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HERESY IS SIN - VISION

A
angela_888 Nov 11, 2010

Heresy is sin

Vision: I was preaching from the pulpit, when all these swords proceeded from the pulpit to the people, cutting to the people’s hearts and motives. (Heb. 4:12)

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

These swords seemed to represent many powerful teachings for the church, as I watched these swords, I heard the words "Heresy is sin". One of the core teachings the church needs is to understand that heresy is sin.

In this vision the Lord was showing me that His people don’t truly fear walking in Heresy ! They do not have the understanding that they need to walk in unconditional obedience to the commands of Christ !

Proverb: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death" (Pr.16:25)

1. Teaching:

"If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (Matt.15:14)

What is heresy?
Heresy is any belief that isn’t truth. What is truth? Truth is the Words of Jesus Christ interpreted and applied correctly in the right context. Heresy opposes or contradicts all the good and truth that Jesus suffered so much to give us.
What is the greatest heresy?
The greatest heresy is persisting to believe that you are right, when there is the possibility that you may be wrong and not making the effort to seek truth when you have the reasoning ability to know the possibility of error.
What causes heresy?
Heresy is caused when a person hasn’t truly died to self. When a person hasn’t truly died to self, elements in their personality seeking to exalt ‘the self’ will release a "justified understanding" in order to keep ‘the self’ alive.

The danger of heresy:
Heresy is sin because it is the wrong understanding and application of the commands and teachings of Jesus Christ. This wrong understanding is then taught to others, and like yeast, permeates through the dough, jeopardizing the eternal destiny and eternal rewards of anyone subject to the heresy. It is also cowardly to be subject to heresy because truth demands change subject to selflessness in order to bring a person in alignment with truth as taught by Jesus Christ.
Depriving someone of truth means you are depriving them of what is rightfully theirs which also effects their eternal destiny and rewards. On an eternal scale, this is murder (see James 4:17, Jn 3:15) and cowardice, and the Word of God says that the place of cowards and murderers will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)

For this reason Jesus was so stern in rebuking the Pharisees, because they walked in heresy.

"But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that He was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matt. 16:11-12)

Yeast is a symbol of both evil / corruption and of growth. Here the metaphor teaches that small amount of yeast (heresy) is able to ferment (spread through) a large amount of dough (many people).

GOD THINKS, UNDERSTANDS AND SPEAKS ON AN ETERNAL SCALE. Ultimately on an eternal scale, that pit is the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Therefore any person in error is in danger of losing their salvation. If believers have the reasoning ability to warn unbelievers about the consequence of hell in refusing to be saved, should they then not also be able to apply this same reasoning ability to ensure that they themselves are not walking in error so that they are not gambling their own salvation? Eternity is a long time to find out and to be eternally reminded that you were wrong about something!

"Seek the Lord now while He may be found." (Isaiah 5:6)

Believers still have time now before it is too late to inquire of the Lord if there is any heresy in their understanding. Gods people need to understand that they shall be held accountable for ensuring that their beliefs are in line with truth as taught by Jesus Christ and for what they teach others.

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:36)

In writing this teaching, I sensed the Lord leading me to the following verse in Jeremiah 50:6-7
My people have been lost sheep;
Their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains.
They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.
Whoever found them deceived them;
Their enemies said, “we are not guilty,
For they sinned against the Lord, their true pasture, the Lord, the hope of their fathers.’
Flee out of Babylon;
Leave the land of the Babylonians, and be like the goats that lead the flock.

Core heresies of today’s church include:

* Once saved always saved
* There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
* God is too good to send people to the lake of fire
* Unconditional ‘submission’ to leadership
* Everything is different now under the New Covenant, therefore this would mean that God is different and works differently.

But God says "I am the Lord your God and I change not!"

2. How to know if you are in Heresy

“We do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. One the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Cor 4:2)

After writing the teaching "Heresy is sin", I then understood that a teaching on "How does one know they are in heresy" was absolutely vital because no person in heresy can see their error and therefore will not admit error. If people knew they were in heresy, they wouldn't be in it in the first place, because the problem is that people in heresy are deluded by their own justified understanding, and this blocks out truth. The Lord immediately gave me understanding by showing me three jigsaw puzzle pieces.

a) /
b) \\
c) |

Pieces a and b lock together V
Pieces a and c have gaps|/

Piece a) is our starting piece, b) and c) both look very similar, and seem as though they could both lock into piece a). But both cant lock. Only one can. In this case, piece b) locks, even though piece c), looks like it could lock, cannot lock.

We take a piece that appears to fit into another piece already in the puzzle, because it is made from the same material, has the right color and shape, but only on application are we able to see if it will lock perfectly into the other piece. Likewise it is the same with heresy. Heresy is made from the same material as truth because it uses the Word of God as its final source, and therefore seems to be truth, but it is shaped in such a way through fine sounding arguments (Col 2:4-8) that distorts truth, and thus only through its application can one see that it simply doesn’t lock into the right puzzle piece.

Heresy is piece c) that tries to lock itself into piece a), through its fine sounding arguments (Col 2:4-8), but all it is accomplishing is standing in the way of Truth, thus hindering the advancement of the Kingdom on earth and ultimately the Lords return !

Truth receives its power in its everlasting ability to circumvent error and thus expose it. Heresy or error receives its defeat from its open gaps that don’t lock into truth. It is these open gaps that permit truth to enter in order to circumvent and thus expose the error. As in a jigsaw puzzle, application must first be applied if one is to see the result, and the result is the ultimate test if someone is walking in heresy. This is why Jesus said "You shall know them by their fruit"

It should be understood that Truth always requires something of the person in order to order to challenge them and thus bring them into the likeness of Jesus Christ and the execution of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Heresy doesn’t seem to require anything of the person, resulting in the believer usually being in a state of stupor. It is this state of stupor that prevents the kingdom of heaven from reaching the world in all its fullness, truth, power and glory.

So if you are in a position where you are finding that not much or nothing is being asked or required of you, according to the Lords commands, not church protocol or fear of missing out on a church service or coffee meeting, then you can be sure that you are walking in heresy and are without the fear of God or the love of God. Therefore one can see that the scriptures used in heresy are usually those that do not require much of you.

Here I shall share about the teaching (heresy), "Once saved, always saved."

3. Once Saved Always Saved ?

As Christians, one must ask who is Lord of the faith. Is it Jesus? Is it Paul? Is it some other disciple? Or is it your Pastor?
If we say Jesus who is absolute Truth, then we must also reason that what Jesus taught takes priority over everyone else. If we as believers call ourselves citizens of His Kingdom, then we must take heed and walk in the requirements of the Kingdom, which are the commandments, teachings and warnings of Jesus who is God Himself.

It is important to understand that when God makes promises they are unconditional for eternity; however the means to obtaining these promises are conditional. For example, when Solomon was anointed King over Israel, God told him that if he was obedient as his father had been and if he walked in the statues of the Lord, then he would establish his throne forever. (1 Ch.28:5; 2 Ch. 7:17)

This has always been the way God has worked throughout the whole Bible. His promises are unconditional but the means conditional. This is why with every commandment, teaching or promise that Jesus taught, a warning or condition would follow. If one obeys the if’s then one has the result of the then’s.

PAUL
If Paul is an apostle of Jesus Christ, then his message cannot contradict Jesus’ message. Therefore, we cannot have the on one hand Jesus giving us conditions and warnings to kingdom requirements affecting our eternal destiny and rewards, and Paul on the other hand giving us unconditional promises irregardless of our standing with God. It doesn’t make sense and would be a contradiction.

Therefore "not everyone who says to me ‘Lord Lord’ will enter the Kingdom" (Matt.7:21) and "there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus" , (Romans 8:1) cannot both be unconditional promises. For those who say that "not enter the Kingdom" means not experiencing the fullness of the Kingdom in this life, that is right, they don’t experience the fullness, neither do they experience the promise – eternal life ! What does "on that day" mean when The Lord will say to some believers "I never knew you" ? It means on the day of judgment!

What needs to be understood is that the verses about predestination and not being any condemnation for those in Christ Jesus etc… are conditional and based on our obedience. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1) and "And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." (Romans 8:30)

In these verses, the Apostle Paul is speaking about what the work of the Cross achieved for those that walk in that obedience, not what it achieved for those who despite being born-again are walking in disobedience. Heresy is caused when the church applies these verses unconditionally rather than conditionally. This would be like God telling Solomon that no matter how you choose walk before me, obedient or disobedient, I will still establish your royal throne. No. God has never worked like that and never will. It has nothing to do with Old Covenants or New Covenants but has everything to do with God’s Integrity, Holiness and Character.

For God says: "I the Lord do not change" (Malachi 3:6)

"For Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8)

Also, there is no scripture in the New Testament telling us that irregardless of how one walks before God, obedient or disobedient, that they have a secure place in Heaven in order to confirm a "Once saved always saved theological mindset".

One might argue here that this is works based. No, because when someone truly acknowledges and has the right revelation of the Love of God displayed through the Work of the Cross and is grateful, then they naturally seek to please their Lord without it being works- based. The work of Christ is to obey Jesus Commands and to be Holy !

JESUS PARALLELED WITH PAUL - NO CONTRADICTION
Here are a few of the commands and teachings of Christ. The warnings or conditions are in bold print. These can be paralleled by the writings of Paul.

1. MERCY
Gospels: "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed."This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." (Matt.18:21-35)

Epistles: "To those who by persistence in doing good [ payer, fasting, showing mercy etc…] seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile" (Romans 2:7)

2. DO NOT JUDGE
Gospels: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matt.7:1-2)

Epistles: "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?" (Romans 2:1-3)

3. WARNINGS FOR THE DISOBEDIENT
Gospels: Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' (Mat 25:31-46)

NOTE: The fact that they call Him "Lord" shows that they are born-again believers. Also see entire chapter of Matt. 25, Three warnings are given to born-again believers - Parables of the Ten Virgins, the Talents and the Sheep and the Goats

Epistles:Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.(Romans 11:20-22)

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

The above scriptures are self-explanatory. The above scriptures were spoken by Jesus Christ Himself; therefore their authority can in no way be contested. Jesus wouldn’t have given commandments and warnings with conditions if a person who got saved was always saved. Salvation is a gift received by grace, but it isn’t received once and for all. It expresses itself in an ongoing process in which the believer is strenuously involved. Fear and trembling of God is just that - the Fear of God !

Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. - Acts 5:11

Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. - Acts 9:31

"And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! - Luke 12:4-5

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, (Phil 2:12)

WARNINGS FROM REVELATION:
"He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."(Revelation 3:5)

In this passage, Jesus is speaking to those who acknowledge Jesus as Lord, and have the power of the Holy Spirit. These are born-again believers who have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, who speak in tongues, prophesy, work miracles etc… Only those who are born-again are written in the book of life. Therefore only born-again believers can be removed from the book of life. (Rev 3:5). This is Jesus speaking to New Testament born-again believers (church of Sardis) and clearly shows that believers can have their name removed from the book of life (which means they can lose their salvation). Why else would the Lord say "never blot out his name." Therefore there is a condition. The book of life contains the names of those whose walk with God is blameless.

Book of life - "Another book was opened which was the book of life" (Rev 20:12)

Rev. 20:15: "And anyone not found written in the book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."

4. Understanding Covenant

This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

2 Tim 2:11-13

*Salvation through the grace of God (saved, or made born again through the Work of the Cross) is different to right standing (eternal salvation, or making it to Heaven).

Why else did the Lord give us warnings about lack of watchfulness, missing out on the rapture, eternal fire and hell prepared for the devil and his angels, and being disowned by the Father at the Judgment?.

A REASON FOR THE DECEPTION:
Romans 11:29 tells us that the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, or irrevocable. This means that when God gives gifts or callings to a person, He doesn’t take them back irregardless if a person is disobedient to the commands of Christ. We can see an example of this with the nation of Israel. Even though Israel is presently in a state of unbelief, and disobedient to God, God doesn’t and won’t change His mind with reference to her call.

God still works powerfully even through disobedient Christians because it is the only way to maintain a lamp of His Presence and workings in the world amongst a wicked people. Without this lamp, there would be no hope for anyone in the world to see His light. This is why those He has called who are not walking in obedience, still receive blessing and God works in order to protect His plans. God will bless them for His reasons, for the sake of others and not necessarily for their reasons. The problem is when Christians through their limited and superficial understanding of how and why God works, interpret the Lord’s blessing over their lives as a sign of favor, rather than understand that God may be blessing them for the sake of others or to protect other plans - despite their disobedience to Him. Many have great gifts, yet no grace and are without mercy; they may prophesy in Christ's name, yet are disowned by him.

This is a prophecy Ailine Baxter recieved when the Lord took her to visit hell:
I found myself in Hell, screaming, hollering, gnashing my teeth..... Souls were around me by the hundreds and thousands, screaming and gnashing their teeth...... The voice of God began to speak to me again. All God would say to me was Romans 11:29, "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance."
I screamed, "God forgive me!"....
“I called you and ordained you from the foundation of the world. In the same manner that I could not repent of the call on the life of My only begotten Son, I won't repent of the call I have placed on men's lives."

This is a revelation the Lord gave me about covenants:

"Therefore it is of eternal utmost importance that those called of God ensure that they are not deceived into thinking that they are in right standing with God because God is blessing and working through them for the sake of this Lamp, but prioritize and ensure their right standing which is the only key that will ensure them their inheritance in the Kingdom."

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house." (Matt.5:14-15)

We often apply this scripture to ourselves / and or the Church. But God also walks in the integrity of His Word and seeing this scripture through the eyes of God should read something like this:

"I am the light of the world. My presence in the world cannot be hidden. Neither will I hide my lamp under the restrictions of My people through any of their foolishness, disobedience, inflexibility or lack of understanding. Therefore My lamp shall stand irregardless, so that it will give light for everyone in the world to see, so that no-one may be with excuse."

God functions on an eternal scale not a temporal one. This means that He will bless even the disobedient for the sake of others even until the final point of mercy so that on the final Day of Judgment when all accounts are closed, His righteousness and mercy cannot be contested!

1 Samuel 19:19-24, is a very good example of how God still blesses someone despite their total disobedience.

Word came to Saul: "David is in Naioth at Ramah"; so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came upon Saul's men and they also prophesied. Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Secu. And he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" Over in Naioth at Ramah," they said. So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. He stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel's presence. He lay that way all that day and night. This is why people say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" (1 Sam.19:19-24)

Here Saul is trying to kill David and is informed that David is in Naioth at Ramah. Saul sends a detachment of soldiers to capture David, but they see a group of prophets standing there with Samuel as their leader. The Spirit of God comes upon Saul’s men and they also start prophesying. Saul is informed of this so he sends a second detatchment, and they start prophesying too and the same thing happens when he sends out more soldiers. So Instead of seizing David, Saul’s men are seized by the Spirit of prophecy, for they were put into so good a frame by the Spirit of God that they were not able to obey Saul. Saul himself decides to go to Naioth and the Spirit of God comes even upon him, while he is trying to kill the Lords anointed!

One may ask how could Saul and even his soldiers prophesy? Since Saul is in total rebellion to God. God’s Spirit was now on Saul to restrain him. We often expect God to only let his prophecies or blessings come to upstanding godly people, but God is not limited by the limitations of our understanding or expectations. In this way God preserved the lives of all the prophets, frustrated all the plans of Saul, preserved the life of His servant and ultimately the Messiah and showed how He can, whenever he pleases, strike an awe upon the greatest of foes.

Prophecy:
"When a person prioritizes the subjecton of their actions or decisions under the scrutiny of any leader rather than under God, they are giving people the honor that is due to God alone. They risk being in sin, for they may be unaware that in the eyes of God that person may be in heresy. A person’s actions are to be always placed under the scrutiny and authority of the Word of God. For those that sin like others must expect to suffer like them; God is unyieldingly just!"

So what can we learn from this? God still has His plans and purposes today and likewise uses the overwhelming power and presence of His Holy Spirit even through a disobedient Church in order to protect His plans for other purposes and peoples sake. One mustn’t be deceived into thinking that the reason for the powerful anointing of the Holy Spirit over a person is that they have the favor of God.

This deception is also what causes people to prioritize leaders over God. God works through a leader to fulfill His plans, so immediately the people think that leader must be approved by God. However in a given congregation where the only person who is allowed to preach is the leader, then of course God is going to release His Power over the one who is preaching for the sake of others, irregardless of the leaders obedience or disobedience.

* Become complacent ("Well were saved now so we don’t really need to do much, and will use scripture to justify this")
* Not seek Holiness
* Not evangelize with the urgency, zeal and power of God
* Not fear to disobey the commands of Christ

In order to know what truth is, one must look at the results of a person’s understanding. A "Once saved always saved" mentality or understanding causes Christians to walk in all these things.

A word of Wisdom: It is wiser to live with the fear that you may lose your salvation and thus obtain it rather than be too confident that you will never lose it only to find out that you have.

Please copy and share this teaching in whole or in part. Also use this teaching as a sermon.

M
MyVeryHeart Nov 11, 2010

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." John 14:15

sermonindex Nov 11, 2010

The Jews defined their various sects as heresies (Greek hairesis). In the first century, this was not a negative term. First-century Jewish historian Josephus refers to the Sadducees, Pharisees and Essenes as the heresies of the Jews (Antiquities of the Jews, 13.171).

Luke, writing in the book of Acts, shows that the followers of Christ were viewed as yet another heresy, known at that time as "the sect of the Nazarenes" (Greek Nazaoraios) (Acts 24:5).

Act 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

Thus, in the first century, the term heresy defined the teaching of a particular school. The word had been used this way in the Greek-speaking world since the time of Plato.

"heretic" is an interesing word. Catholic church uses it the most for anyone that does not agree with its teachings.

I think you should be very careful about calling others a heretic just because they do not believe the same "orthodoxy" as you do.

We are all constantly learning and searching for truth and none of us have arrived.

Labeling one another "heretics" because they believe something that we don't consider "orthodox", is really not helpful. It just perpetuates division and Jesus said you will "pull up wheat" when you do this.

So, this person has already stepped forward to label heretics. Who is next? Who is going to step forward and start eradicating the heretics?

Where do we start? Calvinists, Armenians, Pre-Tribbers, Post-Tribbers, Pre-Wrath Tribbers, Jesus Only, Trinitarians, Once Saved Always Saved, etc., etc.

You won't have anyone left on SermonIndex.

Mat 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

JFB
Mat 13:29 - But he said, Nay--"It will be done in due time, but not now, nor is it your business."

lest, while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them--Nothing could more clearly or forcibly teach the difficulty of distinguishing the two classes, and the high probability that in the attempt to do so these will be confounded.

GILL
Mat 13:29 - But he said, nay,.... The answer is in the negative; and which, if spoken to angels, is to be understood, that they should not inflict punishments, or pour out, their vials, as yet, on formal professors, lest the righteous should share in them; and if to magistrates, the sense of it is, that they should not persecute with the sword, or put men to death for heretical opinions; but if to ministers of the word, which sense I choose, the meaning is, that not everyone suspected to be a tare, or a nominal professor, is to be removed from the communion of the church, because there is often danger in so doing:

lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them: not that men of openly scandalous lives are to be tolerated in churches; they are to be withdrawn from, and put away; nor men of known, avowed, heretical principles; such, after the first and second admonition, are to be rejected: yet there may be such in churches, not altogether agreeable in principle and practice, whose character and situation may be such, that there is no removing them without offending some truly gracious, useful persons, in whose affections they stand, who may be tempted, by such a step, to leave their communion; and so cannot be done without a considerable prejudice to the church. The scope of the parable, and the design of our Lord in it, are chiefly to be attended to; which are to show, that a pure and perfect church cannot be expected in the present state of things; and that saints should not be immoderately uneasy, but patiently bear such exercises, until Christ's time is come to relieve them, when the tares and chaff shall be separated from the wheat; when sinners shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous, and there shall be no more a pricking briar, nor a grieving thorn in the house of Israel.

L
Lesserlight Nov 11, 2010

The definition for the word "heresy" has changed over the years

Heresy”, Strongs # 139- hariresis- party, part of, or disunion by choice, also translated in English as the word “sect” which means to take and use as chosen, preferred through choice. The Greek word for this is haireomai and may be found under the Strong’s reference #138. This is fully understood as it applies to this subject by the word that is used by Greek scholars, “airo”, Strong’s # 142, which means to remove, take away or lift up.

Paul was accused of heresy for the manner in how he would take words out of context from "here and there" and line them up according to "precept upon precept". (Isa.28:9-13)

In the NT this is simply "rightly dividing the word" versus the cry by the church to leave everything in context that has no scriptural support and is in fact "wrongly dividing the word by separating one passage from the rest of the Bible

So the charge of heresy was not even based on the doctrine as much as how the doctrine was put together

Now the the word heresy just means false doctrine and the way that Paul studied the scriptures is no longer practiced....... and as a result of that we now have a church that God has turned away from just like He did Israel

Blessings

Doug

sermonindex Nov 11, 2010

The greatest heresy is persisting to believe that you are right
Certainly, that is what made the people to fear the Apostles that they were persistent that Jesus truly is the Christ and they proved with signs following. They knew they were right because they were His witnesses.

We have to be persistent in believing that we are right, not only that but there should be a witness of the Spirit with signs following, this is what separates the sheep from the goats is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

God only confirms His word when it's preached in the Spirit of truth, He will not confirm the words of a liar. NEVER.

We cannot love the Lord our God with ALL our heart soul mind and our strength and expect nothing to happen in the ways of the power of God. When the connection has been made there will be automatic power when the truth of God's word is being preached, there will be an automatic outflow of the love of God from you to everyone around you.

This is why the teachings that we have here on this site about Calvinism, Arminism, and any other argumentative subject do not produce the fruit of the Spirit or the power of God is because there is no power in it, these are hearsay's because they do not produce the power of God. When the word is spoken there should produce a heart that has an overwhelming feeling that it needs to repent.

There is a difference between preaching and teaching. The preaching of the word is for sinners, the teaching of the word are for those that are becoming saints. One is to recruit, the other is to establish.

If we are being taught untruth, we will know it by the fact that we are not bearing fruit and there is no power. Therefore, we need to have an overhaul of what we have been taught and have to start over. This is a most humiliating process and few there be that ever want to do this instead they continue on with what they believe hoping that no one will question it. As they persist in this deception, a host of sins is being committed in secret and then finally he is exposed and the last state of that man is worse than the first. I am talking about people that started the right way and ended up getting into faulty teachings.

There are so many teachings that the Church has embraced that it's almost impossible to tell anyone that they are in error. As soon as you do, they pull in everything and go into shut down mode and they seal their ears, shut their eyes and their necks harden up so it can't move.

And I wouldn't say readily that these people are Pharisees, they are in protection mode, this is what their wrong teachings have taught them to do when confronted with someone telling them the truth. If the righteous teachings were taught, then you'd get a different response. These people would respond in meekness willing to hear any hem of truth, and if the "truth" they were hearing is not truth, then they will use the word to contradict what they are hearing, as Jesus did with the Pharisees. The righteous will only have one objection in mind to save the one is speaking error. Right teaching will produce more righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

sermonindex Nov 11, 2010

and as a result of that we now have a church that God has turned away from just like He did Israel
That is a false saying!

God turned away from Israel (for the remnant sake He did not entirely) because they covenanted with Him after God had said they were going to break it and they still persisted anyway and covenanted with Him that they would do all the words of the covenant, which they broke often and PURPOSELY committed acts of sin to provoke the Lord God.

The Church has no such covenant!

The covenant that was made to Abraham was what God WOULD DO FOR MAN, not vice versa. When Abraham believed God, it was accounted unto him as righteous. Christ did for man what man could not do for God because the flesh was weak and no flesh shall glory in His presence anyway. Thus what is required of us is faith which is the beginning. And through grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ we learn to love our heavenly Father through the word He feeds to us day be day.

And besides, Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

We have to remember something that is VERY IMPORTANT. When we say that God has turned away from the Church, we are saying (ignorantly) that He has turned away His Christ. Man died with Christ that day when He was crucified. He also was buried with Christ and man rose with Christ creating a brand new creation, whereas all things have passed away behold all things have become new. This is why this gospel in it's simplicity is is so awesome, because man doesn't have to do anything to obtain the right standing before God, but a simple believing that Jesus is Christ to the glory of God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We cannot separate Christ and His Church, it's not possible.

sermonindex Nov 11, 2010

The Jews defined their various sects as heresies (Greek hairesis). In the first century, this was not a negative term. First-century Jewish historian Josephus refers to the Sadducees, Pharisees and Essenes as the heresies of the Jews (Antiquities of the Jews, 13.171).

Luke, writing in the book of Acts, shows that the followers of Christ were viewed as yet another heresy, known at that time as "the sect of the Nazarenes" (Greek Nazaoraios) (Acts 24:5).

Act 24:14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

Thus, in the first century, the term heresy defined the teaching of a particular school. The word had been used this way in the Greek-speaking world since the time of Plato.

"heretic" is an interesing word. Catholic church uses it the most for anyone that does not agree with its teachings.

I think you should be very careful about calling others a heretic just because they do not believe the same "orthodoxy" as you do.

We are all constantly learning and searching for truth and none of us have arrived.

Labeling one another "heretics" because they believe something that we don't consider "orthodox", is really not helpful. It just perpetuates division and Jesus said you will "pull up wheat" when you do this.

So, this person has already stepped forward to label heretics. Who is next? Who is going to step forward and start eradicating the heretics?

Where do we start? Calvinists, Armenians, Pre-Tribbers, Post-Tribbers, Pre-Wrath Tribbers, Jesus Only, Trinitarians, Once Saved Always Saved, etc., etc.

You won't have anyone left on SermonIndex.

Mat 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

Mat 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

Mat 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

JFB
Mat 13:29 - But he said, Nay--"It will be done in due time, but not now, nor is it your business."

lest, while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them--Nothing could more clearly or forcibly teach the difficulty of distinguishing the two classes, and the high probability that in the attempt to do so these will be confounded.

GILL
Mat 13:29 - But he said, nay,.... The answer is in the negative; and which, if spoken to angels, is to be understood, that they should not inflict punishments, or pour out, their vials, as yet, on formal professors, lest the righteous should share in them; and if to magistrates, the sense of it is, that they should not persecute with the sword, or put men to death for heretical opinions; but if to ministers of the word, which sense I choose, the meaning is, that not everyone suspected to be a tare, or a nominal professor, is to be removed from the communion of the church, because there is often danger in so doing:

lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them: not that men of openly scandalous lives are to be tolerated in churches; they are to be withdrawn from, and put away; nor men of known, avowed, heretical principles; such, after the first and second admonition, are to be rejected: yet there may be such in churches, not altogether agreeable in principle and practice, whose character and situation may be such, that there is no removing them without offending some truly gracious, useful persons, in whose affections they stand, who may be tempted, by such a step, to leave their communion; and so cannot be done without a considerable prejudice to the church. The scope of the parable, and the design of our Lord in it, are chiefly to be attended to; which are to show, that a pure and perfect church cannot be expected in the present state of things; and that saints should not be immoderately uneasy, but patiently bear such exercises, until Christ's time is come to relieve them, when the tares and chaff shall be separated from the wheat; when sinners shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous, and there shall be no more a pricking briar, nor a grieving thorn in the house of Israel.

M
MyVeryHeart Nov 11, 2010

The rain will not fall on this land.

sermonindex Nov 11, 2010

Apostate teachings (denying Jesus is the Messiah, come in the flesh) are more serious. And there is no way I could have fellowship with someone that does not think Jesus Christ is the Messiah, come in the flesh. It's not so much that I decide not to, but rather, there is just no fellowship in the Spirit with someone that believes that.

I have had fellowship with Calvinists, OSAS, different kinds of tribbers, etc. I admit it might be somewhat limited. I will also admit, it is a bit difficult for me to have deep fellowship with "Jesus only" believers and maybe that is my own limitation, I don't know. I try to focus on the person of Jesus Christ, but the Father and the Holy Spirit are also part of the language of my heart. And I personally believe in the Godhead, even though I cannot explain it.

It is very difficult if not impossible for me to have fellowship with strict legalists and absolutely impossible for me to have fellowship in the Spirit with those that deny Jesus is the Messiah.

Review of In Defense of Israel by John Hagee
http://www.biblewheel.com/RR/Hagee_Defense_of_Israel.asp

sermonindex Nov 11, 2010

The rain will not fall on this land.
It has here, for almost two straight weeks.

But the rain will fall on this land, because we will force God to move when we take a hold of His promise to those that seek His face,

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Land here means to me that God would restore our souls.

Just a handful of dedicated people is all that is required to push back tens of thousands of the enemy to bring in light to a darkened world, to a dim Church.

L
Lesserlight Nov 11, 2010

That is a false saying!

Oh really? ....... well let me ask you a question and your answer will tell us if God is showing Himself in your church

Q..... a loved one of yours becomes deathly ill. Whether child or spouse or parent makes no difference but what does make a difference is who do you call?

Someone in a church that reflects the glory of God will call upon their elders like the church in the time of the Apostles when there were churches that did reflect the glory of God. That was because the elders back then reflected the Glory and truth of God but that was then and not now

So who will you call and why not your elders. (since I already know your anwser)

BTW please don't tell me that your going to call your elders PLUS take them to the doctor........ that would just show a lack of real faith

Blessings

Doug

L
Lesserlight Nov 11, 2010

"God’s Seed is a pure seed that according to God’s Law is not to be mixed (Lev.19:19) just as miracles are a result of God alone doing the work rather than an individual performing the works which is the same way it was when the Apostles and Jesus “worked” miracles. Today these signs and wonders have disappeared because the seed of the woman that is “Christ the seed” and the seed of the serpent are being mixed together within the church. It is the lack of knowledge that is disrupting the harmony that is established when God’s children are taught the truth consequently when the truth returns to the church signs and wonders will return to the church. Then, through demonstrating these blessings to the rest of the world the church will finally see a revival from the east to the west and from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same that will glorify God."

U
UntoBabes Nov 11, 2010

Just a handful of dedicated people is all that is required to push back tens of thousands of the enemy to bring in light to a darkened world, to a dim Church.


We disagree on many things, but can we at least agree on this statment made by Snuf.

If there is so much evil in the world and the church, it will take dedicated followers of Christ to overcome it.

Only a handful is all that God wants.
We have seen it happen in the past, and we have the word of God to prove it.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

sermonindex Nov 11, 2010

1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1Jo 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Sounds like John is saying that they HAVE overcome.

If you are in Christ, you are overcoming, right now.

Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

sermonindex Nov 11, 2010

So who will you call and why not your elders. (since I already know your answer)
Is this the answer your looking for, I'd pray first, call the Doctor and pray some more, and than ask others to pray with me.
BTW please don't tell me that your going to call your elders PLUS take them to the doctor........ that would just show a lack of real faith
Not really, It shows how much liberty that I have in Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Since God gave man the ability to be a doctor in medicine, I see nothing wrong in using that venue and it's not a lack of faith, rather it's limiting God in our understanding that God can't use these facilities.

L
Lesserlight Nov 11, 2010

Fortunately God does prepare a remnant and when Babylon fell only their king died.

God's children are for signs and wonders and that is how He has always distinguished those who are His from the rest of the world. Paul spoke of himself and the other Apostles as being born out of due time that translates as a child being born before their due time...... in other words they were a prophecy of a ministry whose time is on us now that we are at the dawn of the third day when Jesus said that the temple that was His body would be rebuilt.

That 'body" of His consisted of the early church and that body continued just fine with the Apostles at the head until the last of "he who letteth let until he be taken out of the way" signifying the fall of the honorable head and the rise of the tail that is made up of the prophets that teach lies that resulted in the church falling away and we have yet to witness the gathering.

We are now in the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by Jesus and just like when Daniel said the same words it was because the truth had left the sacrifice that for us is the praise of our lips.

Christians are to be Holy and sin no more but the knowledge of how that is to happen is no longer practiced in the church......... so they are no more successful at defeating sin then the Jews are at fulfilling the law.

It is Christ who will defeat sin but the seed that is Christ in us cannot mature into the fullness of Jesus Christ until it is fed the truth....... Only the fulness of Christ in us will defeat sin but meanwhile earthly doctrines of man continue to be fed to the children of God that to say is stunting their growth would be a bit of an understatement

When the truth does return to the church so will the glory of God....... then doctors will no longer be needed by the church.

Blessings

Doug

sermonindex Nov 11, 2010

We are now in the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by Jesus and just like when Daniel said the same words it was because the truth had left the sacrifice that for us is the praise of our lips.
Actually the rendering is, "Abomination that maketh desolate". Historically speaking, that has happened.

Since this is a heresy thread, this is a heresy being used for in these so called last days. The abomination was Rome's army with all it's ceaser worship and idolatrous symbols causing the desolation of Jerusalem in the latter portion of the first century.

Because Jesus refers to the Roman army as the abomination of desolation. Consider the wording of Matthew and Luke's renderings.

Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Matthew 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

Luke 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

This is history and has already happened. To use this as a Midrash, and to try to fit this into our day is heresy.

Millions of Christians have this opinion and it's simply a wrong one.

sermonindex Nov 11, 2010

Abomination that maketh Desolate is also mentioned.

This is a great discussion in a spirit of love and mutual respect with brothers who have differing views.

http://www.biblewheel.com/forum/showthread.php?t=102

L
Lesserlight Nov 12, 2010

This is history and has already happened. To use this as a Midrash, and to try to fit this into our day is heresy.

Millions of Christians have this opinion and it's simply a wrong one.

Says who.?..... you who does not have enough confidence in your elders that you run to doctors when the NT clearly tells you to rely on your elders?

You say that your liberty in Christ tells you to call doctors ?........ can you please show me some scripture where any of the NT saints relied on anything but God?.......... pardon my ignorance ( I believe that is the word you used to describe my first post) because I believe that THEY are the ones who have liberty in Christ and not those who go elsewhere for help. Ones who go elsewhere for help have no liberty in Christ and are captive to the limits of the flesh (aka the ability of doctors)

Not that I blame you because I have yet to see a church in this country do the work of an Apostle no matter what fancy degrees they have or what name they go by.

As the scriptures say the spirit of Christ is the spirit of prophecy and if someone cannot see that the Bible is ALL a prophecy ( no matter the history because as Solomon says there is nothing new under the sun) it is not my fault nor my problem

For those that worship in truth they know that God does not change yet you say "try to fit this into our day is heresy"

Give me a break

Blessings

Doug

sermonindex Nov 12, 2010

It is very clear to you that going to a doctor is a sin, but to me it is not. I can trust in God and do both, while others cannot, that is okay to.

give me a break

Seems childish to use such language on here. Since your not able to handle correction, I shall leave off commenting on your posts.

This discussion is locked.

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