The “Did God Say?” Deception

By Ken Thomas

It is common knowledge in modern Christendom that Satan is subtle and the deceiver of mankind. The world, in its darkness, is totally under the power of that deception.

Sadly! ... in various degrees, unnecessarily so ... are many in the body of Christ. It is simply a case of wrong believing ...

“Freedom from sin remains the litmus test of Satan’s subtlety in the doctrinal heart and mind of the church.”

“How we view the issue of sin as pertaining to the conscience, reveals the extent of our understanding of the legal and real consequences of the resurrection, as understood by the New Testament apostles.”

“We have believed a lie! And attributed
to the Holy Spirit an opposite witness to which he bears.”

“This Holy Spirit revealed freedom, causes us to abide unequivocally “in Christ” and not, through ignorance induced doubt, to abide “in sin”

“It is this unction that serves as a foundation
of a good conscience, so we can ‘abide in Him’
and anticipate His return without shame, in confidence.”

“Tradition is unable to grasp that God dealt
successfully with sin because we could not!”

Satan through his subtlety is targeting Christians. Find out if you have been in his sights!

Author’s Note

As a result of my own personal quest for understanding and being confronted with the real consequences of certain traditional doctrinal teachings, which frustrated my intimate walk with the Lord causing a sense of unworthiness and self-doubt as a young Christian, I discovered, with the help of the Holy Spirit through the revelation of scriptures, a freedom, that Christ died to give me, a freedom I desire for any believer who reads this study.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ken Thomas
• Release date: Feb 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005477721

Book preview

THE

DID GOD SAY? DECEPTION

The Subtleties of a Wrong Belief System

Ken Thomas

Copyright © 2021 Ken Thomas

Published by Ken Thomas Publishing at Smashwords

First edition 2021

Scripture and reference taken from the following sources:

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical words published by Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Camden, New York.

Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament published by Baker Book House Company.

Comparative Study Bible NIV, Amplified, King James Version, Updated NASB, published by Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Ml 49530, USA.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible published by Hendrickson Publishers.

The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, King James Version, published by AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN 37422, USA.

The Holy Bible, Authorized King James Version, published by World Bible Publishers.

New King James Version.

Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville.

© All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or review.

Published by Ken Thomas using Reach Publishers’ services,

Edited by Brenda van Rensburg and Hugo Chandler for Reach Publishers

Cover designed by Reach Publishers

P O Box 1384, Wandsbeck, South Africa, 3631

Website: www.reachpublishers.org

E-mail: [e-mail]

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

II Corinthians 11:3"

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

II Corinthians 11:3"

Table of Contents

Author’s Note

1.The Key that Unlocks the Interpretation of Scripture

2.The Sin Issue - A Closer Look

3.Did God Say…? - Our Warfare

4.Behavioural Discipline or Transformation?

5.Our Mediator

6.Beware of the Traditions of Men

7.Epilogue

Author’s Note

As a result of my own personal quest for understanding and being confronted with the real consequences of certain traditional doctrinal teachings, which frustrated my intimate walk with the Lord causing a sense of unworthiness and self-doubt as a young Christian, I discovered, with the help of the Holy Spirit through the revelation of scriptures, a freedom, that Christ died to give me, a freedom I desire for any believer who reads this study.

Chapter 1

The Key that Unlocks the Interpretation of Scripture

Simply put. In the context of soteriology (Study of Salvation), notwithstanding the eschatological (Study of end times) prophetic utterances concerning the nation of Israel. If one plus one equals two and no other answer can be given, in very much the same way, God intended only one conclusion to be reached if one combines the Law and the Prophets, that conclusion being, Christ Jesus and his gift of righteousness. (And its inherent benefits) (Romans 3:20-21).

If Jesus is the ‘word (the law and prophets) made flesh’ (John 1:1 and 14) and if He is our ‘All and in all’ (Colossians 3:11) No disrespect to national Israel intended. (See context) Jesus and His righteousness is the only answer that the accurate interpretation of scripture can reach.

Simplistic? That’s exactly what God the author intended. (2 Corinthians 11:3).

The key to unlocking this simplicity is largely overlooked resulting in confusion in many believers today. This is definitely not God’s will for the church.

The dilemma of how to interpret the scriptures has been with the church for ages. This has resulted in division, denominations, sects and even cults.

It would be a tragedy for the contemporary church to embrace the idea that there are many interpretations of scripture. As thinking people, we would have to conclude that God has many messages, contradictory at that. To suggest this of course is utter foolishness.

God is one, with one gospel, with one revelation. It is up to us, the church, by His Spirit to tap into that revelation.

God who at sundry times and divers’ manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by His Son. (Hebrews 1:1-2).

This passage clearly indicates that in the past God spoke to man in different or diverse ways through the prophets (Old Testament), but in these last days (today), God has spoken to us through His Son. (Jesus).

It amazes me therefore to see believers having their faith based in the New Testament spending their time ‘camping’ in the Old Testament. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with reading the Old Testament, provided of course that we read it in the context in which it was written. (i.e. before the cross) Not doing so would lead to confusion.

A hunger for understanding is necessary, accurate understanding is vital. (1 Peter 2:2).

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfil. (Matthew 5:17). After His crucifixion, burial and resurrection, Christ appeared to His disciples in Jerusalem.

"And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened He their understanding that they MIGHT UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES and said unto them, Thus, it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day." (Luke 24:44-46).

The scriptures he expounded on, we know today as the Old Testament or, the law and the prophets. In the context of this passage Jesus said that the law and prophets culminate in His death, burial and resurrection.

Why did Jesus have to open their understanding? There were 351 Messianic prophecies concerning the birth, life, ministry, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

It was important that he explain the scriptures because they were written in the form of a mystery.

The apostle Paul referred to this mystery a number of times: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil (make it fully known) the word of God. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:25-27).

In Ephesians he writes, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you – ward: How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ). (Ephesians 3:2-4).

The apostle Peter also referred to the writings of the Old Testament prophets. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified BEFOREHAND the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves, but unto us (remember that Peter was among the disciples that Jesus explained the scriptures to). They did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven, which things the angels desire to look into. (1 Peter 1:10-12).

The prophets of old prophesied concerning the sufferings of Christ and its subsequent glory in mystery form. It is important to understand that the cross of Christ and the preaching thereof is both the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).

The apostle Paul says that he speaks the wisdom of God in a mystery, (1 Corinthians 2:7). In the same verse he refers to this wisdom as the hidden wisdom. The next verse tells us why it was hidden.

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: For had they known it, they would NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:7-8).

This is indeed wisdom! This plan of redemption in and through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ was ordained by God for US. Our salvation was utterly dependent on its success. His wisdom realised it! The key to our redemption is the cross of Christ.

This plan of redemption throughout the ages was shrouded in a mystery, it was ordained for our glory, and it was hidden, not from us but FOR us.

Satan’s dominion of darkness was legal because of Adam’s transgression. However, God’s love for man never changed. Despite man’s sin God still loved man. He couldn’t get the ‘in our image’ original design of man out of His mind. God was lovesick! How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:17). Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us – ward: (Psalm 40:5). God was thinking about man! What is man, that Thou are mindful of him? (Psalm 8:4).

These passages of scripture were inspired by the Holy Spirit, given to fallen man while he was cut off from God because of sin. Our precious Father, God, was letting man know that He hadn’t forgotten us.

Had the devil grasped with foresight God’s love plan for us in Jesus’ death, knowing that Jesus’ death would blot out the legal ordinance and decree that was hostile to us, that kept us under his dominion, he would never have allowed this, in spite of his murderous nature, Jesus to die on the cross and shed His precious blood for us.

The Old Testament spoke of the redemption of man through the cross in mystery form, and the apostle Paul, spoke of the same mystery yet now revealed. His intention was to present every man mature in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 1:28), to give the church insight into his understanding of the mystery of God. (Ephesians 3:2-4).

The emphasis of Paul’s ministry can be seen in 1 Corinthians 2:2. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Paul came to a persuasion that in his ministry to the church in order to present them mature in Christ Jesus he would only communicate one thing and that was CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED! Every aspect of church life needs to be communicated and taught in the light of the completed work of the cross.

Thus, judging by the obvious emphasis of the New Testament that God is communicating to man now in these last days, by His Son, in the context of that which God accomplished in His Son on the cross on our behalf.

It is vital for us to use the cross and its implications as the key to unlock the interpretation of God’s word to us. All doctrine must be taught in the context of the completed work of the cross.

To read one’s Bible outside of this context would be to err greatly.

Chapter 2

The Sin Issue - A Closer Look

God deals in absolutes. There are no grey areas with God, it is either black or white. With God there are no ‘double agents’. It’s the ‘for’ or ‘against’ situation. It is a fact that ‘lukewarm’ does not sit well with God, neither does double mindedness.

There is only righteous or unrighteous, faith or unbelief, (double mindedness falls onto the wrong side of that equation.), sinner or saint, spirit of truth or spirit of error.

Satan, in his subtlety has brought a variable into the absolutes of God’s economy causing many in the church to see ‘grey’ rather than God’s ‘black or white’.

That variable is the sin issue!

With many, this issue causes righteousness (right standing with God) to become a fluctuating righteousness at best. A ‘not quite there’ righteousness or a ‘not all the time’ righteousness.

Sadly, absolute righteousness has become a theory rather than a fact in the doctrinal thinking of many.

Being a saint, (holy one, exclusively belonging to God) has been downgraded to being a ‘sinner saved by grace’ with the emphasis on the ‘sinner’ factor.

Proof of Satan’s subtlety in the church is that many have a stronger affinity with the word ‘sinner’ rather than the word ‘saint’.

We say we are saved ... But saved from what?

Obviously, we are saved from sin! but do we really believe it?

Taking a closer look at the sin issue and what the Bible says about it raises certain questions which need to be settled now rather than after we die (‘future dating’ is also one of Satan’s ploys).

After death Judgement Day acquittal, but subject to the sins power now, is typical of ‘the sinner saved by grace’ mindset (a misnomer indeed!).

Let’s not fool ourselves. Being serious about sin does not mean being saved from sin. Being serious about the Law does not mean being saved from sin.

The Pharisees were ‘sin hater’s’ yet they died ‘in their sin’ (John 8:21 and 24).

The legalists like to point out the ‘sins of the flesh’ but they don’t want to discuss the sin of unbelief.

(Romans 14:23).

Eschatology aside: There is not another topic that causes more confusion, heated debate, division and even church splits than the sin issue.

As it was in the days of the early church, there is seldom consensus regarding this issue.

Assurance of salvation can only be found in the apostolic revelation of Christ brought to its FULL CONCLUSION.

The Did God say ...? subtlety of Satan has effectively cast doubt over the single-law gospel of Romans 8:2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus HATH MADE ME FREE from the law of sin and death.

Discovering the depth of this freedom is paramount for everyone who calls themselves a ‘Christian’.

‘Freedom from sin’ remains the litmus test of Satan’s subtlety.

As the sin issue remains the primary concern for most Christians, the I’ll ask my pastor ignorance will not suffice. Hunger for real understanding is the only way anyone will get the answers that equate with the revelation of apostolic freedom (1 Peter 2:2).

This Holy Spirit revealed freedom causes us to abide unequivocally ‘in Christ’ and not, in ignorance induced doubt to abide ‘in sin’.

This is a serious issue! There are