John 8:44 records the words of Jesus, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” This verse describes the devil as having offspring who follow his lusts, who parrot his teachings. Jesus makes it clear that those who follow the lying devil, that is, those who change the truth of God into a lie (Romans 1:25), are the devil’s offspring. John 8:45-47 inform us that truth is of God and should be believed. However, some choose not to hear the truth. These are of Satan rather than God. Read 2 Thessalonians 2:9.
Elymus the sorcerer withstood Saul (Paul) and Barnabas, “seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.” (Acts 13:7, 8). “Then Saul…filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:9, 10). God’s punishment immediately followed, striking him blind for a season. (Verse 11). Read verse 10 again and again to get the import of Paul’s inspired statement to Elymus. Subtilty, Greek DOLOS, means to “decoy…trick (bait), i.e. (fig.) wile:–craft, deceit, guile, subtilty.” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible, p. 984). M.R. Vincent comments on all mischief, Greek, RHA,DIOURGIA, “readiness in turning the hand of anything, bad or good, and so, recklessness, unscrupulousness, wickedness.” He gives villany as a kin word. (Word Studies In The New Testament, p. 253). Paul, inspired of God (1 Corinthians 2), then described what Elymus has done by asking him, “Wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10). Various translations call what Elymus did as deceitful, fraudulent, crafty, villainous, and such like. (The New Testament from 26 Translations, p. 514).
Galatians 1:6-9 describes and strongly condemns even churches leaving the gospel for a false gospel. Neither angels, apostles, churches, nor any other have the right to make any changes to the inspired word of God. The condemnation of God, along with their punishment is stated clearly in the text. Additionally, compare Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18, 19. Any, therefore, should be content to “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11), and “whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,….” (Colossians 3:17). If all would follow these instructions, as Paul pled “by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10), unity would prevail, denominational divisions would cease, the prayer of Jesus would be answered, and many more would be saved. (John 17:20-23).
“The great dragon…that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan” (Revelation 12:9), our “adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8). He desires to have us (Luke 22:21), is wiley (Ephesians 6:11), fills our hearts with lies (Acts 5:3), and even quotes scripture (Matthew 4:6) in his attempt to deceive and destroy us.
Consider how some change the word of God today. Remember, the devil “is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44). Whatever man may say or do, “let God be true, but every man a liar;….” (Romans 3:4). You decide what is truth, and what is a lie. You must then decide what you must do to be saved.
Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Some deny that there was a creator, that all we see came by mindless evolution and chance. What believe and say you?
2 Timothy 3:16, 17 reads, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” Cf. 2 Peter 1:20, 21. Yet, some declare that they would rather have the feeling in their hearts to a stack of Bibles as high as the Empire State Building. Read Proverbs 14:12; 16:25; Acts 26:9. Marshall Keeble was right when he said, “The Bible is right!”, and, it sure “does shed a lot of light on them commentaries.” What say you?
Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Matthew 1:16-25 declares the fulfillment of this prophecy. In spite of such clear, concise, and certain statements and evidence, some deny the virgin birth of Jesus. Read John 8:24; Acts 8:37. Study the evidence, and decide to follow the truth.
Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Cf. Revelation 21:8; 2 Corinthians 5:1. Satan’s lies are heard from some who deny that there is sin, punishment in hell for sin, and eternity in heaven as a reward for the faithful, declaring heaven to be only “pie in the sky” for weak people. Which do you choose to follow, and why?
Matthew 16:13-19, especially, verses 18, 19, have Jesus saying, “I will build my church…the kingdom.” Some deny that Jesus built His Church, His Kingdom in spite of Acts 2:41, 47, “Added unto them about three thousand souls…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Cf. Colossians 1:13, “Translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:….” Which is truth, and which is a lie?
Jesus, in Mark 16:16, said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Some have changed this passage to say, “faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and full of comfort.” Whom did Jesus say “shall be saved”? What do you say? What is the truth?
1 Peter 3:20, 21 says, “baptism doth also now save us.” Many say, “baptism does not save anyone; just say the sinner’s prayer.” Who is right: (1) The inspired apostle Peter? OR (2) Uninspired man/woman?
Hebrews 5:8, 9 declares, that Jesus “became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” In spite of these words, some look to other “gods” or “saviors.” To whom do you turn?
Lastly, since Jesus is the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him, it is to Him that one must go to see what He required to be saved. Jews were told by Jesus, “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” (John 8:22-24). But “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17; Mark 12:29). So, we have (1) hearing the word of God, and (2) believing in Jesus and God. (Hebrews 11:6). Some were told, “”I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3, 5). Thus, one must (3) repent. Jesus also taught, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven….” (Matthew 10:32, 33; Romans 10:9, 10; Acts 8:37). Additionally, one must (4) confess Jesus before men. Jesus also taught that every believing creature in every nation was to be buried (Romans 6:1-5) in water baptism (John 3:1-5, 23; Acts 8:38, 39) to be saved (Mark 16:16), or for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), to enter the body/church/kingdom/Christ. (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:38; John 3:3, 5; Galatians 3:26, 27). Thus, (5) baptism was also a part of Jesus’ plan to save lost man. Which of the five (5) requirement(s) of Jesus may one dismiss, yet still be saved? Have you done all of these things?
Good friend, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16). Or, have I just become your best friend because I have helped you to obey the author of eternal salvation?
It Is Written 