Years ago, when I left the Word of Faith movement, I was looking for the real truth, so I read the New Testament three times in a row. Before this, I had based what I believed mostly on books recommended to me by church leaders, books available in our church bookstore.
On reflection, I would say that many Christians who follow false teaching do so because of books they read about the Bible, which are often based largely on the author’s experiences and less on Bible study. These teachers often take verses out of context.
In case you’re wondering, the first teaching that I questioned was what is often called the prosperity gospel. It teaches that God wants you to be rich, and if you give enough money, you’ll get back at least ten times as much money. These preachers are living extravagant lives. For more about this, read my post, What Does the Bible Say About the Prosperity Gospel? HERE
As I read and reread the New Testament, I learned that, more than anything else, the Bible emphasized loving others. These are some of the verses that stood out to me:
“The message you heard from the very beginning is this: we must love one another.” (1 John 3:11)
“And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
“Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
“Be under obligation to no one—the only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law.” (Romans 13:8)
“My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” (1 John 3:18)
“No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us. We are sure that we live in union with God and that he lives in union with us, because he has given us his Spirit.” (1 John 4:12-13)
“Do all your work in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)
“Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together.” (Ephesians 4:2-3)
“To conclude: you must all have the same attitude and the same feelings; love one another, and be kind and humble with one another. Do not pay back evil with evil or cursing with cursing; instead, pay back with a blessing, because a blessing is what God promised to give you when he called you.” (1 Peter 3:8-9)
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a
Friends, READ YOUR BIBLE every day.
In His Love, Cindy
To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6 NASB
Scriptures are from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
Photo by Brooke Cable on Unsplash+
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