Recently, I’ve been leading a study in my church’s “young adults” Sunday School class entitled; A Study of False Doctrine In Modern American Christianity.
The purpose has been to teach the average Christian how to test doctrine against the Word of God and to “rightly divide” it.
Some seem to enjoy it, while others seem a bit intimidated by the “big words”. But, I feel that a firm grasp of Scripture, even when difficult to understand, is invaluable. Thus, the “big words” remain.
Now, as I did with the class, I’d like to take a remedial look at what REAL Christianity is before we tackle the false teachings. Shall we..?
When you think of false teaching, what (or whom) crosses your mind? Pastors with larger than life smiles and mega churches? Self-described “prophets” who heal through the power of striking people about the brow? Preachers who tearfully warn that God will kill them if they don’t raise a ridiculously large sum of money? If not these,… then what?
What teachings a greater threat to well-intending church-goers? Blatantly heretical teachings, far removed from Scripture, or teachings peppered with enough actual Christianity to make them seem harmless?
“By mixing a little truth with it they had made their lie far stronger.” -C.S. Lewis
Q.Who is God?
1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. -Genesis 1:1
5And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
6And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. -Exodus 34:5-7
19God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? -Numbers 23:19
24For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. -Deuteronomy 4:24
17For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: -Deuteronomy 10:17
4Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. -Psalm 54:4
19Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death. -Psalm 68:19-20
24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. -John 4:24
13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. -1 Corinthians 10:13
7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. -1 John 4:7-9
Is this YOUR God? Is this how you understand the God of the Bible? If not… consult your Bible immediately!!! If so, carry on…
Q. What is the Holy Trinity?
7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. -1 John 5:7
Did you know this? Have you ever been told otherwise..?
Q. Who is Jesus Christ?
6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6
9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. -Philippians 2:9-11
15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: -Colossians 1:15
29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. -John 1:29
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. -John 3:17
17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. -Matthew 3:17
14These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. -Revelation 17:14
11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. -Revelation 19:11-16
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. -John 14:6
5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; -1 Timothy 2:5
15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. -Hebrews 4:15
Doin’ okay? Is this the Jesus taught in your church?
Q. Was Jesus literally born of a virgin?
23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. -Matthew 1:23
14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. -Isaiah 7:14
Straight-forward, right?
Q. Did Jesus physically raise from the dead?
5And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. -Matthew 28:5-7
8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. -Romans 6:8-11
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, -1 Peter 1:3
Let’s be frank here… if you’re off on this one, by definition, you are not a Christian.
Q. Who is man?
26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. -Genesis 1:26-27
23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; -Romans 3:23
6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. -Isaiah 53:6
9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? -Jeremiah 17:9
5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. -Psalm 51:5
3The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. -Psalm 58:3
Hmmmm. We sound kinda awful for the most part…
Q. What is sin?
2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. -Isaiah 59:2
Yes? You knew this…
Q. What must we do to be saved from our sins?
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. -Ephesians 2:8-10
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. -Romans 8:28-30
13But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: -2 Thessalonians 2:13
4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. -Titus 3:4-7
15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. -Mark 1:15
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:9
Notice that nowhere in Scripture does it tell us to “accept Jesus”. By definition, wouldn’t it be Jesus that accepts us?
Q. What is the Holy Bible?
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. -2 Timothy 3:16-17
20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. -2 Peter 1:20-21
6The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. -Psalm 12:6
89For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. -Psalm 119:89
5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. -Psalm 30:5-6
18For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. -Revelation 22:18-19
God takes His word VERY seriously. We should too…
Q. What is Hell?
41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: -Matthew 25:41
20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. -Revelation 19:20
Hell is real. Plain and simple. This should concern us…
Q. Will Jesus really return one day?
11Which 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. -Act 1:11
27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. -Matthew 24:27
30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. -Matthew 24:30
42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. -Matthew 24:42
26And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. -Mark 13:26-27
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. -John 14:1-4
7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. -Revelation 1:7
11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. -Revelation 3:11
This, I fear, is the greatest understated aspect of our faith. Jesus IS returning,… and we don’t know when. To wait to live for him is to be a fool.
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This, while far from exhaustive, is Biblical Christianity. Anything contradictory is NOT.
Test every doctrine against the authority of Scripture. God covers every base when it comes to a genuine understanding of His Word.
When considering what true Christianity, per Scripture, teaches us, remember this. It should contain the following basic doctrines. The five primaries of the Christian faith…
-deity of Christ
-salvation by grace
-the resurrection of Christ
-the inerrancy and divine inspiration of Scripture
-a monotheistic view of God
If a church or a teacher makes statements that unsettle these five doctrines… run.
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Basic as it is, I hope this has helped deepen your understanding of the basics of the Christian faith.
The next time we’ll begin examining the false teachings themselves. Should be a hoot!
Very Good Words of God spoken by a Man of God given Spiritual Wisdom by the Holy Spirit for giving Praises to Christ Jesus for all He does in our day to day lives.
Ben,
I like the way that you back everything up with the word of God. Though, as you and I have in our DNA, we then go further into each verse and disect each and every word to understand the Hebrew, Latin, Greek meanings, I do this to ‘shere’ and burn within my heart and mind the truth that is contained within our blessed gift of scripture that the King has given us to understand as the ultimate gift from Him to us! I look forward in seeing your future lessons and blogs..
Blessings!
In HIS Service,
Phillippians 2:13
Del