Pastor and theologian, Jack Deer, reveals what knowing God is:

"It took me too long to learn that knowing the Bible is not the same as knowing God, loving the Bible is not the same as loving God and reading the Bible is not the same as hearing God. What I am saying is that it is possible to put almost any good thing above Jesus Christ without realizing what we are doing. We can put the Bible and its commandments above the Lord. We can put the spiritual gifts and even various kinds of worship above the Lord. We can put various forms of ministry-witnessing, caring for the poor, praying for the sick-above the Lord. The essence of all of life is loving God and then loving his people." (Matthew 22:36-40) (3)

The bible is clear on certain moral codes for salvation, such as the restrictions on murder, stealing, adultery, lying and other hurtful acts against humanity. It is also clear on certain theological doctrines, such as having faith in Christ Jesus, his resurrection, his ransom for mankind and his mediatorship for mankind to God. But are knowing these theological doctrines necessary for salvation? And what about other doctrines in the bible, which are not so clear? Is having correct theological knowledge a requirement? Is belief or non belief on doctrinal issues such as the trinity, hellfire, immortality of the soul, 144,000, heaven or earth destinations, the rapture, God's name and much more, the identifying mark of true Christians ? Are unity on these doctrinal points necessary for salvation?

Apostle Paul stated to the Corinthian congregation that they:

"Should all speak in agreement and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you many be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought." 1 Cor 1:10

Was this about doctrinal issues with all having unity on the same theological interpretations of various scriptural knowledge? The context shows it not to be about doctrinal teachings, but rather shows Paul to be speaking about the divisions of the Corinthians in being divided, some following men, others solely the Christ. Some were following the direction of Apostle Paul, others Cephas, therefore "the Christ exists divided." They lacked true unity in being divided to following different men. The same is true today where persons identify themselves with a certain Christian denomination made of men, with their group interpretations of scriptures, reasoning's and name labels, such as "Baptist," "Lutheran," "Catholic," "Presbyterian" & etc., instead of individually identifying themselves solely with Christ. Therefore the "Christ exists divided." What Apostle Paul was appealing for was not a total uniformity of understanding of each and every point in scripture, but rather for the putting aside of divisive attitudes that were splitting them up into fractions, so that they could be of a united disposition and outlook. Not uniformity on every doctrinal issue and certainly not a humanly imposed uniformity by a supposed "slave class" religious counsel or group of men. (1 Corinthians 1:10-17)

"Sometimes those of us who treasure right doctrine think we possess and inside track on the truth of God. God informs us, however, that supposed knowledge, lacking in a pure love of God, is a sure route to spiritual arrogance (1 Corinthians 8:1-3). There is something about being cocksure of possessing the truth that breeds spiritual cockiness. Sometimes good theology subtly breeds conceit, the greatest cancer of spiritual health." Seeing Ourselves In The Pharisees Extreme Righteousness - page 71 - Tom Hovestol

What about doctrinal knowledge ? Many denominations, along with Jehovah's Witnesses say that this is one of the identifying marks of Jesus' true deciples and they will quote Apostle Paul, who when speaking about the Jews stated

"They have a zeal for God, but not according to accurate knowledge." Rom 10:2

But if you simply read the context, in two verses later, in verse 4, it can be shown that it is not detailed doctrinal knowledge with interpretive explanations that Paul is speaking about, rather this "accurate knowledge" is,

"For the goal at which the law (Torah) aims is the Christ, who offers righteousness to everyone who has faith." Romans 10:4

For Christ is the end of those establishing righteousness by the decrees, regulations and works of sacrifices of the old covenant pronounced in the law, so that everyone exercising faith in him may have righteousness. This is the "accurate knowledge" that Paul is speaking about and the basic doctrine for salvation, not one of the thousands of unclear doctrines and zig zagging interpretations of many churches and of the Watchtower such as 1914, the other sheep class, the great crowd, blood components, employment on a military base, joining the YMCA & etc. Instead the "love of Christ surpasses all of this knowledge" And this "love," small acts of individual mercy shown to others, is what we are to "add to our faith." (Eph 3:19; Romans 10:1-4; 2 Peter 1:5-8)

In John chapter 17, Jesus raises his eyes to heaven and speaks to his Father, saying, "the time has come for you to glorify your son, that he may glorify you." Jesus who was one hundred percent God and one hundred percent man, gave up his glory that he had "before the founding of the world," to become a mortal man, to sacrifice himself for man and pay the penalty of sin, buying back mankind in favor with God, reconciling man, the price being his blood. Jesus did all this, so mankind could have everlasting life and receive the very same glory Jesus had. Jesus is the everlasting life, the way and the truth. This means everlasting life, knowing (having knowledge of) the Father and the Son, Jesus. To know (have knowledge of) God is to know him intimately, personally, from him, experiencing him. This was not knowing about him, nor learning academic theology, but rather an intimate spiritual encounter with Jesus Christ and the Father. In turn, this would mean everlasting life. Knowing God is not knowing the bible, nor theology but knowing God is knowing the person. Scriptural knowledge is God's way of getting to know him, the person.

Jesus requests of his Father,

"And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." John 17:5-17

We are not to be taken out of the world but to be watched over by God, to be protected and sanctified by God's word, the truth. Jesus prays for us to be protected. He has obtained his glory through us. His prayer asks the Father that we who know him, may be one in complete unity with all others who know him intimately, which in turn is knowing the father personally on an intimate level.

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." Ephesians 1:4-5

The knowledge of God does not come through simply a bible study. No question and hour sessions, written reviews, nor the attachment to others who claim to be in union with Christ brings one to know God. Rather the knowledge of God is a 'oneness' that can only be obtained by knowing from God, not about God, by knowing him intimately as his Spirit bears witness with our spirit, that is, spirit touches spirit. No theological orthodoxy, numerical calculations, nor detailed prophetic explanations can come between him, us and all others who have an intimate and personal relationship of Spirit with Christ and the Father. We are to be one, as Jesus and the Father are one. Our glory has been "chosen by God to be in union with Christ before the founding of the world, foreordained to the adoption through Jesus Christ as sons to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."

Acts of Love and Mercy

If doctrinal issues, intellectualism and orthodox theology are not what identifies true Christians, then what is?

The Good Samaritan Showed True Love of God and Neighbor - Luke 10:29-37
To the theologically correct and self-righteous Pharisees, It was shocking to see the despised, false religious Samaritan (an apostate), with tainted Assyrian blood, & a moral law breaker to be the hero of this story, simply for an act of loving kindness.
This Samaritan who did not have accurate knowledge, did not preach, have a bible study or label this Jew as a false follower, but performed an act of loving kindness, proving himself to be the only true righteous neighbor.
Knowledge Of (Not About) God And Christ, Not Doctrines "This means everlasting life, to know (have knowledge of) the only true God and the one that you sent forth Jesus Christ" - John 17:3 Knowledge Is Love, Not Doctrines, For "God Is Love" "Everyone who loves has been born from God and gains the knowledge of God" - 1 John 4:7 (New World Translation) "He who loves is born from God and knows God." - 1 John 4:7 (Revised Standard Translation) Knowledge = Love "For in loving kindness I have taken delight, and not in sacrifice: and in the knowledge of God rather than in whole burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6) Knowing God = Helping The Afflicted "As for your father, did he not eat and drink and execute justice and righteousness ? In that case it went well with him. He pleaded the legal claim of the afflicted one and the poor one. In that case it went well. "Was that not a case of knowing me" is the utterance of Jehovah? (Jeremiah 22:15,16)

Apostle Paul states that:

"Love is the perfect bond of union." Colossians 3:14

"Love is the laws fulfillment." Romans 13:10

This love is the same that Jesus spoke of to be the identifying mark of his true deciples.

"For by this, all will know that you are my deciples, if you have love among yourselves." John 13:35

And this is the "pure language" of the true worship of God, not the unclear doctrinal knowledge that is interpreted by a supposed "slave class" or religious organization.

"For then I shall give to peoples the change to a pure language, (Internal Faith & Agape Love of our fellow man) in order for them all to call upon the name of YHWH, in order to serve him shoulder to shoulder." Zephaniah 3:9

Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verses 2 and 13:

"If I have the gift of prophesying and am acquainted with all the sacred secrets and all knowledge and if I have all the faith so as to transplant mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing ... Now, however, there remain faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love." Notice that without love, all the knowledge and faith, hope, gifts of prophesying and all the sacred secrets are worthless. So, it is not the gifts or knowledge, but love that "joins us together" with Christ. "Love is the laws fulfillment." 1 Corinthians 13:2, 13

(Zeph 3:9; John 13:34,35; Col 2:2)

True, in Hosea's day, the "knowledge of God" was lacking in the land of Israel, thus causing terrible bloodshed, but what exactly was this "knowledge of God?" Was it detailed doctrinal prophesies, interpretations and elaborate explanations? Was it the knowledge of following hundreds of rules and regulations? No, rather it was the knowledge of "loving kindness," forgiveness and mercy. This "pure language" of faith, love and mercy, is precisely the "knowledge that leads to everlasting life" and the very type of "knowledge of God that will fill the earth as the waters are covering the very sea," not the doctrinal knowledge of the existence or non existence of hellfire, immortality of the soul, 1914 & etc. (Hosea 4:1-2; Habakkuk 2:14; Isaiah 11:9; Zeph 3:9; John 17:3)

"Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed." Hosea 4:1-2

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3 (Know faith in Christ and agape love of man)

"They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of YHWH as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11:9 (The knowledge of faith in Christ and agape love of man to fill the whole earth and cover the sea)

Under the law's (Torah's) "old covenant" with Moses, the Jews were under the "curse" to obey hundreds of written detailed rules, regulations and works of sacrifice. Despite all of the legal requirements, it was still "loving kindness that Jehovah took delight in, not the sacrifices and whole burnt offerings," for the law's old covenant also stated that "you must love your fellowman as yourself" and to put faith or trust in God for salvation. (Hosea 6:6; Gal 4:5; Lev 19:18; Gen 15:6; Exodus 19:9; Heb 11:23,24)

The law's (Torah's) "old covenant," with Moses, was based on faith and love, along with the "handwritten documents against us, consisting of decrees" and "curse" of hundreds of commands, ordinances and works of sacrifices. Under the law's (Torah's) "new covenant" arrangement, with the Christ, this curse of regulations and decrees would be "blotted out" and a new unwritten covenant based on faith and love (written on hearts) would replace it. This "new covenant" would now become the law's (Torah's) true meaning, which the Christ upholds as the "law of Christ."

Jesus Christ redeemed us from the curse pronounced in the former covenant by becoming cursed on our behalf" and "wiped away the bill of charges against us. Because of the regulations, it stood as a testimony against us." Jesus, who showed complete unconditional love, brought the law or Torah to it's goal, a goal based on "faith," bringing man back into a personal relationship and reconciliation with God. (Romans 2:28-29; Jer 31:31-33; Col 2:12-14; Heb 8:13; Phil 2:9-11; Romans 5:10-11; Gal 3:13, 4:5; Gal 6:2; Gen 15:6; Exodus 19:9; Heb 11:23,24; 2 Cor 3:3)

A new strange concept of each individual having a personal and intimate relationship with God viewing him and calling him their "father" instead of his formal name Jehovah or Yahweh would now come to be. Instead, it is Jesus, who "was given a name above every name," including the name of the father, Jehovah or Yahweh (YHWH). All the rules and regulations "that stood against us" would be removed and replaced by "the kingly law of love."

And this love would be the core of what Jesus Christ taught.

"You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it is this, Your must love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments the WHOLE law hangs, and the prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40; James 2:8)

Also, 1 John 3:10-12 says:

"The children of God and the children of the Devil are evident by this fact: Everyone who does not carry on righteousness does not originate with God, neither does he who does not love his brother. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should have love for one another; not like Cain, who originated with the wicked one and slaughtered his brother." 1 John 3:10-12

The Watchtower's comments on this scripture:

"Thus, God's people are a nonviolent, global brotherhood."- The Watchtower

While this is true, what the Watchtower Society misses entirely is the fact that being a child of God and being part of a true brotherhood, is to be united by agape love, not by a centralized governing body of elders who have incorporated various bodies of rules and regulations for men to follow and obey or face expulsion with the shunning of friends and family members. True children of God are allowed the freedom to "press on to maturity," while teaching discernment, forming an invisible, internal relationship with God. But of far more importance they are to have true faith in Christ, relying on solely him to evangelize the world and not us, using a large human visible organization to do so. Our faith must be accompanied by our individual works of mercy, towards our fellow man, as few and small as that may be. This love is not the sacrifices of religious, programed and neatly packaged prescribed works of the door to door doctrinal preaching and other organizationally promoted sacrifices. True love of our fellow man neither judges "our brothers"as sinners nor shuns them for disagreeing with theological interpretations. True love is based on faith in Christ alone, apart from a mediator "slave class." True love is faith in Christ which anoints all followers with his spirit, eliminating the interpretation of an "other sheep" class of non-spirit filled Christians, as Paul stated in Romans 8:

"And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Romans 8:9

On the contrary, the "Children of the Devil" are those which enforce human authority as the ultimate obedience tool, "sitting in the seat of God" as his so called and self appointed "slave class" representative, falling nothing short as the "man of lawlessness." (Hebrews 6:1; 5:12-14; Galatians 5:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:6-12)

The early, original Christian congregation was one of an invisible, spiritual, internal brotherhood, a "royal priesthood" with only "one head" and mediator between God and men, a man Jesus Christ. What held them together? Was it theology, scriptures, meetings? Was it an external, visible human institutionalized authority structure or slave class? None of these were the unifying factors, but rather "love, the perfect bond of union" was the only true unifying factor, with individual freedom that held this spiritual nation together, the uniting factor and only identifying mark of the true followers of the Christ. (1 Peter 2:9; Colossians 3:14; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Corinthians 5:7)

Author of "Elijah, a man like us," and one of the founders of Idaho Mountain Ministries, David Roper explains:

"Those who God is making good have an extraordinary effect on others. They leave behind "strangely warmed" hearts. Others take note that we have been with Jesus. We leave behind his fragrance, an unforgettable ambiance, a sweet aroma. (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). The memory lingers and leaves others longing for more."

Those identified by Christ are those who have God's spirit and power. Roper future goes on to say:

"Spiritual power is rarely apparent. It is not a function of charm and chutzpah, nor is it a matter of vast knowledge, strength of will, or personal magnetism. Self-conscious and self-effected influence is always pretentious. When we try to be influential, we become too aggressive and intrusive. Our actions seem forced and our words ring hollow. True authority is a subtle redolence, an unaffected persuasion that pervades people's thoughts and gently goads them towards God." (1)

Works of "Mercy" Vs Works of "Sacrifice"

Works of Sacrifice   Mercy Not Sacrifice

Apostle Paul states in Galatians 2:16,

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,

Have You Not Read "I Want Mercy And Not Sacrifice"  - Math 9:13

but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

Here Apostle Paul tells us that we are declared righteous by faith only, for although the righteous Torah or law with the "old covenant" taught this teaching as well, it also consisted of "decrees," "works of sacrifices" and "curses" that were to be "blotted out" in the future by the messiah, the Christ. These "works of sacrifice," with their commandments and regulations were a "curse," not the law or Torah itself. The further perverting of the law with legalism and oral traditions of both the Pharisees and the newly converted Christians, were making "the word of God invalid," causing Apostle Paul to repeatedly emphasize that it is only with "faith" that one can find Christ, not by legalism or works of sacrifice. Obedience to rules, regulations and church or slave class interpretations were not to be the "saving" factor. Only our faith in Christ is required. This is the context of Paul's statements in his letters to the Romans, Ephesians and Galatians.

However, Apostle James states in chapter two, that
By works a man is justified and not by faith only . . . faith without works is dead.(James 2:26)

Here, there were those who saw others without adequate food and clothing and simply said, "Go your way and be warm and well fed" but did not perform works of mercy, by feeding and clothing them. These acts of mercy , not sacrifices, would be the determining factor of our faith and judgment by God, as "judgment will be without mercy toward one who does not show mercy; but mercy exalts triumphantly (wins) over judgment."

This is precisely why Jesus quoted Hosea to the Pharisees saying,

"I want mercy and not sacrifice." (Matthew (9:13)

It is only by our works of mercy, compassion, empathy and consideration (not sacrifices) of others that are required with our faith. This is the context of Apostle James words. (James 2:13, 14, 26; Galatians 2:15,16; Matthew 9:13; Hosea 6:6)

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" 1 John 3:17

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. James 2:14-19

"Even the demons believe but they shudder." Their belief is in vain, for they do not have true faith, Neither can we, if our faith is not joined with works of love, not sacrifice. For if we fail to have love and live love to our fellow man, then our faith is dead and becomes merely belief. Belief alone is not faith. Faith is a dependence, a reliance and a trust that opens God up to send us, anoint us and enter us with his Spirit, relieving us of our anxieties and trust in ourselves, which we then discipline ourselves to walk with the Spirit in showing God and our fellow man, our "brothers," mercy and agape love.

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:20-26

But if you had known what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. Mat 12:7

What is the difference between works of sacrifice and works of mercy and love ? Works of sacrifice or legalism are the following of interpretations, rules and regulations of men that are not specifically stated or "go beyond the things written" in the bible. They also include the observance of the various "sacrifices," offerings and days and seasons pronounced in the "old covenant" with Moses. The Pharisees took this much further with oral traditions and legalism, making "the word of God invalid." Today, they can include church rituals, specific meeting attendance requirements, the counting of time spent preaching, "pioneering,"  restrictions on holiday observances and the enforcement of men's interpretation of scripture to be accepted from church leaders, slave classes or governing bodies. (Matt 15)

On the other hand, works of love are just that, kind loving acts of helping others. The illustration that Jesus gave of the good Samaritan showed he was the true neighbor, as he showed mercy to the injured man. And this required no sacrifice of preaching, rule following, or organizational requirements of any kind, rather just a loving act of kindness, imitating God and Christ. Works of sacrifices, such as preaching, should only come after faith and works of love and should be motivated from the heart, not due to any external pressure from any religious organization or supposed "slave class."

Of even much higher meaning, this man being a Samaritan, was hated by the Jews. Samaritans were considered "apostates," having Assyrian blood, and false worshipers, failing to worship in Jerusalem but on Mount Samaria of their own separate kind. They were completely despised and not to even be spoke to. And here in Jesus parable, the only righteous man, is the Samaritan. A shocking story to many, having a man, a despised man from an apostate religious sect, obvious with the lack of orthodox accurate theology. Yet this Samaritan is told as more righteous than the Pharisee and the Levite, who incidentally were extremely righteous persons. The Pharisees were honest orthodox persons who had high regard for the scriptures and aimed to both live that way and have the all of Israel walk in the pure way of God's word as well. (Rom 10:10; 1 Cor 4:3; Luke 10:29-37)

Paul brings out in Romans chapter 8, that there are only two ways a man can walk, according to the flesh and according to the spirit. He goes on to state:

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature of the flesh but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ" Romans 8:9

People can show mercy and love using the works of the flesh, and Paul's words in Romans chapter 2 shows a strong possibility that they may be "excused" and given a another chance to obtain faith in the Christ. However, the above shows, that in order to walk in accord with spirit (of true agape love), people must both have the spirit and belong to Christ." This requires faith in Christ. (1 John 3:23)

Many Christian denominations preach "love your neighbor," yet they are convinced that this is limited to helping primarily those in their religious organization. Apostle Paul speaks otherwise saying, "Let us work good towards all, especially towards those in the (Christian) faith." "Working good towards all is not limited to a preaching work, but is as the good Samaritan performed, an act of loving kindness, and in the case of Christians, a loving kindness that comes from God's spirit that "dwells inside you." When Jesus asked "Who of these three seems to you to have made himself neighbor to the man that fell among the robbers?" Then a certain man answered Jesus saying "The one that acted mercifully toward him, (the Samaritan). Jesus then said to him, Go your way and be doing the same yourself."

The fact that this Samaritan did not have accurate knowledge, being from the Samaritans, a false

The Two Mandatory Requirements For A Christian Faith In Christ & Agape Love

"Add To Your Faith . . . Love" - 2 Peter 1:5-8

religious sect split off of Judaism, and yet it was only this man that proved to be the righteous person and true neighbor, shows that accurate knowledge was not the issue here, nor a requirement to do God's will, but "loving one's neighbor" with acts of kindness and mercy were the only determining factor. It was not required for this person to be from the so called true religious human visible organization, but instead the invisible "royal priesthood" of those with faith in the Christ. It shows that any person on earth that is loving their fellow man is the true neighbor and is doing God's will. As far as living the law of love, it is not limited to those in the same religious denomination or faith but rather acts of mercy "toward all" persons, regardless of their cultural, sexual, political, and religious views will determine each individual's outcome. The difference though with those who follow the Christ are, their acts of love are to be from the spirit, which the only way to obtain is by having faith in the Christ. Those who do so by the "works of the flesh," outside the spirit, are still doing it, just as "those who do not have the law, but do the things of the law, prove to have the law written on hearts." Faith and love is the spiritual view, the "pure language," "the perfect bond of union," and those who live it both "know God" and are "born from God," 

"For everyone that loves is born from God and knows God" and "without faith it is impossible to please God." (1 John 4:7-8; Romans 2:14-16; Romans 8:1-10; Hebrews

In the account of Jesus followers, Mary and Martha, whose home Jesus often entered, he always found it perfectly suited to his needs. He began to teach, and Mary, who instinctively knew the most crucial, pressing need of the day, sat at his feet, absorbing his presence and everything he had to say about faith, mercy and love, the keys to life.

Martha, who had much to do for Jesus, busied herself with sacrifices of work to please Jesus, becoming "distracted by all the preparations that had to be made, hustling about the place to make more presentable, doing things for Jesus that he didn't want done at all. Her sacrifices blinded her to the more important things, knowing what faith, agape love and mercy is from the master himself.

Jesus said in his kindly way that what Martha was doing was much ado about nothing.

"Martha, Martha," he said, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only on thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42

Mary was internalizing her faith and love for Jesus. Martha was trying to do the external works, the sacrifices of God. (2) It isn't any different today, as many are so busy performing the sacrifices of preaching theology, meeting attendance and scrupulously obeying hundreds of legal requirements that a religious authority or slave class requires, that they blindly loose perspective on the real meaning of the Christ, faith, agape love, mercy and forgiveness of our fellow man. Like Martha, they become worried and upset for their failure to live up to the external works that are demanded from them, failing to internalize both their faith and love. (Luke 10:38-42)

"Perhaps in our day, Jesus might have framed the story of the Good Samaritan, as the parable of the good homosexual New Ager. There are people in our world, like homosexual individuals or those who embrace New Age theology, who may well be more compassionate than the majority of people found in a Christian church on any given Sunday. Some homosexuals, for instance, give all they have to help friends who are dying of AIDS. It would be hard to find many evangelicals who match their compassion! ....... we must recognize some Pagans will surpass our good deeds ..................... people who we despise for their so called lack of rightness can actually be more righteous than us." - Extreme Righteousness , page 56 - Tom Hovestol (Italics added)

So when a religious group uses the bible to label all those that are not part of their group as lacking "accurate knowledge" and are therefore "worldly," "workers of lawlessness," members of "Babylon the Great" and the "unclean thing," they are NOT showing love of neighbor. Can you imagine if the good Samaritan only preached doctrinal knowledge, but did not act merciful towards the Jew, both physically and materially? He did not preach, have a bible study or label this Jew as a false follower, but performed an act of loving kindness. Preaching God's word is certainly showing love to others, but is simply "sacrifice" and not a requirement for salvation and doing so alone is not being a "doer of the word." Faith, mercy, love and kindness towards all, far out weighs a mere academic study of scripture" and are the only true requirements and obligation of man.

"Through Christ let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is the fruit of lips which make a public declaration to his name. Moreover, do not forget the doing of good and the sharing of things with others for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." Hebrews 13:15

These "acts of mercy" or sacrifices of human kindness and forgiveness are precisely what the Roman army officer Cornelius performed, bringing him favor with God and Christ, despite being a Pagan with inaccurate knowledge. His mercy to others opened the way for him to obtain the only knowledge needed: the knowledge of the faith in Christ (Hebrews 13:15-16; Galatians 6:10; Luke 10:36-37; Matthew 7:21-23; Rev 17:1-2; 18:4-10; Romans 10:2; James 1:20; Acts 10:1-2)

What is God's will for mankind?

"It is that all men be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth"

What is that "knowledge of truth?"

That "there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all men,"(2 Timothy 2:5),

A man also being a part of God who acts as a doorway to get to God and both taught and demonstrated how persons should treat their fellow man.

This knowledge is not any elaborate detailed scriptural information, but simply the faith and love of God's free gift, Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ said

"I am the way, the life and the 'truth."

As noted above, persons having this "knowledge of the truth" are not those who simply confess their sins and put faith in the Christ without works of love, or those who follow all the rules and and laws, for this is inferior to the "doing of good and sharing of things with others,"  forgiving others and "acting mercifully," emotionally, physically and materially to all others, regardless of their religious following. (1 Timothy 2:3-5; John 14:6; Heb 13:15-16)

While Jehovah's Witnesses will put emphasis on intellectualism, "taking in knowledge" and "sacrifice" for salvation, many churches, but not all, will put emphasis on simply verbal affirmations of "having faith" or "believing" in Christ without works of mercy, led by the spirit. Both of these roads of thinking overlook the very core of Christ's teachings, love and mercy, for it is acts of mercy to others that determines the true meaning and following of the Christ.  For a Christian's worship is narrow, without the freedom to put selfishness and greed above kindness to others, for we must

"Exert ourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow gate." Luke 13:24

This is not through a rigid belief system and restrictive way containing vigorous "sacrifices." Nor is it simply "having faith" or "believing" in Christ without exhibiting the works led by the spirit that are to dwell inside you, the works of showing impartial loving acts of kindness to others. Salvation is obtained through faith and impartial vigorous love, showing acts of kindness, both to those in the faith and outside of the faith, with no particular limitations or rules, outside of faith and love. It is as the good Samaritan performed in Jesus' illustration, an act of loving kindness. Anyone can say they "have faith" and "believe" in Christ, but unless they "love their neighbor as themselves" they do not truly have faith, knowledge or believe in Christ and make the "word of God invalid," being hearers only and not doers of the word by showing mercy. (John 17:3; Galatians 3:8; 5:14; 6:10; Luke 13:24; Matt 22:37-39; James 1:20; Matt 15:6-9)

Faith In Christ

Receiving God's Spirit

Only Those With Faith in Christ will receive God's Spirit, with the "mental strength," "an inner peace that excels all thoughts" and the "power what is beyond normal" giving a "way out" for survival, while living.

HOWEVER,

Those Without Faith who unknowingly follow the law of Christ are not God's spiritual children, but are in some way "excused" by God, as Paul separates the ignorant from the evil. This could mean a future opportunity to put faith in Christ under better conditions and obtain "everlasting life."(Romans 2:14-16; 25-29)

As defined later in this article, those "without faith who unknowingly follow the law of Christ are excused and acceptable" to God. That is because God looks for "mercy and not sacrifice." It is only this mercy and loving kindness to others, that truly exhibits the "fruitage of the spirit," not the performance of sacrifices of a person who has faith. However it is ONLY with faith in Christ that one can obtain the mental strength, endurance, "peace that excels all thoughts" and "power beyond what is normal" that God supplies. Yet without having this faith and trust in the Christ and power that God supplies, those who perform acts of mercy, compassion and kindness to others are still doing God's will and for this they will be "excused" for those actions. This does not mean that those who do not have faith will be "children of God," nor will they be walking in agreement to the spirit. The love they show will still be the "works of the flesh" and Paul states that those who walk in the flesh, "this means death." But are those who live a life of love, despite coming from the flesh, really "sinning against the spirit, which will not be forgiven?" It appears not to be the case but instead they are sinning against the Christ which will be forgiven." For this the love and mercy they show will separate them from evil people and according to Romans chapter 2, they will be "excused." It is possible that this could mean an escaping a "cut off" with a second chance under totally different conditions, where Christ will be revealed to them, to have a second opportunity to put faith in Christ and then becoming part of God's family and bride of Christ. At this time they will have a second opportunity to put faith in Christ. But in the meantime their love to others, despite being of "works of the flesh" and not of the "spirit," will "excuse" them, possibly with this opportunity."(Rom 2:14-15, 20-25; Romans 8)

The question one has to ask is, what is faith? It certainly is more than showing mercy to others, and at the same time, it is not simply believing in Christ, making a verbal affirmation like so many do. Faith must include trust in God and his promises. Trust is more then just words.

When we trust someone, we take chances with them, that we would not take with other people. Because we trust this person, we are willing to give them access to areas in our lives that leave us open and vulnerable. We are willing to risk personal loss, because we trust this person always to act in our best interests. This is the trust we must have in God, in order to please him. Not blind faith, or acting foolishly against our common sense and intellect. Not acting on out of our emotions, overriding the power to reason properly, which gives us a clear understanding and not mere intellectualism, which blinds persons. We can not call that faith. But using common sense, listening to God, trusting is his word, the bible (not "slave classes" or governing bodies of men), being willing to act on those words and taking some chances and risk in our lives, this is faith. Because we trust and believe in God to the extent that we will leave ourselves open.

"Faith is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even thought we cannot see it up ahead." - Hebrews 11:1 - Living Bible.

Notice that faith is having total confidence and assurance.

We "must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who see him, for without faith it is impossible to please God." But faith is more than assurance, "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."- Hebrews 11:1-6

Faith is real ! Faith can be compared to obtaining a title deed to a piece of property. The property is not seen (only the paper), and to those without faith in a piece of paper, it lacks evidence, yet it is the very substance of a binding agreement, the evidence that assures you the property truly belongs to you. You put your trust in this deed.

Faith is not blind, but at the same time it is action performed without total certainty and a without a full understanding. It is willing to take a chance because we trust in God and his caring for us. Only after the action is taken does full understanding take place. As Apostle James puts it,

"Let us keep asking in faith, not doubting at all, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about. In fact, let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is an indecisive man, unsteady in all his ways." (Heb 11:1, 6; James 1:5)

As Hebrews states:

"Without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6

Faith is the only way we can receive God's holy spirit to dwell inside us, giving us the "power beyond what is normal" to use and open this faith that God supplies. It is the only way we can actually walk according to the spirit and show agape love, putting mercy ahead of sacrifices. Faith is something we give to God and he gives back to us. No matter how many "works" of sacrifice we perform, it is only true faith in Christ, that pleases God and supplies us his spirit that enables us to live in agreement there of. This in turn, moves us to showing "love and fine works" to "all persons, "especially those in the faith." (2 Cor 4:7; Heb 10:24-25; 11: ; Gal 6:10)

Without Love of Our Fellow Man, There Can Be No Faith In Christ

Without Faith In Christ, There Can Be No Love of Our Fellow Man (With God's Spirit) 1 John 4; Romans 8:9

Without Both Neither One Is Valid

To have faith is to take action before having complete understanding. It is action taken with a degree of uncertainty. Faith is the substance that we hold on to in place of the promises we are waiting for. The "great cloud of witnesses" in Hebrew chapter 11 did not receive their reward, in their lifetime and were willing to leave their places and locations of religious and economic security for the promise of living in the "city with real foundations," "heavenly Jerusalem with myriad's of angels." Yet they had their faith in God in place of it. Their faith acted as the substance of God's promise, although they did not see it and could only hope for, their faith also was all the evidence they needed. (Heb 11; Heb 12:22; 9:24)

Having trust in God and Christ, we are not supposed to let worries overwhelm us. Were told that if we truly "seek the kingdom first," with our faith, which gives us God's spirit, in turn enables us to show acts of mercy, not sacrifice to our fellow man, we are promised that he will watch over us. He will not pay our bills, cure us of illness, nor prevent the physical and mental abuse others do to us, nor feed us physical food, but what he will do, is give us the "power beyond what is normal," a "peace that excels all thoughts" and the "strength" of his spirit to deal with the hardships we face, a mental strength to endure. This is why Jesus repeatedly told his deciples to have faith and not to be anxious or let the anxiety of this system of things cause them to loose their faith.

The major step, and apparently the only step to really find God, is to discover God's Spirit. With this, a revealing of truth occurs, faith is strengthened and agape love can be shown to others. The "Spirit bears witness with ours," confirms our faith as one of "God's children." It is a strange encounter, one that brings us to truth, power and the meaning of life. It is an intimate connection and a supplied "comfort," "a power what is beyond normal" and truly supernatural. Obtaining God's Spirit is only way a person can walk in it. All other ways to walk are those of the flesh, limiting our walk to two ways, the flesh and the Spirit. Solitude, prayer and meditation are key ways to make room in yourself to allow this Spirit to enter, this must be supplied with a degree of faith. Faith acts as a doorway to the Spiritual realm, which allows God's Spirit to enter and work on our hearts. It will always be a fight from walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit, until the day we die. But in the meantime, with faith and our daily connection with God, we can be strengthened right here, right now and prepare our way for a "kingdom that can't be shaken." (Romans 8: Galatians 4:5-7; Luke 4:14; 2 Corinthians 4:6-8; 1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 12:28)

What about "preaching the word?" For Apostle Paul tells Timothy

"I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, Preach the word, be at it urgently in favorable season, in troublesome season, teaching, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Paul even went further to state about himself,

"Woe is me, if I did not declare the good news." 1 Corinthians 9:16

As Christians we are commissioned by Jesus Christ to:

"Make deciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20

The questions are, what are the "teachings" that Christ "commanded" his deciples? What are the teachings of the "good news" that we are to preach? Doctrinal explanations that require a detailed question and answer bible study? What is "fully accomplishing your ministry?" (2 Tim 4:1-5; 1 Cor 9:16; Matt 28:19,20)

The answer are in Jesus words at John 13:34 and 1 John 3:23

"I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another, just as I have love you, that you also love one another." John 13:34

"This is his commandment, that we (1) have faith in the name of his son Jesus Christ and (2) be loving one another." 1 John 3:23

It is also as Apostle John states, repeating Christ's words, "this is his (God's) commandment, that we have faith in the name of his son Jesus Christ and be loving one another." The good news is about Jesus Christ being God's son, his death, resurrection and ascension to heaven, sacrificing himself as a ransom for mankind, reconciling man with God, opening the opportunity for men to "enter into the kingdom of the heavens" and rule along with Christ. But of higher importance, which

"Love of Christ surpasses knowledge" Ephesians 3:19

The 'love of Christ surpasses" the doctrinal knowledge stated above, and is absolutely necessary, are Christ's teachings of "love of neighbor" and "mercy," which means loving God,

"For on these two commandments the whole law hangs." Matthew 22:40

The only way to fully obtain God's love is to have faith in Christ and be anointed with his spirit, enabling a person to walk by the spirit:

"Without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6

"If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Romans 8:9

Jesus not only taught this agape love, but also performed this mercy to the poor, the sinners and those with hardships and illnesses, having "pity for them." This teaching and performing lo

"We entreat you not to accept the undeserved kindness of God and miss its purpose." - 1 Cor 6:1

"Sorry brother, I can't help you today, I have to go out preaching" "I can't count my time"

ve and mercy to all others is the "preaching of the good news" and not the mere academic knowledge of scriptures and verses, with a detailed question and answer bible study with elaborate intellectual explanations. It is the actual emotional, physical and material actions of love and mercy towards all others, regardless of their religious persuasion. This is precisely what Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to perform, when he told him to "preach the word."

For preaching words are nothing but refuse if no love and mercy are shown as Apostle John so aptly states,

"Little children, let us love, neither in word nor with the tongue, but in deed and truth." 1 John 3:18

Certainly, it would not be following Christ, to withhold helping a fellow brother, physically, materially or emotionally, because you believe it is more important to go out preaching the doctrinal knowledge of the scriptures to people. (1 John 3:18, 23; James 2:13; Matt 24:14; 9:36; 11:12; 10:28)

Is the "good news of the kingdom," that is to be preached, about a literal government that will bring the earth to a paradise ? Or is it a message of simply admitting that one is a sinner and "believing in Christ," without truly showing "love of neighbor?" Are those the messages of salvation that are to be declared through out the entire earth and a witness to all nations ? (Math 24:14) Apparently not, for the good news that was preached by the apostles in the bible is about repenting and putting faith in Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, thus opening the way to enter into the kingdom of God, that is heaven. (1 Cor 15:52) Nowhere can it be found that Jesus and the first century Christian congregation "preached the word" of a paradise earth with a literal government and a detailed numerical explanation for the invisible arrival of Christ. Nor can it be found the church doctrines of the trinity, hellfire, rapture, Pope and Saint mediatorship. But of far more significance, "surpassing" this doctrinal knowledge, the "good news" was about love and mercy to God and neighbor,

"For love is the laws fulfillment." Romans 13:10

Any that preach a different "good news" and put it above "love of neighbor," would come under Apostle Paul's words at Galatians 1:6-9,

"However, if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond what we declared to you as good news, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:6-9

It certainly appears true, that God has a heavenly kingdom and those in God's kingdom "will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years." They are the "seed of Abraham," "circumcised in their hearts," the new

The Central Theme of Jesus Preaching was not about a kingdom literal government with various legal requirements and scrupulous sacrifices to conform to, but rather it was about justice, mercy, faithfulness and to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation and keep oneself without spot (materialism, greed and lust as a life pursuit) from the world. (Hosea 6:6, Micah 6:8, Zech 7:9-10; James 1:27)

"chosen race, a "royal priesthood, a holy nation." However, this came secondary to the message of "this good news of the kingdom," which was to exercise faith in Christ, trusting in him, becoming weak, letting go of our own efforts and thus receiving God's Spirit which then empowers us the ability to walk in accord with the Spirit and show agape love on an individual basis to the people we meet, gaining entrance into this "kingdom of the heavens." Today "this" is still the same exact message that needs to be preached to the entire earth, not the knowledge of a detailed governmental arrangement that has been invisibly present operating in heaven since the year 1914 and will soon extend it's ruler ship over the earth restoring it to a paradise, or a detailed trinity explanation and other church doctrines. The message of the "good news" was without elaborate, lengthy and detailed explanations of scripture, as shown in Acts 2:38:

"Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit." Acts 2:38

(1 Pet 2:9, Rev 20:; Romans 9:6-8; 2:28-29)

In this situation, in Acts chapter two, as with all others in the Christian Greek scriptures, all of the 3000 or so

The Good News Preached In The Bible	VS	The Good News Preached By The Watchtower
Exercising Faith Solely In Christ	__	Using a so called appointed "Faithful And Discreet Slave Class" as mediator between Christ and men.
Gaining Entrance Into The Kingdom Of The Heavens	__	Living On Earth Under A Governmental Arrangement That Has Been Invisibly Present Operating In Heaven Since The Year 1914 And Will Soon Extend It's Rulership Over The Earth, Restoring It To A Paradise
Becoming An Anointed, Spirit Filled, Born Again, Child of God, New Creation And Spiritual Jew Romans 8:9	__	Becoming A Non-Anointed Christian, Interpreted To Be Part Of The "Other Sheep" In John 10:16 And The "Great Crowd" Of Revelation 7:14, Who Are Supposedly A Non-Spirit Filled, Non-Born Again Group of Christians
Showing Works Of Love And Mercy - Love Of Neighbor	__	Performing The Works Of Sacrifice Of Preaching Door To Door, Weekly Meeting Attendance, Rule Following, Shunning Former Members & etc.

people who got baptized, neither had a detailed governmental arrangement restoring a paradise earth explained to them, requiring a 6 month study of a book that is written and published by a 20th century man made organization, nor did they have the "trinity doctrine" or a "hellfire" doctrine taught to them. Rather they repented for their sins and gained faith in (took in knowledge of) God and Christ::

"This means life everlasting, having faith in the only true God and the he sent forth Jesus Christ." John 17:3

They were baptized the very same day and all gained the hope of a heavenly reward. (Heb 3:1) Whether they were baptized by a sprinkling or immersion of water is of no importance, "straining out the gnat" and is completely overlooking the teaching of Christ, faith and love. The people recognized the need to put faith in Jesus Christ, "becoming weak to become strong," his ransom sacrifice and accepting him as their savior in order to gain acceptance with God, and receive the power of his spirit to "dwell inside" them. For this they were baptized. But this knowledge and baptism would be futile, if they were not letting go our their own strengths and abilities and relying on Christ for strength and guidance, receiving the spirit and walking with it by imitating Jesus, following his commands of love, demonstrating their faith by their individual works of love and "mercy," no matter how small and few they were, and not walking with the flesh of the "sacrifices" of preaching doctrines, hours spent in field service, meeting attendance and religious organizational works. Their faith along with showing love and "mercy" to others, in imitation of Christ, was their obligation to fellow men. They were to walk with the spirit and not the flesh.

"This" was the good news declared to them in the bible and is the same good news that must be preached and

Sin and Salvation were the subjects Jesus spoke about in almost all of his dealings with people.

1. We're all sinners. 2. We all must have faith in Christ. 3. We all must be anointed, Born Again with Spirit. 4. We all must walk in the Spirit, with love of our fellow man.

taught to the world's population today, not a detailed doctrinal study that requires 3 one hour sessions with the local elders to determine whether you agree with the Watchtower organization's unique interpretations of the bible, coupled with a requirement of attendance at various meetings and counted hours spent out preaching to persons. Nor was it becoming part of a certain denomination, identified by a different name then Christians. It was not about the many righteous Saints who wrote and taught after the bible was completed, nor was it the many doctrines that they and various church counsels decided to be church dogma. Instead, the good news was about "the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge." (James 2:26; Rev 20:12; Romans 13:10; Matthew 22:37-39; 9:13; 24:14; Heb 13:15,16; 1 Peter 2:21; Eph 3:19)

David Roper, writer of Elijah, a man like us, Discovery House Publishers, explains preaching the good news in this way:

"We must be faithful where we are befriending one or two people, if that's all we can do, loving them and imparting God's truth to them. As Francis Schaeffer used to say, "There are no little places and there are no little people." Every person in every place is of infinite value to God. "If there were only one of us," Augustine said, "Jesus would still have died."

"Who despises the day of small things?" asked one of Haggai's contemporaries (Zechariah 4:10) The answer of course, is that we do. Small has fallen on hard times, inclined as we are to equate size with success. Small is now a value judgment: If we're limited to one or two, we're hardly worth anything at all.

Some people look good with the masses but fail miserably when it comes to one or two. Yet our love for one person is the test of our love for all. Authentic Christianity is this: "to look after orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27). Reality reveals itself to quiet acts of mercy and goodness that no one sees or applauds-but God."

An Example of
Preaching The Good News

Take the example of Zacchaeus, a tax collector that the Jews looked on as a man who sold his soul to the Devil, a man who worked for the Romans and extorted money from people. To them, he was on his way to Genhenna. He was as what we consider today a drug pusher, a pimp, or a trafficker in kiddie porn, but apparently his heart was searching for God. No one took this man seriously, nor did anyone care, except Jesus. Notice how Jesus preached the good news: "To the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind and to release the oppressed." (Luke 4:18)

Jesus picked Zacchaeus out of the crowd and invited him to eat and drink with him. Jesus wanted to be this man's friend.

"He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a `sinner."

"All the people began to mutter" that this man was a low life, no good person, and who is this Jesus that he should show kindness to him? Who is he to even to invite himself over his house yet and socialize with him? The righteous religious leaders would have thought: who is this Jesus to invite himself inside the home of a sinner, a man who does not follow the religious laws and fails to obey the religious organization? Jesus did not judge this man, nor all the other so called sinners. His "Good News" was to preach faith in himself with the fruitage of agape love, both showing and living agape love as he did this. He came to "save what was lost." The end result, Zacchaeus was saved and claimed:

"Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Luke 19:8

Jesus said:

"Today, salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:9-10

Jesus did not count his time preaching doctrines to Zacchaeus, nor the quoting of detailed scriptural explanations, nor did he preach an obedience to a visible human organization to get to God. The Good News that he preached to Zacchaeus was not about 1914, pioneering, slave classes, holiday observances, political involvement, trinity doctrines or meeting attendance in a human religious organization. His Good News was the teaching of faith in the Son of Man, with mercy and love, which took in all of humanity, both the Jews and the Gentiles.

People Who Do The Works of God

After all the studying and learning of various scriptures and the thousands of interpretations, the bottom line is simply faith and acts of love through Christ Jesus. True, Knowledge is important and is needed to understand the "deeper things of God," yet "love surpasses knowledge" (1 Cor 2;10) (Eph 3:19)

"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" 1 Cor 8:1

The golden rule remains in affect and fulfills the entire law "All things therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them; this, in fact is what the Law and the Prophets mean." (Matthew 7:12) No matter how extensive the sacrifices are and how well a person may be excelling in a religion, such as being a bishop, cardinal, district overseer, circuit overseer and governing body member, without showing love, mercy and kindness to ALL persons,  regardless of their religious belief , which is the same as showing this to Christ himself, it is completely worthless in God's eyes, for all humanity are considered Christ's brothers, not merely a small "anointed class" or those who call themselves Christians. Faith with acts of love and mercy through Christ Jesus are the ONLY identifying marks of true Christians. No eloquent talks, high sounding titles and long hours spent in the preaching work, can take the place of showing loving kindness to others, for it is only "love that is the perfect bond of union." (Matthew 25:40; 1 John 4:20,21; 1 John 3:16-17, 23; Col 3:14)

I personally find as an example of a person who truly exhibited "the love of Christ" to be the Nobel Prize winner, Mother Teresa. Here is a person who literally, gave up her entire life to help, love and show mercy to other people,

Mother Teresa

"Just allow people to see Jesus in you, to see how you lead a pure life, so se how you deal with your family, to see how much peace there is in your family. then you can look straight into their eyes and say "This is the way." You speak from life, you speak from experience."

such as the homeless and dying. One does not have to be a follower of the Catholic church and believe the many erroneous interpretations and rules of the church, to recognize the love and mercy shown by Mother Teresa. For the "mercy" and love that she performed, truly demonstrated her faith and showed love of God and neighbor which far outweigh any erroneous "sacrifice" she may have followed in her obedience to church teachings. She along with every other human being on earth, will have to "render an account" individually for her life's actions. To classify her as a member of "Babylon The Great" and dismiss her as a "worker of lawlessness," as the Watchtower Society does, is to overlook the very teaching of Christ. For "love is the laws fulfillment" and "surpasses the knowledge" that is erroneous. In my opinion, any religion that puts sacrifice, with it's technical interpretations of scripture, ahead of love and mercy is part of "Babylon The Great" and "not showing love to Christ's brothers," which in turn "can not be loving God either." (John 4:20-21, Rev 17:1-2; 18:4-10, Matthew 7:21-23, 9:13, Eph 3:19, Matthew 25:34-46, Romans 14:12)

Some will argue with all of this and say that in John chapter 6 it states "we must work for the food that does not perish" and showing mercy and love alone is not sufficient. Yet what is the "food that does not perish?" Is it purely the works of preaching of hundreds of doctrinal interpretations? No it is not, for Jesus further states the true meaning of the spiritual food in the same chapter 6,

"I am the bread of life And He that comes to me will not get hungry at all" ... "For this is the will of my father, that everyone that beholds the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life." John 6:51

Clearly then, "working for the food that does not perish" is simply "exercising faith in Christ" by

What Are The Works Of God ?

"What shall we do to work the works of God? In answer Jesus said to them: This is the work of God, that you {believe} {exercise faith} in him whom that One sent forth" - John 6:28-29

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." - Heb 11:1

"Faith without deeds of "love and mercy" (NOT deeds of sacrifice) is dead" - James 2:8, 13, 26

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" - Galatians 5:4-6

showing and teaching others about the works of mercy and loving kindness of Christ Jesus, not a scheduled, prepackaged preaching work, weekly meeting requirement or detailed elaborate explanation of scripture or any other works of sacrifice. Rather, the preaching work and other works of sacrifice would only come after faith and works of mercy, and would only come "from the heart," not from a religious organization or supposed "slave class" with a prepackaged, preprogrammed, organized work, for the intellectual and theological teachings of scripture are far less important then practicing mercy to others and is not a requirement for God's approval. (John 6:25-40, Romans 10:10)

Does God take sides in war? It certainly appears that God does not, and has no involvement, what so ever, with the many internal and external disagreements and wars, of the nations. Prayers to God are only answered "according to his will," which is the "knowledge" and "works" of "love" and "mercy." God does not select one nation over another, "for in every nation the man that fears God a and works righteousness is acceptable to him." It is also evident that just as God does not intervene in human affairs in regards to much suffering and atrocities, until his future "appointed time," that he also applies the same non intervention in the carnal warfare of the nations of mankind.

Love Of Neighbor

But what about "love of neighbor?" Would not love of neighbor restrict the action of warfare of the true servants of Christ? On the surface, the answer would appear to be yes, "for he that does not love his brother, who he has seen, can not be loving God, who he has not seen." Are there any exceptions? Those Christian denominations that are pacifists claim that their refusal to engage in warfare identifies them as the true Christians, truly "showing love among themselves" and "love of neighbor," making them "no part of the world." But is total and complete pacifism, in all cases, really the identifying mark of true Christians? Or are there any exceptions? (John 15:19-21; 1 John 5:14; Acts 10:34-35; 1 John 13:35)

The Hebrews Engaged In Carnal Warfare

True, in in Hebrew scriptures, God used his chosen people, the physical nation of Israel, to engage in carnal warfare, taking their side, actively supporting, fighting and shedding blood for them against other nations. However under the "new covenant," or Christian arrangement, God would choose people "out of all nations," who would make up a "spiritual nation of Israel," a "Heavenly Jerusalem." "For in every nation the man that fears God and works righteousness is acceptable to him."

Jesus Christ And His Deciples Did Not Use Carnal Warfare

Jesus Christ, "the exact reflection of God," conquered the world with his faith. In his weakness of allowing and submitting to wickedness, he bought mankind back to God with his perfect blood. "For the son of man came as a ransom in exchange for many." As "ambassadors of Christ," can true Christians be killing one another and still be loving on another? Are there any exceptions? (Matt 20:28)

Jesus' Instructions Not To Live By The Sword
In Personal Disputes

What did the mediator of the new covenant, Jesus Christ, teach about warfare? He first instructed his deciples to preach among the Jews. Since they were a hospitable people, he instructed them not to take food pouches, extra garments and their weapons, swords. However, at a later time, when he instructed his deciples to preach, he specifically told them to bring their swords, even selling their outer garments to purchase one. The very next day, when Judas Iscariot came with soldiers to take Christ away to be arrested, Peter drew out his sword and cut off one of the soldier's ear. Jesus immediately healed the soldier and told Peter to "return your sword to its place, for those who live by the sword, will die by the sword." (Heb 12:22; 9:24,15; Matt 10:10; 26:51-52; Luke 9:3; 22:35-36; Acts 10:34-35)

Why did Jesus first instruct his deciples to take their swords with them and then tell Peter not to use his, on the arresting soldier, the very next day? Certainly, this was not some type of object lesson, as the Watchtower Society and some other religious groups would like to interpret. Rather, swords or weapons, have both an allowable and non allowable use. For instance, as in the above case with Jesus, Peter decided to fight against the governmental arrangement, which acts as "God's minister." Those who live by violence to settle personal disputes are not loving their neighbor but are enemies of God. The exception would be self defense from an attacker.

Apostle Paul's Approval Of
The Governments Use Of The Sword

Apostle Paul, when speaking about human governments, states that they act as "God's minister" to both those who do good and bad. "If you are doing what is bad, be in fear: for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword; for it is God's minister." Back in Paul's day, there were no police forces in Israel and Rome, for there solely existed the Roman armies and the Sanhedrin Court, who administered the "sword" to "those who were doing what is bad." The Roman armies would thus engage in individual, group and national disturbances. This of course, included carnal warfare. On the other hand, to live by the rule of using the sword or violence to settle personal disputes, is not in harmony with Christ's teachings. (Romans 13:4; 12:17-21)

"A Time For War, A Time For Peace"
- Proverbs 3:

When it comes to warfare, "Each of us will render an account for himself to God." Wars have different causes and it is up to each individual, himself, to decide whether their conscience permits involvement. Each individual must determine himself what the line is between "living by the sword" and the "superior authorities" "bearing the sword" and if, in each and every case, going to war and killing other people is against Christ's teachings of loving one's neighbor, or if there are any exceptions. However, rather then an entire religious denomination be viewed as blood guilty for condoning warfare, it is "each individual that will render and account himself for his actions." (Romans 14:12)

During World War II, Nazi Germany with Adolph Hitler came very close to global domination and would have most likely succeeded if it were not for Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States involvement in the war. On the other hand, the war in Iraq with the hostile takeover of the oil wells in Kuwait, is an entirely different type of war. The Vietnam war was also of a completely different nature. Each individual must decide for himself whether this pertains to the governments as "God's minister" that "bears the sword" or "not to live by the sword" to settle personal disputes. Each one must also decide about involvement in warfare, including the consequences, and will "render and account for himself to God." As King Solomon put it, "For everything there is an appointed time ... for every affair under the sun ... a time to kill and a time to heal ... a time for war and a time for peace (Ecc 3:1,3,8)

For every action there comes responsibility. Pacifism can be both good and bad, both Christian and Un-Christian. When King Saul showed a degree of pacifism by refusing to put ALL the people to death, it was considered a lack of "obedience," holding him responsible by God. When Eli refused to punish his two wicked sons, all three of them were held accountable. Another wards, pacifism can be both serving God and not serving God. For if one government uses the "sword" to stop "those who are doing bad," they are helping the innocent from suffering and acting as "God's minister," however if the same government refuses to use the "sword" on those "doing bad," allowing them to create anarchy, destruction and murder, then they are accountable for their refusal and prevention of the suffering of innocent people. Also, if the same government uses the sword on innocent people, it is up to each individual's conscience of what "living by the sword" constitutes. No two circumstances are exactly alike. (1 Samuel 15:20-22; 3:12-14)

At the same token if one uses the "sword" settle personal disputes, "he will die by the sword," however if that same persons uses the "sword" as direction from "Gods minister," the "superior authorities," the human governments, for the punishment of those "doing bad," it can be said that this person is either doing God's will, or not going against God's will.

"We Do Not Wage Warfare According To The Flesh"
- 2 Corinthians 10:3, 4

Apostles Paul words at 2 Corinthians 10:3 and 4 state, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage warfare according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning ... reasoning's and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God ... we are bringing every thought into captivity to make it obedient to Christ." Does this relate to carnal warfare? What does the context show? The context of this chapter shows Paul to be speaking about himself not to be using "bold measures against some of the Corinthians who assume his behavior to be dictated by human weakness," "as if he walked according to the flesh." No Paul did not use the "fleshly" way of "boasting, "recommending" and "trusting in himself," using his own "authority" as a "weapon" to "fight his battles against the Corinthians. Here, the Corinthians were saying about Paul, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but his presence in person is weak and his speech contemptible." Still, although Paul walked according to the flesh, he did not use the fleshly warfare of boasting and exercising his authority over others. "For not the one who recommends himself is approved, but the man whom God recommends." Clearly, the context, of 1 Corinthians chapter 10, does not have anything to do with carnal warfare between the nations. To quote this above scripture in support of the wrongness of carnal warfare, is to completely misquote the words out of context. (1 Cor 10)

"Nation Will Not Lift Up Sword Against Nation,
Neither Will They Learn War Anymore" - Isaiah 2

As far as Isaiah chapter 2 and Micah chapter 4, where it speaks of God's servants "beating their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears" and "Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore." These words are obviously future prophecy. Nations are still warring just as they have from the beginning. Starvation, disease and suffering still exist today as from the beginning. Only after God finally steps in at his "appointed time" can the above scriptures have any fulfillment. To claim that any Christians are not in harmony with the above, is to say they are going against a prophecy, not a commandment. Our commandment is to "love one another." In some cases defending a nation against an oppressor can be loving, while in other cases fighting for a nation can be wicked. Each one of us must use our own "perceptive powers to distinguish what is right and wrong" on every individual circumstance. (Hab 2:3; Rev 11:18; Dan 2:44; 12:7)

No Part of This World

Jesus Christ instructed his followers to be "no part of the world." Not to be "taken out of the world" but to be no part of it. Why were they no part of it ? Because Jesus "chose them out of the world" as his deciples and heirs of the kingdom. But how were they to be not part of it ? Was he ruling out all political, economic and social involvement in the present world ? No, he did not state this, but rather warned his followers of the coming persecution they would receive for putting faith in him and following his teachings of faith, mercy and love, including the moral code and preaching to others about the Christ. This is how Jesus followers would be "no part of the world." (John 17:11, 14-19)

This moral decadence and selfishness of the world are precisely what the context of Apostle James words are about in chapter 4, stating that there are many "arguments and fights," coming from the selfish desires of persons, while many "pray but do not receive" what they ask for because they are asking for only their own self pleasures, but as Christians we should be "loyal to God," and pray according to his will, not being a "friend of the world," in pursuit of our self pleasures over the welfare of others, that is hurting others, stepping on them or failing to show kindness to them in order to pursue our pleasures, which makes us "enemies of God," but to imitate Christ, "considering others superior to us" and being humble, "faithful and discreet slaves," "freely forgiving" "all persons, especially those in the faith."

This is the context of James chapter 4 verses 1 to 10, that is, not to put selfish desires first in our lives above showing mercy and kindness to others, as the majority of the people in the world do. To apply verse 4, along with Jesus words of being "no part of the world," as not celebrating various holidays, not saluting the flag and a blanket restriction against all political, economic and social involvement is to put a legalistic external meaning, taking these scriptures completely out of their context as the Watchtower Society does. (James 4:1-10; Matt 25:45-47; Phil 2:1-4; Col 3:13-15; Gal 6:10)

Apostle Paul tells us that we are not "not to use the world to the full" and Apostle John confirms, being "no part of the world" is not to love the "things in the world," and the showy display of them ahead of helping others, wanting things to please our selfish and sinful desires of the flesh over empathy and consideration of others. This is how we are to be "no part of the world" in harmony with Jesus words, not as a blanket condemnation against all or any involvement in the world governments, which act as "God's minister" to "bear the sword to those who do bad." Certainly where governments do wrong, then we "obey God as a ruler, rather then men," but on other issues and involvement there of, it is up to each individual Christian's conscience, being "fully convinced in his own mind," not the mind of a religious organization, slave class or governing body. (1 John 2:15-17; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Cor 7:31; Rom 14:5)

What about the Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jew and millions of others? It is true, they do not exercise faith in Christ, however many, unknowingly are following the "law of Christ." Perhaps they have never even read the bible and have no knowledge of what it says. Others have read the bible, but reject the doctrinal knowledge and are convinced of the doctrinal knowledge of other writings, such as the Koran, the Vedas & etc. Still others have also read the bible and are preached to, but due to pressure from the family, government and society they refuse to listen to the doctrinal knowledge, for in some countries, a person will loose his job, family and life. Are all these persons really sinning against Christ? If so, Jesus says they will be forgiven. But are they sinning against God's Holy Spirit, which is unforgivable and therefore condemned to death by God? Despite the fact that most church goers and bible readers would answer yes to this with no reservations, condemning all, the answer is, they are not sinning against the holy spirit. (Mark 3:28-29; Matt 12:31-32)

"For Example, Whoever Speaks a Word Against The Son of Man, It Will Be Forgiven him . . ." (Mark 3:28-29; Matt 12:31-32)                 Unlike The True Meaning Of The Christ, The Watchtower Believes Only Jehovah's Witnesses Are God's People, And All Other Religions Are From Satan The Devil. Many Other Churches Also Put Doctrinal Theology Above "The Love Of Christ," And Teach That All Persons In Non-Christian Religions Will Not Be Not Saved. (Eph 3:19)

In Luke 9:24, Jesus Christ said, "Whoever wants to save his soul will lose it; but whoever loses his soul for my sake is the one that will save it." It is true, that history shows many persons were willing to suffer, die and "lose their soul" for loyally following Christ. But what were they following, the doctrinal knowledge of Christ being God's son in the flesh or the teachings of love and mercy that Christ preached? Since "God is love" and "Christ is the exact representation of his very being," would not the showing of love and mercy to all others, truly be following the law of Christ? Not exercising faith in him, but following the new covenant of the law. For if one truly follows Christ's teachings of love and mercy, could he not, by default, be following the "law of Christ," regardless of his lack of faith in him, knowledge of scriptures and absence of the observance of rituals and church attendance? Which is more important and Christ like; to die for the preaching of scriptural interpretations, such as alternative service, voting in politics, refusing a flag salute and refusing a blood transfusion? Or to die in order to help feed starving persons, prevent disasters and wicked persons from hurting righteous people, and countless other ways to provide food, shelter and kindness to others? If "God is love" then should not the later be the case? Does not losing one's soul to teaching and performing acts of love and mercy imitate Christ far more then teaching the doctrinal knowledge of the scriptures? Certainly, the "love of Christ surpasses knowledge," and "sacrifice" whether it is erroneous or not. For "Jehovah takes delight in loving kindness and not in whole burnt offerings." (1 John 4:8; Hebrews 1:3; Hosea 6:6; Eph 3:19)

"They Are Being Excused" "For whenever people of the nations that do not have the law (of Christ), do by nature the things of the law, these people although not having law, are a law to themselves. The are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts , while their conscience is bearing witness with them and , between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused." Romans 2:14-15

"Circumcision of the body is a good thing if you obey the law. But if you break the law, you are like a man who has not been circumcised with this mark of the Jew. So if a man who has not been circumcised obeys the law, will he not be like a man who has been circumcised? Some people have not been circumcised, but they obey the law. They will show that you should be punished. You have the written law and you have been circumcised, and yet you break the law. If a person is a Jew only on the outside, he is not really a Jew. And true circumcision is not something that is done on the outside of the body. If a person is a Jew inside, he is really a Jew. It is God who praises him, not people. True circumcision is done in the heart. It is in the spirit, not in the body. Such people are not praised; but God praises them. Romans 2:25-29

People who live a life of mercy and love of others who do not have faith in Christ are still "walking according to the flesh." But does this "mean death?" The requirement for a Christian is to "put faith in Christ" and to "be doers of the word, not hearers only" and to "acknowledge that Jesus is the son of God." The questions are: What is "having faith in Christ?" and acknowledging him as "the son of God? What are "doers of the word?" If a person is unknowingly following a law or code because his moral "conscience" tells him to do so, is he not still a follower? Apparently so, for Apostle Paul states "For whenever people of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law, these people although not having law, are a law to themselves. The are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts , while their conscience is bearing witness with them and , between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused." So the "people of the nations" were "both accused and excused" by the Mosaic law for what was "written in their hearts" even though they did not specifically follow or have doctrinal knowledge of the Mosaic law code. Certainly, this same principle can also be applied to "the law of Christ" that is "written on hearts," and those that do not externally know the law of Christ and neither have "faith in Christ" or the doctrinal knowledge of Christ and the bible, but internally "do by nature the things of the law of Christ ... they demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts ... and are being accused or even excused." (1 John 4:2-3; 5:11; James 1:20; Jer 31:31-33: Romans 2:14-15, 28-29; Romans 8; 1 Cor 9:21)

So, when a Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto and others, both do not have or even reject the doctrinal knowledge of the Bible, but "do by nature the things of the law of Christ," they are unknowingly " following the law of

- Christians - Those Putting Faith In Jesus Christ and Showing Love of Neighbor

- Non-Christians - Those without Faith Who Follow The Law of Christ Showing Love of Neighbor

All persons on earth, who truly show "love of neighbor" and are putting faith in Jesus Christ as their God, and sole mediator to the father. The one is doing our work and relieves us of works. For all persons who both love their neighbor as them self, with mercy and forgiveness and puts trusting reliance, forming an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, really do know God, for "God is love." And for this, they will receive a "mental strength," "an inner peace that excels all thoughts" and a "power what is beyond normal" giving a "way out" for survival, while living. Afterwards, they will enter into the kingdom of the heavens and rule with Christ Jesus.-Galatians 5:14; James 2:8; John 17:3; Rom 2:14-15, 20-25

All persons on earth, no matter what religion they profess, who truly show "love of neighbor" but are not "exercising faith in Christ, are unknowingly following the "law of Christ." These people who love their neighbor as them self, prove to have the law of Christ written on their hearts, for "God is love." And for this, they will be "excused" for their lack of "faith in him." This could mean a future opportunity to put faith in Christ under better conditions and obtain "everlasting life." -Galatians 5:14; James 2:8; John 17:3; Rom 2:14-15, 20-25

Christ" and by default are "being excused" by God. They are not followers of Christ, because they do not exercise faith in Christ, but by living a life following his footsteps by truly showing "love of neighbor" and continually showing acts of loving kindness and mercy, this shows a person to be living in agreement with the law of Christ. Despite the love they do live, according to Christian theology, it is still a love based on the works of the flesh, for only with faith in Christ can a person receive the spirit of God and exhibit the fruitage there of. But by living a life of love, despite being "works of the flesh," it is in harmony with the law of Christ and make this person "excused," for they "have the law of Christ written on their hearts." Certainly, anyone reflecting this is reflecting God.

True, these persons may not have "faith" in Christ, yet their love of neighbor as themselves, will "excuse" them according to God's plans. Does this mean they receive the spirit and become "born again?" No. Without faith in Christ they neither receive the spirit, nor become part of God's family, his "children," part of a "royal priesthood" of brothers. It appears, that this "excusing" is giving these person, who show love with their works of the flesh, a second chance. A second opportunity to put faith in Christ under totally different conditions then we know as fleshly humans. At Christ's second coming those who are evil will be "cut off" while those who do not have faith, but live according to his law, will be given this chance. At this time, unlike the world we now live in, Christ will be revealed to all people and all humans with this opportunity must put their faith in him in order to become part of God's children, his family.

Knowing God is not knowing scriptures per say or going to church or mosque, praying all day and preaching all day, but rather it is showing love of neighbor and "exercising justice and mercy, being modest in walking with God." An individual may not know God's correct name and believe or not believe in a burning hell, but showing true love and mercy "surpasses this knowledge" and brings this one to truly know God. Any person on earth, no matter what religion they profess, who truly shows "love of neighbor" is following the "law in Christ." They are not "confessing" Christ as their savior, nor are they putting faith in him, but by showing love to all others, they follow the Law of Christ and will be "excused," having a second opportunity to one day put faith in Christ, which will be required for life, (probably on judgment day), whether they now know it doctrinally or not. For persons who love their neighbors, really do have God written on their hearts, for "God is love." As for those who do put faith in Christ, their confession" of him at this very time, makes them children of God, born again with his spirit, receiving the gifts and strengths from the spirit and in the future will give them a heavenly reward for they are living a life with the two main ingredients needed for life: faith in Christ and a life of love, in imitation of Christ's actions, the showing love, mercy and kindness and forgiveness, not the mere academic or verbal admissions. (Eph 3:19; Micah 6:8; 1 John 4:1-3, 8; John 17:3)

According to the Gospels and the words of Christ, those who sin against him, will be forgiven. They may not have faith in him and cannot get to God the father, But their mercy and love will "excuse" them on Christ's second coming, allowing them at that time to put faith in him when he is revealed. However those who are truly evil and selfish people are sinning against the spirit, which is unforgivable.

Jesus words in Mark 3:28-29 and Matt 12:31-32:

"All things will be forgiven men, no matter what sins and blasphemies they blasphemously commit." "For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him."

This can certainly include persons who do not confess faith in Jesus on a doctrinal level, but are showing "love to their fellowman" thus being "forgiven" and "excused" with a second opportunity to put faith in him at a later time, when he is revealed. Jesus then further states:

"However, whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit has no forgiveness forever, but is guilty of everlasting sin."

Certainly persons who do not show love, but show hatred, greediness, wickedness or selfishness towards their neighbors are neither having the law of Christ on their hearts and are not confessing Jesus, in accordance with the "will of God," nor "exercising faith" in him, despite their doctrinal confession of Christ and the knowledge of scripture, and are therefore guilty of "blaspheming against the holy spirit and everlasting sin." But those who have faith in Jesus, along with love of neighbor, are showing to have the law of Christ written on their hearts. (1 John 4:1-3; Mark 3:28-29; Matt 12:31-32; Romans 13:8; Matt 7:21)

"Treat Other People Exactly As You Would Like To Be Treated by them - This Is The Essence Of All True Religion." - Matt 7:12 Phillips Modern Translation According To The Context, This Is What "Walking Through The Narrow Gate And Hard Road To Life" Is. Nothing More And Nothing Less. - Matt 7:1-14

As Apostle Paul states in Romans chapter 2:

"Circumcision is of no value if you break the law. So if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision ?" Another wards it is what is written inwardly on the heart that determines a man's outcome with God, not the outwardly or external formality of obeying his laws. "For the real Jew is not one who is outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical." Rather "The real Jew is one who is inwardly and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise is from God and not men." (Romans 2:25-29)

Paul shows that calling oneself Christian and making a verbal affirmation of Christ along with his teachings are merely external and outwardly. The real Christian is not one who is outwardly, nor is having detailed knowledge of scripture. Rather, the real Christian is one who both has faith in Christ and inwardly exercises obedience (love of God and neighbor) internally from the heart.

What is God asking back from us? Rules, regulations? No, for external rules written down are the "minding of the flesh, which means death," while the internal rules of love, written on hearts are the "minding of the spirit, which means life and peace." So it is not organizational policies, rules and regulations that God wants, but to have faith in Christ, which he then gives us God's spirit and to live according to the spirit, "to exercise justice and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God." "For love is the law's fulfillment."

The Conclusion of The Matter

"For he that loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law" -Romans 13:8

As King Solomon put it:

"The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man."

What are his commandments? It is as Apostle John states:

"This is his commandment, that we (1) have faith in the name of his son Jesus Christ and (2) be loving one another." And it is by observing this commandment of "love," that we "gain the knowledge that we are in union with him." "For the entire Law stands fulfilled in one saying, namely: You must love your neighbor as yourself." (Micah 6:8; 1 John 3:11,23-24; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8; Romans 8:6-11; 13:10; Ecc 12:13)

Summary

Life itself is a test. The test of being a true Christian, is about our faith and how we treat our fellow man, not about what doctrines we profess or knowledge we obtain or works of sacrifice that we perform. Rather our test is our faith of letting Christ do the work of saving both the world and us and then living in agreement with God's spirit by our works of mercy, kindness, empathy, compassion and forgiveness towards our fellow man. This is the true meaning of the Christ. In order to get to God we need to have faith in the forgiveness God has given mankind through the sacrifice of his son, the Christ. In turn, we receive God's spirit, that "dwells inside of us." Afterwards. we are all obligated to walk and live in agreement with this spirit and "love one another" by extending our own personal grace and forgiveness to our fellow man. All of us fall short and fail to show consideration of others at times. Our natural tendencies are to be selfish and everyone is. We also have tempers and can let them over ride our compassion for others. We also tend not to forgive others who have wronged us. No human being is exempt from this. The point is, many persons do not care, do not forgive other people who have done wrong to them and let their own selfish pursuits come before everyone and everything else in their lives. While others, who also fall short with their selfish inclinations, recognize this and are constantly adjusting themselves and consciously making a continual effort to put their selfish tendencies away and put the forgiveness and consideration of others in the forefront.

Footnotes: 1 Elijah, a man like us, page 107 - David Roper - Discovery House Publishers 2 Jesus The Pastor, page 136 - John W. Frye - Zondervan Publishing House 3 Surprised By The Holy Spirit - Jack Deere 3a Seeing Ourselves in the Pharisees Extreme Righteousness, page 65 - Tom Hovestol - Moody Press 3b Growing Deep In Christian Life, page 31 - Charles Swindoll 3c  The Fight - John White - page 55 4 The Normal Christian Life, page 233 - Watchman Nee - Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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