Wouldn't you rather believe the truth than tradition? If so, check these out. It is my desire to share with the brethren the truth of God's Word. Below is a list of commonly known traditions that many churches have taught and still teach today. Use two or three Bible writers, in the old King James Bible to check out these traditions. This is the rule the Bible says to use to prove doctrine.
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1. People go to Heaven when they die if they are righteous ~
The truth is, they don't ~
The spirit goes back to God; the soul and body stay in the grave (commonly known as Soul Sleeping).
1st Thessalonians 4:13-14, "I would not have you ignorant brethren concerning those who are asleep, that you sorrow not as others, which have no hope."
St. John 3:13, Jesus states that HE is the only one who has gone to heaven.
Daniel 12:1-2 it states: those who are asleep in the dust will awake."
Paul says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. We are always present with the Lord, whether dead or alive.
St. Matthew 22:32 says, "I am God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." So, you see, you are always in the presence of the Lord. God said that Abel's blood cried out to him from the ground. On the mount when Jesus was transfigured, God called up two of the Old Testament Saints to talk with Jesus so we are at His bidding whether in the grave or alive.
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2. Sinners go to the lake of fire when they die ~
The truth is they don't ~
God reserves them unto the day of judgment to be punished. 2nd Peter 2:9 & Revelation 20:11-15, tells when they will be judged.
Job 14:10 & 13:12, states that man lieth down and riseth not till the heavens are no more: they shall not awake or be raised out of their sleep. Well! The heavens are still here.
Acts 2:29-34 says, "David is not ascended into the heavens." These scriptures should be enough, but there are may more that tell that a man waits until the day of judgment to be judged.
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3. It is not necessary to baptize in water after the Holy Spirit comes ~
Wrong! .... Peter, Stephen, and Paul baptized others after the Holy Spirit came ~
I Corinthians 1:16, Paul states, "I baptized the household of Stephanas."
Acts 8:26 states the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south, from Jerusalem to Gasa which is desert." He arose and went, and joined an Ethiopian in a chariot. He talked with the man concerning Christ, the man believed, and Philip baptized him in water.
Acts 10:44-48, here states that people had received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and then were baptized in water by Peter.
Acts 19:1-6, Paul baptized about twelve in water, then laid hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. This should show the necessity of water baptism. There are other instances where people were baptized in water after the resurrection of Christ, look them up.
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4. The Old Testament saints went to Heaven when Christ arose from the dead ~
This also is not true, they didn't ~
Acts 2:34 says David is not risen and I Corinthians 15:22-23, says all are still here when Christ comes back.
I Corinthians 15:50-53 (v. 52) says they rise at the last trumpet. The trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised.
I Thessalonians 4:13-17 says the dead in Christ will arise when the last trumpet shall sound. Also, Revelations 20:4
Jesus said in St. John 3:13 that no one had gone up to heaven but himself.
Daniel 12:2 says, those who are asleep in the dust will arise, some to everlasting life some to shame and contempt.
Let’s look at Job 14:12-15,19:24-27, here you will find that the dead rest in their grave until God calls them from the grave. Also, that all go to the same place at death, the rich, poor and the wicked await their call from the dust.
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5. Some say that Christ and the Father are only one individual ~
Jesus said they are two ~
St. John 8:12-18, Christ said your law requires two witnesses, "I am one that witnesses of myself, and the Father that sent me witnesses of me." In St. John 17:20-21, Christ asks the Father that all believers be one in us (He and God), using the word "us," which means more than one.
2nd John 1:9-10, here he uses the word "both," referring to the Father and the
Son - both meaning more than one.
Jesus tells you in 1st Corinthians 15:24-28, that he will turn the world over to
the Father, after He, Christ, has put down all rule and authority.
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6. Enoch and Elijah went to Heaven without experiencing death ~
Jesus said that they didn't. I think I’d rather believe Jesus ~
St. John 3:13, Jesus doing the talking says, no one but himself had been to heaven and He should know. Hebrews 11:1-13, places Enoch with Abraham, Sarah, and others who all died in faith, as found in (v.13)
II Kings 2:11, states that Elijah was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind (into the heavens where the birds fly) as found in Genesis 1:15-20.
The heaven where God dwells is called the third heaven.
2nd Corinthians 12:14 tells us that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven.
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7. Some teach there is only one Heaven ~
The truth is, there are three heavens ~
One, is where the birds fly (the one Elijah was taken up to by a whirlwind). Another is where the stars are found - Genesis 1:15-20. And the third is the paradise of God, found in 2nd Corinthians 12:1-5
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8. Some believe that once you are saved you can not be lost ~
This is not true ~
1st Timothy 4:1-2 shows that they not only backslid, but also they are now devil worshipers. Read also Ezekiel 18:25-26, James 5:19-20, Hebrews 4-6 & Numbers 28:7.
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9. Christ was resurrected in the early morning of the first day of the week ~
This could not have happened ~
We see by scripture that Jesus was buried in the evening, so he must be
resurrected in the evening. There are about nine prophecies in the
gospels to the effect that he would be in the grave three days and
three nights. For those who think any part of a day is counted as a
day, check St. John 11:9, here Jesus asked if there were "not 12 hours
in a day?"
At the time of the crucifixion there are 12 hours in the day
and 12 hours in the night. Look these Scriptures up for yourself.
Jesus made most of the prophecies. (St. Matthew 12:39-40, 26:61, 27:63, St. Mark 8:31, St. Mark 14:58, 15:29-30,
St. John 2:19 & Acts 10:40-41)
So, if He, Jesus, was going to be in the grave three days and three
nights, you need a witnesses as to when he would die. You will find a
witness in Daniel 9:26-27.
This Scripture tells when he, Jesus would
die. St. Matthew 28:1 tells when he was resurrected. He died on
Wednesday; he was resurrected in the evening of Saturday. He was
crucified the day before a High Day Sabbath, which is the first day of
Unleavened Bread found in St. John 19:31 & Leviticus 23:7
In Revelation 3:14, Jesus claims to be the beginning of the
creation of God. Jesus says he received ruler-ship
from his Father, Revelations 2:27.
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10. It is said that Christ was born in a manger ~
I firmly believe the Word of God bears out that he was most likely born and then laid in a manger ~
Song of Solomon 8:5, indicates that he was born under an apple tree. Could be! It was not likely to have been in December as the weather there is about the same as it here in December and they had a long way to travel on foot. Remember when they were there, when Jesus was twelve years old, they had gone about a day's journey and had to return to get Jesus as he had stayed behind.
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11. There are some that teach that the saints should dress in all white apparel ~
I do not find any scripture saying this is a fact ~
It does state in Revelations 7:9, that after the resurrection the saints will stand before the Lord in white robes, and palms in their hands.
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12. It is taught that the thief on the cross went to paradise that day ~
This is not very likely~
Jesus told Mary after His resurrection that he had not gone there yet. It isn't likely that the thief went there before Jesus. The word "shalt thou" is also used as a question. This wording is used in 2nd Samuel 7:5 and probably should be the same where it is used in St. Luke 23:43. Since Moses, Samuel, David or none of the old saints are in heaven yet, its not likely that the would be there either.
Acts 2:34 shows that David isn't there yet.
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13. Many teach that it is no longer necessary to cease from work on the Sabbath ~
Many say that Christ is our rest now or the Holy Spirit is our rest.
They are wrong ~
Jesus is our spiritual rest. Did He not say, come unto me and I will give you rest? He was not just our spiritual rest but he also made provision for our physical rest. Jesus said "Follow me; I am your example." He, Jesus, went into the church (Temple) on the Sabbath and taught. If we would all followed Jesus; the churches would be teaching the same things he taught. Isaiah 58:13, records where God promises to bless those who honor his day of rest. Ezekiel 46:1-2, says the door of the temple will be shut the six working days but open on the Sabbath.
Jesus must have thought that the disciples would be going to church on the Sabbath because he told them in St. Matthew 24:20, to pray that their flight would not be on the Sabbath, nor in the winter, in the coming war. This war took place some thirty years after his departure.
Hebrews 4:8 says, "If Jesus had given us another day would he not afterward have spoken of it?" The seventh day is the only one God made holy, and it is still holy. Who can remove the blessings of God but Himself? There is no record in the Bible that Jesus has done so.
Some of the new Bibles say he gave us another day and afterwards spoke of it. Paul says in Romans 7:1-19 where he says the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives; and that the law is holy just and good, and spiritual. And that it showed Paul he was a sinner. This is a good report on the law.
Sinners are the ones who cannot be subject to the law of God. (This is stated in Romans 8:7) So, this will let others know where they stand.
It is strange to say the least that the only commandment people forget is the one God said to remember.
Carl Stewart, Elder
House of Prayer Sabbath Ministries
Published in The Acts magazine - 2000
