It has been reported that over 61 million Bibles are sold or given away each year, with 92% of American households owning a copy. Such statistics explain why it holds the title “world’s bestseller”—yet, ironically, it is also the world’s most misunderstood book.

All seven points of what you are about to read are never taught in churches and are, in fact, suppressed from general understanding. Your minister, and most experienced Bible students, know of these truths, but choose to explain them away. While the Bible is a long and complex Book, the seven teachings described in this article can be easily proven.

The book of Isaiah describes God’s Word as a coded Book, with teachings found “here a little, and there a little” (28:10).

Most religious leaders have chosen to ignore what the Bible teaches—and seemingly fear to tell the truth! They also fear other things: admitting they have been deceived, and thus having deceived others; local deacons or members firing them for teaching biblical truth; their congregants leaving the fold. In all cases, they fear what men may say or do, and give little or no thought to the fact that they are teaching against what God states in His Word!

What follows is simple, and the verses quoted are not open to human interpretation. They are seven basic questions your minister does not want you to ask this Sunday—but after they are revealed, it will be hard not to do so!

First, some background.

Satan—A Being of Light?

Blame for deception cannot be solely laid at the feet of those who claim to be ministers of Jesus Christ. There is another source, which drives the thinking of such religious leaders—and is key to understanding why basic truths of the Bible remain hidden. Notice: “In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (II Cor. 4:4).

The true God of the Bible does not deceive. Rather, He is using His servants to announce the gospel to the world—the good news of the soon-coming kingdom of God—the central message His faithful servants have announced since “righteous Abel.”

Who is the “god of this world” who blinds—deceives—men? Allow God’s Word to explain: “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9).

As the one who deceives those of all nations, including their ministers, it is ultimately Satan who is responsible. However, God also holds people accountable—especially those who know they are teaching falsehoods, but continue to teach them, anyway.

(Yet, it must also be understood that there are those who truly believe what they teach. They may be sincere, but they are sincerely wrong.)

Of course, a minister would never come out and say he is teaching doctrines “of Satan.” The devil’s deception is well-planned and extremely subtle. Just as he portrays himself as the God of the Bible, he portrays his ministers as ones teaching from the Bible: “For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness” (II Cor. 11:14-15). Ministers will always appear to be of God.

God’s view of such religious leaders is found in Ezekiel 22, verses 23 to 31 (as well as many other chapters of Ezekiel). While it is too long to quote in its entirety, it is critical to understand the language and tone God uses to describe deceitful ministers; terms such as “defiled,” “guilty,” “roaring lions ravening the prey” who have “devoured souls,” having “put no difference between the holy and profane,” and acting as “wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls.”

Strong words!

However, what angers God the most? “…her prophets [ministers]…divining lies unto them [the people], saying, Thus says the Lord God, when the Lord has not spoken” (vs. 28).

You must have knowledge of what God has spoken. Only then will you be able to discern when a man preaches something “the Lord has not spoken.”

Here then are seven questions your pastor hopes desperately you will not ask. 

(1) “What is the Bible’s Definition of Sin?”

One of the central points of the Bible is the difference between what God approves, and what He does not. There have been endless dissertations about the definition of sin—what is and is not sin. Yet the Bible defines sin with surprising simplicity: “Whosever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4). When someone transgresses or breaks “the law,” he is sinning.

When one breaks man’s laws, he earns a penalty, such as a fine, jail time or even (depending on the seriousness of the crime) death. Likewise, when we violate the laws of God, we earn a penalty: “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Wages are something you earn as a payment for what you have done. If you sin—break God’s Law—you will die (Ezek. 18:4, 20).

Suddenly, knowing what constitutes “the law” is of extreme importance! Again, we must allow God to explain what He means through His Word—not the reasoning or opinions of men.

(2) “What is God’s Law?”

What should be an easy answer to the above question has been so twisted and mangled it needs more than a one or two scripture response. Greater “churchianity” has blurred the concept of what sin is and, by extension, has also butchered the definition of what constitutes God’s Law.

However, this need not be complicated. One can spot through the Old and New Testaments and examine many scriptures in which the “law” or “commandments” are described. The first is Genesis 26, where both words are found: “And I will make your seed to multiply as the stars of heaven…Because that Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws” (vs. 4-5).

Direct blessings come from keeping the commandments and laws of God. Throughout the Old Testament you will see that ancient Israel was told to keep God’s Law.

Much confusion stems from differences between the laws of Moses—the civil laws of the nation—and the commandments of God—the Ten Commandments.

Jesus Christ had much to say about the Ten Commandments. Notice Jesus’ statement in Matthew 5: “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill…not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (vs. 17-18, NASB).

The word “fulfill” (pleroo in the original Greek) means to “verify, fully preach, perfect, fill to the full.” In other words, Christ came to verify and perfect the Ten Commandments, expanding their meaning. The same chapter is filled with examples of how the Ten Commandments are even more binding today. For instance, “…it was said of them of old time, You shall not kill…but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment” (vs. 21-22). Instead of abolishing the Sixth Commandment, Christ magnified it.

Much more could be said about how all Ten Commandments, including obedience of the seventh-day Sabbath, are found throughout the New Testament. (To look at these verses in more detail, read our article “Does the New Testament Teach All Ten Commandments?”)

The primary verse your minister will use to dismiss the scriptures above is found in Colossians 2. Let’s read: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross” (vs. 14).

No doubt, you have heard that the Ten Commandments were “done away” or “nailed to the cross.” This is the verse used to support that claim. Examining the original Greek words that were translated into English removes all mystery about the subject of this verse. The word “ordinances” comes from the Greek word dogma, which means “a law (civil or ceremonial); public decrees; the rules and requirements of the law of Moses.” This verse speaks of ordinances of men—“the handwriting of ordinances that was against us…contrary to us.” This is not speaking of the Law of God, which Psalm 19 describes as “perfect,” “sure,” “right” and “pure,” (vs. 7-8) and Paul states is “holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Rom. 7:12). It was the ordinances of men—along with the death penalty we earned through sin—that were “nailed to the cross.”

Your minister knows—or should know!—the meaning of that Greek word.

Are you beginning to see why God is angry with those who teach contrary to His Word? Multiple verses state that those who do not obey God and keep His laws do not have godly love (John 14:15) and are liars (I John 2:4).

Some assert that keeping the Ten Commandments is being “legalistic,” stating that salvation is by grace. Does obeying the Law have anything to do with salvation? Remember, we have already seen that disobeying the Law results in death! How does grace and obeying the Ten Commandments connect to salvation? And does obeying the law—your works—mean you are trying to earn salvation?

(3) “Are We Saved by Just Grace —or Are Works Involved?”

Most assume that grace and works are mutually exclusive. The Bible says no such thing. In fact, you may be surprised that God’s Word demonstrates both are required.

Think of it this way. When one is born in the United States, he is an American citizen. It does not matter the national origin of his parents, how much money he has, or any other factor; the process is automatic. However, what one does with that citizenship is up to him. How hard he will work in school and how diligent he will be in the workforce will determine how successful he will be. It simply comes down to his works!

Grace and works are similar. Christians are saved by grace. There is nothing any person can do to earn salvation. It is wholly and completely a gift from God. No amount of commandment-keeping can make up for or atone for violating the Law. Only Jesus Christ’s blood can do this.

However, your reward (John 14:2-3) in God’s kingdom, after receiving salvation, is determined by your works. The commandments are ten laws that describe personal responsibility. That part you must do. Yet it is not you doing this, but Christ in you; and Christ in you will keep the same commandments He kept when He was in the flesh almost 2,000 years ago!

Again, do not believe any reasoning of man, but look directly into the pages of your Bible. Tying two passages together makes this clear:

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:4-10).

Clearly, Christians are not saved by works—but works are required: “Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone…You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works…But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?…See you how faith wrought [worked] with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” (Jms. 2:17-18, 20, 22).

The entire chapter goes into detail about how works and faith work together to perfect Christians. Christians demonstrate their faith in God by keeping His Law, yet it requires faith in Christ’s power at work in the person for him to succeed.

(4) “Where Does It Say People Go to Heaven When They Die?”

Perhaps the most universally misunderstood truth about the Bible is in regard to what happens when one dies, whether he goes to heaven or hell for eternity. Countless millions believe—and hear their ministers preach—that we must “believe in Jesus” so we can “enter heaven” or be “saved in the rapture.”

Conversely, it is said that all who do not “know Jesus in their hearts” will be, at death, instantly sent to hell, where they will suffer torment for eternity.

Is this concept biblical? Ask your minister to show you any passage that says you will go to heaven. If he attempts to twist or force Old Testament scriptures to say that Moses and Elijah are in heaven, then ask him why Jesus Christ so clearly stated, “And no man has ascended up to heaven” (John 3:13). Ask: Was Christ confused? Did Jesus Christ, as He worked with the Father, just never happen to bump into Moses and Elijah in heaven? Of course, this is ridiculous!

Then what does happen when you die? Examine how it is described in the book of Psalms: “His [man’s] breath goes forth, he returns to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish” (146:4). Yes, when man dies, he stops breathing. His body returns to the earth. He has no thoughts—he knows absolutely nothing (Ecc. 9:5)!

To die means to be dead—the opposite of life. You have no thoughts, no concept of time; you are dead. Do not allow your minister to explain away these verses by simply saying that being in hell means being “cut off from God.” The book of Isaiah shows that sin, of which we are all guilty (Rom. 3:23), already cuts us off from God while we are alive (Isa. 59:2).

In God’s eyes, human beings simply fall asleep when they die. However, like Christ, true Christians who die will be resurrected: “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus [died in Christ] will God bring with Him [at His Second Coming]” (I Thes. 4:14). At Christ’s Return, the saints will be raised from the dead and receive their reward. Until then, they are waiting to be resurrected.

The oft-quoted “beatitudes” describe this reward: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5). This is quoted from Psalm 37:11. Space does not permit listing all the passages that explain a Christian’s reward.

A loving, merciful God has a plan to offer salvation to all people who ever lived, but according to His timetable (Rev. 20:11-13). The true God wants everyone to make it into His kingdom. He is a caring God, who wants the best for mankind.

God is not some “cruel monster” who sends people to an eternally burning hell for being ignorant of Him and His Way. What kind of God would say He is described as love (I John 4:8), and then horribly torture billions because they had never heard of Him or the name of Christ through no fault of their own—in essence, refusing to give the masses a chance at salvation?

You should question the concept of the brutal god you hear described each week at church services—the one referred to as a trinity, a mystery that you cannot—and should not try to—understand!

(5) “Can the Trinity Be Proven in the Bible?”

You have seen four questions never truly answered at your church—and proof that the teachings of your minister completely contradict the plain words of the Bible. Actually, the problem goes much deeper. Each week you are being taught the lessons, teachings and doctrines of a false god. Shocking as it may sound, the deity your minister teaches about is none other than the “god of this world”—packaged as the trinity.

How important is it that you are worshipping the true God of the Bible? Does it matter if you are off, even a little?

Think. If you worship the true God, but have other doctrines wrong, He can guide you to proper understanding. However, if you are wrong about which god to worship, you will never be led to understand other true biblical teachings. In fact, you will be led into more and more error! This is the single greatest reason all you have read so far is hidden from mankind. Your minister has been deceived by the devil into accepting a concept that he does not understand—that cannot be understood, and he will tell you not to try!

Ask your pastor to explain the trinity. Have him show you where God calls Himself a trinity. When he attempts to stretch verses, which require leaps of logic to draw any parallels, ask yourself: Would God leave something as important as His true identity so vague and difficult to prove? Of course not!

The word “trinity” is found nowhere in the Bible, and neither is the doctrine. In fact, finding no biblical evidence to support it, translators inserted a passage into the New Testament that had never existed before. This was their attempt to justify this teaching. Any honest minister would readily admit this. The inserted phrase (in italics) is found in I John 5: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one” (vs. 7-8).

The section first appeared in a manuscript written in the 8th century. Translators added it because the Bible makes no case for the trinity. Instead of correcting their teachings, they modified the Bible to suit their needs. Will you stand for such deceit on something as important as the nature of the true God?

(6) “Who is the God of the Old Testament?”

Perhaps the easiest of the seven questions to prove is the identity of the God of the Old Testament. You may be surprised to find the answer in the New Testament. So, without doubt, your preacher is familiar with it.

Regarding ancient Israel, the apostle Paul wrote, “And did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (I Cor. 10:3-4).

How plain! Jesus Christ is the God of both the Old and New Testaments.

In both New and Old Testaments, Christ is described as the God who never changes (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8). Given what you have read thus far, this makes perfect sense. The New Testament teachings reflect the Old. The Law of God—the Ten Commandments—is still binding on Christians today. What happens when we die, what sin is and so many more doctrines are in complete agreement when compared to the Old Testament.

Again ask: Why have you been deceived? What causes your minister to hide these easily provable truths?

(Incredibly, the Bible speaks of “another Jesus.” To learn more, read our article “A Counterfeit ‘Jesus’?”, published in this issue.)

If these truths were taught, they would point to the true God of the Bible and, in turn, would point to the primary purpose of the New Testament—the establishment and building of Christ’s Church.

(7) “What is the Church Christ Built?”

Every major metropolis, city, village or one-stoplight town has something in common. They all have churches sprinkled throughout. Thousands of disagreeing and competing organizations seemingly cannot agree on anything.

Is Jesus part of the mass confusion that is professing Christianity? In the book of Amos, Christ, the God of the Old Testament, stated, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).

In Matthew 16, Jesus stated, “I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (vs. 18). Christ said He would build His Church—singular! Not thousands of fighting and competing churches. Jesus further stated His Church would never disappear.

Your “job,” as one striving to be a Christian, is to seek out and find that Church! It is only from that Church you will receive true spiritual nourishment, which will allow you to develop and grow in perfect godly character.

Again, ask yourself: Why are you reading these seven truths here—in this magazine?

Christ built one—and only one—Church to carry out the commissions He set forth. There is only one Church that fulfills all the requirements found throughout the New Testament. It is that Church from which you are learning these and many more Bible truths.

Finally, ask yourself why you are following ministers who are deceiving you—when you can learn God’s Way, complete and unabridged?

You Must Act!

In a court of law, one’s complicity in a matter is summarized in three questions: What did you know? When did you know it? And what did you do about it when you found out?

The same can be asked of you. The purpose for your existence is much greater than any supposed eternity spent in heaven playing a harp. God has purposed in you a potential far beyond what you now dream.

Describing these last days, Paul wrote to Timothy, “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (II Tim. 3:13). No longer do you have to be “deceived” by those doing the “deceiving.” But like a court of law, Christ will ask you what you did with the knowledge He gave you.

By this point, you will likely want to ask your minister about what you have read. Beware of clever rebuttals. Do not believe cunning arguments meant to twist the clear, unambiguous scriptures covered herein.

Your minister should know the answers to these questions. The prophet Ezekiel makes it clear what God thinks of those who have knowledge and willingly ignore it: “You dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not [a choice is made!]; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house” (Ezek. 12:2).

Will you be the same?

Why have you never been taught these things? How can such amazing truths—so obvious from the pages of your Bible—remain hidden for so long?

Your eyes have been opened to just seven teachings. You are left to decide whether you will return to deception—or find out why you have been misled for so many years. The right choice means you can begin to learn many more marvelous truths from God’s Instruction Manual for mankind—the Holy Bible!