Early Church

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Many institutions and groups identify themselves as "church" but the church legally defined should consistently conform to the early Church and the way of Christ.
Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus and the early Church advocated a Daily ministration for the needy of the Christian community that was dependent on Charity only. Its daily bread was not like the system of Corban of the Pharisees nor the free bread of Rome provided by men of governments who exercise authority one over the other through forced offerings which Christ forbid. The Church and the Congregations they served in mutual love was a free form of self "government of, by, and for the people"[1] operating according to the perfect law of liberty as Christ commanded.
The world is seeing a degeneration of the virtues and social bonds of society which is the result of a 100 years of Legal charity and the covetous practices of a daily ministration of public religion because the Modern Church has abandoned The Way of Christ for the way of Nimrod and the corban of the Pharisees. We need to repent and return to the way of the early Church. It was their practice of Pure Religion through faith, hope, and charity that brought them into a Christian conflict with Public religion of the World.
The Jews that rejected the way of Moses also rejected Jesus and the righteousness of God. Christ took away the kingdom from them who said they had no king but Caesar.[2] Then Jesus appointed that kingdom to other Jews we call Apostles who would bear fruit for centuries. Most of the modern Churches are merely a product of the Church of Constantine who say it is okay to cover your neighbor's goods through governments who exercise authority. That church and its daughters all profess the doctrines of men that are in conformity with the imperial Cult of Rome and the Corban of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herod which makes the word of God to none effect.

The Early Church

The early Church in general was able cultivate the redeeming character of social virtues among the people through the moral practices of the Doctrine of Jesus.

But because its structure was divinely designed to not only regenerate the soul of the people it was able to save them during the decline and fall of civilization itself.

As nation after nation degenerated due to shifts in the moral cultures of their corrupt governments and societies those people who followed The Way of Christ were able to endure, survive, and even thrive.

Position of the Church

The position of The Early Church in the society of Christians was vastly different than what we see today.

It was also very different from what many of the Jews were doing at the time Christ came to show us the way.

The Jews at that time often professed Abraham and Moses with their lips but their heart and mind was far from them.

The Jews that rejected the way of Moses also rejected Jesus as the Christ because the wanted to believe they were right. christ warned them the kingdom would be taken from them.[2] Jesus appointed that kingdom to other Jews we call Apostles who would bear fruit for centuries until the modern Church learn to ride on the back of the beast. They have returned to the deeds of the Nicolaitan and the practice of Balaam[3] with an appetite for their neighbor's goods through governments who exercise authority.[4]
The church today with the doctrines of men are in conformity with the imperial Cult of Rome and the Corban of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herod which "makes the word of God to none effect."

The true Church

The original term Church in the Bible was identified by the Greek term "ekklesia" literally translated as the "called out".

Those called out minister could be called a form of clergy but their duties, responsibilities, and limiting criteria were defined by Christ and may not resemble modern forms clergy. The engine that drives the kingdom of God, which is faith, is found in the heart and mind of the individual and it is fueled by the Holy Spirit.

Terms like clergy, laity, elder, father, wife, son, or daughter have there place when properly defined but neither God nor the Holy Spirit are a respecter of persons.

Like the "Church in the wilderness", which consisted of those ministers of a "Peculiar people" who were "called out" of the camp of the golden calf by Moses. Those who were "called out" by Jesus played a pivotal role in serving the people of the early Christian community through the free practice of "Pure religion".

While institutions called church function drastically different today than the early Church established by Christ it is the altered definition of many simple words like "Religion" and “Worship" which clouds our understanding of the whole Gospel of the kingdom.

Seeking that kingdom of God and the righteousness of God remains a prime directive of Christ for those who desire to be His followers.

The Early Christians

The Early Christians provided all social welfare for their society through a daily ministration funded by charity alone.

Rome and many city-states had systems social welfare dependent upon legal charity through the power of the civil law.[4]

The early Christians were persecuted because they would not apply for the Corban of the Pharisees nor free bread from Rome.

All "legal charity" provide by the state was considered to be covetous and therefore Idolatry.[5]

It was the public religion of Rome and the Imperial Cult of Rome which produced the Christian conflict with the private religion of Christian communities located all over the world at that time.

The Early Ministers

Paul the Apostle was a complex man that spoke to Christians about things hard to understand. Between 44 and 48 CE Jerusalem was hit hard by a depression. Paul and others were consistently able to collect food and funds to help the needy in a daily ministration of Pure Religion across an international network of early Christian communities meeting in local free assemblies according to the pattern commanded by Christ.


The ministers, who were the "called out" or as Jesus called them the "little flock" and appointed "a kingdom" by Christ, were not allowed to be like the other governments of the world.[4]

Christian ministers did not exercise authority one over the other but still provided a daily ministration to those in need or want.

Early Christians did not covet their neighbor's goods through the Benefactors of those other governments of the world who were the fathers of the earth.

We were not to apply to those "Fathers" to receive what was called the wages of unrighteousness.

This practice of providing welfare through charity alone was called "Pure Religion".

The Modern Church does many things the Early Church refused to do which got Christians persecuted by different governments of the world from time to time.

Unless Modern Christians repent of their appetite for the dainties of rulers provided through legal charity of the modern welfare state and return to the traditions of the Early Christians they are not really following Christ but in fact workers of iniquity through their covetous practices.


The Essenes disagreed with the Pharisees about the interpretation of the Torah.
They kept the Passover, baptized, cared for one another through charity.
Many of the Jews who were not Pharisees and formed the early Christian community. The way they saw the original Torah was more in line with what Jesus said. They would not take oaths which Jesus condemned. They gathered in the tens, hundreds and thousands which Jesus commanded. They would not apply for the free bread of Rome or Herod provided by their system of Corban which Jesus was against. They also did not believe that the Torah called for this animal sacrifice practiced by the Pharisees. The modern Christian accepts the Pharisaical interpretation of things like stoning which seems so strange since Jesus said they did error about a number of things which evidently included stoning.

We should not concede to the modern definitions of what a church should be or do. The Early Church and the free assemblies of voluntary congregations that were served by ministers wh met the criteria of Christ were clearly doing things far different than the modern Churches made by men

Most of the man made institutional churches and many of the home churches despise a form of godliness have more in common with what the Early Christians called "paganism".

This was because of the people's dependence upon "public religion" which provided the [[free bread] and service offered by the governments that "exercise authority".[4]

David, Proverbs, Paul, Peter and Jesus warned that those tables which provided for the social welfare of he people by rulers who "exercise authority" like the gentile governments of the world were only offering the masses deceitful dainties.

Those systems were a "snare and a trap",[6] which make men what Peter called "merchandise" and even "curse children".

Jesus even told us those systems of civil sacrifice of the world made the word of God to none effect.

Jesus made it very clear that it was not to be that way with His followers.[4]

We offer a way to form and connect in a network of congregations so people can do what the Early Church and the free assemblies of congregations were doing.


The early Church was warned that a strong delusion would deceive many who failed to repent and do the will of our Father in Heaven. They would become workers of iniquity through the covetous practices of the Nicolaitan making the word of God to none effect again. Early Christians sought the Kingdom of God and His righteousness through the Corban of Christ.

Checking faith

"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

The New Testament Church was appointed by Jesus who was the Messiah a.k.a.Christ who was the highest son of David and the rightful king. They were to serve the early Christian community.

At Pentecost everyone who got the Baptism of the Apostles professing Jesus as the Christ were cast out[7] of the welfare system run by the Pharisees through the Temples and synagogues of Herod's government because Jesus said that system of sacrifice or Corban was making the word of God to none effect.

The people of Judea, like the people of Rome, had moved from being a Republic to an autocratic government which eventually oppressed the people, as 1 Samuel 8 predicted through their sloth and covetous practices, according to the prophets and Proverbs and even Polybius. The voice of the people had rejected God and through wantonness electing men who could exercise authority one over the other.

They had more and more slothfully neglected the personal responsibility in their mandated practice of "Pure Religion" through charity alone. The people have become dependent upon government welfare and benefits provided at the expense of their neighbor were snared and entangled again in a yoke of bondage.[8]

Believers of Jesus

Believers in Jesus, who was the Christ, and a different kind of King who taught a different kind of government, were doing something different than Rome and the Pharisees. The Modern Church today is not doing what that early Church did nor are they doing things the way the early Church did things. In many ways the early Church was more like early Israel was meant to be. The Corban of the Pharisees was making the word of God to none effect and therefore not bearing the fruit God intended. The same could be said of the Modern Christian.

Those people who gather in patterns of Tens as Christ commanded expressed their faith by public Baptism and a daily ministration which provided all the social welfare benefits through charity. They were excluded from that public religion or welfare system[9] and had no more access to their Temple treasury and its benefits. That welfare system of the world which had been created first by the Hasmoneans and then by Rome and Herod made the word of God to none effect.

Those believers who were baptized at Pentecost were redeemed from one system much like Egypt.

Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus and the early Church advocated a Daily ministration for the needy of the Christian community that was dependent on Charity only and it was not like the system of Corban of Herod and the Pharisees nor the free bread of Rome. It was their practice of Pure Religion that brought them into a Christian conflict with Public religion and the Covetous Practices of the World. History is repeating itself.

Early tithing

All the Early Christians at Pentecost had to suddenly take care of all the needs of their society through charity alone with no forced government welfare or free bread from the Phariseeswho controlled the temple or Rome.

Because the ministers, who were appointed the Kingdom of God by Christ, were not allowed to be like the other governments of the world they could not exercise authority one over the other like the rulers of those other governments who were the fathers of the earth we were not to apply to any longer.

This practice of the real Religion of God brought those followers of Moses and Jesus, who had been called Jews and would be called Christians in Antioch, into conflict with people like the Pharisees who were engaged in the covetous practices of public religion through the temples of Herod and would eventually bring about a Christian conflict with Rome and its public religion and temples.


The Early Church was doing many things that the Modern Church does not do and the Modern Church does many things the Early Church refused to do which got Christians persecuted by different governments of the world from time to time. Still, Early Christians not only survived but they thrived during the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.

The tithing and all the different offerings were freewill offerings because there was no enforcement means.

The Levites were tithed to according to that service. What service?

The temple priest were providing all the social welfare for the people of Early Israel through freewill offerings even before they strayed from The Way righteousness and Herod made his temples out of stone.

From the beginning the Stones of the Altars were to be living stones. The stones and Tabernacles were symbols of a system the fed the social bonds of a kingdom of God and His righteousness through the perfect law of liberty and love.

The early Church provided all social welfare for the people through a daily ministration of pure Religion unspotted by the "world" of those rulers who called themselves benefactors but exercise authority one over the other.[4]

We are told that “the primitive Christian demonstrated his faith by his virtues; and it was very justly supposed that the Divine persuasion, which enlightened or subdued the understanding, must at the same time purify the heart and direct the actions of the believer” [10]

The Modern Christian is often seen doing daily what those Early Christians were persecuted and even killed for not doing. We may use the same words but their meanings and usage have often changed over the years. Links are provided for your convenience and examination.

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The Checklist

Modern Christians vs. Early Christians
Modern Christians practice a redefined Religion. Early Christians practiced Pure Religion.
Modern Christians depend on civil administers who call themselves Benefactors but compel contributions to provide legal charity. Early Christians depended on ministers of Charity operating in a network of tens through love.
Modern Christians depend on men who exercise authority for their welfare entitlements. Early Christians provided another type of social welfare through Charity and hope.
Modern Christians seek Benefits that are provided by the world Christ's kingdom was not of. Early Christians only receive benefits that are unspotted by that world.
Modern Christians eat at the tables of the world and the fathers of the earth with a covetous appetite. Early Christians set the table of the Lord with charity and hope loving one another in a networking Kingdom of Love.
Modern Christians think that they are children of God because they say[11] they love Christ. Early Christians were the brethren of Christ because they were doers of the will of the Father.[11]
Modern Christians think that they are forgiven because they say they believe in God and say they love Christ. Early Christians knew Jesus died that they might be forgiven and they are only forgiven when they forgive others.[12]
Modern Christians think they just have to say they believe to obtain Eternal life. Early Christians believed they had to seek to keep the commandments to obtain Eternal life because Jesus said so.
Modern Christians think they do not need to do anything like Abraham, Moses and others, but claim they have faith because of what they say they believe. Early Christians knew they had to strive[13] to do the will of the Father if they truly believed.
Modern Christians make men of the earth their Father, despite what Jesus said, by praying to men who exercise authority to obtain benefits at the expense of others through what could be called Public religion. Early Christians Did not call any man on earth their Father, but had their own Private welfare to provide a Daily ministration through charity by Pure Religion, not the Covetous Practices of the public welfare of Rome.
Modern Christians think that Communion of the Father who is in Heaven is eating a small wafer of bread.[14] But they depend on the Fathers of the earth for their daily bread. Early Christians knew that the ritual of the Lord's supper was just a symbol.[15] The real Eucharist was thanksgiving which provided a Daily ministration .
Modern Christians think it is okay to covet benefits provided by men who take from their neighbor by exercise of authority. Early Christians knew that they could not inherit the kingdom if they were covetous.[16]
Modern Christians think the Kingdom of God was postponed, instead of appointed to the Apostles.[17] Early Christians knew the kingdom was at hand.
Modern Christians think they are saved no matter what they do. Early Christians know they must seek the righteousness of God if they are to inherit His kingdom[18]
Modern Christians think they are saved by what they think is true faith. Early Christians know that faith with out works is not real faith, but is dead faith.[19]
Modern Christians sign up for every socialist program from public education and Social Security to Food Stamps and healthcare which are all forms welfare provided by forced offerings of your neighbor despite Christ's warning about the Corban of the Pharisees. Early Christians died rather than sign up for the public welfare programs of the governments of Rome and other countries which brought about the Christian conflict.
Modern Christians take oaths and swear binding themselves to the will of others often to obtain benefits provided at the expense of others. Early Christians and for centuries Christians were persecuted and executed because they refused to take oaths or even affirm because Jesus and James said above all else stop the taking of oaths and swearing.[20]
Modern Christians apply or pray to Benefactors who exercise authority one over the other Early Christians knew Christ forbade that we be like the Benefactors who exercise authority one over the other.
Modern Christians elect rulers all the time and when they Cry out God will not not hear them because they would not hear their neighbor's cries. Early Christians knew that in 1 Samuel 8, God warned that to elect rulers to take and take and take from their neighbors was a rejection of God.
Modern Christians think they do not have to be Doers of the Word, but all they have to do is say they believe. Early Christians knew Jesus told them if they wanted Eternal life they needed to keep the commandments, which included not coveting what belongs to their neighbor.
Modern Christians love the benefits of Benefactors but who exercise authority. Early Christians knew that in Proverbs 23 and Daniel 1, God warns through His prophets that you should not desire the benefits of these men who called themselves Benefactors but who exercise authority.
Modern Christians do not know what Peter meant about coveting or becoming Merchandise and curse our Children Early Christians knew that Peter tells us that Covetous Practices those benefits will make us Merchandise and curse our Children with debt which is bondage.
Modern Christians have returned to the Bondage of Egypt by becoming employed by those rulers who exercise authority. Early Christians knew God forbade us to ever return to the Bondage of Egypt by becoming employed by those rulers who exercise authority.
Modern Christians Want socialist benefits by everyone having One purse even if they are actually Biting one another. Early Christians understood that the Corban of the Pharisees was a forbidden Welfare scheme of having One purse.
Modern Christians, like the Pharisees. have left what should have been their first love and concern. Early Christians repented and attended to "the first work" which included a Daily ministration.
Modern Christians depend upon Public religion through the Temples of the state becoming snared as surety for debt. Early Christians depended upon Private welfare through the Church and bore fruit with their love and daily ministration provided by charity and the perfect law of liberty.
Modern Christians think fellowship is the friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests while praying to Benefactors who exercise authority. Early Christians knew that fellowship was the voluntary system of social welfare run according to the perfect law of liberty through charity.


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Footnotes

  1. "This Bible is for the Government of the People, by the People, and for the People." General Prologue to the John Wycliffe Bible translation of 1384, as quoted in Lincoln at Gettysburg : An Address (1906)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Kingdom Taken
    Matthew 2:6 "And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor(2233), that shall rule my people Israel."
    Matthew 9:16  "No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.  17  Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved." Jesus did not just reform the kingdom.
    Matthew 21:43 "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Jesus would take it as priest and king.
    Luke 13:9 "And if it bear fruit, [well]: and if not, [then] after that thou shalt cut it down." The Corbans of the world were covetous practices
    John 19:15...19 "But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar." The kingdom taken by the words of their own mouth.
    John 15:4 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." The people must seek The Way.
    John 15:8 "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."
    Luke 12:32 "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
    Luke 22:29 "And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;"
    Mark 15:26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS."
    Acts 17:7 "Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus."
    1 Peter 2:9 "But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"
    See Taking and Giving the Kingdom
  3. Altars of Sacrifice
    Exodus 17:15 “‭And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:”
    Exodus 20:24-26 “‭ An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. ‭25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. ‭26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.”
    Jude 1:11 "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots(not "unspotted" like Pure Religion) in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;"
    Revelation 2:14-17 "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication ("to permit one’s self to be drawn away by another into idolatry"). 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it]."
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Not exercise authority
    Matthew 20:25 "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you:..."
    Mark 10:42 "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you:..."
    Luke 22:25 "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye [shall] not [be] so:..."
  5. Covetousness is idolatry
    Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"
    Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
    1 Corinthians 5:10 "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
  6. Table as a snare
    Psalms 69:22-23 “Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake."”
    Romans 11:9 “And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:”
    Proverbs 23:1 "When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what [is] before thee: 2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat."
    Exodus 23:32 "Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee."
    Exodus 34:12 "Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:"
    Deuteronomy 7:16 "And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee."
    Judges 2:2 "And ye shall make no league [covenant] with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?"
    Proverbs 1:10 "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."
    Proverbs 6:2 “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.” Swear not
    Luke 21:34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."
    1 Timothy 6:9 "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
  7. John 9:22 These [words] spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
  8. Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
    2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
  9. John 9:22 "These [words] spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man for Christians did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue."
  10. Edward Gibbon's "The History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire" (Vol. 1 410-11)
  11. 11.0 11.1 Matthew 7:21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
  12. : Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
    Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
    Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
    Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
  13. Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
  14. “When a symbol unmoors itself from what it symbolizes, it loses meaning. It becomes ineffective” Albert Einstein
  15. The more people unmoor the symbols of scripture from the intent of the author the more we become lost in the idolatry of our own imagination.
  16. 1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
  17. Luke 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
  18. 1 Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,"
  19. James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
  20. Matthew 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: ... Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
    James 5:12 ¶ But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oaths: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.