As I listen to different preachers and teachers in many of the different denominations and talk with people who may not fall into the category of a preacher or teacher, it can create confusion as to what to believe and what not to believe if you are not grounded in the Word of God. Even if we are not an official preacher or teacher of God's word, we still are teachers of one sort or another by communicating to others our personal views, either in what we say, or how we live our lives. These views may have been taught to us by our parents, pastors and teachers in the church, and/or by other means that we have been exposed to. Are we teaching the truth or, even better, are we sure we are teaching the truth? There is an article written When two interpretations are claimed for a passage by Doug Jones that you may be interested in reading.

Paul said in 2Co 3:6, Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. You notice that it says "able ministers of the new testament." There are many who stand in pulpits, teach in Sunday School classes, etc that seem to not be able ministers of the new testament because they preach and teach the letter and not the spirit. Jesus said in John 5:37-39 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believed not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Wrong thinking leads to other wrong thinking because it creates doubt on other Scripture that seem to be contradicting. This is how people, I believe, can come up with some of the most ridiculous beliefs that cause divisions and much confusion. This all started back in the garden when the serpent asked Eve, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Gen 3:1 She followed up with , We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, Lest ye die. Gen 3:2-3 One wrong belief leads to another wrong belief. If you allow the serpent to trick you into doubting what God says, your own beliefs will be added. This is done in a so-called correcting of or making clearer as to what God hath said. I find this true many times by those who, claiming to be able ministers, read a verse of Scripture, which God hath said, then in their making it clearer or expounding on that verse, they will add their own opinion, which God hath not said, and claim it all to be what God hath said. I sometimes wonder why they say, "This is what God says, if you want to disagree with what God says, take it up with God, I'm just the messenger." The next thing coming out of their mouth is, "If you don't like the letter you've received, don't shoot the postman for delivering it." Do they want to distance themselves from being corrected by saying that, or do they really know in their heart that something is wrong with what they have claimed to be what God hath said?

There are those who pick a verse or two out of the Bible, taking them out of context and twisting them to make them say whatever they are wanting them to say, wresting the scriptures, and build upon those verses the justification of their views. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 2Pe 3:16 For just one of many other examples of this, we read in Mat 10:32-33 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. If this was taken out of context and used in a wresting manner it would mean that Peter would be denied before the Father which is in heaven, which we know is not the case, because Peter denied him three times which Jesus predicted. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Mat 26:34 If it were the case, then 1st and 2nd peter was written by a lost man and shouldn't be in the Bible. If it shouldn't be in the Bible, but is, then we cannot put any confidence in the Bible at all because it would make the entire Bible untrustworthy because A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Gal 5:9.

As it says in Pro 3:5, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.. Too many times people lean to their own understanding and trust in their own selves and their own works and go by the letter, instead of trusting in the Lord with all thine heart. Again I go back to Proverbs, There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Pro 14:12 and Pro 16:25 The next thing someone would say after I have said what I am saying today, or something of like manner, is that I am doing the same thing, picking a verse or two and building my views on those verses. It is important to remember that those who are taking things out of context and twisting them is not the same as those who are being able ministers. I would remind those who do that of 2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

It is important that we study the Bible, as a born-again believer, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth (Jn 16:13) that we be not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine by the slight of men (Eph 4:14). So much false teaching is on TV and in the churches today that we cannot wonder why when we ask people if they are saved, if they were to die, or if Jesus was to come back today if they would go to heaven that they give an answer about the way they are trying to live or the things they do or don't do. This is including church members who attend church on a regular basis and claim to be Bible believing Christians, not just those who have at one time or another been a church member (and been baptized) or went to a church service but only go once in a while if at all. Neither is it any wonder when you tell people that it is Jesus and in him only that we are saved that they ask you if you don't believe what the Bible says, or that you are then saying that you can't believe this or that verse in the Bible and you are labelled as a heretic. It is also important for people in the church to know if what they are believing is right or wrong, and if they are putting their dependence in wrong beliefs they are going to be in for a surprise. God brought me to a point that let me know where I was placing my real trust in order for me to be saved. It was what I was doing, which would include what I was not doing, that I was really depending on and I didn't realize it. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Mat 7:22-23

People think that by saying that it is by grace we are saved and not of works lest any man should boast (Paraphrasing Eph 2:8-9) that you are giving people a license to sin. The apostle Paul was probably having that presented to him when he said what he did in Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

If someone reads this, will it make a difference in their life, or will they write me off as a heretic and a complete idiot? I don't know, but I pray it will be the former and not the latter.