As we approach the end, we need to know, which truths we are willing to be persecuted for, even to death if necessary. We cannot wait until it happens before we decide. Let’s be clear, your persecutors will typically give you an opportunity to recant of your strongly held beliefs and accept their false religion or heretical beliefs. If you refuse to recant then you will be hated, shunned, or persecuted. We must prepare now by being fully committed to what we believe in, knowing that it is the irrevocable truth from God’s Word. Moreover, our firmly held beliefs should have a direct correlation with our salvation and its process from beginning to end. If we don’t have a firm grip on what we believe, then it will be easy for Satan and his demonic host to lead us into error and eternal damnation. This will not be an exhaustive study of everything in which we as Christians should believe but will only examine the pillars of our belief system that must not be recanted of, even if we must face a cruel and untimely death. You will soon discover the three topics that will be discussed are already under attack by the unbelieving world.

The first topic is our belief in the infallibility of the Bible. Unlike mankind who is fallible and prone to making very many mistakes, we believe that the Word of God, the Bible, is infallible. We also believe in the inerrancy of the Scripture where there is no error in the original text received and written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (See II Peter 1:20-21). The Apostle Paul writing to his young apprentice says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:16-17). We simply do not need to change the Bible that was written down for all of life and for every age. It doesn’t need to change because it is written in a simple straight forward language, perfectly correct in all its parts, and without any error. The error only comes when we as fallible human beings think we have the ability and the authority to re-interpret or change God’s inerrant Word in the Bible. No one, including the Pope or prophet, has the authority to change the infallible Word of God, which is often done by self-righteous men to introduce strange doctrines or heretical teachings into the Church that will inevitably lead men astray. This is also accomplished by freely taking Scripture out of its historical context and twisting other Scripture verses to develop a new doctrine, thus changing the clear interpretation of God’s Word. The infallible Bible is the bedrock of our faith and contains all the essential information for our salvation and transformation in Christ. To change or reinterpret the Bible destroys our entire belief system. Yes, I would be willing to die for my belief in the infallibility of the Bible.

Our second topic is the exclusiveness of Christianity. Mankind has believed in some form of religion since the beginning of creation to help them to understand their world and how to live in it without a paralyzing fear of the unknown. As the global community has grown smaller a single shared path to a universal god, instead of multiple paths, is becoming more readily acceptable to the masses. After years of religious wars and mass migrations, many have now started relaxing their own national (or traditional) beliefs and join with the global community of a shared religion, or a quasi-secular religion established by the State. Worldwide Social Media has greatly helped this process with the sharing of information across religious lines. A single path to God based on One personage or set of beliefs is becoming less acceptable and out of step with the modern world. Yet, the Bible says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Most people these days will not accept the fact that there is only one way and that there is only one truth. Their ears will be itching to hear about the other religions and how the so-called good points can be integrated into their religion. This cafeteria style of religion is leading to a universal religion for the masses. The Bible says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ gave us the only path to salvation that leads to a new and bountiful life in Him, which we will talk about in the next topic. Moreover, what makes Christianity exclusive? Christ is the divine Son of God who died on the Cross, rose from the grave, and is now seated at the right hand of God in Heaven. Yes, I would be willing to die for my belief in the exclusiveness of Christianity.

The third topic is the sufficiency of Scripture. This topic is the closest to my heart in that I have personally witnessed so many who have not experienced the bountiful life in Christ. They were stuck in the old life going through the same pains and experiencing the same defeats because they could not accept the Lord’s promise of a new life in Christ where old things truly pass away (see II Corinthians 5:17). They believed the lies of the world, propagated by the devil. Instead of turning to the truth in God’s infallible Word, they turned to the professionals of this age and the pharmaceutical companies to find help for their miserably sad lives. I believe this has played a major role in the great falling away. So, how sufficient is the Bible? The Bible clearly says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (II Peter 1:3). So, if Christ has given us a brand new life, promising us that old things have passed away, then He gives us all the instructions in His Word on how to perfect this life through transformation in-Christ, so that we can be partakers of the divine nature (See II Peter 1:4), then who are we to question God? Who are we to question His great and precious promises? God wants to make us into a beautiful new creation. He wants to grow us spiritually from one degree of glory to another (See II Corinthians 3:18). As we study the Bible, we will learn how to overcome anxiety, loneliness, grief, guilt, fear, and depression along with many other emotional and psychological problems. It will show us the path through faith to the bountiful life in Christ. Yes, I would be willing to die for my belief in the sufficiency of Scripture.

In conclusion, there are many other beliefs that we hold, such as the actual dates of holy days, to the exact timing of Christ’s Second Coming, which are all very important, but I would question seriously the need to withstand persecution to death in order to defend your take on them. For example, I believe wholeheartedly that the Church must go through the Great Tribulation before they see Christ gloriously coming back in the clouds, but I would not allow myself to be persecuted to death on that particular belief. There are some teachings in the Bible that will always be up for debate and should not separate the brethren or cast us before the stake of persecution. At some points, we simply must agree to disagree, if we cannot convince the other believer through a sound argument from God’s infallible Word in love. What’s most important about this study is standing firm on the truth of our salvation in Christ, it’s miracle of the transformation, and growing up to experience the bountiful life in Christ. Although you will soon realize that the last two topics: the exclusiveness of Christianity and the sufficiency of Scripture will get the most blow-back from the fallen world, we must stand firm in what we believe. We must prepare now for the coming persecution. This article was written to help you do just that. Let me leave you with two very important questions. What would you be willing to die for? And more importantly, what are you willing to live for?

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