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.”

One doctrine that is being compromised today is the doctrine concerning the church. Many people no longer think it is of any importance or relevance.

Unfortunately, they are very wrong. The church is the only thing God is building today for believers on earth. The word means an assembly – or gathering. Over 100 times in the Bible the word “church” refers to a local assembly that meets together. It never refers to a building.

Our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ died for His Bride – the Church. It is the Church that has been given the command to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” It is the church that He blesses when it follows Him, and it is the Church that Jesus is coming back for one day soon.

A church has two Biblical officers: pastors and deacons. Pastors are also called shepherds and bishops. Biblical pastors must always be men, because they must be “the husband of one wife” (I Timothy 3:2).

The church is not Israel or an extension of it. There is no connection between the two except that Christ is a descendant of David and the apostles were all Jewish. The Jews rejected the Messiah and church members were kicked out of the synagogues. The fact that the Church is a new and separate entity is the meaning of Jesus parable of the new wineskins (“bottles”) in Matthew 9:17. Israel will one day again be blessed by God when they recognize Christ at the Second Coming.

Some Christians may say they are members of the “universal church.” It is usually given as an excuse why they do not go to church. They never think about the fact that it has never met together, never baptized anyone, never collected an offering, never visited anyone, and never ordained anyone. Of course, it is only an excuse showing that they do not want to obey God – other things have become more important. Also, there is no way anyone can exercise their spiritual gifts if they do not go to church.

Here is what the Holy Spirit commands believers to do in relation to the local church: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). That “day” is almost here. Every believer needs to hear preaching and teaching, needs fellowship with other believers, and needs a place to serve. It is the way of blessing and joy. 

A believer is either obedient or disobedient. It is impossible to do both. Christian – do you need to get back in church? If there are problems with your old church, stop using it as an excuse – find a new one. Go to one that teaches the Word of God plainly and wants to see people saved? Why not start this coming Sunday?

John 3:16 excellently sums up the matter of salvation for fallen man. Because of sin, our final destination is Hell, and then the Lake of Fire. There is no escape from either place, according to the Bible.

Rather than just letting the human race end up in Hell, God loved the human race and wanted to save us. In order to do so, He sent His Son – Jesus Christ, to pay a price that we are unable to. Because God decreed that the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), a Substitute must physically die to redeem the living.

It is very important to know that God never makes a mistake. He never would have sent His Son to suffer the things He did for us if there were another way of salvation. If there were, God would have known about it. If we were to be spared the punishment we deserve for our sin – death – which means separation from God, there must be death for His Son.

Note that John 3:16 says that merely by believing on Christ and what He did for you and me, we will be saved from Hell and the Lake of Fire. The word “believe” carries the idea that you also need to repent. When you believe that a fire is hot, you will avoid hot things. It affects your actions. In a similar way, if you truly believe that sin is sending you to Hell, you will want to avoid sin and tell God you are sorry for committing sin. It is called repentance, which means changing your mind about sin.

Then ask Christ to forgive you, save you, and come into your heart as Boss (“Lord”) of your life. He does all the rest. Notice what He gives to those who believe – “everlasting life.”

Can someone know that they are saved? Absolutely. I John 5:12 says it all: “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

Salvation is based on what He has done for you, not on what you do for Him. We have no part in it except to receive the gift of salvation by faith – which is Christ. Have you trusted Him to be your Savior?

]]> https://101info.org/more-doctrines-to-stand-on-the-doctrine-of-salvation/feed/ 0 12736 https://101info.org/more-doctrines-to-stand-on-the-nature-of-angels-good-and-evil/ https://101info.org/more-doctrines-to-stand-on-the-nature-of-angels-good-and-evil/#respond Thu, 21 Sep 2023 11:30:03 +0000 https://101info.org/?p=12556 Read More »]]> Angels are mentioned throughout the Bible. The first appearance is of the evil angel – Satan – in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). He was allowed to visit the Garden in order to tempt the new couple. No doubt he had been observing them for some time to learn how to tempt them – which he was successful at. At the end of that same chapter, cherubim are posted around the Garden to keep humans from the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:24).

There are several types of angels mentioned in the Bible. The word “angel” can be used to refer to both good and evil angels (Satan is called an “angel of light” in II Cor. 11:14). We are told about the cherubim and the seraphim, and the four beasts that surround the Throne of God. Only the names of two good angels are known – Michael and Gabriel.

The Bible does not reveal exactly when the angels were created. It is known that they were present at creation and saw at least some of it happen, according to Job 38:6,7. In those verses, the angels are called the “sons of God.”

Sometime after creation, Satan fell. He was God’s wisest and most beautiful being. His sin was that he was not satisfied with his given position and desired to be worshiped as God (Isaiah 14:12-14) – wanting to usurp His position. When he transgressed, he took one-third of the angels with him.

As far as Satan’s power goes today, he is no match for the power of God. Jesus said He saw Satan fall as lightning from Heaven (Luke 10:18). God gives us His armor which can completely protect us from all of Satan’s darts (temptations – Ephesians 6:10-18). Satan’s power is limited by God for our protection – but he is still smarter and more powerful than we are, which means we can still fall to his deceptions and lies. Some angels (locust demons) are bound in the “bottomless pit” (Hell) now (Revelation 9:1-3).

God’s good angels – which are never mentioned as being female or little cherubs! – are always present around the believer (Psalm 34:7). Although invisible, they interact with humans all the time, and some may take on human form and appear briefly for some Divine purpose (Hebrews 13:2). We may never know how often they have helped us!

Angels are much stronger than humans – one killed 185,000 soldiers in one night! They are never to be worshiped! Hollywood’s depiction of angels and demons is a farce and far from reality. We must get our truth from the Word of God.

After believers are in glory, Paul tells us that we shall judge angels (I Corinthians 6:3). What their ministry will be after we get to glory is unknown.

The Lord Jesus Christ was never an angel and Lucifer is not His brother – both are blasphemous lies of the Devil. Also, Satan is not the Master of Hell – Jesus is and He has the keys (Revelation 1:18).

In the beginning, God created one perfect man and one perfect woman. He blessed their union and put them in a perfect place – the Garden of Eden. There was no sin or death, and they enjoyed a close fellowship with God.

God permitted the serpent to enter the Garden to give this perfect couple a choice as to who they would serve – God or Satan the usurper. Unfortunately, they chose the wrong option and disobeyed God – the One Who wanted them to always enjoy His goodness and blessing.

Because of their sin, they were cursed and removed from the Garden and the Tree of Life. Up to this time, they enjoyed a perfect union of body, soul, and spirit, but now their spirit was dead and the previously close relationship with God was gone.

Every child born since has been born in Adam’s likeness, having a sin nature. The result is that “death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Some claim that there is a “serpent’s seed,” which is an unbiblical and godless idea. Others say that the “sons of God” in Genesis 6 refers to a “godly line” – another error

The truth is that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). There is no exception, as is stated in Romans 5:18: “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation.”

The Bible teaches that no one is born sinless, no matter the situation. The only Sinless One is Jesus Christ, and He is sinless because He is God and cannot sin. It is believed that the sin nature is passed down through the father – and Jesus had no human father for this reason.

Thank God, that though we all are sinners, God has also declared that all may be saved. God’s salvation is by choice – and it is only through Jesus Christ.

The third Person of the Trinity, often called either the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit in the Bible, is seen throughout the Bible. He is co-equal with the Father and the Son in every way, but there are fewer references to Him in the Bible, not because of a lesser rank, but because He has a different ministry.

The Spirit of God is much more than an impersonal force. He is a Person. As such, He has Divine Names, Divine attributes, and Divine works. He is considered equal in the Baptismal formula: “in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” All three Persons of the Trinity were manifest at Christ’s baptism.

He is first seen at creation in Genesis 1:2, then again before the Flood (Genesis 6:3), apparently striving in the hearts of wicked men to bring them to repentance. After this, the Holy Spirit is seen in the Old Testament as coming on certain men temporarily for different purposes. He empowers them to do a task and then leaves. He came upon Bezaleel to make things for the Tabernacle, Gideon to blow the trumpet, Samson to give him supernatural strength, some to prophecy (Saul, David, etc.), to work miracles, etc. Christ did all His works through the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18).

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is given, as the text verse declares, to every believer to seal them into the Body of Christ. He enters at the moment of salvation and is there until they are redeemed to glory. He is a permanent seal that can never be removed – guaranteeing our final destination – Heaven.

The Holy Spirit in the life of the believer has several additional responsibilities. His working in and through us cannot be duplicated – we are dependent on Him at all times. They include:

    1. Teaching and interpreting the Word of God to us (John 16:13)

    2. Helping us to pray (Romans 8:26)

    3. Comforting us (John 14:16)

    4. Empowering our witness (Acts 1:8)

    5. Guiding us (Romans 8:14)

    6. Producing Christ-like fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22,23, I Corinthians 3:18)

    7. Giving us victory as we serve Christ (I John 4:4)

    8. Giving every believer a spiritual gift

According to John 16:8, He also has a three-fold ministry concerning the world:

    1. Reproving of sin

    2. Convicting of righteousness

    3. Convicting of judgment

In our relationship to God, believers are commanded not to grieve, resist, or quench (silence) the Holy Ghost. We do this by disobedience. Instead, we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), which will make us like Christ. Because of His presence within, the Bible says, “know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (I Corinthians 6:19).

Thank God that forgiveness is available when we do resist Him. We just need to sincerely confess our sin and desire to turn from them (I John 1:9).