Volume 2 No. 14

June/July 2005

Greetings brethren, friends and neighbors,

In the last two scrolls, by and through the Holy Spirit’s utterance and conviction, I wrote of the differences between who we are versus what we are (Scroll no. 12) and the differences between man’s church and God’s Church (Scroll no. 13). In continuing along the same parameters and flow of thought and careful consideration, this Scroll will deal specifically with the difference between persecution and rebuke. It is interesting to note at this time that many of the letters received by us here at Cephas Ministry are angry letters assaulting us of what appears to be received as offensive rebuke, laying on of guilt and condemnation. Many of the letters are written by devout Catholics who do not know the difference between their highly prized Catholic faith and the fundamental faith in Christ Jesus we hold dearly to here at Cephas. Others still are simply attempting to assault us from various religious paradigms and theology without understanding that the pattern of Christ Jesus is the only approved and accepted pattern of righteousness we are commanded to follow. Our rebuke is directed towards the religious heresies of man and mankind’s institutionalized religion and is not in any way intended to offend and condemn followers but instead is at the insistence of God’s nature and direction of the Holy Spirit to rebuke with all authority and in the context of love (an unwavering commitment). If you or any are convicted by what God speaks through me then I consider it a good sign that God is doing a work on you. He is calling you to submit and surrender to the Lordship of Christ Jesus and His righteous pattern. If however you are feeling condemned, then the devil still has a hold on you and is trying to sway you from complete and total surrender to God. Make no mistake about it, what I speak, exhort or write by the Spirit of God is the living Word of God and all I am asking you to do is humble yourself as I do and let the Word of God be the final authority and judge. Trust me when I say, “It will be healing to your soul.”

One could easily say that Jesus was not only extreme but also rebellious. Would you not agree? What is so hard for some about comparing my analysis of contemporary religion with what the New Testament actually says? Regarding Christ’s teachings, whether the metaphors, parables and examples are symbolic or literal, they all carry with them deeply profound and prophetic implications. Some will understand and accept with fear and others will try to compare by what they view as a good religious example or application. One method is "works by faith" and the other is "faith by works." The context by which I apply myself is mostly literal application because I understand the deeply profound application, which Christ administered to His disciples to be direction and instruction for living. For me, this, a way of life and practical application, is called for and is not a mere belief and religious practice. Do you understand the difference? One method is to experience personal relationship with God by and through personal application and the other method prescribes belief with little or no active participation. Belief should therefore motivate one’s heart towards relevant practice and life application.

I want to thank many of you for writing and expressing your concerns. It appears by your lines of questioning that some of you think I take a position of persecution with regards to religious orders. Please understand that I do not write or exhort, teach or demonstrate from a religious perspective or paradigm. I am not impressed with religious tradition or dogma. My faith (trust) and application is from a practical God-fearing understanding, acceptance and application. You are right when you say, that none of us are perfect nor yet perfected, but our calling is to be made holy and blameless, sanctified before our Lord. Matthew 5:48 "Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Do we achieve that by making up our own rules, living according to our own will or do we accomplish that by submitting and surrendering unto Jesus and accept the way and pattern He authored and sanctified for our sakes? Are we not to undergo the same baptism by fire that Jesus had to undergo? Is this accomplished by applying religious communion with crackers and grape juice or is this done by living out the Word as it was so demonstrated? The comparison can be made between those who live out life’s scenarios by watching soap operas on TV versus those who are living in the real world engaged in real-time adversity, fiery trial and tribulation. The TV viewer tries to identify with the troubles of life through fictional characters and story themes while the other will experience life by applying himself in a relevant, real-time context in the real world. One is a pretender who “imagines” and the other is a doer who “experiences.”

As a God fearing man, I do not persecute but will reprove, admonish and rebuke religious error and falsehoods. There is a difference between persecution and rebuke just as there is a difference between condemnation and conviction. When Jesus said, "Do not judge lest ye be judged," He was not saying 'don't practice judgment,' what Jesus says very plainly in scripture is that the Word judges all things and it is to that which we must surrender, subscribe and submit. I do not judge as some of you say but I allow the Word to judge myself first and then all things around me. It really is that simple!

You see, you first must "overcome" a matter in your own life before you are qualified to minister to others afflicted with that same affliction which you overcame. You know, "First take out the log that is in your own eye before you try removing the speck that is in your brother’s eye." Accepting the judgment that the Word delivers unto self and learning to turn away (repent) from that which is master over you is what will later allow you to be an effective minister to others in the things which tempt us and weigh people down.

Because the Word judges everything and because a man is known by his word and deed, it is easy to let go of your personal opinion and allow the Word to do the work it was intended for. We (I) reprove, admonish and when necessary, rebuke falsehoods because that is what we are called and given to do, we who truly love the Lord and our brethren. He who does not practice righteous judgment in this way does not "love his brother and neighbor." In fact, one might say 'neither does he love the Lord' because Jesus said plainly, "He who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, sister and mother." So who is your brother and sister in Christ? Are your brothers and sisters in the Lord the "hirelings" that do what they do for a pretense, dollar and esteem? Are your brothers the ones who feel righteous when they hear the preacher give a “good word” or are they the ones who hear the Word and do it? Or, are your brethren those who are overcoming all that defiles the flesh and walking in complete surrender and submission unto the Spirit and God's Word being sanctified and suffering much persecution and mocking by the pagans and deluded pretenders of Christianity? Who are your brethren? Who are my brethren? Are my brethren the Catholics who subscribe in part to God’s Word and deny the rest? Are my brethren Protestants who do the same and are divided numerous ways? Have the religious minded “kept themselves unstained by the world” or are they defiled by compromising with worldly standards for the sake of peaceful relations, preferring the absence of conflict? When one prefers not to address a transgression with another, is he allowing his friend to fall into a pit? How is that expressing love for your neighbor, friend and brother? Should we not desire one another’s sanctification and literally apply ourselves as our Lord has so instructed?

I can tell you that my brethren not only understand this but they also understand the deep love I have for humanity and my deep desire to see the people calling themselves "Christian" get their lives in order by dying to self and put away their filthy rags and vanities and get serious about "trusting GOD" and His Son's example. I refuse to make excuses for others calling themselves "Christian" as much as I refuse to make excuses for myself! The one's whom we reprove are those that are standing as God's ministers issuing authority and teaching the gathered believers lies and planting seeds of heresy. The rebuke is not addressed to anyone but the one who is transgressing. Furthermore, the rebuke is not mine but is that which the Word of God delivers! Someone must have the backbone and courage to stand up to these wolves and I am one such God fearing man. Do not be offended at the strong reproof another or I administer if you are not troubled by what we exhort. If you are convicted on the other hand, then you should pay attention and take heed for again I say, I make no excuses for Catholics, Protestants nor myself for the Word of God has judged us and it is to that and Christ's example which we must adhere. By this is God truly glorified in those whom He calls His sons. By our proper application are we found to be worshipping Him in Spirit and truth. Anything less than that makes one "a hearer who deludes himself" because the Word exhorts to us "to be doers of the Word" not hearers who delude themselves.

Do you understand what I am saying? I know my calling well and I hear and attend to my Masters voice daily. Can you confess the same brethren? If you understand and accept the reproof and all the admonishment of Christ Jesus then why are some of you having difficulty with the way God uses me? Is what I proclaim really that far-fetched? Has someone preached a different Jesus to you? Indeed, I fear that the Catholics worship a different image of God or worse, that they worship a different god altogether. The Word is capable of making effective judgments but have you figured out that God loves to do this through His created hosts who have the Spirit of truth dwelling in them? Does the Word which lives, not dwell in those whom accept and obey? Are we not called to witness His Spirit and Truth? Are we not promised that the Word will be fulfilled in our lives? Are we still sons of men or have we become or are we becoming sons of God? What is it that is so hard to believe or understand about the true gospel I exhort and apply? Did Jesus not make a promise in John 6:50-58? This symbolic passage carries with it deep and profound implications beyond religious communion rituals. In order to truly embrace its meaning you must discard the comparison of man’s religious virtue and apply the very example Jesus demonstrated for our sakes.

John 6:50-58 "This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread, which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: yea and the bread, which I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying how can this man give us his flesh to eat? Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves. He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood abideth in me and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eats me, he also shall live because of me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven: not as the fathers ate, and died; he that eats this bread shall live for ever."

Do you want to know real persecution and rejection by those who are called Christians and/or “so-called brethren?” If one starts walking like Jesus and patterning his life after Him as the disciples did, I can promise that person he will start seeing the Word fulfill itself in his life. Then he will be able to say that he is a part of the Church of the living God. That is how one "eats of His flesh" and "drinks of His blood." Then he will know real suffering as I have come to know real suffering and any that do this will be partakers in the promised “baptism by fire.”

I love the subject matter of God’s judgment, which He declares as justice. It is one of the fulcrums in my understanding of God's Word to us and a large part of my faith. Before I prove it out with the written Word, let me just say again that I understand and accept judgment to be a "good" thing in our lives and not a bad thing as in "condemnation." Did the Psalmist not declare that "God loves judgment?" He did indeed and that peculiar verse led me deeper into the scriptures prayerfully requesting of the Lord, "help me to understand Master."

Psalms 37:28 “For Jehovah loveth justice (literally rendered, judgment), and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved forever: But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”

"To love thy law," He says. Psalms 119:97-104 "Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers; For thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might observe thy word. I have not turned aside from thine ordinances; for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way."

"Therefore I hate every false way," indicates that God has already judged us! In many scrolls I indicated that God loves to use us (His servants) to judge with a righteous judgment. But since "no man living is righteous" how does He accomplish this? He does this by executing His Word through His servants who are become witnesses.
Psalms 149:1-9 “Praise ye Jehovah. Sing unto Jehovah a new song, And his praise in the assembly of the saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: Let them sing praises unto him with timbrel and harp. For Jehovah taketh pleasure in his people: He will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints exult in glory: Let them sing for joy upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the nations, And punishments upon the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: This honor have all his saints. Praise ye Jehovah.”

"This honor have all his saints." Again, His Word has judged but His servants minister the judgment, which is already handed down! Now, you must make a comparative analysis with the Word and ask yourselves how this applies to the many religious orders so many are defending vs. those who are called to be "doers of His Word" (apply yourself doing God's will).

Psalms 1:5 “Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Psalms 7:6 “Arise, O Jehovah, in thine anger; Lift up thyself against the rage of mine adversaries, And awake for me; thou hast commanded judgment.”
Psalms 7:8 “Jehovah ministers judgment to the peoples: Judge me, O Jehovah, according to my righteousness, and to mine integrity that is in me.”
Psalms 9:8 “And he will judge the world in righteousness, He will minister judgment to the peoples in uprightness.”

And how is this done if it is not done through His "ministers of righteousness" who obey and apply themselves faithfully bearing witness of the true faith in Christ Jesus? And of those who obey, are they not the ones with God's Holy Spirit since Christ's death and resurrection (Acts 5:32)? When the Holy Spirit came to dwell in man, what did it bring with it? Did it not bring with it "conviction" and "judgment?" What did Jesus declare for our understanding? John 16:7-11 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged."

Therefore, I do not "toy" with God's Word for it comes to pass for the one who accepts and applies himself diligently. Matthew 7:1 does not say, "Do not judge" but implicitly states that one must be careful how he judges because he shall be judged in like measure as he so judged. For Jesus declares it! John 7:24 "Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment." And since therefore we are unable to judge righteously ourselves, we must then allow God's word to judge us first and all things else as I wrote earlier. What purpose is served by practicing righteous judgment? 2 Thessalonians 1:5 "which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:" Thus, it is for our "good" and for our "discipline" and for our "sanctification" that we allow for and accept the judgments that God has already handed down upon us. The Spirit in me agrees and I speak not of my own opinion but the very utterance of God spoken through me, that is, the Spirit of truth, the very Word dwelling in me.
That is why it is so important to first let God help you "remove the log in your own eye" that you may help "remove the splinter that is in your brother's eye." Nothing "good" comes by way of indifference or apathy but something GREAT happens when God is able to bring others into the fold so that more may be sanctified and cleansed. In fact, I recently wrote and published a whole exhortation on the "Baptism by fire" that we all must undergo just as Jesus underwent. He promised us it would be so and remember, He never said that all would be "peaceful" but instead promised us fire and certain adversity that was associated with division between our loved ones. This is not a "factious" teaching but is the truth spoken by God and thus written by witnesses of Christ Jesus. I am not a "law giver" but a valid witness to the "living Word of God." I am very sincere and am under the direct authority and command of Christ Jesus our Savior who commissions me to be such a witness. It is the service to which He has called me and He warned me that few would accept me as a valid witness because of the departure so many have made based on falsehoods and factious teachings. I know, at least in part, God my Father wishes to "set the record straight" for the time which we all await is now upon us and "there are but hours, even moments of the second day left. Soon, the third day will fall upon us. What happens on the morning of the third day oh son of man?” Asks the Spirit in me?

Now, I never said that I was "sin-free." What I told you directly is that I have overcome much and still by the empowering grace of God, overcoming. I am thereby able to assist others in that which I was once afflicted by. Though I have overcome much in my life, I am still not without some sin and affliction. The point is that we are to strive for and continue to press forward for the calling and the prize that awaits us. We cannot say we are yet perfected but we who apply ourselves according to our Lord's demonstration and example of righteousness are in the process of being perfected. Matthew 5:48 "Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Someone recently wrote "we really witness to others, by the example of our lives not by education, nor rational, nor cleverness of our mouths. That God is the only one, who can open the door, to a person's heart, and then He MIGHT, use us as His tool, after the door is open" is true. Do you not see that God is at work in me and doing a work through me? I condemn no one but because I have been "judged" and am being sanctified, I have become useful to God as a valid witness to His greatest desire. And what is His greatest desire? This scripture answers very clearly what that is... Ephesians 5:27 "that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Let us not forget also... 1 Peter 1:15-16 “but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living; because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.” Does the Word not testify that what the Holy Spirit begets becomes a "Son of God?" Luke 1:35 "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God." Also... Luke 2:23 "(as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord)," speaks not only of Christ Jesus who opened Mary's womb but also of all the sons who are called after Him who receive the Holy Spirit of the Father. For they are the ones that "Jesus is not ashamed to call His brethren."

Therefore, the judgment which I love and accept and do practice is not for the condemnation of my fellow man but is indeed for the setting straight the pathways of his feet (sanctification) and I am just a "humbled" vessel being used by God for the purpose and aim of glorifying His-self in another valid witness whom is charged with "duty and responsibility." Again, I say, 'from the sons of men are the sons of God called.'

So very many well intending Christians lack understanding and have been seduced by doctrines and precepts of mere men. I do pray that you can embrace the testimony and witness I offer you because the gospel is intended to bear much fruit and those whom are grafted in and have the Spirit dwelling in them are said by Jesus to do many greater things than even He accomplished. That is according to the very words spoken by Jesus. We are not here to tickle your ears or lead you to believe that all is rosy. We are given (commissioned by God) to do a mighty work in this time. I have been doing this for a number of years and I have always known that it is not for my benefit, but for yours and others who are genuinely seeking God's righteousness and Kingdom and still looking for the real evidence of His living presence. By this is God glorified in His called sons.
I want to thank everyone who takes the time to write and dialogue with me for you are helping me to sharpen my sword. I only hope that you can say the same of my influence upon you. A little adversity goes along way towards refining and polishing. Does scripture not declare that "brothers are born for adversity?" It does indeed and what it all boils down to is that we should fear God and obey His commandments because in this, our love for Him is proven.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 "This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

2 John 1:6 "And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it."

Does "judgment not begin with the household of God?" Are you willing to walk with me through the fiery furnace? Can you just surrender yourself unto God's judgment as I have and allow yourself to be made a "new creature?" Are you content with man's elementary application of religious piety or are you hungering and thirsting as I once was for the true righteous application of "unwavering faith?" Does allowing for mediocrities not convict your heart and conscience within the realm of what is called "Christian" today? Do you not desire to work out in the fields of harvest where the Lord has sent me to do a work? There are not many in this field you know; "the workers are few." What say ye? Can thou stand in the Day of Judgment when all shall be held into account, good or bad? Is it not better that we get on with the mission at hand now rather than waiting for “the great and terrible day of the Lord” to come? Did you know that "it is on account of God's elect that these days shall be cut short?" Do you think that is because they are simply shortened or is it because the called sons of God get busy in the fields and start doing what they've always been called to do? Do you not see that the final anti-Christ and his false prophets are about to take their places? The time is now upon us. Watch therefore and see the "abomination of desolation" will take place in our lifetime.
I sure hope that I am helping to clarify some issues with those of you who are concerned about proper witness and correct application of judgment. These matters we are discussing are of grave importance and significance to all the people on this planet. Would you not agree with me on that?

In answer to a recent question, "What do I think about the Pope?"
I replied the following…

Like you, he lived through German/Nazi abominations but he saw things first hand and I believe that all that had an influence on him throughout his life. Tragedy does tend to steer our direction in life, good or bad. He was a faithful and devout Catholic; no one can refute that claim. He prayed more for others than probably most men on the planet, including myself. He knew of the terrible darkness that was encompassing the peoples and Nations and was terribly bothered by it all as I am but his approach to effective remedy was far different than mine. The Catholics claim that he was a true Christ-like example and Apostle yet his approach to resolve was far different than that of Christ and the early Apostles.

Pope John Paul II became so respected because he so respected other religious beliefs and secular method that he was not viewed as an adversary to any as Jesus was to the Jews. Respecting other cultures is one thing but respecting idolatry? What does that say? The Pope became everybody's friend and he easily overlooked the differences of other faiths and even declared other faiths to be different forms of worship to the same God. Though I believe the Pope erred significantly here with respect to religion, he was right on one point and that is all of us will be held accountable for the "faith" which we have and practice. He believed that by all manner and peaceful means, was "peace" to be achieved. Instead of taking bold stands against that which many consider to be heresy and contradiction as Jesus did, he accepted all such differences and left the matter up to God the Father. His greatest contradictions came by way of his worship of mother Mary and the dead Saints. On this note, he led so many astray into believing another gospel. “The blood guiltiness will be upon his hands.”

I take great issue with all this because he did not take a stand against that which was wrong but instead allowed for and accepted all such perversion and pollution into the Catholic form of worship. His stands against abortion and contraceptives were consistent with the Catholic stance but this was all very superficial and has little to do with the true essence of obedience to Christ. Instead of being truly humble and pious towards his followers, he loved the enormous popularity he gained and instead of rejecting the worship of his own image by Catholics world wide, he embraced it and allowed many to believe he was the vicar of Christ. He became a stark contrast to what Jesus promised and thereby made God's Word seemingly nullified and erroneously refutable. To me, he was the perfect example of a Pharisee whose position in heaven is considered least if God judges him worthy at all. He took the place of Jesus for many Catholics and this is one of those "deadly sins" because he did not fulfill the Word of God but instead replaced the Word of God with a more palatable "savior-like" image. This "sin" is not only his sin but also the sin of the people because they refused to hear the truth of God's Word and apply themselves as they should. This is exactly what the false prophet and anti-Christ does, replace the true image and likeness of God's Son for a counterfeit image that will lead many astray. In fact, among the planet's six billion people, 1/6 of Earth's population is Catholic. It would seem that we are heavily out-numbered by the false worshippers of the false prophets and counterfeit images of Christ Jesus. The Word clearly declares that if Jesus were on earth today, He would not be a priest at all!

Hebrews 8:4-6 “Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are those who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve that which is a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warned of God when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount. But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises.” Do the Catholics understand this? I declare they do not understand but they have been led to believe lies and a counterfeit religion!

Catholics believe in so much occultism and mysticism that they are easily led astray by the ones who are appointed by mere men thereby ignoring the sons of men that are appointed by God. It seems that certain mystics with limited powers are thought more highly of than the truer disciples of Jesus who face enormous persecutions and suffering for Christ's sake. Mystic power seems to have more appeal to many and a stronger influence on people in general because the actual Word of God convicts us of our sin. Most people don't want to feel "convicted" but they want to feel accepted. That is what the Pope accomplished in his 26 year reign; many found acceptance through him and he made them to feel alright about who and what they were regardless of dangerous beliefs or religious virtue. Isn't that how the anti-Christ will win so many over to himself?

The truth about the Pope is that he idolized Mary (oops) making her to be the "Queen of Heaven" and he had a short temper making him at times appear to be without God's anointing Spirit and he sat himself upon a throne soaking up the enormous praise of people around the planet exalting himself as though he were God. He was a poor example of the Jesus I know. He was a poor example of the early disciples and Apostles we've learned about. But for 1/6 of the planet, he was what the people wanted and to this day, the people will seek after another because they did not believe the scriptures where Jesus said, "because I go away and be with the Father." The people are full of unbelief and because they are full of unbelief, they must make for themselves another idol of worship, a man they can call god and this will always remain this way until the final day when the last anti-Christ and false prophets are revealed! Then soon after, on a great and terrible day for which all us true God fearing believers wait, the Lord will return with all His redeemed Saints and finally set the record straight once and for all.

Until that day comes, I shall not know exactly when, but I will look forward to it and desire it to be fulfilled and then I shall be at peace when this body dies and I am taken up and given a new body. I pray I shall remember all that I had done to defend and protect my Lord's majesty on High and that He may look upon me and forgive me of what I did not understand and had no control of. I shall forever praise Him and be thankful on the day that I stood my ground and maintained my resolve and fought valiantly in days of turmoil and trouble and diligently worked to keep myself unstained by the world that was. May God be glorified all the days of my life and should I die for His cause, I pray that my death be not in vain but to the glory and majesty of my eternal Savior and Redeemer. May all the glory honor and dominion be His forever after in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord...AMEN

Dear Mr. Mohammad Islami,

Greetings to you and yours from my household and our fellowship. I am pleased to hear you question certain mysteries which indeed are hard to understand without the Spirit or when hidden behind words lacking true definition and proper context. It is true that much of what a true Christian believes has been diluted or in some fashion perverted by contemporary context and the Modern English language. To truly understand what I will convey to you requires that you "have the Spirit" reveal the understanding to you. It does not matter what cultural or religious background you have had but what is fundamentally important is that your heart can be purified and cleansed towards your personal belief and relationship to God. I will make a diligent attempt to help you understand and I pray that you have an ear to hear (understand) and eye to see (accept) these truths. There are many false doctrines and precepts being promoted by "mainstream Christians" which appear to resemble truth but in fact are in error thus polluting people's understanding of the Word of God which I hold to be perfect and blameless all by itself. This letter you wrote addresses the "oneness" of God the Father (Yahweh) and His Son the Christ (Yeshua a.k.a. Jesus).

Many Trinitarian believers have been misled by way of misunderstanding. Indeed, the Father and the Son are "one" as scripture declares but they are one in Spirit and likeness. If my own son remains steadfast in studying and applying himself to all that I am teaching him of life, I can well say that my son is "one" with me because he understands and applies himself as I do. In this context we have become one. Now it is clear that from the very beginning God, (Yahweh) refers to Himself in three persons the book of Genesis.

Genesis 1:1-2 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Here, the very Spirit we call the Holy Spirit is first mentioned and is identified with God. Then in the next verse, Yahweh speaks and begins to create out of the void and over the face of the waters. Later on in scripture, we learn that Jesus was the Word and is the Word and has been the Word from the very beginning. John 1:1-5 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not."

The second and third place in the beginning that Yahweh refers to Himself in more than one person is found here in Genesis just prior to the creation of man and after the first transgression by Adam and Eve. Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." Also see chapter 3 after the first sin; Genesis 3:22 "And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever-" This my friend is where all the trouble started for us and is also where all the controversy has been rooted for many thousands of years. So if you understand me correctly, then you will understand that Yahweh, Yeshua and the Holy Spirit (Ghost) are the God Head and are all one in likeness and Spirit. They literally are three persons in one because of the likeness and purpose of God the Father and our Creator. Though the Old Testament Prophets spoke of the Son who would come to be a "ransom for many" we do not see that occur until Jesus came on the scene.

In a prior email you asked, "Why is the blood of Jesus clean?" I wish to answer that here by saying that Jesus was the first who came and dwelled among us as a "sinless" man and because of His righteous nature (selfless and compassionate) and being (unwavering commitment), made as a man with the indwelling Holy Spirit, choosing to live, teach and walk blamelessly among men, He became for us an unblemished sacrifice for sins because the Old Testament rituals of sacrifices were no longer sufficient to cleanse us of our sins (man's consciousness of sins). The writer in the Book of Hebrews explains this very well for us. In fact, the Book of Hebrews will help to unravel much of the mystery of Christ's sacrifice if you let it become the "bridge of understanding." Therefore, it became clear by what Yahweh accomplished through Jesus (Yeshua) that our Father in Heaven desired to have relationship with us by dwelling in us who were created as human hosts for the indwelling Spirit of God (a.k.a. Holy Spirit). That is why scripture says we have become the new or better "temple for Him to dwell in." For any man who is able to become cleansed by the baptism of fire (the Holy Spirit coming upon repentant believers), he will in effect become a "new creature" as scripture says and in the process of sanctification (setting straight our lives [pathways of our feet]) he will become more and more "like Christ" and hence, "one with the Father and Son." Of course, for all of this to be real or validated in a person's life, he/she must continually "die to self" and give way to the Spirit's will and unction. This means to live selflessly rather than selfishly. The Son of God is our "selfless" example by which to follow and be led. We begin to learn what is right and just if we compare our thoughts, behaviors and attitudes with that of Jesus and His disciples as it is recorded for us in scripture. Scripture therefore becomes a wonderful tool for us to keep our spiritual relationship in check and helps us to understand the guidance that God is providing. But in order for that to be real... a believer must utterly trust (have faith in) the examples afforded us as established in biblical history. It would be a grave mistake to compare oneself to man's contemporary religious virtue of today because man's religion has been thoroughly polluted with apostate doctrines over the centuries. Jesus promoted "trust in the Father as a son." In other words, we are to believe and behave as sons and daughters to God the Father and not as religious fools and half-wits who know not the true measure of selfless sacrifice. That is precisely why Jesus became a Savior because without His unblemished example to follow, we are hopelessly lost in the abyss of humanity. The Book of Hebrews proves and clarifies this sentiment.

The Apostle John proves the relationship of being one with Christ and the Father by recording Jesus' most beautiful prayer. Hear and accept what Jesus revealed, this might be healing to your soul and help you to understand the great love Jesus had for all of us who acknowledge Him as Savior.

John 15:1-27 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit. Already ye are clean because of the word, which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be my disciples. Even as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you. No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known unto you. Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye may love one another. If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works, which none other did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness of me: and ye also bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning."

Please pay close attention to the underscoring I did above. If when you are speaking with or having relationship with those who call themselves Christian and you do not see the evidence of suffering and persecution in their lives nor their unwavering commitment and trust in God the Father and His Son the Christ, there is a problem with that person's theology. I have discovered that when you accept and apply yourself according to the very pattern of Christ Jesus as Jesus demonstrated, the world really does hate you and many who call themselves "Christian" hate me as much as they hate devout Muslims. You may find that hard to believe but it is true. I happen to know that because Jesus loves you, He wants you to repent (turn away from sin and turn back to God) and He desires that you listen, accept and apply yourself as a disciple, a son or a daughter so that you may become useful and serve to glorify the Father in your life. You see, the whole point is so that the "Word of God" may also be fulfilled in your life too. Are you ready to assist and help the Word of God come to its fullest fruition? Are you willing to abide in the true vine and bear fruit as Jesus taught and demonstrated or are you still comfortable with your weaker religious precepts and false doctrines? Those questions my friend are the very questions God gave me to answer and in seeking out the answers to them, I found life and relationship with GOD. I found nothing but error, weakness and mediocrity in man's religion but God gave me purpose and life, gifts and powers and has made me useful to being a small part of His will and purpose for humanity. If I can help to witness the same truth to a few souls before I die then I can say I did the best I could according to my willingness to obey, my understanding of His direction and my acceptance of His judgment.

My dear friend, is this not much more palatable and easy to understand than the more common contradictory precepts espoused by religious men? I pray you have an ear to hear and the willingness to understand and accept what I have shared with you because what I shared, I did so in love. I understand that love as defined by scripture being an unwavering commitment is neither safe nor complete without the presence of humility. The world today and all the religions of men are lacking the presence of humility making love unsafe in a dangerous world. Won't you join me in the fields of harvest, take a stand as I have and resolve to make a difference in an otherwise indifferent world? Our time is very short and we need to make the best of it.

With all humble resolve and "words seasoned with grace,"

Nicholas A. Stivers a humbled God fearing man, scribe and messenger
Author; Apostasy Revealed published 2003 by Mountainview Publishing ISBN: 1-928602-92-4 http://nicholasscrolls.cephasministry.com
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