New Gnosticism

Dear Brethren,

We have come to a point in time when it is fairly easy to be good Christians.  We live in times wherein we have freedom to practice our religion in relative peace and safety.  Religion is abundantly available in many ways, from the Bible and religious publications, to the mass media, including the internet and televangelism.  If it seems to you that all we really have to do is keep the Sabbath Days and a few food laws for salvation to be assured – please read on.

There was a time when being a Christian was really tough.  The apostles, Paul, John, and the other writers of the New Testament Scriptures, wrote about the many spiritual attacks that the brethren experienced.  One after another, severe trials of heresies assailed the true Church of God as it moved toward the second half of the first century.  Varied heretical doctrines inundated the true teachings of Jesus Christ, bringing confusion to many brethren and causing some to go off track entirely.  “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 bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”  (2Peter 2:1)

True Christians were tortured and martyred.  False prophets took their toll on the brethren.  Persecutions scattered the Church of God.  Read about the horrible persecutions that afflicted the  churches of Revelation 2 and 3.  The epistles are replete with warnings and instructions to the brethren to beware of false teachers and false doctrine.  “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”  (Matthew 7:15)   Why then, do so many of our brethren have it so easy and so good in the Church today?

Could it be that much of the Church of God is not heeding the obvious warnings that God is directing to His end-time Church?  We face the same spiritual threats that endangered the first century Church.  “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”  (Jude :3)

It is clear that Jude is admonishing the brethren, who should have been holding dearly to the teachings of Christ, to get back to the original faith.  They had lost the knowledge and the practice of the true faith they once held and cherished.  How could they have lost it?  They lost it the same way that so many are letting down today, and by not striving for the high standards that our faith demands of us.  Too many brethren are only warming a seat at church and going through the motions.  They are the five sleeping virgins of Matthew 25 who lacked oil [God’s Spirit] for their lamps.

Why does God call them foolish virgins?  It is because they foolishly believed that they had it made.  They were not doing what it took to have a Christian relationship with their Creator God.  They assumed that they could get ready at the last possible moment.  “And while they went to buy [oil], the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  But He answered and said, Truly I say unto you, I know you not.”  (Matthew 25:10-12)

How could Jesus say to the five foolish virgins, “I know you not?”  The answer is that they took for granted that they were just as entitled and prepared to marry the Bridegroom as the five wise virgins who were truly spiritual – but they were not.  A consistent tool of Satan through the ages is deception.  He causes ineligible people to believe that they also have the key to salvation.  In fact, Satan causes many to believe that their group is uniquely qualified to be the bride, to the exclusion of all others.

There have always been “foolish virgins” who thought they were in the know.  They are known as “gnostics.”  From the Greek word, ‘gnosis,’ meaning, “knowledge,” we get an anglicized “gnostics,” that simply means, “those that know.”  The early Gnostics believed that God was not concerned with physical things, and that they possessed secret information known only to them.  They taught that all material substance was evil and that people had a divine nature ensnared by the material universe by an evil spirit.  They equated that evil spirit, called the demiurge, with the God of the Old Testament. 

Paul, John, and the other writers of the epistles continually confronted the gnostic heretics, who claimed to be in the know.  Those writers vehemently defended the true faith against gnostic counterfeit religious doctrine.  Can we seriously think for a moment that Satan has let down his attack on the Truth?  Do we honestly believe that we do not face this same evil tactics today – and that the Church can rest easy because it is not under assault by a new Gnosticism?  The answer is, we are every bit as much in peril as the Church of God was all down through the ages.  Gnosticism is alive and flourishing right now!

Let me be very simplistic for a moment.  Let’s ask some straightforward questions.  Do you believe that you are straight with God because you keep the Sabbath and do not eat pork chops?  Do you suppose that your salvation is assured because your Pastor General, Presiding Evangelist, or Prophet would not let you down?  Do you think that your doctrine, your calendar, or your congregation is better than all the others?  Do you believe that the knowledge you possess will bring you to salvation?  If your answer to any of these questions is “Yes,” then you might be a new-gnostic, or neo-gnostic.  Why?

Because, salvation is by God’s grace.  It is not enough to confess the person of Jesus Christ or accept the historical Jesus; we must believe, profess, and live the precepts, doctrines and principles of Christ.  “Neither is there salvation in any other [except Jesus Christ of Nazareth]: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:10, 12)

The major heresy confronting the apostles in the first century Church of God was Gnosticism.  Paul, John, Peter, and the other writers of the epistles continually confronted the gnostic heretics, who claimed to be in the know.  The heresy of Gnosticism was rampant in the early Church of God.

Let me be perfectly clear – nothing about Gnosticism is rooted in the Bible – it is of entirely Pagan origin – which as you know is a clever counterfeit of God’s Truth.  "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."  (John 17:17)  God's Word is what the true Church always goes by.

Gnostics routinely infiltrated the early true church.  Gnosticism was the antithesis of Christianity – it was the exact opposite of the Christian way of life.  God is displeased when men mix the true worship of Him with pagan adoration.  Gnostics believed that they possessed superior knowledge – even secret knowledge by which they could save their souls.

The early Gnostics believed that God was not concerned with physical or material things.  One of the main objectives of the apostle, John’s writings was to combat Gnosticism.  John fought Gnosticism because it ethically and morally destroyed character and ruined lives.  Gnosticism is heresy – heresy against the Truth of God.  Gnosticism wars against the true principles which Jesus Christ taught.  Gnostics would share with Protestants, a rejection of the Law of Moses and the notion that the God of the Old Testament was harsh – and even evil.  Up until this day, Gnostic ideas continue to influence the philosophies of worldly religions.  There are clear traces of Gnostic teachings in contemporary Catholicism, and Protestantism.  Other religions, like the Mormons (...Latter Day Saints) utilize angelic intervention and emphasize the necessity of dead ancestors in their belief systems.

Gnosticism sought to attain to the highest and brightest enlightenment through a program of salvation – by a kind of progressive illumination.  They saw the cosmos as different levels or degrees of brightness of a series of emanations, or planetary planes.  The highest level was a heaven, while the very lowest degree of light or knowledge was the earth.  The different levels were degrees of brightness – degrees of knowledge – or emanations of light.  They believed that knowledge increased as one progressed upward, while the lower one descended, the greater the darkness.  Humans were thought to be divine souls trapped in a dark material world created by an imperfect god, the demiurge.

The Gnostics had a superior entity, their godhead, or the “One,” at the tip-top emanation.  Next, the angels, (actually demons) whom they worshipped, were a little lower down.  Below that, they placed various classes of men, as one descended downward.  Gnosticism taught that by a process of emanations or a fall from a higher state, man's spirit had become trapped in the physical world.  The very lowest emanation was the demiurge, an inferior creator deity which was the embodiment of evil, who created the physical universe as a place of restraint for the lives of men, divine souls trapped in a material world.  The esoteric knowledge, which the Gnostics believed themselves to possess, enabled the spiritual elements of humanity to regain their true origins within the superior godhead, being thus permitted to escape materialism.

The Gnostics attributed to the demiurge the creative actions of Yahweh.  Gnostic heresy, then, is the antithesis of the true Creator God who is Jesus Christ, the God of the Old Testament as clearly seen in 1Corinthians 10:  "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."  (1Corinthians 10:1-4)

The Gnostics identified their evil creator, called the demiurge, with the God of the Old Testament.  They taught that all material substance was evil and that people had a divine nature ensnared by the material universe by an evil spirit.

Notice again how Peter refuted the wisdom of the Gnostics in 2Peter 2:1-3: "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, [speaking of Gnosticism] even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."   Does this problem exist in today’s church?  Why do so many of our brethren think that they have is so easy and so good in the Church today? 

Where are the damnable heresies – today???  Peter continues:  "And many shall follow their pernicious ways [The King James Version center reference margin has “lascivious ways” – that is, lustful sexual sin ]; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you." [That is, exploit you and  seduce you, as John said.]  A lot of people fell into that trap because the Gnostics were out recruiting converts to Gnosticism.  Brethren, what we need to realize is that dangers to the Christian community prevail today.

Gnostics taught that there were differing parts of a man's nature or class of men.  That was a very divisive damnable heresy (quoting Peter) because it said that for some men there was no hope of salvation, while others were able to develop into higher emanations or planes.  Those Gnostic classifications were as follows:

There were the Soma, the Psuche, and the Pneuma.

The Soma, referred to the carnal man, the body, the fleshly, animalistic, and classed at the very lowest emanation – and he was considered evil and contemptible, with no hope of salvation.  They were sometimes referred to as Ulikoi (material), Somatics, or, called by a few, Sarxikoi. 

The Psuche, was a lower men, a lot like the animals, but possessing a spirit, life energy, or soul which could advance to a higher emanation.  They were sometimes referred to as the Psychics or Pseuchikoi.

The Pneuma were the elect, akin to God, the enlightened, and considered good.  He was the spirit that attained to the highest emanation of all.  They were sometimes referred to as the Pneumatikoi.  The Gnostics claimed to be of the class of the Pneumatikoi.

The Gnostics believe that one is saved through attaining the mysterious esoteric knowledge they alone possessed as the chosen ones.  The Pseuchikoi were like second class citizens who lacked the true knowledge of the higher Pneumatikoi.  But, the Pseuchikoi could be saved in spite of their ignorance of the true knowledge that the Pneumatikoi supposedly had.  The soma, however, had no hope of salvation whatsoever for they were created by the demiurge – a capricious god, without the possibility of salvation under any circumstances.

Brethren, I hope that you can see how divisive that religion was.  If men were thought to be that different – how could there be any fellowship or unity of the brethren.  John wrote in 1John 2:26  "These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you."  [The Gnostics seduced God’s people into their vain philosophy – and that seduction could be very tempting]  Those Gnostics mingled with the converted brethren as though they were members of the congregations.  Some of the Gnostics were pagan Jews.

Over and over, John confronted Gnosticism by admonishing the brethren to love one another.  That was the test of true Christianity, and a requirement for even salvation.  John wrote in 1John 3:14:  "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

It is obvious that Gnosticism took a significant toll on the membership of the early Church of God, and it is also clear that Jude is admonishing the brethren, who should have been holding dearly to the teachings of Christ, to get back to the original faith.  That is why Jude wrote:  "... contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."  This applies to the Church of God today!  Early Christians had also lost the knowledge and the practice of the true faith they once held and cherished.  How could they have lost it? 

The main attack of Gnostics was against Jesus Christ, the son of man. (Jesus refers to himself as the son of man some 80 times in the Gospels.)  The Gnostics attacks were against His person, because, as they claimed, He was evil flesh – the demiurge – the creator of the evil world.  They went against the Biblically revealed truth of Jesus Christ as God in the flesh – "Emmanuel," which being interpreted is, God with us (Matthew 1:23).

The issue here was the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ.  The Gnostics could not handle the Truth.  Since they taught that flesh was evil, they reasoned that Jesus never really came in the flesh at all – that He only seemed to be in the flesh – and their theory started to get really convoluted.  When they came into contact with the teaching about Jesus Christ being God in the flesh, Gnostics could only reason that He was just an apparition.  Since Gnostics considered the material universe to be evil, they rejected outright, the idea that God would manifest Himself in a fleshly body.

For Gnostics the world was altogether evil, and so its creator Yahweh and his religion must be absolutely evil as well.  Gnosticism twisted the words of the New Testament into a false spiritual teaching that liberated man from material existence – giving man freedom to sin.

The Gnostics denied Christ’s Messiahship.  John identified the Gnostics as liars in 1John 2:22:  "Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Messiah?  He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son."  The Gnostics denied the incarnation of Jesus, and that God was Jesus’ Father as being utterly ridiculous.   There was no way, in their minds, that God would come in the flesh. 

In order to refute the clear Scriptural evidence of Jesus being born in the flesh of the virgin, Mary, Gnostics came up with their false doctrine of “docetism.”   They taught that Jesus only “seemed” to come in the flesh – but He was really a phantom, ghost or spirit.  Docetism is called by some, "Seemism."  Docetism teaches that Jesus and the Christ can’t possibly be same person – the fleshly one died on a cross – while the spiritual one looked on.

In exposing the false teachers of Gnosticism, John wrote to the saints:  "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, [you cannot touch a phantom] of the Word of life...  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all... But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."   (1John 1:1, 5, 7)

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: [ If it’s not of God – it is of Satan the devil. ] and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."  (1John 4:1-3)

There were two forms or approaches of the Gnostics:

They denied the flesh with fasting in order to give the soul or spirit a chance to go to heaven.  They practiced self-denial as a form of worship.  They did penance, crawled distances on their knees, and even practiced self-flagellation.  Asceticism made them feel spiritually superior to everyone else.  They were the wise ones in their own eyes.  They thought they had supernatural knowledge and could look down on other's lack of spirituality.  Paul said in 1Corinthians 1:26 "…not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called."  The Gnostics appealed to the high I.Q., and to the vanity.

From their misdirected standpoint, the Gnostics did not suppose that they were trying to destroy the Church of God or the true Faith.  They believed they had a higher knowledge than the apostles.  They wanted to cleanse the Church of the "dead-wood," and make Christianity an intellectually respectable philosophy.  Some of their favorite catch phrases were:  "Being born of God."  "Walking in the light."  "Dwelling with God."  "Knowing God." And, "Having no sin."  That is why we find John refuting the Gnostics like in 1John 1:8:  "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

Speaking of some of the brethren, Paul wrote in Colossians:  "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge... [Not the mysterious knowledge of the Gnostics.] (2:2-3)

"Let no man [Gnostic] beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, [actually demons] intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind..., [not spiritual] Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ [in the baptism covenant] from the rudiments [material elements] of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, [not God’s ordinances, but Gnostic decrees of denying the flesh – such as] Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish [cease to exist any more] with the using; after the commandments and doctrines of men?  Which things have indeed a shew of [they pass for] wisdom in will worship, [of demons] and [depravation] humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. [there is the ascetic discipline]  (Colossians 2:18, 20-23)

There were probably a thousand versions of Gnosticism – just like there are endless versions of Protestantism.  Like the Catholic Church of today, Gnosticism also relied heavily on the theory of progressive revelation, meaning they took license to reinterpret the Scriptures and Law of God.  Paganism loves innovation and adaptation.  Paul warned Timothy about the Gnostics methods in 1Timothy 1:4:  "Neither give heed to fables [myths / mythology] and endless genealogies, which minister questions [endless speculation], rather than Godly edifying [edification] which is in faith: so do.   [in other words – spend your efforts encouraging others in a Godly fashion]

The second form of Gnosticism:
2. Antinomianism      (Also known as:  Libertine Gnostics)

Gnostics rejected God as the Lawgiver.  They rejected the Law of Moses – in effect teaching that the Law was done away with.  This produced lives of Lawlessness, Lasciviousness, and Licentiousness.  Lasciviousness is lewd carnality, eroticism, morbid sexual desire, and lustful behavior.  Licentiousness is the lack of moral restraint.  Gnostics claim to be, knowing… Notice what Jesus says in Matthew 7:23:  "I will profess unto them, I never knew you: [play on words there] depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  [Gr. anomia – lawlessness]

You might ask, "How in the world could anybody think that the licentiousness lacking of moral restraint, could, in any way, be a form of Godly worship?  They believed that the more God had to forgive you of – the greater it made God – because forgiveness is to the glory of God.  Paul addresses that exact question in Romans 5:20-6:1  "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: [Where there was a lot of sin to be forgiven – God came through abundantly with His free unmerited pardon and forgiveness – grace did much more abound.] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" [See, that’s what the Gnostics taught, and the answer is an unequivocal, No!]

That was one of the more destructive tenets of Gnosticism in that it prevented the development of Godly character.  Not only does the practice of more sin not produce more grace, nor give glory to God, it brings about the ruin of the sinning individual.  “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”  (Matthew 7:15)

The Gnostics did not discern the Lord's Body, the brethren of the Church.  They were elitists, who set themselves above others because of their supposed intellectual superiority.  It is a carnal proclivity to compare one's self to others.  That causes two separate dis-unified classes of men. This is prevalent in the Church of God today.  There exists a two tiered systems – no doubt about it – and God hates it – God is not a respecter of persons.  Sometimes the division is between the "higher-up" ministry, and the "lowly" brethren.

What John did, was to write an exposé for the Church.  Gnosticism was rampant in the early Church of God – there was, in effect, a plot by Satan to destroy the Truth.  Protestantism and Catholicism do not follow the precepts of Biblical Christianity.  The entire western world considers Catholics and Protestants to be Christian faiths, but they are not.  Why aren’t they?  Because, Protestantism and Catholicism follow the thinking of the Gnostics who do not adhere to the teachings of Jesus Christ.  They are remnants of Gnostic belief systems that incorporated syncretism – the melding of distinctly different doctrines, mythologies, traditions, and theologies to form a hybrid religion.

It is not so important that we know all the ins and outs of first century Gnosticism – it is just that we recognize that the true Church of God was under attack and bombardment from those seemingly religious people who claimed to have a deeper knowledge and the right connections to obtain salvation.  At about 50 AD, Paul described how the Gnostic believers left the true Faith:

"Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; [The Greek is clear - it is a different gospel from the gospel of Jesus] but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel [The Gnostics claimed that angels gave them knowledge] from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."  (Galatians 1:1-9)

The Church of God is just as capable of being foolish today as the first century church was is the days of the apostles.  Satan is just as subtle today as he has ever been.  What makes us think that we are impervious to Satan’s ways?  The Church of God is in danger and has always been in danger of substituting false understanding for the truth of the Bible.

Why do men universally think that what they know and believe in beyond question – and that it is all other men who are deceived?  The answer is given in Revelation 12:9 – it is because men are deceived without God's Spirit:  "The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world."  Yes, Satan is deceiving the entire world – but what makes us believe that we can’t be deceived – we, too, must be careful. 

The Gnostics had a very elaborate, complicated, highly defined salvational process that was beyond the scope of mere men.  Paul explained, "I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted..."  (2Corinthians 11:3-4)

The New Gnosticism or Neo-Gnosticism is in the Church of God today.  In the Church of God today, there are those who treat our faith with a blatant disregard of deeper things of Jesus Christ.  Paul said:  "God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."  (1Corinthians 2:10)

Could it be that much of the Church of God is not heeding the obvious warnings that God is directing to His end-time Church?  The purpose of our Christian faith is to guide us into changing our lives for the better – to become like Jesus Christ – with His character – to put on Christ, (Romans 13:14, Galatians 3:27), and to become fully like God – in the family of God.

We face the same spiritual threats that endangered the first century Church.  The early Christians lost their faith the same way that so many are letting down today, and by not striving for the high standards that our faith demands of us.  Too many brethren are only warming a seat at church and going through the motions.  Have we become a church that follows our own Talmud of simplistic do's and don'ts that miss the mark of true Christianity?

True, our brethren do not hunt Easter eggs on Easter, or give Christmas presents at Christmas time.  But they think that when they do not hunt Easter eggs – that was the main thing – an end in itself! That is not the goal.  The reason we don’t hunt Easter eggs and give Christmas presents is because of what that false religious system stands for.  Not doing those things, does not make us good Christians.

Our faith must be leading us to be a better person, with a better life at home and at work.  Our faith must be leading us to have a better relationship with God.  "The goal of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned."  (1Timothy 1:5)  Easter eggs and Christmas presents are symbolic of a much deeper spiritual problem – the false religious system is rooted in the philosophy of the Gnostics.  We do not want to be like them because the beliefs and practices of the Gnostics lead to all the destruction and misery through licentious practices of sin, and disobedience to God in general.

The ideology of the Gnostics is responsible for the world of hurt and human wretchedness that comes from that sin – in the form divorce, hate, greed, selfishness – those things that break the human spirit – bringing the insanity that afflicts all of mankind.  And, most important, the philosophy of the Gnostics engenders disrespect for the true Jesus Christ who came to this earth that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly.

Knowing – is not enough.  Yes, we know more of God's Truth than anyone in history.  The "knowledge of the mystery of Christ, Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit."  (Ephesians 3:5)  Even though we have more true knowledge of God, we must remember: “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required." (Luke 12:48)  Like the Gnostics of the past, do we think that the knowledge we possess will bring us to salvation?

Our Christian beliefs, of forgiveness, faith, mercy, perseverance, justice, love of one another, repentance, reconciliation – must be lived.  The evidence of true religion is that through God’s direction and correction in mercy and love, it will touch and purify every area of our lives – and change us.  When we are really in contact with the one true God, change will take place gradually as we grow spiritually.  Those Godly influences will change us to be like Christ – and He will have us serve with Him in the World Tomorrow.

But, Christians today, who suppose that their salvation is assured because they: serve at pot-lucks, sing in the choir, calculate the calendar, interpret prophecy, warm a seat on the Sabbath, and do not eat pork chops, are not fully exercising the Spirit of God in those actions.  Those things alone will not change anyone to be like Jesus Christ.

For those brethren who these things represent the extent of their faith, they are the five sleeping virgins of Matthew 25 who lacked oil [God’s Spirit] for their lamps.  Why does God call them foolish virgins?  It is because they foolishly believed that they had it made.  They were not doing what it took to have a Christian relationship with their Creator God.  They assumed that they could get ready at the last possible moment, or that they were already prepared.

“And while they went to buy [oil], the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  But He answered and said, Truly I say unto you, I know you not.”  (Matthew 25:10-12)

How could Jesus say to the five foolish virgins, “I know you not?”  The answer is that they took for granted that they were just as entitled and prepared to marry the Bridegroom as the five wise virgins who were truly spiritual – but they were not. A consistent tool of Satan through the ages is deception.  He causes ineligible people to believe that they also have the key to salvation. 

In fact, Satan causes many to believe that their group is uniquely qualified to be the bride, to the exclusion of all others.  There have always been “foolish virgins” who thought they were in the know.  Can we seriously think that, today, Satan has let down his attack on the Truth? 

Do we honestly believe that we do not face this same evil tactics today – and that the Church can rest easy because it is not under assault by a new Gnosticism?  The answer is, we are every bit as much in peril as the Church of God was all down through the ages.  Gnosticism is alive and flourishing right now! 

We do not gain salvation by the things we know.  It is not enough to confess the person of Jesus Christ or accept the historical Jesus; we must believe, profess, and live the precepts, doctrines and principles of Christ.  Speaking of the Gnostics, John wrote:   "He that saith, I know [gnosis] him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."  (1John 2:4)

Brethren, let us not fall into the same trap that has plagued mankind for so long.  The True Knowledge of God comes only from the Bible.  Do not add or take away from those words (Revelation 22:18).  "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and Godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue."  (2Peter 1:2-3)

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Sermon:

"New Gnosticism"