Does It Make Any Difference What We Believe?

The apostle Paul warned the Colossians to not be deceived by the
philosophy and vain deceit of the world (Colossians 2:8). We who live in
the twentieth century need to pay as close attention to this warning as
the Christians who lived in the first century. All generations have
their own philosophies and vain deceits that turn people away from God,
and ours is no exception. One of the more common vain deceits of our
generation is the idea that it doesn't make any difference what we
believe as long as we are sincere. According to this concept, truth does
not matter. Being obedient to God's commands does not matter. We are
convinced within ourselves that we are doing right, and that is all that
matters. Anytime someone says that it doesn't matter what we believe as
long as we are sincere, they must willfully ignore the numerous warnings
of deception that are throughout the Bible. The concept of sincerity
being sufficient is itself a deception. One is deceived when they
sincerely believe what is false! Many claim they love God based on an
emotion they feel. Love involves emotion, but true love for God includes
following what Jesus stated in John 14:21; "He who has My commandments
and keeps them, it is he who loves Me." Loving God does not mean that we
can do whatever we want to as long as we are sincere. Loving God
consists of searching for His ways and submitting our will to His will.
Jesus told the Samaritan woman, "God is Spirit, and those who worship
Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). Many get excited
about the idea of worshipping God in spirit, but how often do you hear
of people getting equally excited about worshipping God in truth?
Worshipping God in truth is not optional! Jesus taught that those who
worship God "must" worship in truth. Does this sound like Jesus believed
it doesn't make any difference what we believe or practice as long as we
are sincere? Today, many say we need to go to the church of our choice.
This may sound appealing and rational in our late twentieth century
culture, but we should be teaching that we need to attend the church of
God's choice. If anyone dares to imply that certain religious practices
are not valid, they are labeled as an intolerant, narrow-minded, bigot,
although Jesus Himself said the way to eternal life is narrow (Matthew
7:13-14). However, if we let the Bible simply mean what it says, we find
that it is essential that we properly interpret the Bible and follow
God's truth correctly. Jesus rebuked some who claimed to be the people
of God in the first century by saying, "These people draw near to Me
with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far
from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the
commandments of men" (Matthew 15:8-9). These men were very religious and
were dedicated in their worship, but they were following what men taught
rather than what God taught in His Scriptures. Does anyone really
believe that God's Word is teaching the multitudes of doctrines being
taught by modern denominations today? It is confusing to try to sort out
all of the claims that people make concerning the Bible. When we turn to
the Bible itself, it says, "God is not the author of confusion but of
peace, as in all the churches of the saints" (1 Corinthians 14:33). This
lets us know that God is not the one who originated the denominational
churches, but rather, they are the result of man's teaching. The apostle
Paul understood that being sincere was not enough. In Romans 10:1-3, he
wrote, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that
they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for
God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's
righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have
not submitted to the righteousness of God." These words should remind us
that we also must be diligent in our efforts to understand God's
righteousness rather than sys tems of righteousness invented by men.
Jesus warned us, "If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a
ditch" (Matthew 15:14). It doesn't make any difference if a blind man
may be sincere in what he is doing, if he follows a blind leader the
wrong way, he will fall. Paul instructed Timothy, "Take heed to yourself
and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save
both yourself and those who hear you" (1 Timothy 4:16). Not only was
Timothy to take heed to himself, but also "to the doctrine." Why was it
so impor tant for Timothy to take heed to the doctrine? It was so that
Timothy and those who listened to him might be saved! If both Timothy
and his listeners were to be saved, he could not be a blind leader, he
had to be teaching the truth. The obvious implication of this passage is
if Timothy did not take heed to the doctrine, neither he nor those who
heard him would be saved. When we compare this warning to the
carelessness of so many today, we find a great contrast. Too many
believe and teach whatever they want regardless of what the Word of God
teaches! When writing to Christians of the first century, the apostle
Peter wrote, "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another
fervently with a pure heart" (1 Peter 1:22). Christians are not purified
by fol lowing the commandments of men, nor are they purified by obeying
whatever seems best to them. They are purified by obeying the truth!
Some complain that the truth is difficult to know because of all the
conflicting claims being made by religious people. They are right.
Sometimes the truth is hard to discover, but it is not impossible. What
is the truth worth to you? Are you willing to seek it? Are you willing
to be diligent in pursuing it? Is living in the presence of God the most
impor tant goal you have or is it something you are merely curious
about? Heaven is for every one who wants it and is willing to submit to
God on His terms. We need to remember that no one gets to heaven by
accident. Those who are saved are saved because they were willing to
search for the Lord's way and when they found it they were willing to
obey the truth, no matter what sacrifice might be involved. Those who
are like Pilate when he asked Jesus, "What is truth?" and then turned
away, will never find it (John 18:38). An understanding of the truth is
for those who love it and are willing to search for it and pay whatever
price it takes to have it. God has promised people like this that they
will find the truth. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you
will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be
opened" (Matthew 7:7-8). Wayne Wells



Does It Make Any Difference What We Believe? 1.      Many sincere people
believe: "The Bishop of Rome is the visible vicar of Jesus Christ on
earth, He is head of the Church. He is called Sovereign Pontiff, Pope,
or Holy Father." Bible Catechism, by Rev. John C. Kersten, S.V.D. pg.
110. The Bible says: "For the husband is head of the wife, as also
Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body."
(Ephesians 5:23) "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the
world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom
You have given Me, that they may be one as We are." (John 17:11)  [This
is the only use of "Holy Father" in the Bible - ww] Does it matter
whether we believe the Roman Catholic "Bible Catechism" or the Bible? 2.
Many sincere people believe: "Wherefore, that we are justified by faith
only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort." The
Discipline of the Methodist Church, Article IX, pg. 38. The Bible says:
"You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only."
(James 2:24) Does it matter whether we believe the "Discipline of the
Methodist Church" or the Bible? 3.      Many sincere people believe:
"Baptism does not help a person be saved." How To Join A Baptist Church,
Broadman Supplies The Bible says: "...The longsuffering of God waited in
the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is,
eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism
doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,
but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 3:20-21) Does it matter whether we believe the
tract "How To Join A Baptist Church" or the Bible?





Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc