“But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.” (Revelation 2:14 ESV)
Problem – it doesn't work!
An example - If you believe in Jesus, hear His words, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV) The good news of us being saved from sin and death only came because of what Jesus did on the cross for us. The moment you add an alternative method, it is no longer the good news as taught in the Bible. Jesus saved us because of His 100% work. We didn't do even 0.000001% of a good work to earn our salvation.
Just looking at every other religion in the world and Christianity, you have this difference...a BIG one. Every other religion somehow teaches that you need to do something to earn your salvation. Christianity teaches that it was all Jesus who did the saving work.
So stepping back...when you add a practice from another religion, as noted in this letter to the Church in Pergamum, it becomes a stumbling block to the faith in Jesus originally taught. It tears apart the truth found only in Jesus.
In what specific ways are you finding such occurences in our culture, in our communities...in our churches? In what ways may God be calling you to repent—to return to Him and to the Truth? In what ways is God calling you to follow Him and Him alone, even when those around you are thinking differently? How may you share the Truth and good news found only in Jesus to the world around you?
An example - If you believe in Jesus, hear His words, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV) The good news of us being saved from sin and death only came because of what Jesus did on the cross for us. The moment you add an alternative method, it is no longer the good news as taught in the Bible. Jesus saved us because of His 100% work. We didn't do even 0.000001% of a good work to earn our salvation.
Just looking at every other religion in the world and Christianity, you have this difference...a BIG one. Every other religion somehow teaches that you need to do something to earn your salvation. Christianity teaches that it was all Jesus who did the saving work.
So stepping back...when you add a practice from another religion, as noted in this letter to the Church in Pergamum, it becomes a stumbling block to the faith in Jesus originally taught. It tears apart the truth found only in Jesus.
In what specific ways are you finding such occurences in our culture, in our communities...in our churches? In what ways may God be calling you to repent—to return to Him and to the Truth? In what ways is God calling you to follow Him and Him alone, even when those around you are thinking differently? How may you share the Truth and good news found only in Jesus to the world around you?
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