#106 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – December 14, 2003

                                                                                                                                                           

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

The Old Testament used the idea of wandering, going astray or erring of animals:  the ox and the ass (Ex. 23:4) and sheep (Psa. 119:110; Isa. 53:6; Matt. 18:12, 13).  At the end of last week's message I set up a bridge from the OT to the NT concepts.  This was done by way of Isa. 53:6 that describes Israel as wandering sheep and 1 Pe. 2:25 that describes grace believers as sheep.  The Peter passage is directly linked to the Isaiah passage in its immediate context.  I sang The Ninety and Nine in the introduction to illustrate wandering in the OT and linked it to the NT.  This passage covers the occurrences of the Greek verb planao (to lead astray, wander, err) in grace revelation [Jn. 13-Rev. 3 = passages for the Church].  Two of these (Heb. 3:10; 11:38) refer back to the Dispensation of Law.  This leaves 15 passages for our consideration.  This Greek verb provides a multitude of opportunities for developing its teaching.  The grammar of the verb provides important potentials in grace revelation.  The verb is found in the present (continuous present action – 13x) and 1st aorist (punctiliar or point action – 2x).  It is found in the active (actively going astray – 3x – all in 1 John), passive (being led astray – 7x) and middle (leading oneself astray – 5x) voices.  The verb is also in the indicative (statement of reality – 2x), the subjunctive (possibility – Jas. 5:19) and imperative (strong suggestion – 5x) moods.  All of these flavor the idea of the verb and provide substantial directions for study. 

 

The Holy Spirit compares spiritual things with spiritual words for the maturing believer who is spiritual.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things [neut.] with spiritual [words=masc.] (1 Cor. 2:13).

The NT mysteries are for the maturing believer (2:6, 7).  The Spirit teaches "things that God has prepared for them that are loving Him (2:9).  He "compares." He puts them together and comes to an accurate conclusion or judgment.  He fits the Scripture together rightly dividing the Word in His teaching ministry.  Error, on the other hand, takes information that is not addressed to Christians and attempts to integrate it with Christian truth.  The world system is like soap, an emulsifier, that makes it possible for oil and water to mix.  The result is that there is no distinction between oil and water and results in an indistinguishable blob.  The world system may use flagrant error but more often than not it is like the leaven of the scribes and Pharisees.  It subtly permeates objective truth making it subjective error.

 

Before salvation all believers were wanderers in their unsaved state.  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another (Tit. 3:3).  2 Tim. 3:12, 13 describes the fact that as time goes along the godly will be persecuted and malignantly evil men progress or advance worse and worse.  These men will actually lead people astray making them wander while they themselves are being led astray.  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. The need for a high priest comes from the fact that he needs to have the ability to have compassion on the ignorant and those who are led astray.   Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity (Heb. 5:2). There is a possibility [subjunctive] that one might err from the truth.  What is the truth?  It is that body of doctrine that tells a believer how to have victory over his sin nature.  In John 8:32, 34 Jesus anticipates the future provision of the truth that sets one free from the sin nature.  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin [nature].

 

The next part of the message moves to the five imperatives (C.).  Four are second person plural middle prohibitive imperatives – Stop leading yourselves astray or erring for yourselves.  The fifth is a third person prohibitive imperative – Stop letting any one lead you astray (1 Jn. 3:7).  1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 warns the Corinthian believers against being led into err concerning the constituents of the kingdom of God.  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  Ten persons who are characterized in a certain way [their lifestyle identifies them] will not inherit the kingdom of God.  Some of the Corinthians had been saved from these lifestyles.  And such were (continually) some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:11).

In the middle of the resurrection material of 1 Cor. 15 Paul warns the Corinthians concerning leading themselves astray.  "Stop leading yourselves astray, bad (lacking in character) companions corrupt [or rot] good habits (or customs – 1 Cor. 11:16) (1 Cor. 15:33).  The "eat and drink today for tomorrow we die" philosophy will rot or decay the one who affiliates with those who hold that position (15:32).  What one plants is what he produces.  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap Gal. 6:7). James 1:16 says: Do not err, my beloved brethren.  Do not wander.  The preceding context describes wavering in communication with God (1:6), the two-souled who is unstable in all of his ways (1:8) and the process leading from temptation to sin [an act] (1:13-15).  All of those can make a Christian wander yet God does not change and in Him is no place of shifting or change (AV "variableness") (1:17).  John warns his spiritual children concerning those who redefine righteousness.  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous (1 Jn. 3:7) [cf. 2 Cor. 5:4]. 

 

There are two excellent illustrations of those who make others go astray.  Balaam and those like him lead people astray for money.  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness (2 Pe. 2:15).  Jezebel in the church at Thyratira was permitted to teach and lead God's servants astray with a pair of purposes.  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols (Rev. 2:20).  As a result, some evidently were involved with fornication and eating things offered to idols. 

 

The impact of active error is seen in 1 John.  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 Jn. 1:8). The verb is active and followed by a reflexive pronoun ("ourselves").  We are actively leading ourselves astray.  The problem lies in the denial of the possession of a sin nature.  If a person did not have a sin nature, that body of doctrine provided for bringing victory over the sin nature is not applicable.  A Christian that denies the existence of the sin nature can never be spiritual because he cannot apply the doctrine properly to his life to become spiritual.  This is a problem with those who believe that one loses his or her sin nature at salvation and those who believe that a second work of grace removes either the power of the sin nature or the sin nature itself producing "sinless perfection."  Again reference is made to "the truth" again.  Aggressive teachers of error attempt to replace the Holy Spirit as the Divine Teacher (1 Jn. 2:26, 27).  These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him (1 Jn. 2:26, 27).

 

We were like sheep that wandered aimlessly before salvation.  "For we continually were like sheep continually wandering, but you have turned (not "returned" AV) to the Shepherd-Overseer of our souls."  Wandering, being led astray is initiated through the soul – the seat of the emotions.  Our relationship to Jesus Christ helps prevent wandering.  Be reminded that Peter teaches two important truths concerning the soul.  (1) The soul of the believer isn't saved yet.  It is the last thing to be saved (1 Pe. 1:9).  (2) The sin nature/flesh wars against the soul (1 Pe. 2:11).

 

Erring may involve ignorance or it may involve intention and often both.  The world system is uses any method it can contrive to make people wander leading them astray in the realm of religion and morals.  It is designed to keep a believer from applying the truth and thus to have the opportunity to become spiritual.  The next message will involve the study of the cognate noun plane which adds even more information concerning error.

 

 

 

Anticipating glorification together with Him,

 

 

DKS

 

 

 

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

 

 

ROOTS FOR UNDERSTANDING ERROR IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

 

False Teachers of Human Moral Religion

 

1 John 2:15

 

Proposition:   To develop the concepts of error or wandering in the Old and New Testaments and to demonstrate how error is a mechanism of the world system's religious elements.

 

        Introduction

              A. The Ongoing Connection of Terms for Error with False Teaching

              B. The Contrived Control of the Program for Error

                  1.  Recruitment for World System Religion

                  2.  Removal from Biblical Christianity and Biblical Absolutes

                  3.  Retention of Religious Distraction

                  4.  Reception of an Advantage on the Part of the Deceiver

              C. The Old Testament Concepts of the Terms

                  1.  The Verb --  h['T' (tahah) – 50 times

                       a.  Cause to Wander – Hifil – 21 times

                       b.  Actively Wander – Qal – 27 times

                       c.  Be Made to Wander – Nifal – 2 times

                  2.  The Noun -- h['wOT (toah) – 2 times (Neh. 4:8; Isa. 32:6)

                  3.  The Translations – wander, go astray, seduced, err, deceive

              D. The New Testament Concepts of the Terms

                  1.  The Verb – plana,w (planao) – 39 times         

                  2.   The Noun – pla,nh (plane) – 10 times

                  3.  The Verb -- avpoplana,w (apoplanao) – 2 times (Mk. 13:22; 1 Tim. 6:10)

                  4.  The Adjective – planh,thj (planetes) -- one time (Jude 1:13)

                  5.  The Noun pla,noj (planos) – 5 times

              E. The Consequences That Result from Error

                  1.  Moral Deviation

                  2.  Doctrinal Deviation

                  3.  Physical Wandering

TRANS:  The primary word for error in the Old Testament means to make one wander.  This was accomplished in several arenas:  the physical, the doctrinal and the moral. These establish the backdrop for the concepts of error in the Greek New Testament since the normal translation of the Hebrew term into the Greek is the primary term for New Testament error.

                                                                                                                              

I.    THE PRIMARY CONCEPTS OF ERROR IN THE OLD TESTAMENT – THE PRODUCING OF WANDERING FROM THE PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION – DEVIATION PRODUCED BY INSTRUCTION OF REVELATION – THE HEBREW ROOT h['T' (tahah)

 

TRANS:  The Greek term that most often translates the Hebrew root for wander is our next basis for discussion.  This message examines the verbal form.  There are 15 passages that are in grace revelation for grace believers and are very important for one's understanding of the world system religious approaches to the saints.

 

II.  THE VERBAL CONCEPT OF ERROR IN NEW TESTAMENT REVELATION – THE PROCESS OF MAKING ONE WANDER AND OF THE WANDERING – THE DEVIATION PRODUCED BY TEACHING WITH A MALICIOUS INTENT -- plana,w (planao)

      A.  The Distribution of the Verb in the Text

            1.   15 of 39 Occurrences Pertinent to Grace Revelation

      2. Only Present and Aorist Tenses Used in Grace Revelation [17/39]

            3.   All Voices (Active [3x], Passive [9x], Middle [5x]) in Grace Revelation (17/39)

            4.   Seven Present Participles Are Used in Grace Revelation (7/11)

            5.   One Infinitive Is Used (1/3)

      B.   The Involvement of Persons with Wandering Astray

            1.   The Past Condition and the Accompaniments of Being Spiritual Wanderers – Tit. 3:3

                  a.   Foolish (Ignorant), Disobedient

                  b.   Ones Having Been Made to Err or to Wander

                  c.   Serving as Slaves of Diversified Lusts and Pleasure

                  d.   Living in "Malice" and Envy

                  e.   Hated and Hating One Another

            2.   The Predicted Coming of Persecution – 2 Tim. 3:13, 13

                  a.   The Prediction of Persecution – 3:12

                  b.   The Promise Concerning Malignantly Evil Men and Imposters (or Deceivers) –

                        3:13

           

                  c.   The Problem with Error or Wandering

                        (1) They Actively Are Erring or Wandering

                        (2)  They Have Been Made Erring or Wandering Ones

            3.   The Projected Compassion for Wanderers by the High Priest – Heb. 5:2    

            4.   The Possible Compromise from the Way of the Truth – Jas. 5:19, 20

                  a.   Wander from the Truth (John 8:32, 34 – "the truth")

                  b.   Wandering of His Way – 5:20

      C.  The Imperatives Concerning Being Led Astray

            1.   Avoid Deviation Concerning Deviates – 1 Cor. 6:9, 10

                  a.   The Unrighteous Shall Not Inherit the Kingdom of God – 6:9

                  b.   Do Not Be Led Astray

                  c.   Ten Persons Characterized

            2.   Avoid Association with Those Lacking in Character – 1 Cor. 15:33

                  a.   Do Not Be Led Astray (cf. 32)

                  b.   Bad Associations Bring Decay

                  c.   To Good Habits/Manners

            3.   Be Aware That What You Sow Is What You Will Reap – Gal. 6:7, 8

                  a.   Do Not Be Led Astray

                  b.   God Is Not Mocked

                  c.   Plant and Produce

            4.   Avoid Continuation of Wandering in Your Spiritual Life – Jas. 1:16

                  a.   Prohibitive Imperative – Stop Wandering

                  b.   Problems with the Context

                        (1)  In Communication with God – 1:6

                        (2)  The Two-Souled Man Unstable in All His Ways – 1:8

                        (3)  Lust FF Temptation FF Sin

                        (4)  The Stability of God the Father – 1:17

            5.   An Alert to Prevent Anyone from Leading the Believer Astray – 1 Jn. 3:7

                  a.   The Pressure from Others – "No One"

                  b.   The Potential for Wandering or Going Astray

                  c.   The Presentation of the Characteristics of Those Who Come

      D.  The Illustrations of Those Causing Error or Wandering

            1.   The Way of Balaam – 2 Pe. 2:15

                  a.   The Characteristics – 2:10

                  b.   Forsaken the Straight Way – 2:15

                  c.   Followed the Way of Balaam

                  d.   Loved the Way of Balaam

            2.   The Teaching of Jezebel – Rev. 2:20

                  a.   Procedure:  Teaches and Causes to Wander

                  b.   Objects:  Saints

                  c.   Purpose:  To Fornicate and to Eat Things Sacrificed to Idols

      E.   The Impact of Active Error

            1.   Doctrinal Self-Delusion That Leads Astray – 1 Jn. 1:8

                  a.   Denial of Sin Nature

                  b.   Denial of the Truth

            2.   Dependable Substantive Doctrine for Practice Counters Those Who Actively Lead

                  One Astray – 1 Jn. 2:26

                  a.   The Aggressive Teachers of Error – 2:26

                  b.   The Accurate Teaching from the Holy Spirit – 2:27

      F.   The Identification of Wandering Ones Like Sheep – 1 Pe. 2:25

            1.   Continual Wandering

            2.   Turned to the Shepherd-Overseer of Your Souls

                                                                                                                              

TRANS:  The verb demonstrates a varied spectrum of ways in which God provides revelation about error.  The sheep are led to deviate a little at a time and soon are in error wandering outside of the clear revelation of God for the spiritual life.  We will be considering the noun in the next message. 

 

 

 

© by David K. Spurbeck

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119