Bible Doctrine

Paul was speaking of the Jewish nation in Romans 1:20 when he says these people of whom he speaks were without excuse for they were unthankful to God for His having revealed Himself to them. Comparing scripture with scripture, it is further enlightening to us when we consider these inspired statements made by God’s prophets in the Hebrew scriptures: “You (Israelites) ONLY have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities” (Amos 3:2). And just WHO is God addressing there? Verse 1: “Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, against the whole family (all 12 tribes) which I brought up from the land of Egypt…” Notice that God says He had revealed Himself ONLY to the people of Israel. Out of ALL the families of the earth (that would include each and every Gentile people and nation) God had a relationship only with Israel. Keep this fact in mind when reading Romans One and you will quickly realize that those “without excuse” were the people of Israel – NOT the blinded masses of earth’s Gentile inhabitants. Many apply that condemning verse of scripture to all mankind! They pervert the scriptures when they do that. They may be well meaning, but they are wrong and grossly deceived in that area.

In Psalm 76:1-2, we read, “In Judah is God known (there and there only at that time). His name is great in Israel (there and there only for many long centuries). In Salem (shortened form of Jerusalem) also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion (a mount in Jerusalem).” If Christians would stop quoting one another and stop depending upon Bible commentaries and the Internet to get their doctrine, if they would let God’s Word IN ITS’ FULLNESS speak, getting their doctrine from the pages of Holy Writ – the scriptures, both Hebrew and Greek – you would suddenly hear some very different doctrines being preached from the pulpits across America.

“He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel” (Psalm 103:7). When Pharaoh told Moses, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord,” he was speaking the truth. Moses had just “told Pharaoh, ‘Thus saith THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, Let my people go..’.” (See Exodus 5, verses 1 and 2). At that point in time – and for many long centuries – God was just that THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL. He had revealed Himself to no other nation or people. The wonders of creation might have convinced the thinking minds of other nationalities that there must have been a Creator for all that they saw and discerned by their various senses but creation in and of itself does NOT reveal who is the Creator and if that Creator desires a relationship with His creation. That’s why Pharaoh – and millions of others around the globe – worshiped the sun, the moon, the stars, scarab beetles and jaguars in the jungles of South America. They were ignorant. They just did not know PERIOD! And God understood their predicament then and understands it now. These blinded, ignorant masses are not merely written off as forever lost, consigned to a fiery hell. How can people be so blind as to even think that? Why would Christ suffer and die for someone – for BILLIONS – who would never even hear of His sacrifice on their behalf? It doesn’t make sense, and believe me the truth of God makes perfect sense. God help you to understand.

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

When Jesus Christ stopped Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus and informed him that he was to be Christ’s representative to the Gentiles it was as astounding as if Jesus had appeared to Adolf Hitler, informing him that he was to become a Christian missionary to Israel or Africa. (See Acts 9:1-20). Saul of Tarsus hated and despised Christians. Whenever and wherever he found Christians in a synagogue he delivered them into the hands of zealous fellow Jews who would gladly stone them to death. In writing the believers in Galatia, Paul (formerly called Saul) said “For you have heard of my conduct in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.” (See Galatians 1:13). In defending himself before the Roman tribune, Paul told the man, I persecuted this way (Christianity) unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women” (See Acts 22:4). Even as a young man Paul was present at the stoning of the first Christian martyr Stephen, consenting to his death. (See Acts 7:54-60 and Acts 8:1-3). Jesus can surprise us as to who He will choose to represent Him and proclaim His truths on this earth.

“For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world and things which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and things which are not (or, are of no reputation), to bring to nought things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence” (I Corinthians 1:26-29).

Yes, God can surprise us as to whom He will use as His representative. He will choose an ex-convict while passing over a thousand law-abiding citizens. He will choose a young shepherd boy to be his most illustrious king and will choose a stuttering slave to be His representative and deliverer of His people. He will choose a murderous Christian hater to be His greatest apostle. God cautions us that His thoughts are not our thoughts. He does not think like we humans think. Never forget that. The one you scorn may well be the one whom God has anointed to speak on His behalf!

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

WHEN GOD BLESSED AND SANCTIFIED THE SEVENTH DAY CREATION WEEK IT REMAINED BLESSED AND SANCTIFIED FROM THAT DAY FORWARD. IT MATTERS NOT THAT THERE IS NO RECORD THAT ENOCH, OR NOAH, OR ABRAHAM, ISAAC OR JACOB HONORED THE SEVENTH DAY AND KEPT IT HOLY. IT WAS HOLY TIME NONETHELESS. THERE IS NO RECORD ENOCH EVER UTTERED A PRAYER. ARE WE TO THEREFORE CONCLUDE HE DID NOT? IN GENESIS 6:12 WE READ, “AND GOD LOOKED UPON THE EARTH, AND, BEHOLD, IT WAS CORRUPT; FOR ALL FLESH HAD CORRUPTED HIS WAY UPON THE EARTH.” THERE WAS NO KEEPING OF GOD’S SABBATH. HIS BLESSED AND SANCTIFIED DAY HAD BEEN FORGOTTEN AS SURELY AS HIS NAME HAD BEEN FORGOTTEN, CAUSING MOSES TO ASK GOD CENTURIES LATER, “WHEN I COME UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND SHALL SAY UNTO THEM, ‘THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS HATH SENT ME UNTO YOU,’ AND THEY SHALL SAY TO ME, ‘WHAT IS HIS NAME?’ WHAT SHALL I SAY UNTO THEM?” (SEE EXODUS 3:13).

BUT DON’T OVERLOOK THE RELATIONSHIP ABRAHAM HAD WITH GOD, FOR GOD APPEARED TO ISAAC AND INFORMED HIM THAT “ABRAHAM OBEYED MY VOICE, AND KEPT MY CHARGE, MY COMMANDMENTS, MY STATUTES, AND MY LAWS.” AND THIS WAS MANY HUNDREDS OF YEARS PRIOR TO MOSES’ TIME. (SEE GENESIS 26:1-5). ARE WE TO ASSUME ABRAHAM WAS NOT COMMANDED TO REMEMBER GOD’S SABBATH, A TIME IN WHICH HE COULD REST FROM HIS LABORS AND HAVE SWEET COMMUNION WITH GOD? THINK ON THESE THINGS, FRIEND, AND MAY THE LORD GIVE YOU LIGHT AND LIBERTY TO SEE AND BELIEVE.

CHRIST’S FAITHFUL SERVANT (GALATIANS 1:10-12),

DONALD WILEY

Israel’s near annihilation of the Palestinian presence in Gaza is beginning to backfire.  More and more nation’s are sympathizing with the plight of the homeless Palestinians.  Israel is playing into the hands of the Islamists by their continued death dealing blows to the Palestinians occupying Gaza.

Having rejected Jesus as their Messiah, they do not take heed to the end-time prophecies uttered by our Lord.  Also, in their rejection of Jesus Christ, they are without the enlightening power of the Holy Spirit when reading the Hebrew prophets.  The Muslim nations that surround them are filled with a terrible resolve to avenge themselves on Israel, more terrible than the resolve of Netanyahu to avenge Israel for the October 7th attack on Israel.

A widening war in the Middle East is inevitable, and Israel is going to fare worse in the terrible conflict yet to erupt.  Look at tiny Israel on a map and then compare the immense size of the territory occupied by devout Muslims surrounding them.

Israel is NOT God’s favored people any more, nor have they been such for the last two thousand years.  The apostle Paul writes of their being cursed by God for their rejection of Jesus Christ.  (See Romans 9:1-3).  Only a tiny remnant of Jews remain under God’s watch care and blessing, those Jews who have accepted Jesus Christ and honor Him as Lord, Savior and Son of God. (See Romans 11:5).

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Romans 1 is the classic text many use to prove that all mankind has already been given, or in their lifetime will be given, a fair shake, or golden opportunity to inherit eternal life. The “proof text” for this belief is the 20th verse of Romans 1: “For the invisible things of Him (of God) from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.” Pretty plain words those, huh? But wait a minute. Just WHO are the “they” being spoken of in that verse? And they are “without excuse” in what regard? Many would quickly reply that the “they” means all mankind without exception, and that they are without excuse for failing to take advantage of God’s offer of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Many believe that when Paul, in Romans 1, says “they are without excuse” he is speaking of all the inhabitants of the earth of all times and ages, and that he is saying all unbelievers are lost and condemned and have all had a fair opportunity to be saved. None who have ever lived on this planet will be afforded any further opportunity to inherit eternal life. They have had their one and only chance. At least that’s what many believe. But it is Paul himself who later in this same epistle asks, “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?” (See Romans 10:14). And again Paul writes: “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, IT PLEASED GOD BY THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING TO SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE” (See I Corinthians 1:21).

Here Paul says that one cannot discover God, make contact with God or have fellowship with God through the various sciences of man’s wisdom – not through astronomy, or archaeology, or biology, or any other science. Jesus Christ flatly stated, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me” (See John 14:6). One cannot come to the Father through an appreciation of creation, convinced that creation demands the existence of a Creator! Does that surprise you?

Preconceived, long-held religious beliefs, or interpretation of some scripture or scriptures serve as a formidable mental block when “new” truth is presented to the human mind. We can’t see the forest of God’s truth, because of the trees of deeply rooted doctrine or beliefs that stand in the way. That is WHY Baptists retain Baptist beliefs, Pentecostals retain Pentecostal beliefs, etc. The human mind, acting much like a sponge, absorbs and retains whatever is poured into it if the one “holding the pitcher,” so to speak, is deemed trustworthy or knowledgeable in the subject about which they speak. It’s that simple.

So, let’s take a closer look at Romans 1. Let’s see if Paul is saying all born human are without excuse and forever doomed if they do not come to accept and obey the one true God during their lifespan on this earth, however short of long that life might be. Remember, the apostle Peter warned us that when writing of “the longsuffering of our Lord” brother Paul wrote “some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned (in the scriptures as a whole) and unstable (spiritually) wrest (twist, distort), as they do also the other scriptures (not just Paul’s epistles), unto their own (spiritual) destruction” (See 2 Peter 3:15-16).

It is all too easy to forget that the Book of Romans was originally a letter only, a letter that was not divided into chapters and verses. When one stops reading at the last verse of chapter one they fail to realize just WHO Paul is writing about in that chapter as it isn’t until the reader comes to verse 17 of chapter two that Paul says, “Indeed YOU ARE CALLED A JEW, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God.” And when he writes in verse 1 of chapter 2, “Therefore you are inexcusable O man” he is addressing himself to Christ-rejecting Jews for those were indeed the ones who were without excuse for abandoning the worship of the one true God for idols, “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” (See Romans 1:21-23). Notice, Paul is speaking of those who KNEW God. The world at large did NOT know God. When Pharaoh told Moses, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord,” he was speaking the truth! Everyone on earth outside of Israel could have truthfully said the same thing as Pharaoh! God Himself told Israel, “You ONLY have I known of all the families of the earth…” (See Amos 3:2). The Psalmist wrote, “In Judah is God known. His name is great in Israel.” (See Psalm 76:1). Moses wrote, “What nation is there so great, who has God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great that has statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?” (See Deuteronomy 4:7-8).

The world at large did not abandon God for the worship of idols. Only ancient Israel did that! Although many other nationalities embraced idolatry, it was not because they had abandoned God. Other nations were cut off from God and had no knowledge of the one true God. God had revealed Himself to no other nation. Through His prophet Jeremiah, God asks, “Has a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But my people have changed their glory (the one and only true God) for that which does not profit” (See Jeremiah 2:11). In his defense before the Sanhedrin, the supreme council of the Jewish people, Stephen declared “our fathers received the living oracles to give unto us, to whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him (Moses) from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us…’ and they made a calf in those days and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven” (See Acts 7:38-42).

Those who use Romans 1 as their “proof text” to teach that all who have ever been born since man’s creation have already had their one and only chance at salvation do violence to the scriptures and picture God as being grossly unfair. They also reveal that they don’t think very deeply, nor do they pay very close attention to the revealing statements made by Paul in this chapter. Notice what Paul says in verse 18 of Romans 1: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold (Greek, “hold back, suppress”) the truth in unrighteousness.” And in Romans 3, Paul writes, “What advantage then has the Jew?…..Much every way, chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God” (See verses 1 and 2). That was the truth that was being suppressed by the Jews – the Word of God. They alone had the writing prophets, the books of Moses and the inspired scriptures. They were suppressing the truth contained therein by rejecting Jesus Christ as the Messiah and teaching error. And many so-called Christian ministers do the exact same thing today when they, too, teach error and hold on to false doctrine. (See Matthew 23:13-39).

Also, in verse 31 of Romans 1, Paul informs us that those of whom he speaks were “covenant breakers.” (King James Version). It was with Israel only that God made such a covenant. (See Deuteronomy 5:1-3). Some modern versions of the scriptures change the wording of this verse and do not mention the fact that these persons to whom Paul spoke were covenant breakers. Such a change obscures the true meaning of what Paul was saying here.

Paul further identifies the people of whom he speaks as being given up by God “for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature, and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly…” (See verses 26 and 27, Romans 1). The scriptures plainly state that the Jews had done this. (See Judges 19:22 and Isaiah 3:9). And Paul plainly states in this same letter that they were indeed accursed from God. (See Romans 9:1-5).

In verse 28 of Romans 1, Paul states that these people “did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” Only the Jews had such knowledge of God. At that time God had given such knowledge to no other people. He speaks of them “knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things (as the sins mentioned in the preceding verses) are worthy of death” (see verse 32, Romans 1). Once again, only the Jews had such knowledge. (See Deuteronomy 4:5-8; Deut. 23:17-18).

Why can’t men think more deeply than they do? It seems that once someone has bought into and embraced a false doctrine their ability to think goes out the window. How can the ancient peoples of the earth be faulted for their errors and accused of rejecting the true Creator God when they knew nothing of such a God? For all they knew God was best represented by a solar disc, or a great mountain, or a leopard or huge serpent! My innate intelligence might convince me that there is a Creator, but I have nothing to inform me that such a Creator is an invisible spirit being. Also, how would I know that such a Creator desired a relationship with me and desired to impart immortality and eternal life to me? And how would I take advantage of such an offer, an offer I knew nothing about?

“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, ‘Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious (Gk. quite religious), for as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.” Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” Finally, at that very moment, this clustered group of Greek men had spiritual truth presented to their minds. It was a first in their world. It had not been presented to their fathers or grandfathers. God was doing a new thing on this earth. To be continued…..

Christ’s Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Do you know what an oxymoron is?  The dictionary definition of an oxymoron is “a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.”  Immortal soul is an oxymoron.  Souls are not immortal.  Your Bible says, “the soul that sinneth, it shall die!”  (See Ezekiel 18:20-24).  The movie title “The Night of the Living Dead” contains an oxymoron as living and dead are two opposite terms.

Socrates, and his student Plato, popularized the immortal soul belief in the Greek world 350 years prior to Jesus Christ’s birth.  By the time of Jesus’ day, Greek thought, including the belief in the immortality of the soul, had penetrated deeply into Jewish thought and beliefs.  The Pharisees especially embraced this teaching while the Sadducees rejected it completely.  It was to the Pharisees Jesus was speaking when he introduced the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.  He wanted them to see how ridiculous was their belief, and kept insisting that they pay heed to what God had said through the writings of Moses and the prophets.  Had they done so, and believed what God had said about death, the soul, and the spirit in those writings, they would never have been susceptible to Greek philosophy

So many preachers have used the term “immortal soul” for so long that those not well grounded in the scriptures have come to believe that they are using Bible terminology when they speak of the immortality of the soul.  They are not.  They are using an oxymoron and they are presenting an idea that is completely foreign to the scriptures.  Your Bible clearly says that “only God has immortality!”  (See I Timothy 6:16).  The apostle Paul says that immortality is something believers will “put on” at the resurrection and not before.  (See I Corinthians 15:53).  All born human are mortal and death is appointed us.

Jesus told His disciples, “Where I go you cannot come” (See John 8:21).  The thief on the cross could not go there either.  One would need to be immortal to go from earth to heaven, that’s why, when caught up to the third heaven, Paul said, “Whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell.”  In his many travels Paul had traversed several mountain ranges and  he realized the higher in elevation one went the thinner the air and the harder it was to breathe.  He knew it got a lot colder, too.  So he doubted whether he could have still been in his physical body when being transported to the third heaven – the abode of God.

The immortal soul error was spawned in Greek paganism.  Satan then blended it into Jewish tradition and later into deceived Christianity.  A deceived person is not an evil person.  A deceived person can be a very good and utterly moral person.  They are just deceived.  They don’t know the truth.  But Jesus said that those who believe in Him need not abide in darkness, that He had come to be a light to the world.  So listen to Him and learn the truth.  OK?

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

It is when reading such statements made by the apostle Paul one needs to keep in mind a warning written by Peter considering Paul’s letters: “And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation (or, results in our salvation), even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things (how “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day”), in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned (in the scriptures, especially the Hebrew scriptures) and (spiritually) unstable wrest (twist, distort, misinterpret), as they do also the other scriptures (not just Paul’s writings), unto their own (spiritual) destruction” (See 2 Peter 3:15-16 and verse 17).

Almost every single time I have heard someone quote 2 Corinthians 5:8, they have misquoted what Paul actually wrote. He did NOT say, “to be absent from the body IS to be present with the Lord,” although that is how most quote his words. He said he was ” WILLING to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” There is a great big difference in those two statements. I have no doubt this is one of Paul’s statements Peter had in mind when he said Paul wrote some things hard to understand and that those who didn’t know the Bible as well as they should would think Paul was saying something he wasn’t saying at all.

I am willing to be absent from Kentucky and present with family members in New Jersey, but for me to be absent from Kentucky does not mean I am in New Jersey. I might be in Indiana or Tennessee or Bora Bora. Can’t you see the difference it makes if you omit the word “willing” from such a statement? All Paul was saying was that he was not married to the idea, or sold out to the proposition of continuing life in a fleshly body. He was quite willing to be changed from mortal flesh and blood to immortal spirit, and in the 15th chapter of his First Letter to the Corinthians he carefully spelled out WHEN this would occur – NOT at the moment he breathed his last, but at the moment of Christ’s return and not before.  The Greek believers to whom he was writing had been reared in a culture wherein the human form was greatly admired to the point of worship in some instances.  Sculptures of the nude human form were everywhere.  To be told by Paul that, if converted, they would spend eternity in some other form was not readily welcome or acceptable to the average Greek.  That is why Paul carefully explained the magnificent and awesome characteristics of the resurrected bodies of the redeemed.

Folks, that is rightly dividing the Word of God, putting all the verses together. Looking at the context. Not omitting critical words from the text. The next time you hear someone say, “To be absent from the body IS to be present with the Lord” know that you are listening to someone who does not have a very good understanding of the Holy Scriptures and watch out. He, or she, might unwittingly deceive you, too.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Roman Catholicism has within her ranks cardinals, bishops and priests, some of which are scholars in both the ancient Greek and Hebrew languages.  Many of these men are highly intelligent, not easily fooled, one would think, but many tend to forget the awesome deceiving power of Satan the devil.  They also fail to consider that Satan’s intelligence is super-human.  Albert Einstein was no match for him.  The same could be said for Carl Sagan or Stephen Hawking.  And the same could be said for any Roman Catholic cardinal, bishop or priest.

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat.  This is my body.’  And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink you all of it, for this is my blood of the new testament (covenant), which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (See Matthew 26:26-28).

Roman Catholicism bases its’ whole religious system on a misinterpretation of those three verses of scripture!  They adamantly teach that in those verses Jesus pronounces the first priestly blessing that mysteriously changes the bread and wine into His body and blood.  The absolute folly of such a conclusion is proved by this one simple observation: Jesus was literally still standing there before them before, during and after they had partaken of the bread and the wine.  He was not changed into some liquid and bread.  His flesh was still on His bones and His blood was still in His veins.  He had not vanished away to reappear miraculously in the form of a piece of bread or a cup of wine!

Jesus was not the first in the Bible to claim figuratively that a glass of liquid was “blood.”  There was an instance when King David’s friends heard him express a strong desire for water from the well of Bethlehem.  In spite of extreme danger, these men broke through the enemy lines of the Philistines and brought the water to him.  When David found out these men had risked their lives in this way he refused to drink the water, exclaiming, “Is not this the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” (See 2 Samuel 23:17).

Throughout the gospel accounts we find similar metaphorical language.  Jesus refers to Himself as “the Door,” “the Light,” “the Root,” “the Rock,” etc., as well as “the Bread.”  The passage in Matthew 26 is written with such common language that it is plain to any observant reader that the Lord’s Supper was intended primarily as a memorial only and, in no sense, a sacrifice.  “Do this IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME,” Jesus said.  (See Luke 22:19).

The epistle to the Hebrews speaks of the “once for all” sacrifice of Christ on the cross, NOT a daily sacrifice on a Roman Catholic church altar.  The Bible repeatedly affirms in the clearest and most positive terms that Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary was complete in that one offering.  And that it was never to be repeated is set forth explicitly in Hebrews chapters 7, 9 and 10.

“(Jesus) needs not daily, as those (Jewish) high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people’s, for this he did ONCE, when He offered up Himself” (See Hebrews 7:27).  Yet Roman Catholicism says the celebration of the mass IS a daily sacrifice for sins!!!  “By His own blood He entered into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (See Hebrews 9:12).  “Nor yet that He should offer Himself often…but now ONCE in the end of the world has He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself….so Christ was ONCE offered to bear the sins of many” (See Hebrews 9:26-28).  “We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL….but this man, after He had offered ONE SACRIFICE for the sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God….for by ONE OFFERING He has perfected forever them that are sanctified” (See Hebrews 10:10-14).

Notice that throughout these verses occurs the statement “once for all” which shows how perfect, complete and FINAL Jesus’ sacrifice was!  His work on the cross constituted one historic event which need never be repeated and which, in fact, cannot be repeated.  As Paul says, “Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more” (See Romans 6:9).  Any  pretense of a continuous daily offering for sins, i.e., the mass, is worse than vain.  It is blasphemy and true fulfillment of the scripture, “seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame” (See Hebrews 6:6).

Yet daily, around the world, millions of professing Christians take part in this blasphemous ritual thinking that what they do is pleasing to God!  Folks, Satan’s deceiving power is formidable.  It isn’t just the Sabbath he has tainted and attempted to nullify.  He has done the same with Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary.  You are no match for him.  Without a total and continual submission to Jesus Christ, I assure you Satan will deceive you big time.  Doubt me on that and do so at your own risk and peril.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

There’s an old song that says, “You’re going to miss me when I’m gone.” But, thanks be to God, the date for resurrection morn is circled on God’s calendar. There is going to be “a great getting up morning,” as another old hymn puts it. Scripture calls it “the blessed hope.”

If one reads the New Testament very slowly and carefully, they will find that the blessed hope is NOT the hope that we will go to heaven when we die but that we will be resurrected from the dead when Christ returns. I fear many believers do not read their New Testaments slowly and carefully. They merely parrot one another, saying what their illustrious leaders and scholars have said, speaking “the party line” of their particular denomination. Oh, of course, they have a scripture here and a scripture there that they think supports their viewpoint, but they have a plethora of scriptures they overlook – scriptures that cast an entirely different light on their beliefs. That great fund of knowledge contained in the Hebrew scriptures (the “Old” Testament) is ignored. After all, it is the “OLD” Testament, isn’t it? And something that is “old” is fairly useless, isn’t it?

When the apostle John wrote “every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as He is pure,” (I John 3:3) the context shows that the hope he speaks of is the hope of being resurrected in an incorruptible, immortal spirit body when Jesus Christ returns!  “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR (yes, then at that time) we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:2).

Peter wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (yes, THE GOD and Father of Jesus Christ), which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3).  And Paul concurs, writing, “But if the Spirit of Him that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (bring back to life) your mortal bodies (but then made immortal and incorruptible) by His Spirit that dwells in you” (Romans 8:11).  Yes, that is the believer’s blessed hope, that we will be raised from the dead at Christ’s return.  King David saw his resurrection as the believer’s blessed hope, “for David speaks concerning Him (Jesus Christ), I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand that I should not be moved.  Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad: moreover also my flesh shall rest (in the grave) IN HOPE, because thou wilt not leave my soul (his life) in hell (Hades, the grave), neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance (when resurrected)” (Acts 2:25-28).  Peter then says, “Men and brethren let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that HE IS BOTH DEAD AND BURIED, and his sepulchre (tomb) is with us unto this day…for David is not ascended into the heavens!” (See Acts 2:29 and 34).  David, like all other redeemed children of God, is awaiting a resurrection to life.  Peter declared, “He’s not yet in heaven!”  If King David is not in heaven folks better rethink just what Jesus said to the thief on the cross when He assured him he would see Christ in paradise! (See Luke 23:39-43).

I would suggest that one read the 15th chapter of I Corinthians very slowly and carefully, paying extremely close attention to verses 12 through 58. Herein the apostle Paul ties a believer’s hope of living again to a resurrection, not as a soul flitting off to heaven at the moment of death. He states clearly that if there is no resurrection to come, then there is no hope, that death then ends all.  And he reveals that there is no intermediate state of life in any form or fashion between the time one dies and the day of their resurrection.  The dead are dead!  Really, is that all that surprising?  

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley