Monthly Archives: January 2020

New Series: TELL IT LIKE IT IS! 2.nd episode: NO NEED TO CONFESS SINS?

By Edwin Christiaan

There is a growing number of hyper-grace church pastors, who teach their followers that the moment a sinner is saved, they are forgiven for their sins once for all time. This forgiveness include all sins for all time – past, present, and future – which means that there will be no future need to ask for forgiveness for anything ever again. So they’re saying, that even your future sins are pronounced forgiven the moment you are saved! Lord have mercy!

There is not a single verse in the Bible where God forgives a person’s sins before they commit those sins. Absolutely none! God only forgives people for what they have done, not what they will do.

These false teachers fail to distinguish between the forgiveness of salvation and the forgiveness of relationship. They also claim that the Holy Spirit will never convict Christians of their sin, because “conviction” has a connotation of condemnation attached to it. Not true. Guilt always precedes mercy! Grace is given for a reason, because there is something to forgive and give grace for: Sin!

This [...]

By |January 30th, 2020|Archives|Comments Off on New Series: TELL IT LIKE IT IS! 2.nd episode: NO NEED TO CONFESS SINS?|
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UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURES

By Edwin Christiaan

When the Bible says in the New Living Translation;

“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” ‬‬ 2 Timothy‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭NLT

The words “work hard” here has nothing to do with works for salvation, but “being diligent.”

But the following scripture in the King James Version does,

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK OUT your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The same apostle Paul who wrote the verses above also wrote,

“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.” ‬‬ Ephesians‬ ‭2:8-9‬ ‭KJV

So why do we need to work out our salvation when works do not save us?Because though we are saved by God’s unconditional electing grace through the gift of faith, the works [...]

By |January 26th, 2020|Archives|Comments Off on UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURES|
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DEBUNKING THE FALSE “RIGHTLY-DIVIDING” DOCTRINE

By Edwin Christiaan

The scripture 2. Timothy 2:15 is the only place in the Bible (King James Version and New King James Version) where the words “rightly dividing” are used.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2. Timothy 2:15 NKJV 

Right now, there are many preachers, especially the so-called “Grace” teachers, who use 2. Timothy 2:15 as the first foundational pillar in explaining how to read and understand the Bible. Based on their understanding of this scripture, they say that we are to “rightly divide” scripture in order to know which of the scriptures are meant for the Jews and which are meant for the Church. According to them, since the apostle Paul was called to the Gentiles, we as Christians are to only follow Paul’s writings, (which they refer to as the ‘Pauline Gospel’ or ‘Pauline Christianity,’) and the other Bible books such as the Gospels, Hebrews, James, Peter and Jude are only written for the Jews. 

So the big question is: Does the entire [...]

By |January 24th, 2020|Archives|Comments Off on DEBUNKING THE FALSE “RIGHTLY-DIVIDING” DOCTRINE|
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TELL IT LIKE IT IS – New series

1.st episode: REVIVAL OF DELUSION

By Edwin Christiaan

As promised, today we are starting a new series called, “Tell it like it is!” Here, we will address many of the seriously dysfunctional demonic issues we have experienced and seen in churches for the last 14 years of our traveling ministry.

We write about these experiences to warn about those who want to lead you astray, so you can get away from their deception and instead be led into the true freedom that comes from Jesus Christ. 

It is like one of the apostles said, 

“I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray.”‭1. John‬ ‭2:26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So, here is the very first episode of “Tell it like it is” entitled, “Revival of Delusion.”

REVIVAL OF DELUSION 

Over the years, we have encountered numerous pastors who promise their often small group of followers, that revival will begin with their church and spread out from there throughout the city, nation, or even the world. 

These preachers brag about how God has called them to lead multitudes of people to salvation and healing, and [...]

By |January 23rd, 2020|Archives|Comments Off on TELL IT LIKE IT IS – New series|
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WHAT IS THE LAW OF CHRIST?

By Edwin Christiaan

‘The Law of Christ’ is mentioned twice in the Bible by the apostle Paul, who said,

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 NLT

And,

“When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.” 1. Corinthians 9:21 NLT

Most Bible scholars understand the ‘law of Christ’ to be what Jesus Christ stated as the “greatest commandments” in the book of Matthew chapter 22, 

“You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NLT

Paul explained it this way,

“If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit [...]

By |January 21st, 2020|Archives|Comments Off on WHAT IS THE LAW OF CHRIST?|
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KEEPING THE JEWISH LAWS?

By Edwin Christiaan

“Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and FIGHTS ABOUT OBEDIENCE TO JEWISH LAWS! These things are useless and a waste of time. If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them.” Titus 3:9-10 NLT

I am used to seeing this from especially the Seventh Day Adventist group, but now there is a rise of false teachers in the charismatic circles who are telling the believers that they have to abide by the Old Testament Jewish laws and regulations as indicated in the book of Torah in order to please God. The Bible says that this false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough and that God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing the people. (See Galatians 5:3-10)

Furthermore, the Bible says that these false teachers want to be known as teachers and experts of the Old Testament covenant Law of Moses, but they don’t know what [...]

By |January 19th, 2020|Archives|Comments Off on KEEPING THE JEWISH LAWS?|
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ARE YOU A TRUE FOLLOWER OF JESUS?

By Edwin Christiaan | January 15, 2020

“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”1. John 2:6 NLT

Therefore,

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” Philippians‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This means,

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” ‬‬Philippians‬ ‭2:3-4‬ ‭NLT

Yes, just like Jesus, you should be humble and submissive,

“Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” ‬‬Philippians‬ ‭2:6-8‬ ‭NLT

Otherwise you would be like people who claim to know God, but deny Him by the way you live. You would not be obeying God and therefore you would be worthless for doing anything good. (See Titus 1:16)

By Edwin Christiaan | January 11, 2020 

“But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are His.”  2. Timothy‬ ‭2:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“They are the ones God has chosen for His purpose, and He has always known who His chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like His own Son, so His Son would be the first of many children. God then accepted the people He had already decided to choose, and He has shared His glory with them.” Romans‬ ‭8:28-30‬ ‭CEV‬‬

He directs their steps and delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. (See Psalms‬ ‭37:23-24‬)

God also causes everything to work together for the good for them, because they love Him and are called according to His purpose. (See Romans‬ ‭8:28‬)

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By |January 11th, 2020|Archives|Comments Off on BE ENCOURAGED|
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HAVING NOTHING AND YET HAVING EVERYTHING?

By Edwin Christiaan | January 7, 2020

The apostle Paul testified saying, 

“We own nothing, and yet we have everything.” 2. Corinthians‬ ‭6:10‬ ‭NLT‬

How is that possible? It is because Paul knew that having Jesus Christ, who is a miracle working God, as His Lord and Savior, he would have everything thing he needs.

That is why Paul wrote,

“You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, His generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭4:19 MSG‬‬

By |January 7th, 2020|Archives|Comments Off on HAVING NOTHING AND YET HAVING EVERYTHING?|
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HAVING THE GRACE THAT KEEPS ON SINNING?

By Edwin Christiaan | January 5, 2020

“I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives.” ‬‬Jude‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NLT

There are many so-called Christian leaders and their followers, who say that they are under God’s grace and yet they continue unrepentantly to live in the sin of fornication, homosexuality, drunkenness, hatred, unforgivenesses, worshipping idols, greediness, cheating, stealing, and abusing others. ( See 1. Corinthians 6:9-10)

But the Bible clearly states,

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In other words, sin loses it’s control over you when Jesus Christ becomes your Master, who empowers you to experience victory over sin.

In the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus told her,

“Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”  John 8:10 NKJV

Jesus extended His grace, which is His undeserved, unmerited, unearned favor to the woman by giving her the gift of no condemnation first, and in doing so, He empowered her to “go [...]

By |January 5th, 2020|Archives|Comments Off on HAVING THE GRACE THAT KEEPS ON SINNING?|
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