The Bible is how we know about Jesus

Recently, I heard of talk about the emerging church. It seems when people try to explain what it is, they’re talking about a new set of doctrines apart from God’s Word as if it just happened in this day.

But in 610 A.D., and again in 1830, there were emerging religions and this is still going on today. There have been many false religions started in the last century.

The Word of God is God’s word; holy men of God inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote the Bible. Faith to believe God’s word is the very essence of being born again. In fact, it is impossible to be a Christian if you don’t believe in the Word of God.

If one says the Bible is just a book, then why would one believe in Jesus Christ as savior and believe of God rising from the dead?

A confession of being a Christian without belief does not make one a Christian.

There are many emerging religions today. There are churches filled with people who are living in sexual sin and their leaders condone and encourage this kind of lifestyle. People are comfortable in these churches for a season. But God doesn’t change. What was an abomination when Lot turned his back on Sodom and Gomorrah is still an abomination today. When the Word of God is preached, the gospel should lead us toward the light, it corrects us.

God’s word tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God and that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Hearing what? The word of God, not man’s ideas.

The fact is, when a Christian continues to quote the Word of God and believe it; God will perform what he says. So speak life.

When one speaks the opposite of God’s word, you get over into the adversary’s territory. What one hears should line up with the Word of God. If it doesn’t line up, throw it out. Faith-filled words bring life, while words of doubt and unbelief bring darkness and unbelief. People don’t receive Christ as their Savior without first hearing and believing in Jesus’ saving grace, and that is only possible through those who bring God’s word forward.

Romans 10:9- 10 says: “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved … and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Confession of Jesus by itself does not bring salvation; we must believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior and believe that God raised him from the dead.

There it is; making Jesus Lord and Savior, believing God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, Jesus’ blood redeemed all mankind from sin, only believe. Without Jesus’ blood atonement there would be no eternal salvation, and without believing God’s word — all of it — there would be no way man would know of that blood redemption through Jesus Christ.

God never changes, nor does the Word of God. Man cannot change God’s word; God’s word is there to change the heart of men through Jesus Christ.

In the word of God, the epistles from Acts to Jude are the letters to the church today. Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels are expounded on and fulfilled in the epistles, they are not a separate set of doctrine.

The Bible is God’s word unchangeable, but some people want to change it. They want to reject what they don’t want and embrace what they choose to accept. Some deny the Trinity, reject any spiritual authority (the local shepherd, pastors) and they say their sexual sin is OK.

When the church is Raptured and the antichrist is revealed, he will start his own emerging religion and it will be more deadly than ever before. Don’t be fooled if teachings don’t line up with the Word of God, throw it out.

If you are a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit abiding in you, be sensitive to that still small voice.

One thing about God’s word: if it doesn’t seem to be working in your life, don’t try to change it; instead, you yourself change to comply with his word,

God’s word says to walk in love, do it! If you are in sexual sin, get out of it and repent, don’t go and find a church that condones that kind of lifestyle. Don’t throw away eternal salvation because someone says what you want to hear.

We are here, but a short breath in the timeline of eternity make the right choice. Choose Jesus. You get to know him by his word, the Bible.

Lavon Barve works with Cup of Life Ministry in Wasilla.

Opinions expressed on the Faith page are the author’s and are not necessarily those of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, its staff or its parent company, Wick Communications Co. To submit a column or other news for the Faith page, send email to news@frontiersman.com, or call 352-2268.