Category: Daily Manna

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
July 28

THE GOSPEL OF CHRISTIANITY’S CHRIST vs THE ‘GOSPEL’ OF ROME’S ANTICHRIST – (Part 8)

Edwardson says this of the gospel of Rome’s Antichrist:

“Here is this ‘dogma’ presented in authentic Catholic works:
‘We define that the Blessed Virgin Mary in the first moment of her conception. . . .was preserved free from every form of original sin.’

‘Unlike the most of the children of Adam, the SOUL [emphasis mine] of Mary was NEVER subject to sin.’ – ‘Faith of the Fathers,’ Cardinal Gibbons, pp. 203, 204. Baltimore: 1885.

“The Sainted Doctor Alphonsus de Liguori says:
‘The merits of Jesus, shall be dispensed through the hands and by the intercession of Mary.’ – ‘Glories of Mary,’ p. 180, New Revised Edition. New York: P. J. Kennedy & Sons, 1888.

‘God has chosen to bestow NO GRACE [emphasis mine] upon us but by the hands of Mary.’ – Ibid, p. 180.

‘Whoever asks and wishes to obtain grace without the intercession of Mary, attempts to fly without wings.’- ibid, p. 189.

‘Mary is the HOPE of all our salvation.’ – Ibid, p. 195.

‘Thou [Mary] art the ONLY advocate of sinners.’ – Ibid, p. 129.

‘All those who are saved, are saved SOLELY by means of this DIVIND mother; …..the salvation of all depends upon the PREACHING MARY.’ – Ibid, pp. 19, 20.

‘We ask many things of God and do NOT obtain them; we ask them from Mary and OBTAIN them.’ – Ibid, p. 150. Much more can be cited.

“A Protestant may ask if the merits of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross are not sufficient, so that we can receive grace DIRECTLY from Him. To this the [Roman] Catholic Church answers:
‘The merits and the virtue of the sacrifice are infinite, but that virtue and these merits must be applied, and this can only be done by CERTAIN MEANS.’ – ‘Doctrinal Catechism,’ S. Keenan, p. 129. NY. Kennedy & Sons, 1846.

[What are these ‘certain means?’]
‘The PRIEST has the power of the KEYS, or the POWER of delivering sinners from hell, of making them worthy of paradise, and of changing them from the slaves of Satan into the children of God. And God Himself is OBLIGED TO ABIDE by the judgment of His Priests….The Sovereign Master of the universe ONLY FOLLOWS THE SERVANT by confirming in heaven all that the latter DECIDES in earth.’ ‘ – ‘Dignity and Duties of the Priest,’ St. Alphonsus de Liguori, pp. 27, 28. NY: Benziger Bros., 1888.’”- ‘Facts of Faith,’ Christian Edwardson, pp. 206, 207. (Revised) Southern Publishing Asso., Nashville 8 TN: 1943.

Only “the truth as it is in Jesus” can deliver the sinner-slave from the degradation of sin, the power of Satan, and the tyrannical rule of spiritual darkness of deep-seated “Christianized heathenism,” “tradition-over-Scriptures,” lying heresies of Spiritualism, abominations, antichristian-anti biblical, the Church-over-Christ doctrines and teachings!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
July 27

THE GOSPEL OF CHRISTIANITY’S CHRIST VS THE ‘GOSPEL’ OF ROME’S ANTICHRIST – (Part 7)

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood [not spirit], He also Himself likewise took part of the same [flesh and blood].”
Heb. 2: 14.

“Wherefore in ALL THINGS it behoved [Gr. ‘under obligation’] Him to be made LIKE UNTO His brethren [you and me]. . . .In that He himself hath SUFFERED BEING TEMPTED, He is able to SUCCOR THEM THAT ARE TEMPTED.” verses 17, 18, KJV. Temptation is no temptation unless there is no possibility of yielding.

Paul definitively states what kind of human flesh and nature God Creator incarnated into. Mark! “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, and for sin, CONDEMNED [not condoned!]

SIN IN THE FLESH [For what purpose?]. That the righteousness of the LAW might be fulfilled IN us, WHO walk NOT after the flesh but after the [Holy] Spirit.” Rom. 8: 3,4. Read the rest of chapter.

Apostle Paul relates to the Christian his experience before being fully converted in Christ and his convoluted and terribly frustrating experience in chapter 7, then, after his genuine conversion he triumphantly declares the condemnation he suffered prior was because of his yet-carnal mind that was attempting to achieve spiritual success and victory. All he ended up with was wretchedness of spirit!

Too many Christians distort the truth by misquoting or “picking-and-choosing” only what they want to read in the Bible because it appears to sustain them in their worldly course of life. Such haphazard, careless, and even irreverent reading of the Holy Bible, God in His Word can never stand the closest scrutiny of the Scriptures, bring us up to a higher spiritual sphere and abiding relationship of branch-to-Vine with “the High and holy One who inhabits the eternity.”

‘But any serious searcher of truth will allow himself to be blessed by the WHOLE truth, the WHOLE gospel, the WHOLE law, the WHOLE armor of God, by faith and obedience which is based on “loving God with ALL the heart, ALL the mind, ALL the soul, and ALL the strength.” Jesus said, “This is the FIRST and great commandment.”

“ALL following verse is one of my all-time favorites so that it is already imprinted in my memory bank. Notice:

“Though He were a Son [of God] yet learned He OBEDIENCE by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY Him.” Heb. 5: 8, 9.

Here Paul specifically says that Jesus, “Ben ami,” Son of suffering like Benjamin was, not yet “Ben David,” Son of King, “had to learn the obedience of a man, as our Example by suffering—-not caused by physical affliction or infliction but by temptation.

Any striving Christian know to a certain extent of personal experience how PAINFUL it is to say NO in both heart, mind, and decision to deny oneself his favorite food, entertainment, and secret vices, if any.

That was the experience of Paul until he found the answer and the “way of escape.” Jesus was “tempted IN ALL POINTS” as all mankind is tempted “yet without sin;” not once did He yield, not even in thought, to any and all of Satan’s personal temptations and provocations or through his agencies, primarily the religious leaders who prided themselves as the “spiritual guardians of the chosen people and nation.”

In His adopted flesh-and-blood human nature that was never exempt from the natural power of heredity transmitted through His forbears four thousand years after the fall (thats why the gospel of Matthew opens up with a genealogy of Jesus, etc.) with all its passions (else He could not feel and relate to the lot of fallen man): but He did not have the sinful pollutions (for not once did He yield to temptation, not even in thought hence, He “was holy and undefined” as the Lamb of God “without blemish, the only sinless Man who “was made in the likeness of sinful flesh” and thus “walked as a Man among fallen men.”

The opposite of “likeness” is unlikeness. So we get it right. That’s also why it was prophesied that His body “would see no corruption” neither would a bone in His body be “broken.” It is sin that debases the moral character, defiles the conscience and brings on decay and corruption at death. If you have ever smelled “the stench of death” it should be a severely unpleasant reminder of what the results of sin is so that we will learn to detest the cause not just the effect.

(To be continued) Bless all, NMF

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
July 26

THE GOSPEL OF CHRISTIANITY’S CHRIST VS THE ‘GOSPEL’ OF ROME’S ANTICHRIST – (Part 6)

How often and how deep have we Christians pondered, if ever, upon the length, depth, width and height of what Jesus’ office and role as our all-embracing “merciful HIGH PRIEST,” which penultimate office renders Him as the penitent sinner’s one and only “AIM,” i.e., Advocate, Intercessor and all-powerful MEDIATOR?

Or have we just taken for granted, LAODICEAN-like, that “it is what it is” because we are already “rich in goods and have need of nothing,” when we come across in our regular Bible and SOP readings (if we do), or hear being quoted from the pulpit the following sample verses:

ADVOCATE: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye SIN NOT. And if any man sin [falls to temptation], we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2: 1 (see verses 2-6 for broader context).

INTERCESSOR/INTERCESSION: “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect [who is/are the ‘elect’?]. It is God that justifieth [not any man, particularly the ‘man of sin,’ the Antichrist!]. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again [not the dead apostles, saints, or Mary], who is even at the right hand of God [position of eminent power], who also maketh INTERCESSION for us.” Rom. 8 : 33, 34; (read verses 28-39 for broader context). Read Rom. 11:2, verses 1-8: “For this MAN, because He continues forever [immortal], has an unchangeable Priesthood [no predecessor, no successor], wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost them that come to God by Him [they ‘overcome even as He overcame’], seeing He ever liveth does not die and is replaced by ‘another human Intercessor or priest!] to make INTERCESSION for them.” Heb. 7:24, 25.

MEDIATOR: “For there is ONE God, and ONE Mediator BETWEEN God and man, the Man Christ Jesus!” 1 Tim. 2:5; see verses 3-6. Bs sure to read Heb 8: 6; 9:15; 12: 1, 2, 24.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
July 23

THE GOSPEL OF CHRISTIANITY’S CHRIST VS THE ‘GOSPEL’ OF ROME’S ANTICHRIST – (Part 5)

FF 205-6: “But mark! It was FALLEN MAN that was to be rescued from sin. And go make contact with him, Christ had to CONDESCEND to take our NATURE (not some ‘higher kind’ of flesh).

Notice what Paul wrote: ‘Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, HE ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME. . . . Wherefore in ALL THINGS it BEHOVED Him to be made like unto His brethren.’ Heb. 2:14,17, KJV.

“This text is so worded that it cannot be misunderstood. Christ ‘took part of the SAME’ flesh and blood as ours: He came in THE [not ‘a’] flesh. To deny this is [also] the mark of Antichrist. (See 1 John 4:3; 2 John 7). To bridge the gulf that sin has made [separating creature from the Creator, Isa. 59:2.].’Christ must be one with the Father in DIVINITY, and one with [fallen] man in HUMANITY, and thus connect AGAIN earth with heaven.”

“God revealed this truth to the Patriarch Jacob that lonely night in Bethel. When he feared that his sins [of deceiving his already-blind with age father, Isaac, to bless him with the birthright that legally belonged to his older twin brother, Esau] had CUT HIM OFF from heaven, God showed him [in an night vision-dream] that mystic LADDER, connecting earth with heaven, which Christ explained to be the ‘Son of MAN.’ (See Gen. 38:12; cf. John 1:51).

“Modernism [and other religions such as Judaism, Islam, the Church of Christ, etc.] has tried to cut off this upper part of the LADDER by denying Christ’s divinity, while the Roman Catholic Church has tried to cut off the lower rounds by teaching that the VIRGIN MARY was born without sin [their unbiblical doctrine of the ‘Immaculate Conception’], and that therefore Christ did not take upon Himself our kind of flesh and blood [at the incarnation], ‘holy flesh,’ so far above us that He does not make contact with our [fallen, sinful] humanity!”- Edwardson, Facts of Faith, p. 205.

(To be continued. Stay connected and in tune!). Bless all hungry detergent truth-seekers, NMF

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
July 22

THE GOSPEL OF CHRISTIANITY’S CHRIST VS THE ‘GOSPEL’ OF ROME’S ANTICHRIST – (Part 4)

C. Edwardson provides a proper background and sound Biblical foundation for this vital and sensitive subject, which unfolds with the deep topic of the incarnation, a subject I personally am convinced by years of study since the early 1990s, is what really draws the line between the true gospel and all its counterfeits but specifically the ‘gospel’ of the Antichrist [all emphasis and words in bracket mine):

“Through sin man has separated himself from God, and his fallen nature is opposed to the divine will; therefore he cannot by his own effort live a godly life, nor can he change his own heart.(Isa.59:1: Rom. 8:7; Jer. 13:23; John 15:5).

Only through Christ, our Mediator, can man be rescued [delivered] from sin, and again be brought into connection with the Source of purity and power.

“But in order to become such a CONNECTING LINK Christ had to partake both of the DIVINITY of God [which He already possessed as the Son of God] and of HUMANITY of man [which He partook of only in the mystery of the incarnation, a singular event in the universe and throughout eternity] so that He with His divine arm could encircle God, and with His human arm, embrace man, thus connecting BOTH [divinity and fallen humanity] in His own person.

In this UNION of the human with the divine lies the ‘MYSTERY’ OF THE GOSPEL, the secret of power to lift man [out] from his degradation. ‘Great is the mystery of godliness: GOD was manifest in THE flesh.’ 1 Tim. 3:16, KJV.

The ‘mystery’ or SECRET of power to live a GODLY life in the HUMAN flesh, was manifested in the life of Jesus Christ while on earth [‘seen of angels and man’]. (And ‘Christ in you,’ is the secret of POWER TO CONQUER SIN. Col. 1:27).”- Christian Edwardson, “Facts of Faith,” pp. 204, 205.

(To be continued). Bless all the “hungry-detergent” truth-seekers for they shall find, NMF

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
July 21

THE GOSPEL OF CHRISTIANITY’S CHRIST VS THE ‘GOSPEL’ OF ROME’S ANTICHRIST – (Part 3)

The gospel of Christ is a system of practical truths. The “gospel” the Antichrist is a counterfeit of this practical truths. First, a quick, short yet crystal clear summation of what the true gospel is and what it was designed by God to accomplish for sinful man born on sin-cursed, fallen Earth, a captive of Satan and slave fo sin in his carnal, spiritually unborn state.

From the inspired pen of God’s last-day messenger, we read [all words in brackets mine]:

“The gospel is a system of practical truths destined to work great changes in human character. If it does not work the transformation in life, in habits, and practice, it is no truth to those who claim to believe it. Man must be sanctified by through the truth. And said Jesus, ‘Thy word is truth’ (John 7:17).

Unless the truth of God [in the true gospel] shall lift up man out of his depravity, his intemperance and profligate habits, and make him reflect the image of God, he is lost [not ‘found’ and unconditionally “saved by grace’].” E. G. White, Letter 14, March 13, 1885/TDG 81.

All diligent students of the Bible can quickly see that these succinct statements are totally Bible-based and are “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” and thus exposes any and all “peace-and-safety” messages of the purveyors of the widely-popular deceptive and soul-destroying “prosperity gospels” and the “gospel” of the Antichrist, which we will cover in the next few days.

Bless all the wide-eyed, childlike truth-seekers! NMF

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
July 20

THE GOSPEL OF CHRISTIANITY’S CHRIST VS ThE ‘GOSPEL’ OF ROME’S ANTICHRIST – (Part 2)

In his epistle to the early church in ROME, the capital city of the pagan Roman Empire at that time, apostle Paul boldly declares to all the churches and mankind itself, whether “Jew, Greek, or Gentile,” for “God is no respecter of persons,” and the universal sinfulness of man “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”—-that God’s antidote to the whole problem of SIN (the transgression of God’s law, 1 John 3:4) and His plan to meet the emergency sin had created, as well as the curse of death, which is “the wages of sin” is the GOSPEL OF CHRIST, the power of God to save the sinner from the power of Satan and yielding to his temptations to commit sin, and from suffering eternal death while “magnifying the law and making it honorable,” the exact opposite of “doing away,” “nailing to the cross,” or abrogating it by replacement with “grace.”

Notice:
“v 16 For I am not ashamed of THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: for it is THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

“v 17 For therein [in the gospel of Christ] is the righteousness of God is REVEALED from faith to faith, as IT IS WRITTEN, the just [not the unjust] shall live by faith.

“v 18 For the wrath of God is revealed AGAINST all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men [the unjust] who hold the truth [of the gospel of Christ] in unrighteousness;

“v 19 Because that which may be known of God [as revealed in the gospel of Christ] is manifest IN them; for God has SHOWED it unto them [not veiled, obscured, hidden, or withheld].” Rom. 1: 16-19, KJV.

Read the whole chapter for broader context and know for yourselves the following:
1) the “gospel of Christ” is revealed so that man has no excuse to accept the counterfeit gospel of Antichrist

2) the “wrath of God” is also revealed: know against what and against whom

3) the “righteous judgment of God” is also revealed so that all may know how to avoid it—-by receiving and being saved by the “gospel of Christ,” not the counterfeit “gospel” of Antichrist, which results in perdition, not salvation!

(To be continued) Bless all truth-seekers, NMF

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
July 19

THE GOSPEL OF CHRISTIANITY’S CHRIST VS THE ‘GOSPEL’ OF ROME’S ANTICHRIST – Part 1

There is the gospel of Jesus Christ and there is the “perverted” version of it, which is “another gospel,” or “other gospels,” even as there are “other god” pretenders to the one and only true God. (Exo. 20:1-3).

We are blessed to believe and accept (in the fullest sense of these words) the former, and certainly “accursed” if we choose the latter for the former.

Here is what apostle Paul sternly warned the early Christian converts in churches in Galatia, many from Judaism, the national religion of the Jewish nation at Christ’s time (also called the religion of the Pharisees by Christ) who were still zealously trying to enforce literal circumcision prescribed in the ceremonial “law of Moses” under the Old Testament Jewish dispensation, which were done away with when shadow met the substance, type met antitype when Christ the Lamb of God was offered at Calvary, :
31 A.D.

Before Saul’s dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus and his name changed to Paul the apostle to the Gentiles, he was like them and worse for he zealous persecuted the first followers of Christ!, wrongly believing that he “was serving God.”

He warned them and all professed Christians today:
“I marvel [am astounded] that you are so soon removed from Him [Lord Jesus Christ, verses 1-5] that called you unto the grace of Christ unto ANOTHER GOSPEL: which is NOT ANOTHER; but there be some that TROUBLE YOU, and would PERVERT the gospel of Christ. But though WE [Paul and all the apostles], or an ANGEL from heaven, PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be ACCURSED [whoever preaches ‘another gospel’].

As we said before, so say I now AGAIN, If any man [particularly “the man of sin” and “son of perdition.” 2 Thess. 2: 1-17] preach any other gospel unto you than ye have received, let him be ACCURSED.” [Note: Both the preachers and the receivers of the “other gospels” are cursed, not blessed by God!].” Gal. 1: 6-9, KJV.

Paul continues: “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to PLEASE men? For if I get pleased men, I should NOT be the servant of Christ. [Note: If the hidden motive of anyone preaching the gospel is to please men, including himself, he is not God’s servant but the servant of the author of the counterfeit gospel, and therefore “accursed”].

But I certify you, brethren, that the GOSPEL which was preached of me is NOT after MAN. For I neither RECEIVED it of man, neither was I TAUGHT it, but by the REVELATION of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the JEWS’ RELIGION [the course of my past life and career as a overzealous Pharisee], how that beyond measure, I PERSECUTED the church of God [not the ‘synagogue’ of the Jews], and WASTED it: and profited in the JEWS’ RELIGION above many my equals in mind own nation [the Jewish nation], being MORE EXCEEDINGLY ZEALOUS of the TRADITIONS of my fathers.” Verses 10-14.

Now follows part of the genuine conversion process, change of mind, and realignment of his previously misdirected “righteous zeal” which was as dramatically manifested as his experience on the road to Damascus when literal layers of scales came of his eyes—scales of tradition and false teachings by the “fathers” that blinded him! He said:

“But when it pleases God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace [called by grace and response by grace, is saving grace], to reveal His Son to me, that I might preach Him AMONG THE HEATHEN [whom the proud Jewish nation looked down upon, cynically addressing them as low-life “Gentiles”], immediately I conferred NOT with flesh and blood [fellow mortals]: neither went I to JERUSALEM to them who were APOSTLES BEFORE ME [older and more senior in rank and knowledge]: but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus [in Syria].” Verses 15-17.
(To be continued). Bless all, NMF