Dicerning The Last Days Delusion And Pharisee Spirit

Discerning The Last Days Delusion and Pharisee Spirit Part 3

Kato Mivule

October 17, 2007

In this Part Three of our series on ‘Discerning the Last Days Delusion and Pharisee Spirit’, I will take a look back at Matthew Chapter 15. We shall examine the scriptures as we see the confrontation between Jesus Christ and the Pharisees of His day. In doing so we discern the spirit of error and delusion that had captured the minds of the Pharisees but still very present today.

False so-called Seminary Apologetics is mere disinformation…

We shall continue to see that Jesus Christ rebuked the Pharisees for their deception, hypocrisy, lies, distortion of Scripture, traditions of men, and blasphemies. This will help us with the growth of our discernment based on God’s Holy Word and not just fables of men or so-called Apologetics that is based on Ivy League Bible Collages of today.

As a matter of fact some Bible Collages and seminaries engage in what they call apologetics as a cover-up of their own erroneous doctrines. They engage in only discerning the teachings of cults like Mormons, etc but will hardly tackle the doctrinal errors in the Evangelical Church. Thus their apologetics has nothing to do with true discernment based on God’s Holy Word but disinformation to sway Christians into their denominations.

Obsessed with UFOs, Green Men, and Aliens?

When I titled these series ‘Discerning the End Time Delusion and Pharisee Spirit’, some thought I was going to dwell on UFOs, Return of The Nephilim, and Aliens. However, as we go ahead in our series we shall examine what scriptures say about this UFO/Alien/return of the Nephilim encounters that has hit many Christian websites lately. As for now, let us begin with what Jesus Christ said, which sadly many UFO/Alien/Return of the Nephilim Hunting Christians miss.

Some Christians look to discern UFOs and Aliens and hunt their occurrences allover the world yet forget the deception right next door…this is sad in that the so-called UFO/Alien Christian Hunter Movement has been mesmerized and obsessed in looking at the ‘Demonic Green Men in Flying Saucers’ while neglecting Scriptures and as such it has become another ‘Intellectual Entertainment’ on ‘Paranormal Beings’ – an illusion and decoy from Truth in Jesus Christ…

While such ‘Green Men in Flying Saucers’ Apparitions might be true yet folks often forget that they are just demonic with origin from Satan and no reason for the obsession. On the other extreme are those who think demons don’t exist and such ‘Alien’ apparitions have no factuality… Such folks are deceived and already in the camp of the deceived…

In 1Timothy 4:1, Paul the apostle even warns us of how some folks in the last days will give heed to the teachings of seducing spirits and doctrines of demons… Better wakeup and smell the coffee…that Preacher on your pulpit this past Sunday morning might have been spewing teachings from a seducing evil spirit and teaching a doctrine given to him by a demon…

Traditions of Men – A Great Trait of Deception and Pharisees…

Matthew 15:1-9

(1) Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

(2) Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

(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.

(9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

One of the greatest traits of false teachers, false apostles, and false prophets is their emphasis for traditions of men which they falsely teach as commandments of God. They reject the True Commandments of Jesus Christ, they fight against Truth, and they resist God’s Holy Word, and resist The Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ confronted the Pharisees and rebuked them for this error, in which they purposely rejected God’s Commandments and taught their Traditions as though they were commands from The Lord. Jesus Christ called the Pharisees hypocrites and those who worshiped The Lord with their lips but their hearts were far from Him.

They simply loved religious gatherings and meeting in synagogues while they hated with a passion the True Commandments of God. They were experts at False Worship. Brethren, lets not be deceived, True Worship involves our 100 per cent obedience to ALL The True Commandments of God and NOT the traditions of Men.

Many today teach Observance of the Law of Moses in Churches…

Today we see the same Pharisee Deception in many churches around the world. Historically we see in the book of Acts how the Pharisees resisted the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the gentiles when they commanded that all men who would be saved had to be circumcised and also keep the Laws of Moses. We see that there was a Council of the Apostles called in Jerusalem to answer this question of whether men had to be circumcised and keep the laws of Moses in order to be saved.

Acts 15:1-2

(1) And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

(2) When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

The Apostle Peter stood and proclaimed that there was no need to place a burden (Moses Laws and Pharisee Traditions) on the gentiles as prerequisite for salvation which they themselves the Jews, their fathers, and fore fathers could not keep…

The Law, Traditions and Commands of Men, a Yoke…

Acts 15:5-11

(5) But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

(6) And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

(7) And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

(8) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

(9) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

(10) Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

(11) But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

The Apostle Peter was in essence stating that Salvation was by Grace through Christ Jesus and not by keeping the Laws of Moses and Traditions of the Pharisees which Men had failed to keep. The Mosaic Laws had become a burden to the peoples and they could not fulfill them and neither could the gentiles.

Today we have many churches teaching doctrines centered on the Mosaic Law like Tithes and Building of Temples like King Solomon (Mega Church Building Projects). These things have become a burden on believers and a big stumbling block in regards to their salvation. Brethren, salvation is not by works of the law but by Grace in Christ Jesus.

Traditions and Commandments of Men Hinder the Gospel Truth…

Acts 15:23-29

(23) And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

(24) Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

(25) It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

(26) Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(27) We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

(28) For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

(29) That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Teaching traditions of Men is very dangerous in that it denies and hinders the True Message of Salvation. It perverts the true gospel of salvation. It turns men to seek salvation through works of flesh and the law rather than Grace through Jesus Christ.

Traditions and Commandments of Men is Witchcraft…

Galatians 1:6-9

(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.

Galatians 3:1-5

(1) O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

(2) This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

(3) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

(4) Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

(5) He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Paul the Apostle refers to those who are saved yet practice the Mosaic Law as bewitched and having begun in the Spirit and now ended up in the flesh. The Mosaic Law not only included circumcision, but also tithing which many Christians practice today.

Those who fail to practice the whole law are under a curse…

Galatians 3:10-12

(10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

(11) But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

(12) And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

However, if you practicing the Mosaic Law, then you ought to do all of them as described in the Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, otherwise if you do not fulfill ALL the Mosaic Law then you are under a curse.

In other words if your Pastor is teaching you to only give a Tithe out of the whole Mosaic Law and negate the other Mosaic laws, then that pastor is placing you under a curse because you only practiced one law and did not fulfill all the others.

So, those teaching Tithes should also teach circumcision, keeping the Sabbath according to Mosaic Law, and all the other Mosaic Laws. This they cannot do because they only seek Mosaic Laws that are financially beneficial to them, thus the popularity of the Tithing Doctrine.

Jesus Christ and the Apostles taught giving and NOT tithing, so we should give as The Lord Leads with a Cheerful heart and not tithing. The Tithing Doctrine has actually brought a curse on the people of God as Covetousness, Materialism, Greed and Love of Money have only increased with viciousness in Christendom, especially among the leaders who live opulent lifestyles while their congregations suffer need.

The reason for this curse is they practice only one Mosaic Law while not all laws as the Bibles has said, “the man who does them shall live in them”… Secondly, that ‘NO MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW’… One cannot be justified to obtain the blessings of God through the Law… It is only Through Faith in Jesus Christ that we are justified, and by Grace.

Galatians 3:13-14

(13) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

(14) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Some of the Traditions of Men taught as Commandments of God…

Tithing Tradition…
Sowing the Seed Tradition…
Name it Claim It Tradition…
Mega Church Building Tradition…
One Man Pastor Leadership Tradition…
Women Leading Men in Church Tradition – Jezebel Spirit…
Order of Service – Praise, Worship, Testimony, Offering, then Preacher Tradition…
Bible School Seminary Tradition…
Covering Traditions – Seeking Man to Cover and Protect You…
Sunday is The Lord’s Day Tradition…
Christmas Tradition…
Christmas tree Tradition…
Easter Tradition…
Easter Eggs Traditions…
…and many more just to mention but a few…

I have had some exchange of words with some Pastors who argue that they can keep their traditions as long as they don’t violet scripture or are good for the society. However, that is the problem, most of the traditions we have today are inherited from the gentile world. The gentile world practices most of their traditions in honor of their gods, idols and demons. We are to keep away from idols and all their forms.

Roman Catholic Church and Traditions of Men…

In 313 AD Emperor Constantine formed pacts with groups of backslidden Christians and legalized the Christianity in Rome. The Roman Catholic Church was then born out of this unholy alliance between Church and State. Roman Catholic Christianity became a State religion and Constantine used it to control the masses through the priests and the pope. Emperors of Rome were considered infallible and as such the Pope is considered infallible today.

Emperor Constantine had one condition as he legalized Catholic Christianity that his idols and gods would also be Christianized and given Christian names. The Roman Catholic Church then embraced the pagan gods of Rome and including the pagan celebration and festival days were embraced by the Catholic Church. Over a period of time the Catholic Church instituted the following Pagan Traditions…

Sun god worship - Sunday Worship
Christmas Day 25 December
Ishtar Day, or Easter Day, Falsely equated to the Resurrection Day…
Idol worship in the Church…
The Priesthood…
Bible only read by Priesthood…
Priesthood reserved for a chosen few…
Separation of Clergy from Laity…
Worship of Man – The Pope…
Pope as infallible….
Diluting God’s Word…
Removing God’s Word from the people…
40 Days of Lent, or 40 days of weeping for Tammuz…
Purgatory…
Confessing one’s sins to the Priest…
Prayers for the dead…
Prayers to the dead saints…necromancy…
Veneration of dead saints…
The Mass…
Priests Dressed in Long Robes, different from the Laity…
Seminaries and Theological Collages for the Clergy…

Use of the Latin Language that most people don’t understand…
Baptism of Babies…
Celibacy of the Priesthood…
Sale of Indulgence or License to sin…

Doctrine of Transubstantiation…that the wafer is the actual body of Christ…
Council of Trent, that Tradition is equal to Bible – Traditions of Men…
Council of Trent added Apocryphal Books not know to Early Church…

Worship of Mary…
The Mary Rosary and Prayer Beads…
The Immaculate Conception of Mary…
Mary regarded as Co-redemptrix and Co-Mediatrix…
Apparitions of Mary Endorsed…
Apparitions of Mary as Queen of Heaven endorsed…
…and many other blasphemous doctrines which is beyond the scope of this paper to dwell on…

However, interestingly, when the Protestants came with the advent of Martin Luther, some of these doctrines and traditions were not changed. The Baptist came, the Lutherans, etc up to today’s Evangelicals, some of these Traditions of Men from the Catholic Church have only been refined and polished, yet not done away with…

Today in the Evangelical Churches we see Traditions of Men…

The separation of the clergy from the laity…Pastors are separate from believers…
The Priesthood is still reserved for an elite group of Pastors…
The Pastor Leadership instead of the Priest…Pastor is Head of the Church…
Seminaries and Bible Collages for Pastors instead of Catholic Seminaries…
The Evangelical Service instead of the Mass…Service done much more similar to the Catholic Mass, except that there is no Latin. The Evangelical services are so structured and time conscious just as the Mass is… There is no interaction between the Clergy and Laity, no questioning if what the Pastor teaches on Sunday is really in God’s Holy Word…

Gathering…
Opening Prayer…
Hymn or worship Session…
Testimonies…
Gathering Offerings and Tithes…
Pastor Gives the Word…
Alter Call…
Doxology…
Song to Send Folks Home…

Tithes and Offerings without which no one can be blessed and some teach that since you rob God of Tithes, then your redemption thus depends on your Tithe…if you don’t tithe you go to hell since you rob God…
Hiding Scriptures away from Believers in form of watered down Bible Translations, Printed Sermons for believers to take home etc…
Accountability Groups where sins are confessed and one gives their will to the Accountability Group Leader – Similar to Confessions of Sins to a Priest in the Catholic Church…
Worship of the Pastor as the “Man of God” and becoming a Pastor’s ‘Yes Man’ – similar to the infallibility of the Pope Doctrine…
Mega Church Buildings – Similar to Magnificent Roman Catholic Cathedrals were emphasis is placed on the Church Building and not the believer…
Eternal Security Doctrine a.k.a. Once Saved Always Saved doctrine were believers can do whatever sin they wish and still enter Heaven – similar to the Catholic Purgatory Doctrine…
The Christian Women Movement and elevation of Women Ministers who take authority over Men, a Jezebel spirit – similar to the elevation of Mary or Immaculate Conception of Mary as co-redemptrix and co-mediatrix…
Exaltation of certain “Men and Women” of God – similar to the veneration of dead saints in the Catholic Church…
Worship on Sun-day as the Lord’s Day – the same as the Catholic worship on Sun-day with origination from the Babylonian sun god worship…
Easter Day Celebrations – Same as Catholic Easter Day worship with origin from Ishtar celebrations, a Babylonian Pagan day Celebration…
Christmas Day Celebration – Same as the December 25^th Catholic Christmas Day Celebration of Babylonian Pagan worship origin…
The Cross Symbol – Originated with the Catholic Church to have Crosses on Church Buildings and around peoples necks…
The Church Staple symbol – Originated with the Catholic Church that inherited it from the Babylonian and Egyptian Obelisks which represented the erected male organ, a symbol of blasphemy towards God of Heaven Almighty…
Threats of Excommunication – Origin from the Council of Trent that excommunicated all who questioned the Catholic Tradition…
False Submission to the Pastor – Origin from the Catholic Church that required all to submit to the Pope who is considered infallible…
40 Day of Purpose Driven Life? Sounds similar to 40 days of Lent…
Benny Hinn and Dead Katherine Kuhlman Visits? Sounds similar to the Apparitions of Many Queen of Heaven…
….and many more other Evangelical Traditions that have root and similarities with Pagan Roman Catholic Practices… Just check any Evangelical Tradition and trend today, you will find its origin in the Roman Catholic Church….

These traditions are not scriptural and not anywhere to be found in the Bible but where introduced by Pagan Priests in the Roman Catholic Church and have found their way even down to the Evangelicals who today are walking along the path of apostasy…

Paul the apostle was once zealous for the Traditions of Men…

Galatians 1:13-15

(13) For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

(14) And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

(15) But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

Paul the apostle was exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers yet it pleased The Lord to call him out of such religiosity to serve Jesus Christ and preach the Gospel. Today, many in Christendom are submerged in the Traditions of Men that they can hardly see The Savior calling. Traditions of Men don’t save, neither did they save Paul; it was Grace through Jesus Christ that Paul got saved.

Beware that your Faith in Christ be not spoiled by Traditions of men…

Colossians 2:6-9

(6) As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

(7) Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

(8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

(9) For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

We are exhorted to be rooted and built in Christ Jesus and established in the faith as we have been taught according to the Doctrine of Jesus Christ. We can only be established by being grounded in The Whole Counsel of God’s Holy Word and not Traditions of Men.

We are warned to be careful that we don’t be spoiled (ruined, messed up, blemished, blotted, blighted, and destroyed) by any man through…

Philosophy (viewpoint, values, beliefs, thinking, idea, way of life) of men…
Vain Deceit (pretense, trickery, cheating, and dishonesty) of men…
Traditions (customs, way of life, background) of Men…
The Rudiments (basics, essentials, fundamentals, ground rules, nitty-gritty) of the world…

Some Christians argue that it is okay to keep their church or denominational traditions as they will not affect them. However, when we check the Word of God, it says that you will be spoiled or messed up, and or blemished by traditions of men if you do continue under them… So, quit them and look to fellowship with believers who are governed by the Whole Counsel of God’s Holy Word.

Commandments and Doctrines of Men – A False Humility…

Colossians 2:18-23

(18) Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

(19) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

(20) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

(21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

(22) Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

(23) Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.

Many times Christians are puffed up with false humility through worshipping of angels and apparitions. We are warned to stay away from such things. Today the Charismatic Catholic Movement is obsessed with the apparitions of Mary. Likewise many Evangelicals of the Charismatic and Pentecostal background go wild with dreams, visions and lately Benny Hinn with his visions of the dead like Katherine Kuhlman…

The devil has used this to infiltrate Christians with apparitions of Jesus, Gold Dust, Gold Teeth, Heavenly Visitations and people have become puffed up with them. All such boasting and puffing up is false humility and from the devil.

Paul warns that such folks who get obsessed with apparitions are not holding to the Head of the Body which is Jesus Christ. False doctrines, visions, dreams and apparitions always draw the attention away from Christ Jesus to the ‘angel’, prophet, prophetess, people, etc. This can be seen clearly seen with the Roman Catholic Apparitions that give blaspheme reverence to Mary the Queen of Heaven…

Paul warns us that if we are dead with Christ from the Rudiments or regulations of the world, then why do we continue to live as though we are of the world and follow their religious ordinances. We are to renounce all such religious traditions of men and false humility and receive with meekness the Grace of God through Jesus Christ.

Such traditions have a form of wisdom and goodliness but to mere satisfaction of the flesh.

We only Hold to the Traditions of the Teachings of Christ…

2 Thessalonians 2:15

(15) Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

The only traditions which we are to hold are the Doctrine of Jesus Christ as taught by Jesus Christ Himself and through His Apostles. In other words we are to keep and obey the Whole Counsel of God’s Holy Word. We are to obey the Commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and NOT the Traditions of MEN which ALWAYS contradict the Commandments of Jesus Christ…

A call to separate…

2 Thessalonians 3:6

(6) Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

The Bible calls us to SEPARATE from any Brethren that walk after NOT the Traditions of God’s Holy Word. In other words, if you find a Church or a group of so-called Christians following after the Traditions of Men and Not the Commandments of Jesus Christ, you are to separate from them, otherwise your Faith will be spoiled or messed up as we saw earlier… Come out from among them and be ye separate… search for True Saints whose constitution is the Whole Counsel of God’s Holy Word…

Traditions of Men authored by seducing spirits and demons…

1 Timothy 4:1-3

(1) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

(2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

(3) Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Paul warned Timothy that in the Last days, folks would depart from the Faith and follow after seducing spirits and doctrines of demons…. Paul goes on ahead to elaborate what some of those teachings of devils would be…and one of them is forbidding to marry or false celibacy which we largely see happening in the Roman Catholic Church…which is clearly a tradition of Men. However, there are many Traditions of Men that the Evangelical Church has embraced and their origin is Seducing spirits and doctrines of demons…

Traditions and Commandments of Men breed false godliness…

2 Timothy 3:1-5

(1) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

(2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

(3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

(4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

(5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Paul continues to warn us that in these last days perilous times would come and people would be lovers of themselves…no wonder the positive possibility, self help Purpose Driven Life Gospel in Churches today… This is a gospel that only breads covetousness and high mindedness. Such folks who preach this type of gospel and those who believe in it have a form of godliness by deny the power of Christ to Change hearts. We are commanded to SEPARATE AND TURN AWAY FROM SUCH FOLKS…

Commandments of Men Turn People from Truth…

Titus 1:13-16

(13) This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

(14) Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

(15) Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

(16) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Paul exhorts Titus to rebuke with sharp rebuke the Christians of Crete that they may become sound in faith and not given to commandments of Men and traditions of Men, or Jewish fables. Paul is warning us today that Traditions and Commandments of Men turn people away from Truth. They turn people away from Jesus Christ and Head of His Body and focus people on Man.

Teaching Traditions of Men is preaching ‘Another Gospel’… Such folks who teach traditions of men profess to know God yet deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and in every good work reprobate… I remember having a discussion with a Pastor here in Uganda over a certain tradition he held and I told him how the such thought and tradition was an abomination before God, he thought I used very hard language…Paul was very tough when it came to addressing traditions of men which were always contrary to God’s Holy Word…

Traditions and Commandments of Men Cannot Redeem…

1 Peter 1:18

(18) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

Peter the apostle sums it up well by telling us that we are not redeemed by corruptible such as silver and gold which is what we were taught from the traditions of our father. It is interesting to note that the most propagated gospel toady among the Evangelicals is the Prosperity gospel and Purpose Driven Self Help gospel.

Christians are taught to give Tithes, give Building Funds, and give Offerings to Pastors in guise that they will obtain special favor before God to receive a blessing. Curses are said to be broken if one gives a tithe and offering, yet such teachings are Traditions of men and falsely promise men liberty yet they redeem not a single soul. Brethren, we are NOT redeemed with silver and gold nor the traditions of men but by the Blood of Jesus Christ…

To be continued…

In Christ Jesus

Kato Mivule

Uganda, Africa