{"id":2875,"date":"2017-02-17T05:34:03","date_gmt":"2017-02-17T11:34:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/?page_id=2875"},"modified":"2024-12-05T12:06:42","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T18:06:42","slug":"death-resurrection-life","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life","title":{"rendered":"Death, Resurrection, New Life, Salvation, Forgiveness, Tribulation, Heaven and Hell"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>A SIMPLE VIEW OF LIFE AND DEATH<\/strong><br \/>\nReligious people down through the ages have led others astray because they did not see life and death the way God sees it. God has a very simplistic understanding of life and death:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>You are alive when you can hear his spoken voice. Or,<\/li>\n<li>You are dead when you cannot hear his spoken voice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>This is very different, of course, from man&#8217;s understanding of life and death which is about life and death of the natural, human body. Their literal interpretation of the Bible leads them to apply this human idea of life and death to scripture. This is what leads them astray. They do not understand that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">God&#8217;s always speaks in parables.<\/a>\u00a0 Nor do they understand that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">God&#8217;s written word and his spoken word are not the same.<\/a> Religion is what people create when they fail to recognize these truths about God.<\/p>\n<p>People always need to be mindful of the fact that God always introduces spiritual truth through references natural truth. This is the &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-2\/3\">first the natural and then the spiritual<\/a>&#8221; principle. When they come to understand this principle, they will see that God uses man&#8217;s understanding of natural life and natural death to introduce his idea of spiritual life and death. When man understands life and death this way, this is how he will always interpret scripture according to its symbolic, spiritual meaning &#8212; not according to man&#8217;s human understanding of literal scripture.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIPS: See<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns#rewards\"> this link for a detailed explanation of spiritual life<\/a>. See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spiritualdeath\">this link for a detailed explanation of spiritual death.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Readers who grasp and accept God&#8217;s understanding of spiritual life and death are ready to study the topics of resurrection, new life, forgiveness, and heaven and hell. God is giving them the ability to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+isaiah+6:9-10;+matthew+13:19;+mark+8:17;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14-19;+acts+28:26-27\"> hear God&#8217;s spoken voice in their hearts.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Readers who do not grasp and accept God&#8217;s understanding of spiritual life and death are to be pitied. Their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sickeness-disease-blindness-and-deafness\/3\">eyes are blind<\/a> to interpreting the Bible symbolically and their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sickeness-disease-blindness-and-deafness\/4\">ears are deaf to hearing God&#8217;s spoken voice.<\/a> They<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3:7-19;+hebrews+4:1-7;+john+12:36-40;+isaiah+6:9-10;+jeremiah+5:21;+jeremiah+6:10;+jeremiah+25:4;+isaiah+42:20;+isaiah+48:8;+romans+11:8;+acts+28:27;+ezekiel+12:2;+psalm+115:6;+psalm+135:17;+matthew+13:10-15;+deuteronomy+29:4;+acts+19:9;+2-chronicles+30:8;+nehemiah+9:25-26;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+mark+6:45-52;+job+22:22;+deuteronomy+6:6;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:31;+deuteronomy+32:46;+ezekiel+3:1-10\"> cannot see or hear because they have hard hearts<\/a>. They need God to do a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/4\">miracle that only he can do: Change their hearts.<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>TESTING TO THE POINT OF DEATH<\/strong><br \/>\nBeing a son of God is not for wimps. Christians who doubt this fact only need to look at the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Crucifixion_of_Jesus\">life and death of Jesus<\/a> for confirmation of the fact that life as a follower of Jesus is hard.<\/p>\n<p>They should also consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-peter+3:13-18;+matthew+5:10-12;+acts+7:52;+hebrews+11:32-40;+hebrews+12:1-4;+hebrews+13:12-13;+1-peter+4:14;+john+15:18-21;+philippians+2:12-13;+matthew+21:33-46;+2-corinthians+1:5-7;+philippians+1:12-14;+ephesians+3:13;+2-corinthians+4:17;+romans+5:3-5;+2-corinthians+12:6-10;+2-corinthians+6:4;+2-thessalonians+1:4;+2-timothy+3:10-11;+2-corinthians+4:10-18;+luke+6:22\">what the Bible tells us to expect regarding\u00a0 persecution, suffering and insult.<\/a>\u00a0These are the norm &#8212; not the exception &#8212; of God&#8217;s people.\u00a0If their life does not line up with the lives of Jesus, Paul and the prophets regarding persecution, discipline and death they should begin to wonder if they are as righteous as they think they are. If they are not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/end-times-rapture-and-tribulation\/4\">suffering and dying<\/a> as Jesus did, and if they do not experience <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">religion as the enemy<\/a> and the source of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">injustice and oppression<\/a>,\u00a0they are not true followers.<\/p>\n<p>Then we must consider the rigid discipline of keeping <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws.<\/a> Jews only need to look at the list of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewfaq.org\/613.htm\">613 mitzvah<\/a> to be reminded that keeping the written law is a constant challenge that wears people down physically and emotionally. Christians do not follow the same list of rules, but each denomination has its own package of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> that keep people very busy with religious activity (e.g. going to church, praying, volunteering, reading the Bible, etc.) God <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/flesh\">symbolically calls all religious activity flesh<\/a> and symbolically equates all this activity with death because it exhausts the physical body but does not result in spiritual life. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+8:1-3;+matthew+4:1-4;+luke+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+32:47\">The only thing that gives spiritual life is the spoken word of God<\/a>. In other words, religious activity does not produce life, but produces death.<\/p>\n<p>More examples of death exist in Bible stories about conflict with enemies (e.g. Amalek, the Moabiites, Philistines, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, etc.). Often these encounters result in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=numbers+14:43;+2-samuel+1:12;+2-chronicles+29:1-9;+isaiah+1:20;+isaiah+3:25;+isaiah+13:15;+jeremiah+11:22;+jeremiah+14:18;+jeremiah+16:4;+jeremiah+18:21;+jeremiah+19:7;+jeremiah+20:4;+jeremiah+21:9;+jeremiah+27:13;+jeremiah+42:17-22;+jeremiah+44:12-18;+lamentations+2:21;+lamentations+4:9;+ezekiel+5:12;+ezekiel+6:11;+ezekiel+11:10;+ezekiel+30:1-6;+ezekiel+31:17-18;+ezekiel+32:22-32;+hosea+7:16;+hosea+13:16;+amos+7:17;+amos+9:10;+hebrews+11:37\">death by the sword.<\/a> It is difficult for us in these modern days to find meaning in these scriptures, but, if we really believe that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:16-17\">all scripture is God-breathed and useful for training in righteousness<\/a>, we will search diligently to discover how to apply them to our personal lives.<\/p>\n<p>What we need to learn from these stories of conflict with enemies is that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=isaiah+51;2+chronicles+36:16;leviticus+26:24;deuteronomy+28:27-28\">God sent these enemies to afflict and humble his people\u00a0<\/a>because<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+4:25-30;+deuteronomy+8:20;+1-samuel+12:15;+2-kings+18:11-12;+psalm+81:8-14;+psalm+106:24-26;+jeremiah+6:19;+jeremiah+40:1-3;+amos+2:1-5;+amos+8:11;+malachi+2:2;+ezekiel+17:11-21;+daniel+9:11\"> they sinned by not listening to his voice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>That God would punish his people seems inconsistent with what we might expect from a loving God until we remember that God tests and disciplines those he loves. And the reason he does this is to bring them to the point where they willingly choose to put their religious life to death. Therefore, anyone who has a sense of being loved by God should also have a sense of being tested, humbled and disciplined by him. And, people who do not have a sense of being tested by God need to seriously reconsider if they are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant disciples<\/a> or not.<\/p>\n<p>To accomplish this testing, God uses his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">enemies (i.e. religion)<\/a> to punish, humble and discipline his people. When we look at the Biblical <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/History_of_the_Jews_and_Judaism_in_the_Land_of_Israel\">history of Israelites and Jews<\/a>, we see a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/5#cycleofconflict\">cycle of ongoing conflict<\/a> with both internal and external enemies in whom religious motives were always at work to expand their kingdoms. This is all evidence that God was faithful to his promise that he would bring <a style=\"outline: 1px dotted; outline-offset: 0px;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=pestilence+sword+famine&amp;t=nas&amp;c=all\">famine, pestilence and the sword on his people <\/a>if they <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+22:18;+exodus+23:21-22;+numbers+7:89;+numbers+14:22;+deuteronomy+4:12;+deuteronomy+4:30;+deuteronomy+4:36;+deuteronomy+5:22-26;+deuteronomy+8:20;+deuteronomy+9:23;+deuteronomy+13:4;+deuteronomy+13:18;+deuteronomy+15:5;+deuteronomy+26:14;+deuteronomy+26:17;+deuteronomy+30:20;+joshua+5:6;+joshua+10:14;+joshua+22:2;+joshua+24:24;+psalm+81:11;+psalm+95:7;+psalm+106:25;+jeremiah+3:13;+jeremiah+3:25;+jeremiah+7:23;+jeremiah+7:28;+jeremiah+9:13;+jeremiah+11:4;+jeremiah+11:7;+jeremiah+18:10;+jeremiah+22:20-21;+jeremiah+26:13;+jeremiah+32:23;+jeremiah+40:3;+jeremiah+42:6;+jeremiah+42:13-14;+jeremiah+43:1-7;+jeremiah+44:23;+isaiah+28:23;+isaiah+32:9;+isaiah+55:1-3\">would not listen to his voice<\/a>. And we see the same patterns in the <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/History_of_Christianity\">history of Christianity <\/a>from the beginning until the present day. Considering this Biblical record alongside actual history of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dictionary.com\/browse\/interreligious\">inter-religious<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quora.com\/What-does-intra-and-inter-mean\">intra-religious<\/a> conflict, it is no understatement to say that being a child of God has never been easy.<\/p>\n<p>Evidence that being a son of God is not easy exists in the fact that God is constantly <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/nacah.html\">testing<\/a> his people to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+8:1-2;+1-chronicles+29:17;+2-chronicles+32:31;+psalm+26:2;+jeremiah+17:10;+psalm+17:1-3;+deuteronomy+6:1-6;+psalm+7:9;+jeremiah+11:20;+jeremiah+20:12;+ezekiel+11:1-5;+psalm+139:23\">reveal what is in their hearts<\/a>. And, mindful that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/2-timothy\/3-16.html\">all scripture is useful to training in righteousness,<\/a> we should not be deceived or proud to think that God&#8217;s testing was limited to Bible characters. He is constantly<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=proverbs+15:25;+job+12:14;+zechariah+1:18-21;+jeremiah+1:10;+jeremiah+18:7-10;+ezekiel+32:18\"> working to tear down the religious structures of proud religious people so he can rebuild them into humble spiritual houses<\/a> where he lives.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\">Place Where God Will Place His Name\u00a0<\/a>for understanding of the house where God lives.<\/p>\n<p>The nature of testing is not well understood. Predictably, religious people think of testing in terms of physical circumstances (e.g. health, finances, relationships, jobs, etc.) that cause trouble and pain of one kind or another which the Bible symbolically calls death. Super-spiritual people tend to characterize testing as spiritual conflict perpetrated by the devil, demons or human agitators. The truth is, however, that God uses religion to create conflict that tests the heart.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">\u00a0Religion is the Enemy<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/gods-at-war\">Gods at War<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/sibling-warfare\">Sibling Conflict<\/a> and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">Religion is Injustice, Slavery, Oppression and Affliction <\/a>for more about how God uses religion to test the hearts of his people.<\/p>\n<p>Even though religious people carry out the testing,<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+53;+deuteronomy+32:39;+1-samuel+2:6;+psalm+68:20;+psalm+51:7-10;+1-peter+4:19;+matthew+26:38-39\"> God is responsible for all the conflict. <\/a>He allows religion to exist because\u00a0 he knows that, sooner or later, the ever-present competition for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ephesians+6:12;+1-peter+3:21-22;+romans+8:36-39;+ephesians+1:21;+ephesians+2:2;+ephesians+3:8-10;+john+12:31\">power, authority<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">money<\/a> by religious leaders and followers will bring people to cry out to him for deliverance from religion.<\/p>\n<p>Every battle we see in the Old Testament is an example of good versus evil where Israelites are challenged to keep their hearts pure in the face of testing in which they either choose to practice religion or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">listen to God&#8217;s voice<\/a>. Sometimes they choose good (i.e. listen to God&#8217;s voice) and win the battle. When they choose evil (i.e. listen to the voices of false prophets), they lose the battle. When they choose good, they are New Covenant disciples. When they choose evil, they are Old\/First Covenant\u00a0 religionists. It is an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/5#cycleofconflict\">ongoing cycle of conflict<\/a> that still challenges people. These choices are ongoing replays of the temptations between the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeoflife\">Tree of Life<\/a> and the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">COVENANT COMPARISONS<\/a> for more about New Covenant and Old\/First Covenant. Also see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/#temptationsofjesus\">this link for understanding of temptation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But, while<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+6:1-3;+joel+2:13;+romans+2:4;+romans+9:22;+2-peter+3:14-15;+exodus+34:1-6\"> God is patient <\/a>in allowing religion to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">enslave and persecute his people, <\/a>he is quietly and invisibly at work disciplining individuals to provide a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-corinthians\/10-13.html\">way of escape<\/a> that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/2\">delivers them<\/a> from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>DEATH TO RELIGION AND RESURRECTION TO A NEW LIFE<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen God says he is a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?q=consuming%2Bfire&amp;c=&amp;t=nas&amp;ps=10&amp;s=Bibles\">consuming fire<\/a> and a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=proverbs+17:3;isaiah+48:1-11;jeremiah+6:24-30;jeremiah+9:1-9;ezekiel+22:1-22;zechariah+13:1-9;malachi+3:1-5;mark+9:38-50;1+peter+1:1-9;revelation+3:13-22\">refining fire<\/a>, he is referring to the power of his spoken voice to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+1:4-10;+2-corinthians+10:4;+jeremiah+18:7-9;+jeremiah+24:6;+jeremiah+31:28;+jeremiah+31:40\">tear down religious things created by man and build up spiritual things that only he can create.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/study\/study-for-discipline\/7\">this link for more understanding of God&#8217;s fire.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The things that he consumes are these:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 5.3333%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7.79484%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 86.8718%;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\">Religious pride and arrogance<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-a-stronghold-of-wrong-thinking\">Strongholds of wrong thinking<\/a>\u00a0embodied in religious doctrines and beliefs.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">Injustice, slavery and oppression imposed by religion.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">Religious commerce.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">His religious enemies.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">The sin of religion.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">Religious deception.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Religious<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\"> idolatry.<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-3627\">Religious <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/circumcision\">Rituals and Traditions.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Religious\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sacrifices-tithes-and-offerings\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Sacrifices, Tithes and Offerings<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Religious <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/jesus-and-the-money-changers-in-the-temple-2\">institutions<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>What God refines is the hearts of people who have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/god-is-calling-people-out-of-religion\">come out of religion<\/a>. He takes <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">hearts that are evil and impure<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+11:14-21;+jeremiah+24:7;+jeremiah+32:38-39;+ezekiel+18:31;+ezekiel+36:24-27;+psalm+51:10;+ezekiel+11:19;+john+3:3;+john+3:5;+2-corinthians+5:17\">recreates\/transforms\u00a0<\/a>them into <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">clean, pure hearts.<\/a> This is what it means to be created in God&#8217;s image: The invisible nature of God (i.e. God&#8217;s name) is established in the clean, pure heart of a New Covenant disciple.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\">THE MIRACLE OF CREATION: BORN AGAIN<\/a> for understanding of new life.<\/p>\n<p>The concept of refining also referring to the spiritual work he accomplishes in people through religious conflict that he uses to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/bachan.html\">refine (i.e. test)<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=isaiah+41:25;+isaiah+45:9;+isaiah+64:8;+jeremiah+18:1-6;+lamentations+4:1-2;+romans+9:21\">reshape<\/a> them to conform them into his image (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">write his laws on their hearts through the teaching of his spirit<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">Religion is the Enemy, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/gods-at-war\">Gods at War, <\/a>Model Warriors, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/sibling-warfare\">Sibling Conflict <\/a>for more about religious conflict.<\/p>\n<p>From the fact that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-samuel+16:1-8;+1-kings+8:39;+1-chronicles+28:9;+luke+16:15;+1-samuel+2:3;+psalm+11:4;+jeremiah+17:10;+john+2:24-25;+acts+1:24\">God only looks\u00a0 at the heart<\/a>, we know that his purpose in testing is to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+8:1-3;+deuteronomy+13:1-3;+deuteronomy+6:5;+psalm+119:1-2\">prove what is in the heart of people<\/a> (i.e. are they Old\/First Covenant religionists who follow <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>, or are they <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+10:15-17;+hebrews+8:7-13\">New Covenant<\/a> disciples who live by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">God&#8217;s spiritual laws<\/a> written on their hearts.) We know this because &#8220;new heart&#8221; is a Biblical code word for the New Covenant.<\/p>\n<p>This<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+4:34;deuteronomy+7:14-20;deuteronomy+8:1-16;hebrews+12:1-11;1+peter+1:1-6\"> testing\/proving will always be difficult (i.e. a slow death) in the short run, but will be good for God&#8217;s people in the long run, and even leads to faith and salvation <\/a>which are code words indicating the establishment of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;deuteronomy+6:6-8;2+corinthians+3:3;deuteronomy+11:18;deuteronomy+30:14;deuteronomy+32:45-46;psalm+26:2;psalm+37:30-31;psalm+40:8;psalm+119:11;proverbs+3:3;isaiah+51:7;jeremiah+17:1\">New Covenant<\/a> in the hearts of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples<\/a> . God calls his kind of testing discipline. Religious people do not become <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples<\/a>\u00a0 unless, and until, they experience this kind of testing which is also called pre-rapture tribulation.<\/p>\n<p>In Biblical language, the disciplinary process is symbolized as death that leads to resurrection and new life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths\">Two Deaths<\/a> for more about death.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"spiritualdeath\"><\/a>Religious people who interpret the Bible literally always think about death and resurrection in strictly natural terms. Sadly, this religious perspective causes them to totally miss what God is trying to teach them about the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/9#hiddenlifeheart\">inner life of the heart<\/a>. When they interpret the Bible literally and think in natural terms, they fail to understand that death to religion and resurrection from that death means a change of heart from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">evil and impure<\/a> to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">good and pure.<\/a> This change is the miracle that God performs in the hearts of New Covenant disciples who were previously Old\/First Covenant religionists.<\/p>\n<p>The truth is that Biblical references to death and resurrection are not about physical death and resurrection but about spiritual death and resurrection which are terms that are, admittedly, very difficult to understand.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIPS: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\">THE MIRACLE OF CREATION: BORN AGAIN<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/6\">HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>To understand <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spirituallife\">spiritual life<\/a> and spiritual death, we must be mindful of the fact that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/4\">God, being spirit, does all of his creative, restorative work in the spiritual realm of the heart<\/a> which cannot be observed to natural man. That means that neither the death nor the resurrection can be observed with natural abilities like eyes or ears. Instead, the death and resurrection with which God is concerned and is active is in the realm of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/9#hiddenlifeheart\">hidden life of our heart<\/a> that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+17:10;+psalm+44:20-21;+proverbs+15:11;+1-samuel+16:7;+1-chronicles+28:9;+2-chronicles+6:28-31;+psalm+44:21;+acts+1:24\">only he can see<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In the simplest possible terms, spiritual death has two meanings<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\"><strong>Death &#8220;from&#8221;\u00a0practicing religion:<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Religion leads to death because religion always involves listening to false prophets.<\/li>\n<li>In God&#8217;s view, there are only two kinds of hearts: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">Clean, pure<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">evil, impure<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>In God&#8217;s view, clean, pure hearts are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spirituallife\">spiritually alive <\/a>because they\u00a0 are storehouses for God&#8217;s words.<\/li>\n<li>In God&#8217;s view, people who have evil, impure hearts are spiritually dead because they do not have God&#8217;s words in their hearts.<\/li>\n<li>People who <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/ezekiel\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+14:1-7\">listen to false prophets do not listen to God\u2019s voice.<\/a>\u00a0 They are spiritually dead.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+8:1-3;+matthew+4:1-4;+luke+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+30:15-20;+john+6:63-68;+john+5:24;+deuteronomy+32:45-47;+1-peter+1:22-25;+hebrews+4:12;+1-john+1:1-3;+john+1:1-4\">Spiritual nourishment (i.e. life) is only available to those who listen to God\u2019s spoken voice. <\/a><\/li>\n<li>People who do not listen to God\u2019s spoken voice have died, or will die, spiritually for lack of spiritual nourishment (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine#goodspiritualfood\">good spiritual food that comes from God&#8217;s mouth<\/a>.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/end-times-rapture-and-tribulation\/3\">this link about pre-\u00a0 tribulation<\/a> for another description of this kind of death.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"3\"><strong>Death &#8220;to&#8221; the practice of religion:<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Spiritual life that comes from listening to God\u2019s spoken voice is available only to people who do not listen to the voices of false prophets. Until they learn to listen to God&#8217;s voice, they are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spiritualdeath\">spiritually dead<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>False prophets are essential features of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\">religion<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> because\u00a0false prophets are Trees of Knowledge of Good and Evil.<\/li>\n<li>Therefore, there must be a death (i.e. end) to the practice of listening to false prophets.<\/li>\n<li>And there must eventually be an end to the practice of religion for anyone who wants to be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spirituallife\">spiritually alive.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>In summary, for New Covenant disciples, the first death means the end of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\/4\">strong affections<\/a> they had in their hearts for their religious leaders (i.e. idols). It also includes death to the practice of religion taught by those idols. Both are types of spiritual death because they happen in the heart. They are the condition of an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">evil, impure heart.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\">Religion is Idolatry<\/a> for more about idolatry.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"spirituallife\"><\/a>Spiritual death is the exact opposite of spiritual life (i.e. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+11:14-21;+jeremiah+24:7;+jeremiah+32:38-39;+ezekiel+18:31;+ezekiel+36:24-27;+psalm+51:10;+ezekiel+11:19;+john+3:3;+john+3:5;+2-corinthians+5:17\">resurrection, rebirth,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/eternity\">eternal life<\/a>) which is the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">inner life of the heart<\/a> that New Covenant<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+1:1-2;+psalm+40:8;+psalm+119:70;+psalm+119:77;+psalm+119:92;+psalm+119:174\"> disciples enjoy<\/a> when their heart comes alive to the ability to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">hear God&#8217;s voice<\/a> and obey his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#spirituallaw\">spiritual laws<\/a> written on their hearts.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns#rewards\">this link for understanding of spiritual life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>These are not easy concepts to comprehend for Old\/First Covenant religionists because they have not gone through the death and resurrection process. The following statements summarize their condition:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>They are spiritually dead because they do not enjoy the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+32:44-47;+deuteronomy+8:3;+deuteronomy+30:20;+john+5:24;+acts+13:48;+1-john+1:1;+revelation+20:4\">life-giving benefits of listening to God&#8217;s spoken words. <\/a><\/li>\n<li>They are dead because they have made<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/isaiah\/passage\/?q=isaiah+28:15-18\"> a covenant with death by practicing religion.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>They are effectively dead because they are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">enslaved, oppressed and afflicted by the religion<\/a> they practice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>This will be the condition of religious\u00a0 people until they individually <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#howtoheargodsvoice\">learn how to listen to God&#8217;s voice.<\/a> Only then will they be spiritually alive.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>DISCIPLINED FOR LIFE<\/strong><br \/>\nIn Biblical terms, discipline is the process we go through as we transition from being Old\/First Covenant religionists who formerly listened exclusively to religious leaders and are well on their way to becoming <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11;+john+6:45\">New Covenant disciples who receive all their instruction about God from God&#8217;s spirit.<\/a> When we begin the process, we observe <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> that represent death. After we are resurrected and<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\"> listen to God&#8217;s voice<\/a>, we live our life according to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#spirituallaw\">spiritual laws<\/a> written on our hearts. God calls it being <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+3:1-7;+1-peter+1:3;+1-peter+1:22-25\">born again by the spirit <\/a>to a new, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+10:10;+psalm+65:9;+2-corinthians+9:8;+1-timothy+1:14\">abundant life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIPS: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\">THE MIRACLE OF CREATION: BORN AGAIN<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/6\">HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Discipline is a process in which people struggle to choose between what God has commanded them to do and what religion tells them to do. This struggle is symbolically represented in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/7.html\">Romans 7. <\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"romans7\"><\/a>Romans 7 contains many references to law. In order to understand these scriptures, it is necessary to understand the laws (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2\">Old\/First Covenant or New Covenant<\/a>) to which each scripture refers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: For clarity, these two types of laws are distinguished with red and bold letters. References to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Old\/First Covenant law are highlighted in red<\/span>, and references to the <strong>New Covenant are highlighted in bold.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/7.html\">Romans 7<\/a>: 1-3 Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> law<\/span>), that the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">law<\/span> has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">law<\/span> to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">law<\/span> concerning the husband. 3 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">law<\/span>, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: The law here refers to Old\/First Covenant laws which are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>. A married woman is a symbolic reference to Israel, or the church.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">With these understandings, we can see that the woman (i.e. church) is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/genesis\/3-16.html\">bound to religious laws and religious leaders who are symbolically represented as her husband. The desire to be submissive to religious leaders (i.e. husband) is the consequence that fell on Eve\u00a0 after she ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.<\/a> This, of course, is the beginning of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">This makes sense because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> are always conceived, taught, and enforced by men. The woman becomes an adulteress with a false prophet when she listens to his teaching (i.e. follows religious laws) rather than listen to the voice of God (i.e. her real husband).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">The other husband (i.e. false prophet) effectively (i.e. symbolically) dies (i.e. is separated from the woman) when she stops listening to his teaching and instead begins to listen to God&#8217;s voice. At that point, the woman is no longer an adulteress (i.e. a woman who is in an illicit relationship with another man) because she is joined (i.e. married) with God who was always her first husband.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">All of the above symbolizes individuals ceasing to follow Old\/First Covenant religion in favor of becoming New Covenant disciples.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">MORE COMMENTARY: People do not become New Covenant disciples until they quit (i.e. die) to being Old\/First Covenant religionists. As long as they live according to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">Old\/First Covenant rules (i.e. doctrines and religious practices)<\/a> they think they are alive but they are really spiritually dead because they do not listen to God&#8217;s voice. They cannot be spiritually alive because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+8:1-3;+matthew+4:1-4;+luke+4:1-4\">spiritual life depends on the ability to hear God&#8217;s spoken voice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">In God\u2019s eyes, religious people are effectively married to the religious leaders they follow. People are not free to be joined (i.e. married) to God until they are separated from (i.e. dead to) the religious leaders and institutions to which they are currently married (i.e. emotionally tied).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">The way God sees it, when people choose to listen to religious leaders instead of listening to his voice, they show that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+29:1-13;+matthew+15:1-14;+mark+7:1-13\">their hearts are not fully inclined to him &#8212; no matter what they say with their mouths <\/a>and no matter how many religious things they might do.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Religious leaders do not die physically, of course, but the relationship must die\/end. Only the religious person can end the relationship. Religious leaders will not voluntarily terminate relationships with people who follow them because they lose income and influence when people stop following them.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/deuteronomy\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+13:1-3\">When religious people end relationships with religious leaders and their institutions, and cease to be Old\/First Covenant religionists (i.e. prophets and dreamers)<\/a>, they are free from the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">law<\/span> and eligible to be joined to God as a New Covenant disciple. This is what God wants because only then do they <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+22:35-40;+deuteronomy+6:1-5;+deuteronomy+11:13-18;+deuteronomy+13:1-3;+mark+12:29-30;+luke+10:26-27\">fulfill all of God&#8217;s spiritual laws by loving him with all their heart, mind soul and strength.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Law<\/span> through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY:\u00a0The laws to which we are made to die are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/study\/study-tips\/2\">The body of Christ symbolically refers to New Covenant disciples who teach Old\/First Covenant religionists that religion is sin and encourage them to come out of Egypt\/Babylon<\/a> and enter the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+9:23;+deuteronomy+30:15-20;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+42:13;+jeremiah+43:1-7\">promised land where they will listen to God&#8217;s voice. <\/a>All warriors are part of the body of Christ because they are devoted to setting people free from religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">False prophets<\/a>, however, preach Old\/First Covenant religious laws. This preaching contrasts with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/revelation\/19-10.html\">preaching (i.e. testimony) of Christ (i.e. Jesus as a type of New Covenant disciple) and warriors who are the spirit of New Covenant prophecy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">The difference in the preaching is that false prophets preach what they understand from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">literal words of the Bible, while Jesus and New Covenant disciples, teach the symbolic<\/a> meanings of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\">mysteries<\/a> of the Bible found in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/numbers\/12-8.html\">parables<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/numbers\/12-8.html\">dark sayings,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/hebrews\/passage\/?q=hebrews+9:1-9\">symbols<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+5:14;+hebrews+11:19\">types and patterns<\/a>, <span class=\"verse-12\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/passage\/?q=john+16:23-25#\">figurative language<\/a><\/span>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=colossians+2:13-22;+hebrews+8:1-10;+hebrews+10:1-18\">shadows <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=proverbs+25:2;+deuteronomy+29:29;+matthew+11:25;+psalm+78:1-7;+john+16:17-33;+daniel+2;+romans+11:25;+romans+16:25;+1-corinthians+13:2;+ephesians+1:9;+ephesians+3:1-9;+ephesians+6:19;+colossians+1:25-26\">deep mysteries<\/a> hidden in the Bible.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a id=\"passion\"><\/a>5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Law<\/span>, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: God uses <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/3#adulteryandprostitution\">sexual symbolism<\/a> and marriage to represent affections for Old\/First Covenant religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Passion is typically thought of in the context of sexual activity, which is generally considered to be positive. But God uses <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/pathema.html\">passion to describe a negative affliction. <\/a>Here are several examples of God&#8217;s idea of passion:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 7.3333%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 23.7948%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 68.8718%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>The passion people have to feed their pride through religious activity.<\/li>\n<li>They are also <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+6:1-5;+matthew+6:16;+luke+6:35\">passionate to receive rewards for displaying their righteousness\u00a0 in view of others who praise them for their religious piety. <\/a><\/li>\n<li>They are passionate about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\/3#hangingontolife\">holding onto their religious life.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>They are passionate about satisfying their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\/4#listofquestions\">addiction to religion<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>They are passionate about maintaining their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/10\">religious life<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">These are all sinful passions that result in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spiritualdeath\">spiritual death<\/a> for religious people.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">6 But now we have been released from the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Law<\/span>, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in <strong>newness of the Spirit<\/strong> and not in <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">oldness of the letter.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: The literal Bible arouses (i.e. inspires) people to be religious. People who read the Bible see something that they can do that seems spiritual, so they do what the literal Bible suggests that they should do. They think that they are pleasing God with their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+1:10-17;+amos+5:20-23\">rituals, songs and gatherings, when they are, in fact, offending him<\/a>. Actually, they are only <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=matthew+6:1-6;+matthew+6:16;+matthew+23:1-12;+luke+20:46-47;+luke+21:1;+john+5:41-44;+john+12:43\">pleasing themselves and other religious people who do the same kind of religious behaviors. <\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">In the Bible, literal interpretations of flesh and sinful passions are commonly symbolized as<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=romans+13:13;+1-corinthians+6:9-10;+hebrews+12:16;+hebrews+13:4;+proverbs+23:20;+luke+21:34;+1-corinthians+3:1-3;+ephesians+5:18;+1-peter+4:1-3;+2-peter+2:12-14;+ephesians+5:3-5;+galatians+5:15-21;+galatians+5:26;+philippians+2:1-4;+james+3:14-16;+galatians+5:19-21;+leviticus+18:20;+deuteronomy+22:22;+1-thessalonians+4:1-8;+malachi+3:1-5\"> sex, greed and other moral issues.<\/a> While sex, greed and other moral issues are not unimportant to God, they are not God&#8217;s primary concern. What he is concerned about is the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">The main thing that God wants his people to do <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=micah+6:8;+isaiah+56:1;+proverbs+21:3;+jeremiah+22:3;+proverbs+1:1-3;+proverbs+28:5;+zechariah+7:9;+deuteronomy+16:19-20;+deuteronomy+10:18;+psalm+37:30;+psalm+106:3;+psalm+99:4;+psalm+111:7;+habakkuk+1:4;+ezekiel+18:5;+psalm+82:3;+psalm+97:2;+proverbs+2:9;+proverbs+8:20;+psalm+25:9;+1+chronicles+18:14;+ezekiel+33:14;+hosea+12:6;+amos+5:24;+jeremiah+7:1-6;+proverbs+21:7;+proverbs+21:15;+isaiah+1:27;+psalm+72:2;+job+36:6;+lamentations+3:35;+micah+3:1;+psalm+140:12;+psalm+146:7;+luke+11:42;+isaiah+42:1;+matthew+12:18;+1+kings+3:10-12;+ezekiel+45:9;+isaiah+59:8;+isaiah+42:1-4;+ezekiel+18;+ezekiel+22:29;+jeremiah+33:15;+jeremiah+22:13-15;+jeremiah+23:1-5;+psalm+37:28;+2+chronicles+9:8;+amos+5:15;+isaiah+59:15;+isaiah+61:8;+genesis+18:19;+jeremiah+9:23-24;+isaiah+5:7;+isaiah+10:1-2;+isaiah+16:5;+luke+18:6-7;+luke+18:1-8\">do is justice and righteousness<\/a> that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">sets people free from religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Being in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/flesh\">flesh<\/a> is God&#8217;s language for describing the compelling desires that cause people to practice religion. Religious laws have a<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\"> toxic<\/a> way of arousing people to practice religion by doing various kinds of religious activities (e.g. prayer, singing, kneeling, raising hands, going to church, etc.) with their physical bodies in the company of people who share their religious beliefs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Verse 6 says that religious people are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/katecho.html\">bound<\/a> to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>. It can be said that they are bound by their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/3#passion\">passions for religion<\/a> and its <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">rewards<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 200px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/music-singing-and-dancing\" data-slimstat=\"5\">Music, Singing and Dancing<\/a> for more about religious passions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">7 What shall we say then? Is the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Law<\/span> sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Law<\/span>; for I would not have known about coveting if the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Law<\/span> had not said, &#8220;YOU SHALL NOT COVET.&#8221; 8 But sin, taking opportunity through the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">commandment<\/span>, produced in me coveting of every kind; for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/choris.html\">apart<\/a> from the <strong>Law <\/strong>sin is dead.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: The only way to understand this difficult scripture is to differentiate between <a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">religious laws made by men<\/a> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#spirituallaw\">God&#8217;s spiritual law<\/a><\/strong>. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">Religious laws are sin<\/a>, but spiritual laws are not sin.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">We are typically introduced to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion<\/a> by parents who teach us to practice <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>. Through this training, we are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deceived<\/a> into believing that we are practicing righteousness when we practice <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">religion (i.e. sin).<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Verse 8 says that while we are in this deceived condition in which we practice religion, we are apart from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#spirituallaw\">God&#8217;s spiritual laws<\/a> and have no idea that religion is sin. In other words, religious people are dead (i.e. not spiritually alive or aware) to the fact that they sin by practicing religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Covetousness is one example of sin that we learn by practicing religion. Religious people covet the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+6:1-5;+matthew+6:16;+matthew+23:1-5;+luke+6:20-26;+john+12:37-43;+john+5:41-44;+romans+2:29\">rewards that accrue to other religious people who practice their righteousness before men<\/a>. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/galatians\/passage\/?q=galatians+6:12-15\">We covet anything that we can boast about in our constant effort to make ourselves look good to others through the practice of religion (e.g. circumcision, prayer, worship, Bible knowledge, etc.)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">If we could see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">our hearts the way God sees them<\/a>, we would know that we covet the praise and affirmation that religious people give to their religious brothers and sisters who are exemplary in the practice of their particular style of religion. Because special authority and status accrues to highly religious people because of the Biblical knowledge they have and because of the many religious things that they do so faithfully, we all aspire to acquire that status to some degree. In other words, we covet the status and authority that highly religious people have.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+6:1-5;+matthew+6:16;+matthew+23:1-5;+luke+6:20-26;+john+12:37-43;+john+5:41-44;+romans+2:29\">Desire to possess this authority and status compels religious people to practice their religion in ways that will be noticed so that they will be honored and respected for their religious piety.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">MORE COMMENTARY: We must go through a period of being religious before we can become New Covenant disciples. It is part of our training to discern good and evil. We cannot know good unless we are able to compare it to evil. We must be humbled in the knowledge that we were once<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\"> proud and arrogant in practicing our religion<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+5:15;+deuteronomy+16:12;+deuteronomy+24:18-22\">Remembering that we were once guilty of the sin of religion<\/a> is necessary to having mercy and compassion on those who are still religious.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">MORE COMMENTARY: There is something very attractive about religion. It is the essence of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Eve saw that the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine#evilspiritualfood\">tree was good for food<\/a>. We interpret this to mean that religion feeds our soulish &#8212; not spiritual &#8212; human need to be busy with our bodies. Religion, like other work, is a way to earn acceptance and praise from others. Being a member of a religious community is a great place to earn praise and acceptance while being physically busy. It feels good, it feeds our pride and makes us feel alive. It is our reward for being religious. It is<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/genesis\/passage\/?q=genesis+11:1-8\"> what the people of Babylon sought when they built a tower to reach God.<\/a> Feeling good about your religiosity is the essence of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\">pride<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Being religious is an accepted, convenient way to make a good name for ourselves, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/philippians\/passage\/?q=philippians+2:4-8\">having a good reputation is not what God wants for us, and it is not what Jesus desired for himself<\/a>. He calls us to holiness outside (i.e. set apart from) organized religious communities. He does not call us to be a part of a community of idolaters who listen to the voices of human idols.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">While practicing Old\/First Covenant religion, we covet all kinds of things such as position, and\u00a0 praise that we receive from people who value the religious things we do because they do the same things. This relates to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/2\">clean and unclean issue<\/a>. <strong>Clean is the New Covenant<\/strong>, and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">unclean is the Old\/First Covenant<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Verse 8 says that we would not know about sin unless we had sinned and then come to recognize it as sin. Awareness that religion is sin only comes to New Covenant disciples who have ceased practicing religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">9 I was once alive apart from the <strong>Law<\/strong>; but when the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">commandment<\/span> came, sin became alive and I died; 10 and this <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">commandment<\/span>, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">commandment<\/span>, deceived me and through it killed me.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Understanding of these very difficult verses depends on understanding of the fact that religion is sin, and of the differences between man&#8217;s religious laws and God&#8217;s spiritual law. With these understandings we can rephrase the verses as follows:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 180px;\"><em>9. When I obeyed <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">man&#8217;s religious laws,<\/a> I thought I was spiritually alive. However, when I came to understand that what God really wanted was that I obey his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#spirituallaw\">spiritual laws<\/a> written on my heart (i.e. New Covenant), not religious laws written by men, I realized that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">religion is sin<\/a> and I chose to die to practicing religion.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 180px;\"><em>10. The command to obey God&#8217;s spiritual laws gave me new life after I chose to die to practicing religion.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 180px;\"><em>11. The decisions I made to sin by practicing religion were inspired by literal interpretation of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">commandments upon which religious laws are based. <\/a>I was <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deceived by religion <\/a>into believing that obedience to the literal words of the Bible were what God wanted me to do. Instead of giving me life, however, obedience to the literal laws produced spiritual death in me. <\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 30px;\">12 So then, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/4\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Law<\/span> is holy, and the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">commandment<\/span> is holy and righteous and good<\/a>. 13 Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: With the understandings mentioned in the Commentary above, still in place, these verses may be paraphrased as follows:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 180px;\"><em>12. All of the written law is holy, righteous and good. The problem is that people choose to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">interpret it literally<\/a> instead of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">listening to God&#8217;s voice<\/a> which reveals the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\">mysteries<\/a> of the law.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 180px;\"><em>13. Because the written law is good, the written law is not the problem that caused me to die spiritually. The real problem is religion based on my literal interpretation of the written law which I now see as the cause of my spiritual death. Because I now see this so clearly, I understand how religion based on the written law which I interpret literally leads me to sin by creating religion from it.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: These verses can be paraphrased as follows:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 180px;\"><em>14: Even though the written law led me to sin, it is still true that the written law is spiritual. However, because I am in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">bondage to sin<\/a> that compels me to interpret the written law literally, and because I do not listen for God&#8217;s voice to interpret the written law&#8217;s spiritual meaning for me, the written law is not spiritual for me.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 180px;\"><em>15. I do not really understand why I practice religion. I do not want to be religious but I can&#8217;t help it. My problem is my fleshly tendency to interpret the law literally instead of listening to the voice of God to interpret its symbolic, mysterious meanings for me. Even though my real desire is to obey God, my tendency to interpret the written law literally compels me to be religious.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 180px;\"><em>16. Now, when I read the Bible carefully and listen to God&#8217;s voice to explain it to me, I understand that God knew that I would have this problem with religion. But this was good because it is all a part of God&#8217;s plan to teach me to stop listening to false prophets and listen to his voice instead.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 180px;\"><em>17. So I now understand that my sinful tendency is to interpret the written law literally and to listen to others who claim that they can interpret it for me. This sinful tendency dictates that I listen to others instead of listening to God&#8217;s voice which interprets the symbolic meaning of scripture for me. This tendency is\u00a0 the root problem that causes me to sin by practicing religion.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 180px;\"><em>18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: These verses testify to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\">toxicity of religion<\/a>. The author of the book of Romans (assumed to be Paul the Apostle) recognizes that the religion he practices with his body (i.e. flesh) has no spiritual value. And he acknowledges that, despite his sincere desire that he should not practice religion, he is unable to stop doing it.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 30px;\">20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Here the author says that the compelling power (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\">toxicity<\/a>) of his inclination to be religious has taken over his will to the degree that, despite his good intentions, he is unable to stop practicing religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 30px;\">22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Here the author says that in his heart (i.e. his inner man) he wants to be a New Covenant disciple (i.e. someone who follows God&#8217;s spiritual laws). But he also says that the fleshly instincts that compel him to practice religion also successfully prevent him from choosing to do the right thing (i.e. stop practicing religion). Thus, despite what he wants to do in his heart (i.e. worship God in spirit and truth), he is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">enslaved<\/a> to practicing religion with his physical body.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 30px;\">24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#spirituallaw\">law of God<\/a>, but on the other, with my flesh the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">law of sin.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Here we get a feel for the author&#8217;s inner conflict and turmoil over trying to escape religion. This is common for people who want to break free from religion but are unable to do so. They are in a double-minded condition where they do the best they can to worship God in spirit and truth while also practicing religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Paul gives thanks to Jesus for his teaching about the difference between the written law and God&#8217;s spiritual law written on his heart. Essentially, this means he is thankful that Jesus has taught him to reject religion and be a New Covenant disciple.<\/p>\n<p>The Book of Romans continues with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/8.html\">Chapter 8 which discusses how the author gained freedom from bondage to religion. <\/a>The key verses that discuss how freedom is accomplished appear in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/romans\/passage\/?q=romans+8:12-17\">Romans 8:12-17:<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Our real obligation is to listen to God&#8217;s voice. Practicing religion in the flesh distracts us from this obligation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Religion is life according to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/flesh\">flesh<\/a>. While we practice religion, we are spiritually dead in terms of our ability to hear God&#8217;s voice. But, dying to religion is not a one time event. It is a process\u00a0 by which we <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+15:30-31;+romans+8:36;+luke+14:27;+1-corinthians+4:9;+2-corinthians+11:23;+hebrews+10:32-39\">die daily.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">When we choose to quit practicing religion, we are born again in terms of our ability to hear God&#8217;s voice.\u00a0 Spiritual life is available to people who live according to<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+8:1-3;+matthew+4:1-4;+luke+4:1-4\"> every word spoken by God.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, &#8220;Abba! Father!&#8221; 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: New Covenant disciples are sons of God because they have been spiritually born again. That means they are now able to hear God&#8217;s voice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Previously, while they were religious, they were subject to a spirit of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">slavery imposed on them by religion. <\/a>They followed religious rules and maintained their status within their chosen religious communities because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+118:1-6;+proverbs+29:25;+isaiah+51:1-7;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+psalm+56:1-11;+isaiah+54:1-4\">they feared man &#8212; not God<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">As children of God, New Covenant disciples desperately desire (i.e. cry out) to hear the voice of their father. They know that spiritual life comes from hearing his voice. They know that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+23:1-10\">God is their true spiritual father\/leader &#8212; not other men<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Experiencing God&#8217;s discipline is a very difficult process. Religious beliefs are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-a-stronghold-of-wrong-thinking\">strongholds of wrong thinking<\/a> with which we are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\">intoxicated<\/a> to such a degree that we do not welcome challenge or change &#8211;especially the change of doing without religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">In Biblical language,<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+8:1-14;+colossians+3:1-10;+galatians+2:19-20;+1-corinthians+15:30-31;+romans+8:36\"> people who voluntarily submit to the dying process are said to have died<\/a>. Such death does not mean physical death, of course, but refers to a spiritual death and resurrection process that includes the following minimum features:<\/p>\n<table class=\" aligncenter\" style=\"height: 269px; width: 101.396%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+5:1-3;+jeremiah+15:7;+ezekiel+14:1-6;+ezekiel+18:30-32;+matthew+3:1-2;+matthew+4:17\">Religious people repent for participating in the sin of religion.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>They voluntarily choose to quit (i.e. die) to their religious lives.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+2:19-20;+ephesians+2:1-6;+hosea+6:1-2;+john+6:39;+1-corinthians+6:14;+romans+6:3-4;+1-corinthians+15;+2-corinthians+4:7-18;+matthew+11:5;+luke+7:22;+romans+6:4\">God resurrects them<\/a> from the symbolic <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">death they experienced as Old\/First Covenant religionists. <\/a>The Bible also calls this being born again by the spirit.<\/li>\n<li>Being born again essentially means that they now have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+ezekiel+12:1-3;+ezekiel+40:1-4;+mark+8:14-20;+luke+10:21-24;+romans+11:1-10;+isaiah+6:1-10;+isaiah+43:1-8;+jeremiah+5:20-21;+matthew+13:13-18;+mark+4:8-18;+luke+8:1-10;+john+9:39-41;+john+12:37-40;+acts+28:17-28\">spiritual eyes and ears<\/a> that enable them to hear <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/4#voice\">God&#8217;s spoken voice<\/a> that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+8:1-3;+matthew+4:1-4;+luke+4:1-4\">speaks life<\/a> to them.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+2:19-20;+ephesians+2:1-6;+hosea+6:1-2;+john+6:39;+1-corinthians+6:14;+romans+6:3-4;+1-corinthians+15;+2-corinthians+4:7-18;+matthew+11:5;+luke+7:22;+romans+6:4\">The main features of being resurrected to new life i<\/a>s that people now <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+4:19-24;+galatians+5:25;+philippians+3:1-3\">worship God in spirit and truth <\/a>and they are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">taught about God by God&#8217;s spirit &#8212; not by human teachers<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>In their new, resurrected life, people are no longer enslaved to follow <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Worship in spirit and truth means that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">God&#8217;s spiritual laws are written on their hearts.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u200e<\/p>\n<p>This entire process is represented in many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/passage\/?q=1-peter+2;+romans+6:1-7;+romans+8:1-18;+colossians+3:1-17;+galatians+2:15-21;+luke+9:23-27;+galatians+5;+mark+8:34-38;+john+12:23-26;+matthew+10:32-38;+1-corinthians+15:12-58;+philippians+2;+romans+12;+2-corinthians+4:7-12;+1-peter+4:1-11;+luke+14:25-29;+ephesians+4:17-32;+john+15;+2-corinthians+5:15-21;+philippians+1:19-26;+psalm+44:18-26;+hebrews+12:1-17;+2-corinthians+4;+romans+8;+revelation+12:10-11;+luke+17:10-37;+luke+14:28-35;+matthew+16:24-28;+2-corinthians+5:14-21\">scriptures that refer to death, dying, affliction, resurrection, new life and other related terms.<\/a> A common phrase used to summarize the process is the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+15:30-32;+luke+9:23;+matthew+10:38;+luke+14:27\">ongoing process of &#8220;dying to self on our personal cross.&#8221; <\/a>This is a useful way of thinking only if we understand the symbolism of the cross.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/wood-gold-silver-stone\">Wood (trees) for understanding of the cross.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong><a id=\"lifedeathblesscurse\"><\/a>LIFE AND DEATH, BLESSINGS AND CURSES<\/strong><br \/>\nDiscipline is the process that God puts people through when he tests their hearts and finds evidence of Old\/First Covenant religion in the practice of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">Defiled Religion<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">. <\/a><\/p>\n<p>God either finds people to be Old\/First Covenant religionists or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples<\/a>. When God <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?q=test+heart+&amp;c=&amp;t=niv&amp;ps=10&amp;s=Bibles\">tests a person&#8217;s heart<\/a> and finds a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">heart that is evil<\/a> (i.e. religious), he will introduce a rigorous refining process designed to bring that person to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/isaiah\/30-15.html\">salvation from religion through repentance and rest from Old\/First Covenant religious activities<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In effect, he is trying to set them free from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion<\/a> which requires that they listen to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">false prophets<\/a>. In Biblical terms, the result of this process is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+119:41;+psalm+119:81;+psalm+119:123;+psalm+119:76;+psalm+119:116;+psalm+119:170;+ephesians+6:17;+1-peter+2:1-2\">salvation that comes when people are willing and able to listen exclusively to the spoken word of God<\/a>. The result is also called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/fourth-commandment\/sabbath-fasting-rest\">sabbath rest<\/a> which is described in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/fourth-commandment\">Fourth Commandment.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>All <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">Old\/First Covenant religionists who practice defiled religion <\/a>go through this <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/study\/study-for-discipline\/7\">refining process<\/a> before they become <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples<\/a>. It is only after they complete the process that they are fully saved from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Living without religion is an improbable proposition for deeply religious people who cannot imagine life without religion, cannot imagine not having a pastor or rabbi to teach them, and cannot imagine that their religion is not what God wants for them. Thus they will <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=luke+21:16;+john+16:1-3;+matthew+5:11;+matthew+5:44;+matthew+23:34;+luke+21:12;+john+15:20;+romans+12:14;+galatians+1:13;+isaiah+66:5;+acts+26:9-11;+revelation+6:9\">reject and even persecute anyone who tries to tell them anything different<\/a>. And they will try desperately to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+10:39;+matthew+16:25;+mark+8:35;+luke+9:24;+luke+17:33;+john+12:25\">hold on to their religious life at the expense of having a spiritual life<\/a> because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/revelation\/passage\/?q=revelation+3:1-3#\">they think that they are spiritually alive when they are actually spiritually dead<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-corinthians\/10-13.html\">God tests everyone, <\/a>both the religious and spiritual to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+8:1-2;+1-chronicles+29:17;+2-chronicles+32:31;+psalm+17:1-3;+deuteronomy+6:1-6;+psalm+7:9;+jeremiah+11:20;+jeremiah+20:12;+ezekiel+11:1-5\">prove what is in their hearts<\/a>. We see it modeled first in Adam and Eve who did not pass the test. Thereafter, every conflict in the Bible symbolically represents testing to show if people are listening to God&#8217;s spoken word or practicing religion.<\/p>\n<p>Even <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=matthew+4:1-11;mark+1:12-13;luke+4:1-13\">Jesus was tempted by the devil after the Spirit of God led him into the wilderness.<\/a> This tempting of Jesus is a repeat of the testings that the Israelites experienced when God led them into the wilderness after delivering them from Egypt. Basically the test is making a choice between Old\/Covenant religion and New Covenant discipleship. This test includes these<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+11:26-28;+deuteronomy+30:1;+deuteronomy+30:19;+deuteronomy+28\"> completely opposite, life\/blessing and death\/curse choices:<\/a><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-color: #474062; border-width: 1px; height: 166px;\" border=\"1\" width=\"422\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: center;\"><strong>Life and Blessings<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center; border: 1px solid #474062;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: center;\"><strong>Death and Curses<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeoflife\">Eat the fruit of the Tree of Life.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: center;\">\u00a0or<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">Eat the fruit of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Trees of Knowledge of Good and Evil<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/study\/2\">Listen to God&#8217;s spoken voice while reading the Bible.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062; text-align: center;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">Read the Bible for intellectual understanding.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">Follow God&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws written on the heart.<\/a><\/td>\n<td>\u00a0or<\/td>\n<td>Follow <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws made by men.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">Receive teaching about God directly from his spirit<\/a> and from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a>,<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\"> angels<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#godspeaksfromcloud\">witnesses<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors<\/a> who speak for God.<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">\u00a0or<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">Receive teaching about God from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/apostles\">Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Apostles, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, Overseers, Rabbis, Popes, Missionaries and Evangelists<\/a> who teach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+6:5;+genesis+8:21;+jeremiah+16:12;+jeremiah+7:24;+jeremiah+11:8;+jeremiah+14:14;+jeremiah+18:12;+jeremiah+3:17;+jeremiah+13:10;+luke+1:51;+colossians+2:18;+jeremiah+27:9-17;+jeremiah+23:16;+jeremiah+28:15;+jeremiah+29:8;+1-john+4:1;+matthew+7:15;+2-corinthians+11:13-15;+galatians+1:8-9;+ezekiel+13:1-6;+ezekiel+13:23;+ezekiel+21:29;+ezekiel+22:28;+proverbs+12:6;+proverbs+1:11;+proverbs+1:16;+ecclesiastes+10:12;+ezekiel+33:31;+revelation+13:1-5\">out of the imaginations of their own minds.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\/4#spiritandtruth\">Worship in their hearts in spirit and truth<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+9:11;+2-corinthians+5:1;+hebrews+8:1-2;+mark+14:57-58;+2-corinthians+4:18\">temples not made by human hands.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">\u00a0or<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">Worship in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/flesh\">flesh<\/a> at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/tabernacles-temples-altars-high-places-and-pilgrimages\/5\">physical altars<\/a> and <a style=\"outline: 1px dotted; outline-offset: 0px;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=acts+7:44-50;+isaiah+66:1;+acts+17:24;+2-corinthians+5:1\">in buildings made by human hands. <\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">Choose to be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/9\">set apart from my religious family and friends<\/a>.<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">or<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">Stay in the church or synagogue where I have position and respect.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/#rewards\">Receive spiritual rewards from God for my faith.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">or<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">Continue building up the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">pride that comes from being religious.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">Suffer <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/end-times-rapture-and-tribulation\/4\">tribulation<\/a> as a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophet,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">angel,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiah,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priest,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#godspeaksfromcloud\">witness<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warrior<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/servants\">servant\/shepherds<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/apostolos.html\">apostle.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">or<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #474062;\">Keep myself safe and secure in religion.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>In the wilderness, Joshua and Caleb were the only Israelites who passed the test. Thus, they were qualified to enter into the Promised Land which is symbolic language for the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">New Covenant <\/a>and for the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+18:1-3;+luke+17:20-21;+matthew+5:20;+matthew+10:7;+matthew+11:11;+matthew+13:11;+matthew+16:19;+matthew+19:23;+matthew+23:13\">Kingdom of God\/Heaven.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Those who did not pass the test are symbolized as the ten spies and others who feared going to war with the religious giants who occupied the land of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/egypt-and-babylon\">Canaan<\/a>. They did not pass the test because\u00a0 they did not believe that they could overcome the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\">religious nations<\/a> that occupied the land. Thus they died in the wilderness of religion instead of entering the promised land. The same conditions remain for contemporary Old\/First Covenant religionists who do not recognize that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">religion is the enemy<\/a> and are not willing to enter into warfare with the enemy.<\/p>\n<p>The Bible is full of stories of testing\/<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/5#cycleofconflict\">conflict <\/a>that we can apply to our own lives. All of the religious nations that surrounded Israel after it entered the Promised Land represent opportunities for individual Israelites to backslide into the kinds of religion that they knew and participated in while in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/egypt-and-babylon\">Egypt<\/a>. Examples of passing the test are found when Israel successfully fought off its enemies and remained faithful to their God (i.e. they resisted becoming religious). Examples of failing the test are found when Israel was defeated by its enemies (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+34:1-14;+deuteronomy+7:1-6;+joshua+23:1-13;+deuteronomy+17:14-20;+ezra+9;+psalm+106\">when it mingled with them, intermarried with them<\/a> and served their gods by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=numbers+25:1-5;+deuteronomy+4:3;+judges+2:10-13;+judges+6:31-0;+1-kings+18;+1-kings+22:53;+2-kings+1:1-16;+2-kings+10;+2-kings+11:18;+2-kings+17:16;+2-kings+21:1-3;+2-kings+23:1-5;+jeremiah+2:8;+jeremiah+7:9;+jeremiah+11:13-17;+jeremiah+19:1-5;+hosea+9:10;+hosea+13:1;+zephaniah+1:1-4;+romans+11:1-4\">following their religious practices). <\/a><\/p>\n<p>These stories are parables from which we learn about the consequences of failing to observe commandments that are overlooked by religious people.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=exodus+20:1-6;+exodus+34:10-15;+deuteronomy+4:23-24;+deuteronomy+5:1-9;+deuteronomy+6:1-15;+deuteronomy+32:15-25;+joshua+24:19;+nahum+1:2\">Do not worship other gods.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=exodus+34:10-16;+deuteronomy+7:1-6;+judges+2:1-3;+deuteronomy+12:1-4;+exodus+23:20-25\">Destroy the religious nations that surround them<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Whenever we fail to obey these commandments, we fail the test. And when we fail the test, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/deuteronomy\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+1:1-36\">we die in the wilderness of religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>LAYING DOWN YOUR LIFE<\/strong><br \/>\nPeople who call themselves followers of Jesus are especially conflicted on the issue of laying down their lives for others. They understand that Jesus laid down his life for them, but they do not have a clear understanding of what it means for them to lay down their lives for others as is commanded in these scriptures:<\/p>\n<div class=\"NavBar PassageNavBar\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a id=\"\" title=\"Go to John 15:1-17 (Standard View)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/passage\/?q=john+15:1-17\">John 15:1-17<\/a>&#8220;I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 &#8220;Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes <span class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">away ; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">3<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">4<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">5<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;I am the vine, you are the branches ; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing .<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">6<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">7<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">8<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">9<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">10<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love ; just as I have kept My Father&#8217;s commandments and abide in His love.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">11<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"versenum\">12<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">13<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">14<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;You are My friends if you do what I command you.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">15<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing ; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">16<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">17<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;This I command you, that you love one another.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"NavBar PassageNavBar\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"NavBar PassageNavBar\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: The essence of these verses is that laying down our lives for one another is the ultimate joy and fulfillment of Godly love. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples<\/a> lay down their lives by being <span class=\"verse-16\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors<\/a><\/span> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets <\/a>who risk their relational lives when they expose the truth about religion to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\">Old\/First Covenant<\/a> religionists. This is what Jesus was talking about when <a href=\"https:\/\/thewayweseecom.ipage.com\/howtolove\/chapter-6-sacrificial-love\/\">he exhorted his friends to love sacrificially with perfect love.<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"NavBar PassageNavBar\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<p><a id=\"\" title=\"Go to John 10:1-18 (Standard View)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/passage\/?q=john+10:1-18\">John 10:1-18: <\/a><span class=\"versetext\"><span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">2<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">3<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">4<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">5<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.&#8221;<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">6<\/span> This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them. <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">7<\/span> So Jesus said to them again, <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">8<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">9<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;I am the door ; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">10<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy ; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">11<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;I am the good shepherd ; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">12<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">13<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">14<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">15<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father ; and I lay down My life for the sheep.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">16<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;I have other sheep, which are not of this fold ; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice ; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">17<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.<\/span> <\/span> <span class=\"versetext\"> <span class=\"versenum\">18<\/span> <span class=\"WordsOfChrist\">&#8220;No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.&#8221;<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: These verses are commonly, and wrongly, assumed to apply exclusively to Jesus. More accurately, they apply to all <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+21:16;+acts+20:28;+1-peter+5:1-2\">New Covenant disciples who effectively function as shepherds<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/shepherds-sheep-priests\">Shepherds, Sheep and Priests<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/servants\">Servants<\/a> for more about shepherds.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">As shepherds and servants, New Covenant disciples lay down their lives for Old\/First Covenant religionists so that they can become New Covenant disciples also. They do this when they function as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">True Prophets<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Lacking sound, symbolic interpretations of what life Jesus is referring to in these scriptures, Christians conclude that the commandment pertains to their physical life. Because the story they know about Jesus&#8217; death and resurrection appears to involve his physical death, they assume that dying a gruesome physical death for the sake of others is something that God might ask them to do sometime just as so-called <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Martyr\">martyrs<\/a> have reportedly done. But until the time that God calls on them to risk their life in some dramatic way, they assume that they have satisfied the commandment by practicing their religion.<\/p>\n<p>Religion that interprets the Bible literally keeps people from understanding what it really means to lay down their life. Doctrines about suffering and dying are not an especially compelling message that will attract people to join a religion. Any religion that teaches such a doctrine would not last long in this competitive religious world that attracts and retains followers by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/parallel-bible\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+4:1-4&amp;t=nas&amp;t2=niv\">tickling itching ears<\/a> with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+16:17-18;+colossians+2:4;+2-peter+2:1-3;+proverbs+7\">smooth talk. <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">False prophets<\/a> may talk abstractly about dying to sins of the flesh, but never about dying to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion<\/a> which is the sin that God has in mind in his commands to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=exodus+20:1-6;+exodus+34:10-15;+deuteronomy+4:23-24;+deuteronomy+5:1-9;+deuteronomy+6:1-15;+deuteronomy+32:15-25;+joshua+24:19;+nahum+1:2\">not worship other gods<\/a> and to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=exodus+34:10-16;+deuteronomy+7:1-6;+judges+2:1-3;+deuteronomy+12:1-4;+exodus+23:20-25\">destroy the religious nations that surround them<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But we cannot just blame religion for tempting us to sin in these ways. It is convenient to blame the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/serpent-devil-satan-adversary-demons-evil-spirits-and-anti-christs\">devil and demons<\/a> for our temptations, but when we look outside ourselves for someone to blame, we ignore that own minds are always at work in developing and preserving our religious lives. We see this in the example of Eve who yielded to the temptation to be religious when she ate from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eve&#8217;s temptation models our own personal temptations <\/a>when we decide that religion is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=genesis+2:9;+genesis+3:6\">pleasing to the eye and good for spiritual food <\/a>(i.e. it appears to satisfy our need for a good life now and after we die).<\/p>\n<p>Religion, symbolized as the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deceptively<\/a> promises a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/genesis\/passage\/?q=genesis+3:1-6\">quick and easy path to God-likeness and wisdom<\/a>. God, on the other hand, makes no such promises. In fact, what God promises is a life of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+24:1-29;+mark+13:1-24;+john+16:33;+romans+5:1-3;+romans+8:35;+romans+12:10-13;+1-thessalonians+1:6;+revelation+2:10;+revelation+7:14;+acts+14:22;+ephesians+3:13;+hebrews+10:31-39\">tribulation<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+53;+matthew+16:21;+matthew+17:12;+mark+8:31;+mark+9:12;+luke+9:22;+luke+17:25;+luke+22:15;+acts+3:18;+acts+5:41;+acts+9:16;+romans+8:17;+2-corinthians+1:6;+philippians+1:29;+1-thessalonians+3:4;+2-timothy+1:12;+2-timothy+2:3;+2-timothy+2:1-9;+1-peter+2:20;+1-peter+3:14-19;+revelation+2:10\">suffering<\/a> for anyone who aspires to righteousness. In fact, laying when we lay down our lives for others, we willingly and purposely choose to enter into tribulation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/end-times-rapture-and-tribulation\/4\">this link for understanding of the tribulation that Jesus&#8217; followers choose<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When we consider temptation in the context of the choices that God and religion offer, it is easy to see why Eve was successfully tempted by religion. And, seeing that, we can also see why we also are successfully tempted by religion.<\/p>\n<p>Having yielded to temptation to practice religion and become <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\/4#addictedtoreligion\">addicted to it<\/a>, we are faced with the challenge to gain <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/freedom\">freedom<\/a> from it. God gives us a chance for redemption from religion by resisting temptation to participate in it in the future. But we, like Eve, need to first sort out and rationalize conflicting information we get from God and religion. Here are the basic issues involved when we are tempted:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>God says <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">listen to my voice,<\/a> and let me <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-thessalonians+4:9;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:11-17;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+hebrews+8:10-11\">write my laws on your heart so I can teach you about me<\/a>, but<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">Religion says follow religious rules and regulations<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">God says interpret the Bible symbolically, <\/a>but<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-2\">Religion says interpret the Bible literally.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>These <span class=\"dictentry\"><span class=\"dictlink\"><span class=\"ldoceEntry Entry\"><span id=\"diametrically-opposed-opposite__1\" class=\"Sense\"><span class=\"DEF\">completely different and <a class=\"defRef\" title=\"Definition of opposite\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ldoceonline.com\/dictionary\/opposite#opposite__3\">opposite<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> propositions are the essence of the temptations that both Eve and Jesus encountered. These are also the temptations that all religious people face &#8212; even though they do not know that they are being tempted.<\/p>\n<p>The reason religious people don&#8217;t know that they have been successfully tempted by sin is that they have been <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deceived <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\">intoxicated<\/a> with religious doctrines that say that all that is required of them if they want to go to heaven is to interpret and apply the literal words of the Bible. This is the mantra for both Jews and Christians. This way of thinking is the filter through which all scripture is read and understood. It is a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-a-stronghold-of-wrong-thinking\">stronghold of wrong thinking<\/a> that is very hard to overcome. In fact, this stronghold can only be breached by God when he chooses to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+isaiah+6:8-10;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14;+acts+28:26-27\">open the eyes of stubborn religious people<\/a> who begin to show signs that they doubt what religion teaches. Only then can they begin to listen to what God wants to tell them with their heart instead of listening to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">False Prophets<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Eve&#8217;s discourse with the serpent is a parable of the challenge we all have dealing with religion. It is a summary of the rationalizations that we entertain in our minds and hearts when we observe the apparent benefits of religion and then choose religion instead of God. This story is retold in many different ways when we read about the temptations and failures of all Bible characters &#8212; except for Joshua, Caleb, and the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a>. Even Solomon, with all his wisdom and wealth, yielded to temptation when he took foreign wives and worshiped their gods. And it is our story as well because our natural minds, our internal rationalizations, our friends and family all tell us that religion is necessary for a good life now and for eternity. These are all adversarial influences represented by the serpent who deceived Eve.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/serpent-devil-satan-adversary-demons-evil-spirits-and-anti-christs\">Serpent, Devil, Satan, Demons, Evil Spirits and Anti-Christs<\/a> for more about adversarial influences.<\/p>\n<p>While we cannot ignore the conflict with external enemies that constantly tempt us to join, or rejoin, one religion or another, the most difficult enemy to battle is the one that is within us. This internal enemy is the one that compels us to want to preserve and advance the religious life we know and cherish. It is the enemy that constrains us from sacrificing the religious life we know and cherish for the sake of new life for ourselves and others.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Pride, Arrogance, Boasting, Power and Humility <\/a>for more about the internal enemy.<\/p>\n<p>The sad, but shocking truth is that religion is so attractive and so satisfying that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">it can take over our life<\/a>. We can become so involved in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/isaiah\/28.html\">doing<\/a> of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=isaiah+29:13-14;+matthew+15:8;+mark+7:6\">religious activity organized and managed by men <\/a>that we totally ignore what <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:21;+exodus+19:5;+jeremiah+7:23;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4\">God is speaking to our hearts<\/a>. When this happens, religion becomes an idol and our life. This is the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\">toxic effect<\/a> that religion has on people who do not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:20-25;+exodus+19:1-5;+jeremiah+7:23-26;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4;+isaiah+28:23;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+22:21;+psalm+106:25;+nehemiah+9:29;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+13:11;+zechariah+7:11;+isaiah+46:12;+matthew+13:15;genesis+22:18;+exodus+23:21-22;+numbers+7:89;+numbers+14:22;+deuteronomy+4:12;+deuteronomy+4:30;+deuteronomy+4:36;+deuteronomy+5:22-26;+deuteronomy+8:20;+deuteronomy+9:23;+deuteronomy+13:4;+deuteronomy+13:18;+deuteronomy+15:5;+deuteronomy+26:14;+deuteronomy+26:17;+deuteronomy+30:20;+joshua+5:6;+joshua+10:14;+joshua+22:2;+joshua+24:24;+psalm+81:11;+psalm+95:7;+psalm+106:25;+jeremiah+3:13;+jeremiah+3:25;+jeremiah+7:23;+jeremiah+7:28;+jeremiah+9:13;+jeremiah+11:4;+jeremiah+11:7;+jeremiah+18:10;+jeremiah+22:20-21;+jeremiah+26:13;+jeremiah+32:23;+jeremiah+40:3;+jeremiah+42:6;+jeremiah+42:13-14;+jeremiah+43:1-7;+jeremiah+44:23;+isaiah+28:23;+isaiah+32:9;+isaiah+55:1-3;daniel+9:9-11\">listen to God&#8217;s spoken voice.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><br \/>\n<strong>OUR LIFE IN GOD&#8217;S IMAGE<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #333333;\">There is much confusion within Christianity about what it means to be created in God&#8217;s image. Essentially, what it means is that God is spirit and not flesh. But we are basically flesh (i.e. religious) and not spirit. God&#8217;s purpose is to transform us so that we function less and less in the flesh (i.e. religion), and more and more in the spirit. When the transition is complete, we are fully disengaged from practicing religion, and fully engaged in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">spiritual worship in our hearts<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">The more we can disengage from religion, the closer we come to spiritual perfection. We are in the process of being <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+12:1-2;+matthew+5:48;+1-corinthians+13:1-10;+philippians+1:6;+philippians+3:10-15;+james+1:4;+1-peter+5:10;+colossians+3:1-11\">transformed\/recreated\/perfected<\/a> into God&#8217;s image.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Getting from here to there, however is not easy. God&#8217;s challenge to transform us is greatly complicated by the fact that our fleshly condition is what we know best and it is the condition in which we are trained and encouraged by the world to function. It might be accurate to say that we are addicted to our fleshly habits.<\/p>\n<p>The various kinds of fleshly things to which we become attached are broadly suggested in the following parable:<\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/luke\/14.html\">Luke 14: <span id=\"lu14-1\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"> <\/span><\/a><span id=\"lu14-1\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\">One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-2\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">2<\/span> And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-3\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">3<\/span> And Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, &#8220;Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not?&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-4\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">4<\/span> But they were silent. Then he took him and healed him, and let him go. <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-5\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">5<\/span> And he said to them, &#8220;Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well, will not immediately pull him out on a sabbath day?&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-6\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">6<\/span> And they could not reply to this. <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-7\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">7<\/span> Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-8\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">8<\/span> &#8220;When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-9\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">9<\/span> and he who invited you both will come and say to you, &#8216;Give place to this man,&#8217; and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-10\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">10<\/span> But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, &#8216;Friend, go up higher&#8217;; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-11\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">11<\/span> For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.&#8221; <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: It is common in all religious organizations that the leaders take seats above and in front of other religionists in a gathering. It may be a regular meeting like church or a special meeting like a wedding, but a place of honor is usually reserved for the religious leaders.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">This is about pride, especially <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/5\">spiritual pride<\/a>. It says that those who are presumptuous about the honor they should receive from men because of their titles, position, authority, etc. will eventually be humbled by God. Since Jesus was in the company of religious rulers, this warning is directed to religious leaders at all levels.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">This parable addresses the issue of our reputation as a key feature of our life. Reputations usually come with certain perks that give some sort of advantage to people with public reputations. In religious circles, people with a reputation as a leader typically receive some kind of honor or deference because of their reputation as a spiritual person. Often religious clothing is the ticket to gaining recognition as a leader in the broader public. The parable warns against using our reputation as a spiritual person to gain any kind of advantage or perk that is not available to others.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/third-commandment\">Third Commandment<\/a> for more about reputations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">For more about devices religious people use to enhance their reputations, see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/making-a-name-for-yourself\">Making a Name for Yourself<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/fakefaith\/2012\/05\/24\/tebows-broad-phylacteries\/\">TEBOW&#8217;S BROAD PHYLACTERIES.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"lu14-12\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">12<\/span> He said also to the man who had invited him, &#8220;When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid. <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-13\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">13<\/span> But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-14\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">14<\/span> and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: This is a warning about<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/fakefaith\/2018\/07\/24\/partiality\/\"> favoritism and partiality<\/a>. Favors may be tangible (e.g. material gifts, money, invitations to special events, gifts of service, etc.) or intangible (e.g. praise, honor, titles, position, authority, etc.). It strongly suggests that the favors are given with the ulterior motive to get something in return for the favor given.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Because this parable was told to religious leaders, it has special application for them and for religionists who have relationships with them. It says that the reward for a favor given is another favor of some kind. The clear implication is that there will be no rewards from God for people who use favoritism in any form to advance themselves or gain any kind of profit for the things they do for others. This parable agrees with the principles that the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+6:1-4\">right hand should not know what the left hand is doing, and that all acts of charity should be done in secret. <\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"lu14-15\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">15<\/span> When one of those who sat at table with him heard this, he said to him, &#8220;Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!&#8221; <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-16\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">16<\/span> But he said to him, &#8220;A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-17\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">17<\/span> and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, &#8216;Come; for all is now ready.&#8217; <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-18\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">18<\/span> But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, &#8216;I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.&#8217; <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-19\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">19<\/span> And another said, &#8216;I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.&#8217; <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-20\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">20<\/span> And another said, &#8216;I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.&#8217; <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-21\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">21<\/span> So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, &#8216;Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.&#8217; <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-22\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">22<\/span> And the servant said, &#8216;Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.&#8217; <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-23\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">23<\/span> And the master said to the servant, &#8216;Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-24\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">24<\/span> For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'&#8221; <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: This section discusses the various aspects of our life that interfere with our relationship to God. They include business, jobs, and family. These are life issues that are common to everyone, of course, but Jesus is warning that they should not be so important in our life that we do not have time to meet with God and get to know him. Such people think that they are spiritually rich and that they need none of the things that God can give them (i.e. the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/galatians\/passage\/?q=galatians+5:22-26\"> fruits of the spirit<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=isaiah+61:1-4;isaiah+42:5-7;john+9:1-11;acts+26:1-18\">The kind of people God is looking for are those who are spiritually poor, spiritually blind and spiritually handicapped.<\/a> They are the ones Jesus came to heal (i.e. restore to spiritual health).<\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"lu14-26\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">25<\/span> Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them, <span class=\"versenum\">26<\/span> &#8220;If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: These verses are further elaborations on the issue of family as hindrances to our relationship to God. Jesus uses the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/hyperbole\">hyperbole <\/a>of hating mother and father to make a comparison of how much people should love him. Obviously he does not mean that people should actually hate their parents. Instead of literal, natural parents, he is talking about spiritual parents (i.e. those who have influenced their religious beliefs and practices). These parents may have lived hundreds of years ago or they might be contemporaries. They will usually also be natural parents because they usually have the most opportunity to teach and guide children in religious matters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Basically Jesus is saying that people who follow him must hate the teachings of those who have discipled them into Old\/First Covenant religion. Jesus is the embodiment of the New Covenant which is so contrary to the Old\/First Covenant that they are compared as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">life and death, light and darkness, good and evil.<\/a> People who abandon their Old\/First Covenant beliefs and practices must hate them so much that they would not want to turn back to them, even if they get great pressure from friends and family to do so. If they yield to such pressure, they effectively show that they love Old\/First Covenant religion more than they love Jesus and the New Covenant. Choosing to yield to such pressure from Old\/First Covenant religionists is equated with hating Jesus and God.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span id=\"lu14-27\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">27<\/span> Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-28\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">28<\/span> For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-29\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">29<\/span> Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-30\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">30<\/span> saying, &#8216;This man began to build, and was not able to finish.&#8217; <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-31\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">31<\/span> Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-32\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">32<\/span> And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace. <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-33\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">33<\/span> So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-34\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">34<\/span> &#8220;Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? <\/span> <span id=\"lu14-35\" class=\"versetext\" style=\"display: inline;\"><span class=\"versenum\">35<\/span> It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill; men throw it away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.&#8221; <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Renouncing all that we have first refers to our religious life. It may include our business life and family life, but our religious life is what conflicts most with God.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">It is possible, and indeed necessary to maintain business, job and family relationships while being a New Covenant disciple because we need to be circulating in public so that the light of God can be seen in us. So God does not require that we renounce those parts of our life altogether. He does require, however, that we renounce all of our Old\/First Covenant religious beliefs and practices. They are<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+9:16-17\"> not compatible with New Covenant faith and works<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Title TitleSmall\" style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">In God&#8217;s view, it is a matter of<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=matthew+6:19-25;joshua+24:14-15\"> choosing which master you will love and serve.<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/deuteronomy\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+30:10-20\">God says that it is a life and death choice<\/a>. People who are unduly influenced by family to stick with Old\/First Covenant religious beliefs and practices effectively choose to follow the gods that their spiritual fathers and mothers followed.<\/p>\n<p>One of those fleshly habits is religion. No matter what culture we are born into, we are quickly introduce into the prevailing culture. More often than not, the religion in which we grow up has been the family religion for many generations. So we not only have the religious habits that we learn, but strong family and cultural ties tend to keep us practicing that religion. This is why Jesus said that we must hate our mothers and fathers if we want to follow him.<br \/>\n<!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333333;\">JESUS&#8217; LIFE (THE BIG PICTURE VIEW)<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #333333;\">When discussing your life, there are five aspects to discuss: <\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Your religious life as you see it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Your religious life as God sees it.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Your life as God wants it to be.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Making the transition from your life as it is to the life that God wants it to be.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">The reasons why you want to make the transition from life as you know it to life as God wants it to be.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">For most readers, their religious life as it currently exists is well known. It varies from one religion to another and from person to person. Nevertheless, this life will always be a life of conformance to Religious Laws.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">We will begin by looking at Jesus as the model of your life as God wants it to be. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=isaiah+53;matthew+20:25-28;john+10:17-18;acts+2:22-24;philippians+2:8;hebrews+5:8;philippians+2:3-9;colossians+1:15-20;matthew+26:37-46\">Here are several scriptures that describe what we see as the most important aspects of Jesus&#8217; life<\/a>. <\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\">There is much to be learned from these scriptures, but the aspects of Jesus&#8217; life that we want to emphasize here are these: <\/span><\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"center\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Jesus lived a life of humility and servant-hood.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Jesus came to suffer and die so that others could live.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">He did all that knowing and trusting that God would raise him from the dead and restore him to new life after he suffered and died.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>People who aspire to be followers of Jesus should think about whether or not they are willing to take on these characteristics.<\/p>\n<p>Taking a broader view of Jesus&#8217; life, we can look at the following scriptures:<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"center\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/matthew\/5-17.html\">Matthew 5:17 <\/a> Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/mark\/2-17.html\">Mark 2:17<\/a> And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, &#8220;Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.&#8221; <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/luke\/19-10.html\">Luke 19:10<\/a> For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.&#8221; <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/ezekiel\/34-12.html\">Ezekiel 34:12<\/a> As a shepherd seeks out his flock when some of his sheep have been scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/ezekiel\/34-16.html\">Ezekiel 34:16<\/a> I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will watch over; I will feed them in justice. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/isaiah\/passage\/?q=isaiah+61:1-3\">Isaiah 61:1-3<\/a> 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD&#8217;s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion&#8211;to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>For those who call themselves followers of Jesus, these scriptures give a big picture view of what our life should look like. The essence of this orientation is to focus on the spiritual well-being of others. To the degree that we are oriented toward our personal comforts and security, we are not like Jesus or God. <!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>LIFE AS GOD SEES IT<\/strong><br \/>\nThe life of Jesus, instructive as it may be as a model for our lives, is an incomplete view of what God wants for us. Consider the following:<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>God gave us the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:12-17\">whole Bible to teach us about him and to teach us how to live so that we are like him. <\/a><\/li>\n<li>Old\/First Covenant scriptures tell us about God and his relationship to men.<\/li>\n<li>God&#8217;s relationship to men is defined in the terms of a covenant which is the substance of Old\/First Covenant scriptures.<\/li>\n<li>Jesus defines man&#8217;s relationship to God in the terms of a New Covenant which is promised and explained in Old\/First Covenant scriptures and fulfilled in New Covenant scriptures.<\/li>\n<li>Jesus came to fulfill The Law, the details of which are revealed symbolically in great detail in Old\/First Covenant scriptures.<\/li>\n<li>The spiritual meaning of Old\/First Covenant scriptures are mediated and interpreted by Jesus in New Covenant scriptures.<\/li>\n<li>God said that &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/2-timothy\/3-16.html\">all scripture is from him and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness<\/a>.&#8221; <em><br \/>\n<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>From this list, Christians should conclude that they need more than the New Testament to understand God. And Jews should conclude that they need more than the law. The truth is that understanding of God can be gained only by studying both parts of the Bible. To understand what constitutes our spiritual life it is first necessary to look beyond the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">literal interpretation of all scriptures to understand their symbolic meanings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As always, we begin by looking at the definitions of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/chay.html\">Hebrew<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/psuche.html\">Greek <\/a>words from which Bible translators have translated as &#8220;life.&#8221; From these words, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/chay.html\">chay<\/a> in Hebrew and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/psuche.html\">psuche<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/zoe.html\">zoe<\/a> in Greek, we find definitions of life that we would expect to find regarding the condition of being physically alive. We also find definitions that include the following aspects of life that are more than physical.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>lively activity (of man)<\/li>\n<li>relatives<\/li>\n<li>life in the abstract<\/li>\n<li>sustenance, maintenance<\/li>\n<li>appetite<\/li>\n<li>renewal<\/li>\n<li>community life<\/li>\n<li>the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions<\/li>\n<li>heart<\/li>\n<li>the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body)<\/li>\n<li>the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate<\/li>\n<li>the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypo &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/logos.html\">logos<\/a>&#8221; and to Christ in whom the &#8220;logos&#8221; put on human nature<\/li>\n<li>life, real and genuine, active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed,<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>God brings all these abstract images of life into focus in the following verses where he makes it very clear that the ideal life is tied to obedience to his commandments:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/deuteronomy\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+30:11-20\">Deuteronomy 30:11-20<\/a> &#8220;For this commandment which I command you this day is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, &#8216;Who will go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?&#8217; 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, &#8216;Who will go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?&#8217; 14 But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: The essence of this scripture is that God&#8217;s spiritual laws (i.e. commandments) are in the hearts of New Covenant disciples. We know that God&#8217;s commandments are in the hearts of New Covenant disciples because his<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+8:10-16;+psalm+37:31;+psalm+40:8\"> laws are written on their hearts.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">We also know that God&#8217;s laws\/commandments are not in the hearts of Old\/First Covenant religionists.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">15 &#8220;See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you this day, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to take possession of it.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you this day, that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice, and cleaving to him; for that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>God conveniently and clearly summarizes his expectations regarding the life his people should live in these verses:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/deuteronomy\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+32:45-47\">Deuteronomy 32:45-47<\/a>: And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, &#8220;Lay to heart all the words which I enjoin upon you this day, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. 47 For it is no trifle for you, but it is your life, and thereby you shall live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to possess.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>What God is saying through Moses in the above scriptures, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=leviticus+18:5;romans+10:5;deuteronomy+4:1;deuteronomy+6:24;nehemiah+9:29;proverbs+19:16;isaiah+55:1-3;ezekiel+20:11;ezekiel+20:13;ezekiel+20:21\">and in several other locations<\/a>, is that real life is found by following his commandments. This can be compared to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/john\/10-10.html\">&#8220;abundant&#8221; life <\/a>referred to in New Covenant scriptures. This <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/zoe.html\">life<\/a>, of course, is the life that is available through <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/5\">Jesus who spoke God&#8217;s words<\/a> and<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:17;romans+3:26-31\"> who&#8217;s words fulfilled God&#8217;s spiritual laws.<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>True followers of the spiritual Jesus are New Covenant disciples who fulfill (i.e. obey fully, embody) the law. It can be said also that people <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=john+14:15;john+14:21;john+15:14;1+john+2:3-7;1+john+5:3;2+john+1:6\">who claim to love Jesus and\/or God will (or should) live according to the law. <\/a>That means that God&#8217;s laws are written on their hearts and that they do not simply follow rules and regulations <a href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/prescribe\">prescribed<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/proscribe\">proscribed<\/a> by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\">RELIGION<\/a> &#8212; including Judaism and Christianity. Conversely, it can also be said that people who reject or dismiss the law are not true followers. Their claims of loving God and Jesus do not agree with their actions. They are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/hupokrites.html\">hypocrites<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">AUTHORS&#8217; NOTE: Despite the fact that God says many times in many places that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nrs\/passage\/?q=exodus+19:3-8;deuteronomy+5:22-32;proverbs+8:32;jeremiah+11:1-11;ezekiel+33:29-33;hebrews+4:12;luke+6:46-49;luke+8:19-21;john+14:21\">we should hear and obey the law<\/a>, and despite the clarity of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:17;romans+3:26-31\">Matthew 5:17 and Romans 3:31<\/a>, most people dismiss the law as being something archaically Jewish and not applicable to Christians. The way we see it, this is totally wrong thinking that causes a lot of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/leviticus\/26.html\">trouble for people who disobey the law<\/a>. That God might punish people who say they love him is a hard concept to grasp, of course, but God confirms his willingness to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/deuteronomy\/28.html\">bless those who are obedient and punish those who are disobedient to the law in Deuteronomy 28.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">People whose religion allows them to discount or outright reject Old\/First Covenant scriptures will be edified to know that several New Covenant scriptures very clearly say that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:12;matthew+22:36-40;matthew+23:1-3;1+john+3:11;1+john+2:2-7;2+john+1:5-6;romans+7:7-16;romans+8:1-9;romans+13:8-10;galatians+3:16-24;galatians+5:14;1+timothy+1:8-13;2+timothy+3:14-17\">the law is relevant to followers of Jesus.<\/a> We cover this issue extensively in Covenant,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">The Law,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\">The Law is a Stumbling Block,<\/a>\u00a0 and\u00a0The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/third-commandment\">Third Commandment.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>God confirmed the life-giving qualities of the law when he sent Jesus who said that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/14-6.html\">he was the way, the truth and the life<\/a>. As the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/1-14.html\">living word of God<\/a>, Jesus <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/matthew\/5-17.html\">fulfilled every aspect of the Law of Moses<\/a>, and he made it possible for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=john+15:10-11;1+john+5:2-3;2+john+1:6;1+john+2:3-5;psalm+103:17-18\">all who love God to obey God&#8217;s commandments in the law. <\/a><\/p>\n<p>Considering all the above, we conclude that your life is a big deal to God. We also find that life in Jesus is not as abstract as we might have thought it to be. It is not as simple as having Jesus in your heart or believing you will go to heaven when you die because you said the sinner&#8217;s prayer. To the contrary, the kind of life God wants to see in his people is graphically portrayed in the life of Jesus. It is all about living according to The Law just like Jesus lived according to The Law. <em>(This should be an interesting fact to Jewish readers). <\/em>And, since the life Jesus lived &#8212; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/romans\/passage\/?q=romans+11:13-32\">and continues to live through the Children of Abraham<\/a> &#8212; is the perfect fulfillment of The Law as it is detailed out in The Law of Moses, those who say they are followers of Jesus should join their Jewish brothers and sisters in following instructions for living found in the first five books of the Bible. But they should not obey the literal law of Moses as represented in the Old\/First Covenant. Rather the should obey God&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual law<\/a>\u00a0written on their hearts according to the terms of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:39-40;+jeremiah+33:14;+jeremiah+24:7;+ezekiel+37:26;+ezekiel+39:29;+luke+22:20;+1-corinthians+11:25;+2-corinthians+3:1-6;+hebrews+8:8-12;+hebrews+10:16-17;+psalm+40:8;+psalm+37:31;+genesis+17:7-13\">New Covenant.<\/a> They are not the same law. One leads to death, and the other leads to life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">AUTHORS&#8217; NOTE: See the links below for detailed differences between the Old\/First Covenant and New Covenant laws:<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 605px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 7px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 7px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 345px;\">\n<ul>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-1874\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\">Two Covenants Part 1<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-3160\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\">Two Covenants Part 2<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Not wanting to be un-biblical, Christians commonly reduce The Law down to the Ten Commandments. Strongly advocating for these brief summaries of The Law, while effectively dismissing or overlooking the details that explain it, they take pride in their righteousness based on their limited understanding of what The Law really involves. It is dangerously misleading to evaluate righteousness with respect to the simplified terms of the Ten Commandments. Doing so amounts to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+4:1-2;deuteronomy+12:32;proverbs+30:2-6;revelation+22:17-19\">subtracting from the law<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It is also dangerous to regard any part of the written law only literally as many Christians advocate. God warned about literal application of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/gramma.html\">letter<\/a> of the law when he said &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/2-corinthians\/passage\/?q=2-corinthians+3:1-6\">the letter kills but the spirit gives life<\/a>.&#8221; The way we see it, there are several reasons why a rigid literal interpretation is as wrong as dismissing scripture altogether.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Disregarding <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?q=mystery&amp;c=nt&amp;t=kjv&amp;ps=10&amp;s=Bibles\">what God says about mystery<\/a>, and the meaning behind parables, and symbols, religion does not allow that there might be a purely spiritual interpretation that transcends intellectual understanding. In other words, religious doctrines are firmly rooted in the flesh (i.e. that which can be seen and touched), and does not allow for the Spirit.<\/li>\n<li>Literal interpretation results in a simplistic understanding of the Bible that denies the complex<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\"> symbolism<\/a> that God has woven into his word.<\/li>\n<li>Literal interpretation effectively gives license to disregard any scripture that seem impossible to apply literally because of conflicts with contemporary laws or cultural practices.<\/li>\n<li>People who are unable to grasp the eternal, spiritual implications of scripture that are considered to be culturally outdated, do not give God credit for being able to speak to his people across thousands of generations in all cultures.<\/li>\n<li>Many who zealously advocate the doctrine of literal interpretation also dismiss many difficult parts of scripture because they don&#8217;t want to be legalistic. In doing this they ignore the potential for discovering the spiritual meaning of those scriptures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The way we see it, people who subtract from the law or who take a purely literal approach to it are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/james\/passage\/?q=james+1:5-8\">double minded<\/a> as well as disobedient. They do not consider that they are in effect subtracting from God and Jesus. Their claims to believers in God are empty. What they believe is what they read and can understand with their intellectual mind. They do not believe nor do they have faith that they can actually hear God&#8217;s voice.<\/p>\n<p>With these cautions in mind, is critical to remember that God <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\">speaks in mysterious language<\/a> that requires serious study and discernment if it is to be understood. Only New Covenant disciples have the ability to understand this language. To Old\/First Covenant religionists, this mysterious language is only babbling (i.e. talking in tongues.)<\/p>\n<p>Gaining understanding of mysteries is not an issue of hard intellectual work. Rather, it is a spiritual process in which <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+15:1-4;+deuteronomy+29:1-24;+john+5:39-47#\">God opens the spiritual eyes<\/a> of people who have willfully chosen to quit religion. If being a follower depended only on intellectual understanding, all anyone would need to do would be to simply read scripture. But reading alone will not yield understanding. If simply studying the Bible was all that was necessary, there would be more New Covenant disciples and fewer religionists in the world.<\/p>\n<p>Bible study yields some understanding, but even intense study of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=romans+15:1-4;+deuteronomy+29:1-24;+john+5:39-47#\">selective scriptures in either the Old or New Testaments is not enough to achieve a healthy spiritual life.<\/a> What is critical is that people also <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">quit interpreting the Bible literally and start listening to God&#8217;s<\/a> voice instead of listening to false prophets.\u00a0 This does not imply, however, that the written Bible has no value, because the written law serves as a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/asv\/galatians\/passage\/?q=galatians+3:23-24\">tutor to lead people to the spiritual fulfillment of the law which is exists in the New Covenant<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">AUTHORS&#8217; NOTE: Check out <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/study\">Study<\/a>,\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">Literal or Symbolic Interpretation Part 1, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-2\">Literal or Symbolic Interpretation Part 2 <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-3\">Literal or Symbolic Interpretation Part 3 <\/a>for concepts that are critical to understanding all scriptures.<\/p>\n<p>Admittedly, there is a lot of material to study and comprehend for those who are serious about understanding life as God sees it. Nevertheless, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/galatians\/passage\/?q=galatians+3:19-26\">God has made it available to teach and guide us to New Covenant faith.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The way we see it, becoming a New Covenant disciple is not accomplished until the law is written on your heart. Indeed you can try to understand the New Covenant by reading about Jesus in New Covenant scriptures, but that provides an incomplete picture. Keep in mind that while <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/1-14.html\">Jesus is the living word of God<\/a>, Old\/First Covenant scriptures are God&#8217;s word to us also, and that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/2-timothy\/3-16.html\">all scripture is given for training in righteousness<\/a>. That is why <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nrs\/passage\/?q=exodus+24:1-8;joshua+1:1-9;joshua+8:30-35;ezra+7:10;nehemiah+8:13;psalm+101:2;john+5:39;2+timothy+2:15\">God commands us to study and obey the whole Bible.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Having studied, we then need to apply what we have learned. We do that by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/servants\">serving God as\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/servants\">, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">angels<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/servants\">,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/servants\">, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/servants\">, <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#witnessdefined\">witnesses<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/servants\">,<\/a> and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors<\/a> who\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/teach\">teach<\/a> people <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">how to hear God&#8217;s spoken voice.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333333;\">OUR NATURAL LIFE <\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #333333;\">We are so accustomed to just living our life that we do not often think about what it involves. Here is the way we see our natural &#8220;life&#8221; in its broadest possible context. First there are those<\/span> aspects over which we have no control:<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Our family (parents, siblings, relatives).<\/li>\n<li>Genetics (dna, hair, skin color, body size and shape, predispositions to emotional and physical health and intelligence etc.)<\/li>\n<li>Genealogy (where our family came from, where it lives, its history, social standing, occupations and wealth).<\/li>\n<li>Physical health &#8212; except to the degree that we do things that enhance and preserve it or sabotage it.<\/li>\n<li>Physical environment &#8212; except to the degree that we change it or change where we live and work<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Whatever God has established for us does not change, nor should we want to change it. We should consider it all a unique package of gifts designed just for us as an individual and be grateful for it while being cautious that we do not idolize and worship the gift.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond these God-given parameters, we have almost limitless potential to create and control our lives as we see in the following list:<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Relationships (family, marriage, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc.)<\/li>\n<li>Formal and informal associations (with individuals and organizations) designed to complement and advance occupational, religious, political, educational, recreational and social goals.<\/li>\n<li>Education<\/li>\n<li>Religion<\/li>\n<li>Work of all kinds, whether for income or pleasure<\/li>\n<li>Preferred and typical ways of thinking about and conducting your life in terms of morals and values<\/li>\n<li>Time<\/li>\n<li>History of your life<\/li>\n<li>History of the lives of your immediate family and ancestors<\/li>\n<li>Preferred and typical ways (routines, habits) that you and your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers have developed and adopted to create order and security in your daily activities.<\/li>\n<li>Ambitions, plans, ideas, hopes and dreams that ground you and direct your future (short term and long term).<\/li>\n<li>Material objects (including money) that you create, acquire and use with some regularity.<\/li>\n<li>Home, neighborhood, community, country.<\/li>\n<li>Intellectual and emotional concepts and values that you use to guide your thoughts and actions.<\/li>\n<li>Thought life (i.e. the things you tend to meditate on and think about).<\/li>\n<li>Occupation (including ministry) and lifestyle that the occupation supports.<\/li>\n<li>Volunteer service activities that benefit the community, individuals and the environment.<\/li>\n<li>Hobbies; educational, political, physical, recreational, creative and intellectual pursuits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Most of the above life aspects are spiritually neutral. Being the essence of life for everyone, they are neither good (spiritually positive) or bad (spiritually negative). They become either good or bad, however, depending on our attachments to them and depending on how we think about them. And their positive or negative nature depends on how they line up with what God has said. But whatever we have created for ourselves we should always be ready to sacrifice when we sense that it has become an idol in our life.<\/p>\n<p>They become spiritually positive, for example, if they are used to build relationships through which we bless others and serve them (i.e. give life to them) in little or big ways. Life aspects that are &#8220;other-oriented&#8221; and &#8220;life-giving&#8221; are not problematic for God. They fulfill the commandment to &#8220;love your neighbor as yourself.&#8221; They are good also, if God, not us, gets credit for them.<\/p>\n<p>Other aspects of life that destroy life instead of give it become problematic for us and God. God is a life-giving god, and we should be life-givers also. And since God gives life so that he will receive glory, we should not fail to give credit to God for the good things (tangible and intangible) he might accomplish through us. If we believe that we have created a good life for ourselves through our own hard work, or luck, or intellect, or whatever, we effectively deny that God is the source of all good things and that he provides whatever we have so that we can bless and serve others. Moreover, if we are motivated by purely selfish goals (our comfort, security, enjoyment, reputation, etc.), and fail to recognize that God has given to us all that we have that is good so that we can enrich the lives of others (i.e. be other-oriented), we effectively idolize ourselves. If we think that life is all about us and for our benefit, we create problems for both us and God, and we should expect that he will sooner or later want to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+11:14-21;+jeremiah+24:7;+jeremiah+32:38-39;+ezekiel+18:31;+ezekiel+36:26;+psalm+51:10;+ezekiel+11:19;+john+3:3;+john+3:5;+2-corinthians+5:17\">give them new hearts.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>New hearts are necessary because a heart that does not have God&#8217;s name (i.e. his character) written in it is a troubled heart. It is full of internal and external conflict. The life aspects in the following table are not neutral. Instead of being life-giving and enriching for you and others, they require excessive physical and emotional effort to acquire and maintain. They always cause some degree of internal stress, and often cause conflict between individuals and groups. Some cause extreme conflict &#8212; even to the point of bloodshed. These all draw God&#8217;s attention and will sooner or later demand his correction.<\/p>\n<table border=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><strong><a id=\"hiddenlifeheart\"><\/a>HIDDEN LIFE OF OUR HEART<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Concern, struggle and worry about personal reputation, authority, titles, degrees, status or position that gives you a place (preferably a high place) in a formal or informal association of people (family, business, community, church, civic organization, etc.) in society.<\/li>\n<li>Concern, struggle and worry about non-negotiable things (i.e. unwritten laws) that you hold onto, defend and protect when in conflict with someone who does not share an aspect of your life, and\/or who threatens to steal, diminish or destroy an aspect of your life.<\/li>\n<li>Concern, struggle and worry about traditions, both individual and corporate (e.g. family, church, business, etc.), that you cherish and are careful to observe, advance and preserve for personal reasons.<\/li>\n<li>Fears, phobias and idiosyncrasies that control your behaviors.<\/li>\n<li>Obsessions to acquire material objects, including land and financial wealth.<\/li>\n<li>Obsessions to acquire and control anything, whether tangible or intangible.<\/li>\n<li>Obsessions to manipulate control people (individuals or groups) through physical, emotional, religious, financial or political power and authority for your own selfish purposes.<\/li>\n<li>Competitive motivations and relationships characterized by jealousy and envy.<\/li>\n<li>Hate and unforgiveness that affects how you relate to individuals or groups.<\/li>\n<li>Prejudices, judgments and biases you have toward individuals and groups.<\/li>\n<li>Concern, struggle and worry about preserving religious beliefs and practices.<\/li>\n<li>Constant efforts to preserve and grow <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">spiritual pride<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">THE HEART IS THE PLACE <\/a>for more about the heart.<\/p>\n<p>A heart with these characteristics is not a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/ecclesiastes\/passage\/?q=ecclesiastes+2:11-23\">heart at rest<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>All life aspects, both tangible and intangible, no matter how socially normal or benign they may seem, have the potential to become obsessions that rule our life. This can even be true for good things like ministry. When we become preoccupied with these life issues, they have the potential to become idols that effectively displace and replace God. These are the parts of life that God will want to bring to death and redeem for his good purposes.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>OUR RELIGIOUS LIFE<\/strong><br \/>\nWhile every aspect of life is important, for many people, religious life is among those aspects that rank highest along with health, finances and relationships. Our religious life is the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">pride we cherish in our hearts<\/a> because we are so accomplished in our obedience to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> and so knowledgeable about the religious doctrines upon which those laws are based.\u00a0 This is the life that must die &#8212; not our physical life.<\/p>\n<p>For super-religious people, in fact, religion might even surpass all other life aspects in importance. For the hyper religious, advancing and preserving their religious life is the most important thing. In fact, it is so important for some people that they are willing to sacrifice any or all others aspects of their life, including their natural life, to preserve and\/or advance their religious life. Worse yet, they feel so strongly about their religious life that they are willing to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">impose it on others<\/a>. All the more reason why it must die.<\/p>\n<p>While God is interested in all aspects of our life, he is most concerned about our religious life because it is the obstacle to<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=james+1:27;+isaiah+58:1-12;+isaiah+61:1-4;+isaiah+1:17;+isaiah+42:7;+isaiah+49:9;+isaiah+49:24-25;+matthew+11:5;+luke+4:18;+luke+7:22;+2-corinthians+3:17\">\u00a0the ideal religious life<\/a> he wants for everyone. This ideal life may be described as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">Pure Religion which exists in stark contrast to Defiled Religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\/3#hangingontolife\">Giving up religion in favor of the ideal spiritual life is difficult<\/a> because religion has its rewards. The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">rewards of religion are pride which is experienced in the flesh<\/a>, but the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/#rewards\">rewards of the ideal life are all spiritual<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">COVENANT COMPARISONS <\/a>for comparisons of pure religion and defiled religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Also see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\/3\">HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">PRIDE HAS IT REWARDS<\/a> for more about our religious life.<\/p>\n<p>This religious life is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/10\">experienced in the flesh (i.e. physical body.)<\/a> It exists in the relational life we construct and enjoy with other religionists. It is not the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">inner spiritual life<\/a> that God wants for us in our relationship with him. The ideal life may be described as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/3#adulteryandprostitution\">perfect intimacy<\/a> which God wants for himself and his people. This intimacy is obstructed, however, when people listen to false prophets and not to God. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/2#jealousanger\">When people listen to false prophets, God&#8217;s anger and jealousy is aroused<\/a>. That is why people must stop listening to false prophets who teach people to be religious.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333333;\">OUR LIFE IN TRANSITION<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #333333;\">If we study the life of Jesus, we see a life that fulfills The Law perfectly. Setting aside the particulars of what it means to be obedient for a moment, we get an idea of how we would rewrite the progression of our life:<\/span><\/p>\n<table border=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">In the beginning, we think and act as though we know it all and have it all (i.e. we are like God).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">As we mature through successive stages of spiritual transformation (i.e. listening to God&#8217;s voice more and becoming more and more compliant with his laws) we think and act less and less as though we know it all and have it all. God brings us to repentance for each way in which we find that the life we have made for ourselves is at odds with the ideal life as represented in The Law as we understand it. At each step in the transformation process, we are brought down from our lofty opinion of ourselves, and come to see ourselves more as servants rather than as someone who should be served because we are so smart and so important.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">We come to understand that our purpose here on earth is to die to our concept of who we are. Rather than running from anything that would diminish our importance and our influence, we embrace trials that expose our weaknesses and our frail humanity. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">We learn to trust that God will be faithful to raise us up from each phase of dying to our self and give us new life (i.e. life that conforms to The Law) that will be superior to the old way of life that we previously thought was so great. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">None of the above changes happen unless we are willing to put some aspect of our life to death. The more we protect and defend the life we know, the more that life <a href=\"http:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/medical\/atrophy\">atrophies<\/a> (i.e. dies a slow, incremental death). We will die either way, so the smart thing to do is choose to put to death those parts of our life that cause trouble for us and for others, and receive the new life that God has made available to us through the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=isaiah+42:1-9;jeremiah+31:31;jeremiah+32:36-42;ezekiel+37:15-28;luke+22:20;1+corinthians+11:25;hebrews+8:1-13;hebrews+9:15;hebrews+12:18-25\">New Covenant<\/a>. It is a life that conforms to The Law in increasing degrees. In the New Covenant, however, we do not keep the law as a matter of legalism. Rather, we keep it naturally and effortlessly because we are entering into that ultimate relationship with God where The Law is written on our hearts. His character (i.e. his name) becomes our character<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">AUTHORS&#8217; NOTE: <\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><a title=\"New Covenant\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\">Click here for an extensive discussion of the New Covenant compared to the Old Covenant.<\/a> It is a critical concept for both Jews and Christians to understand<\/span><em><span style=\"color: #333333;\">.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">In God&#8217;s eyes, our willingness to voluntarily go through this process of dying is an act of love. It is love on our part because we are willing to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/passage\/?q=john+15:8-18\">die to our kind of life so that his kind of life can be reproduced in us. <\/a> It is an act of love on God&#8217;s part because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/hebrews\/passage\/?q=hebrews+12:1-11\">he is disciplining us so that we can become legitimate sons<\/a> in the sense that we are recreated in his image.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">God spells the benefits of going through though this transformation for us in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/passage\/?q=john+15:8-18\">John 15:8-18<\/a>. Here he calls the dying process &#8220;laying down your life, and he says that laying down your life is the greatest love, and we see that there are great benefits (beyond the new life) when we choose to lay down an aspect of our life. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>We see an example of this process in the life of Noah who built an ark that saved him, his family, and many others. To appreciate this story, we must accept that the animals symbolize people. This makes more sense than saving animals because it forecasts Jesus saving people and us making the way for other people to be saved through our life-long process of building an ark that God will use to bring new life to others. The ark, of course, is our life as New Covenant disciples in whom the spiritual light of God shines out to a world that is lost in religion.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">When Jesus laid down his life for those who choose to follow him, it was the supreme act of unselfish love. <\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Jesus, like Noah, trusted that God would restore him and those who follow him to new lie. We, like Noah and Jesus should also be willing to lay down our lives for others. We may not see the particulars of how that happens for anyone, but that is part of trusting God.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love#greaterlovecommentary\">this link for understanding of what it means to lay down your life for others.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">Christians who interpret the Bible literally are misled by the images of Jesus&#8217; persecution and death on a cross. These images are symbolic representations of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths\/2\">second death<\/a> &#8212; not of a physical death. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">According to the literal interpretation of the so-called Easter Story, Jesus died a natural death. According to the spiritual interpretation of this story, spiritual death is a process &#8212; not a singular event that happens at a unique moment in time.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spiritualdeath\">this link for understanding of spiritual death<\/a>. Also see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths\/2\">Second Death<\/a> for understanding of what it means to lay down your life for your friends.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><a id=\"spiritualdeathresurrectionprocess\"><\/a>Followers of Jesus experienced spiritual death in their journey coming out of religion. <\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\">They also experience the second death as they lay down their lives\u00a0 Here is a brief summary of the way the death and resurrection process plays out for New Covenant disciples:<\/span><\/p>\n<table border=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">You come to agree with God (and perhaps others) that you are not as important or as smart as you thought you were.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>You identify with the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes and other religious leaders who maneuvered to have Jesus crucified. You see that you have also been protective of your <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\">Old\/First Covenant<\/a>\u00a0 religion and an obstruction to the advancement of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">You understand that while you were deceived about your importance and wisdom, you offended God and used and abused others. You understand that you have kept other religionists in bondage to your heavy yoke of religion just like the Pharisees. Or you recognized that you have an idol in your life, or that you are a hypocrite. You come face to face with the reality that there are ways in which you practice <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5#puredefiledreligion\">Defiled Religion.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">You repent for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/matthew\/23-23.html\">being religious (i.e. following traditions made by men) while neglecting the weightier matters of the law<\/a>. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">You repent for using, abusing and controlling others so that you can have your own way.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">You repent for creating and worshiping idols.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>You repent for your <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/hypocrisy\">hypocrisy<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>You repent for your <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/5#favoritismpartiality\">partiality and favoritism<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">You identify with Jesus as a victim of religion and choose to voluntarily die to your own religious beliefs and practices. You also identify with Jesus in his resurrection as a <\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\">New Covenant disciple by recognizing that the suffering and death that he went through made it possible for you to go through a similar death and resurrection process. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">You thank God for raising you from the dead to new life even though you have not yet experienced new life and in fact do not even know what that new life will look like. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #333333;\">You take it by faith that you will be transformed at least a little into a New Covenant disciple.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>You begin to notice, little by little, that your attitudes and behaviors toward God and others are changing. The presence of God&#8217;s laws in your heart is a greater reality for you. You no longer worship idols. You are not as bossy, condemning, abusive, hurtful as you were before. Eventually you find that people relate to you differently. They seem to like you more and are more comfortable around you. You see evidence in your life that you are more like Jesus.<\/li>\n<li>You thank God for what he has done for you, and eagerly share your experience with others. You are eager to go through the process again and again because you are more at peace in your relationship with people and God.<\/li>\n<li>You resolve to <a href=\"https:\/\/thewayweseecom.ipage.com\/howtolove\/chapter-6-sacrificial-love\/\">love your neighbor as yourself sacrificially<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Of course this is a simplistic way to look at the process, but this is essentially what happens when you voluntarily choose to lay down your religious life.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong> THE REASON FOR <\/strong><strong>LAYING DOWN YOUR LIFE<\/strong><br \/>\nSome aspects of our God-given life may pose difficulties for us. Similarly, aspects of the life we create for ourselves (in response to circumstances and the environment in which we live) will cause trouble for us and others whenever what we think and do is not consistent with God&#8217;s ways (i.e. The Law). These circumstances and the environment we live in are the giants God left in the promised land. We need to keep in mind, therefore, that God knows what he is doing and that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+16:4;genesis+22:1;judges+2:18-23;jeremiah+9:2-9;jeremiah+11:20;jeremiah+12:3;zechariah+13:9;psalm+66:10;isaiah+48:10;daniel+11:35;daniel+12:10;revelation+3:18;1+peter+1:7;malachi+3:2-3\">he is continually testing and refining his people to see if they will be obedient to him or not.<\/a> The test is whether or not they will <a href=\"https:\/\/thewayweseecom.ipage.com\/howtolove\/chapter-6-sacrificial-love\/\">love sacrificially with perfect love<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It may be hard to think of it this way, but it is nevertheless true that, when we have a problem, God also has a problem. This is true because when we are disobedient we are not fulfilling his will, or his purposes. Whenever God sees an aspect of our life that is inconsistent with his<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/towrah.html\"> instruction<\/a> about how we should live, he will test and refine us by causing trouble of one kind or another to get our attention and redirect us to obedience. In other words, when he sees our sin (i.e. disobedience to The Law), he will set up circumstances designed to make us want to repent for our sin and turn to his way of doing life. Because he is a patient God, he may be slow in this redirecting process, but he is sure to do it sooner or later because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+16:4;genesis+22:1;judges+2:18-23;jeremiah+9:2-9;jeremiah+11:20;jeremiah+12:3;zechariah+13:9;psalm+66:10;isaiah+48:10;daniel+11:35;daniel+12:10;revelation+3:18;1+peter+1:7;malachi+3:2-3\">he has told us that this is what he will do<\/a>.<br \/>\nBut why does God want to redirect our life? How does our sin cause a problem for God? The answer is a bit complicated, so be patient and read carefully.<\/p>\n<p>Whenever we respond affirmatively to God&#8217;s redirection (i.e. correction), we lay down an aspect of our life. This is always a slow, incremental process. It is never a complete, all-at-once process as is commonly portrayed in religious doctrines as conversion. The symbolism God uses to describe the process is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/kjv\/tsaraph.html\">refinement<\/a>, as in the refinement of precious metals which are heated again and again with the dross (sin) skimmed off each time. The purpose of this refining process, of course, is to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/5\">remake\u00a0our hearts into God&#8217;s image<\/a>. And to the degree that we are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/summorphos.html\">conformed<\/a> to that likeness we will <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/pleroo.html\">fulfill (i.e. actively live out)<\/a> the law in our daily lives just as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:17-20\">Jesus perfectly lived out the law in his life. <\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">STUDY TIP: This process of refinement is also called creation. It is not, however, a &#8220;big bang&#8221; kind of creation in which creation happens all at one time. God&#8217;s creation takes six days of indeterminable length which is different for each person. See this link for more about God&#8217;s creative work.<\/p>\n<p>But why does God want us to be like Jesus? Why does he want us fulfill the law like Jesus fulfilled it? In <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/14-6.html\">John 14:6<\/a> Jesus said:<em> &#8220;I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.&#8221;<\/em> If that statement is true for Jesus, it must also be true for those who follow Jesus because God depends on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=malachi+3:1;+matthew+11:10;+mark+1:2;+luke+7:27;+philippians+2:25;+2-chronicles+36:15-16;+ezekiel+30:1-9;+2-corinthians+8:23\">many messengers to represent him to the world<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While it may be difficult for Christians to accept, the truth is that this process of representing God to the world began with Israel as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=genesis+12:1-3;genesis+22:13-18;isaiah+9:1-7;isaiah+51:4;isaiah+60:1-8;isaiah+26:15-18;isaiah+49:3-6;acts+13:47;matthew+28:19\">God&#8217;s chosen people who were set apart to be a light to the nations.<\/a> Israel was given the law so it could demonstrate God&#8217;s character to the world and draw people to God. And the law (God&#8217;s spoken word), being the representation of God&#8217;s character, is the light that will attract them.<\/p>\n<p>How do we know that the law is the light that attracts nations (i.e. world) to God? We know this because <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=john+14:7-9;john+5:36-41;matthew+5:17;john+10:34-38;romans+3:28-31\">Jesus, as the perfect image of God<\/a>, is also <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/passage\/?q=john+9:5;john+8:12\">the light of the world<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:17;john+10:34-38;romans+3:28-31\"> the fulfillment of the law<\/a>. Therefore, the law, as the full representation of God, is the light that attracts the nations to God.<\/p>\n<p>Our job in all this is to hear and obey the law so that we too will be lights that draws people to God. As our obedience increases, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nrs\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:14-20;john+8:12;john+9:4-5;john+12:44-50\">we, like like spiritual Israel, and like Jesus, become greater lights to the world<\/a>. This is God&#8217;s plan for populating the earth with people (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/kjv\/phos.html\">lights<\/a>) created in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/1-john\/1-5.html\">God&#8217;s image <\/a>to represent him. As this happens, the world will increasingly see those conformed people and see God just as they saw him when Jesus physically walked on the earth. And more to the point, they will see God as he really is.<\/p>\n<p>Deuteronomy 4:1-11 tells us how this will happen.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/deuteronomy\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+4:1-11\">Deuteronomy 4:1-11<\/a> 1 &#8220;And now, O Israel, give heed to the statutes and the ordinances which I teach you, and do them; that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, gives you. 2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it; that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Ba&#8217;al-pe&#8217;or; for the LORD your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Ba&#8217;al of Pe&#8217;or; 4 but you who held fast to the LORD your God are all alive this day.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/balaam\">Balaam<\/a> for understanding of Ba&#8217;al-peor.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><span style=\"color: #333333;\">5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land which you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, &#8216;Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.&#8217; 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day?<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">9 &#8220;Only take heed, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children&#8217;s children&#8211; 10 how on the day that you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, &#8216;Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children so.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">11 And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom.<\/p>\n<p>The purpose of being a light to the nations is explained further in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/revelation\/passage\/?q=revelation+21:22-26\">Revelation 21:22-26<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light shall the nations walk; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates shall never be shut by day&#8211;and there shall be no night there; 26 they shall bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: Verse 22 says that New Covenant disciples do not go to physical buildings to worship. See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/tabernacles-temples-altars-high-places-and-pilgrimages\">Tabernacles, Temples, Altars, High Places and Pilgrimages.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Verse 23 says that New Covenant disciples do not need religious leaders (i.e. suns, moons) to give them light that shows them how to conduct their lives. God&#8217;s glory (i.e. his life, his laws written on their hearts, and his spoken word) are all that New Covenant disciples need to know how to conduct their lives.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Verse 24 says that when God&#8217;s glory is alive and active in New Covenant disciples, they become lights to Old\/First Covenant religionists who walk in darkness.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">This is what the New Covenant is all about: Being a blessing and a light to religious people who need to hear the truth that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">Religion is Sin<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>With this understanding that we are to be lights representing God to others, we begin to see why God has a problem when we disobey the law: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/third-commandment\">We wrongly represent him to the world<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>So now we begin to see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/colossians\/passage\/?q=colossians+3:5-10\">why we want to die, or lay down our old way of life<\/a>. We should not want to die just so we can have a better life and go to heaven after we physically die. Indeed we do receive the benefits of having a new life, but that should not be our main goal. Rather,<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/colossians\/passage\/?q=colossians+3:5-10\"> our purpose in dying is to be conformed (i.e. recreated) into the likeness of Jesus by putting on the new nature (i.e. likeness of Jesus)<\/a> so that we can accurately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:24-26;+john+14:10;+john+3:34;+john+5:19;+john+14:24;+matthew+24:35;+mark+13:31;+luke+4:32-36;+luke+6:47;+luke+6:46-49;+luke+9:26;+luke+21:15;+john+4:41;+john+6:63;+john+6:68;+john+7:40;+john+12:47-50;+john+15:7;+john+17:8;+acts+7:38;+1-peter+4:11;+exodus+3;+exodus+4:1-12\">speak for God to<\/a> the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/world\">world <\/a>of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+12:36-40;+isaiah+6:9-10;+jeremiah+5:21;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14;+deuteronomy+29:4;+acts+19:9;+titus+1:16;+deuteronomy+21:18-21;+deuteronomy+32:1-5;+2-chronicles+30:8;+nehemiah+9:25-26;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+ezekiel+3:1-7;+mark+6:45-52\">hard-hearted<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">religious people<\/a> who<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:24-26;+john+14:10;+john+3:34;+john+5:19;+john+14:24;+matthew+24:35;+mark+13:31;+luke+4:32-36;+luke+6:47;+luke+6:46-49;+luke+9:26;+luke+21:15;+john+4:41;+john+6:63;+john+6:68;+john+7:40;+john+12:47-50;+john+15:7;+john+17:8;+acts+7:38;+1-peter+4:11;+exodus+3;+exodus+4:1-12\"> cannot hear his voice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=2+corinthians+5:17-20;ephesians+6:19-20\">As God&#8217;s ambassadors to the world, we allow people see God as he really is, thus giving them the incentive to get out of religion so that they can be reconciled to him.<\/a> Thus we see that our life should be all about God and others &#8212; not about us. And we should not be surprised about that because, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=hebrews+12:1-11;+hebrews+2:9-10;+1-peter+2:23;+john+10:14-18;+philippians+2:8;+hebrews+5:8\">for Jesus, suffering, death and resurrection was all about us &#8212; not about him. <\/a><\/p>\n<p>Understanding this progression, helps us understand what God meant when he said that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=genesis+1:26;james+3:9;1+corinthians+11:7\">we are created in his image<\/a>. We are born into a world of religious influences that teach us to construct our lives in ways that conform to the many <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5\">different kinds of laws<\/a> &#8212; including religious laws &#8212; that shape who we become.<\/p>\n<p>Later, however, when <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/ephesians\/passage\/?q=ephesians+4:17-27\">we die to our old (i.e. religious) way of life we are spiritually renewed,<\/a> (i.e. recreated, transformed, conformed) into the spiritual likeness of God. This is what happens when removes from us our heart of stone and gives us a new heart. That means we die to following <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> and come alive to fulfilling God&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#spirituallaw\">spiritual laws<\/a>. We transfer our citizenship from the kingdom of the world (i.e. religion) to the kingdom of God (i.e. spirit). <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+17:14-18;+john+8:23\">The kingdom of religion is still all around us, of course, but we have decided that we will not be a part of it.<\/a> This is what death and resurrection is all about.<\/p>\n<p>To the degree that we choose to participate in that death and resurrection process, we increasingly fulfill<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#spirituallaw\"> God&#8217;s spiritual laws<\/a> in our lives just as Jesus fulfilled them. In doing this, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=leviticus+19:18;luke+10:25-28\">we fulfill the commandment to love God, our neighbors and ourselves and live the kind of life that God wants us to live.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>God considers it an act of love on our part when we willingly change from our old way of doing life (i.e. the religious ways we have been taught by the religious world) and opt for doing life God&#8217;s way. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/passage\/?q=john+15:12-13\">John 15:12-13<\/a> says that laying down our former way of life is the greatest expression of our love for others. Laying down our old way of life and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=romans+13:8-10;psalm+119:165;galatians+5:14;deuteronomy+7:12;joshua+22:5;deuteronomy+10:12;deuteronomy+11:13-14;1+john+5:1-6;deuteronomy+7:8-14;nehemiah+1:5;daniel+9:4;john+14:15;john+14:21;john+15:10;2+john+1:6\">living according to God&#8217;s commandments (i.e. spiritual laws) is also how we demonstrate that we love God and Jesus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The bottom line message from all this is this: If you keep trying to live in obedience to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/5#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>, you will die a slow, incremental death. If, however, you choose to lay down (i.e. put to death) your religious life, God will give you a new, spiritual life. Little by little, you will be transformed into the image of God (i.e. your heart will be like God&#8217;s heart). <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/john\/3-30.html\">God&#8217;s life in you will increase, while your old life decreases.<\/a> And when this happens, you will fulfill God&#8217;s plan for you to represent him to a lost and dying world.<\/p>\n<p>It has been said that God&#8217;s spiritual principles are upside down from the principles by which the world operates. This is especially true regarding life. It is natural, for example, for us to want to hold onto, protect and defend our life. We instinctively do this with our natural physical life. We also instinctively do this with the rest of our life &#8212; especially, as in the case of religious zealots, our religious life.<\/p>\n<p>While God does want us to protect and defend our natural physical life, he does not want us to hold onto or advance other aspects of our life embodied in the many, different kinds of laws\/rules\/principles we adopt and observe &#8212; especially our religious lives. Actually, he wants us to put those parts (see list on previous page) to death so that we can receive new life from him. That is hard to do, of course, but God gives us a very real incentive to die to our old life. Jesus says that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?q=save+life+lose+it&amp;c=nt&amp;t=rsv&amp;ps=10&amp;s=Bibles\">if we try to save our life we will lose it, and that if we lose our old life (i.e. lay it down) for his sake we will save it.<\/a> This means that we cannot really hold onto the old life we know and cherish. Slowly but surely we will lose it because it is not good for us, for others, or for God. The spiritual life that God establishes in us, however, is good for us, for others and for God.<\/p>\n<p>Every time God does gives us a greater measure of spiritual life, we also become a little more like Jesus. Jesus died for so that God&#8217;s spiritual life can be established in us just like it was established in him. We choose to die to our religious life to make the way for God&#8217;s spiritual life to be established in others.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <span class=\"verse-16\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">Model Warriors<\/a><\/span> for more about what it means to die for others.<\/p>\n<p>It is worth repeating: Jesus died for others so that they can have access to the same spiritual life that he enjoyed. And that is why we die. It is not about us. It is about others. This is what <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=philippians+2:1-4;+romans+15:1;+philippians+2:18-21;+james+2:8\">looking out for the interests of others<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=leviticus+19:18;+matthew+22:36-39;+mark+12:28-31;+luke+10:25-27;+romans+13:9;+galatians+5:14;+james+2:8\">loving your neighbor as yourself<\/a> is all about.<\/p>\n<p>It was for the joy of seeing God&#8217;s spiritual life established in others that<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/hebrews\/passage\/?q=hebrews+12:1-2\"> Jesus endured the cross<\/a> and died. It is for the joy of seeing God&#8217;s spiritual life established in others that we <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+15:30-31;+romans+8:36;+luke+14:27;+1-corinthians+4:9;+2-corinthians+11:23;+hebrews+10:33\">carry our own cross and die daily.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong><a id=\"salavationchecklist\"><\/a>SALVATION, ETERNAL LIFE, HEAVEN AND\u00a0FORGIVENESS<\/strong><br \/>\nAttaining forgiveness for sin, salvation, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/eternity\">eternal life<\/a> are the most important issues in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/world\">world of religion<\/a>. Everything that religious people do is done with the hope that their religious practices will somehow guarantee or enhance their spiritual life after they physically die. Thinking about this issue is typically couched in the context of going to heaven or hell. If you have done the right things, you go to heaven, or if you have not done the right things you go to hell.<\/p>\n<p>Salvation from sin is the shorthand term that people often used to represent attainment of forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Christian doctrines say, or imply, that salvation and eternal life in heaven is assured for Christians who do some or all of the following things:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border-width: 1px;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 6.76923%;\">\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 93.2308%;\">They are baptized as a child or adult.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 6.76923%;\">\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 93.2308%;\">They are confirmed into church membership.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 6.76923%;\">\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 93.2308%;\">They attend church regularly.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 6.76923%;\">\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 93.2308%;\">They pray and read the Bible with some regularity.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 6.76923%;\">\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 93.2308%;\">They support their church financially and with volunteer labor.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 6.76923%;\">\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 93.2308%;\">Live a moral, sinless life according to the basic standards of the Ten Commandments.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 6.76923%;\">\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 93.2308%;\">Follow the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious rules<\/a> codified by their church.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 6.76923%;\">\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 93.2308%;\">Make a verbal confession that they trust Jesus as their lord and savior.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>There is some leeway in this list &#8212; depending on the religious denomination to which a Christian adheres. But generally speaking, these are the standards by which Christians evaluate the certainty of their salvation and the certainty of Going to heaven after they die. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewfaq.org\/olamhaba.htm\">Judaism, being generally ambiguous about the afterlife<\/a>, and the issues of heaven and hell, tends to focus on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jewfaq.org\/613.htm\">obedience to the laws of Moses<\/a> while alive.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"fearofhell\"><\/a>Religious practices and beliefs about salvation, heaven and hell, are based loosely on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\">literal interpretations<\/a> of the Bible. Because these interpretations vary from one religion to another, the standards, expectations and hopes about achieving salvation vary from one religion to another. Nevertheless, eternal life, also called salvation, is always perceived as the positive, desireable life that righteous will people enjoy after they die physically. This eternal life is thought to exist somewhere in the physical, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/celestial\">celestial<\/a> heaven above the physical earth. It is the life they will enjoy with Jesus and their departed friends and family. This life is a fabrication of religious teaching passed down for nearly two thousand years of religion.<\/p>\n<p>In religion, eternal life in heaven is perceived as the positive opposite of a negative eternity spent in hell by people who have not been suitably religious. Thus religious people desire eternal life in heaven with God so they can avoid going to hell. In effect, they live a religious life for fear that they will go to hell if they don&#8217;t live a religious life. In other words, their devotion to religion is based on fear of going to hell.<\/p>\n<p>Religions past and present have created graphic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?safe=active&amp;source=univ&amp;tbm=isch&amp;q=images+hell&amp;client=firefox-b-1-d&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjWvvainLLrAhV2JzQIHfFFCjIQsAR6BAgKEAE&amp;biw=1920&amp;bih=938\">images of what hell is like, <\/a>and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=revelation+20:9-15;+revelation+19:20;+revelation+21:8;+psalm+11:6;+isaiah+30:33;+revelation+9:18;+genesis+19:24\">literal Bible reinforces the power of these images<\/a> into a reality that motivates religious people to say and do almost anything to avoid it. These are the images invoked in &#8220;hell fire and brimstone&#8221; sermons that preachers use to inspire fear of hell into non-reliigous people as a means of scaring them into saying a sinners&#8217; prayer and accepting Jesus as their savior. Given the accepted, universal understandings of what hell is like, it is not surprising that people fear spending eternity there.<\/p>\n<p>This would all make sense if hell existed as it is represented in literature, art and the Bible. It does not exist. God symbolically employs the images of hell to graphically demonstrate what life is like for people who do not listen to his voice. He contrasts these scary images of hell with lovely, attractive images of heaven to contrast two kinds of lives: Lives for people who listen to God&#8217;s voice,\u00a0 and lives for people who do not listen to his voice. He does not use these images to scare people to avoid a physical place called hell in favor of an attractive place called heaven. Rather, he uses the images to inform religious people about the consequences of their choice to listen, or not listen, to his voice.<\/p>\n<p>But the choice is not about physical places in which people will spend eternity. Rather, the choice is about the here and now condition of their hearts. They can choose to have clean, pure hearts enjoyed by people who listen to God&#8217;s voice, or, they can choose to suffer the tribulation of evil, impure hearts that are the consequence of not listening to God&#8217;s voice. This is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+30:15-20;+genesis+2:16-17;+deuteronomy+11:26-27\">life and death choice God presents in the Old Testament.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Spiritual life or spiritual death is the clear, simple choice that God presents in the story of Adam and Eve in the garden. From which tree do they eat fruit: The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">tree of knowledge of good and evil<\/a>, or the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeoflife\">tree of life<\/a>? They are free to choose. Choosing one tree leads to a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">clean, pure heart<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/#rewards\">spiritual life<\/a>, and choosing the other tree leads to an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">evil, impure heart<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spiritualdeath\">spiritual death<\/a>\u00a0 and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/end-times-rapture-and-tribulation\/3\">tribulation<\/a>. The choice is very simple: Keep practicing <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/10\">religion<\/a> and listening to false prophets, or listen to God&#8217;s voice as spoken through <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">angels,<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#godspeaksfromcloud\">witnesses<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/apostolos.html\">apostles\/messengers<\/a> whom <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+1:1-2;+john+3:34;+jeremiah+26:1-5;+ezekiel+2:1-7;+ezekiel+3:4-11;+2-chronicles+36:15;+acts+3:26;+revelation+1:1;+deuteronomy+18:18;+isaiah+51:15-16;+john+17:1-8;+isaiah+59:21;+deuteronomy+32:1;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+proverbs+12:6;+jeremiah+1:9;+jeremiah+5:14;+hosea+6:5;+daniel+9:9-11;+2-peter+1:19-21;+mark+13:27;+matthew+24:31;+revelation+22:6\">he sends to speak for him<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The big problem Christians have is that they do not know that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">God&#8217;s spoken word and his written word are not the same<\/a>. That means that they do not know how to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/2\">discern between good and evil<\/a>. That means they do not know that heaven and hell are symbolic representations of two heart conditions. They do not understand that hell is a Biblical term that symbolically represents an evil, impure heart &#8212; not a physical place reserved for bad people after they die physically.<\/p>\n<p>Lacking understanding of these truths, Christians think of hell as a real place that they don&#8217;t want to go to after they die. Christians do not emphasize fear of hell in their theology, but fear is always present. In fact fear of hell, for themselves and others, is a big driver of religion &#8212; especially evangelism and missions. Fear of an eternity in hell is especially present in altar calls in evangelistic churches and missions to non-christian cultures. Fear that non-christians will go to hell unless Christians evangelize them motivates them to engage in face-to-face evangelism. And if they don&#8217;t engage in personal evangelism, and if they don&#8217;t help finance evangelism efforts accomplished by others, fear is accompanied by guilt that they are somehow responsible if others end up going to hell. Fear is a useful motivator in religion. It is such a critical factor in religion that Christians are incapable of obeying <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=isaiah+41:9-14;+isaiah+35:4;+exodus+14:13;+exodus+20:20;+zephaniah+3:16;+isaiah+54:4;+lamentations+3:57;+haggai+2:5;+isaiah+43:1;+isaiah+43:5;+isaiah+44:2;+numbers+14:9\">God&#8217;s commands to &#8220;fear not.&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>There are at least eight problems with Christian theology regarding salvation, eternal life, heaven and hell:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 0px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 434px;\">\n<ol>\n<li>It ignores what <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/aionios.html\">eternal life means: Life with out beginning and without end. <\/a>Thus, for religious people who desire to go to heaven after they physically die, the eternal life to which they aspire begins only after they die. Thus, for religious people, the concept of eternal life has a beginning (i.e. when they die physically) but has no end. It is not, therefore, eternal. See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/eternity\">Eternal Life<\/a> for details.<\/li>\n<li>It ignores the positive benefits of spiritual <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+8:1-3;+deuteronomy+30:15-20;+john+6:63-68;+matthew+4:1-4;+luke+4:1-4;+john+5:24;+deuteronomy+32:45-47;+1-peter+1:22-25;+hebrews+4:12;+1-john+1:1-3;+john+1:1-4\">life that is available to people who hear and obey God&#8217;s spoken voice<\/a> while physically alive on earth.<\/li>\n<li>It ignores that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/2\">salvation is a &#8220;today&#8221; event, not a future event<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>It ignores the fact that the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\/kingdom-of-heaven\">kingdom of heaven<\/a> as God sees it is in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+14:23;+2-corinthians+6:16;+ephesians+3:14-19;+1-john+2:24;+revelation+3:20;+revelation+21:3;+numbers+35:34;+numbers+5:3;+1-kings+8:30-49;+psalm+40:8\">heart of man <\/a>&#8212; not somewhere in the physical heaven\/sky.<\/li>\n<li>It ignores the fact that people do not go to be with God in a physical place called heaven, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+14:23;+2-corinthians+6:16;+ephesians+3:14-19;+1-john+2:24;+revelation+3:20;+revelation+21:3;+numbers+35:34;+numbers+5:3;+1-kings+8:30-49;+psalm+40:8\">God comes to man to make his home<\/a> in man&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">heart<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>It allows people to continue <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sinning by practicing religion<\/a> while they are physically alive.<\/li>\n<li>It deflects people from obeying God&#8217;s commands to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\/4\">tear down idols and high places<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>It deflects people from engaging with the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">enemy<\/a> as warriors and messiahs who desire to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">set people free from religion.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Man&#8217;s religious concept of salvation as some kind of future status in heaven contrasts remarkably with God&#8217;s idea of salvation which is:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/freedom\">Freedom<\/a> from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">consequences<\/a> of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion. <\/a><\/p>\n<p>For God, religion is the problem. For God, religion is the problem because religion depends of listening to the words of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/apostles\">religious leaders<\/a> &#8212; not God&#8217;s spoken voice. For God, living a religious life is evil and hell. It is a problem for man for the following reasons:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.79144%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 4.89732%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 91.3112%;\">\n<ul class=\"children\">\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-4523\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-disease\">Religion is Disease<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-1964 page_item_has_children\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Religion is Sin<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-906\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">Religion is Deception<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-1532\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">Religion is Injustice, Slavery, Oppression and Affliction<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-657\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\">Religion is Idolatry<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-664 page_item_has_children\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Religion is the Enemy<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-2658\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-a-stronghold-of-wrong-thinking\">Religion is a Stronghold of Wrong Thinking<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-2623 page_item_has_children\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Religion is Commerce <\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"page_item page-item-637 page_item_has_children\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Religion is not Faith<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Religion is the product of an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">evil, impure heart<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Religion depends on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">teaching and leadership of false prophets.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>For God, the purpose and goal of salvation is to deliver religious people from these problems today while people are still physically alive &#8212; not after they physically die. The only way to be delivered from these problems is to quit listening to the words of religious leaders and start listening to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\">God&#8217;s spoken word<\/a>. The words of religious leaders have deceived people into religious beliefs and practices, and God&#8217;s spoken word is the antidote, or cure, for this deception.<\/p>\n<p>The following truths help explain salvation:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/14\">Hell is the here and now condition of evil impure hearts<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Hearts are evil and impure because religious people listen to the teachings of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">false prophets<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Salvation is necessary because religious people have been deceived by religious leaders.<\/li>\n<li>Religious people who listen to false prophets are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">enslaved, afflicted and oppressed by their teachings.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Truth is the only way to offset lies.<\/li>\n<li>Religious leaders speak words that are lies, but, God and his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">chosen messengers<\/a> speak <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/13\">truth<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>People who have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=luke+14:33-35;+mark+4:19-24;+mark+4:9-12;+matthew+11:15;+matthew+13:1-9;+matthew+13:36-43;+mark+7:14-16;+luke+8:8;+job+13:17;+revelation+2:26-29;+revelation+3:19-22;+revelation+13:1-9;+revelation+3:1-13\">ears to hear<\/a> God&#8217;s spoken word attain salvation when they hear the truth about religion and God.<\/li>\n<li>People who have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3:7-19;+hebrews+4:1-7;+john+12:36-40;+isaiah+6:9-10;+jeremiah+5:21;+jeremiah+6:10;+jeremiah+25:4;+isaiah+42:20;+isaiah+48:8;+romans+11:8;+acts+28:27;+ezekiel+12:2;+psalm+115:6;+psalm+135:17;+matthew+13:10-15;+deuteronomy+29:4;+acts+19:9;+2-chronicles+30:8;+nehemiah+9:25-26;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+mark+6:45-52;+job+22:22;+deuteronomy+6:6;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:31;+deuteronomy+32:46;+ezekiel+3:1-10\">hard hearts do not hear God&#8217;s voice<\/a> remain religious and do not attain salvation from religion.<\/li>\n<li>Religious people are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\">intoxicated<\/a> with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">religious pride<\/a> that prevents them from<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/20\"> humbling themselves.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-peter+5:5-6;+matthew+23:12;+luke+14:11;+luke+18:14;+james+4:6-10;+proverbs+29:23;+matthew+5:3;+matthew+18:4;+job+22:29\">God exalts (i.e. lifts up, raptures) the hearts of people who humble themselves<\/a> when they admit that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">religion is sin<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/end-times-rapture-and-tribulation\/2\">Exaltation (i.e. rapture) is the experience of hearing God&#8217;s spoken voice.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The hearts of people who hear God&#8217;s spoken voice are<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/end-times-rapture-and-tribulation\/2\"> lifted up (i.e. raptured.)<\/a><\/li>\n<li>People who hear God&#8217;s voice have hearts that are clean and pure.<\/li>\n<li>People who hear God&#8217;s voice receive salvation from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths#firstdeath\">death.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/15\">Clean, pure hearts are symbolically represented as heaven<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Religious people do not know that they are<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sickeness-disease-blindness-and-deafness\"> sick<\/a>, deceived, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">oppressed<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\">at war<\/a> with their religious communities. But God knows, and because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=james+5:11;+exodus+34:6;+deuteronomy+4:31;+jeremiah+3:12;+jeremiah+9:1-3;+jonah+4:2;+joel+2:13;+psalm+130:7;+hosea+11;+matthew+23:37;+luke+13:34;+psalm+103:8;+psalm+111:4;+psalm+86:5;+psalm+86:15;+psalm+116:5;+psalm+145:8;+psalm+98:3;+psalm+65:2;+isaiah+63:7\">he is merciful, gracious and compassionate,<\/a> he wants to rescue his people from all of these problems. Moreover, he wants to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">make his home in their hearts (i.e. heaven).<\/a><\/p>\n<p>But, as much as God wants to rescue his people from religion, God has several obstacles that impede his desire to rescue people from religion:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.79484%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 3.48718%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 92.7179%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Religious people do not know that they need to be rescued because they are deceived into believing that they are righteous in their beliefs and practices.<\/li>\n<li>Believing that they have already\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/13#salvationchecklist\">checked all, or most, of the boxes that earn salvation<\/a>, they resist attempts by anyone to tell them that they do not really have salvation and that they need to quit being religious.<\/li>\n<li>Because religious people habitually listen to and follow the teachings of their religious leaders (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">false prophets<\/a>), they do not know <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">how to hear God&#8217;s spoken voice<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Religious people do not understand <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\">the difference between faith and religion.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Religious people do not understand that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">God&#8217;s written word and his spoken word are not the same<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The main problem for God is that people do not know <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">how to hear his spoken voice. It is like another language that they do not understand. <\/a>Another big problem is people who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3:7-19;+hebrews+4:1-7;+john+12:36-40;+isaiah+6:9-10;+jeremiah+5:21;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:10-15;+deuteronomy+29:4;+acts+19:9;+2-chronicles+30:8;+nehemiah+9:25-26;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+mark+6:45-52;+job+22:22;+deuteronomy+6:6;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:31;+deuteronomy+32:46;+ezekiel+3:1-10\">rebelliously harden their hearts to hearing God&#8217;s voice.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>God&#8217;s remedy for this situation has always been to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+3:34;+jeremiah+26:1-5;+ezekiel+2:1-7;+2-chronicles+36:15;+acts+3:26;+revelation+1:1;+deuteronomy+18:18;+isaiah+51:15-16;+john+17:1-8;+isaiah+59:21;+deuteronomy+32:1;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+proverbs+12:6;+jeremiah+1:9;+jeremiah+5:14;+hosea+6:5;+daniel+9:9-11\">send prophets<\/a> who, because they know how to hear his voice, know how to\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\/4#jesusreinterpretsliterallaw\">interpret the literal law (i.e. Bible). <\/a>God sends these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/mesites.html\">messiahs<\/a> (i.e.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/mesites.html\">true prophets, angels, high priests, and\u00a0warriors)<\/a>\u00a0to speak his words in human languages that religious people can understand. Those who listen to God&#8217;s word receive salvation. Those who refuse to listen and remain religious continue to suffer in the hell that they have chosen for themselves.<\/p>\n<p>It is clear that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+24:35-41;+matthew+25:1-13;+matthew+7:13-14;+matthew+7:21-23;+matthew+20:1-16;+matthew+22:1-14;+matthew+24:24;+luke+13:22-30\">not all people want, or think they need, the kind of salvation<\/a> that God provides through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+3:34;+jeremiah+26:1-5;+ezekiel+2:1-7;+2-chronicles+36:15;+acts+3:26;+revelation+1:1;+deuteronomy+18:18;+isaiah+51:15-16;+john+17:1-8;+isaiah+59:21;+deuteronomy+32:1;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+proverbs+12:6;+jeremiah+1:9;+jeremiah+5:14;+hosea+6:5;+daniel+9:9-11;+2-peter+1:19-21\">words spoken by his prophets\/messengers.<\/a> Those who reject the words of the true prophets are happy and content with their understanding of\u00a0 salvation as going to heaven after they die. They strongly resent being told that their understanding of salvation is wrong. They feel safe and secure behind their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-a-stronghold-of-wrong-thinking\">strongholds of wrong thinking<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Those who deny and reject salvation through God&#8217;s spoken word are capable of reacting violently to anyone who suggests that religious people need salvation. Religious people believe they already have salvation because they follow <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a>. Their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">pride in the purity of their religion<\/a> arouses them to total resistance of the possibility that their religion is not true. They are therefore very offended and angry with anyone who dares to tell them differently. Such is the strength of their arrogance and their ability to resist <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/20\">humility<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">False prophets<\/a> are in no danger of offending religious people because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+5:31;+isaiah+30:9-12;+1-kings+22:8;+1-kings+22:13;+jeremiah+6:14;+jeremiah+23:17;+jeremiah+23:26;+ezekiel+13:6-7;+romans+16:18;+2-timothy+4:3-4\">they always report what religious people want to hear<\/a>. For that reason, they always enjoy the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+12:42-43;+john+5:41-44;+matthew+23:1-7;+1-samuel+15:30;+romans+2:29\">favor and esteem of religious people<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">True prophets<\/a>, on the other hand, will surely be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=luke+6:22;+isaiah+53:3;+psalm+22:6;+isaiah+49:7;+luke+18:31-33;+john+9:22;+john+16:2\">rejected and despised<\/a> because they speak of<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice#spiritconvicts\"> conviction of sin<\/a> and other unwelcome truths about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/how-god-sees-religion\">how God sees religion<\/a> to religious people. What happened to Jesus is an example of how religious people will treat his followers who are also true prophets.<\/p>\n<p>We see this kind of response in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+5:11-12;+acts+7:51-53;+jeremiah+2:30;+matthew+23:31;+matthew+23:37;+luke+6:22-23;+1-kings+19:10;+1-kings+19:14;+2-kings+2:22-23;+amos+2:12;+amos+7:13;+jeremiah+1:1-17;+jeremiah+5:1-3;+jeremiah+18:19;+jeremiah+37:13;+jeremiah+36:5;+isaiah+30:10;+micah+2:1-6;+jeremiah+20:2;+jeremiah+40:1;+jeremiah+37:15-16;+jeremiah+38:6;+1-kings+22:23-27;+1-kings+19:1-2;+2-chronicles+24:20-21;+jeremiah+26:20-23;+luke+11:47-51;+isaiah+53:1-7\">Old Testament\u00a0stories about the violent ways that religious people reacted to God&#8217;s words spoken through God&#8217;s prophets<\/a>. We see a detailed report of what happens when\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:24-26;+john+14:10;+john+3:34;+john+5:19;+john+14:24;+matthew+24:35;+mark+13:31;+luke+4:32-36;+luke+6:47;+luke+6:46-49;+luke+9:26;+luke+21:15;+john+4:41;+john+6:63;+john+6:68;+john+7:40;+john+12:47-50;+john+15:7;+john+17:8;+acts+7:38;+1-peter+4:11;+exodus+3;+exodus+4:1-12\">God&#8217;s prophets speak his words to religious people<\/a> (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/pharisees-and-scribes\">pharisees and scribes<\/a>) in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=matthew+27:1-54;+mark+15:1-40;+luke+23:1-48;+isaiah+53;+john+19:1-30;+1-peter+3:18\">story of Jesus&#8217; crucifixion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=luke+14:27;+matthew+5:10-12;+philippians+1:29;+1-peter+4:14;+matthew+24:9;+matthew+10:17-18;+matthew+10:22-23;+john+15:18-21;+matthew+22:1-7;+matthew+23:25-36;+luke+11:49;+mark+13:9;+acts+5:40\">Jesus promised that this pattern of persecution and abuse would continue in his prophecies that his followers will receive the same kind of treatment that he received from their religious friends and neighbors.<\/a> And we see that Jesus&#8217; prophecies about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=acts+4:1-21;+acts+6:1-8;+acts+5:17-42;+acts+8:1-3;+acts+9:1-2;+2-corinthians+11:23;+1-peter+5:10;+1-peter+4:1;+1-peter+3:14;+hebrews+2:10;+james+1:12;+john+16:33;+luke+14:27;+philippians+3:10;+philippians+1:29;+psalm+34:19;+psalm+119:71;+romans+5:1-4;+romans+8:35;+2-corinthians+1:3-4;+1-peter+4:12-13;+1-peter+3:18-19;+1-peter+1:6-7;+1-peter+2:19-21;+2-corinthians+4:8-10;+james+1:2-4;+romans+5:1-5;+matthew+5:10-12;+romans+8:18-22;+galatians+3:1-4;+1-thessalonians+2:14;+2-timothy+3:12;+hebrews+10:32;+2-timothy+4:5;+1-peter+4:19;+hebrews+12:1;+1-peter+4:13\">persecution and trouble his followers would experience was fulfilled in many New Testament stories.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Jesus is the perfect model of all true prophets. His disciples learn about his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\/2#jesusqualities\">character<\/a> and his<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\/2#jesusministryfunctions\"> ministry<\/a> from the Bible and then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+14:12;+mark+16:15-18;+matthew+10:7-8;+luke+4:18-19;+matthew+11:1-5;+isaiah+61:1-4\">go and do the kinds of things that Jesus did.<\/a> They, in effect, are messiahs just like Jesus. They are qualified as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs with power and authority<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12-13;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31\">speak for God<\/a> because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:39-40;+jeremiah+33:14;+jeremiah+24:7;+ezekiel+37:26;+ezekiel+39:29;+luke+22:20;+1-corinthians+11:25;+2-corinthians+3:1-6;+hebrews+8:8-12;+hebrews+10:16-17;+psalm+40:8;+psalm+37:31;+genesis+17:7-13\">God&#8217;s laws are written on their hearts<\/a>. Then, those who hear (i.e. believe) the word of God spoken through<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">\u00a0messengers\/angels\/prophets,<\/a> and who repent for the fact that for a season of their life they listened to false prophets and were themselves false prophets who led people into <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">slavery<\/a>, will receive forgiveness and achieve salvation in the form of the ability to hear God&#8217;s voice.<\/p>\n<p>Thus it must be said that God&#8217;s voice is the only salvation (i.e. cure) for religion. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/#definitionofsin\">Failure to listen to God&#8217;s voice was the sin that created the need for salvation<\/a>. Therefore, listening to God&#8217;s voice is the source of salvation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIPS: It is impossible to understand forgiveness and salvation without first understanding the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/blood\/2\">symbolism of blood as God&#8217;s spoken word,<\/a> and without understanding\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/#definitionofsin\">God&#8217;s definition of sin<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding forgiveness, these scriptures are instructive:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/leviticus\/passage\/?q=leviticus+8:14-15\">Leviticus 8:14-15:\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<span class=\"verse-14\">Then he\u00a0brought\u00a0the\u00a0bull\u00a0of the\u00a0sin\u00a0offering, and\u00a0Aaron\u00a0and his\u00a0sons\u00a0laid\u00a0their\u00a0hands\u00a0on the\u00a0head\u00a0of the\u00a0bull\u00a0of the\u00a0sin offering.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"verse-number\">15<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"verse-15\">Next\u00a0Moses\u00a0slaughtered\u00a0it and\u00a0took\u00a0the\u00a0blood\u00a0and with his\u00a0finger\u00a0put\u00a0some of it\u00a0around\u00a0on the\u00a0horns\u00a0of the\u00a0altar, and\u00a0purified\u00a0the\u00a0altar. Then he\u00a0poured\u00a0out the rest of the\u00a0blood\u00a0at the\u00a0base\u00a0of the\u00a0altar\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/qadash.html\">consecrated<\/a>\u00a0it, to\u00a0make\u00a0atonement\u00a0for it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: To understand this scripture, it is first necessary to understand the symbolism of the heart as\u00a0the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/tabernacles-temples-altars-high-places-and-pilgrimages\/5\">altar<\/a>\u00a0where\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+51:16-17;+1-kings+12:27;+exodus+20:24;+exodus+25:1-2;+exodus+35:21;+isaiah+29:13-14;+psalm+34:18;+psalm+147:3;+isaiah+61:1;+leviticus+4;+leviticus+6;+leviticus+7\">spiritual sacrifices and offerings are made.<\/a>\u00a0See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\">Place Where God Will Place His Name.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">With the understanding of the altar as the heart, we can then see that blood (i.e. God&#8217;s voice) purifies the heart. Heart purification is the one and only miracle that God does. It is a miracle that only God can do. Hearing his voice is what makes this miracle happen. Hearing God&#8217;s voice changes people from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">Old\/First Covenant religionists to New Covenant disciples<\/a>. Hearing God&#8217;s voice has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/qadash.html\">consecrating effect (i.e. makes it holy)<\/a> on the heart.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">God&#8217;s voice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/kaphar.html\">atones for (i.e. covers up, forgives)<\/a> the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/#definitionofsin\">sin of religion<\/a>. After religious people are covered with God&#8217;s blood (i.e. his spoken word), God no longer sees their sin. They are effectively washed clean by his word (i.e. his blood).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/leviticus\/17-11.html\">Leviticus 17:11:<\/a>\u00a0For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/blood\/2\">Blood.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/hebrews\/9-22.html\">Hebrews 9:22:\u00a0<\/a>And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: When we understand the symbolism of blood as God&#8217;s spoken word, we see that it is God&#8217;s word that cleanses us from sin. In other words, if we do not hear God&#8217;s voice we are neither cleansed nor forgiven.<\/p>\n<p>New Covenant disciples are the only ones who receive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+hebrews+8:8-12\">forgiveness of sins. <\/a>They are qualified for forgiveness for the following reasons:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 3.64099%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 4.25637%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 92.1025%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>They stop listening to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">false prophets<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>They stop following <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> created by men.<\/li>\n<li>They choose to allow God to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+11:14-21;+jeremiah+24:7;+jeremiah+32:38-39;+ezekiel+18:31;+ezekiel+36:26;+psalm+51:10;+ezekiel+11:19;+john+3:3;+john+3:5;+2-corinthians+5:17\">give them a new heart<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>They <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/how-to-hear-gods-spoken-voice\">listen to God&#8217;s voice<\/a>\u00a0(i.e.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=sprinkle+blood&amp;t=nas\"> God&#8217;s voice has been sprinkled on them<\/a>) and follow his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">spiritual laws<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>God&#8217;s spiritual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+jeremiah+32:40;+jeremiah+33:14;+ezekiel+37:26;+luke+22:20;+1-corinthians+11:25;+2-corinthians+3:1-6;+hebrews+8:8-12;+hebrews+10:16-17\">laws are written on their hearts<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>They function as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiahs<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warriors <\/a>who\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\/4\">tear down idols and high places.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The do <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">justice that delivers religious people from oppression<\/a> from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>HERE AND NOW SALVATION<\/strong><br \/>\nContrary to religious teachings, salvation is not a future event in which &#8220;saved&#8221; people go to heaven instead of hell after they physically. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2-corinthians+6:1-2;+luke+19:9;+exodus+14:13;+1-samuel+11:13;+judges+10:15;+genesis+50:20;+isaiah+49:8;+isaiah+61:1-2;+ezra+9:15\">Salvation is an event that happens today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/2\">IT IS ALL ABOUT TODAY.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Salvation is available in the earthly life of people who stop listening to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">false prophets,\u00a0<\/a>stop practicing <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/5\">Old\/First\u00a0Covenant religion, become New Covenant disciples,<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:20-25;+exodus+19:1-5;+jeremiah+7:23-26;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4;+isaiah+28:23;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+22:21;+psalm+106:25;+nehemiah+9:29;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+13:11;+zechariah+7:11;+isaiah+46:12;+matthew+13:15\">listen to God&#8217;s spoken voice<\/a>. At that point, everything changes, but here are a few key noticeable changes that reflect new life:<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 4.56407%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 3.79481%;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 91.641%;\">\n<ul>\n<li>From that point on, instead of practicing <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/fakefaith\/2018\/05\/20\/disconnects\/\">public religion<\/a> in their flesh at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\">certain times<\/a> in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/tabernacles-temples-altars-high-places-and-pilgrimages\">certain physical places<\/a>, according to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious rules<\/a>, they relate to God in their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">hearts<\/a> (i.e. in heaven) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-thessalonians\/passage\/?q=1-thessalonians+5:16-17\">every minute of every day.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>From that point on they enjoy the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns#rewards\">benefits of spiritual life.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>From that point on, they go to heaven (i.e. the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/prayer\/prayer-2\/public-prayer\/#mountainofgod\">mountain of God<\/a>) in their hearts to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+4:21-24;+philippians+3:2-3\">worship God <\/a>every minute of every day.<\/li>\n<li>From that point on, they will no longer try to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-thessalonians\/passage\/?q=1-thessalonians+5:16-17\">make names for themselves<\/a> as Jews or Christians or practice any other kind of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/fakefaith\/\">fake faith<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>From that point on, the only name about which they are concerned is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/third-commandment\">God&#8217;s character written on their hearts.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>From that point on they will be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forums\/topic\/freedom-from-the-sin-of-religion\">free from slavery, affliction and oppression by religion<\/a> and<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forums\/topic\/freedom-from-the-sin-of-religion\"> free from addiction to the sin of religion..<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Religious people who have not experienced these kinds of changes are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths#firstdeath\">spiritually dead<\/a> and have no hope of forgiveness or eternal life. They live a life of fear of going to hell.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/eternity\">Eternal Life<\/a> for details.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>HEAVEN, HELL, SHEOL, HADES, GEHENNA, ABYSS, ETERNAL PUNISHMENT,\u00a0 LAKE OF FIRE AND THE GRAVE\u00a0<\/strong><br \/>\nConcern for what happens to the soul after death has been a religious issue going back to ancient religions before Israel. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?ei=w0iQW7ngDYr2tAXo9pM4&amp;q=egyptian+afterlife&amp;oq=egyptian+afterlife&amp;gs_l=psy-ab.3.8.0i131i67j0i7i30l2j0i67j0i7i30l5j0.161854.166503..168598...0.0..0.210.2943.0j23j1......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j35i39j0i8i7i30.nIJjnKag4T8\">Egyptians<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?hl=en&amp;authuser=0&amp;ei=a0mQW83EDcvVvgTQqre4Bw&amp;q=greek+afterlife&amp;oq=greek+afterlife&amp;gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i67j0i7i30j0i20i263j0i7i30l5j0j0i7i30.34132.37655..40615...0.0..0.201.2161.1j10j2......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71.gh-OLq5C60Y\">Greeks<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?hl=en&amp;authuser=0&amp;ei=lkmQW4PFKs2GsQXpv7DQCw&amp;q=roman+afterlife&amp;oq=roman+afterlife&amp;gs_l=psy-ab.12..0i67j0i7i30j0i20i263j0i7i30j0j0i7i30l5.35942.38388..41737...0.0..0.141.1142.0j10......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j35i39.3AYlZz1mhEg\">Romans<\/a>, for example, had their unique beliefs that influenced their funeral practices. And most major and minor religions past and present have some kind of belief about the afterlife (i.e. what happens after the physical body dies).<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\">STUDY TIP:\u00a0Funeral practices have evolved over the centuries, but aspects of ancient funeral traditions are still evident in contemporary Jewish and Christian funerals. This fact may seem unimportant until we consider that God said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:20-27;+deuteronomy+12:29-32;+deuteronomy+18:9;+leviticus+18:3;+leviticus+18:30;+leviticus+20:22-26;+2-kings+17:7-13;+2-kings+17:34;+2-kings+21:1-2;+ezra+9:10-15;+jeremiah+10:2;+jeremiah+44:2-8\">his people should not follow the customs of religious nations<\/a>. Customs which should not be followed includes funerals.<\/p>\n<p>The afterlife is still a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=hell+sheol+hades+paradise+and+the+grave&amp;oq=hell+sheol&amp;aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l2.8196j0j7&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8\">topic ripe for debate in these modern times. Afterlife doctrines and controversies are studied, preached about and written about by religious people for whom the issue is important to understand.<\/a>\u00a0When we look at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?ei=T0qQW_rQFc7wsAXtsrlA&amp;q=bible+afterlife&amp;oq=bible+afterlife&amp;gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l2j0i22i30l7.4536.16148..17833...1.0..0.155.2216.5j15......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j35i39j0i67j0i131j0i131i67j0i131i20i264j0i20i264j0i20i263j33i160.vb19PsvRGbA\">Bible, however, we find that it offers nothing that contributes to certainty about the afterlife<\/a>. So what are we to believe?<\/p>\n<p>The short answer is that the literal Bible contributes to the confusion. If it were possible to divine the truth from scripture, there would be no debates about the afterlife. The nature of the afterlife would be very clear to everyone who trusts the Bible. But it is impossible to come to the truth from the literal Bible, and so the debates persist.\u00a0When we look at the spiritual Bible, however, we get a very clear picture of what the afterlife is all about.<\/p>\n<p>The first fact we need to accept is that the spiritual Bible which is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">informed by God&#8217;s spoken voice &#8212; not the literal words of the Bible<\/a> &#8212; does not discuss what happens after the end of our natural lives. The spiritual Bible only discusses our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\">spiritual births<\/a>, our\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sickeness-disease-blindness-and-deafness\">spiritual health<\/a>, our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths\">spiritual deaths<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2\">spiritual resurrections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>We must first understand that both the written Bible and God&#8217;s spoken word always teach us about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spirituallife\">spiritual life<\/a> and spiritual death &#8212; not about what happens to our natural bodies or our souls after we die physically. We must always hold on to the truth that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:16-17\">all scripture is\u00a0<span class=\"verse-16\">profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and training in righteousness so that we are equipped for good work <\/span><\/a><span class=\"verse-16\">before we die physically.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"verse-16\">Only after we fully adopt a &#8220;here and now&#8221; perspective of the Bible will we be able to appreciate that the afterlife that religions past and present represent is bogus, deceptive religious doctrine. That afterlife is the stuff of the world of religion &#8212; not the stuff of faith. It falsely puts our focus on the future &#8212; not on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3:7-15;+hebrews+4:4-7;+deuteronomy+15:1-6;+psalm+95:7\">today<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span class=\"verse-16\">STUDY TIP: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/2\">IT IS ALL ABOUT TODAY.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"verse-16\">The only afterlife for which God is equipping us is the life we live in the spirit after we stop being religious.\u00a0 It is a life of doing good works as a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/servants\">servant\/shepherd\/<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">warrior<\/a>\/<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiah<\/a>\/<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">prophet\/<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">angel\/<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priests\/<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\/7#witnessdefined\">witness<\/a>.\u00a0The good works for which God is preparing us are those we do today &#8212; not after we die physically. We cannot help people <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">enslaved by religion<\/a> after we are dead.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><span class=\"verse-16\">STUDY TIP:\u00a0 See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">True Prophets,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">High Priests,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">Messiahs,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">Model Warriors,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\/jesus-and-the-money-changers-in-the-temple-2\">Jesus and the Money-Changers in the Temple and\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/angels\">Angels<\/a>\u00a0for understanding of good works.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Knowing this, we might well ask why God does not clarify the issue for us in the literal words of the Bible. The simple answer is that he never intended that the literal Bible would be the final authority on truth. God&#8217;s spoken word &#8212; not the literal word &#8212; is the final authority on truth. He first <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-2\/3\">presents a spiritual issue in natural terms in the written Bible but that is not the full explanation. The ultimate truth is discovered by listening to his spoken voice.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In other words, when we want to know spiritual truth, we should not rest with what we read in the literal Bible. We should only rest in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+8:1-3;+deuteronomy+30:15-20;+psalm+119:160;+psalm+119:142;+john+6:63-68;+matthew+4:1-4;+luke+4:1-4;+john+5:24;+deuteronomy+32:45-47;+1-peter+1:22-25;+hebrews+4:12;+1-john+1:1-3;+john+1:1-4\">truth that we hear from God&#8217;s spoken voice <\/a>which always discusses spiritual life and death &#8212; not physical life and death.\u00a0When we understand this truth we will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=colossians+3:1-2;+matthew+6:27-34\">stop worrying about what will happen to our souls after we physically die. That kind of afterlife is a non-issue for people who put their minds on things above.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The matter of heaven is complicated by the fact that several times the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=revelation+21:1;isaiah+65:17-19;isaiah+66:22;romans+8:20-21;2+peter+3:10-13;revelation+21:5\">bible refers to a new heaven and new earth<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/land-and-earth\/2\">this link<\/a> for understanding of the new earth.<\/p>\n<p>To understand the new heaven it is important to recognize that it appears in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/revelation\/21.html\">Revelation 21<\/a>\u00a0after the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/revelation\/20.html\">end times in Revelation 20<\/a>. Understanding is also aided by recognizing that Revelation 21 follows Revelation 20.<\/p>\n<p>Once we understand these truths we are ready to understand the companion truths about hell, sheol, hades and so on. And the truth about these concepts is that God uses them to represent his view of the condition of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">hearts that are evil and impure.<\/a> In effect, he says that such hearts are in a kind of hell because God does not dwell in these hearts. And he has borrowed the visions of hell fabricated by ancient religions to communicate his views of hearts in which he does not dwell.<\/p>\n<p>The truth is that God&#8217;s home is in the hearts of people who have God&#8217;s laws written on them. God finds <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\">these hearts to be good and pure<\/a>. These hearts are called heaven, or the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\/kingdom-of-heaven\">Kingdom of Heaven<\/a>, because they are the hearts that God created and they are the hearts in which he dwells.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">STUDY TIPS: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\">THE MIRACLE OF CREATION: BORN AGAIN<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/6\">HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The best way to understand hell is to compare it to heaven:<\/p>\n<table style=\"height: 567px; border-style: solid; width: 87.741%; border-color: #000000;\" border=\"1\" width=\"422\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 26px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50.8274%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; text-align: center;\"><strong><a id=\"heaven\"><\/a>HEAVEN<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; text-align: center;\"><strong><a id=\"hell\"><\/a>HELL<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 26px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50.8274%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#goodpureheart\"> Clean, pure hearts.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">Evil, impure heart<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 26px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50.8274%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=luke+17:20;+2-thessalonians+1:5;+acts+28:31;+luke+8:1;+matthew+12:28;+luke+11:20;+colossians+4:11;+romans+14:17;+luke+9:2;+john+3:3;+1-corinthians+6:9-10;+1-corinthians+15:50;+mark+1:15;+1-corinthians+4:20\">Kingdom of God.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/world\">Kingdom of the world of religion.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 26px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50.8274%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">The heart condition of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples<\/a>.<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">The heart condition of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\">Old\/First Covenant<\/a> religionists.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 26px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50.8274%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Heart l<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+isaiah+6:9-10;+matthew+13:19;+mark+8:17;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14-19;+acts+28:26-27;+ezekiel+3:10;+malachi+2:2\">istens to hear God&#8217;s voice and receives life-giving nourishment from it<\/a>.<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3:7-19;+hebrews+4:1-7;+john+12:36-40;+isaiah+6:9-10;+jeremiah+5:21;+jeremiah+6:10;+jeremiah+25:4;+isaiah+42:20;+isaiah+48:8;+romans+11:8;+acts+28:27;+ezekiel+12:2;+psalm+115:6;+psalm+135:17;+matthew+13:10-15;+deuteronomy+29:4;+acts+19:9;+2-chronicles+30:8;+nehemiah+9:25-26;+ezekiel+2:1-6;+mark+6:45-52;+job+22:22;+deuteronomy+6:6;+deuteronomy+11:18;+psalm+37:31;+deuteronomy+32:46;+ezekiel+3:1-10\">Heart is hardened to hearing God&#8217;s voice <\/a>and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spiritualdeath\">dies for lack of the life-giving nourishment<\/a> that is available only from God&#8217;s voice.<\/li>\n<li>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">heart condition<\/a> of people who listen to the teachings of religious leaders (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">false prophets<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 26px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50.8274%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+12:1-27;+exodus+15:17-18;+2+samuel+7:13;+1+kings+8:22-50;+2+kings+21:4;+2+chronicles+33:4;+2+chronicles+7:11-22;+nehemiah+9:10;+isaiah+56:1-5;+psalm+68:16;+psalm+76:2;+psalm+132:13-14;+1+chronicles+17:1-5;+2+chronicles+6:12-42;+2+chronicles+30:27;+psalm+74:7;+ezekiel+37:24-28;+acts+7:48-50;+isaiah+66:1-2;+luke+17:20-21;+hebrews+8:1-2;+hebrews+9:1-24;+2+corinthians+5:1;+mark+14:58;+colossians+3:16;+ephesians+3:16-17;+john+14:23;+john+1:14;+revelation+21:1-3;+revelation+2:12-17;+isaiah+62:1-4\">God&#8217;s home.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Place where <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/third-commandment\">God&#8217;s name (i.e. character)<\/a> resides.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=proverbs+14:33;+proverbs+2:1-2;+proverbs+2:10;+1-kings+10:24;+psalm+49:3;+ecclesiastes+1:13;+ecclesiastes+1:16-17;+ecclesiastes+8:16\">Repository of Godly wisdom<\/a> that instructs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=luke+6:45;+deuteronomy+30:14;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+psalm+49:3;+romans+10:8-10;+psalm+37:30;+job+33:3;+job+33:33;+psalm+45:1;+proverbs+16:23;+proverbs+4:23;+matthew+12:34\">words<\/a> and deeds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; height: 26px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Heart attitudes are modeled after <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/serpent-devil-satan-adversary-demons-evil-spirits-and-anti-christs\/2\">satans and demons <\/a>who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+8:38-44;+matthew+12:34;+matthew+13:15;+acts+13:10;+2-corinthians+11:3;+1-john+3:7-10\">instruct people<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+12:34-35;+matthew+15:18;+luke+6:45;+psalm+73:7-8;+ephesians+4:29;+john+8:38-44;+matthew+12:34;+matthew+13:15;+acts+13:10;+2-corinthians+11:3;+1-john+3:7-10\">religious words, character and behavior.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 53px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50.8274%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 53px;\">Place where <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#spirituallaws\">God&#8217;s spiritual laws<\/a> are written.<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 53px;\">Place where <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws<\/a> are written.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 53px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50.8274%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 53px;\">The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/land-and-earth\">promised land.<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 53px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/10\">Life<\/a> in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/world\">world of religion.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 39px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50.8274%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 305px;\" rowspan=\"6\">The clean, pure heart condition of people who hear God&#8217;s voice and enjoy the following benefits:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns#rewards\">Spiritual life.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/sacrifices-tithes-and-offerings\/2593-2\/2#godsgifts\">Spiritual gifts.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/end-times-rapture-and-tribulation\/2\">Rapture<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/deuteronomy\/29-4.html\">Heart to know, eyes to see, ears to hear God&#8217;s voice.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Faith, Grace, Mercy, Peace, Glory, Blessings, Hope, Joy, Truth<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/faith-grace-mercy-peace-love-heart-glory-blessing-spirit-and-truth\/oil-water-face-hands\/love\">Love <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/6#mysteriesrevealed\">Mysteries explained.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 39px;\">Also called <a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.net\/search.php?q=sheol\">Sheol<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 39px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 39px;\">Also called <a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.net\/search.php?q=hades\">hades.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 39px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 39px;\">Also called <a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.net\/search.php?q=gehenna.\">gehenna.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 74px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 74px;\">Also called <a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.net\/search.php?q=eternal+punishment\">eternal punishment,<\/a> but is cut short when people<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+3:1-2;+matthew+4:17;+matthew+11:20-21;+matthew+12:41;+acts+2:38;+acts+5:31;+acts+20:18-21;+acts+26:18-20;+mark+1:14-15;+luke+24:45-47;+ezekiel+18:30;+ezekiel+33:9-12;+revelation+2:16;+psalm+4:1-4;+isaiah+59:20;+ezekiel+3:19\"> repent of practicing the sin of religion.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 36px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 36px;\">Also called <a href=\"https:\/\/biblehub.net\/search.php?q=lake+of+fire\">lake of fire <\/a>(i.e. consumed in the flood of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/end-times-rapture-and-tribulation\/3\">tribulation<\/a> caused by religion, and by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\/2#fire\">God&#8217;s purifying, words of fire.)<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 39px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 83.688%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; height: 39px;\">Also called the grave (i.e. the home of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spiritualdeath\">spiritually dead<\/a> religious people.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Hell, therefore, is not the place where evil people go after they die physically. Hell is the condition of spiritually dead hearts in people who are physically alive.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, heaven is not the place good people go after\u00a0 they die physically. Heaven is the condition of the heart that people enjoy while they are physically alive.<\/p>\n<p>The problem with this understanding of heaven and hell is that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#oldcovenant\">Old\/First Covenant<\/a> religious people do not know that they are living in hell. They don&#8217;t know that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/revelation\/passage\/?q=revelation+3:1-3\">they are spiritually dead<\/a> or that their hearts are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4#evilimpureheart\">evil and impure<\/a>. They do not know because they have never heard God&#8217;s voice. They are already in hell and will stay there until they respond to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/god-is-calling-people-out-of-religion\">God&#8217;s call to come out of religion<\/a> and start <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:20-25;+exodus+19:1-5;+jeremiah+7:23-26;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4;+isaiah+28:23;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+22:21;+psalm+106:25;+nehemiah+9:29;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+13:11;+zechariah+7:11;+isaiah+46:12;+matthew+13:15;genesis+22:18;+exodus+23:21-22;+numbers+7:89;+numbers+14:22;+deuteronomy+4:12;+deuteronomy+4:30;+deuteronomy+4:36;+deuteronomy+5:22-26;+deuteronomy+8:20;+deuteronomy+9:23;+deuteronomy+13:4;+deuteronomy+13:18;+deuteronomy+15:5;+deuteronomy+26:14;+deuteronomy+26:17;+deuteronomy+30:20;+joshua+5:6;+joshua+10:14;+joshua+22:2;+joshua+24:24;+psalm+81:11;+psalm+95:7;+psalm+106:25;+jeremiah+3:13;+jeremiah+3:25;+jeremiah+7:23;+jeremiah+7:28;+jeremiah+9:13;+jeremiah+11:4;+jeremiah+11:7;+jeremiah+18:10;+jeremiah+22:20-21;+jeremiah+26:13;+jeremiah+32:23;+jeremiah+40:3;+jeremiah+42:6;+jeremiah+42:13-14;+jeremiah+43:1-7;+jeremiah+44:23;+isaiah+28:23;+isaiah+32:9;+isaiah+55:1-3;daniel+9:9-11\">listening to God&#8217;s voice<\/a> instead of listening to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">false prophets<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/blood\/2\">this link<\/a> for more about spiritual death.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> disciples, however, know very well what heaven is. They are<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+3:10-12;+isaiah+52:13;+acts+1:1-2;+acts+1:9-11;+hebrews+11:5;+1-thessalonians+4:16-17;+1-corinthians+15:51-53;+matthew+24:40-41;+luke+17:34-37;+mark+16:19;+luke+24:51;+john+12:32\"> lifted up to heaven<\/a> (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/end-times-rapture-and-tribulation\/2\">raptured<\/a>) every time God opens their eyes and ears to understanding the mysteries of the Bible. Every time they see a religious building or see someone practicing religion, they are full of gratitude to God for having rescued them from bondage to religion. They know that God has transported them from hell to heaven.<\/p>\n<p>New Covenant disciples live in constant awareness that their old, evil, impure hearts have been transformed into clean, pure hearts. They know that this is a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\">miracle<\/a> of the highest order that they could not perform by themselves. They know that they were absolutely dependent on God to change their hearts. When this happens, people go from living in hell without God to living in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\/kingdom-of-heaven\">kingdom of heaven<\/a> with God.<\/p>\n<p>Making this transition from hell to heaven is a miracle that only God can accomplish. It is the ultimate spiritual <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\">miracle of creation<\/a>. It is the miracle of being born again and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2\">resurrected from the dead<\/a>. God&#8217;s references to the &#8220;afterlife&#8221; therefore, are to the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/2#spirituallif\">spiritual life<\/a> of good, pure hearts that he creates when he <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/5\">recreates hearts into his image.<\/a> Heaven is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+37:14;+john+6:63;+romans+8:6;+romans+8:11;+2-corinthians+3:1-6;+galatians+6:8\">life in the spirit that people enjoy<\/a> after they are saved from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">sin of religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIPS: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/5\">THE MIRACLE OF CREATION: BORN AGAIN<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\/6\">HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A SIMPLE VIEW OF LIFE AND DEATH Religious people down through the ages have led others astray because they did not see life and death the way God sees it. God has a very simplistic understanding of life and death: <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1687,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2875","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2875"}],"version-history":[{"count":207,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2875\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13203,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2875\/revisions\/13203"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}