BEWARE OF EMPTY TEACHINGS
Most Christians have heard it said that all of God’s promises are true and that all we need to do to access those promises is believe in Jesus. In its simplicity, that is not a true statement. It is false teaching that gives people false hope and deceives them into believing that simply believing in Jesus (whatever that means) is all they need to do to gain eternal salvation and blessings. It would be a true statement if they were perfectly like Jesus (i.e. in his name/character), but if they are not like Jesus, it cannot be reliably said that they will have unconditional access to those promises.

Either God spoke the truth in his “if/then” statements, or he lied. If he spoke the truth, then our qualifications to receive the promises with good benefits depends on whether or not the law is written on our heart which is the essence of what it means to be like Jesus. If we are still an Old/First Covenant religionist who is under the law of religion of one kind or another, then we are disqualified from the promises that we consider to be good and beneficial.

“But,” many will say, “since I am a believer in Jesus, God does not see me, he sees the Jesus in me so that I am qualified to receive the promises.” We have heard that teaching, and there was a period in our lives when we believed that to be true, but we do not believe that thinking to be true now. Here is why we see it differently today: It puts all the requirements for receiving the promises on what we believe in our minds, and does not account for the attitude of our hearts and the obedience that flows out of it.

We may think that our heart attitude is right, but we will probably be wrong because our heart is incurably deceitful. We may comfort ourselves with confidence that our heart is mostly right, but that would be false comfort. God alone knows the conditions of our hearts. All who think their heart attitude is right before God would do well to know what is a right heart attitude and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that their confidence is based on Biblical truth — not on the teachings of men. Reading the Bible to discern its symbolic meaning is how we will learn what adjustments we need to make.

If our actions line up with what we say we believe, we are in good shape. In other words if the level of trust and obedience we apply in our daily lives agrees with the beliefs we say we have (i.e. the Bible), there is consistency that proves the truth of what we say. If, however, we say we have put all our trust in God, but continue to trust ourselves or others or some kind of idol or a king (i.e. religious leader) for our needs, including our need to practice some kind of religion, we have spoken a lie and disqualify ourselves from receiving God’s promises for prosperity and hope. If our actions do not line up with what we say we believe, the disconnect between our statements about ourself and the truth about us is exposed, and we should expect to receive God’s promises to bring evil on us just like he did for disobedient Israel..

As we see it, the main problem with this kind of thinking (i.e. “I am a believer therefore I am qualified to receive the promises.”) is that the concept of belief is interpreted to apply mainly to eternal salvation. It is good to be convinced of our eternal condition, but if our trust is not also applied to our daily life, it is not the kind of faith that God wants and expects.

We are of little value to God while on earth if we only have enough faith to get us to heaven after we die. Contrary to popular teaching, scripture does not say that we are saved from hell so that we can go to heaven. We are saved for works and deeds that are to be done now — not after we physically die. The kind of faith represented in teaching about the afterlife says nothing about issues like feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, visiting prisoners in jail, or making disciples. These are examples of here and now behaviors on which God is evaluating us to determine if we are qualified to receive the promises or not.

These good deeds and works are different from the religious works by which all religions (including Judaism and Christianity) are known. Religious works are of no value to God or anyone else after we physically die. Religious works are only of value to the people who do them. God is not impressed by religious works commanded by religious institutions. Religious works are nothing more than traditions of men.  God saves people from religious traditions to be lights to the world here and now — not in the future. He does not save people so they can practice and promote religious traditions.

Readers who can accept the above arguments that speech and actions make a difference to God while they are alive on earth, and if they are diligent to apply (i.e. hear and obey) what they learn in the Bible, life will go well for them.  However, if they think that some kind of loophole scripture excuses them from evil consequences because they follow Jesus, or because they are faithful in their exercise of religious activity, or that they have some special dispensation from God because of their righteousness, will be disappointed and punished for their disobedience. That is a hard word, but that is what God says.

Thinking that God is not faithful to His word in every situation does nothing to help build our faith or the faith of others. Teaching that says some people (i.e. ethnic Jews and Christians) do not have to be in a New Covenant relationship with God is wrong teaching. Moreover, those who follow such teaching will miss out on the promises that God faithfully provides to those who do obey God’s commandments. And lacking testimonies of God’s faithfulness, they will lack credibility with others who need to see and hear real life examples of a faithful God before they will put their trust in Him.

The message here is to constantly evaluate what we read and compare it to what we have been taught and what we believe. Do not be afraid to question old beliefs. Do not be afraid to reject old religious beliefs and practices in favor of new understandings God gives to us. Do not reject a new understanding because it conflicts with doctrines we have trusted because they were taught by people we trusted. We put our trust in God — not in men.