Thread: Beliefs of Religious Cults & True Christian Denominations
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Beliefs of Religious Cults & True Christian Denominations
Posted : 11 Aug, 2011 09:19 PM
All Religions Lead to God...
This is a common misconception because the fact is that Biblical Christianity is absolutely unique in comparison to every other religion and philosophy found in the world. In the first instance Christianity is not even a religion, rather it is a faith in a person, Jesus Christ. In fact Christianity is unique in many ways:
1.Only in the Bible do we find that God is revealed as the only true eternal, personal Creator of the universe and everything in it.
2. Christianity alone centres around the life and work of one person � Jesus Christ � his birth, death, resurrection and his second coming. Other religions base their beliefs on the teaching�s of individuals rather than their actions.
3. Only Jesus Christ has conquered death � humankind�s greatest fear. The founder of every religion in the world went to the grave and stayed there. Christ�s tomb is empty and His resurrection is the most proved fact in history! Only God Himself could have that power. Christ said: �I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the father except through me.� (John 14:6)
4. All other religions teach that we can earn our way into heaven by following rules and regulations. The Bible teaches that no person can earn their way into heaven because they are just not good enough.
5. Only Jesus Christ lived a perfect and sinless life because he was God incarnate (God with skin on). He then died for the sins of people, thus offering forgiveness to anyone who accepts Him by faith. This forgiveness is free and cannot be earned, a gift offered by no other religion in the world.
How do we differentiate between all the different cults and denominations?
It is no surprise that many people looking for the truth concerning life are put off because of the religious situation in our country today. Hundreds of denominations and sects and cults, new age movements, Eastern mysticism etc. Biblical Christianity universally judges false cults and denominations on the following three criteria: The Bible, Christ, and how to attain salvation.
Their attitude towards the Bible
The Bible claims time and again to be the Word of God, which is much different than it containing words about God. The former is the claim of true Christianity. God�s word is also final and complete so much so that the Bible ends with this warning to us:
�I warn anyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.� (Revelation 22:18, 19)
Now cultists are usually guilty of adding to the Word of God by suggesting that their leaders have more information than is found in the Bible and that the Bible does not contain all we need to know about God and what he expects from us.
Liberals, on the other hand, take away from the word of God by suggesting that some of it is not true and that it is only correct in part.
Their attitude towards Jesus Christ
True Christian teachers will proclaim that Jesus Christ is fully man, yet fully God. The Bible gives us a clear warning about this: �Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist.� (1 John 2:22)
Again in 2 John: 7 we are told: �Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.�
Any person or religious group who deny Christ�s humanity, deity, virgin birth, sinless life, resurrection and ascension, should be rejected out of hand.
Their attitude towards salvation: Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us what we contribute to our salvation: �For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith � and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God � not by works, so that no-one can boast.�
All false religions teach that we can earn our salvation by doing good deeds or by other means. Only true biblical Christianity teaches that all people are helplessly lost in their sin and can do nothing to get themselves to heaven. Eternal life is ours for free if we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ!
�If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!� (Galatians 1:9)
All religions do not lead to God: �Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven, given to men, by which we must be saved.� (Acts 4:12)
Beliefs of Religious Cults & True Christian Denominations
Posted : 12 Aug, 2011 03:37 PM
ET says:
All false religions teach that we can earn our salvation by doing good deeds or by other means. Only true biblical Christianity teaches that all people are helplessly lost in their sin and can do nothing to get themselves to heaven.
Eternal life is ours for free if we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ!
Mr.Nobody
ET,here you say 'Eternal life is ours for free if we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ'!
Yet MANY times in your past posts and replies, you have stated:
Posted : 31 Jul, 2011 10:43 AM
Salvation is your choice. But God has given the command that people everywhere come to repentance of their sins.
My question to you is this:
Does a person REPENT of sin and then RECIEVE/TRUST Yeshua to protect them from the wrath of GOD against sin(s).
Or does a person 'ONLY' just TRUST/RECIEVE Yeshua to protect them from the wrath of GOD against sin(s),
With repentance of sin(s) being the result of trusting Yeshua,and then 'CONVICTED'of the sin(s) by the Holy Spirit.
One is a MAN-MADE formula for ones salvation.
This formula is found NOWHERE IN SCRIPTURE.
Leaving those trusting in this formula without Repenting from UNBELIEF, to trusting Yeshua to save them.
The other is within the annuls of Scripture,to which the Triune GODHEAD gives attention and authority to.
ET;If you or anyone is able to REPENTof your sin before trusting Yeshua to save you from the wrath of GOD against sin(s),
Then why would you need Yeshua?
Remember,Works are ALWAYS the RESULT OF TRUSTING YESHUA.
Works NEVER,EVER happen to save a person.
Repentance is the WORK of the Holy Spirit within a person.
When does a person have the Holy Spirit residing within them,before or after trusting Yeshua,'AFTER'.
Gal_1:8 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.
Gal_1:9 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.
Danger Will Robinson,Danger,Danger.
Repentance of sin before trusting Yeshua,is ANOTHER gospel.
Yet it is not another Gospel,but rather a cheap imitation of the authentic.
Mar 1:14 And after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mar 1:15 and saying, The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God draws near. Repent and believe in the gospel.
Beliefs of Religious Cults & True Christian Denominations
Posted : 12 Aug, 2011 04:02 PM
John the Baptist came to prepare the Path of the Lord Jesus 1st�
Matthew 3:1~ In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2~And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3~For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Then John the Baptist preached Repentance�
Mark 1:4~ John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of �repentance� for the remission of sins.
Luke 24:47~ And that �repentance� and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem
And then Jesus 1st Preached�
Mat 4:17~ �From that time Jesus �began to preach,� and to say, [Repent:] for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Beliefs of Religious Cults & True Christian Denominations
Posted : 12 Aug, 2011 04:42 PM
Faith always proceeds the move of God in anyone's life, the faith that is as Jesus taught in his word.
Faith is among many things, a process, first one hear's the word it is man's choice, then man believes his choice, then the corresponding action is a minor picture of faith.
It was taught by the lord Jesus in the parable of the sower, and his words are this is how the whole kingdom operates, if one does not understand this they will not understand the kingdom of God.
Here is a perfect example:
Romans 4:17 � (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara�s womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 � Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
1 � Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
This is an old testament example and this man is the church's example of faith, by a man that was not born again, neither had the help of the Holy Spirit, his answer was the word of God.
Here is another old testament example:
7 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin�s name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Beliefs of Religious Cults & True Christian Denominations
Posted : 12 Aug, 2011 06:42 PM
PETROS is always translated PETER in the NT and PETRA is always translated "ROCK"
Matthew 16:15-18: Jesus asked, "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter {Petros} answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter {Petros}, and on this ROCK {Petra} I will build My Church."
It is interesting to note that "PETRA" is mentioned exactly 15 times in the NT and every time it is translated "ROCK!".
"PETROS" is mentioned exactly 155 times in the NT and every time it is translated "PETER" and is **NEVER** translated ROCK!!
And Jesus Christ is called the "ROCK" two times in the NT in I Corinthians 10:4!! In talking about the water that Israel drank for 40 years in the wilderness:
I Corinthians 4:3,4: "They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual "ROCK" that accompanied them, and that **ROCK** was CHRIST!!"
Colossians 1:18: "He {Christ} is the **HEAD** of the body, the church, He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in *EVERYTHING* He might have the supremacy."
Ephesians 5:22-25: Wives, submit you your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as *Christ* is the **HEAD** of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now the church submits to Christ , so also wives should submit to the husbands in *EVERYTHING*!"
Ephesians 1:22,23: And God placed *ALL THINGS* under His feet and appointed Him to be the **HEAD** over **EVERYTHING** for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills **EVERYTHING** in **EVERY WAY*!":applause::peace:
Beliefs of Religious Cults & True Christian Denominations
Posted : 12 Aug, 2011 08:04 PM
Justification as according to Romans chapter 3 and chapater 4, only means that upon repentace of our sins God make us imputes Hi righteousness in us and we have legal standing before Him as saints instead of sinners.
Everyone who has faith to believe in Jesus Christ is justififed becasue of what Jesus accomplished on the cross God declars the sinner absolved from his/her sins, and released from the pentaly of death, and restores us back as we were wihotu sins as children.
Anyone who comes to God and trust in Him thorugh Christ for salavtion will be/is justified.
Justification give us leagl standing before God as not guilty of our sins whne we have repented, instead of being under condemnation.
Justification was never meant to be a doctrine, and Paull never taught or preached the justification of Christ on the cross as a doctrine.
It is man who has taken God's word and His works and made man made doctrines out of them, this is why there is so much religious divide, bashing, confusion, hate, and strife among Christians beleivers... everybody preaching and teaching their own made-up doctrine of God's word ad His works... instead of preaching and teaching what God has already said He did in His word, and waht Jesus did ton the cross to recognicile man abck to God free from sin through repentance and grace, and in right standing in innocence as saints beofre God unto salavtion...
What the sacrifce in the law could not do, Christ did thorugh His sacrifice of His life on the cross as a debt paid in full by the blood.... that justification. nothng more and nothing less!
Beliefs of Religious Cults & True Christian Denominations
Posted : 12 Aug, 2011 08:40 PM
Mr.Nobody said: ET,here you say 'Eternal life is ours for free if we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ'! Yet MANY times in your past posts and replies, you have stated:
Posted : 31 Jul, 2011 10:43 AM
Salvation is your choice. But God has given the command that people everywhere come to repentance of their sins.
Ella say: George, salvation is free because God says its free becausee to everyone becasue of what Jesus did on the cross for all who repent of their sins and come by faith to Chirst, least any one should boast.
It is everyone's choice to choose to receive the free gift of salvation or reject it. And yes, God has called everyone to repentance of their sins, before its too late... man's times are in God's hands whether he live or die.
Therefore, God invites everyone and commands and desires that be saved, so we must repent of our sins daily, for we know not the time nor the hour when Jesus will come or we will die.
That's why repentance and salvation it is a urgent call, invitation, command...
Peter write this: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count/think slackness is about, but He is long suffering toward us not willing that any should perish, but that everyone should come to repentance."
Sorry, I did get the rest of your question...
Repentance unto salvation is not just for the forgiveness of sins for the sinners, it for the Chritsians as well. Savlation also means deliverance from sins, death, and whatever, not just for salavtion unto Christ.
