What Did the Early Christians Teach? Lesson 7

Priorities of Early Saints:

Contend Earnestly for the Faith, Keep it Pure!  (Jude3-4)

Expose False Teaching by pulling down their Strongholds  (2Cor10:4-5)

Beware of Different Spirits, Ministers of Righteousness, Angels of Light.  (2Cor11:4, 13-15)

Test everything against the Doctrine of Christ! (2John 7-10)

Be Grounded, Steadfast, immovable in the Faith! (Col1:23)

The Early Gospel Consisted of:

Repentance & Faith Proven by Deeds  (repentance for remission!) Lk3:3, 24:47

Strive to Enter the Narrow Gate, Dig Deep, Take up Cross, Endure

Beware of Savage Wolves, Standing at the Narrow Gate! Matt7:15

Work Out, Make Sure, Add to your faith, Run the Race, Obey, Keep, Guard, Watch!

The Early Saints told Converts they were Engaged in an intense Warfare with evil!

Peter said, ‘Be Prepared for Action! Resist Steadfast in the Faith!’ 1Pet1:13, 5:8-9

Paul told them to Put on the Whole Armor of God and Stand! Eph6

He said to Study, Remain Diligent and Preach the Word!  2Tim2:15, 1Tim4:15-16

They were Constantly Warned, Admonished and told to Examine themselves (Acts20:27-31)

Nothing was neglected or left to presumption, if a person was still sinning they needed to Repent

Under Substitution, Representation Teaching, NONE of this is Possible! WHY?

Christ Did it all for you

He Proceeded you in Obedience & Righteousness therefore Justification is secure.

Your Moral Righteousness is Positional

Nothing Further can subject you to Condemnation or Wrath

The Wide Varity of Preaching today May bring about a Real Repentance, However:

The Seed can easily be sown among thorns of un-forsaken sin & choked from growth

Although the eyes of the understanding may be open to the Moral nature of sin & Narrow Way

Subject them to the Wolves in Sheep’s clothing (in the System) and they Die on the Vine

Sound Teaching Requires Truth and Produces Right Living

The WORKS of Righteousness are Mandatory to a Faith that Works!

Bottom Line:  (Inside the System)

Nothing is Mandatory to Salvation but Trust in a Substitution that NEVER happened.

This creates a confusing assortment of Atonement Models. (People draw wrong conclusions) 

Sin is an inbred Substance of the flesh, born into your Nature. It Cannot be abandoned or destroyed

In Most Cases, Salvation Precedes Repentance (If mentioned at all)

There is NO Agreement on Free Will and Ability among the Purveyors

They Perish Due to lack of Knowledge!   Hosea 4:6

Sending anyone into the System is equivalent to throwing them to the Wolves.

Their Doctrine Contain Form but No Substance, that’s why hypocrisy is rampant.

In Early times you would be Guilty of their Blood at the Judgment by failing to WARM them! Ezk18

Smooth Words, Flattering Speech and a FORM of godliness!

Newly awakened Converts would not stand a Chance against this

By Working with these people you Compromise the Truth you’re trying to Present

The Appearance of Success will Bind you to the Facts!

The Corrupt, Dead and Lukewarm Churches of Rev had:

Faith, Love, Service & Good Works, but: Were testing the DEPTHS of Satan! 

The end Result: They were: Wretched, Miserable, poor, bind, naked  

The Real Test:
Are they Coming OUT of their Sins?  (Jer23:21-22, Ezk33:31-32)

Is the Work of the Devil Destroyed in their hearts?  (1John3:8)

Is the Old Man Crucified with Christ in Repentance? (Rom6:4-6)

Are they Obedient to the Truth?  (Acts15:9, 1Pet1:22)

Are they Diligent, Awake, Urgent and on Fire for God?

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude3-4

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2Cor10:4-5

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! 2Cor11:3-4

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 2Cor11:13-15

For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 2John7-10

I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My counsel, And had caused My people to hear My words, Then they would have turned them from their evil way And from the evil of their doings. Jer23:21-22

So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. Ezk33:31-32

I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream. Amos5:21-24