Faith Is The Most Important Dimension Of Our Lives

The bible tells us “the just shall live by faith”. This message is found in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38.

To be “just” is not according to our works, or the church we attend, or to anything we do. It is the gift of God based on our acceptance and belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The challenge for most Christians is to avoid being deceived, which is to avoid being led by, or teaching, or preaching a different gospel. This issue is central now, but it is not new. It has been a problem throughout history.

There are people who want to blend the different gospels, and claim acceptance, with statements like “we can agree to disagree”, or “these are minor differences not affecting salvation”. That is not what the bible says. 

It is true there are many good people from a wide variety of religions, and denominations. Jesus knows our heart, beliefs, and what we need to learn. Through His guidance, and through God’s word, He shows us the way, the truth and the life. First we must accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ in truth, not based on any deviation, or false gospel. 

Our relationship with Christ is personal, and once we fully accept the Gospel of Christ, we are part of the body of Christ. We are like-minded with other believers. We are born of the Spirit, and are changed. We remain in the world, but we are not invested in a worldly future. We know what is around us is temporary. Our hope is attached to what is unseen, not what is seen. 

We cannot judge who will, or will not be saved. Jesus came to save sinners. If a person is filled with religious pride, chances are he/she is listening to a different gospel.

We are called upon to repent, which includes the sin of pride. Sincere repentance humbles us, and makes us realize we need forgiveness. It also shows us we need to change our ways, our attitudes, and our thoughts. We need to abandon vain glory, strife, worry, bitterness, certain lifestyles, and all the other stumbling blocks we trip over. 

No one can force us into a belief system. Even with brain washing, and thought reform through a repetition of lies, falsehoods, and cleverly crafted deceit, it is a stack of cards. Or more like a pile of unsecured bricks. Removing just one of the elements of deception, causes the entire belief system to be dismantled.

Unlearning the lies is a painful process. It is also liberating. Being brainwashed, no matter how it comes about, is a form of bondage.

In the book of Galatians Paul does not say that preaching a different gospel is a minor detail. He said it was a curse. Galatians 1:6-12:

6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Lies do not build a strong foundation. They lead us into bondage, of which there are many types, traps and snares.

The truth is found in God’s word. It is not found in man-made versions, or interpretations of the bible. Beware of anyone who says “God told me this or that”. The bible specifically tells us not to speak for God, and not to add to, or take away from His word.

In the Old Testament those who made false claims to be prophets faced a death sentence. This message is carried through to the book of Revelation 22:18-19:

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Therefore we can know that adhering to a false gospel is not a minor deviation. Adding to, taking away, or distorting the word of God in any way, from the Old Testament to the final chapters in the Book of Revelation is a serious offence.

False doctrine creates a stumbling block. To the contrary, God’s word is intended to teach us, and show us the way, the truth and the life. False or distorted doctrine does the opposite. People either become confused, or may become stubbornly attached to the falsehoods. 

Notice that Jesus says “let no man deceive you”. God does not deceive us, man does.

For these reasons Jesus warned us. Matthew 24:4-6:

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Jesus warned us again in Matthew. Note that He did not place the emphasis on a single antichrist, or a one world order, or a rapture of the saints. The emphasis is on avoiding deception, and preaching the true gospel to all the nations.

Matthew 24:11-24

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

In Mark 13: 5-10 He repeats the warning:

5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

In Luke He gives the same essential end times message.

Luke 21:8-10

8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom

Is there anything in these verses telling us there will be a one world order? A one world leader? A rapture of the church? A blending of all doctrines? No. 

The central message is not to be deceived. We are not to listen to false prophets, false teaching, or false gospels. Part of the John Darby, Scofield, dispensational teaching tells us there will be a one world order, a single, and all powerful anti-christ, a rapture of the church, etc.

Probably the most divisive aspect of dispensational false teaching, is the claim that Israel is separate, and are the chosen people. These false teachers preach that God has different plans for Israel, to include ownership, and dominance of all the land around Israel. The bible does not say there are two separate groups of people. Christians who accept Christ as Saviour are part of the body of Christ. The bible says there is one body of Christ, not two. Read Galatians 3:28-29.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

How can there be a one world order if the bible tells us there will be wars, rumours of war, and nation rising against nation? Does that sound like a one world order? A one world order would require cooperation, not wars.

The prophecy from the words of Jesus, does not describe a one world system where all nations join together under the fictional antichrist. It tells us the overarching objective is to reach all nations with the gospel message. It tells us to be vigilant with regards to deception, and false teaching. 

Do the leaders of this present global system talk about a one world order? Sure they do. That does not mean it will come about. It has been on their agenda for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Yet century after century, and decade after decade, those systems fall. Over time, every one of them does. They do not unify. They crumble. They do not bring peace and cooperation. They bring war, and destruction. 

False doctrine has used the book of Revelation to scare people, and to turn it into the revelation of the antichrist. The book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ. He is central to the entire bible. He is the only one who will rule over all the nations. 

We are not to allow our identity to be taken over by man. We are heirs, and are adopted by Christ, not by man, with a self-proclaimed god complex. 

John 15:5 tells us that true believers are attached to Christ similar to the way branches are attached to the vine. 

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

You can read the rest of John 15 to find out what happens to those who are not attached to the vine. 

The mystery of iniquity is not fully revealed to us, because we do not have the wisdom or knowledge that God does. For this reason, we must trust in God, and read the bible to gain more understanding, and to seek the truth. 

Although iniquity has many faces, and hard angles rooted in corruption – deception is at the core. Anyone who exalts himself to be on par with God, is playing with fire. 

Christ died for us. His grace is the greatest gift, that only God could conceive of. Any deviation from the true Gospel of Christ, will eventually be defeated. 

The just shall live by faith. We do not know what God knows, therefore we trust Him. We will still face struggles, as Paul described in 2 Corinthians 12-9.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Copyright Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West (2026). Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.