Does It Make Any Difference What One Believes?

The Religious World Is Divided Different beliefs! Different doctrines! Different practices! Different churches! Different names! Does it make any difference about any of this?

A Popular Concept Faith alone - “Just believe in the Lord” “Sincerity is all that matters” “Join the church of your choice” “Just be a good moral person” = Christian

The gospel can’t get through A Barrier To The Gospel One of The Devil’s Most Effective Tools! It Does Not Make Any Differ- ence No need to study… Issues are trivial… I Feel comfortable… I have MY church so... Any doctrine will do… Just love Christ… The gospel can’t get through

It Makes A Difference What One Believes Will the “it doesn’t make a difference” concept work in other areas? Business Health If you invest in a business Believe it to be a good investment Easily lose all your money! If you drink a glass of liquid Believe it to be water Die if it is really poison!

If One Must Believe Anything, Then It Makes A Difference God - Hebrews 11:6 Christ - John 8:21, 24 Truth - John 8:31-32; Gal. 1:6-9 Heb. 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Jn. 8:21 -Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Jn. 8:31-32 - Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Gal. 1:6-9 - I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Bible Is An Objective Standard Fixed Standard It Makes A Difference What is Believed What is written - 2 Corinthians 4:13 Oracles of God - 1 Peter 4:11 Commandments - 1 Corinthians 14:37 Word of God - 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Inspired Scriptures - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Words chosen by the Holy Spirit - 1 Cor. 2:9-13 2 Cor. 4:13 - We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 1 Pet. 4:11 - If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Cor. 14:37 - If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 1 Thess. 2:13 - For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 2 Tim 3:16-17 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 1 Cor. 2:9-13 - READ

The Difference It Makes John 8:21, 24 Does Not Believe in Christ Die in Sin Can’t go - Heaven Believes in Christ Sins Forgiven Heaven Jn. 8:21 -Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 “10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness”

Pleasure in unright. - vs. 12 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 A Lie The Truth Deceived - vs. 10 Not love truth - vs. 10 Deluded - vs. 11 Believe a lie - vs. 11 Not believe truth - vs. 12 Pleasure in unright. - vs. 12 Love the truth - vs. 10 Believe the truth - vs. 12 2 Thess. 2:10-12 - 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Perish - vs. 10 Condemned - vs. 12 Saved - vs. 10

Believing A Lie 1 Kings 13 Truth: Do not eat bread Do not drink water Do not return by the same way Lie: “Bring him back to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water” Acts 5:29 - Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Hebrews 1:1-2 - 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. - KJV God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; “We ought to obey GOD rather than men” - Acts 5:29

It Makes A Difference What One Practices If Not - We Can Do Anything! Handle Snakes As Worship Immoral Acts As Worship

Our Practice Must Be Authorized in the Word of God According to the pattern - Hebrews 8:5 In the name of the Lord - Colossians 3:17 Within the doctrine of Christ - 2 John 9 By the rule - Philippians 3:16 Heb. 5:8 - Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. Col. 3:17 - And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. 2 Jn. 9 - Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. Phil. 3:16 - Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

The Difference It Makes Our Practice Affects Our: Fellowship with God 2 John 9 Eternal Salvation Matthew 7:21-23 2 Jn. 9 - Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. Matt. 7:21-23 - 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 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? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (lawlessness).

Consequences If It Doesn’t Make Any Difference If It Does Make A Difference Doesn’t matter whether one believes or not Doesn’t make any difference whether one believes the Bible What Bible say - unimportant What God says - unimportant I need to know the truth John 8:32 I need to study & examine what I am taught Acts 17:11 I need to obey the truth 1 Peter 1:22 I need to be careful Ephesians 5:15 Jn. 8:32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Acts 17:11 - These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 1 Pet. 1:22 - Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Eph. 5:15 - See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

“…what shall we do?” Acts 2:37 Alien Sinners Must… Hear the gospel – Romans 10:17 Believe the gospel – Romans 10:10 Repent of their sins – Acts 17:30 Confess Christ before men – Matthew 10:32 Be baptized in water for the remission of sins – Acts 2:38 An Erring Child of God Must… Repent and pray – Acts 8:22 Children of God Must… Live “faithful UNTO death” - Revelation 2:10 Acts 2:36 - Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Acts 2:37 - Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart (cut to the heart), and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Rom. 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom. 10:10 - For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Acts. 17:30-31 - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Matt. 10:32 - Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Acts. 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 8:22 - Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Rev. 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.