Biblical Purpose of the Church

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John 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

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Biblical Purpose of the Church

Church Free From Idols

Welcome to Christianity Oasis Purity Publications. This E-book on the Biblical Purpose of the Church is titled Church Free From Idols written by Author Artak Atayan. Christianity Oasis in association with Purity Publications proudly presents you with this Church Free From Idols E-Book free of charge for your enjoyment.

Click the link below to learn the purpose of the body of Christ:

Table of Contents

Introduction
What Is the Call and the Mission of the True Christian
Who Can Become a Member of a Christian Church or of a Brotherhood
A Christian Must Accept Jesus As the Lord Over Universe and Over Himself
A Christian Must Believe in His Salvation by Jesus' Name
The Christian Must Not Have Idols - The God's Rights That Belong to God Only
I. Being the Lord
II. Being the Lawgiver and the Judge
III. Being the Doctrinaire and the Teacher
IV. Being the Redeemer and the One Who Blesses
The Christian Church Must Be Free From the Idols
True Christians Must Struggle Against Every Kind of Idolatry
The Image of the True Christians, and the Glory Waiting Them

The used version of the Bible is NIV

Jeremiah 33:9 "Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it."

II Corinthians 6:16 .".. For we are the temple of the living God ..."

I Peter 2:5 "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

Author
Artak Atayan
orange62@rambler.ru

Introduction

May God bless this book, readers of it and it's reading for those who do read this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

If you are Christian and realized or felt that something is wrong in your Christian life and in the church, you will find some of main reasons of such situation in this book, and thus, I believe it will be helpful for you and for your spiritual life development and will carry you into new victories. May God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ.

Many men believe in the idea that one can do almost anything if he has big faith. But in reality it is not the faith itself that is important, which every one has, but the subject of one's faith.

If you believe in truth, which is Jesus Christ, the Word of God, you will be blessed. But if you believe in lie you will be cursed. And lie is semi-truth. This book uncovers that lie, which is semi-truth, by revealing the true truth.

History of mankind, beginning from our forefather Adam, shows that the Devil has so much power over people by how much he can deceive them with his lies and certainly when man himself voluntarily agrees with him, without being deceived. And therefore a man liberates from evil and the Devil as much as he liberates(escapes) the delusions and lies, which are inspired by Satan through different ways, beginning from parents, school and literature and finishing by a church's traditions and no evangelical religious views. That is why God's children together with God's help must destroy the lies of the Devil, so that way to redeem the church and mankind from the power of evil.

This book is not written as an ordinary one in which the author just shares his thoughts even though it may be more attractive for a reader. But most volume of this book is the direct citations from the Word of God, many of which are neglected by the churches and believers, and they show us in how much and in how vital questions many of us are far from the simple Gospel truths.

In the book before the citations from the Word of God there is simple explanations about what the citations are and for what they are.

Here the Word of God talks and teaches and it is not a man's wisdom. Subsequently, if anyone would try to understand this book, reading only the author's words and not reading all verses of the Word of God given here, and don't think about them, then such reading of the book may cause him even more damage and delusion instead of help.

That is why my sincere advice to you is to read the whole book.

This book is much more difficult for those, who don't know the Word of God well and who are far from the spiritual problems, church life and different theological points of view. Because here the Word of God is given without discussing the content (theme, about of which is spoken) with the hope that reader is well acquainted with the theme of the given verses, since this book isn't intended for those who aren't familiar with the given problems, otherwise it would require comprehensive analyses and explanations, and because of it for those people must be written another book. But with the help of Holly Ghost they also can understand those hidden and vital truths, which Lord wants us to understand.

The other special feature of this book is its conciseness in comparison with the size of problems about what it talks; because of it we must be attentive in the study of this book.

Thus in case of it, if even a one word in this book would be understood wrong or not by exact meaning or would be wrong translated may distort the discussing thought.

Some of Words of God are repeated in different parts of the book, so that a reader has not to return to preceding pages to learn the theme. This book will also help you to have and to know those Words of God with the help of which you can fight against semi-truth, if, of course, when you are jealous for the Truth.

So, let us move forward bravely and joyful, as we must live in our whole life of Faith as God ordered us to be brave and joyful.

So we call all of you whatever you hear or read in this book and in other books, always remember, that in any case the measurement of the truth is the Word of God and not this or other books.

John 8:31-32, 44 "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

What Is the Call and the Mission of the True Christian

Mark 16:15 "He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

Daniel 7:27 "Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him."

Revelation 3:21 "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne."

Isaiah 43:1, 3-4 "But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine."
"For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life."

I Corinthians 3:22-23 "Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas [11] or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God."

Who Can Become a Member of a Christian Church or of a Brotherhood

Every pious one who believes that Jesus Christ is God can become a member of Christian church and brotherhood.

Hebrews 1:8-10 "You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands."

I Timothy 3:16 "Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory."

I John 5:20 "We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."

John 1:1, 3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."

Romans 9:5 "Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen."

John 20:28-29 "Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.."

John 5:22-23 "Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him."

Isaiah 9:6-7 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."

A Christian Must Accept Jesus As the Lord Over Universe and Over Himself

Matthew 28:18-19 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

John 3:35 "The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands."

John 5:22-23 "Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him."

Philippians 2:9-11 "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

A Christian Must Believe in His Salvation by Jesus' Name

A Christian must believe in his salvation by Jesus' name.

A Christian also should accept everyone as his spiritual brother, who believes in his salvation through the name of Jesus Christ, lives the life of love and in obedience to Ten commandments of God and doesn't persist in sin, but confesses and leaves from them.

John 6:47 "I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life."

John 14:13-14 "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

Romans 10:9-11 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Colossians 2:6 "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him."

I John 4:15 "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God."

I John 5:1 "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well."

I John 5:13-14 "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

II Corinthians 1:20 "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God."

Galatians 3:9, 29 "So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith."
"If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Galatians 3:22 "But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe."

Romans 3:22-24 "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

I John 3:23 "And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us."

I Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

The Christian Must Not Have Idols - The God's Rights That Belong to God Only

A real Christian must accept that that by so called spiritual or most original meaning God's rights belong only to Jesus Christ and Father-God. (The spiritual meaning is that when each phenomenon is viewed (studied) through its most original, dominion and supreme reason, which is spiritual (and is called spiritual as usual) and from the point of view of the appreciation and the acceptation of that Spiritual, of worshiping to it and of receiving blessings from it).

These are;

A. To be the Lord,
B. To be the Lawgiver and the Judge,
C. To be the Doctrinaire and the Teacher,
D. To be the Redeemer and the One Who Blesses (Blesser).

That things and actions, to which these God's rights wholly or partially are attributed are idols. These God's divine rights (attributes) are given only to Jesus.

Idols are divided into worldly-human and church-religious.

Worldly-human idols, made by man for example are power, money, gentile idols and others.

Church-religious idols are made, for example are churchs (church worshiping), traditions, saints, preachers, not vital believes of religion, the union of church, the division for the sake of own peculiarity, the gifts of the Holy Ghost, the structure of the church and others.

And let us consider these four rights of Father and of the Jesus separately.

I. Being the Lord

Read the verses of Unit 2.

Philippians 2:11 "And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

I Corinthians 3:11 "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

Exodus 20:2-6 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them."

Romans 1:25-26 "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones."

Revelation 22:8-9 "I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, 'Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!'"

Matthew 22:37-40 "Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

II. Being the Lawgiver and the Judge

Isaiah 33:22 "For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us."

I Corinthians 4:3-5 "I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God."

Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."

Matthew 6:12 "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."

Romans 14:4 "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."

James 4:12 "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?"

John 5:22 "Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son."

Romans 14:1 "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters."

III. Being the Doctrinaire and the Teacher

Matthew 23:10-11 "Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant."

Deuteronomy 4:2 "Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you."

I John 2:27 "As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him."

Galatians 1:7-8 "...which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!"

Hebrews 8:11 "No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest."

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

John 14:23 "Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

I John 2:20-21 "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth."

II Corinthians 1:24 "Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm."

I Peter 5:3 "not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."

Now you can see how respectful a pastor must treat the ordinary members of church, because here is what Paul advice Timothy, who was the pastor of the church.

I Timothy 3:15 "if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."

About that, that spiritual servants can be misled and subsequently one don't need follow them blindly in spite of their high post and being authoritative members of church.

Acts 20:29-30 "I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them."

II Peter 2:1 "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves."

II Corinthians 11:13-14 "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light."

Philippians 3:2 "Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh."

Ezekiel 20:18 "I said to their children in the desert, "Do not follow the statutes of your fathers or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols."

Ezekiel 22:26 "Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them."

Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."

Matthew 20:25-26 "Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant."

Matthew 23:13 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."

Matthew 7:15-16 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?"

I Corinthians 1:12-13 "What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul;" another, "I follow Apollos;" another, "I follow Cephas;" still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?"

I Corinthians 14:26-31 "What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged."

I Corinthians 1:30-31 "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

IV. Being the Savior and Blesser

Isaiah 49:15 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!"

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

John 6:47 "I tell you the truth, he who believes (me) has everlasting life."

John 10:28-30 "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

I Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

Isaiah 63:16 "But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name."

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Ezekiel 36:26 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

Proverbs 21:30 "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD."

Ecclesiastes 3:14 "I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him."

Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

Proverbs 29:26 "Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice."

Jeremiah 10:6 "No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power."

Proverbs 10:22 "The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it."

Psalms 37:4-5, 22 "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this."
"those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off."

Jeremiah 17:5, 7 "This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD."
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him."

John 16:23 " In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."

John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

Matthew 18:18-20 "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Isaiah 45:24 "They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.'" All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame."

Isaiah 9:6-7 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."

Thus only Jesus is:

The Lord,
The Lawgiver and judge,
The Doctrinaire and Teacher,
The Savior and the Blesser.

Consequently, the true Christian founds his faith on Jesus and Word of God, and does not give these four rights/attributes to anyone else, or to senior brethren, pastors, to his preacher, church, to any glory, and doesn't take on himself. True Christian must also be careful so that no one can undertake God's four duties upon himself, which are to be the Lord, the Judge, the Teacher and the Savior.

He believes that God can announce and fulfill His will and rights by the Holy Ghost, any human being, church and by any other means but only by to have a faith to Jesus' name and to the Word of God.

Thus, Christian doesn't accept any worldly and religious idols, realizing that they more than have prevented and prevent the church and its members' spiritual development.

Hebrews 1:1 "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways."

Matthew 7:15-16 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?"

II Thessalonians 2:4 "He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God."

Isaiah 66:3-4 "But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a man, and whoever offers a lamb, like one who breaks a dog's neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig's blood, and whoever burns memorial incense, like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and their souls delight in their abominations; so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring upon them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me."

Ezekiel 14:3, 6 "Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?."
"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!"

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.."

John 5:43-44 "I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?"

John 12:42-43 "Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God."

The Christian Church Must Be Free From the Idols

When the church is free from the ecclesiastical (religious) and worldly idols it will be able to get much more blessings from God and to be free from many curses and evils.

But only proclamation and confession that we are free of idols and that we only worship God are not enough and doesn't mean that we are really free of them. But we must realize how we really appreciate and love the Word of God, and the Word of God is the most high and primary criteria for us, or are there values which are most important and beloved? And that don't we give Rights that only belonged to God to the religious-church and worldly- mankind values or phenomenons?

Pity, but idolatry is widely spread in the churches, for example is "worship of the human," when all the positions are given to a pastor, such as preaching, prophesy, revelation, teaching, healing, ruling (administration), and other duties, which freezes and quenches the Spirit and the brotherly Christian relationship.

Christian must to seek in order that the church, the Christian brotherhoods and groups function in the spirit of the Gospel's love and freedom, but not in the dictatorship and monarchical system, which opposes to the evangelical spirit of love.

But in the other hand, if the church can't function with the Gospel's and brotherly principles then in this case we must not destroy or ignore the church. In Any case the church remains the church of God.

It is the Christian love that must protect and distinguish the church, but not the church traditions and the rigid pyramidal like organization system of church.

We must note here that so-called churches are not churches in reality in the evangelical point of view but every church represents some theological school of teaching made by clergies class. And we think that it is not compulsory that the people of believers must attend only absolutely through one theological school which is wanted most of spiritual ministers of a church. The people of believers which is the same Church in the evangelical point of view may attend various theological schools and still can be unanimous, the one church united by their love and faith , instead of pressing on the conscience. We can say that nowadays in the churches in the name of unity people try to attain to merging in one monolith organization and to attain resemblance, but not a real unity. Here is a place to remind you, that Jesus in His Gospel didn't nominate any apostle as a ruler and left so, rose to heaven.

Here you also will see that God's people in certain periods didn't have monarchical social system and that periods sometimes came forward war's and Judge's problems leaders, but they didn't become monarchs or dictators.

John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Acts 13:15 "After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak."

As you can see, they, Jewish leaders allowed strange people who weren't the members of their community, to have a talk. Even more, Peter was preaching here a faith' teaching which they didn't accept.

Such comparatively liberal mentality we also meet in Jewish community, when Christ preached the Heavens' Kingdom.

Could you imagine nowadays in our churches a free preachment of Word of God, even through the members of church? When all aren't allowed to preach or speak, except a pastor and the persons appointed by him.

Matthew 23:13 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."

I Corinthians 14:26-31 "What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged."

I Thessalonians 5:19-22 "Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."

Some examples from the Bible about our theme and also about a right for governing which was a result of sequence, of lot or of election, in other words the rulers haven't been appointed by monarchy or main pastor.

These examples are necessary, because some of have prejudice that God is against democratic principles in the church life.

I Corinthians 1:12-13 "What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul;" another, "I follow Apollos;" another, "I follow Cephas;" still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?"

I Corinthians 11:3 "Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God."

I Corinthians 12:8-11, 28 "To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."
"And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues."

Let us remember how in churches pastors or take to their hands all these duties when even they have not received talents from God for fulfill these duties or they abolish these duties which God gave for a building of the church. And it is not amazing after all this that the miracles and the powers of God are not being seen in the churches.

Acts 5:42 "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."

I Peter 1:23 "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."

I John 2:27 "As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him."

I John 4:1 "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Matthew 20:25-26 "Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant."

These are examples of democratic-people's, but not dictatorial society among God's people.

Acts 6:5 "This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism."

Luke 1:8-9 "Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense."

I Kings 4:7 "Solomon also had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year."

God is against ruling by dictatorship, especially among His people.

I Samuel 8:6-7 "But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king."

Exodus 4:29 "Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites."

For example when one tribe directly applies to another tribe, without noticing leaders' names, which testifies about that that there is not monarchic but democratic society, ruling by people.

Judges 1:3 "Then the men of Judah said to the Simeonites their brothers, "Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours." So the Simeonites went with them."

Here is an interesting and teaching example, how a spiritual person refused to be a king, realizing that it wasn't pleasant for God and His Spirit.

Judges 8:23 "But Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you."

Joshua 24:31 "Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel."

Deuteronomy 19:12 "The elders of his town shall send for him, bring him back from the city, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die."

Matthew 26:59 "The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death."

Acts 1:23, 26 "So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias."
"Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles."

We, who already live in democratic 21st century, can see in most part of churches, if not all of them, believers are more retrogressive, servile, man-worship and church--worship than the Jewish society of Jesus time. Nowadays the Devil so confused the people that even in the most of churches dictatorship system dominates, while the whole world wants to live by the way of democracy.

The Devil inspired that it must be so. Meanwhile in churches must be free brotherly relationships around ten commandments of God. But the world had to live under ruling of the church, church in evangelical meaning (not by spiritual servants). What occurs nowadays is contrary to it and life of the church and the power of the Holy Ghost is choked (strangled) in churches by spiritual servants of the church with not evangelical but with the dictatorship system.

II Corinthians 11:20-21 "In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!...."

Here is the description of true believers, which is given in the book of Revelation:

Revelation 14:3-5 "And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless."

True Christians Must Struggle Against Every Kind of Idolatry

True Christians must be careful that in future to not be degenerated into new idol of church worshipping and do not create new centers of church and of tradition worshipping, as it happened with so many Christian movements. A Christian, being free from religious and church's idols should also be careful not to become a captive of worldly-mankind idols (which is peculiar for nature of man to fall from one extreme to another extreme), from which may be self worship revealed as conceit and material worship as greed and etc.

A true Christian will never prohibit anyone to express his thoughts, which come from the Word of God, during divine services.

But ideas declared as from the Word of God may be don't accepted, if they don't come from Word of God (there are not verses which assert that idea) or we are forced to give God's four rights to a worldly-mankind or a church-religious value, in other words, to transform this value (merit) into idol for us!

Christians should be careful that religious, not vital opinions, accepted by him or by a church and distinguished Christians not to be degenerated into idols for Christians and for other people. Let us again to note those God's four rights (remember or read unit 5).

Being the Lord.
Being the Lawgiver and the Judge.
Being the Doctrinaire and Teacher.
Being the Saver and Blesser.

Christians should struggle against church-religious idols through the Word of God, explaining when the religious value transforms into idol (when four rights of God are ascribed to these values). Here is the example, when Paul warns, do not make idols of not essential religious opinions, and so don't make them condition of relations between brothers and us.

In this case to this religious opinion may be given so great importance, which only the Faith to the name of Jesus and God's ten commandments of moral can have.

Romans 14:1, 5 "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters."
"One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind."

Isaiah 42:8 "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols."

II Kings 18:4-5 "He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan). Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him."

Compare with John, 3:14, where this brazen serpent is symbol for Christ.

John 3:14 "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up."

II Kings 17:38-39 "Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. Rather, worship the LORD your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies."

John 5:44 "How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God."

Romans 15:6-7 "...so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."

I Corinthians 12:3 "Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit."

The Image of the True Christians, and the Glory Waiting Them

Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

A true Christian must know his position in this world. He should know that he is God's child (son), which must not make him proud, but he must be as gentle and perfect as his heavenly Father is.

With brothers in one faith must come to unanimousity and agreement on themes of a prayer, agreement must be serious, with explanations, additions of the participants, objections and questions in accordance with the theme of a prayer. After that they should come to the agreement with their own free will and then to pray.

A true Christian believes in Jesus divinity and in salvation by His name. He accepts Jesus as the Savior and the Lord of his personal and all mankind's.

They don't accept no a one worldly-humankind and church-religious idol.

They, true Christians are not church worshipers and are not tradition worshipers, but they are God worshipers.

Their faith is founded only on the Word of God.

They love the God with whole heart.

They love and respect brothers more than unbelievers.

They live in accordance of love and of Evangelic commandments of moral.

True Christians are honest, kind, courageous, joyful, polite and gentle.

They are not greedy and pugnacious.

They always study and keep in their hearts the Word of God, His promises and are ceaseless in there prays. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Matthew 18:18-20 "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command."

Colossians 2:6-7, 9-10 "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."

Isaiah 55:11 "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Isaiah 62:6-7 "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth."

Mark 10:28-30 "Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life."

Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

Revelation 5:10 "You have made them to be a kingdom (kings) and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

Isaiah 60:10 "Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion."

Isaiah 43:1, 3-4 "But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine."
"For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life."

I Corinthians 3:22-23 "Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God."

Jeremiah 33:9 "Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it."

In the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen.

If you have any questions or comments, you can contact me at
orange62@rambler.ru

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