by Dr. Ken Matto

(Psa 119:105 KJV) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 

With the destruction of the twin towers of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, Islam has been given almost consistent front page exposure as being a peaceful religion. This religion is even being touted by those in high offices in our land. Islam is just another false religion which is damming the souls of millions to Hell. Their book, the Qur’an, is on the par with such books as Moon’s "Divine Principle," Joseph Smith’s "Book of Mormon," The New Age Urantia Book, Ellen White’s "The Great Controversy," "The Lost Books of the Bible," "the Apocrypha," and other false books which fuel false religion. These books were all written by humans and under no divine inspiration or authority from God. They are all false writings used of Satan to draw people away from the Bible and its timeless truths.

 

We live in a time which paralleled the era before the Reformation. Before the time of the Reformation, the truths of the Bible were hid from the people by the Roman Catholic Institution. The people were being fed mysticism, writings by the "saints," approved dogma, contemporary opinion, works for salvation, money for salvation, etc. The people were fed all these things to keep them away from Biblical truth. The Bible scares any false religion. It was toward the end of the Renaissance period, which officially ended in 1527, that there was a cry in Europe for a return to the original languages of the Bible. God was ready to begin the task of worldwide evangelism by opening up the Scriptures to the poor people.

 

(Luke 21:20-21 KJV) And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. {21} Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

 

In the above verses, we see that God commands the true believers to flee to the mountains when we see Jerusalem compassed with armies. Jerusalem was one of the most bloodied cities in the world and has been the center of much military action throughout history. Therefore, these verses are speaking to us on a spiritual level about a spiritual event. Before the Reformation, there were some true churches which bought the truth through the Middle Ages. They were the Waldensians, Albigenses, and the Lollards. These people groups were severely persecuted by the Roman Institution, yet in the face of overwhelming numbers, they held to the truth of the Scriptures. It was toward the end of the 15th century, that a return to original languages of the Scriptures was needed. They saw that the Roman Institution was evil and was suppressing the truth. These true believers, which the Bible calls the New Jerusalem, were surrounded by spiritual armies. They now were fleeing to the mountains, namely the true Word of God. The mountains in Scripture are symbolic for the Kingdom of God.

 

(Psa 87:1 KJV) His foundation is in the holy mountains.

 

(Isa 2:2 KJV) And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

 

(Psa 121:1 KJV) A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

 

(Isa 49:13 KJV) Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

 

(Isa 55:12 KJV) For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

 

The fleeing to the mountains has happened twice in history. The first time was before the Reformation, when people started reading the Bible without commentary and allowing the Holy Spirit to do the interpretation. The second time, is in our time, when many churches have replaced true Bible teaching with teachings foreign to the Bible, some of which I will discuss further in the article. Christians who are students of the Scriptures can see a great migration from the truths of Scripture, and now many are fleeing to the mountain of the Word of God. This return to the Word of God will also yield many souls in these closing days since it is the Word of God which brings people into the Kingdom, and not dissemination of philosophies.

 

The Reformation, simply defined, was a watershed event which brought the religious world out of the darkness of tradition and superstition, and into the light of the True Word of God.

 

At the beginning of the 16th Century, the power of the Papacy declined from the immense power it enjoyed under such Popes as Gregory VII in the late 11th century and Innocent III (1198-1216). These two Popes systematized the power, dominion, and authority of the RC church. The greatest power of Rome was felt between Leo IX (1049) and Boniface VIII in (1303).

 

Then came a series of scandals and power-grabbing. Between 1378 and 1417 there were three Popes vying for the throne, and it was called the Great Schism. During this time, the seat of the Pope was temporarily moved to Paris, France. This began the decline of Papal authority. Many monarchs were no longer bowing the knee to Rome.  In 1229, the Council of Valencia placed the Bible on the forbidden list.

 

The Renaissance came in the 15th century, and with it was an outcry of "Ad Fontes," which means "to the primary sources." This was an increasing desire in the seminaries in Europe for a return to the original languages of Scripture.

 

This desire for a return to the original languages dealt the beginning of the death blow to the papal claims to power. It was not until October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door at Wittenburg.

 

In Luther's works, Vol. 48, Page 68, states, "his opposition was directed towards what he termed impious, false, and heretical teachings which were associated with the granting of indulgences." However it involved much more for Luther as the following two theses states:

• 32 - Those who believe that they can be certain of their salvation because they have indulgence letters, will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.

 

• 62 - The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.

By the end of 1519, Luther had developed such an understanding of what the church was that excommunication was no longer to be feared. His excommunication became official on January 3, 1521.

 

By this time he came to understand the church to be "inner, spiritual, and invisible fellowship of the heart." The Bible calls us "the Israel of God," and the "New Jerusalem." Luther desired to help those he pastored whom he knew were in spiritual darkness. All this happened because one man had a hunger to know God's Word.

 

Is there a pre-Reformation parallel today?

 

Before the Reformation, the true Gospel was hidden by tradition and deceit. What is it hidden with today?

 

Psychology - Christian Psychologists Are Deceivers

With Christian Psychology, the Christian’s gift of grace is turned into works by means of trying "to find themselves" through worldly manipulations and behavioral patterns, which are melded with the Bible to give them a Christian flavor, but the problem is that the psychology comes through and not the Grace of God. Christian psychology, like secular psychology, focuses on the person and not on God. It is man-centered, no matter what you call it.

 

Politics

There are some churches that are so heavily involved with politics that they probably have no understanding of what the grace of God is. They probably teach that salvation comes through joining the Republican party. Radio and TV preachers love to mix politics and the gospel. Little do they know, this is what the Roman Institution did and still does today. The Christian’s responsibility is to send forth the true Gospel. God heads up the Sovereignty Party!

 

Dead Protestant Traditions

Catechism, First Communion, Baptism, Lord's Supper, along with dead orthodoxy. Many churches proclaim these things as steps to salvation. When I include the Lord’s Supper, it is not to denigrate the memorial the Lord commanded the church to celebrate until the last day, but that many churches treat it as a means of grace or a step in the process of salvation. In a church I attended, they taught that the congregation’s sins were removed when the Minister raised his hands and pronounced the absolution of their sins, and then proceeded to give out the Lord’s Supper. The true Gospel and its true teachings have been shrouded by these traditions.

 

The three items are sufficient to give an idea of how the true Gospel has been obscured in the church. Anytime salvation is portrayed as having to do something yourself, they are giving a false view of salvation. God is the one who qualifies a person to hear the true Gospel. (Luke 24:44-45 KJV) And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. {45} Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

 

Following "Sola Scriptura" will help prevent the following disasters:

 

ERROR 1. False Understanding of Salvation

Only God can grant a person salvation. There can be no work on the part of anyone, since it is all of grace. The one receiving salvation is totally passive, or in other words, does absolutely nothing except receives it. Even though many churches like to hype their rituals as steps to salvation, the truth is that nothing the church does physically can save a person. The only thing a church can do to aid in the salvation of a person is to preach the true Gospel, since faith comes by hearing the Word of God. If a person is one of God’s elect, and if that is the moment God is calling them, then they will become saved.

 

Titus 3:5 states, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" The word "washing" is the Greek Word "loutron" (loutron), which carries with it the meaning of "washing totally of our sins by the blood of Christ." The same word is found in Revelation 1:5. (Rev 1:5 KJV) "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood," Looking at Titus 3:5, we read about renewal. The renewal of the believer is only associated with salvation. No one can be renewed without salvation.

 

ERROR 2. Belief in Every Doctrine

(1 John 4:1 KJV) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

 

In the above verse, the word "try" carries with it the meaning of prove. Why do we prove? The answer to that is found in Ephesians 4:14:

 

(Eph 4:14 KJV) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

 

It is imperative that a child of God checks everything out by Scripture so they will not be taken off course in their Christian walk. The word "sleight" in this verse carries with it the meaning of "trickery." Many false teachers are tricky in the use of the Bible and can lead many astray. "Whereby they lie in wait to deceive" may also be translated "with a view to the systematizing (meqodia) of error." The Bible helps us identify any system of error or false teachings. How does one utilize the Scriptures in identifying a false teaching? The way to do it is, to check out the Scriptures without any commentary from the person giving the teaching. This way there is no subliminal persuasion. Ask the question, what did these verses mean to me before I heard the teaching? If a person is a false teacher, then those verses will probably remain the same in meaning as they did before you heard the false teachings. Unfortunately, many Christians are following teachers instead of Christ and they are being drawn away in their errors.

 

ERROR 3. Judgment Will Not Happen

(2 Pet 3:4 KJV) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

 

The third disaster which could happen is the desired belief that judgment will not take place, or that if you are immersed in your church’s teachings or their rituals, then you are ready to face Christ. When cults write books, which become their "spiritual source or guide," they normally do not include the subject of judgment on sin. They speak of Nirvana and how one could attain the spiritual utopia which all humans seek. If you ever look at materials written by the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Hare Krishna, you will see in their publications, many pretty pictures of the perfect earth, and perfect harmony with many bucolic scenes. These scenes play on the mind as one would desire to be out in the country on a warm day with blue sky and sun. However desirable those things are, they are not reality because those who follow false teachings will wind up at the White Throne Judgment, as recorded in Revelation 20.

 

There were two Judgment Days: The first was when the Lord Jesus Christ went to the Cross to die for His elect. This was where Jesus became the substitutionary sacrifice for the Christian. It was because of His sacrifice that the true Christian is justified and freed from the judicial penalty of the law. The second day of judgment is on the last day when all the dead will be raised and the righteous go into eternal life, and the unbeliever will stand for judgment of their sins because they had no Savior. (Heb 9:27 KJV) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

 

The verses below will never be found in the cult books, because they could never draw any people if they spoke of judgment instead of Elysian fields of eternal bliss. As a matter of fact, because of the sinful and prideful nature of man, Christianity would have no adherents either, if it wasn’t for the fact that God draws us and places us into His Kingdom. It is only after we become Christians that we become biblically cognizant to the reality that we have been freed from the penalty of eternal death, and then we are glad we are Christians. I am thankful that God is not a gentlemen and does go where He is not wanted, or else none of us would be saved.

 

(John 5:28-29 KJV) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, {29} And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

 

At this point, I want to give ten reasons from the Scriptures why the Scriptures are sufficient and supreme over the cult books. Of course, the primary reason is that God, through holy men of old, penned the Scriptures. The cult books are all written out of the imagination of men and normally under satanic influence. Not one of them draw their adherents to Christ but always away. Let us look at just ten reasons why the Scriptures are supreme. There are many more, but these will whet your appetite. Please note, when I speak of the Bible in this context, I am speaking of the King James Bible, whose lineage can be traced back to the originals in an unadulterated manner. The prostituted new versions just engender confusion and are from corrupted manuscripts.

 

Psalm 119:9 - Cleanses Our Walk

(Psa 119:9 KJV) Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

 

One thing the Bible definitely does is to give us strict instruction on how to have a clean life. Once a person becomes saved, the Bible tells us how to sanctify our lives. It teaches us what sin is. When we were unbelievers, sin was thought of as murder or robbery, but now we realize that the slightest infraction of God’s holy law is sin and enough to send a person to Hell. The Bible helps us clean up the small areas in our life, which eventually mushroom into the larger areas. When this happens, we begin to live that sanctified life. An interesting facet of the Bible is the fact that God opens up the lives of His people. For example, David was beloved of God, yet we are told of his sinful ways with Bathsheba. If the Bible was written only by men, without divine inspiration, then only good things would be written about people and their dark sides left to speculation. God allows us to see the weaknesses and failures of some of His greatest prophets, like Jonah. God even shows us in Acts 21 where the Apostle Paul compromised his testimony in being ceremonially cleansed.

 

Psalm 119:13 - Gives Us the Message To Proclaim

(Psa 119:13 KJV) With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

 

The Bible also gives us the message which we are commissioned to proclaim. The cult books, since they are all written by men, are subject to change at the whim of the author. When the State of Utah declared Polygamy illegal, I believe the year was 1898, all of a sudden the leaders of the Mormon church had simultaneous revelation, that polygamy was wrong. The message of the Bible has not changed in 2000 years. Each generation proclaims the message to its own generation and then trains the next generation to minister to theirs. This verse gives us a little insight into the best method of Gospel proclamation, and that is word of mouth. With 60% of the world having never used a telephone, which method does God still use as His most effective way of communicating the message? The spoken word!

 

Psalm 119:19 - Guides Our Walk

(Psa 119:19 KJV) I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

 

As Christians, we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth. There are so many snares which can take hold of us if we are not armed. The Bible has been written in a way that helps us identify any snares which could stultify our Christian walk. This is why God has written the Bible with so many narratives of real people who had real struggles in their walk. This makes comparison of our lives to theirs much easier. For example, Peter obviously had a struggle with his mouth, since we read many times, "Peter answered and said," when no one asked him anything. I identify with Peter many times in my life, as I have opened mouth and inserted foot. God has given His children the Bible as a guidebook through this wilderness.

 

Psalm 119:23 - Prepares Us for Opposition

(Psa 119:23 KJV) Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

 

One of the principle teachings found throughout Scripture is the guarantee that, if you are a true believer and you take up the mantle of God’s truth, you will face persecution. The Bible teaches us to arm ourselves with this knowledge (1 Peter 4), so we will not be surprised when, not if, it comes. This verse teaches us that the opposition to Christianity is not just found on the lower levels of social strata, but at the highest levels of leadership in both government and industry. On the job, it is permissible to speak about saving the whales, or the teachings of Buddha, but speak of Jesus Christ and you are told to shut up, and even fired. Yet, even under these types of threatening conditions, we are still commanded to go forth. This is because God is in control and will care for us. God is not threatened nor terrified by what the unbeliever does. His children are ultimately victorious, even though for the time being, things look bleak.

 

Psalm 119:26 - Teaches Us Distinction Between Our Ways and God's Ways

(Psa 119:26 KJV) I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

 

If you ever read any cult materials, you will quickly see that they all fall in line with worldly ways. God teaches us the difference between the holy and the profane (Ezek. 44:23). What the world may call good, God may call evil. This is why we are to study the Scriptures, so we may glean from the mind of God. God’s ways are definitely above the ways of the world and there is a definite separation between the thought patterns of God and those of the world. The only way we will know the difference is to be immersed in Scripture. Since we live in the world, it is easy to adopt a way of thinking which is opposite of Scripture. Justification is not only a biblical doctrine, but it is also a worldly doctrine. The world can justify any of its actions and if we are not biblically astute enough to know the difference, then we too may become caught up in the ways of the world again.

 

Psalm 119:28 - Gives Us Daily Strength

(Psa 119:28 KJV) My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.

 

None of us knows what a day may hold. When I wrote this article, (12/2001) seven days prior, my company had started advertising for my job behind my back. I went into work that morning, and by afternoon, I was faced with the reality that I had to find employment. Whenever, we read the Scriptures, they give us comfort, because we realize that God cares for us and will strengthen us in times of affliction. We read the Scriptures and see what the Bible characters went through and how God cared for them during their lowest times. I am convinced that whatever we read from the Scriptures in the morning, will be needed for that day. (Deu 33:25 KJV) Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. This verse also reveals that God will strengthen us but it is according to His word. If we do not read and study the Bible, we may not identify areas of strength that God is giving us. That strength may be in humility, defense, or confrontation, and it is imperative we know the difference, and how to engage each one properly.

 

Psalm 119:45 - Has A Liberating Effect On the Believer

(Psa 119:45 KJV) And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

 

When a person becomes a true believer, there is no longer any cloud of judgment or eternal damnation over them. The believer no longer looks at the Scriptures as a law book to keep for salvation. The believers now see the Bible as God’s personal word to them. They are pardoned from their sins for all eternity and now can read and study the Scriptures through the eyes of Grace rather than Law. This, of course, does not mean the believer is free to sin.  Instead, they are free to serve God without the gnawing hindrance of having to do a certain amount of works or to keep ceremonial laws for salvation. When sin's shackles are removed, the believer is now free in the Lord. Satan nor any human being can ever hold the past sins of the believer against them, for God has taken them away eternally. (Rom 8:33 KJV) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Those who are enslaved to cult books will find themselves immersed in a never-ending slew of works, to gain Nirvana or the favor of the rulers of their cult. The problem is that the end is eternal damnation.

 

Psalm 119:49 - Gives Us Hope

(Psa 119:49 KJV) Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

 

If there is one thing this world lacks, it is hope. What does the world hope in? Government? Financial experts? Industry? Medical profession? The true believer looks in the Scriptures and finds hope on every page. Hope in God’s compassion! Hope in God’s salvation! Hope in the midst of trials! Hope in Christ’s intercessory ministry! Hope in the eternal sacrifice of the Lord Jesus! Hope in the truth of Scripture! Hope for a dying world! Hope for the poorest Christian! There are so many things in Scripture which give hope to all phases of the Christian’s life. The cult books give no hope just more burden of works and threats of judgment if those works are not done.

 

(Job 27:8 KJV) For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

 

(Psa 31:24 KJV) Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

 

What a difference in the terminal essence of these two verses.

 

Psalm 119:50 - Comforts Us

(Psa 119:50 KJV) This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

 

Sometimes when we go through the valley of affliction, we feel dead to the things of God. When we go to the Scriptures, we will find that they tend to make us alive, and wake us up to the truth that God is in control of whatever circumstance we are facing. This is where the comfort factor of Scripture comes in. Whenever we read through the Word and see what others faced, we can quickly see how God aided them. There is no difference in how God views those believers in the Bible versus those Christians today. God loves all of them equally, and He comes to our aid in the same way. (2 Cor 1:3-5 KJV) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; {4} Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. {5} For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

 

Isaiah 40:3-4 - Stabilizes the Believer's Life

(Isa 40:3-4 KJV) The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. {4} Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

 

Unlike the man-centered cult books, you will find the Bible brings stability to the Christian walk. If you look at these verses, you will see, in metaphoric language, that God promises to stabilize the Christian walk. He says the mountains will be made low and the valleys will be exalted. Picture what you have if a mountain is made low and the valley is raised. Instead of having a roller coaster existence, the road will be made flat and straight for the Christian. This does not mean there will be no tribulation in the life of the Christian, it means simply, that through rough times, God can stabilize the Christian’s walk. This would control disbelief, anxiety, thoughts of hopelessness, and other destructive elements. The Christian walk is a continuum because salvation is a continuum. As a child of God, whenever we find something in Scripture which pertains to our situation, we may bring it before the throne of Grace. Our Christian walk may seem marred, but because of the character of God and His Word, we can be stable.

 

Final Thoughts

We have looked at some reasons that the Bible is supreme over cult books. Only the Word of God can guide the believer into a victorious Christian life, even if it looks like we are falling apart. God promises to keep us strong till He calls us home. (1 Pet 1:5 KJV) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 

Only the Word of God can give:

Stability

Distinction

Hope

Strength

Cleansing

Liberation

Proclamation

Comfort

Guidance

Preparation

 

What in this world can offer us these things?

 

After knowing this, it can no longer surprise us how many were willing to give their life for the message of God's Word!