Imagination

Some will tell you that "We are saved because we believe in JESUS not because we believe in the right doctrine."

They say "JESUS saved a whole town of Samaritans (John 4:) because they believed."

They teach the "religious doctrine" that "Not one of us has perfect doctrine or perfect truth. JESUS is the TRUTH and JESUS says WHOEVER believes in the one who sent HIM, the FATHER, is saved and will not be judged because they have crossed over."

There is religious doctrine put together by men gleaning in the scriptures for ideas that comfort them. And then there are the doctrines of Jesus, what He taught, what He said to do or not do, what He commanded.

How do you know you believe in the real Jesus or if you believe in a Jesus of you imagination or a false Jesus invented by false prophets?

Doctrine

"Doctrine" means what someone teaches and Jesus did teach many things and took the time to try and teach us with parables, direct statements and prohibitions. But also with his own act of ][sacrifice]] according to the Divine Will of the Father.

Can someone honestly say they believe in Jesus while going about disobeying what Jesus taught us to do or not do?

If anyone rely loved Jesus and God would they be found in violation of His commandments?

The doctrines of Christ do not seem to match many of the doctrines of modern Churches which is why we get so many different denominations.

There should only be one common denominator in all Christians and that, of course, is Christ, what he said and who he was and what He did, which is the evidence of His doctrines.

Warnings

If we search the scriptures with a humble and contrite heart we may discover that there are things we missed about Jesus.

This brings us back to warning of Jesus concerning people who thought they were Christians but evidently were not.

Luke 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all [ye] workers of iniquity.

We see similar warnings to others that believed they were and even appeared to be Christians.

Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

The "just believe" doctrines are dangerous because everyone should be searching the scriptures and their own hearts in order to find out the whole truth about themselves and Jesus.

We know that many can and will be deceived imagining that they are saved when they are not.

What might be counted as works of iniquity that some people who think they are Christians may not readily recognize?

Or that they might think is okay even though it was condemned by Christ?

That would seem important to ask that question and seek an answer within scripture.

Can you do the opposite of what Christ directly taught and still honestly claim to love Christ or be saved?

John 8:31 ¶ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed;

Could we be deceiving ourselves with our vain imagination?

Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

I think it is an important question considering all the warnings from Jesus and the apostles.

Clearly we should not be killing and robbing and raping, but what other activities might be counted as works of iniquity and are we engaged in that iniquity unaware because hearts have turned so we cannot see clearly.

Luke 1:51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Acts 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Old Testament

Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Genesis 11:6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

Deuteronomy 29:19 And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:

Deuteronomy 31:21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

1 Chronicles 29:18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:

Job 6:26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

Job 21:27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

Psalms 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

Psalms 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

Psalms 21:11 For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.

Psalms 38:12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

Psalms 62:3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.

Psalms 140:2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

Proverbs 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Proverbs 12:20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

Jeremiah 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

Jeremiah 7:24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

Jeremiah 9:14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:

Jeremiah 11:8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.

Jeremiah 13:10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.

Jeremiah 16:12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:

Jeremiah 18:12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.

Jeremiah 23:17 They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

Lamentations 3:60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.

Lamentations 3:61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;

Hosea 7:15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.

Nahum 1:9 What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

Nahum 1:11 There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor. Zechariah 7:10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

Zechariah 8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

Footnotes

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