Dear Brethren,

God the Father exists in His heavenly Kingdom in absolute righteousness and perfection.  No sin or sinful person ever comes into the presence of God.  In fact, it is sin that has made it impossible for us to approach God in the flesh because our iniquities have separated between us and our God, and our sins have caused Him to hide His face from us (Isaiah 59:2).  Try and picture what it must be like in God the Father’s presence – the happiness and perfection, the exquisite beauty, the glorious majesty, the absolute truth, the complete goodness and supreme righteousness, His unlimited power and undefiled purity.  God is so totally pure, and so completely undefiled, how can we ever approach Him?  God possesses immortality in His unapproachable throne.  Our sinful presence would only sully and contaminate that which must remain forever wholesome, uncontaminated and untainted.

1Timothy 6:15-16  …God is King of kings, Lord of lords Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting.

Paul tells us that Jesus made it possible for us to be able to approach the throne of God.  Just as Jesus’ flesh was ripped to shreds when He was scourged (John 19:1), the veil separating us from the Father was torn in two indicating the way to the Father was opened to us.

Hebrews 10:19-22  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest [Holy of Holies in the heavenly Temple] by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near [to God] with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

We have access to God the Father past the veil in a new and living way only when our repentant sins have been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 27:51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

Brethren, we have been warned to be on the lookout for scoffers in these last days.  Peter shows what is happening now in the Church of God.  There are heresies we must be aware of.  Traitors are coming from within the Church and subverting brethren to follow their carnal ways.  These false teachers are not led by God's Holy Spirit.

2Peter 2:1-3  …There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you.

2Peter 3:2-3   That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior:   Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers [false teachers], walking after their own lusts.

Brethren, one of the many subtle heresies I’ve encountered recently sweeping through the minds of those who love not the truth is that of “Universal Salvation.”  It is also known as universalism.  Universalism holds that Christ's reconciliation atoned for everyone's sins and therefore, all humankind will eventually be saved. The heresy goes something like this:  Absolutely everyone will be saved.  Sin is not man’s fault.  God is good and therefore He would never destroy anything that He created – because if He did so He would be an utter failure.  Therefore, man can sin with impunity.

This teaching is finding traction among those who are reluctant to repent of all sin.  When there is an unconquered sin in one’s life this teaching can be very appealing.  Their argument is that God created us as sinners – so we have no choice but to sin.  They say that man does not have a "free will" or "free moral agency" to really chart his or her own destiny?  Therefore we are not responsible for our sins because God Himself is ultimately responsible for everyone sinning.  They believe too, that God created Satan and his demons as evil beings, and that they too will ultimately be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Speaking of Satan, God clearly reveals the opposite:

Ezekiel 28:15  You were perfect in thy ways from the day that thou were created, until iniquity was found in thee.

Satan was created perfect and remained perfect until iniquity was found in him.  Sin originated in Satan, and it was in no way caused by God.  God is not calling everyone to salvation at this time.  There is a time order.  We are given the privilege of being first fruits with Jesus in order to reign and rule with Him during the millennium.  Everyone who has not been drawn to Christ by this time will have their time later.  To be in the first and better resurrection we need to be called – then chosen – and then faithful to the end (Revelation 17:14).  Any and all sin is able to derail the salvation process.  There is no evil in God.  Certainly we possess a free will to choose God's way if we want it enough and are motivated by His Spirit.  It is easy to please our fleshly senses – that is why Jesus tells us to overcome.  In every case each of us is able to be selfish, or each of us can lay our life down as Jesus gave us the example.  After having received a token of God's Spirit, we have the free moral agency to choose to be in the first resurrection or to follow Satan into oblivion.  Eternal death – that is what sin causes – not God.  Choose life!

Satan is the author of the Universal Salvation heresy that teaches it is okay to trod on God and His law.  Satan was created perfect as were the archangels Gabriel and Michael.  Satan chose poorly, and he induced Mother Eve to choose poorly with the words, "You shall not surely die."  False ministers teach to “Be true to your humanity” – do what comes naturally with no repentance or overcoming being necessary.  We are the children of sinful Adam and Eve until we choose God as our Father.  Over and over the Church of God has been alerted through Biblical warnings to beware of false doctrine.

Jude 1:4, 1:16  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ…  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaks great swelling words.

“Turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,” means that there are things being done among the brethren – both in conduct and appearance – that are morally reprehensible in God’s sight.

When a person is striving to follow God’s perfect way, he will increase more and more in Godly wisdom.  It is a spiritual principle that the world is unwilling to believe.  Put simply, when we are sinning we cannot increase in grace and knowledge – but when we walk in God’s statutes and laws we will increase in Godly wisdom and understanding.  To follow after Godly Wisdom is to put every principle, virtue, attitude and value of Jesus Christ into every aspect of our daily lives.

There are those who teach “easy” Gospels, or “Be true to your humanity” Gospels, or “we have all the time in the world” Gospels.  Don’t you believe it.  But, God tells us to expect it.

Brethren, Jesus came in the flesh in order to condemned sin in the flesh.  Jesus came in the flesh in order to overcome sin.  Eternal life and presence with God the Father will be given only to those who repent of their sins and overcome this world.

Romans 8:3  …God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 

Revelation 3:21  To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.

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Sermon:

"Jesus in the Flesh"