Different beliefs in Christianity

Version 2

By Mark Farquharson

Why are there so many different beliefs in Christianity?

A Christian’s beliefs are based on many different things, which church they go to, what their family and friends say, what they have read, what sites they go to on line. A person could have done studies on the bible, another could have been going to the same church for 20 or more years. Some people think that certain events in the bible, should not be taken as having really happened, others believe that the events really did happen. There are descriptions in the bible of the same event in different books, and in the same book in different places. Wrongly people can think that the descriptions in different places are describing different events, not the same event. People can think that one event comes after another event, because they are in that order in the bible, when in fact they could be the same event, or the later event that is described could come before the other event. Not all information about an event is all in the same place. People can believe that parables are to be taken literally, when in fact they are intended to illustrate. Someone new to Christianity can be put off by the wide range of believes that are out there.

Prophecy:

People may believe that the things in prophecy are to be taken literal, that they really will happen as it is described in prophecy. While it is true that prophecy really will happen, it is not true that they will happen as is described. There are seven bowls in the book of Revelation, but that does not mean seven actual bowls, the bowls are illustration. When Revelation talks about beasts most people realise it is not talking about an actual beast, but that the beast represents something. Some believe that the book of Revelation refers to spiritual matters, and not to actual events, however Revelation does refer to actual events, it is however that they are described in an illustrate way.

Wrongly Influenced:

People can be influenced by people who do not even believe in Christ, for instance believers have been influence by those who study evolution. Believers can also be influenced by scholars, who study the bible, they may think a scholar has more knowledge or understanding because there a scholar. Some people who study the bible don’t even believe in God, they try to work out how these things could have happened without God. They try to explain how Jesus done things he did, they think that anyone could have done the things Jesus did if they had the right knowledge. I heard one person explain that Jesus walked on ice {frozen water}. This is clearly wrong, because the boat that he walk to was moving, it was not stuck in ice. Scholars come up with different ideas about who write the books in the bible, some say that there were two people who write Isaiah, that there where two Isaiah’s, this is completely wrong. Scholars also say that their were a number of writers for the first 5 books, again completely wrong, Moses was the writer.

People can also be influence by traditions which are not true. One tradition that is now well established is to show on Christmas cards, and in plays, the wise men arriving at the manger, at the birth of Christ. However a study of the bible would show that they were not at the birth, they came to Christ when he was a bit older.

Believing in things that are made up:

For years churches have wrongly believed in hell. This lead to the invention of the place of limbo by the Roman Catholic church. In this belief children who die before they are baptised go to this place called limbo. However it is not mention in the bible anywhere. It was invented because people wrongly thought that unbaptised babies would end up in hell. Thus to find a solution to this problem they came up with this idea of limbo, and that this is where they would go. Recently they stated that limbo was completely unfounded and incorrect. There are indeed many other things that people have made up, which then become established beliefs.

False Prophets and False Teaches

2 Corinthians 11:12-13 Now what I am doing and will be doing is that I should strike off the incentive from those wanting an incentive, that in what they are boasting they may be found according as we also. " For such are false apostles, fraudulent workers, being transfigured into apostles of Christ. " {CLV}

There were false apostles, fraudulent workers, appearing as apostles of Christ.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the spirit is saying explicitly, that in subsequent eras some will be withdrawing from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons, in the hypocrisy of false expressions, their own conscience having been cauterized;" {CLV}

During this period of grace some have withdrawn from the faith, and given heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons.

Matthew 24:24 For roused shall be false christs and false prophets, and they shall be giving great signs and miracles, so as to deceive, if possible, even the chosen." {CLV}

Jesus here prophesized the coming of false christs and false prophets, that would do great signs and miracles. If it were possible the false christs and false prophets would even deceive the chosen.

2 Peter 2:1-3 Yet there came to be false prophets also among the people, as among you also there will be false teachers who will be smuggling in destructive sects, even disowning the Owner Who buys them, bringing on themselves swift destruction." And many will be following out their wantonness, because of whom the glory of the truth will be calumniated, and in greed, with suave words, they will traffic in you, whose judgment of old is not idling, and their destruction is not nodding." {CLV}

Prophesized here is the coming of false prophets and false teachers. There have been many false prophets and false teachers over this period and currently there are many false prophets and false teachers. They have smuggled in destructive sects. That is destructive groups. Many have followed out their wantonness, because of them the glory of the truth has be calumniated, slandered and in greed, with suave words, they have traffic in the people. The truth has been slandered, they have stated it is false, that it is a lie, that it is incorrect.

Believing things from other religions:

Some people who believe in Christianity also believe in Buddhism. Others believe in the so called prophet of Islam Muhammad. They believe Islam and Christianity are both correct. Some people even believe that all religions are the same, when a bit of study would reveal that they are not.

People with a cause:

You have to be careful of people who have a cause, they might use Christianity to help there cause. Some people say they are Christian when they are not. They might do something illegal for their cause, and then you will hear them claim that they are Christian, you should be careful of these people.

People who are in it for there own gain:

Jesus turn over the tables of the brokers:

John 2:14-16 And He found in the sanctuary those selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting." And, making a whip out of ropes, He casts all out of the sanctuary, both the sheep and the oxen, and He pours out the change of the brokers and overturns the tables." And to those selling doves He said, "Take these away hence, and do not be making My Father's house a house for a merchant's store." {CLV}

The problem today is the same, a number of churches, and a number of priests are out for there own gain. They have mega churches with hundreds, even thousands of followers, which give lots of money. The priests have million dollar homes and flash cars, they are doing it for their own gain. They have their own books and other merchandise which just line their pockets.

Which Bible?

Depending on which version of the bible you read, you can believe differently than someone else. Due to faulty translations, people can believe incorrectly about different things. The CLV {Concordant Literal Version} is the best translation.

Apocryphal Books:

These are books that are Disputed, some people say they should be in the bible others say they should not be. It is not question of the whole group, it is a question of each one, should or should not that particular book be in the bible. I have not studied this area enough to say which of these disputed books should be in the bible and which should not be. I don’t know which ones should be trusted and which ones should questioned.

Who is correct?

You may think that a person who has been studying the bible for 20 years and done studies in Hebrew and Greek should know the bible, should be correct in their beliefs. Were as someone who has been studying for only a few years has a lot to learn.

However this can been completely wrong, the person who has been studying only a few years could be more correct. That person may know the truth about something, were as the person who has been studying for many years may not.

In Jesus’ day there were people who had studied the scriptures for many years, they thought they knew the scriptures, however Jesus stated that they were blind.

Matthew 15:12-14 Then, approaching, the disciples said to Him, "Are you aware that the Pharisees, at hearing the word, are snared? Now He, answering, said, "Every plant which is not planted by My heavenly Father shall be uprooted." Leave them! Blind guides are they of the blind! Now if the blind should be guiding the blind, both shall be falling into a pit." {CLV}

If your guide is spiritual blind and you are spiritual blind then you will fall into a pit {Not a literal pit}. You can study the bible for many years and still not know the truth.

What is the Key?

To understand the bible your spiritual eyes have to be opened. People who are spirituality blind and stay that way, will never understand the bible no matter how much they study the bible.

Who has had their spiritual eyes opened?

The people who have had their eyes opened are the ones that have been born again, when I say born again, I mean they have had a spiritual birth.

Jesus said:

John 3:3-7 Jesus answered and said to him, "Verily, verily, I am saying to you, If anyone should not be begotten anew, he can not perceive the kingdom of God." Nicodemus is saying to him, "How can a man, being a veteran, be begotten? He can not be entering into the womb of his mother a second time and be begotten!" Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I am saying to you, If anyone should not be begotten of water and of spirit, he can not be entering into the kingdom of God." That which is begotten by the flesh is flesh, and that which is begotten by the spirit is spirit." You should not be marveling that I said to you, 'You must be begotten anew.'" {CLV}

Begotten: Born Begotten by the spirit is spirit: born of the Spirit is spirit

How do you know that the stuff your reading is from someone who has had their spiritual eyes opened? The person has to believe that ALL MANKIND will be SAVED! This person has had their eyes opened.

That is not to say that someone who does not believe in the salvation of all, is not a believer. To be a believer you only have to believe that Christ died for sins.

1Corinthians 15:3 For I give over to you among the first what also I accepted, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, CLV

A person can be born again and not believe in the salvation of all. However a person who does believe in the salvation of all, And that Christ die for sins is a believer. Note there are some who believe in salvation of all, but not in Christ’s death for sins, this person is not a believer. However people who believe in freewill, do not believe that Christ died for sins. Thus it can be hard to track down the truth.

Correctly Cutting the Word of Truth

2 Timothy 1:13-14 Have a pattern of sound words, which you hear from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." The ideal thing committed to you, guard through the holy spirit which is making its home in us." {CLV}

The faithful are to have a pattern of sound words. These words are committed to the person and are guard through the holy spirit.

2 Timothy 2:15-19 Endeavor to present yourself to God qualified, an unashamed worker, correctly cutting the word of truth." Yet from profane prattlings stand aloof, for they will be progressing to more irreverence, and their word will spread as gangrene, of whom are Hymeneus and Philetus, who swerve as to truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and are subverting the faith of some." Howbeit, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knew those who are His, and, Let everyone who is naming the name of the Lord withdraw from injustice. " {CLV}

You are to endeavour to present yourself to God qualified, an unashamed worker, correctly cutting the word of truth. Stand aloof from profane prattlings, for they will be progressing to more irreverence, and their word will spread as gangrene, that is dead tissue. The solid foundation of God stands, for it has a seal.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 Now you be remaining in what you learned and verified, being aware from whom you learned it, and that from a babe you are acquainted with the sacred scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God, and is beneficial for teaching, for exposure, for correction, for discipline in righteousness, that the man of God may be equipped, fitted out for every good act." {CLV}

The faithful are to remain in what they have learned. For the sacred scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is for the person of God, they are all important. That is all the scriptures in the bible are beneficial and are for equipping the man of God, so that he is fitted out for every good act.

2 Timothy 4:1-4 I am conjuring you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus, Who is about to be judging the living and the dead, in accord with His advent and His kingdom:" Herald the word. Stand by it, opportunely, inopportunely, expose, rebuke, entreat, with all patience and teaching." For the era will be when they will not tolerate sound teaching, but, their hearing being tickled, they will heap up for themselves teachers in accord with their own desires, " and, indeed, they will be turning their hearing away from the truth, yet will be turned aside to myths." {CLV}

The chosen, the members of the body are to herald the word. They are to stand by the word, opportunely, inopportunely, expose, rebuke, entreat, with all patience and teaching. For the era has come when the people do not tolerate sound teaching, but, their hearing is being tickled, they are heap up for themselves teachers in accord with their own desires and they have turned their hearing away from the truth, and have turned aside to myths.

See also 2 Timothy 1:8-14; 2:1-10, 24-26; 3:10-17; 4:1-8.

Why are there so many different beliefs with the people who believe ALL MANKIND will be SAVED?

Once you come to believe in all mankind saved, you don’t then get all the correct beliefs all at once. Each true believer has their own learning course. However NO true believer knows what their learning course is, unlike at school were there is a schedule laid out of what you learn and when you learn it. While there is a schedule for each true believer, there is know way of finding out what is on that schedule.

Some believers can be on slower courses, while others can be on faster courses. This is nothing against that believer, it is just what God wants, he is in ultimate control of what someone learns and when they learn it. God has nothing against different believers, it is just that he has them on different schedules for some reason.

Topics in schedules can be in different orders. One persons schedule may involve learn about all animals saved early on, while another persons schedule may mean that they don’t learn about this until much later on. Thus while one person learns early on about something, another person may found out about it much later on. A person can believe incorrectly about one thing for many years, before they are corrected. That does not mean they are an unbeliever, it just means they did not know.

This means that someone who has know about all saved for a few years may know more than someone who has known for many years. It also means that one person can know the truth about something and another person may not.

Not all information about a topic is found out all at once. What can happen is that you will learn something about one topic then you will found something out about a different topic, and then you will found out something else about a pervious topic. Topics can also be interlinked, with one topic related in someway to another topic, or even several topics maybe interlinked.

Thus a true believer can believe he is correct on some topic, but he maybe partly or completely wrong on that topic.

If people are on different schedules then can someone who does not believe in ALL Saved be on a schedule? Can this person have had their spiritual eyes opened? The answers is No to both questions. Once the person becomes a true believer, the first thing they find out about is ALL Saved, this is the same for all true believers. While schedules are in different orders, the first thing to learn is always the same.

Learning does not just come from reading the bible and reading what others say, it also comes from revelation, just like in the bible people today get revelations from God. I am not saying that God talks to them, I am say that he gives it to them. In this way something can be revealed to someone that is not in the bible.

All Will Be Revealed

When Our Lord Jesus Christ returns, all will be revealed to the chosen at that time. All being the complete plan, that many of the chosen do not know. Many of the chosen will have died not knowing the complete plan.

However before this time, there is another time, when “All will be revealed” to the chosen, that are alive at that time. At the coming of the Birthright, the chosen who are alive, and who have been spiritual born, will get the knowledge, the complete plan, and their part in the plan, for the work ahead. There will be some chosen who are alive at that time, who will have not been spiritual born at that time. I believe they will not get the revelation, when the Birthright comes. However they will still get the revelation in the future.

Thus instead of learning different topics at different times, it will all come at once. However they will also discover that many articles and books they have written are incorrect. Not sure how long this will take to fix, but with the new blessings the chosen get as well, this could be fixed up quickly for the new versions.

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