They're Called Bible Colleges So Why Don't They Teach The Christian Faith

Around the world there are countless bible colleges all teaching whatever their Christian denomination holds to be truth concerning the interpretation of scripture, however as these teachings often conflict with each other it is fairly obvious that in at least some areas many most be wrong in what they’re teaching.

This being the case, firstly if we seek to learn from a Bible college we must first ascertain if what they teach is the truth and if we have already gained some qualifications through a Bible college, are those qualifications worth anything in the sight of God. Obviously, if the teachings are in error, then although the institutions of men may acknowledge them but when judged according to the Truth they will be found lacking any value, and would be nothing less than false teachings and heretical beliefs.

The first problem we will face is that all of these places of learning will claim to be teaching the truth and most will have credentials granted to them by either their government, their church and in many cases both. As this will most likely be the case, we cannot rely on such things but examine their teachings and see if they align with the Word of God.

The next problem is that if it we as individuals were to have perfect understanding of all the Word of God, then we would have no need to attend a Bible college in the first place. In addition, if we had such a vain belief concerning ourselves we would hardly go to another to learn their understanding, which in our pride we could only perceive as either inferior or at best equal to our own.

If we then have the humility to accept that our understanding may not be perfect and all are merely students of the truth then we must determine who is a genuine teacher of the true faith, of which none can surpass God Himself.

This then brings us to our next problem. Everyone that believes in faith that they have been “born again” also believes that they have received the Holy Spirit, and as such that they are inspired by the Spirit of God. However, if so many hold to different beliefs then all can’t be inspired of the Holy Spirit or perhaps they’re simply not listening to Him, as God, the Father, the Son or the Holy Spirit never changes, nor does what He declares as Truth.

If then all truly “born again” believers have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which we know they do because the inspired Word of God states this, then we must ask how can it be that so many accept as Holy Spirit inspired many different things when in fact beliefs that directly conflict with each other cannot both be truth.

The answer to this quandary is of cause explained in the scriptures, we enter the kingdom of God as little children and as our faith grows, so does our spiritual maturity and knowledge. However, like all little children we all require others to teach us what is Holy Spirit inspired truth and what isn’t. Without such sound teaching any can easily mistake our own ideas and preconceptions to be the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, not as an act of evil, but because our desire to be in communication with the Lord is so great.

Does this then suggest we must rely on mere mortal men to be our teachers above the Lord Himself that dwells with the born again believer, obviously not, we must rely on God so the Lord in His infinite wisdom appointed teachers within the Church through whom the Holy Spirit inside them would teach those who still had much to learn.

“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:27

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-12

Notice in these verses the Word states “some” not all are set as teachers, and it is from these we learn the truth as it is these whom the Lord acknowledges as teachers.

We also have other verses that warn us very clearly that there would be false teachers that would preach “damnable heresies” and turn believers away from the truth to their “fables”.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2:1

So to determine which teachers were set in the Church by God and whom are they that preach “damnable heresies” we must seek the answer in the Word of God.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

In these verses we read Jesus Christ, our God, Lord and Savior and the cornerstone of the Christian faith personally instructing the apostles to “teach all nations” and to teach the people to “observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”, so if we truly accept the Scriptures as the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God then there can be no doubt that the apostles were genuine teachers of the faith.

We are also told in the Word of God that others were also recognized teachers, such as we read in the following,

“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.” Acts 13:1

We also know that some were appointed as teachers by the apostles, as we read in the following inspired words of Paul to Timothy concerning the criteria of being anointed as a Bishop, notice one condition is that they must be able to teach,

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;” 1 Timothy 3:2

From this we know that any Bishop personally appointed into his position by an apostle must be recognized as a legitimate teacher of the faith as it is unreasonable to deny that the Holy Spirit indwelling and guiding the apostles was unable to determine whom He Himself recognized within whom He dwelt and inspired as to what they would teach.

We also know that these Bishops, such as Timothy, were authorized by the Holy Spirit speaking through the apostles to select others who could likewise be regarded as teachers of the faith. Again, we know that just as the Holy Spirit would inspire the apostles who they should anoint as Bishops, the Holy Spirit within these Bishops would know of whom they should anoint as further teachers of the Christian faith.

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2

However, this did not suggest these men, or anyone else for that matter, could teach whatever they personally felt inspired or how they may personally interpret the Word of God. There are many scriptures that stipulate conditions on what they were and are permitted to teach, particularly that they can only teach what had been originally preached in the beginning, not any new beliefs or anything that might undermine the original apostolic faith.

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15

“Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.” 1 Corinthians 11:2

We, whether teachers or not, are also given specific instructions in the Word of God about what we should do if we come in contact with someone who is teaching contrary to what was held in the beginning.

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” 2 Thessalonians 3:6

Some may argue that this does not refer directly to teachers but what could be more walking “disorderly” then to teach others false doctrinal beliefs that oppose what the Holy Spirit inspired within the apostles and those whom the Lord Himself set as teachers of the true faith, which includes the apostolic traditions which the apostles instituted as God Himself inspired them.

If then we truly wish to abide in the Word of God then we must withdraw from these people as all that shall be achieved by listening to them is that our faith shall be spoiled because what they preach is at best “philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men” and in reality, it is worldly and “not after Christ”.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8

So there can be no doubt that we should withdraw from any who teach in opposition to the original faith consider the following Holy Spirit inspired Words which not only repeat this instruction, but also gives a description of those that do such a thing.

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” 1 Timothy 6:3-5

Even those anointed as Bishops, were given direction to instruct this to any they should later appoint to teach, and so this is an ongoing teaching, a practice that if followed, would help ensure the faith stayed intact as it was originally delivered.

“As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,” 1Timothy 1:3

Let us now consider the Holy Spirit inspired Words of the apostle John to see if they support what we read from Paul and if maintaining the original faith is essential to our walk with God.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:1-3

“Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.” 1 John 2:7

“Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” 1 John 2:24

“And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.” 2 John 6

These verses make it abundantly clear that we are to maintain all that the apostles preached that we may have fellowship with them and moreso “with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). The Word “heard from the beginning” is a “commandment” (1 John 2:7). It is by abiding in what was “heard from the beginning” we “continue in the Son, and in the Father” (1 John 2:24). To have love we must walk in that which was “heard from the beginning” (2 John 6).

It is beyond question that the Holy Spirit that was inspiring both the apostles Paul and John was giving us the commandment to only teach or accept the original faith as it was first heard in the beginning. Yet although this is clearly commanded through the Word of God, very few Bible colleges or independent Christian teachers actually teach these things and of these most justify their rejection of the original faith by calling it the traditions of men. However, what they themselves are doing is exactly what they accuse the apostles and their anointed successors of, introducing their own teachings from their own carnal minds.

If we again look at the scriptures we see this is not the first time this has happened, the Jews also did this by replacing the teachings of the Prophets such as Moses with their own traditions, calling themselves teachers of the faith and Christ said of them words such as,

“But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” Matthew 15:3

“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” Mark 7:13

So how are we to know if a Bible college or Christian teacher is not the same as the Jews that the Lord Jesus Christ addressed when He said these words, how are we to identify which we should learn from and which we should we withdraw ourselves from (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Timothy 6:5) and also how are we to know who are truly anointed teachers and who are “proud, knowing nothing” and “destitute of the truth”?

The answers to these questions are simple, those that are the truly anointed teachers of the faith will still preach the same Word of Faith as did the original apostolic Church, they will still hold to the exact same doctrine and traditions that was first heard in the beginning. Their teachings will align perfectly with the earliest anointed teachers that have left us many written accounts by which we can test both those who claim to be teachers and even ourselves if we are humble enough to accept the possibility that perhaps our own beliefs may be in error and enough love for God to find out and correct it if it is not.

These true teachers will also only be found in those Churches that also preach the same faith as was first heard in the beginning as we must recall the following verses,

“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:27

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-12

In these, we read that the truly anointed teachers are in the Church, not within some gathering simply claiming to be the Body of Christ and not some individual simply proclaiming him or herself to be a teacher.

For there is only one Body of Christ, being the true Church. That one true Church that holds to the one true faith which is that which has been heard since the beginning.

“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4

To those that have already attended bible colleges and received accreditation from such institutions that are not part of those Churches that still hold to that original faith and that do not teach all that has been heard since the beginning including the same doctrine, ordinances and traditions then of what good is your accreditation except to impress those who know nothing of the true faith.

To such as these, if you hold such credentials, but have a love of truth, then those credentials are worthless, being nothing more than the recognition that you have learnt the vain ramblings of another’s prideful and corrupted mind.

To those that are presently studying through a Bible college or under a teacher that is not part of the true Church and teaching the same faith that has been heard since the beginning. Including the same doctrine, ordinances and traditions, then if you have a love of truth, withdraw yourself immediately and seek out for yourself a truly anointed teacher that will share with you that which the Lord Jesus Christ would have you believe in the true faith.

To those that are considering seeking out a Bible college or a teacher to share with you the true faith, then test their or his teachings to confirm they are the true faith, including the same doctrine, ordinances and traditions as have always been held since the beginning.

If you should not do these things, then what will you learn, but the product of the mindsof the following person,

”He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” 1 Timothy 6:4-5

For a true Christian, there is a much higher way,

“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;” Hebrews 3:14

May the Lord Jesus Christ grant us all the knowledge of what is the true faith.

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