Biblia

Let’s Not Be Simpletons! – Bible study

Let’s Not Be Simpletons! – Bible study

In todays religious world, there are false teachers and teachings almost everywhere we look. If we are unfamiliar with Gods word, we can easily be deceived by these false teachings (Romans 16:17-18; Ephesians 4:14; Titus 1:9-10).

For example, I noticed a religious article today, in which the false teaching of grace alone was being promoted (see second paragraph – note the statement, “not in accordance with the Word of God, which says that salvation is by grace alone“).

The author quoted from Acts 15:11, which states:

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.

Note that the above verse does not in any way promote the idea of being saved by grace alone, for the word alone is not found in the text. However, note the phrase saved in the same manner as they. Who are the they?

The they refers to the Gentiles in Acts 15:7 who were saved in the account found in Acts 10:19-48. By what manner were they saved? By grace alone? No, by grace (Acts 15:11) through a purifying faith (Acts 15:9).

Paul tells us the same thing in Ephesians 2:8 – that we are saved by grace through faith not by grace alone. The inspired James tells us what kind of faith we must have in order to properly access Gods grace and be justified by God a working obedient faith (James 2:24; cf. Gal. 5:6; Hebrews 5:8-9; 1 Peter 1:22).

Also note the active obedient faith of the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 and Saul in Acts 9:6, who realized that he must do something in order to be saved (cf. Acts 9:10-18; Acts 22:1-16).

The Proverb writer [Solomon] tells us in Proverbs 14:15 AMP:

The simpleton believes every word he hears, but the prudent man looks and considers well where he is going.

Brethren and friends, lets not be simpletons when it comes to religious teachings that we receive from the printed page or through the medium of radio and television.

Lets study the Bible for ourselves in context [see no. 4] (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV), searching the Scriptures daily to see whether or not the religious teachings we are receiving are really from Gods word (Acts 17:10-11; cf. 1 John 4:1-6).