web01.fireside.fm Sun, 24 May 2026 20:11:49 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) https://www.pleadingthecase.org/tags/deception Mon, 08 Oct 2018 13:00:00 -0400 If a tune-up can’t fix a car engine because what it really needs is for the entire engine to be rebuilt, then why would we, in the Christian faith, perform tune-ups on the form and function of our churches when what they may really need is to be completely overhauled? Join the host of Pleading The Case, Andy Mendonsa, where in each episode, he will peal back the culture and traditions that have come to define much of the Church in America today in order to accurately assess whether all that is needed is just a good tune-up, or as he has become convinced, a compete overhaul. en-us episodic "Stand Before The Mountains, Let The Hills Hear What You Have To Say" Andy Mendonsa If a tune-up can’t fix a car engine because what it really needs is for the entire engine to be rebuilt, then why would we, in the Christian faith, perform tune-ups on the form and function of our churches when what they may really need is to be completely overhauled? Join the host of Pleading The Case, Andy Mendonsa, where in each episode, he will peal back the culture and traditions that have come to define much of the Church in America today in order to accurately assess whether all that is needed is just a good tune-up, or as he has become convinced, a compete overhaul. no Andy Mendonsa andy@widows.org http://www.pleadingthecase.org/13 e0bd6e6b-8901-46d2-92b7-5e45020ca441 Mon, 08 Oct 2018 13:00:00 -0400 Andy Mendonsa full Andy Mendonsa Under a Covenant of Grace are we still bound by a 10% tithe or did that become obsolete with the fading away of the first Covenant under the Law? And what about church buildings? Are they really to be considered as being the same for us under a Covenant of Grace as the "store house" in Malachi 10 that the tithes, under the first Covenant, were to be brought into? 1:27:59 no <p>If you listened to the previous episode, "Law Vs Grace," you know that the first Covenant under the Law does not apply to us in any way once we have come under a Covenant of Grace. The 10% tithe, required under the first Covanant, as with all things required by the law under the first Covenant is no longer mandated under Grace. Neither are church buildings. There is no mandate for either of them anywhere in the New Testament post resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Then why is the 10% tithe being taught as though it is scripturally mandated and, thus, a still a requirement? And equally so, why do church buildings continue to be so central to our faith? Can a correlation be made between maintaining the practice of a 10% tithe and the necessity for building churches? If a 10% tithe is not a scripturally mandated requirement, nor is the necessity for constructing church buildings, does that mean that we are off the hook for giving anything at all? No, of course not. Giving, though, just like acts of love, is a matter of the heart and cannot be legislated. When we give freely and completely of ourselves in the ways we serve others, then all other areas of our lives will be a reflection of that as well, including financial giving and not the other way around. </p> Grace, the law, church buildings, faith, worship, tithing, giving, the poor, leadership, the saints, church, Christian faith, Covenant of Grace, store house, robbing God, oppression, freedom, yoke of slavery, If you listened to the previous episode, "Law Vs Grace," you know that the first Covenant under the Law does not apply to us in any way once we have come under a Covenant of Grace. The 10% tithe, required under the first Covanant, as with all things required by the law under the first Covenant is no longer mandated under Grace. Neither are church buildings. There is no mandate for either of them anywhere in the New Testament post resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Then why is the 10% tithe being taught as though it is scripturally mandated and, thus, a still a requirement? And equally so, why do church buildings continue to be so central to our faith? Can a correlation be made between maintaining the practice of a 10% tithe and the necessity for building churches? If a 10% tithe is not a scripturally mandated requirement, nor is the necessity for constructing church buildings, does that mean that we are off the hook for giving anything at all? No, of course not. Giving, though, just like acts of love, is a matter of the heart and cannot be legislated. When we give freely and completely of ourselves in the ways we serve others, then all other areas of our lives will be a reflection of that as well, including financial giving and not the other way around.

]]> If you listened to the previous episode, "Law Vs Grace," you know that the first Covenant under the Law does not apply to us in any way once we have come under a Covenant of Grace. The 10% tithe, required under the first Covanant, as with all things required by the law under the first Covenant is no longer mandated under Grace. Neither are church buildings. There is no mandate for either of them anywhere in the New Testament post resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Then why is the 10% tithe being taught as though it is scripturally mandated and, thus, a still a requirement? And equally so, why do church buildings continue to be so central to our faith? Can a correlation be made between maintaining the practice of a 10% tithe and the necessity for building churches? If a 10% tithe is not a scripturally mandated requirement, nor is the necessity for constructing church buildings, does that mean that we are off the hook for giving anything at all? No, of course not. Giving, though, just like acts of love, is a matter of the heart and cannot be legislated. When we give freely and completely of ourselves in the ways we serve others, then all other areas of our lives will be a reflection of that as well, including financial giving and not the other way around.

]]> http://www.pleadingthecase.org/11 0ec69b84-bc53-4d1f-9245-0fbffcc66c69 Sun, 22 Jul 2018 09:00:00 -0400 Andy Mendonsa full Andy Mendonsa In Philippians 3:20 Paul tells us "Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ..." Clearly, if our citizenship is in heaven then why do we try and make our earthly citizenships' the greater priority for bringing the kingdom of God to bear? Is this Biblical? 1:39:01 no <p>For 430 years Israel existed without the law after God made his covenant with Abraham. So why was the law given? According to Galatians 3:19 "It was added because of transgressions until the seed (Jesus) to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator." After the law and the high priestly system of rule was established, Israel remained a theocracy, "a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God, or a god," "from the time of Moses until the election of Saul as King." Since we know, based on scripture, how that turned out (just as God said it would in I Samuel 8:11-22), why do we, now citizens of heaven, already seated with Jesus in a heavenly realm, still demand a king? </p> grace, the law, unequally yoked, deception, desolate, citizenship in heaven, covenant of grace, politics and the Christian Faith, deceit, the fall, condition of the church, Pontius Pilate, Herod, High Priest, Seven Woes, Beatitudes, Christian Job description, worry, Kingdom of God, love, hate, fear, perfect love, For 430 years Israel existed without the law after God made his covenant with Abraham. So why was the law given? According to Galatians 3:19 "It was added because of transgressions until the seed (Jesus) to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator." After the law and the high priestly system of rule was established, Israel remained a theocracy, "a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God, or a god," "from the time of Moses until the election of Saul as King." Since we know, based on scripture, how that turned out (just as God said it would in I Samuel 8:11-22), why do we, now citizens of heaven, already seated with Jesus in a heavenly realm, still demand a king?

]]> For 430 years Israel existed without the law after God made his covenant with Abraham. So why was the law given? According to Galatians 3:19 "It was added because of transgressions until the seed (Jesus) to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator." After the law and the high priestly system of rule was established, Israel remained a theocracy, "a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God, or a god," "from the time of Moses until the election of Saul as King." Since we know, based on scripture, how that turned out (just as God said it would in I Samuel 8:11-22), why do we, now citizens of heaven, already seated with Jesus in a heavenly realm, still demand a king?

]]> http://www.pleadingthecase.org/9 bb00c8de-be5a-48a4-8ce9-8851f0550626 Mon, 25 Jun 2018 14:00:00 -0400 Andy Mendonsa full Andy Mendonsa The text for this episode is John 4:3-42, Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. This passage reveals so much to us, especially about worship, and what it actually looks likes and means to worship God in "the spirit and in truth," and why this has nothing to do with a worship service and everything to do with what we do outside of a worship service. 1:30:42 no <p>Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, recorded in John 43-42, is very overlooked for the most part. Especially, for what Jesus reveals to her, and ultimately to us, about worship. It is during Jesus exchange with the Samaritan woman that Jesus tells her that "the true worshipers that God desires are those that will worship him in the spirit and in truth." Although, the setting for this encounter is no where near Jerusalem or the temple inside the walls of that city, what Jesus said about worship has now been interpreted as primarily having to do with what takes place inside of a church during a "worship service." A setting that has very little in common with the setting that Jesus made this prouncement or why. This episode not only addresses this, but it also addresses how prejudice and even racism interferes with what God considers to be worship in the spirit and in truth without our even realizing it. </p> civil rights, racism, faith, worship, samaritan woman, jacob's well,christ, christian faith, conditions of the heart, deception, disciples, discrimination, divorced, empty vessel, eternal life, evangelism, eve, faith, false teachings, first adam, first covenant, grace, jesus, living water, love, messiah, minorities, politics, pure and undefiled worship, racism, righteousness, rule of law, salvation, samaria, samaritan woman, second adam, second covenant, segregation, sin, skin color, suffering, the deceived, the spirit and in truth, true worshipers god desires, truth, unclean, widows, woman caught in adultery, worship, worship service, worship through service Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, recorded in John 43-42, is very overlooked for the most part. Especially, for what Jesus reveals to her, and ultimately to us, about worship. It is during Jesus exchange with the Samaritan woman that Jesus tells her that "the true worshipers that God desires are those that will worship him in the spirit and in truth." Although, the setting for this encounter is no where near Jerusalem or the temple inside the walls of that city, what Jesus said about worship has now been interpreted as primarily having to do with what takes place inside of a church during a "worship service." A setting that has very little in common with the setting that Jesus made this prouncement or why. This episode not only addresses this, but it also addresses how prejudice and even racism interferes with what God considers to be worship in the spirit and in truth without our even realizing it.

]]> Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, recorded in John 43-42, is very overlooked for the most part. Especially, for what Jesus reveals to her, and ultimately to us, about worship. It is during Jesus exchange with the Samaritan woman that Jesus tells her that "the true worshipers that God desires are those that will worship him in the spirit and in truth." Although, the setting for this encounter is no where near Jerusalem or the temple inside the walls of that city, what Jesus said about worship has now been interpreted as primarily having to do with what takes place inside of a church during a "worship service." A setting that has very little in common with the setting that Jesus made this prouncement or why. This episode not only addresses this, but it also addresses how prejudice and even racism interferes with what God considers to be worship in the spirit and in truth without our even realizing it.

]]> http://www.pleadingthecase.org/8 db4776ed-3f11-42ef-97f8-3bd476fe44df Sun, 17 Jun 2018 10:00:00 -0400 Andy Mendonsa full Andy Mendonsa Based on James 1:27 the second part of this series begins by reviewing Part I in the context of worship, and then focusing on the words "undefiled, "visit" and "the fatherless." This episode concludes with an assessment made for the present condition of the church in America, and possibly around the world, and why James 1:27 is the most accurate litmus test for determining this. 1:26:29 no <p>In II Corintians 11:2-3 Paul tells us "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (NIV). So, how do we know if we have been led astray from our pure and sincere devotion to Christ? After studying James 1:27 <em>"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (DBY)</em> for more than 25 years I am more than convinced that this single passage is the key for being able to accurately determine the condition of the church at any time and place in history. And the key to unlocking this passage lies in our understanding of worship. The second par of this two part series begins with the second part of the first line of this passage, "to visit orphans and widows in their affliction," and concludes with "to keep oneself unspotted from the world." </p> abomination that causes desolation, acts 5, acts 6, adam, church in america, deceived, deception, deliverance, denied the faith, desolation, devotional, devouring widow's houses, dr. amy sherman, eve, garden of eden, genesis 2:15, high priest, i timothy 5, ii corinthians 11:1-4, inheritance, james 1:27, jesus, marriage bed, offering, orphans, paul, redemption, restoration, sacrifice, sin, stephen, the bereaved, the church, the fatherless, to keep, to visit, unbeliever, works, worship In II Corintians 11:2-3 Paul tells us "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (NIV). So, how do we know if we have been led astray from our pure and sincere devotion to Christ? After studying James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (DBY) for more than 25 years I am more than convinced that this single passage is the key for being able to accurately determine the condition of the church at any time and place in history. And the key to unlocking this passage lies in our understanding of worship. The second par of this two part series begins with the second part of the first line of this passage, "to visit orphans and widows in their affliction," and concludes with "to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

]]> In II Corintians 11:2-3 Paul tells us "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (NIV). So, how do we know if we have been led astray from our pure and sincere devotion to Christ? After studying James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (DBY) for more than 25 years I am more than convinced that this single passage is the key for being able to accurately determine the condition of the church at any time and place in history. And the key to unlocking this passage lies in our understanding of worship. The second par of this two part series begins with the second part of the first line of this passage, "to visit orphans and widows in their affliction," and concludes with "to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

]]> http://www.pleadingthecase.org/7 d4b32868-701b-43dd-8834-0e31750ba547 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 17:00:00 -0400 Andy Mendonsa full Andy Mendonsa In Episode 7, Part I, using James 1:27 as the litmus test, reveals how deceived the church, especially in America, has become and why. 1:29:23 no <p>In II Corintians 11:2-3 Paul tells us "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (NIV). So, how do we know if we have been led astray from our pure and sincere devotion to Christ? After studying James 1:27 <em>"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (DBY)</em> for more than 25 years I am more than convinced that this single passage is the key for being able to accurately determine the condition of the church at any time and place in history. And the key to unlocking this passage lies in our understanding of worship. This two part series begins with the first part of the first line of this passage, "pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:" </p> abraham, adultery, deceived, deception, deeds, doers of the word, hearers of the word, hell, james 1:27, marriage, sacrifice, the devil, the fatherless, to dress, to keep, unpolluted by the world, widows, works, worship In II Corintians 11:2-3 Paul tells us "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (NIV). So, how do we know if we have been led astray from our pure and sincere devotion to Christ? After studying James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (DBY) for more than 25 years I am more than convinced that this single passage is the key for being able to accurately determine the condition of the church at any time and place in history. And the key to unlocking this passage lies in our understanding of worship. This two part series begins with the first part of the first line of this passage, "pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:"

]]> In II Corintians 11:2-3 Paul tells us "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (NIV). So, how do we know if we have been led astray from our pure and sincere devotion to Christ? After studying James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (DBY) for more than 25 years I am more than convinced that this single passage is the key for being able to accurately determine the condition of the church at any time and place in history. And the key to unlocking this passage lies in our understanding of worship. This two part series begins with the first part of the first line of this passage, "pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:"

]]> http://www.pleadingthecase.org/3 8921125a-8cc0-4af5-a2cb-4549a7181102 Thu, 10 May 2018 18:00:00 -0400 Andy Mendonsa full Andy Mendonsa This is the 2nd episode in the series focused on the correlations between the creation of Eve through Adam and Jesus coming to redeem a bride. This episode picks up where episode one left off at the end of Genesis 2:21 and covers all of verse 22 and the first half of verse 23, "The man said, this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." Based on the correlation with Jesus for the first part of verse 23, even our traditional views and practices for taking communion (The Lord's Supper), are called into question. 59:58 no <p>Years ago I found myself asking the question if Jesus is the last Adam, then would that mean that the church, Christ's bride, is in effect the last Eve? If not literally, at least symbolically? How to prove this, though, became more than a challenge for knowing where to even begin such a search. After much thought and deliberation I finally realised that the place that I needed to start was at the beginning with the creation of the first Eve through the first Adam. That if we, as the church, Christ's bride, are seen by God as the last Eve, if you will, then there should be correlations between the description of the creation of Eve in Genesis 2:21-25 and passages in the New Testament having to do with Jesus and what he did on our behalf in order to redeem his bride. This episode, the second in a 5 part series, begins with Genesis 2:22 proving that Jesus not only came to redeem a bride, but the bride he came to redeem, is in effect, the last Eve.</p> 4 cups of wine, bone of my bone, bride, bride cup, communion, cup of redemption, cup of salvation, deception, deliverance, eve, first adam, first exodus, flesh of my flesh, jesus, last eve, lord's supper, marriage, passover, redemption, restoration, second adam, second covenant, second exodus, the church, theology, widow, worship Years ago I found myself asking the question if Jesus is the last Adam, then would that mean that the church, Christ's bride, is in effect the last Eve? If not literally, at least symbolically? How to prove this, though, became more than a challenge for knowing where to even begin such a search. After much thought and deliberation I finally realised that the place that I needed to start was at the beginning with the creation of the first Eve through the first Adam. That if we, as the church, Christ's bride, are seen by God as the last Eve, if you will, then there should be correlations between the description of the creation of Eve in Genesis 2:21-25 and passages in the New Testament having to do with Jesus and what he did on our behalf in order to redeem his bride. This episode, the second in a 5 part series, begins with Genesis 2:22 proving that Jesus not only came to redeem a bride, but the bride he came to redeem, is in effect, the last Eve.

]]> Years ago I found myself asking the question if Jesus is the last Adam, then would that mean that the church, Christ's bride, is in effect the last Eve? If not literally, at least symbolically? How to prove this, though, became more than a challenge for knowing where to even begin such a search. After much thought and deliberation I finally realised that the place that I needed to start was at the beginning with the creation of the first Eve through the first Adam. That if we, as the church, Christ's bride, are seen by God as the last Eve, if you will, then there should be correlations between the description of the creation of Eve in Genesis 2:21-25 and passages in the New Testament having to do with Jesus and what he did on our behalf in order to redeem his bride. This episode, the second in a 5 part series, begins with Genesis 2:22 proving that Jesus not only came to redeem a bride, but the bride he came to redeem, is in effect, the last Eve.

]]> http://www.pleadingthecase.org/2 4ed070d4-3c20-465b-8496-73d3515c9d00 Sat, 05 May 2018 10:00:00 -0400 Andy Mendonsa full Andy Mendonsa Through a multiple part series, the case is made that Jesus, as last Adam, came to redeem a bride. Beginning with the creation of the first Eve through the first Adam account in Genesis 2:21-25 and then presenting the correlating passages in the New Testament with the last Adam, the evidence appears to be irrefutable that the Church, Christ’s bride, is also the last Eve. What happens, though, when one half (men) of the church does not recognize or believe this is that the other half (women) of the church, by default will be regarded, and even treated, as though they have less kingdom value and worth. 58:57 no <p>Years ago I found myself asking the question if Jesus is the last Adam, then would that mean that the church, Christ's bride, is in effect the last Eve? If not literally, at least symbolically? How to prove this, though, became more than a challenge for knowing where to even begin such a search. After much thought and deliberation I finally realised that the place that I needed to start was at the beginning with the creation of the first Eve through the first Adam. That if we, as the church, Christ's bride, are seen by God as the last Eve, if you will, then there should be correlations between the description of the creation of Eve in Genesis 2:21-25 and passages in the New Testament having to do with Jesus and what he did on our behalf in order to redeem his bride. This episode, the first in a 5 part series, begins with Genesis 2:21 proving that Jesus not only came to redeem a bride, but the bride he came to redeem, is in effect, the last Eve.</p> betrothed, bride of christ, christianity, creation, deception, deliverance, first adam, jesus, last eve, office of widows, redemption, restoration, second adam, serpent, the church, theology, widows, women's roles Years ago I found myself asking the question if Jesus is the last Adam, then would that mean that the church, Christ's bride, is in effect the last Eve? If not literally, at least symbolically? How to prove this, though, became more than a challenge for knowing where to even begin such a search. After much thought and deliberation I finally realised that the place that I needed to start was at the beginning with the creation of the first Eve through the first Adam. That if we, as the church, Christ's bride, are seen by God as the last Eve, if you will, then there should be correlations between the description of the creation of Eve in Genesis 2:21-25 and passages in the New Testament having to do with Jesus and what he did on our behalf in order to redeem his bride. This episode, the first in a 5 part series, begins with Genesis 2:21 proving that Jesus not only came to redeem a bride, but the bride he came to redeem, is in effect, the last Eve.

]]> Years ago I found myself asking the question if Jesus is the last Adam, then would that mean that the church, Christ's bride, is in effect the last Eve? If not literally, at least symbolically? How to prove this, though, became more than a challenge for knowing where to even begin such a search. After much thought and deliberation I finally realised that the place that I needed to start was at the beginning with the creation of the first Eve through the first Adam. That if we, as the church, Christ's bride, are seen by God as the last Eve, if you will, then there should be correlations between the description of the creation of Eve in Genesis 2:21-25 and passages in the New Testament having to do with Jesus and what he did on our behalf in order to redeem his bride. This episode, the first in a 5 part series, begins with Genesis 2:21 proving that Jesus not only came to redeem a bride, but the bride he came to redeem, is in effect, the last Eve.

]]> http://www.pleadingthecase.org/1 a71fdc1a-dfcd-4acd-950a-083d1ee78fd1 Mon, 30 Apr 2018 15:00:00 -0400 Andy Mendonsa full Andy Mendonsa This first broadcast of "Pleading the Case" begins by posing the question: Is it possible to have the right Jesus for salvation and yet the wrong Jesus for living it out? If you have never considered this as a possibility, then the answer might surprise you, especially for what it reveals to us about our present condition as the Church, Christ’s bride? 1:22:55 no <p>Deception is by its very nature subtle, and can happen over long periods of time, even centuries. How do we know if we, as the church, have been deceived, or can we even know? Paul expresses such a concern in II Corinthians 11:2-3, saying that "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (NIV). How do we know if we have been deceived, though? What does scripture reveal to us for measuring or assessing our condition as Christ's bride at any time and place in history? This first episode of "Pleading The Case" presents the scriptural basis for being able to assess our conditon as Christ's bride in order to determine whether the church today is the bride that God desires her to be, or that she has been deceived as Eve was by the serpent." </p> christ's bride, christianity, condition of the church, deception, desolation, eve, james 1:27, jesus, last adam, salvation, widows, worship Deception is by its very nature subtle, and can happen over long periods of time, even centuries. How do we know if we, as the church, have been deceived, or can we even know? Paul expresses such a concern in II Corinthians 11:2-3, saying that "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (NIV). How do we know if we have been deceived, though? What does scripture reveal to us for measuring or assessing our condition as Christ's bride at any time and place in history? This first episode of "Pleading The Case" presents the scriptural basis for being able to assess our conditon as Christ's bride in order to determine whether the church today is the bride that God desires her to be, or that she has been deceived as Eve was by the serpent."

]]> Deception is by its very nature subtle, and can happen over long periods of time, even centuries. How do we know if we, as the church, have been deceived, or can we even know? Paul expresses such a concern in II Corinthians 11:2-3, saying that "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (NIV). How do we know if we have been deceived, though? What does scripture reveal to us for measuring or assessing our condition as Christ's bride at any time and place in history? This first episode of "Pleading The Case" presents the scriptural basis for being able to assess our conditon as Christ's bride in order to determine whether the church today is the bride that God desires her to be, or that she has been deceived as Eve was by the serpent."

]]>