Believer beware

2 Corinthians 11:12-14 Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)   “But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

In a local eatery recently, observed a meeting {Saturday morning gathering] of men preparing for a weekly ritual Bible study.  I’m sure that they didn’t know that I was in Christ, a believer of Christ’s gospel.

I approached the two men and asked my standard question.  A very open-ended question without perimeters.  The one answered that he believed the gospel.  I replied and what would that be?  Again he answered that we are to receive Christ to be saved, to be Christ followers [1 Cor 11:1 & Phil 4:9].  I questioned book, chapter, and verse, please.  The answer was chilling, “Well, its all through the Bible.”  True, it is but what good is it if it can’t be recalled so that another may go and read for themselves [Ro 10:17 with 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2:15 of the same epistle]; with that, he had to go and check on something and left the table.  The other gentleman stayed, and I delivered the gospel of Christ that today saves.  

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. 

The first man that had left, I believe was embarrassed when called out by his response to the question.   “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15.

One is to study to understand why one has been approved by God.  I believe that there is a pathway it salvation.  For me, this is the pathway that I had to come to salvation.  I don’t know of others way of belief but as for me, this was mine. 

• Hebrews 11:6  “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

• Hebrews 9:22   “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

• Romans 3:23  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

• Romans 6:23   “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

• 1 Corinthians 15:22  “ For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

• 2 Corinthians 5:18/21  “ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;  to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

• 1 Corinthians 15:1-4   “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

• 2 Corinthians 5:17  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

• Ephesians 4:4/7  “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”   “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Romans 12:3

• 1 Corinthians 12:12/13:  “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

• Galatians 2:20/21  “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

• Ephesians 1:13/14  “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,  which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

• Ephesians 3:14/21  “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;  that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.     
• Philippians 2:12

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now            much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Its all on us to learn and to do it God’s way.  The path to salvation simple,    its all on faith and believing what God has said to us, using, believing His Word, then doing in faith.