6 FALSE TEACHINGS BRINGS DECEPTIVE DARKNESS INTO THE CHURCH - CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Nevertheless, if we want to be faithful followers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in this day and age, we must be alert and ready to boldly stand against the spirit of the age. (Public Domain)

Since that very moment in the Garden of Eden when a single bite shattered the harmony of the world, man has tried to make his own way, be his own master, and set up his own kingdom. It's nothing new.

Nevertheless, if we want to be faithful followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in this day and age, we must be alert and ready to boldly stand against the spirit of the age that seeks to modify the message of Christ, undermine His power to set us free from sin, repaint Christ's picture to make Him more acceptable to a wayward generation and rewrite the gospel to remove the offense of the cross.

For the last 2,000 years, the church has been plagued with heresy after heresy seeking to tame the gospel, and today is no different. Here are just a few of the popular beliefs in our current culture that threaten to infiltrate the church:

1. Universalism: the belief that all people will be saved or that all ways lead to God and eternal life. Many who subscribe to this theology claim that, for instance, Christians and Muslim worship the same God.
2. The Prosperity Gospel: the belief that God's primary concern is for believers to be healthy and wealthy. If Christians are sick, suffering or poor, it is because of sin or a lack of faith.
3. The New Age Movement: a belief system of Eastern influence that emphasizes universal tolerance and doing what feels good (moral relativism). It contends that man is divine and can create his own reality and identity. 
4. Legalism: the improper use of the law described in Scripture to try to attain or maintain salvation. Legalism also fosters judgment of fellow Christians for not adhering to one's own ideas of holiness rather than encouraging them to imitate Christ, obeying God's standards as explicitly outlined in Scripture.
5. Hyper-grace: the overreaction to legalism, resulting in abuse of God's grace. Believers find themselves drawn to the modern hyper-grace movement because they are looking for freedom not just from legalism, but also from God's standards.
6. The Emerging Church: a movement that claims to be Christian but employs culturally sensitive methods to make the gospel more palatable to a postmodern culture. Jesus' life is treated more as an allegory or narrative rather than a true event. Of particular concern is the inclusive approach to various belief systems, an emphasis on emotions over absolute truth and the notion that there is no hell, judgment or need for forgiveness. The Emerging Church movement also glorifies honesty and confession, but without repentance.

Behind all these false ideologies is the belief that Scripture is not infallible and truth simply changes with the times. A 2014 Gallup poll revealed that:

• 22 percent of Americans believe the Bible is the actual Word of God and should be taken literally
• 28 percent believe it is the actual Word of God, but with multiple possible interpretations
• 28 percent believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God but should not be taken literally
• 18 percent believe it is an ancient book of legends, history and moral precepts written by man

How do we respond to such false teachings as they arise within the church? We preach Christ. We reinforce biblical doctrine, clinging to the highest authority—the Word of God. For "The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord" (2 Cor. 4:4-5a). 

We preach Christ who was promised by God back in Genesis. We preach Christ, who was born of a virgin. We preach Christ, who healed the sick, raised the dead, made the lame to walk and set the captives free. We preach Christ, who chose to die a criminal's death on the cross in order to set us free from sin. We preach Christ, who rose victoriously from the grave, never to die again, thus assuring everyone who places their trust in Him of eternal life with Him in heaven. We preach Christ, who will come again to judge the living and the dead.

So we can say:

1. To the universalists: No one will be saved apart from Jesus Christ. Only those who choose to repent and call on the name of Jesus will have eternal life (see Acts 4:12, Matt. 25:46, Heb. 9:27, John 14:6). 
2. To heralds of the prosperity gospel: Jesus promised us that we will suffer, but that He is with us and has overcome the world (see John 16:33, Rom. 5:3-5, 2 Tim. 3:12, Luke 14:27).
3. To the new agers: There is only one sovereign God, Creator of all things (see Is. 55:8-9, Job 12:10, Heb. 2:5-10).
4. To legalists: If righteousness were attainable through the law, Christ would not have had to die (see Matt. 7:22-23; Gal.2:21; Rom. 3:10-12, 28; James 2:10). We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ's singular work on the cross, and even this faith is a gift from God not achieved by our own efforts (see Rom. 4:5, Eph. 2:8). And we are not to judge our brothers and sisters in Christ on debatable issues (see Rom. 14:1-12).
5. To proponents of hyper-grace: God's grace has freed us from the bondage of sin, but we should not receive His sacrifice in vain (see Rom. 6:23, Heb. 10:26-29). We must repent and seek to live under the lordship of Christ, seeking holiness through the power of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Pet. 1:13-16, 2:11-12, 16; Rom. 5:20-6:18).
6. To the emerging church: If we dilute the gospel, then we no longer have Good News to share (see Gal. 1:8-9, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Ex. 20:3-6, John 8:24). Only Christ can break the chains of sin, set the captives free and conform us to His image (see 1 John 5:3-5, Phil. 3:7-9, Gal. 5:16).

Brothers and sisters in Christ, arm yourselves with the Word of God. Know your Bible and speak the truth in love. In this way, may we remain faithful by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

This article originally appeared on Leading The Way. 

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PROPHECY UNCOVERED - INTERESTING COMMENTARY

BY BRENDA ALEXANDER (EXCEPT FOR VIDEO AND PICTURES
My words or this post has been freely given; freel give.  You need no permission

I listened to this and while I'm not sure if he is right but COULD he have a very valid point? I like open and honest dialogues but unless we're willing to look at other's thoughts and get out of our doctrinal boxes, stop being so dogmatic you miss something major but...mostly risking to step out in faith.  Otherwise I fear false teachings can be spread or just as bad, truth can be overlooked. I am not endorsing him but nor am I dismissing his point of view (POV) either.  We must be good Bereans and search the scriptures to see if these things are true but to do that, we MUST hear what is being taught.  We can't remain ignorant.

The Bible foretold that in the end times, there would be an explosion of knowledge. I feel quite confident that the internet was at least the very beginning but it not only means "secular" or "worldly" knowledge but Spiritual knowledge and previously misinterpreted or unclear prophecies would no doubt become obvious.

What IS prophecy? Is it a crystal ball we look into to see the future? Yes, in many cases it obviously is, especially Daniel and and NT books such Matthew, Luke, most of Paul's books and, of course the big one...Revelation.  We must admit some are vague and can apply to many historic books.  I either heard a sermon or read a very informative article on what is, and what is NOT, prophecy really given for.  Rarely do I find YHWH does something for just one reason.  It said that it is given for one reason so that each generation will see fulfillment of prophecy and thus prove the infallibility and accuracy of God's word.  That makes sense.  But, of course, especially in Daniel, we are told to seal up the book, that until this prophecy is starting, we are blinded to it.  Now that is just an opinion and God wants us to seek His Word and to watch.  The closer we come, the more insights we will be given.  John used words only he knew how to use.  He could not imagine the U.S.A., nuclear weapons, airplanes, rockets, helicopters, the evils of the world, maybe even chemical warfare.  He used the word "like" many times.  

I am going to be sharing many Bible studies from Bible.org on Revelation and when you link the 4 horsemen of the Apocolypse, read OT prophecy, it will bring on a very clear, concise and amazing POV and true knowledge of what John is saying.  What it does not do is link it to world events of today.  It simply tells you what the horses and their colors signify.  You are then free to look at today's world and see what you believe.  Each day we're closer.

Also, I watched a great secular/faith combined video, very positive for a change even though it was political, he said something that instantly made clear a verse I'd struggled with and that's when the veil of the temple was torn into at the death of Jesus.  I didn't get it.  Nor did I spend much time thinking about but God knows our needs.  

I also was told to listen for "prophetic slips" in videos of all kinds.  I don't know if it was intentional but I'm hearing these said a lot, even and especially in worldly or secular videos, especially in news, including the far left lying and deceptive media.  Pay attention.  It's quite amazing to hear.  It's especially awesome in worldview videos because God is making His Word known and unblinding as many as will.  Many Christians feel we shouldn't get into the political world and it's nasty but the Second Advent has everything to do with politics and powers, kingdoms and oppressive governments.  If you ignore what is going on, you are going to be overtaken by the "thief in the night."

Listen, see if you think he may be on to something or can we prove by scripture he is wrong so that false teachers are exposed and no one is lead astray.  We will hear things and others will hear something different.  We MUST come together.  Stay grounded in God's Word, learn to discern and we be ready and our lamps full of oil.  Be blessed and listen.  It's only about 18 minutes long.  We gotta be in the know and ready at all times.  Comments are welcome.  

SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION BY YESHUA AH MESSIACH

First Corinthians 15:1-11

John 3:16-17

Ephesians 2:8-9

Romans 3:23 and 6:23

ISAIAH 53 - SHOULD BE A 5TH GOSPEL

Be full of God's love and grace forever until forever!

THE ADVOCATE - OUR DAILY BREAD DAILY DEVOTIONAL

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If anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.—1 John 2:1

From a Florida prison cell in June 1962, Clarence Earl Gideon wrote a note asking the United States Supreme Court to review his conviction for a crime he said he didn’t commit. He added that he didn’t have the means to hire a lawyer.

One year later, in the historic case of Gideon v. Wainright, the Supreme Court ruled that people who cannot afford the cost of their own defense must be given a public defender—an advocate—provided by the state. With this decision, and with the help of a court-appointed lawyer, Clarence Gideon was retried and acquitted.

But what if we are not innocent? According to the apostle Paul, we are all guilty. But the court of heaven provides an Advocate who, at God’s expense, offers to defend and care for our soul (1 John 2:2). On behalf of His Father, Jesus comes to us offering a freedom that even prison inmates have described as better than anything they’ve experienced on the outside. It is a freedom of heart and mind.

Whether suffering for wrongs done by us or to us, we all can be represented by Jesus. By the highest of authority He responds to every request for mercy, forgiveness, and comfort.

Jesus, our Advocate, can turn a prison of lost hope, fear, or regret into the place of His presence. —Mart DeHaan

Father in heaven, please help us to know what it means to have the freedom of Your love and presence. May we experience this freedom even in places that we have only seen as our confinement!

The one who died as our substitute now lives as our advocate.

INSIGHT: John encourages us to be honest about ourselves. Actually, his words are more of a warning than they are encouragement. Writing to a struggling church, John reminds his readers that we all struggle with sin and the claim that we don’t struggle has several drastic consequences: We deceive ourselves, the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8), we make God out to be a liar, and His word is not in us (v. 10). But John’s point is not a downer. Those warnings surround a very familiar promise. Our sins do not keep us from God—because when we acknowledge (confess) them, we are forgiven for them (v. 9). What do you need to confess as sin and then trust that God has forgiven? J.R. Hudberg

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