FALSE TEACHING AND FALSE GOSPELS - THE BENDING OF GOD'S WORD
I have been spending some time in the letters of the apostle Paul the last few weeks. Specifically his letters to the Corinthians and his protege, Timothy. There is a very common theme that runs through these letters dealing with how even in the early Church, there was a great deal of confusion regarding the true words of Jesus, His Life, and how it laid out a New Covenant for His followers. One can only imagine the confusion and difficulty of battling Religious Leaders, Judaic beliefs Pagan beliefs, Roman Imperialism, and one’s own sinful nature. No Surprise these battles Continue Today For Us Believers as well. The Scriptures need to be our Foundational Truth and we must rely on them to establish our values, morals, and character. WE ARE MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE ! Yet, without the Discernment and Guidance that comes from THE HOLY SPIRIT, it can be easy to “Miss The Mark” ! And the Truth is, that a Small Miss will become a Large and Wide Path over time. JESUS asks us to walk the “Narrow Path”, not the Wide Path. Paul is constantly encouraging the Body of Christ in the various congregations he helped organize to recognize that “no one can lay down a foundation other than what has been laid down, and that Foundation is JESUS CHRIST ! It amazes me to see how many Churches and Pastors either “Change”, “Water Down”, or outright “Disregard” God’s Word in both their Teaching, and their Interpretation. The very attributes of God that are so important become Twisted and Perverted to give credence and acceptance to SIN, and the cultural practices that celebrate INIQUITY. “Love” becomes “anything Goes, so as not to offend Feelings.” “Sinful behavior becomes every person’s choice and personal Opinion.” The vast majority of these falsehoods come to fruition in the celebration of Culture and the Progressive Nature of Mankind’s FOOLISHNESS…..all based on SELF RELIANCE AND SELF ADULATION. It has been going on from the very beginning of the church, and no matter the gains made in Knowledge, Science, and Technology, Falsehood and Pride always find a way onto the “stage” of Life. JESUS Himself is dishonored in many Churches and by “believers” who question His Deity, question His Resurrection, and Question His Identity And Character ! How sad it is that So Many “christians” haven’t spent enough time studying Scripture and Meditating on God’s Word to become Solidly Entrenched in FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE….Allowing it To Bring WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT ! A Christ Centered Life then goes Way Beyond these things into a TRUST AND DEPENDENCE UPON JESUS FOR ALL THINGS IN ONE’S LIFE :) IS THAT YOU ?
IF YOU POINT THESE THINGS OUT TO THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU WILL BE A GOOD SERVANT OF CHRIST JESUS, NOURISHED BY THE WORDS OF THE FAITH AND THE GOOD TEACHING THAT YOU HAVE FOLLOWED. BUT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH POINTLESS AND SILLY MYTHS, RATHER TRAIN YOURSELF IN GODLINESS. FOR THE TRAINING OF THE BODY HAS LIMITED BENEFIT, BUT GODLINESS IS BENEFICIAL IN EVERY WAY, SINCE IT HOLDS PROMISE FOR THE PRESENT LIFE AND ALSO FOR THE LIFE TO COME. THIS SAYING IS TRUSTWORTHY AND DESERVES FULL ACCEPTANCE. FOR THIS REASON WE LABOR AND STRIVE BECAUSE WE HAVE PUT OUR HOPE IN THE LIVING GOD, WHO IS THE SAVIOR OF ALL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE. 1 Timothy 4: 6-10
FOR THE TIME IS COMING WHEN PEOPLE WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND TEACHING, BUT HAVING ITCHING EARS THEY WILL ACCUMULATE FOR THEMSELVES TEACHERS TO SUIT THEIR OWN PASSIONS, AND WILL TURN AWAY FROM LISTENING TO THE TRUTH AND WANDER OFF INTO MYTHS. 2Timothy 4: 3-4
SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE TAKES YOU CAPTIVE BY PHILOSOPHY AND EMPTY DECEIT, ACCORDING TO HUMAN TRADITION, ACCORDING TO THE ELEMENTAL SPIRITS OF THE WORLD, AND NOT ACCORDING TO CHRIST. Colossians 2:8
There are many, many religions and religious beliefs out there in Our World. Some Voices tell us that they “all have value.” Some Voices tell you that “they all lead to God.” Some Voices tell you that “no single religion has any Value or Truth above any other.” These Voices however miss some very important things that VERY MUCH DO SET TRUE CHRISTIANITY APART ! EVERY OTHER RELIGION WAS CREATED BY MAN, FOUNDED BY MAN, DEVISED BY MAN…AND ALL THESE “FOUNDERS” ARE DEAD ! MY/OUR SAVIOR AND LORD, JESUS CHRIST, IS RESURRECTED AND ALIVE !!! HE ALSO SAID HE WAS GOD ! EVERY OTHER RELIGION IMPLORES US TO FIND A WAY TO BEHAVE OR DO THINGS THAT MAKE US ACCEPTABLE TO GOD. TRUE CHRISTIANS KNOW THAT JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY, TRUTH, AND LIFE. OUR EFFORTS WILL DO NOTHING TO BRING US INTO RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. JESUS IS OUR WAY. WE WORSHIP THE “ONE TRUE GOD”, NOT IDOLS, NOT WISE MEN, NOT MULTIPLE NUMBERS OF GODS. WE SEE GOD AS THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT…ONE IN ESSENCE AND TRUTH. OTHER RELIGIONS HAVE DOGMA, TRADITIONS, AND MAN MADE RULES THAT ONE MUST FOLLOW IN ORDER TO BE IN FAITH AND BE ACCEPTED. TRUE CHRISTIANS “ABIDE IN CHRIST” FOR CONSECRATION, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND HOLINESS. We as mere humans have NO POWER to achieve Anything without God. HE ALONE SETS OUR PATH AND PURPOSE. HE ALONE OFFERS ETERNAL LIFE IN AND THROUGH HIS SON…JESUS.
Many years ago, I had the chance to share some moments with a young Muslim man that gave me a perspective on God and His Grace that I will hold in my Heart FOREVER. He asked me if I was Jewish. “No, I said, I’m a Christian.” “ Are you Jewish, I asked Him ?” “ No, he replied, I am Muslim.” I can only say that the next question I asked him was put in my mouth by The Holy Spirit Himself. “ What are you looking for in your Life, I asked him ?” He looked me right in the eyes and said one word. ‘TRUTH’ ! I asked him if he felt his religion and belief was giving him the answer to his question. He thought for a moment, and looking at me again, softly said, ‘No’. “ Well, i said, I can simply tell you that when I was seventeen years old, full of doubts and fears, I looked up and asked God to help me and show me TRUTH…and I heard a Voice gently say to me,…Jim, I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE…and His Name Is JESUS. The young man asked me another question. “ How can I find Him, and learn Who He Is ?” “ i Said, You ask Him to Show You Who He Is, and you Give Your Life And Heart To Him. You surrender, die to self, and become a New Creation IN HIM :) “ “ His story is in the Holy Bible, and it is a Journey of the Jewish Faith, Muslim Faith, and Paganism, all the way to GOD so loving the world, that He gave ALL OF US HIS SON, that whoever should believe and accept HIM as Lord and Savior would have Eternal Life ! “ “THAT IS TRUTH .” I Left “E” my Bible, prayed with him for his Family, and soon caught a plane home. IN MY HEART, I BELIEVE WE WILL MEET AGAIN IN THE KINGDOM GOD PROVIDES FOR ALL HIS CHILDREN.
SANCTIFY THEM IN THE TRUTH; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH. John 17:17
SO JESUS SAID TO THE JEWS WHO HAD BELIEVED HIM, “ IF YOU ABIDE IN MY WORD, YOU ARE TRULY MY DISCIPLES, AND YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.” John 8: 31-32
THE SUM OF YOUR WORD IS TRUTH, AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR RIGHTEOUS RULES ENDURES FOREVER. Pslm 119:160
ALL SCRIPTURE IS BREATHED OUT BY GOD AND PROFITABLE FOR TEACHING, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, AND FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE COMPLETE, EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. 2 Timothy 3: 16-17
When YOU find yourself caught up in the frenzy of the World….pause,… seek your Foundation In Christ And His Word, and move in Steadfast Faith And Sureness. Recognize the Bending of God’s Word, and stand firm in correction of Truth with Grace, and with a GENTLE BOLDNESS :) False Teaching and False Gospels abound in our world, and delusion will continue to grow as the times move forward to the Return Of Our Eternal King. Our responsibility is to remember what Paul told Timothy: DO YOUR BEST TO PRESENT YOURSELF TO GOD AS ONE APPROVED, A WORKER WHO HAS NO NEED TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY HANDLING THE WORD OF TRUTH. 2 Timothy 2:15. IF WE can heed those words and stay on the Narrow Path With Jesus, then our Journey will be FRUITFUL :) It will take Steadfast Faith. It will take a Humble Spirit. It will take Putting On The Armor Of God ! BE PREPARED, AND BE READY…..THE TIME IS NOW ! SHINE THE LIGHT INTO THE DARKNESS, FOR THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND !
SEEK TRUTH AND SHARE IT/JAA
TEACH ME YOUR WAY, O LORD, THAT I MAY WALK IN YOUR TRUTH; UNITE MY HEART TO FEAR YOUR NAME. Psalm 86:11