Articles
Have your beliefs been shortchanged?
Is the Gospel You Believe Short-Changed?
We are told in scripture that faith comes from the word of God (Ro 10:17; Acts 15:7). Therefore, faith is composed of teachings contained within the Gospel message. When teachings found in the Bible are added to, changed or removed, the hearers are deprived of the truth. They are being shortchanged.
In the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul declared: "Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God." Acts 20:26-27
Paul was not responsible for any man losing eternal life because he had held back nothing when he taught God’s word. If the Gospel is changed by adding to, subtracting from or simply distorting the message, it becomes a powerless, useless message created by men. The scripture warns us about the practice of shortchanging the word of God in any way. (Deut. 4:1-2; Gal. 1:6-9; 2Jn. 1:9; Rev. 22:18-19)
The world we live in has an ever-changing morality. Society tells us what was once wrong is now right and what had been right is now wrong. In contrast, Gospel morality is set in scripture and cannot change. What was wrong is still wrong and what was right is still right. When religious people give up their integrity so that they may be accepted by Society they become guilty of loving the praise of men more than they love praise from God. (Jn. 12:42-43) They have broken the greatest commandment (Matt. 22:37-38; Jn 14:15, 23-24).
The scripture encourages us to test and examine our beliefs to see if they are found in the faith (2Cor 13:5; Acts 17:11). We are told to hold on to those things which pass the examination and are found to be good (1Thes. 5:21). A practice cannot be a part of the faith or be considered good unless it is found in scripture (Ro 1:16-17; Ro 10:17).
Do you believe that an unbeliever must hear the gospel, believe the gospel, repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins to be saved? Examine your beliefs, comparing them to scripture. Are you walking in the faith revealed in the Bible? (Mt. 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-41; Acts 22:16; Gal 3:26-27)
Do you believe God’s word when it identifies certain behaviors as sinful? Examine your beliefs concerning sin to determine if they are in harmony with what the scriptures call sin.
(Ro 1:26-32; 1Cor 6:9-11; Gal 5:19-21; 1Tim 1:8-11)
Has the message that you believe and teach been shortchanged? It is so easy to have a complete and true faith. Simply believe, practice and teach as truth, all that the council of God teaches. Become a simple disciple of Jesus.
John 8:31-32 (ASV)
31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; 32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
- Have_your_beliefs_been_shortchanged.pdf (120.42 kB)
