We have all heard the idiom, “what is popular is not always right”. This is extremely evident today among those claiming to teach sound doctrine from within the word of God.
We must not forget that what is true is true, no matter how many believe (Romans 3:4). Many people are following the wrong doctrine, because of their ignorance of the message or deception by Satan and his ministers.
Unknown by many people, although Christ has conquered sin and death he has not yet returned to claim his rightful position over the heaven and earth. We live in a ‘present evil world’ where Satan is the ‘prince of the power of the air’ (Gal 1:4, 1 Cor 2:8, Eph 2:2).
We must beware of the tradition of men that is after the world, and not after Christ, because the course of the world is under Satanic influence:
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” – Colossians 2:8
“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” – Ephesians 2:2
In the dispensation of the grace of God, God’s policy of salvation is by grace through faith not of works (Eph 2:8-9). Satan’s policy is to preach salvation by works in order to minimize the cross of Christ and to condemn man’s soul (2 Cor 4:3-4).
The tradition of the world teaches a religious achievement-by-works salvation which is in opposition to God’s grace. Even many ministers that preach the Word of God, do so ignorant of the revelation of the mystery and so cannot preach Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (Rom 16:25).
Many so-called ministers of righteousness will teach whatever doctrine pleases their congregation, but in doing so they turn from the truth:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” – 2 Timothy 4:3-4
These men are unfaithful, hirelings, of a fickle demagogue and must be reproved to ‘hold fast the form of sound words’ that Paul has taught (2 Tim 1:13).
Topical Index Page Published: Monday, May 30th, 2005
Last Modified: March 10, 2011