There are some who will say that it does not matter what we believe in the various teachings/doctrines as long as we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. While this may seem true and certainly of most importance, there is a real danger in not realizing that a False Teaching can lead you down a path that can eventually cause you to forsake Jesus Christ and His teachings.
1Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some WILL DEPART FROM THE FAITH, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
Paul now lists a couple of examples. These are only examples and not an inclusive list.
3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
The point is that in the last days people are going to "Depart from THE Faith." This is serious business! Now let's examine how or why this can occur besides what Paul listed above and what Paul said in Hebrews about a sinful life leading to Apostasy.
2Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.
17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort,
18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they OVERTHROW the faith of some. NKJV
It is interesting to note that these two people were teaching that "The Resurrection" had already occurred. This is just a small part of Eschatology and yet....it was dangerous enough to cause the faith of some to be "overthrown". What does overthrow mean.
From G303 and the base of G5157; to overturn (figuratively): - overthrow, subvert.
To overthrow or subvert is liken to destroying. So think about this. A little piece of doctrine dealing with End Time stuff was sufficient enough of a False Teaching that it could and did overthrow/destroy the Faith of some. Consider this below.
1Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. NKJV
Satan and his Demons are going about trying to destroy CHRISTIANS. Notice that this warning is given to Christians. Why? Because Satan does not need to waste his time going after the unsaved as he already has them. He knows that Christians can forfeit their Salvation otherwise he would not waste his time.
Jesus said in the last days that
Mat 24:12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
Mat 24:13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
The LOVE of many in the Greek is actually "the love of THE many. The word "love " here is "AGAPE" this is the love for God/Christ. Jesus said that the majority of Christians love for God will wax cold. This is not something hypothetical but a certainty. The majority of Christians are going to "fall Away" from the faith and commit Apostasy. This is a forfeiture of their Salvation...permanently.
Paul said the same thing in 2 Thess. 2Thess 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless THE FALLING AWAY comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
The phrase Falling Away" here means APOSTASY. A divorce of one's faith in God. Divorcing from God. An utter rejection of Christ.
The point here hopefully will be seen by all. Challenge what you believe and don't get all upset and bothered when someone challenges your beliefs. It could save your life one day!
Look at what Jesus said about those who challenged some who claimed to be Apostles.
Rev 2:2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those WHO ARE EVIL. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and HAVE FOUND THEM LIARS. NKJV
Strong words here from our Lord but true words. You see, Jesus knows that He only picked 12 Apostles and yet there are those even today who claim to be Apostles of Jesus Christ. Jesus said that they are liars. Let no one deceive you my Brothers and Sisters.
So I hope that you can see why I am so passionate about getting Doctrines correct! If something we believe is not correct, it may be serious enough to lead us down the wrong path and the end of the path....well...if we get to that point...it's too late. For those of you who think that you are just too strong and so convinced that you are right....well...meditate upon these scriptures.
1Cor 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
2Peter 3:17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
2Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears AWAY FROM THE TRUTH, and be turned aside to fables. NKJV
Statistically speaking, Jesus and Paul both said that the majority of Christians are going to fall away from the Faith and perish. This means that the majority of those Christians sitting in the Churches will fall away. This means also that the majority of Christians who are on Christian web sites will be among that majority. So let us pray that none of us will be among them but let us not be so sure that we become so haughty that we think it is impossible for any one of us to be in that statistic.
Do you see why I am so passionate about seeking God's truth and try to get others to do so even if it means ruffling a few feathers? If I didn't love you all I wouldn't be tough on you sometimes. This is the end game. No time to waste.
Hey! I feel the same way! Lets talk about the state of the dead some more! :rocknroll: Everybody was pretty silent the last time I did it....only one person posted....poor me... Anyway, it is definitely amazing how much twisted truth there is out there. There's enough that I'm constantly worried I might be in some of it without realizing it...but we have to remember that that is the state of mind we should be in. To be so hungry for truth that we're always searching even after we think we've found it....just to make sure. It is possible to be saved and still believe falsely...or not believe the whole truth in ignorance...so don't be too tough on people. It's our faith and attitude that lets Gods grace save us, not our knowledge...but we should always be searching for the truth if we're claiming to be saved.
dear walter,, you made a nice post there.. it was well written..
your words here
For those of you who think that you are just too strong and so convinced that you are right....well...meditate upon these scriptures.
mine here
i totally agree with you there.. we all should , you and i and everyone else should .. thats for sure.. cause we all believe we are right and have it correct , our beliefs that is..
and we all have scriptures to back us up, scriptures that prove our points to us same as yours does to you...scriptures that back up our beliefs and why we believe the way we do..and we all have a line of reasoning that brought us to this conclusion the same as you do about things of the bible..
now more often than not i find that you and i agree alot more than we disagree on bible beliefs..
your words here
So I hope that you can see why I am so passionate about getting Doctrines correct!
mine here
i can certainly understand why you are so passionate about getting doctrines correct.. as i believe most every christian out there feels the exact same way..
but my question is who gets to decide what is correct..beyond any and all showdows of doubt , pure gospel..
who decided that you and only you got all of your conclusions and intrepretations on doctrines and beliefs totally 100% absolutely correct and everyone else just has it all completely 100% wrong....and is teaching falsehoods..
was it you? was it your pastor ? was it your teacher? your mentor?
ill tell you who does get to decide that .. its JESUS CHRIST.. one day we all will stand before the throne and give account of ourselves and our words too.. not only our words we were speaking for the LORD, but our words we chose to speak to others as well..
now you just may be totally and 100% right on everything.
if thats the case then some of us will of been wrong on some things ,. myself included..
first off im here to tell everyone i dont have all the answers.. i surely dont.. now if you ask if i believe i have an answer for you i will give you my answer the best i can as to why i believe the way i do or dont..
ill just leave you with your own words
For those of you who think that you are just too strong and so convinced that you are right....well...meditate upon these scriptures.
My end time view, seen as a false teaching by some, is not where I put my hope. My hope is in the promised redemption of this body, regardless of when that takes place, and to stand before God.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. -Jude 1:24-25
I trust Christ alone to keep me from falling; not the belief of a certain view or teaching of anyone who might think they are correct.
Ok Walter, this is good. Paul warned Christians too in the book of Romans about being aware. There is much warning for us all over scripture giving us instruction to take heed, what�s coming, and what it�ll look like�.
Romans 16: 17. Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. (NASB)
We have to continuously keep this precious Word of God that we have, close to our hearts and in our heads to help us with all that we hear.
2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17.so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (NASB)
Then there is:
1 Tim 6: If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4. he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5. and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. (NASB)
Then I�d like to include parts of the book of Jude. Jude warned also about false teaching. It�s a short book, and so very beneficial for us all I believe:
While the whole book is key, one that I reflected on for this post includes:
Jude 1:4. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (NASB)
1:16. These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage. 17. But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18. that they were saying to you �In the last days there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.� 19. These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. 20. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21. keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. (NASB)
I just think it�s a good thing for us to keep our spiritual eyes open, and being discerning at all times, for what we see and hear can always be proven or disproved by the Word of God. So we should never be surprised, but be ready to stand on the truth. Thanks for the posts, and the insight by all. ~ GraceMae
dear folks and walter,,, i just wanted to say that i think walter is a good man.. he is an old friend of mine.. i love him dearly as a brother .. and that i agree with alot of the same beliefs as him.. we disagree on a few things now and again.. and on delivery sometimes .... its ok to disagree..not always on delivery though ..
does that mean i think we are right ALL the time, nope thats not what im sayin.. hehe
two people can take the exact same thing and come to a different conclusion.. both bein believers and both believing they are as right as rain.. and its a good chance neither one will know for certainty other than what you believe in your hearts whether they answered correctly till we get to heaven and can ask JESUS just what HE meant ourselves.. .. and thats usually on the subjects that have been debated for a long long long time.. all sides claiming to be right..
and walter i am very sorry if i upset you in any way.. i just needed some cooperation is all.. as things were really spiraling out of hand the past few days and needed to be stopped instead of fueling more on the flames.. .. i do understand your passion and i do understand your love for others..
dear folks ,now with all that said when i hear the words heretics and heirisies and false gospels are being preached and taught... specially when both parties or multiple parties are giving good layouts of what they believe and why ,and are all using scripture to back up what theyre sayin.. and all parties believing in JESUS CHRIST..
i kinda cringe in my spirit then..
i am so reminded of a time when some religious folks said the same exact things about JESUS.. and then proceded to crucify HIM.
and they were the same ones who knew they had it all right too.. ya know.. just like us..
