Heresies

[netchaplain]

“For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you” - 1Co 11:19 (this answers to why there would be evil—to know what is good—NC).

Heresy is a work of the flesh (flesh, i.e. “old man” or sin nature—NC); “Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies” (Gal 2:20). “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who secretly shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them” (2Pe 2:1).

“For I know this that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29). Heresy is error, often resulting from a portion of truth taken out of its proper context, or its dispensational setting, and used to form a sect, etc.

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us: (1Jn 2:19). Heresies cause us to be like the noble Bereans, who “were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” - Act 17:11 (lacking too much in studying God’s Word—esp. the NT, is why so many believers are often excessively discouraged—NC).

“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Act 20:32). Heretics (by their errors—NC) cause us to learn how to correctly handle error and share truth.

“The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient; in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves” (2Ti 2:24, 25). Christian character is formed, and God is glorified. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2Ti 2:15).

It is a definite mercy that in His wisdom God allowed every possible form of error to arise in the apostolic era of the Church’s history, in order that all might be exposed, and the truth declared through inspired men, that thus the faith in its simplicity might be preserved for the generations to come. As a result of this, Satan has nothing new to offer. Old heresies are redressed and brought forward as new conceptions of truth from age to age; but in this respect, ‘there is nothing new under the sun.’ Old errors are being presented in new terms.”

—Henry Allen Ironside (1876-1951)




MJS daily devotional excerpt for October 7

“There is not a more difficult lesson in the Christian life than to come to a true knowledge of what the flesh is. Its terrible power, its secret and universal rule, and the blinding it exerts in keeping us from the knowledge of what it is, are the cause of all our sin and evil. Hence it comes that so few really believe in their absolute inability to obey God or to believe in His love. And there is nothing that can deliver us from it but that entire willingness to die to the old man, which comes when by faith we understand that we have died in Christ Jesus.” –Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
(read more: http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/

 

[Alfred Persson]

“For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you” - 1Co 11:19 (this answers to why there would be evil—to know what is good—NC).

Heresy is a work of the flesh (flesh, i.e. “old man” or sin nature—NC); “Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies” (Gal 2:20). “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who secretly shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them” (2Pe 2:1).

“For I know this that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29). Heresy is error, often resulting from a portion of truth taken out of its proper context, or its dispensational setting, and used to form a sect, etc.

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us: (1Jn 2:19). Heresies cause us to be like the noble Bereans, who “were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” - Act 17:11 (lacking too much in studying God’s Word—esp. the NT, is why so many believers are often excessively discouraged—NC).

“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Act 20:32). Heretics (by their errors—NC) cause us to learn how to correctly handle error and share truth.

“The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient; in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves” (2Ti 2:24, 25). Christian character is formed, and God is glorified. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2Ti 2:15).

It is a definite mercy that in His wisdom God allowed every possible form of error to arise in the apostolic era of the Church’s history, in order that all might be exposed, and the truth declared through inspired men, that thus the faith in its simplicity might be preserved for the generations to come. As a result of this, Satan has nothing new to offer. Old heresies are redressed and brought forward as new conceptions of truth from age to age; but in this respect, ‘there is nothing new under the sun.’ Old errors are being presented in new terms.”

—Henry Allen Ironside (1876-1951)




MJS daily devotional excerpt for October 7

“There is not a more difficult lesson in the Christian life than to come to a true knowledge of what the flesh is. Its terrible power, its secret and universal rule, and the blinding it exerts in keeping us from the knowledge of what it is, are the cause of all our sin and evil. Hence it comes that so few really believe in their absolute inability to obey God or to believe in His love. And there is nothing that can deliver us from it but that entire willingness to die to the old man, which comes when by faith we understand that we have died in Christ Jesus.” –Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
(read more: http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/

As a former "heresy hunter" "apologist" (aka LetsObeyChrist) I suppressed a nagging question. Who is the real heretic? Catholic apologists rightly point to the thousands of Protestant denominations as proof some among them must be heretical. Cannot all be right.

For example, I document the Jewish Christian apostles believed differently than the Reformers on the afterlife, to them Christ was the only name under the heavens whereby men are saved or condemned, therefore the apostle Peter must be right when he reveals the gospel is preached ALSO to the dead so they can be judged:

For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Pet. 4:6 NKJ)

That was the truth "once delivered" by the apostles to the Church. Unfortunately, Catholics and Protestants have deviated from that truth. So I ask you, who are the real heretics here?

Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about the common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 1:3 RPTE).

The search engine DuckDuckgo still has me discoverable as LetsObeyChrist. I confess I wasn't always charitable:

https://www.geocities.ws/letsobeychrist/LetsObeyChrist.htm

 

[netchaplain]

Catholic apologists rightly point to the thousands of Protestant denominations as proof some among them must be heretical. Cannot all be right.

Hi, and thanks for your comments! Frankly, I wouldn't put any stock into anything that derives from the RC; the entire religion is anti-Christian because of their anti-Christian beliefs; one of the most depraved is "Immaculate Conception, which teaches that Mary, mother of Christ, was "born without the taint of sin" (Rom 3:23); and numerous other false teachings. Look it up in the dictionary.

For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Pet. 4:6 NKJ)

All are judged at death, and sentence is passed at the "white throne" (Rev 20:11-15). There's no reason for the Gospel after death; and "preached to them that are dead, or in prison, is in the sense that men are dead in sin. Not literal death.

So I ask you, who are the real heretics here?

The Christian believers in all churches are righteous is Christ's righteousness; the heretics are the hypocritical, apostate unbelievers.

 

[Alfred Persson]

Hi, and thanks for your comments! Frankly, I wouldn't put any stock into anything that derives from the RC; the entire religion is anti-Christian because of their anti-Christian beliefs; one of the most depraved is "Immaculate Conception, which teaches that Mary, mother of Christ, was "born without the taint of sin" (Rom 3:23); and numerous other false teachings. Look it up in the dictionary.


All are judged at death, and sentence is passed at the "white throne" (Rev 20:11-15). There's no reason for the Gospel after death; and "preached to them that are dead, or in prison, is in the sense that men are dead in sin. Not literal death.

The Christian believers in all churches are righteous is Christ's righteousness; the heretics are the hypocritical, apostate unbelievers.

Alfred Persson said:
Catholic apologists rightly point to the thousands of Protestant denominations as proof some among them must be heretical. Cannot all be right.

NetChaplain
Hi, and thanks for your comments! Frankly, I wouldn't put any stock into anything that derives from the RC; the entire religion is anti-Christian because of their anti-Christian beliefs; one of the most depraved is "Immaculate Conception, which teaches that Mary, mother of Christ, was "born without the taint of sin" (Rom 3:23); and numerous other false teachings. Look it up in the dictionary.

Hi. So we begin with a Red Herring evasion of my point! With all the different denominations Protestant's aren't projecting agreement on established beliefs and doctrines. That is the definition of heresy:

"A heretic is a person who differs in opinion from established religious dogma or an accepted belief or doctrine."-Merriam Webster

Alfred Persson said:
For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Pet. 4:6 NKJ)

NetChaplain
All are judged at death, and sentence is passed at the "white throne" (Rev 20:11-15). There's no reason for the Gospel after death; and "preached to them that are dead, or in prison, is in the sense that men are dead in sin. Not literal death.

No scripture says that. What you describe is NOT a KRISIS judgment:

Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment (2920 κρίσις krisis), (Heb. 9:27 RPTE)

2920 κρίσις krisis
Meaning: 1) a separating, sundering, separation 1a) a trial, contest 2) selection 3) judgment 3a) opinion or decision given concerning anything 3a1) esp. concerning justice and injustice, right or wrong 3b) sentence of condemnation, damnatory judgment, condemnation and punishment 4) the college of judges (a tribunal of seven men in the several cities of Palestine; as distinguished from the Sanhedrin, which had its seat at Jerusalem) 5) right, justice-Strong's Concordance.

Those who fail the judgment wait until the Great White Throne for sentencing, not "the many" Christ was offered to bear the sins for. These "passed the judgment" and then "eagerly wait" for Christ's second coming for salvation. They rise from the dead with the Church at the rapture:

27 Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment,
28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation. (Heb. 9:27-28 RPTE)

Alfred Persson said:
So I ask you, who are the real heretics here?

NetChaplain
The Christian believers in all churches are righteous is Christ's righteousness; the heretics are the hypocritical, apostate unbelievers.

You define unbelievers as heretics. Webster's dictionary does not. My question remains. I will answer it.

A heretic is a person who differs in opinion from established dogma therefore, all Protestants are heretics.

They differ in opinion so much there are thousands of denominations and NONE of them actually believe what the apostles taught.

For example: Just about all Protestants deny the gospel is preached also to the dead. Therefore, as they dispute what the apostle Peter taught, they are all heretics:

For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Pet. 4:6 NKJ)

In context Peter couldn't be more clear, Christ preached to the spirits in prison, to the dead:

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, (1 Pet. 3:18-19 NKJ)

I'm a Protestant and don't self-identify as a heretic. My point is, the word is abused and often by people almost as heretical as those they dismiss. A little more Christian charity is called for, especially during Catholic Protestant polemic.

 

[Free]

A heretic is a person who differs in opinion from established dogma therefore, all Protestants are heretics.

They differ in opinion so much there are thousands of denominations and NONE of them actually believe what the apostles taught.

Says the one who is Free Will Reformed Baptist.

For example: Just about all Protestants deny the gospel is preached also to the dead. Therefore, as they dispute what the apostle Peter taught, they are all heretics:


For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Pet. 4:6 NKJ)

In context Peter couldn't be more clear, Christ preached to the spirits in prison, to the dead:

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, (1 Pet. 3:18-19 NKJ)

Please, stop with this. You already have too many threads going on this false teaching. There is no need to bring it up everywhere.

 

[netchaplain]

Hi. So we begin with a Red Herring evasion of my point! With all the different denominations Protestant's aren't projecting agreement on established beliefs and doctrines. That is the definition of heresy:

"A heretic is a person who differs in opinion from established religious dogma or an accepted belief or doctrine."-Merriam Webster

Thanks for the lesson, and you're right. I thought it meant something different. But a heretic will always be "self-condemning:
"A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself (Tit 3:10, 11).

"The true notion of the word is that of one who is a promoter of a sect or party. The man who makes divisions in a church, instead of aiming to promote unity." Albert Barnes (1798-1870).