Here is this week's Fellowship of Christ International
Scripture Lesson of the Week:
With all of the various Churches and differing beliefs and doctrines between them, how do you find which Church is a Real Christian and Bible believing Church?
You can’t go by what licensing they have. Even cults and false religions may have all of the proper licensing.
You can’t go by how long they have been in existence. Cults have been around just as long as, and in some cases even longer than, real Bible-believing Christianity.
You can’t simply trust them because they claim to follow the Bible. Most of the larger cults, and some of the smaller ones, have their own versions of the Bible, which they will claim are corrected translations. The only thing is that they are the only ones who use this version of the Bible and it is often the only version that will back up and support the unique teachings they have that set them apart from everyone else.
The Bible gives many things to help us distinguish between a cult and/or false religion and real Christianity:
1. Do they rely on the Bible as the final authority over all things scriptural and dealing with the church? Or do they also use the writings of their founder(s) even though they contradict the Bible? (See 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:160; John 10:35; Revelation 22:18-19)
2. Do they acknowledge the Holy Trinity? Do they acknowledge that the Holy Trinity consists of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, three distinct personages and yet part of the Whole? (See 1 John 5:7)
3. When they exhibit or experience spiritual gifts, do they give God the credit and glory for them, or do they give all the glory to themselves? (See 1 Corinthians 14:12 and Ephesians 4:7, 11-12)
4. Do they teach that salvation is found by grace through Christ and Christ alone? (See Acts 4:12)
The above points are the main things to watch out for in any church. If they variate away from real Biblical teaching in just one point, it is time to move on and find another church. The Bible tells us to “prove (test) all things,” and that is what we need to do when examining a church and if it is really a Christian Church and of God.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2 John 1:10
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Isaiah 8:20
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1 John 4:2-3
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2 John 7
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