Can your doctrine servive GOD'S character

CAN YOUR DOCTRINE

SURVIVE GODS CHARACTER?

My main object in writing this article is to get you to think how GOD’S character affects doctrine and, hopefully, to give you new insight into what effect certain doctrines would have on GOD’S character. Thereby enabling you to examine your own doctrine in the light of that character. It might be a good idea to take a few minutes in prayer now, and ask the LORD to guide you as you read this article.

Please be like the people in Berea (Acts 17:10-11) "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

Do not take my word or anyone else’s word for what GOD says in HIS WORD. Check it out for yourself. References come from the KING JAMES VERSION of the Bible. The rest of this article is "to the point," and stated in very strong language to make you THINK. It is not meant to condemn, or to make you feel guilty.

We will be using the "IF THEN" principal of study. If we (you) think a verse contains strong support for a certain doctrine, then any verse that contains a contradictory statement must be a lie. If you find contradictory statements, it is a good sign that you were wrong, in the way you interpreted one of the verses.

In Titus 1:2 "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;" we discover that GOD cannot lie. Moreover, in James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." it states that with God there is no "variableness, neither shadow of turning." When we look at John 10:35 "If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;" we notice that JESUS said "the scripture cannot be broken." The scriptures mentioned here were the Old Testament. The New Testament had not yet been written at the time of CHRIST.

Therefore, GOD’S word in the Old Testament cannot be changed by the New Testament. Conclusion: We find that He (God) says what He means and means what He says. We can also conclude that his words are everlasting. And are still in effect today. Is GOD talking to each and every one of us? Both Acts 10:34 "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:" and Romans 2:11 "For there is no respect of persons with God." Show us that GOD is no respecter of persons. GOD sees all his people walking side by side and of the same value.

Exodus 3:4 "And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I." Is an example of GOD talking to Moses; another example is the LORD talking to Saul (Paul) in Acts 9:5. "And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." Since he is no respecter of persons, we must conclude that he is still talking today.

If we do not hear him, it is because we are not listening, although today he usually speaks through his written word. Matthew 5:18 states that, "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." .Matthew 5:18 make it clear the law stays in effect as long as heaven and earth exist. Rev 21:1 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." Taking the two proceeding into account there is no way to do away with the LAW without making JESUS a liar. Which is impossible for man to do.

In Deuteronomy 8:3 "And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live." And Matthew 4:4 "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." We find that mankind is governed by "every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of GOD." The preceding scriptures make it clear that we cannot choose which ones to obey, and which ones to ignore. We have to decide whether we want to believe what God says about himself.

Some will say that GOD is LOVE. 1 John 4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." Is very true, but God’s other characteristics are already tempered by that love. Therefore, his love cannot be used to negate his other characteristics. In summing up the preceding paragraphs we find that GOD cannot lie. GOD does not change his mind, nor his word. GOD places the same value on all his words. GOD sees and treats all his people the same. GOD does not contradict himself.

What does GOD’S character to do with what we believe? The Bible is GODS contract (covenant) with mankind. A contract is only as good as a man’s word or, as good as his character. If we have a contract with someone who breaks his word, we can take him to court to have the contract fulfilled. In dealing with GOD, there is no higher court, so his character becomes very important.

Since GOD is no respecter of persons and a law was enforced in the garden of Eden, it is still in effect today. Revelation 13:8 "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." .Where there is no law there is no need of a sacrifice. It (the law) was also in force before there was a Jewish nation. So saying the law was only for the Jewish nation will not let you off the hook. The animal sacrifices were a substitute for JESUS not the other way around.

With GOD there is no "YES BUT." Either it is GOD’S word and true, or it is a lie of the devil. So if you say "YES BUT" you are admitting it is GOD’S word and the way he wants it to be. Not caring what he thinks, or what he wants done. There is no middle ground. You are in one of the two camps. Man has no ground of his own.

As each point is made, check it with GOD’S character. Also how does your present doctrine check out with GOD’S character? Did GOD have to change or cancel something he said52;his law52; to fit your doctrine? His character will not let him cancel or change anything. Now let’s examine some DOCTRINE, and check it out in comparison with GOD’S character.

The doctrine of different dispensations.

The Bible is divided into the Old and New Testaments. People who hold the dispensational point of view claim that in the Old Testament the law was enforced. And in the New Testament dispensation the law has been annulled and replaced by grace. In Matthew 22:40 Jesus declares, "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." If the law was to be done away with on the cross? Why did Jesus not say, "after I die on the cross, you can throw out the law. Just remember to love GOD and man. OH! By the way you had better remember the prophets."

If your husband, or wife ignored what you said, would you say that they loved you? What do you think GOD thinks when his word (law) is ignored? In Matthew 5:17-18 Jesus states, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Luke 16:17 agrees, "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail."

The above verses show it is impossible for Jesus to do anything to nullify the law. These verses also show that to fulfil the law in no way means to do away with the law. To claim that Jesus did away with the law through his crucifixion is to call Jesus a liar. Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial part of the law on the cross. Jesus said, "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." Knowing it is the law of God that keeps heaven and earth together.

He also knew there was provision made for a new heaven and a new earth, as Revelation 21:1 shows. A new heaven and a new earth are part of the law of God. Jesus meant that life as we know it would stop before the law would fail.

To do away with the law is to do away with all hope for man.

It was the law that made it possible for man to offer a sacrifice for his sins. In Rev 13:8 we see "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Since Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world, the animal sacrifices were temporary till His word was fulfilled.

People still sin today, so the law of sacrifices is still in force. And Jesus is that sacrifice. Exo 24:8 "And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words."

Isa 56:4-7 "For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." Eph 2:12-13 "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

TO do away with the LAW is to do away with GOD!

Does grace supersede the law?

Some people claim they are under grace and no longer have to obey God’s law. In Genesis 6:8 we find "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." When reading Gen 6:9 "These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." We find the reason why Noah found grace in the eyes of God: he was just, perfect, and walked with God

Grace did not start in the New Testament. It has been around since the start of time. Everyone in this world is under the grace of God. To the ungodly his grace gives them time (till they die) to except Jesus as their saviour. And to the believer, he gave the death of Jesus to pay for their sins, so they could spend eternity with him. 5485. charis, khar’-ece; from G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstr. or concr.; lit., fig. or spiritual; espec. the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):52;acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

The LAW = every word that God spoke, or every word that was inspired by the spirit of God. To do away with the law is to do away with grace. Since grace is part of the law. Such an act would make grace nonexistent.

NO LAW = NO GRACE = NO HOPE FOR MAN.

IMMORTALITY of the soul.

1 Corinthians 15:50 States, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." This verse is self-explanatory. 1 Corinthians 15:51 continues, "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." Since 1 Corinthians was written some twenty years after Christ, if Christians went straight to heaven when they died, then 1 Corinthians 15:51 should read: "Behold, I show you a mystery; nobody sleeps (dies) anymore. Christ changed that. So now we go straight to heaven to be with him."

1 Corinthians 15:52 says: "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." The last trump has not yet sounded. Therefore, the dead are not yet raised incorruptible.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:53: It says "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." Again this verse is self-explanatory. 1 Corinthians 15:54 continues "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Corinthians 15:54 shows us that immortality will occur at the second coming of Christ, and that death is still with us.

Since earlier we found out that GOD cannot lie. It is obvious that we will not have everlasting life till JESUS gives it to us at the resurrection. To maintain the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, we must make worthless and of no effect what Jesus did (John 3:16). If you decide that John 3:16 does not mean what it says. Then how can you trust anything that the Bible says about Jesus? John 3:16 states, "For GOD so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Many people will be surprised that someone would use this verse, one of the foundational verses of CHRISTIANITY. To prove that man does not have immortality in any form: body, soul or spirit. For example, if you have an apple in your hand or mouth, you cannot truthfully say you do not have an apple simply because it is not balanced on your head. Therefore, if your spirit or any part of you goes automatically to heaven or hell the moment life stops for you on earth. You are claiming to have immortality.

If man already has immortality, then Christ died for nothing (or he lied), because it is written that he died so we "should not perish." In either case, it makes him unworthy to be the son of GOD.

IF we were talking about cars, it would be different. You can use more than one car, but you can use only one everlasting life. Besides, if you have everlasting life, you cannot perish.

You cannot save someone from something that he cannot do. It also makes God’s love of little value if He died to stop you from perishing, or to give you everlasting life when, in reality, you already have an immortal soul.

Some people think that hell lasts forever. If this was so, you would not need John 3:16. Which states that those who believe in the son of GOD should not die. You could ignore JESUS and still live forever! According to Ecclesiastics 9:5, "the dead know not any thing." How then is it possible to be in heaven and not know it? Some people say that Ecclesiastics 9:5 is just the opinion of Solomon. In 1 Kings 3:12 "Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee." We find there is no one as wise as he or ever will be. Therefore, it might be a good idea to believe Solomon and not those who pretend to be wiser than Solomon.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of GOD: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then, we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Do you think GOD will stuff you back into the ground a split second before He returns to this earth. So He can raise you from the dead when He comes back for his own? This is a requirement He would have to meet to carry out the condition of the preceding verse.

Even if He did stuff you back into the ground, it would be of no avail. Those supposedly in heaven would already have met him, making it impossible to meet him simultaneously with those who are alive and remain on earth.

Some people believe their loved ones in heaven can see them here on earth. Do you know of a parent who could be happy in heaven and see his son or daughter going to hell or already in hell suffering? I do not know of any, do you? If they could, they would not qualify to go to heaven anyway.

In Luke 23:43 Jesus said to the thief on the cross, "Verily I say onto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." The translators made a mistake in this verse. It means that Jesus told him where he would spend eternity, not when. Punctuation was not in use at the time of CHRIST. Luke 23:43 should read, "And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee today, thou shalt be with me in paradise." People point to this verse to show that you go to heaven upon death.

The same people believe that Christ spent three days and nights in the grave (hell), to get the keys over sickness and death. To hold this point of view, you must believe that paradise (heaven) is in the grave (hell), or that hell is in heaven. It is impossible to hold both of these views at the same time.

Ecclesiastics 12:7 says, "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." Many people claim you have to go to heaven, because it says the spirit returned to GOD. They claim the body gets buried, and the spirit (the real person) goes to heaven. It cannot work this way, If the real person is already in heaven ----say for a thousand years enjoying heaven----why does that person then suddenly need a body when Christ comes for his own? It was GOD’S spirit to start with, and not man’s .if it was the spirit of man (the real person) that returned to GOD, it would also involve the worst sinner going to heaven.

1 Timothy 6:16 says, "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto." This is talking about GOD. Either Paul did not know what he was talking about, or only GOD is immortal. 1 Timothy was written about thirty years after Christ was on earth. If Paul was blind about GOD, then you should throw out his writings.

Otherwise he did know about GOD, and anyone who claims to have immortality must be GOD. If you logically compare the doctrine of immortality and the doctrine of the thief on the cross, you come up with a thief who now is immortal and therefore has become GOD. Or, was it GOD on the cross pretending to be a thief? Either one is nonsense

Revelation 20:12-13 states, "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." These verses present a problem, if you believe that you go to heaven or hell at the time of your death here on earth. This belief would make Jesus a liar. Examples: how can you say you will judge someone for his sins if you have to pull him out of hell to judge him guilty of sin, having already sentenced him to hell?

The same goes for those who were hypothetically already in heaven. Besides, how is it possible for the sea to give up dead people if they were already in heaven or hell? Or do you believe God may change his mind about some people, and switch them around when He reads the books.

Revelation 22:12 states, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Here again He must be lying. If you believe you go to heaven when you die. Revelation 14:7 reads, "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

In Matthew 16:27 we read, "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." If you believe that at death you go directly to heaven or hell, then according to this verse, He sent them there before He decided where they belonged. They were not yet judged.

Revelation 11:18 says, "And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." This verse makes it clear that judgment does not happen daily. Therefore, there is no way that Jesus could reward or punish anyone ahead of time by sending him to heaven or hell.

We believe there have been enough verses presented in this section to show going to heaven or hell at the time of death here on this earth is not a realistic point of view. To hold this point of view, you have to make the Holy Spirit a lying spirit, because it gave out wrong information, thereby making all scripture unreliable.

The doctrine of Sunday replacing the Sabbath.

Although most Sabbath keepers do not like to admit it, there is nothing in the BIBLE that says you cannot worship on Sunday. Having said that, there is also nothing found in the Bible that transfers anything said about the Sabbath to Sunday. Anyone who transfers anything said about the Sabbath to Sunday is trying to make GOD’S word of no effect.

Let us examine Exodus 31:12 and 13, "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you." Exodus 31:14 continues, "Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people."

Exodus 31:15 states, "Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death." Compare Exodus 31:16, "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant." Exodus 31:17 says, "It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed."

Exodus 31:18 continues, "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." By applying GOD’S character (GOD cannot lie), we see that GOD does not change his mind, or his word. He places the same value on all his words. GOD sees and treats all his people the same. He does not contradict himself.

Galatians 3:28 declares, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Moreover, Isaiah 56:6 states, "Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant."

It becomes evident that GOD sees your name and the children of Israel as equal, since all are one in Christ Jesus. Thereby making it impossible for anyone to get around keeping the SABBATH. Some will say that the Sabbath is only for the Jews. However, if you look at Exodus 31:13, Isaiah 56:6, both of these verses say that it is the Lord’s Sabbath, not the Jew’s Sabbath. Also that the sons of the stranger, (the Gentiles), should keep it. How could GOD order someone put to death for breaking the Sabbath (Exodus 31:15) and then ignore someone else for doing the same thing because they say they are keeping the spirit of the law by switching to another day?

What would you think of a judge that ordered someone put to death for breaking the law, when the next person appearing before him was exonerated of the same offence simply by stating he had his own reasons for doing so? That’s what GOD would be like on judgement day if he ignored one person breaking the law and not the other. It does not matter what your reason is for keeping Sunday. It cannot replace GOD’S word.

GOD’S CHARACTER DOES NOT ALLOW HIM TO CHANGE THE LAW,

SO HOW CAN MAN?

Why people keep Sunday

Spirit of the law

2 Corinthians 3:6 declares, "Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kilketh, but the spirit giveth life." Some people use this verse as an excuse for not keeping the Sabbath. They claim you cannot keep the letter of the law and the spirit of the law at the same time. NONSENSE.

Example: One child pushes the other in the mud and the parents say, "go ask for forgiveness." He does and means it . This an example of keeping the letter as well as the spirit of what the parents said. If the child asks for forgiveness, but does not mean it, this would be an example of the letter only. And if he went to someone else and said, "forgive me." this would be an example of missing both.

Now, if we transfer this example to the Sabbath, we come up with the following: keeping the Sabbath and doing it joyfully is like keeping both the letter and the spirit of the law. If someone only keeps the Sabbath because GOD said so, and would prefer to be doing something else, that is keeping the letter only. Someone who shifts the day so he can keep it joyfully misses both letter and spirit, the letter by keeping the wrong day, and the spirit by keeping a day of his own choice.

Anyone can be happy keeping a day of his own choice. The letter and the spirit of the law both refer to the same law. The only difference is that one is done because you have to; the other is done because you do it willingly. If someone only keeps the Sabbath because the Bible says he should (or the letter of the law requires it), he will in time get to hate GOD, because he will feel hard done by, and in time it will kill him. Although someone keeping the Sabbath because they wanted to, their attitude would fulfill the spirit of the law.

If someone does something willingly, the letter of the law seems to disappear, and you will never even think about keeping the letter of the law. Another comparison of the letter and the spirit of the law is this. The letter of the law is man’s way of keeping GOD’S law. If the law says not to work on the Sabbath, there are those who would not help their neighbor get their child out of a well on the Sabbath, thereby breaking some higher law.

The spirit of the law is to do no work by which one would profit on the Sabbath, but it would allow helping one’s neighbor save his child even if it meant sacrificing one’s own life, thereby fulfilling the higher law of love. The higher law of love would also allow looking after the sick or, livestock, etc.

(B) All days the same

Romans 14:5 declares, "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." This verse is referring to what man does, not what GOD thinks, wants, or does. Throughout the Bible, we find that what man does is usually the opposite of what GOD wants. This verse does, however, tell us to make up our minds and not be undecided.

Did GOD treat all days the same? The answer is NO, when we look at Genesis 2:3. "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." This was at the garden of Eden before the fall of man. GOD blessed and sanctified only one day, thereby making it different. No matter how hard man tries, he cannot change GOD’S word.

Let no man judge by Sabbath days

Colossians 2:16-17 says, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." The Sabbath days mentioned above are a shadow of things to come. They were the yearly Sabbaths. The "Sabbaths" that most people try to avoid by the use of this verse is the weekly Sabbath, which serves as a memorial of creation (Exodus 31:17). These Sabbaths are different, and serve different purposes. One looks back; the other looks ahead. They are not interchangeable.

They worshipped on Sunday in the New Testament.

Acts 20:7 states, "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight." When we transpose the day of the week and time of day to modern time keeping, we find that the disciples came together on a Saturday evening. In Bible, times days started at sundown and went till the next sundown. Therefore, midnight on the first day of the week was, by modern time keeping methods, would be Saturday midnight.

Moreover, "to break bread" meant to eat, not worship. Those who attended the gathering just had a special meeting presided over by a good speaker. 1 Corinthians 16:2 says, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." This was not an ordinary offering to be taken in a service. They were to gather clothes and food. It is not what would be done in an ordinary service. The Jews considered even lighting a fire work so they would not gather clothes or food on the sabbath.

Christ rose on Sunday

This is the main assumption that people use to justify worshipping on Sunday and not on the Sabbath. Let’s look at some scripture and see what we find. Turn to Mark 16:2, "And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun." Mark 16:6 states, "And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him." He was not there

Luke 24:1 declares, "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them." Luke 24:2 reads, "And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre." Luke 24:3 continues, "And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus." He was not there.

John 20:1 adds, "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre." John 20:2 continues, "Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him." He was not there.

These verse all show that Jesus was not there early Sunday morning when the visitors arrived at the sepulchre. Matthew 28:1 states, "In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre." In Matthew 28:2 we read, "And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it." Matthew 28:3 declares, "His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:" Matthew 28:4 says, "And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men." Matthew 28:5 adds, "And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified." In Matthew 28:6 the angel declares, "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." He was not there.

Matthew 28:1-6 goes even farther back in time to Saturday just before sundown. When the verse says "DAWN TOWARD the first day of the week." it means the first day was not yet there. Nothing can travel towards something and be there at the same time. We think that by now there has been enough doubt cast on a Sunday resurrection, making it a poor excuse for keeping Sunday. He did not say, "keep the Sabbath unless you can find a reason for keeping Sunday."

The doctrine of Good Friday and Easter Sunday

This doctrine is much more important than most people think. Failing to grasp its intent is to place in doubt the messiah ship of Jesus. We will now prove that it is impossible for Jesus to be put in the grave just before sunset on Friday and to rise on Sunday morning and be the son of GOD. In the foregoing section we explained Matthew 28:1-6, showing that at no time on Sunday was Christ in the grave, thereby making it impossible to rise from the grave on a day he was not there.

We will now see what the Bible says about the time Jesus spent in the grave. Mark 8:31 states, "And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again." Matthew 27:63 states, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver said, while he was yet alive , After three days I will rise again." Please note that in the two preceding verses the word after can in no way be made to mean "on" or "during."

In Matthew 12:40 Jesus declares, "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." This verse also shows that Jesus spent three days and three nights in the grave. It does not matter how creative your mathematics, there is no way you can come up with a period of three days and three nights starting just before sundown on Friday and ending just before sundown on Saturday.

The most we can come up with is one day plus a few minutes. Try it for yourself, and see what you come up with! Remember, in Bible times the day started at sundown. For those who say that part of a day counts as a full day, that argument does not work. Matthew 12:40 separates the days and nights. Also in Mark 8:31 and Matthew 27:63 the word after is used, showing that the last day had to be a full day.

We will now show how Jesus could be in the grave for three days and three nights and fulfill the scriptures. Mark 15:42 states, "And now when the even was come, [because] it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath," Mark 15:47 adds, "And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where He was laid." Mark 16:1 states, "And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him."

Luke 23:56 declares, "And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment." Luke 24:1 says, "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them." By working backwards from the first day of the week we can show that Jesus was put into the grave on Wednesday. Thursday was a Sabbath (one of the annual feast days). Friday when the Sabbath was past they bought sweet spices and prepared the spices and rested on Saturday (the weekly Sabbath). Sunday (the first day of the week) they brought the spices to the grave and found it empty.

If you count from just before sundown on Wednesday, to Saturday just before sundown you arrive at exactly three days and three nights, a period of 72 hours. Which Jesus do you want to serve-----the one that fulfills scripture, or the one that breaks scripture? Please note that your actions, not your words, will dictate what you believe. It is important in summing up this article is to remember that man cannot change GOD’S character, no matter what man does. For man to change, or ignore GOD’S law (word), is to say to GOD, I know you said to, but it’s not for me today. If you look GOD, you will see we still worship and praise you. It is the day of our choice and in our own style. Also Lord, we decided we love you so much that we decided to join you in heaven when we die, and not wait for you to raise us from the dead.

In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus says, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I, profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." This makes it evident that it is not what you do of your own volition that counts, but whether you obey the will of the Father.