www.overcomingself.net
© 2005-2012 Gratz Brown
Home Page
HELP YOUR SELF
LESSONS
1 Inertia
2 What "They Say"
3 Ethnic Hate
4 Hard Scriptures
5 John the forerunner
6 Apollos' patience
7 Paul's suffering
8 Mary mother of Jesus
9 Woman of Samaria
10 Woman of Canaan
11 Traditions
12 Bible Study Tips
13 Church general & local
14 Unbreakable scripture?
15 Be ye perfect
16 Authority
17 First century gifts
18 Singing in worship
19 Little orphan anti 1
20 Little orphan anti 2
21 church is one body
22 church of Christ
23 church is not a sect
24 church is not of men
25 church the way to
heaven
26 Jesus' personality
27 Satan's cults
28 Terror
29 False teachers
30 Prayer by Jesus To Be
One
About This Website:
Honoring God Our Creator
Submitting to His Will and Word
Adorning Jesus His Only Begotten Son
Understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ
To Bluntly Face the Demands of the Christian Life
Overcoming Faults and Sins With The Divine Counsel
Realizing That The Only Soul I Can Save Is Mine
Offers A Personal Motivation For Bible Study
Help Self Above Blaming of Leaders
To Adore the Church of Christ
Clean Thinking and Living
Going To Heaven
SOME SIMPLE MILK - SOME MATURE MEAT
Click "Help Your Self" button to see topics list,
30 lessons with over 700 scripture references.
Or click at right column to go directly >>
Honoring God Our Creator
Submitting to His Will and Word
Adorning Jesus His Only Begotten Son
Understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ
To Bluntly Face the Demands of the Christian Life
Overcoming Faults and Sins With The Divine Counsel
Realizing That The Only Soul I Can Save Is Mine
Offers A Personal Motivation For Bible Study
Help Self Above Blaming of Leaders
To Adore the Church of Christ
Clean Thinking and Living
Going To Heaven
SOME SIMPLE MILK - SOME MATURE MEAT
Click "Help Your Self" button to see topics list,
30 lessons with over 700 scripture references.
Or click at right column to go directly >>
OvercomingSelf.net
supports obedience
to Christ by helping
overcome
selfishness and
spiritual blindness
and vainglory.
supports obedience
to Christ by helping
overcome
selfishness and
spiritual blindness
and vainglory.
Welcome to OvercomingSelf.net If you are new to this website,
this is where to start, and to read the following first:
this is where to start, and to read the following first:
One Church Overcomes Bad Raps
Church of Christ. The church is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23;
Colossians 1:24). Christ is the one head over His one body (Ephesians 4:4; 5:
13,20).
The one head of the one body, Jesus (Colossians 1:18), said it is “my church” in
Matthew 16:18. It is His (“my”) church, and no other one's name will ever be
on the church. However, many other names are on many vain religions,
showing that they are not the church. Acts 4:10-12 is one of many scriptures
showing that there is “none other name” than “Jesus Christ”, by which men are
saved. God “adds” to the church those that are saved by obeying the gospel
(Acts 2:47).
So God “adds,” that is, God has “set the members every one of them in the
body, as it hath pleased Him” (1 Corinthians 12:18,27). Likewise, God can to
any unfaithful member “cast forth as a branch, ... and cast them into the fire,
and they are burned” (John 15:6). God adds, or cuts off, or restores a member,
as it pleases Him.
The biggest diabolical deception is that the many religious sects, denominations,
branches and innovations are viewed as “many churches" (some 20,000 plus
worldwide according to World Christian Encyclopedia, Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1982). These are impossible contradictions and the unraveling
of reasonable thinking. The Holy Scripture warns of many false prophets and
false doctrines of men (1 Timothy 4:1-3; Matthew 7:13-15; 1 John 4:1ff).
Faithful members are found among "churches of Christ," which are
congregations (Romans 16:16). In all the world there is "yet but one body" (1
Corinthians 1:12-13,20; Hebrews 12:23), the church of Christ. It is “the true
tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” (Hebrews 8:2). The truth,
when obeyed, “shall make you free” from all lies and sins (John 8:32,36).
Obeying the truth also makes you stand strong against the devil's scandals and
"spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:10-12).
The truth overcomes all the charges and bad raps against God, Christ, scripture,
church, and Christians. The truth puts the blames where they belong – on Satan
and sinners, on the wicked and lazy, on the ignorant and fanatical, on the
deceived and sectarian , on all the false religions.
In Matthew 22:14 Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Many
are called by the gospel truth (2 Thessalonians 2:14), but instead follow false
religion or no religion. Few there be that seek and follow true religion, thus being
chosen of God (James 1:22-27). When people go to charging and blaming God
and “all religion” for the problems in the world, and for their personal problems,
they show they are fools. Job lost all his children and his possessions, but Job
did not lose his cool or his trust in a redeeming God. “In all this Job sinned not,
nor charged God foolishly” (Job 1:22). Then, Job was allowed to be smitten by
Satan “with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown” (Job 2:7). Well,
Mrs. Job just went off, saying to her husband: “...curse God and die.” Job then
told his wife, “Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.” Job
trusted God, receiving adversity as with the good (Job 2:9-10).
The many ways of the devil oppose the truth. The devil lies, seeking to take
souls with him to hell (Matthew 25:41; John 10:10). Satan gets people to say
“To each his own” and “It doesn't matter what you believe if ... “ and “I know
good people who are … (atheists)” and “Look at all the religious evil done …
(during the middle ages)” and “I have my own philosophy.” “There is a way
which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death”
(Proverbs 14:12). The only way for people to be truly one with God and with
each other is to obey the truth of Christ as God has given in His word. The Lord
God invites, so being a Christian is voluntary (Revelation 22:11,17; Leviticus 1:
3). Few will seek and find, and many will be lost (Matthew 7:13-14,21-23). The
Word of God stands and is sure.
Reprise. On September 11, 2001, nineteen brainwashed suicide mass murderers
used four airplanes to crash the World Trade Twin Towers in New York City,
the Pentagon in Washington,D.C., and one of those that ended up crashed in
Pennsylvania. Killed were about 3000 souls, including some Muslims. Some
enemies of the cross of Christ used this event as yet another excuse to lump
together all religious believers, including “Christians,” as misguided or downright
harmful. The reality is precisely the opposite. “9/11” is a monumental example
of what can happen when men reject Christ, and follow false prophets and false
religions. [Links: Disclaimer on Murders / Christians Are Not Infidels ]
Furthermore, most who say they are Christians, are lost mind-blinded sectarians
(2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Satan uses this confusion, to distract and repel those of
the world away from the oneness in Christ (read Jesus' words in John 17:20-
21). If people of so-called “Christendom” bring a hundred different
contradictory denominations, then how can they expect to guide those of non-
Christ religions, to the way worth changing and living and dying for? Jesus and
apostles and martyrs suffered and were slain – not for brand x, y, or z - but for
the church.
In Mark 16:15-16 the matter is brought to a sharp point by Jesus: “Go ye into all
the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” [ Link:
God's Plan Of Salvation ]
In Revelation 3:21, for you to get to heaven, and to overcome all the confusions
of Satan, sin, and self, Jesus said: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit
with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my
Father in His throne.”
The identity of the church and of Christians, and the honest defense of good
over evil, will prevail. In Matthew 7:15 Jesus said: "Beware of false prophets,
which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
Jesus said that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled
(Matthew 5:6). Those who seek His truth shall find it (Matthew 7:7; John 8:
32,36). As shown in 2 Timothy 2:10 and Ephesians 3:21, salvation is in Christ,
in the church of Christ.
Colossians 1:24). Christ is the one head over His one body (Ephesians 4:4; 5:
13,20).
The one head of the one body, Jesus (Colossians 1:18), said it is “my church” in
Matthew 16:18. It is His (“my”) church, and no other one's name will ever be
on the church. However, many other names are on many vain religions,
showing that they are not the church. Acts 4:10-12 is one of many scriptures
showing that there is “none other name” than “Jesus Christ”, by which men are
saved. God “adds” to the church those that are saved by obeying the gospel
(Acts 2:47).
So God “adds,” that is, God has “set the members every one of them in the
body, as it hath pleased Him” (1 Corinthians 12:18,27). Likewise, God can to
any unfaithful member “cast forth as a branch, ... and cast them into the fire,
and they are burned” (John 15:6). God adds, or cuts off, or restores a member,
as it pleases Him.
The biggest diabolical deception is that the many religious sects, denominations,
branches and innovations are viewed as “many churches" (some 20,000 plus
worldwide according to World Christian Encyclopedia, Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1982). These are impossible contradictions and the unraveling
of reasonable thinking. The Holy Scripture warns of many false prophets and
false doctrines of men (1 Timothy 4:1-3; Matthew 7:13-15; 1 John 4:1ff).
Faithful members are found among "churches of Christ," which are
congregations (Romans 16:16). In all the world there is "yet but one body" (1
Corinthians 1:12-13,20; Hebrews 12:23), the church of Christ. It is “the true
tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” (Hebrews 8:2). The truth,
when obeyed, “shall make you free” from all lies and sins (John 8:32,36).
Obeying the truth also makes you stand strong against the devil's scandals and
"spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:10-12).
The truth overcomes all the charges and bad raps against God, Christ, scripture,
church, and Christians. The truth puts the blames where they belong – on Satan
and sinners, on the wicked and lazy, on the ignorant and fanatical, on the
deceived and sectarian , on all the false religions.
In Matthew 22:14 Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Many
are called by the gospel truth (2 Thessalonians 2:14), but instead follow false
religion or no religion. Few there be that seek and follow true religion, thus being
chosen of God (James 1:22-27). When people go to charging and blaming God
and “all religion” for the problems in the world, and for their personal problems,
they show they are fools. Job lost all his children and his possessions, but Job
did not lose his cool or his trust in a redeeming God. “In all this Job sinned not,
nor charged God foolishly” (Job 1:22). Then, Job was allowed to be smitten by
Satan “with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown” (Job 2:7). Well,
Mrs. Job just went off, saying to her husband: “...curse God and die.” Job then
told his wife, “Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.” Job
trusted God, receiving adversity as with the good (Job 2:9-10).
The many ways of the devil oppose the truth. The devil lies, seeking to take
souls with him to hell (Matthew 25:41; John 10:10). Satan gets people to say
“To each his own” and “It doesn't matter what you believe if ... “ and “I know
good people who are … (atheists)” and “Look at all the religious evil done …
(during the middle ages)” and “I have my own philosophy.” “There is a way
which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death”
(Proverbs 14:12). The only way for people to be truly one with God and with
each other is to obey the truth of Christ as God has given in His word. The Lord
God invites, so being a Christian is voluntary (Revelation 22:11,17; Leviticus 1:
3). Few will seek and find, and many will be lost (Matthew 7:13-14,21-23). The
Word of God stands and is sure.
Reprise. On September 11, 2001, nineteen brainwashed suicide mass murderers
used four airplanes to crash the World Trade Twin Towers in New York City,
the Pentagon in Washington,D.C., and one of those that ended up crashed in
Pennsylvania. Killed were about 3000 souls, including some Muslims. Some
enemies of the cross of Christ used this event as yet another excuse to lump
together all religious believers, including “Christians,” as misguided or downright
harmful. The reality is precisely the opposite. “9/11” is a monumental example
of what can happen when men reject Christ, and follow false prophets and false
religions. [Links: Disclaimer on Murders / Christians Are Not Infidels ]
Furthermore, most who say they are Christians, are lost mind-blinded sectarians
(2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Satan uses this confusion, to distract and repel those of
the world away from the oneness in Christ (read Jesus' words in John 17:20-
21). If people of so-called “Christendom” bring a hundred different
contradictory denominations, then how can they expect to guide those of non-
Christ religions, to the way worth changing and living and dying for? Jesus and
apostles and martyrs suffered and were slain – not for brand x, y, or z - but for
the church.
In Mark 16:15-16 the matter is brought to a sharp point by Jesus: “Go ye into all
the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” [ Link:
God's Plan Of Salvation ]
In Revelation 3:21, for you to get to heaven, and to overcome all the confusions
of Satan, sin, and self, Jesus said: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit
with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my
Father in His throne.”
The identity of the church and of Christians, and the honest defense of good
over evil, will prevail. In Matthew 7:15 Jesus said: "Beware of false prophets,
which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
Jesus said that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled
(Matthew 5:6). Those who seek His truth shall find it (Matthew 7:7; John 8:
32,36). As shown in 2 Timothy 2:10 and Ephesians 3:21, salvation is in Christ,
in the church of Christ.
This website is not affiliated with any one or any thing other than myself.
Bible quotations are from the King James and where noted a few other translations.
To find out more you may click on the navigation buttons. Thank you for visiting.
- Gratz Brown, a minister in the church of Christ, 7-16-05.
Bible quotations are from the King James and where noted a few other translations.
To find out more you may click on the navigation buttons. Thank you for visiting.
- Gratz Brown, a minister in the church of Christ, 7-16-05.
www.overcomingself.net
1) Note that throughout this website, book, chapter and verse is provided.
2) With so many false teachers in the world, believers on Christ are warned by the written
word of God, to “prove all things” by “searching the scriptures” to ascertain that God said it
was so. John 20:30-31. 1 Thess. 5:21. Acts 17:11.
3) On this website and on every other website, you ought not accept any religious claim until
you have contextually verified it within the Genesis to Revelation 66 bible books of the
inspired words of the Scripture.
4) Hell will be populated with many who accepted man's ear-tickling thoughts. Heaven will be
populated with the few honest and wise to obey and stay with the word of Christ.
2) With so many false teachers in the world, believers on Christ are warned by the written
word of God, to “prove all things” by “searching the scriptures” to ascertain that God said it
was so. John 20:30-31. 1 Thess. 5:21. Acts 17:11.
3) On this website and on every other website, you ought not accept any religious claim until
you have contextually verified it within the Genesis to Revelation 66 bible books of the
inspired words of the Scripture.
4) Hell will be populated with many who accepted man's ear-tickling thoughts. Heaven will be
populated with the few honest and wise to obey and stay with the word of Christ.
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