Over the years, various theologies, doctrines and laws have been placed over God’s eternal Word. And many mistaken ideas have hidden the truth of Scripture. So, we should take some time to see where the call from the Prophets and Apostles to repent our sin truly rests. And while we see our sin reflected in the Commandments, there is another transgression we need to consider.
The lapse of Eve and Adam is clearly seen in lack of faith. Satan raised doubt in Eve’s mind about the certainty of God’s commandment and was convinced an absolute was a matter for discussion. Eve fell for this deception, and with Adam, was brought down by unbelief. It is this seed of doubt planted in Eden, which haunts us today seen in the numerous creeds dividing the Christian faith, and where divisions flourish scepticism and judgement will always exist.
When we look to the early years of the Church we find varied opinion, not only on the essence and nature of God, but deity in terms of Father, Son and Spirit; how they are connected, how can any link be verified and by what authority is truth declared. Confusion reigned as learned men sought to reconcile these matters, especially the advent of Jesus;
His arrival and teaching turning time-honoured tradition upside down.
Recognising mistakes
Many Christians follow a system of belief passed down through their parents. Others will come to know Jesus through an event or circumstance, been shown charity or given help in some way. Still others, with no such experience may just pick up the Bible to learn about God. On the other hand there are those who rely on the opinion of others, which can at times be misguided when it comes to certain aspects of Scripture. Not to mention the many novel ideas and presumptions currently populating church thinking today. It is only by careful study that we learn the truth of the Prophets, Apostles, Jesus and God.
For example, many of my fellowship were raised in one church or another with values based in tradition. The problem is many church creeds are at variance with the Gospel and instruction from the Apostles, Peter and Paul. So it is up to us to learn the truth, and not accept untried opinion be it from layperson, pastor or priest. We need to test these matters for ourselves when we come across any Scripture that questions church teaching. Jesus has told us that our eternity will be set by what we believe, so let’s get it right and acceptable to God.
Repentance
In Old Testament terms, repentance is to sigh; to turn or return. Seen as a tide of sincere emotion leading one to grieve or lament. In the New Testament we see a dimension pertaining to caring and concern; a change of mind, to turn over or turn towards. The Greek metamélomai signifying deep concern or regret, which may be genuine and sincere on the one hand; or simple remorse on the other. When seen as a change of mind, repentance expresses the idea of a spiritual change implied in a sinner’s return; that one has had a positive change in their thinking.
The motivation for repentance is chiefly found in the goodness of God; in divine love, the desire to save or keep, in the inevitable cost of sin, the common demands of the gospel, and in the hope of a spiritual life in the kingdom of heaven. These factors drive not only an emotional response, but intellectual through which decisions are made. Repentance then, is the comprehension of error rectified through genuine contrition. For some it will be a highly moving experience, for others an act of remorse or sorrow, but the realization a mistake has been made and deciding to put it right.
Things we must address
All through the Bible a redeemer was promised; His arrival was announced by the Prophet Isaiah who gave us His titles and the sign of His coming. When we read these verses, we see a different Jesus to that upheld by the Church; we see the Everlasting Father and Mighty God, not the son of a Triune God. And the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9)
In ignoring the Prophets the LORD was divided; so it appears the Godhead was constructed by ordinary men without a full understanding of the LORD and His Christ. It was never taught by the Apostles or Prophets, there was no such doctrine until the Nicaean Council of 325. Given that Jesus has told us He and the Father are one; (John 10:30) the Trinity (which was not unanimous) is the first error we must attend to.
Abraham, Moses, David and the followers of Jesus, all believed the LORD is one Lord; how by His incarnation does the Christ now make Him three? He is God in living form declared by Isaiah, Matthew, Peter, John and Paul. And when Thomas finally grasped this great truth, bore witness of Jesus:
My Lord and my God. (John 20)
Another matter we must look at is questioning the Prophets when Peter has told us they all spoke the truth. They were each called by God to serve Him. Knowing this first that no prophesy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophesy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, moved by the Holy Ghost. (2Peter 1:20-21)
We should examine some Church doctrine and laws. For example, one favours the name of Jehovah. Many now incline towards Hebrew as their language of Salvation. Some base their foundation on Pentecost or Baptism, aspects of Christ or the Apostles, while others honour their founders by maintaining a code of belief as originally preached. One claims, they are the saints of this age. No wonder people have difficulty choosing a Church when none is truly required: Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I… (Matthew 18:20)
Many have added beliefs invented by another; Dispensationalism, Millennialism, Tribulation and Rapture, chief among them. Some see the Jews as the chosen people; Israel where Jesus will convert them and reign for 1000 years, while others will reject such thinking. Even though faith is based in a universal text, churches can’t agree on its content. Across all forms of Christianity the common bond is division and doubt, which brings us to the inevitable conclusion something is very wrong. You must now judge why it’s wrong as you look to your teaching and compare it with Scripture. So here are some pointers, as we bear in mind Peter’s good advice that we first make our own election sure. (2Peter 1:10)
The isms
As we find with Millennialism, these are ideas placed over the Testaments, which achieve nothing but contention, and why Paul told us to steer clear of them. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine, which ye have learned, and avoid them. (Rom 16:17) Scripture interprets Scripture. We must repent of any quarrel that may knowingly harm God’s Word: so your minds should not be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2Co 11:3)
Now as they have been bundled as one, using unrelated Scripture as evidence or proof, we need to look at tribulation, rapture and the man of sin together. The entire premise is clearly flawed, which makes it one of the most troublesome issues facing us today. Simply believing something one has been told doesn’t necessarily make it true or correct. Pilate enquired a good question of Jesus when he asked “what is truth?” So we will unbundle them all, to see if we can get to the hub of this matter, which has brought both expectation and uncertainty into the Church.
Tribulation
Tribulation is the heart of repentance.
It is a ‘shaking’ an earthquake in a diverse place; an ordeal of the conscience and spirit. Luke writes that, we must ‘go through’ much tribulation to enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22) It is not a time of great evil when Jesus comes to save us all, for where are the test and the fire?
For the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. (1Co 3:13) Tribulation then, is the refining of our soul and spirit leading to discernment, wisdom and assurance. It reveals the full worth of our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is the testing of truth in our faith.
On the other hand, the tribulation in Matthew 24:29-31 refers to the suffering of the Gospel: the sun darkened, its message diminished by false doctrine. We see it again in Revelation with those who would commit idolatry taking up falsehood as an image of the true. Yet, those who, have come out of great tribulation and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, (Rev 7:14) speaks to repentance, baptism and faith through Grace. The tribulation we see in Matthew is about the brightness of the Gospel trampled by Church creeds and laws. We must get ourselves right with His Word; raise it to its proper place so its full glory shines forth.
The Man of Sin
Wrongly tied to antichrist, which is anyone opposed to Jesus; (1John 2:22) the Man of Sin is a critique written to the Church at Thessalonica on lawlessness and pride. Paul raises the serious matter of self-delusion when one deems themselves greater than all that is holy. It speaks of God driven from the Holy Place in our heart, left vacant to be taken by another spirit. And God will permit Satan to remain in our inner temple, until we have a change of mind and cast him out. The falling away is the waning of our faith through uncertainty, just as Eve and Adam also doubted.
Paul speaks of Satan’s deception keeping us from the truth due to this lack of faith. That the Holy Spirit comes only after we recognise Satan’s lies, otherwise we stay trapped in our idealism. When we finally understand the harm our actions cause, and in humility repent our error, the brightness of Christ’s glory will put our pride to death. His coming is the light of truth; the Spirit of His mouth the Gospel and Prophets that guide us. Paul is speaking to the Man of Sin we raise in ourselves through arrogance. That Paul would address this to the Greeks is understandable when we consider Paul’s comment, Athens was wholly taken by idolatry. Not so apparent is our own idolatry, when we replace God’s Word with judgments, which oppose the Prophets, Apostles and the Gospel of Christ.
In this our repentance is crucial.
The Secret Rapture
The rapture has captivated Christianity without a single mention of the word in the Bible. It was first articulated in the late 17th Century, then by Doddridge and Gill a few decades later. The idea was developed by Brethren founder John Darby, who brought it to America with his dispensation doctrine around 1860. It is not found in the Prophets or Apostles and until the late 1800’s, was not part of any church doctrine or statement of faith. This rapture idea has been in the churches for less than 170 years. Scripture concerns the things of the Spirit, not those of the flesh. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)
In terms of current teaching this is a mistaken and dangerous idea, which takes us away from the journey we must live in the present. It undermines a whole lot of Scripture including the man of sin; John’s intent of antichrist, and blinds us to the reality of personal tribulation and spiritual growth. It is the most misleading idea to infect Christian thinking in recent times. The rapture is unsound and nothing to do with 1Th 4:16, which concerns the trumpet call (shout) of the Spirit of Jesus rising in our heart with the truth of His testimony. The next verse (4:17) states; we shall be ever with the LORD, not on a temporary basis as Rapturists uphold as part of their premise.
Water Baptism
Many teach water baptism is no longer required. Jesus said we must be born again “to see” the Kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
Then He said, unless a man is born of “water and the spirit” he cannot “enter” into the kingdom. (John 3:5)
At Pentecost, Peter said repent, and be baptised every one of you into the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (lessening) of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38) The Apostles were baptised in the Spirit when Jesus appeared to them after the Ascension. He breathed on them and said, receive ye the Holy Ghost (John 20:22)
Now Peter asked, can any man “forbid water” that these should not be baptised. (Acts 10:47)
Peter does not say they have the baptism of the Spirit; therefore they do not need baptism with water. He says if the Spirit has been received, then baptize with water also because they believe. How easily this question is resolved when the word of God sparks our understanding. Either the Holy Spirit is previously received or it is not. If not, Peter says repent and be baptized and it shall be given. If a person already believes, then who can forbid water that the command of Jesus not be fulfilled? Who can annul the words of the LORD?
Water baptism is a prerequisite for the simple reason; Jesus used the word “unless.” It is for our sacrificial washing into Christ’s death and Resurrection, and acceptance through repentance. It is not for the redemption of sin’s affliction, which was done by the Blood of Christ.
We need to consider
All of these concepts shaping how we now interpret the Bible have come from modernist teaching not found in the Apostles, Peter or Paul. None of these were taught by Jesus or the Prophets, and why we do not find them developed in either Testament. Thus we should change our thinking on these trappings laid over God’s Word. We must let Jesus’ Spirit be our guide; the only one we can trust completely, He is after all, the Way and the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)
When Paul warned the Church at Corinth about deceitful preachers he wrote: Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2Co 11:15)
Peter put it this way: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that brought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2Peter 2:1)
John said: Try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1John 4:1)
It is clear; the new and growing Church was going through difficult times when these words were written. We face the same perils, although greatly magnified by mass communication and a social media free of restraint. Foretold nearly two thousand years ago, we see mistaken teaching now in the churches, denying the fullness of the LORD and His Christ reducing the power of the Gospel. Which will be numbered among them when asked to account?
So I must bring to remembrance, we are all responsible for our actions and beliefs. And to strike a chord with any who impart the Word of God concerning Jesus, faith, baptism and deliverance. We must put aside perilous ideas, and stand in confidence in the entirety of the Gospel. As Paul said; for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. (Rom 1:16) Now is the time to walk away from those paths, which can only lead to ruin. And like Paul, stand firm in the Gospel and the Prophets, for only in them do we find the truth of God, our Salvation and Redemption.
In ending his first letter, Peter gave this important advice about remaining resolute. That by faith and Grace we shall overcome all trials and rest secured when we keep the Gospel clean, unaltered and simply believe: be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in our brethren that are in the world.
Watch now…
But the God of all grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, established, strengthened and settled. (1Peter 5:8-10)
But in all of this, the key to our salvation is repentance of error and most importantly, atoning for anything we have done that has damaged our understanding of the Gospel or the Testaments. Have we changed His word in any way; have we ignored Jesus or the Apostles; have we shaped Scripture or the Prophets to fit our belief? If we have it becomes as a stain upon our soul.
We must repent and seek forgiveness for any such error. The Word of God is sacrosanct, because the Word of God is Jesus Christ. (Rev 19:13) And when it comes to water baptism, the crucified thief was Christ’s prerogative with no defence we might use to contradict the decision He made. Our conditions are clearly laid down in Scripture.
In love and peace as always,
James