The Dimensions of Dance

The Dimensions of Dance

"Consciousness expresses itself through creation. This world we live in is the dance of the Creator. Dancers come and go in the twinkling of an eye but the dance lives on. On many an occasion when I am dancing, I have felt touched by something sacred. In those moments, I felt my spirit soar and become one with everything that exists. I become the stars and the moon. I become the lover and the beloved. I become the victor and the vanquished. I become the master and the slave. I become the singer and the song. I become the knower and the known. I keep on dancing and then, it is the eternal dance of creation. The Creator and the creation merge into one wholeness of joy. I keep on dancing — until there is only ... the dance." - Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson has long been known to the world as one of the greatest dancers that has ever lived. His elaborate moves have become iconic and are forever ingrained in our collective consciousness. He is one of the few artists who's impact transcends all cultures, races, sexual orientations, and spiritual beliefs. In the quote above Michael seems to reveal the secret to his legendary dance moves. To him dancing was more than just having fun, it was a spiritual experience.

In retrospect the signs have been there all along. When you listen to the smooth groove of "Rock With You" the lyrics seem to point to something deeper than simply dancing with a hot girl at the club.

Girl, close your eyes
Let that rhythm, get into to you
Don't try to fight it
There ain't nothin' that you can do
Relax your mind

One can view these lyrics and imagine Michael guiding a young lady to the dance floor and teaching her the correct way to get into the groove. With that said, these lyrics also correlate with another experience.

In the past I have explored the reoccurring themes of dance in relation to Monarch programming and mind control when used in music videos by Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, and Kylie Minogue. But as with most things associated with mind control, once you dig deep enough you'll discover that most of the rituals associated with mind control stem from spiritual origins that are now being used as methods of control. Are there still signs of the spiritual aspects of dance that have remained in our culture? Or are these connections simply just another form of control?

David Bowie is another artist that has used the theme of dance in his work. His long history of esoteric references makes his use of this theme all the more interesting. David Bowie has sung about dancing in songs such as "John, I'm Only Dancing" and "Fashion" - the latter pointing more to the control and hive-mind mentality of the fashion world. The song I chose to focus on is the Nile Rogers produced "Let's Dance".
The music video starts off with two individuals dancing on a checkerboard floor with David Bowie singing in the corner. The checkerboard floor is most commonly referenced as a symbol of Freemasonry but what is rarely discussed is why the Freemasons have adopted the checkerboard floor as their symbol of choice. The checkerboard floor represents light and darkness and dimensional traveling. Dancing as a spiritual tool represents disassociating from the purely physical plane and crossing over into another state of consciousness as Michael Jackson explained above. With these facts into consideration the inclusion of the checkerboard floor in this video takes on a deeper meaning than simply Illuminati symbolism.

In the song "Let's Dance" David Bowie suggests that we dance to the "songs they're playing on the radio". As he continues he sings "under the moonlight, the serious moonlight". Peter-R. Koenig has done an extensive investigation into the Occult references in David Bowie's work and has looked at David Bowie's use of the word "serious" over the years as a code word for Sirius. This is not surprising considering Bowie's love of playing with words and their multiple meanings.

David Bowie used a similar lyrical reference in his song "Starman" in which he sings about a cosmic experience induced by the channeling of an entity heard on a radio.

Let's dance to the songs they're playing on the radio,
Under the moonlight, the Sirius moonlight

The video also centers heavily around these pair of red shoes. Red shoes have become a constant stable in popular culture ever since the iconic film the Wizard of Oz was released. Since then red shoes have been used to usher in the emergence of Beyonce in "Crazy In Love" and as Britney searches for herself in "If U Seek Amy".

In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy slips into the world of Oz through a dream. Dreaming requires us to go beyond our physical plane and, in a sense, enter a new realm. With that taken into consideration the red shoes become yet another image in this music video that points to the experience of traveling beyond the physical plane.
Although there were no red shoes featured in the video, Madonna takes a similar path down the yellow brick road in her iconic music video "Vogue".

"All you need is your own imagination
so use it that's what it's for
Go inside all you'll find is inspiration
Your dreams will open the door" - Vogue
The spiritual element of this song was heightened when Madonna performed it during 2004's Re-Invention tour. As she "striked a posed" the poses were yoga poses. The video projections showcased her breathing techniques.
Grace...

"This is way beyond the physical,
tonight my senses don't make sense at all.
Our imaginations taking us to places we have never been before" - Britney Spears, Breathe On Me

In 2003, just after their infamous kiss, Britney Spears and Madonna hooked up for the first single from Britney's fourth album In The Zone. In the video Madonna teaches Britney some yoga moves while she suggest instead of losing control the young star should bare her soul.

The title In The Zone always reminds me of the Twilight Zone which is interesting considering the dimensional references within the show.

It's also interesting that the color used on the cover is blue. The characters of the latest pop culture phenomenon Avatar are blue when transported into their universe.
Dr. Manhattan, a character from Watchman, is another reference to blue.
Check out his third eye. Sun symbolism?

Strike a pose.

The Blue Man Group are another example that comes to mind.
DNA in their show.

Popular female group TLC were also blue on the cover of their 1999 album Fanmail. When the album was initially released it contained a holographic version of the cover. Revealing the nature of the universe through the symbolic triple goddess? This was the last album that Left Eye (of Horus) was alive to see succeed.
Like TLC, No Doubt were huge throughout the 90's. In 2002 they released a more uptempo album titled Rock Steady. One of the many hits from the album was "Hella Good". In the song lead singer Gwen Stefani sings "The waves keep on crashing on me for some reason", what waves radio waves? She continues and sings "Don't wake me if I'm dreaming". This is yet another example of dancing and dreaming intertwining within music. The music video for "Hella Good" features many references that point to an alternative meaning to the song than what is generally perceived.
Lead singer Gwen Stefani continued this road into symbolic pop culture in her solo work.
In the above ad for her perfume LAMB, the four colors used are Blue, Red, Yellow, and Green. These colors are very symbolic and have been used countless times. Before you came to this blog you probably seen them being used without even noticing.
The colors are very common and are used in many logos and ads.

One of the reasons for this is that they are primary colors so they are naturally attractive to the eye hence the constant use by the media who are always trying to lure us in to get our money. Many people will notice that these same colors are used by the Order of the Eastern Star.
Earlier I explained that the checkerboard floor symbolism predates Freemasonry and symbolizes something deeper so it should come as no surprise that these colors should not automatically be linked with the Order of the Eastern Star. These colors were used by the always interesting Aleister Crowley.
Even before that the colors were used to symbolize various spiritual beliefs.

These same colors were used in the film The Fifth Element to symbolize the four elements, the fifth element being spirit.
It's interesting how once you go on this path of seeking the truth everything make more sense. I have seen Madonna's "Ray of Light" video countless times and now that I've been exploring these four colors a new dimension has been added to the last scene of her dancing in the club.
Those colors again! I've also noticed white is in most of these photos. White represents spirit, the fifth element. This is yet another example of Madonna expressing her spirituality with dance.
The colors also made an appearance in the film Space Odyssey.
Michael Jackson used the colors to invite us into a new realm in the dance extravaganza Moonwalker. He liked the colors so much that he used them again years later.

In 1985 Madonna released "Into the Groove". Like the aforementioned "Vogue", "Into the Groove" is about finding freedom within dance. The song was featured on the soundtrack to the popular 80's movie Desperately Seeking Susan. Both the music video for "Into the Groove" and the movie Desperately Seeking Susan feature a leather jacket worn by Madonna that has become iconic.
The jack features an All Seeing Eye with an unfinished pyramid just like the back of the dollar bill. This symbolism has led many people to believe that Madonna is a part of or controlled by the powers that be. To me the All Seeing Eye should not be instantaneously perceived as a symbol for control. The eye has been a symbol for spirituality for centuries.
Jacopo da Pontormo used what is now known as the All Seeing Eye in his painting Supper at Emmaus. Although there is speculation as to whether or not he intended the symbol to appear in his painting or it was added at a later date, it's inclusion sheds an interesting light on the nature of symbolism; if symbols can mean different things at different times are the meanings of these symbols being decided for us as time goes by? Are we giving the elite more power and surpressing the spiritual power of symbols by only seeing "Illuminati" when we see them?

The All Seeing Eye is just one in a long list of commonly referenced eye symbols. The All Seeing Eye could be seen as another representation of the third eye or the Eye of Horus. Like the Tree of Life and Kundalini they could represent the same spiritual experience. Many have speculated that the Eye of Horus could represent the Pineal Gland which would be interesting and link the symbol to various other intertwining spiritual experienced
If the Egyptians were aware of the Pineal Gland let's not let anyone marginalize their other symbols.

With that being said it is important to note that the jacket worn by Madonna is identical to the dollar bill so just what were the pictures suppose to represent?
Right on time, Pseudo-Occult Media posted a Antonella Arismendi photo shoot titled Gnosis.
The title Gnosis itself points to spiritual knowledge but that theme is heightened by the inclusion of the Tree of Life on the models back. Also included is Novus Ordo Seclorum from the dollar bill.

Pop/Rock band Fall Out Boy used eye symbolism without the pesky reminders of the elite. The eye is placed behind the key. Is the dance the key to consciousness?

"I'm in a trance
Cosmic systems intertwine
Astral bodies drip like wine
All of nature ebbs and flows
Comets shoot across the sky
Can't explain the reasons why
This is how creation goes" - Madonna, Impressive Instant

Electronic band Justice symbolize the spiritual aspect of dance most effectively with their song "D.A.N.C.E.". There's no beating around the bush with the imagery associated with this band, they perform music about dancing while simultaneously using a cross in every photo and performance. This symbolism connects dance and Christ Consciousness directly.

"If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thru' narrow chinks of his cavern." - William Blake

"To infinity and beyond" - Beyonce, Single Ladies


Those damn colors again.

Christ the Advocate
The Father's Chastening
The Forgiveness of Sins

It is a blessed thing for one to know Christ as his Savior but more blessed to know the Savior. Paul could say, "I know whom I have believed" (2 Tim. 1:12), but also desired to "know Him and the power of His resurrection" (Phil. 3:10).

The Lord Jesus Christ not only became man to die for our sins but is now a risen, glorified man in heaven, the High Priest and Advocate of His people. As High Priest, He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities and lives to strengthen us, that we might "hold fast our confession" - or testimony in this world (Heb. 4:14-16, R.V.). As Advocate (or intercessor) He pleads our cause when we sin. "If any man sin,

We Have an Advocate

with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). when a Christian does wrong he needs one who is right, or righteous, to plead his cause. We need an advocate in heaven, because Satan accuses us before God day and night (Rev. 12:10). Satan would like to put a mark against the Christian when he sins. If he could do this, every Christian wuuld be barred from heaven, because none is perfect But, thank God, the Lord Jesus Christ is the author of Eternal Salvation. He not only died upon the cross to save us, but He lives as our Advocate in heaven to intercede on our behalf; therefore, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" (Rom. 8: 33). "If any man sin, we have an Advocate." Notice, it does not say if any man confes8 his sin we have an Advocate but, "If any man sin." The moment a Christian sins Christ his Advocate pleads his cause, so that no charge can be laid against him in heaven. Sin, however, does affect his fellowship with God his Father and must be confessed on earth.

It is important to notice, "we have

An Advocate With the Father"

not with God as creator or judge but as Father. The name "Father" denotes a family and children. The sinner will have to meet God in judgment for his sins after death (Heb. 9:27). But the Christian is chastised, by his Father, in this life here and now, and more especially when he does not judge himself and confess his sins (1 Cor. 11:31). God's character in dealing with sin is "a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29). The Lord Jesus met God in His holiness and was consumed by His wrath for our sins, as it is written: "Thy wrath lieth hard upon Me, and Thou hast afflicted Me with all Thy waves" (Ps. 88:7). He cried upon the cross: "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46). Surely, this is proof that no sinner who meets God in his sins will ever escape His wrath. Moses saw God as a consuming fire dwelling in the "bush." He marveled that "the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed" (Exodus 3:2). God might have consumed the bush (Israel), because He was holy and they were sinful; but in grace He condescended to dwell with them as their Deliverer and Savior. And so He does with us. God chastens (child-trains) His children as a Father now, but at the judgment seat of Christ their works of wood, hay, and stubble will be burned by the fire of His judgment. But the believer himself "shall be saved; yet so as by fire" (1 Cor. 3:15).

Some Christians at Corinth were weak and sickly, and some slept (died), because of unjudged sin The Lord judged them as children, that they "should not be con-demned with the world" (1 Cor. 11:32). The same was doubtless true of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10). Both of these cases were sins unto death (1 John 5:16), i.e. they died for, or because of, their sin in this life, but will not be condemned in the next life. Sinners will be judged after death (Acts 17:31, Heb. 9:27), not here.

The Forgiveness of Sins

This is one of the most important subjects in the Bible. Ignorance of the Scriptures regarding this truth will rob one of joy, happiness, and blessing. There are three aspects of forgiveness that I would like to consider namely: 1-God's Forgiveness of Sinners; 2-The Father's Forgiveness of His children; 3.-The Christian's Forgiveness of others.

1-God's Forgiveness of Sinners.

It is a known fact that sin cannot enter heaven. Since all in the world are sinners, each one must be forgiven or be lost forever (Rom. 3:23). This forgiveness must be upon the ground of God's sovereign grace and not man's worthiness. "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).

The ground of forgiveness is Christ's death and resurrection: "Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and the forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:31). "Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins" (Acts 13:38). "Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission (forgiveness) of sms" (Acts 10:43).

The foundation of the new covenant is the blood of Christ (Maft. 26:28, Heb. 10:16); therefore, all believers can say: "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7). Notice these words, "we have redemption,"

"we have. ... the forgiveness of sins";

and note the ground: "according to the riches of His grace." What a wonderful salvation God's grace has provided for the sinner! He has said concerning all who believe, "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" (Heb. 10:17).

Reader, are you a believer? If you are, look afresh to the cross and believe those words: "It is finished!" Believe God when He says, your sins are "remembered no more"-your past sins; your present sins; your future gins. All your sins are gone forever and you are eternally forgiven: "For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" (Heb. 10:14). Behold Christ Jesus who "sat down in perpetuity" at God's right hand in heaven (Heb. 10:12, R.V.) Since you are accepted in Him (Eph. 1:6), you are no longer in Adam but in Christ (1 Cor. 15:22; 2 Cor. 5:17). You are no longer a sinner but a saint (Rom. 1:7; 2 Cor. 1:2). You are in the world but not of it (John 17:16). "Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price" (1 Cor.6:19-20).

Your link with the old creation has been severed forever before God, because Christ died as your substitute and you have died with Him. As a new creature you are a partaker of the "divine nature" (2 Pet. 1:4); God is your Father; you are ~His child, and heaven is your home. You have received resurrection life from Christ and He is your life (Col. 3:4). You can say with Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal.2:20, R.V.).

As believers we are "to walk, even as He walked" (1 John 2:6). "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us" (Eph.5:1,2).

2-The Father's Forgiveness of His Children.

John wrote to the little children, "Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake" (1 John 2:12). He also said:"These things write I unto you, that ye sin not" (1 John 2: 1). God has not saved us to go on in sin, but to live for Him (Rom. 6: 13). Paul wrote: "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead (have died, R. V.) to sin, live any longer there-in?" (Rom. 6: 1, 2). Sin is still in us, but no longer as the ruling power of our lives; no longer to reign or to have dominion over us (Rom. 6: 12, 14). We are not saved to be "always sinning," as some say, but we read, "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous" (1 John 2:1). We have noticed the words "Advocate with the Father." The name "Father" speaks of relationship. Because of this changed relationship, a Christian is no longer counted a sinner-not even when he sins. He is a child of God, but a disobedient child, and as such, must confess his sins to his Father, to be forgiven.

This is what happens

when Christians sin:

In heaven, God our Father is displeased; Satan accuses us before God's throne; and Christ, our Advocate, must plead our cause so that no charge can be laid against us there.  

On earth, fellowship with our Father is broken; the Holy Spirit-the Comforter who takes of the things of Christ and reveals them unto us-is grieved, and He must convict us of sin until we judge ourselves for allowing it and confess it to our Father. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all Un-righteousness" (1 John 1:9). He is faithful to Christ and His Word. He is just, because the debt of sin has been paid on the cross (Rom. 3:25,26); therefore, when the Christian confesses his sin, fellowship with his Father is restored. If we do not judge ourselves and confess our sins, we are subject to 

Our Father's chastening.

"For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth" (Heb. 12:6). Thus we learn that a true Christian is not allowed to do as he pleases, for he is saved to please God. The sooner we learn this the better, for sin committed by the believer brings chastisement on earth and the loss of reward in heaven; while obedienc~ gives joy and happiness here and will bring reward in heaven.

Peter exhorts, "giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness . . . For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.. . But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins (2 Peter 1:5-11).

Therefore, it behooves us to confess our sins immediately, lest we receive chastisement now, and lose our reward at Christ's coming (Rev. 22:12). On the other hand, should God see fit to cut off by death (sleep, 1 Cor. 11: 30) a backsudden or disobedient Christian because of his sin-although he has lost joy and fellowship and will lose future reward - yet he will enter heaven without charge against him as a child, because he is trustmg a faithful Savior and Advocate. To understand this more fully one must see the difference between the "Father's House" and the "Kingdom." In the "Father's House," all the children will have fulness of joy, according to their capacity, but they will only have capacity according to their spiritual growth in this world; while in the "Kingdom," those who are "faithful servants" will be made rulers over cities (John 14:2; Luke 19:17).

3-The Christian's Forgiveness of Others

As children of God and members of His family, Christians are expected to obey the rules that govern God's family. One of the rules He has established is: "Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven" (Luke 6:37). There is conditional forgiveness in God's government: "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matt. 6:12). The Lord Jesus said: "If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt. 6:15). In Matthew eighteen, He told a story of the man who owed ten thousand talents (millions of dollars) and was forgiven, then refused to forgive his fellowservant who owed him one hundred pence (about fifteen dollars). This man with the "unforgiving spirit" was delivered to the tormentors, and the Lord adds: "So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses" (Matt 18:35). In the same chapter, Peter was told that he must forgive, not only seven times, but seventy times seven (Maft. 18:22). If we are able to forgive a person 490 times there will be no limit to our forgiveness.

The Lord Jesus illustrated, when on the cross, what He had taught during His life. At the time of His greatest suffering at the hands of men, He cried: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). To be like Him we must forgive sinners.

In the epistles, Christians are exhorted to forgive: "Even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32). If we want to walk as Christ walked, and if we want to consciously enjoy our Father's forgiveness and fellowship, we must forgive others. For it is written: "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us . . . If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen" (1 John 4:12, 20)? These words may well exercise all who retain hate and unforgiveness in their hearts toward others.

Forgiveness and the Lord's Supper

The Lord Jesus Christ said: "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift" (Matt. 5:23, 24).
In the epistles, we are taught, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4:31, 32).
It is not always the easiest to forgive, but it is Christlike. God prizes our gifts if we offer them having forgiveness in our hearts toward others. He commanded Israel: "Ye shall burn no leaven in any offering of the Lord made by fire" (Lev. 2:11). "Unleavened" speaks of "sincerity and truth," and "leaven" of "malice and wickedness" (1 Cor. 5:8). There was no malice or wickedness in Christ We must lay aside these in order to praise and worship Him.

Forgiveness and Prayer

"When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also....may forgive you... But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses" (Mark 11: 25-26). It is evident from this passage that our Father often withholds answers to prayer because of an unforgiving spirit. The Psalmist said: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" (Ps. 66: 18).
Cases have been known where prayers were answered after Christians learned and confessed before God the dreadfulness of the unforgiving spirit. No matter what it costs, we must forgive others in order to walk with God. By "suffering as Christians," we glorify God; and though our faith be tried as by fire, it will "be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:7; 4:16-19).

Summary

We have seen that God forgives sinners, unconditionally and eternally, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ: "whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43). But we have noticed that the forgiveness of children, by God our Father, is conditional upon our having a forgiving spirit toward others, and upon our judging and our confessing sin. The disobedient child is also subject to his Father's chastening, which may mean sickness, death, or other chastisements. This chastising is here and now, not after death. The disobedient child of God suffers the loss of joy, fellowship, and worship in this life, and besides will lose reward at Christ's coming.
If he confesses his sins, having a forgiving spirit toward others, his Father will forgive him.

May the Lord give writer and reader, if saved, grace to walk worthy of our blessed Lord, with a right spirit toward others, and with true love toward God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Salvation, Forgiveness and Living in Christ

Encounter with a religious scholar

Recently, a religious man came to Chief Apostle N. Lazar of New Jerusalem Church to argue with him about the doctrine of confession of sins. When they both met and were introduced to each other, Chief Apostle asked him the following questions:

• Where is the Biblical reference that a person is saved when he says a prayer and claims to believe Jesus in his heart? When is a person saved?
• Where is evidence in the Bible that when Jesus was on this earth, people confessed their sins to him? Where did He command people to come to Him and confess their sins?
• Where is forgiveness of sins obtained? In Christ or out of Christ?
• When is a man joined into Christ?

The man who had come to question Chief Apostle regarding one of the 7 doctrines given to him from the Word of God, the Holy Bible, was spellbound as he listened carefully to the message from God for the 21^st Century from the prophet and apostle whom the Lord Jesus Christ has raised up to prepare the Church in these last days for the soon coming King, our heavenly bridegroom, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Some of these discussions are outlined in the following excerpts.

Salvation

Theories and Facts

Today while many theories abound on when a person is saved, the Bible has the facts. There is no record in the Bible that if a person raises his hands in a meeting and says a prayer to Jesus, he is saved. If that is so, can a person raise his hands in a meeting, say a prayer to Jesus privately, and claim to be saved while continuing as an Atheist, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist. No, in order to be saved, a person must openly and publicly confess that he denounces his old ways, confess his sin to a man of God as in Matt 3:6 and take water baptism. He needs to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Mk 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. To be saved, he needs to now continue in the Word of God while openly proclaiming to the world, the Church, angels and to God that he is now embracing Christ, His Word and His Body the Church, all three of whom are inseparable.

Early Church and True Salvation

How did the early church understand the word “saved”. When Peter completed his sermon on the day of Pentecost inspired by the Holy Spirit, there was an immediate response from the audience. The people asked Peter, “What should we do to be saved and Peter told them how”:

Ac:2:37-42: Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Role of the Church in Salvation

Peter’s explicit description of the way of salvation was profound and clear to those who were soon to be faithful members of the early church of our Lord Jesus Christ. First, those that heard Apostle Peter, believed in Jesus Christ, repented from their sins, confessed their sins as in Matt 3:6 to the man of God, received water baptism, were washed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. They separated themselves from the assembly and fellowship of those who do not walk in accordance with the written word preached by Apostle Peter, and continued stedfastly in the apostle’s doctrine, fellowship, in breaking of bread and prayers. All of these new believers continued in one accord with the family of God and praised God continually. Ac:2:47: Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 

Note, the phrase added to the church to be saved is bolded. Salvation is not complete unless a person does all of the above and becomes a part of the family of God and abides stedfastly in the family of God, the Church, abiding and continuing in God’s Word until the end. This is the way to true salvation. In John 8:30-32: As Jesus Christ spake these words, many believed on him. (Jesus never told them you are saved). Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 

In order to continue in the Word, become disciples of Christ, know the truth and be set free, the early church continued stedfastly in the apostle’s doctrine, fellowship, in breaking of bread and prayers. The apostles declared to the Church all they heard and were commanded of Jesus Christ. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God, John 1:1. And the Word was given to the Church where Christ resides, Eph 1:22. Apostle Paul states the Word of God or commandment he gave to the Church was the same commandment that he received from the Lord. 1Cor 11:23: “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you”, in reference to his commandment to the Church from the Lord regarding Holy Communion. 

The church members obeyed and became partakers of Christ’s salvation that is given to all them that obey Him, Heb:5:9: And being made perfect, he (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; If this is exactly how the early church members received salvation it holds good for all time, even the 21^st century and is in accordance with God’s Word. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, Heb 13:8. Even today there is a true Church and there is an Apostle from God. The way to true salvation is taught in God’s Church by the man of God who received commandments directly from Jesus Christ in accordance with the Holy Bible. God’s way of salvation does not change with time, seasons or centuries. There is only one way to salvation. That is to repent, confess your sins, receive water baptism, receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and abide in God’s Church continuing in His Word. If you do this, you will be raptured at Christ’s coming. M't:24:13: But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Salvation, Your Eternal Decision and Destiny

Salvation is the most important decision you will make in your life and will determine your destiny for eternity among the only two eternal choices available, extreme eternal joy (heaven) and extreme eternal sorrow, agony and torture (hell). Shouldn’t this eternal and most important decision in your life hinge on the written Word in the Bible preached by Apostle Peter than on someone else who is neither saved nor has heard directly from God on the topic related to salvation as the apostles did for 40 days they spent with Christ after the resurrection? Ac:1:2: Until the day in which Jesus was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen.  

Has the person who is misleading you received the commandment from Jesus directly, or are you relying on someone else’s opinion than the Word of God? If someone gives you a bottle with some capsules of medicine, would you not want to make sure the bottle is sealed and read with utmost care the label on the bottle? Many people have lost their lives because they believed someone and did not read the label which said “Arsenic trioxide, a highly poisonous substance which will be fatal if congested”. Eve listened to what the devil said about the apple, fell for the deception, ate the forbidden apple, for she was deceived into thinking God’s Word was not true. Come back to God’s Written and spoken Word. Don’t become an eternal victim of theories and human opinion. Heaven and earth will pass away but God’s Word will always stand. Jesus said in M't:24:35: Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Obtain salvation in accordance with God’s Word. 

 There is no shortcut in Christianity. The Word of God is a two-edged sword and is not meant to be played with. Heb:4:12: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. God’s Word is final and all mankind will give account to God for their adherence in this life to His Holy Word. Come to New Jerusalem Church where God’s Word in taught by the Apostle who has received it directly and physically from Jesus Christ the same savior who appeared physically to the early apostles and gave them commandments to be provided to the church so all who obey will receive eternal salvation.

Heb:5:9: And being made perfect, he (Jesus Christ) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

Forgiveness of Sins

Theories and Facts

Today many man-made theories abound which deprive people from obtaining true forgiveness and cleansing by the blood of Jesus Christ in accordance with the Word of God. Because people have not obtained the true joy of having their sins forgiven, the old guilt abides in their hearts and in frustration they acknowledge that a man will be a sinner until Christ comes back. If one who proclaims himself a Christian calls himself a sinner, what about the ungodly and the wicked in this world. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, not torment them with guilt and remembrance of their past sins. Heb:10:2: states that the worshippers purged from sins cannot have any more conscience of sins. If a person calls himself a sinner after claiming to have accepted Jesus Christ, something has gone wrong because he is walking in darkness. 1Jo:1:5, 7: God is light and in Him is no darkness. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we are cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and His blood flows in our veins and arteries and our hearts, then we are not sinners but saints. But the question is, what does the Bible teach us about how to obtain forgiveness of sins and be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ?

Nowhere in the scripture did the apostles teach people to raise their hands in a meeting, say a prayer and conclude that they were Christians because their sins were forgiven. To the contrary, the apostles explicitly taught the people in the first century that forgiveness or remission of sins does not occur until confession of sins followed by water baptism.

Confession of sins, baptism and washing away sins

One day a brother asked the Lord Jesus if he would be so kind as to appear to him. He kept on praying eagerly because he wanted to see Jesus. One night as he was praying, Jesus appeared to him and this brother was so delighted that he fell at Jesus’ feet and went close to embrace him. When Jesus saw this brother coming close to touch him and embrace him, Jesus lifted up his hands, stopped him motioning with His hands, and said “No, first go and wash and be cleansed and then you can touch me”. Immediately, this brother understood what the Lord said and went and took water baptism. Jesus made it very clear to him that only in water baptism preceded by confession of sins to the man of God, the blood of Jesus will cleanse a person. Saul had seen Jesus face to face and heard his voice and command. He was blind and fasted and prayed for three days. Yet his sins were not forgiven. After three days, God sent Ananias to Saul, and as Ananias prayed, scales fell off Saul’s eyes and his eyesight was restored. Saul received the Holy Spirit. Then Ananias told him, “Why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized washing away thy sins calling on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ”. Paul arose and testified of his faith in Christ, confessed his sins openly to the man of God, and was baptized and when he was given meat he was strengthened. He was now clean for he had obtained forgiveness of sins from Jesus Christ through the man of God when he confessed his sins and obeyed the Word of God in the waters of Baptism. His sins were now washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ.

On the day of Pentecost, Apostle Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit said in Acts 2:38: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”. Peter declared that repentance and in essence confession of sins and baptism is required for remission or forgiveness of sins. 1Jo:1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Confess to whom? Jesus directly? But when Jesus was alive, he did not ask anyone to confess their sins to Him. The only record in the Gospels of any confession being performed is in relevance to the man of God, John the Baptist as in Mt 3:6 where people came to him and confessed their sins and took water baptism.

Facts and Biblical Truths About Confession

Confession is open solemn declaration. We hear many people worldwide getting caught in sin having their gruesome act exposed, leaving them with no alternative but to appear on TV and confess their sins openly. The Biblical method of confession is to the man of God in the Church of the Living God. It is important to acknowledge our sins to God, but this is not confession, for God knows all about us including our thoughts even before the act is committed. In James 5:14-16 we read, Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Then the Bible points out the effectual fervent prayer of prophet Elijah which God heard and blessed Israel with and compares it to the forgiveness of sins and healing through prayers of the elders of the church.

Job Pray’s for his Friend’s Sin

In Job:42:8: the Lord tells Job’s friends, “Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job”. God refused to hear the confession of Job’s friends, because in essence God knows everything and nothing can be covered from Him. So God told Job’s friends that there was no shortcut. They have to go the man of God, if they want their sins forgiven and their standing with God restored. “My servant Job shall pray for you”, God said.

Samuel the Prophet Prays for Israel’s Sin

In the book of Samuel we read another instance where the children of Israel confessed their sins and the prophet Samuel prayed for them unto the Lord. 1Sa:7:3: And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 1Sa:7:4-6: Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. Israel repented from their sins, confessed their sins before God to prophet Samuel, and remission of sins or judgment was rendered right there in God’s presence because prophet Samuel prayed for the children of Israel and God forgave their sin.

Abraham Prays for Abimelech’s sin

Ge:20:7, 17: Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. God heard Abraham’s prayer and forgave the sin of Abimelech and restored his health and the health of his family. Confession of sins is mandatory for forgiveness of sins. Yes, it takes time to remember all our sins and confess them.

Open public confession in the Assembly recorded in the Bible

In Nehemiah 9, Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God. Israel stood before the men of God and for one-fourth of the day the entire congregation or assembly confessed their sins.

Covering Sins and Consequences

Proverb:28:13 states He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Unconfessed sins will follow people to the judgement throne of God and at that time it will be manifest to the whole universe and shouted upon housetops, Lk 12:3. 1Tim 5:24: Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. When sins are confessed to the man of God in the Church which is God’s judgment throne in God’s presence, to an authorized man of God, the man of God prays unto God to forgive those confessed sins and provides spiritual counsel from God on how to escape those sins in the future. The plans of the enemy will be revealed at that time so we can protect ourselves from future attacks. The Bible speaks loudly and scriptures abound throughout emphasizing this truth.

Joh:20:21-23: Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Jesus sent His apostles into the world even as He was sent of the Father into the world to save people from their sins. Jesus sent them with the authority to forgive sins.

M't:9:8: But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men (the power to forgive sins).

Ac:19:18: And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds (sins).

Ro:10:10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession (of faith in Christ, repentance from sins and confession of sins) is made unto salvation.

Living in Christ

When does a person get joined into Christ? Is forgiveness of sins obtained in Christ or out of Christ?

Christian life is living in Christ. 2 Cor 5:17: If any man be in Christ he is a new creature (his nature is changed—it is no more natural for him to sin, but unnatural). But to live in Christ, a person has to be joined into Christ. When is a person joined into Christ?

In Gal 3:27 we read, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. When a person repents, confesses his sins, and obeys God in the waters of baptism he receives forgiveness of sins in Christ, and receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit and has put on Christ or has been joined into Christ. To receive water baptism, a person has to go to the man of God or the man of God from the Church of the Living God has to come to him as in the case of the Ethiopian Eunuch who was baptized by Philip. Acts 8:38: And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Being joined to Christ and being joined to the Church is one and the same. When a person becomes a part of the body of Christ, His Church, that person becomes a part of the body and flesh of the Lord. Eph:5:30: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. This is the bride of Christ. Being joined unto the Lord and being joined unto the church is one and the same thing. Now he can boldly say, Jesus is the Vine and he is one of Christ’s branches, John 15:5.

Ac:2:41: Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Ac:2:47: Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Ac:5:14: And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

Ac:11:24: For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

In the early church, the new believers were baptized with water and the Holy Spirit and immediately added to the church to prepare themselves for Christ’s soon coming. Jesus Christ is coming soon. There is no more time! God’s Word is True. God’s teachings by the man of God from New Jerusalem Church is the Truth and is exactly in accordance with the Word of God. Those who walk in God’s Word will be raptured. The rest will be left out. The greatest tragedy a man can experience is being left out in Christ’s coming. We do not want this to occur to you. Come and join God’s body established in these last days, New Jerusalem Church whom the Lord has founded through Chief Apostle N. Lazar for all the children of God to be saved and perfected in Christ!

Jer:6:16: Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.