The Doctrine
Prosperity doctrine runs on a single primary idea. That is the belief that it is God's will for His children to be prosperous both in health but especially in monetary wealth. Jesus died to make you right with God's will. In essence Jesus died to make you healthy and wealthy. If you are not healthy and wealthy then you are not in God's will and therefore not saved.
However this already is wrong because the Bible clearly tells us God's will is that all men be saved, not his children to be prosperous.
Prosperity doctrine runs on a single primary idea. That is the belief that it is God's will for His children to be prosperous both in health but especially in monetary wealth. Jesus died to make you right with God's will. In essence Jesus died to make you healthy and wealthy. If you are not healthy and wealthy then you are not in God's will and therefore not saved.
However this already is wrong because the Bible clearly tells us God's will is that all men be saved, not his children to be prosperous.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 (KJV)
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. |
Of course we can also point to Job who was ALWAYS in God's will yet lost everything and was both poor and sick as could be. So apparently their standard of health and wealth already fails them as a test of being in God's will. Despite this, they still attempt to back up this false doctrine by making a number of assertions using assumptions and downright twists of scripture. Here they are:
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John 12:4-6 Jesus had a treasurer, Judas Isariot who regularly stole from the money bag. Therefore Jesus must have quite a bit of cash to steal from for it not to be noticable.
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John 12:4-6 (NIV)
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[a]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. |
The King James mentions the amount was 300 pence, which is a large sum. But notice the amount, usually in the money bag, must have been much less than that otherwise Judas Iscariot would not have greedily wanted that placed in the money bag so he could steal from it. Also notice John already knew Judas was robbing from the money bag. How much more would have the divine Jesus who was God, not know? In fact Jesus even knew that Judas had already made arrangements to betray Him long before any of the disciples knew. Jesus was definitely poor.
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Jesus is believed to be so rich that he had to pay taxes and had the funds to pay them. He was even asked to comment on whether or not to pay taxes because He had to pay taxes.
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Mark 12:15-17 (KJV)
15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. 16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. 17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him. Matthew 17:24&27 (NIV) 24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” |
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There is a belief that Jesus possessed of multiple houses in multiple locations.
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Not only this without a shred of Biblical evidence, Jesus himself refutes this idea completely, as He said He had no place to rest His head. The only houses we see Jesus enter are other people's houses who voluntarily received Him and his disciples. Peter appears to be the only one of the disciples who owned a home from marriage. There is no indication that Jesus or any of the other disciples owning any of houses.
Luke 8:2 (KJV)
2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. Matthew 8:14 (KJV) And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. |
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There is a belief that Jesus wore the highest fashion clothes because the at the crucifixion they had a seamless robe.
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Psalm 22:16-18 (KJV)
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. John 19:23-25 (KJV) 23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. |
It would appear instead being high fashion, that these garments were quite common for the time as the soldiers ripped it up four ways without much care and only cast lots for the seamless robe. Also it is apparent that these are the only remaining earthly possessions Jesus had which reinforces the idea the Son of God was poor as could be.
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This is based on only two verses that seems to say Jesus was rich on earth.
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Philippians 4:19 (KJV)
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (KJV) 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. |
Again after close scrutiny we find that Jesus was rich IN GLORY (aka Heaven) and gave it all up to come down here, poor to make us rich by providing a way for us to get to Heaven.
- The REAL promises of Jesus
Matthew 13:21 (KJV)
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when TRIBULATION OR PERSECUTION ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. John 15:20 (KJV) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also PERSECUTE YOU; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. |
Jesus promises NO PROSPERITY, NO MONEY, NO HEALTH. Instead Jesus promises TRIBULATION AND PERSECUTION in this life.
Biblical Conclusion
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that Jesus was downright poor. But most importantly though, Jesus himself is RECORDED to admitting his abject poverty for all to know. So to contend Jesus was rich is the height of lunacy and at the least wishful thinking.
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that Jesus was downright poor. But most importantly though, Jesus himself is RECORDED to admitting his abject poverty for all to know. So to contend Jesus was rich is the height of lunacy and at the least wishful thinking.
Matthew 8:20
And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. |
Christ also constantly warned against the rich and that it was difficult for them to get into the Kingdom of God. With words such as "a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven." and "It is easier for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of God." But best of all the Bible clearly tells us what we should really ask from God concerning earthly wealth. And it is a FAR CRY from what prosperity teachers teach.
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Proverbs 23:4 (KJV)
Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Proverbs 30:7-9 (KJV) 7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. |
The REAL Gospel of Jesus
In reality there is only one gospel of Christ Jesus presented in the Bible and its NOT about Jesus dying to make healthy and wealthy. Rather it is that we are all rotten dirty sinners who fall completely short of God's perfect standard for us. The Bible makes it clear anything that falls short of God's glory will NOT enter the Kingdom of God (aka Heaven). The good news of the Bible is that even while we were still rotten sinners, Christ died for us. So that by believing upon Jesus we might be saved and forgiven, allowing us to enter the Kingdom of God, where riches and health are permanent and eternal. Won't you take a hold of that free gift through the real Jesus of the Bible, today and lay up treasure for yourself in Heaven for all eternity? Pray this prayer and turn to the divine Jesus of the Bible today.
In reality there is only one gospel of Christ Jesus presented in the Bible and its NOT about Jesus dying to make healthy and wealthy. Rather it is that we are all rotten dirty sinners who fall completely short of God's perfect standard for us. The Bible makes it clear anything that falls short of God's glory will NOT enter the Kingdom of God (aka Heaven). The good news of the Bible is that even while we were still rotten sinners, Christ died for us. So that by believing upon Jesus we might be saved and forgiven, allowing us to enter the Kingdom of God, where riches and health are permanent and eternal. Won't you take a hold of that free gift through the real Jesus of the Bible, today and lay up treasure for yourself in Heaven for all eternity? Pray this prayer and turn to the divine Jesus of the Bible today.
Dear Lord God. I know I am a sinner and need your gift of salvation from my sins. I BELIEVE IN JESUS, the Son of God, as my personal Savior. I believe that His death on the cross and resurrection provides forgiveness for ALL my sins past, present, & future. Please forgive all my sins and come into my heart and life. I hereby trust in Jesus FINISHED WORK alone, and NOT upon me & my "good works", as sufficient to make me right with you and fit for Heaven. Please forgive ALL my sins and come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Seal me with your Holy Spirit until the day you come to take me home. In your Son Jesus’ name. Amen.
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