Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would guide men of the first century A.D. into “all truth” (John 16:13). In that century, the faith “was once for all delivered to the saints,” not progressively developed over centuries (Jude 3). God said the Scriptures give us everything we need for life and godliness, to be complete (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3), so we do not need additional spiritual instruction beyond God’s Word, and we must not add to His Word (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19).… Read more
Category: False Doctrines
What About the Ethiopian Bible?
Overview of the Ethiopian Bible
- The Ethiopian Orthodox Church uses a very large canon of Scripture—one of the largest of any so-called “Christian” tradition.
- It includes 81 books (some versions count even more, depending on the source).
- Their Old Testament contains traditional books, plus several apocryphal and pseudepigraphal texts not found in Jewish, Catholic, or Protestant canons.
- Their New Testament includes all 27 books recognized in most Christian traditions, plus additional books.
Old Testament Contents
In addition to the standard Old Testament books, the Ethiopian Bible includes:
- 1 Enoch
- Jubilees
- 1, 2, 3 Meqabyan (not to be confused with the Catholic 1–2 Maccabees)
- Book of Josippon
- Book of the Covenant
- Book of the Mysteries of Heaven and Earth
- Ascension of Isaiah
These books often contain:
- Erroneous, mythical cosmology (e.g.,
Why Ephesians 2:8-9 Does Not Teach Salvation by Faith Alone
• Acts 19 records the day the Ephesians were saved, and they were not saved by faith alone or told to pray—they were baptized to wash away their sins, just as others had been (Acts 19:5; cf. 2:38; 10:35; 22:16). Ephesians 2 was written after they had been saved by grace through obedient faith, submitting to Christ in baptism (Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Gal. 3:26-27).
• Paul was not contrasting faith and obedience, but grace and the Law of Moses.… Read more
Why the Thief on the Cross is Not the Pattern for Salvation Today
- The New Covenant was not yet in effect. It came into effect after Christ’s death (Heb. 9:15–17; Col. 2:14). The thief was forgiven under the Old Covenant, not the New Covenant of Christ. We now live under a different covenant with different conditions of forgiveness.
- The Great Commission had not yet begun. Jesus had not yet commanded belief and baptism for the salvation of all nations (Mt. 28:19–20; Mk. 16:15–16).
- Jesus still had authority on earth to forgive sins personally.
Samaria: The Site of Sin for Centuries
From Jeroboam’s corruption to Philip’s Gospel preaching—how a region known for rebellion became ripe for redemption.
When King Jeroboam led the northern kingdom of Israel away from Jerusalem (c. 931 B.C.), he also led them away from God. Fearing that the people would return to Jerusalem to worship, he set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan, saying, “Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (1 Kin. 12:28).… Read more
Recent Headlines vs. Bible Truths
1. No one man pastor system – God’s Word never shows one man as “the pastor” of a congregation (always a plurality who meet God’s strict requirements), and pastors (elders/bishops/overseers/shepherds) are not the same as evangelists/preachers (Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).
2. No sinner’s prayer for salvation – forgiveness is granted at baptism (Acts 2:38; 22:16); prayer is how people get forgiveness after baptism (See Acts 8:12-13, 22-24; cf.… Read more
Why Christians Cannot Be Masons
Freemasonry is a worldwide organization claiming to promote morality, brotherhood, and charitable works through secret rituals and symbols. Though it presents itself as a moral fraternity, its own writings reveal it to be a religious system that contradicts the Bible.
Freemasonry did not originate in Bible times, though some claim it traces back to Solomon’s temple. In reality, the first Grand Lodge was organized in London, England, in 1717, and the first American lodge was formed in Boston in 1733.… Read more
Immigration into the Holy Nation
Countless millions have longed to enter the United States seeking freedom and opportunity. Still, as great as this nation may be, there is one far greater: the “holy nation” built by Jesus Christ nearly 2,000 years ago (1 Pet. 2:9). The USA will not last forever, but Christ’s nation/kingdom/church will last forever and ultimately be “delivered up” to Heaven (Dan. 2:44; Matt. 16:18–19, 28; 1 Cor. 15:24; Eph. 5:23). Regarding immigration into Christ’s holy nation:
We Must Go Through the Legal Process – Just as legal steps are required to become a U.S.… Read more
Consumer-Based Christianity
Too many people today are looking for a church that meets their personal preferences rather than meeting the Lord’s requirements. Instead of asking what Christ wants, people are asking:
• Do they have lots of activities for my children?
• Will I like this preacher better than others I’ve heard?
• Is the building big, beautiful, and modern?
• Is the worship entertaining and exciting?
• Will it make me feel good without requiring change?
Friends, these are the wrong questions.… Read more
Another Jesus, Another Spirit, Another Gospel
Paul feared that the Corinthians might be deceived as Eve was, being led away from the pure doctrine of Christ. He wrote, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2 Corinthians 11:3–4).… Read more
Rapture, 7-Year Tribulation, then a Thousand-Year Reign of Christ on Earth?
Will there be a rapture of the righteous, followed by seven years of tribulation, and then a thousand-year reign of Christ on earth?
While it’s true that the righteous will be “caught up” to meet the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17), the rest of that timeline and many doctrines connected to it do not harmonize with God’s Word. The Bible teaches that the day the Lord returns for all the righteous (1 Thessalonians 4:16–18) is the same day all the wicked are punished (5:1–3).… Read more
Why Christians Do Not Observe the Sabbath (Brief)
The Bible teaches that the Sabbath was given only to Israel, and only from the time of Moses until the cross of Christ. It was never meant to be a law for all people across all generations. Today, under the New Covenant, Christians live under the Law of Christ, not the Law of Moses. The following points briefly explain why Christians do not observe the Sabbath.
- Because the word “Sabbath” is not found in Genesis—there was no Sabbath command, example, or punishment for anyone from Adam to Moses, indicating it was not a universal law for all people of all periods.
Questions for Those Who Observe the Sabbath
Some religious groups claim that Sabbath observance is still required today—whether on Saturday or Sunday. However, the Bible teaches that the Old Covenant, including the Sabbath law, was given only to Israel and was never intended to be a law for all people in all generations. Under the New Covenant, Christians follow the Law of Christ, not the Law of Moses. The following questions are designed to challenge the belief that Sabbath-keeping is still binding today.… Read more
Should We Observe the Sabbath?
The question of whether people should still observe the Sabbath is a contentious issue among various religious groups today. Many sincerely believe that keeping the Sabbath is a moral requirement today, making it a test of salvation. This topic is crucial because false doctrines related to the Sabbath can place unnecessary burdens on people’s consciences and even corrupt the true Gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-9).
Understanding what the Bible teaches about the Sabbath is essential for distinguishing between obsolete Old Testament requirements and New Testament commands.… Read more
The Apocryphal Books: Why They Do Not Belong in the Bible
Why do some people have more books in their Bibles than others? Are there “missing” books that should be in our Bibles?
Imagine a young man in the military has been sent to a foreign continent, and someone brings him a letter that says it is from the soldier’s father. As the young soldier begins reading the letter, he finds that some things his father wrote sound very strange—for example, his father never uses profanity, but the letter contains profanity.… Read more