Biblical Meaning of Clean and Unclean Food: Images of Sin and Righteousness.

 Not Food, but the Heart: Why Clean and Unclean Animals Are Images of Our Actions

When we read the Old Testament, especially Leviticus and Deuteronomy, many stumble over the long lists of "clean" and "unclean" animals. It seems as if God is overly concerned with His people's diet. But the Apostle Paul gives us the key: "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning" (Romans 15:4).

Scripture was never simply about meat or diet. Food is an image. Clean food symbolizes actions pleasing to God, and unclean food symbolizes sins that defile the soul. Christ made this crystal clear: "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man" (Matthew 15:11).

Let's explore the images of sin and righteousness hidden in the animals.

1. The Ark and the Church: Clean and Unclean Together

One of the most powerful images of the church is Noah's Ark. Notice: God commanded Noah to take pairs of every living thing (Genesis 6:19). The ark contained both clean animals (later used for sacrifice) and unclean animals (crawling things, lizards, pigs, predators).

The church today is that same ark. It holds not perfect people, but those in whom holiness dwells alongside flaws. The presence of "unclean" images (people with sinful habits) does not destroy the ark — but the internal choice matters: will you remain clean within, or begin to resemble the filth?

2. Gnats and Camels: The Blindness of the Scribes

Jesus rebukes the Pharisees not for keeping dietary laws, but for swapping substance for shadows: "Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!" (Matthew 23:24).

Gnats (tiny, annoying insects) image petty nitpicking toward others: you ate the wrong thing, prayed incorrectly, bowed the wrong way. But the camel (a huge, ritually unclean animal) images massive sins: pride, anger, condemnation, hypocrisy. The Pharisees were clean in diet but filthy in heart. They drank "clean" juices but swallowed the "unclean" camel of lies.

3. A Washed Pig: The Danger of Returning to Sin

Peter warns about people who have "become entangled in sins" and describes their tragic state: "But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: 'A dog returns to his own vomit,' and, 'a sow, having washed, returns to wallowing in the mire'" (2 Peter 2:21-22).

The pig in Scripture is the classic unclean image. It does not chew the cud or part the hoof. It symbolizes a person who loves the mud of lust, unclean thoughts, gossip, and perversion. The pig was washed (the person confessed, communed, changed behavior), but the heart remained porcine — it longs to return to the old, "beloved" mud. Clean food is not ritual washing, but a nature that does not seek filth.

4. A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: The Most Dangerous Deceiver

Jesus gives a marker for recognizing false prophets: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15).

The sheep is a clean animal. It chews the cud (symbol of meditating on God's Word) and has a split hoof (ability to distinguish good from evil). The wolf, however, is a predator that feeds on blood (image of violence, slander, and malice). The false prophet eats the "unclean" food of power and manipulation but dresses in the skin of a meek sheep. This warns: cleanness is not in the external mask, but in what "cud" your mind chews each day.

5. Peter's Vision: Never Call a Man Unclean

This theme explodes in the book of Acts. Peter sees a sheet filled with "all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air." A voice commands him to kill and eat. Peter objects: "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean" (Acts 10:14).

God replies: "What God has cleansed you must not call common." Immediately after, Peter is summoned to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile. The meaning is deafening: Unclean food images people and actions God considers sinful, but when grace transforms a person, they become clean.

God tells the church: Stop dividing people into "clean" (us) and "unclean" (them). The main thing is not whose "dietary category" you belong to, but whether your soul has been cleansed by the blood of Christ.

6. The Serpent: The Ancient Image of Sin and Witchcraft

Here, Scripture is utterly clear. In Genesis, the serpent becomes the vehicle of sin: "The serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field" (Genesis 3:1). Later, serpents (vipers, asps) image lies, witchcraft, and poisonous speech. John the Baptist calls the Pharisees "brood of vipers" (Matthew 3:7).

The serpent does not chew the cud or have split hooves. It is the perfect symbol of sin — crawling in the dust, striking unnoticed, drinking from the fountain of the curse. Unclean food of the soul is the venom of envy, the sorcery of manipulative words, deceit. Even Paul says the sorcerer Elymas was "son of the devil, enemy of all righteousness" (Acts 13:10).

So What Is "Clean Food" in the Modern Christian Life?

If clean food images righteous acts, then the "split hoof" means:

1. Distinguishing good from evil (being able to say "no" to sin).

2. Chewing the cud — continually returning to God's Word, meditating on it day and night (Psalm 1:2).

3. No predatory behavior — not devouring your neighbor with slander, not draining their energy through manipulation.

And unclean food (pig, camel, wolf, serpent) images what lives in us when we:

— Wallow in the mud of gossip and lust.

— Swallow the camel of pride but strain out the gnat of an offense.

— Wear the sheep mask of righteousness while being a predator inside.

— Poison ourselves with the venom of witchcraft (envy, witchcraft, refusal to forgive).

Conclusion: What is on your "plate" today is not about food. Read the Gospels and ask yourself: Which animals roam the fields of your heart? If you notice the "pig" or "serpent" in yourself — do not be ashamed. Come to Jesus, who does not cleanse the soul from the outside but changes our nature. Because "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). And a pure heart does not eat unclean thoughts.

Reflect: Which "image of food" has dominated your life in the last 24 hours?

The Power of Words in the Bible: Why Your Tongue Holds Life and Death.

 

🔥 WORDS CARRY WEIGHT. LITERALLY.

Why the Bible Calls the Tongue a Weapon and Every Word a Seed of Judgment or Justification

We live in a time when words have been devalued.

We pour out streams of comments, forgetting them within a minute. We throw out phrases without thinking about what they do to the person who hears them. We call it "free speech," "emotions," "just joking."

The Bible looks at it differently.

Scripture speaks about words with the same seriousness we reserve for matters of life and death. And as it turns out — it's one and the same.

WORDS ON THE SCALES OF JUDGMENT

Jesus said:

"But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

(Matthew 12:36-37)

Pause for a second.

Not "for every murder." Not "for every act of betrayal." For every empty word. Idle. Thrown out casually. The very ones we didn't even notice.

Judgment will examine our conversations.

THE TONGUE IS A WEAPON

The Apostle James dedicates an entire chapter to the issue of the tongue. He doesn't mince words:

"The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."

(James 3:6)

The tongue is not just a muscle in the mouth. It is a fuse, with one end reaching into hell.

One word can destroy a marriage. One word can kill a reputation. One word can wound a child so deeply that the wound bleeds for decades.

And with this same tongue we praise God.

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be."

(James 3:9-10)

The same mouth sings "Holy, Holy, Holy" on Sunday and spreads gossip about a coworker on Monday. James calls this unnatural.

WORDS AS SEEDS

Solomon compares speech to fruit that a person eats:

"From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward."

(Proverbs 12:14)

And elsewhere he adds:

"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

(Proverbs 18:21)

You sow words — and you reap a harvest. The question is, what exactly are you sowing today in your chats, in the comments section, at the kitchen table tonight?

"YOU FOOL" — THE PATH TO JUDGMENT

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ elevates the standard to an extreme level:

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

(Matthew 5:21-22)

Jesus draws a direct line from a word — to spiritual destruction.

"Raca" is not profanity. It's an Aramaic expression of contempt, something like "empty one," "you are nothing." An insult that annihilates a person's dignity.

Christ says: you think sin is only physical murder? But I tell you: verbal murder is also murder. And it goes straight to the courtroom.

GNATS AND CAMELS

To religious people who meticulously observed external rules but neglected their hearts, Jesus said:

"You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel."

(Matthew 23:24)

The Pharisees strained their drink through a cloth to avoid accidentally swallowing a gnat — an unclean insect according to the Law of Moses. But at the same time they swallowed a camel — also an unclean animal, but enormous.

A tiny sin they filtered out, while a massive one they swallowed whole.

Don't we sometimes do the same: afraid to say a harsh word at church, but at home we devour one another with criticism and humiliation? We keep the fine print of rules but lost love long ago?

WHAT TO DO

The Bible doesn't just diagnose the problem. It provides the solution.

1. Stop the Flow

"Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues."

(Proverbs 10:19)

The more words — the higher the probability of saying something you will later regret. Sometimes holiness is simply silence where you used to speak.

2. A Filter Before Release

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

(Ephesians 4:29)

Before you speak — check: does this word build up? Does it give grace to the one who hears it? If not — stop.

3. Slowness to Speak

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."

(James 1:19)

Two ears, one mouth — the proportion is not accidental.

4. Awareness of the Sacredness of Words

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

(Colossians 4:6)

Salt preserves from decay. Our words should stop corruption, not spread it.

IN CONCLUSION

David prayed:

"Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips."

(Psalm 141:3)

A king, a warrior, a poet — and he asked God to place a guard over his mouth.

Right now, before writing a comment, saying a word to your wife or husband, speaking up in a group chat — you can pause. And ask: will this word bring life or death? Is this a gnat I'm trying to purify myself from, or a camel I'm swallowing whole?

A word is a seed. A word is a weapon. A word is smoke from a furnace reaching from Gehenna.

But a word is also an instrument of blessing. And the choice is always ours.

Who Is the True Messenger of God? A Biblical Study on Muhammad and Jesus.

Is it possible to clearly determine, through the Holy Scriptures, who is the true messenger of the Most High? Let's examine this based on what the Most High Himself has said.

Believers in Allah, according to Islamic doctrine, claim that Muhammad is the final prophet and messenger of Allah, to whom the Holy Book, the Quran, was given through the angel Gabriel. They assert that the Most High gave a new and final law that will remain valid until the Day of Judgment. According to this belief, the laws of other prophets were temporary and were abrogated by God with the beginning of Muhammad's prophetic mission. Muslims accept the Torah (Taurat), the Psalms (Zabur), and the Gospel (Injil) as divine revelations, but they do not recognize their commandments and teachings as currently binding, arguing that these books have been corrupted by humans (tahrif).

However, Muslims themselves cannot prove that the angel who spoke with Muhammad was sent by the Most High.

What does the Most High say about how He frees people from sin and through whom He does it? Let's examine this in order, from the beginning.

The story of humanity's fall is written in the Bible, in the book of Genesis, chapter 3. It tells how the first humans, Adam and Eve, violated the command of the Most High and ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. THE TRUTH IS THAT THE MOST HIGH IMMEDIATELY REVEALED HOW HE WOULD SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND HOW HE WOULD DELIVER HUMANITY FROM THE SLAVERY OF SIN.

God announced from the beginning what would happen in the end and how He would save people from the slavery of sin; the hundreds of fulfilled prophecies in the Bible are irrefutable proof of this.

Isaiah 46:10 (NIV): I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.'

Let's see what the Most High said about how He would solve the problem of humanity's fall. Does He say anything about the law and teachings given to Muhammad?

Adam and Eve sinned and lost God's glory, and they tried to fix the problem by their own efforts, making clothes for themselves from fig leaves.

Genesis 3:7 (NIV): Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

But then we read that this was not acceptable to God, and that He Himself provided Adam and Eve with garments made from animal skins.

Genesis 3:21 (NIV): The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

From this, we see that because of human sin, an innocent animal was killed, because according to the law of the Most High, the wages of sin is death, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

The Most High shows that the problem of the fall can only be solved by God Himself, and that man is incapable of solving it on his own. God Himself provided the sacrificial animal that covered the nakedness of the people, which points to the fact that God Himself would decide who would pay for humanity's sins and He Himself would choose the sacrifice for the sin of all mankind.

The sacrificial Lamb was chosen and destined by God before the creation of man, because the Most High knows from the beginning what will happen.

Who is this sacrificial Lamb chosen by God who would become the offering for the sin of all humanity? Let's read about this in the same book of Genesis. Observe what the Most High says to the serpent (Satan), who deceived Adam and Eve and led them into rebellion against God.

Genesis 3:14-15 (NIV): So the LORD God said to the serpent... 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

The Most High announces a war: Satan (the serpent) and his offspring (his army, all beings under his influence) would fight against the woman and her offspring. That Offspring, born of the woman, would crush Satan's head, destroying his work in the world and solving the problem of humanity's fall.

Who would solve the problem of the fall and be the sacrifice chosen by the Most High? Who is that woman who would receive the Seed of God? Who is that man who was not born of an earthly father, but had God as his Father? Who is the one who would destroy the works of the devil, crushing his head?

In whom are all these images shown by God from the beginning united? This is what God reveals through His prophet, and how it was later fulfilled.

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV): Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23 (NIV): "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").

Luke 1:26-35 (NIV): In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end." 34 "How will this be," Mary asked, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God."

Interestingly, the Quran also tells us that Mary was a virgin and that she conceived a son from the Most High.

· Quran 66:12: And [the example of] Mary, the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into it [i.e., her garment] through Our angel [Gabriel]. And she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient.

· Quran 3:45,48: [And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary – distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allah]... And He will teach him writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel."

· Quran 21:91: And [mention] the one who guarded her chastity, so We blew into her [garment] through Our angel [Gabriel], and We made her and her son a sign for the worlds.

The Quran states that Jesus was born of "Our Spirit" ("We blew into her from Our Spirit"). The Spirit of God entered Mary as an incorruptible seed, and she conceived from the Spirit of God. It is clear WHO "blew" into Mary "from Our Spirit" – WHO PLACED that incorruptible SEED into Mary... and that SEED is from the Most High Himself. That is why it is written in the Gospel of Luke 1:35: ...The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Jesus, born of Mary, is called the Son of the Most High because the SEED for his birth was given by the Most High.

IN SUMMARY, WE HAVE SEEN THAT THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB PROMISED BY GOD AND THE OFFSPRING WHO WOULD CRUSH THE SERPENT'S HEAD IS JESUS CHRIST, BORN OF THE VIRGIN.

JESUS CHRIST, WHEN HE WAS CRUCIFIED ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY, FULFILLED WHAT THE MOST HIGH HAD PROMISED, BECOMING THE SACRIFICE THAT GOD HIMSELF PROVIDED TO DESTROY SIN.

1 Peter 1:18-20 (NIV): For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

Ephesians 1:3-4 (NIV): Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

The Most High knows from the beginning what will happen in the end.

Isaiah 46:10 (NIV): I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.'

Both Jesus Christ and Muhammad are descendants of Abraham. Why is this important? Because the Most High called Abraham His friend, and because Abraham obeyed His commands, God promised Abraham that through one of his descendants, He would bless all humanity. The Most High would accomplish a great blessing by saving people from the slavery of sin through that Descendant or Seed of Abraham.

Genesis 22:18 (NIV): and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.

Let's find out who this Seed of Abraham is, through whom the Most High would bless all the nations of the earth.

Abraham had two sons. The older, Ishmael, was born of the slave woman Hagar; and the younger, Isaac, was born of Abraham's wife Sarah.

1 Chronicles 1:28 (NIV): The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.

From Ishmael came many Arab peoples, and it is believed that Muhammad is a descendant of Abraham through Ishmael. Through Isaac came the Jewish people and, ultimately, Jesus Christ.

God Himself specified through which of Abraham's sons He would bless all nations and through which line that Seed would come.

Genesis 21:9-12 (NIV): But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac." 11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12 But God said to him, "Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."

So we see that the Most High declared His will, saying that the Seed would come through the line of Isaac, while Ishmael was excluded from this specific inheritance.

Later, God renews the promise directly with Isaac, confirming that because of his obedience, the blessed Seed would come through him.

Genesis 26:4-5 (NIV): I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.

The apostle Paul also writes about this:

Galatians 3:8,16 (NIV): Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."... 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.

Thus we have discovered that the Most High accomplishes the salvation of all nations through the Seed of Abraham, which came not through his firstborn son Ishmael, but through Isaac, and that this Seed is Jesus Christ.

The fact that an angel spoke to Muhammad, claiming to be sent by God, does not prove that he actually was. The message of that angel does not correspond to what the Most High said from the beginning. God, being omniscient and knowing the future, announces through His true prophets what is to come. In the Bible, there are no prophecies about the introduction of a new law or new teaching through Muhammad. In contrast, the coming of Jesus Christ as Messiah and Savior is confirmed by all the prophets of the Old Testament through hundreds of prophecies that were literally fulfilled in Him.

There are many angels, and among them are fallen ones.

The appearance of an angel to Muhammad is not a unique case. For example, there is the well-known religious movement of the Mormons: in 1823, an angel named Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith, also claiming to be sent by God to give the true teaching.

There is also the Unification Church (Moonies), founded in the 20th century in Korea. Its founder, Sun Myung Moon, claimed that Jesus Christ, Buddha, and other religious figures appeared to him, who could be considered heavenly messengers.

From this, we conclude that not every appearance of an angel means that the angel is sent by the Most High. The apostle Paul warns us about this:

Galatians 1:8 (NIV): But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse!

The Most High fulfilled what He promised from the beginning. We must follow this truth, because truth and salvation are in Christ, and his teaching grants eternal life.

Ephesians 3:11 (NIV): according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Any distortion of the doctrine given by Christ and His apostles, even if presented by an angel, brings a curse and leads away from the truth, eternal life, and the Most High God.

Spiritual Authority of the Believer:Power Over Demons & Sickness in Jesus' Name | Bible Guide.

 

The Believer's Authority: Born of God, Ruling in the Spirit

When a person believes in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, the Spirit of God enters their heart, and they become the temple of God. Naturally, their status in the spiritual world changes because God now dwells in them through His Holy Spirit. Such a person receives a different level of authority in the spiritual realm, having been born of God Himself and made a child of God.

John 1:12 (KJV): But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

Jesus Trains His Disciples in Spiritual Authority

Jesus Christ Himself told His disciples about the authority and power they would possess after believing in Him and receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. His disciples received the power to do the same works that Jesus did, and even greater works. From this, it follows that they received from God authority and power over all the forces of darkness, because Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, casting out demons and healing diseases, thereby freeing all who were oppressed by the devil.

John 14:12 (KJV): Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Jesus trained His disciples and prepared them for their own independent, full-fledged ministry. We see from Scripture that He taught them how to use the authority received from God to cast out demons and heal diseases.

Mark 3:14-15 (KJV): And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.

Jesus told them that God was endowing them with authority over all demons, and that none of these demons could withstand the authority and power that God had given them in the name of Jesus Christ. No demon could harm them because the authority of believers in the spiritual world surpasses the authority of demons.

Luke 10:17-20 (KJV): And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

God, through David, had already proclaimed that believers would receive such authority to rule in the spiritual world, command all demons, and destroy the works of the devil.

Psalm 91:13 (KJV): Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Biblical Examples of Using Authority in Jesus' Name

This authority is real, and Christ's disciples demonstrated it. The people around them saw the manifestation of this power. Some, seeing that Christ's disciples were casting out demons by the authority in the name of Jesus, decided to use it themselves. The Gospel of Mark describes a case where a man, upon seeing the disciples cast out demons in Jesus' name, also began casting them out, even though he wasn't a follower of Christ.

Mark 9:38-40 (KJV): And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.

In the book of Acts, we find a powerful example of exercising this authority. The apostles Peter and John healed a paralyzed man without even praying to God for it. They simply commanded it in the name of Jesus Christ, and the spirit of sickness left him.

Acts 3:6-8 (KJV): Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

The apostles didn't need to pray to God for the healing of this paralyzed man; they simply needed to exercise the authority that God had already given them in the name of Jesus. God's will concerning the sick and oppressed had already been declared.

Matthew 10:7-8 (KJV): And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

You Also Have This Authority

Just as He told them, God also tells you: Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. And also: He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do. Therefore, as a believer, if you are born of God and have been baptized with His Holy Spirit, you can exercise the authority God has given you in the name of Jesus Christ.

If even unbelievers could use this authority, how much more can you, to whom God has given it as His child.

The Warning: Using the Name is Not Enough

It's true that some unbelievers tried to use the name of Jesus, and sometimes it worked. Some demons are very fearful and are terrified of anything related to God. However, it doesn't always work. Some demons coldly assess the situation and understand whether the person truly has the authority from God or is an imposter. The case of the seven sons of Sceva illustrates this perfectly.

Acts 19:13-16 (KJV): Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

It's important to note that believers who come to God are not perfect and have not yet attained perfection in Christ (just as Jesus' own disciples weren't perfect). Yet God endows them with authority in the name of Jesus. Even believers who have sin in their lives can operate in this authority, as shown in the Word of God.

Matthew 7:22-23 (KJV): Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The conclusion is clear: to exercise authority over demons and sicknesses, one does not need to reach some spiritual peak. All children of God, even "babes in Christ" (immature or carnal Christians), can do so. It is God's will that we, as believers, use this authority to destroy the works of the devil in our lives and the lives of others.

Prayer for Revelation of His Power

To fully grasp the authority, power, and might that you have from God, you can ask Him in prayer to reveal it to you and make it completely clear. The apostle Paul taught this very prayer to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 1:17-23 (KJV): That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Is a Person Saved by Doing Good Works? God's Righteousness vs. Self-Righteousness | Bible Study.

Is a person saved who does many good deeds, for example, constantly helping children with cancer and paying for their treatment, or caring for the terminally ill in a hospice?

Many Christians today are confused and have been deceived by false teachers, moving away from salvation by grace—that is, through the direct action of God Himself and His Spirit. They trust more in themselves and their own strength, hoping to attain righteousness and salvation through good works or through the works of the Law of Moses, which is fundamentally impossible.

The Apostle Paul faced this very issue and wrote that there are two kinds of righteousness: true righteousness (or righteousness granted by God through a person's faith) and false righteousness that a person thinks they can obtain through what they themselves do or through the efforts of their flesh—for example, large sums of charitable donations, restrictions on eating certain foods, observing religious rituals, or even abstaining from marriage.

Many do not understand what true righteousness is or how to obtain it, and therefore they try to make themselves righteous.

Romans 10:3 (NIV): "Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness."

There is a righteousness that God Himself gives. There is a false righteousness that people establish, which is based on human effort.

What is the true righteousness that comes from God through faith?

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NIV):

26"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

27"And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."

In these verses, we see that it is God Himself who changes a person's inner nature or spirit. God Himself removes the old spirit from a person and gives a new Spirit, or as it is written: "my Spirit"—meaning God gives His Holy Spirit, and His Spirit influences the person.

FOR A PERSON TO ACT ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL, GOD HIMSELF MUST CHANGE THEIR INNER NATURE OR SPIRIT, REMOVE THE OLD SPIRIT THAT CARRIED SIN, AND GIVE THE PERSON THE SPIRIT OF GOD, WHICH CARRIES THE NATURE OR ESSENCE OF GOD HIMSELF. AS A RESULT, THE PERSON IS TRANSFORMED AND BECOMES DIFFERENT IN THEIR INNER NATURE, AND THIS SPIRIT FROM GOD CAUSES THE PERSON TO STRIVE TO FULFILL GOD'S STATUTES AND COMMANDS.

We see that it is God Himself who makes a person righteous because a person cannot, by their own power, change their inner nature or spirit, nor free themselves from the old spirit in which sin dwells.

How does God remove the old spirit or sinful nature?

This happens only through faith in the Savior whom God Himself provided.

Galatians 6:14-15 (NIV):

14"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

15"Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation."

The Apostle Paul emphasizes that what matters is becoming a new creation or a new being of God who has the Spirit of God in their heart, and not just relying on one's own efforts and good works, because without faith in Christ, they mean nothing.

Through the preaching of the Gospel, believers receive the new birth and are born of God, and the Spirit of God begins to give them a mindset pleasing to God, thereby changing their behavior and making them righteous people who fulfill God's will more and more until they become like Christ in everything.

2 Corinthians 3:3-6 (NIV):

3"You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

4"Such confidence we have through Christ before God."

5"Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God."

6"He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

You become like Christ only through the action of the Holy Spirit in you, and that is the action of God's grace, and it happens by your faith in God and your reliance on Him.

As an example, let's look at how God saved a good and kind man, the Roman army centurion Cornelius, who did many good works. Although God valued him, all these good works did not save Cornelius.

Acts 10:1-2 (NIV):

1"At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment."

2"He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly."

We see that Cornelius was very pleasing to God because of what he did:

· Devout and God-fearing: means he was a believer, he honored God, and followed His commands.

· He gave generously to the needy.

· He prayed to God regularly.

But all these good deeds did not guarantee this man's salvation.

For Cornelius to receive salvation, along with his family and loved ones, God arranged for the Apostle Peter to come to his house and tell him that God saves people through the Savior Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:3-6 (NIV):

3"One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, 'Cornelius!'"

4"Cornelius stared at him in fear. 'What is it, Lord?' he asked. The angel answered, 'Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God."

5"Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter."

6"He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.'"

Despite the fact that Cornelius was a devout man and did many good things, he still needed, for his salvation, to believe in Jesus Christ so that he could be born again and become a new creation in Christ, so that God could replace his spirit and remove the sinful spirit from his heart, and instead give him His Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:21-22 (NIV):

21"Peter went down and said to the men, 'I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?'"

22"The men replied, 'We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say. '"

God even used His angel to convince Cornelius to call Peter to his house so that Peter could tell him about Jesus Christ and how God saves people through Christ.

Acts 10:33-48 (NIV):

33"So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us. "

34"Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism"

35"but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right."

36"You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all."

37"You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—"

38"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him."

39"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,"

40"but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen."

41"He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead."

42"He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. "

43"All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. "

44"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message."

45"The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles."

46"For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said,"

47"'Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.'"

48"So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days."

Faith in Christ the Savior and the new birth from God through this faith are strictly necessary for a person to enter the kingdom of God and inherit eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV):

8"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—"

9"not by works, so that no one can boast."

God Himself saves people through Christ, and no one will be able to boast that they saved themselves through good works or anything else.

A person cannot overcome the sinful nature by their own strength; only the power and might of God's Holy Spirit ensure victory over the power of sin.

If it were possible for people to be saved through good works or the works of the Law of Moses, then Jesus Christ would have had no need to come into this world and die a martyr's death for the sins of people.

God Himself saved you, and good works appear as a consequence of God having transformed you and given you a new Spirit that compels you to do works pleasing to God.

Sin enslaved all of humanity through Adam. When God created Adam, all of humanity was created in him and placed in him. When Adam sinned and chose to follow the serpent (Satan), all of humanity sinned in him and was sold as a slave to sin, subjected to Satan, because he is the ruler of the kingdom of sin and darkness. Adam chose rebellion against God and submission to Satan. This is clearly written in the Holy Scriptures.

Romans 5:12-19 (NIV):

12"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—"

13"To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law."

14"Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come."

15"But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!"

16"Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification."

17"For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!"

18"Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people."

19"For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."

Through one man, Adam, Satan took dominion over all humanity; likewise, through one man, Jesus Christ, God frees people by faith from the slavery of sin and makes them His children, who have one Spirit with God.

1 Corinthians 15:21-23 (NIV):

21"For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man."

22"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

23"But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him."

Likewise, liberation from death will occur when Christ returns: just as through Adam all became mortal, so through Christ all who believe in Him will obtain immortality and eternal life.

The action of the Holy Spirit from a person's heart ensures that the person acts righteously. It is the Spirit of God who teaches the person and gives them a full and deep knowledge of the truth, and frees them from all error.

Titus 2:11-14 (NIV):

11"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people."

12"It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,"

13"while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,"

14"who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

The grace of God, that is, the action of His Holy Spirit, is aimed at making a person stop sinning and begin to do good works pleasing to God, and ultimately become like Christ.

1 John 5:18 (NIV): "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them."

1 John 3:9 (NIV): "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God."

We see that a sinless life is only ensured by God Himself, through the influence of His Holy Spirit. And it is precisely by the Holy Spirit living in the heart of the born-again believer that all sinful manifestations in the believer's life are suppressed and destroyed.

Here is a list of the main sins that manifest in people:

Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV):

19"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;"

20"idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions"

21"and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Next are listed the character qualities that the Spirit of God produces in believers:

Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV):

22"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,"

23"gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

24"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

25"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

26"Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

Romans 8:12-14 (NIV):

12"Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it."

13"For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live."

14"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God."

Believe in God and rely on the saving grace He gives you, which ensures your salvation, freedom from all consequences of Adam's fall, and your spiritual growth. This is the action of God's Holy Spirit in you, and also through you for the good of others.

Predestination and the Mystery of God's Will: What Does the Bible Say About Our Election in Christ?

The passage from Ephesians (1:4-5, 9-10) often raises questions among Christians. What does it mean that He "hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world"? What is this "mystery of His will" that God has made known to us?

These verses are not just complex theology. They are the foundation of our salvation and our confidence in God. Let's explore this theme throughout the entire Bible and see how Scripture reveals the divine plan for us.

I. Chosen Before the Beginning: Who Was Chosen and Why?

The Apostle Paul begins with a powerful statement: our salvation is rooted in eternity. It is neither an accident nor our own doing.

Ephesians 1:4-5 (KJV): "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."

If we turn to other epistles, we see this idea repeated multiple times:

· 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV): "...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."

  Commentary: Here, the means of this choice is specified: sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. God didn't just choose abstract people; He determined the path of their salvation.

· 2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV): "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."

  Commentary: The key phrase is "before the world began." This excludes the idea that God was reacting to our future merits. He acted on His own initiative (His purpose).

· Romans 8:29-30 (KJV): "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son... Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

  Commentary: This is the so-called "golden chain of salvation." Predestination is inseparably linked to God's foreknowledge, calling, justification, and final glorification.

II. The Mystery Hidden for Ages: What is God's Plan?

In Ephesians 1:9, Paul speaks of the revelation of a "mystery." In ancient times, the mysteries of pagan cults were hidden from the uninitiated. The Christian "mystery," however, is something God reveals to all people.

Ephesians 1:9-10 (KJV): "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him."

What is the essence of this mystery?

· Colossians 1:26-27 (KJV): "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints... which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

  Commentary: The mystery is not just information, but a Person. Jesus Christ living in believers. The union of heaven and earth begins now, within us.

· Romans 16:25-26 (KJV): "...according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest... made known to all nations for the obedience of faith."

  Commentary: Another aspect of the mystery is the inclusion of the Gentiles (all nations) into one family of God.

III. Gathering All Things in Christ: The Future of Creation

The text in Ephesians speaks of a grand goal: to "gather together in one all things in Christ." This is not just a church union, but a cosmic event.

· Colossians 1:16-20 (KJV): "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth... and he is before all things, and by him all things consist... And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

  Commentary: This passage is the perfect parallel to Ephesians 1:10. It explains how the unification happens: through the Cross.

· 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (KJV): "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father... that God may be all in all."

  Commentary: This is the end of history. Christ's Lordship leads creation to complete unity with the Father.

· Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV): "...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth."

  Commentary: Gathering all things under the headship of Christ means the universal recognition of His authority.

IV. The Purpose of Election: Holiness, Not Pride

It is important to remember why we were chosen. Ephesians 1:4 states: "that we should be holy and without blame before him." The doctrine of predestination should not lead to spiritual laziness or pride, but to a holy life.

· 1 Peter 1:15-16 (KJV): "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

  Commentary: Holiness is not the condition for being chosen, but the goal of being chosen. We were chosen to become like Him.

· 1 Peter 1:20 (KJV): (Christ) "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you."

  Commentary: If Christ was destined for sacrifice before the foundation of the world, then the plan of salvation was not an improvisation by God in response to the fall. It was conceived from the very beginning.

Conclusion

The teaching of Ephesians 1:4-10 permeates the entire Bible. It tells us that our faith has a solid foundation, not in our weak efforts, but in the eternal plan of a loving God.

This plan includes:

1. Election (2 Thess. 2:13) — God desired us before we knew Him.

2. Redemption (Col. 1:14) — He paid the price for our rescue.

3. Reconciliation (Col. 1:20) — He destroyed the enmity and gave us peace.

4. Glorification (Rom. 8:30) — He will bring to completion what He started.

Remember: predestination in Scripture is not a cold fate, but the warm embrace of the Father who "hath chosen us in Him" (Eph. 1:4).

Satan's Oldest Trick: Distorting God's Word | Bible Study (KJV).

 Both in ancient times and today, Satan uses the same simple method to fool believing people. This method is to distort the word of God, or to add to it, or to take away from it.

The same method by which Satan, the serpent, fooled Adam and Eve is still in effect today, and he is attacking Christians with it again: "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said..." (Genesis 3:1).

God gave us His Word and teaching through Christ, and this teaching cannot be distorted by any human additions or subtractions.

John 17:8 (KJV): "For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me."

Many believers have not learned from the example of Adam and Eve and fall for the serpent's deception as well. Throughout the thousand-year history of Christianity, a huge number of human teachings and traditions of elders have been introduced into Christian doctrine, while others have thrown out parts of the doctrine as unnecessary, thinking that God gave them something superfluous. They are stepping on the same rake as the scribes and Pharisees of Christ's time on Earth, and in essence, they are just like those HYPOCRITES who teach people to follow human doctrines.

People consider themselves smarter than God, so they begin to add their own human commandments to His teaching. They present themselves as worshipers of God, but they distort His commandments and teachings, which shows that in their hearts they do not respect God at all and are hypocrites, pretending to be His followers and admirers.

Matthew 15:3-8 (KJV):

3 But he answered and said unto them,Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

4 For God commanded,saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

5 But ye say,Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

6 And honour not his father or his mother,he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

7 Ye hypocrites,well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth,and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Mark 7:6-7 (KJV):

6 He answered and said unto them,Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me,teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

God, who in His wisdom created the entire universe, gave through Christ an absolutely perfect and ideal teaching to which nothing needs to be added and from which nothing needs to be taken away. This teaching saved people in the time of Christ and His apostles, and in our time, this teaching is sufficient for salvation. All human teachings, traditions, and decrees that people add to the doctrine given by God lead to problems and sin, to arguments and divisions in Christianity.

Isaiah 28:13 (KJV): "But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken."

The apostles also had to fight against those who tried to add their own commandments, decrees, and traditions to the teaching of Christ. The apostles of Christ urged the disciples to strictly follow only the teaching that came from God through Christ and to reject human teachings.

2 John 1:9-11 (KJV):

9 Whosoever transgresseth,and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

10 If there come any unto you,and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Galatians 1:6-9 (KJV):

6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

7 Which is not another;but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But though we,or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before,so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

2 Corinthians 4:2 (KJV): "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV): "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."

If a believer is wise, he will check what is preached to him against the teaching of Christ and the apostles, just as the noble Bereans did—the disciples to whom Paul and Silas preached in Berea, a Greek city.

Acts 17:11 (KJV): "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

Satan distorts doctrine with the goal of sowing divisions among Christians, and he does this precisely on the basis of those human teachings that are introduced into Christianity.

Romans 16:17-18 (KJV):

17 Now I beseech you,brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Today, Christianity is divided into many churches and denominations, and human teachings and the distortion of Christ's doctrine are largely to blame. Satan has managed to divide the body of Christ, and now in the body of Christ (His church) there is no complete unity. Some teach one thing, others another, and heresies and human teachings that promote division flourish contrary to God's will.

Isaiah 28:13 (KJV): "But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken."

Orthodox churches, in particular, have been drawn by Satan into this snare, as they have accepted a huge number of traditions of elders that often contradict God's commandments.

For example, Jesus Christ gave a perfect teaching, and in it, He clearly taught about prayer: that one must pray exclusively to God. However, in Orthodox churches, they teach prayer to deceased saints and even to angels. This is a purely human teaching, as it does not align with the teaching of Christ. It leads to God losing communion with His children; instead of building a relationship with the Heavenly Father, Christians pray to the dead—something Jesus never taught.

Such prayers to deceased saints carry the danger that people begin to honor the dead saints more than God, which is the sin of idolatry. Many pray more to the Virgin Mary than to God, thereby placing her above Him. These people are fooled by Satan through sentimental human teachings; they have become idolaters.

Matthew 15:6 (KJV): "...Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition."

Entire services are dedicated to angels and deceased saints, directly violating the commandment that says: "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:10 / Luke 4:8). These people serve the creation instead of the Creator, and because of this sin, they receive a reprobate mind.

Romans 1:25-32 (KJV):

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie,and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections:for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men,leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness,fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters,haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding,covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God,that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.