Some religious leaders have the idea that only certain people have the right to read and pray to God in order to understand what God is saying to them through the Bible. For this reasons in some churches the Bible was kept for centuries untranslated in the language of the people. In this way religious leaders could claim to represent Christ and teach the truth without people being able to check them out. Just as Jesus said to the Pharisees, so we say to such leaders: "Hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in." (Matthew 23:13).
We do not need to have a perfect interpretation of all things in the Bible in order for God to able to speak to us through it. Those who want to do God's will shall be guided into all truth (John 7:17), step by step. We are commanded to be filled with the Word of God, and we must begin. "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Col. 3:16).
All who want to be disciples of Jesus (i.e. true Christians - see Acts 11:26) must remain in His Word. "If you remain in my word, you are my disciples indeed." (John 8:30-32; John 15:7; John 14:21,23). True believers must know what they believe and in whom. It is not just a matter of believing that Jesus existed and is somehow a saviour.
Religious leaders who tell us not to read the Bible are telling us to disobey Jesus. They cannot show that they teach all of God's Word themselves. Noble hearted people will verify the teaching of any man - even if he is an apostle - against the Scriptures (read Acts 17:11).
The Holy Spirit created the Scipture, not the Church (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20). The 4th century church merely ratified what the Holy Spirit had already written. The church has no right to modify the eternal teachings of Jesus. God has exalted His Word above all his name (Ps. 138.2). This means that the Word has the ultimate authority - not traditions of churches. Traditions can only be good when they don't contradict the Bible, and when they don't seek to replace the need for a personal dynamic relationship with God.
The Scripture is never superseded by man's tradition (Mt 15:1-9; Mk 7:8,13). Jesus condemned those who put there own traditions before the written word of God. We are commanded to test all things. (1 Thessalonians 5:21). How? By the Standard of God's Word, the Scripture. "To the law and the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20).
All church leaders and those claiming to be Christians who reject Christ's words will one day be judged according to the words of Christ which are recorded in Scripture (John 12:48)
God reveals the truth about doctrine to those who want to do his will
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Resurrections
I do not believe the doctrine you quote is correct. It probably stems from wishful thinking. If true, it takes away somewhat from the urgency of preaching the gospel, since it proposes that everyone is going to get another chance after the millenium to live a physical life and be converted.
I cannot see the Scriptural basis for this in the texts quoted. They are going way beyond Scripture.
As I read the Scripture, everybody will be resurrected, but the wicked will have a resurrection of condemnation.
John 5:28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
John 5:29 and come forth— those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
Jesus did not say - those who WILL THEN DO EVIL, to the resurrection of condemnation, but THOSE WHO HAVE DONE EVIL.
Yes, it is sad that so much deception plagues the church. Our only defense is to trust Christ, and then major on the doing the majors - prayer, listening to God's Word for ourselves, talking about Christ, loving the brethren and those outside.
Interpreting the Bible...Many denominations
This is my story:
I am a born-again Christian, have been for many years. Throughout my life the fruits were in contradiction to what I believed. Throughout my journey, especially as of recently, I discovered a deadly, but blessed truth! While attending many different denominations, watching Christian TV, reading Christian books and hearing the WORD in various versions I started to have doubt! Not doubting the Word of God, but doubted what I was being taught, the interpretations. I stopped going to church because every denomination claimed to be the TRUE CHURCH. I was seeing and hearing what the Bible teaches us in contradiction. I was so frustrated. I decided to research different websites. This can be dangerous too. You know, I have already counted 4 stories about the RAPTURE alone? Saturday IS the Sabbath. Easter and Christmas are not scriptural etc....Everything that I thought was to be of the truth was a great big lie! My future fiancee and I were reading the bible. I grew up with the KJV just like him but I switched over to the NIV because the last church I belonged to used it. While reading the bible while listening to it on my CD's we noticed the words in our bibles were different. I figured it was just that my bible made the meaning a little easier to understand. Now here comes the fun....I took out the trusty concordance and now the words were different in meaning. I felt like I didn't have the Holy Spirit living within me and I was depressed. I didn't give up. I know the WORD is perfect, but why am I suddenly questioning everything. You may think I was being condemned by satan...on the contrary, The Holy Spirit was teaching me. Bring me toward Jesus and to remove the scales from my eyelids. I decided to look for the bible in Hebrew...It gets better....I don't read it! I started to learn God's language. The OT was written in Hebrew. Its a work in progress for sure. Its been a journey for me. I have learned so much form the Holy Spirit over these several months. Why all of a sudden? Because the Lord doesn't want me to be deceived. Satan had made me believe a lie, but I chose at the time not to seek and search the truth for myself. I am accountable for myself to The Lord. He doesn't want to hear His child state, "The devil made me do it"! I'd be like Eve. I am truly blessed. I shared my story with you because I know The Lord put in on my heart to do so. To show many here that their struggle in knowing the truth that they are not alone. READ YOUR BIBLE. God commands us to check what we hear. If we don't, we end up interpreting the WORD the way we want it to read. Thus ending up like all the other confused Christians out there. I have been to so many different churches and they all have fallen short of what the EARLY CHURCH was preaching. Paganism has entered, false doctrine has been intertwined with the TRUTH. Its hard to find a church these teaches the true doctrine of the early church. I did happen to read about a church in my area that worships on Saturday. they also claim to teach what the early church taught. But there was one thing I noticed there as well....(I never heard of this before):
The Resurrections
We believe that the only hope of eternal life for mortal humans lies in the resurrection through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We believe that at the return of Jesus Christ a resurrection to spirit life will take place for all who have been God's faithful servants. We believe that, after Jesus Christ has ruled on earth for 1,000 years, there will be a resurrection to physical life of the vast majority of all people who have ever lived. We believe that, after these people have had an opportunity to live a physical life, if they become converted they, too, will receive eternal life. We also believe that those who reject God's offer of salvation will reap eternal death (1 Corinthians 15:19, 42-52; Acts 23:6; John 5:21-29; Romans 6:23; 8:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Revelation 20:4-5, 11-15; John 3:16; Matthew 25:46).
Is it me or does this not seem right?
Everything else that I have read seems to be correct, except for this. I omit the name of the church because I am not here to throw stones. I know every church has its flaw. I haven't attended this church as of yet. I am still researching.
I want to add here that I have enjoyed this website and may it continually bless those who are mature in Christ and those who are new to the faith. Its a gift to have a relationship with Jesus and not belong to a religion.
Amen to all! I look forward to all the comments and support of my story. May all the Glory be given to Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
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