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Have We Watered Down The Word?
Not every one that says to me "Lord, Lord" shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
does the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, "Lord, haven't
we prophesied in your name, and in your name
haven't we cast of devils, and in your name done
many wonderful works?" And then will I profess
unto them, I never knew you; depart from me,
you that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)
General Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, said this:
"The chief danger of the twentieth century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and Heaven without Hell."
Does that sound like our world today? We can't even count all the religions in the world today, much less all the different sects within each religion. But salvation is not about RELIGION. Salvation is a real and personal RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. If any religion teaches anything else, it is a false religion,
and the end thereof is death and damnation.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but the
end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)
He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes
not is condemned already, because he has not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)
The Bible says there is only one true God, the Lord God Almighty; the Alpha and the Omega, the great I AM.
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the
LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do
them: I am the LORD which sanctify you. (Lev. 20:7-8)
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer
the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and
beside me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6)
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth:
for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is
thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that
overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God,
and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:6-7)
The Bible says there is only one way to eternal life, and that is through Jesus Christ.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one
mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
(1 Timothy 2:4-5)
Jesus is the Son of God, made into a man of flesh and blood just like you and I. (see Phil. 2:6-8)
He did this so that He might pay the debt of sin for us. (see Col. 1:14) He was born of a virgin, by the Holy Spirit; (Matt. 1:18)
He lived a life of pure and perfect blamelessness; (II Cor. 5:21) He was crucified, buried, and resurrected to eternal life. (see Luke 24:7)
He will also return one day, and we will all face the Judgment. (II Cor. 5:10) Any religion that teaches anything else is teaching a lie, and all lies are from Satan. (see John 8:44)
While we're are on the subject, let's be clear about the Word of God: The Holy Bible is the ONLY word of God; it was written by divine inspiration,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.
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, throughly
furnished unto all good works. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
No other books written by man are inspired of God Almighty. His book makes that clear when it says for no man to add anything to His word, or take anything away from it. (see Deut. 4:2 and Rev.22:18) Therefore, any man calling himself a "prophet" and writing a new book to supplant the Holy Bible is obviously, by God's own word, a false prophet. Whether he calls himself Mohammed, Mormon, or any other name, he is deceiving anyone who follows the religion he sets forth. We don't have to judge them; God already has! Be very careful not to accept such false teachings in the spirit of tolerance and "brotherly love". God doesn't accept them, and neither should we!
Do these seem like harsh words to you? I'm afraid we've watered down the word of God so much that we've forgotten some very simple truths of God. After all, we are all supposed to love one another, right? Yes, that's the commandment given to us by our Lord in John 13:34. But loving one another does NOT mean turning a blind eye to sinfulness; it does NOT mean accepting every religion and every belief as being good and true; it does NOT mean watering down the truths of God to keep from offending a sinner. In fact, we are to "speak the truth in love" to lead others to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. (see Eph. 4:14-15)
We cannot be misled into accepting all religious teachings as being equal. God will one day judge all things, and everything not of God will be destroyed:
"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall
come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall
be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:49-50)
Ray Comfort has a song in one of his messages, to the tune of "Battle Hymn Of The Republic". The words are a sad warning to all Christians today: we have watered down the truth so much that we've forgotten about the terrible wrath of God awaiting the great judgment day. We must be willing to speak the truth of God's Holy Word, without watering down His message. Listen to these words:
Our eyes have lost the glory of the coming of the Lord,
We have watered down our message, now the gospel is ignored;
No longer is it warning of a swift and flaming sword;
That truth is almost gone.
The law is just and holy; it is perfect, right and good,
But the churches fail to use it as the Bible says they should:
It's to show how God is holy, and to reach them, every word;
That truth is almost gone.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat,
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him, be jubilant, my feet!
Such truth is almost gone!
My friend, I speak this truth with love. If you are following any religion or teaching that does not stand up to the light of God's Holy Bible, then you are following a lie.
I beg you, don't just take my word for it;--- read God's word! Hold every teaching up to the light of the truths found in God's Holy Word.
Don't be led straight into hell because you follow a false prophet.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
If you are already a Christian, don't be deceived into thinking that all religions are good, or that as long as a person is faithful and pious their faith is enough.
Don't be deceived into thinking that we must be tolerant of all religions and beliefs. We must all stand up and speak the truth in love to lead a lost and
dying world to Jesus Christ.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is
given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(Matthew 28:18-20)
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