False Teachers Say…

 

SELF‑RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL SAVE

 

The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans 16:16)

 

 

Many in the first century and today are establishing their own righteousness by rejecting the true righteousness of God (Rom. 10:1‑3; 1 John 3:6‑9). The righteousness of God is revealed unto men by the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:16‑17). This is the same as the Gospel of our salvation (Eph. 1:13); the Gospel or (word) of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18‑19); the Gospel that must be believed to produce fruit (Mark 16:15‑16; Luke 8:15). Why are men following their own righteousness and rejecting the truth? Well, the Old Testament was written for our learning (Rom. 15:4), so lets go there for a moment.

 

Adam and Eve were given a commandment, just one (Gen. 2:16‑17), and transgressed it for at least two reasons:

  1. Self-will, and 
  2. Submission to a lie. 

Their disobedience brought forth the wrath of the Almighty (Gen. 3:1‑6). God meant and made good what He said (Gen. 3:8‑24). All men everywhere need to repent of their self-will and love for lies (Rom. 10:2-3; John 8:44).

 

The King of Judah, Jehoiakim, rejected the inspired revela­tion of God from the prophet Jeremiah and the penmen, Baruch. He was not afraid of the words of God, so he burnt the Holy Spirit’s wonderful scroll. In his self-will he burnt the plea from God to repent. Jehoiakim decided to believe and follow a lie rather than submit to God’s terms and conditions (Jer. 36:16‑27).

 

The penknife religion is alive and well today (humanism, denominationalism, etc.). Denominations exist simply because men want them and are willing to submit to a lie to have them. Yet, no matter how hard Satan tries to destroy the word of God (1 Peter 1:22-25), it will continue to be printed, studied, and obeyed as history has clearly shown (Jer. 36:28‑32; 2 Tim. 2:15; Rom. 6:17).


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