BELIEVING A LIE

He said unto him, “I am a prophet also as you are; and an angel spoke to me by the Word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ” But he lied unto him. – I Kings 13:18 

This is the story of a prophet lying to another prophet. It is the story of an old prophet lying to a young prophet. It is the story of a true false prophet lying to a true prophet. Unfortunately, the true prophet allowed himself to be deceived by the false prophet. 

This was a classic case of religious lie – of one religious man lying to another religious man. There are many religious people who are lying to their members. 

There are many lies going on in our religious house: 

Their Teachings Are Lies

“But there were false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you… and many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you…” (2 Peter 2:1-3)

Their Miracles Are Lies

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thess. 2:9-10).

GOD DOES NOT WANT YOU TO BE DECEIVED

“Do not be deceived” (2 Thessalonians 2:3; Galatians 6:7), yet many are victims of lies and deceptions. 

THE LIES PEOPLE BELIEVE

1.  Baptism Is Not Necessary For Salvation

a). Luke 7:29-30 tells us that rejecting baptism is rejecting God’s purpose. 

b). For salvation to be attained, Baptism is a must (Mark 16:15-16).

c). Baptism saves (I Peter 3:21).

d). There is only one baptism (Ephesians 4:5).

     This baptism is not for infants, it is not sprinkling or pouring of water, but a burial in water (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; cf. Acts 8:38-39).    

2.  Christians Are Under Obligation To Keep And Obey The Old Testament Law

a). The Law and The Prophetic Ministry were relevant until the era of John the Baptizer (Luke 16:16).

b). Christ is the end of the Law and righteousness to every believer (Romans 10:4).

b). While the Law came through Moses, Grace came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

c). Today, we are not under Law, but under Grace (Ephesians

d). Scripture is clear that Christians are not under the Old Testament, but under the New Testament (Hebrews 8:6-13)

3.  Just Attend Any Church of Your Choice

a)  God has His Church (Matthew 16:13-18; Colossians 1:18; Romans 16:16) and men have their churches. It is a lie to say, “Church does not matter” because it does. Ephesians 5:32 says, God is interested in His Church

b) Denominationalism is the creation of man, not God (I Corinthians 1:10-14). 

c)  The question is, Are you a member of “The Church of the First Born” (Hebrews 12:22-23)?

4.  Every Worship is Acceptable to God

a). This is a blatant lie. Even in the Old Testament, people were interested in worshipping God the exact way He desired (Exodus 8:27).

b). God is interested in a certain kind of worship (John 4:23-24).

c). There are different kinds of worship:

     i. Vain worship (Matthew 15:7-9).

     ii. Ignorant worship (John 4:22; Acts17:23).

5.  Christians Should Pay Tithes

a). They are quick to quote Malachi 3:8-12 as a proof of this falsehood. Truly, tithe payment is in the Old Testament part of the Bible, but Christians are not required to pay tithes. Tithe payment was for those in Old Testament (Numbers 18:20-27; Hebrews 7:5, 11-12, 18).

6. Avoid Those Who Say, “God Spoke To Me.”

    a) This was the problem of the prophet who was lied to by the Old deceiving Prophet (I Kings 13:18).

    b) Always cross-check whatever you are told by anyone using the Bible (Acts 17:11).

    c). God’s Message is complete. Therefore, do not allow any visioner, dreamer or prophet to deceive you (Galatians 1:6-9).   

CONCLUSION

There are many people out there who are in the business of lying and deceiving people. You will be blamed if you allow yourself to be lied to and deceived.