"COUNTERFEIT CHURCH" PART 4

                          " MASTER DECIEVER "
Scripture reveals that those who promoted these lawless principles were influenced by an unseen spirtitual power, satan the devil. Paul said: "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" (2 Cor 11)...
Satan hates God's law. "He is a master deciever". Naturally, he will spare no effort to infiltrate the Church Christ founded.
To accomplish his purpose, "satan uses people to mislead other people". It is easy for him to influence human beings who desire to teach others when they are motivated by personal ambition. This is especially true if they( lack) a proper understanding of the Scriptures. Satan simply takes advantage of their desire to be spiritual teachers. He seduces susceptible individuals to pay lip service to Christ while creating their own new sets of beliefs and ignoring or disobeying portions of God's laws.
Paul told Timothy to "charge some that they teach no other doctrine" and have a "pure heart", "good conscience" and "sincere faith"... from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm" (1 Tim 1:3, 6-7).
Misguided leaders can and do accept doctrines that in their mind permit them to break some of God's commandments. "Then they persuade others to believe as they do". Through the devil's influence, they convince themselves that their concepts are righteous---that God is pleased with them. They believe their own false doctrines that they teach. Paul says, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of satan... with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because, they did not recieve the love of the truth( or did not have a love for the truth) that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie" (2Thess 2). I'm sure none of these misguided teachers percieves he is in reality pushing satan's agenda!
Lawlessness is the centerpiece of satan's counterfeit doctrines. His purpose is to convince people that they are serving Christ while cutting them off from salvation by clouding their understanding of sin so they will continue in sin---so they will practiced at least some degree of lawlessness.
To accomplish his purpose, satan sways people to believe his deceptions (1John 5:19; Rev 12:9). Satan
retains just enough truth in his doctrines, to persuade people they are following Christ. But he introduces just enough error to prevent them from living the way that God requires as a condition for inheriting eternal life.
Pastor salvation is one of the craftiest ways satan has decieved people, because, most people trust their pastors and are more likely these days, to not (refer) to their Bibles for their convictions but, instead follow the opinions of leaders that they look up to! But, this is another topic that I will talk about possibly in the future.
                                             ~ Church Of God ~

"COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANITY" PART 3

                       "A DIFFERENT GOSPEL GAINS GROUND"
The impact of distorted teachings devastated the early Church. Christians in Galatia turned from the teachings of the apostle Paul to a corrupted, cunningly devised but counterfeit gospel promoted by these false apostles. Paul described the approach they used and the effect the false teachers had on Christians in Galatia: " I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ " (Galatians 1:6-7)...
The brethren in that area were being swept into one of the many sects making up the emerging false Christianity. Paul had to contend with religious strife from the Jewish and gentile in the Galatian congregations.
These cunning pretenders did not reject outright the gospel Paul taught. They simply perverted aspects of it. then they seduced the Galatian Christians into accepting their gospel---a deadly mixture of truth and error. It contained enough error to prevent anyone who would accept it from recieving salvation.
Notice Paul's condemnation of that "different" gospel: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached, let him be accursed". As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have recieved, let him be accursed" (vs, 8-9)... Jesus warned His apostles this would happened: " Then many false prophets will arise up and decieve many. And because (lawlessness) will abound, the love of many will grow cold" (Matt 24). Jesus explained that lawlessness, the key element in the message of the false teachers, would finally become the foundation of a popular and successful counterfeit christianity...
The false prophets devised their message and doctrines by verbally acknowledging Jesus as "Lord" while refusing to obey Him (Luke 6:46). Jesus Himself warned of their decietful, cunning approach: " Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but (inwardly) they are ravenous wolves" (Matt 7:15). Jesus made it clear that teachers of lawlessness, who outwardly appear as innocent sheep performing religious acts, are not His apostles or servants: "For many will say to Me in that day 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name, cast out demons in Your Name, and done many wonders in Your Name?' and then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"...            

                                                   ~Church Of God~

" COUNTERFEIT CHURCH " PART 2

            "SABOTAGE FROM WITHIN"
As the apostles strove to establish more congregations of believers among the nations, a phenomenon arose that produced an (outwardly) christian religion--quite different from the Church Jesus and His apostles established.  New and different doctrines were (subtly) introduced.  Some began subverting (sabotaging) the Church by challenging and contradicting the teachings of the apostles. Paul said: " For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and decievers, especially those (of the circumcision), whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain" (Titus 1). To counter this subverting, Paul instructed Titus to carefully consider the background, knowledge and character of anyone being considered for ordination: "Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work and word, he must be blameless... He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it" (Titus 1:7,9)...

"Increasingly", false apostles began contradicting and undermining the teachings of the true apostles of Christ. Paul cautioned the church in Rome: " I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions (discord) and offenses, in opposition to the (teaching) that you have learned; (avoid them). For such people do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they decieve the hearts of the simple-minded.  Competing religious leaders, masquerading as ministers of Christ began teaching their own false doctrines. Simon the Sorcerer was one such false teacher mentioned early in the scriptures. After his baptism by Philip, Simon attempted to buy the office of apostle from Peter, hoping to obtain the power to grant others the Holy Spirit. Motivated by greed for power and influence, he faked his conversion, was baptized, to appear to be Christian ! (Acts 8). Later sources indicate that he blended elements of paganism and mysticism into a counterfeit Christian philosophy. A dangerous trend was established in the church, and soon "false apostles, "false teachers" and "false brethren" abounded. A counterfeit christianity was born. And it continues to grow this day..

In saying his farewell to the elders in Ephesus, Paul stated: "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock! (Acts 20)... As one Pastor put's it; "the devil is raising the level of deception in this country/church and he is trying to pervert the ways of God and cause us to remove all of the boundries of holiness and righteousness for the sake of "mammon"...   ~Church Of God~

" COUNTERFEIT CHURCH "

           " Take heed that no one decieves you.  For many will come in My name... and will decieve many "

                                                                     Matt 24: 4-5

People assume that all, or at least almost all, who bear the name Christian follow the beliefs, teachings and practices of Jesus Christ. But the Bible tells us that not everyone who accepts the name of Jesus is really a Christian!  Jesus said; that some would claim His name but deny Him by their actions. He said they would "call Me 'Lord, Lord," but "not do the things which I say" (Luke 6).  Jesus and His apostles spoke of false prophets, false apostles and a false brethen. They revealed that two opposing religions would emerge, both claiming to be Christian. One--the actual Church (people) Jesus founded--would be led by God's Spirit and remain faithful to His teachings.  The other--guided and influenced by a different spirit--would accept the name of Jesus but twist His teachings to create a convincing counterfeit of the Church...  Both would use Jesus name and claim His authority. Both would perform works that would outwardly appear good. Both would claim to be following Jesus true teachings. But only one would faithfully represent Him (Jesus Christ). The apostles repeatedly warned Jesus followers to be aware of false teachers who would introduce this counterfeit Christian belief. Jesus Himself warned: "Take heed that no one decieves you. For many will come in My name... and decieve many"... Where do most churches get their teachings and practices? Most of us assume they come from the Bible, Jesus Christ Himself and The Holy Spirit but do they? Jesus commanded His apostles to teach others exactly what He taught them--"teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matt 28). He condemned the replacing of God's commandments with the traditon of man and his human reasoning. Speaking to religious leaders of His day, He said: "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men... All to well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition"(Mark 7).He warned: "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied (preached) in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness"!! (Matt 7). He knew that false teachers would arise and reject the commandments of God for a distorted gospel of NO LAW-- lawlessness!! Like Jesus, the apostles consistently taught obedience to God.  Peter and the others risked their lives to make it clear that "we ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5). Paul later cautioned members of the congregation in Colosse to hold fast to what he  had taught them: "As you have therefore recieved Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in faith, as you have been taught" (Colossians 2).  Paul warned: " Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ"...

Why would Jesus Christ and His apostles sound such urgent warnings to avoid the traditions of men? It's in your Bible !!  "That's why it's so important to study the word of God for yourself "...  Jesus not only promised He would build His church, but He assured His disciples that His Church would not perish.  The promise that" the gates of hell shall not prevail " should be consisdered a guarantee that those who believe on His name and stand on His word will always seek the narrow path....   ~Church Of God~