Q:
There is a lot of talk about cults and false churches. If everyone
uses a Bible, what's the
big deal?
A: Continuing from last week:
There is the caution of delayed diversion. It's one thing to teach
about God's loving discipline mentioned in Hebrews or 1 Corinthians,
but beware of this scenario: Nice people offer you encouraging assurance
of God's love and mercy. Not long after attending their meetings,
you discover a shift in focus, as goals no longer pertain to godliness
but, rather, the goals of the organization. Money usually becomes
paramount.
God is the greatest giver of all time and we want to be great givers
like our heavenly Father, but when money becomes a high pressure
adventure, it's time to mount up and ride off (2 Cor 9:6 12). In
some gatherings one might get the erroneous idea that God is actually
going bankrupt and we must bail Him out.
The Bible speaks of one God ("echad" Deut 6:4) manifesting
in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When Christians want
to know God intimately, it is Jesus Christ who explains Him by simply
being who He is (John 1:18). Jesus is referred to as "Immanuel"
in both testaments, meaning "God with us" (Isa 7:14, Mat
1:23).
God doesn't expect me to understand how He does everything (Deut
29:29). He asks me to believe what He reveals (Mark 11:22). The
cultist will often deny the deity of Jesus Christ. I rest my case
in the short book of Titus. In every chapter God is called the Savior,
and the Savior is then named Jesus Christ. Read it on your own and
draw your own conclusion.
Then there is the question of which Jesus we worship. When you're
talking about someone named John, is it Wayne, Kennedy, or Jacob
Gingleheimerschmidt? The real Jesus said, "Before Abraham was
born, I AM (John 8:58 59)." He didn't say I WAS. He's the eternal
self existing one, and that declaration almost got Jesus stoned-although
stoning would have caused broken bones, and the Passover Lamb could
not have broken bones (Exo 12:46, John 1:29).
I AM is the same name of God revealed to Moses from the burning
bush (Exo 3:14). No angels, fallen or holy, are ever biblically
recorded as being brothers of Jesus. He may have been born a man,
but He is not a created being. All angels, including Lucifer, are
created beings. Be a good student and search the scriptures for
assurance and confidence if you say you believe Christianity (Acts
17:11). After all, it is your individual call.
Remember, we don't clean up to take a bath. If you desire to be
clean from dirt in your past, give your life to Jesus Christ today.
Take the plunge. Jesus is a Savior who is bigger than our sins.
1 John 1:7
Pastor Huck:
calvarybcc.com
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