The Devil Can

The Devil can

“The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.”
                                                         William Shakespeare
When I talk to none Christians I quite often shock them with the fact I feel most church congregations especially here in Canada and the United States are filled with none Christians.
In the case of some church congregations the majority of the congregation may not even be Christian.
I would even go as far as saying the pastors of some churches are not Christian. That also goes for some evangelist and televangelist also.
Just because someone spouts scripture in what seems like a logical way doesn’t mean that they are Christian.
Even if the words they say are the truth with respect to Christ doesn’t mean to say they are Christians.
In Matthew 8:28-32 demons tell the truth about Jesus calling him the Son of God.
There are many ministers and evangelist out there that make scripture say what they want it to say.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 
                                                                                                 2Timothy 4:3,4.
This is happening today and it is becoming more prevalent in the media. Sadly especially in the evangelical world, those who claim to be fundamentalist are not standing up to false teachers.
There is a wide range of interpretations of the bible. That’s understandable and those interpretations can lead to some strong discussions.
The nice thing about being a true Christian is that we take the bible serious enough to want to discuss even argue over what we believe it says.
Such discussions are healthy for any faith.
The basics however are not up for debate.
Basics such as,
Jesus is the Son of God he is God incarnate and the only way to heaven
The apostle John writing,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.... 
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.... 
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." 
                                                                                       John 1:1-4, 12-14 
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
                     John 14:6
That Salvation and Eternal life is a gift from God no one you can work for but one you must accept freely.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                                            Ephesians 2:8,9 
John also tells us we must confess our sins directly to God,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 
1John 1:9-10
Also key to being a Christian is Love of our fellow man. Jesus saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Matthew 5:43-47
And the love Christians must show is unconditional Paul defining Love as,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 
Love never fails.” 
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
These things for me is what it is to be a true Christian.
Think about it.












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