“³ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

⁴ For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:4

If the Jesus being proclaimed from the pulpit is any of the following, you have another Jesus:

• born again in hell;
• fought the devil for 3 days in the burning side of hell;
• brought victory to mankind from the pits of hell;
• died spiritually, meaning he died lost,
• became a sinner;
• was a martyr;
• the Atonement was not in the Blood of Jesus;
• any person could do the same thing as Jesus if they just knew the Word.

These are just a few of the other Jesus’ being proclaimed from the pulpit with Kenneth Copeland leading the pack. Please understand, if one does not have the Atonement correct, they have another Jesus and another gospel and they are cursed (Galatians 1:6-8).

The facts about the Atonement are as follows:

• The Incarnation was for mankind’s Redemption.  In other words, Jesus came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for whosoever will believe.  Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, a Sacrifice…not a martyr.
• Jesus Christ was not born again in hell.  To be born again, He would have to have been lost.  Jesus did not become a sinner on the Cross, He was the Sin Sacrifice…again, Jesus was the Lamb of God.
• The Lord did not die spiritually.  To die spiritually means to be spiritually dead to God; to be lost.  Please read previous statement.  In no way did Jesus Christ die lost, meaning He became a sinner on the Cross.  If such were so, He could not have been the spotless Lamb of God.  His Sacrifice would not have been accepted because He would have been defiled by sin. God forbid no!
• The Blood of Jesus atoned for all sin; past, present and future.  It was finished when He said it was finished…on Calvary’s Cross.  The blood of bulls and goats could not pay the penalty of sin for mankind; it restored fellowship with God but did not pay the penalty.

It took God becoming flesh to go to Calvary’s Cross to pay a debt we could not pay.  The collision between sin and righteousness was met at Calvary’s Cross with Jesus Christ paying the penalty and whosoever will believe upon Him bearing the fruit of His atoning work by way of our Salvation.  We are not little gods; neither do we have the power to speak things into existence.  God will forever be the Creator and we the creation.  For those who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, there is a humility and dependency found in the Cross of Christ.  We are humbled by His power to Save and dependent on His power to keep.  We are not perfect but neither do we fear our imperfections…we look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith to cleanse us from our imperfections.

One day soon we will have glorified bodies with our sin nature gone forever.  No more death, no more sickness, no growing old and decay of our mortal bodies; we will put on incorruption soon and very soon. That is our Salvation.  Until our Salvation comes, we continue denying our self will and self efforts to gain victory, pick up our cross and follow Jesus.  We will walk precept upon precept, line upon line in the dominion over our sin nature through faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.  We understand the Atonement.  We know in Whom we have believed and what He afforded us on Calvary’s Cross.  The Atonement was not for His victory it was for ours and we simply believe Him.  No matter the circumstances, we know that He works all things for good to them that love Him and are called according to HIS purpose…not our own (Romans 8:28).

If we get the Atonement wrong, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, we have another Jesus and another gospel.  We will continually be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. There will forever be another philosophy coming down the pike but there is but one Cornerstone.  He is not a “doctrine”, He is the Cornerstone of all doctrine.

“⁶ Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief Corner Stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on Him shall not be confounded.

⁷ Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the Head of the Corner,

⁸ And a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light;

¹⁰ Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Peter 2:6-10

Beware of anyone teaching another Jesus; a Jesus that is not the Cornerstone.  Try the spirits. Search the Scriptures daily…study to show thyself approved.

-Donna Clark Warren

Holiness is not only the absence of sins.  Neither is holiness an activity; it is not something we do or say.  God is Holy…HE  is holiness.  We are in no way holy, regardless of the absence of sin in a person’s life unless we are made one with Jesus Christ by way of Calvary’s Cross.  Jesus Christ without Calvary’s Cross is another Jesus.  Our redemption was afforded to us by Jesus and His Cross was the means.

“³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His Resurrection:”  Romans 6:3-5

The good deeds that “good people” may do who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, do no make them holy and certainly doesn’t result in Salvation.  The Incarnation of Jesus Christ was for the purpose of Redemption of mankind to God.  Without becoming one with Jesus Christ through His death on the Cross and Jesus Christ becoming one with us; we are not holy and therefore rejected by God.  The Cross of Christ is the very foundation of the Believer’s reconciliation with God…any other way we are not reconciled, period.   There is no fellowship with God, the Sovereign God, through Buddha, Mohammed or the “Great Spirit” of the Native Americans.  They worship another god…not the God of the Bible; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

“Jesus said unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6

The Atonement is the reason Salvation is so easy for whosoever believes upon the Lord Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done…but make no mistake, the Atonement, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, came at a very high price and is more than just a mere doctrine.  Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the Cornerstone of all doctrine.  If we miss this, do not understand the Atonement, we do not understand our perceived lack of sin does not and cannot result in holiness.  Only by and through Jesus Christ is fallen man imputed the holiness of God for Salvation.

-Donna Clark Warren

“And He (Jesus) answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”  Luke 19:40

Have you considered what your spiritual testimony proclaims to the spirit world?  No matter Job’s circumstances, he declared praises to the Lord; not for his circumstances but for His God. Job did not serve God for naught as satan insinuated (Job 1:9).

“Have You (God) not made an hedge about him (Job), and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” Job 1:10

Unlike many Christians, satan knows the Lord puts a hedge up around His Children and uses the devil as an instrument to bring the trials and tribulations that bring us closer to God.  The Book of Job is not about the conversion of a sinner but the consecration of a Saint.

Consider what your spiritual testimony proclaims to the spirit world.  Is it about you, who you are and what you can do, or the Lord Jesus Christ, Who HE is and what HE has done?

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

^“8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

⁹ For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

¹⁰ And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

¹¹ For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.” Romans 7:8-11

The problem in the church today is unbelief.  That unbelief begins at the pulpit and spreads like disease from the pulpit to fill every pew.  This is not unbelief in Jesus Christ and Him crucified for Salvation.  Praise God, many have believed upon Jesus Christ and His finished work on Calvary’s Cross for Salvation but sadly they do not know how to live for Christ.  These same Believers who have believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ for their Salvation do not believe upon the Atonement for their daily living for God.  Because of this unbelief, these unbelieving Believers place various religious laws (commandments) by which to abide in order to maintain their “righteousness”.  These very laws which are ordained to life bring death as the Believer looks to these laws (methods, philosophies, programs, etc.) as their “schoolmaster” to bring them closer to Christ instead of Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

I understand I just said a mouthful but I my purpose is to exhort the unbelieving Believer to believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and His redeeming work on Calvary’s Cross daily.  This is a daily fight of faith, not a one time event.  Recognize who is being lifted up from the pulpit and what they have done or must do according to the philosophy proclaimed.  If it is not Jesus Christ as the Source and His Cross as the means by which we receive everything from God, which directs ones faith to Jesus Christ, Who HE is and what HE has done, plain and simply it’s another Jesus and another gospel.

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2

This is not just a “lingo”, this is life to a thirsty soul that molds the believing Believer into the image of Christ.  Precept upon precept, line upon line we begin to walk in the statutes of the Living God by Grace through faith…faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

-Donna Clark Warren

“At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. ² And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.” Isaiah 39:1-2

The Babylonian Empire sent a letter of sympathy and a present to Hezekiah after his illness.  The devil has been rewrapping sympathy cards and gifts for years.  The threats of satan will drive us to the Lord but his compromise easily deceives the Believer.

False apostles and deceitful workers who transform themselves into apostles of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) consistently use the Word of God out of context, holding the Scriptures captive and making them ineffective, which will not benefit anyone…but it will further the false apostles and their vain philosophies.  Truth is often given in accordance with a lie to exalt the lie…not the truth.

“A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth works ruin.” Proverbs 26:28

Satan’s offer of compromise should be of greater fear than his threats of persecution.  In these last of the last days, it is going to take the Holy Spirit living inside the Believer and the Believer knowing the Word of God for themselves to discern satan’s sympathetic messages which appeal to the lusts of the flesh.

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:”  Acts 2:17

Let it also be understood that in these last of the last days, the Spirit of God will be poured out on those who seek, who knock…they shall know and understand in Whom they have believed.  Knowledge will be increased; spiritual knowledge as well as technology.  The Lord God has lifted up the standard for our Salvation and Sanctification and it is up to us to follow Him…follow Jesus Christ.  It is up to us, those who have believed upon the Son of God, to go and tell the sick, the bound and the lost of He that can set the captives free.

If we don’t, who will?  Many are being deceived by satan’s sympathies.  They fear not his compromise which is drawing them closer to the world and away from God.

“⁴ Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. ⁵ Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The Spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy?” James 4:4-5

Recognize that which is drawing you nearer to God or nearer to the world.  The worldly statutes we recognize with our intellect but God’s Statutes invoke the hearer to believe…to believe that which God has promised but cannot be rationalized.  Hearing, we will hear and understand with our hearts; not rationalize with our minds.

Prayerfully consider.

-Donna Clark Warren

“²² For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: ²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? ²⁵ I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin”  Romans 7:22-25

This is where so many Believers are today.  They love God, seek God…they truly delight in the law of God but there is another law in their members which wars against the law of their mind.  The religious oath they have made to themselves to not do the do nots of Christianity has brought them back into captivity to the law of sin.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

These “o’ wretched” ones, as we all have been or currently are, and I speak of those who truly love the Lord; those who hate their sin but are in bondage, delight in the ways of the Lord on the inside but they are bound by sin.

Some religious would tell them they are not saved…but then again, they would also tell Paul he was not saved either.  These are the same religious who say the Jesus of the Bible, the only begotten Son of God, is legalistic and that “their Jesus”, another Jesus, is the Savior of the world.  Then again other religious would insist the bound ignore their sin, do not confess their sin.  According to this foolishness that would be a “negative” confession so they would rather lie to God about their problem as if it did not exist.  Not only is this foolishness but it is superstition which is actually rampant in the church today.

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul is showing us in Romans 7:22-25 that the “o’ wretched man’s” (the Apostle Paul’s) war was between his flesh and his mind.  The laws of his mind, which include ANY religious laws we place on ourselves to overcome, brought him into captivity to the law of sin…the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).  The Apostle Paul, just as many today, was walking after the flesh at that particular time…and I must quickly remind the reader, he was saved.

“³ 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 sin in the flesh: ⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”  Romans 8:3-5

Regrettably, many stay busy minding the things of the flesh when God sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, in the likeness of sinful flesh to condemn the very thing we are warring against…sin. Unbelieving, religious Believers who do not believe the Atonement, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, actually has the power to free the Believer from the law of sin, will quickly proceed with various methods and vain philosophies to do that which the Lord Jesus Christ has already done…overcome sin and death.  This victory Jesus Christ afforded whosoever will believe is for US…not Him.  He IS God and has ALL power and dominion.  He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

Walk not after the flesh, constantly warring with our members…walk after the Spirit and rest.  Placing our faith solely and exclusively in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, with Jesus as the Source and His Cross the means by which we receive EVERYTHING from God, we remain in Him and free from the law of sin and death.  There is rest for the weary soul.  THIS is the fight of faith we fight daily…not warring after the flesh.  THIS is why we are determined to know nothing else among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  HE is our rest, our peace, our comfort and our joy.

Tired of the fight?  Consider the fight…fight the good fight of faith; Jesus Christ and HIm crucified.

-Donna Clark Warren

“Know ye not, Brethren, (for I speak to them that know the Law,) how that the Law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?

² For the woman which has an husband is bound by the Law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the Law of her husband.

³ So then if, while her husband lives, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that Law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

⁴ Wherefore, my Brethren, you also are become dead to the Law by the Body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”  Romans 7:1-4

To be frank and honest, almost the entirety of the Church tries to live for God by means of the Law…which guarantees failure.  Just because it is not the Mosaic Law presented but other religious laws man has conjured up to live a victorious Christian life, makes them no less of a “law”.  Some examples include 40 days of purpose, Daniel Fast and other methods of humanistic psychology with a little Scripture added to deceive the Believer.  As a Child of God, we are under Grace or under law and sadly, as previously stated many remain under law.

These religious laws are more akin to Cain’s sacrifice because of the appeal to the flesh.  The sacrifices are made with our own hands, our own way following these prescribed methods and presented to God as holy.  Not so my friends.  Simply not so.  They are as filthy rags.

The analogy of the marriage bond given in Romans 7:1-4 shows us our marriage to the Law before Salvation.  The woman, being bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives, just as we are bound to the Law as long as we live.  As long as the Law lives, we are married to the Law.  How does a Believer reconcile this marriage analogy to Grace?

“³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:3-4

At Salvation, we are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ, Who fulfilled the Law in it’s entirety.  The Law is not dead but through the Blood of Jesus, “in Him”, we are dead to the law.  Just to be sure, we are only “in Him” when our faith is placed in His atoning work…not our religious laws that seem right but lead to death.  When we go back under law, any law, we are committing spiritual adultery.  Being bought, redeemed and now married to Christ Jesus through His finished work on Calvary’s Cross, religion will lead the sincerest of Believers back into religious laws and cause them to fall from Grace.  Again, we are either under law or under Grace.

“For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

When the Believer goes back under law, committing spiritual adultery, they remain bound by the law of sin and death.  Sadly and unknowingly their faith is shifted from the finished work of Jesus to their 40 days of purpose, religious ceremonies, etc.  When presented with this reality, they will quickly deny.  Their faith is indeed in the finished work of Christ for Salvation but I’m speaking here of Sanctification, victorious Christian living…living free from the dominion of sin (Romans 6:14).

Some religious folks will be angry and believe this is giving one permission to sin.  The fact of the matter is, they are the very ones who do not believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to do that which He is commissioned to do in the heart and life of the Believer to free us from the law of sin and death and create in us a new creature.  The religious will sincerely but wrongly place their religious laws on the new Believer causing them to fail.

“⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His Resurrection:

⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin.”  Romans 6:5-7

Only in Jesus Christ are we dead to the law and we are only “in Him” when our faith is placed in His finished work…not our religious works.  The majority of the church has lived under religious laws in order to sanctify themselves.  Many have fallen away because of failure.  There is victory for the Believer over the world, the flesh and the devil in Christ Jesus.  By Grace through faith are we Saved and by Grace through faith are we Sanctified.  Any other way is considered spiritual adultery.  This is why we preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified…the power of God for whosoever will believe.

“²³ But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; ²⁴ But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:23-24.

-Donna Clark Warren

“¹⁹ And I (the rich fool) will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry. ²⁰ But God said unto him, you fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have provided? ²¹ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:19-21

No man knows the day or the hour we are appointed to die.  When the moment comes and the Lord Jesus  requires of us our soul, we will hear one of two things; “Well done, thou good and faithful servant;” (Matt. 25:21) or “depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:23).

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: ” Hebrews 9:27

This is reality whether we choose to believe it or not.  Man freely chooses Heaven or hell.  There is but one path that leads to Heaven; it is narrow and few find it.

“¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt. 7:13-14

Few may find it; yet it is simple and easy…it will bring rest unto your soul.

“²⁸ Come unto Me (Jesus), all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My Yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰ For My Yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30

There is life and life more abundantly down that narrow path but it is only found this side of Heaven.  When our appointed time to die comes and our soul is required, the path we have freely chosen to take will determine our eternal and conscious destination.  This is reality, whether we choose to believe it or not.

“¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17.

God has made a way to find that narrow path and His Name is Jesus Christ.  Jesus came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for whosoever will believe upon Him; Who He is and what He has done.  Knowing this; knowing WHO Jesus is, we have no doubt as to His Resurrection.  Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, rose again 3 days later and made an open show out of every demon in hell (Col. 2:14-15).  Yes, the same demons that tempt and torture you today, the ones who whisper lies in your ear – they were there the day death and hell were defeated.  They know and believe there is but one God and tremble (James 2:19) but they whisper lies to kill, steal and destroy God’s highest creation, namely you and me.

“(For He said, I have heard You in a time accepted, and in the day of Salvation have I succoured You: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of Salvation.)” 2 Cor. 6:2

Today is the day of Salvation.

“Jesus said unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6

Choose the narrow path; choose Jesus Christ…His Yoke is easy.

-Donna Clark Warren

“⁵ My soul, wait you only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. ⁶ He only is my Rock and my Salvation: he is my Defence; I shall not be moved. ⁷ In God is my Salvation and my glory: the Rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. ⁸ Trust in Him at all times; you people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”  Psalms 62:5-8

Knowing in Whom we have believed, Jesus Christ – the only begotten Son of God, and what He came to do on Calvary’s Cross to take away the sins of the world for whosoever will believe, our soul waits upon Him…our soul shall not be moved.

Understanding the Atonement allows us to also believe our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, has the power to possess that which He has redeemed.  When we purchase something, we must also have the power to possess that which we have purchased.  A ten year old child may be able to financially purchase a car but they do not have the power to possess that car in which they have purchased.  Again, given this simple explanation, we must understand that our Redeemer has the power to possess that which He has redeemed, namely “us”….whosoever believes. If we do not properly understand the Atonement, we cannot properly understand the power of God to possess that which He has redeemed.

“For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

When we get a hold of this Truth, the power of the Atonement that redeems the Believer to God is also the legal right of God to possess that which He has redeemed, we will stop trying to redeem ourselves and begin to walk upright in His Will and His statutes.  The ministry of the Holy Spirit when our faith is properly placed in Jesus Christ and His atoning work is what gives us the ability to willingly submit unto God. There will be a strength, joy and peace in our soul because we know in Whom we have believed.  When the world starts to tremble  and the circumstances unbearable, the Lord our God is our defense…He is our refuge.  We look unto Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith and hold on to His nail scarred Hand.

While studying the great book of Revelations, you will find visions John the Revelator was given in different chapters yet they occurred at the same time.  For instance Chapters 13 and 14 actually take place at the same time.  Chapter 13 is explaining that which is taken place on earth and Chapter 14 proclaims that which is taken place in Heaven, yet again they are occurring at the same time.  Chapter 13 tells of the beast who is murderous, false and his idolatrous followers.  While Chapter 14 speaks of the Lamb of God Who is true, gentle and precious.

As a Believer, our reality isn’t of this earth; we are just sojourners passing through.  The trials and tribulations of this present day bring us precept by precept, line upon line, one day and one step closer to the Lord.  Vanities that at one time caused offense have seemingly fallen away.  There is an urgency, things that are more important than unprofitable arguing doctrine with those whose cornerstone is wrong in the first place.  There is a world out there, a lost and dying world who need to know this Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  They need to know the power of God to possess that which He has redeemed and see the Salvation of the Lord in their own lives.

We are told to occupy until the Lord comes (Luke 19:12-14) and to earnestly contend for the faith (Jude 1:3); contend for the Christian doctrine according to the Word of God.  We are commissioned to go into all the world, and preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15).  Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Redeem the time…it is indeed short.

” ¹⁴ Wherefore He says, Awake you that sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. ¹⁵ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, ¹⁶ Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:14-16

-Donna Clark Warren

^“6 I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

⁷ Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

⁸ But though we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-8

Sadly and regrettably, most Believers will accept as Christianity anything that claims to be the gospel.  They will quickly align with these ministries after judging according to appearance.  Success, prosperity and sincerity are judged while their doctrine, the gospel in which they preach, is quickly overlooked.

The fact of the matter is, many don’t know how to judge the doctrine because they themselves don’t have a proper understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, therefore they believe as long as they go through the motions and are doing their part, that all is well.  These laws people adhere to in order to “do what is right” according to their religion, are the very laws that keep them bound to that religion.  The Believer’s moral authority is the Word of God but if we don’t know this…well, we will believe anything passed off as “Christianity”.

“For if he that comes preaching another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.” 2 Corinthians 11:4

For some, there is the denominational Jesus.  This Jesus says you are not saved unless you are part of their denomination.  The Roman Catholics teach and preach a denominational Jesus.  If you are not a member of the Roman Catholic Church, the pope says you are not saved.  Of course, that could change at any given moment.  Their gospel often does change…just look throughout history.  I remind you, the Gospel of Jesus Christ never changes.  The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever more (Hebrews 13:8).

Others will follow a doctrinal Jesus, a Jesus who is limited to particular doctrines.  Some examples of this Jesus is the requirement to be water baptized before he (this other Jesus) will save them.  Others may require no make up, good works and various other philosophies from the vanity of man’s mind.  Contrary to many of the perceived “legalistic” doctrinal Jesus’ is the unholy doctrinal Jesus presented to most in the modern church.  This doctrinal Jesus is an anything goes Jesus and is probably the most legalistic.  Just try to talk to followers of the “anything goes Jesus” about the Jesus of the Bible, the Jesus Who dined with publicans and sinners, not to party with them but to call them to repentance (Mark 2:13-17); the Jesus Who called us out from among the worldly system to be ye separate (2 Cor. 6:17), and you will quickly see their laws of lawlessness and how they strictly abide to such laws.

“¹¹ And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

¹² For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ:

¹³ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

¹⁴ That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”  Ephesians 4:11-14

Unity of the faith is not unconditional acceptance of that which is called “Christianity”.  God gave us His Word, the Holy Spirit and the five fold ministry.  God’s Word and the Holy Spirit will never contradict one another and the five fold ministry will declare His Word under the anointing of the Holy Spirit with power…effective power because it will allow the moving of the Holy Spirit to convict, comfort and heal the broken hearted.

The devil’s counterfeit to God’s five fold ministry is false apostles who are transformed as ministers of light (2 Cor. 11:13-15).  They will toss the Believer to and fro with every wind of doctrine; from vain philosophy to vain philosophy, whatever is just around the corner is always the next big thing.

The Holy Spirit will reveal God’s Word to the Believer seeking His Truth and not doctrinal or denominational gospels teaching another Jesus.  It may be that one verse, just a few words, that will jump off that page and light a fire in your soul.  The Jesus of the Bible, the Jesus Who came to die on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for the sinner and break the power of sin for the Believer, is standing at the door knocking at many religious institutions.  That is not Him and not His Gospel being proclaimed from the pulpit under His Banner, the Banner of “Christianity”,  in most modern churches.  Seek Him while He may be found.  Come out from among them and be ye separate.

Prayerfully consider.

-Donna Clark Warren