False Teachings
that have never gone away
False Teachings Video
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
I am making this video because there is an epidemic of false teaching going around that is not from God. The hallmark of it is that it plays on people's deepest fears and desires and manipulates them to do whatever the teacher wants.
Since the time of the Apostles God established good doctrine through great teachers such as Irenaeus and especially Athanasius. These teachers were not slaves to Rome but fought mighty battles with the church to establish good doctrine which we have encapsulated in the Apostle’s Creed. However the battles that were fought and won have to be refought in every generation until the return of the Lord
Right from the time of the New Testament false teachers have spread errors alongside the teaching of the true gospel. The apostle Paul was clearly concerned about it and warned about them.
[1Ti 6:5 KJV] 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
The interesting thing is that these false teachings have never gone away. They have continued down through the centuries. They seem to fall into two main camps. One camp is spreading confusion about the deity of Christ. The other one is manipulating the gospel for power,control and material gain. I have attempted to put together a list of some of the main false teachings that continue to this day.
Paul the Apostle. Detail of the mosaic in the Basilica of San Vitale, via Wikimedia Commons
Covetousness.
[2Pe 2:3 KJV] 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
This is probably the most prevalent false teaching today. The teaching is that if you sow into a teacher’s ministry God will make you rich. I won’t attempt to list all the teachers who are saying this. It's good to support ministries but if you are treating God like a slot machine then you have fallen into covetousness.
Simony
Simon Magus, also known as Simon the Sorcerer or Simon the Magician, was recorded in the Book of Acts as attempting to buy the gift of God with money. The act of simony, or paying for position, is named after Simon.
Peter's conflict with Simon Magus by Avanzino Nucci, 1620, via Wikimedia Commons.
[Act 8:20 KJV] 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
There is an glut of this particular sin at present with people being told that they will be given spiritual power and position if they give money for it.
Deeds of the Nicolaitans.
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[Rev 2:6 KJV] 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Early church fathers, such as Irenaeus, and Hippolytus of Rome, linked the Nicolaitans to sexual immorality and idolatry. They warned that if believers allowed the Nicolaitans into their lives, they would find themselves in spiritual ruin. Today this false doctrine is known as cheap grace. In other words if you are a Christian you can do what you want and God will turn a blind eye.
The bible continually warns against this doctrine. Nobody who wilfully sins will inherit the kingdom of God.
[1Co 6:9-10 KJV] 9 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.
The next video will look at the false teachings that question the trinitarian nature of God. These are becoming increasingly common and undermine the foundation of our faith.
False Teachings
that have never gone away. Part 2
False teachings Part 2. Video
Oneness Pentecostalism is an update on one of the original false teachings
One of the most fundamental questions that exercised the early Church was the relationship between Jesus and God? The early Church believed that Jesus was and is ‘Emmanuel, God with us’. The arguments about this revolved around whether the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost were three persons or one person. As a trinitarian I believe that there is one God who eternally exists as three persons. Almost immediately this belief was challenged and the following are some of the false beliefs that arose.
Sabellianism, Monarchism, Modalism, Oneness.
These are all names for a similar idea which is that there is only person in the Godhead. The Father the Son and the Holy Ghost are different expressions of the same person. Sabellius was a third-century priest and theologian whose ideas have been repeated under different names down through the centuries. Today we have Oneness Pentecostalism (also known as Apostolic, Jesus' Name Pentecostalism) which continues this belief.
We also have this teaching, in the form of modalism, as taught by such teachers as T D Jakes and Steven Furtick. They teach that there is one God that appears in different modes.
The problem with this teaching is that the three members of the trinity have a relationship with with each other. That is why they are distinct persons.
[Jhn 5:20 KJV] 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
The Father loves the Son. The Son is also a separate person from the Holy Ghost. He tells his disciples that the Father will leave them another comforter while he is away. In other words one distinct from Him
T D Jakes is a proponent of Modalism. T.D. Jakes Ministries, via Wikimedia Commons
Image of the baptism of Jesus
[Jhn 14:16-17 KJV] 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; 17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Probably the best refutation of these false doctrines is that when Jesus was baptised all three persons of the Trinity appeared together
[Mat 3:16-17 KJV] 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
This was not one person in different modes. This was three distinct persons who together are God.
The Flaming Chalice. The symbol of Unitarianism
Unitarianism
This is another belief system that opposes Trinitarianism. This time however it says that only God the Father is God. Unitarianism has been around for a long time, at least since the 16th Century. However its roots are in Arianism the teaching attributed to Arius, the third/fourth century priest and teacher. He held that Jesus Christ was not coeternal with God the Father, but was rather created before time.
However Jesus was never created. He Himself created all things.
[Col 1:15-16 KJV] 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Diagram of the Trinity
It’s very important for us to know who Jesus actually is and this is only really clear in the Authorised Version of the Bible (The KJV).
[1Ti 3:16 KJV] 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Jesus is God made man. It is a mystery that many have tried to explain. As I said in the first video, Athanasius was the man who clarified this issue for the church and his creed is the best explanation of it.
The next video will look at some other false teachings that have always been around and continue today.
False Teachings that have never gone away. Part 3
False Teachings Video Part 3
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We have looked at some old false teachings that promote worldliness and also ones that attack the nature of the Trinity. There are of course many others but there are three in particular I want to examine: Cessationism, Gnosticism and Pelagianism.
Cessationism
Cessationism is the teaching that that the "sign gifts" described in the Bible were temporarily granted to the apostles to authenticate the origin and truth of the scriptures, and that at the close of the Apostolic Age these gifts had served their purpose and ceased to be granted. The biblical sign gifts refer to the miraculous gifts in the New Testament, including speaking in tongues, the interpretation of tongues, healing, working miracles, and prophesying. Many teachers still hold to this view. Probably the most famous of them is the American teacher and pastor John MacArthur.
John MacArthur, via Wikimedia Commons
The problem with this view is that the bible does not say these gifts have ceased. In fact they are used by millions of people every day. The bible says they are a sign that shall follow those that believe.
[Mar 16:17-18 KJV] 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
It’s wrong to dismiss the Gifts or to have a take it or leave it attitude to them. They for our benefit and will continue until the end of the age. I have done a video on The Gifts of the Spirit to show that they have always been present down through the ages wherever companies of believers have come together. At the same time they have always been opposed by institutional churches who have dismissed them as mad or even as demonic.
Image of Basilides teaching in Alexandria. He was one of the most famous Gnostic teachers
Gnosticism
Gnosticism was a teaching that developed in the first century and which emphasised personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis) above any teaching or institution. The Gnostics believed that humans are divine souls trapped in the ordinary physical (or material) world. They said that the world was made by an imperfect spirit. The imperfect spirit is thought to be the same as the God of Abraham. The Gnostics believed that matter was evil and therefore Jesus could not have been a physical man but only appeared to be a man.
The problem with this is that the world was made by almighty God and when had finished is he said that it was very good.
[Gen 1:31 KJV] 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
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In fact it’s a sign of unbelief to say that he did not come in the flesh.
[1Jo 4:2-3 KJV] 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God….
Today the Gnostic teaching continues in the form of modern anti-materialism. It’s not wrong for Christians to have personal property and to own things. The bible simply tells us not to trust in uncertain riches.
[1Ti 6:17-18 KJV] 17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
Carl Jung, the Swiss psycho therapist, was heavily influenced by Gnosticism and has himself influenced many Christian thinkers. ETH Library, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Pelagius. Unknown source, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Unfortunately modern bibles are greatly influenced by the Alexandrian Texts which are early manuscripts from Alexandria. Alexandria was the base for many of the early Gnostics who trusted in themselves rather than the gospels passed down from the apostles. Consequently they produced their own versions of the gospels, some of which have now been incorporated in our modern bibles.
Pelagianism
Finally we have Pelagianism. Pelagius was a 5th century teacher who denied that we inherit original sin from Adam’s sin in the Garden and claimed that we become sinful only through the bad example of the sinful community into which we are born. He also denied that we inherit righteousness as a result of Christ’s death on the cross and said that we become righteous by teaching and following the example of Christ. In other words man can achieve righteousness under his own power.
This is simply the teaching that we can save ourselves by our own righteousness that is tacitly taught by many churches today. In particular many traditional churches teach that if you try to live a good life, go to church, take communion etc. then that will be enough. The bible clearly teaches that this is not the case.
[Eph 2:7-9 KJV] 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Nobody can save themselves by their own efforts. It is by God’s grace alone that we can be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Doctrine is extremely important and we need to guard our hearts at all times in order not to be deceived by false doctrine. How do we know what is true?
[1Jo 5:20 KJV] 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.