Category: False Teaching

Grieved

Saturday, October 8, 2016

“And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (Acts 4:1,2 KJV).

Why were Israel’s religious leaders “grieved” that Apostles Peter and John were teaching the people?

The word “grieved” here carries the idea of worry or irritation. It was used to describe the Apostle Paul’s attitude toward the devil possessing the girl who incessantly harassed his party in Philippi. Luke reports in Acts chapter 16: “[16] And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: [17] The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. [18] And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”

Today’s Scripture says Israel’s religious leaders were “grieved that [Peter and John] taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” Part of that group was Sadducees, religious leaders who denied the Scriptural doctrine of resurrection (Matthew 22:23; Mark 12:18; Acts 23:8). Remember, Peter and John were “preaching through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” They were contradicting religious tradition, and they had to be silenced! (Sound familiar?) After all, Peter had preached to Israel in the previous chapter: “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses” (Acts 3:14,15). No wonder those Sadducees were so disturbed!

Israel’s religious leaders knew they were losing their long-held influence over God’s people, and they were not about to let it happen. They knew the 12 Apostles were drawing people away from their vain religious system. What happened to Peter and John here? Read Acts chapter 4 to find out!

A Wise Man and A Raging Fool

Friday, October 7, 2016

“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident” (Proverbs 14:16 KJV).

Let us depart from evil—both in deed, and in word!

Scanning online comments about the Bible, I came across one person railing against the Scriptures. He complained, “Not surprising, 99% of people who believe the Bible is ‘the literal word of god [sic]’ have NEVER read it.” His argument was that Scripture “was filled with the most vile, disgusting, pure evil ever written.” I found it amusing that, rather than tell people to read the Bible, he suggested that if they doubted him, they should read a book that criticized the Bible in the manner he had just done. So, while chastising those who were ignorant of the Bible, he was proclaiming himself to be just as ignorant! (I wonder what percentage of the Bible he actually read before he began critiquing it? He probably read more of the book that condemned the Bible than of the Bible itself!)

In all fairness, he does make a point. Sadly, I believe the Bible skeptics oftentimes take more time to research the Bible than professing Christians. The majority of Christians seems content in knowing just the basics. Skeptics are willing to go deeper in the Bible because they are trying to “catch [God] in His words” (Mark 12:13), “that they might accuse Him” (Matthew 12:10). Yet, compared to people who find the deep truths of the Bible, these raging and “confident” skeptics are also skimming to ascertain the basics. They are not qualified to talk about Scripture either!

Friends, permit me to be foolish, that I may make a point. If God made every last change to the Bible that man wanted—and I do literally mean every last change!—man would still bicker, whine, and sulk. Why? The problem is never the Bible text. The King James Bible text is fine. The problem is the heart of the man looking at the text! He does not want the Bible to be right, lest it prove him wrong! That is just all there is to it, my friends. “…Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Was Jesus ‘heartless’ in Matthew 8:22?”

Why Stand Ye Gazing Up Into Heaven? #2

Monday, October 3, 2016

“And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:10,11 KJV).

Why did the angels ask the Apostles, “Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?”

Acts begins with Jesus spending 40 days with His Apostles during His resurrection and ascension. Verse 3 says He spoke of “the things pertaining to the kingdom of God”—see Matthew chapter 28, Mark chapter 16, Luke chapter 24, John chapter 21, and Acts chapter 1. Before ascending into heaven from the Mount of Olives, Jesus told them they should not leave Jerusalem. Verses 4 and 5: “…wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

The Apostles, having heard Him talk about the kingdom of God those last 40 days, ask Him in verse 6, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Notice “again.” The only kingdom Israel ever had was a literal, physical, earthly kingdom—its apex with Kings David and Solomon. Rather than rebuke them—“No, I am talking about a spiritual kingdom in the hearts of men, not a literal earthly kingdom. I am about to start the spiritual Body of Christ” (what people assume Jesus said)—Jesus simply told them in verses 7 and 8: “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” The time-schedule of that coming literal, physical, visible, earthly kingdom is withheld from these Apostles.

Yet, they start looking up as the Lord Jesus Christ goes into heaven (today’s Scripture). They have not been mindful of His instructions to them….

Heart’s Desire

Saturday, October 1, 2016

“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart” (Romans 9:1,2 KJV).

Why did Paul have “great heaviness and continual sorrow in [his] heart?”

Mom and I recently visited a family friend, a new Christian only a year old in the Lord. After our three-hour Bible study answering her questions, she spoke to us as we were leaving. Having just learned many precious truths from God’s Word, this dear lady began to literally weep. She now fathomed the immense deception of her former denomination. How she was so burdened that her son, her daughter, and her grandchildren were still trapped in that cult. She had raised them in that religious group, and while she had escaped, they had chosen to remain in it. We comforted and encouraged her.

In today’s Scripture, the Apostle Paul was deeply disturbed, constantly sorrowful. Verse 3 explains, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” Paul was so saddened to see his Jewish brethren stuck in their apostasy—Satanic deception and anti-Jesus-Christ attitude. They hated Jesus so much they often attempted to take Paul’s life for preaching His name! Chapter 10 opens: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” And, verse 3: “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

Friend, do you know what made it especially hurtful for Paul to see Israel utterly fallen and thoroughly deceived? As Saul of Tarsus, he had encouraged Israel to reject Jesus and kill His followers (Acts 8:1-4; Acts 26:9-11)! Being lost, Paul had led Israel’s rebellion against Jesus Christ! Now, having been saved from hell’s flames, he felt deep remorse for what he had done. Until his dying day, Paul surely prayed for his unbelieving brethren. They were to give up their works-religion and embrace Jesus Christ, as he had! Beloved, let us not cease to pray for our unsaved loved ones—and be ready to speak God’s truth when they want it!

Bible Q&A #310: “Can you explain 1 Corinthians 8?”

Will Ye Plead for Baal?

Friday, September 30, 2016

“And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar” (Judges 6:31 KJV).

If Baal is the one true God, then he can defend himself!

The LORD had instructed Gideon: “Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down” (verses 25,26). Verse 27 continues: “Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.”

Early the next morning, the men of the city wake to find Baal’s altar thrown down, the nearby grove (shrine of images) cut down, and the second bullock that was offered on the altar (verse 28). Upon learning Gideon is responsible, they demand Joash bring out his son so they can put him to death (verses 29,30). Joash responded in today’s Scripture: “Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.” Realizing his pagan god could not punish his son, Joash was evidently converted. He accentuated his new faith in JEHOVAH, and the silliness of Baal worship, by asking, “Is ‘almighty’ Baal actually powerless? Does he need you to defend his demolished place of worship?” (This is somewhat comical!)

Verse 32 concludes: “Therefore on that day he [Joash] called him [Gideon] Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.”

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What does, ‘Quit you like men,’ mean?”

Sounding Right, Being Wrong

Thursday, September 29, 2016

“And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel” (Matthew 2:4-6 KJV).

Did you ever notice how Israel’s religious leaders “corrected” the inspired Word of God?

Complaining about the King James Bible, people often profess to have “better translations.” In this day and age of widespread false teaching, and ears itching to hear more traditions of men, God has supposedly sent these “Bible correctors” to “make plain His original words.” (Fantasy and folly!) In my few years alive, reading words from and talking with Bible “scholars,” I have learned all are not honest. This is no surprise. After all, when King Herod summoned the Bible “scholars” of his day, they employed a “dynamic equivalence” (free-wording) method: “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”

The casual Bible reader will gloss over Matthew 2:6, never bothering to look at the original quote, Micah 5:2: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” We are not interested in the fact the religious leaders did not quote it verbatim. What concerns us is they actually quoted the verse so it read the opposite: “though thou be little among the thousands of Judah” (God’s words in Micah 5:2) became “art not the least among the princes of Juda” (man’s opinions in Matthew 2:6). These religious leaders were not quoting God’s Word in faith; otherwise, they would have visited the Christ Child!

Dear friends, learn this lesson. Take heed concerning religious leaders and their “helpful” alternative Bible readings. Never forget that, in today’s Scripture, they sounded right but were totally wrong!

May Ignorance Not Be Your Preference!

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

“Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Ephesians 3:4 KJV).

Want to know the Bible’s truths, especially Paul’s revelations? Read it!

Recently, I spoke with a Christian brother who explained how he had quite an “adventure” coming to understand the Bible rightly divided. It boggled his mind how, despite all the deception in the world, he had come to the knowledge of the truth. In fact, other grace believers often ask the same question he had, “Why did God choose to reveal this to me while so many others, especially professing Christians, know nothing about it and grope in spiritual darkness?” Dear friends, this is actually a flawed question because, whether we realize it or not, it endorses the false teachings of Calvinism (that is, “God chose me and He did not choose you! I am so special!”)

The consistent testimony of Scripture is people are ignorant of God’s Word, not because He chose them for ignorance, but because they refused Him and His Word. See Romans 1:20-32, for example. The Lord Jesus Himself said in John 7:17: “If any man will [wishes to] do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” He said in Matthew 23:37: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Finally, John 5:43: “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”

“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13). Bibles are everywhere on this planet—in print, online, and audio. Oftentimes, people who have access to several Bibles never read any of them, let alone study any! Too many people, if they do read the Bible, always let theologians and denominations “interpret” (read that as “confuse!”) it for them. According to Scripture, the vast majority remains ignorant of God’s truths because ignorance is their preference! “If any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 14:38)!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Could you explain John 1:51?”

The Precious Blood of Christ #6

Thursday, September 22, 2016

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18,19 KJV).

God the Father and God the Holy Ghost think the blood of Jesus Christ is “precious.” And you?

Remember, God’s original purpose in creating the nation Israel was to form an earthly people whom He would use to glorify His Son in the earth. That was the intention of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3). Israel was to remain separate from the world’s nations and religions (all Satanically-inspired). However, Israel increasingly intermingled with heathenism. By the time we get to Christ’s earthly ministry, 2000 years after Abraham, Israel is far removed from God’s Word. They are in no condition to recognize God’s Son when He shows up and offers to be their king. Pagan idolatry, false religion, has so deceived them that they are under Satan’s control like the rest of the world!

However, the Little Flock of today’s Scripture is reminded that they, as Israel’s believing remnant, have been purchased from that vain manner of living they received by tradition from their fathers. God has taken them out of that apostate nation Israel. Their purchase price was “the precious blood of Christ.” As the Passover lamb’s blood saved Israel from God’s wrath in Egypt, so the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, will save believing Israel from the wrath about to consume the apostate Jews.

No amount of silver or gold could provide these Jews spiritual life. It was the valuable blood of Christ. They are “born again… by the word of God” (verse 23)—given new life. Now, they are to behave according to their new identity. They are to be holy practically because God is holy (verse 16). With Israel’s believing remnant coming by faith to God through “the precious blood of Christ,” they have left Satan and become the nation God originally intended them to be! They are His kingdom of priests, His holy nation (1 Peter 2:9), able to reach believing Gentiles in the future Millennium. Israel can finally be that nation to restore God’s authority in the earth….

The Precious Blood of Christ #3

Monday, September 19, 2016

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18,19 KJV).

God the Father and God the Holy Ghost think the blood of Jesus Christ is “precious.” And you?

While God did not reveal the complete meaning of Jesus Christ’s death until the Apostle Paul, we can look back into some of the Bible’s most ancient portions and see God had the death of His Son in mind all along. For example, Acts 2:23 reminds us: “Him [Jesus Christ], being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” Before there ever was a creation—one angel, one devil, one human, one star, one tree, or even one atom—the three Members of the triune Godhead conferred. God the Father had a most glorious plan, God the Son would lay down His life to make that plan possible, and God the Holy Spirit would execute all the details.

God arranged it so that, as soon as sin entered the world, He began to teach man that sin meant an innocent life had to be taken, and innocent blood would have to be shed. The precedent was Genesis 3:21 (Adam and Eve); it carried on to the shed blood offered by Abel (Genesis 4:4) and Noah (Genesis 8:20). When we come to Israel in Egyptian bondage, the blood of the innocent Passover lamb saves them from God’s righteous wrath against their idolatry (Exodus 12:3-14). God said Israel is to observe the annual Passover literally “for ever” (verse 14). Throughout the Book of Leviticus, we read about various animal sacrifices and the priests’ daily shedding of animals’ blood to make atonement for sins. Israel’s national forgiveness relied on the annual Day of Atonement, involving more animals’ blood (Leviticus chapter 16).

That intricate religious calendar was God’s way of reinforcing in Israel’s mind the plan He had from before the foundation of the world. The “precious blood of Christ” was going to be shed….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What does, ‘All Israel shall be saved,’ mean?”

The Precious Blood of Christ #2

Sunday, September 18, 2016

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18,19 KJV).

God the Father and God the Holy Ghost think the blood of Jesus Christ is “precious.” And you?

Unfortunately, since liberalism and modernism strangled “Bible-believing” (?) America during the mid-20th century, “Christian” teaching about Jesus’ blood has significantly decreased. For example, in a 1990 video, a preacher gave a sermon on that very subject. He said he had not heard one televangelist in the last 30 years (so, since 1960) present a message dedicated exclusively to the blood of Christ. They had delivered whole messages on other theological subjects—but never Jesus’ blood. That very aged brother went to heaven not long ago. We can only wonder how many televangelists he heard talk about the blood of Christ in the nearly 30 years since 1990! Friend, think about it. How many topical sermons have you ever heard about the blood of Christ—on television, radio, internet, or in person at a local church? Few… if any!

A prevalent objection to the “blood of Christ” is summarized as, “Christianity is a ‘slaughterhouse’ religion. The preaching of Calvary’s cross is a ‘violent’ message.” For fear of offending someone, the shed blood of Christ is vaguely, if ever, referenced. It is so “negative” a topic, such a “detestable” idea. In fact, some groups have taken great pains to remove from hymnals all songs that emphasize the blood of Christ. To them, the blood of Jesus Christ means nothing! But, what does the blood of Christ mean to us?

The very first time shed blood appears in Scripture is Genesis 3:21: “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” Once Adam and Eve sinned, God killed one or two animals. The animal skins were used to cover the physical bodies of Adam and Eve; the shed animal blood covered their spiritual bodies. That concept of shed blood for the forgiveness of sins continued all the way up through the Bible….