Evangel: Justification by Faith

Book III − EVANGEL [The Gospel Alone]: Justification by Faith

Copyright © 2023 by Apostle Curtis L. Schulze

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Table of Contents

Dedication

Introduction

Another Gospel?

The Deeds of the Law

St. Augustine on Grace

Original sin, human Depravity, and free Will

Why Do Men deny the Existence of God?

Doctrine of Justification

A Church in Crisis

Martin Luther: A Roman Priest gone rogue?

Baptism: A Baptismal regeneration?

Martin Luther’s Revelation

Imputed, and infused?

Sacerdotalism: A need for a Priesthood?

The Sacraments: A means of grace?

Justification by faith alone: The gospel alone.

A Competing Priesthood: A competing mediation?

The Lord’s Table: Communion, or the Mass?

The Gospel

What has begun in the gospel, must finish with the gospel

What most fail to understand about their Christian Baptism

Paul’s rebuke of the Galatian Believers who added to the gospel

The simple hearing of Faith is where it all [the power] begins

Galatians 5 is Paul presenting the gospel in our sanctification

Antinomianism [the heresy]

Eternal Security [the doctrine]

Paul Warns the Church of Apostasy

Counter Arguments to the doctrine of Eternal Security

Martin Luther’s approach to the Gospel

The Book: The Meaning of Protestant Theology

In conclusion: doing the work of the Evangelist

Final Thoughts

Additional Materials

About the Author

Dedication

I would be remiss if I did not dedicate this book to the Grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Grace of God has taught me to flee all ungodliness and the wickedness [enticements: worldly lusts] that is so prevalent throughout our world (Tit. 2:11-12). "God’s marvelous grace has manifested in person , bringing salvation for everyone. This same grace teaches us how to live each day as we turn our backs on ungodliness and indulgent sinful lifestyles; and, it [grace] equips us to live self-controlled, upright, godly lives in this present age (Tit. 2:11-12 TPT). Paul said, I am crucified to the world [by the Cross], and the world is crucified to me [by that same Cross] (I am dead to the world; and, the world is dead to me) (Gal. 6:14). Only by the abundant [His abounding] grace [the redemptive work of His Cross] and, the free gift of his righteousness [now only made possible by the resurrection that imparts new life] do any of us stand here free and justified before God our maker [delivered, healed, and made whole] (Rom. 1:16; 5:15-17). All of this is (only) made possible by and through Jesus Christ and Him crucified!!!

I am so grateful for the gospel of our Lord and Savior JC for it is the power of God unto salvation to all who will simply believe and obey. His Redemptive Work on the Cross-is the ground [from which] [that God used] to give us his precious Holy Spirit. Now the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Christ [within us], has become to us both the Sanctifier and the Perfecter of our faith. He is the POWER of God within. May God Be Praised Forever MORE!!!

By the Grace of Christ [by the power of His Cross] and, with the help of his precious Holy Spirit, God has made me to be more than a conqueror through him who loved us and died for us on the Cross (Rom. 8:31-39). Now [in Christ] and, with Him [Christ and him crucified], God has now freely given us/me all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:1-4). For God has made Him who knew no sin to be made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor. 5:21). For God has made him [Christ] to be for us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30). I dedicate the writing of this book to my Lord, and His wonderful, awesome, and matchless GRACE!!! I praise you Lord Jesus.

From the start; I want to cast down the idea we can have the grace of God but at the same time reject His Lordship [the lordship of JC]. Listen carefully to the text written by Paul that puts the grace of God and the Lordship of JC together as ONE, "from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20 KJ). Our Savior is not Jesus Christ, but: the Lord Jesus Christ. In order to have the grace of God we must call Jesus Lord. To claim JC as Savior but not Lord is a false gospel!!! May God help us all too truly see this and come into agreement with God, or, you will not be saved!!! The Grace of God and the gospel of our Lord and Savior JC are identical concepts. You cannot have the Grace of God apart from the gospel of our Lord JC; and, the gospel of our Lord JC is the vehicle through which God manifests and bestows His grace [to all who believe on the Lord JC, which are those who called upon Him as LORD to be saved] (Rom. 10:9, 13). God help us all to see this!! We are to look upon the Lord JC who is the Savior!!! We are saved when we look to him to save; and, we bow our knee to him as Lord.

Introduction

In this book, I have attempted to communicate the reason for the Protestant Reformation. Here, I have attempted to draw attention to the particulars or differences between them [The Catholics and Protestants of the 16 th Century]. Why was a Protest necessary where it concerned our biblical Salvation?? What had happened to true Christian faith that a break from Roman Catholicism was deemed necessary?? This and more will be addressed in this book. The old saying is, if we forget the lessons of history, we are doomed [sure] to repeat them!! Today, the church is fast moving away from true biblical Christianity. The errors of Roman Catholicism is still alive and well today. It is not that I do not believe that there can be genuine born again Catholics but, there are many more trapped in the labyrinth of religious deception [a system of religious works/deeds for salvation]. God help us to see and understand true biblical salvation!!!

I have studied this period of history quite extensively, and I find it most fascinating. If you do not fully agree with the way I have interpreted and presented the facts of history, I welcome you to do your own research on this most enlightening time in the history of the Christian church. The goal should be to get at the facts of the faith where it concerns true biblical salvation!!! This is what is most important where it concerns our eternal hope. To err on this subject of the faith would be catastrophic!! This is the door into eternal life. To fail to rightly believe on the gospel of our salvation would be eternally fatal. I do not take this subject matter and the writing of these books lightly. The lawlessness in the church today has reached epidemic proportions. Legalism is still a major concern and struggle for many who have a hard time trusting in the simple grace of God. The gospel of our salvation centers on one thing alone, the person and work of the Lord JC. Nothing added, and nothing taken away!!! God help us all to place our trust in JC alone, and him crucified [and in His subsequent resurrection and ascension to the right hand of power]. When JC said in John 10:9, I am the door, he was saying, what I am about to do on the Cross in my death, and subsequent resurrection will become the door where men can enter into this salvation. It is important to understand that it is through faith in the gospel alone that saves, nothing else, and nothing being added. Legalism is the doctrines, traditions, and commandments of men; these are the things being added to the gospel. Lawlessness, is when we take away from true biblical teachings and practices and, preach a freedom/liberty where men are still obligated.

We will also address some of the Protestant errors where it concerns Eternal Security. Many today have taken what the early Protestant Reformers believed, and twisted it into something they, if alive today, would never sanction. Many are now applying those same things first written by John Calvin in the early Reformed Tradition, and have perverted [and corrupted] them. Many because of the corruption of the doctrine of Eternal Security have now turned the grace of God into a license to sin [into the permission to live sinful lifestyles]. Many who say, I can’t lose my salvation, are the same ones who live like they have never truly been converted to the faith. The church today preaches a watered down gospel [an incomplete gospel], which fails to call all men to repentance [a life that turns from sin and self to the Lordship of JC]. As a result of this, many are given a false sense of security, and are reassured of their salvation while they continue to live sinful and unconverted lives. This is most tragic!!! It is so hard to reach these who believe they are saved when it fact they are eternally lost. God help us to reach those who are still spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins. God restore to the church a true and genuine repentance!!! God help us all to see our true spiritual condition, and not trust in lies and falsehoods by the sleight and cunning of men who promise a [false] liberty and counterfeit grace that cannot save (2 Pet. 2:1-22). A gospel that separates our Christian Justification from our Christian sanctification. It is true, a distinction has [needs] to be made between our justification and our sanctification; but not at any time should we ever think to separate these two as if they have no true relationship. Help!!

The gospel is under attack today; it is being assaulted by demonic forces, and by wicked men who have turned the grace of God into the practice of every vice. Biblical morality [living in the agreement of/with the moral standards of the word of God] is now looked upon and expressed as legalism [or, as being religious]. WOW!!! How do we reach these people who refused to live a life of repentance, but still call themselves, Christian? Today in the church, the church is divided over what is called the LORDSHIP controversy. Many believe and teach that to call Jesus Lord, and to submit to his Lordship is a religious work, which violates the grace of God for salvation. This is hard to believe; but, this further proves how far the church has fallen away from true and genuine biblical salvation. These literally teach one must believe on Christ for the forgiveness of sins but, must not do anything else with their faith, such as surrender your life to the Lordship of JC and the demand of the scriptures. These [people] teach, that, if the person who trusts in JC for the forgiveness of their sins decides, for themselves, when they see fit, to choose to make him [Jesus Christ] their Lord [and, in turn finally decide to obey the word of God] this is perfectly okay, because it is believed that salvation requires no obedience to God. They say, faith, and not obedience is what saves us; however, a faith that does not obey, or does not practice obedience is a spiritual counterfeit [it is not true saving faith at all]. They say, even if we live our whole life in sin and sinning, we can still trust in Jesus Christ to forgiven our [these] sins, this is presently and biblically unacceptable to God [and it violates the scriptures]. Again, these are they who separate justification from their sanctification, as if sanctification is something they can choose to agree with or not it doesn’t really matter at all. They say, now that I have justification, I can’t lose it, even if I resist and reject the sanctifying work of the HS in my life, this matters very little to my justification. How foolish to think God would knowingly save a person who would openly reject him at the same time. Men who believe God for the forgiveness of sins, and yet at the same time, striving to retain those same old sins are sadly mistaken if they think they have been truly converted to JC. WE ARE SAVED BY FAITH ALONE; but, NOT BY A FAITH THAT IS ALONE!!! This was the doctrinal position taken by the early Protestant Reformers who had to address [confront] those in their day that perverted the grace of God [the gospel of JC]. The gospel is believing on the Person and work of the Lord JC. To embrace his work in saving men from their sins, only then to reject his Person as Lord and sanctifier is a counterfeit gospel [a false salvation] [a false conversion]. The bible requires one to place their faith in the Personhood of Christ, as well in His redemptive works on the Cross [for salvation]. Many want him as Savior [who forgives their sins], but do not want him as Lord [the one who now owns and rules them as MASTER requiring holiness as the only acceptable and nonnegotiable response to their saving faith]. Works cannot save!!! Grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, saves!!! However, to believe one can receive only his work, and not his person, is sadly and tragically mistaken. I do not save myself; faith in Christ and the blood of His Cross is my justification; however, I have received new life, and this new life will sanctify me [set me apart from sin, and set me apart to God in holy and sanctified living] by the help and power of the indwelling HS. To live a life contrary to this proves one to be falsely converted to the Christian faith. We are saved by faith in Christ and him crucified, alone, but to think and to believe that this faith in JC stands alone: without works following faith to prove its presence within, is a false gospel [a false conversion], Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (Ja. 2:17). It is important we do not separate [divide] our sanctification from our Christian justification; we are forgiven and saved first, then we begin to grow in this grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior JC. Sanctification does not keep our justification; God keeps us in our justification; however, our sanctification will prove that justification is present within because the sanctifying and perfecting work of the HS within proves conversion. It is God who both keeps us in our justification and works in our sanctification. Justification is unseen; or, it is invisible to the naked eye; but, our sanctification is designed to bear fruit for all to see. To say you know and have experienced God in justification, and then over time this remains unproven by a life lived in sin, and in worldly [profane] pursuits, the truth is this person has seen nothing, and does not know God [remains unconverted] [and is still spiritually dead in their trespasses and sins]. (Eph. 2:1-3; Tit. 1:13-16). God help us all to see this and to examine ourselves before God. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things [works] that accompany/follow salvation, (Heb. 6:9). The word persuaded means in the GK, to be confident; Paul is saying here in the text that, he is confident that when one is saved they will also live a life of good works.

Another Gospel?

"...S o your minds should be corrupted [seduced; distorted] from the simplicity [singleness and pure devotion] that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaching another [a different] Jesus , whom we have not preached, or if you receive another [a strange] spirit which you have not received, or another [an altered] gospel , which you have not accepted…" (2 Cor. 11:3-4).

Surprisingly, the gospel today has become, to today’s church, a lost truth!!! Few truly understand the biblical gospel. Many, who claim to be Christian, only understand parts of it (the gospel), and those parts they do understand are watered down, or, entirely misapplied. It is possible to have only parts of the truth, and then to take those parts [truths] and make them the whole. This would pervert entirely those parts of the gospel, because of all those missing pieces! The integrity (or balance) of the gospel would be found in all those missing pieces. What we do not know or, what we fail to understand about the gospel, could cause us to interpret, or attempt to apply the gospel in ways God had never intended. To pervert in the Old English [OE] means to turn from the truth; to twist or distort from its true use: to misinterpret and to misapply. The problem is never found in the things we know but, in those things we do not know [as of yet]. We often see the part as a whole; instead of understanding the whole through its many parts. The part maybe true, however, it is fully understood and properly balanced and made complete by the whole, with all of its many parts. Many are now falling away because they have taken a part of the gospel and have made it the whole. Repentance, faith, grace, forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation, and new life, sanctification, transformation, and so much more are the so many different parts of this ONE GOSPEL WHOLE. God help us to desire and receive the full gospel.

Paul, in his epistle to the Galatians warned the believers of a counterfeit gospel. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel..." (Gal. 1:6). Here, Paul is speaking of a different gospel, one altered from its original form. This word another in the GK means different, altered, or strange (the word strange in the Old English (OE) means foreign or not belonging to the other). Paul, when speaking of the believing Jews [the Christian Jew] revealed a bent toward legalism [the word Christian in the GK simply means a follower of Christ]. The word counterfeit means to forge, fabricate, or imitate with the view to deceive or to defraud, by passing a false copy for the genuine article or for the original. "I am shocked over how quickly you have strayed away from the One who called you in the grace of Christ. I’m frankly astounded that you now embrace a distorted gospel! That is a fake gospel that, is simply not true. There is only one gospel, the gospel of the Messiah! Yet you have allowed those who mingle [the] law with grace to confuse you with lies. Anyone who comes to you with a different message than the grace gospel that you have received will have the curse of God come upon them!" (Gal. 1:6-8 TPT). This speaks of those who put Law above Grace, who place their primary emphasis on legal principles [do’s and don’ts] or on a formal structure [the traditions of men, and their many different religious systems]. A Legalist is one who strictly adheres to law or to the letter rather than the Spirit. In Christian Theology, it is the act of putting the law [or, some set of rules, or any other religious system for that matter] above the Gospel by establishing requirements for salvation over and beyond simple obedience, repentance, and faith in Christ and the message of the Cross. Today, this is just as prevalent in the Church as it was in Paul’s day. In the four Gospels, it is called the traditions of men [the traditions of the Elders] (Matt. 15:2-9). In these scriptures, Jesus himself called these traditions the doctrines and commandments of men [the teaching and rules of men]. "Not giving heed to Jewish fables [myths], and commandments [teachings] of men, that turn from the truth (Tit. 1:14). In the Amplified Bible, it is stated this way, ...or to rules [laid down] by [mere] men who reject and turn their backs on the truth." [This presents the fact that anything that turns men from the Truth of the Cross must be rejected out of hand (TENT Page 879)]. God, help us all to see this! This presents to us the simple principle of adding anything to the simple gospel of our salvation will make it a spiritual counterfeit. These are those who put their religious systems and religious traditions above the gospel of JC. Even if these systems and traditions are based on the bible: they are often being used and applied in such a way that causes one’s participation in said systems and traditions to become a distraction [or, a means by which one is distracted from a true and genuine simple hearing of the faith into this simple gospel of His free grace]. God help us all to understand the difference between faith and works as interpreted and applied to our salvation.

Legalism is the opposite heresy of Antinomianism. Antinomianism rejects any moral standard including biblical morality; while Legalism either exalts the Law above Grace, or rather, adds to grace some set of rules or ritual discipline necessary for salvation [justification]. The problem with Legalism [its error] [the fundamental distortion of Legalism] that makes it a false gospel is in its belief that one must earn [win] acceptance with God. This is outright denial [and rejection] of the gospel. These hold to the letter apart from the Spirit. Here, you will find men adding to the Law of God. Just as the Pharisee’s of old, these add to the word of God their own distinctive traditions. Here, traditions would be understood as any additional thing added to the gospel message for our justification, and, even for our sanctification. Faith in the gospel of JC alone is the power of God unto [to enter into] salvation [our justification and sanctification]. Nothing else is required, or necessary for saving faith!! To add, or [to even] subtract we would run the risk of distorting the gospel. These who deal in the traditions [commandments] of men raise their traditions to a status equal to the word of God. The traditions of men rob the people of God of their blood bought freedoms [their God given rights]. These put chains on people where God has left them free!!! Legalism [the commandments of men] have plagued the Church of JC in every generation. Legalism often occurs as an overreaction against the sins [false doctrines/teachings] of the Antinomian heresy. Legalism then is the Church [the believer] [without being fully aware of what he/she is doing] overreaching to make sure no one is allowed to slip into moral laxity [by putting the people under some set of rules or, some discipline] [a discipline or practice that distracts from the gospel]. This creates a dictatorship [a lordship] within the local church [a separation between leadership and laity], and, has the potential of becoming very oppressive. It is the sin of legalism that is always adding something to the gospel; antinomianism is always subtracting. There are many different forms [expressions] [examples] of the antinomian heresy [which is lawlessness] being practiced in the Church, today. Often, these many different forms of lawlessness arise as an overreaction to legalism. Christians who are guarding against legalism have to be careful not to slip into the many different forms of libertinism. This is the heresy of self-indulgence [excessive freedoms]. These teach that to be under grace means a license to sin [one who is devoid of moral principles and, are given over to experiencing the senses]. Its cry for freedom against all oppression is a cry for moral liberty [freedom to sin]. These teach that the remission of sins [forgiveness] means to cover sins [and not the removal of sin] (Rom. 6:14-16). The only solution or correction necessary for either heresy is a clear and precise understanding of the gospel as the power of God that makes men righteous, and brings men into a true salvation [the gospel is that which empowers men for sanctification and transformation] (RSB Page 1713).

What we have in many pulpits today, is, what is called, the tyranny of the weaker brother!! In areas where God has not commanded us to do, or to abstain from, men have put other men in religious chains. The traditions of men will always add to the word of God putting a demand on men to obey where God has left them free. Christian liberty is not the freedom to disobey God!! It is the freedom we all have where it pertains to those areas that God has left us free. Often, men who are well-meaning will insert some discipline, or rule, or some religious practice to help the people with their Christian faith and obedience to God, which only adds to the gospel. These do not see the danger nor the error of their ways!! These [persons] add to the word of God to bind men’s consciences where God has left them free; substituting human rules and traditions for the word of God. This problem has plagued the church for centuries!!!!! In Romans 14 Paul writes about the weaker brother as the one whose Christian faith and practice had become nothing more than self-imposed restrictions [in areas where God has not commanded us to do, or abstain from] [these have become the commandants of men putting a demand on men to obey where God has left them free]. The moment the weaker brother tries to enforce his weakness as the law of the church the gospel is threatened. This weakness of the weaker brother is the forced traditions of men [these are those who insist on the religious systems of men as necessary for salvation]. The weaker brother is the one whose conscience binds them where others are free; and now the weaker brother attempts to force his conscience upon others to bind their conscience in the same manner. These same persons must not be allowed to establish rules where God has left us free. So many traditions and commandments of men are extra-biblical. Rules and regulations that are put upon men that add to the gospel and the word of God. Today, the church is plagued by those individuals who have come to power in the church who impose restrictions where God has made us free. God help us to see, and to turn from these many distortions of the gospel. The Judaizers of old during the first century who laid claim to the gospel of JC were attempting to reinstitute the requirements of the ceremonial law [circumcision; dietary laws; feasts; Sabbaths, and other such Mosaic customs, etc.] of OT Israel upon NT Gentile Christians. The early Jewish believers of the first century church found it hard to live in the liberty that Christ had given them from the OT Mosaic customs and practices; as a result these weaker brethren brought much confusion and distortion to the gospel in those early years of the church. This same thing is happening today!! Paul, a Jew, was the champion of grace; Paul completely and entirely abandoned all of the OT Mosaic customs and practices of the Jews that he not having his own righteousness as found in these various religious customs and traditions, which is of the law, but, a righteousness which is of God by faith of Jesus Christ and he crucified [and resurrected and ascended] (Phil. 3:1-21). In the very same manner as the Judaizers of old, many well-meaning men have unnecessarily added to the gospel of JC bringing in much confusion and distortion to the truth of the NT gospel.

Paul’s entire Epistle to the Galatians was dedicated to combating Legalism. The Judaizers in the scriptures were [Jewish followers of Christ] religionists [legalists] who adhered to a strict observance of the Law [the letter]. These would often put [promote] the law above grace, or mingle law with gospel [adding something to the gospel]. "Beware [take heed] lest any spoil [deceive] you through philosophy [through some wisdom] and vain deceit [through some empty pride], after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world [through some human logic], and not after Christ," [here this speaks of any rule or doctrine that pulls the believer away from the message of the Cross] (Col. 2:8). Here, spoil means to distract or intimidate [strip you naked or "take you captive] (TPT Page 558 f). All of these things are intended to distract from the message of the Cross!!! Which the Bible calls "...the simplicity [the singleness] that is in Christ. We find further in Colossians 2:18-23, Paul addressing the Stoics" and other Greek disciplines. A Stoic or Stoicism in Paul’s day was a system of logic promoting personal ethics. This philosophy at times would apply extreme discipline, what the bible calls "will worship and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor [respect] to the satisfying of the flesh." [Stoicism is a passive determinism of emotional indifference that elevates the virtues of self-control. By mastering human passions and emotions, one could realize peace within himself. The Greek Stoics believed that humans can only reach their full potential when they live by sheer reason and the divine principle, or the spark of divinity, which they called logos (TPT Page 359 g). This philosophy was the basis for many Gnostic Cults. The so-called Christian Gnostics rejected the Wisdom and Power of the Cross. Gnosticism comes from a GK word gnosis which means having knowledge. Many of these early so-called Christian and Jewish Sects emphasized personal spiritual knowledge over the orthodox teaching of the Church that included the message of the preaching of the Cross]. The early church of the first three centuries encountered many false gospels [the many so-called Christian Gnostic Cults]. These so called Christian Gnostic cults would practice both lawlessness and legalism. Some of these Gnostic cults leaned toward legalism, while others had tendencies toward lawlessness. No different today in the Christian Church, who holds to the traditional Orthodox teachings of the first four Ecumenical Councils. The Christian church today is replete with and plagued by so much legalism and lawlessness that has weakened her resolve and has contaminated her Christian witness. The Church is left in the world to be a witness: to be light to the world, and salt in the earth. Light speaks to her clear and precise uncompromised message of the gospel; salt speaks to her set apart living in and by the holiness and power of God in their Christian sanctification. Light represents her message [the gospel]; and salt her Christian character and conduct in this dark, and perverse, and fallen world.

Paul goes on to say, "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ [on the Cross] from the rudiments [elements] of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances [rules], after the commandments and doctrines of men? (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which are all to perish with the using) [Which things indeed have a show of wisdom] [that makes sense to the natural carnal mind]. The Amplified Bible says it this way, "If then you have died with Christ [on the Cross] to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations? Such as] do not handle [this], do not taste [that], do not even touch [them], referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human carnal percepts and doctrines. Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly] passes for wisdom, in promoting [putting forth a] self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower sinful nature)." Only the CROSS-and the Divine Exchange [the atonement] can deal with the LOWER NATURE [the fallen human Sin condition residing in fallen men]. Listen to the way The Passion Translation states it, "For you were included in the death of Christ and have died with him to the religious system and powers of this world. Don’t retreat back to being bullied by the standards and opinions of religion-for example, their strict requirements, You can’t associate with that person! or, Don’t eat that! or, You can’t touch that!’ These are the doctrines of men and are the corrupt customs that are worthless to help you spiritually. For though they may appear to possess the promise of wisdom in their submission to God through the deprivation of their physical bodies, it is actually nothing more than empty rules rooted in religious rituals." These are all those things we have added to the gospel of His Grace [these are all those things we add to the preaching of the Cross]. God help us all!!! Notice the Passion translation said, "Don’t go back to all these things, to be bullied once again by the standards and the opinions of religion based on the traditions of men and not on the gospel Jesus Christ. Paul said, we have died with Christ, and we have been delivered from the material ways of looking at things, and delivered from those teachings of/on externalism. The entire epistle to the Galatians is dedicated to combating this legalism: this adding to JC and the gospel some commandment, discipline, tradition, system, or required religious practices. To look to the Christian sacraments today for salvation and/or sanctification, is an exercise in futility and is the practice of externalism!! To look at the Sacraments as a means of grace is a material way of looking at all these things. The gospel is spirit and life. The best an external thing can do in its assistance of the gospel is to simply represent it [the true gospel] as an outward form [pattern] of instruction. The sacraments have great value and is a part of our Christian devotion only as a word of promise or instruction that actually points us to its true source and true worship in the Lord Jesus Christ: in his Person and in his redemptive works on the Cross. Externalism means an excessive preoccupation with externals. This is the quality or state of being external; a focus upon eternal things and its practices. The word external means those things that can and are perceived outwardly: having a mere outward appearance. Roman Catholicism and the like is a religious system and practice in externalism. I am so sorry to have to be so direct; because of the incorrect understanding and application of these Sacraments it has turned many to religious externalism. The gospel is spirit and life, alone; it impacts man’s spirit, and from within their reborn spirit everything on the outside is changed from this new spirit and new life perspective. The sacraments for many are an excessive preoccupation with externals!!! The sacraments as a means [source] of grace is a focus upon external things and its practice [its ritual, sacred rite, and ceremony]. These Sacraments appear to possess the promise of wisdom in their submission to God; however, they are actually nothing more than empty formalism rooted in religious rituals. Again, we are only speaking of the sacraments here as a means of grace!!! Nevertheless, as a word of promise, and as a word of instruction that directs our faith to Christ and him crucified it has great value, and this is what the holy writ intended, "...To do it in remembrance of Him!! The word formalism means the practice and/or the doctrine of strict adherence to a prescribed or external form. There is no doubt; the way the sacraments are being applied today as a means of grace is a practice and doctrine in empty formalism. The sacraments cannot provide grace. God has already provided that grace through the gospel; the means by which we receive and access this grace wherein we all stand is through faith alone (Romans 5:1-2). I love my many different Catholic, Orthodox, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal friends, etc. etc. etc. Please bear with me as I attempt to correct and bring understanding to all these things.

Jude, in his epistle verse four [Jude 4] warned of false teachers who preach a gospel that turns the grace of God into a license to sin. In both cases, Paul and Jude warned the churches of the many different gospels altered in some way. Jude, when speaking of the believing Gentile spoke of a bent toward lawlessness, or lasciviousness (wantonness OE negligence of restraint, or indulging freedom to excess). Lawlessness means unruly or not restrained. Lawlessness in Christian Theology is paying no attention to the biblical standard for Moral living. It is asserting that the Law of God has no place or demand any longer on the life of a Christian. It asserts that the Christian is no longer under or obligated to the biblical standards for biblical morality. Jude said, "For certain men have crept in stealthily [gaining entrance secretly by a side door]...persons who pervert [corrupt] the grace (the spiritual blessings and favor) of our God into lawlessness and wantonness and immorality, and disown and deny our sole Master and Lord, Jesus Christ" (Jude 4 Amp). From this, we can see that Lawlessness is tied [connected] to those who deny and reject His Lordship. The words Master and Lord here implies Slavery [servitude]. The believer is bought [was purchased] with a precious price that being the shed blood of Christ on the Cross!! Paul taught that all believers have lost their right to themselves!! The true Christian has no right to deny [to turn a blind eye to] his Lordship, thus has no [legal] right to live lawlessly [without restraint] (1 Cor. 6:19-20). "For the love of God constrains us [fuels our passion and motivates us; TPT]...that they which live [have received a new life] should not henceforth [hereafter] live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Cor. 5:14-15). The word constrain here means to seize, to compel, to urge, and to control, to lay hold of, overwhelm, and completely dominate. Paul is stating that the motivating passion of his life is Christ’s love filling his heart, and leaving him no choice but to surrender everything to God (TPT Page 493). Today, many in today’s church [who have laid claim to the Christian faith] have embraced a false gospel [a corrupted and distorted grace] that denies his Lordship, and that welcomes a life without restraint or self-control, and now living a life in agreement with the moral standards and worldly values of this present evil world. Both Second Peter Chapter 2, and Jude, warn against preaching a gospel that promotes [allows for] loose morals!! "Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him [Paul]..." (Acts 17:18). These persons called the Epicureans was a branch of philosophy that promoted self-indulgence, the gratification of the appetites, and material gain. This philosophy denied the after-life; and, was a type of humanism [a focus on the body and human life]. This branch of Greek philosophy crept into the Church turning the gospel of His Grace into a license to sin [a permission and the promotion of vice]. This is the same as the Antinomian heresy of our modern era. Only the CROSS-and that Divine Exchange [the atonement] can deal with the LOWER NATURE [the fallen human condition/the sinful nature]. Just a quick note here; the Christian is no longer under the OT ministration of the Law. However, to say, that, the law of God is done away with, and, now no longer has any value or influence upon a NC believer is to sadly misunderstand the meaning of the fulfillment [and finishing] of the law of God. Even though we no longer live by, nor are we governed by the law: the law of God is still an important resource and instruction in righteousness. Even though I no longer live by the law: the new life I do live by when it bears its fruits of righteousness it will resemble the same righteousness pictured for us in the Law of God. I do not live by the law, but by His life!!

Peter, in his second epistle chapter two warned of false teachers who turned from the truth, from the true knowledge (gospel) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who subtly (slowly) brought in (introduced) destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them (by his own precious blood), bringing the way of truth into disrepute (dishonor or discredit). These false gospels misrepresent the way of salvation, causing many to fall away from the truth about Jesus Christ and, the CROSS. Notice, the teachings of these teachers slowly moved away from the truth about the gospel, as they began to alter in some way the truth about the way of salvation. These false gospels have a tendency to either center on [or revolve around] the law [the letter] [rules] and give too much attention to [externals/outward things] appearances/observances [the traditions of men]; or, they will move in the opposite direction and take our Christian liberties [freedoms] to an extreme [and indulge in loose morals]. "Many will follow immoral lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered...Consumed with the lusts of the flesh, they lure back into sin those who recently escaped from their error. They promise others freedom, yet they themselves are slaves to corruption, for people are slaves to whatever overcomes them" (2 Pet. 2:2, 18-19 TPT). This is an apostolic warning!!! God help us all!!!

Today, religious traditions mixed in with the gospel in so many churches have hidden its true meaning causing many to lose it (the gospel) altogether. Others, in their attempt to be relevant (germane) have introduced false freedoms into the church, which have caused many to allow the world and its ways, thinking, values, and secularism to crept in and corrupt its true message. Secularism [nonreligious] (temporal) means indifference toward sacred things. These churches show no respect for the things of the past [having no interest and showing contempt for all traditions whether good or bad], and treating with contempt [all] anything and everything that has the appearance of being old, as irrelevant. These forge new ideas [new traditions] often based on [grounded in] worldly principles, and based [steeped in] modern values. Modernism is the tendency in theology to accommodate traditional religious [thinking] teaching to contemporary thought, which devalues [reduces] the supernatural, and/or they devalue biblical moral standards. Both the rejection of the supernatural [biblical miracles] and the lowering of biblical standards of morality are in vogue for many contemporary churches. These popular and/or seeker friendly churches who lower biblical standards and, who deemphasize the authority of the scriptures are distorting (altering) the true gospel. They are watering down the message of the gospel, in order to appeal to (attract, and to lure) the world around them. They use secular methods of evangelism to attract the sinner (unbeliever) to Christ. Paul called this the preaching of another [a different] Jesus, the receiving of another [a strange] spirit, and believing on another [an altered] gospel (2 Cor. 11:3-4). Today, this antinomian heresy is in full force and in full sway over the church!!! God help us all [the church as a whole] to see and turn from our legalistic and lawless ways!!!!

The true gospel will both embrace the supernatural, and as well uphold biblical standards for morality. For the grace (gospel) of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world (Tit. 2:11-12). The preaching of the true gospel of Jesus Christ will always uphold in its entirety the biblical standards for godliness (holiness) without compromise. Never once should grace (the gospel) be seen, or understood as a license to sin, or as a covering for a sinful lifestyle. Paul said, "Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us [set us free] from this present evil world" (Gal. 1:4). He has taken us out of this evil world system and set us free through our salvation (Gal. 1:4b TPT). This evil world system would include not only the irreligious and/or the lawless, but as well would include the religious systems of men based on performance [duty] to some set of rules or religious traditions instead of the gospel [grace] (Pg. 514 TPT). For example, we find just prior to the Protestant Reformation many penitential works practiced by monks all throughout Europe. Fasting’s, prayers, self-flagellation, etc. all invented and ordered by the traditions and commandments of men. Martin Luther called these doctrines [and religious practices] self-chosen works!! It is not that prayer, fasting, and the like are wrong in and of themselves; but when applied, and understood as a means for justification [acceptance] with God, it is error. We should never be under a religious system of works that may include all these things such as pray, fasting, and the like [whether as a part of some ritual discipline, and/or even as some self-imposed work]; however, a true Christian will spend his time and even days in many prayers, and fasting’s, and the like, but this is not to be an outward work, but an inward thing; as an outward work these self-chosen works are more often than not ordered by men and their religious systems, traditions, and so called Christian practices appointed by the commandments of men. The HS is the only ONE who can order such works: for them to be spiritual works. This does not mean the Christian is not free to choose to work using such means; however, if these works are simply reduced to mere traditions, rituals, empty formalism, the religious systems of men: these works then now become nothing more than self-imposed works appointed by the carnal commandments of men. God help us to see the difference between such works that are appointed by men from the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit!!!

In 2 Peter 1:4; 2:20, the apostle calls the believer, now a partaker of His divine nature, one who has escaped the corruption (the pollutions) that is in the world through lust, through the knowledge (of the gospel) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The warning that Peter gives in the text makes it clear that there is no wiggle room for compromise, "(If) they are once again entangled therein (in the world), and [are then] overcome (to turn back to the old habits of sin), the latter end [condition of that man] is worse with them [that believer] than [at] the beginning." Many today are preaching an altered gospel that allows for modern ways, ideas, values, and modern sympathies that has worked incessantly within our modern day culture to redefine and to change standards of morality. Paul warned the church that in these last and evil days there would be a great falling away from biblical standards, while maintaining a form of godliness (a form of the gospel) [but an altered gospel] [in appearance only]. Paul spoke of these as those who would turn away their ears from the truth, drawing to themselves teachers who do the same (2 Tim. 3:5, 4:2-4). "For the time is coming when they will no longer listen and respond to the healing words of the truth because they will become selfish [and self-centered] and proud. They will seek out teachers with soothing words that line up with their desires [and lusts] [and immoralities], then saying just what they want to hear. They will close their ears to the truth..." (2 Tim. 4:3-4 TPT). This is what is happening in the church and to the church today in so many contemporary circles.

The Deeds of the Law

"K nowing that a man is not justified [accepted] by the works of the law, but by faith of Jesus Christ...for by the works [deeds] of the law shall no flesh [man] be justified in the sight of God " (Gal. 2:16; Rom. 3:20). Just recently, I took out some time to watch on cable TV a program that highlighted the histories of both the Chinese and Japanese cultures. In this program, I [saw, and] came across Confucius a Chinese philosopher and politician. He was a Chinese sage; and, would later be recognized as a major religious figure within both the Chinese and Japanese cultures. He was an early Chinese ethical teacher promoting a moral and social code of conduct that worked to reform man from the outside, in . He was a man [a person] that practiced an outward form of ritual discipline designed to change the outward habits of the body, and inward attitude of the mind. Through constant effort and practice [ritual discipline], [constant repetition] a man would transform from what he was to the very thing he practiced. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul meant by the deeds of the Law. This is exactly what Paul had in mind when he said, by the deeds [works] of the law shall no man be justified in the sight of God. No moral code, ethical teaching, set of rules, religious system or, traditions [practices] of men can convert the soul [no works of self-discipline in and by themselves can convert the heart ] and change the fallen inward nature and character of man in order to bring him/her into new life . Man is spiritually dead because of trespasses and sins [and separated from the life of God] (Eph. 2:1-9). No outward work, system, code of conduct, and/or religious practice can convert him, whether Greek, Roman, Chinese, nor Jewish, or any other source or type of ritual discipline, set of rules, or moral principles can justify man before God [these things cannot convert the heart nor change his inward nature]. Yes, it can reform [change] the habits of men from the outside, but it cannot change who he really is on the inside: it cannot change his fallen nature [fallen human condition on the inside]. No matter what we do or, no matter how hard we try, the outside cannot change the inside; only the gospel of His Grace [the message of the Cross] can forgive sins and covert the heart, and bring men into new life, which is found only in the Person and work of JC through faith in the gospel [through faith in that Cross: His divine-human redemptive works that makes this great exchange, possible].

This is exactly what Paul was getting at in Romans and Galatians; only the gospel can covert the heart [soul] of a sinner and bring about a spiritual rebirth. The gospel is all about a spiritual regeneration!!!!!! Man is totally depraved, which means he is affected [infected] by sin in all the different parts of his being: his spirit, soul, heart, mind, will, emotions, and body. This is why, no matter how much or how well he obeys a set of rules, a moral code, ritual discipline, or religious system it still will not and cannot cancel nor alter the old fallen human adamic nature within [that fallen human condition]. Man still is who he is by that inward nature; no matter how outwardly obedient [disciplined] he might be in his outward conduct. God looks not to [at] the outward appearance of man’s endeavors [efforts], but to the inward man of the heart. The outward disciplines of man’s efforts cannot and will never change his inward nature: no matter how successful or effective he might be in the discipline of his mind and body. The outward application of man’s efforts cannot convert the heart and change who he is by nature [that fallen human condition within]. The fallen spirit of man must be reborn, and, must under-go a spiritual regeneration [must be made alive, and brought into new life], which only the gospel of His Grace can achieve [the message of the Cross]. The Jews under the Old Covenant did not understand this; today, most of the Church has forgotten this fact of man’s entire moral depravity. Today, the likes of those who put their trust in the disciplines of the Buddha; and, the moral and social teachings of Confucius and, the many different Greek philosophies and disciplines that have influenced the moral and ethical principles of America