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To fully delve into every aspect of what we believe as it pertains to Scripture would be quite lengthy.  However, to give an overall synopsis; Covenant Temple is a Pentecostal Holiness Church that believes in the Old Time Way.  Over the course of time many have strayed away from the strict holy faith and have failed to uphold the standard of holiness and righteousness that God's Word commands of us as becometh saints.  We are required to be holy in “every”aspect of our lives.  Our talk, walk, character, mentality, the way we dress, the way we worship and praise the Lord, should always reflect righteousness.

Joshua 24:15 reads: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

From this passage of Scripture we know and understand that serving the Lord in the beauty of holiness is indeed a willful, deliberate choice that one makes.  Contrary to popular belief we do have “The Power of Choice,” thus “Freewill!”  Matthew 6:24 reads: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  Romans 6:1-2 reads: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

God disapproves of the mentality that most in the religious world possess which is “to do whatever you desire because everybody sins, it’s uncontrollable, it doesn’t matter how much sin is in your life, you can still be saved while you yet remain in sin because you have an advocate with the Father and you’re under grace.”   This is an inaccurate perception. I John 2:1 reads: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” 

There are various accounts in the Word of God when Jesus heals the sick then He tells them to go and sin no more.  It is not God's desire that we merely “sin less” but that we be “sinless.” However, most enjoy the pleasures of sin therefore they continue therein.  Yes we live in a world full of temptation but we do not have to give in to that temptation. Satan tempted Jesus, he also brought negative thoughts to Jesus’ mind but even as Jesus rejected Satan, his temptations and his thoughts we must do the same.  Jesus is our example and God demands perfection from us which is possible through the Holy Ghost.  We of a surety should be able to proclaim “the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me.”

Matthew 5:48 reads:  “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”  Most misunderstand what this means.  Depending on the context of the word perfect in the Scripture, it could have 3 basic meanings; 1) without blemish, 2) mature, 3) complete.  They interpret this perfection to solely mean mature or complete but never interpret it to mean without blemish.  The Scripture is saying “the exact same perfection that our Father God possesses we are required to be that.”  Yes God is complete in Himself, far beyond just being mature and indeed without blemish.  We are to be even as He is!

Yes if you sin you have an advocate with the Father and you can be forgiven through the grace of God, however, why would one make the conscious decision to continue doing that which they know God hates while they yet claim to love Him?  Jesus said in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  Our love for God is exemplified by and through our obedience to Him and His word.  If we do not keep His commandments, words and statutes we do not love Him.  Every time you sin it’s as if you crucify the Son of God afresh putting Him to an open shame yet again; as if His sufferings in the first crucifixion wasn’t enough.  
 

There is no sin worth dying over nor spending an eternity in torment and damnation in hell’s fire!  If one dies in sin there are no further chances to make it right with God.  Revelation 22:11 reads: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”  Whatever state one is in if they should die that’s the state they remain in.   

In the Old Testament, before the Holy Ghost came the Priests had to make yearly sacrifices for their sins and for the sins of the people.  Hebrews 9:13-14 reads: “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:  14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Hebrews 10:1-4 reads:  “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2) For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3) But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.  4) For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”  Now that the Holy Ghost has come we have no excuse because we now have the power to live sin free through and by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.  Jesus was and is our sacrifice thus no longer a need for the blood of bulls and goats but rather by His shed blood we are able to be saved.

Popular Scriptures that most individuals utilize in hopes of validating their sins are: Romans 3:23,  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”  John 8:7, “...He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone…”  I John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  Rom. 7:19-20 “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”

Let’s take a moment and briefly expound upon the true meanings of these Scriptures.  Romans 3:23; yes all have “sinned” past tense.  Not all are “sinning” present tense.  At one point and time in your life you did indeed sin, fell short of the glory of God because of that state of sin and thus categorized as a sinner.  Even if you didn’t directly commit a sin we were all once under sin because of our representative Adam who by choice disobeyed God.  Most focus on what first man Adam did but somehow over look that which second man Adam Jesus did which is far greater than the first. 

One must decide to forsake sin, decide to come to God and repent; turn away from their sins, decide to get saved.  When you get saved you are “born again” old things are passed away as in the old way of sin and behold all things are made new as in your lifestyle is now transformed into the way of holiness.  Once an individual is saved from sin they receive the gift of the Holy Ghost which gives them the power to abstain from sin.  If in fact one’s current freedom from sin mutates into their former bondage of sin it is only by personal choice.

John 8:7; this account in the Word of God is about a women taken in adultery who the Scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus in hopes that He would consent to them stoning her for her sin.  However, the Scribes and Pharisees were hypercritical, possessing sin in their lives. Therefore, they had no right to stone her for her sin when in fact they deserved to be stoned for their sin.  Thus the statement “...He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”  This Scripture is in no wise to be used as a cloak for sin. 

Matthew 7:1-5 reads: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.  2) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.  3) And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  4) Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?  5) Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” 
 

Anyone who has sin in their lives is in no position to judge anyone else for their sin. However, if you’ve ceased from sin and you’re now saved and sanctified you have a right to judge righteously according to the statutes reflected in God's Word.  I Corinthians 2:15 reads “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.”  There’s no need for anyone to judge you if you uphold the standard of the Word of God.

I John 1:8; again I reiterate, before you get saved you are a sinner therefore it is not true if you say you have no sin.  This is why you need the Saviour to save you from sin.  Once the Saviour saves you, you’re not suppose to go back to the very thing the Saviour saved you from.  The Word of God describes this act of backsliding in Proverbs 26:11 which reads: “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.”  II Peter 2:20-22 “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  21) For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  22) But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

II Corinthians 6:14-17 reads “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”  Galatians 5:1 reads “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Romans 7:19-20; most in the religious world use Paul and his statements in Romans 7 as a cloak for their sin.  However, Paul was an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He could not be God's Apostle and operate in this capacity while yet abiding in sin for God's Word declares that He dwelleth not in unclean temples.  Therefore, it is clear that what Paul is saying is vastly different from what is perceived in Christendom.  He is not talking about sin but rather the effects of sin (age, decay, cellular demise) that’s working in his members (body/veil) that he desires to stop but doesn’t know how to stop it.  Paul was saved, living holy without sin and had knowledge of Immortal Life but he yet noticed his body dying and didn’t know how to effect this Immortal Life that he had knowledge of.  Simply put, Paul wanted to live forever without death but didn’t know how.  (For further knowledge of the true in depth meaning of Romans 7 please go to the Publications tab at the top of the webpage, select "Books" in the drop down menu and locate the Life Voyage Publication with Volume # - A 608001.  For a small donation this book is available for your enlightenment.)

Romans 8:2 reads:  “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”  The Law of the Spirit of Life is: if you cease from sin and possess the knowledge of Immortal Life you can live forever.  The Law of Sin and Death is: if you continue in sin, you’ll die.  Sadly some who ceased from sin, who truly loved the Lord died anyway because they didn't possess the knowledge of Immortal Life.  They didn’t know that God intended for them to live forever without death therefore they died convinced this was the will of God and the only way to get to God; through the grave.  They were convinced that the only way to get home was to die when actually they were already home in the body. While they are not lost and yet made it with the Lord, it was never intended for them to go by way of the grave.

Romans 6:23 reads: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Why would God being the Just God that He is pay you the wage of sin if you’ve ceased from sin?  However, if you don’t know God's will for you is to live forever without death then you go by way of the grave.  Hosea 4:6 reads: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:...”  When you don’t know you go!

We at Covenant Temple strongly believe that it is possible to circumvent death.  Ezekiel 18:30-32 reads: “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.  31) Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?  32) For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."

Ezekiel 33:11 reads: “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

Psalms 133:3 reads:  “As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”

Psalms 116:15 reads: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”  This word precious is rendered as costly - what a waste to die, not precious as in dear or desired.  If God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked why would He take pleasure in the death of His saints, His crowning creation, man whom He made in His image and after His likeness?  Indeed He does not!

II Timothy 1:10 reads: “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”  Why would Jesus abolish death if we were suppose to die?  Why would Jesus bring to light; to the forefront the very knowledge of life and “immortality” if we were suppose to die?  Immortality is no longer possessing the ability to die.  Death denotes that one not only possessed the ability to die but they did in fact “die.”  That’s not immortality but death. 

Psalms 102:19-20 reads: “For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth;  20) To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;”  We were once all prisoners of death, it was appointed unto man once to die but our appointment with death has been broken and with the knowledge of Immortal Life we can attain it however the prerequisite is to cease from sin.  One will “never” attain this Immortal Life in sin.  Most preachers condone sin, they tell you “nobody’s perfect and it’s impossible to be” God's Word says “Be ye therefore perfect.”  Preachers tell you “we all have to die” when God's Word says “LIVE!”  Whose report will you believe?  Most seek to make one feel comfortable in their sin when in fact they should not feel any level of comfort.  They should feel convicted so they can ultimately become converted.  This is by no means Legalism but Holiness.  It’s not Condemnation but rather Sanctification.  It’s not hatred but LOVE!  For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth so says the Word.

Matthew 7:13-14 reads: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”  Few there be that even finds this Immortal Life, let alone attain it.  Walking the strait and narrow path, gaining the knowledge of Immortal Life then standing on it is the only way to attain it.

God has promised us Life.  Jesus said in John 11:26,  “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”  Romans 8:11 reads: “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”  Jesus’ death was for a purpose, He had to lead captivity captive.  Meaning those who died believing in God, Jesus had to die to legitimately go into the lower parts of the Earth in the Paradise side of Hell, and lead the saints out and up to God.  The way to God in that sense had not yet been made.  That was His reason for dying, what’s yours?  

In essence there are three reasons an individual dies; 1) sin, 2) ignorance which is the lack of knowledge, 3) choice.  If you’ve ceased from sin, possess this knowledge and choose to Live you have no reason to die.  Everything Jesus has for us in on this side of Life not the other side of the grave.

That same Spirit that was powerful enough to raise Jesus from the dead, if that same Spirit dwells in us as saints of God, then by that same “Spirit” shall our mortal bodies be quickened.  If it was powerful enough to raise the dead it’s powerful enough to keep us from the dead.  There’s a difference in a mortal body and a dead body.  A mortal body is a body that yet lives, that is yet in existence but is able to die.  A dead body is one that has already died and is no longer mortal.  To quicken means to make alive.  Therefore, Romans 8:11 is not talking about dying nor the Resurrection but about being changed from mortal to immortal, it’s about our mortal bodies being quickened; made alive. 

I Corinthians 15:22-23 reads: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  23) But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."  All who attains, believes and walks circumspectly as it pertains to this knowledge of Immortal Life shall be quickened; made alive in their own order.  The Resurrection is a one time event where all who died will be resurrected at one collective time.  “Every man in his own order,” denotes different times.  Meaning this quickening shall take place at different times depending on one’s level of knowledge and readiness to be changed.  God will only allow it to take place in their own order.  This is not the Resurrection.

Verse 26 of I Corinthians chapter 15 reads:  “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”  Meaning if you attain Immortal Life the very last enemy that was destroyed was death as it pertained to you.  Before you stepped out of time, before you were no longer bound by the restraints of time itself, death was the last enemy to be destroyed.  You don’t deny death is real but you defy death when it comes to you.  Just because someone, somewhere, someday will die either due to sin or it's effects, lack of knowledge or choice, does that someone have to be YOU? Indeed it does not!  But you must first cease from sin, have the will to live and then be enlightened to the Life of God that's dormant in you waiting to be activated at the appointed time thus causing you to circumvent death itself. 

John 17:15 reads: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”  “World” in this verse is not referring to carnality or sin but “world” as in the land of the living, physically amongst Earth's inhabitants.  "Evil" in this verse is not referring to the devil or negative things but rather death.  Therefore, Jesus is praying to the Father asking Him not to take them out of the land of the living, not to allow them to die but rather keep them from the evil (death, the enemy).

Verse 2 of John 17 reads: “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.”  Why has Jesus been given by God power over all flesh?  Because the flesh (body/veil) is the only part of the tripartite being (3 part being) that is able to die.  The spirit and the soul are already eternal.  Therefore, Jesus desires to make the body equal to the spirit and the soul thus causing us to be one with God. 

I Corinthians 15:54-55 reads: “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”  This Scripture is not at all talking about death because dead people don’t “put on” anything.  The expression “shall have put on” is an indication of an action taken but dead people don’t possess the ability to take any action concerning anything because they’re dead, lifeless, powerless.  Therefore, when this corruptible mortal body/veil that is in existence and that is able to die puts on incorruption and puts on immortality then and only then can and will death be swallowed up in victory as it pertains to you.  Living forever without ever going to the grave is the only way to have victory over death.  If one goes to the grave they did not conquer death but death conquered them.

Jesus tasted death for every man.  Why would He taste death for us if we were intended to taste it for ourselves?  He did it once and for all so we wouldn’t have to.  This is not preached throughout the world simply because it is not known.  And when the Gospel of the Kingdom is taught it is rejected by many because they cannot conceive how immortality is possible but it most definitely is.  Remember, Enoch and Elijah “never” died.  Therefore, if the cycle of death can be broken once or twice, indeed it can be broken again!

 
Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  Most preachers assume this Scripture is referring to the abundant life of wealth thus the prosperity message was birthed.  While it is nothing wrong with being wealthy or prosperous this is not what this Scripture is referring to.  There were those wealthy and prosperous before Jesus came.  Therefore, Jesus would never come to give you what you already had.  He came to restore that which was lost; Life!  He came that we might have an abundance of Life itself not the abundant life as in Earthly possessions.  What did Jesus preach; LIFE which is the message of the Kingdom! Most preachers get the parishioners ready for the Resurrection.  They glorify death but to look forward to the Resurrection is to look forward to the grave.  There is no glory in death and death does not glorify God. 

Most individuals often quote:  “There’s nothing too hard for God,” “Through God all things are possible,” “And nothing shall be impossible to them that believe,” “Have faith in God He can do anything but fail.”  All of these statements are absolutely, positively TRUE!  However, one should think to themselves; “If I can believe God to resurrect a dead lifeless body, If I can believe God to put all the bones, sinews, muscles & tendons back together, reassemble the decayed rotten body, put all organs back in place, then why can’t I believe God to just preserve the body that I currently have?  I don’t want God to get me up out of the grave, I desire Him by His Awesome Might and Power to just keep me up never having to go in the grave.”  Is God not powerful enough to do such a thing?  Indeed He is and He will if you allow Him. 

That which is stated above is in no wise the “fullness” of the explanation of Immortal Life as it pertains to the Holy Scriptures.  However, although  condensed, it is our hope that it provokes thought and helps you the reader gain an introduction to the knowledge of Immortal Life.  There is MUCH more!!!  If you desire to know more about Immortal Life please feel free to write us via email or postal mail with any questions you may have regarding Life itself or the Scriptures in general.  We would be glad to expound upon anything you do not fully understand about God's Word.

For more understanding you may go to the Media Center tab at the top of the webpage to listen to and watch various Audio and Video clips.  You may also go to the Broadcast tab to view the current Life Broadcasts being played.  Also to review a list of Life Scriptures please go to the Publications tab, select "Books" in the drop down menu and locate the book entitled “Powerful Life Scriptures.”  For a donation of $8.95 you will be able to receive this book to add to your library.  To delve deeper into God's Word pertaining to Faith, Salvation and Immortal Life itself, there are numerous Books, Audio CD's and DVD's available for your enlightenment also under the Publications tab.  We Love You and it is our prayer that you come to the knowledge of the truth, receive it, believe it and attain it.  This is the Father's will that we Live & Never Die!  Life is our Purpose, Life is our Destiny!  Hear O Israel The Lord Our God Is One Lord!