What is our Christian duty before God when we hear false doctrines being preached? Must we submit to church leaders even when they are promoting false doctrines that deny God the Father and Jesus Christ? Should we remain silent while ministers and brethren are being swept headlong into spiritual darkness and apostasy? What did the brethren in the first century do when the churches of God were assaulted by the satanic devices of deception and apostasy?
The apostle Jude wrote to the faithful Christians of his day and proclaimed to them what they must do to combat the evil forces of apostasy. Jude addressed his epistle to the “called saints”—all who were called by God the Father to receive salvation through Jesus Christ. His letter warns of a subtle conspiracy by false teachers working within the churches in an attempt to pervert the true doctrines of Jesus Christ. Jude admonishes every Christian to defend the true doctrines of God which were delivered by Jesus Christ and taught by His true apostles.
Jude’s letter contains strong and emphatic words of advice to Christians as to what to do to overcome spiritual assaults by false teachers with their seductive doctrines. Jude declares that these false teachers are not led by the Spirit of God but are motivated by psychic or satanic powers (verse 19). He exhorts us to help our brethren who are being caught up in Satan’s deception and apostasy (verses 22-23). Jude’s words clearly show that Christians have a personal responsibility to witness to their brethren to save them from spiritual destruction. Here is the author’s translation of the epistle of Jude from the Greek text.
1. Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the called saints, who have been loved by God the Father, and who have been kept in Jesus Christ.
2. Mercy and peace and love to you be multiplied.
3. Beloved, when personally exerting all my diligence to write to you concerning the common salvation, I was compelled to write to you, exhorting you to fervently fight for the faith which once had been delivered to the saints.
4. Because certain men have crept in stealthily, who a long time ago have been written about, condemning them to this judgment. They are ungodly men, who are perverting the grace of our God into licentiousness, and are denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5. But I am willing myself to put you in remembrance, though you understand this, that the Lord, having once saved a people out of the land of Egypt, the second time destroyed those who did not believe.
6. And the angels, who did not keep their own original domain, but deserted their habitation, He is holding in eternal bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7. Just as Sodom and Gomorrha and the cities surrounding them, in the same behavior as them, had given themselves over to sexual debaucheries, and had gone after strange flesh [sexual bestiality], are themselves exhibited as a perpetual example of undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
8. Actually, in the same way also, these are the ones who are themselves dreaming filthy dreams; on the one hand, they are defiling the flesh; and on the other hand, they are declaring as invalid the lordship of God’s rule over one’s life, and are blaspheming angels.
9. But Michael the archangel, when he was himself taking issue with the devil, disputing about the body of Moses, did not presume to pronounce a reviling judgment against him, but said, The Lord Himself rebuked you!
10. But these, whatever things they have not understood, they are reviling; yet whatever things they are understanding by instinct, as irrational brute beasts, they are corrupting themselves in these things. 11. Woe to them! Because they have walked in the way of Cain; and for gain, they have wholly given themselves up to Balaam’s delusion, and have perished in the rebellion of Korah.
12. These are subversive stains in your love feasts while feasting themselves together with you; fearlessly they are feeding themselves. They are clouds without water, which are being driven by the winds; as trees of late autumn, which have been uprooted, without any fruit, twice dead.
13. As raging wild waves of the sea, who are like foam, frothing up their own ignominious shame; wandering stars, for whom has been reserved the blackest darkness forever!
14. Even Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied of these, proclaiming, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His holy saints,
15. To execute judgment against all of them, and to convict all of those who are ungodly concerning all of their works of ungodliness which they have impiously committed; and to execute judgment concerning all of the hard, cruel things which ungodly sinners spoke against Him.
16. These are complainers and critics, who are themselves walking after their own lusts; their mouths are speaking great swelling words, flattering persons for the sake of advantage.
17. But you, beloved, call to remembrance the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
18. Because they were saying to you that in the last time there will be mockers, who are themselves walking according to their own ungodly lusts.
19. These are the ones who are causing division; they are psychic [using psychic powers], not having the Spirit of God.
20. But you, beloved, are building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21. So that you keep yourselves in the love of God, while you are yourselves expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22. Now on the one hand, show mercy on those who are themselves doubting;
23. On the other hand, save others with fear, snatching them out of the fire, hating even the garment which has been defiled by the flesh.
24. But to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to bring you in the presence of His own glory, blameless in exceeding joy,
25. To the only wise God our Savior, be the glory and greatness, the might and authority, even now, and into all the ages of eternity. AMEN.
Jude’s inspired words reveal that we are individually responsible as Christians to show our brethren who are being deceived by false teachers that their “wonderful new doctrines” are contrary to the Scriptures. We are to plead with our brethren to turn from their error and repent, as Jude instructs in verses 22-25. Because it is not possible to repent while continuing to fellowship with an apostatizing church, we should encourage them to withdraw themselves and trust God in faith.
Those who truly desire to walk in the light of God’s Word can have no fellowship with those who are being blinded by spiritual darkness. God commands His people to separate themselves from the seductive lies and sinful practices of Babylon the Great! In the book of Revelation we read, “Come out of her, My people, that you may not have fellowship in her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. For her sins have followed her and have reached as far as heaven, and God has remembered her unrighteousnesses. Render to her as she has rendered to you, and double to her double, according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix back to her double!” (Rev.18:4-6, AT.)
True Christians are commanded to come out of Babylon the Great, the mother of seductive myths, spiritual fornication and the abominations of the world. Those who worship God in Spirit and in Truth can have nothing to do with the deceptive doctrines of Babylon the Great, the nurturer of all satanic lies. True believers cannot fellowship with those who teach such myths. If we receive them, we are partakers of their evil fruits and we cannot remain in God the Father’s grace. If we accept and practice the ungodly doctrines of the mother adulteress and her whoring daughters, we will receive her plagues of punishment from the hands of God. We will forfeit the gift of eternal life that God has promised to all who are faithful to Him.
God has made it His responsibility to bring us to salvation through Jesus Christ, to give us His Spirit, to give us understanding, to fill us with His love, if we hunger and thirst for it. But God does not personally intervene to keep us from being exposed to false doctrines. Instead, He has given us the Truth of His Word in order that we may recognize false doctrines and refute them. He has provided “the Spirit of the Truth” to lead us, to guide us and to teach us the truth of all things pertaining to eternal life through Jesus Christ. We will not be deceived by false doctrines if we are earnestly studying and seeking the Truth of God’s Word with the help of God’s Holy Spirit. Although we will not understand everything perfectly, we will be growing in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God has given us the freedom to choose life or death, good or evil. Since He has given us free moral agency, God will not stop us from making our own choices. If we choose to sin, that is our choice. If top-ranking ministers in a church of God choose to sin, God allows them to do so. God will not personally correct the church leaders if they choose to depart from the Truth. God will not prevent corruption from within a church organization if its leaders choose to embrace false doctrines and practice pagan customs. If there is no desire to love God and His Truth, and to keep His commandments, then God will let those leaders, and all who choose to follow them, fall into the ditch of spiritual darkness, because they have forsaken Him. That is God’s judgment.
As individual Christians, we need to take heed to the admonitions and warnings of our Lord Jesus Christ and His true apostles. We need to be grounded and built up in the Word of God in order to resist the corrupting influences of false doctrines. It is our individual Christian responsibility to diligently study the Word of God in order to discern Truth from error, lest we be deceived into accepting false doctrines.
Paul admonished the Hebrew brethren because they were lax and negligent in their personal Christian responsibility. These Christians were spiritually immature in their understanding because they had not been diligently grounding themselves in the Word of God. Paul declared, “For when, because of the time, you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again what are the very fundamental beginnings of the oracles of God; and have become such as ones having need of milk, and not of strong meat [solid food]. Because everyone who is partaking of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness: for he is an infant. But strong meat [solid food] is for those who are of full age [spiritually mature], who on account of habit have exercised the senses, having the capacity for distinguishing both good and evil” (Heb. 5:12-14, AT).
It is God’s purpose to bring us to spiritual maturity, fully conforming us to the perfect character of Jesus Christ, that we also may be born into His divine family and be His children for ever. But we cannot become spiritually mature if we continue to feed only on the “milk” of God’s Word. We must earnestly seek to understand the full Truth of His Word—every word of God—in order that we may grow spiritually. Then we will be able to discern between good and evil, and we will not be deceived by clever arguments and subtle reasonings of false teachers. We will be able to recognize their false doctrines and refute them. If we love God and His truth, we will withdraw from fellowship with those who are teaching and accepting false doctrines under the guise of “new understanding.” We will know that these doctrinal changes are not being inspired by God.
In all the conflict and confusion over doctrinal changes in the churches of God, God is working out His purpose! God the Father and Jesus Christ will never forsake those who love the Truth. God the Father will bring us to spiritual maturity if we are faithful to His Word. Jesus Christ will not forsake us if we choose to leave an apostatizing organization so that we can hold fast to His teachings and keep His commandments. Remember this testimony: IT IS BETTER TO LIVE THE TRUTH ALONE, THEN TO LIVE A LIE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHERS.
True Christian fellowship begins with personal communion with God the Father and Jesus Christ through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. The apostle John wrote, “That which we have seen and have heard, we are reporting to you, in order that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His own Son, Jesus Christ” (I John 1:3, AT).
We must “worship God in Spirit and in Truth” because God is Spirit. This true spiritual fellowship is not a once-a-week event but a constant ongoing relationship as we daily seek to live by every word of God. Jesus said, “It has been written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’ “ (Mat. 4:4, AT).
Fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ cannot be granted by any church organization. This fellowship through the Holy Spirit is a direct gift from God to every true Christian. It is based on the personal covenant with God that every true believer enters into at baptism.
This spiritual relationship with God transcends any earthly covenant. It is not a temporary fleshly union, as is the marriage covenant, but an eternal spiritual union in which our hearts and minds become one with God the Father and Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. This intimate spiritual fellowship with God is His gift to every Christian, but it is our responsibility to keep ourselves in that fellowship by continuing to walk in the light of His Word. Then we are truly in spiritual union with God the Father and Jesus Christ.
This personal spiritual relationship in which each Christian is individually joined to God the Father and Jesus Christ is called the New Covenant. It is individually renewed each year at the New Testament Passover when each believer partakes of the symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I am saying to you, Unless you shall have eaten the flesh of the Son of man and shall have drunk His blood, you do not have life in yourselves. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up in the last day.
“For My flesh truly is food, and My blood truly is drink. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood, abides [lives and remains] in Me, and I in him. As the Living Father has sent Me, and I am living by the Father, even so the one who eats Me, he also shall live by Me” (John 6:53-57, AT).
The Passover ceremony is the renewal of the eternal covenant between each Christian and Jesus Christ and God the Father. This covenant relationship, which is the basis for our fellowship, is made possible through God the Father’s love for us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who is believing on [Greek eis, into] Him may not perish, but may have eternal life” (John 3:16, AT).
The fullness of God’s love is expressed in the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Who willingly gave Himself for us! Jesus Christ Himself, on the night before His crucifixion, made it absolutely clear that the Father loves us. Jesus declared, “In that day [after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension] you shall ask in My name; and I am not telling you that I will beseech the Father for you, for the Father Himself is loving you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world, again I am leaving the world and I am going to the Father” (John 16:26-28, AT).
God the Father Himself sent Jesus Christ to be our Savior because He loves us! God the Father Himself has personally invited us to receive salvation through His Son. Jesus said, “No one is able to come to Me, unless the Father who has sent Me draw him...” (John 6:44, AT). Think of it! God the Father, the greatest Being in the universe, has personally called us to inherit eternal life as His children! He Himself has begotten us with the earnest of eternal life by His Holy Spirit! The apostle Paul wrote, “...In Whom also after having heard, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance...” (Eph. 1:13-14, AT).
The apostle John expounded this truth in his first epistle: “In this way, the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this act is THE LOVE—not that we have loved God; rather, that He loved us and sent His Son as a propitiation for our own sins. Beloved, if God so loved us in this manner, we also are duty-bound to love one another....
“And we have known and have believed the love which God has towards us. GOD IS LOVE, and the one who is dwelling in love is dwelling in God, and God in him. By this spiritual indwelling [of God’s Holy Spirit], the love has been perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because even as He is, so also are we in this world.
“There is no fear in the love. But perfect love is casting out fear, because fear has torment; and the one who is fearing has not been made perfect in the love. We are loving Him, because He loved us first” (I John 4:9-11, 16-19, AT).
If we continue in this true fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ, we need have no fear. God will not forsake us as long as we remain faithful to His Truth. If we defend the Truth, we may have to stand alone for a while, but we will always have fellowship with the Father and Jesus Christ. God loves us and He will be with us. When a few brethren are able to fellowship and study God’s Word together, God will be with them. Jesus Christ has given His promise that wherever two or three are gathered in His name, there He will be in the midst (Mat. 18:20).
At the present time God is judging His churches and separating the sheep from the goats. This separation must take place in order to preserve the Truth among those who love God and choose to remain faithful to His Word.
Every true Christian is being tried and tested to see if he or she truly loves God the Father and Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “The one having My commandments and who is keeping them, that is the one who is loving Me; and the one who is loving Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will be loving him and will be manifesting Myself to him....If anyone is loving Me, he will be keeping My words, and My Father will be loving him; and We will come to him, and We will make Our abode with him. The one who is not loving Me is not keeping My words; and the word which you are hearing is not Mine, but the Father’s Who has sent Me” (John 14:21, 23-24, AT).
Jesus Christ has given us the true doctrines of God. If we love Him, we will remain steadfast in His teachings, knowing that we are building our lives upon the only sure foundation. Paul shows that we can only receive the gift of eternal life by building upon the foundation laid by Jesus Christ. “For no one is able to lay any other foundation besides that which has been laid, which is Jesus the Christ. Now if anyone builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, or wood, grass or stubble, each one’s work will become manifest; for the day will declare it, because by fire it is revealed. And each one’s work, the fire will prove what sort it is. If anyone’s work abides which he built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, he shall receive a reward. If anyone’s work be consumed, he shall suffer loss, but himself shall be saved, but so as by fire” (I Cor. 3:11-15, AT).
Paul’s inspired words reveal that we are being individually judged as Christians according to the works that we are now building upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. God will not give us an eternal reward if we are not building true works of righteousness that will withstand the fiery trials that He allows to come upon us to test and try us.
The apostle Peter wrote of these trials, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial among you, which is coming upon you to test you, as if some strange thing is happening to you. But to the degree that you have a share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice! so that, at the revelation of His glory, you also may rejoice exceedingly! If you are being reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and the Spirit of God is resting upon you; on their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
“Assuredly, let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or as an overlording busybody in other people’s lives. Yet if anyone is suffering as a Christian, he should not be ashamed, but in this case let him glorify God! Because it is time for judgment to have begun with the household of God, and if it first begins with us, what shall be the end of those who are not obeying the Gospel of God? And if the righteous are being saved with much difficulty, what shall become of the ungodly and the sinner? For this reason also, those who are suffering according to the will of God, let them be committing their souls in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (I Pet. 4:12-19, AT).
Peter tells us not to be discouraged or disheartened by these fiery trials. We must let nothing persuade us to turn aside from following Jesus Christ. If we suffer because we choose to remain faithful to His teachings, we will be richly rewarded at His coming. Let us rejoice in this promise!
Peter reminds us that Jesus Christ Himself suffered because He was obedient to the Truth, and we also should be willing to endure persecution. If we are true Christians, we will follow the example of our Lord and Master. “Because this is acceptable, if for the sake of conscience towards God, anyone is enduring sorrows, suffering unjustly. For what credit is there, if sinning and being beaten [punished] you endure it? But if while doing good and suffering you endure it, this is acceptable with God. For to this you were called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow after Him in His own footsteps” (I Pet. 2:19-21, AT).
Are you willing to follow the example of Jesus Christ by remaining faithful to the Truth of God, even if it brings persecution from your closest friends and members of your own family? Are you willing to hold fast to the true teachings of Jesus Christ even if you must withdraw from fellowship with your local church brethren who are leaving the Truth? Is your membership in a church organization more important to you than worshipping God the Father in Spirit and in Truth?
God is testing every true Christian to see if each one truly loves Him more than anyone or anything else in his or her life! Each of us must make that choice! God will strengthen us and see us through whatever trials we may experience, if we choose to remain faithful to Him and His Word.
God is also trying and testing every minister to determine who truly loves God and His Word. God is making a separation between those ministers who faithfully preach His Word in truth and love, and those who are hirelings seeking position and power.
Every minister of Jesus Christ needs to examine his own heart and mind to honestly evaluate his own personal motives for being in the ministry. This is the self-examination that the apostle Peter was required to undergo. Every minister should apply this Scriptural test to himself and his own circumstances, and ask himself the same questions that Jesus asked the apostle Peter.
“Therefore after they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me [agapee, meaning divine love] more than these [the other apostles and disciples]?’ And he said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I have affection for You (philoo, meaning deep personal love].’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs!’
“He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me [agapee, meaning divine love]?’ He answered Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I have affection for You [philoo, meaning a deep personal love].’ He said to him, ‘Shepherd My sheep!’
“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, do you have affection for Me (philoo, meaning a deep personal love]?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you have affection for Me [philoo, meaning a deep personal love]?’ and said to Him, Lord, You know all things; You know that I have affection for You [philoo, meaning a deep personal love].’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep!’ “ (John 21:15-17, AT.)
Every minister who has the Spirit of God has been given this commission, just as Jesus charged Peter. Every minister needs to know that the very reason for his calling is to feed the sheep of God—the brethren of Jesus Christ! If any man is a minister for other reasons, his ministry will be vanity and emptiness!
Every minister of Jesus Christ will be judged according to his works. If he is faithfully preaching the Truth of God, he will receive an eternal reward. If he is compromising with the Truth in order to protect his position, his prestige, his salary or his pension, he will have to give an account to Jesus Christ.
Those ministers who truly love Jesus Christ will faithfully continue to preach the Truth of God even at the risk of personal loss and deprivation. They will follow the example of the apostle Paul, who faithfully taught the true Gospel of Jesus Christ because he valued the spiritual welfare of his brethren above his own physical life. Paul endured great persecution and hardship in order to impart to his brethren the Truth of God that leads to eternal life. Here are Paul’s heartfelt words to his Corinthian brethren:
“For we [ministers] which live are always [continually] delivered to death on account of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. Now then death is indeed working in us [ministers] and life in you [brethren]....For all things are for your sake, in order that the abounding grace might through the thanksgiving of many cause to exceed [overflow] to the glory of God.
“For which cause we are not fainting. But indeed if our outward man is perishing, yet the inward [man] is being renewed day by day. For the momentary lightness of our tribulation is working out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. For we are not considering the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen: because the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Cor. 4:11-18, AT).
The apostle Paul was faithful to the charge that he received from Jesus Christ. As a true minister of God, he fed the flock with the pure doctrines of the Word of God. His reward is sure! Paul will inherit eternal life with glory and power in the Kingdom of God, serving the Father and Jesus Christ in eternal love! This is the reward that God offers to every minister who faithfully preaches the pure Truth of His Word, regardless of corporate organization or church affiliation.
When top leaders in the organized churches of God turn away from the true doctrines of Jesus Christ and begin to embrace false doctrines, the ministers and members in those churches are under powerful pressure to conform. Many of these ministers and members have succumbed to the pressure, fearing the consequences of going against the tide of doctrinal change. Some are deceived into believing that they will lose salvation if they oppose those in authority. Others are afraid of being viewed as “heretics” by brethren that they have known for years. Many are compromising simply because they have longstanding friendships with other church members that they are unwilling to give up.
If you have been compromising the Truth of God in order to remain in good standing as a minister or a member of an organized church, you are in great spiritual danger! The Word of God clearly shows that a Christian who knowingly condones sin and error is defiling his or her conscience. A defiled conscience will eventually grow callused and indifferent to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.
The apostle Paul describes the end result of yielding to the pressure of false doctrines: “Now the Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits, and doctrines of demons; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (I Tim. 4:1-2, AT).
Every Christian who has been knowingly compromising by yielding to false doctrines is in danger of ending up in this unregenerate spiritual condition. It is the continued condoning and acceptance of sin and error that leads to loss of salvation. Opposing false doctrines—even when they are promoted by church authorities—will never cause a Christian to lose his or her salvation.
All Christians who have been compromising the Truth by accepting false doctrines need to repent and return to God and to His grace and love. God the Father will cleanse each one who truly repents with humble supplications. Each one must individually turn to God with his or her whole heart. Only then can he or she be restored in love and faith to God the Father and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Those Christians who have been compromising are endangering their salvation if they wait on a general movement toward repentance among the churches of God. It is a grave mistake to delay our personal repentance when the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and error in our lives!
David, a man after God’s heart, was instant and wholehearted in his repentance when the Spirit of God convicted him. When David had sinned greatly against God, this was his prayer of repentance: “Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against you” (Ps. 41:4). Again, when repenting of his adultery with Bathsheba and the killing of Uriah her husband, he pleaded with God, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness: according to the multitude of Your tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
“For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight: that You might be justified when You speak, and be clear when You judge. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part You shall make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow....Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence: and take not Your Holy Spirit from me” (Ps. 51:1-11).
Each Christian who has sinned against God by compromising with false doctrines needs to have this attitude of deep spiritual repentance and humility. Each one needs to ask God to cleanse his or her heart from the sin of casting aside the Truth of God and believing lies! Each one needs to ask God to heal his or her mind from compromising with evil and yielding to the forces of apostasy. Each one needs to ask God to heal his or her spirit from the wounds inflicted by Satan’s powerful fiery darts of deceit! God will hear and He will answer. God will heal and He will forgive. God will strengthen and He will bless.
Jesus Christ gave this admonition to the church at Laodicea: “I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified by fire, that you may be rich; and buy from Me white garments, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, in order that you may see!
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous, and repent! Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with Me.
“The one who overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father in His throne. The one who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 3:18-22, AT).
May God grant you the ears to hear, the heart to repent, and the courage to stand for the Truth. May God grant you the understanding you need to fulfill your personal Christian duty to defend the faith once delivered to the saints. May God grant you love for your brethren in the churches of God so that you will share this book with them, in the hope that they also may escape the snare of Satan the devil.
God has promised to richly reward all who remain faithful to His Truth in the face of trials and persecution. God’s promise of an eternal inheritance to those who are faithful is sure and steadfast. If we keep our minds fixed on the hope that He has set before us, we will be able to endure every fiery trial. Let us remember these words of encouragement from the apostle Paul:
“...God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil; into which the forerunner, even Jesus, has entered for us...”(Heb. 6:17-20).
May God the Father fill you with His strength, His love, His grace, His Truth, and His faith to keep you in the glorious hope of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
In order to help Christians be restored in the faith and the love of God the Father and Jesus Christ, The Christian Biblical Church of God will provide, upon request, the following audio cassettes for use as Bible study aids:
1) To Stand for the Truth
2) The Love of God and the New Covenant
3) Faith for Salvation
4) What Is the Government of God? (two cassettes)
5) God Is a Personal Being (includes study paper)
6) God Is a Family
7) Could Jesus Have Sinned?
8) The Mystery of Godliness
9) The Table of the Lord vs. the Table of Demons
The Christian Biblical Church of God
Post Office Box 1442
Hollister California 95024-1442
Lord, What Should I Do? by Fred R. Coulter was written to help Christians who are confused and bewildered by the escalating doctrinal chaos which is threatening to undermine the true faith of the Bible. In America today, Satan is attacking in full fury any religious organization that teaches any Truth from the Word of God. Now that he has nearly completed the subversion of Protestantism, he is focusing all his efforts on Sabbath-keeping Christians and their organizations. His ultimate goal is the annihilation of all Christians—all who are the begotten sons of God the Father and the true brethren of Jesus Christ.
True Christians need to be aware of Satan’s devices. They need to wake up and perceive what is now taking place within the churches of God. Satan’s subtle deception is being accomplished—not by a direct attack from without, but by a clever, insidious conspiracy at work within the churches’ own headquarters. Satan is launching his attack with an avalanche of false doctrines through the top authorities and highest-ranking ministers within the churches of God. These ministers, who purport to speak the Truth of God, have in reality erred from the Truth and have been subverted by Satan into accepting false teachings. They have unwittingly become Satan’s agents by promulgating false doctrines.
This book reveals how pseudo-scholars and self-seeking ministers within the centrally organized churches of God are being used by Satan to undermine and destroy the faith of true Christians, ministers as well as members. The original apostles of Jesus Christ were confronted with the same subtle attack by false teachers and so-called apostles. The New Testament is filled with warnings against these “false apostles” and “deceitful workers.”
You, your fellow Christians and the church you affiliate with may be experiencing such attacks. This book is designed to answer the question, “Lord, what should I do?”
About the Author
Fred R. Coulter attended the University of San Francisco and graduated from San Mateo State College before graduating from Ambassador College, Pasadena, California, with a BA in Theology in 1964. He was ordained a minister of Jesus Christ in 1965 and pastored churches of God in the Pacific Northwest, the Mountain States, the greater Los Angeles area and Monterey, including the central coast area in California. Mr. Coulter completed advanced Biblical and ministerial studies in 1972-75 under the Ambassador College Masters program. Currently he is pastor, teacher, lecturer and writer for the Christian Biblical Church of God in California.
Mr. Coulter has dedicated his life and talents to proclaiming Jesus Christ as personal Savior for all. He has an active and far-reaching audio and video ministry which reaches all of the United States and Canada, as well as England, Denmark, Australia, the Philippines and Malaysia. He has had his own radio program, called “Bible Answers,” both live two-way talk and prerecorded. From 1979-83, he was editor and writer for Bible Answers magazine. At the present time he is editor and writer for The Christian Biblical Church of God. He is author of A Harmony of the Gospels in Modern English, The Christian Passover and Lord, What Should I Do? Fred R. Coulter has undertaken a special ministry devoted to those Christians who have endured persecution and abuse by church leaders and ministers. He has helped many disillusioned Christians to renew their love and faith in God the Father and Jesus Christ.
©1994
Fred R. Coulter
· This document taken from the Christian Biblical Church of God website at http://www.cbcg.org/. If you have a request, write to our home office at the following address:
The Christian Biblical Church of God
Post Office Box 1442
Hollister California 95024-1442