“It makes no difference what you believe, just as long as you are sincere!” That statement expresses the personal philosophy of many people today, but it is doubtful whether most of those who make it have really thought it through. Is “sincerity” really the magic ingredient that makes something true?
A nurse in a hospital gives some medicine to a patient and the patient becomes violently ill. The nurse is “sincere,” but the medicine is wrong, and the patient almost dies.
A man hears noises in the house one night and decides a burglar is at work. He gets his gun and shoots the “burglar,” who turns out to be his daughter! Unable to sleep, she has gotten up for a bite to eat. She ends up the victim of her father’s “sincerity.”
It takes more than “sincerity” to make something true. Faith in a lie will always cause serious consequences, but faith in the truth is never misplaced. It does make a difference what a man believes! If a man wants to drive from Chicago to New York, no amount of sincerity will get him there if the highway is taking him to Los Angeles. A person who is real builds his life on truth, not superstition or lies. It is impossible to live a real life by believing lies.
The Apostle John has warned the church family (“little children”) about the conflict between light and darkness (1 Jn. 1:1–2:6) and between love and hatred (1 Jn. 2:7–17). Now (1 Jn. 2:18–29), he warns us about a third conflict: the conflict between truth and error. It is not enough for a believer to walk in the light and to walk in love; he must also walk in truth. The issue is truth—or consequences!
Before John explains the tragic consequences of turning from the truth, he emphasizes the seriousness of the matter. He does so by using two special terms: “the last time” and “antichrist.” Both terms make it clear that Christians are living in an hour of crisis and must guard against the errors of the enemy.
“The last time” (or “the last hour”) is a term that tells us a new age has dawned on the world. “The darkness is passing and the true light is already shining” (1 Jn. 2:8). Since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God is doing a “new thing” in this world. All of Old Testament history prepared the way for the work of Christ on the cross. All history since that time is merely preparation for “the end,” when Jesus will come and establish His kingdom. There is nothing more that God must do for the salvation of sinners.
“But if it was ‘the last hour’ in John’s day, why has Jesus not yet returned?” you may ask.
This is an excellent question and Scripture gives us the answer. God is not limited by time the way His creatures are. God works in human time, but He is above time (2 Pet. 3:8). “The last hour” began back in John’s day and has been growing in intensity ever since. There were ungodly false teachers in John’s day and during the intervening centuries they have increased both in number and in influence. “The last hour” or “the last times” are phrases that describe a kind of time, not a duration of time. “The latter times” are described in 1 Timothy 4. Paul, like John, observed characteristics of his time and we see the same characteristics today in even greater intensity. In other words, Christians have always been living in “the last time”—in crisis days. Therefore, it is important you know what you believe and why you believe it.
The second term, “antichrist,” is used in the Bible only by John (1 Jn. 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 Jn. 1:7). It describes three things: (1) a spirit in the world that opposes or denies Christ; (2) the false teachers who embody this spirit; and (3) a person who will head up the final world rebellion against Christ.
The “spirit of antichrist” (1 Jn. 4:3) has been in the world since Satan declared war on God (Gen. 3). The “spirit of antichrist” is behind every false doctrine and every “religious” substitute for the realities Christians have in Christ. That prefix anti actually has a dual meaning. It can mean both “against” Christ and “instead of” Christ. Satan in his frenzy is fighting Christ and His eternal truth, and he is substituting his counterfeits for the realities found only in our Lord Jesus.
The “spirit of antichrist” is in the world today. It will eventually lead to the appearance of a “satanic superman” whom the Bible calls “Antichrist” (capital A). He is called (2 Thes. 2:1–12) “the man of sin” (or “lawlessness”).
Our passage (1 Jn. 2:18–29) explains there are two forces at work in today’s world: truth is working through the church by the Holy Spirit and evil is working by the energy of Satan. The Holy Spirit, in Christians, is holding back lawlessness, but when the church is removed at the Rapture (1 Thes. 4:13–18), Satan will be able to complete his temporary victory and take over the world. The Apostle John has more to say about this world ruler and his evil system in the Book of Revelation, particularly 13:1–18, 16:13, and 19:20.
Does it make any difference what you believe? It makes all the difference in the world! You are living in crisis days—in the last hour—and the spirit of antichrist is working in the world! It is vitally important you know and believe the truth, and be able to detect lies when they come your way. John’s epistle (1 Jn. 2:18–29) gives three outstanding marks of the false teacher who is controlled by the “spirit of antichrist.”
1. HE DEPARTS FROM THE FELLOWSHIP (2:18–19)
“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed none of them belonged to us” (1 Jn. 2:19). The word “us” refers, of course, to the fellowship of believers, the church. Not everyone who is part of an assembly of believers is necessarily a member of the family of God!
The New Testament presents the church in a twofold way: as one worldwide family, and as local units or assemblies of believers. There is a “universal” as well as “local” aspect of the church. The whole worldwide company of believers is compared with a body (1 Cor. 12) and with a building (Eph. 2:19–22). When a sinner trusts Christ as Savior, he receives eternal life and immediately becomes a member of God’s family and a part of Christ’s spiritual body. He should then identify himself with a local group of Christians (a church) and start serving Christ (Acts 2:41–42). But the point here is a person can belong to a local church and not be part of the true spiritual body of Christ.
One of the evidences of true Christian life is a desire to be with the people of God. “We know that we have passed from death to life because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death” (1 Jn. 3:14). When people share the same divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4) and are indwelt by the same Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14–16), they want to enjoy fellowship and to share with one another. Fellowship means “to have in common.” When people have spiritual realities in common, they want to be together.
But the “counterfeit Christians” mentioned in 1 John 2did not remain in the fellowship. They went out. This doesn’t imply “staying in the church” keeps a person saved; rather, it indicates remaining in the fellowship is one evidence a person is truly a Christian. In His Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:1–9, 18–23), Jesus makes it clear that only those who produce fruit are truly born again. It is possible to be close to an experience of salvation, and even to have some characteristics that would pass for “Christian,” and yet not be a child of God. The people in 1 John 2left the fellowship because they did not possess true life and the love of Christ was not in their hearts.
There are many unfortunate divisions among the people of God today, but all true Christians have things in common, regardless of church affiliation. They believe the Bible is the Word of God and Jesus is the Son of God. They confess men are sinners and the only way one can be saved is through faith in Christ. They believe Christ died as man’s substitute on the cross and He arose again from the dead. They believe the Holy Spirit indwells true believers. Finally, they believe Jesus will come again. Christians may differ on other matters, but they agree on the basic doctrines of the faith.
If you will investigate the history of false cults and antichristian religious systems in today’s world, you will find in most cases their founders started out in a local church! They were “with us” but not “of us,” so they went out “from us” and started their own groups.
Any group, no matter how “religious” that for doctrinal reasons separates itself from a local church which holds to the Word of God must immediately be suspect. Often, these groups follow human leaders and the books men have written, rather than Jesus Christ and God’s Word. The New Testament (2 Tim. 3–4; 2 Pet. 2) makes it clear it is dangerous to depart from the fellowship.
2. HE DENIES THE FAITH (2:20–25; 4:1–6)
The key question is: Who is Jesus Christ? Is Christ merely “an Example,” “a good Man,” “a wonderful Teacher”; or is He God come in the flesh? John’s readers knew the truth about Christ or else they would not have been saved. “You have an anointing from the Holy One and all of you know the truth” (1 Jn. 2:20, 27). “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ” (Rom. 8:9).
False Christians in John’s day used two special words to describe their experience: “knowledge” and “unction.” They claimed to have a special unction (anointing) from God which gave them a unique knowledge. They were “illuminated” and therefore living on a much higher level than anybody else. But John points out all true Christians know God and have received the Spirit of God! And because they have believed the truth, they recognize a lie when they meet it.
The great assertion of the faith that sets a Christian apart from others is this: Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh (1 Jn. 4:2).
Not all preachers and teachers who claim to be Christian are really Christian in their belief (1 Jn. 4:1–6). If they confess Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh, then they belong to the true faith. If they deny Christ, then they belong to Antichrist. They are in and of the world, and are not, like true believers, called out of the world. When they speak, the world (unsaved persons) hears them and believes them. But the unsaved world can never understand a true Christian. A Christian speaks under the direction of the Spirit of Truth; a false teacher speaks under the influence of the spirit of error—the spirit of antichrist.
To confess “Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh” involves much more than simply to identify Christ. The demons did this (Mk. 1:24), but it did not save them. True confession involves personal faith in Christ—in who He is and what He has done. A confession is not a mere intellectual “theological statement” you recite; it is a personal witness from your heart of what Christ has done for you. If you have trusted Christ and confessed your faith, you have eternal life (1 Jn. 2:25). Those who cannot honestly make this confession do not have eternal life, which is an ultimately serious matter.
George Whitefield, the great British evangelist, was speaking to a man about his soul. He asked the man, “Sir, what do you believe?”
“I believe what my church believes,” the man replied respectfully.
“And what does your church believe?”
“The same thing I believe.”
“And what do both of you believe?” the preacher inquired again.
“We both believe the same thing!” was the only reply he could get.
A man is not saved by assenting to a church creed. He is saved by trusting Jesus Christ and bearing witness to his faith (Rom. 10:9–10).
False teachers will often say, “We worship the Father. We believe in God the Father, even though we disagree with you about Jesus Christ.”
But to deny the Son means to deny the Father also. You cannot separate the Father and the Son, since both are one God. Jesus says, “I and My Father are One” (Jn. 10:30). He also makes it clear true believers honor both the Father and the Son: “All may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him” (Jn. 5:23). If you say you “worship one God,” but leave Jesus Christ out of your worship, you are not worshiping as a true Christian.
It is important you stay with the truth of God’s Word. The Word (or message) Christians have “heard from the beginning” is all you need to keep you true to the faith. The Christian life continues just as it began: through faith in the Bible’s message. A religious leader who comes along with “something new,” something that contradicts what Christians have “heard from the beginning,” is not to be trusted. “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 Jn. 4:1).
Let the Word abide in you (1 Jn. 2:24) and abide in Christ (1 Jn. 2:28); otherwise you will be led astray by the spirit of antichrist. No matter what false teachers may promise, you have the sure promise of eternal life (1 Jn. 2:25). You need nothing more!
3. HE TRIES TO DECEIVE THE FAITHFUL (2:26–29)
It is interesting to observe antichristian groups rarely try to lead lost sinners to their false faith. Instead, they spend much of their time trying to convert professing Christians (and church members!) to their own doctrines. They are out to “seduce” the faithful.
The word “seduce” carries the idea of “being led astray.” We have been warned this would happen: “The Spirit clearly says in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Tim. 4:1).
Jesus calls Satan the “father of lies” (Jn. 8:44). The devil’s purpose is to lead Christians astray by teaching them false doctrines (2 Cor. 11:1–4, 13–15). We should not accept everything a person tells us simply because he claims to believe the Bible for it is possible to “twist” the Bible to make it mean almost anything (2 Cor. 4:1–2).
Satan is not an originator; he is a counterfeiter. He imitates the work of God. Satan has counterfeit “ministers” (2 Cor. 11:13–15) who preach a counterfeit gospel (Gal. 1:6–12) that produces counterfeit Christians (Jn. 8:43–44) who depend on a counterfeit righteousness (Rom. 10:1–10). In the Parable of the Tares (Matt. 13:24–30, 36–43), Jesus and Satan are pictured as sowers. Jesus sows the true seed, the children of God; but Satan sows “the children of the wicked one.” The two kinds of plants, while growing, look so much alike that the servants could not tell the difference until the fruit appeared! Satan’s chief deception during this age is to plant the counterfeit wherever Christ plants the true. It is important you be able to detect the counterfeit and separate the teachings of Christ from the false teachings of antichrist.
How does a believer do this? By depending on the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Each believer has experienced the anointing (unction, 1 Jn. 2:20) of the Spirit and it is the Spirit who teaches him truth (Jn. 14:17; 15:26). False teachers are not led by the Spirit of Truth; they are led by the spirit of error (1 Jn. 4:3, 6).
The word anoint reminds us of the Old Testament practice of pouring oil on the head of a person being set apart for special service. A priest was anointed (Ex. 28:41), and so was a king (1 Sam. 15:1) or a prophet (1 Kin. 19:16). A New Testament Christian is anointed, not with literal oil, but by the Spirit of God—an anointing that sets him apart for his ministry as one of God’s priests (1 Pet. 2:5, 9). It is not necessary for you to pray for “an anointing of the Spirit.” If you are a Christian, you have already received this special anointing. This anointing “abides in us” and therefore does not need to be imparted to us.
We have seen that false teachers deny the Father and the Son; they also deny the Spirit. The Spirit is the Teacher God has given us (Jn. 14:26), but these false Christians want to be teachers themselves and lead others astray. They try to take the place of the Holy Spirit!
We are warned against letting any man be our teacher, for God has given us the Spirit to teach us His truth. This does not deny the office of human teachers in the church (Eph. 4:11–12), but it means that under the guidance of the Spirit you must test the teaching of men as you search the Bible for yourself (Acts 17:11).
A missionary was in Los Angeles with an Indian friend who was a new Christian. As they walked down the street, they passed a man on the corner who was preaching with a Bible in his hand. The missionary knew the man represented a cult, but the Indian saw only the Bible. He stopped to listen to the sermon.
“I hope my friend doesn’t get confused,” the missionary thought to himself and he began to pray. In a few minutes the Indian turned away from the meeting and joined his missionary friend.
“What did you think of the preacher?” the missionary asked.
“All the time he was talking,” exclaimed the Indian, “something in my heart kept saying, ‘Liar! Liar!’ ”
That “something” in his heart was “Someone”—the Holy Spirit of God! The Spirit guides us into the truth and helps us to recognize error. This anointing of God is “no lie,” because “the Spirit is truth” (1 Jn. 5:6).
Why are some Christians led astray to believe false teachings? Because they are not abiding in the Spirit. The word “abide” occurs several times in this section of 1 John and it would be helpful to review:
- False teachers do not abide (remain, continue) in the fellowship (1 Jn. 2:19).
- The word (message) we have heard should abide in us (1 Jn. 2:24).
- The anointing (Holy Spirit) abides in us and we should abide in the Spirit (1 Jn. 2:27).
- As we abide in the Word and in the Spirit, we also abide in Christ (1 Jn. 2:28).
We noticed this word abide earlier in John’s letter too:
- If we say we abide in Christ, we should walk as He walked (1 Jn. 2:6).
- If we love our brother, we abide in the light (1 Jn. 2:10).
- If the Word abides in us, we will be spiritually strong (1 Jn. 2:14).
- If we do the will of God, we shall abide forever (1 Jn. 2:17).
“To abide” means to remain in fellowship; and “fellowship” is the key idea in the first two chapters of John’s epistle. From chapters 3 to 5 the emphasis is on sonship or being “born of God.”
It is possible to be a child in a family, and yet be out of fellowship with one’s father and with other members of the family. When our Heavenly Father discovers we are out of fellowship with Him, He deals with us to bring us back into the place of abiding. This process is called “chastening”—child-training (Heb. 12:5–11).
A believer must allow the Spirit of God to teach him from the Bible. One of the major functions of a local church is the teaching of God’s Word (2 Tim. 2:2; 4:1–5). The Spirit gives the gift of teaching to certain individuals in the fellowship (Rom. 12:6–7) and they teach others, but what they teach must be tested (1 Jn. 4:1–3).
There is a difference between deliberate deception and spiritual ignorance. When Apollos preached in the synagogue at Ephesus, his message was correct as far as it went, but it was not complete. Priscilla and Aquila, two mature believers in the congregation, took him aside privately and instructed him in the full message of Christ (Acts 18:24–28). A Christian who spends time daily in the Bible and in prayer will walk in the Spirit and have the discernment he needs.
The Spirit teaches us “about all things” (1 Jn. 2:27). False teachers have a way of “riding a hobby”—prophecy or sanctification or even diet—and neglecting the whole message of the Bible. Jesus said we are to live by “every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). Paul was careful to preach “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable” (2 Tim. 3:16).
If you ignore or neglect any part of the Bible, you invite trouble. You must read and study the whole Book, and be able to “rightly divide” it (2 Tim. 2:15); that is, you must “handle it accurately.” You should discern in the Bible what God says to different people at different times; there are passages that apply specifically to the Jews, or to the Gentiles, or to the church (1 Cor. 10:32). You must be careful to distinguish between them. While the entire Bible was written for you, not all of it was written to you. False teachers, however, pick (out of context) only what they want and often apply to believers today passages that were given only for ancient Israel.
John’s second epistle gives further warning about false teachers (2 Jn. 7–11). A Christian who meddles with these deceivers is in danger of losing his full reward (2 Jn. 8).
John has now concluded his message on fellowship and is about to begin his message on sonship. He has pointed out the contrasts between light and darkness (1 Jn. 1:1–2:6), love and hatred (1 Jn. 2:7–17), and truth and error (1 Jn. 2:18–27). He has explained a real Christian lives a life of obedience (walking in light, not darkness), love, and truth. It is impossible to live in right fellowship with God if you are disobedient, hateful, or untruthful. Any of these sins will lead you out of reality and into pretense. You will have an “artificial” life instead of an “authentic” life.
1 John 2:28-29 are a “bridge” from the fellowship section into the sonship section (“born of God”). In these verses, John uses three words that ought to encourage us to live in fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Abide. This is a word we have seen before. You must recognize the importance of abiding in Christ. In fact, this has been the theme of the first two chapters of this epistle. You abide in Christ by believing the truth, obeying the truth, and loving other Christians—“the brethren.” Obedience—love—truth. If you are a believer and find yourself out of fellowship with God, it is because you have disobeyed His Word, lacked love for a brother, or believed a lie. The solution is to confess your sin instantly and to claim God’s forgiveness (1 Jn. 1:9).
- Appear. This is the first mention in this epistle of the promised return of Christ. The epistle (1 Jn. 2:28–3:3; 4:17) merely mentions the return of Christ and a coming day of judgment. The Book of Revelation deals in detail with future events.
Not all Bible students are agreed as to the details of future events, but evangelical Christians agree Christ is returning for His church (1 Thes. 4:13–18). While Christians will not then be judged for their sins, they will be judged on the basis of their faithfulness in serving Christ (1 Cor. 3:10–15). Those who have been faithful will receive rewards (1 Cor. 4:5) and those who have not been faithful will lose rewards. This event is called “the Judgment Seat of Christ” (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10) and is not to be confused with the “Great White Throne Judgment” of unsaved people at the end of time (Rev. 20:11–15).
The fact Jesus Christ may return at any moment ought to be an incentive for us to live in fellowship with Him and be obedient to His Word. For this reason, John uses a third word:
- Ashamed. Some Christians will be “ashamed before Him at His presence” (1 Jn. 2:28). All believers are “accepted,” but there is a difference between being “accepted” and being “acceptable.” A disobedient child who goes out and gets dirty will be accepted when he comes home, but he will not be treated as though he were acceptable. “So we make it our goal to please Him” (2 Cor. 5:9). A Christian who has not walked in fellowship with Christ in obedience, love, and truth will lose his rewards; and this will make him ashamed.
No matter in which direction a Christian looks, he finds reason to obey God. If he looks back, he sees Calvary, where Christ died for him. If he looks within, he sees the Holy Spirit who lives within and teaches him the truth. If he looks around, he sees his Christian brethren whom he loves; he also sees a world lost in sin, desperately needing his godly witness. If he looks ahead, he sees the return of Christ! “All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure” (1 Jn. 3:3). The return of Christ is a great inspiration for godly living!
John has written about light and darkness, love and hatred, and truth and error. In 1 John 2:29, he sums up the whole matter of Christian living in one phrase—“doing righteousness.”
The life that is real is a life of doing, not simply talking (1 Jn. 1:8–2:9) or giving mental assent that a doctrine is correct. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Christians do not simply believe the truth; they do it (1 Jn. 1:6).
A person who professes to be a Christian, but who does not live in obedience, love, and truth is either deceived or a deceiver. A child bears the nature of his father and a person who has been “born of God” will reveal the characteristics of his Heavenly Father. “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children” (Eph. 5:1). “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Pet. 1:14–15).
A Sunday School class seemed to be having constant problems. Then, one Sunday morning the teacher of the class came down the aisle during the closing song of the service. “I suppose she wants to dedicate her life to the Lord,” the pastor thought.
“Pastor,” she said, “I want to confess Christ as my Savior. All these years I thought I was saved, but I wasn’t. There was always something lacking in my life. The class problems were my problems, but now they’ve been solved. Now, I know I’m saved.”
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves! Do you not realize Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5). Does your life bear the marks of obedience, love, and truth? Is your Christian life something real—genuine—authentic? Or is it counterfeit?
It is a question of truth—or consequences! If you do not face the truth, you must pay the consequences!
Joe Quatrone, Jr. 
I concur! Great job…
Glad we agree! God bless!
Thank you for sharing truth, I have been reading your writings and have been very blessed. God Bless you Pastor. I have posted your links on our Website for other to find your writings, and on the Social Networks also. God Bless.
Thank you for commenting. God bless!
A very nice article, but we need to accurately interpret scripture to show ourselves approved.
1Jo 4:2
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
This verse does not say that Jesus was God come in the flesh. Our proofs need to be irrefutable! We do not need to bend the scripture to make it fit, but we need to find the scriptures that fit.
It is irrefutable that Jesus the Christ was and is the only begotten Son of God. He has been given a name above every other name. He is seated at the right hand of God and makes intercession for all men.
He made His relationship with the Father quite clear. He proceeded forth from God and He returned to God.
Jhn 8:42
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.
Jesus did not come of His own initiative, but was under the authority and submitted to the will of the Father who sent Him and had given all things to Him.
Jhn 13:3
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God.
The Unity or as some like to call it the Triunity of the Godhead is expressed by The Lord.
Jhn 17:11
“I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.
I like the thought that The Lord and the Father are One and that we may one day tabernacle with God. I do not profess to have any mystery understanding of the Godhead and in my humble opinion the greatness of the Godhead is unknowable in limited human words and understanding.
May the One God our Father, our Lord Jesus the Christ and their Holy Spirit be with you and guide you in Their Ways.
Agape,
Norm
Thanks Norm. I certainly do not want to bend the Scripture to make it fit my opinion. What do you mean?
I do not want to split theological hairs, but it was enough for the Apostles and disciples of The Lord to understand that Jesus came in the flesh, was the Seed of Abraham according to the flesh, but had a divine nature having proceeded forth from God. It’s alright to think of the Divine Logos as the God-Man, but that phrase is not in the Bible.
1Jo 4:9
By this the love of God was manifested fnin us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
Jhn 1:14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jhn 1:18
No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
Jhn 3:17
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
Jhn 3:18
“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Since we are heirs to the promise and justified by faith in Him we shal obtain to that age to come, but this is a gift of His manifold grace. If you profess the Trinity, Triunity or Economy of the Godhead is alright, but these theologies were developed long after salvation had come into the world through Christ’s redemptive work on the cross.
May God bless you and continue to use you to contend for the faith which was handed down to us from the Apostles.
Thank you didaskologos, for your willingness to let me share what’s in my heart, Pastor Joe has always showed me this respect too but I thought he may want to answer you himself so I asked for his permission as he is in Authority. There will be much detail, besides Pastor Joe, Paul is not the only one who writes big letters, we are not known for being short and sweet. I will use a point format too so what I share will flow better, I hope you don’t mind if I call you Norm.
Like you seek to do Norm and as God tells us, I don’t argue or do I agree to disagree which only ends in division but I seek as He tells us, to resolve differences with His Truth and not what we think or have been taught by others, God will show us who is in error through His inspired word . We are to be one in mind and purpose and if we have the mind of Christ we will be and we will have His Love for each other too not worldly self – centered Love.
I use the King James Version as reference, with it being closer to the original it has less of man’s Translation error, even though the language is not what we use today but I prefer accuracy although God does show us man’s error regardless of what Translation we use.
The Scripture you shared Norm is Truth, Jesus Christ was born from the flesh of a woman but He had God’s seed being conceived by The Holy Spirit not Adams, which we have until we are Born again of God’s seed (1John3:9 ) Jesus who is The Living Word came as we know to earth to Redeem us but He is One in Spirit with The Father who yes is in Total Authority but is also One with The Holy Ghost too, with them all being The Godhead or Trinity as They are called today and this is also as Pastor Joe shared and is confirmed fully in Scripture.
1 John 5:7 For there are Three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these Three are One.
John 14:8-11 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing His work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
The Scripture you shared Norm is all Truth but we need to see the Big Picture as an example with 1John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
As with all Scripture it needs to be read in context, we remember they all fit together and confirm each other so we can know what has been added or deleted. This is also Truth in reference to the Old and New Testament and we also have other Historical confirmation including the Dead sea scrolls, even though some of the writers were of other faiths, the confirmation for the Scriptures in them has been proven by Scripture itself but as we both agreed, God Himself confirms His Truth in the written word or Bible through The Holy Spirit (1Corthians 2:9-16)
So lets now look in context the Scripture you shared and confirm it with other Scriptures….
1Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is The LORD, but by the Holy Ghost.
What does it mean to call Jesus Lord, we can see from the Scriptures below…..
Isaiah 54 :5 For thy Maker is thine Husband; the LORD of hosts is His Name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called.
Revelation 1:7-8 Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the LORD, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 19:15-16 And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the Nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a Name written, KING OF Kings and LORD OF Lords.
What does it mean to call Jesus the Rock…..
Deuteronomy 32:3-5 Because I will publish the Name of the LORD, ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of Truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.
1 Corinthians 10:3-5 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.
Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and Rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.
I’m going to share with you now Norm some of the Scriptures that confirm God came in The flesh through Jesus who being One with The Father in Spirit is God as is The Holy Spirit.1 John 5:7.
Colossians 2:8-10 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. For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power:
Matthew 1:22-23 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a Virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the Light of men. And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Genesis 1:26 – 27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.
Colossians 1:15 -17 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the Government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His Government and Peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Thank you once again Norm for letting me share with you God’s Truth as confirmed in the Scriptures, through the conformation of The Holy Spirit.
Christian Love from Jesus Christ, Spiritual Husband of The Bride and all of us who believe He is The One True God who came in the Flesh – Anne.
Thank you Anne,
I agree with you that Jesus the Christ is our Lord and Savior! He as the Word (Logos) was in the beginning with God and was God. All things were created by God the Father through Him. He is coeternal with the Father and is the only One worshiped in the Bible other than the Father, but I have read in the Bible that the Holy Spirit is to be worshipped or was worshipped.
The Trinity is an elegant theology and far superior to any other theology conceived by men, but again it is only man’s theology of the Godhead. The real difficult part of the Trinity as it was originally expressed revolved around the argument that the Father and the Son were of the same substance (ὁμοούσιος,homoousios,same being or essence) which is now downplayed somewhat by most Protestant denominations in their understanding of the Trinity.
Forty years ago when I was around 13 years old I searched and searched the Scriptures for concrete evidence of the Trinity, for I wanted to accept the a Trinity as expressed in church and I thought I had found it in 1 John
1Jo 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. KJV.
I was so excited that I had found this clear Trinitarian statement, but sorely disappointed when I was told that it is the only verse in the KJV that is not found in any Greek text prior to the 15th century. Pastor Joe will confirm this for you. This verse should never be used to argue the Trinity.
The KJV is a fine translation, but it has some errors not because of it being closer to the original manuscripts, but because of the limited MSS available to Erasmus who compiled the Textus Receptus which was the Greek text used to translate the KJV into English. The KJV is actually further removed from the oldest texts as any Bible in common use.
Let’s be good disciples of The Lord and examine the scriptures. I prefer the New American Standard Bible for it is a bridge to the Greek and a very literal translation.
Phl 2:5-11 NASB
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Phl 2:7 KJV
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
κενόω Transliteration kenoō, Pronunciation ke-no’-ō. To empty, make empty, used of Christ, he laid aside equality with or the form of God. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon.
But the KJV translates this as, “of no reputation” which I’m sure Shakespeare’s audience would have understood to mean to empty, but alas we don’t understand it that way today.
Alas I digress, but the point is we are to adhere to what is clearly taught in scripture. Did Jesus consider the Father His God? Yes He did. Did He plainly say that His God is our God?
Jhn 20:17 KJV
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Was He obedient to the Father, to the point of death, even death on a cross? Yes He was. Did He submit to the Father’s will? Yes He did.
Luk 22:42 KJV
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Now as far as Him being The Lord κύριος in Greek translated kyrious, he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord, owner. And the unpronounceable covenant name יְהֹוָה Hebrew transliterated YHVH, and because the word LORD is substituted for it in the KJV 6,510 times, Jehovah 4 times and GOD 4 times is not a proof that Jesus is the God of the Old Testament.
Interestingly enough your Pastor might believe that the Angel of the LORD in the Old Testament is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus. But I digress again.
In closing I hope you continue to pray to our God the Father, through the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus the Christ our Lord as we all have been taught by Him to do. I pray that you continue to grow in your faith and that The Lord will bless and keep you.
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
2Co 11:31 KJV
Agape,
Norm
I meant to say that I’ve never read in the Bible that the Holy Spirit is to be worshipped!
Hi Norm, I do not depend on man’s own understanding or fleshy wisdom but on what God shows me in The Scriptures including man’s errors, just because someone claims they found no evidence of 1 John 5:7 does not mean it was not in the original, and there is no proof that it wasn’t, the rest of the verse makes no sense without it but as I said about all the Scriptures I shared they confirm each other and some of those you shared as well, it would help if you read what I shared and if you do you will find they clearly confirm The Godhead and this is that Jesus is One in Spirit with The Father and The Holy Spirit.
When Jesus came to earth, He had all the limitations of the flesh and in His role of God’s Son on earth He submitted Himself and obeyed The Father and so He was subjected to all we are in the flesh, even though He was conceived by The Holy Spirit but in Spirit He was still God, He never sinned, which Jesus said Himself, showed He was God.
On the cross He was separated from The Father, good and evil cannot co-exist and because of our sin He became fully man, which meant an innocent man had been sacrificed and so it being against the eternal ancient code which is in the Book of Life but not The Lambs book of Life, in which are written all those who have been saved or will be saved. Which means Satan lost his rights to punish those who believed and accepted God’s Salvation in Christ Jesus we have been Redeemed , yes Satan still puts us to the test to see if we really believe but he will never have the Victory with those God knows as His and He has known us from Eternity, He keeps us strong to the end.
By the way Norm, where did you find the proof of about what you shared in regard to the K.J.V, was it on the Internet or from a book written by a man or perhaps you have been to Bible College, as we know Cults have them too, but regardless of where your knowledge came from, it all depends on who those who propagated these facts were Trusting in. God tells us not to Trust in our own understanding or others but to seek His. Would you also mind sharing Norm with Pastor Joe all the errors you mentioned about that are in the K.J.V and I’m sure he will show you the errors in the NASB and other Translations too.
Norm respectfully you need to ask God for The Holy Spirit and His wisdom as yes by what you said it seems you are Trusting in man’s worldly logic , wisdom and reasoning , which will even try to explain away undeniable evidence of The Godhead or using the newer word, Trinity, being Three in One, because without the both, The Holy Spirit and God’s wisdom given in Christ Jesus, it is all just foolishness to Carnal or Natural man because they are in darkness (1Corinthians2:9-16) and you can be sure, I do not argue about man’s own fleshy understanding, it’s pointless.
So I will say goodby now Norm and leave you with something else to ponder on…Have you tested your own spirit , we know with Jesus Being One with The Holy Spirit as well as The Father, although He is in Heaven, Jesus is also in us by The indwelling of The Holy Spirit which would not be possible unless they were One and we cannot have The Father without The Son because they are also One, as The Scripture I shared confirms.
2Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Christian Love – Anne.
I do not usually post articles written by another author, but this issue is too important to ignore or dismiss offhandedly. Over forty years ago as a young teenager in a Trinitarian church I was strongly encouraged to be orthodox and accept the Trinity as the ONLY way to express the mystery of the Godhead. Well after reading through the entire New Testament I found the clear expression of the Trinity that I felt had been so lacking in all other scriptures, but I was very disappointed when I was told that part of the verse was an obvious insertion in the text.
You can only imagine the great disappointment and confusion I felt at the tender age of 13. After all if someone felt so strongly about their orthodox belief in the Trinity that they felt justified in adding to the Word of God how could I believe anything that was written. Instead of giving up my faith in Jesus and God our Father I decided to study to show myself approved. I bought a Strong’s exhaustive concordance, Thayer’s Greek lexicon and a Bible dictionary. Yes I saved my allowance, bottle deposit money and did without other things boys would spend their money on to be able to study. I have been called a heretic by so-called orthodox believers who believe what their church teaches and their thinking revolves around in circles. Some people say, “I believe what my church teaches.” I ask, “What does your church teach?” “They teach what I believe.”
In regarding the theology of the Trinity, which is much more involved than belief in the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit and has gone through some refinement over the last 1,700 years of church history, I’m not opposed to it. I’m opposed to the use of it as a litmus test of salvation. For it is Peter’s profession of faith in The Lord that is the litmus test of salvation.
Matthew 16:15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
So for all of you KJV only folks who think that the great age of the King James Version makes it the most accurate translation, I invite you to read this article with an open mind and pray upon it. I think the saddest part is not that Roman Catholic Trinitarian zealots put these added words in the Holy Scriptures, but that it continues to be included in the KJV and other Bibles that rely on the Textus Receptus as their sole Greek manuscript for translation.
This brief article was written by Daniel B. Wallace PhD.
Daniel B. Wallace has taught Greek and New Testament courses on a graduate school level since 1979. He has a Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and is currently professor of New Testament Studies at his alma mater. His Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament .
“5:7 For there are three that testify, 5:8 the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three are in agreement.” ‑‑NET Bible
Before τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ καὶ τὸ αἷμα, the Textus Receptus reads ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, ὁ πατήρ, ὁ λόγος, καὶ τὸ ἅγιον πνεῦμα, καὶ οὗτοι οἱ τρεῖς ἕν εἰσι. 5·8 καὶ τρεῖς εἰσιν οἱ μαρτυροῦντες ἐν τῇ γῇ (“in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. 5:8 And there are three that testify on earth”). This reading, the infamous Comma Johanneum, has been known in the English-speaking world through the King James translation. However, the evidence—both external and internal—is decidedly against its authenticity. Our discussion will briefly address the external evidence.1
This longer reading is found only in eight late manuscripts, four of which have the words in a marginal note. Most of these manuscripts (2318, 221, and [with minor variations] 61, 88, 429, 629, 636, and 918) originate from the 16th century; the earliest manuscript, codex 221 (10th century), includes the reading in a marginal note which was added sometime after the original composition. Thus, there is no sure evidence of this reading in any Greek manuscript until the 1500s; each such reading was apparently composed after Erasmus’ Greek NT was published in 1516. Indeed, the reading appears in no Greek witness of any kind (either manuscript, patristic, or Greek translation of some other version) until AD 1215 (in a Greek translation of the Acts of the Lateran Council, a work originally written in Latin). This is all the more significant, since many a Greek Father would have loved such a reading, for it so succinctly affirms the doctrine of the Trinity.2 The reading seems to have arisen in a fourth century Latin homily in which the text was allegorized to refer to members of the Trinity. From there, it made its way into copies of the Latin Vulgate, the text used by the Roman Catholic Church.
The Trinitarian formula (known as the Comma Johanneum) made its way into the third edition of Erasmus’ Greek NT (1522) because of pressure from the Catholic Church. After his first edition appeared (1516), there arose such a furor over the absence of the Comma that Erasmus needed to defend himself. He argued that he did not put in the Comma because he found no Greek manuscripts that included it. Once one was produced (codex 61, written by one Roy or Froy at Oxford in c. 1520),3 Erasmus apparently felt obliged to include the reading. He became aware of this manuscript sometime between May of 1520 and September of 1521. In his annotations to his third edition he does not protest the rendering now in his text,4 as though it were made to order; but he does defend himself from the charge of indolence, noting that he had taken care to find whatever manuscripts he could for the production of his Greek New Testament. In the final analysis, Erasmus probably altered the text because of politico-theologico-economic concerns: he did not want his reputation ruined, nor his Novum Instrumentum to go unsold.
Modern advocates of the Textus Receptus and KJV generally argue for the inclusion of the Comma Johanneum on the basis of heretical motivation by scribes who did not include it. But these same scribes elsewhere include thoroughly orthodox readings—even in places where the TR/Byzantine manuscripts lack them. Further, these KJV advocates argue theologically from the position of divine preservation: since this verse is in the TR, it must be original. But this approach is circular, presupposing as it does that the TR = the original text. Further, it puts these Protestant proponents in the awkward and self-contradictory position of having to affirm that the Roman Catholic humanist, Erasmus, was just as inspired as the apostles, for on several occasions he invented readings—due either to carelessness or lack of Greek manuscripts (in particular, for the last six verses of Revelation Erasmus had to back-translate from Latin to Greek).
In reality, the issue is history, not heresy: How can one argue that the Comma Johanneum must go back to the original text when it did not appear until the 16th century in any Greek manuscripts? Such a stance does not do justice to the gospel: faith must be rooted in history. To argue that the Comma must be authentic is Bultmannian in its method, for it ignores history at every level. As such, it has very little to do with biblical Christianity, for a biblical faith is one that is rooted in history.
Significantly, the German translation done by Luther was based on Erasmus’ second edition (1519) and lacked the Comma. But the KJV translators, basing their work principally on Theodore Beza’s 10th edition of the Greek NT (1598), a work which itself was fundamentally based on Erasmus’ third and later editions (and Stephanus’ editions), popularized the Comma for the English-speaking world. Thus, the Comma Johanneum has been a battleground for English-speaking Christians more than for others.
Unfortunately, for many, the Comma and other similar passages have become such emotional baggage that is dragged around whenever the Bible is read that a knee-jerk reaction and ad hominem argumentation becomes the first and only way that they can process this issue. Sadly, neither empirical evidence nor reason can dissuade them from their views. The irony is that their very clinging to tradition at all costs (namely, of an outmoded translation which, though a literary monument in its day, is now like a Model T on the Autobahn) emulates Roman Catholicism in its regard for tradition.5 If the King James translators knew that this would be the result nearly four hundred years after the completion of their work, they’d be writhing in their graves.
11For a detailed discussion, see Metzger, Textual Commentary, 2nd ed., 647-49.
2Not only the ancient orthodox writers, but also modern orthodox scholars would of course be delighted if this reading were the original one. But the fact is that the evidence simply does not support the Trinitarian formula here—and these orthodox scholars just happen to hold to the reasonable position that it is essential to affirm what the Bible affirms where it affirms it, rather than create such affirmations ex nihilo. That KJV advocates have charged modern translations with heresy because they lack the Comma is a house of cards, for the same translators who have worked on the NIV, NASB, or NET (as well as many other translations) have written several articles and books affirming the Trinity.
3This manuscript which contains the entire New Testament is now housed in Dublin. It has been examined so often at this one place that the book now reportedly falls open naturally to 1 John 5.
4That Erasmus made such a protest or that he had explicitly promised to include the Comma is an overstatement of the evidence, though the converse of this can be said to be true: Erasmus refused to put this in his without Greek manuscript support.
5 Thus, TR-KJV advocates subconsciously embrace two diametrically opposed traditions: when it comes to the first 1500 years of church history, they hold to a Bultmannian kind of Christianity (viz., the basis for their belief in the superiority of the Byzantine manuscripts—and in particular, the half dozen that stand behind the TR—has very little empirical substance of historical worth). Once such readings became a part of tradition, however, by way of the TR, the argument shifts to one of tradition rather than non-empirical fideism. Neither basis, of course, resembles Protestantism.
Thank you Pastor Joe that was a great message, so very much Truth in your words and we know God’s Truth is about Love and with that we can be sincere but as you shared often words mean very little it is our actions that reveal our hearts. Yes those who are of this world or believe and share Deception, will leave the Body of Christ because to stay under Christ’s Headship will cause them to be convicted of their evil ways.
God as you said warns us that in the end times there will be much deception and if we find ourselves in a Church or under the Authority of those who teach error and they will not accept correction, we are not to say but walk away. I had to do this a few times with those who were promoting what God calls evil or they had no True Love and so taught error too.
Today I’m thankful first and foremost to be Part of The Body of Christ in His Spiritual Church and my Unity now is with those who as you said Pastor Joe, are of one mind and purpose and seek faithfully to share the Eternal Hope we have in The Lord, which can never be confined to a building or anyone Denomination or house Church.
We remember when Paul was in prison he was cut off physically for 4 years from the Body of Believes in the early Church but not Spiritually and his imprisonment did not stop Him from writing some very long Letters giving Hope and encouragement, which we read and take to heart today, without his Letters many would have gone astray even today, God’s Truth has staying Power and when shared in sincerity, Yes True heart sincerity shown in Love, has Power to change lives which we may not witness ourselves, some plant , some water but God brings in the Harvest.
Often people in Cults will leave discouraged and disheartened, but it takes time for them to let go of the error they have been taught. I was sharing in a Ministry we these people at one time and I found some were still very heavily indoctrinated with the wrong teaching from the Cults and sadly they pass this wrong teaching onto others in Churches, on Blogs and Websites but not all thankfully, some seek Godly teaching and accept it. As you shared, Pastor Joe, God tells us we must test all those who seek to teach us with His Truth as revealed in the Scriptures but first we need to have Spiritual eyes to know if they are in error (1Corinthians 2:9-16)
Wow I better stop, I would love to share about the End Times too but perhaps another time, I do agree though with what you shared Pastor Joe, we can know by the signs, when Jesus will return as we see in the Scripture below, it will not take us by surprise.
1 Thessalonians 5 :2 -6 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Christian Love in our Unity in Christ Jesus – Anne
Absolutely Anne! I always look forward to reading your kind and insightful words. Thanks for sharing. God bless!
Hi Pastor Joe, as you are my Blog Pastor and I’m under your Authority on your Blog, I would like your permission to respond to didaskologos, as I shared I have addressed the errors in Cults Teaching quiet a few times before and also with those who have been deceived by them.
I know I have interacted with others on your Blog in the past but they approached me first and as you did not object I continued responding to them and also replied to others later myself, we do this often in Aussie Blogging but I do feel I need to ask you if it’s OK with you this time as you may want to respond to didaskologos, yourself.
Blessings – Anne.
Anne as far as I’m concerned you may respond to anything I wrote either in this forum or any other appropriate way. I will apologize now if anything I’ve written has stumbled you or made you angry.
Agape,
Norm
Thanks Anne. Please feel free to respond. I am sure you will have many good things to say.
Thank you Pastor Joe, I was wondering if you could provide the Scripture reference for this Statment of yours *
*They claimed to have a special unction (anointing) from God which gave them a unique knowledge. They were “illuminated” and therefore living on a much higher level than anybody else.
Although I agree that there was and is those who still claim they are superior, especially through worldly teaching, or by position, I would like to read this in context because we all must have assurance ( see below ) that we are anointed of God and called to do His good works according to our gifting and also when we ask for The Holy Spirit and God’s wisdom in Christ Jesus, we receive them but I’m sure you agree with this, I just thought I would clarify it because others may not understand the difference from worldly and Spiritual and I also would appreciate having the Scripture reference for future sharing .
1 John 2:26-28 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is Truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.
Matthew 10:26-28 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops (KJV) (perhaps our Computers ?)
Colossians 2 :2 -3 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in Love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Blessings – Anne.
Thanks Anne. The passage I was focusing on in our study of John’s first epistle was 2:18-29. False teachers had entered the church, denying the incarnation of Christ. They claimed to have received “gnosis” (special knowledge) that illuminated and taught them, not the Holy Spirit. John wrote to correct serious errors. Two notorious heresies at the time were Gnosticism and Deism.
John’s readers did not need teaching from the antichrists or, for that matter, from anyone. Their “anointing … received from God remains in them and was a sufficient Teacher” (2:27). This, along with 2:12-14, may imply John’s readers were relatively spiritually mature, since the immature need human teachers (Heb. 5:12). This is appropriate if John were addressing church leaders, but it would also suit a congregation that had long been in the faith. Unlike the antichrists, who claimed some form of inspiration, the readers’ anointing was real, not counterfeit. They needed to remain (abide) in Him and rely fully on His continuing instruction.
Thank you Pastor Joe for your explanation, for the reference and also for your patience and time, I appreciate all of them and also your instruction when needed, and yes, all Scripture was written, even correction that we may Mature and be perfected and do the good works God has prepared in advance for us to do and equipped us for.
Yes it is also True, Pastor Joe, Jesus is our only Teacher through The Holy Spirit and He will not say one thing to you and something different to me if they contradict but He may share something with either of us that you can share with me or I with you and as you said before we will know if it’s God’s Truth.
You are also my Blog Pastor and I Trust in your Leadership and guidance, you are a Shepherd and will be held accountable, so please tell me if I cause you any concern, I desire only that you will find great Joy in the position God has called and anointed you for.
Thanks again – Blessings – Anne.
didaskologos – …………………………………….. I was wondering if your theology came from the Moody Handbook of Theology? The topis are Biblical Theology, Systematic Theology, History Theology, Dogmatic Theology and Contemporary Theology. You didn’t say where the manuscripts you quoted came from.
Reblogged this on Strangers and Aliens.
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Excellent post, and timely in light of the tsunami of deception and apostasy sweeping away the evangelical church today!
Thanks Running to Win. God bless!
Great message!
Thanks Scott. God bless!
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Hi Pastor Joe,
I wanted to think about and comment on something you said about what unites us as believers and what divides us from unbelievers.
“There are many unfortunate divisions among the people of God today, but all true Christians have things in common, regardless of church affiliation. They believe the Bible is the Word of God and Jesus is the Son of God. They confess men are sinners and the only way one can be saved is through faith in Christ. They believe Christ died as man’s substitute on the cross and He arose again from the dead. They believe the Holy Spirit indwells true believers. Finally, they believe Jesus will come again. Christians may differ on other matters, but they agree on the basic doctrines of the faith.”
Based upon the above definition apostate churches can and do lay claim to orthodoxy. The Catholic Church would claim to believe what you stated above, yet they do not adhere to biblical definitions of the doctrines that you stated. Isn’t that the point that John is making regarding the truth? Who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for us is clearly defined in the Scriptures. Much of what causes divisions is false teaching regarding Christ and what He has done for us. These divisions are the result of either adding to or taking away from the work that Jesus Christ has accomplished for us or attacking His person either His deity, preeminence, superiority, sufficiency, humanity, or centrality. We can point to many distortions of biblical truth that are the fountainhead of these so-called divisions between denominations. Much of these divisions are due to the doctrine of baptism and the unscriptural teaching that one must be baptized to be saved or that infant baptism confers upon the child special standing before God. These are both false doctrines and divide the false churches from one another. Much of what is wrong within the churches today stems from the fact that man’s opinions, ideas, and doctrines are replacing the biblical doctrines about Christ, our salvation, our sanctification, Christ’s return, and His kingdom upon this church. All of these doctrines are essential to believers and their walk with the Lord. Error brought into any of these areas will negatively impact believers and be used by the enemy as a means to discourage their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The remedy is to rely upon the Lord Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit and the Word of God, the Bible. That is exactly what John is telling us in 1 John chapter 2.
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
1 John 2:20-21
These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of Him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him. 1 John 2:26-27
Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son. Whosoever denies the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledges the Son hath the Father also. 1 John 2:22-23
The Son, Jesus Christ can be denied by any false teaching concerning Him and our position in Him. The truth can be denied by anyone who distorts or contradicts the Bible. The problem with the church today is that much error is being brought in all the while the leadership purports to hold to the essential doctrines. I have experienced this first hand on more than one occasion. The leadership at the last church we attended for a number of years held to all of the doctrines that you said are essential, yet they would not defend the church against the false teacher C. S. Lewis who denied the inerrancy, inspiration, and infallibility of the Bible, who believed in baptismal regeneration, who believed that unbelievers could be saved apart from conscious faith in Jesus Christ, who denied the depravity of mankind, who did not believe that Jesus Christ took our punishment on the cross, who believed in purgatory, prayers for the dead, and auricular confession. Lewis could have proscribed to the doctrines you stated all the while holding to his heresy.
It is important to hold everything up to the light of Scripture so that the darkness of heresy and unbelief can be exposed and rejected. Unfortunately, the experience of many is that they cannot find a fellowship of believers where they live where the leadership is not infected with deceit and apostasy. Attendance of a church doesn’t prove that one is a believer, many attend churches who are not saved. Many pastors and leaders in the church are the tools of Satan bringing in lies and apostasy. The fellowship of believers will always center around Jesus Christ and His all sufficient work for them, and their possession of eternal life with all of its blessings for our sojourn here. God bless you:)
http://holdingforthhisword.wordpress.com/2014/04/10/faithful-shepherds/
Great points, Eliza! I will read your article and get back to you.
It is scary to know false teachings are creeping their way into the church. I certainly do not believe there are many ways to be saved. The Word of God is extremely exclusive, proclaiming there is only one way to Heaven and that one way is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone (John 14:6).
This article is part of a series I am doing in the book of 1 John. My next article, which I am posting on Monday, will take a closer look at the contrast between true Christians and counterfeit Christians (1 Jn. 3:1-10). I look forward to your thoughts! God bless! 🙂
Hi Elisa, as David recently shared we can rejoice that CS Lewis, Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel although they were all atheists before they examined the evidence for Christianity and saw that what we believe stands on a firm foundation they repented and accepted the free gift of Salvation…. How good is that!
In case you would like more information I will leave you a link of Davids, he has a very thought provoking Blog and Atheists often Challenge him….http://dwwork.wordpress.com/2014/04/17/the-god-of-peace-who-brought-again-from-the-dead-our-lord-jesus/
We can’t judge anyone’s Eternal Destiny only God knows their heart, they may come to heart repentance on their deathbed or before by the good seeds that have been planted, yes some won’t but we will never know.
Christian Love – Anne
Hi Anne,
While many may contend that C.S. Lewis was a believer, the faith that he followed was antithetical to biblical Christianity. He was a religionist and found comfort in the the High Anglican church. He rejected Jesus Christ of the Scriptures and believed in a false christ who cannot save. The High Anglican church embraces much that the Catholic church teaches; purgatory, prayers for the dead, auricular confession, ecumenism, baptismal regeneration, and Lewis embraced these beliefs. He also taught that unbelievers could be saved apart from conscious faith in Jesus Christ. He taught that idolaters who held to those parts of their religion that agreed with Christianity belonged to Christ even though they didn’t know it, thus denying the biblical command for repentant faith in Jesus Christ. He believed and taught theistic evolution, he believed and taught that Creation and the Fall were a good myth. He denied the sufficiency of the Scriptures for faith and practice, and he denied that the Scriptures were the infallible, inerrant, inspired Word of God, he did not believe in the depravity of man or that Jesus Christ took the punishment for our sins when He died upon the cross, he did not believe in heaven and hell. Lewis never gave a clear testimony of repentance from sin and of humble faith in Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ taught in the Bible. These beliefs that he professed and his “spiritual experiences” are clearly presented in his books that he wrote. Based upon what he believed and taught it is clear that he did not know Jesus Christ. Since salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit in the life of man, the Holy Spirit, as Jesus Christ clearly promised in the gospel of John, will and does lead us into all truth as His beloved children. We will hold fast to the truth that the Scriptures teach us and we will believe that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God since the Bible is written by the Holy Spirit through specially chosen men and it is the Bible the Holy Spirit uses to guide us into all truth. He doesn’t use the doctrines of men or the traditions of churches. Unfortunately, many who are highly esteemed within Christendom are not believers and are actually agents of Satan who are deceiving masses, ensuring they never come to know Jesus Christ, or they embrace a false christ, and so are damned to hell. We do not need the testimony of men for the work of God in our hearts, we need the work of the Holy Spirit through the administration of the Bible, God’s Word to our hearts and minds. Much of what passes for God’s work, is actually the false work of fallen men and so the foundation of many who profess faith in Christ is the foundation of the rotten work of man which will surely collapse rather than the sure Word of God by the Holy Spirit.
http://holdingforthhisword.wordpress.com/2013/08/12/walking-in-the-light/
Dear Anne,
I cannot know what happened at the death bed of C.S. Lewis, but based upon his testimony in his books it is highly unlikely that he repented and went to be with the Lord. What I can definitely do though, is be warned by his false testimony and stay away from him. My interactions with him cannot be based upon something that most likely did not occur, but upon the testimony of falsehood that was penned by him in his many books. Based upon the commandment of Scripture, again which I can read and know, I will have nothing to do with this false teacher.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:17-20
As far as Lee Strobel and Josh McDowell are concerned, they are also ecumenists, who confuse the exclusivity and purity of the gospel by their ecumenism. Lee Strobel is a member at Saddleback Church, and is closely aligned with Rick Warren who loves to watch ETWN, the Catholic TV station and accepts the apostate pope and Catholicism as genuine expressions of faith in Christ. Strobel’s son promotes contemplative spirituality which leads people to the deceitful designs of the devil.
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=1405
Josh McDowell preaches a false self-esteem gospel that delivers people to hell.
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/mcdowell/general.htm
These highly esteemed “Christian” authors are actually agents of Satan leading many to embrace false teaching and end up in hell. Faithful followers of Jesus Christ will not work with these deceitful workers by embracing and promoting their wicked works. Those who love Jesus Christ and His called out assembly will instead warn against them.
And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:6-7
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:15
We need to make sure that we are not embracing that which God hates. We need divine direction in these matters that is given to us by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. I read the Scriptures and eschew the works of men. It has been proven over and over again to me that those authors who are highly esteemed within the “Christian” community actually are agents of Satan and oppose the work of God through His Son Jesus Christ. Take care how you listen!
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. Mark 4:23-25
http://holdingforthhisword.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/test-time/
Hi Eliza, I would first like to confirm what you said about God’s Truth and than in another comment share about C.S Lewis, yes as you said, we must not Trust in what men or woman tell us regardless of their position, degrees and worldly Education, unless it is confirmed in God’s inspired word the Bible or in His creation, this is why man will be without excuse, He is clearly seen in Creation, try making a flower or change the D.N.A of Animals to mans, or create viable life from nothing, what Evolution Scientists have found they have found, confirms Creation first.
Jesus tells us He is our only Spiritual Teacher and God our only Spiritual Father and that through asking for The Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13 )and God’s wisdom, (James 1:5-7) which is the principle thing (Proverbs 4:7) in gaining Godly understanding, for sure we were not Born with it. Jesus will teach us all Truth through the empowering of The Holy Spirit who Teaches us the things He hears, from Jesus (John 16:13 -15) it is not His own words, He also glorifies Jesus and God our Heavenly Father, they are all One in Spirit, also being part of the Godhead or Trinity as They are called today, The Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God, He knows His Heart of Love and His good plans for us and so do we when we have the mind of Christ (1Corinthians2:9-16) which means we are Born again and Perfected in Love, (1John 2:4-6 – Hebrews 6:1- John17:23 – Phillipians 3:15) this is what Paul said we are to aim for and God tells us to be perfect as He is perfect, this is not worldly perfection but perfected in God’s Love, we must put our flesh to death. (Romans 8 :12-15 – Colossians 3:4-6 -Galatians 24 -26)
I have been Blogging in America Eliza since 2011 before that I commented on many Blogs world wide and I have heard God’s Truth often but also Satan’s lies or mans own understanding which leads to the deception of many. In all fairness they do not believe they are teaching error, they are not the wolves or false teachers, they do not seek to cause division but they do because they don’t resolve their differences the way God asks us to which is with His Truth as we are Lead.
A lot use Scripture out of context, or Trust in what they have been taught or have read on the Internet by Christian and Non Christian Teachers, even well known ones, some of them are members of Cults and often what is said is copied from one Website to the next without it being confirmed as Truth.
For example, God tells us in the Scriptures that only those with The Holy Spirit can have assurance Jesus is God, those who are natural or worldly will think it is foolishness. He also tells us when we are Born again we will not sin (see below ) but many times I have been told that we continue to sin until we die but are forgiven, no where does it say this in Scripture, it tells us the opposite when read in context etc
1John 3 : 9 No one who is Born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been Born of God.
Ephesians 4:23-24 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
John 8:34-36 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who Sins is a slave to Sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 5:18-20 We know that no one who is Born of God Sins; but He who was Born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
Of course there is so much more to share Eliza and with the confirmation of Scripture but as promised I will provide some information on C.S Lewis in my next comment that my surprise you if you haven’t read his books.
Christian Love from us both – Anne
Pastor Joe,
Thank you for your gracious reply. I look forward to your post. God bless you:)
As I shared before with you Elisa we must never judge anyone elses Eternal Destiny, we do not know their heart, only God does, yes they may be deceived in some of their understanding but we look for what they do understand that is God’s Truth and build on these, although we are to rebuke and correct error, we are always to show Love and respect to others with them being people of worth too, Jesus died for them not just us, we also remember that we too may not have full understanding yet, I know I’m still learning but have no doubt what Jesus has told me already is His Truth.
C.S. Lewis believed in Miracles , some claim they are not for today, he didn’t believe this and he is right but what he wrote in his books is a real testimony to what his heart focus was and his words in them can’t be changed now or added to.
Lewis said in reference to Jesus’ words and deeds, that He was asserting a claim to be God, in Mere Christianity, Lewis refers to Jesus’ claims below…..
To have authority to forgive sins—behaving as if He really was “the person chiefly offended in all offenses to have always existed.
To intend to come back to judge the world at the end of time.
Lewis implies that these amount to a claim to be God and argues that they logically exclude the possibility that Jesus was merely “a great moral teacher”, because he believes no ordinary human making such claims could possibly be rationally or morally reliable.
In Lewis’ own words …..”I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. … Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God.”
If wanted Elisa, we can look more closely at some of the other things you said C.S. Lewis believed and taught but I need to finish off a few things before I go to bed, so thank you for listening and God bless you.
Christian Love – Anne.
Dear Anne,
I cannot know what happened at the death bed of C.S. Lewis, but based upon his testimony in his books it is highly unlikely that he repented and went to be with the Lord. What I can definitely do though, is be warned by his false testimony and stay away from him. My interactions with him cannot be based upon something that most likely did not occur, but upon the testimony of falsehood that was penned by him in his many books. Based upon the commandment of Scripture, again which I can read and know, I will have nothing to do with this false teacher.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:17-20
It is not just believing that Jesus Christ is God that saves us, even the demons believe and tremble, it is believing what God says in the Bible about Jesus Christ and His work for us that saves us. Believing in miracles doesn’t save us (even pagans believe in miracles),it is believing that Jesus Christ took the punishment that we deserve when He was crucified so that we can be forgiven, and He rose again from the dead so that we are justified and victorious over sin, death and the devil. Lewis hated the biblical doctrine that Jesus Christ took our punishment, being the propitiation for our sins.
It is clear that Lewis appealed very little to Scripture when positing his beliefs, he relied upon human wisdom. This is a work of the flesh not the Spirit, for the Holy Spirit uses His Word to teach the truth. He had a very low regard for the Bible as documented by what he wrote concerning the Scriptures. He did not believe the death of Jesus Christ on the cross was sufficient to make us holy as taught in the Bible, he believed we needed to be purified in purgatory. He also believed in baptismal regeneration, something the Catholic church teaches. This means that people are born into the kingdom of God through the agency of man and his application of a work to that person. The Scripture teaches that we are born into the kingdom of God through the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts by the application of the Word of God and our repentant belief in the Savior Jesus Christ, that He died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead. The gospel that Lewis believed is not the gospel taught in the Scriptures, in the Bible.
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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. 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. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:6-12
There is no human work or effort in the gospel of our salvation and the work that Jesus Christ did on the cross makes us perfect so there is nothing more that we need to do.
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that He had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Hebrews 10:10-18
That perfect work of Christ on our behalf has perfected us forever. Belief in purgatory and baptismal regeneration is belief in a false gospel that cannot save. These beliefs are the fruit of a bad tree, one that is cut down and cast into the fire.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:13-20
Lewis taught universalism, when he taught in his book Mere Christianity that idolaters could be saved apart from conscious faith in Christ. C. S. Lewis is part of the corruption and apostasy within the visible church that leads men, women, and children to eternal destruction on the broad way. The narrow way, singular belief in Jesus Christ and the gospel of His sacrifice for our sins and resurrection from the dead is the only way that leads to life. There are few who find it because so many are willing to compromise the truth of the Bible for alliance with and allegiance to men. We are called to forsake all and follow Christ and His truth!
Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness knows not whither he goes. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide Himself from them. But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw His glory, and spoke of Him. Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:35-43
Anne, dearest, I have done extensive study on C. S. Lewis and what he believed and taught. He was a false teacher. He is one who should be exposed and not extolled. His fruit of false teaching has led many into ecumenism and/or the Catholic church. This is the bad fruit of a bad tree. In the many years that I have been a believer the Lord has delivered me from false teaching and error, and the fruit of that has been zeal for the truth, the Bible. Lewis never repented of his false teaching. He took extreme unction before he died, one of the sacraments of Rome. He confessed to a Catholic priest. There isn’t a hint of repentance for error in his writings, instead there is displayed an arrogance of human wisdom that rejects the revelation of the Bible and relies upon the judgments, opinions and traditions of men. This mindset has established itself in the visible church and leads many astray to their doom. The nominal Christian loves the teachings of men, but knows very little, if anything of the doctrine of the Bible. God bless you:)
PS. Don’t be impressed by atheists coming to faith in Christ, for all are sinners, and all sinners reject God and His Word. Salvation is a sovereign act of God in bringing the sinner to salvation through repentance and belief in Jesus Christ and His glorious work of salvation through His death upon the cross and resurrection from the dead.
Elisa have you read every book of C.S. Lewis, have you checked them, confirming them to be in error by the Scriptures, you shared this Scripture below in one of your comments and we know without the Holy Spirit believing the in theTrinity, is foolishness to those in darkness.
Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son. Whosoever denies the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledges the Son hath the Father also. 1 John 2:22-23
1Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is The LORD, but by the Holy Ghost.
Please read again below what C.S. Lewis wrote in his book, Mere Christianity,…..
C.S. Lewis said in reference to Jesus’ words and deeds, that He was asserting a claim to be God, in ” Mere Christianity,” Lewis refers to Jesus’ claims below…..
To have authority to forgive sins—behaving as if He really was “the person chiefly offended in all offenses to have always existed.
To intend to come back to judge the world at the end of time.
C.S. Lewis implies that these amount to a claim to be God and argues that they logically exclude the possibility that Jesus was merely “a great moral teacher”, because he believes no ordinary human making such claims could possibly be rationally or morally reliable.
IN C.S LEWIS’ OWN WORDS! …..”I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell……..
You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to..…
Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God.”
Be very careful who you claim to be a false teacher Elisa, especially when they believe in The Godhead or Trinity as they are called today , it shows they have the Holy Spirit working in their life.
You said that you had researched all C.S. Lewis writings and that He rejected Jesus Christ of the Scriptures and believed in a false christ who cannot save, yet we see very clearly in the above passage from his book Mere Christianity that you are wrong , if he was in error in other things, so are you, does that make you a false Teacher or just miss informed or deceived in some things, especially in judging others heart focus!
Christian Love from both of us – Anne
Hi Anne,
Why the great concern to prove C. S. Lewis as orthodox? I’m not sure that I understand that. The Catholic church teaches that Jesus Christ is God, and they believe in the Trinity, but they don’t teach the gospel according to the Scriptures. They teach a false gospel that cannot save. They are a dangerous ecumenical cult. Lewis believed and taught the heresies that I have pointed out. That does make him a false teacher. Anyone who teaches contrary to God’s Word about the gospel of Jesus Christ is a false teacher, and we have within the visible church multitudes of false teachers. I don’t teach contrary to God’s Word about Jesus Christ or about His glorious work for us on the cross, His sacrifice, becoming the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, and His resurrection from the dead for us. He is God the Son of God and His death and resurrection are sufficient to secure our salvation for all of eternity. Lewis denied that, like the Catholic church, and he denied the exclusivity of the gospel for salvation when he said that Buddhists could be saved apart from conscious faith in Christ because they might align their living with some of the precepts of the Bible. That is rank heresy! Lewis doesn’t have to teach what is false on everything, although he comes awful close to that, he just has to teach what is false in regards to the gospel of our salvation, the Word of God and Who Jesus Christ really is. Since he falsely presented certain things about Jesus Christ, such as He didn’t take the punishment for our sins, then Lewis is teaching about a false christ, because the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ did take the punishment for our sins. Lewis was also ecumenical, making no distinction between those faith traditions that put forth a false gospel, such as the Catholic church, and those faith traditions that at least give a nod towards the biblical message regarding the gospel. Lewis relied upon human wisdom and reason when setting forth his beliefs rather than relying upon the Holy Bible. Since he did not get the gospel of Jesus Christ correct, he is a false teacher and not an apologist for the Christian faith.
Repeating what you have already said does not prove that Lewis was true to the Scriptures. A broken clock is right twice a day. Satan often hides his lies within the veil of orthodoxy when trying to deceive the elect. We have to be very careful to measure our faith in Jesus Christ by the Scriptures and not by what any man has said. If we are not in-line with biblical faith then we are deceived and being led astray. Lewis, as I demonstrated, did not believe in biblical faith, but in a faith derived from the vain traditions and teachings of man. This is what he taught and this is what he believed. Here are cites to demonstrate his errant faith.
C. S. Lewis–Mere Christianity?
As Christianity Today admits. “Clive Staples Lewis was anything but a classic evangelical, socially or theologically. He smoked cigarettes and a pipe, and he regularly visited pubs to drink beer with friends. Though he shared basic Christian beliefs with evangelicals, he didn’t subscribe to biblical inerrancy or penal substitution. He believed in purgatory and baptismal regeneration” (“C.S. Lewis Superstar,” Christianity Today, Dec. 2005).
Lewis believed in prayers for the dead. In Letters to Malcolm, he wrote, “Of course I pray for the dead. The action is so spontaneous, so all but inevitable, that only the most compulsive theological case against it would deter men. And I hardly know how the rest of my prayers would survive if those for the dead were forbidden” (p. 109).
He believed in purgatory. In Letters to Malcolm, he wrote, “I believe in Purgatory… The right view returns magnificently in Newman’s Dream. There if I remember rightly, the saved soul, at the very foot of the throne, begs to be taken away and cleansed. It cannot bear for a moment longer ‘with its darkness to affront that light’. … Our souls demand Purgatory, don’t they?” (pp. 110-111). Lewis confessed his sins regularly to a priest and was given the Catholic sacrament of last rites on July 16, 1963 (Roger Lancelyn Green and Walter Hooper, C.S. Lewis: A Biography, 1974, pp. 198, 301). Lewis denied the total depravity of man and the substitutionary blood atonement of Christ. He believed in theistic evolution and rejected the Bible as the infallible Word of God. He taught that hell is a state of mind: “And every state of mind, left to itself, every shutting up of the creature within the dungeon of its own mind–is, in the end, Hell” (Lewis, The Great Divorce, p. 65).
D. Martin Lloyd-Jones warned that C.S. Lewis had a defective view of salvation and was an opponent of the substitutionary and penal view of the atonement (Christianity Today, Dec. 20, 1963). In a letter to the editor of Christianity Today, Feb. 28, 1964, Dr. W. Wesley Shrader, First Baptist Church, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, warned that “C.S. Lewis … would never embrace the (literal-infallible) view of the Bible” (F.B.F. News Bulletin, Fundamental Baptist Fellowship, March 4, 1984).
Lewis lived for 30 years with Janie Moore, a woman 25 years his senior to whom he was not married. The relationship with the married woman began when Lewis was still a student at Oxford. Moore was separated from her husband. Lewis confessed to his brother Arthur that he was in love with Mrs. Moore, the mother of one of his friends who was killed in World War I. The relationship was definitely sexual in nature. See Alan Jacobs, The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis, pp. 82, 94. At age 58, Lewis married Joy Gresham, an American woman who pursued a relationship with Lewis even while she was still married to another man. According to two of Lewis’s friends, Gresham’s husband divorced her on the grounds of desertion (Roger Lancelyn Green & Walter Hooper, Light on C.S. Lewis), though it also true that he, in turn, married Joy’s cousin.
In the book A Severe Mercy by Sheldon VanAuken, a personal letter is reproduced on page 191 in which Lewis suggests to VanAuken that upon his next visit to England that the two of them “must have some good, long talks together and perhaps we shall both get high.” We have no way to know exactly what this means, but we do know that Lewis drank beer, wine, and whiskey on a daily basis.
Lewis never gave up his unholy fascination with paganism. On a visit to Greece with his wife in 1960, Lewis made the following strange, unbiblical statement:
“I had some ado to prevent Joy (and myself) from lapsing into paganism in Attica! AT DAPHNI IT WAS HARD NOT TO PRAY TO APOLLO THE HEALER. BUT SOMEHOW ONE DIDN’T FEEL IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY WRONG–WOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN ADDRESSING CHRIST SUB SPECIE APOLLONIUS” (C.S. Lewis to Chad Walsh, May 23, 1960, cited from George Sayer, Jack: A Life of C.S. Lewis, 1994, p. 378).
Posted by Dwayna Litz at 12:41 AM
1. “Here is another thing that used to puzzle me. Is it not frightfully unfair that this new life should be confined to people who have heard of Christ and been able to believe in Him? But the truth is God has not told us what His arrangements about the other people are. We do know that no man can be saved except through Christ; we do not know that only those who know Him can be saved through Him.” (page 64, Mere Christianity) “There are people in other religions who are being led by God’s secret influence to concentrate on those parts of their religion which are in agreement with Christianity, and who thus belong to Christ without knowing it. For example, a Buddhist of good will may be led to concentrate more and more on the Buddhist teaching about mercy and to leave in the background (though he might still say he believed) the Buddhist teaching on certain other points. Many of the good Pagans long before Christ’s birth may have been in this position.” (page 209, Mere Christianity);
This passage teaches ecumenical universalism, the idea that anyone can be saved by Jesus Christ without knowing Him personally because they are somehow, no one knows how, subsumed into the number of the elect. This is gross heresy!
1. The one most people have heard is the one I mentioned before—the one about our being let off because Christ has volunteered to bear a
punishment instead of us. Now on the face of it that is a very silly theory. If God was prepared to let us off, why on earth did He not do so?
And what possible point could there be in punishing an innocent person instead? None at all that I can see, if you are thinking of punishment in
the police-court sense. On the other hand, if you think of a debt, there is plenty of point in a person who has some assets paying it on behalf of
someone who has not. Or if you take ‘paying the penalty’, not in the sense of being punished, but in the more general sense of ‘standing the
racket’ or ‘footing the bill’, then, of course, it is a matter of common experience that, when one person has got himself into a hole, the trouble of
getting him out usually falls on a kind friend.” (page 56, Mere Christianity)
Here C. S. Lewis is explicitly rejecting penal substitution, the fact that Jesus Christ took the punishment we deserve. Many today preach a gospel that rejects this truth saying that Jesus Christ paid the debt that we owe. Our sinful rejection of God, which is all that sinners can do, deserves eternal judgment in hell. Jesus, who is declared to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, took our punishment in our stead so we can be reconciled to God. Rejecting the doctrine of Christ’s suffering our punishment on our behalf shows that Lewis did not believe what the Bible teaches about Christ’s work on the cross on our behalf. This is damnable heresy.
2. “”Make no mistake,’ He says, ‘if you let me, I will make you perfect. The moment you put yourself in My hands, that is what you are in for. Nothing less, or other, than that. You have free will, and if you choose, you can push Me away. But if you do not push Me away, understand that I am going to see this job through. Whatever suffering it may cost you in your earthly life, whatever inconceivable purification it may cost you after death, whatever it costs Me, I will never rest, nor let you rest, until you are literally perfect-until my Father can say without reservation that He is well pleased with you, as He said He was well pleased with me. This I can do and will do. But I will not do anything less.’” (page 202, Mere Christianity).
Here Lewis is talking about purgatory. Those who know his many writings, including letters to others, know that he believed in purgatory. He also wrote a book, The Great Divorce, that clearly delineates his belief in purgatory. We don’t need purification after death, and we don’t need earthly suffering to make us pure because we are made pure the moment we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Scripture says in Hebrews that He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. It also says that we are complete in Christ Jesus. We don’t need anything for our standing before God because Christ has done it all.
3. “There are three things that spread the Christ-life to us: baptism, belief, and the mysterious action which different Christians call by different names-Holy Communion, the Mass, the Lord’s Supper. At least those are the three ordinary methods”. (page 61, Mere Christianity)
“It explains why this new life is spread not only by purely mental acts like belief, but by bodily acts like baptism and Holy Communion. It is not merely the spreading of an idea; it is more like evolution-a biological or superbiological fact. There is no good trying to be more spiritual than God. God never meant man to be a purely spiritual creature. That is why He uses material things like bread and wine to put the new life into us. We may think this rather crude and unspiritual. God does not: He invented eating. He likes matter. He invented it.” (page 64, Mere Christianity
Here Lewis is clearly saying that the new life in Christ is known by these religious rituals whereas God’s Word tells us that any man who is in Christ is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. This is adding works to faith in Christ. We don’t have to do anything other than repent and believe the gospel to be complete in Christ and have His life in us which is given us by the Holy Spirit.
In each one of these passages that is quoted from Mere Christianity Lewis is attacking the person and work of Jesus Christ, saying that what He did is insufficient for us, and the Biblical doctrines are incorrect. Since he did not believe in the inerrancy of the Scriptures, he could make things up from his religious indoctrination and feel perfectly correct and comfortable with what he said. Reading Mere Christianity it is clear that Lewis did not in any way appeal to Scripture for his reasoning, but clung to human intellectual pride. Rejecting Scripture and embracing the doctrines of man make it clear that he was a false teacher and is now in hell.
Even those who believe that Lewis was a good apologist, which I don’t agree with since he didn’t believe in Biblical faith, acknowledge what is clear from his writings. He didn’t believe what the Bible said about these important doctrines. This is only the tip of the iceberg in regards to his heresy.
Dear Anne,
I have done my homework. I have been led by God to reveal the error of Lewis and hold it up to the biblical light of truth. He was a false teacher and based on what my God says in His Word the Bible, Lewis is suffering in the hell in which he did not believe.
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. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.
2 Peter 2:1-3
Eliza, by your words it shows you lack Love for the Roman Catholics and it’s not just about the error they teach, which all Denominations do including yours no doubt but it seems to be a personal vendetta.
God will bring together all His Redeemed Children from every Denomination world wide including from the Roman Catholic Church and even rescue them from Cults. His Catholic Church meaning Universal not the Roman Catholic Church which came later, is not about a building or Denomination or great Bible knowledge, the Pharisees studied the Scriptures diligently but did not come to Jesus who they were about and so they had no real Love.
Without Jesus indwelling us, we can’t have Godly Love, He rises in our hearts, when we are Born again of The Spirit and we are than conformed into His image having God’s seed and so we are in the Kingdom of God and it is within us for Eternity. Being part of God’s Catholic Church which is mentioned in the Scriptures, is about Hearts whose focus is all about Love.
If what you say is True Eliza about C.S. Lewis but I don’t judge anyone’s Eternal Destiny it’s disobedience, God tells us not to this but if so, do you grieve for him, are you saddened that he was so deceived, does it bring you to tears, we are to Love even our enemies and that includes false teachers but we don’t take to heart their teaching.
Please be aware Eliza that no where in Scripture does it prohibit smoking or drinking but it does say, do not be drunk and a wise person will look after their bodies and not let anything control them but all things in relation to wine, beer etc smoking and food, cannot make us loose our salvation and this includes drugs. People may need help to recover from an addiction and of course as with any addiction Satan has a foothold but they are not lost eternally, they do not dame people to hell. What you claim is about man made rules and regulations, using them does not mean someone has lost their Salvation or that they are a false teacher.
God tells us apart from Children who are under grace until they know right from wrong all are without excuse because we can see God very clearly in His Creation, as I explained to you before and it is confirmed in Scripture. God is Love and does no evil, to say He does so He can bring good out of it, the Scriptures tell us is slander, we choose our own Destiny and until we come to our senses we reap the evil that we sow.
I feel I have shared enough with you Eliza, I will move on, Take Care and may you be blessed greatly – Anne.
Excellent discernment on C.S. Lewis, who was not at all what he sought to portray to Christians.
That is indeed the case. Unfortunately, there are many who are just like C. S. Lewis who promote and teach a false gospel that cannot save and so condemn people to an eternity in hell. This is the great sorrow. This should break our hearts and urge us on to share the biblical truth about Jesus Christ. The apostle John made it very clear that God abides with us as we abide in truth and love. We cannot have one without the other. There are, sadly, so many people who are confused and led astray by the enemy so that they hurl abusive condemnation when a brother or sister in the Lord, in love, stands boldly for the truth. They forget that God is the God of truth, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and Jesus Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life. If our faith in Him is not fully grounded in the truth of the bible then we have a spurious faith and are bound for hell.
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; For the truth’s sake, which dwells in us, and shall be with us for ever. Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 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. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen. 2 John 1:1-13
Truth is bound to love and we have God’s truth taught us in the Scriptures forever. It is eternal. The doctrine of Christ, is what the Bible teaches us about Jesus Christ, since all of the teachings about Christ in the Bible identify Him, proclaim Him and declare what He has done for us. To hold to false doctrine about Christ shows that one is not a believer and is bound for hell. We must reject all those who teach spurious doctrines about Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We must warn others so that they do not become deceived. This is love which glorifies our Father and thwarts the work of Satan. If we promote or defend false teachers we are aiding Satan and opposing God’s work of salvation.
The elder unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou may prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walks in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Beloved, thou does faithfully whatsoever thou does to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: Because that for His name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow-helpers to the truth. I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbids them that would, and casts them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that does good is of God: but he that does evil hath not seen God. Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true. I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
(3 John 1:1-14)
As has been repeatedly taught in the Scriptures, the Bible, good behavior, godly behavior, loving behavior, is always a by-product of the truth. You cannot have one without the other. In 2 Timothy chapter 3 the evil behavior that accompanies those who reject the truth is catalogued by the Holy Spirit through Paul. These sinners have an appearance of godliness but reject the power of it. They have rejected the truth and so live godless, loveless lives. Truth brings about genuine love in our lives and godly living.
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because their man-made traditions up-ended the Scriptures and kept them from Him. If a person adds to or takes away from the testimony of truth found exclusively in the Holy Bible about Jesus Christ and His glorious gospel, then that person is void of the truth and on their way to hell. It doesn’t matter who they are or how respected they are. It is our duty as the redeemed of the Lord Jesus Christ to stand up for the truth, expose error and those who promote it, and point all to Jesus Christ and the wonderful gospel of our salvation. It is love for God, love for our Savior Jesus Christ, and love for the souls of men and women that compels us to do this very godly thing. God bless you:)
I have taken your comment as an opportunity to indirectly apply to Anne. Thank you:)
http://holdingforthhisword.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/truth-and-love/
I am trying to read all of the comments. Sunday Easter dinner, there was a discussion about religion. I don’t know, but many assume the word religion means denominations of churches.
One person was talking about it in this context, and others in the context of Christianity.
Pr-conceptions without biblical truth make conversations difficult. You cannot discuss these topics in a fifteen minute window over dinner. It seems when a person says, “I don’t believe that” you are left to defend yourself. I feel many times when discussing religion, Christianity and faith, have to be done in a quiet setting, not argued about over dinner. It always makes me feel bad when someone is shouting me down. I always wonder if people judged us on what we say and what they believe to be the truth? I always wonder after I leave if that person goes to their Bible and looks up the scripture or maybe finds the topic online to perhaps discuss at a later time. I like to find the truth in God’s words, not mine, and so for my own desires, I do the research. Another time, a woman preacher said that anything online comes from false teachers and are all lies.
I find it satisfying to know that the Holy Spirit guides me to the truth. I rely solely on Pastor Joe Quatrone and the Word of God for my truth and it has set me free. Of course I research topics seeking truth. Being guided by the Holy Spirit, means that He is my teacher and my guide, and Truth Sayer and He helps us find others who also preach, seek and spread God’s Holy Word.
I have a question Pastor Joe. You said,
The fact Jesus Christ may return at any moment ought to be an incentive for us to live in fellowship with Him and be obedient to His Word. For this reason, John uses a third word: I am wondering because you are a minister and read a lot ..
is there talk about the way the world is today and all the false teachers that
are out there, .. establishing confusion in the minds of the people, part of the
end times. I think I read this in Daniel or some where. Satan is the master of confusion and it is disconcerting to see the world sliding into the
depths of hell and evil. This is the veil that Satan puts over the eyes of those
who are weak and blind, to keep them from seeing the truth as set forth by God’s
Holy words. Every time I hear a mother talk about protecting her children from others or evil people, it makes me sad that this is how we must live now.
Thank you for your kind words, Rita. Yes, there is deception happening in the world today and people are talking about it. Satan is a liar and the “Father of lies.” I talk about this more in the second part of this article: https://joequatronejr.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/truth-or-consequences-part-2-1-jn-218-29. The article I am posting on Thursday will touch on this too.
When I think about the suffering in the world today, it is easy to understand why so many people think we are in the midst of the Tribulation now. While we can conclude a number of things about the Tribulation, it is important to realize our conclusions are tempered by where we stand – with Christ or without Him. Fortunately, if we are among those who have confessed Jesus as Savior, the Bible affirms we will be raptured “before” the Tribulation and will “not” be present during that time. If we are believers, God will provide for us today and tomorrow. Whatever the future holds, God is in control. With that in mind, we who know Christ have nothing to fear!
Hope I answered your question, Rita. I, too, was trying to keep up with all the comments.
God bless!
God bless you too Pastor Joe. Here is what I wrote to my sister today.
I think Acts 17 gives us insight into God and His Almighty Power.
As a Christian is am awed by Him! We are blessed by Him. We are
His children, and will inherit the Kingdom of God.
My letter to my sister:
If you read this closely, you will find that God is
in control of our lives in all things. If people trust in
God, He will become part of their entire world and thoughts.
He is the wind, the earth and the heavens. If they trust Him,
they would know there is a place and a purpose for
for their life.
Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.”
Sounds good, Rita.
I have often wondered why it is said that Peter was the ROCK upon which Christ built His church.
I found in Romans 15:4, Peter, according to certain scriptures, is called the rock , (little rock stone) and then other scriptures show Jesus as the Stone or ROCK.
Scripture in Exodus 17:6 says this concerning the ROCK. We know that Jesus is the Rock, of our salvation.
Exodus 17:6 “Behold, I will stand before you there on the ROCK, at Horeb and you shall strike the ROCK, and water shall come out of it, that the people may drink…
Concordance: The ROCK spoken of here is a type of Christ..(1 Cor 10:4) Just as life-giving water flowed from the ROCK, so does eternal life from the ROCK of Jesus Christ and as the water was there for all who appropriated it, so is salvation available for all who lay hold of it by faith, (John 1: 12)
As thirst is quenched by water, so spiritual thirst is satisfied forever by faith in Christ.(end of concordance)
Also, read 1Peter 2:9..
🙂
🙂
Merry Christmas Joe to you and your beautiful family
1 Th 4:13-18— But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. .
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
=====Why not quote all the verses regarding the subject? With what you imply is that there will be a secret – silent rapture before the tribulations. When quoting ALL the verses, it becomes clear the “rapture” will NOT be silent. And, WE WILL go through the tribulations. The big issue is that those tribulations will NOT affect us. God will spare His children. Just as He did with Elijah in the desert.
Thank you Joe. God bless you and your family. I am asking for prayers for my grandson, Payton.
Payton was in a wrestling accident and he has a front lobel brain concussion. My grandson is a very loving child and I am asking for God to heal him. Please help us heal Payton.