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Today is Saturday September 04, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 14-16. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-4

Today's Message: True Doctrine of Christ
You can pretty much go on any major street and see a church on just about every corner, the amazing thing is that not one is like the other, every one of them follows a different law, a different book, a different religion, and a different god. Yes, a different god. While it is true that there is only One God, one law, one religion, and one book, all these different churches want to get you to believe that their god is the True God and their way is the right way. However, the truth is this, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made....And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” - John 1:1-3,14. There is One God and that God was the Word of God that came to earth in the flesh through Jesus Christ. In other words, there is One Law, One Word, and One Religion, all wrapped up in One True and Living God. Praise God! “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” - I John 5:7. It is hard enough trying to live right with God without trying to comply with laws created by man. Sadly, it is hard to tell which church is following the truth. So, how can we know the truth? The truth is in the Word, if a church follows the true doctrine of Christ then they are telling you the truth, if they are not then they are telling you lies.

When God called judgment upon the Israelites many of the elders could not understand why God was so angry and allowed such destruction to take place. A group of them went to Ezekiel and asked him what was going on. “Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.” - Ezekiel 14:1-6. Although the Israelites regularly offered sacrifices to God, they also worshiped the heathen idols of other nations. God knew their hypocrisy and gave them a command, “Get rid of the idols and repent.” God despises those who throw Him in the midst of false religion. Praise God that He does not hold a grudge and will forgive anyone who repents.

God's purpose in judgment is to reclaim the hearts of His people who have wandered away to idols, the pursuit of pleasure, the race for riches, the struggle for power, the toil for knowledge, and greed for possessions. God is unchanging in His character and He will not bless people who assume He will overlook their sinful lives because their good religious works are highly praised by others. Only when we turn to Him and repent can we see God's mercy, grace, forgiveness, and blessings. “Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.” - Ezekiel 16:31-63. The word pacified means to restore or make peace with. Anyone who repents and turns or returns to God restores their relationship with Him and all the guilt and shame that came along with the sin is removed, never to be remembered by God. Praise God!

Satan is the source behind false religion, if he can get people following a false god than he has done his job. Why does he care? The more people he can deceive, the less he can get to follow the One True God and learn the truth that he is a good for nothing liar who is not only trying to destroy God, but every person God created. The amazing thing is that while Satan can drum up false religion, he can not control anyone, just like God can not control anyone. We are free to choose who we follow and live the life we want to live, including choosing the religion we want to follow. However, there is going to come a time when every person will be judged for the decisions they make, including choosing to follow that false religion. Religion or works do not get us right with God, Jesus does, and as long as one remains in a false religion nothing they do for God will do any good. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” - Revelation 3:15,16.

As Christians we can not live by certain words of the Bible, we need to live by every word. While being tempted by Satan, Jesus Himself said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” - Matthew 4:4. Knowing every Word of God is the key to truly knowing whether or not you or someone you know is following the true doctrine of Christ. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we, in a spiritual sense, join Him in marriage. “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” - Ephesians 5:22-27. Jesus cleanses and washes us by our faith in Him through the Word of God, the result, eternal life and forgiveness of sins. What more could we ask for? Praise God! One day we will see that glorious church, but until that day we can not stop trusting in and following the One and Only True Living God. Thank God that even if we mess up we never lose our salvation and always have a wonderful, loving, Living God on our side. What do those false churches have to offer us? More rules to follow and money to get from you? Trust in the Living God and True Doctrine of Christ and we will see the amazing things that God has to offer us, simply by trusting Him. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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