Avoiding Deceptive Theories

If you hear a “biblical truth” with or without scripture, do you readily accept it based on the person’s credibility?

God’s answer: Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 1 John 4:1

I love the protection that our spiritual team, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit provide. There is no guesswork or complexities in the Plan of Salvation.

When I became committed to studying the Bible, I attended a seminar at our church on how to study for spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with God. The most important step we should take before studying: Pray for forgiveness of sin, and ask to be anointed with the Holy Spirit for complete understanding and wisdom. 

There is a deceptive theory [false teaching] that has saturated social media: The wicked will burn forever in hell as God and the righteous watch their suffering. This concept is not in the scriptures. Why are individuals readily accepting the lie as God’s character? Satan has promoted God as unloving and unfair simply because he rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. We must also perform a self-evaluation. Has someone committed a grevious act against us and we desire that they pay for hurting us?

The link with scriptures that support destruction of the wicked and the earth by fire: https://www.openbible.info/topics/god_will_destroy_earth_by_fire

There is nothing new in this world. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9. The early churches also had their challenges. Some new believers practiced pagan rituals and beliefs before they accepted Jesus Christ. Although they received God’s commands not to worship other gods, they attempted to live as Christian believers and continue to practice paganism, which led to chaos and confusion. Study the Apostle Paul’s writings to learn how he addressed the challenges of wayward teachings and practices.

The Apostle Paul’s warning to Timothy: For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

I was also a victim for many years, believing that God was the “Great Punisher.” I was taught in a prior life that if we committed the slightest mistake, we were doomed to eternal hellfire. But then God revealed himself to me. I read John 3:16 repeatedly. I received the assurance that God loved us so much that He gave Jesus, His only Son, to suffer, bleed, and die for us. And the story doesn’t end there; Jesus was resurrected and now serves as our Heavenly Intercessor. We can receive the reward of eternal life if we choose. “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.” Revelation 22:12. Hallelujah!

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.…John 3:16-17

Our struggle is real. “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Make a covenant vow to faithfully serve and obey God. Yes, your life will change. You will have the confidence that God will protect you from all deceptive theories, false teachings and other spiritual warfare [Psalm 91]. Wonderful and miraculous things happen when we put God first!

Human Effort + Divine Intervention = A Victorious Outcome

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the whole armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the whole armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 

Prayer: God, you know what we are facing every day. We need your help to protect us from spiritual warfare. We are praying for the Holy Spirit to lead us, teach and reveal the truth as we study the Bible. We ask for discernment and wisdom that we do not sin against you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.  

© Sonya Johnson 2021