ERROR AND ITS CONSEQUENCES!

        Some professed Christians may be convinced that, if the intent of their heart is
right and they are sincere in whatever they practice, God will surely accept them.  

        Without truth, we cannot worship God. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23,24). God’s word is truth  (John 17:17). As such, all scripture will perfectly harmonize.

        Jesus warned against man’s deception: “Take heed that no man deceive you” (Matt. 24:4). “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matt. 24:24). This is deception of the most insidious kind—powerful, convincing, seeming to serve God.

        “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col. 2:8).

        “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:” (2 Peter 2:1-3).

        When doctrines contradict one another, truth is either absent or obscured.
As men misinterpret and twist scripture, others are influenced to believe and practice these false teachings, thereby furthering the work of Satan and condemning many.

• The first day of the week replaces the seventh-day Sabbath as our day for rest and worship.
  

• When people cease to breathe and life departs, they are not dead but continue to live either in heaven or a place of constant torment called hell.
  

• Christ has already returned to earth, taken control as a ruling king, and is setting up His eternal kingdom.
  

• Christ will come secretly to earth to spirit away the righteous prior to the establishing of His kingdom.
  

• The return of Jews to Palestine and the establishment of the State of Israel were not fulfillments of Bible prophecy.
  

• The feast days given to ancient Israel by God through Moses must still be kept.
  

• Christ was crucified on Friday and resurrected the following Sunday.
  

• The millennial age started with the first advent of Christ, and the righteous are now reigning as kings and priests with Him.
  

• Christ was born on December 25th (Christmas), a day to be highly commemorated.
  

• Christ cleansed unclean meats when He died.
  

• Christians should take up lethal weapons to repel or overcome an enemy.
  

• The Lord's Supper, or Communion, should be observed more than once a year, even every week.


• Christ came to earth as God—an immortal and divine being—and was changed into flesh (God Reincarnate).


• The Godhead is one God made up of three beings—the Trinity.
  

• Once saved—always saved.
  

• No man, Christian included, can keep from sinning every day.
  

• Homosexuality is merely a lifestyle choice and not a sin.
  

• Deliberate abortion is not murder.
  

• Baptism by sprinkling is appropriate, even for infants.
  

• Only the New Testament should be used today.

        Carefully compare all related scriptures to verify the accuracy of these teachings. Isaiah declared: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). If we prayerfully consult scripture, God will shine His light of truth on falsehood.

        Even Paul did not want others to believe anything based on his word alone. He praised certain ones in Berea for their desire for truth: “These were more noble than those of Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

        Paul directed Timothy to correctly understand God’s word: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

        Do you recognize such conditions today? Bible truth is decidedly unpopular with many people in our time. Some churches have established new guidelines for righteousness, re-interpreting God’s standards to fit their own. The following text describes them: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5).  

        Scripture warns: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee,” (Hosea 4:6).

        Acceptance of error may destroy one’s faith. “Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of  some” (2 Timothy 2:18). If we persist in teaching error, we do not honor God  and He will not hear us. “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7).

        If, however, we follow God’s Spirit, we will find truth: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). This we know: the Holy Spirit cannot teach error. Therefore, true doctrine will not contradict the Word of God.

        We are also commanded to test the spirits that draw us: “Beloved, believe not  every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1John 4:1).

        Once again, scripture is the testing ground. We cannot chart our own route to God. He has already defined that path. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:13,14).  

        The sincere Christian desires truth and determines to change his life to conform to it. Are you living entirely by scriptural truth? Will your beliefs and practices stand the test of a Bible investigation? May God grant you the courage to follow His way that leads to life eternal.