SUBJECT:  “Devil’s churches”

QUESTIONS:   Please explain phrase "these are the devil's churches".  Are all their works evil?  Are all the devout believers in the world's churches deceived and laboring in vain?  Aren't all Christian churches in the "Body of Christ"?

ANSWER:  Before I proceed, let me give you the only true definition of the "Body of Christ".  The body of Christ is made up of those specific firstfruits; called out ones that God has led to repentance, baptism and to whom He has given His Holy Spirit.

If you do any study of the Holy Spirit, you will conclude that God through His Holy Spirit imparts wisdom and truth.

Only those with this truth are in the Body of Christ.

Example:  There is a church of Satan.  These people believe in Satan over God.  This is NOT truth.  Though a church, full of devout believers, they are not of the Body of Christ.  I use an extreme example to make the point.

Now, can a person who knows the name, Jesus Christ know truth?  Can a person who picks up and reads the Bible and even believes something he reads know the truth?  What does the Bible say about who is called and what people without the Holy Spirit know?  Let us see...

Do people just choose to be part of a church or does God call them to His true church.

John 6:44

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Note:  Clearly, only God can call a person to the Body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Note:  Could any verse be more clear?!!  Clearly the person being spoken of here does not have the Holy Spirit.  And clearly we see that a person without the Holy Spirit cannot fully know Spiritual things...LIKE TRUTH.

Now let us apply logic:  There are lots of Christian churches...right?  Indeed there are lots of religions...right?  Is it not so that the Christian religion is small compared to the Eastern religions?  Are these so-called Christian religions different OR do they all have the truth of God?

Logic tells me, “yes, they are different and no, they do not all have the truth of God.

The massive number of non-Christian religion are also vastly different and none of them have the truth of Almighty God.

Taking just the Christian churches; do they have different and opposing doctrine?  Do most keep the Sabbath and others Sunday?  Do some believe Mary is a saint and others just the mother of Jesus Christ?  Do some believe only in the Old Testament while others use only the New Testament?  Do some believe that the dead are in heaven looking down while others do not?  Do some believe the commandments of God are in force while others believe they are done away?  What do you think; are they all correct?  Do they all have the truth of God?

We believe there is only one Body of Christ made up of repentant, baptized, Spirit filled individuals who are being given wisdom by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

1 Corinthians 2:10

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Ephesians 5:9

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

1 John 2:20

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

Seems clear to me.  So what of all the churches made up of individuals without the Spirit of God?  Where is that being called Satan and what does he do for a living?

John 12:31

Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
 

John 14:30

Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

John 16:11

Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Note: Satan is the prince of this world.  He has power over the people of the world.  Witness Adam and Eve.  Who is the great liar?

John 8:44-45

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Who do we fight against?

Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Who is the God of this world?

2 Corinthians 4:4

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Note:  Who is Satan blinding?  Believe not what?  Clearly this verse is showing that Satan is blinding those of the world that have not the Holy Spirit and who have not been called by God now.  Remember that most will not be given the truth by God until the Second Resurrection we discussed.

It is important to remember that no one is lost just because Satan is blinding them.  God has the final say and everyone will have their opportunity to know the truth.  In the meantime, the world is full of all kinds of false religions and false doctrines.  They are all lies and Satan is behind them.  He is the one put in the pit of darkness, not man.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news of the coming Kingdom of God.  The gospel is for everyone.  It will be preached after the Second Resurrection to the countless billions who never knew the truth.

One final point:  Surely you know of very good people that definitely know some truth or exhibit some fruit of the Spirit such as love or gentleness.  Keep in mind the following

1) God ultimately wants everyone saved so clearly He can open people's minds to certain truths.

2) Godly principles ARE Spirit and therefore anyone dealing with these Godly Principles are dealing with the power of God.

3) The Word of God is Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) and those that read it can be impacted by it.

4) God could be in the process of calling them.  Remember that 144,000 plus a great multitude will respond to the call just before Jesus returns.  Could be several that you know.

 
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