I study the scriptures carefully, no more youtube, or putting 100% trust in man alone.
This is what my Church is telling me, I don't know for sure yet but it doesn't seem to add up.
1. They believe that they are the only true church, and you can't get salvation if you're not apart of it.
2. They think you can lose salvation, I was told to hold on to it for dear life.
3. You need to follow every teaching of the Bible, including some OT laws.
4. Members will be banned if they miss Sabbath, or if they leave the Church they are banned and lost salvation and cannot come back because they believe they never had it in the first place.
5. They will tell you not to learn anything else outside the Church, because satan will deceive you.
6. And they believe the Pope is the anti-christ.
I don't know, the Bible seems to tell me we cannot save ourselves only Jesus can if we put all our trust in him and really believe!
I had a terrible dream of being attacked by wolves thinking they were trying to help me. I get these thoughts of being commanded to trust in Jesus, and read the Bible.
1. There is only one true Church of God but it does not have a name or walls to confine it(
Acts 7:47-50, Acts 17:23-25, 1 Cor 3:8-11, 16-17, 1 Cor 6:13,15, 17-20, 1 John 3:24, 1 John 4:14-15, 2 Cor 6:16). There are many people within different churches who are saved by faith accepting/believing fully the form of doctrine they were delivered(Romans 6:17-18) and even some who are saved who have not heard the doctrine in any form but keep the Law of God by nature(Romans 2:13-15). So this teaching of your Current church is wrong.
2. A man cannot lose his salvation but he can certainly forfeit it by entering into sin again(Hebrews 10:26-31; 2 peter 2:19-22; Matt 13:2-8, 13-23; Mark 4:3-8, 14-20; Luke 8:5-8, 11-15). So this teaching from your church is false.
3. You must keep the law of Christ/God to maintain your salvation(Revelation 14:12-13; John 14:15-21;James 2:14-26) as we are justified by faith and works, but the Old testament/mosaic law was fulfilled in Christ only the Moral law remains because it was and still is separate from the law of Moses. So depending on whether or not these people were speaking to the Moral or Mosaic laws, this they are either correct or wrong. Hard to say without specifics.
4. Every person that accepts Christ becomes a temple for the holy spirit so as long a person keeps the sabbath day holy going to any specific building is not required of him. So this is a false teaching.
5. There is wisdom in becoming strong in the doctrine of God before learning of other religions/denominations beliefs so that you aren't carried away by deception. But what a person chooses to learn is up to them. So this teaching is wrong only after a point, I can understand where they might be coming with it not wanting people who are still needing milk getting carried away with every wind of Doctrine.
6. I agree completely with this. But would add that anyone working against Christ is an anti Christ.
I hope this helps. Study to show yourself approved Brother.
1 Thess 5:21
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
2 timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 timothy 4:1-2, 5
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
Romans 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Acts 17:11
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Proverbs 12:1
1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
Proverbs 8:33
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
2 Timiothy 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
