Being Formed Into The Image Of Jesus Christ

Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened,

that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy,

that it cannot hear.

But you're in the iniquities have separated you

from your God;

and your sins have hidden His face from you,

so that He will not hear....

The Redeemer will come to Zion,

and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,

says the LORD.

Isaiah 59: 1 -- 2, 20

            These words of Isaiah should cause us to examine our hearts, our intentions, and our sin; they have separated us from the hearing of God.  So often, depression in one form or another causes us to doubt God.  We wonder why does not God hear our prayers; have we not cried out to Him for justice: "We growl like bears, and moan sadly like doves; we look for justice, but there is none, for salvation, but it is far from us.  For our transgressions are multiplied before You,  and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as our iniquities we know them" (Isaiah 59: 11 -12).  Our misunderstanding often asks for a reason why God has not answered our prayers as quickly as we wish they would be answered, and this is simply a distrust towards God.  If we are living in some form of an equity; why should we expect God to hear us?  The opening Scripture gives to us God’s position toward loans where living outside of Authentic Biblical Truth: He will not hear.  Good news: the Redeemer will come according to Isaiah’s prophecy and that prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ: "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (or it is written, "Cursed is every one who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3: 13 -- 14).  God does hear the cries of the repentant and will answer his prayers according by His Providence.  If our trust is in God then we do not allow ourselves to superimpose our wishes, and desires for a quick response as though we are greater than God.  Distrust of God, or a need to have a god according to what we think God should be is often the result of false teaching: "O foolish Galatians!  Who had bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ's was clearly portrayed among you as crucified" (Galatians 3: 1)?  No one has an excuse for Jesus Christ has been, and is testified to all generations, and you.  It may be that you have fallen prey to false teaching and need to remove yourself from that teaching and this is done by knowing the truth, and the truth is in Scripture properly interpreted by Scripture.  To aid us in our quest to know God and to know that which is attempting to undermine the truth we study history and see where paganism has infected, and affected the church.  The proper method in our quest for truth is by using the grammatical/historical method.  This is the mission of this blog, and I hope it become your mission.

            In the previous blog I introduced Babylon as being the source of iniquity, and spread its evil into all corners of the world; and into Christian religion.  This is not to say that all Christians, or churches are teaching that which is false, or heresies, but we must be on guard individually to not allow some form of heresy to be able to affect our lives, our families, our friends, and our church.  What has been learned at this point is this; heresy in the Christian religion has its foundation not only in the philosophies of Greece, or other Oriental religions but as become the foundation for false teaching, false practices in the church, misleading truth seekers of the truth by being bewitched.  We find many things practiced by both who call themselves Christian to have been influenced by false teaching, i.e., the ascetic life, the practice of celibacy that is practiced by the priestly class found in such religions as the Roman Catholic Church, setting those priests apart from the rest of the believers, who are considered to be only laymen.  It also introduced mysticism into the church and this mysticism may be described in three forms, (1) an epistemological type of mysticism in which the emphasis is upon how man comes to know God.  Those who have become swayed, or enamored by this type of mysticism believe that all our knowledge of God is immediate and comes directly to as by intuition or spiritual illumination.  We see this form of mysticism and such as the Roman Catholic Church, Quakers, Pentecostalism in its various forms, and is taught in such schools as in the Bethel Church of Redding.  (2) a metaphysical type of mysticism in which the spirit of man is thought to be absorbed mystically into the divine being in occasional experiences here and now.  What is taught in this form of mysticism is that upon a man's death, the spirit of man he is absorb into the divine.  We see this in some forms of Neoplatonism, Buddhism, Hinduism, (3) an ethical and spiritual type of mysticism in which the individual is related to God through his identification with Christ and the indwelling holy spirit.  Thus the Bible when interpreted in a proper method will lead a person to an understanding that this is the true Authentical Biblical Truth.

            In the next upcoming blogs I will expand upon the mystical forms enabling us to come to know the truth not only in regard to the form of mysticism, but as to what he is proved biblical mysticism.  They tuned, this is an exciting journey, and the end is presented to us in Scripture: it is becoming form in the image of Jesus Christ's.

He has shown you, O man,

            walked he is good;

and walked does the LORD

            required of you

but to do justly, to love mercy,

            and to walk humbly

with your God?

                                    Micah 6: 8

God loves you, not as you are, but as what you all are becoming

Richard L. Crumb

The Foundation Of Heresy: To Know Is To Be Able To Avoid

Flee from the midst of Babylon,

and every one save his life!

Do not be cut off in her iniquity,

for this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance;

He shall recompense her. Babylon was a golden cup

in the LORD’s hand, that made all the earth drunk.

The nations drank her wine; therefore

the nations are deranged. Babylon has

suddenly fallen and been destroyed.

Wail for her! Take balm for her pain;

perhaps she may be healed.

We would have healed Babylon,

but she is not healed.

Forsake her, and let us go everyone

to his own country; for her judgment

reaches to heaven and is lifted p to the skies.

Jeremiah 51:6–9; cf. Revelation 14:8; 17:1–6

            Jeremiah is given to us more than some historical event in his present time, rather he was given to us something more important, the death of that which is causing heresy and false teaching which we are warned against: “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber” (2Peter 2:1–3). Paul in writing to the Ephesians wrote these words: “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. There for do not partakers with them”(Ephesians 5:6–7). Is this not the words of Jeremiah admonishing God’s people to forsake the evil one who is Babylon the seat of all unrighteousness that comes deceptively into the Church. We are to return to “his own country” which is to be taken that we are to leave behind iniquity and those who preach iniquity, heresy for God is bringing judgment upon all who are partakers of her sin. Revelation gives to us what is going to happen to Babylon the seat of sinfulness who is deceiving the world and even inserting herself into those Churches that claim Christianity and yet are apostate. The questions for all truth seekers are: “Will you leave behind the iniquity that you find within your place of worship? Will you cast aside all those things which are not Scriptural? Will you follow Jesus Christ and leave behind those eloquent speakers, pastors, authors, who contradict Scripture? Paul admonishes us to do so: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful words of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:8–11).

            Before moving forward in this study the time has come to look back into history for in history will see how false teaching came into existence and affected the whole world. It is this false teaching found in its infancy that has caused those heresies, i.e., Gnosticism, Manicheanism, Neoplatonism, Montanism, Arianism, and much of what has come to be found in those Churches that have adopted those secrete, and deceptive teachings and educate their followers in error. It is more than coincidence that Scripture points to Babylon and applies to Babylon iniquity and the mother of heresy. It is by Babylon that God is blasphemed and they extend this blasphemy to their followers who in turn are blaspheming God. The religion(s) of Babylon fragmented into various theological views and can be found in Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Greek religion, and then fragmented more into such heresies as Gnosticism and Neoplatonism, and others. The symbols used in Chaldean, even the rites used, objects used in their worship, and furthermore, the very practice dispensed upon the people can be found in use in many so–called Christian Churches. Knowing these things will aid a person to understand why Scripture used the term “Babylon,” “Babylon the Great,” and Babylon being called the mother of harlots. The ancient religions are mystical religions and their mysticism has infected many Churches. A study of language, the epistemology of words is a study that brings forth fruit so it is not wasted study. Many of the words of Babylon are simply words used by other cultures, and we must apprehend how those words and all their grammatical uses, and changes, are to be found in many religions and Christian Churches. Babylon was the primal source for all historians to see that this is true; the great antiquity of this primitive worship system has abundant evidence that can be found among the inhabitants of Assyrian plains, Egypt. These mysteries of the Chaldean religion were shrouded in darkness, but with study this darkness begins to shrink away and the light of truth shines forth manifesting the truth. It is exciting, this study as it brings such illumination upon our God, our Creator, our Savior, and the Holy Spirit and we fall to our knees in worship to the true God, humbled that God will save His children and will one destroy all iniquity, even the iniquity of Babylon with all its deceptive intrusion into the lives of many people.

            Be ready to cast away all that is contradictory to Scripture. Be ready to receive the blessings of God. Be ready for eternity. Jesus is coming, sin will be destroyed, and you will live eternally in a world prepared for the Bride of Christ.

From an old Church song:

This world is not my home

            I’m just a passing thru

My treasures are laid up somewhere

            Beyond the blue

The angels beckon me from

            Heaven’s open door,

And I can’t feel at home

            In this world anymore. (words and music; JR Baxter, Jr. 1946)

Hallelujah! Your are His

Richard L. Crumb

Pursue Authentic Biblical Faith

Come, and let us return to the LORD;

for He has torn, but He will heal us;

He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

After two days He will revive us;

On the third day He will raise us up,

that we may live in His sight.

Let us know, let us pursue

the knowledge of the LORD...

Hosea 6: 1 -- 3a

            As has been shown in the previous blogs that the world and the Christian religion has been greatly influenced by such philosophers as Platoism and Neoplatonism and the various sects that have emanated from such philosophies.  There is a need for Christian to return to the Lord and if so, he will heal us.  It is said that the first thing to do if one is to make a journey is to take the first step and then to put 1 foot in front of the other walking towards their destination.  So often Christians sit idly by waiting for God to do for them what they have been commanded to do and that they must take action by doing that which has been commanded and not wait for God to "move" them.  When Jesus healed the man with the conflicted arm: "Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."  "And he stretched it out, and it was restored as a whole as the other" (Matthew 12: 13), but man had to first, "stretch" on his arm then he was healed, in other words the man had to do that which was commanded by God first and then he was healed.  Let us do as Hosea wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; "Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD."  It is when a person deviates from the knowledge of the Lord and devises for himself a theology which has its foundation upon false philosophical beliefs that the Christian religion is denigrated and people begin to do things which may seem good in their site but in every essence contradict the Word of God.  Many have succumbed to these false teachings and can be seen in such events as the Toronto experience, the Azusa experience, the Bethel Church of Redding’s teaching and practices, the Latter Rain Movement, the Sozo movement, and the many experiences by such teachings as prosperity theology, the need for a supernatural revelation to a person that stands outside the Word of God and makes cause for a person to believe that they are doing the will of God.  Many truth seeking individuals fell prey and have fallen prey to these heretical theologies. Manichaeus (Mani, c. 216–276), founded Manicheaism which is similar to Gnosticism and who developed a very peculiar philosophical system that attempted to synchronize Christian thought, and Zorastrianism with other Oriental religious ideas with dualistic philosophy.  Mani taught and believed in two opposing eternal principles.  The first was primitive man had the possession of pure light, and that man in emanated from the mother of life who had interned then emanated from a higher ruler of the Kingdom of light.  Secondly there was an opposer to the king of light and that was a team of darkness who had somehow managed to correct primitive man sold that man lost part of that light and became a being that became mean build with light and matter.  Man's soul was linked with the Kingdom of light, but his carnal body had been brought into Blondie to the Kingdom of darkness.  Salvation can only be accomplished by being exposed to the light who was said to be Christ.  Notice this similarity to Gnosticism whereby it would take a special knowledge, and enlightenment, to be brought into a new light to find the salvation and the believe that matter is evil.  There needed to be a liberation and this would be accomplished by the light and that accomplishment would be done by the constitution of a perfect and priestly caste.  This is also true in Gnosticism that only be elite who were in light would find salvation.  Some churches today teach the very same thing that you must have this special enlightenment that you must do certain things if you're to find salvation.  Manichaeism had laid so much caress that matter was evil leading to the belief that a person must live an ascetic life.  And in fact they emphasize the superiority of the un-married state and looked upon sex as evil.  This emphasis for an ascetic and monastic life, that is, an unmarried state may have aided the church of a priestly class set aside from the rest of the believers who are to be considered uninitiated and laymen and for the priest to remain unmarried, and for others to live this solitary monastic life which can be seen by the lies of the Desert Fathers, and in the monks and other priests that became predominant in the Roman Catholic Church.  Also, this form of life taught Manichaeism has found its way into many modern so-called Christian Churches.  In fact for a time even Augustine fell prey to Manichaeism when he was seeking the truth and this he did for 12 years.  After his conversion, Augustine devoted much energy to refuting it.  Maybe you or you know someone who has an honest heart to seek the truth yet has fallen prey to the heretical views and need to have the proven knowledge of Scripture talk to them.  God will chastise his servants: "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as two sons:’ My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor beat discovery when you are reviewed by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives’" (Hebrews 12: 5 -- 6; cf. Proverbs 3: 11 -- 12).  God is calling back into his church all of his children and he will chasten His children, and if you are not receiving chastening then is God your father, or are you running away from the chastening of God?  The writer of Hebrews under the inspiration of God to teach us added: "If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with Sun; for watch son is there room for a father does not chasten?  But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not son.  Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect.  Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father loves spirits and live" (Hebrews 12: 7 -- 9)?

            Continue to seek Authentic Biblical Truth, pursue this knowledge by attending your church and taking the time to listen carefully to what is being talked to the doctrines of the church to the tenets of the church and be willing to depart from those who are teaching man's wisdom and not the wisdom of God.  Sunday, the Sabbath for Christians is two days from now: are you preparing to set time aside for the Lord?  What we'd do and what we believe has a direct affect upon many people, therefore we have a responsibility to know the truth, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8: 36).

Yet in all these things we are

            more than conquerors

through him who loved us.

                                    Romans 8: 37

Truth In Jesus Christ Leads Us

Richard L. Crumb