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Bible Will I Find: What Is Right And
By: Gary Colley
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Bible Will I Find: What Is Right And
By: Gary Colley
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Many honest souls are searching for what is right and what is wrong in religion. The Bible speaks of "pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father" (James 1:27) and each individual is responsible to search and follow the Scriptures. The reference to pure religion is preceded by the instruction that we are to be doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22-25). Hence, to find what is right and what is wrong in religion one must follow the teaching found in the Bible or the authority of Christ (Colossians 3:16-17). Jesus asked the question of some Jews who had come to Him questioning His authority, "The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?" (Matthew 21:25). Jesus was emphasizing to them the importance of making sure that what we practice and follow in religion must have the authority of Heaven to be correct and acceptable to God. The Hebrew writer writes, "But without faith it is impossible to please him" (Hebrews 11:6). Paul also said that pleasing faith comes from hearing and following God's Word (Romans 10:17). Let us then try our religious practices by the authority found in the Word of God, so that we may know what is right and what is wrong in religion! For instance, is the popular doctrine of "salvation by faith only" as believed by man, "of heaven, or from men?" Teeming multitudes are placing their eternal hope on this doctrine. They think if the sinner will "just trust in Jesus" or "says the sinner's prayer", that person will be saved without obedience to the Gospel, but God's authority says, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24). The Scriptures are right, man's doctrine is false. Others teach and believe that babies can be sprinkled at birth, call it "baptism", and that the Lord will approve or that sprinkling is alright instead of baptism or that salvation comes before baptism, but the Bible teaches that salvation comes after teaching, believing, repentance, confession, and burial in water for the remission of sins (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 10:32-33, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:3-4). "Infant baptism," "sprinkling for baptism," and "salvation before baptism" are all doctrines that are of men, not of Heaven! Look closely dear friends, these are wrong in God's sight! Is your salvation secure?