The Same Old Lie

All flesh is not the same flesh,
but there is one flesh of men,
and another flesh of beasts,
and another flesh of birds,
and another of fish.
1 Corinthians 15:39

The above verse is very compelling … don’t you agree?
I certainly thought so when a friend shared it with me this past week.
“I have never seen that verse before;” I said.
I then used this verse in a question below in an online conversation
I was wondering about a Christian's beliefs on the authority of God’s Word,
and the fact that God is the Creator of all things.


This will be today’s interesting topic.

How is it that those who confess Christ as their Savior reject God’s Word and instead accept the teachings of men?
How can it be that so many loving people who identify themselves as Christians so easily reject the clear teachings of the Bible?
Recently in a conversation online, I asked a Christian the following question: “Although Personally I normally give very little credibility to sweeping generalizations, here is one that I agree with ... although I must admit, it is clearly NOT politically correct. "Everyone who has received Christ's free gift and trusted Christ as Savior will receive eternal life; and anyone who has not received Christ as Savior is not a Christian, regardless of their false beliefs and is in danger of eternal hell" What do you say to that?

And here's another: "God's Word is truth ... the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Those who believe in the Word which became flesh in Him are eternally saved and have been adopted into his royal priesthood eternally. All beliefs to the contrary are false beliefs. Do you agree with these two statements?”

Here is the man’s response: “Here is what I believe...I believe that we should be free to choose our own religion and (moral) beliefs and not condemn others if they choose to believe a different way than we choose to believe … Period.”

I answered back: “I also believe” … that we should be free to choose our own religion and (moral) beliefs and not condemn others if they choose to believe a different way than we choose to believe" .... But what does that have to do with my sweeping generalizations? Do you believe my statements are true ... or not? And do you think Born Again Christians should compromise the gospel of Christ in order to accommodate the many false religions? Does it not concern you as a Christian that many who denounce the Deity of Christ, also falsely claim to be Christians? And that they then try to explain their false Christianity from an atheist or humanist viewpoint, resulting in total hypocrisy?

His response: … silence.

The next day, I asked: Here is a verse that clearly refutes the false teaching of evolution. From your perspective, what should the Christian position be regarding the teaching of evolution to their children in public schools? Should they teach their children it's not true? Or that both the Bible and science are correct? Or that evolution is proven science, and therefore creation must be a misunderstanding of scripture? Or like Bill O'Reilly, should they teach their children that those things in the Bible that we do not understand are allegories?

I then posted this verse: “All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 1 Corinthians 15:39 and I then asked: I really am interested in your view on this one ... What is your view?

His reply: “VERY controversial topic and one that cannot help but get you into trouble. I will read up on it and get back.... In the meantime, this might have some good information” (he then referred me to a blog written by atheists which repeats the atheist view on evolution, as well as the atheist view on why creation science is false.)

Here is a quote from the referred blog’s statement of faith: "We are a multi-faith group. As of mid-2011, we consist of one (each) Atheist, Agnostic, Christian, Wiccan and Zen Buddhist."

My most recent response: Talk about here we go loop-de-loop … what could I possibly learn from that blog? I am a Biblical Christian ... Christianity is a monotheistic (one god only) religion. These other beliefs are polytheistic (many gods) and anathema to me. The only value for me there would be to more clearly explain and understand what Biblically-minded Christians do not believe. I assume the "Christian" mentioned is either a missionary or is possibly miss-using Christian to describe himself.

Back to my original question about a Bible verse … since the Word quoted by Paul 1 Corinthians 15:39 is quite clear, and Paul's Words are inspired by Christ; to reject this verse is the same for me ... as rejecting Christ. Why would someone take your position for the sake of not offending the false religions and philosophies of others …especially when God's Word clearly condemns those teachings? Are Christians really to give concern or credibility to these other religions while at the same time being transformed by the renewing their minds? Well ... I think not.

So my friends, once again … how is it that those who confess Christ as their Savior reject God’s Word and instead accept the teachings of men?

This is nothing new. My friend has fallen for The Same Old Lie. This lie was first told in the garden and resulted in the fall of man.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made ... The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:1-5

I am convinced that there are literally millions who confess Christ as Savior, but reject the teachings of God’s Word and follow: The Same Old Lie. My Christian friend did not refer me to a teaching which looked into God’s Word for answers to the questions of life but rather to a site that was written by an atheist, an agnostic, a Zen Buddhist, and a Wiccan. I can only assume this is where he plans to “read up on it.” Although he does read this blog, so hopefully he will also search out God’s Word and the teachings of Biblical scholars as well.

I think God’s Word speaks clearly to the root of the problem. “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.” Ephesians 2:1-3

My friend has been educated by the liberals at the university. He has made a commitment to Christ, but he still clings to the teachings of men as truth. The false teaching is: that there are no absolutes; and that truth is relative; and that man is the center and measure of all things. The problem is that these ideas are based upon the philosophical conclusion and belief that there is no God, no Creator. This is 2000 year old Greek Philosophy that views man's mind as the center of reality rather than God.

The basic problem is that this philosophy cannot know truth or reality, and it has no means of determining Truth. Modern science is only the latest effort to know the truth by using the human senses to discern truth within its limitations. Only God knows Truth. Sanctify them in the Truth; Your word is Truth. John 17:17. And God’s Word speaks to the supposed wisdom of men: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.” 1 Corinthians 3:19 There is no way that the atheist/humanist view can explain love, beauty, or music or to attach any meaning to life or experience. Man is only a biological machine. This is what leads to the despair of humanism and all its derivatives (drugs, suicide, hedonism, etc.)
Another of my atheist friends recently told me: “when I die I am dirt” His evolutionist belief totally rejects this Truth of God: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 He says that the belief in a spiritual body is a foolish lie. There is an inconsistency here though. Somehow the secular mind thinks it is perfectly fine to totally reject the teachings of God’s Word, but at the same time they say it is intolerant for me to reject their false teachings. They do not understand the difference between tolerance for someone’s right to believe whatever they wish, and my right to totally reject that belief as false. To denounce a false belief is not to attack the person. People reject Christianity and the Bible every day. That is to be expected. But to reject God’s Word and call yourself a Christian, that is another thing altogether.

The problem is that “the prince of the power of the air” is alive and a ruling force here and now on this earth, and that spirit is now working in the sons of disobedience. And this evil prince is the great deceiver. Satan knows that to bring about his plan for the world, he must capture men's minds by influencing what they believe to be true. Our world view determines how we live, and what we believe and how we think. Our enemy wants us to follow the teachings of men rather than the teachings of God. Assuming there is an evil force, I would have to believe that even unbelievers would agree with this statement. The evil force will always want us to reject God’s Word and accept other teachings. And of course, the evil one is able to influence those teachings through the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the evil pride of life. Those whose minds are not transformed by the renewing of their minds with God’s Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit will fall for the appeal of the teachings of the world and controlled by the false teaching of the world.

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

My friends … this is the truth. If there was no creation; then there was no Jesus Christ; and if there was no Jesus Christ; then there was no Savior crucified and raised from the grave; and therefore there would be no salvation or eternal life. My atheist friend would then be right: we are dirt, when we die. But that is all a lie of the evil one. Isn't it? We cannot have it both ways. We cannot cling to man’s wisdom which is contrary to God's Truth; and have God's salvation which is absolute and never-ending, as well.

He is the Creator and the Savior; He knows the beginning, the end, and everything in between … He Is God.

Don't fall for The Same Old Lie.

God Bless you my friends, Bob

Copyright: Robert West 2011