What About Other People's Religion? - Part 2 by Kenneth
E. Thomas
(http://www.gospelanchor.com/articles/otherrel.htm)
"THEY HAVE TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN!"
Rather than the old soft, all positive and no negative preaching that is often encouraged today, the apostle's of Christ in the first century condemned the error they encountered and tried to turn folks away from such to the truth of Jesus Christ. Consequently, the above was said of them. For example the Jews at Thessalonica became so worked up over the teaching of Paul and Silas concerning the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that Luke records "they were moved with envy against them." Let us read (Acts 17:5-7). "But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city in an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also..saying there is another king, one Jesus."
When truth is taught, error is exposed. It is utterly impossible to do otherwise you see. If I teach there is one true God in heaven I am condemning every person who says that He doesn't exist. So I will make the atheist angry. What to do? Leave off teaching this particular Biblical truth? Why you know better (Hebrews 11:6; Psalms 100:3). When Peter and the others were commanded by some Jewish leaders not to preach or teach any more in the name of Jesus as the Christ, they said "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). Their teaching and preaching was condemning those who rejected Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God. They were said to be filling Jerusalem with their doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us" (Acts 5:28b). Their teaching was so pointed and plain that it really burned those who were in error. What were they to do? They could accept the message of truth as taught by the apostles, or they could make charges against them. Many did the latter just as many folks today when the message demands repentance and change.
"WOE..WHEN ALL SPEAK WELL OF YOU"
The heading above is a partial quote of the words of Jesus to His disciples found in (Luke 6:26). The entire quote reads "Woe unto you, when all men speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets." Some folks who profess to be preachers of the gospel of Christ can as they used to say, "preach it round or flat." This simply meant that if folks in an area believed the world to be flat, this is what they will preach so as not to offend them. Never mind what the Lord says in the matter. Paul warned Timothy of what would happen in the latter days, saying, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; And they shall be turned away from the truth, and shall be turned to fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.."(2 Timothy 4:2-5).
WE OPPOSE ERROR BECAUSE OF LOVE
I cannot rightfully claim a love of the truth and love for those in religious error if I do not at least attempt to show them the error of their way. What one believes or fails to believe can be eternally detrimental to one's soul! Jesus said, "..the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). Paul wrote that if one believes a lie he would be damned (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). It does make a difference what one believes! To some who were departing the faith early in the first century, Paul wrote, "I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him who called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another (there is one faith (Eph. 4:5) ; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:6-9). This hardly sounds like doctrine is of little importance! Doctrine is sufficiently important that if one is taught error, a lie, instead of the truth, that person as well as the one who has taught them (whether in honesty or with intent to deceive) will be lost in eternal torment! Jesus plainly taught "If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (Matthew 15:14). In a passage cited earlier Paul wrote "That they all might be damned who believe not the truth..."(2 Thessalonians 2:12).
TRUTH ALONE SAVES THE OBEDIENT
It is not only true that one must believe the truth to be saved (John 8:32), but one must also be obedient to the truth to be saved from alien sins and to remain saved. In other words one must hear, believe, obey, and walk in the truth of divine revelation to be and to remain in fellowship with God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and others of "like precious faith" (1 John 1:1-9; 3 John 4). Please read those two citations. Peter wrote to Christians the following; "Seeing your have purified your souls in obeying the truth...being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever...And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (1 Peter 1:22-25).
ONE ENTERS CHRIST'S CHURCH WHEN ONE OBEYS HIS GOSPEL
Many live and die outside of the relationship known as the church or kingdom of Christ simply because they are deceived into thinking that there is nothing to do or to obey to be saved! Jesus says only those who "do the Father's will" will enter into the church or kingdom or be saved (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:9). Jesus also said plainly what this involves in the giving of His "great commission" (Luke 24:45-49; Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:18-20). Who can misunderstand the simplicity of (Mark 16:16) which says "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved?" When believers on the birthday of Christ's church asked the apostles what they must do they were told to "repent and be baptized every one of you...for the remission of sins..."(Acts 2:38). When they did this they were added unto them (apostles, who were in Christ's blood bought church) (Acts 2:41,47; Colossians 1;13-14). This made them simply and only "Christians" and united them in the one body by the cross of Christ (Ephesians 2:10-17). You can do the same today and be what they were. Only in this way can there be the "unity of the Spirit" for which the Lord prayed and about which His inspired apostles wrote (John 17:17-21; 1 Corinthians 1:10-12; Ephesians 4:1-6). Is "your religion" the religion of Jesus Christ?
The 7ups… Author Unknown
(Contributed by S. Tegg)
Wake Up - Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice & be glad in it" Psalms 118:24
Dress Up - The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart" I Sam 16:7
Shut Up - Say nice things & learn to listen. God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul" Proverbs 13:3 "Gossip betrays confidence avoid men who talk too much" Proverbs 20:19"Listen to advice, accept instruction and in the end, you will be wise" Proverbs 19:20
Stand Up - For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10
Look Up - To the Lord. "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13
Reach Up - For something higher. "...press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14
Lift Up - Your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING" Philippians 4:6
PARTING THOUGHT
You cannot run away from weakness; you must some time fight it out or perish; and if that be so, why not now, and where you stand? --Robert Louis Stevenson