Today, countless churches and pastors speak of and teach the love of the cross, yet the true example of following the love of the cross is nowhere to be seen. What appears instead is nothing more than hypocrisy and pretense, mere imitation of the love of the cross, no different from social service, charity, and goodwill that anyone in the world can do.
Furthermore, when they encounter someone who truly practices the love of the cross by sacrificing themselves, they either belittle it as though it were faith by works, or else they dismiss it, ignore it, or treat it with contempt. This tendency has already gone beyond its limit—causing shame to those true Christians who practice the love of the cross, labeling them as heretics, or treating them as though they were engaged in some special ministry or special service. Meanwhile, they exalt their own word-only ministry as though it were a great ministry, and themselves as though they were great shepherds. Outwardly they may pretend to praise or encourage true Christians, but in reality they despise the poor, genuine shepherds and saints precisely because they have practiced the love of the cross. This is what defines today’s churches, pastors, and believers in Christianity. And this is one of the greatest reasons why the beautiful example of practicing the love of the cross worthy of salvation cannot spread throughout the earth.
What is the fundamental reason God established the earth and created mankind? Because God, who loves mankind exceedingly, created man to make them His eternal children of glory. Therefore, the condition that mankind must possess in order to become children of God is none other than the love of the cross, which was sent into this world.
God is the source of love. Therefore, the love of the cross is the seal of salvation and resurrection, our eternal covenant, our way, our truth, and our life. Those who claim to be saved through a wooden cross made of perishable timber, without following the suffering and sacrifice of the cross, are shameless, seeking salvation apart from the cross, and they make void the suffering and the blood of Christ’s love.
The love of the cross is given so that, as children of God, we may be clothed with the divine nature that resembles God. Thus, the love of the cross is the divine nature that resembles God; it is the perfect covenant of salvation and resurrection; it is the path we must walk; it is the truth that leads us to become children of eternal life; it is life itself. Therefore, through charity and service that feed, give, and care—through mutual concern, mutual cherishing, and mutual service—we are to practice the beautiful love of the cross. This is why there exist the Word, the Sabbath, tithes and offerings, shepherds, prayer, gifts, repentance, rebirth, faith, hope, and love.
When charity and service that should feed, give, and care for the poor and needy sheep depart from the will of forming God’s divine nature through the love of the cross, and instead become religion, churches, pastors, traditions, worship, practices, commandments, and doctrines used as tools of theft, they are nothing but hypocrisy, heresy, enemies, adversaries, Satan, and antichrist—betrayers of God’s holy will, turning the love and blood of the cross into a stepping stone for theft.
Christianity itself is false Christianity, fabricated under the power and authority of Rome, having used tithes and offerings—which were meant to form in us the beautiful heart resembling God through the love of the cross in serving, cherishing, and caring for the poor and needy sheep—as tools for their own power and selfish gain. Even now, Christianity and the Roman Church testify clearly to this, as they continue to hold abominable worship that is nothing but theft. Their traditions, worship, theories, and doctrines—crafted only to rationalize worship that has entirely departed from the Word—testify unmistakably to this.
Can the traditions, worship, thoughts, commandments, and doctrines created by religion, churches, and altars for the sake of theft ever be the truth? Are sermons, built upon ideas and theories invented to steal the tithes and offerings meant to feed the poor and needy lambs, truly the sacrifice and teaching of Christ who was nailed to the cross?
Today, many believers trust in religious thoughts, commandments, and doctrines that have nothing to do with salvation. This is because they seek to serve God together with the world and material things. Pursuing worldly desires, satisfactions, and cravings through greed, they cannot perceive the lawlessness, falsehood, stubbornness, and corruption of their churches and altars. Instead, they have become slaves to the words and theories of such leaders, and thus they have failed to form the heart that bears the love of the cross—the divine nature resembling God, which alone is worthy to lead to salvation.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.(Acts 2 : 44~47)
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.(Acts 4 : 32~35)
By denying the love of the cross—whose very purpose is to form the love of the cross through charity and service that feed, give, care, and cause one another to honor, cherish, and serve—and by stealing tithes and offerings, today’s Christianity and Roman Church have brought in worship already abolished, deceiving believers with a false appearance of holiness, kindness, and solemnity. But the Lord has declared that on the last day He will utterly destroy them, leaving not one stone upon another, but casting them down and burning them away.
Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.(Malachi 3 : 7~9)
The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the LORD GOD of hosts.(Isaiah 3 : 14~15)
I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.(Zechariah 5 : 4)
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.(Luke 21 : 5~6)
It speaks of the love of the cross, which is the divine nature of God, borne in those who pursue the hope of Christ—with a goal and ideal that follows the love of the cross, offering their entire life, all their values, and even their very lives.
Thus, the “faith of works” spoken of in Scripture refers to the moral and ethical love, charity, and service that even people of the world can do, and indeed do. In other words, it is the moral, ethical, and social love and charity practiced by unbelievers, idol worshipers, and even worldly corporations. Or it is the charity and service hidden beneath pretense, meant only to boast of their religion or advertise their church—mere self-display and hypocrisy disguised as service, charity, and kindness.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.(Matthew 5 : 46~48)
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.(Luke 6 : 32~33)
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.(Colossians 3 : 22~25)
Because they do not possess the hope of Christ, which follows the love of the cross that demands the sacrifice of one’s entire life and even one’s very soul, but instead belong to the world and attempt to serve God together with worldly things and material gain, they cannot help but multiply excuses and justifications. Through their corrupted faith, increasingly decayed by the teachings of corrupt pastors, believers also fail to hold the faith of Christ united with the love of the cross. Instead, the pretense born of excuses—produced in their pursuit of worldly ideals, desires, satisfactions, and cravings—has become what they call the “faith of works.”
Today, countless churches and pastors have reduced charity and service into nothing more than tools and means to boast of and promote their churches and altars. This is not the true charity and service of Christ, which follows the love of the cross and becomes the light and salt of the earth. Rather, it is the same as what worldly corporations and people already do—charity, service, and kindness that any human being ought naturally to practice. Yet they teach and regard these as though they were the charity and service that follow the love of the cross. Thus, all the believers of today’s Christianity have come to rationalize the love of the cross—which requires the sacrifice of one’s entire life and even one’s very soul—reducing it to mere moral and ethical values of charity and service that even worldly people perform.
In this way, the love and sacrifice of Christ, who gave even His life, has become a subject of mockery by pastors and believers who claim to believe. Therefore, because all churches, pastors, and believers today have no choice but to fall into corruption, depravity, lawlessness, and falsehood, the Day of Judgment has been prepared.
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.(James 1 : 3~8)
Having cast away the noble love and blood of the cross, which requires even the sacrifice of one’s life, with what will you set a standard, with what will you give proof, and with what will you argue against unbelievers and idol worshipers? Having forsaken the love of the cross, which is the seal of salvation and resurrection, what then will lead me to salvation? And since they teach as though it were the love of the cross the charity and service that even false religions and idol worshipers practice, by what will you rebuke and admonish them?
Will salvation be attained through one’s own zeal and confidence, which feel no pricking of conscience regarding sin? Or will it be gained through momentary resolutions and pride, which are ever shaken? Since they misuse the Word to serve God together with the world and material things, how can they reach salvation when their arguments are ruled by excuses and pretenses that rationalize a worldly, fleshly life—making themselves enemies of God?
For shepherds, the so-called “faith of works” is used to rationalize their teaching, which exalts only words and theories, while they steal the tithes and offerings that should feed the flock to fill their own greed. For believers, it is used to justify their pursuit of worldly desires, satisfactions, and cravings—thus inevitably becoming adversaries of the cross, for they have abandoned the love and sacrifice of the cross that requires the surrender of their entire lives and even their souls.
The “faith of works” is nothing more than the righteousness that unbelievers—that is, worldly people—already do. It is moral and ethical value, not the love of Christ that follows the cross to form within us the temple of the heart bearing the love worthy of salvation. In other words, it is not righteousness born from the love of the cross that gives even life itself, but merely human righteousness—moral and ethical—that anyone can do. Even worldly corporations perform much charity and service to boast of and advertise themselves. Yet churches steal the tithes and offerings meant to feed the sheep and then spend barely 3–5% of their finances on charity, disguising this hypocrisy and self-display as though it were the love of the cross. In truth, it is human righteousness and the righteousness of unbelievers—nothing but social service, moral charity, and ethical love that even the great corporations of the world do.
To boast of themselves, their churches, and their ministries, they steal the tithes and offerings intended to feed the poor and needy sheep, then hang a banner proclaiming they have provided a single meal, thus exalting themselves in shameful hypocrisy. Scripture calls this the “faith of works.” The word hypocrite in Scripture means imitators, those who only mimic. This is the faith of works—mere imitation and pretense. It is faith without the love of the cross, which serves others as oneself. It is faith that wavers according to circumstances of interest, clothed in outward appearances of holiness, kindness, and gentleness, pretending to be the love of the cross that gives even life itself. Scripture calls such people hypocrites, and their faith the “faith of works.”
Because they do not follow the cross that demands even the surrender of one’s whole life, their faith is nothing but imitation—service and charity reduced to moral and ethical values that even unbelievers practice. This is why their conduct, marked by outward appearances of kindness and polished speech, deceives believers. Scripture calls these things the “faith of works” and hypocrisy.
What does moral and ethical love, which even unbelievers practice, have to do with salvation? And to rationalize their worship of theft, they put on pleasant outward appearances, wearing traditional garments or suits, with choirs and offering collectors who aid in stealing—yet is this truly the service of Christ that follows the hope of the cross and is worthy of salvation? Or is it the hypocritical believers who donate outdated clothes and shoes they themselves no longer use, delighting in themselves as though they had practiced Christ’s love? Or is it the street campaigns and litter-picking, done to advertise their churches, true Christian service that forms the love of the cross? Or is it the 3–5% of tithes and offerings—barely a token of charity—used to boast of their churches and ministries, truly the love of the cross? Or is it the double-minded deceit of those who appear to run organizations that feed the poor, but who use vast donations to fill their own greed? Is this the love of the cross that gives even life itself? Or is it the hypocritical believers who, though they repent and confess, fall again into sins of envy, jealousy, hatred, lying, pride, and greed, unable to escape evil habits, always wavering with self-interest—outwardly smiling and speaking kindly, yet inwardly harboring other thoughts, their words and deeds not matching, bearing double hearts and hypocrisy? Can such false holiness, kindness, and gentleness truly be the love of the cross?
Few believers, through such charity, service, and love, could ever claim they have truly practiced the love of the cross that leads to salvation. Why then do they practice such things? Is it not simply to soothe their conscience? Or do they really believe this to be Christ’s love?
If they believe this to be Christ’s love, then they mock the blood and love of the cross that gave even life itself. If they say it comes from faith and obedience to the Word, then they despise and reject the Word and God’s holy will. If they do it merely to find peace of mind, then it is like a flower that blooms and withers quickly, a fleeting satisfaction buried in the flow of time—nothing more than fading emotion. It is not the love that follows the cross, forming a beautiful temple of the heart that resembles God and is worthy of salvation.
It is not the beautiful life of the cross’s love, but only pretense—social charity and service no different from what unbelievers and idol worshipers practice for their own boasting and advertising. This is what Scripture calls the “faith of works.”
Moreover, because they lack the love of the cross that gives even life, they disguise themselves with outward appearances—smiling faces, kind manners, differing behaviors inside and outside the church, double-mindedness of words and deeds. This hypocrisy of outward holiness, kindness, and gentleness is the “faith of works.” Since they have not truly been born again, the so-called Spirit and anointing they claim to have received bears no evidence and no fruit—isn’t it natural? If they truly had the Spirit of God who discerns all things as the Word declares, then would they even need to hear sermons from pastors? Would they not already have all discernment and wisdom? Would they not raise the dead, heal the sick, and reveal God’s glory and miracles across the earth? For the Word of God is not words, but power.
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;(Romans 9 : 31~32)
As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.(Galatians 6 : 12~13)
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.(Ephesians 6 : 5~9)
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.(Galatians 3 : 10)
Those who are not Christians pursuing the hope of Christ as their goal through the love of the cross, but who instead try to serve God together with the world and material things, inevitably exalt as though it were Christ’s love the moral and ethical righteousness of man, bound within the law, and the social service, charity, and mercy practiced by worldly corporations and idol worshipers alike. Scripture calls such acts the “faith of works” and those who practice them hypocrites.
In order to justify themselves, who have no true example of following the love of the cross, they have denied the love and blood of the cross given for the forgiveness of their sins, putting forth only words. Having abandoned the love of the cross, by what will they receive forgiveness, and by what will they reach salvation?
By denying the love of the cross, they present instead the righteousness of man—moral and ethical values alone, like those of the world—exalting the “faith of works” to disguise their denial of the love and blood of the cross. Their learning and teaching, made into faith their own assertions, zeal, confidence, resolutions, and pride, are like those who crucify Christ again. Thus, because of the pretense of the so-called “faith of works,” the love of the cross—which should have been the light and salt—has become the object of reproach. This is the reality of today’s many churches and pastors.
Believers perform their righteousness out of flattery and boasting before churches and pastors, while pastors use acts of service and charity—reduced to mere moral and ethical values—as a means to boast of and advertise their churches. Thus it is human righteousness, and their reward has already been received from men; therefore no reward exists in heaven. This is the righteousness of the world—praise from people, wealth, and earthly recognition—so that when they ascend, only judgment remains for their sins.
The righteousness of the world is given by man and by the world, but the righteousness of heaven and of God is the glorious reward worthy of salvation—the authority to become God’s perfect children. The righteousness of the world may imitate the love of the cross that gives even one’s entire life and soul, but it is not the righteousness in which the power of God works to help man overcome every limitation and truly practice good. Rather, since it arises from unstable human emotions and zeal, it is nothing more than a shallow display, scarcely practiced a few times, no different from self-display. It is shallow and temporary righteousness, charity, and service without the love of the cross that cherishes, serves, and regards the poor and needy brethren as one’s own body. It is not the righteousness of Christ, which is rooted in the continual denial of self and surrender of one’s own, but the righteousness of man—self-centered, always producing envy, hatred, jealousy, strife, lies, pride, lust, and quarrels according to personal gain and interest. Thus most believers, exalting their temper and zeal in the name of service, end up dividing into factions, creating disputes and quarrels.
The righteousness of man is always accompanied by self-will and temper, and when it goes beyond the limits of the flesh or fails to align with personal tastes, it inevitably brings sins like envy, hatred, lies, lust, and strife. Thus the majority of believers, though outwardly smiling and appearing kind, inwardly harbor envy and hatred—double-minded, hypocritical faith.
Their conduct differs inside and outside the church; their outward appearance differs from their inward thoughts; their words differ from their deeds. Armed with worldly tactics, they speak of love only with words and greetings. Their churches, led by hypocrites who only preach examples of the cross in words, will therefore be cast down on the Day of Judgment. Pastors, who were appointed to feed the flock with the tithes and offerings in order to form in them the love of the cross—the divine nature of God in which believers care, cherish, and serve one another—have dared to steal God’s food for their own selfish gain, rationalizing it as a means and pretext. As a result, the service and charity of believers have become nothing more than support for their worship of theft.
Their slogans of “Word-centered” and “God-centered” are nothing but empty shells and outward appearances. In reality, they exalt the hypocritical slogans of “church-centered,” “altar-centered,” and “worship-centered,” fattening themselves. In doing so, they have turned believers into enemies and adversaries of the Word, leading them into vain faith that opposes God.
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?(James 2 : 15~20)
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.(Ezekiel 33 : 31)
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.(Psalms 28 : 3~5)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.(Matthew 7 : 21~23)
You must clearly understand that the corruption and falsehood of serving God together with the world and material gain makes your sin heavier than that of unbelievers. Remember again that those who killed Christ and His apostles were none other than the shepherds and believers of Israel—men who claimed to know God, just as you do.
O you who claim to have been born again and to have repented while serving God together with the world and material things! While always reflecting on envy, hatred, lust, and lies, yet continually returning to sin through your evil habits, how can you say that you have been born again? How can you say that you have accomplished repentance? Is this not a detestable and false repentance that dishonors the true repentance and rebirth of Christ?
O you who claim to have received salvation while serving God together with the world and material things! Do you intend once more to crucify the beautiful example of Christ, who gave even His life for you through the love of the cross?
O you who claim to have received the Holy Spirit while serving God together with the world and material things! How long will you disgrace the Spirit of love, who is the very essence of God, through your repeated sins?
Is not God love? And yet because you have no love, your lives are full of envy, jealousy, hatred, lies, strife, and lust repeated again and again. Do you truly claim with an unashamed conscience that you are Spirit-filled, bearing the Spirit of love?
O you who claim to have received gifts while serving God together with the world and material things! Are the gifts you boast of truly genuine? Do they bear the proof of the Word that even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains?
Is the gift of healing, which cannot raise the dead, and in which only a few are healed out of thousands or tens of thousands of prayers and the laying on of hands, truly the genuine gift of God?
Is the gift of tongues, which seeks only worldly greed and desire—spoken in coarse, harsh, unsettling sounds, without even understanding that tongues are meant to edify oneself—truly the tongues of Christ?
Is the gift of wisdom, which should testify of God and the kingdom of heaven, and reveal the way and perfect wisdom worthy of entering heaven, instead reduced to teachings of worldly success and happiness—can this be the wisdom of God?
Is the gift of prophecy, which fails to comprehend the ideals of God and the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but relies on commentaries, books, and human knowledge, truly the gift of God? Do you not realize that the saying, the blind lead the blind, and both fall into the pit, applies to you? For because you lack the love of the cross, you teach and learn only words and theories. And because you follow teachings and doctrines shaped by your desire for worldly success and happiness, your own assertions, desires, confidence, and pride—born of your worldly appetites—have been turned into faith, into Scripture, and into “God.” Thus, by this arrogance, you have become blind though you have eyes, and mute though you have ears.
For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.(1 Thessalonians 2 : 5~8)
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.(Luke 14 : 26~27)
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.(John 15 : 12~14)
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.(Luke 9 : 24)(Mark 8 : 35)
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.(Romans 14 : 7)