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness

of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received

seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth

it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some

sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13: 18-23; see also, Mark 4:14-20.

Discipleship should be THE standard of lifestyle for every self-professing

Christian! By the leading of the Spirit–the Word and the Holy Ghost as the love

of God, not of our own strength, our lifestyles are amended to fit the pure Word.

We admit our flesh is sinful and messes up, but we repent and move onward

rejoicing in Christ! O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the

body of this death? Romans 7:24. We never corrupt the pure Word, or make it

optional to fit our lifestyles.

Accordingly, no disciple of Christ Jesus will ever suggest any man on earth is

their Father in a spiritual context. And call no man your father upon the earth:

for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Matthew 23:9. Disciples of Christ

will never claim to be gay or alcoholic, etc. No disciple would ever advocate

science as truth over what is written in the Bible.