False Teaching re Religion, Death and Eternity

False Teaching #7 – There is no future for man beyond this life or all religions lead to the same end.

Some of the scriptures that refute that first part of this statement were quoted in the previous post, but they are worth listing here again.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 5:28–29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

I think it is significant to note that even Job (the book bearing his name generally considered to be the oldest book in scripture) expected to see God after death.

Job 19:25–27 “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”

David knew that he would see his baby son in the after life and that he would live with God forever.

2 Samuel 12:22–23 “And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

Psalms 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

As to the assertion that all religions ultimately lead one to the same end point, scripture is clear in declaring that only through Jesus can one attain eternal life. This was addressed in the post pertaining to False Teaching #3. I think the key verse to this truth is John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The Jews believe in an eternal future with God without reference to Jesus. How sad that their rejection of the Messiah has led to such pain and sorrow for their people.

The followers of Islam believe in the possibility of a heavenly future with Allah, but Allah is nothing like the God of the Bible. He is capricious in action and changeable in nature according to their holy book which is filled with contradictions.

Generally, the followers of Buddha hope to achieve nirvana by advancing to higher spiritual levels through numerous reincarnations. Nirvana is a state in which there is neither suffering, desire nor sense of self. Some would express this as annihilation, others as the state of extreme bliss and enlightenment.

Those who follow the Hindu religion believe similar to the Buddhists, but their nirvana will be achieved through absorption into the Supreme Being.

There are, of course, many other “religions” in the world—Shinto, Taoism, Wiccan, Scientology, etc. They all have a unique perspective on human life and afterlife. The one thing that all of these religions have in common is that their worldview rejects the truth of scripture.

The many Christian cults that have come into being are based on teachings that corrupt the word of God or insist that they have received new revelations of truth. They deceive their followers by declaring that: you can become gods, everyone is saved and exists in an eternal spirit world, heaven and hell are a state of mind, and/or the eternal state is achieved through one’s works. Many of these cults are labeled as “Christian,” but they are false religions according to the truth of scripture. Several times in scripture God warns against adding to or taking away from His word.

Deuteronomy 4:2 “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”

Proverbs 30:5–6 “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”

Revelation 22:18–19 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Paul talked about the emergence of these cults in his letter to Timothy.

1 Timothy 4:1–2 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron….”

Having used several posts to identify false teachings, the next post will focus on salvation as presented in scripture.