THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE – 22 The Influence Of False Teachers

“3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:3-6). KJV

Loved ones, in our Spiritual Battle God our Savior wills for “all men (everyone) to be saved” (v. 4). Therefore, this lesson is being sent with love to help bring to pass God’s will and desire (Ephesians 4:15; 2 Peter 3:9).

God’s Way of Salvation has been given to all in the pages of the New Testament. If you desire to one day see and be with God eternally in Heaven, you must SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES daily (Acts 17:11); proving all things, and holding fast that which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

WARNING: Don’t take ANY man’s or woman’s word for your eternal salvation. Search the Scriptures for yourself…for they testify of Jesus (John 5:39).

A mature child of God with wisdom and understanding can clearly see that there are many false Christs (Matthew 24:24), false prophets (Matthew 7:15), false apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13), false teachers (2 Peter 2:1), false accusers (2 Timothy 3:3), false witnesses (Mark 14:56-57), and false brethren (Galatians 2:4) among us and in today’s world. We therefore must NOT believe “every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

Loved ones, if you see yourself in any of the 5 below categories, some false teacher has you under their influence. Please study the truth from God’s word (John 17:17). When you understand any errors you have been taught and obeyed, God commands you to repent (turn from that error and turn to the truth – Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30), and obey the Lord’s plan for your salvation (Hebrews 5:8-9).

1. All good or wicked alien sinners who have NEVER been baptized are under the influence of a false teacher. These people are NOT children of God in a spiritual sense. They are the children of the devil (John 8:44).

2. All who were “baptized” by having a little water sprinkled or poured on them as an infant, child, teen, or adult are under the influence of a false teacher. The ONE baptism is an immersion or burial in water (Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:12).

3. All who were taught wrong and therefore “baptized” wrong are under the influence of a false teacher (Acts 19:1-5). Only a believing penitent soul is the proper subject for water baptism. He or she must understand from the heart God’s purpose for being baptized (Romans 6:17); i.e., it is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38) – salvation (Luke 1:76-77; Mark 16:16).

4. As with #3 above, all who were “baptized” thinking they were saved (forgiven of their sins) BEFORE they were baptized are under the influence of a false teacher. Accepting Jesus in your heart and/or saying the so-called “sinner’s prayer” will NOT save anyone before they repent and are immersed (baptized) in water (Acts 2:38).

John 1:12 teaches that those who believe on and receive Jesus have the “power to become the Sons of God.” That power (the Gospel) will lead one to be baptized into Christ to become His child by faith (Galatians 3:26-27).

You may think or have been taught that you accepted, received and were saved by Jesus when you believed in Him; however, until Jesus “receives you to the glory of God (Romans 15:7), “your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). Jesus does NOT accept or receive anyone until they get into Him by putting Him on in water baptism (Galatians 3:27).

5. All who were baptized with the proper understanding, but have left their first love (Revelation 2:4), and are neither cold nor hot (Revelation 3:15-16) are under the influence of a false teacher. They too must repent and confess their error so that the blood of Jesus can continue to cleanse them of sin (1 John 1:7-10).

Friends, we again say with love in our heart for your eternal soul – If you fall into any of the above five categories, the Bible teaches that you are NOT saved; you are NOT a true faithful Christian (Acts 11:26). You are simply whatever religious or irreligious group, denomination, community, or world religion you have been taught to obey.

We will now more plainly (if possible) tell you the TRUTH (John 14:6; 17:17) concerning your soul’s salvation! If you obey these things the SWORD and truth of the Holy Spirit (the word of God – Ephesians 6:17) will make you FREE (John 8:32), thus saving your soul. ARE YOU LISTENING?

Water baptism (immersion or a burial under the water) is the fifth of five steps the alien sinner must take to be saved (1 Peter 3:20-21). After being taught and (1) HEARING God’s power unto salvation, the Gospel of Christ (John 6:44-45; Romans 1:16; 10:17), you must (2) BELIEVE it (Acts 15:7).

A (3) PENITENT believer must willingly (4) CONFESS his faith that Jesus is LORD, the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10). You must then obey God’s command to be (5) IMMERSED (baptized) in water (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:48), for the remission of your sins by the blood of Jesus (Acts 2:38; Matthew 26:28).

The purpose of water baptism, this fifth step, is to put you into Christ and into His death (Romans 6:3-4). You are baptized into Christ’s death because after Jesus died His body was pierced and His soul cleansings blood came out (with water) from His side (John 19:33-34). While being buried with Him into His death, His blood cleanses you of all sin.

You are baptized into Christ because all spiritual blessings are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7), salvation (2 Timothy 2:10), and eternal life (1 John 5:11) are some of the spiritual blessing given only to those who are in Christ. Baptism into Christ is the final step that allows a penitent believer to “put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27), and thus receive all of God’s spiritual blessings.

When you arise from the watery grave of baptism you have been “born-again” (John 3:5). Your sins are washed away and forgiven by Jesus' blood (Acts 22:16; Revelation 1:5). You become a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). You receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 5:32), which is eternal life (Romans 6:23; 8:10).

As a penitent believer you are saved (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21), and the Lord then adds your saved soul to His body or church (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 12:27), the church of Christ (Matthew 16:18-19), the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13).

Then, as you walk in the light of God’s word as a faithful Christian, the blood of Christ will continue to wash your sins away as you repent and confess them (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:7-10). When Jesus comes again He will take you from earth to your eternal home in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:23-24). There you will receive a crown of life and praise and glorify God with all the saints and heavenly host forever and ever (Revelation 2:10; cf. 19:4-5).

Dear friends, from the Bible we have taught you by the authority of Christ God’s Way to Salvation (Matthew 28:18). If you desire to be a loving obedient disciple of Christ, “Just A Christian,” please don’t hesitate in obeying these things. Seek and find a congregation of the “churches of Christ” near your home (Romans 16:16).

We teach only the Bible. We take the Lord’s Supper every Sunday. We praise God with the fruit of our lips without the use of mechanical instruments of music. Worshiping God and studying His word with these humble loving Christians will help you grow more and more in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:1-2; 3:18). To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

Please use the below link from our personal website to further study this MOST important subject. http://www.trustingodamerica.com/BAPTISM.htm

Shared with you by Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA. The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. He is in control, so trust Him. We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35).