Much of theology is a blending of philosophy Much of theology is a blending of philosophy and religion. Theologians interpret and religion. Theologians interpret scriptures in the light of what they already scriptures in the light of what they already believe, rather than in the light of other believe, rather than in the light of other scriptures. scriptures.

Consider this comment on John 3:5.

““Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’”enter the kingdom of God.’”Albert Barnes wrote, “Be born of water. By water here is evidently signified baptism.” “And though it, perhaps, cannot be said that none who are not baptized can be saved, yet Jesus meant undoubtedly to be understood as affirming that this was to be the regular and uniform way of entering into his church” (Barnes Notes on the New Testament, p. 276).

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”Holy Spirit.”

A.T. Robertson wrote, A.T. Robertson wrote, “Unto the remission of “Unto the remission of your sins.”your sins.” “One will decide the use [of the “One will decide the use [of the phrase] here according as he believes that phrase] here according as he believes that baptism is essential to the forgiveness of sins baptism is essential to the forgiveness of sins or not” (A.T. Robertson, or not” (A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the Word Pictures in the New TestamentNew Testament, Vol. III, pp. 35-36). , Vol. III, pp. 35-36).

Consider this comment on Acts 2:38.

Robertson was not so vague on the follow-ing scripture.

““For this is My blood of the new For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt. for the remission of sins.” (Matt. 26:28)26:28)

In regard to the nearly identical phrase,In regard to the nearly identical phrase, “Unto the remission of sins,”“Unto the remission of sins,” he said, he said, “The purpose of the shedding of his “The purpose of the shedding of his blood was precisely to remove [forgive] blood was precisely to remove [forgive] sins” (Vol. I, p. 210). sins” (Vol. I, p. 210).

Almost all religious groups teach a mixture of truth and error.

But error is never justified by mixing it with truth.

““Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matt commandments of men.’” (Matt 15:6-9)15:6-9)

We are not to believe every spirit but We are not to believe every spirit but “test” the spirits. (1 John 4:1)“test” the spirits. (1 John 4:1)

Beloved, do not believe every Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into false prophets have gone out into the world. the world.

We are to look beneath the “sheep’s clothing.” (Matt. 7:13-15)

““Enter by the narrow gate; for wide Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate, and difficult is narrow is the gate, and difficult is the way which leads to life, and the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”they are ravenous wolves.”

We must be “fruit inspectors.” (Matt. (Matt. 7:16-20)7:16-20)

““You will know them by their fruits. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”their fruits you will know them.”

One’s assurance must be based on One’s assurance must be based on faith.faith.

My little children, let us not love in My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows greater than our heart, and knows all things. all things.

One’s assurance must be based on One’s assurance must be based on faith.faith.

Beloved, if our heart does not Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in those things that are pleasing in His sight. (1 John 3:18-22)His sight. (1 John 3:18-22)

These things I have written to you These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)

One must continue believing.

Be faithful until death, and I will Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Rev. give you the crown of life. (Rev. 2:10)2:10)

One must keep God’s One must keep God’s commandments.commandments.

Now by this we know that we know Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:3-4)truth is not in him. (1 John 2:3-4)

Alien sinners must obey certain Alien sinners must obey certain commands in order to enter God’s commands in order to enter God’s kingdom. kingdom.

Believe, repent, confess faith, be Believe, repent, confess faith, be baptized for remission of sins. baptized for remission of sins.

Kingdom citizens must practice the Kingdom citizens must practice the truth in order to remain in God’s truth in order to remain in God’s favor.favor.

This is the message which we have This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7).John 1:5-7).

Kingdom citizens not in God’s favor must Kingdom citizens not in God’s favor must repent and pray. repent and pray.

And when Simon saw that through the And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. sight of God.

Kingdom citizens not in God’s favor Kingdom citizens not in God’s favor must repent and pray. must repent and pray.

““Repent therefore of this your Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” (Acts 8:18-23)bound by iniquity.” (Acts 8:18-23)

On what are you basing the assurance of your salvation?

Feelings?

Philosophy?

Theology?

Preachers/Ministers?

Or the word of God and faith based there-on?