What is doing one’s duty?

Relevant Words of God:

Fulfilling your duty is the truth. Fulfilling your duty in God’s house is not simply fulfilling some obligations or doing something you should do. It is fulfilling the duty of a created being living between heaven and earth! It is fulfilling your obligations and responsibilities before the Lord of creation. These responsibilities are your true responsibilities. Compare fulfilling the duty of a created being with being filial to your parents—which is the truth? Fulfilling the duty of a created being is the truth; it is your bounden duty.

from “What Is the Reality of the Truth?” in Records of Christ’s Talks

Your duty is not managed by you; it’s not your own enterprise or your own work. It’s God’s work that requires your cooperation, thus giving rise to your duty. God’s management work has been carried out up to this very day, and the portion that people must cooperate in His work is man’s duty. No matter what kind of duty you are performing, it is not your own enterprise or your personal business. It is the work of the house of God, it forms one part of God’s management plan, and it is the commission God has given to you. So then how should you treat your duty? …

In performing your duty you must first seek out God’s requirements. Performing your duty is not selecting your personal preferences or doing whatever you would like to do, and it is not doing whatever you are happy and comfortable doing, or whatever will make you look good. If you forcefully impose your preferences on God or practice your own preferences as if they were the truth, observing them as if they were the principles of the truth, then isn’t that wrong? That is not fulfilling your duty and performing your duty in this way will not be remembered by God.

from “Only by Seeking the Principles of the Truth Can You Perform Your Duty Well” in Records of Christ’s Talks

What is the difference between an honest person and a deceitful person?

Relevant Words of God:

I very much appreciate those who harbor no suspicion about others and I also very much like those who readily accept the truth; to these two kinds of men I show great care, for in My eyes they are honest men. If you are very deceitful, then you will have a guarded heart and thoughts of suspicion regarding all matters and all men. For this reason, your faith in Me is built upon a foundation of suspicion. This manner of faith is one I shall never acknowledge. Lacking genuine faith, you will be even further from real love. And if you are able to doubt God and speculate about Him at will, then you are beyond doubt the most deceitful of men.

from “How to Know the God on Earth” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

On what basis does God determine a person’s final outcome?

Relevant Words of God:

Now is the time I determine the ending for each person, not the stage at which I began to work man. I write down in My record book, one by one, the words and actions of each person, as well as their path in following Me, their inherent characteristics, and their final performance. In this way, no manner of man shall escape My hand and all shall be with their own kind as I assign. I decide the destination of each person not on the basis of age, seniority, amount of suffering, and least of all, the degree to which they invite pity, but according to whether they possess the truth. There is no other choice but this. You must realize that all those who do not follow the will of God will be punished. This is an immutable fact. Therefore, all those who are punished are so punished for the righteousness of God and as retribution for their numerous evil acts.

from “You Ought to Prepare a Sufficiency of Good Deeds for Your Destination” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

Before humanity enters into rest, whether each kind of person is punished or rewarded will be determined according to whether they seek the truth, whether they know God, whether they can obey the visible God. Those who have rendered service to the visible God yet do not know or obey Him lack truth. These people are evildoers, and evildoers will undoubtedly be punished; furthermore, they shall be punished according to their wicked conduct. God is for man to believe in, and He is also worthy of man’s obedience. Those who only believe in the vague and invisible God are those who do not believe in God; furthermore, they are unable to obey God. If these people still cannot believe in the visible God by the time His work of conquering is finished, and also persist in being disobedient to and resisting the God who is visible in the flesh, these vagueists will, without a doubt, be destroyed. It is as it is with those among you—anyone who verbally recognizes God incarnate yet cannot practice the truth of obedience to God incarnate will ultimately be eliminated and destroyed, and anyone who verbally recognizes the visible God and also eats and drinks of the truth expressed by the visible God yet seeks after the vague and invisible God will all the more be destroyed in the future. None of these people can remain until the time of rest after God’s work has finished; there can be no one like these people who remain until the time of rest. The demonic people are those who do not practice the truth; their essence is one of resisting and being disobedient to God, and they do not have the slightest intentions of obeying God. Such people will all be destroyed.

from “God and Man Will Enter Into Rest Together” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

What are God’s people? What are the service-doers?

Relevant Words of God:

The five wise virgins represent My sons and My people among the humans that I created. Addressing them[a] “virgins” is because although they are born on earth, they are still gained by Me; one can say they have become holy, so they are called “virgins.” The aforementioned “five” represents the number of My sons and My people that I have predestined. “Five foolish virgins” refers to the service-doers. They do service for Me without placing the slightest degree of importance on life, only pursuing external things (because they do not have My quality, no matter what they do it is an external thing), and they are unable to be My capable helpers, so they are called “foolish virgins.” The aforementioned “five” represents Satan, and their being called[b] “virgins” means that they have been conquered by Me and are able to do service for Me, but this kind of person is not holy, so they are called service-doers.

from “Chapter 116” of Utterances of Christ in the Beginning in The Word Appears in the Flesh

How is dispositional change manifested?

Relevant Words of God:

Whether or not your disposition can be transformed depends upon whether or not you keep up with the Holy Spirit’s current word and whether or not you have genuine understanding. This is different from what you understood before. The transformation in your disposition that you understood before was that you, who are quick to judge, have ceased to speak thoughtlessly by God’s discipline; but this is just one aspect of the change. Right now the most critical point is following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Follow whatever God says, and obey whatever He says. People cannot change their own disposition; they must undergo the judgment and chastisement, the suffering and refinement of God’s word, or being dealt with, disciplined, and pruned by His word. Only after that can they attain obedience and devotion to God, and no longer try to deal with Him perfunctorily. It is under the refinement of God’s word that people are transformed in their disposition. Only those who undergo the exposure and judgment of His word, and are disciplined and dealt with by His word, will no longer dare to do things recklessly, instead becoming steady and composed. The most important point is that they are able to submit to God’s current word and to His work, and even if it is not in line with human notions, they are able to put these notions aside and willingly submit. When a change in disposition has been spoken of in the past, it has mainly referred to being able to forsake oneself, allowing the flesh to suffer, disciplining one’s body, and ridding oneself of fleshly preferences—this is one form of change in disposition. People nowadays know that the real expression of a change in disposition is obeying the current word of God as well as being able to have a genuine understanding of His new work. This way they will be able to get rid of their previous understanding of God, which was colored by their own notions, and attain true understanding of and obedience to Him. Only this would be a genuine expression of a change in disposition.

from “Those Whose Disposition Has Changed Are Those Who Have Entered Into the Reality of God’s Word” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

What is dispositional change?

Relevant Words of God:

What is a transformation in disposition? You must be a lover of truth, you must accept the judgment and chastisement of God’s word as you experience His work, and experience all kinds of suffering and refinement, through which you are cleansed of the satanic poisons within you. This is a transformation in disposition. … A transformation in disposition means that a person, because he loves and can accept the truth, finally comes to know his disobedient nature that is in opposition to God; he understands that the human corruption is too deep and recognizes man’s absurdness and deceitfulness. He recognizes man’s poorness and pitifulness, and finally understands man’s nature and essence. Knowing all this, he can deny and forsake himself completely, live by God’s word, and practice the truth in everything. This is someone who know God; this is someone whose disposition has transformed.

from “How to Know Man’s Nature” in Records of Christ’s Talks

A transformation in disposition mainly refers to a transformation in people’s nature. The things of a person’s nature cannot be seen from outside behaviors; they are directly related to the worth and significance of their existence. They directly involve a person’s values in life, the things deep within their soul, and their essence. Someone who is unable to accept the truth will have no transformation in these aspects. Only by experiencing God’s work, fully entering into the truth, changing their values and their outlooks on existence and life, aligning their views with God’s, and becoming capable of completely submitting and being devoted to God, can their dispositions be said to have changed.

from “What You Should Know About Transforming Your Disposition” in Records of Christ’s Talks

The Pharisees frequently expounded the Bible to people in the synagogues, appearing pious and compassionate, and they didn’t appear to do anything obviously unlawful. So why were the Pharisees cursed by the Lord Jesus? How was their hypocrisy manifested? Why is it said that the religious pastors and elders walk the same path as the hypocritical Pharisees?

Answer:

People that believe in the Lord know that the Lord Jesus really hated the Pharisees and cursed them and pronounced seven woes upon them. This is very meaningful in allowing believers in the Lord to discern the hypocritical Pharisees, break away from their bondage and control and obtain God’s salvation. However, it’s a shame that many believers cannot discern the essence of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy. They don’t even understand why the Lord Jesus hated and cursed the Pharisees so much. Today we will talk for a bit about these problems. The Pharisees often interpreted the Bible to others in the synagogue. They often prayed before others and used the rules of the Bible to condemn people. On the surface, they seemed like reverent keepers of the Bible. If so, then why did the Lord hate them and curse them so much? In reality, the main reason is that they only cared about performing religious ceremonies and following rules, and that they only interpreted the rules and doctrines in the Bible and never communed God’s will to anyone, nor did they focus on practicing God’s words or obeying God’s commandments. In fact, they ignored God’s commandments. Everything they did was completely in opposition to God’s will and demands. That is the essence of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy and resistance of God. That is the key reason why the Lord Jesus hated and cursed them. The Lord Jesus said as much when He exposed them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death. But you say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatever you might be profited by me; And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. You hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mat 15:3-9). Now that the Lord Jesus has exposed the Pharisees, we can clearly see that although the Pharisees often interpreted the Bible to others in the synagogue, they did not revere or magnify God at all. They did not follow God’s commandments, and even replaced God’s commandments with the traditions of men; they forgot about God’s commandments. They were openly opposing God. Isn’t this irrefutable evidence of how the Pharisees served God yet also resisted Him? How could they have avoided incurring God’s curses and hatred? God’s commandments clearly stated, “You shall not kill.” “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” But the Pharisees ignored God’s commandments. They openly bore false witness and condemned and killed the prophets and righteous men sent by God; they directly resisted God. Therefore, the Lord Jesus condemned and cursed the Pharisees, saying, “You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell? Why, behold, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall you whip in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth” (Mat 23:33-35). The Pharisees fanatically resisted God and killed the prophets and righteous men He sent. They tried to destroy God’s work and block the carrying out of His will. They seriously enraged God’s disposition. How could they not have been cursed by Him?! Did the Pharisees not do all those things? Are we still unable to see the Pharisees’ hypocritical essence and behavior?

In the Book of Zechariah in the Bible, it is prophesied: “And his feet shall stand in that day on the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east….” The Lord’s return will most certainly be on the Mount of Olives in Judea, and yet you testify that the Lord Jesus has already returned, appearing and working in China. China is an atheist nation and it is the darkest, most backward nation which defies God most severely, so how can the Lord’s return be in China? We really cannot figure this out, so please answer this for us.

Answer:

It has been nearly two thousand years since the Lord Jesus walked out of Judea. Now the last days have arrived, and all kinds of famines, plagues, earthquakes, floods and droughts are appearing more frequently, more widely and more intensively. Various nations around the world are volatile and unstable, with terrorist activities, ethnic conflicts, and all kinds of wars occurring constantly. In religious circles, all churches have fallen in the dark because they have lost the work of the Holy Spirit. There is jealousy and strife between co-workers, and the faith and love of many brothers and sisters have grown cold. False prophets and antichrists are also appearing one after the other all over the world. Brothers and sisters, this heap of facts is sufficient to explain that the prophecy of the Lord’s return has already been fulfilled. So just where did the Lord Jesus descend? Almost all people who look forward to the Lord’s return think that the Lord Jesus would descend at the Mount of Olives in Judea because of the prophecy in Zechariah 14: “And his feet shall stand in that day on the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east.” However, God’s work of the last days has gone beyond everyone’s imagination and broken through everyone’s notions. God chose a most filthy, most corrupt and dark, atheist country like China as the site of His work of the last days. This indeed does not conform with our notions and has also made everyone quite bewildered. So why did God become flesh in China? Let’s communicate about this aspect of the truth.

Some people go by Paul’s word, believing that our image will be changed instantly to become holy when the Lord returns. So why does God still need to become flesh to express the truth and do a stage of work of judgment and purification of man in the last days.

Answer:

Each stage of God’s work is unfathomable to us humans. Nor could humanity decipher God’s prophecies until they are fulfilled. What does it mean to us? It means that God’s wisdom and almightiness is unfathomable. In the Age of Grace when the Lord Jesus appeared to work, no one of us humans could fathom it. In the Age of Kingdom when Almighty God does judgment work in the last days, no one could predict it either. Therefore, God being incarnated to express the truth and do judgment work in the last days is inconceivable to mankind. After the work of God is completed and the great disasters arrive, mankind will feel that God’s words are fulfilled. It will be too late for regrets. They can only mourn and grind their teeth in disasters. Pertaining to how God does the work of judgment in the last days to cleanse and save people, how to make a group of overcomers—the firstfruits, we will understand it much better after reading these passages of the words of Almighty God:

“You should see that the will and the work of God are not as simple as the creation of the heavens and earth and all things. For the work of today is to transform those who have been corrupted, who have grown extremely numb, and to purify those who were created then worked on by Satan, not to create Adam or Eve, much less to make the light or create all manner of plants and animals. His work now is to make pure all that has been corrupted by Satan so that they may be regained and become His possession and become His glory. Such work is not as simple as man imagines the creation of the heavens and earth and all things to be, and it is not akin to the work of cursing Satan to the bottomless pit as man imagines. Rather, it is to transform man, to turn that which is negative into the positive and to take into His possession that which does not belong to Him. This is the inside story of this stage of God’s work. You must realize it, and should not oversimplify matters. The work of God is unlike any ordinary work. Its marvel cannot be conceived by the mind of man, and its wisdom cannot be attained by such. God is not creating all things, and He is not destroying them. Rather, He is changing all of His creation and purifying all things that have been defiled by Satan. Therefore, God shall commence work of great magnitude, and this is the total significance of the work of God. From these words, do you believe that the work of God is so simple?” (“Is the Work of God So Simple as Man Imagines?” in The Word Appears in the Flesh).

Some people ask: After believing in the Lord, we practice humility and patience, love our enemies, bear our crosses, abandon worldly things and we work and preach for the Lord and so on. We have achieved a little change. So why must we accept God’s work of judgment in the last days before being able to be cleansed and saved?

Answer:

We can love our enemy, bear the cross, overcome our body, and spread the gospel of the Lord. These are positive behaviors coming from our belief in the Lord. Our exhibition of such good behaviors signifies that our faith in the Lord is true. These good behaviors may appear correct to people, as if these are in line with the word of God, but it does not mean that we are practicing God’s word and following the will of the heavenly Father, it doesn’t mean that we have quit our sinful nature and become sanctified. There is a reason why we cannot just look at people’s good behaviors by appearance. We also need to look at their intentions and ultimate purposes. If our intention is to obey God, love God, and satisfy God, this kind of good behavior is practicing the truth and obeying the will of the heavenly Father. On the other hand, if our good behavior is solely for the solicitation of blessing and reward, for the reward of a crown, but not from a loving heart for God, then this kind of good behavior is the hypocritical behavior of the Pharisees instead of doing the heavenly Father’s will. If the mere exhibition of good behavior signifies that we are following the will of the heavenly Father, signifies that we have become sanctified, then why do we often commit sins and resist God? Why do we still lead the lifestyle of sinning during the day and confessing at night? This adequately shows that the mere exhibition of good behaviors does not mean that we are practicing the truth and living out the reality of God’s word. Nor does it mean that we have an understanding or a fearful heart to God, much less the ability to love and obey God. As Almighty God says: “Changes in nothing more than behavior are unsustainable. If there is no alteration in people’s life disposition, then sooner or later their wicked side will show itself. Because the source of the changes in their behavior is fervor, coupled with some work by the Holy Spirit at the time, it is extremely easy for them to become fervent, or to be good for a time. As the unbelievers say, “Doing one good deed is easy, what’s hard is doing a lifetime of good deeds.” People are incapable of doing good deeds their whole life. Their behavior is directed by the life; whatever their life is, so is their behavior, and only that which is revealed naturally represents the life, and one’s nature. Things that are fake cannot last. … Behaving well is not the same as obeying God, much less does it equal being compatible with Christ. Changes in behavior are based on doctrine, and born of fervor—they are not based on the true knowledge of God, or upon the truth, much less do they rest on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Even though there are times when some of what people do is directed by the Holy Spirit, this is not the expression of the life, much less is it the same as knowing God; no matter how good a person’s behavior, it does not prove that they obey God, or that they put the truth into practice” (“The Difference Between External Changes and Changes in Disposition” in Records of Christ’s Talks). Almighty God’s word clearly explains to us about the essence and source of good behavior. The good behavior of man comes from enthusiasm, which is the practices based on his notions of rules and regulations, not from comprehension of the practicing principles after understanding many truths, or the desire to love and satisfy God from understanding the intention of God. Good behavior stems from man’s conceptions and imaginations. Man’s conceptions and imaginations come from man’s own opinions and his corrupt nature. Therefore no matter what we do, whatever pain we suffer or the price we pay, it is not practice of the truth. It does not mean obedience to God or the outcome of the Holy Spirit’s work. Even when we exhibit good behavior and the ability to follow the rules while we appear to be very pious and spiritual, we are still prone to committing sin and resisting God because of our inveterate corrupt disposition of Satan, our unresolved sinful nature, and lack of true understanding of God. As we can see, many well behaving people still frequently commit sins and confess their sins after believing in God. This is an undeniable fact. When they show good behaviors while sinning and resisting God at the same time, it adequately proves that they are not following the will of the heavenly Father. They do not readily deserve the praise of God. The Jewish Pharisees were law-abiding people with impeccable behaviors cosmetically. But when the Lord Jesus came to work, why did they frantically resist, condemn, scheme, and crucify the Lord Jesus? This was enough to explain that the nature of resisting God was innate in them. Regardless of how well they were behaving overtly, it did not mean that they understood, obeyed and were compatible with God, much less followed God’s will and became sanctified. If we want to resolve our sinful nature and become sanctified, we must experience God’s work of judgment in the last days, understand the ample truths therein and gain real knowledge of God, thus begetting true obedience and fear of God. Otherwise the deep-rooted corrupt disposition of Satan in us will never be cleansed and altered, and we will never be after God’s heart and admitted to the kingdom of God.

What is a deceitful person? Why can’t deceitful people be saved?

Relevant Words of God:

If you are very deceitful, then you will have a guarded heart and thoughts of suspicion regarding all matters and all men. For this reason, your faith in Me is built upon a foundation of suspicion. This manner of faith is one I shall never acknowledge. Lacking genuine faith, you will be even further from real love. And if you are able to doubt God and speculate about Him at will, then you are beyond doubt the most deceitful of men.

from “How to Know the God on Earth” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

Those who do not live their life with honesty, who behave one way in front of others but another way behind their backs, who give an appearance of humility, patience, and love while in essence they are insidious, cunning, and have no loyalty to God—these people are the typical representatives of those living under the influence of darkness. They are the ilk of the serpent.

from “Escape From the Influence of Darkness and You Will Be Gained by God” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

What does it mean to truly pray?

Relevant Words of God:

What does it mean to truly pray? It means speaking the words within your heart to God, and communing with God having grasped His will and based upon His words; it means feeling particularly close to God, feeling that He is in front of you, and that you have something to say to Him; and it means being especially radiant within your heart, and feeling that God is especially lovely. You will feel especially inspired, and after hearing your words your brothers and sisters will feel gratified, they will feel that the words you speak are the words within their hearts, the words they wish to say, and that what you say represents what they want to say. This is what it means to truly pray. After you have truly prayed, in your heart you will feel at peace, and gratified; the strength to love God will rise up, and you will feel that nothing in your entire life is more worthy or significant than loving God—and all this will prove that your prayers have been effective.

from “Concerning the Practice of Prayer” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

What is an unbeliever?

Relevant Words of God:

I say that all those who do not esteem the truth are all unbelievers and traitors of the truth. Such men shall never receive the approval of Christ.

from “Are You a True Believer of God?” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

All those with a false understanding of God’s words are unbelievers. They do not have any real knowledge, much less any real stature; they are ignorant people without reality. That is, all those who live outside of the substance of God’s words are unbelievers. Those deemed unbelievers by men are beasts in the eyes of God, and those deemed unbelievers by God are those who do not have God’s words as their life.

from “Only Putting the Truth Into Practice Is Having Reality” in The Word Appears in the Flesh

What is hypocrisy?

Relevant Words of God:

What is the definition of the term “Pharisee”? What’s its attributive? (Hypocrisy.) Yes, the definition of a Pharisee is someone who’s hypocritical, who is fake and puts on an act in everything they do. And what do they pretend to be? To be good, and kind, and positive. Is that what they’re actually like? (No.) They’re hypocritical, and so everything that is manifested and revealed in them is false, and not who they really are. And where is who they really are? Hidden within their hearts, and out of sight, right? Everything is pretend, it is all fake. And so if people do not pursue the truth, do not understand the truth, then what do their religious knowledge and the theories they’ve gained become? Do they become oft-murmured words and sayings? They use these words and sayings, these supposed doctrines, which appear correct, to pretend, and wrap themselves up, and fulfill themselves, and wherever they go, the things they utter and say and their external behavior are right, and good, and in accordance with people’s conceptions and tastes. Seeing them, others say, “Wow, they’re so devout.” It’s fake! Seeing them, others say, “They’re so humble.” Fake! “Wow, they love God.” They’re pretending! “They are forbearing, and loving toward others.” Fake! “They’re tolerant.” They’re faking it! What else? “They’re holy.” Fake! If someone is said to be holy, that must not be true; it’s totally fake, they’re pretending, they’re packaging themselves. What else? (Loyal and obedient.) “They’re loyal.” They’re putting on an act for others, but out of sight, these people are not in the least bit loyal, everything they do is perfunctory. What else? Devotion. “They’re truly devoted.” And what do they do when people’s backs are turned? (They conduct their own management.) What else? Profiting from the church. Superficially, they seem committed, they have given up their family and career—but in fact they’re trying to profit from the church, they’re secretly stealing offerings! Superficially, they have given up their family and career, and forsaken everything. But where did all the money in the offering box go? When the believers leave, they take the offering box with them. They hurry back to their room and stick their hand in it, they grab the money and stuff all of it into their pockets. And when they count it, there’s several thousand dollars’ worth. And who do they give it to? (Themselves.) Everything about them is fake! This is what is meant by a hypocritical Pharisee.

What are the wise virgins? What are the foolish virgins?

Relevant Words of God:

In the past, people have made predictions of “five wise virgins, five foolish virgins”; although the prediction is not accurate, it is not entirely wrong, so I can give you some explanation. Five wise virgins and five foolish virgins certainly do not both represent the number of people, nor do they represent one type of people respectively. Five wise virgins mean the number of people, five foolish virgins represent one type of people, but these two things are not the firstborn sons, they represent creation. This is the reason why they have been asked to prepare oil in the last days. (The creation does not possess My quality; if they want to make wise ones then they need to prepare oil, and thus they need to be equipped with My words.) The five wise virgins represent My sons and My people among the humans that I created. Addressing them[a] “virgins” is because although they are born on earth, they are still gained by Me; one can say they have become holy, so they are called “virgins.” The aforementioned “five” represents the number of My sons and My people that I have predestined. “Five foolish virgins” refers to the service-doers. They do service for Me without placing the slightest degree of importance on life, only pursuing external things (because they do not have My quality, no matter what they do it is an external thing), and they are unable to be My capable helpers, so they are called “foolish virgins.” The aforementioned “five” represents Satan, and their being called[b] “virgins” means that they have been conquered by Me and are able to do service for Me, but this kind of person is not holy, so they are called service-doers.

from “The One Hundred and Sixteenth Utterance” in The Word Appears in the Flesh