Changing the world one heart at a time

May 2008

Let us distinguish the truth from the lies using the Bible

Although people are sinners and have been continually hostile toward God, he loved us sinners so much that he gave us his son (Jn 3:16). The son of God bore the cross on our behalf (Jn 1:29) and now he lives within us (Gal 2:20). Jesus taught us to love our enemies (Matt 5:44) and to forgive others their sins (Matt 6:14-15). People who believe these words of Jesus and put them into practice are true believers. Those who refuse to act upon Jesus’ words are not believers at all. Anyone who strays from Jesus’ teachings is acting according to his or her own personal thoughts, opinions, and judgments.

Ecclesiastical authority and spiritual murder

Since the scriptures cannot be broken (Jn 10:35), everyone’s deeds will be judged according what is written in the book (Rev 20:12). What does it mean that the scriptures cannot be broken? It means that God’s prophecies are always fulfilled (Isa 46:10). The scriptures of God will come true regardless of whether we believe in their fulfillment.

False testimony used for persecution

You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I am telling you the truth, you do not believe me. (Jn 8:44-45)

God has been working for the past 6,000 years to reveal the truth to his people. Satan, on the other hand, has been falsely testifying about God’s people to interfere with God’s work (Acts 7:51-54; Acts24:5). People working on behalf of Satan conspired against and killed many righteous people, including Jesus (Matt 23:34-35). How can anyone do such a thing? People who receive evil spirits speak lies to hide their identity and to interfere with the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth.

Those who worship gentile gods

Actions of holy spirits (orthodoxy) and actions of Satan (heresy)

Actions of holy spirits (orthodoxy) and actions of Satan (heresy)
 
Since the scriptures cannot be broken (Jn 10:35), we know a tree by its fruit (Mt 7:15-20). Anyone who labels the true believers of God’s word as a cult and persecutes them does not really believe in God. They may not realize it, but they are calling God a cult and persecuting Jesus (Jn 15:18-24). Read the following scriptures and think about the group to which you belong. Let’s understand and repent.
 

Betrayal and persecution

Since the scriptures cannot be broken (Jn 10:35), trees (i.e. people) can be recognized by their fruit (i.e. actions) (Mt 7:15-20). The very words that Jesus spoke will condemn people at the time of judgment (Jn 12:48).
 

Distinguishing holy spirits from evil spirits

How should we refer to the spirits that belong to God and the spirits that belong to Satan? What is the difference between a holy spirit and an evil spirit?
 

The God of the Trinity

Most Christian denominations believe in the doctrine of the Trinity; they often regard belief in the Trinity as a sign of Christian orthodoxy.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt 28:19-20)

Distinguishing orthodoxy from heresy

Although words like cult, sect, faction, and division appear in both the Old and New Testaments (e.g. Acts 24:5; Acts 24:14; Gal 5:20; Tit 3:10; 2 Pet 2:1), the word "orthodoxy" cannot be found in the Bible. Few people would disagree, however, with the idea that there must be a standard that judges orthodoxy from heresy; a way to determine whether a particular group is orthodox or a cult.
 
Orthodoxy and heresy originated with God and Satan, respectively. God is self-existent (Exo 3:14) and the creator of heaven and earth (Gen 1:1). Satan, on the other hand, is a created being (Rev 12:9; Rev 20:2), who appears as the serpent in Gen 3:1.

Believe, obey, and be humble

Everyone’s deeds will be judged according to what is written in the books (Rev 20:12), because the scriptures cannot be broken (Jn 10:35).

Jesus told us that the one who humbles himself will be exalted, and that we should take the least important seat at the wedding banquet (Lk 14:10-11). The morning star, son of the dawn (Isa 14:12-15), tried to set up his throne above the stars of God so that he could rise above even God. The guardian cherub of Eden called himself God (Eze 28). This act of exalting himself instead of God goes against God’s commandments and even opposes God.