WE ARE FOUND FALSE WITNESSES
OF GOD
Paul wrote, “Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we
have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so
be that the dead rise not” (1 Cor. 15:15).
Here we have a very simple truth and principle before us. Simply this, if we
say that God said something and then He didn’t say it we are false.
There is so much of “God said this and God said that” or “God
told me this or that”. And yet with no Scripture to back it up.
For example, men say that all we have to do is believe to be saved. Of course
this is based on Jn. 3:16. But God said in the same context one must be born
again (Jn. 3:3,5). And God said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall
be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). So if
we say otherwise would we not be a false witness?
Also men say that we cannot lose our salvation or that we are once saved always
saved. But God said repent or perish (LK. 13:3,5). And repentance is what God
went about preaching (Matt. 4:17). And
repentance is what the apostles were told to preach by Jesus before He returned
to heaven (Lk. 24:47). So if we say otherwise would we not be found as false
witnesses?
Men say that it doesn’t matter what we believe. Well Jesus said we will
be judged by His word not your feelings or opinion (Jn. 12:48). And it is the
doing of His word that builds on safe ground (Matt. 7:24-27). And John said,
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath
not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father
and the Son” (2 Jn. 9). And just because “Jesus” is in it
doesn’t make it true (Mk. 7:7-9). If we say otherwise would we not be
found as false witnesses?
Men say one church is as good as another. Well Jesus said the church belongs
to Him (Matt. 16:18). So how can a church built by men with the names of men
be as good as the Lord’s Church? The Father was
not going to allow Peter to build tabernacles or “churches” based
on men (Matt. 17:3-5). Making a “church” equal with the Lord’s
church does not make it so. If we say one church is as good as another would
we not be found as false witnesses?
Men have turned religion or the “church” into no more than a social
club based on activities and food. But Jesus said when He cleansed the Temple
that they had changed the Temple into something it was not designed for (Mk.
11:15-17). Paul told the Corinthians to take their socializing home, it had
no place in the order of the church (1 Cor. 11:22,34). Although this is a prominent
practice today it makes us false witnesses because we are saying the opposite
of what the Lord said about such things.
Oh yes, we can become false witnesses for the Lord. When we say, teach, defend
and promote things that the Lord says the opposite of we have become false witnesses.
And there is no level of zeal and excitement that will change that.
By George Parsley
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