Christ Revealed in Human Form God reward his people

The Basis of our Faith

The Basis of our Faith PREACHED 0n ^22ND OCTOBER, 2000 by the SON OF MAN (APOSTLE PETER ODOEMENA)

AT THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD ONITSHA

I am The Light of Divinity, the Divine Fountain, the fullness of the Godhead, the Great Mind, The Divine Essence.

Believe it if you can…

—The Son of Man

Greater than Moses is here; greater than Solomon is here. Greater than Paul is here; greater than Jesus is here.

As long as I am here, I am the shock absorber of the Faith. Without Me, there is no Salvation for the world.

–Son of MAN

(DO NOT FOLLOW THE VOICE OF A

STRANGER)

The Basis of our Faith by the SON OF MAN

(APOSTLE PETER ODOEMENA)

CHAPTER 1

THE LIGHT IS NOW SHINING IN THE GENTILES

Saint Paul declared his message that circumcision availed nothing, which is now troubling those opposed to Moses’ Law.

Peter received a ministry to them that were given the Laws. Moses collected the Laws of God as an Angel. Thus, as many as were given the Law—if any man is offending the Law, it must be a Jew because to him the Law was given.
To the Gentiles, St. Paul collected no Law at all, St. Paul as an angel was sent to the Gentiles as his commission.
The Voice that spoke to him never gave him any slate containing Law but, he was to be a minister to the Gentiles, to open their eyes.
Please, take note because I want to take you back a little.
Now, this man teaches the Laws of Moses and enforces it, being a Jew. It pleased the Jews. St. Paul was once a Jew and a staunch advocate of the Law.
Let me show you something about this man called Paul.
Acts of the Apostles chapter 22 verse 1 through 3: “Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith.
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.” (KJV).
“Brothers and fathers, listen to me as I offer my defense.
(When they heard him speaking in Hebrew, the silence was even greater.)
Am a Jew, he said, “born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, but educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel, at whose feet I learned to follow our Jewish laws and customs very carefully. I became very anxious to honor God in everything I did, just as you have tried to do today.
And I persecuted the Christians, hounding them to death, binding and delivering both men and women to prison.” (LB).
Just as you have tried to do today. Whatever you are doing today was what I did before.
Verse 19: “And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee.” (KJV).
“But Lord,’ I argued, `they certainly know that I imprisoned and beat those in every synagogue who believed on you.” (LB).
He was now talking to Jesus when he heard the Voice: “I am Jesus Christ whom thou persecuteth.” That was the encounter between Paul and Jesus. Paul is referring to Christ now.
Verse 20 through 21: “And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.” (KJV).
“And when your witness Stephen was killed, I was standing there agreeing–keeping the coats they laid aside as they stoned him.’
But God said to me, `Leave Jerusalem, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!” (LB).
Jerusalem, the city trying to please God by obeying Moses’ Laws.
“Leave from Jerusalem,” did God say, “After, go back to Jerusalem?” Did God say, “After some days, after some years, go back to Peter and come and confer with him?” “Find out whatever he will tell the Jews,” any instruction like that!
The Voice said, “Away from Jerusalem,” like God commanded Abraham to leave his own country to a city He was going to show him. Did He ask him to go back after? Even the command was so simple that Abraham did not permit Isaac to go back to Mesopotamia—I mean Babylon or Iraq.
How many know that Babylon is Iraq?
Acts of the Apostles chapter 7 verse 2: “And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran.” (KJV).
“This was Stephen’s lengthy reply: “The glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Iraq before he moved to Syria.” (LB).
The Bible told us where God called him. In Genesis chapter 12, the name of the country was where? Babylon. God called Abraham from Babylon. Babylon was later re-named Mesopotamia. Is that not history? And Mesopotamia was later called Iraq.
So, anybody saying that Babylon vanished from the map of the world, he is blind. It is just like Upper Volta, which has been re-named Burkina Faso. It is just like Benin Republic. Was it Benin Republic before? No.
Too many countries have changed their names. Iraq, that was the country and that is still the country.
Did you get the message?
Now, God told this man Paul who was an ardent Jew, a strong devotee of Moses’ Laws, who not only read it in the university, he had his doctorate degree there. He was teaching it in the synagogue, he was very zealous to do God a service, to the point that he saw Christians as blasphemers, imprisoned and killed them, both men and women and he was there consenting to Stephen’s death.
“This God, now you are commissioning me, how do you think that my fellow Jews will accept me? How do you think they will pay attention to all these things you are telling me? Because if I will tell them not to pay attention to Moses again, it will mean my death. People will not take me serious, thinking that I have been going about forcing the Laws of Moses only to come back again to my own people to tell them that I do not follow Moses. And anybody following Moses will end it in death.”
God said, “No, let that Law never disturb you again. I am sending you away. This message is not for them. This was the message I intended for them seeing that they rejected me, they counted themselves unworthy of everlasting life and then we turn to the Gentiles.”
The Light is shining in the Gentiles. Truth is now in the Gentiles. God is now revealing Himself in the Gentiles. The hand of the clock for the Jews automatically stopped. Peter was not excluded. Both Peter and John and the rest of the Apostles, went to the Jews by keeping Jewish Laws. They did not know when God left them.

A MAN CAN BE “SINCERELY” WRONG

You can be in this Church—it is just like a denomination; do they know that God has left them? They still exist on Earth but God is no longer with them. They go ahead preaching.
Peter got his commission. Paul got his commission. While Peter tarried in Jerusalem, preaching and fulfilling the rituals of Moses, he did not know that God had already concluded the whole Jews in unbelief. He (God) had already concluded all of them in unbelief.
The basis of our Faith, the truth about this Faith, Romans chapter 10 verse 1 through 2: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” (KJV).
“Dear brothers, the longing of my heart and my prayer is that the Jewish people might be saved. ² I know what enthusiasm they have for the honor of God, but it is misdirected zeal.” (LB).
They have the zeal to serve God but the Bible said that it was a “misdirected zeal.” A man can be sincerely wrong. The Jews were sincerely wrong. You may be sincere in your heart but you are doing a wrong thing thinking that you are doing the right thing. Can that save you? Is it an excuse before God?
“God, you know my heart, all these years my desire is to please you and what I am doing is what they said I should do.” Both you and the people that told you to do all those things, you are all perishing, that is where I blame people.

FOLLOW THE STAR (THE SENT ONE) OF YOUR AGE

Some that are in the denomination, they made their General Superintendent (G.S) their absolute, instead of making God their absolute. And when the G.S. is their absolute, if God abandons him, will they know? Will he come and tell them? He himself will not even know.

This is why you must follow the STAR (Messenger) of your age. When you are following the STAR of your age, let me tell you, there is one thing certain about that STAR: As long as he is the Voice of salvation—the only Star—the Shekinah is around him. Whenever God finishes with him, he will point him to where he is now tabernacling for He cannot leave him in the dark.
Once God finishes with him, He will commit him to the mother Earth. He can never be on Earth and another Star arose. Never, never.
When God raises a Star, and God is using that Star as the Voice of Salvation, as long as the whole PURPOSE of God in REDEMPTION has not been accomplished; when God finishes with that Star, He will commit him to the mother Earth, and then a new Star will arise with the Shekinah around him so that people can believe him.
Even before that time, before that former Star will be committed to the Earth, he will announce it; he must announce the coming of another Star after him. If no other is coming, he will also tell you.
He will not only announce the coming of another Star, he will describe his appearance, pointing people where to expect him, the nature he will take and how many people that will recognize him, and why people will not also recognize him. He will guide them very well, then he will be buried. He gives way.
If he does not give way, his followers cannot follow the new Star.
Look at the denominations, there is not even a single Star in the denominations. What we have in the denominations are make-ups, self-appointed men of God. People that will come up one day and say, “I have a ministry, I have a ministry.” And really, they have a ministry. But they have ministries of destructions.

THE “NEW WAY” TO HEAVEN

William Branham saw them as angels of doom, angels of blindness—to blind the people from knowing the new way to Heaven.

God has introduced a NEW WAY to Heaven, away from the OLD WAY our fathers followed which they could not even follow till the end. This new way to Heaven, which was made, you can call it “Heaven made easy,” or “Heaven made possible.”
Heaven is possible; very possible and very easy. Our fathers were following impossible road to Heaven, yet they did not know. Why? Their teachers were blind. And they were blinding them from recognizing this new way to Heaven.
First Peter chapter 1 verse 18: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,” (KJV).
“God paid a ransom to save you from the impossible road to heaven which your fathers tried to take, and the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver as you very well know.
But he paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ.” (LB).
God explained it clearer in Galatians chapter 3 verse 23 through 26.
Galatians chapter 3 verse 23 through 26: “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (KJV).
“Until Christ came we were guarded by the law, kept in protective custody, so to speak, until we could believe in the coming Savior.
Let me put it another way. The Jewish laws were our teacher and guide until Christ came to give us right standing with God through our faith.
But now that Christ has come, we don’t need those laws any longer to guard us and lead us to him.
For now we are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. (LB).
Until Christ came, we were locked up under the Law, kept in protective custody because the Law has condemned and imprisoned us. We were awaiting execution. We were already concluded under sin, because under the Law all flesh have sinned and have fallen short of the Glory of God. They must die because the wages of sin is death. The Lord has concluded everybody in sin.
We do not need those Laws any longer to teach us and to guide us to Him. We do not need them again.
Now, the basis of our Faith is the truth the Apostles preached. Let me just finish my separation.

WHY GOD TURNED OVER TO THE GENTILES

At this moment, you notice from the Bible, Peter got a commission to the Circumcision and the ministry will be in Jerusalem. Let him enforce his Laws to the Jews.

The Laws were given to them. Christ was given to them to save them from the Laws of Moses. Instead of receiving Christ, they killed Him. When they rejected Him, they rejected His Message. Then He turned over to the Gentiles. And immediately He turned to the Gentiles, both Peter and the rest of the Apostles, they still continued with the Jews under their Jewish Laws and ceremonies, so that Moses’ disciples will be enthroned.
Did you get the message?
Now, to Paul, he got the message. His message was opposing the message of Peter. Paul was accused of preaching contrary to the Laws of Moses. And to them, he was speaking blasphemy, including Peter. Peter labelled Paul a blasphemous preacher. Peter was not happy with Paul. To them, he was pretending. He was pretending because a time came when he lost his revelation because of fear of what the Jews might say.
Paul was opposed to Peter. The Gentiles were opposed to the Jews. The same way, Grace was opposed to Law. Faith is opposed to Law.
Grace works by faith. Law works by works. Thus, faith is opposed to work. Grace is opposed to Law. The Law says that you must work out your salvation by your strength; that you have to labour to get your salvation. But Grace says you will do nothing.
What is more, somebody may say like Deeper Life members that “from the time of Isaiah to the time of John the Baptist, the Heaven suffereth violence and the violent will take it by force.”
Yes! I thank God, you have seen the Scripture but the interpretation thereof you do not know, for you do not have the Spirit.

PROMISES OF GOD ARE “UNMERITED FAVOUR”

he same God told us, “And their father did not inherit the Promise by their own labour or by their own might. They did not get the land with the power of their arrows but the Lord had decided to give it to them.”

In other words, it was an UNMERITED FAVOUR. It is not by your might, it is not by your power, it is by the Spirit of God. You do not get it by fasting and praying. If you keep on fasting until you kill yourself, you will not be there. You pray from now to the next world, you will not get it.
Promises of God are not inherited by prayer. If I promise to give you something (gift) when you come to Me, do you need to get it by prayer? I have made a promise; walk by faith and collect it. That is all.
You do not need to go into fasting and praying to come and collect the promise unless you are foolish. Has God made a promise to His people? Did He say we should pray or fast? Check your Bible. There is nothing like that. You should have faith enough. He that has promised is faithful. Go there and collect it. Amen.

ALMOST all religious groups and associations, no matter the name they are called; preach that salvation is by grace, God’s unmerited favour.

They also acknowledged that man’s righteousness is like filthy rags in the sight of God. They also turn round to preach the necessity for the observance of the Ten Commandments of God as a means of salvation after one has believed in Christ and professed His Name in baptism.

If a man earns His salvation by observing a set of rules and regulations, it is no longer grace but works and the person has good reason to boast that he tried a lot at the end.

–Son of Man

(THE GREAT SERMON—Why People Hate Preaching Salvation by Grace Alone)

CHAPTER 2

IDENTIFY AND STAY WITH THE TRUTH

Please, take note. I want to say few words. The basis of the truth, which the Apostles preached. The Bible said that we should not lie against the truth, we are for the truth and we can do nothing against the truth.

We have seen Paul’s commission; what God told him: “Away from Jerusalem!” Saint Paul never encountered problem until he forgot his commission. Did you get the message?
This was the reason why Paul’s ministry was not a perfect ministry. Saint Paul was holding it and was still expecting a perfect ministry to come. And he pointed it out; that when that which is perfect comes, this one, which is imperfect, will give way.
Saint Paul got his ministry. He got a command like Abraham, but along the way—being a Jew—he wanted to identify himself with the clergy in Jerusalem. Saint Paul did not want to be a man alone with God. He wanted to identify with the ministerial band, those that were already in the Faith before him. But he did not know that God saw them—that they were not fit. God decided to choose the 13th Apostle and commission him to the Gentiles.
God knew ahead of time that Peter was not sure of what he believed; he was not holding the truth of the Gospel. That was why after opening the door of the Gentiles, God did not want him to continue. God still sent him back to Jerusalem because even as at that time, Peter was not yet converted. Peter was suspicious of everything. Peter was not converted.
Remember Jesus spoke to him. When Jesus the Christ was about to vanish He said, “Peter, Satan wanted to gain advantage of you but I have prayed for you that your faith fail not. Peter, anytime you are converted, strengthen your brethren.” Any time, whenever.

PETER WAS NOT CONVERTED

n other words, for the period of time—three and half years—Peter served Jesus, Peter was not converted until Jesus died, resurrected, lived for 40 days and 40 nights. Peter was not yet converted. If Peter was not converted, when Jesus was with them, when Jesus had left them and turned to the Gentiles, who preached the message that converted Peter?

Peter was holding on to his own views till the Light left Israel. And the Light went over to the Gentiles. That was why even after fourteen years of Saint Paul’s experience with the Holy Spirit when he travelled back to Jerusalem. He met Peter preaching the Laws of Moses.
Fourteen years Saint Paul stayed in the Gentile world preaching Righteousness of God without the Law; he went back to Jerusalem to confer with them. He met all of them make do with enforcing the Laws of Moses contrary to Paul’s Faith.
That is to say, until Peter died Peter was not converted. But Peter is going to be saved as an Elect. That is all.

THE OLD WAY (LAW) CANNOT SAVE YOU

n other words, that which the Jewish people could not get by their ability to keep the Laws, ELECTION has purchased it for them.

As pertaining to the Jews, to them belongs God’s Election.
Now watch the story how things lingered.
Second Corinthians chapter 3 verse 6: “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” (KJV).
“He is the one who has helped us tell others about his new agreement to save them. We do not tell them that they must obey every law of God or die; but we tell them there is life for them from the Holy Spirit. The old way, trying to be saved by keeping the Ten Commandments, ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives them life.” (LB).
The old way, trying to be saved by keeping the Ten Commandments, ends in death.
This like someone looking for life only to meet death. You want to obey God whole-heartedly by keeping the Laws of Moses; at the end, what you get is death instead of life. Is there any Pentecostal group today that is not under death?
Number one is Deeper Life, they are already dead but they do not know. Look at Roman Catholics, they are dead, yet they do not know. Look at the Pentecostals; they are all operating under the Ten Commandments of Moses. They are concluded with death. Yet they do not know.
That is why Jesus looked at them and said, “You erred not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God.”
Hosea saw them and said, “Oh! My people perish because of ignorance.” Sheer ignorance of the Scriptures. They do not know the provision God has already made.

HOW THE COMPROMISE STARTED

We want to look at this man. The reason why many people are being tossed to and fro—Saint Paul is our minister. When I say our minister, I mean God gave him a Commission with the instruction never to go back to Jerusalem.

In other words, leave the Jews alone. A host of other nations take this message to them. A people in time past that were not called my people. Now, they shall be called children of the Most High God.
How did the problem start? Acts of the Apostles chapter 16 verse 1: “Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek.” (KJV).
“Paul and Silas went first to Derbe and then on to Lystra where they met Timothy, a believer whose mother was a Christian Jewess, but his father a Greek. (LB).
The mother was what? A Christian-Jewess. But the father is a Greek—a Gentile. The father is a Gentile, the mother a Christian but a Jewess. They were all dwelling in the Gentile world. Did you get the Message?
A Nigerian marrying an Israeli woman. And the woman came to Nigeria and became a Christian together with her husband. And they had a son called Timothy, a Nigerian and also a Christian.
Now, Saint Paul is determined to go to Jerusalem to see the elders. But he is happy to go with Timothy. He was much afraid of how they will look at Timothy because of their belief in Moses’ Laws.
That is to say, Paul knew very well that they were not Christians. Paul was convinced that there is no Christian in Jerusalem. They were all practicing Judaism. He was going there with fear.
Verse 2: “Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.” (KJV).
“Timothy was well thought of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium,
so Paul asked him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he circumcised Timothy before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek and hadn’t permitted this before.” (LB).
He did what? He circumcised Timothy in other to please the Jews. A young man that believed in Christ is saved, and the Bible said that the Law is not for us whom Christ has saved. Look at Paul, he was afraid of the Jews, how they will look at Timothy because he is a Christian. Saint Paul got him, carrying sharp knife—a painful exercise! Look at Paul compromising.
You see, you can never go back to that place (Law) without one testimony: “I nearly died.”
Ahead of time, Saint Paul had started compromising. He is no longer sure. Saint Paul, if you circumcise Timothy because of what the Law said, then Timothy is bound to fulfil all the Laws of Moses including you Paul. You are gradually drifting back to the Law.
I hope you are getting the message.
Saint Paul was going back, he was backsliding gradually. While Saint Paul was holding an imperfect ministry, I will show you when he recollected himself. What happened?
Verse 4: “And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.” (KJV).
“Then they went from city to city, making known the decision concerning the Gentiles, as decided by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.” (LB).
He has now pleased the Jews by circumcising Timothy the Gentile. He was not circumcising Timothy to please Christ. He circumcised Timothy to please men. Yet: “If I become pleaser of men, I am no longer a bondservant of God.” He has drifted.
Some of you think that I do not know what I teach in this Faith. What I teach is very clearly known. When you believe, you are saved, you are declared perfect. In addition, when you say you do not believe, you perish.
Follow Me gradually. Let us see how he came about these Laws.

THE GENESIS OF THE CONFUSION

Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 6 through 7: “And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” (KJV).
So, it was God’s intention to use Peter to preach. As he continued, Peter was not yet converted. Peter was blind. God changed hand and then took Paul.
Now watch. Verse 8 through 10: “And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” (KJV).
“God, who knows men’s hearts, confirmed the fact that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he gave him to us.
He made no distinction between them and us, for he cleansed their lives through faith, just as he did ours.
And now are you going to correct God by burdening the Gentiles with a yoke that neither we nor our fathers were able to bear?” (LB).
The Bible said, “Are you trying to correct God by trying to compel the Gentiles to obey the Laws of Moses which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear?” You know the story very well.
Saint Paul preached to the Gentiles. Some Jews left Jerusalem, went to the Gentile Christians and told them that they were not saved till they had obeyed the Laws of Moses and be also circumcised. It was a big confusion.
Then look at Peter wrapped in the Holy Ghost. He said, “Men and brethren, why are you tempting God? Are you trying to correct God by trying to compel these people to obey Jewish Law? Even our fathers and we ourselves could hot keep.”
Jesus was addressing the Pharisees, “Woe unto you, for you place on people’s neck yokes which even you yourselves cannot lift.”
Verse 13 through 20: “And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.”
And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.” (KJV).
“When they had finished, James took the floor. ‘Brothers,’ he said, ‘listen to me.
Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to bring honor to his name.
And this fact of Gentile conversion agrees with what the prophets predicted. For instance, listen to this passage from the prophet Amos:
`Afterwards’ (says the Lord,) `I will return and renew the broken contract with David,
So that Gentiles, too, will find the Lord—all those marked with my name.’
That is what the Lord says, who reveals his plans made from the beginning.
And so my judgment is that we should not insist that the Gentiles who turn to God must obey our Jewish laws,
Except that we should write to them to refrain from eating meat sacrificed to idols, from all fornication, and also from eating unbled meat of strangled animals.” (LB).
And this fact of Gentiles conversion agrees with what the prophets predicted. For instance, see this passage from Prophet Amos.
Verse 19 of another translation: “It is my opinion, James went on, ‘That we should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write a letter telling them not to eat any food that is spiritually unclean.”(Good News Bible).
Good News Bible says, “My opinion;” the Living Bible says, “My judgment,” while King James Version says, “My sentence.” Whichever you take: my judgment, my sentence, my opinion or suggestion; that is James’ own idea. Did you get what he is saying? His own sentence on the matter.
“Wherefore, my sentence is that we trouble not them who are from among the Gentiles that are turned to God.”
Now, look at this translation again, verse 20 through 21: “And so my judgment is that we should not insist that the Gentiles who turn to God must obey our Jewish laws,
except that we should write to them to refrain from eating meat sacrificed to idols, from all fornication, and also from eating unbled meat of strangled animals.
For these things have been preached against in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.” (LB).
You see the reason. Look at verse 22: “Then the apostles and elders and the whole congregation voted to send delegates to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders–Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.” (LB).
Verse 20 said, “Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas namely Judas surnamed Barnabas and Silas, chief men among the Brethren.” Please, take note of this place.
When Peter explained how God used him to open the door to the Gentiles, and God gave them the Holy Ghost as he gave the apostles in Jerusalem without commanding them to obey any Jewish Laws, so, they were without Laws. Yet God received them without commanding then to obey Laws.
He said, “Are you now trying to correct God by now commanding them to obey Jewish Laws which our fathers could not keep and we ourselves could not keep?”
Is it in line with the Bible?
Galatians chapter 5 verse 1: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (KJV).
“So Christ has made us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get all tied up again in the chains of slavery to Jewish laws and ceremonies.” (LB).
Galatians chapter 2 verse 11 through 12: “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come.” (KJV).
“But when Peter came to Antioch I had to oppose him publicly, speaking strongly against what he was doing, for it was very wrong.
For when he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians who don’t bother with circumcision and the many other Jewish laws. But afterwards, when some Jewish friends of James came.” (LB).
When some Jewish friends of who? James. That was the man who was making the decision, his own opinion, his own idea to please his friends.

WITHOUT US, THEY (THE APOSTLES) ARE NOT PERFECT

Verse 12: “For when he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians who don’t bother with circumcision and the many other Jewish laws. But afterwards, when some Jewish friends of James came, he wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore…” (LB).

Peter denied his Faith. Peter was mixing with the Gentiles, eating with them according to the Word of God. Immediately he saw the Jewish friends of James, Peter withdrew, playing hypocrisy.
“…because he was afraid of what these Jewish legalists, who insisted that circumcision was necessary for salvation, would say.” (LB).
You see, the reason why he was withdrawing from his Faith is to please men. He was afraid of what the Jewish people will say.
It was not that God commanded him to withdraw. He was not happy to please God. His action rather displeased the Holy Spirit, because it was a denial of the Truth that was evidently set before his eyes. His action displeased God, God was not happy when Peter was denying the Faith.
Verse 13: “and then all the other Jewish Christians and even Barnabas became hypocrites too, following Peter’s example, though they certainly knew better.” (LB).
Each! All the other Christians including Barnabas, became hypocrites too, following Peter’s example, though they certainly knew better. If they did not know, it would have been a different thing. They certainly knew better.
Verse 14: “When I saw what was happening and that they weren’t being honest about what they really believed and weren’t following the truth of the Gospel.” (LB).
Oooh! They were not honest about the thing they really believed. They were preaching for preaching sake. They were not following the truth of the Gospel. In other words, they were against the truth of the Gospel. They were lying against the truth. They were not for the truth. Then what made them Christians?
You see why without us, they are not perfect. Without us, there is not even one of them that is qualified to see the Kingdom of God. Is it clear to you now?
If they were referred to as Saints, God was considering them through the blood. And that blood was not the one they omitted. It is the one that is flowing in the Church now. Because they must hide under us if they must be saved.
All these people drawn from all these Church Ages must get their salvation through us. Without us, they will not be justified.

THE BRIDAL FAITH IS THE PERFECTION

Understand Me through this illustration. In a relay race, the man that determines the prize you will get is the man that runs last. There may be some people in his own group; they will not be running very fast, they will be omitting lines. But that man that is running last, if he comes first and runs according to the rules, when he receives the first prize, all that ran in that track from number one to him, all their mistakes will be neglected. All of them have come first.

That is exactly where we are. CHRISTIANITY IS A RELAY RACE. We are running last. And we are very meticulous, very careful. We are running in line with the rules of the game. And no mistake at all. We are coming first, so as to justify them that were before us, whose blood were mingled with this Gospel yet they were hypocrites.
Thus, if I tell you that there has never been a true Christian on the land until I (The Son of Man) appeared and then you manifested as sons and daughters of God, am I lying?
This is what the world has been waiting for: THE MANIFESTATION OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD who will not be bound by any Law.
That is why the prophet said, “You have never seen revival yet. Wait until the Bride will appear on the scene and recognize who she is.”
Moreover, this secret was locked up somewhere in the MYSTERY OF THE SEVEN THUNDERS, so that you will not know anything about it. Satan will lay hand on it and use it to mess up the world.
I am summarizing the teaching.

THE LAW SAVES NO ONE

erse 14 through 16: “When I saw what was happening and that they weren’t being honest about what they really believed and weren’t following the truth of the Gospel, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Though you are a Jew by birth, you have long since discarded the Jewish laws; so why, all of a sudden, are you trying to make these Gentiles obey them?

You and I are Jews by birth, not mere Gentile sinners,
and yet we Jewish Christians know very well that we cannot become right with God by obeying our Jewish laws but only by faith in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And so we, too, have trusted Jesus Christ, that we might be accepted by God because of faith–and not because we have obeyed the Jewish laws. For no one will ever be saved by obeying them.” (LB).
No one will ever be saved by obeying them (the Law).
Verse 17 through 19: “But what if we trust Christ to save us and then find that we are wrong and that we cannot be saved without being circumcised and obeying all the other Jewish laws? Wouldn’t we need to say that faith in Christ had ruined us? God forbid that anyone should dare to think such things about our Lord.
Rather, we are sinners if we start rebuilding the old systems I have been destroying of trying to be saved by keeping Jewish laws,
for it was through reading the Scripture that I came to realize that I could never find God’s favor by trying–and failing–to obey the laws. I came to realize that acceptance with God comes by believing in Christ.^” (LB)
“Rather we shall be called sinners if we try to rebuild the old system which we have destroyed.” We shall be called sinners. You see what sin is all about.
Peter knew that it is not for us to keep Jewish Laws. Paul knew it.
Now, Mr Paul, why did you circumcise Timothy? Mr Paul, since you knew better, you called Peter a hypocrite, why did you circumcise Timothy? Why were you afraid of the Jews who said they were Christians?
Paul, why were you condemning Peter and you failed in the same place? Paul must answer these questions. And Paul will say, “I am sorry. I am sorry but I corrected it later.”
Show Me where you corrected it later? Amen.

There is no labour greater than observing rules and regulations. The reason why people find it very difficult to rely on God’s grace alone for their salvation is that they are not sure that grace will be sufficient for them. They are very much afraid of being disappointed in the end; for man does not value free gift.

Some people avoid relying on grace of God alone because they are not prepared to absorb the shock of cruel mockery, persecution and harsh resentment that often follows the Message of Salvation by grace alone.

–Son of Man

(THE GREAT SERMON—Why People Hate Preaching Salvation by Grace Alone)

CHAPTER 3

HYPOCRISY

alatians chapter 2 verse 1: “Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.” (KJV).

“Then fourteen years later I went back to Jerusalem again, this time with Barnabas; and Titus came along too.” (LB).
Paul, what is wrong with you? Were you not asked: “Away from Jerusalem! Go to the Gentiles where I have sent you?” Now, fourteen years later, you have forgotten all you passed through. You want to go back again.
Verse 2 through 3: “And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.” (KJV).
“I went there with definite orders from God to confer with the brothers there about the message I was preaching to the Gentiles. I talked privately to the leaders of the church so that they would all understand just what I had been teaching and, I hoped, agree that it was right.
And they did agree; they did not even demand that Titus, my companion, should be circumcised, though he was a Gentile.” (LB).
Aaah! Paul deliberately went with Titus, a Christian, a Gentile, at the command of the Lord. But Paul did not want to circumcise Titus. He was using Titus to set a trap. And people discerned what Paul was trying to do. They did not compel him to circumcise Titus again. They behaved as if they did not see Titus. They pretended that they did not know what is happing.
I will show you the outcome of that trip. It is the same trip. Acts chapter 21 verse 17 to 31.
“And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.” (KJV).
“And all the believers at Jerusalem welcomed us cordially.
The second day Paul took us with him to meet with James and the elders of the Jerusalem church.” (LB).
He went to meet with James again and elders of Jerusalem Church—Moses’ disciples!
Verse 19: “And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord.” KJV).
“After greetings were exchanged, Paul recounted the many things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his work.
They praised God.” (LB).
They did what? They said, “Praise the Lord!” We have heard you Brother Paul; you and your friends. “Praise the Lord.” Hear them—hypocrites.

PEOPLE HATE SALVATION BY GRACE

Verse 20: “And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law.” (KJV).

“They praised God but then said, ‘You know, dear brother, how many thousands of Jews have also believed, and they are all very insistent that Jewish believers must continue to follow the Jewish traditions and customs.” (LB).
James again! “You see, over one million have believed now. A thousand have believed also at Jerusalem. We are not idle. If God is using you and your people there, God is also using us here.”
What then did they believe? If they are still insisting that the Jewish believers must continue with the Laws of Moses, what was preached to them there? I believe that what they believed is what they were being taught.
Brethren, you can see that while Saint Paul was preaching Christ to the Gentiles, James and his company were preaching Moses to the Jews. Because what the people believed which James acknowledged, was nothing but the Jewish Laws, Moses’ Message.
Verse 21: “And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses.” (KJV).
“Our Jewish Christians here at Jerusalem have been told that you are against the laws of Moses, against our Jewish customs, and that you forbid the circumcision of their children.” (LB).
Aaah! Jewish Christians have been told that Saint Paul was against the Laws of Moses. Was it not true? Saint Paul was all out against the Laws of Moses.
And now they are trying to instil fear in him. The essence of the preaching is to humble Paul down.

WHY THEY FAILED: THEY WERE PLEASING MEN INSTEAD OF GOD

erse 21 through 22: “And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.” (KJV).
“Our Jewish Christians here at Jerusalem have been told that you are against the laws of Moses, against our Jewish customs, and that you forbid the circumcision of their children.
Now what can be done? For they will certainly hear that you have come.” (LB).
What do you think will be done now because surely they must hear that you are in the city? You are in town. James was not mindful of what God will say but what mere human being will say.
In other words, they are trying to please men and not God. Paul, did you see what is happening? These people will hear that you have come. You are the one that said we should not keep the Laws of Moses. In other words, James did not believe that what Paul was preaching is truth.
Have you seen what is happening? Have you now believed that Christians had never manifested until now? Christians have not emerged until now. Because there is no way Moses’ teachings can produce Christians. No way!
I believe that James must have conspired for the Jews to wait for him. He had a hidden agenda—to humiliate Paul publicly so that he will stop the nonsense he (Paul) is teaching. Because to the Jews, what he was preaching was foolish. The Bible said, “It sounds foolish.”

THE DANGER OF RUNNING THE CHURCH WITH HUMAN OPINIONS (IDEAS)

erse 23: “We suggest this…” Aaah! Another suggestion. “My opinion, let me advise you.”

Watch all the Scriptures I have been showing you, nobody said that God commanded them or Holy Ghost said.
Even when James came up with his own opinion: “Ah! My friends, let us not trouble the Gentiles because God has saved them but let us give them three rules, three laws: They must avoid fornication, avoid strangled meat, avoid eating blood. Let us give them three laws, because these three laws have been read in the synagogue, read on the Sabbath day. People believed Moses. And if we do not give them these three laws, the people will be offended.”
Why did you reduce the law from ten to three? You will end it giving them one. Maybe to some people you give three, to another you give five, to another you give seven, to another you give two.
You see the danger of running the Church with human opinions. Running the Church of God with human ideas, it must surely contradict the Will of God. What they were doing was opposed to the perfect Will of God.
Then he is coming up with another suggestion: “My friend, what do you think can be done in this matter? Let us suggest what can be done. Paul, keep this with you, do not disturb us about it. If you want to stay alive and go free in this city, do what I will suggest now.” Peter was giving him sign to go ahead.
Remember he was there with Titus. They did not care to tell Titus to circumcise but they were hiding something in their hearts.

WHEN YOU DENY CHRIST, YOU “MUST” ACCEPT MOSES (THE LAW)

Verse 23: “Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them.” (KJV).

“We suggest this: We have four men here who are preparing to shave their heads and take some vows.” (LB).
Aaah! “We have four men here who have come to shave their heads, so as to fulfil their vows under Moses’ Laws.” And Saint Paul was hearing it.
Paul, why were you still standing there? Who carried you to Jerusalem after fourteen years? Have you forgotten your first experience? I could see Paul bowing his head hearing what they were saying.
Verse 24: “Go with them to the temple…”
Which temple? “Paul, go with them to the Temple.” Which Temple? Who was officiating in that Temple? There must be a Levite there.
Saint Paul don’t you believe Christ to be the High Priest of your profession? Were you not the one that told us that we were no longer under Levitical priesthood? If you get to that Temple, will you find God there?
Didn’t you teach that God does not live in the Temple built by human hands? Who must be in that Temple where you will kneel down and he will come and anoint you and bless you and collect your gift as acceptable sacrifice?
So, Saint Paul, you are going there to offer another sacrifice order than that which was offered at Calvary. He was going there to offer sacrifice for sin because he has blasphemed the laws of Moses. And such people work contrary to the customs of the Jews which was abomination. It was sin. That is what Saint Paul is asked to go back to say he was sorry—to recant his Faith.
Was God commanding Paul to do so? Can God rebuild that which he has pulled down? He was about rebuilding that which he has already pulled down. So, he has become a sinner.
Without us, they are not perfect. Pray that God will help you, otherwise, you will compromise. But I think it is too late. That is why I try my best to espouse you to the Word of God so that nobody will toss you to and fro.
You that think we do not know what we preach, we want to show you how the Laws were packed down to the Gentiles. That God never gave us these Laws. But they were packed unto us by suggestion. And it was as a result of denial of the Faith of Christ.
When you deny Christ, you must accept Moses. When you accept Moses, you reject Christ. You reject Christ you accept Moses. You cannot hold the two, you must hold one. Which one are you holding? The truth the Apostles preached which forms the basis of our Faith.
Verse 24: “Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.” (KJV).
“Go with them to the Temple and have your head shaved too–and pay for theirs to be shaved.
Then everyone will know that you approve of this custom for the Hebrew Christians and that you yourself obey the Jewish laws and are in line with our thinking in these matters.” (LB).
“Aaah! You will pay for them. Paul, you will pay for others. You have to use your money and pay for them also. They have made vows and they will shave. When you get to the Temple, you have to pay for your own and then pay for them. And then, by so doing, the people will know that the report they got about you was false.” They now want Paul to tell lies.
So, these people were liars also. They knew that Paul was teaching contrary to the Laws of Moses. James even rehearsed it.
James said, “My friend Paul, these People have already heard that you have been teaching things contrary to the Laws of Moses and our customs also. And we knew that. But look at what you will do. When you do it they will now know that what they were told was not true.”
They are now lecturing Paul on how to tell lies. Elderly men that tell lies. You see the dangers of becoming elderly evil men that tell lies. They were perverting the way of truth. And James was number one, with the old man Peter nodding his head.

THE DANDER OF CONFERRING WITH FLESH AND BLOOD

What is more, when they pinned Paul down, with the eyes of the Spirit, I can see the rest of the elders walking up and down demonstrating. And the more they were walking up and down demonstrating, Paul’s feet were shivering. And something was going inside Paul how he will enter the Temple and how the people will look at him, where he will start making restitution. It was a horrible thing.

Saint Paul was sweating with his handkerchief on his face. Paul, you caused it. Why were you standing there? Won’t you run away? You see the danger of abandoning your ministry or conferring with flesh and blood. If he had remained with his Commission without getting himself entangled with his Jewish brothers, Paul would have continued with his perfect ministry. Is it clear to you that without Me, Paul is going to Hell?
Why I speak with authority that greater than all the Messengers is in this Faith. Thus, wherever I go, I speak with boldness, with authority because when you mention laws, this and that, I know more than that. You do not want to talk about the things you do not know.
“Brother, what of this thing?” You are foolish. How can the Church commit fornication? Bible said, “Without are sinners.” I cannot be a sinner “within.” God will not permit me to rebuild the old system which I pulled down. I cannot re-introduce Laws again. IMPOSSIBLE!
Even if I want to introduce it; He will not permit it because you know the truth about it. You were led through the Laws and you could not keep them. Were you not led through the Laws? Were you able to keep any of them? That is why you are appreciating Grace.
Hence, if somebody wants to take you back to Laws again; you will say, “My friend, you and I were Gentiles by birth and we were privileged to pass through the hurdles of the Law. And we were everyday guilty. Now, why try to bring us back to that nonsense again?”
“Then everyone will know that you approve of this custom for the Hebrew Christians and that you yourself obey the Jewish Laws.” Was Paul obeying Jewish Laws? You see, they are trying to inject lies and falsehood into the mind of Paul. And the chief person was James. The chief hypocrite was James. And he was always looking at Peter. And I could see Peter nodding his head in approval.
“Paul, each time you will tell us how God used you to do so many things as if to say that we are idle here. When did you come into the Faith? Do you know anything about the Faith? Sit down so that we can tell you the real truth. God called you on the way to Damascus. You saw Him at Damascus, but we have been with Him from the very beginning.”
You that were with Him in the beginning, did you believe Him?
You see why we do not look at any man in the flesh. If you look at a man in the flesh, you will accept the backsliding person. Peter had backslided with the twelve Apostles. Although they were there in the beginning, they are no longer there. They had left the Faith. That is why I love this Faith—the Bridal Faith. It is full of Grace and truth.
When a minister knows that he is not in the spirit of the hour, he will humble himself and keep on looking unto God, until he recovers.
Glory be to God that we have restored Bishop Okey Paul, because he has spoken the truth from the inward man. Moreover, he would not like to fool himself and fool you. He said that now and in the near future, until he has made sure that he is back in his old form. That is wisdom.
But if pride was there, he would have come into Fellowship as an ancient man. And then we look at him as Peter. And then will end it carrying turtle dove.
Learn a lesson from this experience. Find out when a man is racking sense, trying to bring out a suggestion, his own personal opinion. Try to find it out. Do not ever allow somebody’s opinion to override “Thus says the Lord.”
All the while, Saint Paul was sound with his commission. There was no compromise. But immediately he got entangled with the “ancient men,” there he started falling.
Because he never knew that God has already cut them off before He picked him. So, where God left them, that was where they remained. They did not go any further. Did you get the message?
When God cuts off a people, whatever you are doing that time, that is where you stopped. You go no further until you make it right. You cannot go any further because the Fountain has automatically stopped, until He decides to show you His face again. Then you get His favour. The Fountain will open again. You will see what happened to Titus and Paul.
Verse 24: “Then everyone will know that you approve of this custom for the Hebrew Christians and that you yourself obey the Jewish laws and are in line with our thinking in these matters.” (LB)
Aaah! It is in line with what? Our thinking. Nothing kills a Christian more than relying on his personal thinking. And what you are thinking is always contrary to the way God is thinking. Man’s ways are opposed to God’s ways. Then when you do it, it is in line with our thinking. Not in line with the mind of God.
What matters in the Church in all you do is not how you are thinking but how God is thinking. Some of you think that I do not know what I am teaching. But I know where my teaching is coming from.

BELIEVING CHRIST MEANS PUTTING HIS WORD INTO PRACTICE

Some think I have contradicted the Word. But I am always standing for the truth that is evidently set out before my eyes, making sure I correct every error drawn from all the Church Ages, because I AM CALLED FOR THE PERFECT WORK, A PERFECT MINISTRY—to present everybody perfect in the sight of God without any spot of the Law.

The Law spots a man. Law spots a Christian. For no man can hold out the Law without spot. Once you are holding the Law, you are already spotted. You can never hold the Law without knowledge of sin. And once there is knowledge of sin, you are already spotted. You already have blemish.
“So Paul agreed to their request,” Paul did what? Paul consented to their request. So, they have succeeded in winning Paul. Paul has lost his conviction. What do you think caused it? RESPECT FOR MEN. Paul considered them as ancient men who were there from the very beginning.
This is tragedy, a great tragedy. Paul of all Pauls!
Okay, Paul, you have denied your Faith. Now, enter the Temple. You were afraid of being persecuted. You were afraid of being killed, no problem. God will redeem Himself. God must surely stand for Himself. He entered the Temple with turtledove.
They have turned Paul’s heart away from the truth. Notice what happened. They asked Paul to take those men to the Temple and they themselves stayed back. They did not go with Paul. They tarried behind to hear what will follow Paul’s entrance into the Temple. Their ears were open. I could hear what they were saying.
Immediately Paul left carrying turtledove with his “mala” the (shaved head) and every other person, James went to the brethren, “Aaah! Brethren don’t you see this foolish man? See him, he will see his death. Can you imagine somebody opening his mouth telling people not to obey Moses’ Law. Look at this man, spoiling our customs. Let him get there.”
I could see them bragging. Peter would be saying, “He will die there. He will learn a lesson from there. Each time, ‘what God accomplished through us. What God did.’ God will rescue you there today!”
Were they Christians at all? If they knew that they were right, they would have accompanied Paul to the Temple. And there, they would have pacified the people. But they betrayed Paul, sold him out to their people.
Verse 26: “Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.” (KJV).
“So Paul agreed to their request and the next day went with the men to the Temple for the ceremony, thus publicizing his vow to offer a sacrifice seven days later with the others.” (LB).
He did what? Publicized it—to offer a sacrifice. Seven days later, Saint Paul was almost there for one week
Verse 27: “And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.” (KJV)
“The seven days were almost ended when some Jews from Turkey saw him in the Temple and roused a mob against him. They grabbed him,
yelling, Men of Israel! Help! Help! This is the man who preaches against our people and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He even talks against the Temple and defiles it by bringing Gentiles in!” (LB).
He does what? He defiled the Temple by bringing the Gentiles in. Who was the Gentile? Titus. You see why Peter and James closed their mouths when they saw Titus. They did not compel Paul to circumcise Titus because they knew that they must meet their doom in the Temple. What makes them Christian then? That the presence of a fellow Christian has become a defilement to their Temple.
In other words, they could not accept their fellow Christian. Were they Christians at all? You see that nobody has ever believed Christ until now. Now are we sons and daughters of God.
When we talk of believing Christ, it is not believing with your mouth. It is believing with your heart and then putting it into practice. Is this message becoming clearer? Amen.

A real man of God that is sure of his calling does not ask for disciples, rather, he chases people back with his offensive and unbearable message, which is a stumbling block to many. Only God’s people will believe Him and follow Him.

Some refuse to preach salvation by grace alone because they think it will pollute or demoralise the people, while some think the world will hate them if they preach that salvation is just by unmerited favour from God.

Any man with very high moral or principle should keep it to himself if he wants to be saved and should not attribute it to his salvation.

–Son of Man

(THE GREAT SERMON—Why People Hate Preaching Salvation by Grace Alone)

CHAPTER 4

I HAVE PRESERVED THIS FAITH UNSPOTTED

This is my teaching: THE TRUTH THAT FORMS THE BASIS OF OUR FAITH WHICH WE TEACH.

If we must go this way again, won’t God reject us? We become transgressors. They saw Peter, they said, “Men of Israel, Help! Help! Catch am! Catch am! Hold am! Hold am! Look at the man! Look at the man! Then Paul jumped and abandoned turtledove.
Paul, who is pursuing you? Fellow Christians who said they believed Jesus. I could see Paul running, abandoning the vows. Let me tell you, they messed up Christianity. Without us they are not perfect.
You see why you should glorify God. That even in your own day, you have never seen a Christian until you have manifested.
It is a privilege for one to be a Christian. You see why I run mad at you when I see you walking contrary. Because you do not know what it has caused somebody to come across you and to preserve this Faith unspotted from the very beginning. That is where I stand.
If you trouble Me, I cut you off because I am holding this Faith alone when you did not know Me. I collected it from no man. I collected it from no Bible Institution. When there was no man around Me, I was still holding it. Wherever I went, I lifted it up.
When they said “no,” I kept it back, leave that place. This was what made Deeper Life to put Me out because they could not believe the truth. For that, I left them.
In addition, there is nothing any man could offer Me to make Me compromise with this Faith. IMPOSSIBLE! When I lifted up this Faith in Baptist, they formed a council for Me.
Brother Shed was there that day. Hell was let loose. Their chief carried his seat and sat down. When he saw that his deacons and elders were believing, he rushed back to his house with one tract: HAPPY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY CHRISTMAS! And was giving everybody, said, “No more, we cannot hear it again. You are teaching us contrary to Nigerian Baptist Convention,” which I believe.
I was teaching them contrary to Nigerian Baptist Convention. He never said I was teaching them contrary to Christ. I carried my bag and abandoned them. Even with their plea to go to America with them, I turned every offer down for the Excellency that is in the preaching of this Gospel.
Because woe is Me if I do not preach this Gospel. When you trouble Me in this Faith, I close my eyes, banish you from my Presence. That is all. And I know that you are perishing because you have never gone this way before. Even the little you said you have gathered, I know where it will take you to.

I AM THE LIVING WATER (FOUNTAIN)

hatsoever you said you have gathered. I know the length it will take you. Watch all that have left the Faith, are they still professing what they were holding before? Immediately, their fuels finished, their tanks become dried up. No more.

But as many as have been in this Faith, you are just evergreen plants. You are evergreen, always blossoming.
There is living water in this Faith. There is Living Water in this Faith and anybody that is thirsty, let him come and take this water free. It is even overflowing. I say, it is even overflowing.

WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE STANDING

Verse 30: “And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.” (KJV).

“The whole population of the city was electrified by these accusations and a great riot followed. Paul was dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him.” (LB).
As they were killing him, they started beating him. What do you think was the reaction of Peter when they heard that this man was arrested and they were beating him up and down? I could see them rejoicing: “That is what he deserves. Let him speak contrary again. He will suffer today. Let him go to another place and say it again.”
Brethren, I want you to see what really happened. These people that were killing Paul, these were people that said they believed Christ. These were called Jewish Christians that maintained that they must continue with Moses’ Laws.
They were the people that were killing Paul. They were killing Titus, a Greek, a Gentile, saying that they have polluted the Temple by coming there, because it is forbidding for a Jew to mingle with a Gentile.
So, as far as they were concerned, the enmity remained there. The death of Christ on the cross profits them nothing.
If you think we do not know what we believe in this Faith, you are a foolish man, a foolish woman. Maybe God has blinded you from understanding what we are saying. We know where we stand. We know how these nonsenses were passed on to the Gentiles contrary to the mind of God.
Verse 31 through 32: “And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.” (KJV).
“As they were killing him, word reached the commander of the Roman garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
He quickly ordered out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the troops coming, they quit beating Paul.” (LB).
Now, Paul deserved beating. Paul deserved thorough beating. I believe God was behind that beating. Was it not what Paul was trying to avoid for which cause he compromised? He that wants to save his life must surely lose it. But, if you lose your life for the Gospel sake, you must gain your life again.
Saint Paul was very much afraid and he did not want to die, He compromised. When he got there, the same death confronted him.
See, when Saint Paul recognized this fact, he told Galatians Christians “well-well” the reason why people cannot establish the message of Grace is because they do not want to suffer persecution.
Wherever this message is preached without compromise, those that do not believe Christ must surely persecute us.
If you watch the Acts of the Apostles chapter 7 verse 8 through 15, Stephen was accused of teaching the people contrary to the Laws of Moses. And in verse 51 through 57 of chapter 7, there, they killed him. There they killed him for teaching the people contrary to the Laws of Moses.

CHRIST IS OUR POINT OF JUSTIFICATION

If you are in this Faith, the truth which I preach in all the Churches—The Basis of our Faith—is that the Laws of Moses are not for us whom Christ has saved.

If you do not believe in what I teach, you perish. My doctrines are not mine but that of He that sent Me. And I have come to gather all the loose ends to tie the Old and the New Testaments together, and to lift up Christ for you to be saved.
I have shown you the point of your JUSTIFICATION, how you should continue with the Grace of God until the day you would be CLOTHED WITH IMMORTALITY.
If anybody is taking you out of the Grace of God, that man is filled with pride. He is destitute of the truth. He lacks Christ. He does not have the Spirit of God. He is out of the way. Do not pay attention to him. God bless you all.
With these few words, I believe I have confirmed the truth.
Any question from what you have been. taught? If you do not ask any question, I assume you understand the message. Any question?
God bless you all. Remain blessed in Him eternally.