In Thee Lord Jesus Do I Put My Trust - Part 1018

Jesus said, "And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receives Me." (Matthew 18:4-6) 

Jesus said, "Whomsoever shall receive one of such children in My name receives Me, and whosoever receive Me, receives not Me but Him that sent Me." (Mark 9:37-50)

Often, we see Jesus speaking specifically to His disciples. This was one of those times. Herein, Jesus said, "It is impossible but that offences will come, but woe unto him through "whom" they come. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." (Luke 17:1-2)

Similarly, in Matthew, Jesus again said, "Woe unto the world because of offences, for it must needs be that offences come but woe to the man by whom the offence cometh." (Matthew 18:7)

In other words, woe unto the man (or woman) who willingly chooses to believe/preach another gospel rather than remaining steadfast in the apostles' doctrine -- His Word -- as it is written. Note that these warnings are not just a one time scriptural occurrence. Both Jesus and the apostles repeatedly warned of heresies and contentions within the church -- and of those who desired to cause divisions by preaching "another" gospel. 

Moreover, we are repeatedly warned that in the last days there would appear among us "wolves in sheep's clothing" who would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. (Matthew 7:15; Matthew 24:24) 

What did Jesus say? To beware of those who do not align their religious culture and statements of faith with His Word. 

Indeed, "let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." (II Thessalonians 2:1-17)

"(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)" (Philippians 3:18-19)

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth ..." (I Timothy 4:1-6)

This is why Paul wrote: "Now in this that I declare [unto you] I praise not, that ye come together -- not for the better but for the worse." (I Corinthians 11:16)

It is for this reason that every man needs "to take heed how he buildeth thereupon for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid [which] is Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 3:10-11) 

This is why we who believe in Jesus by faith must also seek Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength ... so that we are "not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand." (II Thessalonians 2:1-2)

This is why we who believe in Jesus by faith diligently search the scriptures so that we can be doers of the Word and not just hearers, deceiving our own selves. (James 1:22)

This is why we who believe in Jesus by faith have repented and "converted that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you, whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." (Acts 3:19-21)

This same Jesus who willingly shed His precious blood on the cross for you and I -- "The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, and which was, and which is to come -- the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8, 11)

For those who may not know, the apostles' doctrine was established when Peter, standing with the eleven in Acts 2, preached repentance and water baptism in Jesus' name to the first 3,000 believers saved who also received the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:37-42)

These men and brethren who were in the upper room -- including Peter and James, and John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zeotes, and Judas the brother of James, and later Matthias -- "ALL CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD IN PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren." (Acts 1:14)

All continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers -- with one accord in prayer and supplication. (Acts 1:14; Acts 2:42)

This is why Paul stated, "Now I beseech you, brethren, BY THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THAT YE ALL SPEAK THE SAME THING, and [that] there be no divisions among you, but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement ..." (I Corinthians 1:10-11) 

Yes, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. 

"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42) As believers in Jesus by faith, we need to do likewise. Stand in the offering plate today.