Counterfeit Gospel

A counterfeit is something which imitates the genuine article -- with the
intent to defraud or deceive. Such is the case with forged documents,
jewelry, leather goods, and many renown works art. Counterfeiters, in the
form of talented artists, have adeptly reproduced genuine articles, in the
hope of profiting from their deception. Counterfeiting has reached such epic
proportions, that global policing and investigative agencies have united to
protect their countries from the flow of stolen goods and services.

While the motive of the counterfeiter is evident with those who traffic in goods
and services, it not so with those who propagate a spuriously false gospel.
Profiting from deception is not merely the domain of earthly counterfeiters,
but is the specialty of the evil one who is at war with the God of the universe.
You see, profit is not always gained in the form of material goods. Sometimes,
what is acquired is a soul.

Human organizations put great effort into catching counterfeiters, should
God and those who love Him do any less. By no means am I suggesting that
we should be on the offensive toward counterfeiters. No, instead, we should
become so familiar with the original, that the imitation is recognized immediately.

Matthew 24:24 says that in the last days the deception would be so clever
that if it were possible the very elect would be deceived. So here we are studying the book of Daniel, becoming knowledgeable concerning the gospel, and the power of our Judge and Advocate, that we might not be deceived. Daniel 8:11 says regarding the earthly power that shall attempt to deceive the whole world,

Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the
daily*…was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down.

This verse presents to us a master plan to keep us from learning the true
Gospel. By introducing a counterfeit gospel, the Papacy has taken away
the daily ministration of Christ, and has cast down the sanctuary. It is a deception
so great, that the majority of the world follows it as if it was the true gospel. Not only has the Papacy, under the power of Satan, effectively convinced the world that the Roman Catholic Church has authority to forgive and atone for sins, but that there is no heavenly sanctuary at all. Through the doctrines of the Papacy, even we have come to believe in a diminished atonement, and that Christ was unlike ourselves.
The result of this is that many of us believe that we have a saviour who came to save
us from the second death, but that we have no earthly example of how to overcome
sin. Consequently, we believe we can be expected to continue in our sins--till He
comes.

Many of us understand the big picture of the role the Papacy has played in the past.
Some of us believe that this role will expand in the future till it is global in scope and power. However, many of us do not rightly understand the framework of Papal beliefs, and how these doctrines have effected us. Underestimating the power and determined plan of Satan to oppose God's kingdom through us, we often think that our personal trials demonstrate the force of evil. But Satan's plans are more far reaching and sinister than that. How wise to remember that only one of his intents is to deceive us into being defrauded from everlasting life. The other is to defraud many through our influence, and ultimately to defraud God of the pleasure of our company throughout eternity. It's true, human beings, through confessing the secrets of their hearts to the priests, have elevated the priests to a position only Christ should have. The priests, claiming tobe representatives of Christ have taught that they can absolve those who trust them, of their sins. So far they have carried the deception that they claim that in their communion service Christ dies all over again, and the bread and wine are truly the flesh and blood of Christ. In essence, the Roman Catholic Church has convinced the world that the remission of Sin needs no shedding of blood, countering the essential biblical truth found in Hebrews 10:18:

Now where remission of these (sins, iniquities and transgressions) is, there is no more offering for sin.

Sister White adds,

They were taught not only to look to the pope as their mediator but to trust to works of their own to atone for sin. Long pilgrimages, acts of penance, the worship of relics, the erection of churches, shrines, and altars, the payment of large sums to the church--these and many similar acts were enjoined to appease the wrath of God or to secure his favor; as if God were like men, to be angered at trifles, or pacified by gifts or acts of penance (E. G. White Notes, p.63-4)!

By perpetuating the painful physical beating and bruising aspect of Christ's Crucifixion, in contrast to His broken heart of love, and His ultimate separation from His Father's face (2nd death), they have blocked the world from the knowledge and experience of His self-denying love. Therefore, the people are unable to enter boldly into the Most Holy place to receive the ultimate benefits of Christ's intercession on their behalf (that they overcome as He overcame). This is where Christ is -- ministering at this very moment (Hebrews 4:16). By blocking the knowledge of the sanctuary, the entrance is blocked, and the world does not pass in to transfer their sins to the sanctuary. Since, they do not defile the Sanctuary with the Blood of Jesus to take away their sins, they keep their Sin. When the sanctuary is cleansed in the Great Cosmic Age of Atonement, which we believe is now,
they are not cleansed. Through this great deception of the counterfeit Gospel, the Devil has secured the eternal condemnation of the World (all those who will not believe).

How can we keep from falling in this trap? Christ has said He is able to keep us from falling, and present us faultless (without a blemished, stained character) before the Father with exceeding joy. (Jude 24). You know, the best way to spot a counterfeit, is still to know the original. Brothers and sisters, let us become one with God--in Christ. Let's go on to know Him so well, that the mere sound of His voice woos us to follow Him. Christ said that His sheep know His voice (John 10: 1-30). It is in this type of relationship that we are safe from the trap, for we cannot be safe alone. Only the indwelling Holy Spirit protects us with His power of discernment from this great deception. Oh, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us not be enemies of the cross, despising the shame. Let's choose instead to trust Him.

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