Lord, What Should I Do: Chapter 5

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength" - Mark 12:30

Chapter Five

How to Know That You Are in the Truth and in God

What is the identifying sign and Scriptural test of a true Christian?

We find the answer in Jesus’ own words in the Gospel of John. Jesus declared that His true disciples are those who continue in His teachings. When speaking to the Jews at the temple, Jesus made it absolutely clear that His followers must remain faithful to His teachings. He said, “If you abide [remain and live] in the Word, namely Mine, you are truly My disciples. And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free” (John 8:31-32, AT).

Jesus explained to the Jews that knowing the Truth and living by it would set them free from the bondage of their sins. Because some did not believe, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, everyone who is practicing sin is a slave of sin” (verse 34).

Anyone who serves sin is in bondage to sin. Who and what holds them in bondage to their sins? Satan and his lies hold them in bondage (verses 43-45). The only escape from that bondage is through Jesus Christ.

If we remain and live in the Truth of Jesus Christ, we will be free from bondage to the ways of Satan and his world. We will be able to recognize Satan’s lies and reject his false doctrines. When we have this spiritual understanding, we know that we are abiding in Jesus Christ. The apostle John wrote, “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life” (I John 5:19-20).

John makes it absolutely clear that those who truly know Jesus Christ will be keeping His commandments and walking as He walked. “...And by this standard we are knowing that we have known Him, if we are keeping His commandments. Anyone who is saying, ‘I have known Him,’ and is not keeping His commandments, is a liar, and the Truth is not in him. On the other hand, anyone who may be keeping His Word, truly in this one the love of God has been perfected. By this means we are knowing that we are in Him. Anyone who is claiming to abide in Him, is obligating himself to walk, even as He Himself also walked” (I John 2:3-6, AT).

The apostle John is here confirming Jesus’ own words to the Jews at the temple. The unmistakable sign and standard that identifies true Christians is their faithful keeping of the commandments and teachings of Jesus Christ. When we keep the commandments and teachings of Jesus Christ, we are showing that we are led by the Holy Spirit, and we know that we are in Christ Jesus and He is in us. “And the one who is keeping His commandments abides in Him, and He in him; and by this very thing we are knowing that He is dwelling in us, by the Spirit which He gave to us” (I John 3:24, AT).

We Are Sanctified Through the Perfect Truth

of God’s Word—Not Through Half-truths

Jesus Christ asked God the Father to sanctify every believer through His Truth. He prayed, “Sanctify them through your Truth; Your Word is the Truth ....And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they may be sanctified in the Truth” (John 17:17, 19).

These words of Jesus are profound! Remember, Jesus also said that He is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). Since Jesus is the Truth, we are sanctified in Him (I Cor. 1:2) and through His name (I Cor. 6:11) by God the Father (Jude 1).

Only through Jesus Christ can we be sanctified by the Truth of God. It is through Jesus that we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, called “the Spirit of Truth, which proceeds from the Father” (John 15:26). The Holy Spirit is the power by which God the Father and Jesus Christ are able to teach us “all things” through the Word of Truth (John 14:26). We are sealed with the Holy Spirit (II Cor. 1:22) and sanctified through the power of the Holy, Spirit (Rom. 15:16).

Notice! God’s Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of Truth,” not “the Spirit of half-truths.” We cannot be sanctified to the God of absolute Truth, nor to Jesus Christ, who is the Truth, by false doctrines and half-truths. Half-truths are half lies. Half-truths and half-lies cannot reveal the Truth of God’s Word to us. If we blend lies with the Truth of God, we cannot be sanctified to God! A lie can never sanctify one to God the Father, Who is absolute Truth.

Liars will not have a part with God! Liars are excluded from God’s presence. They will be expelled from His coming kingdom and destroyed! “But the cowards, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and the murderers, and the fornicators, and the sorcerers, and the idolaters, and ALL THE LIARS, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8, AT).

God will destroy all false teachers of lies! Those who teach lies are the servants and followers of Satan the devil, who is the originator of lies! Satan the devil is the one who inspires doctrines which are a blend of half-truths and half lies. Such misleading doctrines have been used by Satan from the beginning.

In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders of Judaism had the Truth of God’s Word available to them in the Scriptures. In fact, the Jews were entrusted with preserving the Scriptures of the Old Testament. More importantly, they had direct access to the Truth of God in the person of Jesus Christ. He was the living Word of God, their Savior and Redeemer, dwelling in the flesh among them, but they rejected Him (John 1: 11).

How many times did Jesus say to them, “Have you never read [in God’s Word]…?” or “It is written [in God’s Word]…” Rather than believing God’s Word, which is the Truth, they preferred to believe the lies of Satan the devil. Rather than living by God’s Truth, they practiced their ungodly traditions, which they held in higher esteem than the Word of God. They chose to keep their traditions and their positions of power rather then to humble themselves and accept the Son of God. They refused to repent, even when Jesus warned that they were actually following Satan the devil. Jesus boldly declared, “You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, you believe Me not” (John 8:44-45).

Like these Jewish leaders of old, most people in the world today are following lies rather than the truth! Think about this! Aren’t the religious holidays of the world—Christmas, Easter, Halloween—all founded in lies? Yes, they are! These religious delusions are some of the myths and fables that Satan has used to deceive the whole world. True Christians neither teach nor follow such myths. The apostle Peter wrote, “For we have not followed, for our authority, cleverly concocted myths [fables], when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we have been eyewitnesses of His magnificent glory” (II Pet. 1:16, AT).

The world clings to the myths of its holidays rather than loving the reality of the Word of God and His commandments. This love of lies is one reason that the apostasy in the world is progressing at such an alarming rate. People have been prepared well in advance to accept and believe lies. When the apostasy nears its climax and the greatest lies are taught, people of all nations will accept them with open minds. That GRAND DECEPTION IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER! The final deception will be a one-world government with a one-world religion—one great Babylonian governmental and religious system set up in rebellion against God. This world-wide deception will be the greatest apostasy ever perpetuated! The grand finale of Satan’s deception will be the “mark of the Beast,” accompanied by open worship and adoration of Satan as God. All those who refuse to worship Satan and the Beast will be sentenced to die (Rev. 13). Satan’s GRAND DECEPTION will be so powerful and so compelling that the armies of the world will literally fight against Jesus Christ when He returns (Rev. 16:13-16; 19:11-19).

While the “Great Apostasy” is developing in the world, an apostasy is also rapidly taking root within many churches of God. It is most visibly evident in one of the largest church of God organizations. The old false doctrines of Satan are being introduced and labeled as “new understanding” in doctrine, although this “new understanding” clearly contradicts the true teachings of Scripture! As a result, more and more brethren who belong to this church organization are becoming confused! Taking advantage of confusion is one of Satan’s oldest tactics. Confusion paves the way for apostasy by causing Christians to doubt the true teachings of Scripture so that lies and false doctrines can replace Truth.

The barrage of doctrinal changes has caused such mind-numbing confusion that many church members have given up trying to hold on to the Truth. With so many new teachings, it has become too difficult and too complicated to “prove all things,” as the Word of God commands. They simply accept what they are told to believe, reasoning, “After all, isn’t this church organization the only true Church of God on earth? Therefore, we should accept what we are taught. It has to be right, because God is guiding and inspiring the leaders of this church.”

It is hard to justify error and have coherent doctrine. That is why there is confusion. Mixing lies with truth produces confusion. This spiritual condition is allowed to exist in churches when ministers and members are not humbly and earnestly praying and studying the Word of God. In all too many cases, these churchgoers have not been studying and praying at all—perhaps for a good many years. They have deceived themselves into believing that their physical presence in worship services and their allegiance to a corporate church organization are all that is necessary for salvation. This is precisely where Satan and his false ministers want the brethren to be. When church members fall into this condition, Satan has fertile grounds, indeed, to make the seeds of his apostasy grow.

When such lackadaisical attitudes prevail, it is easy to bring in false doctrines! The subtle teachers of doctrinal lies know that they will not meet much resistance. By skillful use of clever arguments over a period of time, faith and belief in the Truth will be eroded and any resistance will be only a mild protest, rather than a fiery denunciation of their diabolical lies.

Sadly, too many ministers and brethren are afraid to resist the “new” false teachings. They have been convinced by their trusted leaders that God will deny them salvation if they refuse to accept these new church doctrines. Others are so spiritually paralyzed and weakened that they can no longer make a stand for the Truth. They do not have the spiritual strength to resist the growing pressure of false doctrine. Some may feel that by passively continuing to attend church services and biding their time, so to speak, the problem will eventually go away—but it will not. All who continue to passively coexist with false doctrines are compromising their love of God and their love of the Truth.

Each Christian who is truly part of the spiritual Church of God is commanded by the Word of God to make sure that he or she is in the true faith. “Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves...” (I Cor. 13:5).

True Christians Are to Stand For the Truth and Love of God

When confronted by evil forces, David asked, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Ps. 11:3.)

This question is what many Christians are asking today. It is evident that the foundations of Truth within the churches of God are being destroyed. What should true Christians do in these circumstances? How can we combat this assault of deception and evil? How can we remain faithful to God the Father and Jesus Christ?

We must put on the whole armor of God! “Because of this [Satan and all the spiritual wickedness and darkness in high places, verses 11-12] take up for yourselves the full armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all things, to stand [steadfast]. STAND THEREFORE, having your loins girt about with TRUTH, and having on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Eph. 6:13-14, AT).

We must stand for the Truth of God on the foundation of Jesus Christ! The true spiritual Church of God is to stand as the pillar and ground of God’s Truth in the midst of an evil and wicked generation! The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “These things I write unto you, hoping to come unto you shortly: but if I delay long, that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the Living God, THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH” (I Tim. 3:14-15, AT).

The apostle John shows us how to combat all deceivers with God’s Truth and Love. His entire second epistle is devoted to contrasting the Truth and the Love of God with the “many deceivers” and their false doctrines. Here is the author’s translation of the Second Epistle of John. Truth and Love have been highlighted in bold type to contrast with deceivers and antichrist:

1. The Elder to the Chosen Lady and her children, whom I am loving in Truth, and not only I alone, but also all those who have known the Truth,

2. For the sake of the Truth which is dwelling in us, and shall be with us forever.

3. Grace, mercy, and peace shall be with us from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in Truth and Love.

4. 1 rejoiced exceedingly, that I have found of your children walking in Truth, exactly as we received the commandment from the Father.

5. And now, I am beseeching you, Lady, not as though I am writing a new commandment to you, but that which we were observing from the beginning, that we should be loving one another.

6. And this is the Love, that we should be walking according to His commandments. This is the commandment, exactly as you heard from the beginning, in order that you might be walking in it.

7. Because many deceivers have entered into the world, those who are not confessing that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh—this one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

8. You watch out for yourselves, in order that you may not lose the things we have accomplished, rather that we may be receiving the full reward.

9. Anyone who is transgressing and is not abiding in the teachings of the Christ does not have God. The one who is abiding in the teachings of the Christ, this one has both the Father and the Son.

10.If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not be receiving this one into your house, and do not be saying to him, “Greetings!”

11.Because anyone who is saying “Greetings!” to him is partaking in his evil works.

12.I have many things to write, but I do not wish to convey these things to you with paper and ink, but I am hoping to come to you and speak face to face, in order that our joy may be completely full.

13.The children of your chosen sister salute you. Amen.

John’s admonitions make it clear that these deceivers were already operating within the churches of God while John was still alive! John clearly forbids Christians to receive any deceivers, including those who rise up within a church of God. If we do receive these deceivers, we are partakers with them in their deceit and sin. As the followers of Jesus Christ, we are to hold fast the pure doctrines of Truth and Love.

If the brethren were commanded not to receive any deceivers, how much less their doctrine! Consider this: John does not tell the brethren that they will lose salvation if they refuse to accept false doctrines which those deceivers were teaching. On the contrary, loss of salvation would assuredly be the end result if the brethren accepted these deceptions and forsook the teachings of Jesus Christ!

Today, deceivers are again rising up within the churches of God and are promulgating their false, satanic doctrines. They are speaking evil of the Truth, just as the apostle Peter warned. “But there were false prophets also among the people, as indeed there shall be false teachers AMONG YOU [from within your congregations], who shall stealthily introduce damnable heresies [denial of the human nature of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of the Trinity, the Cross, the veneration of idols, that the church is the Kingdom of God, that one is born again now, Christmas and Easter] and who are themselves even denying the Lord who bought them, and are bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

“And many people shall follow as authoritative their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of [the Greek means “blasphemed”]. Also, through insatiable greed they will exploit you for gain, with enticing messages...” (II Pet. 2:1-3, AT).

Are you accepting and believing the clever arguments and convincing phraseology of these persuasive false teachers? If you find yourself giving in to the pressure, you had better ask God for the spiritual strength and courage to make your stand for Jesus Christ and the Truth of God!

Faith and righteousness through the power of the Holy Spirit are two powerful defenses that God will give you to conquer deception and false doctrines and keep yourself in fellowship with Christ Jesus and God the Father.