PHARISEE
CHRISTIANITY OASIS
HAS PROVIDED YOU WITH THIS PHARISEE STUDY. MOST HAVE HEARD OF
THE WORD
PHARISEE IN THE BIBLE BUT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A PHARISEE IS OR HOW A PHARISEE AFFECTS CHRISTIANS.
PHARISEES ARE SELF PROCLAIMED RELIGIOUS LEADERS THAT LIKE TO JUDGE OTHERS
IN A VAIN ATTEMPT TO UPLIFT THEMSELVES. THEY SEEK VANITY AND SELF
EDIFICATION. LET US SEEK AND FIND THE TRUTH OF THE PHARISEE TOGETHER, SHALL WE?
The "Pharisee" has been around for a long time ... Even Jesus
encountered these rascals and you will learn what He said and did in
response to their attacks in this Study. Many
Christians and even Religious leaders, judge other people by the clothes they wear, length of
hair, which side of town they live on, the color of their skin, past
experiences and mistakes they have made, particular beliefs, etc ...
It is very sad that these
individuals, who consider themselves to be better than another of God's
children (even though, they know in their hearts that they were also
forgiven of their sins of the past, and received
God's
Grace
and
still sin)
and that these people would find it necessary to judge another, in some
vain attempt to appear to uplift themselves ...
The problem is ... Their view makes the Cross, of no effect.
There are a few self proclaimed, Religious leaders, that have written
to me at
Christianity Oasis, suggesting that LAW prevails over
God's
Grace and say
that I should preach LAW. These rascals demand that the burden on
Christians is to be heavy, so that it makes it difficult to enter the
gates of Heaven. These individuals have no compassion, understanding or
love for others, in their heart. They have no concept of the love that God has
for His children. Their desire for self edification, blinds them from the
TRUTH.
My answer to these "wanna be" Religious leader's demands for me to teach
LAW instead of
God's Grace
is and
will ALWAYS be ...
Not A
Chance !!!
It was some self proclaimed Religious leaders, back in Jesus' day, that
were constantly following Jesus around quoting LAW. His responses were so
compelling that they ran away in fear and confusion. They became so afraid
of losing their high places, that they devised a plan and had JESUS
crucified ... They used LAWS to do it.
Again ... They claimed they were doing a God
service.
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John 16:2-3
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that
whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these
things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor
me. |
THEY WERE WRONG !!!
But, God had a plan
and His Will ... Was done.
Jesus said it best, when the self proclaimed Religious leaders of that
time brought a woman before Jesus, to be judged for a sin that she had
committed. They asked Jesus what should be done to her, knowing that the
LAW said that she should be stoned to death ...
JESUS SAID ...
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John 8:7
He
that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. |
So, If you are one of the "holier than thou" teachers of
LAW
and
elect
to judge the lost, which are potential Christians
... Beware, lest you find yourself being judged, as you have judged these
lost souls, and YOU losing
God's
Grace.
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Matthew 18:23-35
Therefore is the kingdom of Heaven likened unto a certain king, which
would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one
was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch
as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and
children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant
therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with
me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with
compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant
went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred
pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay
me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and
besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And
he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the
debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry,
and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after
that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave
thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also
have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And
his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should
pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do
also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother
their trespasses. |
THIS REMINDS ME OF A STORY
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There was a man,
that we will call Mr. Smith, who was sitting in Church with his wife. He
had just dozed off, during the pastor's sermon, when he awoke to the sound
of the collection plate coming around. He watched as the people next to
him put in what they could afford, which was very little. When the
collection plate reached him, he cleared his throat very loud, as to gain
the attention of all those around him, and put a hundred dollar bill into
the collection plate. When Church was over, he was edging his way through
the crowd towards the front door and saw a statue of Jesus. He thought to
himself, "he needs a haircut and a shave"
...
On the way to his favorite restaurant for brunch, he came upon a
stoplight and saw one of THOSE people. You know, the ones with a sign that
says "will work for food" ... This guy had long hair, a beard and very
dirty, worn out clothing. As he came to a stop, Mr. Smith rolled up the
electric windows in his new Cadillac and turned his head away from the
poor looking man, who was now just outside his window, with his hand
stretched out towards Mr. Smith. After what seemed like forever, to Mr.
Smith, the stoplight turned green. Before Mr. Smith pulled off, he rolled
down the window and yelled out, "Hey, ya bum ...
get a job" and then sped off laughing.
A few years later,
Mr. Smith died of cancer and ended up at God's Judgment seat. Jesus asked
Mr. Smith why it was that he thought he was worthy to get into Heaven. Mr.
Smith said proudly that he donated a hundred dollars every time his wife
could drag him to Church. Jesus asked if that was the only reason and Mr.
Smith said, "Yes, of course, I have paid for my way into Heaven" ...
Jesus looked at Mr.
Smith and said ... "I disagree ... You failed to have compassion and love
for your fellow man, when the opportunity arose. You are greedy and
selfish and are not worthy to enter Heaven." Mr. Smith, convicted by
Jesus' Words, turned and started walking away with his head hung low.
Then
Jesus said ...
"And, by the way
Mr. Smith ... I am no bum and I DO have a JOB."
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THE MORAL OF THIS
STORY IS ECHOED THROUGH THE BIBLE
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Matthew 25:40
What you do unto the
least of my brethren, you do unto Me ...
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Be kind to
strangers, it could be an Angel testing you ...
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Hebrews 13:2
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have
entertained Angels unawares. |
LAW VERSUS
GOD'S GRACE
I have been told by many of the lost souls, that I encounter, that some
Christians and even some Christian leaders, make it very difficult for
those, who would become Christians, to do so because they elect to preach
LAW to the
potential Christian,
instead of
God's
Grace
by
saying such things as "If you have ever done this or that, you are
damned."
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Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the
kingdom of Heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither
suffer ye them that are entering to go in .
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For example ... If a
potential Christian had ever
divorced their spouse, stolen anything, abused drugs, had sex out of
marriage, smoked, cussed or anything else one can think of ... It somehow
makes these self appointed, "holier than thou" teachers of law, feel that
they have the right to find the potential Christian
unworthy of
God's Grace and to
pass judgment. This causes the
potential Christian
to walk away and never consider becoming a Christian again.
My friend ... If any
of this has ever happened to you ...
Do not let it prevent you from receiving
GOD'S GRACE
Which is
FREE to EVERYONE.
When you truly believe in Jesus, God forgives your past sins ...
PERIOD
!!!
HERE IS THE TRUTH ...
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Galatians 2:21
I do not frustrate
the Grace of God. For if righteousness comes by the LAW ...
Then Christ is dead in vain. |
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Ephesians 2:8-9
For by Grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast. |
Now, there are many people that were Christians and have stopped believing
in God, because something really bad happened. For example,
Lost Love ... Perhaps they lose a
friend or family member to divorce or death. They decide to blame God or
say, if there is a God, why would He allow this to happen. I want you to
know that I TRULY feel your pain, for I have lost that which was most dear
to me, but I also know this ... Christians encounter tribulation and
trials just like everybody else, and to stop believing in God, will not
explain away the loss.
Sometimes these things are allowed to happen for a reason, that we do not
understand
...
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Isaiah 57:1-2
The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful
men are taken away, none considering that
the righteous is taken away from the evil
to come.
He shall enter into peace: they shall rest
in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. |
Reasons that we
cannot even fathom. I have found that nine times out of ten, it was caused
by negligence or a decision made on mankind's part. Understand this truth
... Mankind gets to make decisions that will affect each and every one of
us. God allows mankind to make their own decisions because He does not
want puppets. He allows us free will. The other one out of ten is what I
call the test or trial factor.
See the book of Job
I have no idea why God allows certain things to happen, but regardless of
why, it is His Will and we will know why it was allowed to happen, when it
is time.
It all comes down to
a choice. The choice is yours. Nobody can make it for you. You can either
deny this truth and be cast into the Lake of Fire ... FOREVER.
OR
BELIEVE IN JESUS,
WHO DIED FOR US
And live FOREVER in
Heaven.
EITHER WAY ...
Forever is a
LONNNNNNNG time.
Some people ask,
but what if all this is just a bunch of superstition or fairy tales. I ask
you this ... What if it is not?
Be
wise ... CHOOSE JESUS.
Now I ask you ... What do you have to lose by just believing in Jesus? It
sounds like a tiny investment for great returns.
He is the
best eternal life insurance policy, money can't buy.
I want you to think
about something. I have no Church for you to join, I do not want you to
sell flowers for me at some airport and I will gain no fame by your
decision to make the right choice. In fact, I most likely do not even know
you and never will, at least on Earth. And yet, I take the time and effort
to create this Christian Community for you to consider and ponder upon. The reason for
this is ...
It is the TRUTH
Take
care and have a SON-derful day.
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