THE RIGHT TO BE WRONG

In 1 Thes 5:21 Paul says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good”. One of the things that this passage teaches, is that men must know and obey God’s truth, while rejecting religious error. Paul had “reasoned” with the Thessalonians “out of the Scriptures”. “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Acts 17:1-2. The Scriptures became the standard by which the teaching of Paul could be evaluated. In this letter he urges them to “prove” all things. The verb “prove” is often used of testing metals, and acquires the secondary meaning of approving as a result of the test. The inspired Scriptures are the standard in religion for proving a thing to be right or wrong. Christians are to “hold fast” to the good. Do men have “freedom of religion”? The first Amendment to the constitution guarantees “freedom of religion”. Men have a political right to believe anything or to disbelieve, as they will. Does man in God’s sight have a right to be wrong? I want us to test or prove the idea of: “Believe what you will” to see if man has the right to believe just what he wants to, as far as religious matters are concerned.

DOES MAN HAVE A RIGHT TO BE WRONG ABOUT FAITH IN GOD? May one be an atheist with God’s approval? They have a political right not to believe in God. To reject God’s existence one must be blinded by moral ignorance. “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” Romans 1:20 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” ; Psalms 19:1.

In light of the standard (the Bible) can one honestly say that faith is optional? Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

DOES MAN HAVE A RIGHT TO BE WRONG ABOUT FAITH IN CHRIST? Many people claim to believe in God but claim that they do not believe in Christ as God’s Son. Jesus said, “ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:1-3. God testified that Jesus is His Son. Matt 3:17; Matt 17:5, 1 John 5:9-10. In light of John 8:24 can one honestly say that he has a right to be wrong about faith in Christ? “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

DOES MAN HAVE A RIGHT TO BE WRONG ABOUT REPENTING OF SINS? Repentance is an important part of the gospel plan of salvation. “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:46-47. “God commands men to repent. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”Acts 17:30-31. The choice men have is to repent or perish. Luke 13:3; 2 Pet 3:9. Does man have a right to be wrong about repentance? The choice is “repent or perish”.

The answer is no, neither I nor any person has the right to be wrong in spiritual matters, that is, if we want to be partakers of God’s blessings, now and hereafter. John said, “Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, has not God: he that abidenth in the teaching of Christ, the same hath both the Father and the Son”. 2 John 9.

Bobby Ogles