Numbers 22:27-28 “And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” I was in a recent conversation (on Facebook) with a woman with the last name of Bible. She professed to be reared in a religious home, but she seemed to hate everything to do with the spiritual world. Her statement to be was, “Do you really believe in talking serpents and talking donkeys? How can you take the Bible seriously?”
I told her that not only did I believe in talking donkeys, but believed in things I have never seen, such as angels, demons, the Trinity of God and the evil trinity of Satan. To say that seemed to upset her is like saying that a volcano erupting is like mother nature burping. She was in deed volcanic. I have found that mankind can believe some pretty stupid stuff, but when it comes to Scripture they refuse to listen. I ended our conversation with the following Scripture: 1Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
The term “religious home” was the key to her inability to believe. Now I am going to make a statement that will make some people mad at me, but hear me out first, please.
Religion is a manmade method of worship, not a God-given method of worship. In the book of Matthew: Matthew 23:23-26 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”
Jesus recognized these men as simply men of religion. They had their rituals, they had devised their worship, but they were not spiritual. The scribes were given the job of studying scripture and giving the Saducees the interpretation of it. The Saducees were the priests and policy makers. The Pharisees actually believed in the resurrection of the dead and were those who pushed the narrative of personal holiness, yet they stopped at just cleaning the outside to “appear” holy.
In today’s religion, there are some that tell you that there is something you must do to gain heaven. Some teach that your good must out weigh your bad to go to heaven. Some teach that some saint or the mother Mary can get you to heaven. None of these are correct for the Scriptures are quite clear on how to get to heaven. These are all man made religions. Let’s look at Scripture for a minute.
Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Well that eliminates saints, Mary and a whole host of false doctrines. How about working our way to heaven? Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Well, that eliminates works. What is left?
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Couple that with Acts 4:12 and you have the basic understanding to be saved.
Here is God Simple Plan for Salvation: 1. Understand that you are a sinner by choice. (Romans 3:10) 2. Understand that there is a punishment for sin. (Romans 6:23) 3. Understand that Hell is the place of that punishment and you are headed there. (Revelation 20:14-15) 4. Understand that Jesus came to pay the wages of your sin. (1 Timothy 1:15) 5. Understand that He took your punishment on the Cross of Calvary. (John 3:17) 6. Understand that the way of salvation is complete, but you must ask for it. (Romans 10:9-10) 7. Understand that if you are willing to repent of your sins and ask for forgiveness and salvation that God will give it to you. (Luke 13:1-5) 8. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If we need to believe in talking donkeys and subtile snakes to be saved, well I’m all for it. Do not listen to critics of the Scriptures. Do not listen to men who correct the Scriptures. Listen to the Holy Spirit as He guides you to Salvation and be thankful that God loves you enough to send His Son to die in your place.
