THE RICH YOUNG RULER

 In Luke 18:18-23  Matthew 19:16-30   Mark 10:17-31  Jesus is approached by a rich young ruler and in each of the three accounts additional information is provided that was not included in the other accounts therefore we must glean all relevant information from all three in order to understand what took place in the conversation between Jesus and this rich young ruler.  Jesus told this young man that if he wanted to have everlasting life to keep the commandments, Jesus even specified several of the ten commandments to be clear.

The rich young man said he kept all the Ten Commandments from his youth and asked what he yet lacked. Jesus answered him in Matthew 19:21   Obviously there was something this young man lacked that keeping the Ten Commandments did not provide.  Also as we should know, no one can keep the Ten Commandments because all have sinned and broken them.  This young man thought he was righteous by keeping the Ten Commandments just like Paul did before his conversion.  Philippians 3:9   This has the effect on many people that the keeping of them makes them righteous and in good standing with GOD when in fact they produce self righteousness which is filthy rags to GOD.  Isaiah 64:6   This is why Paul said the law deceived him and killed him.  Romans 7:11   This does not make the law evil it makes us evil.  The law is holy, just and good to condemn sinners to death, it was the ministry of death on stone.  2 Corinthians 3:7

People that put themselves under the Ten Commandments therefore are dead because anyone who broke the law dies without mercy.  Hebrews 10:28   The wages of sin is death, the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. 1 Corinthians 15:56  This is or at least should be Christianity 101 , it’s not difficult to read the scriptures to see the truth of these things. 

 Christians are no longer under the Ten Commandments, the old covenant, the ministry of death.  Christians undergo a spiritual transformation that changes their nature to become a partaker of GODS nature, they have GODS love so that we need not be commanded but do by nature what GODS will is by the example of Jesus Christ.  Jesus fulfilled the Ten Commandments with GODS love not by command but because he was one with his GOD and was created in his GODS image and we are to be recreated in the image of Jesus.  The first humans, Adam and Eve , had no knowledge of what sin is, they had to disobey GOD to acquire that knowledge but before this human nature was pure and innocent but would be changed by their obedience to Satan and from that day forward human nature became Satanic.  Before conversion we were the children of the Devil but through Jesus we can be made children of GOD.  Acts 26:18

AS HE WAS SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD

 

When Jesus was on this earth he did no miracles, he said nothing concerning teaching that originated from himself.  John 14:10,24  John 7:16  John 12:49  John 8:26,28,29  John 17:8  John 6:39   Jesus, when on this earth was just as we are now.  WE, the saints can do nothing of ourselves, our belief is not our own, the words we speak in the spirit are not our own.

 Now that Jesus is at his GODS right hand he uses the power of his FATHER to continue his work as mediator between his GOD and GODS saints.  GODS spirit does everything in the life of HIS saints by having HIS son live in them just as GOD did everything in Jesus and lived in him when Jesus was on this earth. John 14:10  

 The works of the saints are of the love of GOD.  The saints have no works of their own because we are GODS workmanship, Ephesians 2:10KJV , it is GOD who works in us both to will and to do HIS good pleasure. Philippians 2:13KJV  These works GOD has prepared for us and we are empowered by HIS love to work them out, to walk as Jesus walked.  In this way we are just like Jesus was when he was on this earth. 

 Some translations translate  1 John 4:17KJV  this way,   "as he is so are we on this earth" but this makes no sense because Jesus has been glorified and now given access to his FATHERS power, we are yet flesh with no power at all.  Therefore the correct translation is, "just as he WAS so are we on this earth".  

When on this earth Jesus was totally dependent on his FATHER for everything and so are we.  The obvious difference between us and earthly Christ is that he was the son of GOD and filled with the holy spirit without measure, WAS impeccable and was to be our messiah.  The connection Jesus had with his FATHER was without a mediator and he and his FATHER dwelt in one another, they were one, one in love, righteousness and holiness. John 10:30 

 The hope of the saints is to join GOD and Christ in this unity of oneness, that we may be one with GOD and Christ just as the FATHER and Christ are one.  John 17:21  

There is no amount of Ten Commandment keeping that will achieve this, no works by us of any kind, for if we work it is not GOD working but us working and you should know that salvation is not by our works but only by GODS.  This is the TRUE faith and description of what salvation is. It is nothing that you hear from all the worlds churches because they are all deceived. Revelation 12:9  

 If you understand these things then you are blessed and I would like to hear from you. Please write to me at the email on this blog.  

TO ALL WHO ARE IN LIKE MIND

 To all who are in like mind........................

Greetings Steve and Gary, 

I write this message to both of you in the spirit of GODS love. In no way do I intend it to be obnoxious or demeaning or insulting. For many years I have been searching on my blog for another elect saint of GOD that has walked with GOD and Christ longer than I have. For me it has been 32 years since my conversion. In that time I have been taught by GOD through Jesus Christ only, no man taught me anything that I know. I experience a voice in my mind / spirit that speaks to me and teaches me things I never knew about before. I cannot put into words what this is like. When I was yet a babe in Christ I did not at first recognize this voice as another voice but confused it with my own thoughts. Then a day came when a thought came that I was not even thinking about and had no knowledge about, it was then that I realized that this voice I was hearing was not my own. How could I have thoughts about something that I have no knowledge of ? The 3 other saints I fellowship with have had the same experience. When Jesus said we are taught by GOD through him it is the truth. I can say these things but there is no way I can prove them to anyone. I have searched online for someone who is a more mature Christian than I am hoping to hear what they have learned beyond what I have learned in the hope of the spirit opening my understanding to the same things. I have to date found no one. I do believe they are out there scattered to the four winds. It is only spiritually logical that other saints who have been in Christ longer that I would have grown in the spirit beyond me.

 

 My joining Simply Christian was part of my search and I have been delighted to find two others in their walk with GOD and Christ that are in their own stage of spiritual development. Neither of you are babes anymore as I have observed growth in both of you. Lately on this forum the discussions have entered into the territory of strong meat, the deep things of GOD. I entered that stage about 25 years ago. It is very obvious to me as I am sure it is to you that the 4 fellows involved in these discussions have no knowledge even about the things of milk let alone the things of meat.

I felt a motivation by the spirit to share with everyone on the forum the things freely given to me as an act of love but was met by many of them as an enemy of whatever they believe as truth. I have been tempted to leave the forum so that these types do not blaspheme the way of truth but Steve convinced me to stay. Now I only make comments in response to either of you two but not directly to them and I still post articles on various subjects. In doing this I avoid getting to overly involved in engaging in a battle of wits with those who are unarmed. I confess that it was getting out of hand. I remembered that AS MUCH AS IT DEPENDED ON ME, live at peace with all men. Both of you have a different way of expressing yourselves than I do that has not compromised GODS truth and may have better success than what I have had. My way is stern and straightforward with no apologies, I provide abundant scriptures to support my claims. This is my nature and has worked with some but not others who take my boldness in Christ as arrogance, pontificating and wanting to have my own way. They become offended by what I write about without even understanding it. My motivation is exactly the opposite of what they accuse me of. It’s true, I will not back down or apologize for the truth of GOD. Jesus offended many people during his ministry with his GODS truth so I look at this as taking up my own cross and following him. The truth will either offend a person or set them free but this is in GODS hands to do. I encourage both of you to write more and share with the members of this forum what GOD through Jesus has taught you. This is part of loving your neighbor as yourself. If they begin to attack you and blaspheme then withdraw from communication with them, do as I have done, continue writing and sharing apart from them. If GOD would decide to call and choose just one of them the angels in heaven will rejoice and we would be blessed to have had a very small part in it. Thanks for hearing, Lee

 

The letter above was only written to Gary and Steve but is appropriate for us all.  Recently I have been Given a better understanding of things like salvation, faith and works.  It is a biblical fact that true Christians are considered dead in Christ, that they no longer live because Christ lives in them, Jesus takes over your life. We then have no works at all, not in the law or in the acquiring of our salvation because GOD through Christ does the works. Philippians 2:13  GOD prepared all these works for us.  Ephesians 2:10  We Sabbath rest in Christ while GOD and Jesus work in us. 

 

We are saved by grace through faith but this faith is backed up and proven by these works GOD and Christ do in us. This is why James said faith without works is dead.  The works are GODS love in us by HIS spirit, they are not our works , they are GODS works.  WE are living sacrifices .  Romans 12:1  Just as Jesus gave us example with how he lived his life we are empowered by GODS spirit and love to do the same and over our lives be transformed to be an exact likeness of Jesus who was an exact likeness of his GOD.  This likeness is GODS nature of love which is the fulfillment of the law.  Salvation is in the last day but most think it is when they are baptized , baptism is only the beginning of the journey to salvation in the last day when Jesus returns to give everlasting life to his true followers.  

 

I am no different than all of you, I am a sinner who is now in the new covenant of grace.  We all have been given a talent, a portion of GODS spirit. If we just bury it there is no growth and we will face the wrath of the Laodiceans.  However if we remain in the faith and growing in it we will acquire more talents that will please GOD and Christ thus assuring our salvation.  

 

A true work of love is not by planning, that is your work not GODS.  GODS work in you will come out of the blue like in the story of the good Samaritan. Doing and good works will be this way because it will insure that they will not be of our planning.  We are to submit in love, willingly, to GOD and Christ praying to the FATHER through Jesus for more of GODS love in us.  Pray for the death of our old person so the new person may live.  Brother Kel has an excellent video about these things that I encourage you all to watch, several times, and brother Polycarp, though long dead, has an excellent letter that he sent to the Philippian  church that also speaks to these things.  We have as well the letters of the Apostles in the scripture that have these things as a constant theme.  

All of us need have the good works of GODS love in us and when the next time , out of the blue, we are faced with a situation of any sort that needs the application of GODS love that we apply it without question.  Whatever is not of GODS love is sin.  In his sermon on the mount Jesus taught some very hard things, loving those who hate you, doing good and praying for enemies, to overcome evil with good.  Looking at these things it seems impossible but all things are possible with GOD.  I have fallen short on all these things and have repented and asked for forgiveness and for more GODLY love, more faith and to bear more fruit, to overcome my old self and mortify those deeds, to truly die to myself so that Christ can live in me, my hope of glory.  This will not be easy but all who live in Christ will suffer some kind of persecution, this is sharing in the sufferings of Christ.  We have been taught the truth of doctrine but now this truth must be applied to live it.  God began a good work in us and HE is able to complete it in the day of the Lord Jesus. May GOD and Christ be with us all.

 

ANTHONY BUZZARDS ARGUMENT AGAINST THE TRINITY

 Anthony Buzzard, a biblical unitarian theologian, holds that Trinitarian Christians are not true Christians
because they do not follow what he argues was the original belief system of Jesus and his apostles. This position is based on his conviction that the doctrine of the Trinity is a later, non-biblical development.

Buzzard's argument against the Trinity

• The Trinity as a later development: Buzzard argues that the idea of a triune God was a non-biblical innovation that emerged in the centuries after Christ. In his view, early biblical figures and Jesus himself would not have recognized this doctrine.
• Jesus as a human Messiah: Buzzard promotes a Socinian-like theology, asserting that Jesus was a human Messiah uniquely used by God, not a divine being himself. He teaches that the one true God of the Bible is God the Father alone.
• The "creed of Jesus": Buzzard calls for a return to the "creed of Jesus," which he defines as a Jewish theology of one God, the Father. His book Jesus Was Not a Trinitarian details his arguments for this position.
• Worship of Jesus: He asserts that the worship of Jesus by Trinitarians is a form of Christian idolatry that would have been alien to Jesus himself. While he acknowledges that Jesus is to be honored, he distinguishes this from the worship reserved for God the Father.
• 
  

Mainstream Christian perspective

Mainstream Christians strongly disagree with Buzzard's position.

• Traditional Christology: Historic Christian teaching, based on biblical interpretation and established over centuries, holds that Jesus is fully divine and part of the Triune God. Major creeds, such as the Nicene Creed, articulate the doctrine of the Trinity and Jesus' divinity as foundational to orthodox Christianity.
• Interpretation of scripture: Where Buzzard sees contradictions or later additions, Trinitarian theologians point to biblical passages they interpret as affirming Jesus' divinity and pre-existence.
• Heresy vs. doctrine: The church has historically regarded unitarian and similar non-Trinitarian views as heretical. Mainstream theology views the articulation of the Trinity as the faithful and necessary clarification of biblical teaching, not a departure from it. 
  

  Context of his position

Buzzard's views come from his affiliation with biblical unitarianism, a tradition rooted in the Radical Reformation. He was associated with the Church of God General Conference (Abrahamic Faith) and the Restoration Fellowship. The debate between Trinitarians and unitarians on the nature of Jesus has existed throughout church history. The Apostles never preached a trinity but rather affirmed there is only one God, the father.  1 Corinthians 8:6  along with the words of Jesus, John 17:3  Buzzard declares that due to incorrect translations as well as deliberate alterations are the source for the trinity doctrine. 


  Sir Anthony Buzzard on Christian mistakes - Trinities
Mar 16, 2016 — 

CONTRIBUTION BY GARY OF AUSTRALIA

 Thank you Lee, for inviting my comment on this much misunderstood subject, as I see it.

We have a law here in Australia that everyone who drives a motor car must keep to the left hand side of the road. It is not peculiar to Australia, but someone visiting from the States may find it a bit strange and off putting in relation to their personal experience of driving. And if a visitor might drive on the other side of the road inadvertently, they will be stopped by our highway police and dealt with according to the penalty system in place in Australia.

The Ten Commandments were given through Moses to the fledgling nation of Israel. (Ex 24:1-18; Deut 4:5-14) It was not obligatory on people of other nations unless those people visited or resided within Israel’s boundaries. (Num 15:14-16)

“While the Law was given specifically to Israel, its implications were intended to extend beyond the nation. Israel was called to be a "light to the nations" (Isaiah 42:6), demonstrating the wisdom and righteousness of God's commandments. The Law was meant to be a testimony to the surrounding nations of the greatness and holiness of the God of Israel.” (https://biblehub.com/topical/ttt/t/the_law_of_moses—given--to_no_other_nation.htm)

Driving on the left hand side of the road might be considered wrong in the USA, but it is not here in Australia. The issue is not ‘Who is right, or Who is wrong’. Rather, it is how we adjust our practices and attitude to drive safely and harmoniously in whichever country we are in.
 

The IMPLICATIONS of the Ten Commandments, it seems, are what Jesus drew attention to in his interchange with the scribe recorded in the gospel according to Mark:-

One of the scribes went to Jesus during the argument with the Sadducees. He saw how well Jesus answered them, so he asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of them all?" Jesus answered "The most important is, 'Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. So love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'The second most important commandment is this: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these." The scribe said to Jesus, "Teacher, that was well said! You've told the truth that there is only one God and no other besides him! To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus heard how wisely the man answered, he told the man, "You're not too far from the kingdom of God." -(Mark 12:28-34)

So, I agree that being motivated by God’s love for people we should not need to rely on written rules to conduct ourselves lovingly, caringly and humanely toward others, nor insist others follow those rules just to satisfy our expectations.

JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY SHEPHERD THAT REMAINS

 Jesus is the only true shepherd left, there are no more shepherds since the Apostles died.  If you look at what claims to be Christianity in this world you should be able to see how divided it is.  Even in the days of the Apostles there were false Apostles and deceitful workers who were trashing the truth.  Jude, Paul, Jesus and Peter  wrote about them, Jude 1:4   2 Corinthians 11:13  Matthew 7:15   2 Peter 2:1,2,3  

There are many warnings about the great deception that already had begun when they were yet alive.  Imagine what happened after the Apostles were all dead.   Ezekiel 34:10  GOD and Jesus , after the deaths of all the Apostles, took over complete control of the Church.  Jesus said, John 10:11,14,15  also Isaiah 40:11  Ezekiel 34:11,12  1 Peter 5:4   1 Peter 2:25   Matthew 26:31   John 10:27,28  Psalm 23:1  Hebrews 13:20   Surly you can see there is only one shepherd of the sheep, the church, because all previous shepherds are dead.  Any human being claiming to be a shepherd is a liar.  These liars are the ministers of Satan in all the false Christian churches.  GOD calls out of these churches and out of the world the people HE calls HIS elect.  The elect saints do not attend any of this worlds churches, they are not attempting to fulfill the great commission, they are taught by GOD through Jesus Christ and have no need that any man should teach them, these elect are taught the truth by divine revelation just as the prophets and Apostles were, the confidence level of the saints is extremely high because they know these things having experienced them.  Others without the Holy Spirit who have never experienced what the elect have do not believe.  These carnal people truly think they have the Holy Spirit and know the truth but are in fact deceived.  These carnal people blaspheme the truth for this reason.  The things of GOD are foolishness to them, over spiritualized, hyper grace, put GODS justice over HIS love and attempt to keep the old covenant Ten Commandments thinking they bring life when they bring death.  Just like the Jews they are enemies of the gospel with cauterized minds that are not able in this age to be converted.  Their hope of which they do not understand is the second resurrection.  True Christians should not hate these people but as much as it depends upon us live in peace with them.  It has always been that GOD draws HIS elect saints to HIS son and then through HIS son teaches them the truth.  Jesus Christ is the only shepherd that now exists, no human leads any of the churches of the elect saints, they all acknowledge that Christ is the head of the church and that wherever two or three are gathered together Christ is there also.  Even though this writing is all true the vast majority of humanity will not believe it.

OUR WONDERFUL WORLD OF CHRISTIAN UNITY

 We are all so very blessed to have so many Christian churches to choose from.  There is the Jehovahs Witnesses, The Mormons, Lutherns, Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists , Baptists both northern and southern, Presbyterians, Methodists, Unitarians, Binatarians, Trinitarians.  How blessed we are to have such a wide and varied selection to chose from. 

There are so many I could not begin to list them all.  It does not matter that they have differences in doctrine we are all Christians just because we say we are.  There has been no mass deception by Satan so ignore Revelation 12:9  pay no attention to 2 Corinthians 11:12,13,14,15  and 1 Timothy 4:1  Paul really did not mean what he wrote in these verses.  All human ministers have been totally faithful in their handling of GODS word.  Why you and I could attend any one of them or even a group of them and we would do just fine.  It does not matter how many GODS you have or how you define what salvation is, any old gospel will do.  You can keep the whole law or just parts of it or throw the whole thing out.  We can all believe in whatever Jesus or gospel we want it does not matter at all.  Hey we are all Christians and we know that we are all in like flint with GOD, however you like to define HIM.  

I hope my readers realize that I am being facetious here in an attempt to show that all the churches of this world are false.  Hope I succeeded.