But what I do, I will
also continue to do,
that I may cut off
the opportunity
from those who desire
an opportunity
to be regarded just
as we are
in the things of
which they boast.
For such are false
apostles,
deceitful workers,
transforming
themselves into apostles of Christ.
And no wonder! For Satan himself
transforms himself
into an angel of light.
Therefore it is of no
great thing if his ministers
transform themselves
into ministers of righteousness,
whose end will be
according to their works.
2 Corinthians 11:12
-- 15
As
Authentic Christians who desire with all their hearts and have their complete
devotion to our Savior Jesus Christ will have a desire to know what is the
truth and what is false teaching. This
is not a one time exercise! There are those
who wish to have the opportunity to be leaders in the church and to teach that
which is false and in many cases can find a way to make money, have a job,
and/or to receive some form of adoration.
They sound good! They sound like
they have the truth and they use Scripture!
Paul informs us that they want to be regarded as authentic Christian but
they are nothing more than false apostles, and deceitful workers who attempt to
transform themselves into the apostles of Jesus Christ. All this is because Satan is behind all this
effort, and who transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, do not be surprised that Satan's
ministers are tempting in every way to transform themselves into the ministers
of righteousness. We can know them by
their works, and by what they teach as whether or not it is truly Scriptural
teaching. Our responsibility to ensure
that our congregations kept pure and are being taught the truth of Scripture. We do this by studying God's Word and read
other men writings who wrote throughout history and see, whether or not they too are
teaching from God's Word. It is sometimes by writing and of those early church teachers that are teaching false teaching that infects the church. Such men as Pelagius, Arius, and others who
have brought in to the teaching of the Church those things that are either from
false religions or from their own false theology. It is very important to study and not just mention the dangerous
teachings that were plaguing the Corinthian church and those similar teachings
that we find within the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement especially so
since it has become so prevalent in many of today's churches and have brought much contention. Therefore, we want to look at the doctrines
they teach and see if there are any doctrinal problems within this movement
making them dangerous.
Where to
begin? The beginning is: "what is
truth?" What is the final
authority? In this postmodernism, a
pluralistic society, that which is being taught to our children is that each of
us can decide what our truth is and we are not to question the truth of
others. This is not so for Bible
believing Christians, for as authentic biblical Christians you must settle the
fact that the final authority for God's creation is what God himself says in
His Word: "But He answered and said,
‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God’" (Matthew 4:4). As true authentic Christians we must listen
to what God has inspired men to write so that His children are living
accordingly to His will: "He who
rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him-- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). Jesus inHis prayer just before His
crucifixion stated: "Sanctify them
by Your truth. Your word is truth"
(John 17: 17). The beginning is to
come to know the truth and to understand that the truth has its authority and
truth by the word of God. Therefore, we
go to the Word of God to find the truth and to establish our authority for the truth found in His Word. We are not
looking for some "sloppy agape"
we are not going to "run away" from the truth; rather were going to
be courageous and firm so what we know and teach is truly that which the
Bible teaches even if it steps on the toes of family or friends. We do not do this in anger, no we do this in
love and in the next chapter that we will teach on, 1 Corinthians 13, we will
find it love as that which we should be seeking.
As I stated in the last blog, we
will base our conclusions, not on subjective experiences, but upon God's objective
truth. We will go the truth because God
said so, and this is our guide regardless of our personal experiences. Therefore, turn off the TV, set aside some
time, so that you can test all things by the Word of God. So that you will know whether or not you
agree with what God has said or whether or not what you may believe contradicts
what God has said and may even by what God said contradict any experience you
may have had, or felt, or by things that other people have told you about. The question is: "Will you accept the
challenge to study God's Word so that you know the truth by what God has said,
or we'll you just simply continue in some sort of oblivion so that you are not
challenge?" What is most important
to you: "Your emotional responses or the truth of God's Word?" Stay with the study as we look at the
various doctrines because by doing so we will come to understand the truth
about our doctrines and what doctrines are actually scriptural. Then we can make a choice!
Less vividly is the
mind stirred
by what defines entrance through
the ears then what
is bought before
trusty eyes.
Horace,
Ars Poetica, Lines 180 -- 181
Our belief
influences our behavior
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