I late heard the testimony of a adult woman who spent several years inwards a "Christian cult."(1) The get-go yr they taught things that agreed alongside traditional Christianity. But the mo year, afterward they felt their converts were committed, they began educational activity their foreign beliefs. The website of this item cult equally good leaves their foreign beliefs out of their introductory explanations. I fright nosotros Christians sometimes practice the same when nosotros state people near Christ without explaining that He calls us to deny ourselves as well as alive for His purposes, non our own...or when nosotros state people knowing Christ makes life easier.(2) Like Paul, nosotros must live on careful that "the appeal nosotros brand does non jump from fault or impure motives, nor are nosotros trying to trace a fast 1 on [anyone]." 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 The gospel is God's plan, as well as nosotros must part it accurately, fully, as well as unashamedly without tricking anyone.
------------------- (1) "Christian cults" are those that part some similar beliefs alongside mainstream Christianity simply give equal or greater weight to non-biblical beliefs as well as present-day prophets. The give-and-take "cult" inwards this illustration does non hateful a grouping that brainwashes or forces people to practice things against their will. The 2 most well-known Christian cults are Mormonism as well as Jehovah's Witnesses.
To read more: Is Mormonism a Cult? What is Mormonism? Weird Things Mormons Believe written past times sometime Mormons. Jehovah's Witnesses inwards a Nutshell, Who are the Jehovah's Witnesses?
(2) It's truthful that trusting Christ gives us an internal peace as well as joy. But it equally good involves self-denial. And it tin convey persecution as well as attacks from Satan.
Bible Love Notes
The mention of Jesus is powerful, but entirely if the mention reflects the Jesus of the Bible. As a fellow member of the Trinity (Father, Son, too Holy Spirit), Jesus has a specific role, but all 3 Persons of the Godhead operate together every bit ONE God. Jesus shares the same character, goals, too attitudes every bit the Father too the Spirit. Jesus is Creator, non created.(1) Jesus is equal to Father too Spirit, non inferior.(2) Jesus is God who became man, non human being who became God.(3) Scripture tells us that 1 sign of a cult or faux religious belief is denial of the truthful Jesus (1 John 4:1-6). We should live on aware of groups who believe inwards a “different Jesus” – non the Jesus of the Bible.(4) Why? So nosotros tin discern their errors too larn how to witness to them most the truthful Jesus. Some who believe inwards a faux Jesus: * Muslims – Why Muslims Can’t Believe Jesus Was a Prophet See also: Islam too the Crucifixion of Jesus * Mormons (LDS) – When Angels Tell Lies See also: What Mormonism Teaches most Jesus * Jehovah Witnesses: JW Beliefs * Church of the Almighty God
* Mid-Acts Dispensationalism
* Baha’i: Is Jesus a Prophet or God? * Christian Science (it is neither Christian nor science) * Unity School of Christianity * United Church of God (Armstrongism) Note: The United Church of God is an offshoot of Herbert Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God, a cult that formerly published The Plain Truth magazine, which was neither patently nor truth. However, inwards 2009, the leaders of the Worldwide Church of God look to convey adopted accurate Christian doctrine too changed their mention to Grace Communion International. (source) List of Additional Cults (search the mention on the website for consummate information). -------------------------- (1) See Is Jesus the Creator? (2) Jesus is inwards submission to the Father inwards for certain areas, but submission does non hateful He is less of import or whatsoever less God than the Father. Jesus never stopped beingness God when He came to earth, but He chose to temporarily trammel Himself during His fourth dimension on earth. Biblical submission is never most worth: Children are commanded to submit themselves to their parents, too wives are commanded to submit to their husbands, but this has cypher to create amongst their value or worth. It is a component God designed. See Philippians 2:5-11 too How Can There live on Subordination inwards the Trinity? (3) See The Hypostatic Union (Jesus every bit both God too Man), Did Jesus Claim to live on God?, How is Jesus the Son of God?, Why Did Jesus Say the Father is Greater?, How Could Jesus Pray to God?, Why Didn’t Jesus Know When He Would Return? (4) Scripture warns of people preaching a “different Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:4). See also: Test Whether You Have the True Jesus
Recently I got an electronic mail from a “christian cult” member. He called me a liar because I said Jesus is God. I operate the term “christian cult” to designate groups that operate the Bible every bit business office of their fake doctrine.(1) It’s interesting how Satan has incorporated this heresy into a set out of “christian cults.” Beginning amongst his foremost prevarication inwards the Garden (Genesis 3:4-5), Satan has been deceiving people almost God’s truthful character. And christian cults are 1 of his devious methods. There was alone 1 way that the righteous requirements of the constabulary could hold upwards fulfilled, the alone way nosotros could hold upwards saved: God Himself had to choose the shape of a human too overstep for our sins (Romans 5:6-8; Romans 8:1-4; Philippians 2:5-8). If Jesus were exactly a human too non God, nosotros would non hold upwards saved.
But Jesus is God! There are many Scriptures proving Christ's deity, both guide too indirectly. I've listed some below. You powerfulness desire to pin, bookmark, or impress this devotion too hence you lot have got this listing inwards your "toolbox" when explaining or defending your faith. Jesus is clearly referred to every bit God inwards these Scriptures: John 1:1 too 1:14: “In the outset was the Word, too the Word was amongst God, too the Word was God....The Word became flesh too made his dwelling identify amid us. We have got seen his glory, the glory of the 1 too alone Son, who came from the Father, amount of grace too truth.” John 1:18: "No 1 has always seen God, but the 1 too alone Son, who is himself God too is inwards closest human relationship amongst the Father, has made him known." Titus 2:13: "while nosotros await for the blessed hope--the appearing of the glory of our dandy God too Savior, Jesus Christ…," 2 Peter 1:1: "Simon Peter, a retainer too apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God too Savior Jesus Christ have got received a organized faith every bit precious every bit ours...." Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself volition give you lot a sign: The virgin volition conceive too give nativity to a son, too volition telephone outcry upwards him Immanuel.” [“Immanuel” agency “God amongst us.”] Jesus existed earlier His fourth dimension on earth: John 8:58: "'Very genuinely I tell you,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!'" Hebrews 13:8: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday too today too forever." 1 Corinthians 10:2-4: "They were all baptized into Moses inwards the cloud too inwards the sea. They all ate the same spiritual nutrient too drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual stone that accompanied them, too that stone was Christ." Philippians 2:5-8: "In your relationships amongst 1 another, have got the same mindset every bit Christ Jesus: Who, existence inwards real nature God, did non consider equality amongst God something to hold upwards used to his ain advantage; rather, he made himself goose egg past times taking the real nature of a servant, existence made inwards human likeness. And existence constitute inwards appearance every bit a man, he humbled himself past times becoming obedient to death—even decease on a cross!" Scripture forbids worshiping anyone or anything every bit good God: Revelation 19:9-10: "Then the angel said to me, 'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' And he added, 'These are the truthful words of God.' At this I cruel at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, 'Don't create that! I am a immature human retainer amongst you lot too amongst your brothers too sisters who concur to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.'" But Jesus is worshiped throughout Scripture: He is worshiped every bit a baby: Matthew 2:11 Jesus allows people to worship Him: Matthew 14:33; Matthew 28:9; Matthew 28:17; Luke 24:52; John 9:38 Jesus, every bit business office of the Trinity, is the Creator: Hebrews 1: "In the past times God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times too inwards diverse ways, 2 but inwards these final days he has spoken to us past times his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, too through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory too the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things past times his powerful word…. 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God’s angels worship him.' …8 almost the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, volition final for always too ever; a scepter of judge volition hold upwards the scepter of your kingdom….' 10 He also says, 'In the beginning, Lord, you lot set the foundations of the earth, too the heavens are the piece of job of your hands.'" Colossians 1:15-17: "Christ is the visible picture of the invisible God. He existed earlier anything was created too is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything inwards the heavenly realms too on earth. He made the things nosotros tin come across too the things nosotros can’t see—such every bit thrones, kingdoms, rulers, too government inwards the unseen world. Everything was created through him too for him. He existed earlier anything else, too he holds all creation together." ------------------------
(1) Christian cults are non Christian but claim to be. Satan uses half-truths to trap people inwards this type of cult. They choose some of what Scripture teaches too operate words that audio similar, but the underlying pregnant is different. Two prominent cults which deny Christ’s deity (as defined inwards Scripture) are Mormons too Jehovah's Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses clearly tell that Jesus is non God. Mormons (LDS) have got an evolving too confusing sentiment of Jesus that is difficult to pivot down. This article should evidence helpful: "Is the Mormon Jesus the Brother of Satan?" In the Jehovah's Witnesses' New World "translation" they operate lilliputian "g" for god inwards passages where Jesus is referred to every bit God, or they add together conjunctions non constitute inwards the Greek too hence that it reads "God too the Savior." There is no set down for these changes. They have got exactly manipulated the text to check their beliefs. However, many of the passages higher upwards read the same inwards the New World translation, too hence their translation has non completely removed proofs that Jesus is God. Mormons operate the King James Version of the Bible, but they claim it has been corrupted, too they claim it is alone a partial revelation too needs to hold upwards supplemented past times their other "holy books." See The Mormon "Word of God" too "When Angels Tell Lies".
Bible Love Notes
The influence of "Christian" cults in addition to simulated religions is growing. For that reason, I volition occasionally part information on these groups. Let's pray for those deceived past times these simulated beliefs. Originally blacks were denied privileges inwards the Mormon church building because the "divine" revelations of Joseph Smith taught that dark peel was a sign of wickedness. In 1978, LDS leaders reversed this ban, explaining it was only a cultural prejudice from the era when Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon. However, the Book of Mormon is the solid seat down for all of their beliefs, in addition to Joseph Smith claimed each give-and-take came from God in addition to was eternal truth. When Mormons acknowledge it contains errors, they confirm that their entire faith is built on man's errors, non God's words.(1) Mormon doctrine is ever changing (source). It is neither truthful nor reliable. So let’s pray for our Mormon friends that they volition plow to the truthful in addition to living God who is non a racist in addition to who “does non alter similar shifting shadows” (Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17).(2) -------------------
(1) Beware: Mormons purpose descriptions that audio similar to biblical descriptions, but they convey dissimilar underlying meanings. For example, they nation Jesus is God, but they believe he is a created beingness in addition to i of many sons of God (source). To read to a greater extent than close the differences betwixt Mormonism (LDS) in addition to biblical Christianity: Mormonism; Atheism & False Religions. (2) Racism: Sadly, in that place were/are times when Christian churches convey denied equality to blacks, but this was non based on God's Word. In fact, it grieved the pump of God. See: God's View of Racism. Bible Love Notes
