02/14/24 BEWARE SCRIPTURE TWISTING

02/14/24 BEWARE SCRIPTURE TWISTING

Don't be surprised or misled when people twist or misuse Biblical truths. They do this concerning such concepts as "born again" and "crucified with Christ," and "election."

Eastern Mysticism, Humanistic Psychology, New Age Religion, Word of Faith Movement, as well as Reformed Theology and Calvinism redefine Biblical truths to fit their errant beliefs. We need to know what the Bible says and what the Bible writers meant when they wrote those truths.

Dedication to Biblical teaching comes before dedication to Bible teachers or theological systems.

2 Timothy 2:11-15
11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We must be DILIGENT in our pursuit of truth and diligent in our relationship with God.
We must believe the simple gospel, but we must not have a simple understanding of the gospel.

God wants us to grow in grace and knowledge of Christ.
God wants us to be built up in the faith.
God wants us to learn the whole counsel of God.

Being "born of the Spirit," leads to being, "crucified with Christ."
If we have been "crucified with Christ," it leads to, "living with Him (continuing to live together with Him)."
If we "continue to live together with Him," it leads us to, "endure."
If we "endure," it leads us to, "reign with Him."

But, if we deny Him, He will deny us.
As John tells us:
If we are born of God, we quit sinning (we quit wilful disobedience).
If we continue to sin (willfully disobey God) we are of the devil.

Endurance is faithfully following Jesus. As Jesus said, he who endures to the end shall be saved. If we endure, we shall reign with Him.