I am a retired pastor of
the Church of God (Tennessee). My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India. |
Email: Pastor True Gospel
Gospel is to obey what Jesus say to inherit the kingdom of God. It is given to the meek. Grace is given to the weak to make them strong. Out of the seven churches in the book of Revelation, two churches have successfully obeyed the commandments of God. So, it is possible that we can obey the commandments of God and inherit the kingdom of God.
Matthew 9:35 Jesus Christ went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus Christ was the first one to preach the gospel. It is to tell people what to do to inherit his kingdom. Because Jesus told people what to do, the gospel was called his commandments. In Matthew 28:20 Jesus also refer the gospel as his commandments. Isaiah 61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek. This is a prophesy and fulfilled in Jesus Christ years later. In Luke 4:18 Jesus Christ read this. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. In verse 21 he declared this day this scripture is fulfilled. That is, God has anointed Jesus Christ as the author of the gospel, as if the gospel is copyrighted to him. We must preach his gospel, with the same message that he preached, without changing anything. If we change anything from it, then it may be a bible study, but it will not be the gospel anymore. If we preach anything else as the gospel, it will be a deception and it will be a false gospel.
One more thing, Isaiah said to preach good tidings to the meek and New Testament says preach the gospel to the poor. Here poor refers not to the financially poor, but to the poor in spirit, which is also meek. That is, God has intended the gospel to be preached to the meek. If a person is not meek, then it is not given to him to understand the gospel. Matthew 13:11 Jesus Christ 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. We should preach to all, but God will not give the understanding to arrogant people. Further, it is the gospel of the grace of God, according to Acts 20:24. So, the gospel is given through grace. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, according to James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5. So, the proud people will not understand it either. So, both the proud and arrogant people will not understand the gospel. That is why, repentance is preached previous the gospel.
False preachers are neither meek nor humble. So, they made another gospel and preach it to their people. This counterfeit gospel was not made from pagan religions, but it is taken right from the Bible. They took a spectacular portion from the Bible, which is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and preach it as the gospel. They say if you believe this you will go to heaven. It is a lie. Jesus Christ never preached that. Even though Jesus died and resurrected, believing that will not take anybody to heaven. So, it is false gospel and deception.
False preachers say that it is impossible to obey the commandments of Jesus Christ. Now, let us see whether it is true. Jesus Christ has built his commandments upon 10 commandments. So, let us first look at the 10 commandments to see if we can obey that or not.
1st: Exodus 20:2 I am the LORD thy God... 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. It is easy to have no other God.
2nd: 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: It is also easy not to make a graven image and not to worship it.
3rd: 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; Philippians 2:10 Says that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. Christians are guilty of this. Christians use his name very commonly and call him brother, friend and such, out of ignorance. They must repent and stop it. However, the commandment is easy to obey.
4th: Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: The seventh day, which is Saturday, is declared as the Sabbath day. Sunday was never a Sabbath day. God said to take complete rest on Sabbath day. Christians do not know what Sabbath is. They think it is to worship. No, Sabbath is to take complete rest by the whole household and it is mandatory. But, Jesus Christ broke this Sabbath day and repealed it. God upgraded Sabbath from rest of body to rest of soul. Hebrews 4:1-12 and few other scriptures explain in. It is not the rest in a day, but it is the rest in the soul. So, the 4th commandment is repealed.
5th: Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: How to honor your father and mother? Obey them until you marry. Then, leave them and be united with your wife as one body. But, take care of them in their old age. It is not hard to obey this commandment.The last five commandments are known in Luke 10:27 as love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. False preachers exaggerate this verse out of proportion to tell that it cannot be obeyed. But they should not expand it beyond the original from which it was abbreviated. So, let us look at the original. 6th: Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. It is easy not to kill. 7th 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. The Bible says it is good to marry than to burn. So marry, love your wife, and enjoy the marriage life. Then, you will not commit adultery. 8th: 15 Thou shalt not steal. You can live without stealing. But, false preachers intimidate you asking, have you not even take a paper clip from your office? Tell them to cut off that nonsense. They exaggerate to confuse people. It is possible not to steal. 9th: 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness. If you tell lies about others, you can stop it. It is possible. 10th. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his servants, nor his ox, etc, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. So, you should not desire to snatch anything that belongs to someone else. We all can live within the provision God has given us without desiring to snatch the provision of others. This is possible. So we can obey all the 10 commandments. I am not saying that everybody will obey. But if we wanted to obey, we can obey. Now, the next step.
Galatians 3:24 the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. High school graduates go to college for higher studies. Here, 10 commandments graduates come to Jesus Christ for higher studies to be graduated in faith. Commandments of Jesus Christ are harder than the 10 commandments. But John 1:17 says the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Moses gave 10 commandments to people and asked them to obey. Jesus Christ adds truth to the commandments and gives grace. Grace is the strength given by God to help us in our weakness. So, if we obey 10 commandments, then we can obey the commandments of Jesus Christ also since we have grace with the gospel. Let us look at a few commandments of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:22. I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. According to this verse, it seems that if you call a man fool, you will be in hell. But it starts that if you are angry without a cause, then you will be in hell. So, if you have proper cause, then you are alright. So, be not get angry with anybody without a godly cause. This is it.
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. This is a threatening and serious commandment. But here, pluck out the eye and cut the hand are to emphasize his point. They are not literal. Jesus Christ did not condemn the look at the beauty of a woman. But, he condemns the desire to take her. The lust of the man is sin. Jesus says to cut it off. That is to repent and forsake it. A man of the world cannot stop this sin. But, if you are meek and humble, God will give you grace with the gospel. So, it is possible for you to obey this commandment.
Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. This verse is not told to Caesar, Roman soldiers, King Herod, his soldiers, or such. So, according to Romans 13:4, this verse will not apply to our army, police, federal, state, local governments, etc. They must cut evil down. That is their God ordained job. But it will apply to us. This does not mean that if someone broke your right arm, request him to break your left arm also. Or if he killed one of your two sons request him to kill your other son also. It does not mean that. What all it means is that if you are a disciple of God, do not get involved in physical fights with anyone. If someone assaulted you, do not slap him back but walk away from him. It is just that. We also have grace and spirit to help us. So, it is not an impossible commandment.
Matthew 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee, turn not thou away. Look at the items involved here. A coat, walk a mile, lend money, which are not a big deal. Jesus did not say that if someone try to take away your inheritance, give him the inheritance of your wife also or if a con artist tries to plunder your life time earnings, give him the life time earnings of your wife also. He did not mean that. He said to give away simple things to avoid hassle. We can do that.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Start with verse 45. God makes the sun rise and the rain fall equally to the good and the evil. He did not say that God gives everlasting life to the evil also. Come to verse 44. If you are not in a true ministry, you may not experience this verse. I had many friends in a few churches and in my congregation. I did not have to pick up any fight to make enemies. What all I had to do was to teach verses like this. The wages of sin is death, but now being made free from sin, become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. It is from Romans 6:22 & 23. If you take a strong stand without wavering and if you failed to be politically correct, then enemies will pop up everywhere. To love them, do good to them, bless them, and pray for them is not that hard. Your bonus is in verse 45 ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven. Now, you are a child of God. Verse 48 says be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. When we fulfill verse 44 we have become children of God, so God tells us to be perfect as your Father. But, the children of the devil always pick up a fight saying that nobody can become perfect. I always tell them that God did not tell them to be perfect, and so have peace. But God tells his children to be as their Father. They will become perfect as their Father. So also, the children of the devil will also be like their father, sinning all the time. It is true. Then, why the fight?
Some preachers say that the commandments of Jesus Christ will not apply to gentiles or to the churches, but to the Jews only. But, Jesus Christ came to John at Patmos, to send messages to his 7 churches. The great commission, that is to teach his commandments, is given to the whole world, not to the Jews. Let us see what messages Jesus Christ has sent to his churches. They will apply to us also.
First he assessed every church. He begins with 'I know thy works' in Revelation 2:2, 9, 13, 19, 3:1, 8, &15. He applauded them if their works were perfect and he warned them if their works were not perfect. But some preach that we are not saved by works. But, Jesus Christ said heaven is either open or closed to us according to our works. He applauded their works, patients, faith, tribulation, labor, poverty, becoming martyrs, charity, service and those who condemned the blaspheming preachers and false apostles. Jesus Christ tells the church of Ephesus that they have lost their first love and tells them to repent and do the first works. See, their love is measured by their works! Now, they must do what they have done before. It could be done. To the church in Smyrna he says to continue their faith until death. They have done it. To the church in Pergamos he says in verse 14-16 that they have allowed preachers like Balaam, who entice people to commit lustful sins, probably like present day grace preachers. He tells them to repent and get the false preachers out of the church. If you cannot get them out, you can get out of that church. It is possible to do that. In verse 20-25, he tells the church in Thyatira who allowed Jezebel, who is a false preacher, who seduce the people to commit sin such as the grace preachers of today, that God will kill her and her followers. But in the same church there was a group who obeyed God without accepting her doctrine. So it can be done. To the church in Sardis: Their works are not perfect. God wants them to repent. But 3:4 says thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. So, there are a few people in the same church who are not defiled and are worthy. Church in Philadelphia: Revelation 3:8 says thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. They have done it even with a little strength. Church of Laodiceans: Revelation 3:15 God says that they art neither cold nor hot: They boast themselves to be balanced Christians. But God tells them to repent.
Let me tell you something from my own experience. If you are really trying to obey God and are not able to overcome a sin or sins, please do not plan methods how you will stop it next time. If you do, you will fail again. Why do you fail? You may not believe this, but it is true. The real truth is that you do not have the grace of God. If you have the grace of God, you will not be under sin. Do not concentrate on the sin and plan how to defeat it. It is good, but you will fail. But rather concentrate on the fact that why, you do not have grace. It is because you are proud. You may not like me for telling you this. Break your pride. Humble yourself before Jesus Christ. He is not a man. Do not treat him as your friend or brother or such. Do not go to Jesus Christ as you are going to your loving grandma. He is the Almighty God, a terrible God and consuming fire to sinning people. Fear him and fall on his feet, not without your broken pride that is your contrite heart and broken spirit. Then God will surely give you grace. Then, you will notice that you are not committing that sin or sins any more. Then you will know that you are made free.
Let me sum it up: The gospel is good tidings to the meek. The author of the gospel is Jesus Christ and him only. The gospel tells us to obey the commandments of Jesus Christ to inherit the kingdom of God. All other gospels are false gospels. Grace is the strength given to the weak to become strong to obey all the commandments of God. Among the 7 churches, God told Ephesus to repent and to do works again. Philadelphia and Smyrna were perfect and God applauded them. Some in Thyatira rejected the doctrine of Jezebel and obeyed God. A few in Sardis have not defiled their garments and were found worthy. Almost 50% people obeyed God perfectly in the 7 churches. 1 John 5:3 says we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. Jesus says If ye love me, keep my commandments in John 14:15. Tell Jesus Christ that you love him and then keep his commandments. Jesus Christ will give you his kingdom. Luke 12:32 says Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. It is my pleasure to give you this message.
"1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;" Here apostle Paul mentions about the gospel. He says that moreover, he has declared and preached the gospel to them; they accepted the gospel and were standing on it, means that they were living by the gospel in their life. "2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." They were saved by doing it, and if they keep living by it, they will be established in salvation, and then, they will inherit the kingdom of God in heaven. Then "3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" Scriptures foretold about how Jesus will die, and apostle Paul received it from scriptures. "4... he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" These things were about the Lord Jesus Christ. So, it is evident that there are two things. One is, he preached them the gospel, and they were living by what the gospel has required of them. Next, he preached what happened to Jesus Christ as the scriptures has foretold. It is for them to know; but the knowledge will not save them; and so, it is not the gospel.
This is a link about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the gospel if churches: "Gospel."
Note: If any point needs explanation, OR, if you find
an error according to scripture,
Please write to me in the 'Mail Box' below. I will
reply promptly. Thanks.
God Bless You
HOME |
Matthew 28:20, & Mark 16:15. Jesus Christ preached his commandments to obey, as his
Gospel; it is the true Gospel to inherit Eternal life. Genesis 3:1-4 & 2 Corinth 11:2-4. But Preachers, who are Serpents of Satan, preach the life of man Jesus just to believe, but not to live as a chaste virgin, as the gospel; it is another gospel, which cannot and will not give Eternal life.The true gospel will convert evil people to do good and thereby they will inherit the kingdom in heaven.
John 3:19-21 say that people are two kinds, evil and true. Evil doers will not come to the Light, who is God; but people of truth come to God for their deeds to be made manifest. We have good and evil people by our standard of our society or culture. These evil people may be converted to be doers of truth by the power of God, and they may inherit the kingdom of God in heaven.
Email: Pastor True Gospel