We as believers in the truth are told that Biblically there would not be peace in this world BEFORE our Savior returns and calls us to him, and then returns to make the world new.
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth…
We also know that there would be a great deceiver in our world until our Savior returns.
Rev_12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
We know that the deceiver will be so powerful that all but the very elect will be deceived.
Mat_24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
False Christs. False prophets. Showing GREAT SIGNS and WONDERS.
We all know this verse--
Mat_7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
FEW.
So often we hear cries for world peace, we hear people longing for unity in faith, yet clearly our Bibles tell us something very different. Our BIBLES, the truth, the Word of God, tells us that there will be CHAOS, DECEPTION, FALSE MIRACLES AND FALSE WONDERS, NO PEACE… all right up to the point our SAVIOR returns.
We read we shouldn't forsake gathering together for what purpose, does that mean we are to unite with each other regardless of what we believe to be truth?
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 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.
Is this the world wide religions being spoken of? No. Is this everyone who claims the title- Christian? No. It can't be because we know FEW there be that find that narrow way, and the number of people who claim the title Christian is HUGE. So who is it speaking of?
Remember this-
Mat_24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
So, who are the 'very elect'?
1Pe_1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Tit_1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness
2Ti_2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Luk_18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Mar_13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
The very elect are many things it would seem. Let's highlight one point among many….
…the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness
Faith of God's elect AND acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness.
So, acknowledging truth is associated with the those who are the elect of God because Paul was one of those elect of God beyond doubt. Paul had the faith of God's elect and he acknowledged truth.
What is truth? Jesus is truth.
Is sound doctrine truth?
2Ti_4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears
Tit_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.
Tit_2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine
Obviously sound doctrine is truth.
People don't really want truth though. Seriously, they don't! If they did there would be a whole lot more than a FEW who will find that narrow way. People want a religion that will please them, make them happy, give them good feelings, make their lives better in all ways. People want to hold on to all their old lies, refusing to see them exposed because they're traditions they cling to. People do NOT want the truth, that's a fact, that's Biblical, that's how it is right now in our world and how it will be unto the coming of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
The truth is so much more than simply leading a good life. Satan would love for us to believe that's all it is. The fact of the matter is… there is a GREAT DECEIVER who is going to deceive all but the very elect. How do you deceive someone? You trick them into believing the lies that are being told.
We are given SO much truth! SO MUCH! We are told we are BLESSED if we read and understand the book of Revelation, yet can you honestly say you have read and understand it? We are given tremendous amounts of truth so we are not deceived, but the thing is… the deceiver has worked his evil well and has it so people simply believe that it doesn't matter what you BELIEVE- it doesn't matter what TRUTHS you follow, so long as you have one common denominator the Salvation of Jesus Christ. The HUGE problem with that is, Jesus says differently when He tells us there are wolves out there, there are deceivers out there, even in the days of the Apostles there were those who were turning people from the truth with their own version of the only WAY, which is Christ, but they added their own spin on things leading people astray.
No. The apostles and people didn't have to understand the book of Revelation then- IT WASN'T EVEN WRITTEN! John, an apostle wrote it when he was an old man. It was written for us because Jesus knew we'd NEED it! Jesus knew that there would come a time when the world would be so filled with deception that the truth had to be there for those seeking to find! All His truth! He was going to make sure there was a way for His truth to survive all the way until His return. It was going to be there for all to have. We are accountable once we have access to truth and refuse to learn of it.
With the world filled with millions upon millions and millions more of those who claim Christ as their Savior, born again, baptized, believers we ought to be asking ourselves if we are studying to show ourselves approved unto God…2Ti_2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Are we rightly dividing the word of truth?
The very elect are so much more than those who have a FORM of godliness
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away
Why aren't more Christians concerned with whether or not they have all the truth they can possibly have? Why do they stop searching, believing they have it all and need no more? Do they think for one minute that God went to all the trouble to include so much in His word for us, that we aren't accountable to it? Is there just a bunch of books we simply do not need to concern ourselves with? Cling to John 3:16 and that's it, it's enough? For some it is enough, for those who don't have the comprehension to know more.
So many are saying they are rich enough in their walk with God. So many are saying they are increasingly obtaining good things from their relationship with the Lord. So very, very many are saying they don't NEED to know any more, they have need of nothing else at all whatsoever…
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked
Those goods, those riches aren't material ones, they believe they are rich and increased with spiritual goods and need NOTHING more. They don't know they are WRETCHED, MISERABLE, POOR, BLIND and NAKED!
Why are Christians unwilling to dig DEEP into the word of God for ALL it's truth through Biblical exegesis? The wealth of knowledge at our fingertips leaves NO excuses for a single person.
Do you KNOW the blessings of Revelation? Do you understand and keep the things therein? Do you? Or did you stop your walk in truth with just a few bits and pieces of information thinking that's enough to get you by?
When I started this …whatever it is… I intended it to be a study on why seeking to unite all the various religions isn't Biblical, why world peace isn't Biblical, but it evolved into something else entirely. I don't know who is reading this, maybe absolutely no one, and that's okay because I need my own eyes open, my own faith renewed, my own filthy sins removed- I need to buy gold tried in fire - faith, I need to buy eye salve so I can see through the Holy Spirit, I need white raiment that only Christ can put on me after He takes off my filthy garments and clothes me in His Righteousness!
Lord, please! I don't want to be among the deceived! I want to be blessed by reading and understanding, keeping the things in Your word to us! I don't want to have a form of godliness but deny the power that is you! I don't want to heap upon myself lies to please my own selfish lusts! I want to know YOU in YOUR truth to us! Please, Lord, have mercy upon me, a sinner. I long for Your return! I long for You to KNOW ME! I don't want to hear the words you never knew me! Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief!
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth…
We also know that there would be a great deceiver in our world until our Savior returns.
Rev_12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
We know that the deceiver will be so powerful that all but the very elect will be deceived.
Mat_24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
False Christs. False prophets. Showing GREAT SIGNS and WONDERS.
We all know this verse--
Mat_7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
FEW.
So often we hear cries for world peace, we hear people longing for unity in faith, yet clearly our Bibles tell us something very different. Our BIBLES, the truth, the Word of God, tells us that there will be CHAOS, DECEPTION, FALSE MIRACLES AND FALSE WONDERS, NO PEACE… all right up to the point our SAVIOR returns.
We read we shouldn't forsake gathering together for what purpose, does that mean we are to unite with each other regardless of what we believe to be truth?
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 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.
Is this the world wide religions being spoken of? No. Is this everyone who claims the title- Christian? No. It can't be because we know FEW there be that find that narrow way, and the number of people who claim the title Christian is HUGE. So who is it speaking of?
Remember this-
Mat_24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
So, who are the 'very elect'?
1Pe_1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Tit_1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness
2Ti_2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Luk_18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Mar_13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
The very elect are many things it would seem. Let's highlight one point among many….
…the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness
Faith of God's elect AND acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness.
So, acknowledging truth is associated with the those who are the elect of God because Paul was one of those elect of God beyond doubt. Paul had the faith of God's elect and he acknowledged truth.
What is truth? Jesus is truth.
Is sound doctrine truth?
2Ti_4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears
Tit_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.
Tit_2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine
Obviously sound doctrine is truth.
People don't really want truth though. Seriously, they don't! If they did there would be a whole lot more than a FEW who will find that narrow way. People want a religion that will please them, make them happy, give them good feelings, make their lives better in all ways. People want to hold on to all their old lies, refusing to see them exposed because they're traditions they cling to. People do NOT want the truth, that's a fact, that's Biblical, that's how it is right now in our world and how it will be unto the coming of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
The truth is so much more than simply leading a good life. Satan would love for us to believe that's all it is. The fact of the matter is… there is a GREAT DECEIVER who is going to deceive all but the very elect. How do you deceive someone? You trick them into believing the lies that are being told.
We are given SO much truth! SO MUCH! We are told we are BLESSED if we read and understand the book of Revelation, yet can you honestly say you have read and understand it? We are given tremendous amounts of truth so we are not deceived, but the thing is… the deceiver has worked his evil well and has it so people simply believe that it doesn't matter what you BELIEVE- it doesn't matter what TRUTHS you follow, so long as you have one common denominator the Salvation of Jesus Christ. The HUGE problem with that is, Jesus says differently when He tells us there are wolves out there, there are deceivers out there, even in the days of the Apostles there were those who were turning people from the truth with their own version of the only WAY, which is Christ, but they added their own spin on things leading people astray.
No. The apostles and people didn't have to understand the book of Revelation then- IT WASN'T EVEN WRITTEN! John, an apostle wrote it when he was an old man. It was written for us because Jesus knew we'd NEED it! Jesus knew that there would come a time when the world would be so filled with deception that the truth had to be there for those seeking to find! All His truth! He was going to make sure there was a way for His truth to survive all the way until His return. It was going to be there for all to have. We are accountable once we have access to truth and refuse to learn of it.
With the world filled with millions upon millions and millions more of those who claim Christ as their Savior, born again, baptized, believers we ought to be asking ourselves if we are studying to show ourselves approved unto God…2Ti_2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Are we rightly dividing the word of truth?
The very elect are so much more than those who have a FORM of godliness
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away
Why aren't more Christians concerned with whether or not they have all the truth they can possibly have? Why do they stop searching, believing they have it all and need no more? Do they think for one minute that God went to all the trouble to include so much in His word for us, that we aren't accountable to it? Is there just a bunch of books we simply do not need to concern ourselves with? Cling to John 3:16 and that's it, it's enough? For some it is enough, for those who don't have the comprehension to know more.
So many are saying they are rich enough in their walk with God. So many are saying they are increasingly obtaining good things from their relationship with the Lord. So very, very many are saying they don't NEED to know any more, they have need of nothing else at all whatsoever…
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked
Those goods, those riches aren't material ones, they believe they are rich and increased with spiritual goods and need NOTHING more. They don't know they are WRETCHED, MISERABLE, POOR, BLIND and NAKED!
Why are Christians unwilling to dig DEEP into the word of God for ALL it's truth through Biblical exegesis? The wealth of knowledge at our fingertips leaves NO excuses for a single person.
Do you KNOW the blessings of Revelation? Do you understand and keep the things therein? Do you? Or did you stop your walk in truth with just a few bits and pieces of information thinking that's enough to get you by?
When I started this …whatever it is… I intended it to be a study on why seeking to unite all the various religions isn't Biblical, why world peace isn't Biblical, but it evolved into something else entirely. I don't know who is reading this, maybe absolutely no one, and that's okay because I need my own eyes open, my own faith renewed, my own filthy sins removed- I need to buy gold tried in fire - faith, I need to buy eye salve so I can see through the Holy Spirit, I need white raiment that only Christ can put on me after He takes off my filthy garments and clothes me in His Righteousness!
Lord, please! I don't want to be among the deceived! I want to be blessed by reading and understanding, keeping the things in Your word to us! I don't want to have a form of godliness but deny the power that is you! I don't want to heap upon myself lies to please my own selfish lusts! I want to know YOU in YOUR truth to us! Please, Lord, have mercy upon me, a sinner. I long for Your return! I long for You to KNOW ME! I don't want to hear the words you never knew me! Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief!