Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God has said,
"I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
"THEREFORE, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPERATE," says the lord, "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; AND I WILL WELCOME YOU.
"AND I WILL BE A FATHER TO YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO ME," says the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18NASB
When one decides to follow Jesus, there is a line drawn that cannot be crossed. As we read in Paul's epistle to the Church at Corinth, there is no partnership between righteousness and lawlessness, no fellowship between light and darkness, no harmony between Christ and the devil, no common ground between a believer and an unbeliever, and no agreement between the temple of God, and idols. As temples of the living God who dwells within us, what can we possibly be thinking in compromising with worldliness and sin? The path of following Christ stands in complete opposition to the selfish ways of the world we live in. As Christians, we are governed by a set of values that go against the values that the world holds. Two sets of standards, in total contradiction to one another, and yet the modern professing "Church" has chosen to blend these two systems.
Congregations and denominations have grossly departed from Christ and the absolute standard that He calls us to. This is not something that has happened overnight, people have allowed it to creep in over time. Churches grappled with the word of God, and decided that it was not infallible, was not inspired, and was subject to man's interpretation. This only opened the door to the sin and compromise we see so prevalent today in many of our denominations.
Understand very carefully that these "Churches" have completely departed from the faith! One cannot condone, accept, and promote immorality, and yet be a born again follower of Christ. It is absolutely impossible. Look at what Paul writes in Romans 1:18-32. We see sexual immorality all around us, in the form of adultery, sex outside of marriage, and homosexuality. Understand very carefully what God is telling us in this passage of scripture. This immorality is the result of God giving up a people to their degrading passions, because they have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, worshipping the creature rather than the creator. When you see a nation promoting deviant sexual behavior, it is a sign of that nation being rejected of God. When you see a denomination promoting sexual sin, that denomination has departed from God, and as a result, He has given them over to pursue their evil passions. Without the restraint of God, man, left to himself, progresses farther down the path of sin, entrenching himself deeper and deeper in depravity.
What we are seeing today in our modern denominations is not a church "loving people into the kingdom", but a group of depraved people, void of the presence of God. And it is not only sexual immorality we see, but also greed, envy, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, murder, slander, boastful people, arrogance, disobedience to parents, unloving people, untrustworthy individuals, and unmerciful people (Romans 1:29-31). We expect the "world to be filled with people like this, but it is found in the professing "Church" as well. Paul tells us that men will be lovers of money, lovers of self, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, conceited, loving pleasure more than God. They hold a form of godliness; in other words, they look like a church, appear to be "Christians" by some of the things that they say and do, but their lives are void of the true power that the gospel brings, as evidenced by their gross departure into sin (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
I am not referring to the true Church, those who are blood bought, born again, and following Christ. These are the ones on the narrow path to life, while the world rushes to destruction (Matt 7:13-14). There are those who fear the Lord, and grieve over the sin and compromise that the world calls "Christianity." They know what it is to come out and be separate from the world and its ways. They experience the scorn and ridicule as they stand alone for what is right in the eyes of God. These individuals cry out to God for revival, they proclaim the truth even though nobody wants to hear it. Sadly they are accused of being judgmental, and self righteous, by the very ones who are being deceived.
God calls us to come out from the midst of this sinful world and be separate. There is no possibility of compromise in the kingdom of God. You are either all in, and serving Him alone, or you are perishing in your sin. You cannot serve two masters (Matt 6:24). Light and darkness cannot mix, it is impossible to stand for righteousness, while promoting lawlessness. What we have recently seen in many of the major denominations, is a deadly deception, that is leading thousands into hell.
We need a God sent awakening in our land today. As followers of Christ, who are seeking His kingdom and righteousness, we must fall to our knees in humility and prayer; seeking His face, that He would come and bring revival, and healing to this land. It is our only hope.
Showing posts with label heresy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heresy. Show all posts
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
False Grace.
And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), "Let us do evil that good may come?" Their condemnation is just.
Romans 3:8 NASB
We read in the epistle of Jude that we are to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all handed down to the saints. Just as in the days of the apostle Paul and the early Church, there are many today who also declare that the grace of God gives license to sin (Romans 6:1, 15; Jude 1:3-4). Throughout history, the Church has been plagued with the teaching that grace allows one to remain in sin, and yet have unbroken fellowship with Christ. Some grant that fellowship can be broken, but salvation is never questioned, even if one's life is filled with immorality and sin. This however, is a grave mistake, a deadly error, with dreadful consequences.
Notice in Jude 1:3 that the faith was handed down once for all. This means that what was taught in the beginning by Christ and the apostles is still valid and in force today as well. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, which means that the truths of Christian faith and practice remain the same throughout time (Hebrews 13:7-9).
Jude tells us that persons have crept in unnoticed, bringing their heresy with them into the church. Paul warns that false teachers will arise from within the Church (Acts 20:29-31). This is what makes it so deadly. We are fooled by individuals who we may have known all of our lives; individuals who we have listened to and trusted in the past, who now introduce destructive heresies, teaching that it is okay to retain sin in one's life. We see much of this. There are many individuals who have been deceived into believing that they are covered by grace; that they are Christians, but their lives have never been transformed through the new birth, as made evident by their persistent sinful lifestyles.
John tells us that if we claim to have fellowship with Christ, but walk in the darkness, we lie, and are not practicing the truth (1 John 1:6). We are also warned that the one who practices sin is of the devil, as Jesus has come to destroy the devil's works. Therefore one who is born of God no longer sins, but practices righteousness (1 John 3:7-10). This is what the word of God has to say about the change that grace brings to the life of a true child of God. True grace brings about a change of heart and life in those who have put their trust in Christ (Titus 2:11-13).
Jude uses three examples to show us that God's grace is not meant as a mere cover up for sin. Sin does have consequences if it is not forsaken.
1. Ancient Israel's unbelief.
God, through signs, wonders, and great power, delivered the nation of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. Yet they rebelled at His word, refusing to enter into the land of promise. That generation died in the wilderness because of their unbelief/disobedience (Hebrews 3:16-19). God chose these people, delivered them out of bondage, but yet destroyed those who refused to obey Him because of their unbelief (Jude 1:5).
2. The fallen angels.
The angels in heaven are pure, having been created by God that way. Yet we see that those who rebelled against Him are kept in bonds for the day of judgment. It is even possible for the angels to sin, and they are not exempt from the penalty of it (Jude 1:6).
3. Sodom and Gomorrah.
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is put forth as an example to us that God will judge sin. They are an example to us of punishment by eternal fire. It is ironic that the very sins that brought destruction upon these cities are the sins that so many false teachers today accept and promote within the Church today. Sexual immorality, including homosexuality, was an abomination to God then, and still is now. Grace does not, and cannot cover sin that is not put away (Jude 1:7).
Do not be deceived by false teaching (Ephesians 5:5-6). God's wrath will come upon those who disobey Him. Whether you believe in eternal security or not, the fact remains that if one is living a life of sin, that individuals shows that he or she has no eternal life in them. Once again, the one who is born of God does not sin. The child of God lives righteously because they have been born again. Their lives have been transformed by the grace and power of God.
This is not to say that a Christian is incapable of sin. It is indeed possible for a Child of God to sin. This world is filled with trials and temptations, and Christians are not exempt from them. John writes so that we will not sin, but if we do we have an advocate in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1). However John does not mean that we can presume upon grace. Once again grace does not give license to sin. Sin in a believer is the exception, not the rule. The heart's intent of the Christian is to please God. The true child of God lives to honor Christ. Out of love for God, they avoid sin. Should they fall in a moment of weakness, they confess it and forsake it, and go on with God. This is different from one who desires to live in sin, but yet trusts that God will forgive them even though they have no real desire to live a life that pleases Him.
God is a gracious God, and in His great mercy He has offered us grace, in Christ, to be reconciled to Him, empowering us to live in accordance with His will. Do not trifle with God's grace. If it has not changed your life, it is not grace.
Romans 3:8 NASB
We read in the epistle of Jude that we are to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all handed down to the saints. Just as in the days of the apostle Paul and the early Church, there are many today who also declare that the grace of God gives license to sin (Romans 6:1, 15; Jude 1:3-4). Throughout history, the Church has been plagued with the teaching that grace allows one to remain in sin, and yet have unbroken fellowship with Christ. Some grant that fellowship can be broken, but salvation is never questioned, even if one's life is filled with immorality and sin. This however, is a grave mistake, a deadly error, with dreadful consequences.
Notice in Jude 1:3 that the faith was handed down once for all. This means that what was taught in the beginning by Christ and the apostles is still valid and in force today as well. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, which means that the truths of Christian faith and practice remain the same throughout time (Hebrews 13:7-9).
Jude tells us that persons have crept in unnoticed, bringing their heresy with them into the church. Paul warns that false teachers will arise from within the Church (Acts 20:29-31). This is what makes it so deadly. We are fooled by individuals who we may have known all of our lives; individuals who we have listened to and trusted in the past, who now introduce destructive heresies, teaching that it is okay to retain sin in one's life. We see much of this. There are many individuals who have been deceived into believing that they are covered by grace; that they are Christians, but their lives have never been transformed through the new birth, as made evident by their persistent sinful lifestyles.
John tells us that if we claim to have fellowship with Christ, but walk in the darkness, we lie, and are not practicing the truth (1 John 1:6). We are also warned that the one who practices sin is of the devil, as Jesus has come to destroy the devil's works. Therefore one who is born of God no longer sins, but practices righteousness (1 John 3:7-10). This is what the word of God has to say about the change that grace brings to the life of a true child of God. True grace brings about a change of heart and life in those who have put their trust in Christ (Titus 2:11-13).
Jude uses three examples to show us that God's grace is not meant as a mere cover up for sin. Sin does have consequences if it is not forsaken.
1. Ancient Israel's unbelief.
God, through signs, wonders, and great power, delivered the nation of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. Yet they rebelled at His word, refusing to enter into the land of promise. That generation died in the wilderness because of their unbelief/disobedience (Hebrews 3:16-19). God chose these people, delivered them out of bondage, but yet destroyed those who refused to obey Him because of their unbelief (Jude 1:5).
2. The fallen angels.
The angels in heaven are pure, having been created by God that way. Yet we see that those who rebelled against Him are kept in bonds for the day of judgment. It is even possible for the angels to sin, and they are not exempt from the penalty of it (Jude 1:6).
3. Sodom and Gomorrah.
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is put forth as an example to us that God will judge sin. They are an example to us of punishment by eternal fire. It is ironic that the very sins that brought destruction upon these cities are the sins that so many false teachers today accept and promote within the Church today. Sexual immorality, including homosexuality, was an abomination to God then, and still is now. Grace does not, and cannot cover sin that is not put away (Jude 1:7).
Do not be deceived by false teaching (Ephesians 5:5-6). God's wrath will come upon those who disobey Him. Whether you believe in eternal security or not, the fact remains that if one is living a life of sin, that individuals shows that he or she has no eternal life in them. Once again, the one who is born of God does not sin. The child of God lives righteously because they have been born again. Their lives have been transformed by the grace and power of God.
This is not to say that a Christian is incapable of sin. It is indeed possible for a Child of God to sin. This world is filled with trials and temptations, and Christians are not exempt from them. John writes so that we will not sin, but if we do we have an advocate in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1). However John does not mean that we can presume upon grace. Once again grace does not give license to sin. Sin in a believer is the exception, not the rule. The heart's intent of the Christian is to please God. The true child of God lives to honor Christ. Out of love for God, they avoid sin. Should they fall in a moment of weakness, they confess it and forsake it, and go on with God. This is different from one who desires to live in sin, but yet trusts that God will forgive them even though they have no real desire to live a life that pleases Him.
God is a gracious God, and in His great mercy He has offered us grace, in Christ, to be reconciled to Him, empowering us to live in accordance with His will. Do not trifle with God's grace. If it has not changed your life, it is not grace.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Broken Cistern Christianity.
"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water."
Jeremiah 2:13 NASB
There is nothing new under the sun, as the preacher says in Ecclesiastes 1:9. The word of the Lord to His wayward people in the days of Jeremiah, is still applicable to modern "Christianity" today.
Indeed, we have seen denominations, and churches, forsake the Lord, the fountain of living waters, in our day as well. How has this been done?
1. We have forsaken the message of repentance.
In much of our modern evangelistic efforts, we hold to an easy believism that allows "converts" to remain in their sin. The modern message leaves out the vital need for heartfelt repentance from sin. We say "come just as you are", but we do not stress the fact that we cannot remain just as we are if we have truly come to Christ for the salvation of our souls. We are leaving generations of professing Christians still dead in their sins, because the need for repentance has been cut out of much of our preaching.
Yet Jesus stressed the need for repentance (Matt 4:17; Luke 13:3), as did His forerunner, John the Baptist (Matt 3:1-2). It was the message of the Apostles and the early Church (Acts 2:38, 3:19, 17:30-31, 26:20, 2 Cor 7:9-10, James 4:6-10). The scriptures close with the letters to the seven Churches where the Lord Jesus once again stresses the need for repentance (Rev 2:5, 16, 21-22, 3:3, 19).
Repentance, the turning from our sin (giving it up), and turning to God in submission to Him, is key to our salvation. There can be no salvation without it, for if we desire to be forgiven, but still choose to remain in our sin, we are doing nothing but presuming upon the grace of God. He will not be mocked, we will reap what we sow (Gal 6:7-8).
2. We have rejected true biblical faith, for mere head knowledge.
The modern evangelical message is "Only believe." It is true that it is by faith that we enter into a saving relationship with Christ Jesus, but faith goes beyond mere assent to biblical facts about Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us that "Abraham believed God, and it was counted as righteousness (Romans 4:3)." James shows us the other side of faith however. We see that Abraham believed God with a faith that acted upon that belief. Abraham's faith was working with his works, and this was the fulfillment of the scriptures where we are told that Abraham was declared righteous on account of his faith (James 2:21-23).
James tells us that true biblical faith, that is, true saving faith, will show itself by action. Faith without works is useless (James 2:20), and it is also dead faith (James 2:26). We are told that the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). They have a lot of knowledge of Jesus stored in their minds, possibly much more knowledge than many supposed Christians claim to have, but that information is useless to them, as it is for those who do not act upon their faith in obedience to Christ. True faith, the only kind that God will honor, is an active obedient faith, expressing itself in love (Gal 5:6).
3. We have forsaken the Lordship of Christ.
Jesus asks "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say (Luke 6:46)?" Today we teach that one does not need to call Jesus Lord, or do what He says. We believe that He can be our Savior, but He does not have to be our Lord. What does Jesus say about this however? He tells us that we cannot serve two masters (Matt 6:24). Jesus calls us to lose all for His sake and the sake of the gospel (Mark 8:34-38). He calls us to give Him our complete allegiance, even renouncing all that we have (Luke 14:26-33). If we love our lives, we will lose them, but if we lose them for Him we will keep them unto life eternal (John 12:24-26). Will we follow Him all the way or not? It is a selfish gospel that offers forgiveness, but still allows one to retain full control of his or her life. To love anyone, or anything more than Jesus amounts to idolatry.
4. We are without law.
Modern day Christianity has failed to teach the importance of the moral law of God. We claim that we are now under grace, and the law is irrelevant (Romans 6:15; Eph 2:15). We do not agree with Jesus when He says He did not come to do away with the law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). We have neglected the fact that the law is established by faith (Romans 3:31), and under the new covenant, it is written upon the hearts of those who have been born again through Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 10:16-17). The law is now fulfilled in us as we live and walk in the Spirit of God (Romans 8:2-4). We obey it's precepts from an inward principle. The Holy Spirit has changed us so that the true child of God will want to obey, from the heart.
So many modern teachers claim that the law has been done away with, and it is not important whether we keep it or not. The words of John tell us differently however. He tells us that sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). Jesus condemns those who practice lawlessness (Matt 7:23), as He came to take away sin, not to promote it (1 John 3:5-8).
5. What about Holiness?
The bible tells us that without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). The Apostle Paul calls us to come out from this wicked world and be separate. We are given the promise that God will be a father to us, and we will become His children (2 Cor 6:14-18). As we see, holiness is a way of life. It is a separation that is lived out in our daily conduct (1 Peter 1:14-17). Once again, this is downplayed, as God "sees" us as holy, no matter how we live. We are taught that somehow the Father cannot see our sin and moral filth, even though we are not truly separated from this evil world. Paul tells us that to reject holiness is to reject God (1 Thess 4:8). It is interesting to note that 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 deals with sexual purity, something that has been largely rejected by the modern seeker Churches of today.
Once again, without holiness, that is, to come out of this world, and to be separated unto God, you will not see God. To refuse to be holy, is to reject God.
6. We do not love Christ.
The Apostle Paul closes his epistle to the Corinthian Church with the warning that anyone who does not love Christ is to be accursed (1 Cor 16:22). No professing believer would say that they do not love Christ. In fact, most, if not all, would claim to love Him, even with all their heart. But how does Jesus define our love for Him? What is the standard He uses? After all, if He desires, even demands our love, does He not have the right to define what that love is, and how it is shown?
Once again, our love is shown by our deeds, in the same way our faith is made evident. Jesus tells us that if we love Him, we will do what He says. To disobey Him is to not love Him (John 14:21-24). Plain and simple words from God Himself, that define for us what love is. How many of us can say that we truly love Jesus if we use this as our standard? Love is not about emotions, and feeling good during worship. Lip service means nothing if the heart is far from God (Mark 7:6-8). Once again, where we have put away God's commands, and chosen to live in lawlessness, we have no love (Matt 24:12).
The modern Church has rejected God in many ways, and chosen to serve a different Jesus than the one revealed to us in the word of God. Instead of coming to the fountain of living waters, we have become content to hew out for ourselves cisterns that cannot hold water.
Imagine the inhabitants of a great city which lay under siege. As their water supply began to run out, they rush to open their cisterns, that should contain an ample supply of water. Imagine their shock and horror as they remove the coverings only to discover that all of their water leaked out over time! Now imagine you are standing before Jesus Christ on the day of judgment. Will your religion save you on that day?
1. We have dug out a cistern of selfishness.
The modern gospel has become a gospel of selfishness that appeals to our fleshly natures. It is not a matter of dying to ourselves, so that we may live for God. Instead, we hold to a gospel that makes God our servant. He lives to please us, and make us happy. This however is not the gospel presented to us in the word of God. Once again, Jesus tells us to renounce all that we have, if we will be His disciples (Luke 14:33). It is the crucified life that Jesus desires for us (Gal 6:14), a life that is not about us, but Him.
2. We worship at the cistern of modern culture.
The modern Church has to a great degree allowed the culture of the day to define Christian faith and practice. Never mind that the scriptures define for us the standards that God has for His Church. We have determined that God's word is old, antiquated, no longer relevant for today's society.
We can see this in the "sexual revolution" that has permeated the Church. Things that have been prohibited by the word of God for thousands of years, are now deemed acceptable. We tolerate all kinds of sin in so called believers. We affirm people in their sin, and do all we can to promote their sinful lifestyles.
The Apostle Paul confronted this same thing in Corinth. He rebuked the church for their tolerance of gross sexual immorality within their midst, even calling them arrogant (1 Cor 5:1-2). God's word warns us that immoral individuals will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived by this empty cistern. (Ephesians 5:5-6).
The gospel of the kingdom should be transforming the culture, instead of adapting to it. Our modern seeker sensitive mentality makes people feel good, and promotes Christianity as this non judgmental, tolerant fellowship, but in our efforts to cater to everyone, we have lost the power that only the true gospel contains.
3. Programs with no power.
In the beginnings of Christianity, a few uneducated disciples turned the world upside down for Christ. With no money, and no eloquence, these individuals went out filled with the Holy Ghost, and spread the gospel throughout the world.
Now we rely on expensive programs to entertain people into the kingdom. These programs require manpower to carry out, and leave a wake of burned out volunteers disillusioned, when they fail to produce lasting converts. We seem to be more interested in Church growth numerically, rather than seeing the Church grow spiritually.
Throughout the book of Acts, and the Epistles, we read how the early Christians went in the power of the Holy Spirit, and accomplished great things. Miracles, healings, devils cast out, and thousands of souls saved, are what they saw as a normal part of their Christian lives. The Bible tells us that it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God (Zech 4:6). Why do we insist upon exchanging the Holy Spirit for a program?
4. Grace has become a license to sin.
For many, the modern view of grace means that we can live as we please, as God has covered our sin, by His grace. It is true that the forgiveness of our sin is due to God's grace. We, as rebels against God, deserve nothing but death. God's grace goes beyond our comprehension. Why would God forgive us? Why would He send Jesus to die in our place?
However, many individuals believe that they can go on in sin because they are not under law, but grace. This is the exact opposite of what Paul states in Romans 6:14-15. Most Bible teachers would not come out and tell people to go ahead and sin because grace will cover it, but the way that grace is presented by many pastors and teachers today, leaves one with a false sense of security. They say that nothing we do can affect our salvation. No degree of sin can separate a believer from God. This teaching ignores many passages of scripture that warn us of sin, and its deadly consequences. Many "sinning saints" have little or no conviction of the sin in their lives, because they have ignored the voice of the Spirit of God, speaking to them through their consciences. They instead have been affirmed in their sin by this dangerous stretching of the truth of grace.
God's grace actually teaches us to turn from sin, and to live godly lives (Titus 2:11-14). God, in His grace, has given us everything needful for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:2-4). This aspect of grace is seldom taught anymore, but it is grace nonetheless.
5. A form of godliness, but without power.
Many modern evangelicals today fit this category. They hold to a form of godliness, but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5). Paul warns of the day when the Church will be filled with selfish individuals.
For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money. boastful. arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NASB).
This is what we see filling so many so called Churches today. The sanctuaries are filled, the worship is thrilling, the message makes everyone feel good. It looks like a pretty good Church. Everyone is coming and raving about all of the cool things going on. The self help groups, the Christian counselors with all of their "Christian psychology", the life coaches, and so on, all seem to make modern Church so attractive and so godly. Where is the life giving power of God in all of this? Why do we not see sinners saved and transformed? Why do the people coming continue to live in the sins that they have always lived in? Why do people struggle and fall and struggle some more, without any change in their lives? This is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is not the gospel that set the prisoners free in the early days of Christianity. Lives were changed, sin was eradicated from lives, people were willing to follow Jesus all the way to the death if necessary, but not today in our soft modern Churches.
Too many have believed in a form of godliness that lacks the power to change lives. This is not the Christianity of the Bible. It is an empty cistern that will be sure to disappoint many on the final day when we all stand before the one who sits upon the throne.
I do not write this in a spirit of fault finding. It is not my desire to hunt out all of the problems found in the Church, and then write about them. I desire to see change. I long for revival. I long for God to come down in His glory, and flood a dry and weary land with His presence. I long to see souls saved, delivered from sin, and serving Christ. I desire to see the miracles that we read about in the Bible. I desire to see God manifest Himself in power and glory once again in our land.
There are many who like myself, grieve over the lukewarm condition that we see permeating Christianity today. Let us call a solemn assembly, proclaim a fast. Like Daniel, let us cry out to God in repentance and tears for the renewal of the Church in our day. We need revival. The lukewarm, compromising Christianity that prevails today, must be cast away in humble repentance, and we must return to the Christianity that Jesus died to give us. It is said that if you desire revival, draw a circle, get into it, and cry out to God for revival to begin with you. It is time to seek the Lord, on behalf of the Church, that she might once again rise up in the power of the Holy Ghost, and glorify the name of Jesus, as in former times.
Jeremiah 2:13 NASB
There is nothing new under the sun, as the preacher says in Ecclesiastes 1:9. The word of the Lord to His wayward people in the days of Jeremiah, is still applicable to modern "Christianity" today.
Indeed, we have seen denominations, and churches, forsake the Lord, the fountain of living waters, in our day as well. How has this been done?
1. We have forsaken the message of repentance.
In much of our modern evangelistic efforts, we hold to an easy believism that allows "converts" to remain in their sin. The modern message leaves out the vital need for heartfelt repentance from sin. We say "come just as you are", but we do not stress the fact that we cannot remain just as we are if we have truly come to Christ for the salvation of our souls. We are leaving generations of professing Christians still dead in their sins, because the need for repentance has been cut out of much of our preaching.
Yet Jesus stressed the need for repentance (Matt 4:17; Luke 13:3), as did His forerunner, John the Baptist (Matt 3:1-2). It was the message of the Apostles and the early Church (Acts 2:38, 3:19, 17:30-31, 26:20, 2 Cor 7:9-10, James 4:6-10). The scriptures close with the letters to the seven Churches where the Lord Jesus once again stresses the need for repentance (Rev 2:5, 16, 21-22, 3:3, 19).
Repentance, the turning from our sin (giving it up), and turning to God in submission to Him, is key to our salvation. There can be no salvation without it, for if we desire to be forgiven, but still choose to remain in our sin, we are doing nothing but presuming upon the grace of God. He will not be mocked, we will reap what we sow (Gal 6:7-8).
2. We have rejected true biblical faith, for mere head knowledge.
The modern evangelical message is "Only believe." It is true that it is by faith that we enter into a saving relationship with Christ Jesus, but faith goes beyond mere assent to biblical facts about Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us that "Abraham believed God, and it was counted as righteousness (Romans 4:3)." James shows us the other side of faith however. We see that Abraham believed God with a faith that acted upon that belief. Abraham's faith was working with his works, and this was the fulfillment of the scriptures where we are told that Abraham was declared righteous on account of his faith (James 2:21-23).
James tells us that true biblical faith, that is, true saving faith, will show itself by action. Faith without works is useless (James 2:20), and it is also dead faith (James 2:26). We are told that the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). They have a lot of knowledge of Jesus stored in their minds, possibly much more knowledge than many supposed Christians claim to have, but that information is useless to them, as it is for those who do not act upon their faith in obedience to Christ. True faith, the only kind that God will honor, is an active obedient faith, expressing itself in love (Gal 5:6).
3. We have forsaken the Lordship of Christ.
Jesus asks "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say (Luke 6:46)?" Today we teach that one does not need to call Jesus Lord, or do what He says. We believe that He can be our Savior, but He does not have to be our Lord. What does Jesus say about this however? He tells us that we cannot serve two masters (Matt 6:24). Jesus calls us to lose all for His sake and the sake of the gospel (Mark 8:34-38). He calls us to give Him our complete allegiance, even renouncing all that we have (Luke 14:26-33). If we love our lives, we will lose them, but if we lose them for Him we will keep them unto life eternal (John 12:24-26). Will we follow Him all the way or not? It is a selfish gospel that offers forgiveness, but still allows one to retain full control of his or her life. To love anyone, or anything more than Jesus amounts to idolatry.
4. We are without law.
Modern day Christianity has failed to teach the importance of the moral law of God. We claim that we are now under grace, and the law is irrelevant (Romans 6:15; Eph 2:15). We do not agree with Jesus when He says He did not come to do away with the law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). We have neglected the fact that the law is established by faith (Romans 3:31), and under the new covenant, it is written upon the hearts of those who have been born again through Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 10:16-17). The law is now fulfilled in us as we live and walk in the Spirit of God (Romans 8:2-4). We obey it's precepts from an inward principle. The Holy Spirit has changed us so that the true child of God will want to obey, from the heart.
So many modern teachers claim that the law has been done away with, and it is not important whether we keep it or not. The words of John tell us differently however. He tells us that sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). Jesus condemns those who practice lawlessness (Matt 7:23), as He came to take away sin, not to promote it (1 John 3:5-8).
5. What about Holiness?
The bible tells us that without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). The Apostle Paul calls us to come out from this wicked world and be separate. We are given the promise that God will be a father to us, and we will become His children (2 Cor 6:14-18). As we see, holiness is a way of life. It is a separation that is lived out in our daily conduct (1 Peter 1:14-17). Once again, this is downplayed, as God "sees" us as holy, no matter how we live. We are taught that somehow the Father cannot see our sin and moral filth, even though we are not truly separated from this evil world. Paul tells us that to reject holiness is to reject God (1 Thess 4:8). It is interesting to note that 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 deals with sexual purity, something that has been largely rejected by the modern seeker Churches of today.
Once again, without holiness, that is, to come out of this world, and to be separated unto God, you will not see God. To refuse to be holy, is to reject God.
6. We do not love Christ.
The Apostle Paul closes his epistle to the Corinthian Church with the warning that anyone who does not love Christ is to be accursed (1 Cor 16:22). No professing believer would say that they do not love Christ. In fact, most, if not all, would claim to love Him, even with all their heart. But how does Jesus define our love for Him? What is the standard He uses? After all, if He desires, even demands our love, does He not have the right to define what that love is, and how it is shown?
Once again, our love is shown by our deeds, in the same way our faith is made evident. Jesus tells us that if we love Him, we will do what He says. To disobey Him is to not love Him (John 14:21-24). Plain and simple words from God Himself, that define for us what love is. How many of us can say that we truly love Jesus if we use this as our standard? Love is not about emotions, and feeling good during worship. Lip service means nothing if the heart is far from God (Mark 7:6-8). Once again, where we have put away God's commands, and chosen to live in lawlessness, we have no love (Matt 24:12).
The modern Church has rejected God in many ways, and chosen to serve a different Jesus than the one revealed to us in the word of God. Instead of coming to the fountain of living waters, we have become content to hew out for ourselves cisterns that cannot hold water.
Imagine the inhabitants of a great city which lay under siege. As their water supply began to run out, they rush to open their cisterns, that should contain an ample supply of water. Imagine their shock and horror as they remove the coverings only to discover that all of their water leaked out over time! Now imagine you are standing before Jesus Christ on the day of judgment. Will your religion save you on that day?
1. We have dug out a cistern of selfishness.
The modern gospel has become a gospel of selfishness that appeals to our fleshly natures. It is not a matter of dying to ourselves, so that we may live for God. Instead, we hold to a gospel that makes God our servant. He lives to please us, and make us happy. This however is not the gospel presented to us in the word of God. Once again, Jesus tells us to renounce all that we have, if we will be His disciples (Luke 14:33). It is the crucified life that Jesus desires for us (Gal 6:14), a life that is not about us, but Him.
2. We worship at the cistern of modern culture.
The modern Church has to a great degree allowed the culture of the day to define Christian faith and practice. Never mind that the scriptures define for us the standards that God has for His Church. We have determined that God's word is old, antiquated, no longer relevant for today's society.
We can see this in the "sexual revolution" that has permeated the Church. Things that have been prohibited by the word of God for thousands of years, are now deemed acceptable. We tolerate all kinds of sin in so called believers. We affirm people in their sin, and do all we can to promote their sinful lifestyles.
The Apostle Paul confronted this same thing in Corinth. He rebuked the church for their tolerance of gross sexual immorality within their midst, even calling them arrogant (1 Cor 5:1-2). God's word warns us that immoral individuals will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived by this empty cistern. (Ephesians 5:5-6).
The gospel of the kingdom should be transforming the culture, instead of adapting to it. Our modern seeker sensitive mentality makes people feel good, and promotes Christianity as this non judgmental, tolerant fellowship, but in our efforts to cater to everyone, we have lost the power that only the true gospel contains.
3. Programs with no power.
In the beginnings of Christianity, a few uneducated disciples turned the world upside down for Christ. With no money, and no eloquence, these individuals went out filled with the Holy Ghost, and spread the gospel throughout the world.
Now we rely on expensive programs to entertain people into the kingdom. These programs require manpower to carry out, and leave a wake of burned out volunteers disillusioned, when they fail to produce lasting converts. We seem to be more interested in Church growth numerically, rather than seeing the Church grow spiritually.
Throughout the book of Acts, and the Epistles, we read how the early Christians went in the power of the Holy Spirit, and accomplished great things. Miracles, healings, devils cast out, and thousands of souls saved, are what they saw as a normal part of their Christian lives. The Bible tells us that it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God (Zech 4:6). Why do we insist upon exchanging the Holy Spirit for a program?
4. Grace has become a license to sin.
For many, the modern view of grace means that we can live as we please, as God has covered our sin, by His grace. It is true that the forgiveness of our sin is due to God's grace. We, as rebels against God, deserve nothing but death. God's grace goes beyond our comprehension. Why would God forgive us? Why would He send Jesus to die in our place?
However, many individuals believe that they can go on in sin because they are not under law, but grace. This is the exact opposite of what Paul states in Romans 6:14-15. Most Bible teachers would not come out and tell people to go ahead and sin because grace will cover it, but the way that grace is presented by many pastors and teachers today, leaves one with a false sense of security. They say that nothing we do can affect our salvation. No degree of sin can separate a believer from God. This teaching ignores many passages of scripture that warn us of sin, and its deadly consequences. Many "sinning saints" have little or no conviction of the sin in their lives, because they have ignored the voice of the Spirit of God, speaking to them through their consciences. They instead have been affirmed in their sin by this dangerous stretching of the truth of grace.
God's grace actually teaches us to turn from sin, and to live godly lives (Titus 2:11-14). God, in His grace, has given us everything needful for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:2-4). This aspect of grace is seldom taught anymore, but it is grace nonetheless.
5. A form of godliness, but without power.
Many modern evangelicals today fit this category. They hold to a form of godliness, but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5). Paul warns of the day when the Church will be filled with selfish individuals.
For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money. boastful. arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NASB).
This is what we see filling so many so called Churches today. The sanctuaries are filled, the worship is thrilling, the message makes everyone feel good. It looks like a pretty good Church. Everyone is coming and raving about all of the cool things going on. The self help groups, the Christian counselors with all of their "Christian psychology", the life coaches, and so on, all seem to make modern Church so attractive and so godly. Where is the life giving power of God in all of this? Why do we not see sinners saved and transformed? Why do the people coming continue to live in the sins that they have always lived in? Why do people struggle and fall and struggle some more, without any change in their lives? This is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is not the gospel that set the prisoners free in the early days of Christianity. Lives were changed, sin was eradicated from lives, people were willing to follow Jesus all the way to the death if necessary, but not today in our soft modern Churches.
Too many have believed in a form of godliness that lacks the power to change lives. This is not the Christianity of the Bible. It is an empty cistern that will be sure to disappoint many on the final day when we all stand before the one who sits upon the throne.
I do not write this in a spirit of fault finding. It is not my desire to hunt out all of the problems found in the Church, and then write about them. I desire to see change. I long for revival. I long for God to come down in His glory, and flood a dry and weary land with His presence. I long to see souls saved, delivered from sin, and serving Christ. I desire to see the miracles that we read about in the Bible. I desire to see God manifest Himself in power and glory once again in our land.
There are many who like myself, grieve over the lukewarm condition that we see permeating Christianity today. Let us call a solemn assembly, proclaim a fast. Like Daniel, let us cry out to God in repentance and tears for the renewal of the Church in our day. We need revival. The lukewarm, compromising Christianity that prevails today, must be cast away in humble repentance, and we must return to the Christianity that Jesus died to give us. It is said that if you desire revival, draw a circle, get into it, and cry out to God for revival to begin with you. It is time to seek the Lord, on behalf of the Church, that she might once again rise up in the power of the Holy Ghost, and glorify the name of Jesus, as in former times.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Use Discernment.
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned;
and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2 Peter 2:1-3 NASB
This is a call for the body of Christ to exercise our God given discernment (1 Cor 12:10). Understand that false teachers are everywhere. The bible warns us that they will come from within (Acts 20:29-30). This is what makes it hard. Many people are easily carried into error, because they assumed that they could trust someone that they thought they knew.
False teachers can quote scripture and teach solid truths, giving people a false sense that they can be trusted, Then they slip in a half truth, or a stretched truth, or even an outright falsehood, but unsuspecting individuals swallow it down.
Look at what Peter tells us about them. They will exploit you with false words, because they are greedy (2 Peter 2:3). They will tell you what you want to hear, they will appeal to your flesh, they will take advantage of you, for their own selfish desires.
John tells us that the spirit of anti-Christ is coming, and is even now in the world. In other words, false teachers are here, with all of their false teachings designed to benefit them, and lead you away from Christ. He also encourages us with the truth that we can overcome them because "Greater is He who is in you, then he who is in the world" (1 John 4:3-4).
We do not have to be blind to heresy. We do not have to be led astray by a false teacher. We do not have to be taken advantage of. Use the God given discernment that is available to the body of Christ. Test all things by the standard of God's revealed word, and reject all that is false (Acts 17:11; 1 Thess 5:21-22).
Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned;
and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2 Peter 2:1-3 NASB
This is a call for the body of Christ to exercise our God given discernment (1 Cor 12:10). Understand that false teachers are everywhere. The bible warns us that they will come from within (Acts 20:29-30). This is what makes it hard. Many people are easily carried into error, because they assumed that they could trust someone that they thought they knew.
False teachers can quote scripture and teach solid truths, giving people a false sense that they can be trusted, Then they slip in a half truth, or a stretched truth, or even an outright falsehood, but unsuspecting individuals swallow it down.
Look at what Peter tells us about them. They will exploit you with false words, because they are greedy (2 Peter 2:3). They will tell you what you want to hear, they will appeal to your flesh, they will take advantage of you, for their own selfish desires.
John tells us that the spirit of anti-Christ is coming, and is even now in the world. In other words, false teachers are here, with all of their false teachings designed to benefit them, and lead you away from Christ. He also encourages us with the truth that we can overcome them because "Greater is He who is in you, then he who is in the world" (1 John 4:3-4).
We do not have to be blind to heresy. We do not have to be led astray by a false teacher. We do not have to be taken advantage of. Use the God given discernment that is available to the body of Christ. Test all things by the standard of God's revealed word, and reject all that is false (Acts 17:11; 1 Thess 5:21-22).
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Is God Unjust?
There seems to be this idea that a God who would punish evil doers is somehow unjust. This idea has even been accepted by many who profess to be Christians. They believe that somehow God is too kind to send someone to hell, that in fact it would be unjust.
Now tell me, would it be unjust if a convicted mass murderer stood before a courtroom filled with the friends and relatives of his victims, and was released with no sentence whatsoever, because the judge was kind, and thought it would be unfair to lock this man up?
We would consider that a gross travesty of justice, yet so many today think that God is like that. They would consider it a gross travesty if He punished someone for their sin.
Paul writes about God's wrath, patience, and justice.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
Romans 1:18 NASB
And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
Romans 2:2 NASB
This verse refers back to the sins listed in Romans 1:18-32.
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubborn and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Who will render to each person according to his deeds.
Romans 2:4-6 NASB
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous is He? (I am speaking in human terms). May it never be! For otherwise how will God judge the world?
Romans 3:5-6 NASB
Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God.
Romans 3:19 NASB
Friend, there is coming a day when God will judge this world by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31). God will be perfectly fair, He will be completely just. He will make no mistake. He will not meet out any undeserved punishment, and He will also not leave any deserved punishment unfulfilled.
As we read in the above verses, all mouths will be shut before Him. We will stand before Him with all secrets exposed. We will be confronted with all the evidence of all our wicked deeds. All will be laid bare for all to see. We will be without excuse. We will have nothing to say in our defense. We will know then without any doubt that God is indeed just and fair in all His dealings with mankind.
We also read that God is patiently waiting for our repentance. He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). While He is just, He is also merciful, and has made a way for us to receive His grace through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to redeem us from this wicked age (Gal 1:4).
You see God loves us enough to provide an atonement for our sins. We can stand before His judgment seat with a clean record, totally forgiven. He has upheld the righteousness of the law by the death of Christ on the cross. He can now be just, and the justifier of all who come to Him by faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21-26; 1 John 1:9).
Don't fall for the lie that God has to forgive you because He is too kind to punish you for your sin. Don't believe the heresy that a loving God will not send someone to an eternal hell. This was the same basic lie that the serpent used on Eve (Genesis 3:4). He has used it in various forms through the ages to lead souls to hell.
What good will it be to have believed a lie on the day we stand before God? Then it will be too late. Run to Christ in repentance and faith, and follow Him in submission to His word.
Now tell me, would it be unjust if a convicted mass murderer stood before a courtroom filled with the friends and relatives of his victims, and was released with no sentence whatsoever, because the judge was kind, and thought it would be unfair to lock this man up?
We would consider that a gross travesty of justice, yet so many today think that God is like that. They would consider it a gross travesty if He punished someone for their sin.
Paul writes about God's wrath, patience, and justice.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
Romans 1:18 NASB
And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
Romans 2:2 NASB
This verse refers back to the sins listed in Romans 1:18-32.
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubborn and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Who will render to each person according to his deeds.
Romans 2:4-6 NASB
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous is He? (I am speaking in human terms). May it never be! For otherwise how will God judge the world?
Romans 3:5-6 NASB
Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God.
Romans 3:19 NASB
Friend, there is coming a day when God will judge this world by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31). God will be perfectly fair, He will be completely just. He will make no mistake. He will not meet out any undeserved punishment, and He will also not leave any deserved punishment unfulfilled.
As we read in the above verses, all mouths will be shut before Him. We will stand before Him with all secrets exposed. We will be confronted with all the evidence of all our wicked deeds. All will be laid bare for all to see. We will be without excuse. We will have nothing to say in our defense. We will know then without any doubt that God is indeed just and fair in all His dealings with mankind.
We also read that God is patiently waiting for our repentance. He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). While He is just, He is also merciful, and has made a way for us to receive His grace through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to redeem us from this wicked age (Gal 1:4).
You see God loves us enough to provide an atonement for our sins. We can stand before His judgment seat with a clean record, totally forgiven. He has upheld the righteousness of the law by the death of Christ on the cross. He can now be just, and the justifier of all who come to Him by faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21-26; 1 John 1:9).
Don't fall for the lie that God has to forgive you because He is too kind to punish you for your sin. Don't believe the heresy that a loving God will not send someone to an eternal hell. This was the same basic lie that the serpent used on Eve (Genesis 3:4). He has used it in various forms through the ages to lead souls to hell.
What good will it be to have believed a lie on the day we stand before God? Then it will be too late. Run to Christ in repentance and faith, and follow Him in submission to His word.
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