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Approved Unto God
During the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments, the Jews became divided into various sects. Two of these sects that we often read of in the gospels are the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Jesus warned against their teaching (leaven) because of a most crucial reason. It would cause all who believed in it to be lost. In Matthew 23.15, Jesus not only called the Pharisees “children of hell,” but he said that those who believed and practiced their teachings would become twice as much a “child of hell” as themselves. Jesus also said in Matthew 16.6,11-12 to watch and beware of their teachings. In Matthew 15, Jesus said that these traditions transgressed the commandment of God (v. 3), were contrary to the Law of Moses (vv. 4-5), made void the word of God (v. 6), and caused worship to be in vain (v. 9).
Their doctrines were said to be commandments of men, not the Law of Moses. They sought to bind this tradition of the elders upon the multitudes rather than the Law. When Jesus’ disciples were observed not keeping these traditions, the Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?” (v. 2). These traditions consisted of laws and regulations orally transmitted from Moses and the prophets. On account of the supposition that these traditions originated with inspired men, they were regarded as equal in authority with the written word. Mark 7.3-4 lists some of these traditions herein referred.
A commandment of men is a doctrine that is based upon a supposition that is inspired. It is regarded as equal in authority with the written word. The oral traditions of the elders added to the Law (Deuteronomy 4.2).
What if such were done today? Would not the result be the same? There are a number of supposed inspired doctrines that are in reality only commandments of them. They are regarded as equal in authority with the Bible. Today, one cannot become a member of any existing denominational church without submitting to that particular denomination’s statement of faith. You will only be accepted into their fellowship, whether by vote, by letter, or by baptisms as their statement of faith declares. Protestant denominations were founded on such writings. These statements of faith or creeds are the criteria for acceptance into their fellowship. They are viewed as authoritative as the Bible.
The problem with uninspired creeds is that they contradict one another. For example, the Methodist Discipline, p. 410, reads: “Let every adult person, and the parents of every child to be baptized, have the choice of sprinkling, pouring, or immersion.” Yet the Hiscox manual for the Baptist denomination says on p. 20, Note 8, “Baptism is an immersion.” These statements are clearly contradictory. These creeds clearly define the difference of belief between each denomination. Which creed wording is correct? The Bible cannot teach both views! It is possible to “corrupt the word of God” (2 Corinthians 2.17), to “pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1.6-9), “wrest the scriptures” (2 Peter 3.16), and “handle the word of God deceitfully” (2 Corinthians 4.2). How so? By teaching doctrines and commandments of men.
Any doctrine taught today must conform to what was taught through the Holy Spirit by revelation. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into all truth. How did they teach salvation? That is how it must be taught today. If we teach it the way it was taught by them, we will not only be correct, we will be one in the sense that Jesus meant in John 17.20-21. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4.6, “…That you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written.” The apostle John wrote in 2 John 1.9-10, “Everyone who…does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”
Many people who are friends sadly are divided in their religious beliefs. They can be with one another in many walks of life. They can be involved in many functions, work together, and agree on many things, yet they do not worship God together. I emphasize that they “do not,” rather they “cannot.” The reason for saying “do not” is because they could assemble together if their teachings were the same. They have been taught different things, and so they cannot worship alike. The Methodist and Baptist creed wordings on baptism bear this out. The Bible does not teach both, nor does it contradict itself. It takes courage to question and investigate our personal convictions to see if we have been taught inspired doctrine or a tradition of men. But if one is sincere in his desire for truth, he will do so. The exhortation of Paul in 2 Corinthians 13.5 to “examine yourselves, whether ye are in the faith” appeals to such a person. The apostle Peter gave a similar exhortation in saying “give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1.10-11).
What about you? Do you have just such a desire to examine and even reexamine what you were taught on salvation? Are you willing to see if your church has or supports a creed? Is that creed the same as the Bible? If so, why does it need to exist? Were you taught the same doctrine as people in the book of Acts? Your soul’s salvation is God’s desire. However, your soul’s damnation is Satan’s desire. Choose wisely, that you may be “approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2.15).
