Christianity was opposed before Jesus took his first breath. Before He was born, there was concern that He would appear and defeat the evil forces of this world. You may recall these words:
“Then Herod secretly called the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared.
“And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him.” (Matthew 2: 7-8)
The worshipers were not tricked, however.
“And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way.” (Matt. 2:12)
Those of you who are familiar with this story know how it ends.
“Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under.” (Matt. 2:16)
By this time Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were in Egypt. (Matt. 2:14)
This entire story was forseen some 600 years before by the prophet Jeremiah. This is noted immediately after the story in Matthew (Matt. 2: 17-18).
The attempt to discredit or counterfeit the Word of God has continued. Everyone knows that the closer a counterfeit is to the real McCoy, the better chance it has to deceive.
Counterfeit money is a good example. The more it looks like the real thing, the more dangerous it is. The more it looks like the real thing, the easier it is to fool people.
I am not the only one noticing the continual assault on Biblical truth. Many defenders of simple truths, recognized by Christians for centuries, are trying to alert others about the current battering. Amazingly, many well-meaning Christians are so unfamiliar with the Bible today that they don’t recognize a counterfeit.
I have posted the article by Dr. Morris below because I have recently stumbled across a church denomination that claims to be Christian but denies the Biblical view of God. The churches in the denomination take many names. In General, they are called “Oneness Pentecostals” and you can see their denominational names and colleges by going to the pdf below. I haven’t spent much time in Pentecostal churches, but I think most believe in fundamental truths, unlike the “Oneness” churches.
It must be stated that (from the pdf below):
“By 1916, “oneness” views were being expounded by
some ministers in the Assemblies of God (AOG) denomination.
They were strongly rejected by the denomination’s
council that year, and the AOG adopted a strong trinitarian
stance in its statement of faith. More than 160 oneness
ministers who were expelled from the AOG quickly
formed their own alliances to promote their doctrines.
I have noted this because two Assembly of God pastors in town are very active in the Watchmen of Garland County. They DO NOT believe in these false doctrines.
Claiming to be Christian, the church website that I stumbled on states that:
“The Holy Ghost is not a third person in the Godhead, but rather the Spirit of God (the Creator), the Spirit of the resurrected Christ.”
This statement means that the Holy Spirit is not God, but that it is the Spirit of God (Huh?). It means that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the resurrected Christ but it is not God (Huh? again). If you are familiar with the Bible, you understand that this is not the same God that we read of in the scriptures.
The Trinity is a fundamental, key doctrine in Christianity.
Anyone who wishes to see the Biblical references that explain why it has always been a key belief can click here:
http://www.waltermartin.com/articles.html or
http://www.bible-knowledge.com/trinity-god-jesus-holy-spirit or
I must note at least three Bible verses that show that the Holy Spirit is God. The first two identify the Trinity, and the third states that the Spirit is God.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19)
“For there are three who bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7)
“… no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:11)
The following, timely article, was written by the son of the late Dr. Henry Morris. I have great respect for both the father and the son. Dr. Henry Morris wrote “The Genesis Flood” and “The Revelation Record.” Both men are well known defenders of the Christian faith and the teachings found in the Bible.
For those who live in Hot Springs, I could only find one church locally that is connected to the “Oneness” churches.
The headline of this article is important. It comes from the word of God. The only way to know the difference between the truth and error is to study your Bible.
Chris Reimers
By John D. Morris PHD
“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 Timothy 4:1)
In chapter one of his first epistle to Timothy, Paul warned about false teachers and heresies in the church of his day, evidently particularly implicating the agnostics and their false skepticism and low moral standards. In our text for today and throughout chapter four, he warns of false teachers “in the latter times,” i.e., in our day and in our churches.
Paul had received an explicit (i.e., “express”) teaching from the Holy Spirit. There was nothing vague about it. The false teachers would, among other things, be “forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats” (v. 3), with other false teachings implied throughout the chapter. What does this teach us about those who today forbid their leaders, both men and women, to marry? Or those who insist upon certain dietary regimes for spiritual reasons?
These “doctrines” will cause some to “depart from the faith.” Evidently, some who consider themselves Christians and yet have incomplete discernment, will fall into the trap of “seducing spirits,” espousing the “doctrines of devils.” The Greek word translated “depart” is apostesontai, which means “to fall away” from an original position, in this case, “the faith.” The teachers will typically be hypocrites, “speaking lies,” having “their conscience seared” (v. 2). “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9).
In this time of great apostasy, we desperately need to know the biblical doctrine concerning devils (or Satan and his demonic henchmen), for their influence has nearly captured American education and culture. But we must be on guard against, and teach others to be on guard against, “doctrines of devils.” JDM
John David Morris[2] (born 1946) is an American young earth creationist. He is the son of “the father of creation science“, Henry M. Morris, and after his father’s death became the president of the Institute for Creation Research (ICR). Morris is a creationist author and speaks at a variety of churches.[3] Many of his presentations discuss the fossil record and its relation to evolution. [4]
Institute for Creation Research Website:
http://www.icr.org
The North American Missions Board of the Southern Baptist Convention has published a pdf (below) that describes the scriptural errors in Oneness Pentecostalism. I completely agree with the assessment that they make. Any group denying a key doctrine outlined by scripture must be viewed as a cult. -CR
Here is the conclusion if you don’t wish to see the entire document:
Conclusions: Oneness Pentecostals have an anti-trinitarian
view of God, an unbiblical doctrine of Jesus Christ,
and unbiblical requirements for salvation (speaking in
tongues, water baptism in “Jesus’ name,” and a legalistic
moral code). Thus, those churches adhering to its basic
doctrines cannot be regarded as authentically Christian.
Any group or church that claims to be Christian yet
deviates at any point from historical Christian faith is, by
definition, a cult. Oneness Pentecostal churches are,
therefore, cultic in nature and outside the theological
parameters of historic Christianity.
Here is a devotional by Charles Spurgeon that discusses the Triune God. Mr. Spurgeon, it could be argued, was a good a Biblical scholar as any.
It appeared on Monday, July 12, 2010 at
http://www.answersingenesis.org/devotions/devotions.asp
“Sanctified by God the Father.” {#Jude 1:1}
“Sanctified by God the Father.” {#Jude 1:1}
“Sanctified in Christ Jesus.” {#1Co 1:2}
“Through sanctification of the Spirit.” {#1Pe 1:2}
Mark the union of the three Divine Persons in all their gracious acts. How unwisely do those believers talk who make preferences in the Persons of the Trinity; who think of Jesus as if he were the embodiment of everything lovely and gracious, while the Father they regard as severely just, but destitute of kindness. Equally wrong are those who magnify the decree of the Father, and the atonement of the Son, so as to depreciate the work of the Spirit. In deeds of grace none of the Persons of the Trinity act apart from the rest. They are as united in their deeds as in their essence. In their love towards the chosen they are one, and in the actions which flow from that great central source they are still undivided. Specially notice this in the matter of sanctification. While we may without mistake speak of sanctification as the work of the Spirit, yet we must take heed that we do not view it as if the Father and the Son had no part therein. It is correct to speak of sanctification as the work of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit. Still doth Jehovah say, “Let us make man in our own image after our likeness”, and thus we are “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” See the value which God sets upon real holiness, since the three Persons in the Trinity are represented as co-working to produce a Church without “spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” And you, believer, as the follower of Christ, must also set a high value on holiness—upon purity of life and godliness of conversation. Value the blood of Christ as the foundation of your hope, but never speak disparagingly of the work of the Spirit which is your meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light. This day let us so live as to manifest the work of the Triune God in us.
Posted by Chris 
Wings of the Wind 
THE GREATEST FEAR
June 27, 2010It’s sometimes a good thing when you learn something. Would you like to know what people fear the most?
I learned the answer from David, who was giving a lesson on “speaking without notes” at a public speaking conference yesterday in Little Rock.
You might think that death is the greatest fear. That was the first thing that came to the minds of many in the room of 25 or so.
According to David’s research, people fear public speaking more than they fear death. This is probably true since humans are creatures that don’t plan well and most figure that public speaking is on the agenda sooner than death.
After sharing his research, David shared knowledge he had about being a better public speaker.
Death, by the way, was the second most feared item on David’s short list.
The speech club that I belong to makes a serious attempt not to enter into religious and political topics that may be offensive. This is so that the main goal may be achieved. The goal? It is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every individual has the opportunity to develop oral communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.
If you wish to stay away from such topics, attend a speech club like mine near you. This blog is a different “animal.” David was making a point. I would like to make one here since this isn’t the speech club.
No one needs to fear death just like no one needs to fear public speaking.
Everyone has heard this famous passage at a funeral:
4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;” (Psalm 23:4)
I know people who used to be petrified before an audience of any kind. They are now able to speak in front of a group off of the cuff. “How did that happen?” you ask. Look at the environment the club attempts to create as noted above and the question becomes, “How could comfort in front of a group of folks with that attitude not happen?”
It is the same with death. The “environment” created by the Word of God instills a trust that is greater than death. The Word of God is more powerful than death.
As far as I know, only two men have ever escaped death: Enoch and Elijah. Many think they will be the two witnesses mentioned in the book of Revelation and, therefore, they will eventually die. I will not argue the point. But, I will quarrel with those who think they might escape death. (I must add that if you are alive during the “taking away” that Jesus describes in Matt. 24, you will not die.)
“Everyone knows they will eventually die,” many would articulate. If this is so true, then why are people so unprepared? They are as unprepared for death these days as they are to give a public speech.
It is the same old lie that keeps folks unprepared.
1Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
2The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;
3but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'”
4The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!
5“For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3)
Today there are many who promise that you can be God. You can heal yourself. You can make yourself rich. You can create wonderful relationships for yourself. You can visualize that you will be great at something and it will happen. You can verbalize something that you want and “poof,” it will appear. You can make God anything you want, because you are God. You can add the salt and ignore the pepper. You can wish for jewels, and you will find a shiny gem, a maybe more, when you pull down the covers at night. And all of these promises can be claimed, “In the name of Jesus.”
I know that there are great promises in the Bible, but the only place I can find a promise that we can be God is in Genesis 3. The promise is made by the serpent.
The same promise that was made by the serpent is being made in too many places today. It is everywhere.
I am not God and you are not God. However, we can be prepared for death.
After the major mess up in the garden, a plan was formulated by THE Almighty God. Man, no matter how hard he tries, cannot remove sin. The only way to remove our sin was for God to take it upon Himself.
26For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;
27who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. (Hebrews 7)
The ultimate offense is to think we can be God. We should, however, ask God if we can be more like Him.
22Butthe fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5)
I liked David (now President of a speech club) very soon after meeting him. He was like God in that he was not afraid to share his best. After spending some time with him, he asked me to accompany him and his date (a wonderful young lady named Ann) to dinner. We had a meal to remember.
Are you afraid of public speaking or of death? If you are, you should find a source to deal with your problem. Email me if you would like to know where you can find a speech club like the one to which I belong. My email address can be found under “About” at the top of this blog. Being afraid of death is a much higher problem. God’s Word, the Bible, is the only antidote for the fear of death.
Chris Reimers
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