Jesus had hand picked Peter to be one of His disciples. At one time, He even washed His disciples dirty, smelly feet as an example of brotherly love and humility. Jesus was a man's man! He had power to forgive sin and accepted worship from others because He was God in the flesh. He taught the disciples how to pray and get things from God the Father. So many miracles had been performed. What other man ever spake like this man or could do the things which Jesus did? Truly this man was God incarnate! The disciples had found a better way to live through Jesus.
Now came a turning point in Christ's ministry. He tells His disciples that it is time for Him "to go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day" (Matthew 16:21). Peter loved Jesus and didn't understand this kind of talk. Peter said, "this shall not be done unto thee," (vs. 22). In Matthew 16:23 and again in Mark 8:33 we find Jesus making an astonishing statement of rebuke to His disciple, Peter. "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men" (vs. 23).
The word "savorest" in the Greek means "to be interested." Jesus was saying that Peter was more interested in earthly things than he was in the things of God. Had Peter known His Scriptures well, he no doubt would have understood that Christ had to be sacrificed for the grievous sins of mankind.
Today, many Christians are like Peter. They are more interested in the cares and riches of this world than they are about the things of God. They attend a church, participate in social events, sing in a choir, sit on a committee, work a job, raise a family, etc.; but are woefully ignorant of the Scriptures and have little interest in making God Happy. Revelation 4:11 tells us that we were created to please God! It takes faith to please God. Faith is what causes us to obey the Word of God.
Peter was Satanic for a moment in his thinking. All believers are vulnerable to Satanic philosophy and lies of the Devil. Peter meant well no doubt but failed to view things from a Scriptural perspective. Many believers today are sitting ducks, being "blown about by every wind of doctrine" because they are woefully ignorant of the Scriptures. Do you love the Bible? Do you meditate therein day and night in your mind as David did in Psalm 1:1-3? Are you as a tree planted by the rivers of water? Do you study to understand the Scriptures? Is the Bible changing you? Are you a soul-winner? Do you have concern for the lost around you? How do you treat your spouse? Your kids? Your parents? Your neighbor? Yourself? Christianity starts with treating others properly. As we grow in our knowledge of the Truth, so also should we be growing in our fellowship with our God and in our treatment of others.
Many believers today have the Satanic idea that divorce is permissible in certain situations. Yet, Jesus taught to forgive 70 times 7 (Matthew 18:22). Jesus taught that divorce is only caused by the hardness of one's unforgiving heart (Matthew 19:8). When meddling people recommend divorce as the answer to your marriage problems, they are speaking evil as did the serpent to Eve. The power of God can save your marriage. Instead of filing for divorce, why don't you pray and plant some grass seeds to make your own yard greener. Divorce is a sin!
Some believers have the Satanic notion that what their pastor says overrides what the Bible says. They wouldn't admit that, but it's how they live. However, the Word of God is the Authority of the Church. When men control a church, it becomes a demonic cult. The authority of the pastor ought to be because he preaches from the Authority of God's Word. This goes back to the subject of divorce, because I have received e-mails from many people who hide behind their pastor's recommendation to get a divorce. We ought to obey God and not look for apostate men to agree with our unchristian actions. Jesus commanded us in John 3:39 to, SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!
Divorce is a horrible sin. It is wickedness! It is evil when people search from pastor to pastor, until they find one or two who agree with their decision to divorce or commit some sin. If you search hard enough, you'll find a pastor who'll agree with anything you want to do, just so long as you open your wallet or purse. There are plenty of pastors today who approve of homosexuality and abortion and never preach against it. There are ordained Wiccan witch ministers, who perform witch weddings and other functions. So if you want to worship Satan, there's a minister for you too. The question is: What does the Bible say?
Many believers today have Satanic thinking stuck in their heads, and the only cure is the Word of God. I get letters from professed Christians who can't understand why I teach God's unconditional love for sinners. They argue that God doesn't love unrepentant sinners. The plainest teachings in the Bible declare “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Christ died for all the world. If God didn't unconditionally love Christ-rejecters, then they'd go straight to Hell the moment they rejected Christ. It is God's unconditional love that causes Him to be long-suffering and patient with even the vilest of sinners, “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2nd Peter 3:9). That is love.
Christians are only saved by Christ's righteousness, through faith, so we certainly cannot claim that God loves us for anything we have done. The notion that God loves Christians and hates unbelievers is Satanic, it is a false doctrine rooted in self-righteousness. We all deserve to burn in Hell.
Many professed Christians today claim that it doesn't matter which version of the Bible one uses, as long as he or she believes in Jesus Christ. That is Satanic thinking. It does matter which Bible we use, because all of the modern Bible versions horribly attack the Godhead and the deity of Jesus Christ. The New International Version (NIV) of the Bible perverts Romans 10:9 to require lost sinners to confess “Jesus is Lord” to be saved. That is a false gospel. We don't make Jesus Lord; He is Lord! Ironically, Matthew 7:21-23 tells us that many religious people who call Jesus “Lord, Lord,” will still go to Hell, because of their self-righteousness. The notion that a lost sinner must make a commitment to clean up their life in order to be saved is Satanic! This heresy is known as LORDSHIP SALVATION.
Of course, Lordship Salvationists AREN'T saved at all. The title of my article is SATANIC CHRISTIANS, so it may seem that I'm getting off track; however, I brought this matter up because many genuine Christians are trading in their King James Bible (the Seed by which they were saved) to use the corrupted NIV (which is a bad seed). It is Satanic thinking to say it doesn't matter which Bible one uses. It DOES matter!!! The NIV was translated in part by homosexuals, including the chairman of the Old Testament committee. That's why the word “sodomite” is completely gone in the NIV. The word “sodomite” connects the sin of homosexuality with the destruction of that wicked city, Sodom!
May we be Christlike in our thoughts and not Satanic.
