SR • July/August 2015
5
M
isconceptions of God can be costly because they
can be very defeating. For example, it’s agonizing to
me how many people think “cleanliness is next to
godliness” comes from the pages of Scripture. If this
is indeed a word from God, then homemakers have
every right to feel guilty that their houses are not al-
ways tidy. In fact, depending on how far you carry it,
people soon become more concerned about their
furniture than they do their family.
And what about “God helps those who help them-
selves”? I’ve seen this used as a basis for many
people thinking they can work their way to heaven.
They therefore miss the biblical teaching that eternal
life is free (Romans 6:23).
Here are five other misconceptions of God’s Word
you’d be wise to spend a [Sabbath] addressing.
In fact, I think you’d be wiser to give one [Sabbath]
to each of these. I assure you, they are so rampant
that you could easily spend a 30-minute message
discussing each one. Most unfortunately of all, every
single one of them in some way adversely affects our
outreach to non-Christians.
1. If you don’t know the date you were
saved, then you are not saved.
Unfortunately, evangelists have been the worst at
propagating this first misconception. The fact is,
there is a split second when a person goes from
darkness into light. After recognizing you’re a sinner
and that Christ died for you and rose again, you
place your trust in Him alone as your only way to
heaven.
However, just because you don’t know when that
particular split second was doesn’t mean you aren’t
saved. When Scripture gives assurance of salvation,
it doesn’t go back to a date or a moment; it goes
back to a fact.
Who are you trusting right now? If you’re trusting
Christ alone as your only way to heaven, you are
saved, regardless of when you crossed the line.
After all, John 3:16 does not say, “For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, and
whoever believes in Him and knows the date
should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Continued on next page...
5
THINGS
GOD
NEVER
SAID
Most unfortunately of all,
every single one of them
in some way adversely affects
our outreach to non-Christians.
By R. Larry Moyer
