My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
If you get your first thought and perception wrong, everything that follows will be wrong. Everything following will be viewed through the lens of the erroneous perception. For almost 1700 years the concept of “grace” and the “gospel” has been flawed. The devil has worked very hard to stack the deck against Christians with erroneous information and perceptions. He did the same with the nation of Israel. By giving us a misunderstanding of “grace” and the “gospel”, the devil has completely moved our perceptions from truth to error.
The churches today are all listening to the devil and his lies. Even in silence, truth can be known. For example, as recorded in the Bible, Jesus never mentioned the word “grace” in the 33 1/2 years He lived on earth. Since Jesus came to teach us truth, did He forget? I don’t think so. The knowledge of “grace” was not, and is not, important for our eternal life. Grace is “unmerited”! Therefore, it is given to everyone. Since all have it, knowing about it will do nothing for your eternal life. We are thankful for it, but we can do nothing about it.
However, the “Gospel” has everything to do with your eternal life. But again, the devil has perverted the “Gospel” in order to destroy its effectiveness. Therefore, instead of learning what the true “Gospel” is for your eternal life, the devil has you looking to “grace” which cannot save you eternally. My, my, how sly the devil is. All of the churches, denominations and religions have become “perverts” of the devil.
Since Jesus never once mentioned the word “grace”, what did He teach for our eternal life? What was the “Gospel” Jesus taught? Is it different from the “Gospel” taught today? Well, let’s hear it from Matthew. “Then He went throughout Galilee . . . proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.” “Then Jesus began traveling throughout all the cities and villages . . . proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.” And now from Mark. “Jesus went to Galilee and proclaimed the gospel about the kingdom of God.” Matthew 4:23; 9:35, Mark 1:14.
The gospel must be very important. So why are all the churches teaching “grace” and not the gospel? Strange, considering Jesus commanded the disciples to “go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to everyone.” Mark 16:15. Jesus never commanded anyone to proclaim “grace”. Jesus said, “The gospel must be proclaimed to all nations”. Mark 13:10. But has it? In order for the end to come, Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world . . . and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14.
Now we know why the end has not yet come. The gospel has not been taught and proclaimed as Jesus commanded. The mission to teach the gospel that Jesus commanded us to accomplish has been hijacked by the devil. OK, what is the “gospel” we are to be teaching and proclaiming?
If you notice, it is the “gospel of the kingdom”. That would be God’s kingdom. Since the word “gospel” means “good news”, what is the “good news” of God’s kingdom? We are told that it is the “everlasting gospel”. Revelation 14:6. That means, every created being was taught the “good news” of the kingdom by God from the beginning. That includes every angel, every created being in the universe including Adam and Eve. So, what is the “good news”? If they kept the Ten Commandments they would have eternal life. If they broke them, they would die. Genesis 2:17. But the devil rebelled against the kingdom of God and wanted Eve to rebel along with him. Therefore, he told her a lie, “you certainly will not die”. Genesis 3:4. Sounds a lot like “saved by grace”.
The Ten Commandments were to be kept in the hearts of every person on earth since Adam. Deuteronomy 11:18. They obeyed them until they broke them by disobeying the command not to eat from the Tree of Good and Evil. From Adam and Eve the Ten Commandments were passed on to their children and their children’s children. Then Jesus gave the Ten Commandments in writing to Moses to affirm the understanding that they were to “keep My statutes and My ordinances, which a person is to obey in order to live in them. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 18:5. These Ten Commandments were to be kept in the heart as Adam and Eve were to have kept them. “Let these words that I’m commanding you today be always on your heart.” Deuteronomy 6:6. The world was to be very careful to “obey the words contained in this Law”. Deuteronomy 31:12. “Keep My Commandments and live.” Proverbs 4:4. “Fear God and obey His Commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13. “If you love Me, you will keep My Commandments.” John 14:15. God does not change. His Law is eternal.
The Ten Commandments are righteous and just. Moses stated, “And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?” Deuteronomy 4:8. “Righteousness and justice make up the foundation of Your throne.” Psalm 89:14. The Ten Commandments are the foundation of God’s Kingdom. Therefore, the gospel of God’s Kingdom is teaching people to live in obedience to the Ten Commandments. Is that what Jesus did? “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. The Father is the Head of God’s Kingdom. The Father cannot let anyone into His kingdom who does not live by His Law. So, how do we live as perfect as the Father? Jesus told us, “Sin no more.” John 5:14. What is sin? “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. Therefore, Jesus commanded, “If you would enter life, keep the Commandments.” Matthew 19:17. The entire Bible is like a jigsaw puzzle. You must put all the pieces together.
That is the “everlasting gospel” Jesus taught for our salvation. All the disciples, including Paul, went out teaching and preaching the gospel to stop sinning, be perfect and to keep the Ten Commandments to get your eternal life. “Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.” Acts 8:25. “But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns.” Acts 8:40. Wherever the disciples were, “there they continued to preach the gospel”. Acts 14:7. “When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.” Acts 14:21. Peter stood up and proclaimed that “by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.” Acts 15:7. Jesus was adamant that the gospel was to be preached. He sent a vision to Paul who concluded “that God had called us to preach the gospel to them”. Acts 16:10.
In order to understand the first century Christians, including Paul, we must understand what they knew about the word “Law”. “I am speaking to those who know the law.” Romans 7:1. There were four basic “laws” given to Israel.
1. The Moral Law: the Ten Commandments.
2. The Temple Laws: ceremonial, sacrificial, rituals, rites and services
3. The Civil laws
4. The Health laws
The Moral Law, the Ten Commandments, were given to the whole world. Adam and Eve were to teach their children how to live in obedience to the Ten Commandments of God’s Kingdom. Abraham continue the tradition, “He kept My instructions, commands, statutes, and laws.” Genesis 26:5. Eventually, Israel was chosen to be the conduit through which the knowledge of the Ten Commandments were to go to all the world. That is why Jesus stated to the Samaritan woman at the well that “salvation comes from the Jews”. John 4:22. God was not just the God of the Israelites but of the whole World. “God is king over all the earth.” Psalm 47:7 His moral law, the Ten Commandments, are for everyone. Sin is the breaking of this law (1 John 3:4).
The temple laws were only for Israel. In order to become an Israelite and participate in the temple ceremonies, traditions, rituals and services, you had to be circumcised. The equivalent for us today would be baptism in order to participate in church, denomination or religious rituals, ceremonies and traditions. Once you became an Israelite, then you were obligated to obey the temple laws and rituals of purification. These laws and rituals had nothing to do with eternal life. They had to do with participating in temple services, worships and rituals. They were examples, pointers and illustrations of what the life was to be in obedience to the Ten Commandments: pure and holy.
The civil laws had nothing to do with eternal life either. Unless of course, those civil laws were in conjunction with the Ten Commandments. The civil law was to keep order and peace in the land of Israel. They were for the good of the nation of Israel as a civil entity. They were to “appoint judges and civil servants according to your tribes in all your cities that the LORD your God is about to give you, so they may judge the people impartially.” Deuteronomy 16:18. In the civil aspect of Israel, they were to “treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you.” Leviticus 19:34. Under the civil law, all peoples within their boarders were to be treated equally.
The health laws were given to keep the Israelites healthy. We have health laws in our governments today to keep the population healthy. An example would be the health law to carry “a spade among your equipment so that when you squat to relieve yourself, you can dig a hole and then cover your excrement.” Deuteronomy 23:13. This had nothing to do with breaking the Ten Commandments. It had nothing to do with your eternal life. It wasn’t a sin if you had to relieve yourself in a bush.
Therefore, as we read Paul, we will be referring back to these four laws in order to understand what Paul is talking about. Only the Moral Law concerned Paul for eternal life. He wanted to make sure that everyone understood that our salvation was dependent only on keeping the Moral Law. Nothing of the other laws counted for eternal life. 1 Corinthians 7:19. Paul was very explicit to the Corinthians that it was not “grace” that saved us eternally, but, “You are saved by the gospel if you hold firmly to it.” 1 Corinthians 15:2. That is why Paul was so adamant that we must obey the gospel of Jesus to be perfect, to keep the Ten Commandments for our eternal life and to “come back to your senses as you should, and stop sinning”! 1 Corinthians 15:34.
So, why was it necessary to keep reminding the early converts that they did not have to belong to any church, denomination or religion to be saved? Because, “some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved’.” Also, there were Pharisees who had converted to Christianity who were teaching, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” Acts 15:1, 5. Therefore, they had to be reminded over and over again that no, it wasn’t necessary to be circumcised or to keep the “law of Moses” that had to do with Israel as a Nation. Only the Ten Commandments were necessary for eternal life. Basically, it was church vs Christianity.
Romans 1:1 – Romans 1:32
From: Paul, a servant of Jesus the Messiah, called to be an apostle and set apart for God’s gospel,
Here we have Paul plainly stating that his mission was to preach “God’s gospel”, the gospel that we are to stop sinning, be perfect and to keep the Ten Commandments to get our eternal life. You might say, this sets the tone for the rest of the New Testament. Which, of course, isn’t “new”, but a remake of the Old Testament so the people of that time could understand it. The New Testament pointed people back to the Old Testament for their eternal life. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). The church had so apostatized, the church people no longer understood what the “gospel” was. The church had made the civil laws, health laws and temple laws important for salvation, while the Moral Law was just a relic to hang on a door post. Therefore, the disciples, Paul and all who called themselves “Christian” were “set apart for God’s gospel”.
Please keep in mind, there was no “New Testament” at the time of Paul. He never quoted from or asked his readers to read or study from the “New Testament”. He couldn’t. The “New Testament”, as we know it today, did not exist until 300 years after Jesus. Jesus, Paul and all the disciples, and early Christians, used the Old Testament for their instruction for salvation. “Holy Scriptures” to the early Christians were only “Old Testament”. “You have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to give you the wisdom you need for salvation through faith in the Messiah Jesus. All Scripture (Old Testament to Paul) is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good action.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17.
Now you see why the churches, denominations and religions of today are so off-base. The devil has them concentrating so heavily on the “New” Testament that they have completely misunderstood the words “grace” and “gospel”. The “gospel” is that which has been taught since Adam and Eve. All the prophets of the Old Testament taught the gospel to stop sinning, be perfect and to keep the Ten Commandments to get our eternal life. The “gospel” is that . . .
. . . which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures . . .
Yes He did. As we have learned, all the “prophets in the Holy Scriptures” taught the gospel. The entire Old Testament revealed God’s gospel, the Good News, that we can and must stop sinning, be perfect and keep the Ten Commandments to get eternal life. Through the examples of the Old Testament we see what happened to those who disobeyed the Ten Commandments. They were punished, disciplined or destroyed. But those who kept the Ten Commandments were loved, blessed and honored. 2 Peter 2:6, Jude 1:7.
. . . regarding his Son. He was a descendant of David with respect to his humanity and was declared by the resurrection from the dead to be the powerful Son of God according to the spirit of holiness—Jesus the Messiah, our Lord.
Paul just wanted to make it very clear: Jesus is the Son of God. He is the “descendant of David” as a human, but by his resurrection, was proved to be the Messiah. Keep in mind, they were still trying to convince people that Jesus was the Messiah, the One who was prophesied in the Old Testament to come. The proof that Jesus was the Messiah was not only about the “prophecies”, but His character. He lived the Ten Commandments perfectly, thereby, proving Himself the Messiah, the perfect Lamb of God, who could redeem us. He was the “Son of God according to the spirit of holiness”. And that is why He rose from the dead. He lived the perfect life of the Old Testament and that entitled Him to be resurrected from the dead. That was not what the church wanted to hear.
Keep in mind, there are two resurrections. One is the “resurrection” Jesus preformed when he raised Lazarus, the little girl, and the widow’s son from Nain. Those resurrections were temporal and the people would die again. The resurrection of Jesus was completely different. It was an eternal resurrection based on righteousness of character. Moses, and those who came to life at the time of Christ’s death, were an example of the righteous resurrection. You might say, they were the “first fruits” to encourage the rest of us in our hope.
Through him we received grace and a commission as an apostle to bring about faithful obedience among all the gentiles for the sake of his name.
Paul is explaining that it was through Jesus that all Christians were to teach people that their faith in Jesus was to produce “faithful obedience” to the Ten Commandments. “For the sake of His name” they were not to sin or live in disobedience to the teachings of Jesus. Jesus didn’t have to use them. Their sins only required them to die. But Jesus gave them “grace” to live a life of probation in order to learn how to live the gospel: perfect, sinless and Commandment keeping. Jesus was also gracious enough to commission them to share the gospel with others. Jesus was gracious enough to share His character with us sinful beings who deserved nothing but death. By God’s grace, we could develop the character of Jesus by living as He did: obediently to the Ten Commandments. That, in turn, would eventually produce the resurrection of eternal life. Now that is wonderful grace. Praise God for His grace.
You, too, are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus the Messiah.
It is the highest honor to “belong to Jesus”. We are called by God to die to our sinful lives and rise to a new life in the family of God as sinless, perfect, Commandment keeping members. This honor was not just for the Jews, but for the whole world. We all can “belong to Jesus the Messiah”. You didn’t have to belong to any church, religion, denomination or organization. Jesus is calling everyone to accept the gospel offered “by (because of) grace, you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8), to live the perfect, sinless and Commandment keeping life. The Jews didn’t want others getting to heaven without first belong to their private club, their church. They lost sight of the fact that they were to teach the gospel to the world. Since they rejected that high honor, God invited others to teach it. Again, what grace.
To: Everyone in Rome, loved by God and called to be holy. May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!
Yes they were. We are all called “to be holy” by living the perfect, sinless and commandment keeping life. Then we will receive peace, love and the eternal life that God offers us. Going to church or claiming to be a Christian does not make you “holy”. “Holy” is an attribute that infuses the life because it is “Holy” to God. It does not sin. It is perfect. It keeps the Ten Commandments in order to achieve the resurrection of eternal life. The holy life reads the Old Testament in order to understand God’s plan for it.
First of all, I thank my God through Jesus the Messiah for all of you, because the news about your faith is being reported throughout the world.
If you notice verse five above, Paul talks about the “obedience that comes from faith”. Therefore, we now know who has faith and who does not by the “obedience” that is visible to all. Is your obedience “being reported throughout the world”? What or who are you obedient to? The obedience of their faith was so powerful that all the world was able to know and understand it. Is your obedience to the Ten Commandments that powerful?
For God, whom I serve with my spirit by preaching the gospel about his Son, is my witness how constantly I mention you in my prayers at all times, asking that somehow by God’s will I may at last succeed in coming to you.
Again, the gospel Paul was preaching had to do with the perfect and sinless life the “Son” lived. Paul wanted all to know that through the Spirit of God we can all attain to the perfection that Jesus attained. It was God’s plan that Jesus was to be made “perfect through suffering” as our example. Then, “once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.” Hebrews 2:10; 5:9.
Notice again, the thrust of Paul is to take us back to the Old Testament concepts of “obey Him”. This concept is expressed in only one avenue open to humans: obedience to the Ten Commandments. Jesus perfected His life through obedience to the Ten Commandments. That obedience produced suffering in this world of sin. We also will suffer as Jesus did as we keep the Ten Commandments perfectly. “For you have been given the privilege for the Messiah’s sake not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for Him.” Philippians 1:29. Have you suffered for Jesus?
For I am longing to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong, that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
That was the true church. Not adhering to any church doctrine, or meeting at any set times, or going through rituals, services or traditions, but imparting “spiritual gifts” that make us strong and help us to mutually encourage each other in the faith: obedience to the Ten Commandments. That is not done in our churches, denominations, independent ministries or religions today. The “gifts” God gives are gifts that enhance and encourage Christians to live in obedience to the Ten Commandments.
Instead of listening to a pastor, minister or teacher talk on and on and on about nothing, we are to gather and share with each other what God is doing in our lives to overcome sin. Is that what you are doing in your church? When was the last time you stood up and shared with the church the sins you are overcoming? Or, are you overcoming?
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now), so that I might reap a harvest among you, just as I have among the rest of the gentiles.
The path is not easy. I know. It is hard. Satan is hard at work keeping us from working hard. Many of our plans and aspirations may be prevented, but that is never to stop us. Eventually, it will all work out so we “might reap a harvest” among those we are striving to reach with the gospel.
Both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to foolish people, I am a debtor.
We are in debt to those around us. God has given us “gifts” to give to the world. We have a “gospel” to give to the world. God has given us a “loan” of these gifts, and the gospel, which He expects us to pay forward to every person we come in contact with. We are not to turn our noses up at the Greeks, barbarians, wise or foolish; inmate or police, student or teacher, patient or doctor, Republican or Democrat, all are to receive from us what God has commanded us to give them: the gospel.
That is why I am so eager to proclaim the gospel to you who live in Rome, too.
Are we as eager to “proclaim the gospel” to those who live around us? When was the last time you proclaimed the gospel to someone? That is your duty! That is your obligation! If you call yourself a Christian, you have no higher duty. Get out of your church and go “proclaim the gospel”. So few are Christians.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for the salvation of everyone who believes, of the Jew first and of the Greek as well.
Are you “ashamed of the gospel”? Do you really believe in Jesus? Most don’t really believe. They just go to church and think they believe. As long as the pastor doesn’t actually require them to live the gospel, OK, I’m a Christian.
There is no salvation in your church, independent ministry, denomination or religious organization. There is no salvation being taught, unless it is teaching you the gospel to stop sinning, be perfect and to keep the Ten Commandments to get your eternal life. That is why the gospel is “God’s power for the salvation of everyone who believes”. There is no salvation for anyone, anywhere else. You can talk about Jesus all you want, but it won’t get you into Heaven. Even the devils talk about Jesus. They won’t be saved.
For in the gospel God’s righteousness is being revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.”
Yes it is! The “gospel”, the requirement to live the perfect, sinless and Commandment keeping life, reveals the righteousness of God. And it can only be accomplished in our lives if we have the faith that keeps on growing in obedience to the Ten Commandments. That is why it is never a “once saved always saved”, but a continuing in our salvation. It is “earned” every moment of every day.
“If you continue in My word, you are really My disciples.” John 8:31. “Continue to work out your salvation.” Philippians 2:12.
“Continue to stand firm in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8.
“Continue to fight the good fight.” 1 Timothy 1:18.
“Continue to have faith.” 1 Timothy 2:15.
“Continue in what you have learned.” 2 Timothy 3:14.
“Continue to live such upright lives.” 1 Peter 2:12.
“Continue to build your most holy faith.” Jude 1:20.
“Let the righteous person continue to do what is right. And let the holy person continue to be holy.” Revelation 22:11.
Are you beginning to see why your church, denomination, independent ministry and religion is not of God? Are you beginning to see how deceptive the devil has been in gaining control of your church, denomination and religious programing? Do not allow your feelings, emotions or personal attachments keep you in church or listening to the religious media on TV or the internet. It is all “fake news” of the devil. We are not to “continue” in church, but in keeping the Ten Commandments.
For God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and wickedness of those who in their wickedness suppress the truth.
What happens to those who “suppress the truth” about the gospel? The wrath of God will fall upon them. There is no “unconditional love” of God here. He hates wickedness. He loves righteousness. But if you suppress the truth of the gospel to stop sinning, be perfect and keep the Ten Commandments to get your eternal life, you will be subject to “God’s wrath”. Now you see why America, and the world, is in the trouble it is in today. They have rejected God’s Ten Commandments. The end of Earth’s history is soon to fall upon us. Are you ready for probation to close?
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God himself has made it plain to them.
The righteousness of God is known to all the world. God made it very plain. All creation expresses God’s justice, righteousness and law. Every person understands what is right and wrong. The Spirit of God strives with each person until it is grieved away.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been understood and observed by what he made, so that people are without excuse.
The deeper man digs into science, the greater the divine nature is understood and observed. Just because some refuse to “see” it, doesn’t make it nonexistent. It is just “invisible” to them. The same goes in every scientific branch of learning.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. Instead, their thoughts turned to worthless things, and their senseless hearts were darkened.
As we look about the world today, I see the fulfillment of that statement. Instead of spending time with God, glorifying Him and honoring Him through obedience to His laws, the churches have turned to material things. Things that are worthless. Their hearts are senseless. Therefore, without God in the heart, we have the mass killings, rapes, riots, street protests, and civil order being dismantled. On the other side of the coin, we have people becoming more religious and going to church, but have no Spirit of God within them. It is all about church, religion, rituals, services, traditions and ordinances. Nothing that will prepare them for Heaven.
Though claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images that looked like mortal human beings, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
I suppose one could say that Paul was already seeing “evolution” being promoted back then. Today, instead of looking up to God, science is looking down and digging around in the dirt to find “human beings, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles” in order to find the missing link. As such, the dignity and glory God gave to man is being degraded to the level of animalistic behavior. Are you looking down, or are you looking up? Are you looking at the news, or looking at Jesus through His Word?
For this reason, God delivered them to sexual impurity as they followed the lusts of their hearts and dishonored their bodies with one another. They exchanged God’s truth for a lie and worshipped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Most are guilty of that statement. I would say all churches, denominations and religious organizations are serving the creation rather than the Creator. They serve the creation of their church. They serve the creation of their denominations. They serve the creation of their theology, philosophy, science and other “creations”. But in all honesty, who is serving the Creator by living as He commands: perfect, sinless and commandment keeping?
The world has also dishonoring God and have “dishonored their bodies” by accepting the idea that man can be a woman and that a woman can be a man. That man has the right to change what God has created him to be.
For this reason, God delivered them to degrading passions as their females exchanged their natural sexual function for one that is unnatural. In the same way, their males also abandoned their natural sexual function toward females and burned with lust toward one another. Males committed indecent acts with males, and received within themselves the appropriate penalty for their perversion.
For most churches, denominations and religions, it is about “what I don’t do” that makes them feel superior to others. “I don’t do that” is the main criteria for claiming to be a Christian. However, you could live your whole life not doing anything forbidden in the Bible, and never make it to heaven. Our lives must be about knowing Jesus, not about a bunch of “don’ts” from your church. Total surrender to Jesus! Knowing Jesus fully and what He commands you individually to do! Have you heard Him lately?
Furthermore, because they did not think it worthwhile to keep knowing God fully, God delivered them to degraded minds to perform acts that should not be done.
You see, one can be so focused on the “don’ts” that one forgets to “keep knowing God fully”. Just because you “don’t do”, doesn’t mean you have cleansed your “degraded” mind. And let’s be very clear on this. Nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to go to church. Nowhere is “church” a requirement for Heaven. The devil goes to church, but he and everyone else in church will not be in Heaven.
They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, quarreling, deceit, and viciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, haughty, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to their parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, and ruthless.
Therefore, you can point your fingers at gays, abortionists, druggies, murderers, rapist, child molesters and drunkards, but are you a gossip, slanderer, haughty, arrogant, boastful about your “not doing” any of the above? We can focus on the negative and find out too late that we have had no room for God in our lives. That is what the Jews of Christ’s day did. They were full of “Can’t do that”, yet, they had no room for the love of Jesus in their hearts.
Although they know God’s just requirement—that those who practice such things deserve to die—they not only do these things but even applaud others who practice them.
And that is the problem with our churches, denominations and religions today. While pointing fingers at the sins of others, they are practicing sins themselves. The wages of sin is death. While you applaud the sins of your church, denomination or religious organizations you are supporting, you will find yourself under the wrath of God. It’s a character thing. God hates church. Get out of your church and change your character by living the perfect, sinless and commandment keeping life.
INMATE LETTERS
JCPM,
I received a newsletter a while back. To be honest, I wasn’t really feeling it at the time. Recently I have been doing some true soul searching and I would really like to receive any books you can provide. I was lost and still am. I haven’t fully surrendered and I’m scared to, honestly. I’ve been a gang member for a long time. I’m truly wanting a different life and hope and peace. I’m truly tired.
Zachary, OH
Ron,
I’m 35 years old. I’ve never been a big churchgoer during my youth. I have always believed in a higher power. I’ve had a drug problem most of my life, using them to self-medicate after my mom was murdered. I was ten. I’ve been in and out of jail most of my life from my use of meth and heroine. My little brother was killed in a mud slide almost 10 years to the date of my mom’s death. This sent me over the edge. I got to the point that I didn’t care who knew about my drug addiction and went down that road for a while. It was when my oldest daughter, 11 years old, told me I needed help I turned to God. I admitted that I needed help and asked Him to get me away from them. I believe God did help me in the form of a 68 month sentence in prison. This gave me a chance to work on myself and address my anxiety and depression. I read your testimony and was blown away with what has happened to you. I would like to receive your book and participate in the Bible study and become closer to God.
Nathan, WA
Dear Prison Ministry,
Thanks for taking your time to reach out to me. I appreciate it a lot. I’m currently in the process of working on myself and trying to find a way to put my trust in God. I filled out the paper you sent and I look forward to hearing back from you. I handed out the flyers to a few men in this prison.
Branden, IL
To Whom It May Concern,
I’m from Illinois. I relocated to Arizona to start a new life. But things didn’t go as I planned. I was only in Arizona for 30 days when I got arrested. I don’t have any family or friends. I don’t know my birth family. I’ve been in and out of foster care my whole life. This led me to become a product of the street and the correctional system. I am fed up with this life that I’ve been forced to live. I no longer want any part of it. I try to find my place in every man-made religion but none of them seem to work for me. I still believe in a higher Power than man because if God didn’t exist then why am I still alive after all the dark stuff I have done and experienced? All my life people told me that I am a mistake and I’ll never amount to anything. I would appreciate if your service could help me.
Mancey, AZ
Hello Friend,
Thank you for sending me this form. It has been a very long while since I heard my name called for mail. It was the guy on the cover that caught my attention. He was in an orange jumper. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop turning page after page. I’m very much looking forward to exploring this book you speak of.
Claudo, TX
JCPM,
I’m serving a 30 year sentence. I’ve not been a Christian long. A lot of this is new to me. I found one of your flyers and mailed it in. I received your “History of the Ministry”. After reading this, I’m interested in continuing my learning. I would like to continue Bible studies. I would like to receive “Change Your Life Biblically”.
Willis, WV
Hello,
I wanted to find out if I can receive a “Change Your Life Biblically”. I started to read a copy that my friend has, but he paroled and took it with him. I got through half of volume one. I really can appreciate the way that truth is presented in your work. For the past 18 months I have been really digging deep into the Word of God and searching it out first hand. The things I’m learning are way different than what people have taught me. Now that I see God’s truth in an unadulterated way, I’ve also been able to see who else sees that same truth. And that is Jesus Christ Prison Ministry. Thank you again for sharing all God has revealed to you through your book.
Isaiah, CA
Dear Brother Ron,
I have read the “Introductory Issue” that you sent to me and really enjoyed it. I have been in the Texas state prison system for a total of 28 years and can relate to everything you stated in the “Introductory Issue”. Enclosed is my request form for the “Change Your Life Biblically” workbook. I am looking forward to reading it and tapping into the Holy Spirit inspired knowledge contained in it. Brother Ron, the most difficult part of my personal spiritual journey in this life has been true repentance from sin.
Jeffrey, TX
Sir,
I read your little flyer thing about your life that another inmate gave me. We have taken a few classes together and he is allowing me to put this in with his mail. I would love to do your Bible study and read anything that you would love to send me. I have gave my heart to the Lord and have read through the Bible many times. Each time I get better understanding of what it is all about.
Mark, OH
Dear Ron,
It’s crazy that this “Introductory Issue” was sent to me. Not too long ago I just signed up and got moved to the faith based dorm here at my prison. Having this issue redefines that I need the Lord in my life. I’m writing you to ask that you please send me a copy of the “Change Your Life Biblically”. I no longer want to run from God
Walter, FL
JCPM,
I received the book, “Change Your Life Biblically”. Truthfully, I expected this to be some boring story about how someone found God and now they needed money to preach to other people. I could have been no wronger. First, let me say, this book explains every single point so that I can understand them. It gives us proof by Scriptures so that I can prove what is being preached is in fact true. Most Bible studies that I have taken want their students to take their word for what’s being said and when I go on the hunt to find out for myself, I usually find out that over half of scriptures are taken out of context. I want to learn about God and Jesus. I don’t need to learn a bunch of stories that is not completely true. The Bible is hard enough for me to understand without someone making it that much harder to understand. I always thought that all I needed was to ask God to forgive my sins and I was a “born again Christian”. How wrong was my thinking! I was never taught that Christmas was truly a pagan concept. I was never taught that Saturday was the Sabbath. After learning that Sunday is the worship day for the pagan sun god, I found myself saddened that I have been tricked. I will investigate everything that I am taught from now on. I would like to thank Ron for making the time out of his life to make the workbook possible. Thank you.
James, VA
Dear Ron,
I got your pamphlet that told me your story. It was pretty amazing how God has touched you and used you to do His work. Plus, it’s crazy to hear you talk about another person named Jeff and as you know, my name is Jeff as well. Plus, even weirder, my dad’s name is Ronald. That’s almost scary. It’s like God is telling me I have to learn about God. I want to say, I’m a new Christian and early in my faith. I was raised up in a Methodist church and went every Sunday till I left for college. I want to find God and I hope your book helps me because I’m really struggling hard from day to day.
Jeff, OH
Dear Ron,
I have received your packet that lays out your prison ministry program. I am a believer in the Word of God. You present an interesting concept that I wish to explore. Thank you for your time.
Michael, TX
Blessings,
I’m interested in a Bible study correspondence course. I want to learn more about Scripture so I can get a better understanding of God’s Word. I want to thank you for your ministry in bringing us prisoners to salvation.
Rosado, WV
Brother Ron,
I was in my cell when I received your introductory issue of Jesus Christ Prison Ministry. I must say, you sent me the issue at the right time. I am serving 99 years for murder. I’ve done 28 years. I read your introductory issue and I would like to read “Change Your Life Biblically”. I want to live by Jesus Christ. I am currently fighting my case. Thank you for taking the time to write me.
Simon, TX
Brother Ron,
I just received your pamphlet. It has touched my heart and spirit. First, because I felt the presence of God in what you are teaching and speaking in your testimony. Next, I have similar experiences with God in my walk in Christ. But more importantly, I believe and know God placing us on the same path means this is His will for us. I have a purpose in this ministry. I have been in prison since 1986. I believe your teachings are of God because God has revealed to me many of the things you preach. God has been so good to me even in prison. I want to serve God for the rest of my life. Thank you for obeying the Holy Spirit and reaching out to me. I feel as though I am home now.
James, LA
Brother Ron,
I have received the “History of the Ministry” and the story is amazing. You have come a long way. The struggle is real, which you can relate to. But to keep a strong faith and be at peace throughout this type of journey speaks volumes of your character. I will be 43 years old soon. I have been incarcerated since I was 21. The stories in the “History of the Ministry” has piqued my interest and I would like to get involved. Please forward me the workbook, “Change Your Life Biblically”.
Steven, NY
Dear Brother Ron,
I am happy to say that I received both your letter and your book. All I can say is, thank you so much. I have not been able to put down your book since I got it and I have gotten to the point where I am to write to you and explain what I have learned so far. The first thing I learned in this book is that I have been brainwashed. I have been going around life only seeing Jesus and other believers as I was taught by my upbringing. I always thought that the church was in charge of interpreting scripture and that they would guide me to the right way of living. I learned also, that Lucifer is in control of this world which includes, most shockingly, the churches. If that did not jolt me out of my seat, I don’t think anything else would. I learned from this book that Jesus wants me to sit down and study His word. He will be there to help me discover all the truths that I need. I still get goose bumps knowing that the Lord and Savior wants to sit down and discuss His Word with me. That is amazing. I must really work at getting out all the pre-programming that my old religion placed in my head and live a sinless life. I almost feel like a Bible scholar and I am only 23 pages into this study. This is great! I am so tired of living the life that I have lived since I first hit a yard. Now is the time to be obedient and follow through on my end. What a wonderful and perfect tool you have put in our hands. I am so encouraged by your testimony that I just have to keep going.
Jorge, NM
Hey,
I’m writing concerning “Change Your Life Biblically”. I read “History of the Ministry” when I was in the block I couldn’t get no book back there. However, God moved me. I’m in a dorm now. We can get books. Please send me a copy of your book. I need to read it.
Antonio, CA
Hello,
I just read, “History of the Ministry”. I would like to continue learning. I would like to continue in Bible studies: “Change Your Life Biblically”. Thank you for this ministry. The material you’ve sent me is very inspirational and motivating.
Bradley, IL
Dear Brother Ron,
I just came across this book and to be honest with you, I don’t know how it came about to getting to me. Just this Friday I had an episode of a suicide attempt and recently got off crisis bed on Thursday of this week. And Friday your book got slid under my door. I read the story of experience in prison and your walk with Christ while in prison. Man, I can relate to most of what you are speaking on. I myself am a believer in Christ. I’ve been doing time since the age of 18. I would like to receive the studies you are offering.
Arthur, CA
Brother Ron,
I don’t even know where or how to even begin this letter. So, let me start by saying, “Thank you” for this book. It is so, so, so much more. It is truth. How could I have been so blinded, Brother Ron?
Chris, NM
Dear Brother Ron,
First off, let me say that you are a good man and a solid soldier in Christ. Thank you! I mean, after all, you’ve read two of my venting letters and you’re still writing to me! Thanks for being there for me, Brother Ron. Apparently I had a lot to get off my chest and there is literally no one here that I can express these things to. Again, I apologize for getting off track in my letters, but I know you are a man of God and that you can handle a little venting. I was right! I love your book, Brother Ron. It’s really cool and totally Christ oriented. I’m having a fantastic time studying and learning from it. Thank you for sharing this gift with me. Yes, my writing can be atrocious at times. Sorry. I will be careful about feeding negative letters to Duke. I don’t want him to get sick. Ha! Thanks again,
Gary, CA
TESTIMONIES FOR GOD’S CHILDREN
My Dear Family in Christ,
It has been my greatest honor working with Jesus in reaching inmates for His Kingdom. What a privilege. Each of you should feel the same. Without your love, devotion and sacrificial support, this ministry would not exist.
Our duty is to educate the mind for Heaven. Our minds are not at all prepared to live in a perfect, sinless and commandment keeping environment. We must educate our own minds and help others to do the same. We train up our minds by tossing out everything that is of this world. Get rid of everything you thought you ever knew about Christianity and open your Bible and start reading from the beginning. Forget everything your church teaches you. None of it will get you into heaven. We must fill our minds with heavenly thoughts.
Proper Education
It is the nicest work ever assumed by men and women to deal with youthful minds. The greatest care should be taken in the education of youth to so vary the manner of instruction as to call forth the high and noble powers of the mind. Parents and schoolteachers are certainly disqualified to properly educate children if they have not first learned the lesson of self-control, patience, forbearance, gentleness, and love. What an important position for parents, guardians, and teachers! There are very few who realize the most essential wants of the mind and how to direct the developing intellect, the growing thoughts and feelings of youth.
If you are leaving your kids to be intellectually directed by TV, radio, computers, cell phones, schools or churches, you have no business being a parent. God gave children to parents. It is the obligation of parents to teach their children in the way of God. If you do not, you will be found wanting when you stand before God Almighty.
There is a time for training children and a time for educating youth, and it is essential that in school both of these be combined in a great degree. Children may be trained for the service of sin or for the service of righteousness. The early education of youth shapes their characters both in their secular and in their religious life. Solomon says: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This language is positive. The training which Solomon enjoins is to direct, educate, and develop. In order for parents and teachers to do this work, they must themselves understand “the way” the child should go. This embraces more than merely having a knowledge of books. It takes in everything that is good, virtuous, righteous, and holy. It comprehends the practice of temperance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love to God and to one another. In order to attain this object, the physical, mental, moral, and religious education of children must have attention.
That just cut out all our schools and churches of today. Parents, take back your children. Find out what “the way” the child should go is. Learn from Jesus how to teach your children to be perfect, sinless and Commandment keeping. Train them by example. Our churches, denominational schools and religious centers are nothing but hotbeds of corruption and worldliness. They may put on a whitewash front, but inside, the world has corrupted the heart.
The education of children, at home or at school, should not be like the training of dumb animals; for children have an intelligent will, which should be directed to control all their powers. Dumb animals need to be trained, for they have not reason and intellect. But the human mind must be taught self-control. It must be educated to rule the human being, while animals are controlled by a master and are trained to be submissive to him. The master is mind, judgment, and will for his beast. A child may be so trained as to have, like the beast, no will of his own. Even his individuality may be merged in the one who superintends his training; his will, to all intents and purposes, is subject to the will of the teacher.
In actuality, our churches and denominations are doing just that. They are “training” their members to merge their individuality into that of the church, denomination, religion, pastor, minister and teacher. There is no “self-control” being taught because they do not teach people to live as Jesus lived: perfect, sinless and Commandment keeping.
Children who are thus educated will ever be deficient in moral energy and individual responsibility. They have not been taught to move from reason and principle; their wills have been controlled by another, and the mind has not been called out, that it might expand and strengthen by exercise. They have not been directed and disciplined with respect to their peculiar constitutions and capabilities of mind, to put forth their strongest powers when required. Teachers should not stop here, but should give special attention to the cultivation of the weaker faculties, that all the powers may be brought into exercise, and carried forward from one degree of strength to another, that the mind may attain due proportions.
That is precisely what has happened in our religious bodies today. Church members “have been controlled by another” and they no longer think for themselves. It is all about, “What my church says”. Church members have not been directed “to put forth their strongest powers when required.” No, they are given cute little nursery rhymes to sing, chant and memorize, such as “saved by grace”, the “unconditional love of God”. The spiritual life of church members is dying. Jesus will come to burn up what is left of the corpse.
There are many families of children who appear to be well trained while under the training discipline; but when the system which has held them to set rules is broken up, they seem to be incapable of thinking, acting, or deciding for themselves. These children have been so long under iron rule, not allowed to think and act for themselves in those things in which it was highly proper that they should, that they have no confidence in themselves to move out upon their own judgment, having an opinion of their own. And when they go out from their parents to act for themselves, they are easily led by others’ judgment in the wrong direction. They have not stability of character. They have not been thrown upon their own judgment as fast and as far as practicable, and therefore their minds have not been properly developed and strengthened. They have so long been absolutely controlled by their parents that they rely wholly upon them; their parents are mind and judgment for them.
That is exactly what will happen to church members at the end of time. When their church is broken up, destroyed and put out of business, they will be “incapable of thinking, acting, or deciding for themselves”. The minds of church members have “not been properly developed and strengthened”. Therefore, they will have no understanding of how to “search the Scriptures” for themselves and to find out what the truth is. Their churches have been “mind and judgment for them”.
On the other hand, the young should not be left to think and act independently of the judgment of their parents and teachers. Children should be taught to respect experienced judgment and to be guided by their parents and teachers. They should be so educated that their minds will be united with the minds of their parents and teachers, and so instructed that they can see the propriety of heeding their counsel. Then when they go forth from the guiding hand of their parents and teachers, their characters will not be like the reed trembling in the wind.
When this was written, back in the late 1800’s, parents and teachers had been taught how to think and live in a disciplined manner. They grew up being responsible. They had to milk the cows at 4:30 in the morning, feed the younger children, clean the home and do the other chores necessary for the good of the family. But that is not the case today. We are a basket case of undisciplined, selfish and thoughtless religious fanatics.
The severe training of youth, without properly directing them to think and act for themselves as their own capacity and turn of mind will allow, that by this means they may have growth of thought, feelings of self-respect, and confidence in their own ability to perform, will ever produce a class who are weak in mental and moral power. And when they stand in the world to act for themselves they will reveal the fact that they were trained like the animals, and not educated. Their wills, instead of being guided, were forced into subjection by the harsh discipline of parents and teachers.
The world today has actually taken a 180* from “severe training” to “let everyone do as they please”. If a boy thinks he wants to be a girl, fine, let him be a girl. If a child wants to throw a temper tantrum, fine, that is just her way, leave her alone. Students have been so weak-willed, so incapable of taking responsibility for their own lives, they now, as adults, require the government to think for them, dress them, transport them and tell them what they can and can not do. Are you wearing your mask? And this also goes for the church. Members are incapable of thinking for themselves. They want to church to think for them. How sad. They are lost.
Those parents and teachers who boast of having complete control of the minds and wills of the children under their care would cease their boastings could they trace out the future lives of the children who are thus brought into subjection by force or through fear. These are almost wholly unprepared to share in the stern responsibilities of life. When these youth are no longer under their parents and teachers, and are compelled to think and act for themselves, they are almost sure to take a wrong course and yield to the power of temptation. They do not make this life a success, and the same deficiencies are seen in their religious life. Could the instructors of children and youth have the future result of their mistaken discipline mapped out before them, they would change their plan of education. That class of teachers who are gratified that they have almost complete control of the wills of their scholars are not the most successful teachers, although the appearance for the time being may be flattering.
We are experiencing that paragraph now in our society. Since they are unable to make “life a success”, they want the government to do everything for them. They feel “entitled” to take what others have worked for. Our churches have totally destroyed our society. The “saved by grace” lie has opened the door to the chaotic and destructive behavior we see in the world today. Instead of “work out your salvation” as the Bible teaches, students are being taught that everything is “free”. You don’t have to “work” for it. The government is to be responsible for giving you everything you want.
God never designed that one human mind should be under the complete control of another. And those who make efforts to have the individuality of their pupils merged in themselves, and to be mind, will, and conscience for them, assume fearful responsibilities. These scholars may, upon certain occasions, appear like well-drilled soldiers. But when the restraint is removed, there will be seen a want of independent action from firm principle existing in them. Those who make it their object to so educate their pupils that they may see and feel that the power lies in themselves to make men and women of firm principle, qualified for any position in life, are the most useful and permanently successful teachers. Their work may not show to the very best advantage to careless observers, and their labors may not be valued as highly as are those of the teacher who holds the minds and wills of his scholars by absolute authority; but the future lives of the pupils will show the fruits of the better plan of education.
Students have grown up, over the past 50 years, letting their teachers tell them what is best and what to do without any ability to think and reason and search out for themselves. Now they sit idly by while the wicked media tells them what to think and believe. Truth is no longer searched out.
There is danger of both parents and teachers commanding and dictating too much, while they fail to come sufficiently into social relation with their children or scholars. They often hold themselves too much reserved, and exercise their authority in a cold, unsympathizing manner which cannot win the hearts of their children and pupils. If they would gather the children close to them, and show that they love them, and would manifest an interest in all their efforts and even in their sports, sometimes even being a child among children, they would make the children very happy and would gain their love and win their confidence. And the children would sooner respect and love the authority of their parents and teachers.
We find this today in the gun control laws. Society must take guns since the people have not learned how to control themselves. Parents have not included their children in their work, their duties and responsibilities in order to teach the children what life is really like. Therefore, children grow up in a world where everything is given them. They have been given “toys” and entertainment to keep them quiet and busy so they don’t disturb the parents. Parents have surrendered their God-give responsibilities to the devil.
The habits and principles of a teacher should be considered of even greater importance than his literary qualifications. If he is a sincere Christian he will feel the necessity of having an equal interest in the physical, mental, moral, and spiritual education of his scholars. In order to exert the right influence, he should have perfect control over himself, and his own heart should be richly imbued with love for his pupils, which will be seen in his looks, words, and acts. He should have firmness of character, and then he can mold the minds of his pupils as well as instruct them in the sciences. The early education of youth generally shapes their characters for life. Those who deal with the young should be very careful to call out the qualities of the mind, that they may better know how to direct its powers so that they may be exercised to the very best account. 3T 131- 135.