A Form of Godliness But Denying the Power Thereof

I just wanted to do a quick blog on something vitally important for our salvation.  It's something that most people don't think about, and that's does it matter where we go to church?  Isn't the important thing that you're in A CHURCH?  Let's take a look at what the Bible says.

 2 Timothy 3:5 warns about the last days and the heart of man; that they would be (among other things) "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof."

Jesus said we receive power when we receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). He told us how we know we've received the Spirit because everyone who has been born of the Spirit speaks in new tongues/the language of the Spirit (John 3:8, Mark 16:17).

Jesus said in John 4:23-24 that because God is a Spirit, those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth.

He said in John 16:13 that when we receive the Spirit, it guides us into all truth. Further down in 2 Timothy 3, Paul warns that people would be ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth.

So there's this separation in the Bible between those who know the truth and those who don't, those who have the Spirit and those who don't.

And there's a separation between those who walk in the Spirit (using it daily, praying in tongues, reading the word, fellowshipping with others who believe the truth, telling others how they can have this power in their own lives) and those who don't.

Paul once spoke to the Galatians saying:
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

What was the gospel Paul and the apostles preached?
In Acts 2 it was that what the men of Judea were seeing and hearing was what was prophesied about the outpouring of the Spirit and that the promise for EVERYONE the Lord would was that if they were to repent (turn from their way to God's) and be baptized (literally by full immersion then they would receive the same promise (with the same evidence, speaking in new tongues).
In Acts 8 it was baptism and receiving the Spirit.
In Acts 9 Paul had to be baptized and receive the Spirit.
In Acts 10-11 when Cornelius (a man with an impressive religious resume) saw an angel who told him to send for Peter who would tell him "words by which he would be saved" Peter came and while he was preached Cornelius and his family all received the Holy Spirit and spoke in new/unknown tongues. They were then commanded to be baptized.
And in Acts 19 when Paul ran across 12 learners who had been baptized according to John's baptism but didn't know about the Holy Spirit, Paul preached the truth to them, baptized them again, and they received the Spirit speaking in new tongues.

Many people will preach many things and call them the gospel but there's only one gospel and it's the one Jesus and the first church preached. That gospel comes with power, with inside-out life change, with purpose and evidence. Don't take your salvation lightly to think that you can fellowship anywhere that says "God" or "Jesus" in the service and that's good enough.

What are some ways that "churches" have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof today?
Things like:
"ask Jesus into your heart" - not in the Bible
"make a decision for Christ" - not in the Bible
"just believe Jesus died for you" - not in the Bible.
"say the sinner's prayer" - not in the Bible.
"you don't have to get baptized to be saved" - against the direct teachings of Jesus and the first church.
"you receive the Holy Spirit when you are baptized" - against Acts 8 and 19.
"if you have confessed Christ you already have the Spirit" - not in the Bible.
"Just confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior and believe in your heart" - taken out of context

Anything that promotes salvation outside of the way Jesus and the apostles preached denies the power that makes us godly because Jesus said you must worship in Spirit and truth. So we need both, we need the Spirit (which always comes with speaking in new tongues) and we need truth (which comes from using it and letting the Spirit guide us into all truth).

So with all the churches out there to choose from, all preaching their own version of what they want the gospel to be and most not preaching the Gospel Jesus and the first church preached, what is Paul's answer? What is Paul's answer to this issue of religious people who do not accept the power that makes them godly is "from such turn away."

Choose a church that preaches the same gospel Jesus and the first church preached. Choose a church that conducts meetings the way Paul outlined in 1 Corinthians 14. True believers aren't to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. We are doing the same job. We aren't headed in the same direction. If you're purposefully binding yourself together with non-believers you're going to get pulled off course.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. And just an encouragement if you're like me and you're the only adult in your family who believes the truth, I know it's hard to stand up for the Gospel. I know it's hard to put your walk first. I know it's hard to choose fellowshipping with the saints over the unsaved family that you have to see every day. I know it's difficult to tell family you can't be there because you're going to a church where they preach the truth. It's difficult missing family events because you've known these people your whole life and you feel tied to them. No one wants persecution from their own flesh and blood. I've always found comfort in this verse Psalm 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

and this one Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Don't focus on what you'll lose. Focus on what you've gained and will gain in return because the Lord is able to fill those spaces in your life that friends and family might leave when you fully commit to the Lord. Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.