Why Do We Need A Second Reformation?
Because the 1^st Reformation didn't go far enough!

We Must Restore the Doctrine of God's GOODNESS,
and His Law of Love to the Church; we Must
Return to "Our First Love" & 1^st Century Christianity!

We NEED a Second Reformation: Because the First Reformation didn't address The Most Important issue of all: THE TRUE NATURE & CHARACTER OF GOD!

The Bible, from cover to cover, declares, “GOD IS LOVE!” (1 John 4:4-8, 16) And that’s why the devil wants people to question God’s Love for them; because GOD’S LOVE IS THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL! (See 1 John 4:19) But religion has ascribed SELFISHNESS to God. But God is the most SELFLESS being in the Universe. Because “[Jesus] didn't come to be served, but to serve, and TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY.” (Mark 10:45) Because, LOVE DOES NOT PUT ITSELF BEFORE OTHERS. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) That's why Jesus taught, "Whatever you HAVE DONE UNTO THE LEAST OF THESE, you have DONE UNTO ME.” (Matthew 25:31-46) Because since Jesus "Loved his neighbor, as himself," He expects us to treat others with the same love and respect that He demonstrated to us; because as Jesus said, "THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT: Love each other, just as I have Loved you." (John 15:12)

“Therefore, I felt it necessary to write to you, and appeal to you to Contend Earnestly for ‘The Faith’,
which was entrusted to God’s holy people, once for all time.” (Jude 1:3)

The Ancient Ransom Atonement Gospel

For the first 1,100 years of the Church, the Ransom Gospel was the most widely held view of the Atonement, as Augustine of Hippo wrote in the 4th Century, “The Redeemer came and the deceiver was overcome. What did our Redeemer do to our Captor? In payment for us He set the trap, His Cross, with His blood for bait. He [Satan] could indeed shed that blood; but he had no right to drink it. By shedding the blood of One who was not his debtor, he was forced to release his debtors.”

God GAVE His Son as a Ransom for us, because HE LOVES US! “For God loved the world so much, that HE GAVE his only born Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him wouldn’t perish, but have eternal life.“ (John 3:16) Because “Since [God's] children shared flesh and blood in common, He Himself likewise shared in the same; that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and free those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to slavery.“ (Hebrews 2:14-15)  So "God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) LOVE was the reason for the Atonement! But sadly for the last 900 years the Church has believed a lie, “Jesus died to appease the Father’s wrath.”

The Great Deception:
THE 900 YEAR OLD LIE MANY HAVE BELIEVED!

At the close of the 11^th Century, in 1098 AD, a Roman Catholic Philosopher, by the name of Anselm, published his book, “Cur Deus Homo” in it he sought to discredit the Ransom Atonement Gospel, but he didn’t use Scripture to disprove it, rather he used human reasoning, according to the feudal social system of that time. (RED FLAG! See Colossians 2:4-8, Acts 20:30 & Ephesians 4:18) He reasoned that since God is the King of the Universe, He wouldn't have to give anything to the devil; and that if God did, that would make the devil God’s equal. (But if a murderer kidnaps you're children, and you give your life as a ransom to secure their release: that doesn't somehow make you and your murderer equals. Rather that is True Love!) But instead Anselm ascribed to the Father the devil’s main narcissistic characteristic: self-centered-pride. Claiming that like a king whose honor had been offended, God’s Wrath burned against all humanity! And Anselm reasoned that since we are the peasants who offended the King: there was nothing that we could do to appease His Wrath. But that’s NOT TRUE, because even under the law GOD said, "Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; LET HIM RETURN TO THE LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, FOR HE WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON!" (Isaiah 55:7, also see Isaiah 1:18) Because ALL GOD WANTS is for people to return to Him!

Nevertheless Anselm taught: God CAN’T just forgive sin; because divine justice requires ALL SIN to be punished! (But if sin must be punished; that is NOT true forgiveness!) Anselm also claimed that since Jesus become human, He too owed the Father a debt; but by being obedient unto death on the cross, Jesus paid more than he owned. So because of the surplus of his payment, now we too can be forgiven.

Anselm’s heretical teaching completely removed God’s Love & Mercy and the devil from the equation! Yet, the Scriptures teach, “Inasmuch then as [God’s] children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Hebrews 2:14) This Scripture does not say, “That through death He might appease the Father,” but rather, “That through death He might DESTROY him WHO HAD THE POWER OF DEATH… THE DEVIL.” (Also see 1 John 3:8) Yet sadly, the Roman Catholic Church embraced Anselm's Heresies as Official Church Doctrine.

Four hundred years later, during the time of the Reformation, the reformers were so steeped in this doctrine, that they still believed that the Father was an angry God who had to be appeased by the death of Christ. So they only modified Anselm’s theory slightly: Luther called his new theory the Penal Atonement Theory and Calvin called his new theory the Vicarious Satisfaction Atonement Theory. 

But I would remind the reader of what the Apostle Paul said, “If WE, or a messenger from heaven, proclaims any other gospel to you; other than that which we have proclaimed to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I now say again, if ANYONE proclaims any other gospel to you; other than that which you have received, let him be accursed!” (Galatians 1:8-9) Therefore, we don't want to just PARROT someone else's Theory; rather each of us needs to be like the Bereans, “and search the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things are so.” (Acts 17:11) We each need to “Study to show yourself approved by God, as a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. But avoid words without substance, which cross the line, because they will increase to more ungodliness.” (2 Timothy 2:15-16)

But as Troy J. Edwards said, “Sadly, most Christians do not enjoy reading the Bible for themselves and prefer to adhere to conventional views, despite the fact that these views misrepresent God’s character.”

(But I believe: the real reason people don’t read their Bible, is because they don’t truly believe God Loves them, and so they have no desire to read or learn about a god who they believe is angry with them. But if they Truly Knew how much God Loves them, they’d want to learn all that they could about him! So it is this false view of God that is keeping people from drawing near to God, because as the Scripture says, “Whoever comes to God MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER of those who diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Because, “He who didn't spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how will he not also with him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) Therefore, Jesus says, “Up until now you haven't asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive it, that your joy may be full!” (John 16:24) “Because all of the promises of God in him are ‘Yes!’ and in him ‘So be it!’ To the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20) So it’s my pray, that this Gospel of John will revolutionize their view of God!)

These Penal Atonement Theories are TRULY DETESTABLE!
Because They DISHONOR OUR HEAVENLY FATHER:
By Greatly Diminishing His Love, Kindness, Goodness, and Mercy!

This whole idea that GOD FEELS THE NEED TO PUNISH SIN is Unbiblical: For the Scriptures declare, "He HASN'T dealt with us according to our sins, NOR punished us according to our iniquities." (Psalm 103:10) The message of all of the Old Testament prophets was simply “Return to the LORD, and He will abundantly pardon.” Which is also what Jesus taught in the Parable of the Prodigal Son: the Father waited longing for His son to return to Him; and when he did, the Father didn't punish him or even rebuke him, instead He embraced him and kissed him; gave him a signet ring (restoring his authority), and threw a Big Party! (Luke 15:11-32) Because GOD ALWAYS PREFERS TO FORGIVE SIN, rather than to punish the sinner! (So their whole premise is wrong!)

Yet Luther & Calvin’s Theories teach: God feels an immense NEED to punish sin, and that Divine Justice CANNOT be Satisfied unless sin is punished. So God came up with a plan by which He could pay a ransom to Himself. (Which in itself is ABSURD: because No one pays a Ransom to themselves nor Redeems something from themselves!) Yet they claimed, Jesus stood in our place and took the punishment we deserved; and by so doing God's NEED to punish sin was Vicariously Satisfied; so God can now forgive us, because Jesus took our punishment--but this is not only absurd; it’s morally wrong, and blasphemous! Because how could punishing an innocent man justify letting a guilty person go free? And how could killing an innocent man ever Satisfy Divine Justice? Because from God's Perspective, killing an innocent person is one of the Greatest Sins there is! So wouldn't killing an innocent man make God a wrongdoer? And if the Father added His Wrath to the afflictions His Son was already receiving from the devil, the Jews, and the Romans on the cross; wouldn’t that made the Father the worst Child Abuser in the History of the World? And if He found Vicarious Satisfaction from doing so, wouldn’t that make Him the worst sadist in the History of the World? ~ Yet sadly, that is how we are presenting GOD to unbelievers. This is truly Blasphemous!

Why Do People Believe Such BLASPHEMOUS Things? 

Satan was able to deceive many of God’s people simply by altering text in One Verse. For this is the only verse in the ENTIRE BIBLE that (on the surface) seems to teach that “The Father poured out is wrath on Jesus on the cross.” But we should never build an Entire Doctrine on JUST ONE SCRIPTURE ALONE! (Especially when the reading in THAT PASSAGE IS IN QUESTION!)

That PASSAGE is Isaiah 53:10-11: The Masoretic Text (from which most Bibles are translated) reads, “10 Yet it PLEASED the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be SATISFIED: by his knowledge my righteous servant shall justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” (KJV) 

The Masoretic Text makes it sound like the Father, derived pleasure and satisfaction from torturing his Son on the Cross. (But in the entire Bible there is not even one other verse that agrees with this one!) 

But instead the Septuagint reads, “10 The Lord desired to cleanse him of the beating. ‘But if you give [yourself] for sin; Our soul will see a long-lived seed.’ 11 The Lord purposed to take away the anguish of his soul, [by] showing him light, to form understanding in him. He has declared righteous the righteous one, who served many well, and he himself will bear their sins.” (TLW) 

No doubt the Father reminded Jesus of this passage of Scripture on the Cross. And it was the Light of Revelation from this passage that gave Jesus the Strength He needed to “endure the Cross” because of the Hope the Father had “set before Him.” As Hebrews 12:2 reveals to us: “LET’S FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for THE JOY set before him endured the cross.”  That JOY was the KNOWLEDGE that because of His Sacrifice we would be with Him for all eternity—“Our soul will see a long-lived seed.” (So Isaiah 53:10-11 & Hebrews 12:2 reference each other! 

But only in the Septuagint do we learn how desperately the Father wanted to cleanse His Son’s wounds; but instead He reminded His Son, “If you give [yourself] for sin; Our soul will see a long-lived seed.” That “seed” is those who receive His Son. (John 12:24 & 1:12) “Because God loved the world so [much], that he GAVE his only born Son, so that everyone who believes and trusts in him would not perish, but have eternal life. Because God didn't send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17) 

Jesus and the Apostle quoted from the Greek Septuagint about 95% of the time: so evidently the  Hebrew Text had already been corrupted by that time! But since Jesus is the Word of God, He knew Exactly what the Original Text should read: therefore He would NOT have quoted from the Septuagint, IF IT WAS IN ERROR! Because Jesus ALWAYS only spoke THE TRUTH! (Since Jesus & the Apostles 'Trust the Septuagint 95% of the Time," we also should Trust the Septuagint most of the time; and just use the Hebrew Text when it agrees with the Septuagint: to gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of some words.)

Please Watch These 3 Informative Videos!

For more videos on: The Greek Septuagint -VS- The Hebrew Text (Click Here)

ANOTHER PRIMARY TEXT THE DEVIL HAS TWISTED Is Romans 1:18-32: To try to make Christians believe, “God was so angry with everyone's sin, that He sent Jesus to be our whipping-boy; so that God could pour His Wrath on Jesus instead of on us!”

But actually Romans 1:18 doesn’t say, “God’s Wrath is revealed from heaven against EVERYONE!” But rather, "God’s wrath is revealed from heaven, against those who suppress the truth!" Why was God angry? “BECAUSE, even though they knew God, they didn't honor him as God… they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an idol… they changed the truth about God into a lie.” (Romans 1:21, 25) THAT’S WHAT MADE GOD MAD! Therefore, “BECAUSE OF THIS, God also gave them over to uncleanness… FOR THIS REASON, God gave them over…” so all the other sins listed in Romans 1:23-32 came after they rejected God, and after God had rejected them! (So these other sins were not what brought God’s wrath, but rather their total rejection of God and the Truth!)

But God doesn’t condemn people who are seeking Him, even when they sin. Rather “IN EVERY NATION whoever respects Him and does righteous deeds IS ACCEPTED BY HIM!” (Acts 10:35) David sinned, yet God called him “Righteous!” and “A man after my own heart.” (Acts 13:22) Because even with all of David’s hang ups, the deepest desire of David’s heart was to Know and Love God! And because of that God accepted him even with all of his faults! Therefore David declared, “Supremely blessed and happy is the man whose sin THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT!” (Romans 4:8) So to say, “One sin will send you to Hell!” is to LIE AGAINST THE TRUTH! Because the only sin that is GUARANTIED to send someone to Hell, is to REJECT GOD! (See John 16:8-9) 

But to say that GOD found “Pleasure” and “Satisfaction” in torturing His Son on the cross; IS TRULY BLASPHEMOUS!

God doesn’t have a sick desire to inflict pain! For GOD Himself says, “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I have NO PLEASURE in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11 NKJV) So the Father didn’t send His Son to die, to satisfy some sick desire for vengeance within Himself. Rather He sent Jesus to “Rescue us out of [Satan’s] dominion of darkness, and transfer us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.” (Colossians 1:13), and to demonstrate His Great Love for us! So that we would choose to TRUST in Jesus; so that GOD could forgive us!

But it was the devil who TORTURED Jesus on the Cross! In fact Jesus prophesied: that the Father would be SO ENRAGED by THE MURDER OF HIS SON AND OF HIS SERVANTS, that He would wipe out those murderers and destroy their city! Which God did in 70 AD. (See Matthew 21:33-45, Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-19, and Matthew 22:6-7) SO GOD WASN’T PLEASED BY THE MURDER OF HIS SON! Nevertheless, THE FATHER GAVE HIS SON as a RANSOM to Rescue Us from the kingdom of darkness, BECAUSE THAT’S HOW MUCH HE LOVES US! (See John 3:16-17) 

At this point, I feel it’s important for us to remember THE OTHER REASON Jesus came: JESUS CAME TO REVEAL THE FATHER TO US! But Jesus didn’t reveal the Father to us as “Your JUDGE who is In heaven,” but as “Your FATHER who is in heaven.” And Jesus said, "I ONLY DO THE THINGS I SEE MY FATHER DOING." So if the Father was condemning EVERYONE for their sin; Jesus would have went around doing the same thing–condemning EVERYBODY for their sins. BUT JESUS DIDN'T DO THAT! Why didn’t Jesus do that? BECAUSE THE FATHER WASN’T DOING THAT! Because as Scripture says, “GOD WAS IN CHRIST! Reconciling the world to Himself, NOT COUNTING THEIR OFFENCES AGAINST THEM!” (2 Corinthians 5:19) SO NONE OF THE THINGS THESE THEORIES SAY ABOUT THE FATHER ARE TRUE!

How Do You Picture Father God?

Do you see the Father as a strict judge or someone who is like Jesus? If you see Him as a strict judge, you need to have a paradigm shift; because Jesus said, “WHOEVER HAS SEEN ME, HAS SEEN THE FATHER.” (John 14:6) But the devil doesn't want people to know that OUR Father is just like Jesus! And JESUS IS JUST LIKE OUR FATHER! Therefore, for Centuries "The god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, TO KEEP THEM FROM SEEING the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who IS THE IMAGE OF GOD." (2 Corinthians 4:4) LEST “The light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the FACE OF JESUS Christ should shine on them.” (2 Corinthians 4:6) How was the devil able to do this, by creating a false gospel that sounds Scriptural; so that even Christians themselves would believe it and propagate it. (Matthew 24:24) That's why we must, "Test all things; and hold on tightly to that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) Therefore, "Examine yourselves to see if you are in The Faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5) Because a person who has been deceived, doesn't know they have been deceived.

In the Old Testament, GOD describes Himself as someone who sounds JUST LIKE JESUS, “A compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, watching over thousands with loving kindness, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; but one who will by no means cleanse [the unrepentant]." (Exodus 34:6-7) "For His anger endures but for a moment, and His cheerful favor endures for an eternal lifetime." (Psalm 30:5) "For nothing can separate us from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (See Romans 8:38-39) Which is why the Apostle John was convinced, “God is Love!” (John 4:8-16) And since "GOD IS LOVE" not only is 1 Corinthians 13 a perfect description of LOVE, it is also a perfect description of the nature and character of GOD!

How we picture the Father is very important! Because if we picture our Father as always being angry, we’ll hear everything He says in an angry tone of voice (and that is why people misinterpret the Bible; and why they run and try to hide from God when they sin). But if you picture the Father as being just like Jesus, you’ll hear everything He says in a more balanced tone of voice; and when you sin, you’ll run to Him; because “He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

The Perversion of True Christianity

Sadly, after the 4th Century ‘Edict of Theodosius’ (which outlawed the worship of other gods), all of the rich and powerful pagans to preserve their positions of power and influence, supposedly converted to Christianity. And so from that time on their pagan philosophies began to influence Christian Theology. And their false view of God the Father as being someone like Zeus, rather then someone LIKE JESUS, began to influence Church doctrine; and gave birth to many false doctrines; and many of these false doctrines still influence how translators translate the Bible today. For that reason I’m working on a New Bible Translation, “The Living Word / Love Bible”, which ignores religious traditions, and simply translates the “literal meaning” that Greek & Hebrew words had in the First Century – minus Religious Traditions. For more on this see LoveBible.org/about.htm

“The Restored Ransom Atonement Gospel”
Why I believe it is the True Gospel!

But first, let me share how I came to this conclusion. The Jesus Movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s was the closest thing to First Century Christianity this world has ever seen: because we weren’t seeking to Reform the Church; we were simply seeking to Return to First Century Christianity: therefore the New Testament alone was our Final Authority. As one of the Jesus People: I enjoyed going to Lithia Park, in Ashland Oregon, and sharing Jesus with those in the New Age Cults, and Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses; because these people were seeking God. But sometimes what they said sounded so close to the truth, I would question my own heart; “Do I believe this because this is what the Bible says? Or because this is what I've been taught?” So I bought a Greek /English New Testament Interlinear and a Strong’s Concordance and looked up every verse I could find on whatever topic I was looking into, and checked the meaning of the Greek and Hebrew words (to make sure they were translated correctly), because my Goal was to “Find the one interpretation that agreed with everything that is written in The Bible.” This helped my faith and understanding of God’s Word to grow. (Because of this, I rarely read Bible Commentaries, because I really don’t care what this or that person thinks; because they’re only human and they’re not infallible: but GOD’S WORD IS INFALLIBLE! (So study the Bible! And search for the ONE INTERPRETATION that agrees with everything that is written in the Word of God. The Word of God is SO PURE, that if we find even one verse that contradicts our interpretation; that means there is something wrong with our interpretation. But the problem with the Penal Atonement Theory is: It contradicts a Multitude of Scriptures!)

As a young Christian, who Loved the Lord, one of the things I really wanted to understand was, “Why did Jesus have to die for us?” So I read my Bible from cover to cover to try to piece together the reason Jesus had to die. And the following are the things the Lord taught me.

The Restored Ransom Atonement Gospel

Why did Jesus have to die? That we might “come to [our] senses and escape from the devil’s trap, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:26) For “Don’t you know? That to whomever you present your-selves as obedient slaves, you are the slaves of the one whom you obey.” (Romans 6:1) But a slave doesn’t own anything, his life and everything he has belongs to his master! So by listening to the devil, Adam & Eve became the devil’s slaves, and handed the Title Deed to the Earth over to Satan; and that’s why Satan could basically boast to Jesus, “If you want the Earth back, bow down and worship me!” (See Luke 4:5-7 & Matthew 4:8-9) Jesus didn’t dispute the devil’s claim, because Jesus knew it was true. (See 2 Timothy 2:26, Ephesians 2:2-3, 1 John 5:19, & Colossians 1:13)

So the devil and our rebellious hearts are the problem, not God: For God cannot allow rebellious people into Heaven (unless they first truly have a change of heart! because if He did Heaven would become even more messed up than the Earth! (See Revelation 21:27)

So the only way that God could restore us to Himself, was if of our own free will; we CHOSE to return to Him and obey Him. Therefore, Jesus came and "demonstrated his own Love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us," (Romans 5:8) that we might choose TO MAKE JESUS THE LORD OF our LIFE, (John 1:12, Matthew 11:28, & Romans 10:9-10) and “Have Abundant Life!” (John 10:10)

How Did Jesus’ Death Defeat the devil?

The following Scriptures clearly show that: it was not God’s Wrath that needed to be appeased, but the devil that needed to be taken out of the way. “Inasmuch then as [God’s] children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Hebrews 2:14) “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) So the devil used the law to kill us and bring us into captivity. But after Jesus rose from the dead, John declares, “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now has come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and he authority of his Anointed: BECAUSE THE ACCUSER of our brothers and sisters, WHO ACCUSED THEM BEFORE OUR GOD day and night, HAS BEEN HURLED DOWN.” (Revelation 12:10)

The devil knew one thing about God, “It’s IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie!” THEREFORE, THE DEVIL HAS ALWAYS TRIED TO USE GOD'S OWN WORDS AGAINST HIM, AND AGAINST US: because the devil knew, "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19) So the devil entices people to sin and then uses God's word against them; and reminds God of what He said; to if possible get God Himself to judge them, or at least bring the sinner under the devil's dominion. So it's not that the devil is more powerful than God, or that the devil is God's equal: it's simply, God has bound himself by his word! Because “God honors His Word even above all of His names.” (See Psalm 138:2 & Hebrews 6:13-18)

Therefore for God to redeem mankind He had to have a plan that would FULFILL everything He had said, and that would win our hearts back to Himself. But the devil was completely unaware of God’s Secret Plan to redeem His people with His own blood. Nevertheless, God had this plan in place “from the foundation of Cosmos.” Because in the very beginning GOD SAW ALL OF OUR TOMORROWS, more clearly than we can remember yesterday. (See Psalm 90:4, 139:16 & Ephesians 2:10) Therefore, in the beginning, before the foundation of the Cosmos, God saw the wedding supper of the Lamb in Heaven in Revelation 19:6-10 & 21:1-27. And GOD saw Himself wiping away every tear from our eyes. (Revelation 21:4) And He saw us walking and talking with Him throughout eternity. (Revelation 3:4) And that’s why Jesus is called "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the Cosmos." (Revelation 13:8) And Jesus saw our “names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life”, and it was THIS KNOWLEDGE, that gave Jesus the “strength to ensure cross”, because of “THE JOY” it would bring Him to welcome you and I into Heaven one day. (See Hebrews 12:2)

In light of all of these things: the following verse should NOW have more meaning to you: “In this is LOVE, not that we loved God, but that he LOVED us, and sent his Son to be the (Hilasmos) SATISFACTORY SACRIFICE for our sins.” (See note in 1 John 4:10, on “Hilasmos” on page 52.) Jesus death was a multifaceted "Satisfying Sacrifice" for our sins: it satisfied the legal requirements of the Law by fulfilling every word God had spoken (Colossians 2:14); it satisfied God's desire to forgive all of our sins and “justify the ungodly” (1 Timothy 4:5, Romans 3:26 & 4:5); and it satisfied Jesus because one day we would become His Bride; and ironically it even satisfied the devil-but only for a very short time.

But all of this hung on one critical act: the devil of his own free will would have to choose to crucify the innocent Son of God; and thus fulfill the very first prophecy given by God in the Bible: “He will crush your head (authority), and you will bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:14)

How did Jesus’ death both Satisfy & Defeat the devil?

God hide an obscure passage in the Law of Moses (one that had never been implemented in the history of Israel; until the day Jesus died on the Cross). But when the devil became aware of that passage, he thought he had finally found a way to get rid of Jesus; but it back-fired on him: because this was part of God’s Secret Plan. That Passage is found in Deuteronomy 21:22-23, and it reads, "If a person commits a sin deserving of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body is not to be left overnight on the tree, but you must bury him that same day: because cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree."

But because God Said It, and since Satan knew, “You have magnified Your word above all Your names.” (Psalm 138:2) The devil thought that if he could get the Jews to crucify Jesus, the Father would have to curse His own Son; because “It’s IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie!” (Hebrews 6:18) The devil was right about this; but what the devil didn't realize was: this was “The Critical Part” of God's Secret Plan!

That’s why it is Now written: “He made Him who knew no sin, to become sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) Jesus “became sin” by allowing Himself to be “hung on a cross.” But because He did, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; because it's written, ‘CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE.’” (Galatians 3:13)

Those who embrace the Penal Atonement Theory, claim, “God poured out His Wrath on Jesus on the Cross!” But on the Cross Jesus didn’t cry out, “My God, my God! Why are you pouring out your Wrath on me?” but rather, “My God, my God! Why have you have you forsaken me?” because for the first time since eternity past, fellowship with His Father was broken. But no supernatural judgment came from the Father against Jesus that day, the only supernatural event that happened before Jesus’ death, was the heavens became as black as night.

Here’s how it happened: “The chief priests... said, “What are we going to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him continue on like this, everyone will believe in him.” (Luke 11:47-48) Satan realized this too; so Satan entered Judas, and Judas went to the High Priests to betray Jesus. Satan and all the demons rejoiced the day they crucified Jesus, and “Satan was satisfied” because he thought that he’d finally gotten rid of Jesus.

But what the devil didn’t realize until 3 days later, was that the Father, (metaphorically speaking) like a Chess-Master, had OUTSMARTED him: by offering him the Most Valuable piece he had on the board–his Queen; but by taking the bait (the Satisfying Sacrifice / the Hilasmos) the devil was in CHECKMATE! (It was an EXTREMELY WISE, but EXTREMELY COSTLY MOVE!) But now SINCE WE NOW KNOW HOW MUCH GOD LOVES US, we should LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR HEART! Therefore, “We are speaking about the Wisdom of God’s Secret Plan, even THE HIDDEN WISDOM which God ordained before the ages FOR OUR GLORY, Which none of the rulers of this age knew: Because HAD THEY KNOWN IT, THEY NEVER WOULD HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY!” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8) Notice too, it says, that this was “FOR OUR GLORY!” This is TRULY SELFLESS LOVE!

God had to hide His Secret Plan to Ransom His children back from the devil, “because if [the devil] had known”, the prophecy in Genesis 3:14 "He will crush your head (authority), and you will bruise his heel.” would never have been fulfilled: because the devil would have NEVER crucified the LORD of Glory; had he Known that doing so, would be his undoing! So although the devil bruised Jesus heel on the Cross, Jesus crushed the dragon’s head on the Cross! because, it’s written 3 times in the Law, "LIFE FOR LIFE." (Leviticus 24:18, Exodus 21:23, Deuteronomy 19:21) So since the devil MURDERED the innocent Son of God on the Cross, Satan’s Sin is now greater than anyone’s sin in the entire Universe! And he now owes a debt he cannot pay: “LIFE FOR LIFE!” So because Satan cannot die, he now must release from captivity even the worst sinner when they call on the Name of JESUS!

Therefore, I’m convinced that this Penal Atonement Gospel is the devil’s own counterfeit gospel, and that Satan himself is its author: because this false gospel completely removes the devil and God’s Mercy from the equation, and instead makes the Father’s supposed wrath against us the problem.

A New Law Written In Our Hearts

The other thing that Jesus did on the Cross; was He taught us the True Meaning of Love, and Won our hearts! For Jesus said, "THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT: Love each other, just as I have Loved you. No one has Greater Love than this; that someone should lay down their own life for their friends." (John 15:12-13) And then Jesus did just that, Jesus laid down His life for us on the Cross, and then 3 days later He rose from the dead.

So now the Father also has just One Commandment, “THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT: believe and trust in the name of His Son Jesus Christ; and Love one another, just as He commanded us.” (1 John 3:23) Because the Ten Commandments were only designed to be temporary, until the Father could send His Son to teach us God’s True Law of Love.

The reason God gave the Jews the Ten Commandment in the wilderness, wasn’t because it was His Eternal Standard; but since the Jews who came Egypt were rebellious, and didn’t want to hear God’s Voice (Deuteronomy 18:16), God gave them the Ten Commandment instead–so that at least they would stop wronging one another, and have a form of godliness until He could send His Son, TO TEACH US ALL, THE TRUE MEANING OF LOVE! That’s why God told Moses, “I will raise up a prophet like you for them, from among their brothers, I will put my words in his mouth, and HE WILL TELL THEM EVERYTHING THAT I COMMAND HIM.” (Deuteronomy 18:18) Therefore, "GOD said, 'THE DAYS ARE COMING, when I will make a NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah — NOT ACCORDING TO THE COVENANT THAT I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt… But THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My Law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.'" (Jeremiah 31:31-33)

NOW THOSE DAYS HAVE COME! Because Jesus has come and made A NEW & BETTER COVENANT with us, and He has given us A NEW & HIGHER LAW – Replacing the Ten Commandments with One Commandment! “THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT: Love each other, just as I have Loved you… EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM MY FATHER, I HAVE MADE KNOWN TO YOU… These things I command you: you’re to Love each other.” (See John 15:12-17) So we no longer have any need for the Ten Commandments, "Because since LOVE does no wrong to a neighbor; LOVE fulfills the Law." (Romans 13:10) So NOW we have GOD’S LAW written on the Tablets of our Hearts, instead of on Tablets of Stone. (See 2 Corinthians 3:3-11)

Will God Judge the World By the Ten Commandments?

The Penal Atonement Theory teaches that God the Father is a Righteous Judge who must punish all sin, for if He didn’t He wouldn't be a righteous Judge. They normally say something very similar to the following, "Would you respect a Judge who let guilty criminals go free? Of course not! In the same way the Father who is a Righteous Judge, cannot overlook the outright rebellion of His own creation; therefore HE MUST PUNISH ALL SIN! Because God’s Standard is Perfection! Even as Jesus said, “Be perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect!” So how many murderers would you have to commit to be a murderer? Just one! How many lies would you have to tell, to be a liar? Just one! Have you ever looked on someone with lust? Then according to Jesus, you're an Adulterer! Have you ever hated anyone? Then according to Jesus, you're a murderer! The Ten Commandments are God’s Standard by which the Father will judge the world! And James says, “Whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of it all. Because he who said, "Don't commit adultery," also said, "Don't [commit] murder" (James 2:10-11). So, if you break even one of the Ten Commandments, you’re guilty of breaking them all! And you have already admitted that you’ve broken at least Three of the Ten Commandments; so that means that you already stand Condemned before God! Therefore since the Father is a Righteous Judge, on Judgment Day, He will HAVE to send you Hell. So what defense could you possibly present to Him on that Day?"

This sounds Scriptural: BUT ACTUALLY NONE OF IT IS TRUE!
(Because these statements are all based on Scriptures that were manipulated and taken out of context!)

In Matthew Chapter 5:48, when Jesus said, "Be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is perfect,” He was speaking to His Followers, and teaching us how we are to live: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (vs 44-45) Therefore, Paul said, “Be imitators of God as dear children; and walk in love, just as Christ has also loved us.” (Ephesians 5:1-2) Jesus wasn't trying to show everyone that they had broken the Ten Commandments – He was giving us a “HIGHER LAW!” He was teaching us that we’re be loving and kind to everyone, just like our Heavenly Father is!

Yet I actually heard Ray Comfort the founder of “The Way of the Master” (who developed this presentation), negate the clear teaching of Jesus here, in one of his videos, by saying, “Jesus was showing us that it is impossible for us to actually live like this.” So he missed the whole point of Jesus’ teaching!

And in James 2:10-11, James was also teaching on LOVE! Because in context, what James was saying, was this, “If you indeed FULFILL THE ROYAL LAW [OF LOVE] according to the Scripture, ‘YOU’RE TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,’ YOU DO WELL! But if you favor an individual, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” (James 2:8-9) “So speak, and so act, as those who will be judged by THE LAW OF FREEDOM. [Not the Ten Commandment!] For judgment will be without mercy to the one who has shown no compassion. SHOWING COMPASSION TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT!” In other words: “If you LOVE your neighbor; you won’t be Judged!” (James 2:12-13) That's why James said in James 2:9-11, "But if you favor an individual" or "commit murder" or "adultery" you have violated THE LAW OF LOVE! (Also see Matthew 25:23-46)

What Jesus and James were teaching: is actually the same thing the Prophet Micah taught centuries early, "He has shown you, O man, WHAT IS GOOD! And WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU? TO DO JUSTLY, TO LOVE TO HAVE COMPASSION [ON OTHERS], and to walk humbly with your GOD." Therefore if you want to go to heaven when you die, YOU MUST walk with God in this life! That means doing what is just, right, and good in His sight; and being loving, kind, and compassionate toward others JUST LIKE HE IS!

They claim "God HAS TO judge all sin!" BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE! Because GOD said, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOMEVER I WANT TO HAVE MERCY, and I will have compassion on whomever I want to have compassion.” (Romans 9:15) And because GOD WANTS TO HAVE MERCY on everyone, even under Law, GOD said, "Let the wicked forsake their way, And the unrighteous person their thoughts; Let them return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on them; [return] to our God, FOR HE WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON." (Isaiah 55:7) For GOD said, even in the Old Testament, “Come now, and let’s reason together,” says the LORD: “THOUGH YOUR SINS ARE LIKE SCARLET, they will become as white as snow. THOUGH THEY ARE RED LIKE CRIMSON, they will become as white as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

Wicked King Manasseh is a prime example of God’s Mercy & Forgiveness! "Manasseh did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, erected altars to the Baals and bowed down and worshiped them. He built altars to them in the Temple of the LORD. He sacrificed his own children in fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, he practiced divination and witchcraft. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD. Manasseh led all of Judah astray, they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed. So the LORD brought the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they took Manasseh prisoner, and brought him to Babylon. In his distress he sought the LORD, he humbled himself before God. And God was moved by his prayer, and restored him to his kingdom again. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God." (See 2 Chronicles 33:1-30) Why did God have mercy on such a wicked person? BECAUSE GOD STILL LOVED HIM! and "Love Covers a Multitude of Sin!' (1 Peter 4:8) Therefore GOD and all Heaven rejoiced the day this prodigal son came Home! (See Luke 15:11-32) God doesn’t judge according to human standards, because “HIS WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OUR WAYS!” (See Isaiah 55:8-9) And Jesus’s death wasn’t necessary to appease the Father’s wrath, because God forgave Manasseh long before the Cross!

So why did Jesus have to die? “To rescue us out of [Satan’s] dominion of darkness and transfer us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.” (Colossians 1:13)

But this Vindictive God Gospel turns our Loving & Merciful Heavenly Father into an Unmerciful Judge who demands absolute perfection, one who would even send those who want to know Him and are trying to do good to others, to Hell, if they commit even one sin. And for the redeemed, it turns Jesus into our Defense Attorney; who must defend us daily before the Father: BUT NONE OF THAT IS TRUE! JESUS IS NOT OUR DEFENSE ATTORNEY, HE’S "THE JUDGE!"
 (2 Timothy 4:8)

GOD Will Judge The World “Through the man he has appointed:
He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31)

The Bible teaches, “The heaven of heavens, [are] the LORD's; But the earth He has given to the children of men.” (Psalm 115:16) Therefore, since God gave the Earth to man, God had to redeem and judge the Earth through a man; “Because the GIFTS and the CALLING of God ARE IRREVERSIBLE!” (Romans 11:28) Therefore, God CANNOT & WILL NOT usurp authority over the dominion HE GAVE to Adam!

That’s why it’s written, the Father gave Jesus “the right to execute judgment, BECAUSE HE IS A SON OF MAN.” (John 5:27) That’s why, "The Father judges no one, because HE’S GIVEN ALL JUDGMENT TO THE SON." (John 5:22) Therefore, “THE LORD JESUS CHRIST... WILL JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD at His appearing and His kingdom.” (2 Timothy 4:1) For “All of the nations will be gathered before Him.” (Matthew 25:32, 25:31-46) Therefore Peter declared, “HE COMMANDED US TO PROCLAIM to the people and TO EARNESTLY TESTIFY that HE IS THE ONE whom GOD APPOINTED AS JUDGE OF THE LIVING AND THE DEAD!” (Acts 10:42)

The Great White Throne Judgment: Christ in His Glory!

“And I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, the small and the great, standing 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 deeds.” (Revelation 20:11-12) He “Will repay each person according to what they have done. Indeed, to those who are seeking eternal life by patient continuance in doing good—glory and honor and immortality. But to those who are self-seeking, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness–indignation and anger. There will be tribulation and distress for every human soul who does evil.” (Romans 2:6-9) But concerning “Those of the nations, who do not have the law, [but] by nature do the things contained in the law, these though they don't have the law, are a law to themselves: who show that the work of the law is written in their hearts: their conscience will testify, and their thoughts within themselves, will either accuse or defend them; On the day when God judges people's secrets, through Jesus Christ.” (Romans 2:14-16) In other words: “To those who are seeking eternal life by patient continuance in doing good; [He will give] glory and honor and immortality. But to those who are self-seeking, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteous- ness; [these will receive His] indignation and wrath.”

For “The sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and Hades delivered up the dead which were in them: and they [will] each judged according to their deeds.” (Revelation 20:13) “He will separate them one from another, like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the KING will say to those on his right hand, 'Come, you who are supremely blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the cosmos: Because I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; Naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.' …Then he will also say to those on the left hand, ' Depart from me, you accursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his messengers! Because I was hungry, and you gave me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you didn't take me in; naked, and you didn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' …'Indeed, I tell you, INASMUCH AS YOU DIDN'T DO IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DIDN'T DO IT TO ME!' And these will go away into everlasting punishment: BUT THE RIGHTEOUS INTO ETERNAL LIFE.” (Matthew 25:32b-46) BECAUSE LOVE IS SELFLESS, JESUS TAKES HOW WE TREAT OTHERS PERSONALLY! These verses also REVEAL that LOVE IS GOD’S STANDARD! — NOT PERFECTION! Because those who enter Heaven: ENTER BECAUSE THEY LOVED GOD & THEIR FELLOW-MAN. And those who are cast into Hell: ARE CAST INTO HELL BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T LOVE GOD & THEIR FELLOW-MAN. And that’s why there won’t be any COWARDS in Heaven: BECAUSE COWARDS ONLY CARE ABOUT THEM-SELVES, and DO NOT CARE about others! (See Revelation 21:8)

So to say, “Everyone who stands before the Great White Throne Judgment will be Condemned!”
IS A LIE! Because THE BIBLE DOESN'T TEACH THAT!

Yet that’s what this false gospel claims! THIS LIE, has hardened many hearts against GOD! Because people don’t want to serve a god who would send even those who want to know Him and who love their neighbor to Hell; simply because they weren’t perfect!

But the Good News is: THIS IS NOT THE GOD OF THE BIBLE! Because God even blesses those who aren’t perfect, when they seek to do right by others: like the midwives who LIED to Pharaoh: God didn’t Judge them, God Blessed them! (See Exodus 1:15-21) SO GOD’S STANDARD ISN’T PERFECTION; GOD’S STANDARD IS LOVE!

The PENAL GOSPEL has blinded people's minds to the Goodness & Mercy of God!
(But I believe God is far more merciful than the Penal Gospel has allowed us to believe.)

Jesus said something very thought provoking in Matthew 11:20-24, “He began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn't have a change of heart: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! Because if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed their minds long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, It will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the Day of Judgment, than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades! Because if the mighty works, which have been done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, It will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the Day of Judgment, than for you.” Jesus says this in the form of a proclamation and a declaration: but He doesn't explain in what way “IT WILL BE MORE TOLERABLE FOR THEM”?

But since Jesus said, “It will be more tolerable for them” we KNOW that some of them will receive mercy from the LORD on that Day. Will Jesus judge them according to His foreknowledge? Since He knows the ones who would have received Him, had they had the opportunity to do so? Or will He allow some of them to be re-born in a generation where they will have the opportunity to receive Him? We really don’t know; because the Bible doesn’t tell us. But we do know: some will receive MERCY on the Judgment Day.

And here is where the Penal Gospel has deceived us: Because for the last 500 years the Penal Gospel has taught us that “One Sin will send anybody to Hell.” So when Bible translators translate the Greek word “kree'-sis,” they simple translate it as “Judgment,” as in Hebrews 9:27, “It’s appointed unto man to die once, and after that the Judgment.” And so they infer this “Judgment” to mean “Hell,” because they have been taught, “One sin will send you to Hell!” But this Greek word is neutral; it simply means, “to render a verdict.” Which according to the Apostle Paul will be acquittal for some, but condemnation for others. For as Paul said in Romans 2:6-9, “Those of the nations, who do not have the law, [but] by nature do the things contained in the law, these though they don't have the law, are a law to themselves: who show that the work of the law is written in their hearts: their conscience will testify, and their thoughts within themselves, will either accuse or defend them; On the day when God judges people's secrets, through Jesus Christ.”

That’s why Paul said, “I was once alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” (Romans 7:9) Because God renders His verdict according to the knowledge of God that we have; but even then, God tempers His Judgment with Mercy! Because GOD LIKES to have Mercy on our Ignorance: because “He Delights in Mercy!” (Micah 7:18)

Therefore the Scriptures teach, 'These times of ignorance God overlooked." (Acts 17:30) For as GOD told the prophet Jonah, "Should I not have had mercy on the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left?" (Jonah 4:11) Therefore Paul declared, "God showed me mercy, because I acted in ignorance and unbelief." (1 Timothy 1:13)

Therefore Psalm 103:8-10 declares, “The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.” (But this is not how the Penal Gospel portrays our our Merciful Heavenly Father.) Therefore, we must share The True Gospel with everyone, “Because how can they believe in [Jesus] if they have never heard about Him?” (Romans 10:14)

Another Scripture this FALSE GOSPEL Twists is Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23. In the late 1980’s, I and my wife were attending a very good Church that stressed the importance of evangelism; so we joined their witnessing team. They were using a book by C S Lovett on how to use a pocket New Testament as a witnessing tool. But when it came to Romans 6:23, Lovett said to do something that is totally unscriptural to do-–he actually encouraged Christians to SIN, by altering the Word of God!

He said, “Take a pen and cross out the word ‘death’ and beside it, write in the word ‘HELL!’ so that Romans 6:23 reads, ‘The wages of sin is HELL!’“ But death and HELL are 2 different things! Because Everyone who GOD called “Righteous!” in the Bible had SINNED, and DIED (except for Enoch, Elijah & Melchizedek), but God didn’t send any them to Hell: EVEN THOUGH THEY “ALL [HAD] SINNED, and fallen short of the Glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Because, “The wages for sin is DEATH,” NOT “HELL!” So this PRESENTATION WASN’T BEING HONEST WITH PEOPLE about what the Bible actually teaches; instead it TWISTED THE WORD OF GOD! So to infer that “death” means “Hell,” is to go beyond what is written!

Concerns The Penal Gospel’s Sinner's Prayer:
Its Emphasis Is Totally Wrong!

We should be giving people reasons to want to Know, Love, and Follow Jesus! But to use the fear of Hell to try to scare people into saying the sinner's prayer IS THE WRONG MOTIVATION!

But these presentations don’t take the time to tell people who Jesus is, how much He Loves them, and what Jesus requires to become His Disciple. Instead they simple try to scare people into praying a prayer: but a prayer won’t save anyone, if that person doesn’t truly want to FOLLOW JESUS! Jesus and the Apostles NEVER TOLD ANYONE, “Just repeat this prayer, and you will be saved!” Rather Jesus told people to “COUNT THE COST!” (Luke 14:28) Because to have "Peace" with God: you have to come to Him on His "Terms!" (See Luke 14:32) Therefore Jesus says, “Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples!” (Luke 14:33) So, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me! And whoever loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me! And whoever does not take their cross and follow after me is not worthy of me!” (Matthew 10:37-38) So if Jesus was sharing the Gospel today, He’d remind people, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of the heavens; but only those who do the will of my Father who is in the heavens.” (Matthew 7:21) “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it! But whoever looses their life on account of me and for the good news, the same will save it. For what will it benefit a person, if they gain the whole world, but lose their own soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for their soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of them when he comes in the glory of his father with the holy messengers.” (Mark 8:35-38)

But most of these false gospel presentations don’t even ask people to make a decision to Follow Jesus, or to make him the LORD of their life. They simply say, “Just repeat this prayer, and you will be saved!” But according to Jesus, this is NOT TRUE! Therefore, they’ve deceived a lot people into believing that they are Saved; when actually they may not be! Because God is not obligated to save someone, just because they prayed a prayer, if their heart is not right with God!

So sadly, the reason most people pray the penal gospel’s “Sinner’s Prayer”; Isn’t because they genuinely want to know & follow Jesus: rather they just ‘want to save themselves’ from hell! So because they don't truly Love Jesus, “When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, they quickly fall away.” (Mark 4:17) 

Others because they too just ‘Want to save themselves’ from hell! Simply pray the prayer; because they thought they were getting a “Free Fire Insurance Policy!” But since they really have No desire to know & follow Jesus: they simply go away and live the rest of their lives just as they have always lived it; falsely believing that Jesus paid the premium for them. But on Judgement Day, Jesus will tell these kind of people, "Depart from me, you who act wickedly: i never knew you!" (Matthew 7:23)

Sadly, even many Christians who get SAVED under this false gospel: think that since they were told, “You’re saved and on your way to Heaven!” There’s nothing more they need to do! But Jesus didn’t save you, just to set in Church and warm a pew, until He comes. Jesus told ALL OF US, “Go, and make disciples of all the nations, …teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you!” (Matthew 28:18-19) "You are to be my witnesses... unto the remotest part of the earth!” (Acts 1:8) Also see 1 Peter 2:9. Therefore Jesus would ask those of you who are just warming the pews, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do the things that i say?” (Luke 6:46)

Jesus has some very sobering words for Nominal Christians, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. i wish that you were cold or hot. but because you are luke-warm, and neither cold nor hot, i will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing!' Yet you do not see that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may become rich; and white robes, so that you may be clothed, and the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye ointment to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. As many as I love, I admonish and discipline. Be zealous therefore, and repent (change your minds)!” (Revelation 3:15-19)

THIS PENAL HERESY TREE HASN’T PRODUCED ANY GOOD!

Yet, for over 500 years this penal false gospel has been taught by Christians, as “The Gospel Truth!” And because of that: it has hardened untold millions of hearts against God; because Christians taught, “All the heathen who have never heard the Gospel are lost; and those who have died are in Hell right now!” (And people rightly thought, “That isn’t JUST!”) But IF this penal gospel is indeed true: THEN THE APOSTLE PAUL & GOD ARE LIARS! Because Paul taught, "He has made out of one blood every nation of people to dwell on the face of the whole earth, having predetermining their fixed times and the fixed boundaries of their habitation; THAT THEY SHOULD SEEK GOD, and perhaps feel their way toward him, AND FIND HIM!” (Acts 17:26-27) Because Like the Pagan King, Abimelech, mentioned in Genesis 20:1-6, “In every nation who ever respects him and does righteous deeds is accepted by him!” (Acts 10:35) SO GOD IS NOT A STRICT & UNMERCIFUL JUDGE! Yet that is what the penal heresy gospel MAKES HIM OUT TO BE!

THE GLORY OF THE JESUS MOVEMENT
OF THE 1960’S AND 70’S!

The Jesus Movement of my generation was Powerful: Because it focused on Jesus and God’s Love, and the fact that a person could actually Know God in a very deep and personal way. We were totally SOLD-OUT to JESUS! Those were wonderful times: the love of the brothers and sisters for one another was deep, and our love and passion for Jesus was even greater; because we were focused on Loving Jesus and Loving others as He Loves us! So because Jesus Loved us, we went everywhere telling everybody, "Jesus Loves You!" Because LOVE generates LOVE! (1 john 4:18-19) But a "fear based gospel" CAN NEVER generate love! Because “THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE!”)

The Jesus Movement of my generation was unlike any other revival in Church History: We weren’t trying to reform the Church; we were simply seeking to return to First Century Christianity. We simply wanted to be ‘Disciples of Jesus’, just like His First Century disciples were. We were hippies and rebels from the 60’s and 70’s, who had questioned authority and all the things we had been taught. Yet, we fully submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, because in Him we found the Truth and Love we had been searching for. So we wanted to be like the Berean Christians, of whom it’s written: “These were nobler than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, to see whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11) So we, “Tested everything; and held onto that which was good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) We tested everyone’s doctrine against the Word of God. Because 1 John 2:27 says, “You have no need for anyone to teach you; because His anointing teaches you about all things, AND IS TRUE AND IS NOT A LIE.” Because Jesus said, “When He the Spirit of Truth has come, He will guide you into all truth: …He will take from that which is mine and explain it to you.” (John 16:13-14, also see John 14:25-26, 6:45, & Jeremiah 31:34, John 6:45) So the Good News the Jesus People proclaimed wasn’t based upon the traditions of men, because like the Apostle Paul, “[We] neither received it from man, nor [were we] taught it, but [we] received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:12) 

The Gospel the Jesus People proclaimed FOCUSED ON JESUS, not on people’s sins; because if a person TRULY LOVES JESUS, They will keep his command-ments! So LOVING JESUS solves the sin problem! (See John 14:23-24)

Plus, Jesus said THE ONLY SIN the Holy Spirit would focus on was the sin of NOT TRUSTING in Jesus: “He will convict the world OF SIN (Singular)… OF SIN, because they haven't BELIEVED in Me.” (John 16:7-8) So we told people about Jesus! Because, “How can they BELIEVE in Him, if they’ve NEVER heard about Him?” (Romans 10:14)

So the Jesus Movement spread like WILD-FIRE, because People Long to Be Loved by God! And the reason we didn’t produce Nominal Christians is because we also taught, “Since Jesus gave everything for us; we must give everything for Him!” (I don't know how many of the original Jesus People believed in the Ransom Atonement Gospel? But since we were so focused on Love, I assume many must have!)

“WHY DID THE JESUS REVOLUTION END?”

The Jesus People didn't have any Churches of our own, so we used to just meet in Parks. But we began going to the Traditional Churches of those who went out Witnessing with us. And in the End, we joined their Churches and we stopped meeting in Parks: and they taught us their Traditional Gospel and Witnesses Techn-iques; and without realizing it, we became “their disciples” instead of “The Disciples of Christ!”

I too fell into this trap: because I wanted to become a better and more efficient witness for Jesus: and since I thought they were more experienced at Witnessing than I was, I submitted to them. But John said, “You have no need for anyone to teach you,” because Jesus said, “When the Spirit of Truth has come He will guide you into ALL TRUTH.” So this was my Big Mistake! ONLY the Bible and the Holy Spirit are right 100% of the time; as for ALL THE REST OF US, we are right on some things, but wrong on other. Therefore ONLY that which is written in the New Testament IS A SURE GUIDE! So we MUST submit to it, AND LET IT CORRECT US! But because I was misguided: for the next 30 years I shared various forms of the penal gospel: which I had modified to try to make them fit with the Ransom Gospel (including some which I had written): But I found this IMPOSSIBLE to do! Because these are 2 completely different Gospels! Plus, I no longer enjoyed witnessing, because I was confronting people about their sins, instead of telling them about Jesus and His Love! 

Finally the LORD confronted me for my sin of proclaiming a gospel that wasn’t completely true, and for not Loving Him and others like I should have: with these words out of Revelation 2:4-5, “I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember there-fore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (NKJV) My heart was shaken to its core!

So began my quest to return to my First Love, and to discover what the True Gospel was from God’s Perspective. And as I prayed and studied, God birthed a Vision for a New Jesus Movement in my heart; one which I believe will not pass away, because it is founded on HIS LOVE! (Because the problem is: if we focus on serving the Lord instead of Loving Him & others; Love becomes superficial and artificial.) So this letter contains the things that GOD taught me, and that He wanted me to share with His people. He also gave me the “You Can Know God!” & the “Jesus Invites You” Pamphlets. They make it EASY for anyone to SHARE GOD’S LOVE with anybody! You can download them for FREE! (Click on this Link!)

We need to tell people: Jesus Loves You! And God is Love! And His Law is Love! And the reason God Hates Sin is because it Hurts People! And JESUS is the perfect reflection of Our Heavenly Father! And you can Know God as your Best Friend!—This is the Gospel! The GOOD NEWS the World longs to Hear!—Because everybody longs to BE LOVED, and to serve A CAUSE that is greater than themselves!

JOIN: The Jesus Revolution!

We must lay our axes to the root of this Penal Heresy Tree and cut it down! So that it can no longer produce its corrupt fruit! And in its place we need to plant “The Gospel of Love Tree!” So that it can produce its wonderful fruit, and cover the Earth with the Knowledge of the GOODNESS OF GOD!

So If you’re a member of a Church, please share this article with your Pastor, and others. Or if you’re a Pastor, please share copies with other Pastors and with your Congregation. You can download this article in a booklet format @ LoveBible.org/reform.pdf and it also contains "The Restored Gospel of Love" article.

Let’s Win America For Jesus!

Politics can never change the heart and soul of America, only the True Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ can do that! But if He changes the Heart and Soul of America, that will also change the political landscape: because, a righteous people will elect godly people and enact righteous laws. Therefore, if we can get this little booklet out to everyone in America, not only will it Save Many Souls, but also Save America! The Restored Gospel of Love is the Key to the Revival that we have all been praying for! So we need to get this Gospel of John into every home in our communities!

The early disciples worked tirelessly for days just to make one copy of the Gospel of John, so that someone could learn the good news of Jesus. But today with our computers and printers we can make hundreds of copies of the Gospel of John in the same amount of time. So let's get this Gospel of John out to everyone in America!

In the LOVE of Christ! Jim Atto

Please share your thoughts on these things.
Text or send a Voicemail to: 530-364-0333 Or Email me @ jim@lovebible.org

I always felt privileged to have been a part of the Jesus Movement in the 1970's, and to have been one of the Jesus People: because I truly believe it was the closest thing to 1st Century Christianity that the world has ever seen since the 1st Century! The simple way we lived, and the deep love that we had for one another, gave me a glimpse of what 1st Century Christianity most have looked and felt like. In  the decades since; I have often missed that; because most of our churches feel more like a Country Club, where people just a for social gathering, but they just don't have that same Passion for Jesus, and that deep genuine love that we had for one another. If you’d like a glimpse of the former Glory of the 2nd Jesus Movement read the 1972 Time Magazine Article, “The Jesus Revolution” @ LoveBible.org/time.html

 But I believe this 3rd Jesus Movement can change all of that,
and be even More Glorious!
because we Now Have a Blue-Print "The Restored Gospel of Love!"
 

Our Anthem Should Be: “And They’ll Know We Are Christians, By Our Love!”
LoveBible.org/love.mp4

But let’s change one line in it, to
“And we’ll crucify our pride.” Because "God opposes the proud, but gives cheerful favor to the humble.” James 4:6