Let's Not Be "Simpletons"

In today’s religious world, there are false teachers and teachings almost everywhere we look. If we are unfamiliar with God’s word, we can easily be deceived by these false teachings (Romans 16:17-18; Ephesians 4:14; Titus 1:9-10). For example, I noticed a religious article today, in which the false teaching of "grace alone" was being promoted (see second paragraph – note the statement, “not in accordance with the Word of God, which says that salvation is by grace alone“). The author quoted from Acts 15:11, which states: “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.

Note that the above verse does not in any way promote the idea of being saved by grace alone, for the word “alone” is not found in the text. However, note the phrase “saved in the same manner as they.” Who are the “they”? The “they” refers to the Gentiles in Acts 15:7 who were saved in the account found in Acts 10:19-48. By what “manner” were they saved? By grace alone? No, by “grace” (Acts 15:11) through a “purifying” faith (Acts 15:9).

Paul tells us the same thing in Ephesians 2:8 – that we are saved by “grace through faith” — not by grace alone. The inspired James tells us what kind of faith we must have in order to properly access God’s grace and be justified by God — a “working” obedient faith (James 2:24; cf. Gal. 5:6; Hebrews 5:8-9; 1 Peter 1:22). Also note the active obedient faith of the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 and Saul in Acts 9:6, who realized that he must “do” something in order to be saved (cf. Acts 9:10-18; Acts 22:1-16).

The Proverb writer [Solomon] tells us in Proverbs 14:15 AMP: “The simpleton believes every word he hears, but the prudent man looks and considers well where he is going.

Dear reader, let’s not be "simpletons" when it comes to religious teachings that we receive from the printed page or through the medium of radio and television. Instead, let us study the Bible for ourselves in context [see rule no. 4] (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV), searching the Scriptures “daily” to see whether or not the religious teachings we are receiving are really from God’s word (Acts 17:10-11; cf. 1 John 4:1-6).

Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

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