Reward of unrighteousness
Wages of unrighteousness
- "Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;" 2 Peter 2:15
The English phrase "wages of unrighteousness" is translated from the Greek misthos adikia (μισθός ἀδικία) only appears once in the Bible. But in the Greek text we also see in 2 Peter 2:13 the phrase "reward of unrighteousness" which is also from misthos adikia.
- "And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;" 2 Peter 2:13
So, who are these people who have spots and blemishes and how is it that tare deceiving themselves?
- 2 Peter 2:14 "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
Most of the use of the word adultery in the Bible is referring to national adultery. Even the definition of the Greek word moichalis (μοιχαλίς) includes the idea that "as the intimate alliance of God with the people of Israel was likened to a marriage, those who relapse into idolatry are said to commit adultery or play the harlot 2a) fig. equiv. to faithless to God, unclean, apostate".
Since our rights are endowed by God to bring our right to choose or exercise those rights into the power of others would express a contempt for those endowed rights and therefore for God Himself.
People who make covenants with men who are rulers with an appetite for their danties are allowing an infringement upon their natural rights in exchange for rewards or wages or benefits are engaged in covetous practices.
The early Christians took care of one another through charity by their faith in Jesus Christ and His way of love. The ministers freely and rightly divided the bread from house to house.
To eat at the free bread of Rome at the table of Caesar would not only be covetous but idolatry.[2] It would be adulterating their relationship with God. Empowering governments to regulate what was once a individual right would be establishing a relationship with those governments that should remain exclusive to God. That is national adultery.
There are two element operating in governments often as opposing forces.
The first: To secure the safety of the people there is a granting of power by the people to one form of government;
The second: There is an imposition or limitations to guarantee the safety of the people from government.
The balance of these elements in the world of government design often defines the difference between freedom and despotism.
Those government that exercise authority one over the other will seek more power. They will commonly make a promise of liberty and benefits but proceed to create offices of power and as the [masses]] become weak rulers rise up to take control.
This temptation of one man ruling over another has come down to us in the fallen nature of man from Cain to Caesar.
People are fond of attributing the United States’ success, prominence, and power to its constitution. There are many factors that compose our past and present and the constitution and the institutions it created and continues to create are only one part of that social equation.
It is not the constitution, the president, Congress or the judiciary that can make or has made America great. Not disregarding the unspoiled natural resources of the land itself, it is the people that have made this nation great. It is also the people who will destroy it.
What made the American people great?
Even Abraham Lincoln admitted “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
Romans were a great but something changed and then came the first Caesar 500 years after the creation of the republic. Caesar not only promised peace and security in his Pax Romana but free bread. Polybius had warned centuries before that "The masses continue with an appetite for benefits ... having grown accustomed to feed at the expense of others ... institute the rule of violence;... until they degenerate again into perfect savages and find once more a master and monarch."
Jesus Christ, John the Baptist and the prophets warned how such covetous practices would alter the people and entangle them again in the yoke of bondage. If you think it is okay to force your neighbor to contribute to your benefit or the benefit of society you have need of repentance. Real Christians should despise the idea of applying force even through democratic governments just because you desire security or personal benefit for you or anyone in society.
Throughout the history of mankind, there have only been four ways to provide for the welfare of society. The first two were not systems"
- The people who have may randomly help people in need giving to them when they see or stumble upon a problem.
- The people in need may randomly take, or con things from people who have.
- People gather as One Purse to force through government people who have to give.
- People gather in free assemblies to provide for people in need through a network of charitable men.
The latter is The Way of Christ for peculiar people who seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
- ”But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous [are they], selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.” 2 Peter 2:10
An in-depth study of the Second Epistle of Peter clearly shows that the word translated “government” does not actually mean “government” of the world but personal dominion or rights. This is a common theme in the Bible.
The Kingdom of God is from generation to generation. It includes those God given rights that we are endowed with by God. Men have often waived those rights in order to obtain those benefits men who call themselves benefactors of the people. We see that in Genesis 25:34[3] where Esau “despised his birthright” and sold it for “free bread” and red pottage which is why God hated Esau.[4] God also hates the deeds[5] of the Nicolaitan who like the “error of Balaam” is a reference to the people who are conquered[6] by their own lust for the wages of unrighteousness.
You should know that the modern Church is in apostasy because it no longer takes care of a daily ministration in what James calls pure religion. The modern Church sends most of its congregation to the Fathers of the earth and those who call themselves Benefactors but actually just exercise authority one over the other to provide the wages of unrighteousness through their covetous practices which makes them merchandise and curse children with debt through their systems of state sponsored Corban.
The word sporting is from the Greek word entruphao (ἐντρυφάω)[7] which appears in different forms in:
- 2 Peter 2:13 "pleasure to riot"
- James 5:5 "Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth".
- 2 Peter 2:13 "sporting themselves"
- Luke 7:25 "live delicately, are in kings’ courts."
The Greek phrase "reward of unrighteousness" is also seen in Acts 1:18 where we see this phrase as "reward of iniquity".
- Acts 1:18 "Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out."
Sodom was destroyed but what was its sin?
Most would say it was because of its practice of sodomy but sodomy and other perversions are the symptoms that come from their real iniquity.
- Ezekiel 16:49 "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy."
The word we see as "strengthened" is commonly translated as "strong" and "repair". Being slothful is evil and to indulge the sloth of the poor would be encouraging people do be evil.
"Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; [that] useth his neighbour’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;" Jeremiah 22:13
"I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah." Jeremiah 23:14
By giving without proper discretion to a point where you spoil your child or your neighbor you may be encouraging sloth and wantonness. You may even be encouraging evil and unrighteousness.
- Proverbs 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
- Proverbs 27:5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
- Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
The Real Destroyers
"The real destroyers of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits." —Plutarch.
These two overlapping processes brought about a vast consolidation of power, wealth and control. By the law of the Twelve Tables of Rome, which were the constitutional foundation of their government, if a freedman died intestate, without sui heredes, the patronus was the heir. This meant the property would go back to the Father or civil substitute father if they died with out an heir. This right was viewed as a right of Agnation[8] which created an ever-increasing corporation sole of power and possession within the unholy Roman empire.
The manumitted slave was cleverly called Libertus and he owed more than respect and gratitude to his patron. The patron might punish him with a summary judgment for neglecting his duties. He appeared to be free but was in fact a subject citizen under his substitute father.
During the process of manumission of a son or daughter the patron could gain a sovereign position of influence and power and even become the heir to the corporeal and incorporeal hereditaments of the son or daughter being manumitted.
"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." (2 Peter 2:19)
If an individual being emancipated required a tutor or curator, the rights which would have belonged to the father, if he had not emancipated the child, were secured to the patron as a kind of patronal right and the status of sui juris is not completed. It was upon these precepts of law that the Emperator/Apotheos of Rome forged its greatest power over the people.
"When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what [is] before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat." (Proverbs 23:1, 3)
"And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:" (Romans 11:9)
The rise of the welfare state long before the first Emperor in the world was undermining the character and minds of the people of Rome according to Polybius. Polybius saw the downfall of the republic a 150 years before the first Emperor of Rome and 175 years before the birth of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist.
"The masses continue with an appetite for benefits and the habit of receiving them by way of a rule of force and violence. The people, having grown accustomed to feed at the expense of others and to depend for their livelihood on the property of others... institute the rule of violence; [9] and now uniting their forces massacre, banish, and plunder,[10] until they degenerate again into perfect savages and find once more a master and monarch."[11]
If we knew history and were willing to see how a socialist approach to politics can alter the mind of society and can even degenerate the soul of the individual. Repentance is changing the way we think so that we are willing to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness through charity rather than taxation, faith rather than force, hope rather than the imagined security of entitlements.
"If we want better people to make a better world, then we will have to begin where people are made --- in the family."[12]
By the same logic if you want to control society you will need to undermine the need and dependence upon the family unit by the state taking on the role of the natural father and mother of the household. You will want to divide and remove the dependence of parents on the care provided by their children as specified in the Ten Commandments. And you will want to remove the responsibility of the fathers and mothers to teach their children.
"Each class contributed its share to the common decay… The free citizens were idle, dissipated, sunken; their chief thoughts of the theater and the arena… more than two hundred thousand persons were thus maintained by the State, what of the old Roman stock remained was rapidly decaying, partly from corruption, but chiefly from the increasing cessation of marriage, and the nameless abominations of what remained of family-life.... The sanctity of marriage had ceased. Female dissipation and the general dissoluteness led at last to an almost entire cessation of marriage. Abortion, and the exposure and murder of newly-born children, were common and tolerated; unnatural vices, which even the greatest philosophers practiced, if not advocated, attained proportions which defy description.” “Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” Chapter XI. by Alfred Edersheim.
Many of the same patterns of society that contributed to the downfall of Rome are repeated today not only because their view of modern history but a clear understanding of the ancient history of society is none existence.
“Even amongst women there were symptoms of revolt against the older order, which showed itself in a growing freedom of manners and impatience of control, the marriage tie was relaxed…"[13]
Other nations who did not succumb to the temptation of Nimrods and Caesars maintained healthy family units at the core of their society.
"This is in the sense that the matrimonial bond was strictly observed by the Germanic peoples, this being compared favorably against licentiousness in Rome. Tacitus appears to hold the fairly strict monogamy (with some exceptions among nobles who marry again) between Germanic husbands and wives, and the chastity among the unmarried to be worthy of the highest praise." Publius Tacitus, The Agricola and The Germania (Ch. 18).
Benefits within in society that come because of forced offering rather than charity degenerate society which may result in drug and alcohol abuse, sloth and wantonness, which often debilitates the community bonds and dividing the people. It also erodes the family.
Wages of righteousness
What are the wages of righteousness?
Matthew 10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
And in the Old Testament, there are many references to these rewards or gifts that bring judgment. But the reverse of seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness brings us the wages of unrighteousness.
Hosea 10 warns of a need of repenting your wicked ways where you eat the reward of unrighteousness. [14] And Amos 4 That God will send "the pestilence after the manner of Egypt" and treat some as Sodom. In Amos 5 God says "I despise your feast days" and He "will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." What is wrong with your feasts? Is your religion not Pure Religion? Is it because "ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch[15] and Chiun[16] your images[17], the star[18] of your god, which ye made to yourselves. 27 Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity".
Isaiah 1:23 Thy princes [are] rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
The early Church provided all social welfare for Christians through the practice of Pure Religion.
Isaiah 3:11 Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him]: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
If you think it is okay to take from your neighbor so that you can obtain benefits the same will be done to you. To reverse that process it is not enough to simply stop taking the wages of unrighteousness but you must actively take care of others through love and charity in the practice of Pure Religion in a pattern of Tens as Christ commanded.
Ezekiel 20:26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.
Our covetous practices have cursed our children and now to reverse that process we need to diligently practice that Pure Religion in a pattern of Tens as Christ commanded.
Ezekiel 20:31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.
To return to the Religion of God preached by Jesus who was Christ and king there needs to be a Hue and cry amongst the people through charitable practices. You do not need all to repent but only you. Seek The Way Preached by Christ and the early Church followed by the Early Christians and Go and cry for righteousness.
Beware of gifts
- "Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?" Isaiah 40:21
There are gifts of God and man.
- Plutarch said “The real destroyers of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.”
But Proverbs 19:6 tells us the same thing, "Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man [is] a friend to him that giveth gifts."
- Polybius said "The masses continue with an appetite for benefits and the habit of receiving them by way of a rule of force and violence. The people, having grown accustomed to feed at the expense of others and to depend for their livelihood on the property of others... institute the rule of violence; and now uniting their forces massacre, banish, and plunder, until they degenerate again into perfect savages and find once more a master and monarch."
This rule of violence and plunder is the same we hear about in Matthew 11:12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." and in Luke 16:16 "The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." The Repentance associated with the act of Baptism was turning away from these Covetous systems of the Welfare of the World and going back to The Way of Fervent Charity with the Eucharist of Christ.
"He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live." Proverbs 15:27
The wages of unrighteousness offered by men brings the rights and liberty of man[20] given by God to nothing[21] and their right to judge to confusion.[22]
The gifts of God which set men free[23] come to those who will walk the Way of God.[24]
The Paul the Apostle wrote to a number of Early Christian communities in Galatia, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another." Galatians 5:13-15
When Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 8:9 "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak." the word "liberty" is the same word exousia Paul uses in Romans 13.
The same word we see as power in Romans 13 is translated right in Hebrews 13:10[25] and Revelation 22:14.[26] and also in Revelation 18[27] concerning the fall of Babylon and the merchants of the earth who are the merchants of men who together with the kings of the earth have committed fornication. Rulers of the world of men not only have sought to take man's endowed dominion from him but have conspired to make all men take the Mark of the Beast which is a badge of servitude that makes them merchandise.
Have we lost that liberty granted by God by neglecting our natural and moral responsibility that is correlative to those God given rights?
Eyes full of adultery
Peter made it clear in 2 Peter 2:3, "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."
Peter not only warned us that desiring benefits at the expense of others would make us human resources what he calls merchandise but he warned us in 2 Peter 2:14 about those covetous practices entangling them back in the yoke of bondage and cursing our children:
- "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:" 2 Peter 2:14
He tells us that the debt of those Divers lust for the benefits of the world at the expense of others would curse our children.
David warned us in Psalms 69:22, "Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap."
And Paul reminded us again in Romans 11:9 that "... David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:"
This stumblingblock was that we would learn to eat at tables set with the bounty of the compelled sacrifices of institutions made by men who called themselves Benefactors that ruled over the people with and exercising authority and is explained in Revelation 2:14 "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."
Proverbs 23 warns us about the table of men who exercise authority one over the other "When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what [is] before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat."
If the ruler is your Benefactor he will only give you what he takes from others. To desire the Benefits is to Covet and that will change.
What are these benefits today?
Those benefits include everything from Public Schools to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards which is an electronic system that allows state welfare departments to issue benefits via a magnetically encoded payment card, used in the United States and the United Kingdom like Rome did with their Tesserae of the Beast of Revelation?
Warned
We were told by God in Exodus 20:17 "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s."
Jesus warned us of the evil of covetousness and where it comes from in Mark 7:20-23, "...That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
These are the things he called us to repent of in Matthew 4:17 when he first "... began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." and in Mark 1:15 when He said "... The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." but warned us in Luke 13:3 that "... except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
He warned the ministers that systems of Corban like the one they created for their social welfare made the word of God to none effect.
Jesus told us not to look to Benefactors who exercise authority one over the other.
He told us not to pray to Fathers of the earth, but only our Father who is in Heaven.
He told us to keep the commandments including the one about not coveting anything that is our neighbors if we want Eternal life. And when 1 John 2 talked about the "propitiation for our sins", he reminded us that "... hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
Real Christians would not desire the benefits of men who call themselves Benefactors nor pray to the Fathers of the earth like Modern Christians do. They would be led to gather together in a living Network that provided a Daily ministration of Charity for one another according to the Perfect law of liberty. They would strive to keep His commandments by being Doers of His word in a Living Network of Love.
Israel in the Bondage of Egypt were literally employed by the Pharaoh who provided free bread like the Romans in the form of Public Welfare which was Public religion. They had to pay their tale of bricks to the Pharaoh but learn to glean in the field at night to obtain their benefits. This is why God hardened the heart of the Pharaoh during the plagues so they could learn The Way of God. So it was not enough to stop taking the benefits, but they needed to learn to provide them by faith, hope and charity through a system of Corban that made the word of God to effect.
Jesus said nothing different to the early Church. When he said give to Caesar what is Caesar and to God what is God's he was saying pay your tale of bricks. He even warned to be friends with the unrighteous Mammon explaining that it would fail. Those who cheat one master you will likely cheat the next.[28]
We are in bondage because of Covetous Practices and Slothfulness. We are devoured because we or our natural parents took bites out of one another in these Covetous Practices which made us a Surety for debt in an unrighteous Mammon... We must Repent and seek the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
- Where and what is true Christian fellowship?
- Where and what is the true Eucharist of Christ?
- Where and what is the Living Network of the faithful?
- Where and what is the Communion of Saints?
- Where and how do the people practice Pure Religion?
- Where and who are the people that attend to the Weightier matters?
How many warnings
Deuteronomy 27:25 "Cursed [be] he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen."
Psalms 15:5 "He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved."
Proverbs 15:27 "He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live."
Proverbs 19:6 "Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man [is] a friend to him that giveth gifts. 7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. 8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish."
Proverbs 29:1 "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. 2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. 3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance. 4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it. 5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. 6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice. 7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it. Ezekiel 20:39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols."
Ezekiel 22:12 "In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.
Obadiah 1:15 "For the day of the LORD [is] near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head."
Micah 3:10 "They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. 11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. 12 Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest. 1 ¶ But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it."
Peter, Paul, James, and John Warned
Peter[29], Paul[30], James[31] and John[32]all 'warned the New Covenant Church that what they were doing and not doing would reveal the truth of their claim to faith in God and His Holy Spirit. Paul warned people to test their faith[33] to make sure they were not deceived or reprobates[34].
Even John warns that we need to walk according to what Jesus showed us and confess our sins if we are to be cleansed of unrighteousness.[35] John even gives the keeping of the commandments as the rod by which we measure the truth of our faith.[36] And those who do not keep the commandments are a liar and Christ is not in them.[37] Over and over John repeats that he that "doeth not righteousness" is not born again of Christ and the Father.[38] And John warns us that we may not only be deceived but may deceive ourselves [39] warning us of the many false teachers who are "out in the world".[40]
Jude 1:16 "These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage."
We are told that we are told in Jude 1:21 "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."
The Bible from the beginning warns[41] and continues those warnings throughout the New Testament that many will be decieved thinking they are believers while in truth they are workers of iniquity.[42] Because these warnings are ignored by the modern Church, the welfare of a foolish[43] society has become a snare.
- “It is impossible to introduce into society a greater change and a greater evil than this: the conversion of the law into an instrument of plunder.”[44]
Footnotes
- ↑ Psalms 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, [when] I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- ↑ Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
- ↑ Genesis 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised [his] birthright.
- ↑ Romans 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
- ↑ Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
- ↑ Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
- ↑ 1792 ~ἐντρυφάω~ entruphao \@en-troo-fah’-o\@ from 1722 and 5171; ; v AV-sport (one’s) self 1; 1
- 1) to live in luxury, live delicately or luxuriously, to revel in
- 2) to take delight in
- see 2 Peter 2:13 "pleasure to riot"
- see also James 5:5 "Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth".
- and 2 Peter 2:13 "sporting themselves"
- and Luke 7:25 "live delicately, are in kings’ courts."
- ↑ Consanguinity by a line of males only, as distinguished from cognation. --Bouvier. cognation. Relationship by blood; descent from the same original; kindred. (Law) That tie of consanguinity which exists between persons descended from the same mother;
- ↑ Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
- ↑ Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
- ↑ "But when a new generation arises and the democracy falls into the hands of the grandchildren of its founders, they have become so accustomed to freedom and equality that they no longer value them, and begin to aim at pre-eminence; and it is chiefly those of ample fortune who fall into this error. 6 So when they begin to lust for power and cannot attain it through themselves or their own good qualities, they ruin their estates, tempting and corrupting the people in every possible way. 7 And hence when by their foolish thirst for reputation they have created among the masses an appetite for gifts and the habit of receiving them, democracy in its turn is abolished and changes into a rule of force and violence. 8 For the people, having grown accustomed to feed at the expense of others and to depend for their livelihood on the property of others, as soon as they find a leader who is enterprising but is excluded from the houses of office by his penury, institute the rule of violence; 9 and now uniting their forces massacre, banish, and plunder, until they degenerate again into perfect savages and find once more a master and monarch" Polybius: The Histories (composed at Rome around 130 BC)Fragments of Book VI, p289
- ↑ Braud's 2nd Enc. by J.M Braud.
- ↑ Encyclopedia Britannica ‘57 Vol. 19 p 490.
- ↑ Hosea 10:13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
- ↑ 04428 מֶלֶךְ MemLamedKaf melek [meh’-lek] but can appear as בְּמַלְכָּֽם 04445 BeitMemLamedKafMem as we see in Zephaniah 1:5 from 04427, Greek 3197 Μελχι; n m/n pr m/n pr dei; [BDB-572b] [{See TWOT on 1199 @@ "1199a" }] AV-king 2518, royal 2, Hammelech 1, Malcham 1, Moloch 1; 2523
- n m
- 1) king
- n pr m
- 2) father of Jerahmeel
- n pr dei
- 3) Molech, god of the Ammonites
- ↑ 03594 כִּיּוּן Kiyuwn [kee-yoon’] from 03559 prepare or establish, Greek 4481 Ρεμφαν; n pr dei; [BDB-475b] [{See TWOT on 954 @@ "954a" }] AV-Chiun 1; 1
- Chiun= "an image" or "pillar"
- 1) probably a statue of the Assyrian-Babylonian god of the planet Saturn and used to symbolise Israelite apostasy
- ↑ 06754 צֶלֶם TzadikLamedMem tselem [tseh’-lem] from an unused root meaning to shade; n m; [BDB-853b] [{See TWOT on 1923 @@ "1923a" }] AV-image 16, vain shew 1; 17
- 1) image
- 1a) images (of tumours, mice, heathen gods)
- 1b) image, likeness (of resemblance)
- 1c) mere, empty, image, semblance (fig.)
- צ ץ Tzadik is always related to The Faith of the Righteous One, the foundation of the word "to hunt" or Harvest even eat or desire. [Harvest, pant, desire] (Numeric value: 90)
- ל Lamed means Aspiration of the Heart or to learn or even direct like a shepherd. It has to do with what the Hand produces, [hand is די YodDalet] or directs with staff, whip... like the tongue may direct. (Numeric value: 30)
- מ ם Mem Fountain of water, a flow, a fountain of the Divine Wisdom [massive, overpower chaos] (Numeric value: 40)
- 1) image
- ↑ 03556 כּוֹכָב kowkab [ko-kawb’] probably from the same as 03522 (in the sense of rolling) or 03554 (in the sense of blazing or building); n m; [BDB-456b] [{See TWOT on 942 @@ "942a" }] AV-star 36, stargazers + 02374 1; 37
- 1) star
- 1a) of Messiah, brothers, youth, numerous progeny, personification, God’s omniscience (fig.)
- 1) star
- ↑ Samuel Adams, Our Sacred Honor, Bennett, 217, 1779 - letter to James Warren.
- ↑ Isaiah 1:23 Thy princes [are] rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
- ↑ Traditions
- Matthew 15:2 "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition <3862> of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition <3862>?"
- Matthew 15:6 "And honour not his father or his mother, [he shall be free]. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition <3862>."
- Mark 7:3 "For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash [their] hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition <3862> of the elders."
- Mark 7:5 "Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition <3862> of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?"
- Mark 7:8 "For laying aside the commandmentof God, ye hold the tradition <3862> of men, [as] the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition <3862>. 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, [It is] Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; [he shall be free]. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition <3862>, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."
- 1 Corinthians 11:1 "Be ye followers of me, even as I also [am] of Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances <3862>, as I delivered [them] to you. 3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God."
- Galatians 1:14 "And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions <3862> of my fathers."
- Colossians 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition <3862> of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
- 2 Thessalonians 2:15 "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions <3862> which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition <3862> which he received of us."
- Psalms 33:10 "The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices <מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת 04284 maḥšəḇōṯ> of the people of none effect."
- ↑ Isaiah 40:23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
- ↑ Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men....Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
- ↑ Isaiah 40:27 "Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."
- ↑ "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
- ↑ "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
- ↑ Revelation 18:1 ¶ And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
- ↑ Luke 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
- ↑ “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10, 11
- 2 Peter 2:14 "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; curse children:"
- 2 Peter 2:3 "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."
- ↑ 2 Timothy 3:1 ¶ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. 10 ¶ But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 5:1 ¶ Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 ¶ But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
- "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1 Galatians 5:15 "But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another."
- 1 Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
- ↑ James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
- James 5:12 ¶ But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
- ↑ 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
- 1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
- 1 John 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
- 2 John 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
- 2 John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
- 3 John 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth... 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
- ↑ 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?(The word reprobate is from adokimos meaning not standing the test, not approved) But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
- ↑ 96 ~ἀδόκιμος~ adokimos \@ad-ok’-ee-mos\@ from 1 (as a negative particle) and 1384; adj AV-reprobate 6, castaway 1, rejected 1; 8
- 1) not standing the test, not approved (See warnings)
- 1a) properly used of metals and coins
- 2) that which does not prove itself such as it ought
- 2a) unfit for, unproved, spurious, reprobate
- 1) not standing the test, not approved (See warnings)
- ↑ 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- ↑ 1 John 2:3 ¶ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
- ↑ 1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
- ↑ 1 John 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
- 1 John 3:7 "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
- 1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
- ↑ 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- 2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
- ↑ 1 John 4:1 ¶ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
- ↑ Exodus 23:32, 34:12-15, 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 13:8, 17:16, Judges 2:2, 1 Samuel 8; 13:13, Proverbs 1:10-19, Proverbs 23, Psalms 69:22. See also Ezekiel 11:3-11, Micah 3:3; Exodus 16:3.
- ↑ 1 Corinthians 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
- Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
- Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
- Matthew 6:9, 23:9, 5:34... 20:25, Mark 10:42, Luke 4:18, 22:25, 1 Corinthians 7:21, 2 Corinthians 6:16, James 5:12, 1 Peter 2:16, Romans 7:7, 13:9, 11:9, Colossians 3:5, Hebrews 13:5, 2 Peter 2:3-14, 2 Peter 2:19, 2 Timothy 2:26,1:1, 9
- ↑ 1 Samuel 13:13
- ↑ Frederic Bastiat, 1801 – 1850, French theorist, political economist.