THE COMMON DENOMINATOR OF DENOMINATIONS WHO BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST AND RELIGIOUS CULTS, IS?    BY STEVE FINNELL

Virtually all denominations and religious cults deny that the Bible is the infallible word of God. They do not believe the Scriptures are absolutely trustworthy. Many question that the Bible is the final authority for faith and practice. Most deny that the Bible is the incontrovertible written truth of God. More than a few believe that the Bible has been mistranslated; rendering it to be an unreliable source for God's inerrant word. Too many agree that the Bible is not a trustworthy account of history, the gospel of Christ, and instructions for living the Christian life.

WHAT DO MOST DENOMINATIONS AND CULTS RELY ON FOR THE TRUTH AS THEY SEE IT?

1. They trust, supposed, new revelations from God in the form of catechisms and other completed books. They do not accept the Bible, as the final authority of God. This supplants the Bible as the inerrant authoritative word of God.

2. They use creed books, and statements of faith to supersede the teachings of Scripture.

3. Bible commentaries and books about the Bible are considered to be accurate accounts and explanations of Scripture, however, the Bible itself is not consider to be the infallible word of God.

AN EXAMPLE OF THE DENIAL OF THE INFALLIBLE WORD OF GOD. (Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.)

More than a few say that "for" has been mistranslated and actually means "because of". That changes the meaning of Acts 2:38 to mean "repent and be baptized because your sins have already been forgiven.

You cannot say that "for" has been mistranslated and claim that you believe the Bible to be the infallible word of God. How could you, then, assert that the Bible is absolutely trustworthy.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

FAITH: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Can men deny that believing Jesus is God's only begotten Son, is essential to salvation, and then claim that they believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God?

REPENTANCE: Acts 2:38 Peter, said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Can men reject the fact that repentance (repentance is making the commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God) is essential to having sins forgiven and then assert that they believe the Bible to be trustworthy?

CONFESSION: Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Can men deny that they must acknowledge Jesus as Lord in order to be saved and then say we believe the Bible is the incontrovertible written truth of God?

WATER BAPTISM: 1 Peter 3:20-21...through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you---not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience---through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Can men deny that water baptism is essential to salvation and then claim that they believe the Bible is the authoritative, irrefutable, inerrant word of God?

YOU EITHER BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS THE POWER TO GIVE MANKIND AN ACCURATE, INERRANT, TRUSTWORTHY, AUTHORITATIVE, RELIABLE, INCONTROVERTIBLE, INFALLIBLE, COMPLETED, TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE OR YOU DO NOT.