“There were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered” (2 Peter 2:1-2).
In Matthew 24, Jesus tells us to beware of false prophets in the last days. He also tells us that many will be deceived through the lies of these false teachers. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4: 4-6 NKJV, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
Lately, we’re hearing many voices on television and the internet professing that there are many ways to heaven. But, according to the Word of God, there is only one God and only one way to Him—through faith in Jesus Christ, His Son. Some “preachers” are saying that hell isn’t real, or that there is no literal hell. They justify this on the premise that God is love, and a loving God would never subject a human being to an eternity of horrific suffering.
God didn’t create evil, nor was He the originator of sin—as some would have you to believe. James tells us to “remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away” (James 1:13-14). Therefore, sin exists because Satan came to Eve in the form of a serpent and seduced her to rebel against God’s commandment, and she sinned. We must know the truth if we’re going to be able to overcome the deceptive ways of false teachers.
Now let’s address the lie about “a loving God wouldn’t send someone to hell.” First of all, God won’t send anyone to hell, but if we reject Jesus and refuse to confess our sin, then our sin demands punishment. Here’s the good news: when Adam and Eve chose to sin against God’s will, and through that sin brought a curse upon all of mankind, God could have allowed us all to perish without a second chance, but He didn’t. If you have sin in your life, then know that there is still hope. God is definitely the God of the Second Chance to those who call on the name of Jesus.
Is God a God of Love? Absolutely! Is God a God of justice? Absolutely! But, instead of demanding justice of fallen man, God sent His only Son and poured out His wrath upon Him for our sin. In John 3, he tells us that Jesus came into the world to save sinners, not to condemn them. Now tell me, does that sound like a God that would send you to hell? He allowed Jesus, who was innocent, to pay the price; then He offered forgiveness to all of us. But we must respond to His offer by believing in Jesus and receiving the gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8).
So what will happen to those who choose to reject the gift of the God of the Second Chance? Their sin—and not God—will condemn them to eternal punishment. Could they have avoided that punishment? Yes. Jesus took the sin of the entire world and for all generations upon Himself; yet, He was sinless. The price for our sin has been paid, but we must accept that free gift. If someone chooses to reject Jesus, the writer of Hebrews warns us that there is no other sacrifice.
So why does a preacher quoting the Word of God contradict what it says? Peter tells us why in today’s passage. “They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered” (2 Peter 2:1-2).
They have allowed sin to fill their hearts, and instead of confessing their sin as sin and repenting of it, they seek to justify their sin by perverting the truth that they, themselves, once believed in as teachers of Christ. Beware of false teachers that would try to seduce you away from the truth and corrupt your soul with falsehood. There is indeed a heaven to gain and a hell to avoid. If you have sin in your life, today is the day of salvation. Simply call on Jesus, confess your sins, and ask for His forgiveness. He will cleanse you with His blood and fill your heart with His Holy Spirit, and you will live with Him forever and ever. —submitted by Asa Dockery, US
mike wittmer on March 30, 2011 at 7:29 am
Thanks for this. A huge problem with pluralism is that it essentially says that Jesus is not necessary. If we can be saved in any other way, wrote St. Augustine, “then Christ has died in vain.” So pluralists think they are showing love to others, but they are actually pushing Jesus to the margins.