Kind Soothing Words versus the Truth

We have all heard so-called Christians say things like:

‘We are all going to the same place anyway’

‘We are all praying to the same God’

‘God wouldn’t send anyone to hell’

‘He/she is a good person’

And a host of other phrases that sound kind, good, unifying, and pleasing to the itching ear.

Such words are spoken with the idea of just getting along.  The speakers want to sooth and assure.  They also want to avoid conflict.

 These kind soothing words may make a momentary situation easier.  Such words may make people feel good, or at least feel better; but the long term effects can be eternally damning.

The truth is that all these words are lies.  What people need is to hear the truth. 

Christians should ask themselves, ‘If I were lost, wouldn’t I want to hear the truth about actually getting into heaven?’  If that is the way we would want to be treated, shouldn’t we treat other people that way?

 It is the duty of every Christian to be ready to tell people, ‘The God of the Bible is unique.  And the Bible tells us:

If you are praying to any other god, you are NOT praying to the same God to whom followers of Jesus Christ pray.

We are not all going to the same place. 

We are all going to one of two places. 

Followers of Jesus Christ are going to heaven. 

Those who don’t follow Him are going to a place called hell.

According to the Bible, those who reject Jesus Christ will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 

The Bible says we are saved by grace through faith, so just being a good person won’t get anyone into heaven.’

We may wonder why it is that Christians are prone to let falsehoods regarding the way of salvation stand instead of at least attempting to correct them. Many Christians have shut themselves up in selfish indifference and unconcern. On a kinder note, perhaps they are just overwhelmed with the cares of the world. These Christians know the way of salvation.  They know the eternal destination of those who reject Jesus Christ.  But, they can’t seem to just tell the truth that Jesus alone is the way to eternal life.  Regardless of the reasons, they remain unwilling or afraid to confront error in Bible theology in the culture in general and in friends specifically. 

One strong reason Christians are willing to speak sweet words of agreement like those already mentioned is Christians forget God’s continual presence with them personally.  While words like ‘we all pray to the same God’ may sooth the ears of a visible friend or companion they hardly sooth the ears of God Almighty.  Christians need to take very seriously the constant presence of God.  If it must be that someone is made uncomfortable or his/her feelings are hurt by a Christian pointing out that to pray to the God of the Bible is not praying to a generic god, then it let it be a human companion.  Don’t let it be God.

Christians should take God’s companionship seriously all the time.  It will keep them from sin.  For instance, a Christian who is walking with their spouse will hardly venture into adultery at the same time.  A Christian who is constantly aware of God’s presence will be much more mindful of his conduct. 

 As a Christian becomes more aware of God’s continual presence, the more useful that Christian becomes to God.

 Here is another sad truth. Compromise in the name of getting along brings the things of the world into the church – it brings in sin – things unacceptable to God.  Misguided and marginal Christians are prone to bring ungodly things into the church in the name of reaching out to the lost.  So many things of the world are in some churches that the congregation might as well be attending a high school pep rally.  People may come to church somewhat depressed and leave emotionally charged up, but they haven’t really heard a lesson from the Bible.

 What are the consequences of Christians not confronting the culture?  Are more people actually restored to fellowship with God by speaking kind soothing words, or are more people restored to fellowship with God Almighty by quoting John 14:6 which says, ‘Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’

 Another very common sin that leads to mixing the things of the world in with the things of the church is impatience.  It is the same sin that got Abraham and Sarah into all that trouble when they came up with the plan for Abraham to have a child with Sarah’s maid.  They knew God’s promise, but they just didn’t have the patience to wait on God to do what He had promised to do. 

 A zealous Christian today can easily fall into the same trap.  They honestly want to see souls reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.  They go out and tell people about Jesus, but they don’t get the desired results.  Perhaps they don’t get any results.  So, instead of continuing to use the anvil of Bible truth, they begin to look for other ways to ‘reach out’ to the people of the world.  Church growth becomes the measure of their success instead of souls actually saved.  Then, when church growth becomes the measure of success, anything and everything becomes acceptable as long as it increases the size of the church congregation.  It is certainly possible to have a church that is very large and preaches fundamental truths of the Bible.  It is also possible to have a very small church that is so far away from Bible truths that it shouldn’t even be called a church.  The size of the congregation should be up to God.  The church members need to stick to the same story that Paul stuck to in Acts when he got himself kicked out of two towns for preaching the gospel, and went straight on to preach the gospel in the third town. 

At the end of every day, a Christian can evaluate his/her day by this one thing.  ‘Did I do the best I could do to say and do the things pleasing to Christ today?’  When the answer is yes, then a ‘well done’ is awarded for that day.  The outcome of action is not in the hands of mankind. It is like a farmer fighting the nature and the weather.  He can plant, fertilize, plow, irrigate, and stand ready to harvest when the crops are done.  That is all he can do.  He has no control over storms, fires, drought, floods, locusts, crop blights, late frosts, early frosts, or anything else.  All he can do is what he can do.  All we can do is to be like Paul and keep hammering away with the truth of God’s word.

 The word of God is more effective than any program ever devised.  Hebrews 4:12 says, ‘For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.’

 Something else Christians should take into consideration is that an opportunity to speak to someone about Jesus Christ has to be brought about by God.  Personally, I don’t get out of the house much.  I am not around a lot of people except at church or in the grocery store.  I just don’t meet that many people.  I have a few people now that I know personally that I am praying for.  I haven’t been able to have a real discussion with them about the Bible.  I have made a real effort to engage them in a conversation about their religious beliefs, but I haven’t made any progress.  I am ready to talk to them, but the opportunity to talk is going to have to be set up by God.  We have no power to make people willing to listen.  We do have the choice to keep praying and to be ready to speak the truth when an opportunity is given.  I was able to give one dear person a gospel tract, and of course I pray that time will be made to read it.  Acts 8:26-40 gives a wonderful example of God setting up an opportunity to lead someone to Him.  You probably already know that story.  An important man was reading scripture.  God sent someone to him who explained the scripture, explained Jesus; the man was saved and baptized.  Obviously, an opportunity isn’t usually that dramatic, but it still must be set up by God.  Probably the only way to tell if it is an opportunity is to make an effort to engage in conversation about Jesus.  If they respond to your question or statement, then go from there.  In even a sentence or two, you may plant a little seed of a question, and someone else may plant another, and someone else another.  Who knows who will actually be the one to have the experience of being present when a person you witnessed too actually turns to Jesus?  If you get a chance to say something appropriate regarding Bible truth at any given time, you have planted or watered a seed already planted by someone else.  Remember 1 Corinthians 3:6 which tells us, ‘I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.’

 A very interesting Bible passage is Luke 10:2 which says, ‘Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.’

 When we read or hear this passage we most often think of people out on the streets preaching or of missionaries away from their native land trying to preach the gospel in a language not their own.  But, we can make it a lot more personal if we begin to think of the labor of prayer.  Prayer is the beginning of success.  What do you think would be the result if Christians doubled their time in prayer for the souls of the lost?  Is God calling you to pray for the lost?  Pray for the lost, and pray for God to call others to pray for the lost. 

 Remember 1 Timothy 2

1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2.  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4.  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

5.  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6.  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

And

1 Thessalonians 5:17   Pray without ceasing.

 Ultimately there are no kinder or more soothing words than the truth of the Bible.  Jesus saves. 

Hearing God When He Speaks

Hearing God

‘My God will hear me’ is a promise made in Micah 7:7b.  I love that. My God will hear me.  This is so wonderful that it is almost incomprehensible.  One could get carried away with a continual string of requests.  There is certainly no problem or request too small to bring to God’s attention.  He wants to be involved in every moment of your life.  However, what we want to remember is good manners.  If God is listening to us, shouldn’t we listen to God?  Or, let’s make it more personal.  If God is hearing ME when I pray, shouldn’t I hear God when He communicates with me?

 You have undoubtedly been in close contact with at least a few people in your life who have an ability to ‘talk your ear off’ while having no ability to hear a word you say.  Encounters with these people are not pleasant.  It is only good manners to listen to what other people are saying as well as talk yourself.  In a private conversation between two people, both people should be able to not only speak but to be listened to by the other person as well.  It is an overwhelmingly wonderful blessing that God will hear His children when they pray.  It is an equally overwhelmingly wonderful blessing that God speaks to His children.  It would be wise to try to listen to what He has to say!

 How then do we ‘hear’ God?

 The first way is obvious.  We read what is written down in the Bible. The Bible is written specifically for every individual Christian, and through it God speaks directly to each of His children.  It is speaking directly to you personally, as well as to me personally.  We have been given rules of conduct by which we are to live in the word of God.  We have the commandments.  We have the love one another clause.  We have the forgive one another clause.  We have the treat others the way we want to be treated clause.  These things are definitely God speaking directly to every individual believer.  Once we hear what the Bible says, we are to do what the Bible says.  This is all very straight forward and easy to understand.  If we really hear what God speaks to us, then we will follow His instructions.  After all, we want God to hear us and do the things we ask.  How rude to ignore the things He asks of us. (It is also plumb stupid.)  Those wanting God’s full attention when praying should rightly give God their full attention when He speaks.

 Hear the Lord when He says in Psalm 119:11, ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.’ 

 Also remember James 1:22 which instructs to not only hear the word of the Lord, but to do the things we are instructed to do.  It says, ‘But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.’   There is a stern warning in that verse.  If someone calls themselves a Christian but is able to continually habitually set aside the things God says to do, perhaps they are deceiving themselves regarding their faith.

 What then is a ‘doer of the word’ supposed to do?  We have instructions in Micah 6:8 which says, ‘He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?’

 A similar verse of instruction is in Deuteronomy 10:12 which says, ‘And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,’.

 God is not first looking to see how many souls His children point toward Him.  He is looking to see how well each one of His children obeys Him.  If God’s children aren’t conforming to His image, how are they going to point others to Him?  Conforming to the image of Christ is progressive.  No one is converted one day and a mature Christian the next day.  However true converts begin the life long process of being more Christ-like in their actions as soon as they are born again.  They should want to tell others about Jesus and the way of salvation.  However, the true mark of a believer is that they do the things Christ says to do regarding their own personal actions.

 God also speaks to you through your conscience.  There are things you know to be wrong.  Don’t do them.  How simple is that?  Something to think about is that if you want to do something, but you know it will not lead you closer to God, then you should not do it.  For instance, that beautiful singing voice God gave Melodye Smith may get her an offer to travel and sing with a country band.  Melodye knows the band plays in nightclubs and bars.  She really wants to do accept the offer.  But, she has misgivings.  She KNOWS her Christian life will suffer.  More money than she now earns is offered.  Melodye is tempted.  What do you think she should do?  Based on the simple truth that she will not be led closer to the Lord by accepting the offer, Melodye should turn down the offer. 

 That is obviously a fanciful example, but people face choices every day.  Often the issue is clouded by ‘more money’ or ‘more prestige’, but the question is still the same.  Will this hinder my Christian walk?  Listen to your conscience.  If it is telling you ‘not a good idea’, listen!

 Remember that God will NEVER EVER lead you to go outside the boundaries He has set for all His children.  The most important thing a child of God can do is to be obedient to God.  Through obedience His children have an avenue to a life that is blessed by God.  The boundaries set by God are for the protection of His children.  They are not for set up to cause us grief.  Jesus says his yoke is easy and His burden is light.  I just love that passage.  Matthew 11: 28-30 tells us, ’(28)  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

(29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

(30)  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

 Any child of God who would like to lighten his or her own burden should begin with obedience to God. 

It is by faith that we know ‘My God will hear me’.

It is by faith that we know God will help us to hear Him.

What we do with what we hear is the measure of our Christian walk. 

 It is absolutely true that our salvation is received by grace through faith.  (Ephesians 2:8

 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:’.)

 But to show evidence or verification of salvation, then look to the works of your own self.  This is NOT to look to see if you have completed some mighty deed that attracts the attention of the world.  But rather look inside yourself. 

Have you hidden God’s word in your heart?

Are you a doer of the word as explained in Micah 6:8 and Deuteronomy 10:12?

Strive to become a ‘Bible driven Christian’ – someone who hears what the Lord has to say.

 Come Unto Me

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/comeunto.htm 

Hear the blessèd Savior calling the oppressed,

 “O ye heavy laden, come to Me and rest.
 Come, no longer tarry, I your load will bear,
 Bring Me every burden, bring Me every care.”

 Refrain 

Come unto Me, I will give you rest;

 Take My yoke upon you, hear Me and be blessed.
 I am meek and lowly, come and trust My might.
 Come, My yoke is easy, and My burden’s light.

Are you disappointed, wandering here and there,

 Dragging chains of doubt and loaded down with care?
 Do unholy feelings struggle in your breast?
 Bring your case to Jesus—He will give you rest

Refrain

Stumbling on the mountains dark with sin and shame,

 Stumbling toward the pit of hell’s consuming flame.
 By the powers of sin deluded and oppressed,
 Hear the tender Shepherd, “Come to Me and rest.”

Refrain

Have you by temptation often conquered been,

 Has a sense of weakness brought distress within?
 Christ will sanctify you, if you’ll claim His best.
 In the Holy Spirit, He will give you rest.

Refrain

If You Are a Christian You Should Know Bible Doctrine

Can You Define the Word ‘Doctrine’?

In the Bible we find many recorded words of God.  Actually, the entire Bible is the written Word of God.  Some of it is recorded history.  Some of the Bible is direct quotes from God Himself. He makes some very definite statements on how people should act.  It is settled for true Christians that God has the authority and the power to make the rules.  What seems in question for some Christians is, ‘Did God REALLY mean what he said?  Are His rules still relevant, and are they for everyone in every situation?’ 

There is proof aplenty that many who claim to be followers of the God of the Bible do not do the things God says to do.  They claim to accept Jesus, but they disannul the DOCTRINE of Christ in order to follow their own doctrine.  They in fact, reject the doctrine of God as revealed to us in the Bible in favor of cunningly devised fables.  Actually, some people turn from the doctrine of Christ in order to follow their own selfish lusts and ideas.  There is often nothing ‘cunningly devised’ in the fables they follow.  My dad says they get their theology from the seat of their pants. 

Cunningly devised fables can be identified in worship services that put the traditions of men above the doctrine of God.  ‘Tradition’ did not die for sinners on Calvary.  Traditions that work for our good are traditions that make worship of Christ and following His teachings easier.  Traditions are wicked when the tradition itself begins to substitute for true worship. Keep in mind that if there was salvation available in following the ‘traditions of men’, then Christ need not have died that we might be saved.

Cunningly devised fables may be seen in rituals.  There are ritual religions outside and inside Christianity.  People believe that through certain repetitions and rituals they will be able to obtain something they want, cause someone to do something they want done, and even gain eternal life.  You can also gain wealth and health through ritual sacrificial giving according to some purveyors of cunningly devised fables.  That means watch out for the wealth and health preachers.  Remember, that if there was salvation in rituals, then Christ need not have died that we might be saved,

Cunningly devised fables may be seen in vain repetitions and babbling.  People will chant a mantra as though often repeated words somehow gain the power, or call upon some unknown power to grant their request.  It may work even better if the mantra is chanted while the chantor is sitting in some uncomfortable position.  Again, if vain babbling and chants could gain salvation for the lost soul, then Christ need not have died that we might be saved.

A rampant cunningly devised fable in the church today is the myth that church growth is proof of a spiritual church.  A growth oriented church, believing that church growth proves their relationship with God is good, will often set aside doctrine in favor of ‘doing what it takes to get the church roles to grow in number.’  Such churches are willing to destroy families in order to establish a mega church.  Everyone in the church is supposed to be involved in every church function, or their salvation is suspect.  A family cannot survive as a strong family under such circumstances.  

In order for His children to avoid being deceived by a cunningly devised fable, God gave us DOCTRINE. 

This doctrine is based on the truth, as given to us by our omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, infallible Creator and God.  This Doctrine is written down for us in the Bible.  It is not a tradition that was handed down by word of mouth for a thousand years and then written down..  It was written down directly from the mouth of God through the hand of the writer.  Knowing and living the Doctrine of the Bible gives us the prescription to avoid being deceived by the great abundance of cunningly devised fables. 

According to biblegateway.com   the term ‘doctrine’ is used in the Bible fifty (50) times.  Due to the limits of space, I won’t be able to include all fifty here.  However, I will use some of them.

Proverbs 4:2
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
Remember that the doctrine given us by God is infallible.  It is correct, truthful, and good.  To forsake it is foolish; yet many do.


Isaiah 28;9
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
God will give understanding to the willing.  Often Christians are like adults who try to live as though they were still teenagers.  They never grow up, and they are very unpleasant people.  They are also useless to those around them.  There is nothing lovely or cute about idolizing the foolish actions of rebellious teenagers.  The same goes for Christians.  There is nothing cute or appealing in a Christian refusing to learn the things of the Bible, preferring instead to remain ignorant and easily beguiled.  Remember Eve.  She was beguiled and look what happened because of her actions.

Jeremiah 10:8
But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.Beware of vain doctrines.  Only those teachings that are completely within the boundaries of the teachings of the Bible are good.  Vain doctrine places man, or a particular man, or a particular humanist ideology as the solution to the world’s problems.  Jesus Christ is left somewhere out in left field.

Matthew 7:28
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

The doctrine of Jesus Christ is astonishing.  It stays in the mind of the hearer.

Mark 1:22
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
The Triune God of the Bible is the authority behind the doctrine of the Bible. It is powerful and astonishing when told in humility by believers. 


Mark 1:27
And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him

The mighty power of the doctrine of the Bible has not been seen in any earthly teaching, theology, ideology, sorcery, or anything else outside the Bible. 

Mark 11;18
And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
The doctrine of the Bible brings about fear in those who reject it. They will seek in vain to destroy it. They know that if the doctrine of the Bible is true, then all other beliefs, or belief systems, or deeply held beliefs, are false.  The Bible is not compatible with any other doctrine. When you see someone trying to be reconciled with other doctrines, then they are following fables.

Luke 4:32
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

The doctrine of Jesus Christ has power.


John 18:19
The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

The doctrine of Jesus Christ causes curiosity when people hear it.


Acts 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The doctrine of Jesus Christ inspires great loyalty in those who believe. 

Acts 5:28
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

The doctrine of Jesus Christ cannot be stopped by the edicts of men.  The Christian will be like the Psalmist who tried, but could not keep his mouth shut.  (Psalm 39:1-3)

Acts 17:19
And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

The doctrine of the Lord arouses curiosity.  It is something new and wonderful to those who have not heard.  They want to hear more.

1 Timothy 1:3
As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

Christians are charged to teach no other doctrine.  That really kicks things like all the eastern mystic teachings out of the church.  Things outside the gospel have no place in the church, no matter how much they will ‘help people lose weight’, ‘chill out’, ‘get in touch with themselves’, and so on.  They certainly have no place being taught to the youth of the church, except as things that are outside the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Churches should be teaching the doctrine of Jesus Christ alone.  By the way,  when I was in school in Anchorage, Alaska, we were to taught to sit and stand straight, breath through our nose, and keep our shoulders back.  No one had ever heard of yoga; it was just commonly accepted as good health practice.  And it was not taught in church.

1 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.

Christians are to continue in the doctrine that is taught in the Bible.  This keeps the believer out of trouble and converts those who hear what the Christian says.  (That is not out of all the troublesome trials of life, but out of the stupid mistakes made by those who step outside the doctrine of the Bible.)

2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

Preach the doctrine of Jesus Christ with patience, continually, and with sound theology.

Titus 1:9
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
It takes a solid knowledge of the doctrine of Jesus Christ in order to convince non-believers.  Nowhere does the Bible teach that we are to look for things we have in common with non-believers.  We are to teach them and tell the truth according to the Bible.

2 John 1:10
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

When someone comes to you with a different doctrine than what was preached by Jesus Christ, you are not supposed to let him into your house, nor bid him God speed.

Nowhere does the doctrine of the Bible teach that we are to band together with unbelievers in order to bring about good.  This means any mega church that is trying to be inclusive and work together with all faiths is not following the teachings of the Bible.

Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
The doctrine of Balaam was ‘anything for money’, even treachery toward one’s own people.  Today the ‘anything for money’ doctrine is seen in politicians, businessmen, and Christians all the way up to the clergy.

Revelation 2:15
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

This is the doctrine that believes that ‘once saved one could still engage in sin because they are no longer under the law’.  Naturally Christ hates such false doctrine.

There is no question that Biblical ‘doctrine’ is important.  Doctrine is the message of the Bible.  How foolish that some people who profess Christ as their savior don’t even know what it is.  Many church members have no idea what their church teaches as doctrine.  This is the fault of the church leaders.  It is their duty to instruct their flock in the doctrine of the New Testament Church. It is the duty of the pastor to oversee those he allows to teach in the church that God has given him.  It is the duty of the pastor to spot error in its infancy and squash it before it has time to grow.

It is also the duty of every Christian and church member to check the things the pastor/preacher teaches against the Bible itself.  We have the Bible readily available.  We have no excuse to put up with preachers spewing false doctrines from the pulpit.

Doctrine, doctrine, doctrine…..   Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone.  His teachings are the foundations of the faith.  This is the doctrine by which we are to live.  The doctrine of the Bible does not change. The doctrine of the Bible provides stability in an unstable world. The doctrine of the Bible is the key to wisdom and understanding.

There are those who seek to destroy the doctrine of the Bible, in which case the world would be  left worshipping one of Satan’s many lies.  All religions and belief systems outside the doctrine of the Bible are false religions.  They are based on lies.  Satan is the father of lies. Therefore, any doctrine outside the doctrine of the Bible is really Satan worship.  In that case, is there any way the importance of the doctrine of the bible can be overstated?  The answer is, ‘No!  The importance of the doctrine of the Bible cannot be overstated.’  That is why Satan is trying so hard to do just that. 

Christian, are you willing to follow the instructions in Jude 1:3 which says, ‘Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

If you answered, ‘Yes! I am willing to earnestly contend for the faith.’ you need to realize something very important. No matter how willing you may be, you cannot earnestly contend for the faith if you do not know the doctrine on which the faith is built. Without knowing the doctrine of the faith you profess, then you will be like Eve. You will be beguiled and led into tragic error.  Zeal, but not according to knowledge, is a tragedy waiting to happen. For your soul to prosper you must know doctrine.

The song for this article is ‘My Sheep Know My Voice’.  When you know the doctrine taught in the Bible then you will know the voice of the Shepherd.

Barbara Henderson

My Sheep Know My Voice
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXfhkVh9qSA

‘My sheep hear My voice, and the path that I take,
They follow wherever I go;
My sheep know My voice and come at my call,
But a stranger’s voice do they not know.

Refrain

My sheep know My voice, and day by day
They abide in the fold and go not astray,
They love Me because I have made them my choice,
And they follow My call for My sheep know My voice.

My sheep know My voice, and the pastures of green,
Where I lead them so often to feed;
My sheep know My voice and the cool sparkling stream
Where beside its still waters I lead.

Refrain

My sheep know My voice, and the valley of death
Through which I shall lead them some day;
But no danger nor harm can touch one of them,
For I will be with them alway.

Refrain

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/y/mysheepk.htm