Did you know there are over 45,000 Christian denominations worldwide today? Each of those denominations has different doctrinal beliefs. The Christian faith today is so splintered and divided! The enemy of our souls has sown so many lies and has deceived so many that the truth is far from them.

If we look at church history, the division starts early during the 12 disciples’ time and has evolved from there.

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Our division is such that many denominations believe that if you don’t believe in their doctrine, you are not saved. I am going to list the different beliefs to get a full picture of how divided we are! Not all of these beliefs are in error. I am just pointing out those who call themselves Christians and what they believe

· Many denominations believe it can change God’s commandments.

· Several denominations do not believe that you can be baptized in the HOLY SPIRIT. That was only for the disciples

· Others believe you can be baptized in the Holy Spirit, heal the sick, and cast out demons

· Many denominations believe that if you pray in tongues, it is from the devil.

· Others believe that you can pray in the Spirit and in tongues

· Some believe you must confess your sins to a priest.

· Many denominations do not believe in the Power of the Holy Spirit to lay hands on the sick to be healed or cast out demons

· Many denominations believe you can pray to the dead!

· Many believe you don’t have to obey anything because Jesus obeyed for you!

· Many believe that if you do obey God’s commandments, you are trying to get saved by works! So, they don’t obey!

· Some believe we are grafted into Israel; therefore, we should obey what God told Israel to do.

· Many believe that God replaced Israel with the church!

· Many believe that Gentiles obey different laws than the Jews

· Most can’t agree on what laws to obey

· Most denominations have added to or taken away from God’s word in either their tradition or just completely disregarding God’s commandments!

· Some denominations believe once saved, always saved

· Others believe that one can lose their salvation

· Others believe in the Prophetic and Fivefold Ministries

· Others Don’t believe there are any more prophets or apostles, and God doesn’t give any new words or instructions

· Several believe it’s ok to be homosexual or transgender.

There are so many other doctrines! But are we to follow doctrines of man or God’s Doctrine? What denomination is Jesus?

How will the world see Jesus if we are all over the place and arguing about who is right and who’s wrong, accusing one another of being false?

Many would say that all that is not important, as long as we all believe in Jesus; don’t even the demons believe and tremble

James 2:19 (NASB 95)

19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe and shudder.

Jesus said

Luke 11:17–20 (NASB 95)

17 But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges. 20 But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Does that mean God’s Church will fall? God forbid! God, the creator of everything, would never allow His kingdom to fall. There will be a remnant!

How did the church get so divided? Here are what I believe are the 3 major reasons

· The people's hearts have become Dull

· The Enemy of our souls has sown wolves in Sheep’s Clothing to sow discord and division

· The Enemy of our Souls has sown seed, deceiving the Church with Doctrines of devils. Teaching Lawlessness

Scripture tells us in Isaiah 6 and Matt 13

The People’s Heart

Isaiah 6:9 (NASB 95)

9 He said, “Go, and tell this people:

‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive;

Keep on looking, but do not understand.’

Matthew 13:14–15 (NASB 95)

14 In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;

15 For the heart of this people has become dull,

With their ears they scarcely hear,

And they have closed their eyes,

Otherwise, they would see with their eyes,

Hear with their ears,

And understand with their heart and return,

And I would heal them.’

This still happens today. The enemy of our souls has also contributed to this division by sending wolves in sheep’s clothing into the flock of God

Matthew 13:25 (NASB 95)

25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went away.

We see this in the parable of the wheat and tares. Matt 13:24-30. The enemy of our soul has sown weeds into the kingdom, and on the day of harvest (end of the age) He will first gather the tares and then the wheat! The tares will be burned and the wheat gathered into the King's barn.

We have been deceived by every wind of doctrine.

The enemy has sowed lies through the teaching of the word through false or deceived Five-Fold. People have not studied to show themselves approved unto God. They have had itchy ears, not wanting to crucify the flesh.

Ephesians 4:14–15 (NASB 95)

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14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

Matt 13 shows us what the Kingdom of Heaven is like, and there are some warnings the church should take heed of and listen to!

Matthew 13:41–43 (NASB 95)

41 The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Notice that Jesus says that Angels will remove out of His kingdom those who commit lawlessness. This means people who are operating in the kingdom. This Verse is very important for those who call themselves Christians to understand. We first need to define some of the terms in Matt 13:41 to determine who will be removed from the kingdom. Those who have ears to hear, pay close attention.

What is the Bible's definition of lawlessness?

1 John 3:4 (NASB 95)

4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

1 John is a hard book for most believers to read, and I rarely see these scriptures preached from the pulpit. One who practices means someone who continues to sin and does nothing to stop sinning does not repent. There are many reasons why a believer would continue to sin. I will not go into those now.

What is sin? Sin is lawlessness. Simply put, it is disobedience to God’s commandments.

Which commandments? Every commandment that has come out of the mouth of God! Any commandment that applies to you and me! I will go into more detail on what that means later.

1 John 3:5 (NASB 95)

5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

God has given us the power, through the blood of Messiah, to repent and turn away from habitual sin or lawlessness.

1 John 3:6 (NASB 95)

6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.

Verse 6 is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible: “NO ONE WHO ABIDES” in Jesus SINS. How can this be? Have we not all sinned and come short of the glory of God? Yes, before we believed! This is saying that when we abide in Him, we don’t have a desire to sin; we hate sin because Jesus hates sin and did not sin against God.

1 John 3:7 (NASB 95)

7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;

John warns us not to be deceived! Deception is the biggest problem in the church today! The enemy has worked overtime to sow the seed of deception into the church. Just like Eve was deceived into eating from the tree of life, the church has been deceived into lawlessness. Remember, Adam was commanded not to eat from that tree; instead of abiding in God and obeying His commands, they believed the voice of the enemy and disobeyed God, which brought sin into the world! Now Jesus came to take away sin! When we abide in Him, we just don’t practice sin anymore; we practice righteousness, just as Jesus is righteous.

1 John 3:8 (NASB 95)

8 The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

He who practices sin is of the Devil? Remember one who practices do not even try to repent. We are all just one decision away from repentance. God is faithful and just to forgive those who truly repent of sins.

Mark 1:14–15 (NASB 95)

14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

We must abide in Messiah. Jesus is the Narrow Door. He is the way, the truth, and life.

1 John 3:9 (NASB 95)

9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Notice it says that the one who is born of God Cannot Sin!!

There are over 45 thousand Christian denominations, and many teach it is ok to disobey God's commands. These are the seeds of deception planted into the ground.

1 John 3:10 (NASB 95)

10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

I do believe that John is referring to willful continual sin. When we first accept Jesus as our savior, we are like newborn babies, and we must be taught obedience; we must be taught God’s commandments. Just like our children do! We must learn the laws. Sanctification is not done overnight, but it is a process. I do believe that when we first believe, our desire to sin against God is broken. Eph 2 goes over this! We are no longer an enemy of God, and His word (Law) has been written on our hearts, and each day we will have more of a desire to trust God the Father and His word (Jesus the Messiah) and obey HIM.

Jesus said

John 14:15 (NASB 95)

15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

1 John 3:2–3 (NASB 95)

2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

If you are reading this, I know you have a desire to be like Jesus! This is the heart of a true believer! Keep seeking His face, abiding in HIS WORD (Jesus). When our hope is fixed on HIM, we will be like Him at Harvest time (the end of the age). Do you see it says He purifies Himself! The church is His bride; we need to make ourselves ready and purify ourselves with the washing of the water of the Word of God.

God’s kingdom will not fall because only those that truly abide in HIM will be part of HIS kingdom. This all starts with a decision to love God with all your heart, soul, and might

Deuteronomy 6:5 (NASB 95)

5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

The church must get back to what Jesus said!

John 5:19 (NASB 95)

19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.

Luke 11:23 (NASB 95)

23 He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.

The question today is: Are you for or against Messiah's Teachings? Look for the Next post; we will see what Jesus says and what his heart is for HIS bride.

Gospel Of Peace Ministries

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