There is no doubt that God wants His people to live in peace with each other and be in agreement. This leads many people to assume that denominations and various groups are wrong, and that something called interdenominationalism is best.

Historically, God has used different groups, or denominations at different times to do His work around the world. Unfortunately, organizations (religious and secular) tend to degrade and eventually become something other than what they were created for.

While one religious group, whether entirely Biblically correct or not, was spreading God’s Word around the world at one time, it would eventually lose its power and zeal to do so. Churches begin to suffer some loss, or become proud because of their past, and they lose the blessing of God. Then God would use another group.

Instead of trusting God for their power and sustenance, churches begin to create programs, drop Biblically proven methods of growing a church, and compromise with the world. Sometimes, individuals rise to power in a church who are not Biblically sound (whether it be by choice, influence of others, or just ignorant of the Bible), and they lead a congregation away from the will of God.

Most people shop for certain brands they are familiar with when they go to the store because they trust it and they know what they are getting. Interdenominationalism has no brand, and you never really know what you are getting. It may have doctrinal leanings one way or another and may drop certain teachings for fear of sounding like another group. In doing so, it may compromise the truth.

Personally, I am a Baptist – not because I was raised in a Baptist church – I was not. But after having been in different churches and doing much Bible study and teaching it, I believe that the Baptists are generally the closest group to believing and practicing what the Bible teaches today.

Denominations and various groups exist for two main reasons. The first is because people have different levels of Bible education. They tend to focus on certain verses of Scripture rather than the entire Bible and may close their ears to certain other Scriptures – often due to preferences.

A second reason, which should never be forgotten, is that Satan desires to cause division. He may do it through personalities, doctrine, issues such as tongues or spiritual gifts, baptism, leadership, dress, eternal security, and sometimes he raises up people that just want to cause trouble.

It should be remembered that God has one goal – to win the world to Himself. Every church is a little different because of people. God seems to tolerate denominations now because people are different and fail to study the Bible more to learn the truth about some matters. Another reason is that some denominations have a trend of drifting away from God and focus on minor things rather than fulfilling the Great Commission.

Today, we are seeing a lot of vacillation among people around us. Change is everywhere. It can be seen in our politicians, in people we know, and even in our churches.

Some professing believers are even changing their long-held beliefs from one doctrine to another. The problem with this is that once you give up Biblical beliefs, it is not long before you must change what you believe about other doctrines.

The Galatians had done the same thing, and the Holy Spirit through Paul condemned it. What Paul had taught them in the first place was correct, but they drifted from the truth and were willing to accept other false doctrines. His answer to this problem was clear: “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” (Gal. 1:8).

God’s Biblical doctrines are not there so that we can change them. The Galatian believers gave up that which freed them from bondage and substituted it for something that put them back in bondage again. It is like the Jews in the wilderness who wanted to go back to Egypt again – and back to slavery – how foolish.

We need to see some believers today who are steadfast in what they believe and in what they practice. So many are leaving churches and claiming that they do not need the church anymore to worship God. They do not realize that this is a most foolish decision and one contrary to the Word of God.

God never encouraged people to do their own thing in the Bible. It means that those who do otherwise think that God has changed His view of His Biblical position on the church – where they got that idea is not from God. All believers in the New Testament were part of a local church. It is taught by Biblical principle and by Biblical example.

Our text verse for today tells us to “be ye stedfast, unmoveable,” and continue doing things God’s way (Biblical). Let others forsake God’s way, Paul said – but you are to follow His way. Doing so identifies you as a true follower of Jesus Christ. We are to be followers of Him until He comes back – which is apt to be very soon.

Avoid listening to people whose ways differ from God’s clear plan for believers. It applies to methods of salvation (which is through His grace by faith in Jesus Christ) and to His plan for discipleship after salvation. Any other ways of thinking are not of God! Following His ways faithfully until He returns leads to victory. 

If ever there was a time when false teachers and preachers abound, it is now. They can be found at every turn – especially online – where they spew out their poisonous material. And they do it in the name of education and enlightenment!

Notice three things about these false teachers. They…

1. “are among you.” – in the church and in religious institutions (so-called Christian universities.
2. “privily bring in damnable heresies” they work behind the scenes, looking to find those that will give them an ear, and those who do not know enough Bible to detect the errors. Their teachings lead to damnation – not salvation.
3. “denying the Lord that bought them” – they do not honor Christ as the only means of salvation. They will usually add to the Gospel some form of works: keep the Ten Commandments, get baptized to get the Holy Spirit, speak in tongues, get circumcised, join some group (cult), etc.

It is important that we remember where they are headed. God said they “and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” They will be judged – and so will those that follow them.

Christians must learn the Word of God and be able to discern truth from error. It is not an option. One of the biggest lies is that God is not the Creator of all. If you do not have this doctrine correct, you are also off on other ones. Jesus, the Son of God, said it was created. He was not mistaken. Many other Old and New Testament verses agree.

While false teachers rise up and gain popularity from a world that cannot discern truth from error, Christians should not be fooled by their lies. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn. 14:6). It is quite plain what He said, and anyone disagreeing with that statement is not of the truth.

Christian, can you tell truth from error? The best way to learn how to distinguish one from the other is to spend much time reading and studying the Bible and going to a Bible-teaching church.

In the closing verses of I Corinthians, Paul provides some final words of instructions to the Corinthian church. His words about what God wants of us are given in four distinct phrases.  Here is a look at each one of them.

1. “Watch ye.” Believers are told many times in the Bible to watch. We should never assume that we are safe from temptation or from growing cold in our service to God. Satan is smarter than we are, and it is easy to get our eyes off Christ if we are not careful.
2. “Stand fast in the faith.” Before any child of God can stand fast in the faith, they must know what to believe – the doctrine. Once you know the truth about God, Jesus Christ, salvation, sanctification, the blood of Christ, etc., do not ever vary from those truths.
3. “Quit you like men.” The phrase means to be brave like a man. Don’t be someone who changes like the wind and has no backbone. Stand strong for the Christian faith. Be a bold witness for Christ. Walk in His power and do not turn back to the world. Serve Christ with all your heart.
4. “Be strong.” Do not be satisfied with your spiritual strength now. Go on and make yourself stronger for the glory of Christ. The days we live in now require strong believers who have no intention of turning back and they are taking steps to ensure that they do not. They do this by regular church attendance, daily personal devotions, much prayer, tithing, witnessing frequently, etc.

It is time that Christians today take these four aspects to heart and “be strong” – not weak in faith or action. Our Savior is coming back soon and He will reward the faithful.

The Apostle Paul wrote, as an instrument of the Holy Spirit, that Christians are to avoid some people. There are many kinds of Christians – as there has always been – but some of them are not going to help you serve God or live a holy life.

Paul says that when that happens, it is best just to avoid them. They will hurt your joy, ruin your day, and possibly rob you of the power you need for victory.

There are two kinds of people that Paul mentions in this verse: those who cause divisions, and those who are offensive. Some people always want to talk about their pet doctrine – which they know that others disagree with. It causes church splits, people to be hurt and leave the church, etc.

Certainly, we are to pray for them, but we must also be wary of them. Such people, if they fight against Biblical doctrines, are not of God. Do not even listen to them, so that they do not convince you of false doctrine and you also become a destroyer of unity in the church.

When God wrote His Bible through about 40 men, He wrote it with the intent that it continues forever. This was necessary because it is the only word God gave to mankind, and it is the only message that shows how people can be saved and live forever with God.

If the message would ever become corrupted – other than through the deliberate attempts of some to force it to teach their false and wicked views, the hope of salvation and the standard of truth would be lost. When God wrote the above verses, and many others like it, He staked His own power and reputation on His ability to do what He said.

Note the extent of its purity. In Bible times, when silver went through the purifying process seven times, it was considered to be as pure as possible. God used that illustration to reveal how pure His Word is. When recorded, it contained no mistakes of any kind, not in history, geography, science, mathematics, or any other matter – including creation, prophesy, the Rapture, and the future literal Kingdom of Christ, the judgments, etc.

It should also be noted that the future judgment of believers and of the unsaved (two separate judgments) will be based on the Bible. If the Bible is not relevant today, that would be like saying that God will not judge the world. That, of course, is false.

Jesus is the One Who will judge the world and He will judge based on the Word of God. He told us, in John 12:48: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

Finally, the Word cannot change because God cannot change. He is eternal and knows all things. Christians must be guided by the Bible because it is the only way we can know what God wants us to be and to do. Without that guidance, we can be sure we are not pleasing Him. Also, His rewards are for faithfulness to His Word.

Christ will deal very harshly with those who think little of His Word. His Word is relevant through all of time. There is also a severe penalty given at the end of the Book for tampering with or altering it. Here is the warning, from Revelation 22:18,19: “For 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: And 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.”

People have argued about the possibility of an absolute truth for a long time. Even some “Christians” say that God’s truth is evolutionary and changing.

Of course, this kind of argument can only come from those who do not know much about the Bible. God’s Book plainly teaches that His words are final and do not ever need changing because they are eternal, but it also teaches that God is all-knowing and knows the end of things as well as the beginning. These facts make the need for an upgrade unnecessary.

The Bible also reveals that God cannot lie. Combined with His infinite knowledge of all things, you can be sure that He has given us absolute truth in His Book.

It is clear that the Bible does not discuss all topics. There are many subjects the Bible does not provide information about, but He has given us the truth that matters the most in this life. It is when we follow that truth that we build on the rock and not on sand. This is not to say that we do not need to learn or get college degrees – they have their place in this world.

Another reason there is absolute truth is because God will judge every human according to His Book the Bible. Since we all face such a judgment from a holy God, it is foolish to entertain other sources of knowledge that tell us how to live – aka – the world, the flesh, and the Devil and those listening to them. They are all deceitful, and the truth is not in them (listening for just a few minutes to modern talk shows will reveal this).

Also, the Bible warns that when people who say they know God are living in sin – know that the truth cannot be found in them, either, except that it agrees with the Bible. I John 2:4 says: “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

(I did not mean to get these out of order, but it is necessary that I also cover this important doctrine. The Tribulation immediately follows the Rapture of the saints.)

The period of time referred to in the Bible as the “Tribulation” will be the worst period of time history has ever known. It is a seven-year period that follows the Rapture – the event where God, in mercy, removes believers from the earth. He sends His Son, Jesus Christ, to pick them up and take them to Heaven during that time.

The next event in Bible prophecy is the unveiling of a new world leader who makes a seven-year peace treaty with Israel. Concerning current events in the Middle East, with the war between Israel and Hamas (and neighboring terrorist factions), this event could take place at any time.

At the same time, God sends two witnesses to testify how to be saved and to condemn the rampant evil taking place everywhere. It is probable that the 144,000 are saved through their testimony.

The new leader quickly gains power. After three-and-a-half years, he goes into the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, and claims to be God. Later, he reveals his true nature and wants all people world-wide to worship him. He is a Satan-possessed man, the Anti-christ – a human.

At the same time, he forces his well-known mark on everyone – the “mark of the beast” – (666, Revelation 13:15-18). Those who do not worship his image are killed. Anyone who takes the mark will not be saved (Revelation 14:9-11).

God protects His two witnesses until the middle of the Tribulation, when they are killed and then raised up to glory in the sight of the whole world. Through their testimony and that of the 144,000, millions of people will be saved.

During the Tribulation, which is described in Revelation chapters 6 – 19, God sends forth His horrible judgments and punishments on the earth. Many of them are directed at the Anti-christ and the area of his greatest influence.

The purpose of the Tribulation is described in Daniel 9:24: “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” It is a judgment on Israel for their rejection of Christ – and of the world for the same sin – and because they accepted the Anti-christ rather than the real Lord of all.

The Tribulation is ended by the return of Christ riding a white horse, with all the saints of Heaven following Him. Satan gathers the armies of earth to fight with Him in the valley of Armageddon – where he is easily defeated – and he, and all the unsaved are cast into Hell.

Reader, if you do not yet know Christ as your personal Savior, don’t wait. Now is the time of salvation. Make sure of your salvation today so that you will not have to go through the Tribulation if Christ should take His children Home today. Here is a link to learn more about how to be saved.

The Great White Throne Judgment occurs at the end of the Millennium. It is the time when all unbelievers will be judged. There will not be any saved people there to be judged. Whether or not they are present to watch the proceedings is unknown.

It is a time when the works of all unbelievers are reviewed and sentenced. No one being judged there will enter Heaven. Since they chose not to trust Christ to be their Savior, their sins are unforgiven. Their lives were lived in rebellion to Christ and His free salvation.

Verse 13 tells us that all the unsaved dead of the ages past – whether they died on land or at sea – or were already in Hell – are called up to face their judgment. Every sin, every evil thought, every word, will be accounted for on that day. None shall escape this unforgettable and most dreadful day. Truly, anyone at this judgment is without any hope of mercy or forgiveness.

Verses 14 and 15 reveal what happens next: “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

The only way of escape from this judgment and the following eternal penalty presented here in the Bible is to trust Christ as your Savior. You do this by being willing to turn from sin (repentance) and calling on Jesus Christ in prayer to forgive and save you. Then trust Him to forgive you like He promised: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Have you trusted Him yet to be your Savior? If not, why not call on Him now and get your sins forgiven and your eternal destiny settled?

“The chief danger that confronts the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, Heaven without Hell.”

Knowing correct doctrine is important because:

1. It was the practice of the first century church – and it helped make them spiritually strong:
Acts 2:42 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

2. It stabilizes the Christian life with God’s truth and gives the ability to recognize the devil’s lies:
Ephesians 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

3. It is very important to salvation for all people:
I Timothy 4:16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”