What are five statements that most Christians might believe? What ones can you think of?
Preach the Gospel; Use Words if Necessary
Have you ever heard this before? There is nothing more unbiblical than saying that we are to preach the gospel and use words if necessary. The fact is that words are necessary. Paul said, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). So aren’t words necessary if they’re to hear the Word of God? Faith comes by hearing, not by seeing, unless it would be by reading the Bible. Paul asked for prayer so that “words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19).
God Promises Happiness
I cannot find one verse in the Bible where God promises happiness. The fact is that Jesus said, “Small is the gate,” and “narrow is the way.” It will be difficult going, and that’s why “few will find it” (Matt. 7:14). God promises joy as our strength (Psalm 28:7), and it is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) but not happiness. Jesus said He would leave them peace so that their hearts wouldn’t be troubled (John 14:27), but never did He promise us happiness. Happiness is based upon “happenings,” which are temporary circumstances. In reality, “we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
We Are All God’s Children
I’ve heard the phrase the “universal fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man,” but it’s not true for the Christian. Paul writes that we were chosen “in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (Eph. 1:4-5). The Apostle John made a distinction between God’s children and the children of the devil by writing that “it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10). If you’re not born again or born of God (John 3:3), then you cannot even see the kingdom of heaven, not to mention enter it (John 3:7).
God Will Never Give Us More Than We Can Handle
The phrase that God will never give us more than we can handle is not from the Bible. I believe many Christians confuse this with Paul’s writing to the church at Corinth, writing, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13). The context of 1 Corinthians 10 is not about enduring hardships but about avoiding temptation and sin. Paul is saying that God is not going to allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to avoid it by making a way of escape.
Bad Things Happen to Good People
I read a book a few years ago that was mislabeled “Why Bad Things Happen to Good People.” The fact is, not one of us is good. Paul declares that “none is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God” (Rom. 3:10-11) and that “no one does good, not even one” (Rom. 3:12), as “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Bad things happen to all people, but truly, none are good. We are only bad people who are forgiven and made right (2 Cor. 5:21) and cleansed by a very good God.
Conclusion
I used to believe many of these things, but the more I read the Bible, the more I realized I was in error, and I hate to be wrong about what is right. I am continually corrected by the Word of God, and I thank God that we have His perfect Word to know the truth, for in His Word is no error.
