“O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.” I Timothy 6:20-21(NKJV)
Although the early church started out in one accord with what they preached, over the years to follow there would be great diversity in the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The apostles weren’t all dead before error crept into the message of the Gospel causing divisions in the Church to rise up. For the next two thousand years many conflicting doctrines have weaved their way into the preaching of the Gospel. Few of these came about as deliberate attempts to start a heresy. Most “leaders” in every new doctrine thought that they were right in what they preached.
Among all the variation of the Gospel that is preached there is only one truth. All of the others are false. It is critical in some areas that one believes and teaches the truth because it involves doctrine that means the difference between being lost or saved, heaven or hell, good or evil.
This fact is why Paul admonished Timothy to make sure he continues in what he was taught. It is sad to say that most people believe only what they have been told all their lives. Much of this problem comes from preachers that are preaching error. They repeat what they have learned from those who came before them.
People interpret much Scripture on the basis of their attitude. People view the Bible by the way they see the character of God. Hearing of God’s grace and love or hearing “hellfire and brimstone” can influence our understanding about God. It is important to know what God is like.
The Bible is the truth about God, life, sin, and all else; our ideas or opinions don’t count for much. Today the Bible is not given its place. Men have judged it rather than letting it judge them. Some believe some things but not others. I have heard men say that Paul’s writings should not even be in the Bible. Why? It must be because they don’t want to believe it. It conflicts with their doctrine. It is sad when we can see the truth in scripture and reject it because it does not agree with our view. We do not intend to change doctrine.
Here at New Life we desire that the truth be the truth even if we have to change what we believe to make it so. I do not claim to be right about everything I believe. But, one thing I do, I press toward the mark of truth that God has given us. I believe what I preach, not because I heard someone else preach it, but because I have studied the Scriptures to see if it be true. You all should do the same.