Look to yourselves,
that we do not lose
those things we
worked for, but that
we may receive a full
reward.
Whoever transgresses
and does not abide
in the doctrine of
Christ does not have God.
He who abides in the
doctrine of Christ
has both the Father
and the Son.
If anyone comes to
you and does not bring
this doctrine, do not
receive him into
your house nor greet
him: for he who
greets him shares in
his evil deeds.
2John 8–11
Somehow,
over the many years that liberalism found a place in Christendom the word: Doctrine,
has become pejorative. The need and desire of many who attend church are
looking for thrills, signs, and wonders, and speak of love and yet do not
desire doctrine. Many do call Jesus Christ Savior, and believe that He is the
One sent by God to pay the debt of sin, yet, do not follow the doctrine of
Jesus Christ. Programs designed such as a prominent form of worship today that
is called: “Contemporary Worship,” designed for teens, or college age people,
yet speak more of a ’New Age” ideology and little about the doctrine of Jesus
Christ. One such teaching that has pervaded the church is that we are to love
everybody. There is a form of ecumenism, that is to form a unity among those
calling themselves Christian, interreligious, or interdenominational, accepting
all doctrines as being right and correct without investigation to know if such
doctrines are scriptural. Sounds good! Yet, is bad! If we do not abide in the
truth, the truth about the doctrine of Jesus Christ we do not have either the Father
or the Son. Therefore, it is important, and this I have been attempting to
show, that we not only believe in Jesus Christ we are to grow in sanctification
and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Why? So that when a person comes into the
church and teaches another doctrine, we will know that this is false teaching.
We have to “Man Up!” We stand strong for the truth. We neither receive him; in
our houses, not greet him: “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause
divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, avoid them.
For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly,
and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple”
(Romans 17:17–18). Have you ever allowed heretics into your home? Those who
are Mormon, or Jehovah Witnesses, are they allowed in you home? Are you
allowing them to pray with you? Are you knowledgeable enough to defend you
faith at the doorstep? We many not be a trained theologian as those who have
attended a Seminary, but we can know the simple and plain truth of God if we
study His word and then be able to defend your faith. I am tackling this most
confusing doctrine of Jesus Christ, that is, the Trinity, and attempting to
give history as to how this doctrine became a doctrine of the Church. What were
the opposing forces, and how did the decision come about so that we believe
that Jesus Christ is God, the same essence as the Father, and why it is
important to understand the truth of this doctrine. Knowledge does not save
you. Knowledge gives to your faith growth, and by that growth you grow in
sanctification and are a witness for God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy
Spirit. By this knowledge, we know false teaching. Let us learn to walk the
talk and not talk about walking, rather put on your spiritual armor and be what
you are; an ambassador for Jesus Christ.
Now, about
the doctrine of the Trinity and the fact that this doctrine came out of the
fire, but men who examined the teachings and beliefs of those who were in the
church and taught heterodoxy. Who was right? This was the work of the councils,
and those men, who desired to serve God in truth. This they did by searching
the Scriptures. You too must search the Scriptures: VERIFY, VERIFY, VERIFY!!
Those early councils brought to the Church the truth of the doctrine of Jesus
Christ even though there was a split between the Eastern and Western churches.
We must not become blind as the value of the decisions for our faith because of
the split. The true deity of Jesus Christ became an article of the faith and
recorded for us to recite for our remembrance in the creeds.
Even though
our faith was grounded deeper and deeper in the truth of the Scriptures there
was and is a cost for at the council of Nicaea 325 A.D. the Church lost its
independence. The Church become more and more dominated by the emperor, and at
this council the emperor was Constantine, and it must be remembered that
Constantine had first and foremost to bring harmony and peace to the Empire.
This he did by presiding over the council and making a decision for the
doctrine of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately the domination or in the least a strong
influence over the Church led to false teachings, even the Inquisitions were
greatly influenced by the emperors. This combining of the Church and the state
even was a problem in the days of Martin Luther, Swingli, and John Calvin. When
our Constitution was formed the formers made sure that the this combining or
dominion over religion would not occur in the United States. This separation
between Church and state has taken a turn that the founding fathers of our
Constitution never intended. We have a need to return to the original intent
that our Constitution states: “Restrictions on the Powers of Congress:
Amendment I: Section 1: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibition the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom
of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peacefully to
assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” (Proposed
September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791). (Italics mine).
Our battle
is against spiritual forces from Satan, his hordes of demons, and those so
influenced by satanic influences, even those who claim to be Christian, who in many
ways have and are attempting to destroy the truth.
Therefore, since we have this ministry,
As we have
received mercy,
We do no lose heart. But we have
Renounced the
hidden things
Of shame, not walking in craftiness
Nor handling
the word of God
Deceitfully, but by manifestation of the
Truth
commending ourselves to
Every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2Corinthians
4:1–2
Hold fast to the truth
Richard L. Crumb
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