#107 – Gospel and Spiritual Growth Series
Valley – January 4 [11], 2004
THE PROVISION OF THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM OF PERSONNEL FOR THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION – XI
This message is the last of the material on error. The next messages will discuss the concept
that is inherent in "heresy."
I plan to distinguish between error and heresy. After this I plan to address the issue of
deception from the world system and how its religion is designed to deceive.
The core concept of "error" is that of wandering
or going astray. Several times I have
used the concept of "planet" (taken from the Greek word) to
demonstrate the word. A planet was a
wandering star in relation to the rest of the stars. Jude 13 uses "wandering stars"
metaphorically to describe humans. The
verb occurs 39 times and has already been studied in the last message in this
series. Three other forms exist (3.)
occurring 16 times in the text. Plane
occurs 10 times and has the idea of wandering, error, delusion, aimless
conduct, aberration. In classical Greek
it also had the idea of vacillation of action or irregularity of state or
conduct. It normally refers to a
specific mistake or to more general confusion.
Often there is evidence of a lack of discipline or restraint
accompanying the idea of the noun. The
adjective planos is found five times and is used of persons (trans.
imposter, deceiver) or an action (trans. leading astray). The masculine noun planetes is found
one time. The error involves a
perversion of revelation to make someone wander. This is done by misrepresentation or by
replacement of Scriptural truth, by mistakes in handling the Word of God and by
intentional deception. Conduct is directly
affected by the control of information through ignorance or by intention. As a result, a person or persons are made to
wander, stray, error, vacillate or roam.
The chief priests and Pharisees called Jesus a deceiver –
one who led others astray (Matt. 27:62).
They were reminded of His prediction of His resurrection after the third
day (ex. Matt.
This was an error completely contradictory to
Judaism. While they believed in the
resurrection of the dead (cf. Dan. 12), they denied the possibility that there
could be an individual resurrection.
They knew the impact on the people of a real resurrection from the dead
and even the rumor of such a resurrection.
Three passages (B.) describe deceivers in the world system
that lead people astray using the adjective form. These include men who deny that Jesus Christ
had come in the flesh and was really and absolutely human. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess
not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist (2 Jn. 7). These profess to be Christians but only lead
true Christians and others astray. Paul
was accused of being a deceiver by some.
He was confronted with a variety of contrasting conditions as he
ministered. He was accused of being one
who led others astray by some while others saw him as true. By honour and dishonour, by evil report and
good report: as deceivers,
and yet true (2 Cor. 6:8). Fallen
spirit beings actively are functioning in the world system and its
religions. Now the Spirit speaketh
expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving
heed to seducing
spirits, and doctrines of devils (1 Tim. 4:1).
There are some Christians who depart from the teaching that gives them
the mechanisms to have victory over the sin nature (i. e. the faith) because of
the involvement of fallen spirit beings and their doctrines that are presented
for faith and not for practice – the doctrine of demons. Such teaching is supernatural in that it
comes from spirit beings who are manipulating the world system.
Error from world system Christian religion brings change
in the lives of those who hear it and accept it. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these
things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall
from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now
and for ever. Amen (2 Pe.
There is a clear difference between the error that comes
from world system Christianity and the true revelation from God. Paul's message to saints was not polluted by
the error of the world system nor were his motives unclean or designed to
deceive. But even after that we had
suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we
were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of
uncleanness, nor in guile: But
as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak;
not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts (1 Th. 2:2-4). God will send an energy of error or wandering
in the tribulation period. And for this
cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie (2 Th. 2:11). The relationship of a believer to the Holy
Spirit who is the Spirit of truth is possible because of an experiential
knowledge of God the Father. They are of
the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God
heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error (1 Jn. 4:5,
6). The saint should recognize and
identify the fact that a fallen spirit being is the source of information that
leads him or her astray.
The people of Sodom and Gomorra were sexual deviants and
such deviation is identified as wandering or err in Rom. 1:27. And likewise also the men, leaving the
natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men
working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of
their error which
was meet. God righteously rewarded them
for their err by the direct destruction of the cities and people.
Teaching that comes from world system Christianity is
carefully designed to make a believer wander.
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness
of Christ: That we henceforth
be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind
of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to
deceive; But speaking the
truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ
(Eph. 4:13-15). This involves a
determined plan or preparation of methods that will lead astray (Gk.) and leave
saints inarticulate babblers that are tossed all over with every wind of
doctrine for faith but not for practice.
The option is clear in the context.
For a believer, the option is spiritual growth in Christ in all
things. False teachers are involved with
teaching that leads saints astray exhibiting an attitude problem. For when they speak great swelling words of
vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness,
those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them
liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is
overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage (2 Pe.
The structure of the outline gives more details and will
help clarify the concepts related to err or wandering. Error directly affects one's spiritual
life. It prevents spiritual growth. It has permeated Christendom and continually
assaults true believers. World system
religion is one of many mechanisms that Satan and demons use to move a believer
from a God-glorifying life to a life of wandering and delusion.
THE PROVISION OF THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM OF PERSONNEL FOR THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION – XI
ROOTS FOR UNDERSTANDING ERROR IN THE NEW TESTAMENT – II
False Teachers of Human Moral Religion
1 John 2:15
Proposition: To examine the nouns and adjectives for error and their relationship to revelation as it is revealed in the New Testament.
Introduction
A. The Core Concept of "Error"
1. The Significance of "Wandering" or "Going Astray" ex. Jude 13
2. The Strength of the 39 Occurrences of the Verb
a. Actively Wandering
b. Being Made to Wander
c. Wandering on One's Own Behalf
3. The Statement of the Noun and Adjective Forms
a. The Feminine Noun pla,nh (plane) – 10 times
b. The Masculine Adjective/Noun pla,noj (planos) – 5 times
c. The Masculine Noun planh,thj (planetes) – one time
B. The Concentration on the Perversion of Revelation
1. By Misrepresentation
2. By Replacement
3. By Mistakes
4. By Deception
C. The Control of the Information
1. By Ignorance (?)
2. By Intention
D. The Consequences of the Perversion of Revelation – Wandering, Straying, Error,
Vacillation, Roaming
TRANS: The next point in the third point in this section begun a month ago. We now pick up the places where there is an indication of error that can lead people astray from the standard of divine revelation.
III. THE NOUN CONCEPT
OF ERROR IN NEW TESTAMENT REVELATION – THE POSITION AND PERSONS OF INFORMATION
THAT MAKE ONE WANDER – THE DEVIATION INHERENT IN INFORMATION, INSTRUCTION AND
INSTRUCTORS
A. Doctrinal Deviation from the Standards of Traditional Judaism – Matt. 27:62-64
1. The Identification of Christ as a Deceiver – vs. 63
2. The Implication of the Disciples with Potential Theft – vs. 64
3. The Importance of Preventing a Third Day
"Resurrection" (cf. Matt.
B. The Descriptions of Deceivers by the Adjective/Noun
1. Present Deceivers in the World System – 2 Jn. 7
2. The Depreciation of Paul as a Deceiver – 2 Cor. 6:8
3. The Doctrine from Spirit Beings – 1 Tim. 4:1
C. The Deviation of One Who Wanders from Divine Truth
1. The Potential to Fall from Stability That Comes from Experiential Knowledge –
2
Pe.
a. Their Condition: Experiential Knowledge
b. The Admonition: Guard
c. The Potential: To Be Led Away / Seduced
d. The Mechanism: Error of the Unrestrained / Lawless
e. The Result: Fall from Your Own Firmness
f. The Standard: Grow in Grace and the Experiential Knowledge of Our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ
2. The Problem with the Sinner in the Error of His Way – "Out of" – Jas. 5:19, 20
a. The Involvement of a Believer with a Sinning Believer Turning Him Back to
the Truth – vs. 19
b. The Isolation of the Sinning Believer from Physical Death by Turning Him
from the Error of His Way – vs. 20
D. The Distinctiveness Between the Error of the World System and Revelation from God
1. The Presentation of Paul Was Not in Error – 1 Th. 2:3
2. The Prediction of God's Sending an Energy of Error So that People in the
Tribulation Period Will Believe the Lie – 2 Th. 2:11
3. The Perception of True Believers – 1 Jn. 4:6
a. We Experientially Know the Spirit of Truth
b. We Experientially Know the Spirit of Error
c. We Distinguish the Messages
E. The Sexual Deviation of
F. The Devious Doctrine That Is Designed to Make One Wander
1. The Need for Full Experiential Knowledge to Counter Error – Eph. 4:14
a. The Potential to No Longer Be Inarticulate Babblers
b. The Position of Inarticulate Babblers
(1) Being Blown by Every Wind of Doctrine Not for Practice
(2) Being Carried Around by Every Wind of Doctrine Not for Practice
c. The Program for Doctrine Not for Practice
(1) By the Sleight of Men – Taking a Chance on the Teaching of Men
(2) By the Scheming that Works to Its Own Ends
(3) Toward the Methodologies Coming from Error
d. The Plan of God for Spirituality and Growth – vss. 13, 15
2. The Nature of the Teaching of False Teachers
and Error – 2 Pe.
a. Their Over Inflated Teaching of Uselessness
b. Their Attempted Trapping by the Lust of the Flesh
c. Their Advertised Trickery by Excesses of the Flesh
d. The Divine Transition Bringing Escape from Those Who Live in Error
e. The Evident Territory of the False Teacher Living in Error
f. Their Ongoing Teaching of
Corruption – vs. 19
TRANS: The noun concepts indicate an error that is evident (to someone) that can be named. This error should be evident to the spiritual believer so that he or she can react to it in a proper way. This is different than heresy though it often leads to heresy.
© by David K.
Spurbeck