It's actually simple and straight forward to accept that gift of eternal life from God. You just need to "carefully" follow God's only later day [since the Christ appeared] command to listen to his Son. (Mat 17:5; John 6:28-29) I highlight you must "carefully" listen to Jesus to warn Satan is trying to trick you; along with all the rest of us! How would you imagine a wicked spirit creature might try to do that? How about creating his own churches? He wouldn't, of course, call them Satan's churches...
As Father of the true Church, what Jesus was sent to teach, if you drink it down and take it to heart, gives you a rebirth as a "New Creation" of God. (Gal 6:12-16) To follow God's command and learn what Jesus taught, you need to become intimately familiar with the four short Gospels recording his teachings. (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)
The Potential Danger: Realizing and seeking that treasure, obtainable only through the words of Christ, (John 6:63) you might logically think to join a Bible study; as you imagine yourself gathering with others who want to learn what Christ taught! OK, you might next think, there's a Bible study right down the street at a local church... Danger, danger! That might be one of Satan's traps. Jesus warned you need to be very careful about who you listen to. (Mark 13:21-23) He also told you who it is safe to be feeding on. (Mat 24:23-28) Jesus also warned against a danger many people don't recognize. He warned against us choosing or appointing people to lead and direct us. (Mat 23:8-12 of 1-15) So, then, you might "now" ask, what can JustBibleTruth.com offer me with regard to joining a Bible study; that is not available from, or is different from, the churches?
Well, we can help you realize and understand the potential danger from people who only imagine they are teaching the Bible; even very sincere ones... Joining a study of the words of Christ is not as easy as many have been misled to believe. There are lots of deceivers; and, many of them don't have any idea they have been misled! (2 Tim 3:13) If you really do have a true Bible study in your area, you could certainly join. First, however, you must verify it actually is a "Bible" study. (1 John 4:1; Mat 24:23-28) That's easy enough! Most groups who assert they are conducting Bible studies actually gather to listen to some man or woman they have elevated to tell them what the Bible means. (Mat 23:8-12) Most of those assert you are not wise enough to understand the Bible apart from their instructions and help. Many who do assert to believe in the Bible, and pride themselves on studying it, actually discuss uninspired organizationally produced publications which their leaders assert is studying the Bible. Several religious sects even assert their organization's writings are spiritual food; meaning they believe "their writings" are inspired by God [as only the inspired Bible Canon actually is]. Even among staunch self-asserted Bible following Christians, most spend only a tiny percentage of their time actually reading the Bible. Please be sure you understand: Studying uninspired materials produced by one of the many religious sects, (Mat 24:11) with a few inspired scriptures (2 Tim 3:16) scattered into their discussion, is "not" Bible study! [Muslims have the Quran asserted to have been given their prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel. Mormons have the book of Mormon ostensibly given Joseph Smith by Gabriel. Jehovah's Witness have their "faithful and discreet slave," a subgroup they believe are appointed by God to give "their sheep" new spiritual food. Catholics have the succession of Popes they believe are inspired stand-in's for Christ and their teachings without question...] A true Bible study must thus include being careful not to join any of those sects. A true Bible study is a reading of the Bible, by people who understand God's command to put special emphasis on the words of Christ. (Mat 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35; Gal 3:23-26) Even those few sectarian groups who actually do make a point to read the Bible, usually cover only a few verses at once, after which they go on to studying something else. Most of their time is then spent listening to people who want and/or assert to be their leaders. Jesus said elevating other humans like that is a no-no... (Mat 23:1-15) You, you on your own, must be a student of Jesus Christ! Isn't that what his Father and our God told you? (Mark 9:7; John 20:17) Those "leaders" among men usually elaborate on what amounts to nonessential beliefs they have about what the Bible means. [Just realize and know: The only essential beliefs are based in the truths God sent his Son to bring. (John 13:20; John 18:37; John 17:3)] In the case of most so called "Bible teachers", the points and overall theme being delivered by the inspired Bible writer is often hidden in the deluge of trivia and personal beliefs of the religious leader; which may or may not even be scriptural. Do not be among the many religious people who have been deceived to believe such efforts are Bible studies! And yes, you should scrutinize what is being told you here in just that same light. Verify what we say! How can you do that? Verifying what everyone says is really easy: Just read the Gospel recorded words of Jesus Christ... (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) That is precisely why God had Jesus's words recorded for you! (John 8:31-32) Reading the words of Christ performs a healing of your mind; the result of running your thoughts over [pattern your mind after] the thoughts of God's Son. (John 6:57-63 with quote)
To help with God's command to listen to his Son, (Mat 17:5) He inspired (2 Tim 3:16) Jesus's words (Heb 1:1-2) to be recorded by four different writers in the Gospel Books by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This is important: A real and true Bible study, which you are now being encouraged to join or start, is simply a group of people determined to model themselves after the group Jesus started gathering some 2000 years ago, by simply reading Jesus's words...
What we each need to do, is individually join the group Jesus started all those years ago, (Luke 10:20) by making their same choice to sit at his feet to learn. Joining the group God's Son started, of course, means no one except Jesus is or can be your leader. No human can be in charge of or lead the group. (Mat 23:8-12) [You can read Jesus's warning against appointing men as your spiritual leaders in greater Bible context at: (Mat 23:1-39)] Jesus, and then his followers, spoke often about the dangers of being misled by religious men and women [Religionists being very different from Christians]. (Mat 7:15-29; Mat 24:11; 2 Pet 2:1-3; Acts 20:29-30; 1 Tim 4:1-2) Religious people are defined by following the teachings or doctrines of other men and women, while Christians follow, well, Jesus Christ! Religionists are quick to judge you lost to God if you refuse to join their sect. Christians are actually identified by their encouragement for you to follow Christ, by their encouraging you to listen to Jesus and to him alone; cautioning your only way of doing that is by reading his words for yourself. As Christian form a group with someone reading the words of Jesus [probably taking turns reading], they imagine themselves [and are] in the group Jesus started as in the picture above... Hence their one and only inspired name: Christian. (Acts 11:26) But, since none of us are judges of who is or is not a real Christian, (1 Cor 4:5) to avoid ourselves becoming a cult people are misled to imagine they are being helped by joining "our group," students of Christ should probably refer to their group only as Bible students or something similar... We always want to make clear people are helped only by personally joining Jesus Christ, not us or any group we have started! Christians recognize we are not judges but warn God is listening to our Bible studies. (Mal 3:16-4:3)
In all my years of life, I had never seen even one Bible study like the ones encouraged and/or offered here at JustBibleTruth.com. If you really do have one locally, please contact us as we might like to join yours. [Contact info below.] If you are not presently joined with someone studying what Christ taught, but are being helped by God to understand what is revealed you by reading these scriptures, (John 8:43-44) you should join us in a real Bible study.
Knowledge of what Christ came to teach is the greatest treasure available. (Mat 13:44) There is no financial cost to join one of our Bible studies, only some effort on your part. But just as good or better, print and/or use these web pages and start a Bible study locally among family or friends. You can also write to "support@justbibletruth.com" or to the physical address below.
Write to: JustBibleTruth.com