The Six Stages Of Jesus' Illegal Trial.



By:  Bill and Teddy Rogers

Although Jesus' Trial lasted less than 18 hours, He was taken to six different hearings carefully controlled to accomplish His death.

The verdict was predecided but certain “Legal” procedures were necessary. A lot of effort went into condemning and crucifying an innocent man.

Jesus went through an unfair trial in our place so that we would not have to face a fair trial and receive the well deserved punishment for our sins.

The First Three Stages Of Jesus' Illegal Trial
Before The Jewish Authorities:

1. Trial Before Annas (The Powerful Ex-High Priest).
Because the office of high priest was for life, Annas was still the “official” high priest in the eyes of the Jews, even though the Romans had appointed another. Thus, Annas still carried much weight among the Sanhedrin. (See John 18:12-24)

2. Trial Before Caiaphas (The Ruling High Priest).
This was done to gather evidence for the full council hearing to follow. Like the hearing before Annas, this hearing was conducted at night in secrecy. It was full of illegalities that made a mockery of justice. (See Matthew 26:57-68)

Note: Both Annas and Caiaphas cared more about their political ambitions than about their responsibility to lead the people to God. Though religious leaders, they had become evil. As the nation's spiritual leaders, they should have been sensitive to God's revelation.

They should have known that Jesus was the Messiah about whom the Scriptures spoke, and they should have pointed the people to Jesus. But when deceitful men and women pursue evil, they want to eliminate all opposition. Instead of honestly evaluating Jesus' claims based on their knowledge of Scripture, these religious leaders sought to further their own selfish ambitions and were even willing to kill God's Son, if that's what it took to do it.

3. Trial Before The Sanhedrin (Full Council).
Just after daybreak, 70 members of the Jewish Council met to rubber-stamp their approval of the previous hearings to make them appear legal. The purpose of this trial was not to determine justice, but to justify their own preconceptions of Jesus' guilt and condemnation to death. (See Matthew 27:1-2, Mark 15:1, and Luke 22:66-71)

The Last Three Stages Of Jesus' Illegal Trial
Before The Roman Authorities:

4. First Trial Before Pilate (The Highest Roman Authority).
The religious leaders had condemned Jesus to death on religious grounds, but only the Roman government could grant the death penalty. Thus, they took Jesus to Pilate, the Roman Governor, and accused Jesus of treason and rebellion, crimes for which the Roman government gave the death penalty.

Pilate saw at once that Jesus was innocent, but he was afraid about the uproar being caused by the religious leaders. (See Luke 23:1-6 and John 18:28-38)

5. Trial Before Herod Antipas (Ruler Of Galilee).
Because Jesus' home was in the region of Galilee, Pilate sent Jesus to Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee who was in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration.
This was a courteous and guilt-sharing act by Pilate,

Herod was eager to see Jesus do a miracle, but when Jesus remained silent, Herod wanted nothing to do with Him and sent Jesus back to Pilate. (See Luke 23:6-12)

6. Second Trial Before Pilate (The Highest Roman Authority).
Pilate didn't like the religious leaders. He wasn't interested in condemning Jesus because he knew Jesus was innocent. However, he knew that another uprising in his district might cost him his job.

First, he tried to compromise with the religious leaders by having Jesus flogged (horribly beaten with a whip with metal and glass ends that ripped the skin away from the bones with every lash), an illegal action in itself. But finally he gave in and handed Jesus over to be crucified. Pilate's self-interest was stronger than his sense of justice. (See Luke 23:13-25)

So the Roman soldiers took charge of Jesus and led Him away to be crucified by being nailed to the cross for a hideously slow and extremely painful death.

Don't Miss “Why Did Jesus Have To Die”
 
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All Along I Thought I Was Serving God.


Note: This is the third and final post in a series of three posts used with permission from Guest Author John Burton At http://www.johnburton.net/.

Check out this lengthy but wildly troubling story of an encounter by John Mulinde, a leader with a world ministry on every continent except Antarctica. God told him, "If I had come today to take My Bride, you wouldn't be part of that. I wouldn't take you."

Here's His Story:

Then suddenly a bright light hit my eyes. My eyes were closed. I was on my knees with my head on the ground, but a bright light hit me. I lifted up my eyes and said, "What is this?" I opened my eyes and I couldn't look in the light. Even when I closed them, it pierced into my eyes.

I bowed my head again, and I was trembling and thinking, "What on earth is going on?" Then I heard a voice, deep and calm. He called my name three times. I couldn't answer. There was no strength in me to answer, but inwardly I was saying, "I'm here." He called me—"John"—three times.

Then He said to me, "I knew you before the creation of the world, and I chose you and set you apart to serve Me as a witness in these last days. I want to say to you, if I had come today to take My Bride, you wouldn't be part of that. I wouldn't take you."

I can't describe the shock that came upon me. I think I was in shock. I didn't even respond. It hit me. He repeated it. He said, "I wouldn't take you. For it is written, 'He will appear to those who wait upon Him' (Isaiah 49:23, paraphrased).

You're not living your life as a person waiting upon Me. You're allowing all kinds of filth to come into your life. You're living like one who cares not." As I said, I couldn't speak with my lips.

At that moment I was thinking, "This can't be happening to me. I gave up my job to serve the Lord; I gave up my house that my father had given me because I wanted to go to the mission field. I gave up this, I gave up that; this can't be God saying to me that He wouldn't take me."

None of my theology and teachings could accept that. He spoke to me these words written in the book of 1 Corinthians 6. He quoted them; I found them later. I couldn't even remember that they were in the Scriptures, but later on I found them in the Scriptures.

It says: "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:10).

"THE Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, And Desperately Wicked" (Jeremiah17:9).

He went on to say to me, "Your life is so full of filth. You walk with an outward appearance, and you cover many things in your heart. You forget that I am the Lord who examines the heart. You are not ready to meet Me."

He began to say to me, "If your life is full of this and this and this and this, then are you ready for My appearance?" As He measured the various things, I could say, "OK, Lord, have mercy." But then He mentioned one thing that my heart rejected.

In my own understanding, I had never turned into that. He said, "Your life is full of fornication." And everything in me said, "Oh, no. That cannot be." I said it in my heart, and the voice stopped. For a moment there was silence.

Then He said to me, "There is no crooked word that comes out of My mouth. Do you call Me a liar? But because you don't even know your own heart, I will show it to you. Remember this day when you were in this place at this hour?"

Brothers and sisters, I didn't even remember. I practically saw myself back in that very moment—not as a memory, but as a reality. I was back in that moment.

I saw myself sitting in the taxi waiting for the taxi car to be filled. Then I was looking out at some lady with all kinds of filthy imaginations. The moment it came back, I thought, "Oh, God, I have sinned against You." He said, "No, you haven't sinned. You live in sin. You live in that. You live from morning to evening in such imaginations.

Even in your bed at night you indulge in the same. I know every moment of your private life. I know your thoughts. You don't even fear, even sitting in church. Someone steps up on the platform to serve Me and you strip them naked in your imagination. You imagine all kinds of things.

I am the Lord who examines the heart. Have you not read that he who even looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her (Matt. 5:28)?"

Pictures began to pass before me of how my imagination works.

This isn't something of which I could say, "Lord, I fell in sin. Lord, I was weak." It was my way of life. It was my constant way of life. I was comfortable in it. I was comfortable that no one else could see it, but God was saying, "I see it. I am the Lord who examines the heart."

I was so ashamed, but then He said, "That's not the worst of all. You still live in this."

He began to mention things that appear humanly small: the envy, the manipulation and undercutting of one another so that you remain appearing the best, so that you appear to do the best, to preach the best, to work more miracles, to be more anointed; all the manipulation and self-promotions, all the grudges we hold in our hearts when we see someone else being promoted or recognized before us.

The way the Lord brought it up, it was so filthy. I cried and cried, and at some point I was so intent on my grief. Then He raised His voice and said, "Keep quiet and listen." "I Never Knew You; Depart From Me, You Who Practice Lawlessness!"

I kept quiet, and He went on and on and on, unveiling more and more things. Even the things which appear so small, at that moment appeared so rotten. I felt like I was standing before the judgment seat with everything being thrown out. I wanted to say, "Stop, Stop, I accept it all," but He wasn't stopping.

At some point I was just saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He said, "Keep quiet." I wasn't speaking loudly; I was speaking in my heart. He said, "Keep quiet and listen."

As He continued I thought, "I must have been deceived. All along I thought I was serving God and yet I'm so filthy inside. I must have been deceived. The devil must have taken my life captive a long time ago."

At that moment I thought of the miracles we were witnessing. I thought of the healings. I thought of all those wonderful things, and suddenly my heart sunk. I thought, "The devil has so deceived me that he could even use me to produce counterfeit miracles; to produce things I thought God was working—and yet it was the devil all along."

The voice kept quiet for a moment, and then He said to me, "Why are you imagining such thoughts? I don't do miracles because you're worthy. I do miracles because I love My people before whom you stand to preach.”

Have you never read of how they will come to Me on that day and say, 'Lord, Lord, in Your name we worked miracles, cast out demons, and prophesied'? Then I will say to them, 'Get out of My sight, you workers of iniquity. I never knew you'" (Matthew. 7:21–23, paraphrased).

He said, "Don't depend on the miracles to assess your worthiness. Your worthiness isn't in the signs and wonders you witness in ministry. I do miracles because I love the people, and My name shall never be left without witness on earth."

He said, "Have you not ever read that without holiness, no one will see God (Hebrews. 12:14)? It's not the miracles; it's the holiness that comes from God."

He spoke to me the Scripture in the book of Hebrews.

Do we need to confess our sins as believers? Should we be sin-conscious? Yes and Yes.

False-grace teachers would say that it's not necessary to confess sins because there is no sin in us. God's grace has eradicated it.

Folks, let me be very, very clear: that is a heretical teaching that absolutely puts people at risk of Hell.

1 John 1:8-9 saysIf we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Life Application Bible Notes:

Being God's people does not mean denying sin (1:8), but confessing it. Because all people are sinners, Jesus had to die. Because sin is not completely eradicated from the lives of those who believe in Jesus, God graciously gave his followers provision for the problem of sin.

It's not only critical, but it's wonderful to live in a state of continual repentance! God's love for us is so amazing, that running away from sin and to Him is awe inspiring!

As we daily allow God to search our hearts and reveal issues that are barriers to his love fully impacting us, the freedom and resulting life is amazing!

I often hear people say that Christians shouldn't be sin-conscious. Not only is that not biblical, it does us a disservice. Ignoring sin doesn't disarm it; it empowers it! Allow God to reveal the darkness and set us free!

2 Corinthians 7:1 saysSince we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

We must remain diligent regarding sin. As we grow in grace and knowledge we will have the strength to remain stable.

2 Peter 3:14 says “Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these things, be diligent that you may be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless.”

2 Peter 3:17-18 says You therefore, beloved, since you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own firm footing, being led away by the deception of the wicked. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory, both now and forever. Amen”
 
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Unsaved Christians: Do We Understand The Threat Of Sin In The Life Of Christians?


Note: This is the first in a series of three posts used with permission from Guest Author John Burton At http://www.johnburton.net/. 

 
There is a glorious salvation to be had, and the enemy has tainted powerful, life-giving theologies in an attempt to counterfeit them—and draw people away from the one true God.

God's passion is for people to be wildly in love with Him, and that is what the enemy is afraid of. Instead of radical intimacy and passionate obedience, people are falling for a lesser, false doctrine that communicates God's apparent affirmation of them and affection for them—and it is resulting in a false closeness to him for millions of "Christians."

Our salvation is glorious and it is also weighty. We can't presume upon it or take it lightly. I suggest it's possible that most people who are convinced of their position in Christ would actually be in Hell if they died today.

I will share some convincing and powerful stories that speak directly to this further down in the article. People like Corrie Ten Boom, John Mulinde and Daniel Ekechukwu have a perspective that few others do.

The concept of unsaved Christians seems contradictory. I understand that. A Christian is a follower of Jesus. I am suggesting that there are many followers of Jesus, many who name the name of Christ, who are living their lives following him in an unsaved condition.

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things: I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain but are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfected before God.

Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not soiled their garments.

They shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments. I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Revelation 3:1-6).

But, are we not free from condemnation if we are in Christ Jesus? Yes. But, let's look at that verse:

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1a).

A massive and increasing number of Christians have been lulled into a slumber regarding the reality of salvation. They have a reputation of being alive, but are dead because of their sin.

The common presumption is now that if we read our Bible, go to church and identify ourselves as Christians we are automatically exempt from condemnation. The problem? Too many have not understood just what it means to be in Christ Jesus.

Tragically it's true that countless professing Christians are actually living in a place of condemnation because they aren't truly in Christ Jesus. We can't just call ourselves Christians and presume that we are truly in Christ.

"To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, for the carnal mind is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:6-8).

The last 24 years my life and ministry have been marked by a troubled spirit and an unrelenting passion for extreme surrender, zealous prayer and an unapologetic call for passion, repentance and holiness.

I understand just how separated, intense and broken we must be to truly be counted among the saved—or, I at least have an understanding of the type of deception that is causing people to remain careless in their walk with Jesus.

To be a true follower of Jesus requires more than today's theologies are communicating, and that does indeed both anger and wreck me. This is why I just cannot lead a church or ministry without an intense, burning edge to them. Anything short of radical just can't be promoted anymore!

Why is my spirit troubled? Because I am convinced both by Scripture and by a horrifying encounter I had with the terror of Hell over two decades ago that a shocking percentage of professing Christians are on their way to Hell. We must exhort one another into radical faith.

"Be attentive, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, and you depart from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:12-13).

The risk of falling away is very real, and very terrifying:

"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to be renewed once more to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and subject Him to public shame" (Hebrews 6:4-6).

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Believe It Or Not, There Is Still Only One Way To Heaven!




By:  Bill and Teddy Rogers

The world system, through false doctrine and false teaching, would like us to believe that there are many ways to get to Heaven.

Its many false teachers and preachers would like us to believe that:

  • If we are good enough;
  • If we do enough good works;
  • If we give enough to the right causes;
  • If we practice the right religion, Or
  • If we belong to the right church;

God will open up the doors of Heaven and let us in.

And, they would also like us to believe that a kind and loving God would not send anyone to Hell.

ALL OF THIS IS A BLATANT LIE – NONE OF IT IS THE TRUTH!

Hell is a terrible place that was prepared for Satan and the other fallen angels. God doesn't want any of us to go there.

2 Peter 3:9 says “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (Accept Jesus.)

But, because of the original sin committed by our common ancestors, Adam and Eve, there had to be a perfect sacrifice to keep everyone from going there.

The Bible (God's Authoritative Word) clearly states that we will all spend eternity in one of two places – Heaven or Hell. Where we spend eternity depends on the choice we make while we are here.

HERE IS THE TRUTH

John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus Christ, God's one and only son, left Heaven, came down to earth, was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, grew up and lived a perfect sinless life, shed His blood, took God's entire wrath upon Himself, and died a horrible death on the cross just so we might be saved.

And, 3 days later, He rose from the dead, spent a few days with His disciples, and then ascended back into Heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father acting as our personal mediator. See Matthew 28:1-5 and Hebrews 9:15. Hallelujah!

In John 14:6, “Jesus answered “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Acts 2:21 saysAnd everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Acts 4:12 says “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Romans 10:9-10 says If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Romans 10:13 says “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 says For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

1 Timothy 2:3-5 says This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”

2 Timothy 1:9 says He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”

If you accept God's Free Gift Of Salvation (Jesus Christ), all your sins will be forgiven, you will be saved, you will be adopted as God's child, you will be made a joint heir with Jesus, your name will be written down in the Lamb's Book of Life, and your eternal home in Heaven will be assured.

HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE

If you want to spend eternity in Heaven, you must accept God's Free Gift Of Salvation (Jesus Christ) and make Him Lord of your life. This is still the one and only way to Heaven!

If you reject Jesus, God's Free Gift, Hell will be your eternal home. You don't want to go there!

You have heard the lies. Now you have heard the truth. What you do with it and the choice you make is strictly up to you!
 
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How To Avoid The Seven Woes That Guarantee God's Anger! ( Part 3 )



By:  Bill and Teddy Rogers

( Continued From Part 2 )

In Matthew 23:29-36 Jesus says “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’

So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!

You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.

And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.”

Woe #7. Pretending you have learned from your past, but your present behavior shows that you have learned absolutely nothing and you have not really changed.

To avoid the Seven Woes of God's anger (wrath), simply accept God's Free Gift of Salvation (Jesus) and do your best to live the balance of your life according to God's Word.

Please share these posts with your family, friends and social network. Thanks.
 
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How To Avoid The Seven Woes That Guarantee God's Anger! ( Part 2 )


By:  Bill and Teddy Rogers

( Continued From Part 1 )

In Matthew 23:23-24 Jesus says “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin.  But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.  You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.  You blind guides!  You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”

Woe # 4. Getting personally involved in every last detail in the practice of your religion and neglecting what is really important: justice, mercy and faith.

In Matthew 23:25-26 Jesus says “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee!  First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”

Woe # 5. Being self indulgent and appearing holy, honest and trustworthy publicly while your private world lacks integrity and is perverted, crooked and evil.

In Matthew 23:26-28 Jesus says “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.  In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”

Woe # 6. Acting holy and religious (spiritual) to cover up your own wickedness and sins.

( Continued In Part 3 )


How To Avoid The Seven Woes That Guarantee God's Anger! ( Part 1 )


 
By:  Bill and Teddy Rogers


John 3:36 says “Whoever believes in the Son (Jesus) has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son (Jesus) will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

The above scripture verse says that God's anger (wrath) does not apply to those who have accepted God's Free Gift of Salvation (Jesus). But, for those who reject His Free Gift (Jesus), God's anger (wrath) still applies.

Choosing Jesus leads to eternal life in Heaven. Rejecting Jesus is a fatal decision that leads to death and the following still applies.

THE SEVEN WOES

In Matthew 23:13-36, Jesus mentioned seven actions that guarantee God's anger. His seven statements about the religious leaders were very strong and unforgettable. They are commonly called the “seven woes”.

In Mathew 23:13 Jesus says “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”

Woe # 1. Not entering the kingdom of heaven yourself and making salvation hard for other people.

In Matthew 23:15 Jesus says “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.”

Woe # 2. Causing converts to walk away from God and to adopt a different religion so they can be like you.

In Matthew 23:16-22 Jesus says “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.

And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.”

Woe # 3. Trivializing religion and requiring others who belong to God to follow man-made traditions instead of God's Word.

( Continued In Part 2 )