The True Faith And The True Temple
The Coming Move Of God Upon Planet Earth
We were created by the Son and for the Son and in His image. This sums up the ultimate purpose of the creation. When we determined to live for ourselves instead of for God, we marred the image in which we were created. It is a part of God's ultimate intention to restore all things through the person of Jesus Christ. We who have been born of His Spirit have become partakers of that restoration and as we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to 'make all things new,' we literally become New Creatures in Christ. The modern church has lost sight of this message as it steeps itself in new age humanist dogma and doctrine. We must return to the preaching of the cross where man's true condition is laid bare and his only source of salvation and deliverance is known.
By Chris McDonald
TEXT: 1 Cor. 15:14 - And if Christ be
not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
We die in Christ in order to live. Sounds so simple doesn't it, yet it is one of the most difficult transitions of all eternity to make for the human soul. If we do die and it is the end of us we are the greatest of fools Paul said. But this death is never the end, it is just the beginning! We have eternal life! Life is our ministry and gospel. The Lord overcame death by dying and we do the same today. Though baptism is a death, we enter it so that we can overcome the power death has over us. When our own life ends and we die to self with the help of the Holy Spirit, one of the greatest releases of resurrection life takes place. We then can overcome all things and have victory in every single area of our lives!
Charles Spurgeon once wrote that 'there are very few Christians who believe in the resurrection." What a statement made by the "prince of preachers." How can someone be a Christian and not believe in the resurrection? It's quite simple. Millions of Christians today give an intellectual and doctrinal assent to the fact of the resurrection, but very few have true faith in what Christ did for them at the cross. Many believe that mere intellectual agreement with certain biblical doctrines or historical facts constitutes true faith. That is delusion. Paul wrote to the Romans and said this about true faith in regards to salvation:
Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10]
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
Faith is a "union of belief and trust; it is a belief so strong that is becomes
a part of one's nature." True faith is more than just an intellectual assumption
or preference - true faith impacts and directs our lives or it is not real
faith. Most have faith in faith itself instead of rooting it and grounding it in
the cross of Christ and what HE has done for us. These are serious issues and
matters relating to eternal life itself. Millions live under the lie of Satan
thinking that if they have repeated a prayer or shook a preacher's hand they are
truly saved. That is heartbreaking to say but it's true.
Faith is stronger than mere belief. To believe is simply to give intellectual assent to something. To have faith is to be inseparable from the object of our devotion - which must be CHRIST and none other. It can't be our church, our pastor, our denomination, our role models; it cannot even be in our doctrines themselves. It must be CHRIST. Belief can be changed or it can be lost by a more persuasive argument. True faith is so much a part of the person that it can be taken only by death. Faith is the substance of our very existence and identity. Our faith is who we are. The stronger the faith of the believer, the stronger his existence, and the more impact he will have on the world he touches.
This difference between "faith" and "belief," is the difference between being true and being a pretender who has deluded himself in order to appease his conscience. The popular and pervasive "believing in God," the simple believing that God exists, is NOT the true faith of the scripture. This can be the beginning of faith but it is far less than the true Christian faith. This type of faith produces what one well-known evangelist calls the "born-again syndrome." It's what gives a person just enough inoculation of truth that keeps them from the real thing. MILLIONS are in this condition in our churches today. Millions sit lost in the pews not knowing their eternal souls are in jeopardy of hell itself should they die in this state. A person without true faith is like a car without an engine; it may have a beautiful appearance, but it will not get you anywhere. The stronger the faith, the farther and faster we will go. Belief alone is superficial, and by itself accomplishes little more than possibly appeasing our conscience.
Faith is a living power than can move the mountains that stand in its way. Moses led Israel into the wilderness in order to convert her superstitions and shallow beliefs into a rock-solid faith. Our wilderness, the trials that we endure to test our faith, is meant to accomplish the same in us. In we respond properly to the trials of our faith, it will turn whatever faith we have into a more powerful force. Many perish in the wilderness because when the trial comes they have not had proper faith to begin with. TRUE faith is faith in what CHRIST has done - not in what WE can do! But the latter description of faith is a more accurate definition of the faith of most modern church-goers.
Moses could lead Israel out of Egypt, but he could not take Egypt out of Israel! The difficulties of the wilderness were destined to do just that. Slavery was rough on the Israelites but it brought a security to them they could not let go of many times once they got out into the place where they had no choice but to trust God. Even though the conditions may be harsh, a slave does not have to deal with the many difficult decisions freedom requires. Many longed for the oppression and harshness of slavery over having to walk in freedom, which requires true faith.
James 2:16-21 - And one of you say
unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give
them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? [17]
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. [18] Yea, a man may
say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and
I will show thee my faith by my works. [19] Thou believest that there is one
God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. [20] But wilt thou
know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
This is why many who were recently freed from
the terrible oppression of Communism are calling for a return to the old order.
This is always the dividing line between those who go on to victory according to
God's prescribed order and those who fall away to their doom.
Hebrews 6:1-10 - Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, [2] Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. [3] And this will we do, if God permit. [4] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, [5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, [6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. [7] For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receives blessing from God: [8] But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. [9] But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. [10] For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Hebrews 10:19- Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by
the blood of Jesus, [20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for
us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; [21] And having an high priest
over the house of God; [22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance
of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies
washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold fast the profession of our faith
without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) [24] And let us consider
one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one
another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. [26] For if we sin
willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of
judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. [28] He that
despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: [29] Of how
much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden
under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith
he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of
grace? [30] For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will
recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. [31] It
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. [32] But call to
remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a
great fight of afflictions; [33] Partly, whilst ye were made a gazing stock both
by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them
that were so used. [34] For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took
joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in
heaven a better and an enduring substance. [35] Cast not away therefore your
confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. [36] For ye have need of
patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the
promise. [37] For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will
not tarry. [38] Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my
soul shall have no pleasure in him. [39] But we are not of them who draw back
unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Until we make the decision that we will not
go back, regardless of how painful it gets, we will not go forward with the true
faith that it will take to inherit eternal life and walk in Christian victory!
Luke 9:62 - And Jesus said unto him,
No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the
kingdom of God.
The Language Of Unbelief
The most telltale symptom of surrender to slavery is grumbling and complaining. The one who complains has lost the faith - he has already given up in his heart. True faith is not blind optimism or humanistic endeavor that tries to masquerade true faith behind good intentions and motives. Humanism and its children will always wither in the wilderness, while true faith will become stronger and more determined as the heat of the fiery trials increase. True faith is always true freedom. No shackle can be put on it. it is the abilitiy to seize the vision of what Christ did for us at the Cross with such a grip it cannot be shaken. Such faith never falters, even though at times it may be shaken through trials and difficulties. We look to JESUS, the author and finisher of our FAITH, not to man, a movement, a doctrine, a philosophy, or a humanistic dogma that makes false promises built upon a false pretense. Christ is our faith - HE IS THE SOURCE and HE IS THE OBJECT.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and
let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus
the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the
throne of God. [3] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners
against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
True faith is
NOT faith in ourselves! We cannot state that enough. True faith has an OBJECT
and a SOURCE -or power that is greater than itself. True faith is not measured
by the "quality" of our faith as so many word of faith preachers try to tell
you. Such a measurement is just another form of self-centeredness and
self-seeking. Instead it is measured by our trust in CHRIST and the finished
work CHRIST did for us at the CROSS. That is why Paul proclaimed so many times
that he would know NOTHING but Christ and Him Crucified.
1 Cor. 1:11-21
For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the
house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. [12] Now this I say, that
every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I
of Christ. [13] Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye
baptized in the name of Paul? [14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but
Crispus and Gaius; [15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own
name. [16] And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not
whether I baptized any other. [17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to
preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be
made of none effect. [18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. [19] For
it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing
the understanding of the prudent. [20] Where is the wise? where is the scribe?
where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of
this world? [21] For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew
not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that
believe.
Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
1 Cor. 1:30-31
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: [31] That, according as it is
written, He that glories, let him glory
in the Lord.
Let me repeat that last line - "he
that glories, let him GLORY IN THE LORD." Most gospel preaching today glories in
MAN. It glories in what "we" can do because we have the right formulas, the
right type of faith, the right type of doctrine and the right type of
'covering.' God help us. Sir, it's not your church that paid the price for your
sin and gained victory over the powers of darkness. Sir, it's not your
theological degree you got from one of the major bible universities that makes
you able to move mountains. It's not your ability to lay hands on people and see
great things happen that makes you great in the sight of God. Our goodness is a
filthy rags in His sight. Our abilities are ZERO compared to HIS ability in us.
What we have and what we do is all because of what HE DID at the cross!
True faith is not just willpower and believing you have the ability to make it. It's rooted in something bigger and greater than man himself. It's focus is CHRIST who transcends all eternity and broke the bonds and shackles of sin forever for all those who come to Him in repentance, faith and accepting His way of life, liberty and grace.
Self-centeredness is the malady of sinful man and that of religious man too. It has always proven to be a door to deception. In the beginning when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, the first fruit of their sin was that they immediately began to focus on THEMSELVES; they looked at their own condition and focused on their own nakedness. Self-centeredness is always the result when we eat from the deadly Tree of Knowledge, and its slavery in its basest form. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is the root cause of humanism today where man thinks he has the ability to save himself and keep himself saved. The self-centered are emotionally crippled people. When we look to ourselves we will fall from grace and lose the power of true faith.
Many Christians spend years studying the Bible with a self-centered mindset or even a man-centered mindset that causes them to miss the message of the scriptures, especially the gospel. The gospel is not man-centered, it's GOD-centered! Faith is finding our being in CHRIST and HIM ALONE. He is the AUTHOR and FINISHER, PERIOD. His finished work on the cross needs nothing added to it and for sure nothing to be taken away from it. The modern gospel we hear preached today, sad to say, has a LOT added to it that puts man in further bondage than setting man free - the purpose of the Son of God! He came to set the captives free.
Luke 4:14-18
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a
fame of him through all the region round about. [15] And he taught in their
synagogues, being glorified of all. [16] And he came to Nazareth, where he
had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the
sabbath day, and stood up for to read. [17] And there was delivered unto him the
book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place
where it was written, [18] The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath
anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to
the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
The True Temple
1 Cor. 6:17-20 - But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. [18] Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commits fornication sinneth against his own body. [19] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 Cor. 4:20 - For the kingdom of God
is not in word, but in power.
The faith of the apostles was
devoted to building a temple for God that could not be made with human hands.
This temple could only be contained in human hearts. The church they built was
composed of people who had true faith. The church was not an organization, but a
living organism; it was not an institution, but a constitution. The apostolic
vision was God living in people, not bricks. Shallow religious men have used the
profound gospel teachings related to the true faith to create empty rituals and
forms that destroy men's souls. When a believer grasps TRUE faith, he does not
go to church; HE BECOMES THE CHURCH!! The true church is a source of
power and life that no building or institution can contain. Only a human heart
that has been purified by faith is great enough to contain this power and life.
Reality is not found in ritual. True faith is a river of life too powerful to be contained in the structures men have often tried to contain it in. There are gatherings, or congregations, of those who share a real and powerful faith. Some of these gatherings take place in institutional churches. Those who possess the real faith are inevitably drawn to the most real people who live on this earth. We receive strength when we are joined to others with true faith. But true faith does not worship the temple of God; it worships the God of the temple. When those with the true faith are asked about their faith, they do not point to a building or to an organization, to doctrines or even to concepts about truth - they point to CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED!
The true temple is not a temple built by people but is being built OUT of people. Those who lives are being built on the true faith will easily recognize other people who are also part of the same faith. They are recognizable, not by their creeds or alliances, but by the power and character of the ONE who has imparted true faith in them. Church is not something we go to - church something we become through the power of the HOLY GHOST. We cannot settle for anything less if we are to witness the harvest that is ahead. This journal is about more than just faith or the true church, it's about where we must get to in the modern church to see the fulfillment of the coming harvest.
Joel 2:28-29
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all
flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream
dreams, your young men shall see visions: [29] And also upon the servants and
upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
Acts 2:17-21
And it shall come to pass in the last days, said 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: [18] And on my
servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and
they shall prophesy: [19] And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in
the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: [20] The sun shall be
turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day
of the Lord come: [21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on
the name of the Lord shall be saved.
It is reported that when Napoleon read the gospel of John he declared that either Jesus was the Son of God or the one who wrote this gospel was! Napoleon recognized the power of true Christianity was far beyond the humanistic genius of so-called theologians. Napoleon wrote toward the end of his life that he saw no relationship between the true Gospel and what he saw in the institution. Just as the most religious and upstanding citizens crucified Jesus 2000 years ago, it continues to be the most religious and upstanding institutions that often try to destroy true faith in Christ. TRUE FAITH will not die in a BUILDING! True faith will not die in an institution, organization or a movement. It is an indestructible power that will live forever. That same power was used to transform fishermen into walking temples of the Holy Ghost that shook the world at its foundation with the gospel of Christ.
2 Cor. 3:17-18
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty. [18] But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of
the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the
Spirit of the Lord.
1 Cor. 6:17-20 - But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
[18] Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he
that commits fornication sinneth against his own body. [19] What? know ye not
that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of
God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore
glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Examine Yourselves
2 Cor. 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye
not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
This force challenged Rome, the most
powerful empire in history, and unraveled it. True faith is a power that took a
few letters written by these simple men and impacted history more than all other
books combined. Just a small portion of true faith in the finished work of
Christ will change your life forever.
As we close let me say a few things that are very important. Only the most courageous have pressed beyond the muddied waters of the pretended faith to taste the pure waters of the true. God intended for it to be that way. The power of true faith is too great to entrust to anyone who will not esteem it as his most precious possession. The wildernesses of life always brings out the worst and best of man. Each of us decides which it will be.
We need to beware that we not spend our lives emphasizing WHAT we believe as much as WHO we put our faith IN! There is a big difference. I heard a pastor say something recently that is right on target concerning the last days battle between false faith and true faith. He said that the battle in the end times is NOT going to be "good versus evil," but "good vs. good." When I heard that I paused a minute to try and understand what the pastor said and then it hit me. The greatest threat to true faith in Christ and Him Crucified is man's "goodness," not man's "evil." Man's goodness has always been the biggest deception Satan has used to blind us to our true condition. Man's sinful nature can never be destroyed by man's goodness. When we "say" we are blind, we then see. When we "say" we see, we are blind and our sin remains. That is not my theology but the words of Christ.
John 9:39 -41 - And Jesus said, For
judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that
they which see might be made blind. [40] And some of the Pharisees which were
with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? [41] Jesus
said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see;
therefore your sin remaineth.
We can say the right things but our
lives will never be changed. True faith will always mean we become a true temple
and as a result we will see the glory of God in our lives. It will set us free
friend. The times ahead are going to be some of the most traumatic we've ever
seen in the Body of Christ. You will need to be rooted and grounded in true
faith and that faith must be in CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED. When that takes place
the Holy Spirit will work in ways we have never seen because it is within that
parameter HE WORKS! We must examine our hearts today and see that we are in the
true faith! That is the call in these last days. It's not "get rich," "make a
better living," etc., but it's examine our hearts to KNOW that our calling and
election is SURE. Are you saved today? If you are saved, is your heart right
with God. Are you struggling with sin right now that is so easily besetting you?
Are you bound by lust, pride, immorality or greed? You can be free today! Let
the living JESUS of the CROSS set you free with His love today. He yearns for
your heart to be anchored in love for HIM. Be blessed. Praise God.
John 8:28-36 - Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. [29] And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. [30] As he spoke these words, many believed on him. [31] Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; [32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. [33] They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? [34] Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. [35] And the servant abides not in the house for ever: but the Son abides ever. [36] If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
