by Dr. Gail Terrell
All truth is God’s truth. God’s Word, the Bible, is the complete written revelation of truth which sanctifies (sets apart unto holiness) the soul.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Any teaching or doctrine contrary to the Bible is heresy. All heresies are sinful because they violate the truth of God’s Word. Any error will damn eternally unless atoned by the blood of Christ.
Leviticus 5:18…the priest shall make an atonement for him concern ing his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.
Hebrews. 9:11-12 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more
perfect tabernacle, not made with hands… 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us..
Hebrews 10:10 We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
It matters what you believe! Sincerity is no substitute for the truth.
Remember the prophet who was deceived by his friend into disobey ing God. The prophet lost his life for sincerely believing a lie!
1 Kings 13:17-19 For it was said to me [the good prophet] by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.
18 He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of
the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him. 19 So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water…
1 Kings 13:26 It is the man of God,who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: there fore the LORD hath delivered him unto
the lion, which hath torn him,and slain him, accord ing to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him.
Every heresy is contrary to the truth, yet some heresies are more harmful than others be cause some truths are more vi tal than oth ers. No truth is non-essential, but some truth is non-vital. By comparison, my eyes and legs and arms are es sen tial for my complete usefulness, but they are not vital. I have broken some of my append ages and my eyes are deteriating with age. I know that I can live without them. Like wise, all truth is essen tial to the complete unity, peace, prosperity and well being of God’s people and to their reward here after; but all truth is not vital. A Christian may not know and obey all truth but he is accountable for all truth. The Lord requires His churches to teach ALL TRUTH.
Matt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body,
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
People may be wrong on baptism, the Lord’s Supper, church membership and many other truths and still be saved, if they have been washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.
However, all heresies are harmful; but those that subvert vital truths are damning. As Baptists who uphold the truth, we can help other believers avoid problems and even death by turning (converting) them from sinful disbelief of the truth. Helping other Christians obey the truth will stop them from committing a multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth,and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
