What is the Truth?
If there was no truth, then what is being taught today in over 30,000 religions, all differing in their doctrines, wouldn’t make any difference. ℹ️If there was only one truth, however, then that truth certainly would make a difference. Following is a list, of just some, of the half-truths that are taught and believed by people today, followed by the whole truth, which you will see does make a difference.
Accepting Jesus
The world teaches: All you need to do is accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and believe in Him to be saved.
The truth is: We must be daily doers of God’s Will to be saved (Matt. 7:21; 1 John 2:17). We must keep Jesus Christ’s words by putting them into action daily in our lives (Luke 6:46) to receive salvation and never see death, so says Jesus Christ, who does not lie (John 8:51).
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Works or no works
The world teaches: A salvation without works message.
The truth is: Repentance requires a life of doing good for God for repentance if we are to receive the free gift of salvation. Let’s say it like it is. Jesus’ faith had works of righteousness. He glorified the Father in heaven by these works of righteousness that He did daily to please the Father. He instructed those who would follow Him and be His true disciples to do the same (Matt. 5:16). These works are to be done by practicing righteousness or acts of love daily towards others for God (Matt. 6:1; 25:40). This is how to love your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus came to show us how to do the Will of His Father daily on this earth as it is being done in heaven (Matt. 6:10). This Will of God is righteousness that we do daily for others for the glory of the Father. God’s Will represents God’s Ways, and all God’s Ways are righteous (Psalm 145:17). When Jesus resurrects all who are in their graves, only those who had good works will come to a resurrection of eternal life (John 5:29; Rom. 2:7). Doesn’t it seem weird that the world’s ministers teach salvation cannot be earned by good works, discouraging the many from having any good works for repentance by this false incomplete teaching?
The world teaches: You are saved by grace through faith, and not a result of works, that anyone should boast. This is true, but only half true, and not the complete message. The world quotes Ephesians 2:8-9, omitting verse 10. This omission makes the subject of works incomplete.
The truth is: The Apostle Paul wrote in such a way that many of the untaught and unstable would distort his writings, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:15-16). Ephesians 2:8-9 is a prime example. Ephesians 2:10 states we were created for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Repentance requires a life of good works, as Jesus gave us example of (Acts 26:20).
Also, Titus 3:5-7 is quoted out of context by many to discourage doing good works, when verse 8 specifically states that true ministers of God are to constantly remind those who say they believe in God to be careful to engage in good works. Titus 3:14 and 2:7, 14 are proof that the book of Titus is, literally, a book that encourages those who follow Jesus Christ to be rich in good works for God. Titus 1:16 talks about those who are traveling the religious broad way that leads to destruction. They remain worthless for good works for God and as a result, continue to live detestable and disobedient lives before God. Jesus was zealous for good deeds for the glory of the Father and this is what He commanded those who would follow Him to do (Matt. 5:16; Titus 2:14). If you don’t or won’t do this, you deny Jesus Christ in your life.
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Born again
The world says: You must be born again, quoting John 3:3. This is true, but only half true, because the explanation of how to be born again is not taught.
The truth is: You must practice righteousness toward others daily as Jesus Christ told us to do, or you will not be born again. Read these Scriptures to see what the Lord says; 1 John 2:29; 3:7-10; 3 John 11; Acts 9:36.
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Automatic righteousness
The world teaches: When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and believe in Him, you will just automatically do these works of righteousness as a result of your belief or faith.
The truth is: The Apostle Paul instructed his ministers to constantly remind people to engage in a life of doing good works for God (Titus 3:8) and this is something they would have to learn to do (Titus 3:14; Is. 1:16-20). We are to provoke one another to more love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24). The word provoke here means to go against your nature. The Apostle Paul had to discipline himself daily for the purpose of godliness so he wouldn’t be a hypocrite (1 Cor. 9:27; 1 Tim. 4:7). Does this sound like it comes naturally, or was the Apostle Paul fighting the good fight of faith by fighting his evil human nature and resisting Satan daily (1 Tim. 1:18)?
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Overcoming
The world teaches: Nothing concerning the subject of overcoming.
The truth is: We must overcome to be saved (Rev. 2:7). Why? Because overcoming is how we repent. We overcome by keeping and performing daily the deeds that Jesus came here to show us. We must endure, keeping them, and stay true to Jesus right up to the end of our lives in order to be saved (Rev. 2:26). If only those who overcome will not be hurt in the second death, then what will happen to those precious people who are searching for God in all the wrong places who have never even heard of the message of overcoming (Rev. 2:11)? If overcoming is required to be a disciple of Jesus Christ or your name is erased from the book of life, doesn’t it stand to reason that there is more to the watered-down salvation message than the world is being told by those who are spiritually blind (Rev. 3:5; Matt. 15:14)? Look at all the Scriptures on overcoming that are left out of this world’s message of salvation: Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 5:5; 21:7.
Jesus was righteous. He came to show us how to live righteously and be righteous like He was. To be righteous, you must do acts of righteousness toward others for God (Matt. 25:40), using your body as an instrument of righteousness for God as Jesus did and gave us example to do (Rom. 6:13). We are to live like Dorcas did, who was abounding with deeds of kindness toward others, which she continually did (Acts 9:36). We purify ourselves and allow the Lord to change us by always being zealous for doing good (Titus 2:7, 14; 1 Peter 3:13).
This is how we overcome the evil one in our lives—by continually doing good for others (Psalm 34:14; 37:27; 1 Peter 3:11; Rom. 12:21; Rev. 2:26). The fear of the Lord is to seek God and show Him respect by doing good daily (Rom. 3:10-12). This is how to show God reverence daily (Psalm 34:9-14). Now, if it is with great difficulty that the righteous people we have just mentioned are saved (1 Peter 4:18), you know the world has not heard the true message of the gospel; but now you have. Now you know how to overcome. You have been told how it’s done daily.
God’s word says we are to put to death the evil deeds of the body with His Spirit daily if we are to live forever (Rom. 8:13-14). If we walk by the Spirit, we will not carry out the evil desires of the body, says Galatians 5:16. Walking by the Spirit means keeping God’s Ways. Walk with God like Enoch walked. Keep Jesus Christ’s words, and if you keep them, that means you do them or perform them in your life daily (Luke 6:46; John 8:31). How many people do you know or have you met who have crushed the flesh with its evil passions and desires and fulfilled Galatians 5:24? Now you know how to fulfill this Scripture in your life, and have no more excuse for your sins (John 15:22; Heb. 10:26-27).
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Should you join the church of your choice?
The world says: You must go to church. Yet there are 30,000 different churches teaching differing doctrines. That’s religious confusion. That’s Babylon!
The truth is: Christ is the church and the body of believers who live like Jesus Christ gave them example to live are that church. They are overcoming their evil natures like Jesus gave them example to do. Shocking as it may seem, Jesus came to start a spiritual church. Everyone who belongs to that spiritual church must live a spiritual life for Jesus every day, by overcoming like Jesus Christ their example told them to do (Rev. 3:21). Jesus Christ’s body is the church and that body is now spiritual so the gates of hell cannot prevail against it (Col. 1:24; Matt. 16:18). Jesus is the Rock on which the true church was founded. Peter’s name only meant pebble or small stone in Matthew 16:18 (see margin). Remember always, Jesus is the Rock. Peter is the pebble.
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Can you lose your salvation?
The world teaches: Once saved always saved.
The truth is: Only the one who endures to the end keeping Jesus Christ’s words, works and deeds, and does God’s Will on this earth daily, will be saved (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; 2 Tim. 2:12; Mark 13:13).
The world teaches: You cannot lose your salvation.
The truth is: God’s word continually admonishes His disciples to do what is right so they won’t fall away from the faith and lose their salvation (Rev. 2:5). In 2 Peter 2:21-22 it mentions that those who fall away from the “Way of righteousness” that Jesus lived would be like dogs going back to their own vomit. God’s word says if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, we are done for (Heb. 10:26-27).
The goats mentioned in Matthew 25:41-46 knew to do good for God by serving others in need daily and keeping themselves from a life of sin, unstained by the world, but they heard this message of righteousness and wouldn’t obey it (James 1:27). They never became happy and blessed doers of God’s word, yet they were deluding themselves like so many today, thinking they were saved, when in fact, according to God’s word, they were not (James 1:22). Only the doers are blessed in this life and saved in the next (James 1:23-25; Rom. 2:6-8). The hearers, who know or have heard this truth and have been given ears to understand it but do not obey it, go where the goats go—the lake of fire (Matt. 25:41).
Why would the example of Lot’s wife be in God’s word, if not to warn followers of Jesus Christ of their fate, should they turn back to the ways of the world or the ways of the flesh (Luke 9:62; 17:32-33)? Jesus says that if His servant turns back to his old ways he will be cut in pieces, not saved (Matt. 24:50-51). It is amazing that such erroneous doctrines of men (like you cannot lose your salvation) can be taught and never questioned by the majority, who willingly remain deceived because they won’t study God’s word daily for the truth like the Bereans did (Acts 17:11). They are following man and not God and God’s word.
In God’s word, it mentions that Jesus’ true followers tested those who called themselves ministers, and found many to be liars (Rev. 2:2). We need to follow this example by knowing God’s word.
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Are you going to heaven when you die?
The world teaches: You go to heaven or hell when you die.
The truth is: God’s word says your body returns to dust and your soul sleeps. When Jesus resurrects all who are in their graves, only those who had good works will come to a resurrection of eternal life (John 5:29). Doesn’t it seem weird that the world teaches salvation cannot be earned by good works, discouraging the many from having any good works by this false incomplete teaching, when Jesus will give eternal life only to those who had good works? King David knew he would be sleeping in the grave (Psalm 17:15). Jesus’ disciples knew that King David did not ascend to heaven when he died (Acts 2:34). They knew that David and his grave were still there in the ground to that day (Acts 2:29).
In the oldest book in the Bible, the book of Job, it states, “So a man lies down and does not rise until the heavens be no more. The dead will not awake or be aroused from their sleep” (Job 14:12). Job knew the Lord would call him from his grave (Job 14:14) just like Jesus said He would (John 5:28-29). All you need do is look up “sleep” in a Bible concordance to find that the soul sleeps.
So, you don’t go to heaven when you die. That’s just another pagan lie. Jesus said Himself that no man has ascended to heaven except Himself (John 3:13). Was He lying? Jesus is the only one at this time who has immortality (1 Tim. 6:16). You must admit, if the pagan teaching that you go to heaven when you die was true, then why would we need a resurrection? Everyone would be immortal already, wouldn’t they? You now have read the truth from God’s word. Many have been deceived.
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Pagan holidays do not honor God
The world teaches: The keeping of ancient, pagan customs such as Christmas, Easter and Halloween.
The truth is: Just because the names have been changed, that does not make the festivals holy or honorable. The truth about these pagan customs is readily available and easily found. Matter of fact most major newspapers have printed articles about their pagan origins at one time or another. The truth about the origins and the meaning behind the symbolism is frankly astonishing, being it goes so blatantly against God’s word. One thing that God hated (other than the making of statues for religious reasons and praying to the dead, who cannot hear—Deut. 4:15-16; 27:15) was when His people worshiped Him with pagan festivals. Our God, who never changes, told His people anciently not to inquire of the pagans as to how they worshiped their pagan gods, and then worship the one Lord, the true God, with pagan holidays (Deut. 12:30-31; 7:5; Lev. 18:30, 20:23).
Easter origins: The word ‘Easter’ is actually derived from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre. She is identified with the Babylonian fertility goddess Ishtar. The symbols of eggs, rabbits and even the Easter egg hunt with colored eggs, all stem from celebrating this goddess of fertility. Everything from Easter lilies, Easter ham, hot cross buns and sunrise service all have pagan origins. Doing your own research will confirm this easily and reveal what this holiday is all about.
Christmas origins: There is no decree in the Bible to commemorate the birth of Christ, and nowhere in the Bible does it give the day of His birth. As most major newspapers report every year, Jesus was not born on December 25th, however, you will find other pagan gods celebrated on that very day in history. Bible scholars have argued He most likely was born in the Fall, some say in the Spring. The Companion Bible explains more about how this is calculated. The pagan custom of Christmas actually originated with the Roman festival ‘Feast of Saturnalia’. Look that up and you will be shocked what was involved. All the symbolism of Christmas has pagan origins as well; the tree, yule log, mistletoe and Santa Claus. You will be quite surprised at the information you can so easily find on the pagan origins of this holiday. There is nothing about it that honors God and He is not honored by celebrating it in His name. Again, these are abominable customs to God (Lev. 18:30; 20:23). In Jeremiah 10:2-4 (KJV) it says; Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
Halloween origins: It is not hard to understand why this holiday does not honor God. Again, do a little research as to its origins, and what actually happens on this night around the world, and it is shocking. It is considered a ‘high day’ of those in the Wiccan religion. Just read Deuteronomy 18:9-13; When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. How can someone who wants to honor God justify celebrating this day with their children?
No wonder Jesus Christ shouts from the Scriptures, “In vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men (Mark 7:7). Remember, you cannot add to God’s word or take away from it. Many are so deeply deceived today and they don’t even care (Jer. 4:22). These pagan teachings are Babylonian teachings that we are to come out of (Rev. 17:5; 18:4). Those who seek the Lord are told not to learn the way of the heathens (Jer. 10:2-5). Today, people are doing what is right in their own eyes, like their forefathers did, instead of obeying God’s word (Deut. 12:8; Is. 65:2; Jer. 16:12). Well meaning Christians have been deceived. It is time to make a stand for Jesus and be a good witness to His holy name. You cannot mix pagan festivals with true worship of the Lord God Almighty (1 Cor. 10:21-22).
Wine and strong drink
The world teaches: Disciples of Jesus Christ should not drink wine or strong drink.
The truth is: The Lord gave permission for the Israelites to buy wine or strong drink (Deut. 14:26). God’s word says we should drink our wine with a cheerful heart (Eccl. 9:7). Wine makes a man’s heart glad (Psalm 104:15). God’s word instructs us to give a strong drink to those who are dying and wine to those who are sorrowful (Prov. 31:6). Wine was to be consumed for health reasons (1 Tim. 5:23). Jesus made 180 gallons of wine from water as one of His first miracles (John 2:6-10). Jesus will be serving aged wine at the wedding supper (Is. 25:6-8). God Himself even enjoys wine (Judges 9:13). The fruit of the vine mentioned in Matthew 26:29 was wine, as Jews were commanded by God to use wine for the Passover (Lev. 23:12-13). Jesus drank wine (Matt. 11:19 see margin note) and that is the simple truth!
God even prophesied in His word that false ministers would speak against the use of wine and liquor, and people would make them their ministers or spokesmen (Micah 2:11). How dare people speak against what God has allowed in His word. They have added to the word their traditions which make their worship of God in vain (Mark 7:7). As with all things, the drinking of wine and strong drink should be done in moderation. Read the Scriptures below:
Ephesians 5:18 - And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.
Romans 13:13 - Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
1 Corinthians 6:10 - nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
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Clean and unclean foods—has it been abolished?
The world teaches: The distinction between the clean and unclean animals has been done away with. You can now eat mice, moles, cats, dogs, bats, rats, skunks, poisonous spiders, snakes, worms, lizards, etc.
The truth is: The Apostle Peter, after he had been fully trained by Jesus Christ for over three years, said in Acts 10:14, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy or unclean.” Peter was very perplexed over what the vision of the sheet meant with all the unclean animals on it. It was then revealed to him by the Lord that the Jews were no longer to consider the Gentiles unclean, because the Lord was going to call them and reveal to them also that one truth that saves (Acts 10:28). The vision did not mean everything was clean to eat now, as Satan’s false ministers proclaim. The clean and unclean laws were still kept by the Jews of Israel as well as Jesus and the twelve apostles.
Jesus’ disciples were also warned not to eat the blood of an animal or an animal that was strangled with the blood in it (1 Sam. 14:33; Acts 15:20). This proves that prohibition of unclean meats and blood were still in effect. The New Testament says touch not the unclean thing in 2 Corinthians 6:17. Corrupt Bible translators even took the liberty to add to the sacred gospel of Jesus Christ by adding the phrase: “Thus Jesus declared all meats clean” (Mark 7:19). This was not in the original manuscripts, neither is it found in the King James Bible. It was added by corrupt translators. Clean and unclean fish are used as a parable by our Lord in Matthew 13:48, which corresponds with Leviticus 11:9-12.
In 1 Timothy 4:4-5 (see KJV) God’s word says that everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude & prayer. Then it goes on to say it is sanctified or set apart in God’s word—in Leviticus 11 is where it is sanctified. God does not want you to hurt yourself by drinking or eating the blood of an animal which is unclean, just as much as you shouldn’t eat what comes out of the back of a cow (Deut. 12:23-25). That’s unclean, too. The blood is part of the sewer system of the cow. Remember always, Jesus does not change (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8; Matt. 5:17-19).
In a prophecy in Isaiah 66:15-17 concerning the return of the Lord in the last days, Jesus says eating swine meat or pig is the same as eating mice. He calls eating bacon, ham or any part of a hog “detestable” (Is. 65:4)! Oh, how those who seek God have been led astray today by those who teach them, error upon error (Lev. 11:7).
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Religious clothing
The world teaches: Ministers of the world are to stand before their congregations wearing religious robes.
The truth is: God condemned His ministers from wearing religious looking robes when they stood before their congregations. They were not to make themselves look more religious or holy than the people they were preaching to. In short, they were not to transmit holiness by the way they dressed (Ezek. 44:19).
The pagan priests of Baal always wore religious robes. They wore these robes to deceive the people into thinking they were more holy than the people they preached to. They wanted to be looked up to and respected by men, so they could receive honor as being holy men. It worked then as it still works today. They have deceived the people by “transmitting holiness” to the people with the way they appear in their robes of deception. When Jesus Christ returns, He will not allow these people to put on robes to deceive people any longer (Zech. 13:4).
Crosses
The world teaches: To revere the cross and call it holy.
The truth is: The cross is the oldest of pagan symbols in the world. It predates Christianity by thousands of years. There are books on crosses in your public library that prove their origin is pagan and show what they were really used for in ancient civilizations. One such book is The History of Crosses.
Webster’s Dictionary says, anything that is used as a religious reminder is an idol. The Bible talks about not making for yourself any graven image. A graven image is defined as a carved idol or representation of a god used as an object of worship. Read this several times, thinking of things that may be idols in your life. Read Deuteronomy 4:15-19 and see how many of these items are used as religious reminders and symbols, then remove them from your life.
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Grace
The world says: You are saved by grace, through faith, not of yourselves. It is the gift of God.
The truth is: The above statement is true, but only half true. What many do not realize is the Apostle Paul wrote some of the things he wrote, in a hard-to-understand way so he would trip up those who were false teachers, who were not called or taught by God personally. These untaught and unstable people would distort the true gospel to their own destruction. The Apostle Peter knew what Paul was doing and he mentioned it in 2 Peter 3:16.
You are born by grace, you continue to live by grace, and when the time comes for you to be called by grace, then you must respond to that calling. God doesn’t need you, but you need God. God calls you to hear His truth either by opening your mind and drawing you with His Spirit, or by sending one of His servants to wherever you may be (John 6:44-65). Should there be no man of God around, the Lord will teach you Himself as you live for Him daily (John 6:45; 2 Tim. 2:7; 1 John 2:27). Now, the Lord Jesus is that Spirit which resides in us when we live to obey Him (1 Cor. 3:16; Acts 16:6-7). Notice while reading John 14:16-18, Jesus says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” If Jesus sends His servant, you should receive him, because when you do, you have received Jesus Christ (Matt. 10:40-42; John 13:20).
In Jesus’ day, as well as today, only those who were receiving their chance for salvation knew the mysteries of the kingdom of God (Mark 4:11; Matt. 13:11). The knowledge of this profound mystery is given to us by grace through God’s Spirit. The mystery of the kingdom of God includes the answers to the following questions:
- ℹ️What is the kingdom of God message?
- ℹ️How do you enter the kingdom of God within?
- ℹ️How do you repent?
- ℹ️How do you do God’s Will?
- ℹ️How do you overcome?
- ℹ️How do you glorify God daily?
- ℹ️How do you worship God in spirit and in truth?
- ℹ️How do you keep and perform God’s Ways?
God is not calling everyone to know His truth today, because this is not the only day of salvation (Heb. 3:7-8; Rev. 17:14). Consider these verses from God’s word: Acts 2:39, 47; 13:48; John 13:18; 5:21; Romans 11:7. When you are called by grace, God tells you the truth so that you may no longer live a disgraceful life before Him. God grants you the ability to repent, by knowing His truth, and allows you to know His Will so that you can be released from being held captive by Satan into doing his will (2 Tim. 2:26). In plain language, God allows you to know His Will so you can repent and know the truth. By knowing and living this truth, you become released from your old human nature of the flesh which represents Satan’s will, and thus you become reconciled to God by His grace (Rom. 16:20).
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Conclusion
Every minister (plant) which My heavenly Father did not send or personally train (plant) My Father shall tear up (root up) (Matt. 15:13-14). Let them alone and do not go after them (Luke 21:8). They are spiritually blind to God’s revealed truth and are leading many astray (Jer. 23:30-32). As a result, many people will be betrayed and deceived by them. This is the broad way that the majority of those who seek God have been following, so says Jesus Christ Himself in Matthew 24:5. Very few people will find the narrow way—the narrow way which is that one true way, that true gospel of Jesus Christ (Matt. 7:13-14).
Now that you have seen for yourself, some of the half-truths and lies being taught in the world and then the truth from God’s word, you can see how God wants to be worshiped. His Way is clear and narrow, without any confusion. It’s simply a matter of asking God to clearly show us that one truth and then practice it in our daily walk with Him—serving others for His glory (Matt. 5:16; 1 Peter 4:11). Take the time to educate yourself and look into these things, so that your life can be pleasing to the Lord in all respects.
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