The Right Path For The Christian Believer

2nd Timothy 3:12-17, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

I learned the truth I am about to share with you from my friend, Pastor Steven Barnes. This is good stuff! Here goes:

• Doctrine shows us what IS the right path.
• Reproof shows us when we're LEAVING the right path.
• Correction shows us how to RETURN TO the right path.
• Instruction shows us how to STAY ON the right path.

I never forgot that practical truth, which is very helpful to remember. The inspired Word of God is ALL WE NEED! One of the reasons why preachers are so messed up nowadays is because they listen to other preachers, like Dr. John MacArthur and Evangelist Ray Comfort, instead of SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES (John 5:39). I heard a Christian lady testify in church that she led three co-workers to the Lord earlier that week. The foolish pastor scolded her, saying: “Well, we don't really know if they got saved, we're going to have to watch their life and see if they change.” Dear reader, that is the Devil talking! That is another Gospel. That is not what the Scriptures teach!!!

The Apostle Paul told Timothy that he had known the Holy Scripture from a child. This Bible passage evidences the simplicity that is in Christ. Getting saved is so simple that even a small child can be saved. I was saved at age 13, as was Pastor Curtis Hutson. Dr. Jack Hyles was saved at age 11. Pastor Steven Anderson was saved at only age 6. Praise the Lord! Any child who understands that he or she is a sinner, and understands that Jesus died on the cross to pay for those sins, can be saved. This is the childlike faith of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

“Yes, Jesus is Lord. He is Lord of the universe, and, of course, we believe that He is Lord. However, to believe that in order to be saved one must make Him the Lord of his life is just another form of salvation by works.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, “Lordship Salvation - An Enemy of Soulwinning”