In the early part of my journey in reading the word, I found a myriad of information online with many denying the words of the Bible, or denying parts of the word and accepting others. Some were saying things that initially sounded loving with a message of tolerance but I found they were speaking of accepting things the Bible spoke against and were not founded in the word.
What I relied on wholly and completely was the word itself and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Since that time I have seen how now more important than ever the word of God is our baseline and Christ is the only foundation (1 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 11).
The Bible tells us to take up the whole armour of God and to stand firm against our spiritual adversary the devil, and the first piece of this armour is “having girded your waist with truth” and our spiritual weapon is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10 to 18)
Jesus Himself is the Word of God (Revelation chapter 19, verse 13) and told us: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John chapter 14 verse 6)
What is very clear to me is that we must not only be girded in the truth of God by His word, but to use the truth of the word in “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…” (2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 5)
Shutting up the kingdom
We learned from Scripture how Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day for shutting up the kingdom of heaven to themselves and others (Matthew chapter 23, verse 13). I have seen a concerning trend in turning away from the truth of the word by those seeking to make the gospel message more palatable for a world turning its back on Jesus.
Our Lord told us, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (Luke chapter 9 verse 26)
In January 2016 a monthly prayer intention video was released by the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis. In this video the Pope said, “Many think differently, feel differently, seeking God or meeting God in different ways. In this crowd, in this range of religions, there is only one certainty that we have for all: we are all children of God.”
The video then shows people from various faiths saying “I believe in love” and holding symbols of their faith together. The stated purpose is regarding inter-religious dialogue and holding in common faith in God and may at first glance seem to be a message of love, but in fact is sending an untruthful message that may mislead souls to destruction.
Children of God
The Bible tells us all are made in the image of God, but that not all are children of God. We are told by Jesus that the seed is the word of God and, “The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.” (Matthew chapter 13, verse 38)
The word tells us we are children of God by faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians chapter 3, verse 26), and that we are children of God because we are led by the Spirit of God (Romans chapter 8, verse 14). Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ are not children of God, and are not saved by the grace of God through faith in His only begotten Son (Ephesians chapter 2, verse 8).
Jesus is the only way
To present or imply that other faiths are worshipping the only living God is not true, because the only way to God is through faith in Jesus Christ, who is the only way to God the Father.
The Bible says the gods of the nations are idols (Psalm chapter 96, verse 5) and we are not to be unequally yoked in fellowship with unbelievers (2 Corinthians chapter 6, verse 14). All paths and faiths do not lead to God; the broad path leads many to destruction but the path to life is narrow and difficult (Matthew chapter 7, verses 13 to 14), and without faith in Jesus Christ there is no atonement for our sins by His shed blood, and we will perish in hell.
In a homily in May 2013 Pope Francis said, “The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone! And this Blood makes us children of God of the first class.”
He also said, “‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: We will meet one another there.”
What is true is that the blood of Jesus atoned for all sin and Jesus died to save all mankind, however, what the Pope did not mention is the crucial and essential requirement of believing in Jesus Christ for salvation. The Pope also suggested an atheist who does good will go to heaven, which is false and speaks against the truth. We are told in John chapter 3, verse 36, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Leaders in the world can carry a huge influence and when they speak against the word of God this can bring trouble to those who believe and are led by their words. If a leader of a Christian church tells or implies to the world they can receive eternal life without faith in Jesus Christ this is a clear lie and speaks against the faith of their own people and the vital calling to save souls.
We are called to stand for the truth, to speak the truth and to not compromise on the truth. Let us be girded tightly in the truth of God and not be ashamed of His holy word.
Christopher Harris is 28 years old and confessed his faith in Jesus Christ in 2016 and has sought to set his focus on the Lord. He makes videos on his youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/JESUSisLORD and believes the world is living in those times prophesied by the Holy Bible as the last days.
A link to Christopher’s other articles: https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/christopher-harris.html
Christopher Harris is 29 years old and confessed his faith in Jesus Christ in 2016 and has sought to set his focus on the Lord. He makes videos on his youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/JESUSisLORD and believes the world is living in those times prophesied by the Holy Bible as the last days.
A link to Christopher’s other articles: https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/christopher-harris.html