This will be the first of many on this topic. To make one full length post would be too lengthy. Initially I want to discuss discernment, distinguishing between the gospel (Christianity) vice a man made religion (prosperity gospel, LDS, Islam, etc).

Now to confront the elephant in the room, the whole premise this page is established on. If a person claims Christianity as their belief system, the primary distinguishing belief is salvation through Christ by grace alone. Period. Not grace plus works. Not “some higher power”. Not Muhammad. Not Enlightenment. The different schools of thought go on. If you believe in the Bible in its entirety, then you must believe that Jesus is the only way to God. We don’t pick and choose what we like about it and avoid the things we don’t like. That is not the way God intended it. That is not the message the Bible conveys.

The Old Testament pointed to Christ’s coming several hundred times. That was one of the main focal points of the Old Testament believers; the coming of the Messiah. The majority of the prophecies about Christ’s coming have been fulfilled. The remaining prophecies will be fulfilled at the second coming. Christ did not come to abolish the law, but fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). The Old Testament and New Testament go hand in hand with each other. They don’t contradict each other. You can’t accept one and reject the other. That’s not the way it works. The Bible is quite clear on these subjects. You accept Christ or reject Him.

Many false teachers have arisen and corrupted the church, which we were forewarned about numerous times. It is a Christian’s responsibility to use discernment on these issues. To distinguish good teachings from blasphemous and heretical teachings.

John 14:4-13 – And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Jesus didn’t say “If you believe in a higher power and reject me, you’ll be saved”. It is perfectly clear here as well as throughout scripture. Jesus Christ was the Messiah prophesied about in the Old Testament. He was God in the flesh. God with us; (Immanuel). He is the only way to the Father. This is one of the essentials of the Christian faith. The deity of Christ, the trinity, and salvation by grace alone (through Christ) (all straight from the Bible, in black and white) are essentials and what distinguishes Christianity from all other world religions. A Christian should stand firm on this foundation and not be led astray from all the false teachings. They should research what they are taught and take it to the scriptures to see if it matches up, or contradicts it, not just accept an empty, worldly message.

Galatians 1:6-9 –  I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 – But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

2 Peter 2:1-3: But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Jude 1:3-4 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

This is very important for self professed believers of Christ, especially young believers. There are unfortunately many people in the church, even leaders who aren’t teaching the message God intended from His Holy word. It is up to the believer to distinguish between truth and lies. To let the Spirit and the word of God lead them, not some other person. Much more on this later. To be continued……