The idea being taught today is that God accepts everyone into his fellowship regardless of an ongoing practice of deliberate sin. Yet it goes farther than that: any church group that has some affinity to God is considered, by modern thought, to be acceptable to Christ and the Father no matter what they teach contrary to scripture. It is true that God loves everyone, but not all are acceptable due to living in deliberate sin. There are conditions for being eternally acceptable to God and the belief that anything goes won’t work. Those who so believe also identify the entire body as having a like mind.

The whole purpose of the church according to the Bible is to carry on the work of the Lord; more specifically, the preaching of the gospel and the doing of the good works that will facilitate such spreading of the word of Christ and his redeeming work on the cross that took away sin.  As Paul wrote: [Galatians 6:10] As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.  All glory is to go to Christ with thanks to the father: [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. [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.  Is that the behavior we see in so many places today? The answer is no.

Jesus told those to whom he preached the following: [Mat 7:21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. It is plain from the words of Jesus that not just anything goes. In order to enter into the kingdom (reign or rule) of Jesus Christ, the will of God must be followed. Jesus also said: [Luke 13:24] Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Those who say God accepts all regardless need to study the scriptures closely.

It is apparent that God doesn’t approve of everything an individual chooses to do, and in like manner the Bible tells us that the activities of all churches aren’t approved either. In the Book of Revelations we find the following concerning the church of the Laodiceans who were misbehaving: [Rev 3:15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  [Rev 3:16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. He said to the people of his day: [Matthew 12:30] He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.  The church of the Laodiceans was according to the teaching of what begins and constitutes a church of the Lord. If   a church that began as prescribed in scripture is going to be cast aside, what makes people believe that groups that practice beliefs not in accord with scripture will be safe? The same is true of individuals: Mat 12:30] He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Any church that doesn’t come into existence as per the scriptures and which doesn’t teach the new way of life in Christ, isn’t the church of the living God. That may seem controversial, uncaring, dogmatic, intolerant, and insensitive, but the scriptures are about the truth of Jesus Christ, his teachings on how to be saved and how to live the new life. If they aren’t, then why did Christ suffer on the cross?

A careful study of the scriptures shows that not all churches are acceptable to God.  Those who so believe are refusing to follow the will of God as Paul wrote in II Thessalonians: [2 Th 2:5] Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? [2 Th 2:6] And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. [2 Th 2:7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. [2 Th 2:8] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [2 Th 2:9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, [2 Th 2:10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [2 Th 2:11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: [2 Th 2:12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Those scriptures are as true today as the day they were written. What does the church in which you claim membership teach?  If it doesn’t follow the Bible, it isn’t acceptable to God.

07-12-2006 DEC

                                                Next Lesson  The True Church