Here is the sad part... we humans think we are sooooo good... we are soooo righteous! If anyone dares post a message that goes against the grain of the mainstream, there are some who have commissioned themselves to be the attack dog... (you know who I'm talking about) ...their mission is to discredit the messenger (and thereby the message) thus derailing any hope of truth being passed on to anyone by any means possible... Since I'm not a qualified 'attack dog', and since I'm not one who is determined to protect the mainstream, I don't know all of the tactics that can be used to direct the unsuspecting babe in Christ, away from the truth that might be conveyed by such a message, so I probably wont be able to list all the ways this is accomplished... but I do know that 'kill the messenger' is probably one of the biggest and most frequently used tactics. Watch for it! So here goes.
A Booklet by Garner Ted Armstrong... yeah, that guy... that sinner!
After all, who would want to read or study anything written by a sinner?
But wait! How can we do anything else? ALL have sinned! Right?
All have sinned, but not all have admitted that they are just as guilty as Garner Ted or any other preacher... All have not allowed the Great God to share His love with them that they might share it with others... So, on it goes...
Should you actually READ and CONSIDER the booklet I'm about to share?
That will have to be your decision... but please, take a few minutes to consider that the attack dogs are on the prowl.. IF you do decide to READ and Consider the contents of this booklet, then I hope you'll not allow the attack dogs to disuade you from doing so! IF you do decide to READ and Consider the contents of this booklet, I hope you will check each verse offered, with your Bible OPEN, and don't believe Garner Ted or ANY MAN! Believe God and His precious word...
You might be in for a biblical treat and you might just learn something... I pray that you will!
I'm going to present this booklet in sections...
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The Real Reasons Why Christ Came To This Earth
Shocking? Yes, it is! Millions suppose Christ came to "save the world." They believe He came to die for the sins of mankind, yet do not know what sin is. Millions think He came to establish the "Christian religion." Almost no one knows why Christ really came to this earth, even though Christ plainly says so! He came to qualify as the King of kings and Lord of lords; to disqualify the present evil world ruler, Satan; to preach the good news of His coming world-ruling government; to call and train His disciples to proclaim that message; to build His church, or His group of "called-out" ones; to commission His church to perform the work of preaching the gospel and caring for the flock; to qualify to become our High Priest; to die for the sins of mankind; to be raised from the dead three days and three nights later; to ascend to His father in heaven, where He awaits the time of His return as conquering King.
by Garner Ted Armstrong
"Peace on earth—good will toward men." How many times have you heard it?
At Christmas, millions of church-going, professing Christian people attend church services, concerts, performances of Handel's stirring "Messiah." Millions decorate their homes, their lawns, or even their rooftops with scenes of the Christ child in a manger; with wise men, shepherds, Mary, and the angels.
They suppose they are doing this in honor of Christ's birthday, which they erroneously believe was on December 25. History proves Christ was born in the autumn, very likely on the First Day of the Feast of Tabernacles, not in the middle of winter.
God's Word shows Christ was "tabernacling" (dwelling only temporarily) in human flesh (John 1:14); that He came to this earth for many important purposes.
What were the real reasons for the very Person of the Godhead Who said, "Let there be light," and "Let Us make man in Our image," to become human flesh? Study carefully the entire first chapter of the Gospel according to John for proof of Christ's pre-human state.
Did Jesus Christ come to give us a new and different religion? Did He come to bring peace? Did He come to save the world? Did He come to revive the synagogue? Did He come to heal everyone He could, cast out every demon He encountered, teach every person He met, and convert as many as possible?
No, believe it or not, Jesus Christ did not come to save the world then! Had Jesus Christ decided to "save" the world, He would have done it. Instead, He told His disciples: "Think NOT that I am come to send peace on earth: I came NOT to send peace, but a sword [a symbol of violent death; symbol of war!].
"For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
"And a man's foes shall be those of his own household" (Matthew 10:34-36).
Are you mature enough; is your mind open, and inquiring enough to really think about that scriptural passage? Do you believe it? Christ said it. He meant it. He did not come to bring peace during His physical lifetime of "tabernacling" in human flesh.
But what of the oft-repeated phrase, "peace on earth"? It is a blatant mistranslation in the King James Bible of 1611. Most marginal references clear it up: The Oxford KJV margin says: "Or, on earth peace among men of good will, or, on earth peace among men in whom He is well pleased" (Luke 2:14).
Christ Himself tells you He did not come to bring peace to this earth. Eventually, He will, but that time is in the future.
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Comments?
Phil Barnes
...what good is a book that doesn't mean what it says?
