What Did the Early Christians Teach? Part 1

 

First of all, What was their Bible? (there was no NT Cannon until forth Century) There Bible Consisted of: The Septuagint, a Greek Version of the Jewish Old Testament. AND:

The Epistles of Paul, Peter, James & John. (And the Gospel Accounts)

The Official Language of Scripture was: Common Greek. (this is ancient Greek)

Most of the Original Apostles were gone by the Year 50, except for John, who lived till 90-100 AD

 

From these evolved their Doctrines and Understanding of God’s Truth. They Did Not have a Systematic Theology, only a Doctrine Which is According to Godliness, as handed down to them from the Lord.

 

Basically their Doctrine Consisted of the following:

1)       Jesus as a Teacher of Righteousness, Setting an Example to follow after

2)       The Ransom Model, in that Christ Rescued us from the corrupting influence of sin

3)       Reconciliation to God through Repentance Proven by Deeds. Sin had to STOP!

4)       Faith Working by Love, Actively Obeying God

5)       Contending earnestly for the faith to keep it Pure

 

Presently Christian Doctrine Does not Resemble the Primitive Model:

1)       Substitution  (Jesus took our place, suffered our Penalty, Became Sin & went to Hell)

2)       Moral Transfer  (imputed Righteousness)

3)       Pre-forgiveness of future sins

4)       Rewards System

5)       Eternal Security  (No further condemnation for ongoing sins)

 

The Ransom Model: (Matt20:28, Mk10:45, 1Tim2:6)

For the first 1000 years of the Church the Death of Christ was a RANSOM to Purchase His People from the Corrupting influence of sin. To which they had been Sold into, (the Power of sin & Death) by Adam.

 

Thus forgiveness can be granted without a Payment or Penalty. (Matt18) On Virtue of Christ’s Death (Blood, Heb9:14) that Purchased us from the Dominion of Satan (god of this age) ON CONDITION that we Repent, (Get Clear of our wrong doings! 2Cor7:10-11) and Seek the Mercy of God in Reconciliation. The Early Saints understood that Man had Sold himself into sin (slave to whom you obey!) Satan’s Kingdom, and had to be Redeemed by the Blood of Christ to Cleanse them & Make their hearts PURE. This was accomplished through the Reconciliation. (2Cor5) 

 

NO ONE Taught or Believed:

1)       That any kind of Moral Transfer of Virtue or Vice had Taken place

2)       Or that Christ’s Death was any kind of Substitution

3)       Or that future sins were automatically forgiven

 

The Fathers saw man as Subject to Death & Temptation of Satan, But NEVER as inheriting Adam’s Sin & Guilt. Man possessed a Free Will capable of Seeking & Obeying God without coercion. (Grace was Divine Influence extended to all) Sin was ALWAYS a CHOICE, Never a SUBSTANCE, inbred into the flesh.

Until Augustine, 4the Century Rome, No one suggested such a thing, because it was Gnosticism!

 

ONLY the Gnostics taught the DUAL Nature of Man. Never the Christians! Today this is Reversed!

This ONE False Doctrine has Predicated all the Others:

1)       Man Can’t Obey God, so Jesus Obeyed for him!

2)       Man can Never be Righteous, so God Transfers it to him

3)       Man can Never Stop sinning, so his Future sins must be Covered

4)       Justification is a One Time Deal, for all time, a Complete Package!

5)       Salvation is accomplished by: Receiving, Trusting and Resting in all this.

 

The COMPLETE OPPOSITE of Bible Doctrine & Early Church Teaching. No Doers, Just Hearers!

For Review:

 

The Major Difference between Penal Substitution (taught today) and Ransom is:

One Deals with Divine Justice (PS) and the other with Deliverance from sin & Bondage of Devil.


Penal Sub calls for Retribution, Satisfaction of God’s Wrath by Punishment. Moral Gov denies that Public Justice had to be Satisfied, just merely upheld to show how much God Loves His Law. Thus man is influenced toward Repentance by His Great Love. However, BOTH call for a Substitution which is Absent in Early Times because the Aim of Ransom is to FREE man from Bondage of Sin, NOT provide him with a Sub for his sins. (PS was codified in Reformation, Sub came about 1000-1100 with Satisfaction Theories)

 

Ransom in the Scriptures:   (What the Early Saints were seeing as Redemption from Sin)

 

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Hos13:14

 

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many Matt20:28

 

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Mark10:45

 

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 1Tim2;5

 

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Acts20:28

 

Being Justified freely by His Grace through the Release by Ransom that is in Christ Jesus Rom3:24

 

     Redemption: Apolytrōsis: releasing effected by payment of ransom, redemption, deliverance, liberation procured by the payment of a ransom. Translated: 9-Redemption, 1-Deliverance

    Rom8:23, 1Cor1:30, Eph1:7, 14, 4:30, Col1:14, Heb9:14, 11:35
 
 

     Ransom: Lytron: the price for redeeming, ransom, paid for slaves, captives, for the ransom of life, to liberate many from misery and   the penalty of their sins. Used: Mk, Matt

1Tim2 Passage:
antilytron, what is given in exchange for another as the price of his redemption, ransom

 

     The Teaching of Imputed Righteousness:

 

t    The Father embraces us in Christ when he clothes us with the innocence of Christ, and accepts it as ours, so that in consideration of it he regards us as holy, pure, and innocent ... Provided with this righteousness, we constantly obtain the remission of sins through faith. Our imperfection and impurity, covered with this purity, are not imputed, but are as it were buried, so as not to come under judgment ..." - Calvin, Institutes, Book III, chap. 14, #12.

 

T  To declare that we are deemed righteous, solely because the obedience of Christ is imputed to us as if it were our own, is just to place our righteousness in the obedience of Christ.

 

T  The imputation of righteousness we need very much, because we are far from perfect. As long as we have this body, sin will dwell in our flesh. Then, too, we sometimes drive away the holy spirit; we fall into sin, like Peter, David, and other holy men. Nevertheless we may always take recourse to this fact, that our sins are covered, and that God will not lay them to our charge. Sin is not held against us for Christ's sake." -- Martin Luther: August 1st, 1521

 

     PS calls for “retribution”, sinless Christ punished and penalized for sinful man. On the other hand, Moral Gov denies Public Justice needs this (no transfer). ONLY in this way can Moral Gov preachers wiggle out of the idea of Christ receiving the full measure of mans punishment and penalty at Calvary."

What I meant to say was Moral Gov explains Christ death to meet PUBLIC Justice, they just DENY that there is any “retribution” involved, that is, there is no Cosmic Child Abuse taking place at Calvary. In other words, they look at Cross as a Public Display of Christ being put to death by God (Public Justice – for ALL To SEE) in order to show how much he Loves His Law. (this fits their LAW preaching 100%) Once Sinners hear they have broken the Law and that God has provided for them a way out (“substitution”), they will supposedly be led to Repentance.

 

What Did the Early Christians Teach? Part 2

 

Second Century Saints, who Followed the Apostles, Taught Free Will:

Tertullian:  “No reward can be justly bestowed, no punishment can be justly inflicted, upon him who is good or bad by necessity, and not by his own choice.

 

Justin Martyr  “In the beginning, He made the human race with the power of thought and of choosing truth and doing right, so that all men are without excuse before God.”

 

Clement: “If thou wilt be perfect.” Consequently he was not yet perfect. For nothing is more perfect than what is perfect. And divinely the expression “if thou wilt” showed the self-determination of the soul holding converse with Him. For choice depended on the man as being free; but the gift on God as the Lord. And He gives to those who are willing and are exceedingly earnest, and ask, that so their salvation may become their own. For God compels not (for compulsion is repugnant to God), but supplies to those who seek, and bestows on those who ask, and opens to those who knock

 

Clement: "Nor shall he who is saved be saved against his will, for he is not inanimate; but he will above all voluntarily and of free choice speed to salvation. Wherefore also man received the commandments in order that he might be self-impelled, to whatever he wished of things to be chosen and to be avoided. Wherefore God does not do good by necessity, but from His free choice benefits those who spontaneously turn."

 

The Fathers all Agreed:  (many more quotes would confirm, reoccurring theme)

1)       Man was Born with the Gift of Free Will from God

2)       He did not have to be Coerced or impelled but could freely choose to Obey God

3)       Man was responsible to God for his Choices & could of his own accord Turn from sin

 

To Various Degrees the Present Day Church holds the Opposite View: So Sated:
Our first parents, being seduced by the subtilty and temptations of Satan, sinned, in eating the forbidden fruit. This their sin, God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory.
By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion, with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and body.
They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed; and the same death in sin, and corrupted nature, conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation.
From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions. This corruption of nature, during this life, does remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be, through Christ, pardoned, and mortified; yet both itself, and all the motions thereof, are truly and properly sin

 

As you can see, the Church has again taken the Opposite View of the Early Saints. Not only did Man inherit the sin of Adam, (which the Bible says is Impossible! Ezk18:20) but he has been rendered incapable of doing anything but Sin. The Sin resides in his Nature over which he has no Control whatsoever. This Means therefore that he MUST: Be Regenerated (in his sin) BEFORE he can do anything Pleasing to God,

Like Repent, Get Clear of Wrong Doings or Change his Desires from evil to good.

 

Under this Teaching the Gospel Preached is Reversed:

1)       Repentance is an Apology for being born sinful   (Not a Clearing or Abandonment of sin)

2)       Faith is Trusting in an Arrangement       (Not Proven by Deeds)

3)       Grace Covers Sin, Past, Present & Future. (Not Teaches godly behavior & Self Control)

4)       Jesus is your Representative not your Example! (He Obeyed for you)

 

In Ancient Times Repentance and Faith were BOTH Proven by DEEDS! (Acts20:21, 26:18-20)

Repentance Preceded Salvation, as a Purging, sweeping, scraping and scrubbing of men’s Mind and heart making it CLEAN for the reception of the Holy Spirit. No one Still Sinning was Baptized. And Grace Destroyed the Works of the Devil! (“he who sins is of the devil!” 1John3:7)

 

In the Word of God, Free Will is a GIVEN:

 

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. 1Chron28:9

 

"If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." (Gen. 4:6-7)


"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live." (Deut. 30:19)

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Josh. 24:15)

 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”;  For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (Isa. 1:16-20)

"Seek the LORD while He may be found ,Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
" (Isa. 55:6-7)

"Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
" (Hos.10:12)

“Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good
." (Jer. 18:11)

“Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death."
(Jer. 21:8)

"Now therefore, amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; then the LORD will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you."
(Jer. 26:13)

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord GOD. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. “Therefore turn and live." (Ezk. 18:30-32)

"But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way andfrom the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it."
(Jon. 3:8-10)

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" (Matt. 23:37)

"I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." (Lk. 13:3)

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”(Jn. 3:18-21)

"And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation."
(Acts 2:40)

"Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.  But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." (Acts 10:34-35)

"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

"But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered." (Rom. 6:17)

"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Co. 7:1)

"Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work." (2 Tim. 2:21)

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." (Jas. 1:21)

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." (Jas. 4:7-10)

"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit[a] in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart." (1 Pe. 1:22)

"And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." (Rv. 22:17

 

What Did the Early Christians Teach? Part 3

 

On the Atonement:

Ransom theory:      Taught first 1000 yrs with few exceptions

Satisfaction theory:  Invented by Anselm of Canterbury around 1100 AD

Moral Influence theory: Added by Thomas Aquinas around 1200 AD to codify Satisfaction

 

Atonement not Used in Bible. Word invented in 16th Century by William Tyndyle, to convey complete nature of Christ’s sacrifice (in his mind) by combining two thoughts: ‘At’ and ‘Onement’  The Reconciliation and forgiveness granted at one moment forever more. Fits Satisfaction Model.

 

Ransom Theory:   Hos13:14 ‘I will ransom them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from death’

Remission of sin, Means Release from Bondage. Lk24:47, Acts10:43, Rom3:25, Heb9:22, 10:18

Chirst’s Blood Redeems from Corruption of Sin, Heb9:14, What the Ransom Accomplished Varies:

 

Recapitulation: Humanity’s problem was that sin separated us from God, causing death due to lack of “participation” in God’s immortality. Christ in becoming human and living a human life, combined the natures of God and human in himself, thereby spiritually reuniting man and God, and saving us from death.

 

Christus Victor: Christ “fought” against all the different “powers” that hold humanity in hostage (Satan, death, sin, disease, poverty etc), and “defeated” them. He defeated sickness by healing people, he defeated poverty by helping the poor, he defeated the devil by casting out spirits, he defeated death by being resurrected etc. In this way he waged war against these things, both defeating them himself and inspiring us to do the same and not fear them.

 

Ransom from Satan: The souls of sinners are under Satan’s power, so in order to rescue us, Christ offered himself to Satan in exchange for our souls. But since Christ himself had no sin, Satan was unable to hold Christ within his power and God resurrected him from death. This view is depicted by CS Lewis in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

 

Remember: All agreed on Ransom, Example and Free Will. It Matches Scripture Perfectly!

Ransom Verses: Passages like 1 Corinthians 15:21-26, 1 Corinthians 15:55, Hebrews 2:14-15, 2 Timothy 1:10, and Matthew 27:52-53 which refer to death as an enemy, and describe Jesus' death and resurrection as being victorious over death and destroying death for believers.
Passages like Romans 6:18, Romans 8:21, Galatians 5:1, Romans 6:7, and Revelation 1:5 emphasize setting the captives free, a strong theme in the ransom theory.
Revelation 5 and 19 describe Jesus as a victorious conquering king who has conquered death.

 

Anselm’s Satisfaction theory- 1034-1109

Rejected Ransom because of ‘Paid’ to Devil aspect. Rather God was owed the Debt to satisfy His Honor

He could not freely forgive the Sinner without some form of payment or would upset His universe.

This became basics of Protestant Reformation Doctrine

 

It was further developed by Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274

The Payment (sacrifice of Christ) was a Moral response to sin. (Our sin, not His)

The Moral injustice of our sin had to be Righted before Forgiven. He Paid our Debt to God, so to speak.

Which could indeed be a ‘Substitution’  Idea: That through Christ’s Merit man now has superabundance of Grace to ‘indulge’ his ongoing sins. Thus: the theory behind Confession & Grace bestowed through the sacraments. The Soul is NEVER Delivered from Corruption of sin, but is Covered.

 

Another Aspect of this is the Moral Influence theory, .Formulated by Peter Abelard (1079-1142)

Teaches that Christ’s Death was a Moral influence on man to soften his heart and reveal God’s Love

No Divine Justice had to be Satisfied or Penalty Paid, All to lead men to Repentance by Example.

 

 

Penal Substitution: Developed by Reformers in 16th Century  (espoused by John Calvin)

This is Basics of Present Day Teaching, Both Sides of the Church embrace: Calvin & Arminian

In Which Christ’s Death was a Subsidiary Payment in our Place, whereby He became Sin, Suffered the Wrath of God, and Satisfied the Penalty of Sin (which is death)

 

The Believer is set Free from the Penal Demands of the Law because Christ took his place on the Cross.

God then has Transferred Jesus Virtue and Obedience to his account, by faith, and he now stands forgiven.

The Legal Transaction has NOTHING to do with Conduct, Merit or Sins Committed by the believer.

 

Opinions Vary with Moral Government Views vs. Penal Substitution and Predestination & Election thrown into the Mix, BUT all Agree in the Aspect of IMPUTATION of Christ’s Righteousness and Jesus Paying

Our Debt on the Cross.

 

Penal Substitution:  (Based on the born in sin doctrine)

Divine Retributive Justice had to be Satisfied in the Death of Christ on the Cross

Jesus became Sin, Suffered the Wrath and Penalty of man’s sin, died & went to hell in our place

God now Transfers His Virtue & Obedience to us by faith alone

Man is forgiven Past, Present and Future, with no further guilt or Condemnation for sinning

He is also Eternally Secure, but his Relationship & Rewards can be effected by his sin

 

Moral Government:

Retributive Justice is not necessary, but Public Justice must still be Satisfied to uphold God’s Gov

Jesus Death on Cross was not for any Penalty or Wrath but to Influence man toward Repentance

By Virtue of Christ’s Sacrifice man is compelled to Obey, (Moral influence!)

Salvation can still be withdrawn, as shown in parables, if man does not Continue in the faith

 

BOTH Provide a Substitution for man’s sin, but one exposes him to further condemnation because the

‘Penalty’ of sin (Rom6:23) is still in force.  

 

 

What Did the Early Christians Teach, Lesson 4

 

We have shown that the Doctrines of the Present Day Christian System are 100% Fallacy when compared to early times. The deadly mistake most people are making when they research these things to uncover the lies, is they begin with the Reformation. However it was during this so-called Great Awakening that MOST of the Augustinian fallacies were Codified into what we refer to as a Systematic Theology. Augustine certainly laid much of the groundwork in 3-4 Century Rome, by Blending into Christian thought the Pagan concepts of Original Sin, Predestination and Election. The Roman Church, especially in the West, adapted his teachings as Doctrine and Persecuted all dissenters out of existence over the next several 100 yrs.

 

Ask Yourself: WHICH Doctrinal Model Fits the Early Saints?

1)       Satisfaction, Substitution or Ransom rescue from corruption of sin

2)       Fallen Nature, loss of ability or Free will with ability

3)       Inbred Sin inherited from Adam or Moral Choice, Slave to whom you Obey

4)       God immutable, unchanging, predetermining everything or Interaction with Man based on choice

5)       Moral Transfer of Christ’s Virtue & Obed. Or Doing what is Right by Work working by love

6)       Sins forgiven in Advance or Man responsible for his own actions

7)       Christ becoming sin, suffering Penalty & Wrath or Offering His blood as Remission W/O Spot

 

Battleground: Forth Century Rome! The Pelagians vs Augustinians  (the roots of reformation fallacy!)

Thus far Proven: Early Saints held to: Ransom, Free Will, Repentance proven by deeds, faith working by love purifying the heart of sin, following the example of Christ and working together with God!
ALL Directly in line with Scripture: Gal5:6, 1Pet1:22, 1Cor6:1, 1Pet2:21-24, Acts15:9

 

Jude told the Early Saints to Contend Earnestly for the Faith. They took it to heart and spent much of their time Refuting the lies of the Pagan Philosophies. It Cost many of them their lives. However following the Council of Nicaea, 325AD and Constantine’s famous edit of Milan 313AD, that allowed Christians to freely practice their religion in the Empire, Corruption of Doctrine became common place in the church.

By early 4th Century the Roman Ecclesiastical System was well established and a bitter debate raged between the Augustinian mind set and Early Christian Teaching.

 

Beginning in the Reformation will Confuse all Issues debated in this era. The False Premise of the Reformers is that the Early Church was full of Heretics. From that Point of View, Man is Born a Sinner, unable to respond to God and Saved by Substitution. But again NONE of this agrees with the Bible.

 

Here is a Summary of Augustinian Doctrine espoused in 4th Century Rome:

 

Under the name of grace, they (i.e. the Augustinian Catholics) so assert fate as to say that unless God inspired unwilling and resisting man with the desire of good, and that good imperfect, he would neither be able to decline from evil nor to lay hold of good.   (Inability because of Original Sin)

 (At one point Julian made reference to Proverbs 16:1 which states "The preparation of the heart is man's part, and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.)
 
[The Augustinian Catholics] say that the law of the Old Testament was given not for the end that it might justify the obedient, but rather that it might become the cause of greater sin. (No one was ever Righteous, like Noah, Enoch, Moses, ect)


They (the Augustinian Catholics) assert that baptism, moreover, does not make men new—that is, does not give complete remission of sins; but they contend that they are partly made children of God and partly remain children of the world, that is, of the devil. (By inbred Sin)

 [The Augustinian Catholics say] that the Holy Spirit was not the assister of virtue in the Old Testament. (Scripture declares they Spoke by the Spirit of God! (2Pet1:21, 1Pet1:12)

[The Augustinian Catholics say] that all the apostles or prophets are not defined as entirely holy, but they say that they were less wicked in comparison with those that were worse; and that this is the righteousness to which God affords His testimony, so that, as the prophet says that Sodom was justified in comparison with the Jews, so also the saints exercised some goodness in comparison with criminal men.  (The stain of inbred sin makes it impossible to be pure)

 [The Augustinian Catholics say in regards to Jesus as our Advocate that this just Advocate] spoke falsely by the necessity of the flesh. (Truly Outrageous! Scripture denies Christ had any sin!)

 [The Augustinian Catholics say] that after the resurrection such is to be our progress, that there men can begin to fulfill the commands of God, which they would not here. (You remain a sinner for life)

[The Augustinian Catholics] guard the continuous propagation of souls with the continuous propagation of sin. (Sin inherited and handed down from Adam!)

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As you can easily see, to embrace Original Sin you negate Man’s Free will and Ability to Obey God. Augustine blended these fallacies into Christian Doctrine & the Reformers adopted them as Truth!

In Opposition a Bishop named Julian earnestly refuted these errors & tried to keep them out of the church, but in the end history has shown, Augustine emerged the victor & Truth was cast to the wind.

 

We (the Pelagians) confess that baptism is necessary for all ages, and that grace, moreover, assists the good purpose of everybody; but yet that it does not infuse the love of virtue into a reluctant one, because there is no acceptance of persons with God. (Free independent Will)

 We, the Pelagians, teach] that God is the Maker of all those that are born, and that the sons of men are God's work; and that all sin descends not from nature, but from the will.  (Ecc7:29)
 
We, the Pelagians, teach] that baptism is necessary for every age, so that, the creature itself may be adopted among the children of God; not because it derives anything from its parents which must be purified in the laver of regeneration.  (Sin by long practice habit, not nature, 1Pet1:18, Eph2:1-3)

[We, the Pelagians, teach] that Christ the Lord was sprinkled with no stain of sin as far as pertains to His infancy.  (1John3:5 NO sin in Him! Offered Himself W/O Spot! Heb9:14)

[In regards to this we would like to introduce the question] of the origin of the soul…
 

[We, the Pelagians, teach] that nothing of evil passed from Adam upon the rest of humanity except death, which is not always an evil, since to the martyrs, for instance, it is for the sake of rewards; and it is not the dissolution of the bodies, which in every kind of men shall be raised up, that can make death to be called either good or evil, but the diversity of merits which arises from human liberty. (Rom5:14)

(Note:Additional Information on this subject to be covered.)

[We, the Pelagians praise marriage] because the Lord says in the gospel, ‘He who made men from the beginning made them male and female, and said, Increase and multiply, and replenish the earth. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.’ (Heb13:4, Bed undefiled)

[We, the Pelagians, teach] that the old law was, according to the apostle, holy and just and good; that on those who keep its commandments, and live righteously by faith, such as the prophets and patriarchs, and all the saints, life eternal could be conferred.  (Doers shall be Justified, Rom2:13)

[We, the Pelagians, teach] that free will has not perished, since the Lord says by the prophets, 'If you be willing and will hear me, you shall eat the good things of the land: if you are unwilling, and will not hear, the sword shall devour you.' And thus, also, it is that grace assists the good purpose of any person, but yet does not infuse a desire of virtue into the reluctant heart, because there is no acceptance of persons with God.

 [We, the Pelagians, teach in opposition to Manichaeism] that baptism perfectly renews men, inasmuch as the apostle is a witness who testifies that, by the washing of water, the Church is made out of the heathen holy and spotless; that the Holy Spirit also assisted pious souls in ancient times, even as the prophet says to God, 'Your good Spirit shall lead me into the right way;' that all the prophets, moreover, and apostles or saints, as well of the New as of the Old Testament, to whom God gives witness, were righteous, not in comparison with the wicked, but by the rule of virtue; and that in future time there is a reward as well of good works as of evil. But that no one can then perform the commandment which here he may have contemned, because the apostle said, 'We must be manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things belonging to the body, according to what he has done, whether good or evil.'"

[We, the Pelagians, teach in opposition to Manichaeism] that the good God is the maker of those that are born, by whom all things were made, and that the children of men are His work."

[We, the Pelagians, teach in opposition to Manichaeism] that all sin descends not from nature, but from the will."

[We, the Pelagians, teach in opposition to Manichaeism that] the flesh of Christ [was not only truly human flesh but also] that the soul [of Christ] itself was stained by no spot of sin. (Heb2:14, 9:14)

 [We, the Pelagians, teach] that death passed to us by Adam, not sins. (Rom5:12-14)

 [We, the Pelagians, teach] that only death passed upon us by Adam's means.

 [We, the Pelagians, assert that our] enemies have taken up our words for hatred of the truth…"

[We, the Pelagians, assert that] throughout nearly the whole of the West a dogma not less foolish than impious is taken up, and from simple bishops sitting in their places without a Synodal congregation a subscription [to the decree of Pope Zosimus] is extorted to confirm this dogma.

 

Why is it Significant what the Early Fathers believed and taught?

 

1)       They immediately followed the Apostles

2)       They were Disciples of the Apostles

3)       They were VERY Familiar with the ancient writings & Pagan Philosophy

4)       They Regarded the Epistles as Scripture & were experts of the Septuagint

5)       Their Conclusions were Directly in-line with Scripture, nothing had to be twisted or stretched by conjecture to fit their doctrines.

6)       They were Pious and Holy men of sound reputation and conduct

7)       Many of them were Martyred for teaching the Truth

 

The Basics of your Understanding of Scripture will determine in what manner you will see the outcome of this 4th Century Controversy in Rome. If Augustine was Correct in blending into Christian Doctrines many of the Pagan Philosophies of his past, then the Reformers are the Bible Hero’s of History. BUT that also requires dismissing the Early Fathers as Vile Heretics! If you can do that in face of all the Evidence presented and still Cling to your Reformed Doctrines, there is little hope you will ever see the truth.

 

What Did the Early Christians Teach Lesson 5

 

What happened in Rome:

 

Julian and eighteen Italian bishops objected to Augustian doctrine.  In 417 Pope Zosimus had approved of Pelagius’ doctrines stating that there was nothing unorthodox about them. In 418 Roman Emperor Honorius outlawed Pelagianism and Zosimus in turn retracted his approval, forcing all of the bishops in the East and the West to subscribe to a document renouncing Pelagianism or else lose their sees. Julian and eighteen other bishops refused to sign and were thus deposed. This letter was a defense of the nineteen bishops as to why they had refused to support Zosimus’ document.  It began by offering an objection to Augustinian theology, which had been officially forced upon Western Christianity after Honorius had outlawed Pelagianism, and ended with an explanation of the Pelagian doctrinal position. In their presentation of the arguments they attempted to show similarities between Augustinian theology and Manichean theology in their understanding of human nature, attitude towards marriage, understanding of the law, denial of free will and attitude toward the righteous men and women of the past (referred to as the saints). The following fragments of it are preserved in Augustine of Hippo’s “Against Two Letters Of The Pelagians

 

Synopsis: This illustrates how far the Established Church had Drifted from Ancient Doctrine. The Julian Bishops who dissented seen clearly the dangers of blending Pagan Teaching into the mainstream. They made every attempt to restore sanity to the Church, but because of Political influence & Jealous opponents the stage was set for the next many thousand years for the Catholic System to silence their opposition on pain of death. The following is an exert from the letter they wrote to the Setting Pope:


I. The Doctrines of Augustine, As The Pelagians Understood Them
Those Manicheans (Julian refers to the non-Pelagians, whose chief theologian has become Augustine, as Manicheans, a clear intimidation that he has sensed a carry over of Manichean thought from Augustine into the Christian Church.  Augustine was a Manichaean himself for about nine years) say with whom now we do not communicate,—that is, the whole of them with whom we differ,—that by the sin of the first man, that is, of Adam, free will perished: and that no one has now the power of living well, but that all are constrained into sin by the necessity of their flesh.

They say also that those marriages which are now celebrated were not appointed by God, and this is to be read in Augustine’s book, against which I replied in four books. And the words of this Augustine our enemies have taken up by way of hostility to the truth.”

They say also that sexual impulse and the intercourse of married people were devised by the devil, and that therefore those who are born innocent are guilty, and that it is the work of the devil, not of God, that they are born of this diabolical intercourse. And this, without any ambiguity, is Manichaeism.”

They say that the saints in the Old Testament were not without sins,—that is that they were not free from crimes even by amendment, but they were seized by death in their guilt.”

They say that even the Apostle Paul, even all the apostles, were always polluted by immoderate lust.”

[Augustine says] that Christ even was not free from sins, but that, from the necessity of the flesh, He spoke falsely, and was stained with other faults,”

They also say that baptism does not give complete remission of sins, nor take away crimes, but that it shaves them off, so that the roots of all sins are retained in the evil flesh.”

II. A Doctrinal Statement of The Pelagians

 

In opposition to these things we daily argue, and we are unwilling to yield our consent to transgressors, because we say that free will is in all by nature, and could not perish by the sin of Adam; which assertion is confirmed by the authority of all Scriptures.”

We say that that marriage which is now celebrated throughout the earth was ordained by God, and that married people are not guilty, but that fornicators and adulterers are to be condemned. (Heb13:4, Mt19:5)

We say that the sexual impulse—that is, that the virility itself, without which there can be no intercourse—is ordained by God. (Gen1:28, 1Cor7:1-9)

We maintain that men are the work of God, and that no one is forced unwillingly by His power either into evil or good, but that man does either good or ill of his own will; but that in a good work he is always assisted by God’s grace, while in evil he is incited by the suggestions of the devil. (Deut30:19, Mt33:37)

We say that the saints of the Old Testament, their righteousness being perfected here, passed to eternal life,—that is, that by the love of virtue they departed from all sins; because those whom we read of as having committed any sin, we nevertheless know to have amended themselves. (Noah, Enoch, Moses)

We confess that the grace of Christ is necessary to all, both to grown-up people and to infants; and we anathematize those who say that a child born of two baptized people ought not to be baptized.

We condemn those who affirm that baptism does not do away all sins, because we know that full cleansing is conferred by these mysteries.

III. Conclusion
Let no one therefore seduce you, nor let the wicked deny that they think these things. But if they speak the truth, either let a hearing be given, or let those very bishops who now disagree with me condemn what I have above said that they hold with the Manicheans, as we condemn those things which they declare concerning us, and a full agreement shall be made; but if they will not, know ye that they are Manicheans, and abstain from their company.

 

The Contrast is Glaring! Augustine introduced the following fallacies into Christian Doctrine:

1)       Free Will Perish with Adam

2)       Adam’s Sin is passed down to his posterity

3)       Man is Born infected with Original Sin

4)       God is immutable & everything is Pre-determined  (election & irresistible grace)

5)       Faith comes as a Gift of God only to the Elect

 

Augustine undoubtedly is the most influential theologian in Christian History. The Reformers were Greatly influenced by him, especially Luther and Calvin. Luther, of course, was an Augustinian Monk in Germany. It is this period of history, 1500-1800, that frame the present day debate raging on the internet. Many of the ancient writings previously unavailable to us have now been translated into English and posted on line. Through these we can CLEARLY SEE the dividing lines between truth and fallacy. The Early Saints taught NONE of the Augustinian theories. In fact, well into the forth Century groups of Believers contended earnestly against these things. (as we have seen with Julian)

 

These Saints understood the extreme importance of preserving the teaching of Free Will, Moral Choice, Real Repentance and Faith and following the example of Christ. Allowing these Precious Truths to perish spelled Doom to the Genuine Salvation of the soul. But as history has shown a sinister System of Religion emerged on earth that ensnared the souls of man for generations to come. The World fell into much the same condition as found by the Holy Prophets and Christ Himself, when He came in the flesh to Israel. The entire Root became rotten and Truth was suppressed by evil men and imposters. Although the Reformation did not provide a Return to Apostolic roots it did afford us the Word of God in the languages of the common people. Through which the oppressive Catholic Church lost much of it’s strangle hold on the minds of men. Today we have inherited a System of Mass Confusion where almost anything goes! But we do have available to us reams of information not previously made public. If you are willing to Dig Deep enough into this evidence and diligently apply it to the teaching of the Lord, you can find those Roots and begin to build on the Firm Foundation. But I fear MOST of you will remain in Laodicia, wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.

 

What Did the Early Christians Teach Lesson 6

 

Why Place any Significance on the Early Fathers?

Because all of the Present Day Fallacy originated in 4th Century Rome Under Augustine! He brought in:

1)       The Fallacy of Original Sin

2)       The Fallacy the Free Will Perished with Adam

3)       The Fallacy that Sin remains inbred into our flesh even after conversion

4)       The Fallacy of  Concupiscence as sin

5)       The Fallacies of Election and Predestination

 

As a Result anyone who Now Embraces Reformed Theology MUST find support for these in the Bible!

1)       If man is Born a Sinner, the Bible has to Support it

2)       If Free Will Perished in Adam Scripture Must Prove it

3)       If Sin Remains in the Regenerated, then the Apostles Must have taught it

4)       If only the Elect will be Saved then Jesus Must have said it!

 

Thus they have Biblical Support for the following:  (taught everywhere today)

1)       Rom 7 teaches the necessity of sin in believers

2)       Rom 5 teaches all have Sinned in Adam & inherit his Guilt

3)       Rom 9 Teaches absolute individual election & reprobation

4)       Paul referred to himself as a Present Tense Chief of Sinners! (1Tim1:12-17)

5)       Christ became Sin, Suffered God’s Wrath, went to hell  (2Cor5:21)

6)       God Transfers His Virtue & Obed to the believer by faith

7)       Justification can never be withdrawn, (eternal security!)

 

Premise: IF the Bible Teaches & Supports Reformed Doctrine,WHY did the Early Saints reject these things

 

Anonymous third-century documents

Using the Roman 7 Teaching as an Example. Before Augustine it’s Impossible to find ANYONE who understood it as a ‘Christian’ struggling with a carnal or sinful inbred Nature. Now everyone holds the opposite view! Yet the Saints who immediately followed the Apostles said the following:

 

”Paul was referring in Romans 7 to his pre-Christian days as an unbelieving Jew stating that even if he has affirmed that good dwelleth not in his flesh, yet he means according to the law of the letter, in which he was; but according to the law of the Spirit, to which he annexes us, he frees us from the infirmity of the flesh.”

 

Irenaeus of Lyons (120-202) In Against Heresies connected Paul’s statement “that there dwells in my flesh no good thing” as typical of human infirmity which Jesus came to deliver men from.”

 

Clement of Alexandria (c.150-c.220), a North African Christian teacher, in Stromata, a refutation of Gnosticism, indicated his belief that when Paul emphasized the war between the law of God and the law of his mind (Rom7:22-23) it was only to show that Jesus rescues men from this through salvation [3:76-78].

 

Tertullian (c.150-240), another North African Christian leader, indicated that the Holy Spirit makes men free from the law of sin and death in our members (Rom 7:23). After this experience of being set free, "Our members, therefore, will no longer be subject to the law of death, because they cease to serve that of sin, from both which they have been set free" [On The Resurrection Of The Flesh, Ch. 46]. Elsewhere he noted his understanding that Paul was referring in Romans 7 to his pre-Christian days as an unbelieving Jew stating that "even if he has affirmed that 'good dwelleth not in his flesh,' yet he means according to 'the law of the letter,' in which he 'was'; but according to 'the law of the Spirit,' to which he annexes us, he frees us from the 'infirmity of the flesh'"[On Modesty, Ch.17].

In his commentary on Romans, Origen (185-c.254) stated, "Yet when he says, But I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin,' as if a teacher of the Church, he has now taken upon himself the persona of the weak . . . Paul becomes fleshly and sold into slavery under sin and he says the same things that are customary for them to say under the pretense of an excuse or accusation. He is therefore talking about himself as if speaking under the persona of these others . . . it seems to me that whoever assumes that these
things have been spoken under the persona of the Apostle smites every soul with hopelessness. For  there would then be absolutely no one who does not sin in the flesh. For that is what it means to serve the law of sin in the flesh.

Methodius (d.311) wrote that "the expressions: 'That which I do, I allow not,' and 'what I hate, that do I,' are not to be understood of doing evil, but of only thinking it. For it is not in our power to think or not to think
of improper things, but to act or not to act upon our thoughts. For we cannot hinder thoughts from coming into our minds, since we receive them when they are inspired into us from without; but we are able to abstain from obeying them and acting upon them. Therefore it is in our power to will not to think these things; but not to bring it about that they shall pass away, so as not to come into the mind again; for this does not lie in our power, as I said; which is the meaning of that statement, 'The good that I would, I
do not'" [The Discourse On The Resurrection: A Synopsis Of Some Apostolic Words On The Same Discourse, Part 1].

Cyril of Jerusalem (c.315-c.386) in commenting upon this passage noted for his students to "learn this also, that the soul, before it came into this world, had committed no sin, but having come in sinless, we now sin of our free-will. Listen not, I pray thee, to anyone perversely interpreting the words, But if I do that which I would not" [Catechetical Lectures, Lecture 4:19]. He then went on to quote Isaiah 1:19-20, Romans 1:19, 1:28, 6:19, Matthew 13:15, and Jeremiah 2:21. In another place Cyril commented upon how Paul used the phrase "But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity" to describe how the Devil had used the flesh against mankind since the time of Adam but that
Jesus in taking upon himself human flesh had saved man's nature [Catechetical Lectures, Lecture 12:15].

Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-c.395?) quoted Paul's words in Romans 7:14 to describe all mankind as being "sold under sin" and then in asking what was the "method of release from this" directed his readers to the new birth [On Virginity, Ch. 13].

John Chrysostom (347-407) in commenting upon this passage indicated his belief that it was a man who was living under the Law of Moses noting that, "Wherefore he went on to say, 'but I am carnal;' giving us a sketch now of man, as comporting himself in the Law, and before the Law" [Homilies On The Epistle To The Romans, Homily 13, Commentary of Romans 7:14].

 

When Pelagius was refuting Augustine around 415AD on this Subject, he challenged the great Bishop to produce ONE Saint who agreed with his understanding of Rom7,  that Paul was describing himself as a Christian. But he was unable to do so. The Prevailing interpretation of Rom7 among the early Saints was a person struggling under the law. NOT someone battling inbred sin. (which did not exist!)

 

Again ,we ask WHO are the Real Heretics?

All the Concepts of Reformed Theology, handed down to the Present Day Church from the Reformation, came out of 4th Century Rome, when the Fallacy of Original Sin was Introduced. The following Concepts can be traced without failure to Pagan Philosophy:


Predestination = Stoicism
Total Depravity = Tatian/ Gnosticism
Secret Election = Gnosticism
The Corruption of Nature = Gnosticism
Sex in Marriage is Lust = Gnosticism
The Loss of Freewill = Gnosticism

 

Thus Scripture has to be Understood in-line with these Fallacies and anything that deviates from their teaching is by necessity Heresy. Consequently the Early Saints were the worst of heretics! Because they refuted all these things. They DID NOT see Christians as Wretched Sinners, in bondage to their inbred Natures. Nor did they see individuals bond by Fate and their election Pre-Determined by God. It was the collective understanding among the early Saints that Man was created by God with Free Will and the Ability to Obey His Commands. He Did Not need to be coerced in order to Believe.

 

What makes this Doctrinal mess so difficult to unravel is its complexity spanning over many centuries. And that the entire System has descended on our present Generation in a confusing muddle of opinions. However we have the privilege of looking back and finding the origin of these teachings. With that as our advantage we can more readily discover who is in line with Apostolic teaching and who isn’t . But this requires diligence and an unbiased point of view on our part. If we approach this insisting on a Doctrinal slant it shifts the entire perspective to defending the Doctrines of men instead of the Teaching of Christ.

 

 

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