Sharing the word as it is

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
I Corinthians 2:1‭-‬5 NKJV

Paul resolved to know nothing among the Corinthians except Jesus Christ and him cruxified. Which means, even though he was a learned scholar, he did not use persuasive words of human wisdom.

Which means, he did not use motivational speeches nor artistic illustrations nor feel good seeker sensitive phrases nor soothing worship concerts nor any of these techniques that we typically employ in churches today.

He simply taught the word, not by wisdom of men, but purely the power of the Word of God. Simply put, he didn't have to worry that people would dislike him, detest the message, reject the gospel. He didn't have to try to be popular among the Corinthians (he was glad he did not baptize any of them besides Crispus, Gaius and Stephanus).

Paul didn't have to build the church by making it more comfortable. He simply taught the word as it is, and the Spirit of God does the rest.

Teach the word as it is, and those who wants to listen will listen. There is no point building a Church of tares.

Teach the word as it is, and don't underestimate people's ability to understand, even youths.

A possible scenario of how a church can become like Laodicea.

What happens when a church decides to do mass recruitment in the name of the great commission aka evangelism?

Stage 1, Confusion

When you begin to have mass recruitment, you get what you wish for. All your investments in expensive audio visual equipment, creative content, animation, song and dance, worship entertainment finally pays off; the crowd is in. You have only that few leaders who are truly able to execute an Exegesis on the word, and perhaps some who are somewhat bible reading but not too much into theology. So you have like 100 Shepherds, in face of 2,000 sheeps that need guidance.

You begin to have mass recruitment of leaders. People who perhaps have a lot of heart but unequipped to teach the word. You end up with leaders that speak the "Christian Lingo" aka "Christianese" with opinions that has nothing to do with scripture. Cell Groups becomes social gathering. Their attention span on their flock begin to saturate. Discipleship on the word of God gets less common. Blind shepherds leading blind sheep who become blind leaders themselves.

The problem is, most leaders think that theology is too much for the congregation to take. That is probably because those leaders themselves are actually NOT grounded in the word themselves! They earn their ranks above the man made church system by maintaining good relationships with management and "performing well" in their respective ministries. Popularity becomes the KPI for success.

What is the model of the biblical church? It is always been and will always be the bible and the apostle's doctrine. It is never ideas that are employed by self helps, motivational speeches, Christian psychology and New Age philosophies. These are Paul’s instructions to Timothy, desperately written when he was in prison and saw that his ministry was falling into the hands of false teachers, beckoning the young pastor to teach the uncompromised, unadulterated word of God.

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
II Timothy 4:2‭-‬5 NKJV

But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
II Timothy 3:10-‬17 NKJV

Stage 2, Compromise

To maintain your weekly 5,000 attendance, you begin to teach easy listening sermons to keep them coming and tithing. Teaching that omits keywords like Sin, Repentance, Obedience, Wrath of God. They over-emphasize on feel good messages that centers on Justification by Faith alone and extreme idea of love, thus avoiding any topics which will potentially cite disagreements and "lose a soul".

Well, if you remember Parable of the Sower? How does a person lose his Salvation? It is because the seed fell on bad soil. Which means the Word of God did not set deep into their believe system, and hence they fell away with the cares of the world (Heb 6:4-8).

Leaders have to understand that if someone rejects or walks away from the faith, it is NOT because you didn't build a church that is fun enough, nor it is because the music is not good enough. It is simply because they do not understand the gospel. That person is not lost; he or she has not been found in the first place.

When the church teaches a watered down version of the gospel, and imparts nothing but human philosophy backed by bad interpretation from isolated scripture passages, they will breed a church of tares, false believers who think they are saved but are actually not.

When you buy insurance, you ought to know what you are paying for isn’t it? If the insurance agent told you a lie, you would be thinking that you are covered under the policy when you are actually not. Similarly, if you teach the wrong doctrine, you will cause those who are perishing to think they are saved. Hence our job, is to share the word, period.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
I Corinthians 2:1‭-‬5 NKJV

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
I Corinthians 3:6‭-‬8 NKJV

Stage 3, Church of Tares

Now, your 10,000 strong church works like a clockwork. You have leaders running your services, cell groups, pastors to run various ministries and special events. Sermons are preached mainly to satisfy human felt needs. Cell groups become a superficial social hang out venue. Worship becomes entertainment for the congregation to worship their feelings and give praises to a "presence" they labeled as Jesus. Christian events become more like social activities that have nothing to do with God.

Sound doctrine has successfully been flushed out of the man made church system. People come to church to seek for blessings and answers for morality. They are no longer taught about a God who came to convict us of our sins, but a god who is ready to "accept them for who they are", thinking that they can be Christians and yet follow their own personal agendas. They breed young, enthusiastic and largely bible illiterate youths who are fervent to build a Kingdom, but end up confusing more into the deception.

When it comes to that state, here you have a church of Tares and Goats, a point of no return. If you care about your Salvation, choose wisely. This is what Jesus says.

Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Matthew 13:40‭-‬43 NKJV

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:47‭-‬50 NKJV

44 “Then they also will answer Him,[d] saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Revelation 3:15‭-‬16 NKJV

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:13‭-‬14 NKJV

What does God really hates?

Who does God abhor? An average guy who smokes, drink and scold vulgarity but is actually fillial to his parents and have compassion for the poor? Or a high flyer worker in a corporation who back stabs his colleagues, lick his bosses boots and lives for money?

The bible teaches that "all have fallen short the glory of God" (Rom 3). All men has fallen to a state that none of us can qualify for eternal life, hence all men regardless will not stand his fiery judgement unless he is Justified by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ.

But he has certainly listed some which he absolutely hates. Professing the blood of Jesus does not mean anything when one does not have the heart to follow him.

A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth; He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers; Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord. Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy. These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
Proverbs 6:12‭-‬19 NKJV

‘For among My people are found wicked men; They lie in wait as one who sets snares; They set a trap; They catch men. As a cage is full of birds, So their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become great and grown rich. They have grown fat, they are sleek; Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the fatherless; Yet they prosper, And the right of the needy they do not defend. Shall I not punish them for these things? ’ says the Lord . ‘Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?’ “An astonishing and horrible thing Has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?
Jeremiah 5:26‭-‬31 NKJV

[Jesus continually warned against those who calls him Lord (Believers) but whose heart is not with him.]

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:44‭-‬46 NKJV

So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 13:49‭-‬50 NKJV

Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
Revelation 22:14‭-‬15 NKJV

[Serving in church, raising your hands in worship, feeling the presence of God, immersing yourself in his Love, does not mean anything when your Faith does not result in good works (James 2) ]

Salvation Explained

What is Salvation? Salvation is not merely saying the sinner's prayer. Salvation begun at Exodus 19:4-6, when God offered the Israelites to be his Kingdom, his Holy Nation; "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."
Through this arrangement, Salvation was offered to the Israelites. But what if th...ey make mistakes? Gave in to temptation? That is Why God gave them the Law of Moses and Levitical Sacrifices. The Levitical Sacrifices acted as an atonement, by using blood of Bulls and Goats, to cover sins on an annual basis. However, Israel failed to keep up; having fallen into idolatry, they forsook the Levitical Rituals. As a result, their sins were no longer covered, and the penalty of violating God's Law was harshly implemented on them.

God sent Jesus as the one perfect sacrifice to take away our sins once and for all. Under this new covenant, if we make mistakes or give in to temptation, we are covered under the blood of Jesus (1 Jn 2:1-2). However, this atonement is offered only to those who are born again to his Kingdom. Consistent with God's offer in Exodus 19:4-6, those who are born again will obey his commandments (1 Jn 2:3-6). Those who does not have a heart for God will not obey his commandments, and thus do not have the atonement. This is Salvation, and the end, is Eternal Life (Rom 2:6-7, Gal 6:8). This same Salvation, is then offered to us, the Gentiles (Rom 11:11).

The distorted Good Samaritan

Video Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWRcOOFfyLo

Theme : Rapture on the 3rd day

JP's Reference: John 2:1

1. 1:50-5:00

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. - John 2:1

After the 3rd day is the marriage supper, in which the rapture will happen. We are now in the 3rd day.  After the Rapture there is going to be a 7 year tribulation whereby Jewish Remnant will be left behind. This has nothing to do with John 2:1. In fact, there are no bible references that supports pre-tribulation rapture and the Jews left behind to suffer. Does it even exist in the bible? Well, Joseph Prince had to make up something of his own to justify it.

2. 5:00-6:00

Firstly, science tell us that no matter how much you compress time, water can never be to turned into wine! They are totally of different matter composition. Secondly, science aside, what has this got to do with the rapture? This is a divergent.

3. 6:00-17:00

Luke 10:25-37. The biggest twist of God's word. Who is the Good Samaritan? Look at what Jesus said:

²⁹ But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” - Luke 10:29

³⁶ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” ³⁷ And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” - Luke 10:36-37

If the Good Samaritan is Jesus, and the Injured man is us, why didn't Jesus say, "I will do to you likewise."? Why did Jesus say, "Go and DO likewise? Because the tradition view is correct, the Good Samaritan is what God want us to be; the good neighbour, and the injured man is the one whom we ought to help. Consider this:

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy^[c] angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. ³³ And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You,or thirsty and give You drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ³⁹ Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

⁴¹ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: ⁴² for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

⁴⁴ “Then they also will answer Him,^[d] saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ ⁴⁵ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Who does God expect to feed the poor and cloth the naked? It's us, not himself.

4. 17:00-18:35

Superficial reading? More like plain reading. Joseph Prince is reading too much, the Samaritan is the Lord?? This is called Absurd!

18:20 - "Go and do Likewise, it means, Go and Love the Samaritan", "If you have eyes to see, the Samaritan is the Lord." Huh?? I can see this with eye opened wide and know that the Samaritan is what the Lord wants us to DO!

5. 18:35-23:25

He converts every bible story that has 3rd days into a prophetic word of pre-rapture. Nowhere in the bible that talks about Pre-tribulation rapture. Let's examine the truth:

²⁹ “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. - Matt 24:29-31

He will GATHER, Jesus DID NOT mention a rapture at all.

⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. - 1 Cor 15:50-52

Notice? At the Last Trumpet. Is the last Trumpet before the Great Tribulation?

⁴ And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I sawthe souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a^[a] thousand years. ⁵ But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.⁶ Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. - Rev 20:4-6

There is a 1000 Year Millennial Rule of Jesus Christ. If there we are rapture into heaven, are we coming back down to Earth with Jesus? Or will we live in Heaven while Jesus rules on earth? Or the 1000 Year Millennial Rule will take place in heaven?

⁷ Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. - Rev 20:7-8

So the answer is obvious, the Millennial Rule is on Earth, Christ will come down, and the Saints will lived and reigned with Christ for a^[a] thousand years. So if there is a rapture, then we will have to come back down to earth after the Great Tribulation.

²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. ²³ But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. - 1 Cor 15:22-24

After the 1000 year rule, Christ will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father.

¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words. - 1 Thess 4:15-18

"Caught up" is the same as "Gather" in Matt 24:31. At the sound of the last trumpet, He will gather his elect, possibly a form of rapture, but not to heaven, but a place on Earth where all the saints will rule with him.

Jospeh Prince has just turned a beautiful story of God's command for us to help people in need, into a prophetic heresy.

Confess is confess, let's not wrangle with words.

9 If we CONFESS our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9

Joseph Prince taught that the word CONFESS is the word homologeó ( Strong's Greek 3670, ὁμολογέω) which is defined as to speak the same, to agree. Hence to be in "agreement" with Christ, it means you agree that "you are already forgiven"!! Well, There are 2 basic flaws in this definition:

1. Well, one thing you have to understand about Strong's definition is, there is a general meaning, there is also a specific definition for specific verses. One cannot simply pluck in any definition he desires to express the point he wants. So what is the specific meaning for 1 John 1:9?

b. not to deny, i. e. to confess; declare: joined with οὐκ ἀρνεῖσθαι, followed by direct discourse with recitative ὅτι, John 1:20; followed by ὅτι, Hebrews 11:13; τίνι τί, ὅτι, Acts 24:14; to confess, i. e. to admit or declare oneself guilty of what one is accused of: τάς ἁμαρτίας, 1 John 1:9 (Sir. 4:26).

Let me highlight : "to confess, i. e. to admit or declare oneself guilty of what one is accused of: τάς ἁμαρτίας, 1 John 1:9 (Sir. 4:26). "

Is that clear enough? http://biblehub.com/greek/3670.htm

2. Yes, maybe you prefer to use the meaning "to agree with". So what did Jesus say about our sins? Freely forgiven without any responsibility on our part?

14 Blessed are those DO THIS COMMANDMENTS,[g] that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But[h] outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. - Revelations 22:14-15

Repentance is part and parcel of the Gospel. This is not a matter to be taken lightly or brushed aside. It's your eternality at stake, and those whom you shepherd. Stop listening to the unsound teaching of Joseph Prince.

Faith without works, is indeed dead.

Video Reference : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ_ze6m5eI8

Theme : Be hearers and not doers? True or False?

JP's reference : James 1:23-25, Gal 3:2-5, Hebrews 4:2

Something wrong with being "not hearers only, but doers of the word? Let's consider the verses being discussed.

1. (1:28 - 1:55)

²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. - James 1:23-25

i. When James mentioned the word "Word", did he mean "you are more than a Conqueror"? "Righteous in Christ"? "New Creation"? What is the Word? There is only one word in the bible, that is the Law of God.

² And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. ³ So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. ⁴ Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. ⁵ You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you. ⁶ “Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. - Deut 8:2-6

⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way,

And the unrighteous man his thoughts;Let him return to the Lord,And He will have mercy on him;And to our God,For He will abundantly pardon.
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. - Isaiah 55:7-11

⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

¹⁰ “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,

⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”^[a]- Matt 4:11

The Word that Proceeds from the mouth of God, are his commandments, his way of life, his Laws.

¹⁷ “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill (Strong's Greek 4137, πληρόω, universally and absolutely, to fulfil, i. e. "to cause God's will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God's promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfilment": Matthew 5:17; cf. Weiss, Das Matthäusevang. as above with, p. 146f). ¹⁸ For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. ¹⁹ Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. - Matt 5:17-20

2. (1:55-2;12)

²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. - James 1:23-25

His emphasis is on the perfect law of liberty  which he defined as "Grace", "Law of the Spirit of Life", Law of Faith. He stops there and said, "the one who is the doer of the word is the one who keeps on hearing and hearing and hearing and hearing.... " But did James stop there? No, the next part of the verse says,

"... and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work,... "

Yes, we have been Justified by Faith, it's Salvation by faith and not of works.  Does our Christian walk stop at just Justification by Faith? What did Paul says about good works?

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works,  lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. - Ephe 2:8-10

We are not saved BY WORKS, but we are saved FOR WORKS! What did Jesus say about those who did not continue in doing good works (did not obeying his commandments)?

¹⁴ Blessed are those who do His commandments,^[g] that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ But^[h] outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. - Rev 22:14-15

Referring to 2:47-2:49, where in James 1:23-25 says "keep on hearing"?? This passage is plain and simple, the Prophets and the Apostles taught the same thing, the Law, the commandments and the new covenant, James is simply asking us to follow them. Are you sure you don't want to be doer of the word?

3. 3:22-4:12

² This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?³ Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?⁴ Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? - Gal 2:2-5

Firstly, let us define what did Paul meant by works of the Law? Was Paul forbidding the Galatians Christians from Obeying the 10 Commandments? Let us take a look at the background of the Book of Galatians.

Clue number 1: They made Circumcision a criteria to be a Christian

2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. ² And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. ³ Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. ⁴ And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), ⁵ to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. - Gal 2:1-5

*What did the false brethren secretly brought in to bring them back to bondage? 10 Commandments? No, it's the Mosaic Laws of Circumcision.

² Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. ³ And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. ⁴ You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law (i.e Circumcision); you have fallen from grace. - Gal 5:2-4

¹¹ And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. ¹² I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! - Gal 5:11-12

¹³ For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom^[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. - Gal 6:13-15

Clue number 2: Priority given for the Circumcised (the Jews)

¹¹ Now when Peter^[a] had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; ¹² for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.¹³ And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

¹⁴ But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you^[b] compel Gentiles to live as Jews?^[c] 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, ¹⁶ knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. - Gal 2:11-16

*Was Peter criticised for upholding the 10 Commandments? No, he was criticised for showing favouritism to the Jews. He was living as if he was still a Jew (Works of the Law)

".... man is not justified by the works of the law (Justification by the Law of Moses, not 10 commandments) but by faith in Jesus Christ (Justification by Faith)

"... justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law (Justification by the Law of Moses, not 10 commandments); for by the works of the law (Justification by the Law of Moses, not 10 commandments) no flesh shall be justified.

Clue number 3: Observing of days and months

⁸ But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.⁹ But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? ¹⁰ You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain. - Gal 4:8-11

Paul DID NOT address the Galatians for obeying the 10 commandments. He addressed the Galatians for inserting the "Beggarly Elements" into the Gospel, thus giving "additional" criteria in order to be Justified by Faith. This is further explained by Paul in Galatians,

²³ But before faith (Jesus as our atonement of violation against the 10 commandments) came, we were kept under guard by the law (Sacrifice bulls and goats to atone for Israel's violation of the 10 commandments, not talking about the 10 commandments itself), kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. - Gal 3:23-25

Therefore,

*Old covenant = Law of Moses, Blood of bulls and Goats as an annual atonement for Israel's violation of the 10 Commandments.

*New Covenant = Law of Liberty, Blood of Jesus as a permanent atonement for Israel's violation of the 10 Commandments.

Hence in both the Old and New Covenant, the Law cannot be taken away, or else Christ's death is in vain. So how can Paul be teaching the Galatians to cease obedience to God's Commandments? There is nowhere in Gal 2:2-3 that says "we are saved by keep on hearing and hearing and hearing and hearing.... "

What did Jesus says about Lawlessness?

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ - Matt 7:21-23

¹¹ “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ ¹² But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ - Matt 25:11

⁴¹ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: ⁴² for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

⁴⁴ “Then they also will answer Him,^[d] saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ ⁴⁵ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” - Matt 25:41-46

And Finally.... to recap...

¹⁴ Blessed are those who do His commandments,^[g] that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ But^[h] outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. - Rev 22:14-15

Joseph Prince is teaching you how to be Lawless, he is actually giving you an instruction of....  how to go to hell...