Brand X

What should be the identity of believers?

Ask many people about their religion in America, and they will answer that they belong to a Brand X denomination or movement.  Sometimes, they will say that they belong to a Brand X congregation or ministry.

They will often phrase it as “I am a Brand X”.  Still, it carries the sense of belonging to Brand X so that Brand X becomes part of their identity.

There are congregations of all kinds that call themselves followers of the Man of Truth (Yah'shau aka Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus).  Some are part of a denomination, and some are an independent congregation.  Some are part of de facto denominations that do not call themselves a denomination but are a denomination in practice.  However, all of them have a brand name to distinguish them from everyone else.

These brand names are like the brand names of most products – they tell you little about the actual product.  For example consider the Baptist brand.

When I looked into them in the 1980s, there were 153 denominations that identified themselves as Baptists.  Collectively, they agreed on almost nothing except for baptism by immersion in water instead of by sprinkling with water.

The same is true about other denominations like Methodists and even Lutherans.  They have fractured into multiple denominations that are sharply divided – even though they will have at least some shared traditions.

It is true about Non-Denominational congregations – who are often Baptists who have do not include the word “Baptist” in their brand name.  However, other Non-Denominational congregations are definitely not teaching Baptist doctrine – with some bordering on being a cult.

Then there are congregations that are even more like a cult that follows a single pastor across multiple campuses.  These congregations are not being given a message by a local pastor that fits the needs of their individual congregation but are being kept in sync with all of the other congregations by a single pastor through sermons over the internet.

This has taken control over individual congregations to a whole new level beyond that of a traditional denomination.  This “mother ship with satellites” model gives a single person effective control of the narrative and the finances of a large number of people.  The only accountability is to a board that they selected with members that they can replace.

These Multi-Campus Churches are not even close to being the same in what they teach.  They all use the same business model to control the masses, but their messages are purposely different to reach different markets.

Then there are the Charismatics.  All of them began as part of a movement with focus on the gifts of the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) working to help believers fulfill the Great Commission.  Many have turned to preaching a prosperity message to help their leaders fill their bank accounts, but a few have not lost sight of their original vision.

As fragmented as all of these other denominations, movements, and congregations are, none can compare to the Messianics.  There is no mess like the Messianic Mess among all who call themselves followers of the Man of Truth.

They argue about everything and agree on almost nothing.  Congregations split with surprising regularity over the smallest details.  They then use the terms like “false teacher” and “false prophet” about anyone and everyone who does not agree with the leader of their current congregation.

Most meet on a Friday Night or Saturday Day for the Sabbath – except for those congregations that insist the Sabbath is determined by a lunar cycle or by some other means.  Collectively, they cannot even agree on when the Sabbath is and where they are supposed to meet on it.

So, when you ask someone about their religion and they tell you that they are a Brand X, it really does not tell you much about what they believe.  It only tells you that they identify as belonging to Brand X.

On the other hand, I have attended Baptist, Methodist, and Church of the Nazarene congregations.  I have attended Church of God, Assemblies of God, and Charismatic congregations.

I have attended congregations with no denominational affiliation and Messianic congregations.  I even started my own congregation that meets via Zoom every Sabbath.

However, I have never belonged to a denomination.  I have never belonged to a congregation –not  even the one that I started.

I have never belonged to any Brand X.  I have always belonged to the Man of Truth!

No Brand X paid a price to make me its own.

I am not my own for I was bought with a price by the Man of Truth (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  Therefore, I cannot belong to any Brand X (1 Corinthians 7:23).

The Man of Truth is only head of the House of Truth, and it is to be subject to only him (Ephesians 5:23-24).  He is the only one who gave his life to make it his own (Ephesians 5:25-27).

The Man of Truth showed that he is the head of the House of Truth by being the first person to be resurrected from the dead (Colossians 1:18).  His death reconciled the members of it to the Father of Truth (YHVH aka God aka THE LORD) - not any Brand X (Colossians 1:19-22).

There are many members inside the House of Truth, but they do not all have the same function (Romans 12:5-8).  The Father of Truth has given them their different functions so that they depend upon each other without being divided into different brands (1 Corinthians 12:14-25).

These members of the House of Truth are not to be divided into brands (1 Corinthians 1:10-12).  The Man of Truth is not the source of this dividing into brands since no Brand X was not crucified for their sins (1 Corinthians 1:13).

The House of Truth is not structured like any Brand X.

There are many members inside the House of Truth, but they do not all have the same function (Romans 12:5-8).  The Father of Truth has given them their different functions so that they depend upon each other to keep them from needing to be divided into different brands (1 Corinthians 12:14-25).

There were many congregations scattered throughout the land of Israel (Acts 9:31).  There were multiple congregations in the provinces of Syria and Cilicia (Acts 15:41).

There were several congregations in the province of Galatia (1 Corinthians 16:1).  There were congregations scattered across the province of Asia (1 Corinthians 16:19).

There were several congregations in the province of Macedonia (2 Corinthians 8:1).  Yet, Jews and Gentiles in the congregations scattered across the Roman Empire worked together like one congregation to carry out the will of the Man of Truth and his Father (2 Corinthians 8:16-24).

The congregation in Jerusalem had multitudes in it from its beginning (Acts 5:11-14).  Decades later, all of the Children of Truth (those who obey The Father of Truth because they love Him) in the holy city were still part of the same congregation (Acts 15:4).

There were many people in the House of Truth in the city of Antioch (Acts 11:20-24).  Yet, there was only one congregation there (Acts 11:26).

The Children of Truth at Corinth were a great multitude (Acts 18:9-11).  Yet, there was only one congregation in the large city of Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2).

In Ephesus, possibly more people than anywhere else on Earth came into the House of Truth (Acts 19:26).  Yet, there was only one congregation in the largest city on Earth at the time (Acts 20:17).

There was only one congregation in the small city of Cenchrea (Romans 16:1).  The congregation in Rome met in the house of Aquila and Priscilla (Romans 16:3-5).

There was a congregation that met in the house of Nymphas in Colossae and only one congregation in Laodicea (Colossians 4:15-16).  There was only one congregation in Thessaloniki as well (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

Each city on the island of Crete had only one congregation (Titus 1:5).  Even Babylon – that had the largest Jewish population in the world outside of the Roman Empire – had only one congregation (1 Peter 5:13).

So, whenever there was a dispute over anything inside any congregation, they would send people to Jerusalem for the Apostles of Truth to settle the matter (Acts 15:1-6).  After the Apostles of Truth made a ruling on the matter, their ruling was sent out to the congregation in each city (Acts 15:22-29).

The House of Truth does not operate like any Brand X.

These congregations followed the teaching of the Man of Truth that he had not come to destroy the Law of Truth (Torah aka The Law), but that the least commandments of it were for dividing the ruled from the ruling in his kingdom (Matthew 5:17-19).  They taught his teaching that some commandments were more important than others, but people still needed to keep the least commandments - if they applied to them (Matthew 23:23).

However, the Gentile Children of Truth were not compelled to become Jews through circumcision (Galatians 2:3).  This would have obligated them to keep the least commandments of the Law of Truth as well as the greater commandments (Galatians 5:3).

So the Gentile Children of Truth were not required to keep the customs of the Law of Truth like the Jewish Children of Truth (Acts 21:21-25).  The Jews and Gentiles in the House of Truth did not judge each over these least commandments (Colossians 2:16-17).

However, they congregated together on the weekly Sabbath to hear the Word of Truth (Acts 13:42-44).  This was the manner of the Apostles of Truth in meeting with others to preach the Word of Truth (Acts 17:2).

Also, the Apostles of Truth met with the Gentile Children of Truth for the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Matzah) (Acts 20:6).  They did this to remind these congregations that the Man of Truth was their Passover Lamb that had died so sin could be removed from their lives (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

The House of Truth had begun being built at the Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot) with everyone in it speaking in tongues after being baptized in the Spirit of Truth (Acts 2:1-4).  Those in the House of Truth continued to observe feasts given in the Law of Truth like Pentecost decades later (1 Corinthians 16:8).

The Man of Truth had promised that the message of the Gospel would be confirmed with supernatural signs when it was preached (Mark 16:15-20).  For this reason, all of the gifts of the Spirit of Truth worked in these congregations to confirm that message (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

No one in the House of Truth rejected the commandment of the Man of Truth by forbidding people from prophesying or speaking in tongues in their meetings - as long it was kept orderly (1 Corinthians 14:37-40).  No one quenched the Spirit of Truth or despised prophesying (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20).

All of them were baptized into the House of Truth by the Spirit of Truth (1 Corinthians 12:13-14).  They all had the same baptism and the same Spirit of Truth given by the same Man of Truth and the same Father of Truth (Ephesians 4:4-6).

The Father of Truth set Apostles of Truth, Prophets of Truth, Teachers of Truth as well as workers of miracles, those with gifts of healings, helpers, administrators, and those who give messages in tongues in the House of Truth (1 Corinthians 12:28-30).  He gave Evangelists of Truth and Pastors of Truth as well so that all of these ministries could work together to build up the House of Truth (Ephesians 4:11-12).

So, why does any Brand X even exist?

Sometimes, people sought to divide faithful ministers into different brands because they were ruled by their physical senses instead of the Word of Truth (1 Corinthians 3:1-4).  They look to people who they could see to build the House of Truth instead of the Father of Truth who they could not see (1 Corinthians 3:5-9).

Other times false teachers-  who had rejected the whole counsel of the Father of Truth - have risen up in the congregations of the House of Truth to form a Brand X (Acts 20:27-30).  These false teachers would take over a congregation and cast out anyone who resisted them with the Word of Truth, including those who started the congregation - even when that was an Apostle of Truth (3 John 1:9-10).

Yet, the Man of Truth continued giving his teachings and commandments to the Apostles of Truth after he returned to Heaven (Acts 1:1-2).  The Apostles of Truth only passed along the commandments of the Man of Truth (1 Thessalonians 4:2).

The things that the Apostles of Truth command in their writings are the commandments of the Man of Truth (1 Corinthians 14:37).  The deep things of the Father of Truth have been revealed to them, and the source of their teachings is the Spirit of Truth (1 Corinthians 2:10-13).

The House of Truth is built upon the foundation of the Prophets of Truth and the Apostles of Truth who are connected by the Man of Truth (Ephesians 2:19-20).  They have written what has been revealed to them about the Man of Truth (Ephesians 3:3-5).

Therefore, the Children of Truth must keep their commandments that have the same authority as the writings of the Prophets of Truth (2 Peter 3:1-2).  They must remember that the Apostles of Truth warned that mockers - who did not have  the Spirit of Truth - would separate themselves to form a Brand X (Jude 1:17-19).

So, how can the Children of Truth repair the divisions caused by each Brand X?

The beginning of repairing divisions caused by each Brand X is the Children of Truth agreeing on the foundational doctrines that are like milk in being easy to understand before moving on to the those are like meat that require more study to understand (Hebrews 5:12-14).  This milk includes repentance from dead works, faith towards the Father of Truth, various baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment (Hebrews 6:1-2).

It begins with teaching that there is no salvation without true repentance.

The Man of Truth preached that people must repent to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 4:17).  He pronounced judgment on the cities that did not respond to his preaching with repentance (Matthew 11:20-24).

The Man of Truth said that no one can believe the message of the Father of Truth without repenting (Matthew 21:32).  He said that no can believe the Gospel without repenting (Mark 1:14-15).

The Man of Truth came to call sinners to repentance (Mark 2:17).  He sent his disciples out to preach that people must repent (Mark 6:12).

John the Baptist (Yochanon the Mikveh Man) said that those who repent must produce works that show that they have repented (Luke 3:8).  The Apostles of Truth preached that it is repentance from sorrow over sin - that is not later repented of by returning to sin - that brings salvation (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

The Man of Truth said that those who do not repent will perish under the judgment of the Father of Truth (Luke 13:1-5). The Apostles of Truth preached that the Father of Truth requires people to come to repentance or they will perish (2 Peter 3:9).

The Man of Truth commanded his disciples to preach that people must repent to have their sins forgiven (Luke 24:47).  The Apostles of Truth preached that people must repent to have their sins blotted out (Acts 3:19).

The Man of Truth warned that those who do not cease to sin will suffer worse things than anything possible on Earth (John 5:14).  He said that people must go and sin no more (John 8:11).

It continues with teaching that works show faith in the Father of Truth.

No one can live a life where they do what is right in the eyes of the Father of Truth without faith in Him (Romans 1:17).  This faith allows them to have peace with Him and obtain grace from Him (Romans 5:1-2).

The same faith that justifies people without keeping the commandments of the Law of Truth makes them able to keep the commandments of the Law of Truth (Romans 3:28-31).  It is only by faith in the Father of Truth that people can be made just because no one has kept every commandment of the Law of Truth (Galatians 3:10-12). 

This faith comes from hearing the Word of Truth that was spoken by the Father of Truth (Romans 10:17).  The Gospel has been preached to give people the faith that can make them obedient to Him (Romans 16:25-26).

This faith in the Father of Truth comes from demonstrations of power by the Spirit of Truth instead of human wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).  The Gospel is to be not just preached in words but demonstrated by works of power produced by the Spirit of Truth (1 Thessalonians 1:5).  The Spirit of Truth will produce works of power through those who obey the Father of Truth through faith to make the saving power of the Man of Truth known to everyone (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

This faith produces works (1 Thessalonians 1:3).  The works produced by this faith are evidence of this faith (James 2:14-18).

It is impossible to do what is pleasing to the Father of Truth without having faith in him (Hebrews 11:6).  So, just believing in the existence of the Father of Truth without obeying Him is not faith in the Father of Truth that brings salvation (James 2:19-20).  No one is saved by faith in the Father of Truth alone, but also by the works produced by that faith (James 2:21-26).

All of the various baptisms resulting from this faith must be taught.

The first is the baptism of repentance in water that John the Baptist began (Mark 1:4).  He preached this to the people of Israel before the Man of Truth was revealed as Messiah to Israel (Acts 13:24).

Then comes being baptized in the name of the Man of Truth as he commanded (Matthew 28:19).  Those who have had the baptism of repentance must be baptized in water again if they were not baptized in his name (Acts 19:3-4).

Next, the Man of Truth baptizes people in the Spirit of Truth (John 1:32-34).  So, he commanded his Jewish disciples to wait for this baptism promised by the Father of Truth in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4-5).  When they are baptized in the Spirit of Truth, they begin to speak in tongues – languages that they did not know (Acts 2:1-8).

Gentiles also speak in tongues when the Spirit of Truth is poured on them (Acts 10:44-46).  The baptism of the Spirit of Truth is for the Gentiles as well because they also have been granted the opportunity to repent of their sins (Acts 11:15-18).

Both Jews and Gentiles are baptized into the body of the Man of Truth by the Spirit of Truth (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).  This is the one baptism that everyone in the House of Truth has experienced – even if they died without any other baptism (Ephesians 4:4-6).

They become dead to sin to live a new life when they are baptized into the Man of Truth (Romans 6:3-7).  This baptism causes all of them to live like the Man of Truth (Galatians 3:26-28).

This leads to the baptism of suffering that the Man of Truth went through, and his followers must also go through (Mark 10:38-39).  Everyone who lives like the Man of Truth will also suffer persecution like he did (2 Timothy 3:12).

The Man of Truth also baptized some in fire as well to show the coming judgment against those who did not repent (Luke 3:16-17).  This fire is boldly speaking the Word of Truth that sets those who will not repent against those who repent (Luke 12:49-53).

This teaching about baptism necessitates teaching about laying on of hands.

The Man of Truth laid hands on the sick and they were healed (Mark 6:5).  He has commanded the Children of Truth to preach the Gospel like he did and they will lay hands on the sick, and the sick will recover as sign that it is from the Father of Truth like it was with him (Mark 16:15-18).

When the Man of Truth spoke words that made his enemies burn with anger, they sought to lay hands on him to kill him (Luke 20:19-20).  In like manner, he taught that his enemies would lay hands on the Children of Truth to kill them (Luke 21:12).

The Man of Truth laid hands on the children (Matthew 19:13-15).  He gave this example of how to place a blessing on others by laying on hands (Mark 10:13-16).  He also gave an example of placing a blessing on a crowd by lifting hands when laying on hands on each one is impractical (Luke 24:50-51).

Afterwards, the Apostles of Truth laid hands on those called to serve in the ministry (Acts 6:2-6).  Prophets of Truth and Teachers of Truth laid hands to commission new Apostles of Truth (Acts 13:1-3).

Some believers can cause people to be baptized in the Spirit of Truth when they laid hands on them (Acts 8:14-17).  This being baptized in the Spirit of Truth by laying on hands is different from being baptized in water in the name of the Man of Truth (Acts 19:5-6).

This ability to baptize others in the Spirit of Truth is a gift from the Man of Truth that cannot be bought with money (Acts 8:18-20).  This gift might be given by the elders laying hands on the younger generation (1 Timothy 4:12-14).

Laying on hands teaches about the resurrection of the dead.

Laying on hands can cause the dead to come back to life (Matthew 9:18).  It can even do this when people are ready to be buried (Luke 7:12-15).

The Man of Truth commanded that this be done when the Gospel is preached (Matthew 10:7-8).  Raising the dead causes people to believe the Gospel (Acts 9:36-42).

Raising the dead is proof that the Man of Truth is the Messiah of Israel (Luke 7:19-22).  It is proof that the Father of Truth will raise the dead through the Man of Truth (John 5:19-21).

The Man of Truth is the resurrection and the life that will cause all to be resurrected in the last day (John 11:23-27).  Raising the dead causes people to believe that (John 12:9-11).

The Father of Truth showed that the Man of Truth is the source of the resurrection of the dead by raising him from the dead before his body began to decay (Acts 13:30-38).  The Man of Truth was raised from the dead to never die again (Romans 6:9).

He is the Firstfruits of the resurrection of the dead to show that many others will also be resurrected in the same manner (1 Corinthians 15:20-21).  He is the first born of the dead (Colossians 1:18).

So, the same Spirit of Truth that raised the Man of Truth from the dead lives in the Children of Truth to show that they too will be resurrected (Romans 8:9-11).  He was only the first born among many children in the family of the Father of Truth (Romans 8:29).

Everyone who shows they believe the Man of Truth by repenting of sin have been resurrected as surely as the dead will be resurrected by his voice (John 5:24-25).  All of the Children of Truth were once dead in sin but have now been made alive like the Man of Truth (Ephesians 2:1-5).

Water baptism shows that the Children of Truth will be resurrected like the Man of Truth if they die to sin to be like him (Romans 6:4-11).  It shows that they were dead in sins but have been brought back from the dead when their sins were forgiven (Colossians 2:12-13).

The Children of Truth have been resurrected from their sins to live a life of repentance that does what is right in the eyes of the Father of Truth (Romans 6:11-13).  Therefore, they must press towards the mark to obtain the resurrection of their bodies like the Man of Truth - even though they will first suffer like him for being like him (Philippians 3:10-14).

So, the resurrection of the dead means teaching eternal judgment as well.

The Children of Truth will be rewarded at the resurrection of the just for their actions (Luke 14:12-14).  Some of them have endured torture unto death – rather than renouncing their testimony to end it – so they could obtain a better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35).

For it is not just the Children of Truth who will be resurrected to experience eternal life, but also everyone else who has ever died will be resurrected to experience eternal damnation (John 5:28-29).  Both the Law of Truth and the Prophets of Truth taught that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust (Acts 24:14-15).

The resurrection of the Man of Truth guarantees that those who do not repent will be resurrected to face eternal judgment (Acts 17:30-32).  Their resurrection will come a thousand years after the Children of Truth have been resurrected to reign with the Man of Truth (Revelation 20:4-6).

Their torment in the flames of Hell after the death of their body is only temporary (Luke 16:22-25).  They leave Hell when they are  resurrected to be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire to be tormented with the Father of Lies (HaShatan aka Satan Aka The Devil) forever (Revelation 20:10-15).

Those who act like the Father of Lies will join him in the Lake of Fire that was prepared for him and his followers (Matthew 25:41).  They will live forever in constant pain in a fire that never stops burning (Mark 9:43-48).

They will experience eternal punishment while who act like the Man of Truth will experience eternal life (Matthew 25:46).  Those who repented to follow the Man of Truth wholeheartedly will inherit their place in the eternal kingdom of the Father of Truth while everyone else will inherit their place of eternal torment in the kingdom of the Father of Lies (Revelation 21:3-8).

Eternal judgment is everlasting destruction for those who did not obey the Father of Truth in this life, and it is everlasting life for those who suffered in this life to obey Him (2 Thessalonians 1:4-10).  No one will be able to change this eternal judgment, for they will permanently be in a state of being just by obeying the commandments of the Father of Truth or they will permanently be in a state of being unjust by disobeying them (Revelation 22:11-15).

So, how has Brand X prevented this division from being repaired?

Most founders of each Brand X have choked on the milk of the Word of Truth because they were immature in faith and were ruled by their flesh when they divided the Children of Truth to form Brand X (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).  They were supposed to desire this milk like newborn babies, but they did not lay aside malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and evil words after tasting that the Man of Truth was good (1 Peter 2:1-3).

These founders of their Brand X used rhetoric and good sounding speeches to deceive people into forming their Brand X because they served their own desires instead of the Man of Truth (Romans 16:17-18).  They laid in wait by cunningly crafting new doctrines to sweep people away from the truth like ever changing winds (Ephesians 4:14).

Some founders of their Brand X contradicted the teachings of the Apostles of Truth: that people who have their minds on the flesh cannot please the Father of Truth (Romans 8:5-8).  They deceived people into believing that they can sow to the desires of their flesh without reaping eternal destruction (Galatians 6:7-8).

When a Brand X teaches that people can inherit the kingdom of the Father of Truth without repenting completely and permanently, it is deceiving people (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).  It rejects the teaching of the Apostles of Truth: that those who go back to doing the things that their flesh desires to do will not inherit the kingdom of the Father of Truth (Galatians 5:19-21).  It is deceiving people when it says people can escape the eternal judgment of the Father of Truth without repenting completely from the things that will bring His eternal judgment on those who do not obey Him (Ephesians 5:3-8).

Some founders of their Brand X have deceived people into believing that they can surround themselves with sinners without falling into sin (1 Corinthians 15:33-34).  They have deceived people into believing that they can be friends with the world without becoming an enemy of the Father of Truth (James 4:4).

These founders of their Brand X - and those who teach these doctrines - are teaching heresies that will bring themselves and their followers into eternal damnation (2 Peter 2:1-2).  The hypocrisy of the members of their Brand X causes people to speak evil of the teachings of the Man of Truth - but their leaders do not care as long as people buy their merchandise to feed their greed (2 Peter 2:2-3).

So, how can the Children of Truth get free from a Brand X?

The Children of Truth are warned to avoid those who divide into brands by teaching things contrary to the Word of Truth (Romans 16:17).  This dividing into brands has come to show who will cling to the true teachings of the Word of Truth and who will reject them for the false teachings of some Brand X (1 Corinthians 11:18-19).

Many in a Brand X are puffed up in pride and do not have the power of the Spirit of Truth to confirm their message, but the Gospel is confirmed with the power of the Spirit of Truth and not just words (1 Corinthians 4:19-20).  So, the Children of Truth are commanded to withdraw from everyone who teaches anything contrary to the teachings of the Apostles of Truth and will not consent to the words of the Man of Truth - because those who formed this Brand X were proud and knew nothing, so they spoke perverse words that divided the Children of Truth (1 Timothy 6:3-5). 

The Children of Truth must start obeying the commandment of the  Man of Truth to withdraw from any Brand X when it causes disorder by keeping traditions that are contrary to those passed down by the Apostles of Truth (2 Thessalonians 3:6).  They must obey his commandment to reject anyone who rejects the teachings of the Apostles of Truth - after being shown them twice  - because they will not submit to the Man of Truth (Titus 3:10-11).

The Children of Truth must start obeying the commandment of the Man of Truth to turn away from those who look like they are ministers of the Gospel but deny that the power of the Gospel to make people able to obey the Father of Truth (2 Timothy 3:5).  They must obey his command to not so much as say “God bless you” to those continue in sin because they reject the teaching of the Man of Truth concerning true repentance – or they will be judge as enemies of the Father of Truth with these false teachers (2 John 1:9-11).

How can the Children of Truth operate without any Brand X?

The Children of Truth had a central headquarters in Jerusalem to keep their congregations coordinated and to have disputes resolved by a group of elders led by a single recognized authority – James the brother of the Man of Truth (Acts 21:17-25).  He was first among the three pillars that included Peter the Jew (Sh’mon aka Simon aka Simeon aka Cephas aka the Apostle Peter) and John the Jew (Yochanon ben Zebedee aka John the son of Zebedee aka the Apostle John) (Galatians 2:1-10).  This provided accountability because none of them – certainly not Peter the Jew – were infallible (Galatians 2:11).

However, it was only a few decades until Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, and the people there began being scattered among all ethnic groups as the Man of Truth had said would happen (Luke 21:20-24).  Children of Truth from the twelve tribes of Israel had already been scattered before James the Jew died in Jerusalem (James 1:1).

Peter the Jew had left Jerusalem before this to start congregations among the Jewish Children of Truth that had been scattered to live as strangers among the Gentiles in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1 Peter 1:1-2).  He then went to preach the Gospel to the massive Jewish population in the land of Babylon (1 Peter 5:13).  He wrote his farewell letter from there before dying there in the manner that the Man of Truth had said that he would die (2 Peter 1:12-13).

John the Jew had also left Jerusalem before this to help start congregations in the Roman province of Asia (Revelation 1:4).  He was later exiled to the isle of Patmos almost three decades after Jerusalem was destroyed (Revelation 1:9).

Also, Paul the Jew (Shaul aka Saul aka The Apostle Paul) died in  far away in Rome –not long before Jerusalem was destroyed (2 Timothy 4:6-8).  Shortly before that he sent various men to take care of different congregations, but no one was put over these men (2 Timothy 4:9-13).

Since that time, there has been no central authority nor headquarters to coordinate the congregations of the Children of Truth or settle disputes.  They did not leave any Brand X to do these things after their work was finished.

The reason is that these things are no longer needed.

The Father of Truth has given the Man of Truth authority over all of the Children of Truth throughout the Earth (Ephesians 1:20-24).  There is no higher authority over the Children of Truth (Colossians 1:18).

The directions of the Man of Truth are given to each of the Children of Truth through the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13-15).  The Children of Truth are led by the Spirit of Truth (Romans 8:14).

The Children of Truth have been begotten by the unchanging Father of Truth with the Word of Truth (James 1:17-18).  This Word of Truth that caused them to be born again is eternal and unchanging as well (1 Peter 1:23-25).

This Word of Truth is surer than any experience for it was not the clever work of men but was given to the writers by the Spirit of Truth (2 Peter 1:16-21).  Therefore, the Children of Truth must never forget what is in the Word of Truth that was given through the Prophets of Truth and the Apostles of Truth (2 Peter 3:1-2).

So, the Spirit of Truth will help the Children of Truth remember the Word of Truth so they can obey the Man of Truth (John 14:23-26).  The Children of Truth must know the Word of Truth for themselves and let it be the final authority instead of some Brand X (2 Timothy 2:14-16).

The Acts of the Apostles of Truth that show how to follow the Man of Truth.  They also left behind the Epistles that contain everything believers need to resolve all issues themselves.

This does not mean that congregations are not needed and that they do not need to work together.

The Children of Truth need each other to be strengthened in their faith and are not to forsake assembling together (Hebrews 10:23-25).  Being a member of a congregation is not a problem as long they belong to the Man of Truth and are part of the general assembly of the Children of Truth that spans all ages and all places (Hebrews 12:22-24).

The Father of Truth has set among that assembly many ministries to carry out His work on the Earth - the Spirit of Truth works through some in spectacular ways and others take care of other necessary things with the help of the Spirit of Truth (1 Corinthians 12:27-30).  He gave the mighty men – Apostles of Truth, Prophets of Truth, Evangelists of Truth, Pastors of Truth, and Teachers of Truth -to continue this work until all of the Children of Truth have reached full maturity and are united in their faith without any Brand X remaining (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Every Brand X will disappear completely when the Children of Truth are all standing in that assembly before the Man of Truth because none of them will only have partial knowledge or revelation any longer (1 Corinthians 13:9-12).  They will see the Man of Truth as he really is, and they will all be like him (1 John 3:2).

Until then a Brand X is necessary for each of them – whether it is a single congregation or a group of congregations that work together through some organized means.  The Children of Truth need congregations so they can assemble together as they are commanded to do. 

Congregations need a means to help each other as they did in the time of the Apostles of Truth.  Congregations need the means to work together to carry out the Great Commission – whether through a denomination, association, or organization that is external to these things.

However, the Children of Truth must never put their faith in some Brand X or make it part of their identity.  Every Brand X must never become more than a tool to help them do their part in carrying out the will of the Father of Truth.

So, the Children of Truth can be members of a Brand X but must never belong to it.

The Children of Truth must be careful not to be members of any Brand X that is led by those choking on milk.  The truth is many people will gather around someone who teaches them feel good fables that they want to hear instead of the uncomfortable truth that they need to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

The Children of Truth of Truth must look for a congregation or organization that teaches them the whole counsel of the Father of Truth (Acts 20:27-28).  They must seek someone who will preach the Word of Truth when people are willing to hear it and when they are not willing to hear it (2 Timothy 4:2).

The Children of Truth of Truth must look for a Brand X that has these things instead of one that is a good cultural fit.  They must remember that Christian Music is not any particular style of music but rather music of any style that contains the Word of Truth.

The Children of Truth must never become complacent while members of a Brand X.  They have to be willing to leave that Brand X when it leaves off teaching sound doctrine.

The Children of Truth may be put out of a Brand X when they stand up for even the foundational doctrines that are the milk of the Word of Truth.  They might even be put out for even pointing out a conflict between these things and what is being taught by that Brand X.

So, the Children of Truth may end up being forced to be members of one Brand X after another.  They may learn something of value at each one as they grow step by step to be more like the Man of Truth.

There is no easy solution to the problem of Brand X.

Many times those who start a Brand X are teaching sound doctrine at the beginning but later leave the path of righteousness like Balaam did (2 Peter 2:15-16).  They had once been on the road of salvation but then left it completely (2 Peter 2:20-21).

So, many congregations and organizations are led by people who end up preaching about an American Jesus that is far removed from the Man of Truth found in the Book of Truth.  The Man of Truth found in the Book of Truth was the most divisive man who ever lived and was not an inoffensive Jesus.

Therefore even though people want stability, they cannot blindly follow any Brand X – but must continually compare what it teaches against what the Book of Truth teaches to verify that there is no conflict (Acts 17:10-12).  If a Brand X once taught the Gospel found in the Book of Truth but afterwards begins to teach something different, then it is under the curse of the Father of Truth (Galatians 1:8-9).

So, the Children of Truth must always choose truth when they must choose between truth or tradition.  They must not worry about offending people with the truth, because the Man of Truth could have written a book called “How to lose friends and irritate people”.

The Children of Truth must remember that context is king when it comes to everything in the Book of Truth.  Many lies can be made to sound like truth when statements in the Book of Truth are taken out of context.

The Children of Truth must never forget that the call of believers is to call sinners to repentance and then teach them how obey the commandments of the Man of Truth.  They must never forget that the worst kind of hatred is to not warn sinners to turn away from their wicked ways.

So, The Children of Truth are blessed when they are persecuted by some Brand X for doing what the Man of Truth commands them to do (Matthew 5:10-12).  All of them will be persecuted by someone for obeying the Man of Truth – and sometimes that persecution comes from a Brand X that gets continually worse (2 Timothy 3:12-13).

It was the leaders of a Brand X who persecuted the Man of Truth and caused him to be killed (Matthew 16:21).  The Man of Truth was also persecuted by more than one Brand X, so it is no surprise that some of his followers are persecuted by some Brand X (John 15:20-21).

So, the Children of Truth must put their trust in the Man of Truth instead of any Brand X.

People are servants of whom they obey (Romans 6:16).  If the Man of Truth is their master, then they cannot obey any Brand X that contradicts him (Galatians 1:10).

No one can enter the Kingdom of Heaven by calling the Man of Truth their lord unless they also do the will of the Father of Truth (Matthew 7:21).  The Man of Truth cannot be the foundation of their life unless they obey him in everything (Luke 6:46-49).

No matter what some Brand X has told people, there is no loving the Man of Truth without obeying him (John 14:15).  No matter what some Brand X has told people, there is no loving people without keeping the commandments of righteousness in the Law of Truth (Romans 13:8-10).  No matter what some Brand X has told people, there is no loving the Father of Truth without keeping His commandments (1 John 5:2-3).

People can keep the commandments of righteousness found in the Law of Truth by letting the Spirit of Truth lead them in living a life of obedience (Romans 8:1-4).  They will not come under the condemnation of the Law of Truth because the Spirit of Truth will never lead them into doing things contrary to it that their flesh wants to do (Galatians 5:16-18).

So surrender control of everything to the Man of Truth because you believe that his Father raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9).  It does not matter what some Brand X has told you, everyone will be saved who does this (Romans 10:10-13).

Come into the House of Truth!