| The Axe To The Roots Sin, Satan and the Antichrist |
There have been so many different beliefs, doctrines and
teachings on these subjects that one would find it hard to know
just what to believe. Some think the only "safe" way to live their
lives is to look at every action one does and judge it, accordingly.
Others, cowering under fear, believe "the devil" is hiding behind
every tree or underneath every rock, just waiting to pounce on
them! In both cases, that's certainly no way to live and I do not
believe those to be truths Jesus stated would set one free. To me,
freedom simply comes from not having fear, but peace
within me, in its' place. Maybe, we have complicated these
subjects. Perhaps, we can find simpler understandings of them
and remove the fear of the unknown.
Fear forms closed doors in one's life. Each of us have the
ability to choose to go through each and every door of fear and
see what lies behind it. The only way fear can be vanquished
from a life is for it to be faced. When faced, a new freedom and
sometimes pathway to travel is found. You have to make the
decision to not fear. Fear is the opposite of love and God is
love. That means God is not the source of fear. Will you
choose to face your fears to find inner peace?
You may be wondering why I am writing about fear. In the past,
I was stopped from following what I was hearing on the inside of
me, by people who were telling me "God might send me to hell," if
I do not follow their teachings. Funny, how I figured out later
that I was already in hell by believing others' false beliefs
about God and myself. I spent years in that hell by refusing to
hear anything but the religious teachings I had learned. Yet, I had
no idea my beliefs were in error and hurtful to me and others.
Fear has a way of paralyzing and hurting each of us.
The following questions are for your consideration:
Question Six: Some teach and believe "sin" as being an outward
physical action, but Jesus taught sin to come from within a
person's heart or mind. Could "sin" simply be a forgivable
mistake due to lack of understanding, and perhaps meaning only
to "to mis-think?" (Matt. 12:35; 15:17-20)
Question Seven: Could "repentance" simply mean "to change
one's mind?" What is repentance? (Mark 1:15)
Question Eight: It is written that Jesus spoke numerous times,
"only believe," and "have faith." Could he be saying, "What you
believe becomes real to you?" (Mark 5:36; Luke 8:50; Matt.
17:20;21:21-22)
Question Nine: Many teach the "devil" or "Satan" to be a
powerful, invisible being, lurking around every corner, just waiting
to attack his helpless victims. If that were true, then why would
Jesus call Peter, "Satan," and Judas Iscariot, "a devil?" Could
Satan and the devil represent something within us, far simpler to
overcome? (Matt. 16:23)
Question Ten: The book of Revelation states that the devil,
Satan, serpent and dragon are all one and the same. Knowing
this, why do you think Jesus also called the religious leaders of
that day, "vipers" or serpents? (Matt. 12:34; Rev. 12:9;20:2)
Question Eleven: Why are believers still waiting for Jesus to
come when John clearly stated that "He is come in the flesh," and
anyone who denies this is the antichrist? In light of this verse of
scripture, what is an antichrist? (I John 4:1-4)
Question Twelve: The unclean spirits Jesus confronted never
denied who he was, even proclaiming him to be the Son of God. I
John 4:2 states Jesus to have come in the flesh and whoever
denies this is "antichrist" (against Christ - wouldn't the unclean
spirits count as anti-christ?). In this verse, could John have been
speaking of man's denial of Jesus' appearing (or coming) within
our own flesh? (Mark 1:24-25; Col. 1:27)
Question Thirteen: Why do men teach there to be only one
antichrist to come when John clearly stated, "There are many
antichrists?" (I John 2:18-23)
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teachings on these subjects that one would find it hard to know
just what to believe. Some think the only "safe" way to live their
lives is to look at every action one does and judge it, accordingly.
Others, cowering under fear, believe "the devil" is hiding behind
every tree or underneath every rock, just waiting to pounce on
them! In both cases, that's certainly no way to live and I do not
believe those to be truths Jesus stated would set one free. To me,
freedom simply comes from not having fear, but peace
within me, in its' place. Maybe, we have complicated these
subjects. Perhaps, we can find simpler understandings of them
and remove the fear of the unknown.
Fear forms closed doors in one's life. Each of us have the
ability to choose to go through each and every door of fear and
see what lies behind it. The only way fear can be vanquished
from a life is for it to be faced. When faced, a new freedom and
sometimes pathway to travel is found. You have to make the
decision to not fear. Fear is the opposite of love and God is
love. That means God is not the source of fear. Will you
choose to face your fears to find inner peace?
You may be wondering why I am writing about fear. In the past,
I was stopped from following what I was hearing on the inside of
me, by people who were telling me "God might send me to hell," if
I do not follow their teachings. Funny, how I figured out later
that I was already in hell by believing others' false beliefs
about God and myself. I spent years in that hell by refusing to
hear anything but the religious teachings I had learned. Yet, I had
no idea my beliefs were in error and hurtful to me and others.
Fear has a way of paralyzing and hurting each of us.
The following questions are for your consideration:
Question Six: Some teach and believe "sin" as being an outward
physical action, but Jesus taught sin to come from within a
person's heart or mind. Could "sin" simply be a forgivable
mistake due to lack of understanding, and perhaps meaning only
to "to mis-think?" (Matt. 12:35; 15:17-20)
Question Seven: Could "repentance" simply mean "to change
one's mind?" What is repentance? (Mark 1:15)
Question Eight: It is written that Jesus spoke numerous times,
"only believe," and "have faith." Could he be saying, "What you
believe becomes real to you?" (Mark 5:36; Luke 8:50; Matt.
17:20;21:21-22)
Question Nine: Many teach the "devil" or "Satan" to be a
powerful, invisible being, lurking around every corner, just waiting
to attack his helpless victims. If that were true, then why would
Jesus call Peter, "Satan," and Judas Iscariot, "a devil?" Could
Satan and the devil represent something within us, far simpler to
overcome? (Matt. 16:23)
Question Ten: The book of Revelation states that the devil,
Satan, serpent and dragon are all one and the same. Knowing
this, why do you think Jesus also called the religious leaders of
that day, "vipers" or serpents? (Matt. 12:34; Rev. 12:9;20:2)
Question Eleven: Why are believers still waiting for Jesus to
come when John clearly stated that "He is come in the flesh," and
anyone who denies this is the antichrist? In light of this verse of
scripture, what is an antichrist? (I John 4:1-4)
Question Twelve: The unclean spirits Jesus confronted never
denied who he was, even proclaiming him to be the Son of God. I
John 4:2 states Jesus to have come in the flesh and whoever
denies this is "antichrist" (against Christ - wouldn't the unclean
spirits count as anti-christ?). In this verse, could John have been
speaking of man's denial of Jesus' appearing (or coming) within
our own flesh? (Mark 1:24-25; Col. 1:27)
Question Thirteen: Why do men teach there to be only one
antichrist to come when John clearly stated, "There are many
antichrists?" (I John 2:18-23)
3
Copyright 2002
Take time
to study
and think
these
questions
through.
to study
and think
these
questions
through.
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