#102 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – November 16, 2003

THE PROVISION OF THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM OF PERSONNEL FOR THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION – VII

Teachers of world system religion functioning in Christendom are in the business of attempting to make Christians wander from God's truth. There are two passages that identify the conduct and true character of these teachers. These are the focus of this message. These teachers pervert doctrine by making that which is addressed to other peoples in the Bible the rules for the practice of Christians and by adding their own teaching. Often their motive is a profit motive as will be seen in these verses. The teaching of these teachers substitutes world system teaching for teaching concerning grace present tense salvation for true Christians. Unbelievers (tares etc.) in Christendom find gratification for their religious works of the flesh in this false teaching that leads people astray. In other words, these teachers replace the teaching ministry of the Spirit of God ("anointing") with human, world system instruction. This was done in the early church in several instances by their teach of Jewish myths and the commandments of men as a basis for Christian practice. This teaching directly affects the believer's way of thinking and is designed to replace the truth with "boot-strap" works salvation for the present tense and often the future tense. They deceive by deliberately modifying the truth and by clothing their teaching and message with that which appears to be truth. They misdirect by channeling the believer's mind in wrong directions redirecting it from divine revelation. The teaching of false teachers is organized to infiltrate the church. They are not repulsive, egocentric, vile, ugly men. They come costumed as messengers of God and righteousness. They appear as acceptable, nice guys who say, "I want to be your friend." "I like you." I want you to be happy." Even so their teaching is destructive ruining the spiritual lives of real Christians while pacifying unbelievers in the local church.

Much of their teaching is of human origin with some supernatural assistance. 1 John 2:26, 27 teaches that these men attempt to override the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit in lives of grace believers. The appeal to the religious works of the flesh and grab carnal Christians in their clutches giving them a heave dose of instruction in alternative Christianity. Christians need to be reminded that the world system and its strong desires are passing away (2:16). This provides additional motivation for the believer to "Stop loving the world system (2:15)." The one who is doing the will of God feels at ease into the age. John goes on the address the issue of antichrists. the "anti" prefix can mean either "in place of" or "against." I believe that the teachers come as replacements of Christ (2:18). They try to replace Christ. They had infiltrated the church or Christian circles yet in reality they were not out of the church and so they departed. The believer has an anointing from the Holy One and has the potential to intuitively know all things (2:20). This anointing involves the indwelling ministry of the Divine Teacher, the Holy Spirit. What are the "all things" in 2:20? I believe that this goes back to verse 17 and involves knowing all things pertaining to the desirous will of God in the life of the believer. Verse 27 picks up the all things again concerning the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. John addresses Christians that know the truth (2:21). The one who is the antichrist denies that Jesus is the Glorified Resurrected One, the Christ (2:22)and so denies the Father (2:23). "Let that which you heard from the beginning feel at ease in you. If that which you heard from the beginning feels at ease in you, you will feel at ease in the Son and in the Father [2:24 – my translation]." The "beginning" goes back to the beginning of grace revelation in the Upper Room in John 13-17. Notice that the verse teaches that grace believers have positions in the Son and in the Father. It is interesting that John uses "in the Son" using the eternal name. We have a position in the Person. It is unusual to find "in the Son" used with reference to "in Christ" truth. Usually it is in Christ, in Christ Jesus etc. The reason is that there are those who had falsely taught that Jesus was not resurrected and so not God. There must be a balance in understanding the natures of the Second Person. He is one Person who now possesses two natures a real divine nature and a real human nature. Heresies on either side denying the reality of either are still heresies. Verse 26 deals with teachers of the world system. "These things I have written you concerning the ones who are causing you to wander [or are leading you astray]." Teachers of the world system are in the business of making true Christians wander or err. They do not want a believer to be taught by the Holy Spirit. Such teaching completely contradicts their attempts to make Jesus Christ someone He isn't and His provisions of no effect. They attempt to prevent the believer from living as spiritual, maturing believers in present tense salvation.

The next passage is Titus 1:9-16. One of the best reasons for having a qualified bishop (or pastor) is because of the threat of false and erroneous teaching. A man who knows the Bible and the two kinds of doctrine in it will be more capable of protecting the flock than one who doesn't. Paul addresses Timothy who is a fellow apostle sent to Crete to help establish churches and to appoint bishops for the churches. [He could do this because he was an apostle.] Paul gives him a list of requirements for the office of bishop establishing the divine standards for the office holder. Verse nine makes it clear in the Greek text that such a man must clearly know, understand and teach the difference between doctrine to be believed and practiced and doctrine believed but not practiced. My translation of 1:9 in the outline shows the distinctions between the two in grace revelation. Doctrine to be believed and practiced is the foundation that should be firmly in the grasp of the bishop. Healthy doctrine to be believed but not practiced is a source of encouragement. This conforms to the use of the Old Testament described in Romans 15:4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (AV).

The core problem is that there are "many" with which a bishop must deal. By the accurate teaching of the word he can prevent their teaching from coming in. The saints who have learned the Word of God accurately divided will immediately reject the false teaching of the teachers influenced by the doctrines of world system religion. This is preventative medicine. Furthermore he has the ability to confront the false teachers openly with the right kind of doctrine from God. 1:10 gives three characteristics of these men. For there are many (1) unruly and (2) vain talkers and (3) deceivers, specially they of the circumcision (AV): "Unruly" means "insubordinate, not living under authority, not willing to accept order." They are their own men in their views and clearly unwilling to completely submit to biblical authority though they accept Satanic world system authority. They are useless talkers – what they teach has no value for the Christian life from God's perspective. They are deceivers. This means that what they say is designed to affect the believer's reflective thinking or frame of mind by deceit misleading the believer. Those that confronted the churches on Crete especially included the Judaizers i. e. those of the circumcision. Paul tells Timothy that the mouths of such need to be plugged or stopped up in order to preserve the churches. They overthrow whole households by their teaching. A good example of this problem is seen in 2 Tim. 2:15-20 where Hymenaeus and Philetus overthrew [same word as in Titus 1:14] the faith of some. By teaching an error in eschatology ("the resurrection is already past") they destroyed the capability of believers from having and using that body of teaching that gives the information concerning how to have victory over one's spiritual enemies ("the faith"). Interestingly enough Paul tells Timothy that they do these things for financial gain – the latest fad brings in lucrative amounts of money.

Paul then cites one of the Cretans own prophets. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies (AV). He affirms the validity of the statement. He expects Titus to reprove, rebuff, convince, convict, rebuke (all concepts in the word "rebuke") them with severity with the purpose that they may be healthy in the faith (that body of doctrine that tells the believer how to have victory over the three enemies). Paul warns Titus not to pay attention to (1:14) Jewish myths and commandments of men that perverting or overthrow [lit throw down –cf. vs. 11] the truth. "The truth" is a limited part of "the faith" that involves doctrine that tells the believer how to overcome the sin nature or flesh. This is the truth that sets one free from the sin nature.

The spiritual state of these individuals is evident in 1:15, 16. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled [or impure] and unbelieving [unfaithful or unreliable] is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled [or polluted].¹⁶They profess [lit. confess] that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable [loathed or detestable], and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate [disapproved](AV).

These teachers have a wonderful appearance on the outside and communicate their error well. Yet underneath the external veneer they are filled with evil as they willfully oppose God and His program for Christians and their present tense salvation. They are conspicuous as they lead their religious fads in the name of Christianity yet they are subtly sabotaging the Christian lives of true saints. Every religious fad in Christendom is operated by those who are false teachers who are either unsaved or believers living in their sin nature as defeated saints.

I have used a current fad in Christendom for illustrations in these messages. Thousands of churches are actively involved in the 40-day program presented in Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Church book. There is at least one error on every two pages (and I am being generous). He uses a multitude of translations to push his bootstrap points. If there is an inaccurate translation available, he uses it to make his points. The gospel concerning Jesus Christ is not presented though the word "gospel" is used and there is reference to 1 Cor. 15:1-4 or all of the facts of the Gospel of salvation. The book generates loyalty to church and a works type of present tense salvation without the effective ministry of the Holy Spirit and is an excellent illustration of false teaching concerning the faith and the truth.

THE PROVISION OF THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM OF PERSONNEL FOR THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION – VII

False Teachers of Human Moral Religion

1 John 2:15

Proposition: To examine the conduct and character of false teachers that represent the world system as they infiltrate the church and attempt to influence believers with their error.

Introduction

A. The Teaching of False Teachers Attempts to Make Saints Wander from God's Truth

1. By Substitution of Doctrine to Be Believed for That Which Is Believed and

Practiced

2. By Instruction that Produces Personal Gain

B. The Teaching of False Teachers Arranges for a Substitute for Present Tense Salvation

1. By Replacing the Anointing of the Spirit with Human Instruction

2. By Relating Jewish Myths and Commandments of Men

C. The Teaching of False Teachers Messes with the Believers Mind

1. Deception

2. Misdirection

D. The Teaching of False Teachers Is Organized to Infiltrate the Church

TRANS: The teaching of error can lead to the very essentials of God's provisions for living the Christian life in present tense salvation. John describes several characteristics of a variety of teachers of error that can confront grace believers.

I. THE IMPLICATIONS OF TEACHING THAT IS OF HUMAN ORIGIN – THE POTENTIAL FOR THOSE TEACHERS WHO LEAD ASTRAY BY DESIGN – THE CONTRADICTION WITH THE MINISTRY OF THE ANNOINTING THAT TEACHES TRUTH – DISALLOWING THE INDWELLING TEACHER – 1 John 2:26, 27

A. The Temporary Influence of the World System – 2:17

B. The Natural Isolation of the Church from Those Replacing Christ – 2:18, 19

C. The Divine Implementation of the Anointing and Knowledge – 2:20

D. The Clear Information Known Proves Reality – 2:21-25

1. Christians Know the Truth – 2:21

2. Non-Christians Deny That Jesus is the Glorified Resurrected One and Do Not Have

the Father – 2:22, 23

3. Christians Can Feel at Ease in the Son and in the Father – 2:24, 25

E. The Expected Invasion of the Ones Causing the Saints to Wander – 2:26

1. Their Objective – Lead Astray

2. The Objects – "You" Christians

F. The Certain Instruction by the Anointing That Makes One a Christian – 2:27

1. The Possession of the Anointing

2. The Freedom from Human Teaching

3. The Communication of the Anointing

4. The Relaxation in Christ

a. Position

b. Possessions

G. The Real Intention of False Teaching to Cause Wandering from Provisions for Present

Tense Salvation

TRANS: A qualified bishop must have an ability to distinguish between the two types of doctrine in the New Testament and to know how to teach them accurately. This provides the saints with the necessary information to discern false teaching and its encroachment in their lives.

II. THE IMPORTANCE OF A QUALIFIED BISHOP TO PROVIDE ACCURATE TEACHING – THE PROGRAM OF FALSE TEACHERS WHO OVERTHROW HOUSEHOLDS BY TEACHING INACCURATE DOCTRINE – THE COUNTERING OF ACCURATE DOCTRINE BY FALSE TEACHERS AND THEIR TEACHING – Titus 1:9-16

A. The Requirement for a Bishop to Maintain a Firm Hold on the Accurate Presentation of

Two Types of Teaching – 1:9 [see translation]

1. The Reliable Word as Measured by Doctrine to Be Believed and Not Practiced

2. The Double Potential of Inherent Power

a. To Encourage by Healthy Doctrine to Be Believed and Not Practiced

b. To Reprove Those Who Speak in Opposition (cf. vs. 13)

Titus 1:9 Holding firmly to the faithful word according to (or down from) the doctrine to be believed and practiced, in order that he may possibly be able (or have the power) both to be exhorting by the healthy doctrine to be believed but not practiced and to be convincing the ones who are contradicting (or speaking against) [Pastor Spurbeck's translation].

B. The Reason for the Requirement – 1:10-11

1. The Existence of Many – 1:10

a. Insubordinate Men Accepting No Authority

b. Useless Talkers

c. Deceivers of the Mind

d. Especially the Ones Out of the Circumcision

2. The Expectation for the Necessity to Stop the Mouths – 1:11a

3. The Extent of the Influence of Their Teaching – 1:14b

a. Overthrow Whole Households

b. Teach Unnecessary Things for "Base Gain"

C. The True Revelation Concerning Cretans by Their Own Prophet – 1:12, 13a

1. Cretans Are Always Liars

2. Cretans Are Evil [Lacking in Character] Beasts

3. Cretans Are Idle Gluttons

4. The Testimony Is True – 1:13a

D. The Responses of Titus to These False Teachers of the World System – 1:13b, 14

1. Reprove Them

a. With Severity

b. With the Purpose That They May Be Healthy in the Faith

2. Not Paying Attention to:

a. Jewish Myths

b. The Commandments from Men

c. Turn From Them

E. The Recognition of Their Spiritual State – 1:15

1. Defiled = Impure

2. Unfaithful = Unreliable – Nothing Is Unclean

3. Reject or Turn Away from the Truth

4. They Are in a State of Being Defiled

a. Their Mind

b. Their Conscience

5. They Confess to Know God – 1:16

6. By Their Works They Deny Him

7. Being

a. Loathed/Detestable = Abominable

b. Disobedient

c. Disapproved in Every Good Work

TRANS: Most of these false teachers openly confront grace believers with the intent of keeping them from maturing spiritually. They offer unrighteous options to God's provisions for Christian maturity. They delude some saints and ruin their potential for spiritual growth by preventing them from living in their present tense salvation as God has provided.

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119