THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION
(REFORMED THEOLOGY/CALVINISM)
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"BUT WOE UNTO YOU,
SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! FOR YE SHUT UP THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AGAINST
MEN: FOR YE NEITHER GO IN YOURSELVES, NEITHER SUFFER YE THEM THAT ARE ENTERING
TO GO IN". MATH. 23/13. and again, "WOE UNTO YOU, LAWYERS! FOR
YE HAVE TAKEN AWAY THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE: YE ENTERED NOT IN YOURSELVES, AND THEM
THAT WERE ENTERING IN YE HINDERED". LUKE 11/52.
"hindered", "koluo",
meaning to cut off, prevent, restrain,....WEAKEN: (Zodhiates).
"lawyers", "nomikos",
one skilled in the law, experts in the Mosiac law,
ones skilled in law and jurisprudence of the Law of Moses. (Zodhiates).
For the purpose of this paper however, it must be said that such Theologians as
apply themselves to examine and acquire head knowledge of scripture, then set
about with interpretation of same for the purpose of inscribing "articles
of faith" for religious institutions must be identified with the
"Lawyers" named in the Gospel of Luke.
It is par for the course for manmade, man controlled
religious institutions to concoct "articles of faith" which in the
main, "hinder, restrain, prevent, WEAKEN" the disposition of those
who would "enter into the Kingdom of Heaven": Such was Christ`s fury
over this with the Pharisees, Scribes and Lawyers in the Gospels and so it
still is today with such as would purvey ecumenical piffle in their efforts to
build and maintain the falsehoods that have been tagged religion. This paper in
particular will deal with The Westminster Confession which is the
"articles of faith" of The Anglican Church/Church of England, The
Presbyterian Church of Scotland and The Free Presbyterian Church, these three
that we know of, but there are probably more and if you find yourself part of
such an alignment then you would do well to read on, take heed, repent and
"come ye out from among them and be ye separate" saith
The Lord God:
We must say at the outset that not all in this "article
of faith" is anti, against Truth, only some, and we have endeavoured to
disclose same: It must be said however, that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" and that having truth mixed
with heresy, falsehood, lies does not absolve that which appears right from the
staining of the false, in essence the two mixed together become a distortion, a
perversion which produces "strange fruit" on a "strange
vine" (Jer. 2/21) fit only to be burned in the oven. (Math. 3/12, Heb.
12/29). The article in question to be found at www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs
CHAPTER 1 OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE:
Verse 1. "Those former ways of God revealing
His will unto His people being now ceased".
Straightaway we can see the operation of
"hindering" and weakening the resolve of those who would enter into
The Kingdom of Heaven from the very first statement in this Theologically
concocted piece of chaff: The above statement imparts the impression that God
no longer speaks to His people anymore, and since "the just shall live by
faith", (Gal. 3/11, Heb. 10/38), and "without faith it is impossible
to please God", (Heb. 11/6), and "faith comes by hearing, and hearing
by the Word of God", (Ro. 10/17), and "man shall not live by bread
alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God", (Math. 4/4), and Jesus said "MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE", (John 10/16,27),
it is evident truth that a child of God must be able to be in communication,
Holy communion, with Loving Father Son
and Holy Ghost, HEARING GOD SPEAK,... which makes the above statement a very
subtle piece of heresy (lie) steering folk away from, and weakening their
disposition to be in "a place of hearing" God speak to them thereby
creating faith in their heart imparting to them the ability of conquer sin and
be "over comers" and live in victory.
Refer the following:
www.straighttalkmin.org/doc/A_PLACE_OF_HEARING.htm
www.straighttalkmin.org/doc/THE_MEASURE_OF_FAITH.htm
www.straighttalkmin.org/doc/CONVERSATIONS_WITH_GOD.htm
Verse 2. "Under the name of Holy Scripture of
The Word of God".
This is a fundamental error made by most, nowhere in Holy
Writ do we read that neither Christ or any of the Apostles refer to the
scriptures, what we call The Bible as THE WORD OF GOD. Refer the following:
www.straighttalkmin.org/doc/THE_WORD_OF_GOD_OR.htm
Verse 5. "Yet notwithstanding, our full
persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof
is from the inward word of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the word
in our hearts".
Here we have the
article attesting to "hearing" the voice of God "bearing witness
in our hearts", but yet those who purvey this chaff would deny "The
Baptism of the Holy Spirit and The Gifts of the Spirit"? Also note that
what this is saying is that those who wrote it are testifying to receiving
revelation from God in their hearts which is in contradiction to the statement
in verse 1. above.
Verse 6. "The whole counsel of God".
Again a statement declaring that these articles of faith
embrace all truth, but yet in experience they deny, The Baptism of The Holy
Spirit and the manifestation of the Gifts of The Spirit, but more on this soon.
Verse 10. "The supreme judge by which all
controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils,
opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits are to be
examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the holy
spirit speaking in scripture".
How can they make such a statement when the actual experience
of The Baptism of The Holy Ghost is not evident amongst them in power from
above? Apart from the fact that The Holy Ghost does not speak in scripture, HE
SPEAKS TO YOU IN YOUR HEART AND THE WORDS IN THE BIBLE BECOME ALIVE TO YOU
LINING UP AND CONFIRMING WHAT HE HAS JUST SPOKEN TO YOU. (JOHN 10, 16/13).
In verses 5, 6 and 10 we see lip service only to the
operation of The Holy Spirit in their midst but in reality is nothing but a
show, a pretence of His being in their midst:
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"HAVING A FORM OF
GODLINESS, BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF: 2 TIM. 3/5.
CHAPTER 3 OF GOD` ETERNAL DECREE
Verse 2. "Although God knows whatsoever may or
can come to pass upon all supposed conditions; yet, has He not decreed anything
because He foresaw it as future or as that which would come to pass upon such
conditions".
Verse 3. "By the decrees of God for the
manifestation of His glory some men and angels are predestinated
unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death".
Here we have statements attesting to
"predestination" doctrine and the doctrine of election declaring
God`s wrath and severity on some and not on others from the beginning. Apart
from the fact that these doctrines are absolute heresy and deny the truth that
it is possible "to have your name blotted out of the Lamb`s Book of
Life", (Rev. 3/5), this completely contradicts Chapter 2 verse 1 of these
articles where they attest to God`s love, grace, mercy and forgiveness for
mankind now stating in the aforementioned declaring that God is partial in His
benevolence toward men in general?
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"GOD IS NO
RESPECTER OF PERSONS". (ACTS 10/34).
"FOR GOD SO LOVED
THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM
SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE
WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE
SAVED". (JOHN 3/16-17).
"THE LORD IS NOT
SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISE, AS SOME MEN COUNT SLACKNESS; BUT IS LONGSUFFERING
TO US-WARD, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO
REPENTANCE." 2 PET. 3/9.
You can`t possibly tell me that after reading the above that
Loving Father "predestined", "decreed" that many were
headed for the lake no matter what?
The predestination doctrines eliminate the truth of our free
will to choose in that they dictate that it doesn`t matter what we do, our
salvation (or destruction) is chiselled in stone? God has made up our minds for
us? As well as denying so much truth,..."name blotted out of the Lamb`s
book of life", (Rev. 3/5),.... "remove thy candlestick out of its
place",(Rev. 2/5,..."the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire", (2 Pet. 2/22),..."gone
in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and
perished in the gainsaying of Core", (Jude 11),...."trees whose fruit withereth,
without fruit twice dead" (Jude12),....[how can one be "twice
dead" unless they were once dead in their sins and made alive, and then
become dead once more?? Departed from the faith, drawn back unto perdition?
Heb. 10/39],...."if thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also
shalt be cut off", (Ro. 11/22),.... "and a rock of offence, even to
them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed", (1 Pet. 2/8),.... etc etc.
Tell me something,.....if we can see that "angels which
kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation have been reserved
in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great
day",.......if we see that they forfeited their glory,..........HOW IS IT
THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR IT TO HAPPEN
TO MEN AS WELL?
Refer the following:
www.straighttalkmin.org/doc/PREDESTINATION.htm
www.straighttalkmin.org/doc/LOONEY_TOONS_DOCTRINE.htm
www.bible-truth.org/election.htm
www.straighttalkmin.org/doc/IF_IT_WERE_POSSIBLE.htm
CHAPTER 4 OF CREATION
Verse 2. "After God had made all other
creatures, He created man, male and female with reasonable and immortal souls,
endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after His own image;
having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it; and yet
under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their OWN
WILL,....which was subject to change. Beside the law written in their hearts,
they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil;
which while they kept, they were in their communion with God, and had dominion
over the creatures".
The predestination and election doctrines deny that man has
any choice in the matter of his salvation or destruction, yet in this piece of
fermented chaff they attest to man being created with his OWN WILL to choose to
obey God or disobey.
CHAPTER 6 OF THE FALL OF MAN, OF SIN, AND THE
PUNISHMENT THEREOF
Verse 1. "Our first parents, being seduced by
the subtlety and temptation of Satan, sinned in eating the
forbidden fruit [THE SIN BY THE WAY WAS DISOBEDIENCE,
NOT IN THE TYPE OF FRUIT: THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD: "FOR AS BY ONE MAN`S
DISOBEDIENCE MANY WERE MADE SINNERS, SO BY THE OBEDIENCE OF ONE SHALL MANY BE MADE RIGHTEOUS". RO. 5/19] this their sin, God was pleased according to His wise and
Holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory".
HOW DOES SIN BRING GLORY TO GOD?? HOW DOES SIN HONOUR GOD??
OUR DELIVERENCE FROM IT CERTAINLY BRINGS GLORY AND HONOUR TO HIM, BUT NOT THE ACTS OF SIN. SIN IN HIS
CHILDREN BRINGS SHAME TO HIM. (HEB. 6/6).
CHAPTER 7 OF GOD`S COVENANT WITH MAN
Verse 2. "The first covenant made with man was
a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam; and in him to his
posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience".
The inference here is that that has changed? It is no longer
obedience to works?
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"FOR I WILL NOT
DARE TO SPEAK OF ANY OF THOSE THINGS WHICH CHRIST HATH NOT WROUGHT BY ME, TO
MAKE THE GENTILES OBEDIENT, BY WORD AND DEED", RO. 15/18.
"BY WHOM WE HAVE
RECEIVED GRACE AND APOSTLESHIP, FOR OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH AMONG ALL NATIONS,
FOR HIS NAME"; RO. 1/5.
"KNOW YE NOT, THAT
TO WHOM YE YIELD YOURSELVES SERVANTS TO OBEY, HIS SERVANTS YE ARE TO WHOM YE
OBEY; WHETHER OF SIN UNTO DEATH, OR OF OBEDIENCE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS"? RO.
6/16.
"BUT NOW IS MADE
MANIFEST, AND BY THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS, ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT
OF THE EVERLASTING GOD, MADE KNOWN TO ALL NATIONS FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF
FAITH": RO. 16/26.
"CASTING DOWN
IMAGINATIONS, AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE
OF GOD, AND BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST;
AND HAVING IN A READINESS TO REVENGE ALL DISOBEDIENCE, WHEN YOUR OBEDIENCE IS
FULFILLED". 2 COR. 10/5-6.
"EVEN SO FAITH, IF
IT HATH NOT WORKS, IS DEAD, BEING ALONE. YEA, A MAN MAY SAY, THOU HAST FAITH,
AND I HAVE WORKS: SHEW ME THY FAITH WITHOUT THY WORKS, AND I WILL SHEW THEE MY
FAITH BY MY WORKS". JA. 2/17-18.
From Genesis chapter 1 to Revelation nothing has changed, it
is faith works and love of the Father demonstrated by our obedience to that
which He commands us to do. There are two types of works, "faith
works" (that which is commanded by Loving Father Son and Holy Ghost), or
"dead works", (that which we muse to do out of the cogitations of our
own minds): What works underpin your life?
Refer the following:
www.straighttalkmin.org/doc/FAITH_WORKS_OR_DEAD_WORKS.htm
www.straighttalkmin.org/doc/THE_WORD_OF_FAITH.htm
CHAPTER 8 OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR
Verse 6. "Although the work of redemption was
not actually wrought by Christ till after His incarnation"????????
Till after His incarnation????????
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"IT IS
FINISHED". JOHN 19/30.
Verse 8. "He does certainly and effectually
apply and communicate the same", "effectually persuading them by His
Spirit to believe and OBEY (OBEY? NOW
THE ARTICLE IS SAYING THAT OBEDIENCE IS TO BE CARRIED OUT?) and governing their hearts by His word and Spirit".
Again alluding to the fact of "hearing" the voice
of God in our spirits, yet in practice totally denying this truth.
CHAPTER 9 OF FREE WILL
Verse 4. "And by grace alone",
This verse and chapter dictating that man`s free will has
nothing to do with his salvation, (or destruction), by this statement absolving
men from any responsibility or accountability in the matter of the statement
"BY GRACE ALONE".
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"FOR BY GRACE ARE
YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF
GOD: EPH. 2/8. NOT BY GRACE ALONE.
CHAPTER 11 OF JUSTIFICATION
Verse 1. "Nor by imputing faith itself, the
act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, which faith they
have not of themselves"?
WHAT SAITH THE LORD
GOD?
"HOW THEN SHALL
THEY CALL ON HIM IN WHOM THEY HAVE NOT BELIEVED? AND HOW SHALL THEY BELIEVE IN
HIM OF WHOM THEY HAVE NOT HEARD? AND HOW SHALL THEY HEAR WITHOUT A PREACHER?
AND HOW SHALL THEY PREACH, EXCEPT THEY BE SENT? AS IT IS WRITTEN, HOW BEAUTIFUL
ARE THE FEET OF THEM THAT PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, AND BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF
GOOD THINGS"! RO. 10/14-15.
"SEEING YE HAVE
PURIFIED YOUR SOULS IN OBEYING THE TRUTH", 1 PET. 1/22.
"SO THEN FAITH
COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD". RO. 10/17. SO THEN
FAITH IS "IMPUTED", IMPARTED, CREATED IN A MAN`S HEART WHEN GOD`S
WORD IS PREACHED, IT IS THEN UP TO THE HEARER TO CHOOSE TO OBEY, OR DISOBEY.
Verse 5. "Although they can never fall from a
state of justification, yet may by their sins":
Is there something obviously wrong with the above statement?
First of all they say one cannot fall from "a state of
justification", [they have to say this in keeping with their
predestination/election chaff], THEN THEY STATE THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO SO
"BY THEIR SINS"??? [wait a bit, that discredits their
predestination/election theory doesn`t it:):
IS THE DOUBLEMINDEDNESS OBVIOUS TO YOU? IT IS TO ME:
CHAPTER 12 OF ADOPTION
The interesting thing in this chapter is that "being
sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise unto the day of redemption" is
declared, (Eph. 4/30), but again, they deny the presence and manifestation of
The Holy Ghost in Power and Authority from their church services replacing Him
with a charade, a pretence of this activity taking place.
CHAPTER 16 OF GOOD WORKS
Verse 3. "Their ability to do good works is
not all of themselves but wholly from the Spirit of Christ. And that they may
be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is
required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will
and to do.
The above statement really attributing the cogitation of men
to be benevolent toward his fellowman coming from the Holy Ghost within them,
(but they deny the Baptism of The Holy Spirit and the manifestation of the
Gifts of The Spirit), when it is entirely determined in the mind of man to do
so coming out of the flesh, the fallen sinful nature of man, these works then
not being "faith works" as commanded by Loving Father Son and Holy
Ghost to do, but out of deduction of thought process to do so. If it is not
commanded by Loving Father, then it does not impute, impart, create faith in
one`s heart and if it is not of faith, then it is sin, it is not a "faith
work", but a "dead work" which we are commanded to repent of.
(Heb. 6/1).
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"FOR WHATSOEVER IS
NOT OF FAITH IS SIN". RO. 14/23.
Verse 5. "We cannot by our best works merit
pardon of sin"
Again a blurring of the line between "faith works in
obedience" and dead works which are sin and rejected, not explaining
clearly the difference, thus having the effect of sowing confusion, hindering
and weakening resolve to "enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" by the
hearers.
Verse 6. "Their "good works" are
accepted in Him".
As just demonstrated, there are no such thing as "good
works",.....it is either "FAITH WORKS IN OBEDIENCE TO LOVING FATHER
SON AND HOLY GHOST",.... OR DEAD WORKS, SIN ACCORDING TO THE COGITATION OF
A MAN TO DO SO.
THERE ARE NO SUCH THING AS GOOD WORKS, IT IS EITHER GOD`S
WORKS, OR MAN`S WORKS, SIN:
"WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN".
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"THEN SAID THEY
UNTO HIM, WHAT SHALL WE DO, THAT WE MIGHT WORK THE WORKS OF GOD? JESUS ANSWERED
AND SAID UNTO THEM, THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD, THAT YE BELIEVE [OBEY] ON HIM WHOM
HE HATH SENT". JOHN 6/28-29. "IF YE LOVE ME, KEEP MY
COMMANDMENTS". JOHN 14/15.
CHAPTER 17 OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
Verse 1. "They, whom God has accepted in His
Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally
nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere
therein to the end, and be eternally saved".
Verse 2. "This perseverance of the saints
depends not upon their own free will [talk about convenient dogma, first they acclaim man`s "free
will" to choose, now it is denied] but upon the
immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable
love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of
Jesus Christ, the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed of God within them and
the nature of the covenant of grace from all which arises also the certainty
and infallibility thereof".
Of course the above has to be stated because of their stand
on predestination and election;........."lie upon lie, pretence upon
pretence".
Verse 3. Nevertheless, they may, through the
temptations of Satan and of the world, the prevalency
of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their
preservation, fall into grievous sins and for a time, continue therein whereby
they incur God`s displeasure and grieve His Holy Spirit, come to be deprived of
some measure of their graces and comforts, have their hearts hardened and their
conscience wounded; hurt and scandalise others, and bring temporal judgments
upon themselves".
Let`s get real here, surely there is not a greater
"denial of the power thereof" (2 Tim. 3/5) to deliver man from sin
than the above statement: Surely there can be no greater denial of "The
Gospel of Jesus Christ being the power of God unto salvation" (Ro. 1/16) than the above: WHAT HERESY! HYPOCRITES!
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD: "WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN? SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN, THAT GRACE MAY
ABOUND? GOD FORBID. HOW SHALL WE, THAT ARE DEAD TO SIN, LIVE ANY LONGER
THEREIN? KNOW YE NOT, THAT SO MANY OF US AS WERE BAPTISED INTO JESUS CHRIST
WERE BAPTISED INTO HIS DEATH? THEREFORE WE ARE BURIED WITH HIM BY
BAPTISM INTO DEATH THAT LIKE AS CHRIST WAS RAISED UP FROM THE DEAD BY THE
GLORY OF THE FATHER, EVEN SO WE ALSO SHOULD WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE. FOR IF WE
HAVE BEEN PLANTED TOGETHER IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH, WE SHALL BE
ALSO IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS RESURRECTION: KNOWING THIS, THAT OUR OLD MAN IS
CRUCIFIED WITH HIM THAT THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DESTROYED, THAT
HENCEFORTH WE SHOULD NOT SERVE SIN. FOR HE THAT IS DEAD IS FREED FROM
SIN. NOW IF WE BE DEAD WITH CHRIST, WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHALL ALSO LIVE WITH
HIM". RO. 6/1-8.
(Isn`t it interesting that this document attests to
"once saved always saved" yet makes provision for the weaknesses of
the flesh, sin, which is surely testament to being unregenerate, not saved: HOW CAN THIS POSSIBLY BE)?
AGAIN, THUS SAITH THE
LORD GOD: "BUT PUT YE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NOT PROVISION
FOR THE FLESH, TO FULFIL THE LUSTS THEREOF". RO. 13/14.
"WHAT THEN? SHALL
WE SIN, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE? GOD FORBID".
RO. 6/15.
AND AGAIN:
"AND THEY THAT ARE
CHRIST`S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH THE AFFECTIONS AND LUSTS". GAL.
5/24.
AND AGAIN:
"I AM CRUCIFIED
WITH CHRIST: NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: AND THE
LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, WHO
LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME". GAL. 2/20.
AND AGAIN: "BUT
GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD GLORY, SAVE IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY
WHOM THE WORLD IS CRUCIFIED UNTO ME, AND I UNTO THE WORLD". GAL. 6/14.
AND AGAIN:
"WHOSOEVER IS BORN
OF GOD DOTH NOT COMMIT SIN; FOR HIS SEED REMAINETH IN HIM: AND HE CANNOT SIN,
BECAUSE HE IS BORN OF GOD". 1 JOHN 3/9.
AND AGAIN:
"WE KNOW THAT
WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD SINNETH NOT; BUT HE THAT IS BEGOTTEN OF GOD KEEPETH
HIMSELF, AND THAT WICKED ONE TOUCHETH HIM NOT". 1 JOHN 5/18.
AND AGAIN:
"HE THAT
COMMITTETH SIN IS OF THE DEVIL; FOR THE DEVIL SINNETH FROM THE BEGINNING. FOR
THIS PURPOSE THE SON OF GOD WAS MANIFESTED, THAT HE MIGHT DESTROY THE WORKS OF
THE DEVIL". 1 JOHN 3/8.
"LITTLE CHILDREN,
LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU: HE THAT DOETH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHTEOUS, EVEN AS HE IS
RIGHTEOUS". 1 JOHN 3/7.
"FOR YE ARE DEAD,
AND YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD". COL. 3/3.
CHAPTER 18 OF ASSURANCE OF GRACE AND SALVATION
Verse 4. "True believers may have the
assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted;
as, by the negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin
which wounds the conscience and grieves the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement
temptation, by God`s withdrawing the light of His countenance, and suffering
even such as fear Him to walk in darkness and have no light: yet are they never
so utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life of faith, that love of
Christ and the brethren, that uncertainty of heart, and conscience of duty, out
of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in time, be
revived and by the which, in the meantime, they are supported from utter
despair".
Do I believe what I am reading here? Are they saying that
Loving Father will hand His Elect, His Beloved over to temptation, sin???
Christ came to deliver us from sin, not deliver us into it:
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"AND LEAD US NOT
INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL": MATH. 6/9, LUKE 11/4.
"LET NO MAN SAY
WHEN HE IS TEMPTED, I AM TEMPTED OF GOD: FOR GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED WITH EVIL, NEITHER
TEMPTETH HE ANY MAN: BUT EVERY MAN IS TEMPTED, WHEN HE IS DRAWN AWAY OF HIS
OWN LUST, AND ENTICED". JA. 1/13-14.
CHAPTER 20 OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY AND LIBERTY OF
CONSCIENCE
Verse 3. "They who, upon pretence of Christian
liberty, do practice any sin, or cherish any lust, do thereby destroy the end
of Christian liberty",.............
The article declares this, and at the same time makes
provision, excuse, compromise, room for sin in the house of God????????
HYPOCRITES!
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"BUT PUT YE ON THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NOT PROVISION FOR THE FLESH, TO FULFIL THE LUSTS
THEREOF". RO. 13/14.
CHAPTER 21 OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP AND THE SABBATH DAY
Verse 7. "As it is the law of nature, that, in
general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so in
His word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in
all ages, He has particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath to be
kept Holy unto Him: which, from the beginning of the world, to the resurrection
of Christ, was the last day of the week: and, from the resurrection of Christ,
was changed into the first day of the week which, in scripture is called the
Lord`s day, and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian
Sabbath".
Verse 8. "This Sabbath is to be kept holy unto
the Lord when men, after due preparing of their hearts, and ordering common
affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy day of rest all the day from
their own works, words, and thoughts about their worldly employments and
recreations but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private
exercises of His worship, and in duties and mercy".
There is much to be said about this and it starts in Genesis
chapter 2/2 with Loving Father "resting from all His work which He had
made" thus came the law of Moses in which a man should toil of his own
labour for six days and on the seventh day he rests honouring God.
We see from Hebrews 4/1 that there "is a promise being
left us of entering into His rest". In Heb. 4/10 we see that "he that
is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did
from His". Remember we spoke about "faith works" and dead works?
The works in the old covenant that a man was to rest from on the seventh day
were his own works not Gods`. In the new covenant we are commanded to walk and
live by faith: ("The just shall live by faith"): When we walk in
obedience of His spoken commands to our lives we are walking by faith and we
enter His rest, ceasing from doing works our ways and doing His works, faith
works,...OF WHICH HE HAS RESTED FROM BACK IN GENESIS CHAPTER 2/2. SO YOU SEE,
IF WE TRULY BELONG TO CHRIST, THEN EVERY DAY IS MEAN`T TO BE A HOLY DAY, A
SABBATH, A DAY WHEN WE CEASE FROM OUR WORKS AND ENTER HIS REST DOING HIS WORKS.
"ALTHOUGH THE WORKS WERE FINISHED FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD".
HEB. 4/3.
"THERE REMAINETH THEREFORE A REST TO THE PEOPLE OF
GOD". HEB. 4/9.
"LET US LABOUR THEREFORE TO ENTER INTO THAT REST",
HEB. 4/11.
CHAPTER 22 OF LAWFUL OATHS AND VOWS
Verse1. "A lawful oath is part of religious
worship, wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calls God to
witness what he assets, or promises, and to judge him according to the truth or
falsehood of what he swears".
It is almost difficult to believe that those who purport to
be "experts" in scripture can be so blind to truth as the above
witnesses:
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"AGAIN, YE HAVE
HEARD THAT IT HATH BEEN SAID BY THEM OF OLD TIME, THOU SHALT NOT FORSWEAR
THYSELF, BUT SHALT PERFORM UNTO THE LORD THINE OATHS: BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, SWEAR
NOT AT ALL ; NEITHER BY HEAVEN; FOR IT IS GOD`S THRONE: NOR BY THE EARTH; FOR
IT IS HIS FOOTSTOOL: NEITHER BY JERUSALEM; FOR IT IS THE CITY OF THE GREAT
KING. NEITHER SHALT THOU SWEAR BY THY HEAD, BECAUSE THOU CANST NOT MAKE ONE
HAIR WHITE OR BLACK. BUT LET YOUR COMMUNICATION BE, YEA, YEA; NAY, NAY: FOR
WHATSOEVER IS MORE THAN THESE COMETH OF EVIL". MATH. 5/33-37.
THE SWEARING OF OATHS,
OATH TAKING IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN BY CHRIST: THE FACT THAT IT IS DONE IS
TESTAMENT AND WITNESS TO THE LIARS THAT MEN ARE, OTHERWISE THERE WOULD BE NO
NEED TO DO IT.
CHAPTER 28 OF BAPTISMS
Verse 1. "Baptism is a sacrament of the New
Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the
party baptised into the visible church; but also to be unto him a sign and seal
of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into
Christ of regeneration, of remission of sins,
and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness
of life. Which sacrament is, by Christ`s own appointment, to be continued until
the end of the world".
Verse 2. "The outward element to be used in
this sacrament is water, whereby the party is to be baptised".
Verse 3. "Dipping of the person is not
necessary; but Baptism is right by administered by pouring, or sprinkling water
upon a person".
Verse 4. "Not only those that do actually
profess faith in and obedience to Christ, but also infants of one, or both,
believing parents are to be baptised".
Verse 7. "the sacrament of baptism is but once
to be administered unto any person".
"A sign and seal of the covenant of grace of his ingrafting into Christ of regeneration".
THUS SAITH HOLY WRIT:
"I INDEED BAPTISE
YOU WITH WATER UNTO REPENTANCE": MATH. 3/11.
"JOHN DID BAPTISE
IN THE WILDERNESS, AND PREACH THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE FOR THE
REMISSION OF SINS". MK. 1/4.
"AND HE CAME INTO
ALL THE COUTRY ABOUT JORDAN, PREACHING THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE FOR THE
REMISSION OF SINS"; LUKE 3/3.
The baptism of John is a "baptism of water unto
repentance" only, not a baptism of regeneration to start with:
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"BY THE WASHING
AND REGENERATION OF THE HOLY GHOST"; TIT. 3/5.
All through this apologetic I have made mention of the denial
of the power and presence of the Holy Ghost in this article and the churches
that adopt it as their faith statement, now in this chapter we see absolute
proof in that there is no mention of "The Baptism of the Holy Ghost"
that is evident in Holy Cannon which causes the regeneration of men, being born
again into new life.
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"BUT HE THAT
COMETH AFTER ME IS MIGHTIER THAN I, WHOSE SHOES I AM NOT WORTHY TO BEAR: HE
SHALL BAPTISE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND WITH FIRE": MATH.
3/11, MK. 1/8, LUKE 3/16.
This "confession" makes mention of only one
baptism, and that by water, and only sprinkling to boot, then in pretence
attributing the power and presence of The Holy Spirit imparted by this method?
RUBBISH:
THEY ARE CLEARLY TWO SEPARATE EVENTS, ONE WATER UNTO REPENTANCE,
THE OTHER, A BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WASHING, REMITTING AND REGENERATING THE
BELIEVER MAKING HIM A "NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST", 2 COR. 5/17, BORN
AGAIN BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. JOHN 3/6.
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"WHILE PETER YET
SPAKE THESE WORDS, THE HOLY GHOST FELL ON ALL THEM WHICH HEARD THE WORD. AND
THEY OF THE CIRCUMCISION WHICH BELIEVED WERE ASTONISHED, AS MANY AS CAME WITH
PETER, BECAUSE THAT ON THE GENTILES ALSO WAS POURED OUT THE GIFT OF THE HOLY
GHOST. FOR THEY HEARD THEM SPEAK WITH TONGUES, AND MAGNIFY GOD. THEY ANSWERED
PETER, CAN ANY MAN FORBID WATER, THAT THESE SHOULD NOT BE BAPTISED, WHICH HAVE
RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST AS WELL AS WE? AND HE COMMANDED THEM TO BE BAPTISED IN
THE NAME OF THE LORD". ACTS. 10/44-48.
AND AGAIN: ACTS 2/1-4, AND
AGAIN: ACTS 18/25-28, 19/1-7.
AND AGAIN:
"BUT I HAVE A
BAPTISM TO BE BAPTISED WITH; AND HOW AM I STRAITENED TILL IT BE
ACCOMPLISHED"! LUKE 12/50.
The "seal" comes with The Baptism of The Holy
Spirit. (2 Cor. 1/22, Eph. 1/13, 4/30).
The Greek work for Baptism in the New Testament is "Baptisma", and means to stain, DIP OR IMMERSE.
Sprinkling is rubbish, the water Baptism is to be full immersion demonstrating
what is to come with The Holy Ghost as He stains, fully dips, immerses, bathes
the one saved in His Spirit thus changing them into the image of His dear Son:
And it is not a once only happening, it should be that in one`s own quiet time,
prayer time, when coming into the presence of Loving Father that He will again,
stain, dip, immerse, bathe us in His Spirit.
The word Baptism parallels women in Biblical times who when
they were changing the colour of garments with dyes, they used to fully immerse
the garment into the dye, then pull it out, dip it again, pull it out and keep
repeating this procedure till they were happy with the colour.
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD:
"BUT WE ALL, WITH
OPEN FACE BEHOLDING AS IN A GLASS THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE CHANGED INTO THE
SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, EVEN AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD".
2 COR. 3/18.
"AND I KNEW HIM
NOT: BUT HE THAT SENT ME TO BAPTISE WITH WATER, THE SAME SAID UNTO ME, UPON
WHOM THOU SHALT SEE THE SPIRIT DESCENDING, AND REMAINING ON HIM, THE SAME IS HE
WHICH BAPTISETH WITH THE HOLY GHOST". JOHN 1/33.
THUS SAITH THE LORD
GOD: "OF THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS," HEB. 6/2 (Notice, Baptisms,...
plural?).
THE ONE BAPTISM THAT PAUL IS REFERRING TO IN EPH. 4/5 IS TO
DO WITH THE ONLY ONE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST THAT COMES FROM THE ONE AND ONLY
LORD GOD AND FATHER OF ALL WHO IS THE ARCHITECT OF ONLY ONE FAITH IMPARTED BY
THE ONE AND ONLY HOLY SPIRIT, AND AS WE HAVE SEEN IS TO TAKE PLACE OFTEN. HE IS
NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BAPTISM OF WATER UNTO REPENTANCE HERE.
As far as baptising children, infants goes;....Refer the
following:
www.straighttalkmin.org/doc/HEAVEN_OR_THE_PIT.htm
..........................................................................................................................
As we have just documented it is evident that when men decide
to follow men, (in this case Calvin), then a considerable wandering out of the
way occurs, especially when they lay hold of ear tickling, self placating
compromising, sin accommodating heresy such as Calvin`s once saved always
saved, predestination/election chaff,..the result is that "both wind up in
the ditch".
We are called to be followers of Christ not men:
This Westminster Confession come Reformed Theology come
Calvinism is nothing but "doctrine of the Nicolaitanes
which thing I hate saith the Lord God": Rev.
2/6,15. Man made, man concocted dogma designed to absolve men of the
responsibility and accountability of
"keeping themselves pure", without committing sin, "abstaining
from all appearance of evil". It is nothing but an offer of froth and
bubble, gilt edged compromise presenting those with itching ears who won`t sell
out for Christ, a supposed guarantee of salvation, an insurance policy that
deludes the partakers that in spite of themselves, they are still going to walk
through the Pearly Gates.
I had a phone call this week from one who attends a
Presbyterian Church telling me that he just heard a sermon from the Minister stating
that it is inevitable, "YOU ARE GOING TO COMMIT SIN", and he said to
me that was brilliant, terrific: YOU
HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING, WHAT MORE CAN WE SAY, TALK ABOUT BLATANT DENIAL OF THE
POWER OF GOD TO CHANGE A MAN.
THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD:
"BUT PUT YE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NOT PROVISION FOR THE
FLESH, TO FULFIL THE LUSTS THEREOF". RO. 13/14. and again,... "HAVING
A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY".
2 TIM. 3/5.
If you are part of, or contemplating enjoining yourself to
this heresy, think again, all heresy is lies, and those who speak it are
liars,...and "ALL LIARS SHALL HAVE
THEIR PART IN THE LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: WHICH IS THE
SECOND DEATH". REV. 21/8.
ARE YOU GOING TO
BLINDLY FOLLOW THEM? "COME YE OUT FROM AMONG THE AND BE YE SEPARATE SAITH
THE LORD GOD". 2 COR. 6/17.
Bevan Kluver, Straight Talk Ministries,
Ph/Fax 07 55452874,
www.straighttalkmin.org
bevan.kluver@bigpond.com
"speaking the truth in love, in the spirit of meekness,
earnestly contending for the faith":
HELPING HIM PREPARE A BRIDE WITHOUT SPOT OR BLEMISH:
HATING EVEN THE GARMENT SPOTTED BY THE FLESH:
For Straight Talk Ministries "articles of faith"
refer the following:
www.straighttalkmin.org/doc/THE_TRUE_PROPHET.htm