Like a chestnut tree

I spent most of my youth going from one church to the other when they preached the same message – Do good and God will save you. Looking back, I was lost and confused. Churches do not emphasize on reading the Bible. And when I read the Bible in the past, I focused on how to live a morally good life. In 2017, God showed me clearly that the Roman Catholic church and the Protestant churches are the same. They do not feed God’s sheep.

They have all turned aside, together they are corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one. (Psalm 14:3)

While churches put much emphasize on morality, church authorities and those who call themselves Christians are immoral in God’s sight because they have abandoned Sola Gratia. Since 2017, I’ve been looking for the two men shown in my dream who will be the center of the new reformation. When I read Matthew 14:14, I feel the sadness of Christ because many are without a shepherd. I was also one of them until the Holy Spirit came and started to teach me. God showed me four daughters of my mother. And this reformation is the third one, the most important.

In this chapter, Christ continues to show us that God’s plans and His wills are the opposite of men’s plans and their wills. John the Baptist was sent by God and yet, those who call themselves as God’s children killed him. Although it was Herod who put him to death, the Jewish authorities did not protect John or speak against Herod for his evil doings. People who eagerly sought God’s words went to the wilderness to see John the Baptist and heard his message. They believed in Christ and considered John as a prophet. The Jewish (church) authorities hated John because they hated God. And God hated them.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matt 3:7)

While the church authorities say that they keep the Law and teach people how to keep the Law, God sees them as evildoers because they do not know God. Many people were oppressed because of the strict rules conducted by the Jewish (church) authorities, and they were not fed and were hungry both physically and spiritually. Thus, Christ felt compassion for them and fed the five thousand. It was a unique miracle along with the similar event written in Matthew 15, where Christ fed the four thousand. It is easy to think that Christianity is about helping the poor and feeding the hungry. It is easy to focus on our physical needs than spiritual needs. Christ fed those who are hungry, but not all understood the message Christ brought. In John 6, Christ rebukes those who are after earthly prosperity.

Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate some of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” (John 6:26-27)

In John 6, Christ tells us that we must eat Him to have eternal life. We must become one with Him. I am not talking about how to become one with Him. It is a free gift of God. But most people, even Christians, do not accept this free gift. They hate Sola Gratia. They say, “I am capable of satisfying God by myself. Just give me a message so that I can apply it to my life. I can please God with my own hands. Do not give me a message that I cannot do anything about in my life.”  

Application. This is a wretched word before God. We cannot apply our heart to God’s instructions by our own will and efforts. God forbids our applications. Our work is to accept that God does everything. We are born in sin and live a life of Romans 7. God changes our heart to obey Him. Our own will and efforts are useless. Christ came and laid the foundation of the church. The church grows by God’s power.

Those who have no knowledge of God say that we can gain eternal life. They say we can get it if we try hard enough. They say God will show us mercy if we try hard. Then don’t they stay awake 24/7 and do works? Morality pleases only myself and others. This leads to hypocrisy. All those who are given the Holy Spirit live a life God wants by the power of God. True Christians do not boast about themselves or their works. All bad works were done by us, all good works done by the Spirit. As we become powerless in the eyes of the world, God’s power in us becomes strong.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

But those who have not received the Holy Spirit do not accept God’s good news. They say they must work. Even Adam could not stay righteous by works. How can we become righteous by works?

Although Christ fed the five thousand and the four thousand in separate occasions, only the remnants are saved.

And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They began to discuss this among themselves, saying, “He said that because we did not bring any bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet understand nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you picked up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets you picked up? How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 6:6-12)

Many people are called to listen to God’s good news. But not all accept it because most of them are filled with the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees, who focus on earthly matters and praises from men.

Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, the one who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. This is the bread that came down out of heaven, not as the fathers ate and died; the one who eats this bread will live forever.” These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. So then many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This statement is very unpleasant; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, aware that His disciples were complaining about this, said to them, “Is this offensive to you? What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” As a result of this many of His disciples left, and would no longer walk with Him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to leave also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. And we have already believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:52-69)

I grew up as a Christian with having a wrong understanding of God. Churches around the world teaches that God forgives all and saves all. It is a false teaching. God does not forgive all. Christ brought good news to His elect people regardless of their backgrounds. But He brought bad news to the rest. From the beginning, He exactly knew for whom He was going to die. True prophets of God are few. And they are persecuted for telling the truth. Churches made their own image of a god who saves everyone. They made the image of a god who begs for love from us, who cries day and night for our repentance, who is helpless in controlling the world and the creatures, who is weak against the satan, etc. Once I talked to an elder of a mega church. He was sad that people are moving away from justification by faith. He said, “God is crying because of our treachery!” But I was disturbed by his idea of God. God does not cry because of our wrongdoings as if He is helpless. God is angry. Even though He has been sending His prophets, people do not want to hear God’s messages. They hate God. And God hates them. Even though God knows how false believers treat His prophets, He keeps sending them so that those who refuse to listen will not escape from the coming wrath. At first, prophets speak to people thinking they may repent. But they soon realize people hate God and His prophets. Prophets announce judgements of God on them.

Then they said, “Come and let’s devise plans against Jeremiah. Certainly the Law is not going to be lost by the priest, nor advice by the wise, nor the divine word by the prophet! Come, and let’s strike at him with our tongue, and let’s pay no attention to any of his words.” Give Your attention to me, LORD, and listen to what my opponents are saying! Should good be repaid with evil? For they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You to speak good in their behalf, so as to turn Your wrath away from them. Therefore, give their children over to famine and turn them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives become childless and widowed. Let their men also be slaughtered to death, their young men struck and killed by the sword in battle. May a cry be heard from their houses when You suddenly bring raiders upon them; for they have dug a pit to capture me and hidden snares for my feet. But You, LORD, know all their deadly schemes against me; Do not forgive their wrongdoing or wipe out their sin from Your sight. But may they be overthrown before You; Deal with them in the time of Your anger! (Jeremiah 18:18-23)

This chapter (Matthew 13) continues Christ’s teachings on the Kingdom. Among all the parables that Christ used, the parable of weeds among wheat was explained in detail. With the understanding of this parable, other parables regarding the Kingdom can be explained.

Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. And when the wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also became evident. And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No; while you are gathering up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (v.24-30)

Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears, let him hear. (v. 36-43)

Christ sows the good seed, but the devil sows the weeds. Christ does not remove the weeds but waits till the harvest time. The weeds generally provide richness to the soil. Persecutions and sufferings are beneficial to saints because they make us rely on God alone. Among the weeds, prophets speak truths of God and are persecuted. But God gives strength. Our faith gets strengthened and knowledge grows as we go through persecutions and trials. God wants us to be refined as silver is refined.

And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’ (Zechariah 13:9)

Christians think they are being refined as silver when hardship comes. Every human goes through challenges and sufferings in the world but not all are refined as silver is refined. Evil people think they are being refined while they are punished for their sins. While silver is refined to become precious, other metals are wasted.

Now the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the LORD’S house which faced eastward. And behold, there were twenty-five men at the entrance of the gate, and among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people. Then He said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise wrongdoing and give evil advice in this city, who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses. This city is the pot and we are the meat.’ Therefore, prophesy against them, prophesy, son of man!” Then the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and He said to me, “Say, ‘This is what the LORD says: “This is how you think, house of Israel, for I know your thoughts. You have multiplied your slain in this city, and filled its streets with them.” Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: “Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of the city are the meat and this city is the pot; but I will bring you out of it. You have feared a sword; so I will bring a sword upon you,” the Lord GOD declares. “And I will bring you out of the midst of the city, and hand you over to strangers, and execute judgments against you. You will fall by the sword. I will judge you to the border of Israel; so you shall know that I am the LORD. This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be meat in the midst of it; I will judge you to the border of Israel. So you will know that I am the LORD; for you have not walked in My statutes, nor have you executed My ordinances, but you have acted in accordance with the ordinances of the nations around you.” (Ezekiel 11:1-12)

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, the house of Israel has become waste metal to Me; all of them are bronze, tin, iron, and lead in the smelting furnace; they are the waste metal of silver. Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because all of you have become waste metal, therefore, behold, I am going to gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into the smelting furnace to blow fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in My anger and in My wrath, and I will place you there and melt you. And I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you will be melted in the midst of it. As silver is melted in the furnace, so you will be melted in the midst of it; and you will know that I, the LORD, have poured out My wrath on you.’” (Ezekiel 22:17-22)

In the end, those who are united with Christ are saved because the words of God do not pass away.

The words of the LORD are pure words; Like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, filtered seven times (Psalm 12:6)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. (Luke 21:33)

It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. (1 Corinthians 3:13)

The work of God is being united with Christ through His words and His Spirit. The work of God is believing in God. By the work, we will be rewarded.

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:29)

Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves (Revelation 22:12)

If you think you can invent ways to please God beyond His expectations, think again. God looks at the heart of each one. If we put our works before God, God will test them through the fire. If any of the works are to please men for praising myself before men, they will burn like dross. We praise God as we remain in humble and helpless circumstances.

… My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions—how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, and yet are innocent? But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, RATHER THAN SACRIFICE,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. Lord of the Sabbath for the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath (v.3-8)

Those who believe their righteousness comes from perfect keeping of the Law often do not understand the person of Christ. What I mean is that they concentrate too much on what Christ DID for them and fail to connect that what Christ did is from who Christ is. If anyone does not understand who Christ is and why He became a man, he/she is not united with Him. Their eyes and ears remain shut, and they bring pagan ideas to fill the gap in their knowledge of God, thus, create an idol, a beast. The greatest beast is within churches, and it is the anti-Christ.

Because of the treachery of the reformers in the 17^th century, the Protestant churches started to focus on the external keeping of the Law. As long as people appear to keep the Law, the church authorities were satisfied. The irony is that people who boast of their works are considered as “evildoers” by the Lord. Those who do not know God are all evildoers regardless of how much they are respected within churches. Among all the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath law is considered the most important by church authorities. I hear that Christians have been struggling to understand what is allowed to do and what not on Sundays. This is because they believe their righteousness comes from the Law. People live in fear because of the church authorities.

In this chapter, especially v3-8, Christ tells us the true meaning of the Sabbath. Christ mentions two episodes in the OT which shows the violation of the fourth commandment. Yes, Christ who knows the true meaning of the Sabbath, who is the Lord of the Sabbath, did not judge people by appearance. Christ has fulfilled and still fulfills all the Law and the prophecies. Christ makes everything new. He is the beginning and the end. Saints are free from judgements and our accuser, the devil, will be thrown into the fire.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. (Revelation 12:10)

Christ was considered as a lawbreaker by the Jewish authorities. He was a sinner from their eyes. But from the Father’s point of view, His Son is righteousness itself because the Father and the Son are one.

I and my Father, We are One. (John 10:30)

Because of the Libertines, who promoted immoral living, the reformers adopted the ideas of the Roman Catholic church and made Christianity a religion of many. Indeed, with their ideas, all people on the earth can become a Christian. But only the remnant who truly know God by the power of God are saved.

People are persuaded to believe that Christ’s perfect keeping of the Law and death are their righteousness. Church authorities tell them they can now keep the Law by the Spirit when they only want people to obey them. Christians still live in a constant fear that God’s wrath would come any minute if they upset their church authorities. There is no Sabbath for them. While they say they keep the Law, they are considered as evildoers by God. Righteousness from the Law is breakable and conditional. Disobedience comes from believing in the wrong doctrines. Disobedience comes from not knowing the Lord of the Sabbath. Disobedience comes from making an idol, who is the anti-Christ.

Therefore I swore in My anger, They certainly shall not enter My rest. (Psalm 95:11)

Christ’s righteousness does not come from the keeping of the Law. God sees the heart of a man and judges according to the heart. A man may appear to have broken the Law, but God may see him righteous.

Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:24)

Because of social and political reasons, the reformers in the 17^th century shifted the focus from grace to the Law. And Christ speaks the same words against the church authorities just as He did to the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law.

As long as you hold on to the doctrine of the active obedience of Christ, there is no Sabbath. Even through you may be invited to the banquet, you will be thrown out by an act of disobedience. You may tell God that you are saved by Christ’s perfect keeping of the Law, and that you are saved by that faith. Christ will tell you His righteousness is not from keeping of the Law. He has always been righteous. Because He is righteous, He fulfills all righteousness. And by uniting with Him, His church (His Kingdom) is righteous.

But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet, and throw him into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place.’ For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:11-14)

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” (v.18-19)

The children of God know what happens and will happen in the world from God’s point of view because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us. There have been many prophets in churches, but their voices have been ignored and mocked by people who call themselves Christians. It is true that God’s children go through tribulations especially within churches and Christian nations. I once was a false Christian and thought I knew God and the Bible. When truth comes, everything becomes clear, and we realize that we have been blind. We know only what we have been taught by the Spirit about God. Although we do not know everything that God knows, our knowledge becomes sufficient to recognize what is from God and what is not. Our knowledge stays pure, clear, and simple like that of children.

To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ (v.16-17)

The Pharisees did not understand the works of God done through John the Baptist or Christ. They saw and judged everything according to their traditions. They thought they kept the Law well. And they could not understand the messages of John the Baptist and Christ.

I consider God’s wisdom as the Holy Spirit because only God possesses wisdom. From earthly point of view, there are wise people even among non-Christians because we often focus on the welfare of the mass public and morality. This is the feature of all other religions. Doing good to people is often the focus of a religious man. Christianity may look the same, but it focuses on the coming Kingdom. God saves only His chosen people. That does not mean we should help only God’s chosen. We must be good to others generally (Galatians 6:10), but our focus must not be doing good deeds in the eyes of the world. Our focus must be the words of God. And our Christian life starts with knowing God. Indeed, knowing God and believing in the one whom He has sent is everything. But without the Holy Spirit, there is no knowledge, wisdom, or understanding of God. Without Him, no one can abide in Christ and therefore, no fruit (good deeds).   

Many people interpret Matthew 11 from a moral point of view.

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (v28-30)

Some ministers say our burden is lessened but we must do works, meaning living a moral life in the eyes of the world. I consider that the yoke of Christian is being a prophet.

Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brothers and sisters who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)

Being a prophet of God is against worshiping men and their works. The reprobate people serve men instead of the Triune God; therefore, their number is 666.

This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:18)

Our job is NOT about building an earthly kingdom for God. I do not doubt that God is against Christian nationalism or any men’s attempts to build an earthly kingdom for God. Saints do not conquer the world by force or by earthly wisdom. We do not invade other nations, cause disruptions in society, or overthrow a government. We patiently wait for Christ. Our work is to preach the good news and be persecuted because the world and the false Christians do not understand or like our message. In this age, everyone has heard of the Bible and can read the Bible. Our mission is to tell people to read the Bible and know God. Preaching is not persuasion but proclamation. Those who are chosen will listen and understand eventually by the power of the Holy Spirit. The rest never accept our message. That is the work of a prophet. We do not worship men or their works. If anyone worships men or their works, he/she worships money because money is the root of so-called great men both in churches and the world.

They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see, and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend. (Isaiah 44:18)

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. (Psalm 116:15)

In this chapter, Christ sends out His disciples to proclaim the good news. God planned to make a nation to teach them about Himself. And God did it by building a nation called Israel. The Israel nation was a visible church in the OT. Indeed, the Israel nation was blessed by God in many ways.

who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and daughters, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the temple service, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 9:4-5)

God wanted the good news to come out from the Jews.

You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. (John 4:22)

To fulfil God’s will, Christ sends His disciples to the Jews.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.(Matthew 10:5-6)

Many people consider the Jews special and favored by God. But this chapter denies such idea. From the beginning, many Jews did not recognize the birth of their King. And God brought and will bring disasters to those called His people. It is the same now. Churches deny Sola Gratia and believe that their righteousness must come from works. They believe Christ kept the Law for them to give them righteousness. As long as they believe their righteousness is from the Law, they do not truly accept Sola Gratia.

God clothed us with His righteousness through the works of Christ and the Holy Spirit. It was not that Christ as a man had to keep the Law perfectly to gain righteousness. If he had to keep the Law to gain righteousness, that righteousness remains as mere uprightness that Adam had in the garden of Eden. That righteousness disappears by one disobedient act.

It is the righteous Christ, who is the second person of the Godhead and the sinless man with the Holy Spirit, fulfilled and fulfills all God’s will. By uniting with Christ, we are clothed with Christ, “the Lord our righteousness”. Doing righteousness deeds are the result of our union with Christ. Therefore, our righteousness is from our union with Christ.

The doctrine of the active obedience of Christ (AOC) had a face-off from a heretical origin by the Anselm of Canterbury to promote a moral living in the 17^th century England, which the Puritans wanted at that time. Therefore, work became the only way of gaining righteousness. The current trend of admiring ideas of Aquinas in the Reformed theology is the consequence of the bad turn that the Reformers made in the 17^th century England.

I am writing the same thing again and again so that we would understand the error of this doctrine. The Bible does not say that righteousness does not come from works. It is by God’s Spirit that we do righteous deeds. Christ came as a man to pay for our sins and to unite with His people to change our status from slaves to adopted children of God. We never fall again. By His Spirit, we live a life that God wants.

We are in a challenging situation that we need to tell people in every church about this good news. Churches do not and will not accept the good news. They say they know what the gospel is. They say they know TULIP and justification by faith alone. But somewhere along the line, they say different things.

Many Christians believe that they and their family are saved. Churches feed them delusions that everyone who go to a church is saved as long as they are obedient to their church authorities. They say that Christ kept the Law for them, and they also must keep the Law by having His Spirit. But when immoralities are found in their churches, they refuse to discipline people who have committed grave sins. Justification by faith is used to silence any criticism of church authorities. The AOC protects the church authorities because works become the center of a Christian life. It guarantees that the church leaders’ authorities as judges in churches. They promote a moral life to others and protect church traditions. But when they are involved in immoralities, they say they are saved by grace. The issue of the Covenant Theology and the AOC is that the doctrines were born out of social and political needs. When the ministers and the theologians turn their head towards people, they fail to please God.

When I went to a Reformed church, there was an issue of sexual immorality. God already showed me in a dream before it was revealed. The leaders protected the man who committed sins and condemned the woman for not forgiving the man. The woman left the church. Some people in the church were angry because their view of sins was crooked. I took the dust off my feet as I left the church. God showed me in a dream that my work was done. God will save those who are His in that church. The rest will face disasters and the second death.

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ (Matthew 10:34-36)

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel: “‘The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land! The end is now upon you, and I will unleash my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity; I will not spare you. I will surely repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you. “‘Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ (Ezekiel 7:1-4)

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” (v. 16-17)

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (v. 35-36)

In this passage, Christ continues to do the works that He was assigned to do. He proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom and healed diseases. As I mentioned earlier, miracles were performed as a way to proclaim the good news. If anyone who heals diseases reject Sola Gratia, then that person is not from God. It is the good news because we are saved by grace of God alone. Anyone who boasts of works or preaches work-based salvation is not one of us.

In verse 16 and 17, Christ talks about new wine in old wineskins. Christ’s messages were considered new although they were exactly what the OT was talking about. We need the only one authorised teacher, Christ, to interpret God’s words. Christ says what He teaches cannot be contained in the old system. Christ did the very first reformation as we read in Hebrews 9:10

since they relate only to food, drink, and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation. (Hebrews 9:10)

Similarly, the second reformation that happened in the 16^th century was also considered new. But it is more accurate to say that the reformers were talking about the old teachings of the Apostles written in the Bible. But their orthodox teachings could not exist together with the old system of the Roman Catholicism. The traditions became too hard to break. The Roman Catholicism based their theology on Anselm and Aquinas. It is well known that the decrees and the doctrinal statements of the Council of Trent is rooted in the teachings of Aquinas. Some say there are many things that Aquinas said right about God and there are similarities with the Reformed teachings. I’d like to warn them that God does not call something clean when it is mixed with dung. If you mix food and dung, it is dung, not food.

It was God’s will that we separate ourselves from the former unbeneficial systems. Therefore, it is considered treacherous when the reformers in the 17^th century England started to bring back the ideas from the Roman Catholicism, which were not orthodox. What God has separated, we cannot put them together again. Likewise, what God has joined together, we cannot separate.

Therefore, what God has joined together, no person is to separate. (Mark 10:9)

We will make a monster if we put them together. And a monster came in the 17^th century, whose name was Oliver Cromwell. He was what the 17^th century reformation has created. What I read is that he feared of going to hell but was assured of salvation through the Protestantism. He was influenced by John Owen. He killed the king and became a king (although he said he was not a king). He wanted to make a Protestant nation and forced people a strict moral living influenced by the Puritanism. We must remember that we cannot condemn or kill someone just because they do not accept our message or live the way we think right. We never know when one receives the Holy Spirit and comes to know God. We never know who are chosen although we are given the authority to judge unlawful deeds by God’s authority within churches. The errors of Oliver Cromwell are not much different from those of the Crusades and the Roman Catholic authorities. God never said we should conquer nations that do not accept God or kill people because of their unbelief. The judgement was already announced before the time began. And the world goes as it is destined and planned by God before creation. It is not our job to go and kill unbelievers. And we never know there may be chosen people of God among unbelievers.

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and destroy them?” But He turned and rebuked them [and He said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they journeyed on to another village. (Luke 9:54-56)

When we do not understand God’s words, we do not know God. And the Roman Catholic church did not want people to possess or read the Bible because the church authorities wanted to use only certain verses to control people. Now we have the Bible in our hands, but we do not read. We are satisfied with what we hear from preachers on Sundays. We are satisfied with a relatively moral living and think we are better than unbelievers. The ministers and theologians say they have the authority to interpret the Bible but not others. They say it is dangerous for uneducated people to interpret the Bible on their own. It is true in some degree. But saints must discern. Many Protestant ministers and theologians do not accept criticism when someone points out the treachery of the 17^th century reformers. Therefore, there are saints who are oppressed under the Protestant church authorities. It is not different from the time when Christ was on the earth. Many are harassed and helpless because they do not know where to go. They are thirsty for righteousness and for the knowledge of God. All they hear is how to live a good moral life. When a moral life becomes the focus of Christianity, one becomes his/her own judge and god. Interestingly, the film, the American Gospel, shows a shocking truth. It may appear in the film that one side is better than the other. But I think it shows where the issue came from. Those who say they are saved by grace only, they put their trust in Christ’s obedience to the Law. Those who appear to be the good people have their religious root in the 17^th century England. This is where the problem came from. What we see on the other side is the result of the original issue. I consider that both groups are in the same mud pit.

God has decided to separate us from those groups who think they are their own gods and are satisfied with their own definition of a moral living. Separation is a total and complete separation. We cannot be partners with those who hold on to the old systems and unorthodox teachings.

I am trying to focus on the relationship between the eternal Covenant of Grace and Christ and how God’s righteousness was imputed to His elect people through Christ. Christ had to come as a man and do works to make God’s Kingdom. However, righteousness does not depend on works. Christ’s righteousness is unchangeable and eternal righteousness of God. The invisible church is clothed with Christ, God’s righteousness, through what Christ did on the earth. Those who follow the Covenant Theology (CT), and the active obedience of Christ (AOC) restrict the meaning of the Law to the Mosaic Law, focus on morality, and believe that righteousness comes from keeping of the Law. Christ did fulfill (and still fulfills) the Law and the prophecies, but that fulfillment did not give Him righteousness. Rather, the righteous God did righteous works on the earth and fulfilled the Law and the prophecies for His people to have His righteousness. Moreover, what the Law indicates is loving God and His people. I do not oppose to someone who says Christ loved us, fulfilled the Law and the prophecies, was obedient to the Father inside and out, and His love was shown on the cross. There have been ministers and priests who teach God’s people the right knowledge of God despite the corruption of the two systems. So not all are bad, but the time has come to reject the CT and the AOC for the new reformation.

Apostle Paul tried to explain that all works of Christ done on the earth were summed up in the death and resurrection of Christ. All other Apostles emphasize Christ’s work on the cross. The CT and the AOC have significantly weakened Christ’s work on the cross by saying that our righteousness is from Christ’s keeping of the Mosaic Law. This makes the Law the original source of our righteousness. They emphasize on a pious life that satisfy church authorities without feeding God’s true children. They resemble the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who opposed Christ. Their root is Anselm of Canterbury and Aquinas who relied on the ideas of pagan Greek philosophers. Aquinas himself denied that he had any knowledge of God before his death by saying his writings were like straws.

In this passage, Christ forgives sins and calls Matthew. The important verse is verse 13.

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. (v.13)

What the devils wants is that God’s people remain as slaves to sins. The Pharisees emphasized on the Law and opposed people with their traditions, they did not know God. In their view, Christ did everything against what they have been teaching. You may say that the Law was given by God in the OT. What God wants to hear from us is that we cannot keep a single command of God and say that we need someone who pays for our sins, changes our status from slaves to adopted sons of God. Through Christ’s works on the earth, we become obedient to God by knowing Him by the Holy Spirit. We will never fall again and die. That is the perfect love that God has shown us on the cross.

The Law and the prophecies were given for His people to put hope in Christ. What God really wants is love and mercy among us as God is merciful and loves us. If we really love God and His people inside and out like Christ, God considers that we keep the Law. But keeping of the Law does not give righteousness. Rather, the righteous people who are clothed with God’s righteousness, keep the Law. But the Pharisees did not see the Law in God’s way. In 2 Chronicles chapter 30 and 31, we understand that the humble heart satisfies God, not sacrifices.

Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.”And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. (2 Chronicles 30:18-20)

Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require. (Psalm 40:6)

And the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO OTHER BESIDES HIM; and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And then, no one dared any longer to question Him. (Mark 12:32-34)

Those who follow the CT and the AOC say that Adam was righteous and did not need Christ. They promote people to worship men and indulge themselves in the delusions that Greek philosophies bring. Ask yourself this question: Did Adam love God? Did Adam trust in God? Did Adam understand God? Did Adam have faith in God? Could Adam obtain eternal life by not breaking the command? The answer is simply no. If Adam had truly loved God and did not need Christ, then he should not have eaten the fruit when Eve gave it to him. He should have begged for forgiveness for his wife’s sin.

God’s elect people admit that they are born sinners without the knowledge of God. Even though their church leaders promote a moral living, we know we cannot satisfy God by our works. They say if you do not do what they say, you are not one of them. We know that anyone who relies on their works are born under the fig tree, which bears no fruit.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:47-49)

My guess is that Nathanael who were waiting for the coming of Immanuel knew that the fig tree (old covenant) was barren. As I wrote earlier, the fruit that we eat is actually a flower. Fig trees do not bear fruit from the beginning. He knew he could not keep the single command of God. Therefore, Christ calls him a true Israelite without deceit. On the contrary, the Pharisees (and likewise people) thought they kept the Law, bore fruit, and had the authority to judge others by the Law. They believed they were God’s sons but were not. Therefore, Christ said that He came for sinners who truly understood their sins and inability to keep a single command of God, not for those who were righteous in their own eyes. God always sees what is in our heart.

I heard that some respected theologians denied justification by faith alone as they got older. I consider that they pretended to know God because of the education they received in their churches from youth. Like King Joash of Judah after the death of Jehoiada, they turn away from God’s truth when they become proud. Many people rely on their leaders for their faith. Faith is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). Trust in God alone.

This is what the LORD says:

Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind

And makes flesh his strength,

And whose heart turns away from the LORD. (Jeremiah 17:5)

In this passage, the three episodes continue to explain the authority of Christ as God and also the Son of Man with the Holy Spirit. One particular verse that I’d like to focus on is verse 22.

But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead. (v.22)

Those God has chosen before time began are alive to God, but the rest are dead to God. All men are spiritually dead. Some say God is so loving and He did not kill Adam and Eve even though they ate the forbidden fruit. It is a poor interpretation. Adam and Eve became spiritually dead when they ate the fruit.

but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die. (Genesis 2:17)

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned— (Romans 5:12)

Even though you may think you have nothing to do with Adam and you are free from sins, God sees that all descendants of Adam are like Adam. If we put ourselves in Adam’s situation in the garden of Eden, we do the same thing as Adam did – eating the forbidden fruit. Anyone who thinks they could do better than Adam is a fool. Job, who thought he was better than Adam or any other men, were rebuked by God at the end of the Book of Job.

If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom (Job 31:33)

Christ already knew who were His. And He did not trust in men because He could see everyone’s heart.

But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. (John 10:26-29)

But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, because He knew all people (John 2:24)

I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate My bread has lifted his heel against Me.’ (John 13:18)

When people approached Christ and said they wanted to follow Him, Christ saw who they were and what was in their heart. Many people became a Christian thinking Christianity will bring them material prosperity and reputation. Many think obeying the church authorities will guarantee their salvation. But Christ tells us that following Him costs everything that we possess on the earth. Even the eternal God did not have a place to lay His head on the earth. Earth is only a training place for the elect people. It will eventually be removed.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. (Luke 21:33)

And those who are His also do not have a resting place on the earth. God became a man to make an eternal dwelling place for Himself. And that place is His people. Therefore, it was crucial that He saved His people from death. That work was done on the cross by Christ. Those who are not His remain dead. His people go through sufferings like Christ did on the earth.

In this passage, I’d like to focus on two things. The first one is verse 4.

And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them. (v.4)

Many interpret this as Christ’s obedience to the Law. While Christ was on the earth, He obeyed all the Father’s commands because He is righteous as the second head of the Triune God and also as the sinless man with the Holy Spirit. I believe our righteousness comes from God, and we are clothed with God’s righteousness through Christ and the Holy Spirit. But it is never that Christ had to keep the Law to be righteous or to gain righteousness by works to impute it to saints. The important point in this verse is in the last part – “as a testimony to them”. While the Pharisees (and likewise people) accused Christ of breaking the Law and their traditions, Christ kept the Law perfectly in heart and in deeds from the Father’s point of view. While the Pharisees believed their righteousness depended on works, they did not keep any of God’s commandments. Christ, as the Lord of the Sabbath, came and heal those who are considered unclean by the Jews. The Pharisees did not accept God’s testimony shown through Christ.

If we receive the testimony of people, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. (1 John 5:9)

The Pharisees accepted that Christ did good works but did not accept Him as the Son of God who became a man to save His People.

The Jews answered Him, “We are not stoning You for a good work, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” (John 10:33)

Many people focus on the miracles that Christ performed on the earth. There are many churches emphasizing that they can heal people’s diseases and the healing power is the sign that God is with them. We must always look beyond works. Healing of a leprous man is a testimony to the Pharisees. The focus is not about the miracle that Christ performed. It is about who did it and what He teaches. The Pharisees failed and also refused to see the meaning of the Sabbath. They did not accept the Lord of the Sabbath. Therefore, their sin is not a sin of ignorance but of rebellion. At the end God judges everyone according to their deeds (Romans 2:6). We often interpret the deeds from a moral point of view. All good works come from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives faith to saints. And the work of God is believing in the one whom He has sent. All other morally good deeds come as the result of the Spirit’s work in us.

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent. (John 6:29)

At the end, faith divides the elect people and the reprobate because having faith means receiving the Holy Spirit. God knows to whom He has given His Spirit.

I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, (John 10:14)

Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.” (2 Timothy 2:19)

In this passage, faith of the centurion is distinguished because he recognized where the power was coming from. Indeed, Christ did not need to put His hands on every sick people to heal them. Miracles were done so that they would see the authority of Christ. As Christ performed miracles, He preached. The focus is the words of God. The Father manifested Himself through His only begotten Son. The Son manifested the Father through the words of truth.

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. (John 6:68)

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father and then we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you do not know Me yet, Philip, nor recognize clearly who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ (John 14:8-9)

The second one is verse 17.

This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases. (v.17)

Christ came to fulfill all the Law and the Prophet as the righteous Son of God. And the verse shows that God gave the Law and the Prophets as a shadow of Christ. Therefore, the conditional covenants were NOT given to see if people (including Adam and Eve) could keep God’s commands. They were given so that we fail and put all our hope in Christ, the mediator of the new covenant. Illnesses and diseases are the result of the original sin. And all sins of His elect people are removed by Christ’s death. And by Christ’s resurrection, His elect people were born from heaven as adopted sons of God. Christ showed His sacrificing love (agape) on the cross. Therefore, Christ is the fulfillment of all the Law and the prophecies.

For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Rom 10:4)

In this chapter, Christ continues to teach people true interpretations of God’s words. Those who were thirsty for truths came to John the Baptist and then to Christ. Christ gives them true interpretations of God’s words.

Firstly, Christ talks about judging others. It may appear that Christ is against any kind of judgements on the fellow believers of God. It may appear to contradict to what Paul says.

For what business of mine is it to judge outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? (1 Conrinthians 5:12)

But what Christ says here is not different from Paul. The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law asserted a pious life shown to other people. They thought they had the authority to judge others instead of understanding the true meaning of the Law.

You judge according to human standards [just by what you see]. I do not judge anyone. (John 8:15)

Here, Christ does not say he does not judge at all. He does not judge according to human standards. Many Christians use this verse to avoid any kind of discipline or to support those who have committed a sin. Because they do not know God, they violate God’s Law by turning a blind eye to abominable acts. The Kingdom consists of people who are kings, prophets, and priests. Saints are trained to teach and judge. We do not judge by human standards but by God’s wisdom.

Moreover, they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and teach them to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. In a dispute they shall take their stand to judge; they shall judge it according to My ordinances. They shall also keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed feasts, and sanctify My Sabbaths. (Ezekiel 44:23-24)

Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? (1 Cor 6:3)

The teachers of Israel were given the authority to teach others. But they judged people by what they saw. They emphasized only externally pious life and ruled over others by judging people. Since they believed righteousness that comes from the Law, they asserted the traditions made for keeping the Law.

Their ideas are shockingly similar to the Puritan reformers in the 17^th century. The Reformed churches are rooted in their theology, especially that of John Owen. The Covenant Theology and the active obedience of Christ are written to assert an externally pious life. Church authorities are busy condemning people and enjoy their earthly power while they do not respect the Law of God. They do not judge by God’s authority but by human standards.

Saints judge by God’s authority because we are united with Christ. We do make bad judgements at times. But God disciplines us in His loving-kindness and patience. We do not boast that we keep the Law. We do not say we can keep the Law. We live the life of Romans 7.

It is very important to remember that our righteousness is not from the Law. Christ did not keep the Law to gain righteousness. He came to fulfill all God’s will because He is righteous. We are dead to sin and are resurrected to life because of Christ. We are clothed with God’s righteousness by uniting with Christ. The church’s righteousness is not from keeping of the Law. Obedience comes from the Holy Spirit. Adam could not obey God or overcome temptations because he relied on his own wisdom. Christ obeys the Father and overcomes temptations because He is united with the Father and knows Him. If we say our righteousness is from keeping of the Law, our righteousness is conditional. We will walk the same path as the Pharisees and the Puritans (and the Reformed), who say they keep the Law but do not.

I once read an article by a Reformed minister who said he was grateful that he was born in a Reformed church. I daresay it is more difficult for those in the Reformed than those in other religions or other Christian denominations to accept the gospel because they are confident that they keep the Law. This minister went on and said he admires John Owen and uphold Puritan teachings. I consider the Puritans the most dangerous and treacherous group. I once listened to a presentation of a prominent Puritan Reformed preacher/professor. At the end, he talked about choosing between God and the devil. He did not understand the divine election or Sola Gratia at all. We are not saved by our choice. There are many in the Reformed who say they understand TULIP, but their own words deny their understanding.

In Matthew chapter 7, Christ clearly explains the difference between two groups – one under grace and the other with pride and confidence in the Law. One bears fruit and is built on the rock. The other bears no fruit and is built on the sand. It is an irony that those who think their righteousness comes from the Law are told by God, “I never knew you; LEAVE ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS” (v.23)

The reason why God sees the Protestant and the Roman Catholic the same is because both believe that their righteousness is from keeping of the Law. It is important to understand that our righteousness is from God and does not rely on the keeping of the Law. People like Owen say that Christ as the Lawgiver did not need to keep the Law but did it anyway for the church because righteousness comes from keeping of the Law. Righteousness that comes from the Law is mere uprightness that Adam had. Righteousness given to saints for free is superior. We do not become like Adam in the garden of Eden.

Those who rely on the Law for their righteousness are not saints but belong to the other group. One with the Holy Spirit lives the life of Romans 7 but will gradually depart from old unlawful ways of life. Therefore, saints uphold the Law by the Holy Spirit.

Do we then nullify the Law through faith? Far from it! On the contrary, we establish the Law. (Romans 3:31)