Page 266 - Bible Writers Theology Original

250 ♦ BSileWriters'Theology Chapter Eight
The Lord Jesus speaking to His disciples said, "He that heareth you hearth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me" (Luke 10:16).
The "true faith" once delivered to the saints has been handed down through the generations of the church age. There have been many that have gradually departed ftom the faith that was originally proclaimed by the apostlesofChrist(Jude3). Surelythereisacurseonthosewhodepartfrom the gospel of the grace of God to another gospel (Galatians 1:1-9; Jeremiah 6:16-19). TheapostleJohndeclareswithauthority,"WeareofGod:hethat knowedi God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby we
knowtheSpiritoftruth,andthespiritoferror"(IJohn4:6). Theprophet Jeremiah proclaimed of old, "For who hath stood in the counsel of the
LORD, and hatti perceived and heard his word?" (Jeremiah 23:16; cf. V. 18, 28-32; Isaiah 53:1). We need therefore to know that hearing from wrong voices resulted in dangerous paths leading to everlasting death. We must stand and choose, as God declared through Jeremiah, "Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, andyeshall find rest for your souls" (Jerenuah 6:16; 22:29; Isaiah 30:20-21).
Today, it is estimated that fifteen hundred to three thousands sects or reli gions,bothofChristian-andeasternorigins,existintheWest. Thesemany rehgious voices often create confusion, even among earnest seekers of truth. In order to present God's message successfully in the midst of many reli gious doctrines, we need to be knowledgeable of the true biblical beliefs so we can communicate them to the people of our communities.
F Faith by Promise
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report" (Hebrews 11:1-2).
Startmg from God s promise of redemption given to Eve (Genesis 3:15), the animal sacrifice offered for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21), the sacrifice offered by Abel from "the firstlings of his flock" (Genesis 4:4), to the sacri fice offer^ by hloah and his family coming out from the ark under the sign of the rainbow (Genesis 8:20-21), these were all performed in faith. However, these all pointed to the more excellent sacrifice of the New Tbstamait, which was Christ.
The sacrifices offered by Abraham in faith to the God who was revealed to hint, and the covenant of circumcision that he appli®^ himself and passedontohisdescendants,wereagaintypesandshadows. Theypointed to the putting on of Christ by baptism (GalaHans 3:16-29; Genesis 12:7-9; 13:18; 15:6-21; 17:1-14; 22:1-18). God promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed in Him. This pronuse was the gospel of the New Testament. Christ was preached to the patriarch, which he believed, and it