Category Archives: Doctrine of faith

Doctrine of faith

Should Christians use the word trinity to describe the Godhead? verses included

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Alan teaching

It’s widely accepted among Christians today, that God is a part of what is known as “the trinity,” but what do Christians mean when they use the word trinity, and why do they ask others if they believe in it?

How should you respond if someone asked you if you believe in the trinity? Well, how should you respond if a Christian asked you if you believed in anything?

We should ask where it is written in scripture. It is our responsibility as Christians to test everything, and only hold on to the good.

1 Thessalonians 5:21
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. NKJV

Why should we test everything? Are there false teachers today? Most certainly!

2 Peter 2:1-3
2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. NKJV

There are false teachers today and notice that “many will follow them” (verse 2 above). Not only will many people follow them, but they will also speak well of them (Luke 6:26 below). Imagine that.

Luke 6:26
26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets. NKJV

Therefore, never believe that many followers, and gracious words spoken about a particular preacher amounts to God’s approval because it very well could signify the opposite.  Those approved by God to teach, never speak to please men, or use flattering words (1 Thessalonians 2:4-6). Nor do they seek glory from men. Check it!

Christians are not supposed to put up with false teachings, but we do. Think about this. What did you do the last time you heard something preached that wasn’t exactly right? You put up with it because that is what you were expected to do in a church gathering, but that’s wrong.

2 Corinthians 11:3-4
3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted — you may well put up with it! NKJV

Christians don’t just put up with false doctrines. That’s how they spread. However, human nature teaches us that if “that’s how we do it,” then that’s how we do it.

Christians should follow God’s instructions rather than conforming to how the people of this world do things. So, how should Christians respond in a godly way to the question, “Do you believe in the trinity?”

We have to test it before we hold on to it (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We start by asking where trinity is written in scripture. That way we can see how God expects us to respond to such a question.

The answer is that trinity is not written in scripture. It may be contained in the foot notes of a study Bible, but it’s not written in the verses, unless it was added by a man’s interpretation. So, why would we need to use it, or believe in it?

Is there a good reason to use the word trinity, outside of the fact that millions of people use it? Could millions of Christians be wrong?

On the other hand, are there any reasons why Christians should not use the word trinity, outside of the fact that it is not written in scripture?

If we ignored how many Christians use the word trinity, what other reasons are there to use it, and believe in it?

Christians use the word trinity to describe God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Rather than mentioning all of the verses that confirm what they believe, they have agreed to use a single word to describe it; “trinity”.

How can that be wrong? It doesn’t seem wrong, but again, what does God instruct Christians to do?

If we ignored the fact that the word trinity is not written in scripture, what other reasons do we have that support not using it?

The first reason that comes to mind is that the word trinity (3) leaves the Word of God out. What do I mean by that?

If you believed the scriptures, then you would believe that the Word itself was God (John 1:1), and is one with God according to 1 John 5:7 (below). You would believe that the Word is also Spirit (John 6:63 below), and it is able to sanctify us (John 17:17 below), and build us up and give us an inheritance (Acts 20:32 below). Not to mention that the Word itself is alive (Hebrews 4:12 below), and the Word became Jesus (John 1:14 below).

Therefore, if I was going to make up a word that would describe the godhead, I would make it equal to four, and not three, since the Word is also God, Jesus, and Spirit.

John 1:1-3
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. NKJV

1 John 5:7
7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. NKJV

John 6:63
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. NKJV

John 17:17
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. NKJV

Acts 20:32
32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. NKJV

Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. NKJV

John 1:14
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. NKJV

The second reason that comes to mind if we ignored the fact that the word trinity is not written in scripture, is that the word trinity is beyond what is written in the Bible, and we are instructed not to go beyond what is written, or add to the Word of God.

Trinity sounds good, and seems right, and it may have some spiritual meaning, but in order to live by faith, we cannot go beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6 below), or add to what is written (Proverbs 30:5-6 below).

1 Corinthians 4:6
6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. NKJV

Proverbs 30:5-6
5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. NKJV

If we decided to do what God wanted us to do in accordance with His Word, then we would not add the word trinity to scripture, even if the godliest man on earth told us that it was okay. It just doesn’t pass the test (1 Thessalonians 5:21 above).

Why? The bottom line is that the word trinity violates the scriptures above. It is “beyond what is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6 above), and it is an addition to what is written (Proverbs 30:5 above).

No, it’s not like they are asking you to believe in the devil, but it still violates our instructions found in scripture. Remember Eve? Everything seemed right, but the one thing that got her was that she ignored God’s instructions.

When everything seems right, but you got to ignore God’s instructions in order to do it, then don’t do it, no matter how many people tell you that it is okay. Above all, trust God.

Continue reading Should Christians use the word trinity to describe the Godhead? verses included →

Doctrine of faith

any hope for those who have turned from the truth?

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any hope

Brother Ballou, is there any hope for those who turn from the truth? What should we do, who have turned from the truth, or is it too late?

Return to the Lord in keeping with His ways and not according to the world’s ways, or what you might hear on Christian TV, but get your Word straight out of your Bible. Will He not see it? Will He not know what you are doing?

Were not all ten of the virgins waiting to meet the bridegroom (Matthew 25:13)? Did the Lord not know that five were foolish, and never came to know Him (Matthew 25:11 )?

How can we avoid that mistake? How do we come to know the Lord according to Ephesians 4:17-24?

Many will enter by the broad gate, but only a few by the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13), and what are the Lord’s instructions? Strive to enter!

Luke 13:24-30
24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.  25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying,’Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you,’I do not know you, where you are from,’  26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’  27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’  28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.  29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. NKJV

So, is it too late? Again, how do we come to know Christ according to Ephesians 4:17-24? Deny yourself and take the time to look that passage of scripture up!

So now, how do we come to know Jesus according to God’s Word? Every Christian should be able to answer that question, but is that not a well-kept secret among the churches today? In deed, do not most teach the exact opposite, that we don’t have to do anything after we get saved?

If you are going to return to the Lord, in keeping with His ways, you are going to have to stand up for the truth, and cast out worldly wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:17), and philosophy (Colossians 2:8), which have led millions astray.

How do we come to know Jesus according to 1 John 2:3-6? Do we have to do something?

Most teach the exact opposite of that, and out of the few who do teach that “we must keep Jesus’ commands,” most of them lead Christians (Christ followers, Acts 11:26) back to Moses, with the Ten Commandments. However, the Law is not made for the people who are going to Heaven, and it is not a part of the Gospel (1 Timothy 1:8-11). Check the verses before you speak against the faith (1 Timothy 6:20-21).

News flash here! The Ten Commandments are a part of the Laws that came through Moses, and those who remain under the Law, also remain under sin’s control (Romans 6:14). If you want to know what commands Christians should be obeying, then read John 13:34-35, and 1 John 3:23. Enjoy!

Those who try to be justified through keeping the Laws that came through Moses will eventually fall away from grace (Galatians 5:4), which means that church attending people will be unable to turn away from worldliness and ungodliness (Titus 2:11-14, Romans 7:4-6).  No wonder they preach that we cannot stop sinning; they can’t (Romans 6:14).

Take a step back and look at the church building. They bring the tithe in keeping with the Laws of Moses, but do they eat the tithe in keeping with Moses? Therefore, the church building is not a place where the poor, the widow, the fatherless, and the stranger can eat, but a place where we can gather with the greedy. That’s a country club.

They teach being a cheerful giver, and sowing bountifully in keeping with 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, but do they “supply the needs of the saints” in keeping with the verses right after that (2 Corinthians 9:9-15)? No, they suppress the truth. Can blind guides lead people to light? Repent and return to the Lord before it is too late.

Is there a time limit written in the Bible describing when a living Christian can, and cannot turn back to the Lord? I don’t believe so. However, if they have turned, would they not now accept and believe the doctrines of Jesus Christ, which are clearly written in their own Bibles? Would they suppress the truth because of their greed?

Recognize blind guides by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20, 12:33-37), and not by their titles (2 Corinthians 5:16). Can we speak in direct opposition to what Jesus Christ taught and yet believe in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:6-8, Matthew 12:33-37)?

If they are unwilling to teach the doctrines as they are written in their own Bibles, doesn’t that tell you anything? Are Jesus’ disciples sent out to oppose Him?

Name one church that preaches 2 Corinthians 8:12-13. That’s where you should gather, but I don’t believe there is one left in this country. In fact, you probably can’t find one that doesn’t teach in opposition to those scriptures.

Name one church that preaches Titus 3:8, and verse 14, and John 15:1-6. You can’t. All have rejected the teachings of Jesus Christ, and so when will He open our understanding (Luke 24:45)?

We say that we believe Jesus, and that we have given our life to Him, but have we not rejected Him and replaced His teachings with our own?

Matthew 15:8-9
8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” NKJV

Doctrine of faith

Is 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 talking about the fire of hell? (verses included)

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Is 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 talking about the fire of hell

I have a question concerning branches who don’t bear fruit. They will be cast down into the fire, according to what Jesus Christ has said (John 15:5-6), but is this the fire of hell or going through the fire as it is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:14-15, and yet still be saved?

What we have to keep in mind is that we cannot go beyond what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6), or add to the Word (Proverbs 30:5-6), and there are some things that we will not be able to answer right now, because of that. We only know in part (1 Corinthians 13:9). So, with that said, is it the fire of hell? Let’s take a look at the verses  in the gospels concerning bearing fruit.

John 15:1-7
15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. NKJV

Luke 3:7-9
7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him,”Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” NKJV

Matthew 7:15-23
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 
21 “Not everyone who says to Me,’Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ NKJV

Matthew 12:33-37
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.  34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.  36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.  37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” NKJV

Those verses to not identify the fire as being the fire of hell. However, lets consider what they do say, and place our explanation within what is described by them.

A bad tree cannot bear good fruit, and a good tree cannot bear bad fruit (Matthew 7:18 above). If we make the tree good, its fruit will be good (Matthew 12:33 above).

So, who are the branches that do not bear fruit, or that bear bad fruit? There are people of this world, who have no intention of bearing fruit, and there are Christians who stop bearing fruit, and perhaps some of them have been taken away as described in John 15:2 above. There are many different people in this group, but I believe that 1 Corinthians 3:15 refers to Christians who have built falsely, or deceitfully, which would certainly include many if not all of the TV preachers today, and Christians who have believed the lies of those who build falsely.

So, what will become of them according to the Words of Jesus Christ? Again, lets read the scriptures.

Continue reading Is 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 talking about the fire of hell? (verses included) →

Doctrine of faith

Why Love God, love people is deceiving

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Why the love God, love people doctrine is deception

All false doctrines use a twist when it comes to backing them up with scripture, and the “Love God, love people” doctrine is no exception to that same pattern.

Oh sure there are verses that are used today to support false doctrines, but it’s mainly the verses that are never mentioned that prove them false. Therefore, the only people who can be tricked by a man’s doctrine are those who do not know what their Bible really says.

Let’s take 1 John 4:20-21 (below) as an example.

1 John 4:20-21  If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. NKJV

Whoever loves God, must also love his brother. Okay, but where is the twist?

The twist is in the redefining of who a Christian brother is. If you have been taught that everyone who walks into a church building claiming to be a Christ follower is your brother, then you have been duped.

Jesus Christ explains in detail who His brothers and sisters are in Mark 3:31-35 (below).

Mark 3:31-35  Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.”

33 But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?”  34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!  35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” NKJV

This is one of the many passages of scripture that you will not hear preached today because everyone who attends a church service does not “do the will of God,” but every paying customer is needed to pay the bills. So, what do the unrighteous do? They suppress the truth (Romans 1:18).

Jesus clearly explains who His brothers and sisters are. So, when He commands us to love one another, which is a new commandment (John 13:34-35), He is talking about one disciples loving another disciple.

How can we be sure? Well, we would have to read another passage of scripture that false teachers never preach.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13  I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person.

Is there one church left in this country that obeys God Word in that passage of scripture? I don’t believe there is, but all have turned away from the whole truth as predicted by 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Continue reading Why Love God, love people is deceiving →

Doctrine of faith

Whatever you ask

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Whatever you ask

If God told you that He would give you whatever you ask if you took two steps to the left, one step forward, and then two steps to the right, would you do it? Would you trust God?

Most Christians would say “yes,” and then they would quickly say something like, “but God hasn’t promised that.” However, do we know what God has promised and what we need to do in order to receive it?

No, God has not instructed us to do some sort of line dance, but He has given us promises that will position us to where we can ask anything of Him with results.

John 15:7-8  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. NKJV

John 15:16  You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. NKJV

1 John 3:22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. NKJV

You are probably shocked that promises like these are found in scripture, and you may wonder why you never hear them in church. It’s obvious. We don’t believe them. Let us repent and return to the Lord our God!

Let’s be honest here. If we trusted God we would have heard these promises many times over in a place called church, including the conditions.

However, not only do we ignore promises like the ones above, but we also teach in opposition to the conditions, assuring that no one at our gatherings will be in a position to ask whatever they desire of God. Let me explain.

99% of churches today in this country never mention abiding in Jesus Christ, or the doctrine of abiding in Him, which is found in John 15:1-10. I would say 100%, since I have yet to find one church in the past twenty years that teaches it, but I’m leaving room in hope.

99% of churches today in this country never mention that we need to obey Jesus. However, all of the promises above have obeying Jesus as a condition, since the only way to abide in Jesus is to obey Him (John 15:10). Let us repent and return to the Lord our God!

Many churches even teach that if we do anything after we are saved, we are trying to earn our salvation, and have been disqualified because we have not trusted in what Christ has done for us. That’s hogwash.

My friend, Jesus is the One Who appointed us to bear fruit (John 15:16, above). That means that Jesus Himself wants us to “do something” after we accept Him as the Lord of our life. In fact, He expects us to obey Him.

Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? NKJV Continue reading Whatever you ask →