Author Archives: Standing for God's Truth

Will All Men Be Saved?

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John 3:15-18 addresses the two-fold split in mankind: Those who believe and those who have not believed in the Son of God.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

This two-fold split between those who believe and those who have not believed is further reinforced by the assignment of their eternal destiny.  To those who believe (trust) in Jesus’ atoning work and have received the free gift of God (Rom 6:23), are currently in possession of eternal life (John 3:15); and those who do not believe are condemned already (John 3:18) because they have not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The clarity of Scriptures on this issue is without question.  So how could man believe that all will be save?  It seems to be that they value their own thoughts about God above His revealed Word.  They muse: “how could a loving God send people to hell?” In their thoughts a loving god could not. Why? Because, the bottom line is that all men know that they are sinners (Rom 3:23) and because of their offense they cannot stand before a Holy God. This intuitive knowledge that the creation possesses (Rom 1:20) drives men to reinterpret God in their own image.  On the off chance that a just god exits they want that god not to hold man accountable for their denial of available knowledge.  As Romans 1:18-20 states: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

So man suppresses the truth which God mad self-evident within them; so he stands without excuse or as John said condemned already.  For Paul goes on and adds in Rom 1:28-32: “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Verse 32 is clear that man knows the ordinance of God; but more than that, they also know that those who practice such things are worthy of death. Hebrews 9:27 states: “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” So man will die and face judgment.  But in the next verse the confidence of the Christian hope is also stated: “so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” So His death counts only to those who trust Him alone for their salvation, to those who eagerly await Him. Peter at Pentecost lays this out clearly as he explains God’s wonderful solution which He supplied to a lost and dying mankind (Acts 2:22-38): “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power…This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear…”Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ” Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

But it is verses 40-41 which demonstrate that man must have a Savior and that when he does, he is added to the body of Christ: “And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, ” Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”

The following verses also lead to this same inescapable conclusion: that Jesus death on the cross and His resultant resurrection demonstrates that it is through Jesus and He alone that salvation is bestowed.  But it is only bestowed on those who receive Christ through faith, those who have the Son, those whose names are found in the Book of Life.

John 14 :6 “Jesus  said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

John 3.36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

1 Tim 2:5-6 “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”

1 John 5:11-12 “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”

Revelation 20:15 “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Copyright 2012 by Watchmen of Grace. (Permission provided to BibleAnswersToQuestion.com to display article in its entirety.)

Who is the Christian’s final authority, the senior pastor? The elders? The Word of God?

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Who is the Christian’s ultimate authority, the senior pastor? The Elders? The Word of God?

The ultimate authority that all Christians are to follow is the Word of God! Carl F. H. Henry states: “Without an authoritative Scripture, the church is powerless to overcome not only human unregeneracy but also satanic deception. Where the church no longer lives by the Word of God it is left to its own devices and soon is overtaken by the temptations of Satan and the misery of sin and death (Carl F. H. Henry, “The Authority and Inspiration of the Bible, “ in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol 1). So if Christians merely acquiesces to a pastor or even a group of elders without going to God’s Word as did the Bereans in Acts 17.11: “Now  these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” he then opens himself up to either human unregeneracy or demonic deception.

Let’s review some pertinent passages:

John 17.17 ”Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

2 Tim 3.16-17 ”All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Hebrews 4.12 ”For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

God’s Word comes out of God Himself and therefore has the authority of the one and only living God. From Him it is derived, from Him it is protected, and from Him through the Holy Spirit the Word will guide all Christians into all truth.

John 16.13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

Now as to accepting without question what one is told by a pastor or by elders, the Bible clearly warns against this. Paul, before his arrest in Jerusalem, gathers the Elders from Ephesus to him at Miletus reminds them of the example that he set before them states: “And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20.18-21).

He then warns them of the great dangers that the church of Christ will face:

“For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears” (Acts 20.27-31).

Notice he says from “ among your own selves men will arise” since he is speaking to the Elders it is probable that he means from among the Elders themselves!

Peter himself warns of this very problem. In 2 Peter 2, Peter lays out that this problem that faces the church is not new but in a lengthy argument arrives at the bottom line that God will “knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment” (2 Pet 2.9).

So God know how to both rescue the godly and keep the unrighteous for punishment. But it is in verse 1 that we see the very problem which Peter is addressing: “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves”  (2 Pet 2.1)

In 1 Tim 5.17-21: “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.”

Paul gives us two principles, which must be followed “without bias.” First, we are to give double honor to “those who work hard at preaching and teaching.” But second, “those who continue to sin rebuke in the presence of all”

In summary then because of Satan’s attacks and man’s sin, All Christians are to obey God rather than man (Acts 5.29); they are to search the Scriptures to see if these things are true. (Acts 17.11). In other words, the ultimate authority for the Christian is the Word of God.

Copyright 2012 by Watchmen of Grace. (Permission provided to BibleAnswersToQuestion.com to display article in its entirety.)

Is It Possible for A Christian Church To Teach False Doctrine?

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In 2 Peter 2:1, Peter states; “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.”

Peter affirms that it is not a question of if false teachers will come in among you but the certainty that they will be among you. But Peter furnishes their modus operandi: they “will secretly introduce destructive heresies.” It should also be obvious that their goal is to introduce destructive heresies.” The church seems to recognize these false teachers as teachers even though their message was not in accordance with God’s revealed Word.   This then illuminates two central issues the church must guard against.

First, the church, the body of Christ, must be careful in whom they recognize to be teachers-they must know their character and their doctrine.

And second, the church, the body of Christ, must know and view God’s Word as absolutely authoritative.

Paul in reference to these same false teachers provides a vivid and accurate characterization: savage wolves not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29). It is important not to fixate upon the false teachers’ motivation. It really doesn’t matter whether they are merely deluded or are seeking to delude; what does matter, as Peter warns, is that they introduce destructive heresies.” The word introduce” (pareisaxousin) means to bring in along side of, or to bring in something new.” Heibert stresses: “the context suggests the picture of introducing in an underhanded way” (D. Edmond Hiebert, “Second Peter and Jude: an Expositional Commentary, p. 88) Lenski maintains that the full force of the verb means to bring in sneakingly, covertly, so that the unwary will not discern what these false teachers are really doing. The bottom line is that they “introduce destructive heresies.” These false teachings cause destruction. Their self-chosen views alter the foundational moorings of Christianity; and hence, threaten the church, which Jesus Christ purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28). They continually deny the Person and work of Christ; they deny His absolute authority over the lives of men. In this reference please remember that true Christians gladly proclaim that they “have been bought with a price” and that they “are not their own” (1 Cor 6:20,19).

We must note the result of this false teaching: “Many will follow” (2 Pet 2:2). The word “will follow” (exakolouthesousin) denotes that they will follow out, or obey these false teachers. However, many will not recognize, according to Luke 6:26, that they are dealing with false teachers or if they do they will speak well of them anyway. But it is the word, “many” which denotes the farreaching result of their teaching. They will amass many followers.

While the destruction of the false teachers is not in doubt (2 Pet 2:17-22), their ultimate error was that they “turned away from the holy commandment handed down to them” (2 Pet 2:21). But, in addition to building an increasing number of adherents leading them astray, they also accomplish that “because of them the way of the truth will be maligned” (2 Pet 2:2). The “way of the truth” designates the Christian life long goal of living in complete harmony with the truth as embodied in the Incarnate Word of God who’s way is truth and results in life (John 14:6). And yet, it is this pure way, which results in it being “maligned.” This word denotes “being reviled and defamed.”

If we turn our attention to several of the churches of Revelation, we will ascertain the resultant judgments that will fall upon churches that allow false teachers to go unimpeded. The Book of Revelation was written a mere twenty-five or thirty years after that of Second Peter. To the church at Pergamum, He writes: But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword ofMy mouth” (Rev 2:14-16).

To the church of Thyatira, He writes:

“But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. ‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds” (Rev 2:20-23).

To the church at Sardis, He writes:

“Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight ofMy God. ‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you” (Rev 3:2-3).

It should become obvious that Jesus wants His church to keep His Word and to remain pure from false teachers and their heresy. The Bible gives extensive warnings. Jesus, through Paul, provides to both Timothy and Titus, who were to prepare and appoint Elders in many churches, the following exhortations: 1 Tim 4:1-2 “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.” 1 Tim 4:6 “In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” 1 Tim 4:16 “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”

1 Tim 6:3 “If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness.”

2 Tim 3:13-16 “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Titus 1:9 “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”

Titus 2:1 “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.”

Titus 2:15 “These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” Copyright 2012 by Watchmen of Grace. (Permission provided to BibleAnswersToQuestion.com to display article in its entirety.)