Today's Passage = Galatians 1:6-10

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Galatians 1:6-10     I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.  For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.     We need to genuinely discern the teachings presented to us, instead of erroneously assume someone belongs to a cult. There are four questions to be raised to see if someone belongs to a cult:   First, do they believe in God the Trinity?  We believe that God the Father, the Holy Son and the Holy Spirit are three-in-one God - one God with three identities - all equal in status and quality, but different only in function.   Second, do they believe that Jesus is the Son of God?  He is equal with God the Father, born in flesh as a man to fulfill the work of salvation.  Jesus is not an angel inferior to God, but the Son equal to God.   Third, do they believe that the Bible is God inspired?  The Bible, and none other book, is the only word of God.   Fourth, do they believe justification through faith not action?  Many religions believe justification through actions instead; but the Bible clearly tells us we can come before God by faith, and be justified by faith only.  Understanding the above principles allows us to differentiate the principles of a cult from that of the true God.   May the Lord grant us an open mind, be steadfast to the truth and learn to be more tolerant to those "non-fundamental" principles.  The best rules to follow is to see if what we do is pleasing in God's heart?  We need to examine if our actions are in one accord with God's desire in whatever we do as well as in all our decisions.  We need to be determined to do what is pleasing in His eyes but not in eyes of others or our own.  We would not go astray if we adhere to the truth based on God's word. Often times, instead of doing something pleasing to Him, we are actually doing something to the contrary  just like Paul when he was on the road to Damascus, he thought he was doing something pleasing to  God, without knowing he was actually  persecuting Christians. May the Lord help us recognize the truth and do what is pleasing to Him.                                                              Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, grant us the wisdom in spirit and a heart longing for your words; treasure Your words in our heart so that we would not go astray, and be pleasing to You in all we do.  We pray that our hearts, desires and actions be attuned according to Your desires.  With thanks we pray, in the name of victorious Jesus, Amen!