Think about this. God promised Joshua that He would be with him, as He was with Moses.
Joshua 1:5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. NKJV
Everything went well concerning the taking of Jericho, and then the Israelites proceeded to take the city of Ai (Joshua chapter 7). The men of Ai chased the Israelites, and killed about thirty of them (Joshua 7:5). What happened?
Joshua did not realize that there was a problem until after their defeat at Ai. He did not understand why the things that God had promised, did not come to pass (Joshua 7:6-9). The same is true today.
How can a covenant that God has made be broken? It can’t, if the instructions are followed. The problem was that the Israelites did not follow God’s instructions, and it is the same today (Joshua 7:11).
Joshua 7:11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. NKJV
The Israelites became doomed to destruction because they sinned and did not keep God’s covenant (Joshua 7:11). In the same way, we have rejected God’s instructions found in the Gospel.
Does the Gospel contain instructions? Why did the Apostle Paul rebuke Peter to his face in front of all according to Galatians 2:14? His conduct was not in line with the Gospel. Does the Gospel tell us how to act?
That doesn’t seem right to most of us because we believe that “Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead” is the only thing in the Gospel. That’s what we have been taught, but that is far from a complete Gospel.
According to 1 Peter 4:17-19, what will happen to those who do not obey the Gospel? Check the verses from your version of the Bible. If you do not believe that we have instructions to follow, but your own Bible says that we do, who has been tricked?
Not only do we have instructions, but the Gospel contains instructions that we must follow. According to 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, what will happen to those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, NKJV
There most certainly are instructions contained in the Gospel that we must obey, and when you listen to Christian media today and never hear those instructions, then you will know just how far we have drifted away from the truth, and why there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth on that day.
Unfortunately, in the last days, most will only support those who tell them what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4), which is exactly what is leading many preachers to join the crowd, and preach for financial gain. Beware! Their end will be according to their works (2 Corinthians 11:15).
Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. NKJV
We love to hear the promises, but we don’t want to hear any instructions, which is exactly what was predicted to happen (Timothy 4:3-4). Therefore, the places that never mention the instructions are the places that will receive the majority of the support. By worldly standards, they seem to be blessed, but that is deception. It’s a death trap.
Jesus said that only a few Christians, compared to the many who seek to enter the Kingdom, will make it (Luke 13:22-28, Matthew 7:13-14). Why will only a few make it? Only a few are willing to keep the covenant of faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-23). The pressure is to follow the crowd.
Instead of obeying Jesus, many have turned back to follow Moses. This is evident because instead of teaching Christians to give in accordance with faith in Jesus, which means that we will be helping one another (2 Corinthians 9:12-14, Luke 12:41), most require the people to tithe according to Moses, which is Law based giving (Hebrews 7:5).
For believers, Jesus Christ is the end of the Law (Romans 10:4), but those who continue in the works of the Law, in order to be justified in God’s sight, become obligated to continue in the Laws of Moses (Romans 10:5, Galatians 3:12). In God’s eyes, the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17, Galatians 2:20, 3:11).
Christians are supposed to die to the Laws of Moses, so that we can be a part of the bride of Christ, and serve in the new way of the Spirit (Romans 7:4-6). We fulfill the Laws of Moses, and any other law through love (Romans 13:8-10).
The Law is not made for a righteous person, nor is it of faith (Galatians 3:12), and those who are of the Law will not be heirs with those of faith (Romans 4:14). We’ve got to believe and live by faith, just as Abraham did, if we want to be blessed as he was (Galatians 3:6-7). Children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham (John 8:39).
Abraham gave a tenth of the plunder to the high priest, not by a commandment, and not in accordance with Malachi 3:10, which is in keeping with the Laws of Moses. If we were to believe as Abraham believed, then we too would give a tithe to the high priest, although the priesthood has changed, and so has the law.
Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. NKJV
Jesus Christ is now our new High Priest (Hebrews 2:17, 3:1, 5:10, 6:20), and Mediator of a better covenant, established on better promises. If we do the works of Abraham, by giving to the high priest, then we would give Jesus Christ a tithe, and He in turn would bless us.
Hebrews 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. NKJV
God found fault with the first covenant (Hebrews 8:7), and has replaced it with a New Covenant (Hebrews 8:13), but only for those who believe (Romans 10:4). The Law is still in effect (Matthew 5:17-19), for those who are under it, and it will be a means by which God will judge the world (Romans 3:19).
Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. NKJV
Hebrews 8:13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. NKJV
How would we give Jesus a tithe? Jesus said, “Whatever we do for the least of His brothers, we do for Him” (Matthew 25:40).
Matthew 25:37-40 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ NKJV
The evidence that we are obeying the Gospel is that we share, or minister to the faithful (saints) who are in need (2 Corinthians 9:12-14). That’s what we were created in Christ to do (Ephesians 2:10), and appointed by Christ to do (John 15:16-17), because Jesus commanded us to love one another (John 13:34-35).
Part of our instructions contained in the Gospel is that we need to obey Jesus (Romans 15:15-19). Those who obey Jesus, abide in Jesus (John 15:9-10), and consequently, they stop sinning (1 John 3:6).
1 John 3:6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. NKJV
If the Gospel was preached today the church building would not be full of people who willingly remain in darkness. Not only will we stop sinning, but we will position ourselves to where the devil cannot touch us (1 John 5:18 below), and we would receive the good plans that God has for us (Jeremiah 5:25). Imagine that. We can receive protection, healing, and a new way of life, just by following the instructions in our New Covenant.
1 John 5:18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. NKJV
Jeremiah 5:25 Your iniquities have turned these things away, And your sins have withheld good from you. NKJV
The flip side of this is that the people of this world will hate us (John 15:18-20), and the seemingly spiritual people, who remain in the flesh, will persecute us; treat you unfairly (Galatians 4:29).
Galatians 4:29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. NKJV
However, if we take a stand for what is right, even while being hated by the main stream Christian community, we will be blessed (Matthew 5:10-12).
Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. NKJV
Sharing in Christ’s sufferings (Romans 8:17) is expected of us (Philippians 1:29), and it is evidence that we will be counted worthy of the Kingdom (2 Thessalonians 1:3-5, Acts 14:22). Check the verses.
Therefore, if you are persecuted because you mention that the Gospel instructs us to obey Jesus Christ (Romans 15:15-19) to the point of being righteous by faith in Him (Romans 1:16-17, 3:21-22), you are blessed.
If you are persecuted because you mention that the Gospel instructs us to be sanctified by the Spirit, and believe the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13-15), you are blessed.
If you are persecuted because you mention that the Gospel instructs us to share what we have with our brothers who are in need (2 Corinthians 9:12-14), even to the point of equality (2 Corinthians 8:12-14), you are blessed. Our brothers and sisters are those who do the will of God our Father (Mark 3:35), which is to be holy, and avoid sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 1 Peter 1:14-16).
If you are persecuted because you mention that the Gospel instructs us to keep these things in memory (1 Corinthians 15:1-2, below), then you are being persecuted for righteousness sake.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. NKJV
Part of our instructions is to hold to the teachings found in the Gospel. If not, we believe in vain! However, how can we possibly keep our covenant with God if we not only ignore these things, but also take a stand against them? We can’t.
Now you should be able to see just how far we have drifted away from the truth, since these things are rarely mentioned, if ever, and in many cases, the exact opposite is taught, even on main stream Christian media.
We were given the gift of salvation, but our instructions include paying close attention to the message, so that we would not drift away to the point of neglecting our salvation (Hebrews 2:1-3). We stumble because we disobey the Word; the message (1 Peter 2:8).
Hebrews 2:1-3 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, NKJV
We have not only drifted away, but we persecute those who remind us of God’s Word, and speak well of those who declare an opposition gospel; a deceptive gospel full of promises, but void of any conditions.
Luke 6:26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets. NKJV
It has already been proven in this country, that if you want to be popular among Christians, just quote what God promised those who keep His instructions, without ever mentioning any of the instructions or conditions.
Take Romans chapter 8 as an example. We always hear “Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:39), but we never hear that the people he is referring to as “us,” walk according to the Spirit (Romans 8:5-8), and not according to the flesh (Romans 8:9, 13).
They love God (Romans 8:28), and love for God is to keep His commands (1 John 5:3), which in turn would make us share what we have with our brothers who are in need (1 John 3:16-19).
Take the instructions out of Romans chapter 8, and just like Joshua, we too won’t realize that there is a problem until things are not working out as we thought. The sad part about it is that most church goers will not realize that until the end, according to Jesus’ teachings in Luke 13:22-28.
Whose responsibility is it to stop conforming to this world, and renew our minds with the truth (Romans 12:1-2)? Whose responsibility is it to cast off the works of darkness and put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:12-14)? Whose responsibility is it to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them (Ephesians 5:8-11)?
Whose responsibility is it to sow to please the Spirit in order to reap eternal life (Galatians 6:8)? Whose responsibility is it to put to death the deeds of the body through the Spirit (Romans 8:13)? Whose responsibility is it to become slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:16-18)?
Whose responsibility is it to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature (Colossians 3:5-9)? Whose responsibility is it to walk according to the Spirit so that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16)? Whose responsibility is it to continue in our faith (Colossians 1:21-23)?
Whose responsibility is it to bear fruit (John 15:1-6), pursue faith, righteousness, love, holiness (1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Corinthians 14:1, Hebrews 12:14), and to fight in our thinking (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Colossians 3:2, 1 Peter 1:13)? Whose responsibility is it to continue in grace (Acts 13:23), keep ourselves in the love of God (Jude 1:21), maintain good works (Titus 3:8, 14), and repent of dead works (Hebrews 6:1)?
These things are a part of our New Covenant with God, through faith in Jesus Christ. So, who would take a stand against them, unless they were a part of the opposition? Can two walk together if not in agreement (Amos 3:3)?
Can we willingly remain in darkness and say, “I have believed and followed Christ” (John 8:12, 12:46)? Christ died to redeem us from every lawless deed (Titus 2:14), and destroy the devil’s work in us (1 John 3:8). Does He now promote sin (Galatians 2:17), or is the face of the Lord still against those who do evil (1 Peter 3:12)? Repent and believe the Gospel!
I’m Alan Ballou; a servant. If I may be of service to you, please contact me.
