2017-10-13
Good Morning Dear Ones,
To prepare ourselves to recognize false teaching from the truth, we need to know something about what that false teaching is. Certainly, Gnosticism, which competed with true Christian faith in Paul’s time, was a real concern for Paul. We can learn lessons from the past, if only we were willing to examine it. It’s been a while since I wrote about Gnosticism, so I’m led to review it here. The seeds for Gnosticism were sown with the “Colossian Heresy,” a body of beliefs that included ceremonialism, asceticism, angel worship, false humility, secret knowledge, and reliance on human wisdom and tradition. The Greek word, gnosis, means to know. It centers on the search for higher knowledge. Secret knowledge is perhaps the most insidious of these elements, because it leads to sectioning of the population of believers into those who have it or the potential to have it, and those who don’t. Any time there is elitism in a belief system, there are likely to be problems from jealousy of the have- nots toward the haves, snap judgments, and sometimes so much uncontrolled emotion that it can lead to violence. Salvation is only possible in this belief system for those who have secret knowledge.
Two basic credos of Gnosticism: 1) Only “enlightened ones” have supreme knowledge or in Greek, pneumatiko; 2) separation of spirit and matter. The belief is that all matter is evil and is the source of evil. Spirit is good and is impervious to defilement. Gnosticism’s origins are a combination of Greek and Roman philosophies with some far eastern religious codes. Some are allegories of the OT, which are erroneous teaching of sin and restoration. God’s supremacy and His creation are not either stressed or presented. As far as God’s deity is concerned two sects arose in their way of dealing with it: 1) Docetic--- these people denied the humanity of Christ, which seemed impossible to them because God is spirit, which is good, and can’t become human, which is matter and thus, evil. They believe Jesus is a phantom, who didn’t possess flesh and blood. He only seemed to have these things. 2) Cerinthian—These people are followers of Cerinthus, who separated the man, Jesus, from aeon, which is the power of Christ. This aeon is power brought to Christ by the Holy Spirit and which left Him just before His death on the cross. In other words, it was not God in the flesh, who died on the cross.
Such a belief denies JN 14: 6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except by Me.” Gnostics believed that the individual can have his own way to God by inquiry and knowledge. They believed salvation was through faith and deeds. This is in direct opposition to FAITH + NOTHING = SALVATION. Certainly, EPH 2: 8-10 is denied. “For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not a result of your own efforts but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus, He has created us for a life of good deeds, which He has already prepared us to do.” The contrast between the human-centered beliefs of Gnosticism and the God-centered ones of Christianity is huge. A huge burden that can’t really be lifted is placed on the Gnostic, who can’t escape the elitism of that belief system. God lifts this burden from Christians, as they seek greater closeness with Him and obey His commands. Gnostics must obey human-crafted rules and regulations, which weaken faith and cause chaos. Legalism burdens their approach to their lifestyle, just as it does to some sects of Judaism. Gnostics have confusion on God’s power, Who Christ really is, Christ’s deity and humanity, and one’s identity in Christ, which reins over their lives. This predicament gives rise to false humility, slowing of spiritual maturity, inability to find forgiveness of their sins, living by the letter and not the spirit of the law, angel worship, being judgmental, loss of their Christ-connection, excessive pride for some, and unchecked sensual indulgence.
PRAYER: O Lord, we can look back on history and see a trend which gives us hope. Gnosticism and many of Israel’s enemies didn’t last. We have seen the demise of the ancient Egyptian empire, the Selucids [combined Greek and Assyrian society just north of Israel], the Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, Moors under Torquemada in Spain [responsible for the Spanish Inquisition], the Nazis, and the Soviets. All these groups tried in their own way to assimilate the Jews and/or eradicate Christianity. You have kept Israel as the Jewish homeland, and have protected the identity of Your people. No other country and culture has endured such longstanding persecution and survived. We love and praise You for the way You protect Your people. Gnosticism provided a serious competition for people’s minds in its day, but You never abandon those who love You [PS 9: 9-10], Israel’s very geography has placed her being surrounded on three sides by her enemies and the Mediterranean Sea on the remaining side. We ask You to continue protecting people’s minds from false teaching and enemy incursion. We praise and thank You for what You do for us as individuals, for us in our congregations, and for us in our nations, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: There are some key words in which I have been commanded to look. This will begin next week’s devotion. HE 13: 5b, 8, “For God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never abandon you…Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” When we study history throughout both the OT and NT, we can see Christ’s presence, as God’s Son, Who was put in charge of redeeming mankind. While it was the Father’s decision to do this, it was His Son, Jesus, Who carried out the Creation and redemption Our Father ordered. Once Jesus was brought back to heaven, the Holy Spirit was sent to dwell in the souls of the believers, guide them through lives of righteousness, and help them understand God’s commands and their good consequences. In each of the cases mentioned above, Israel’s enemies were eventually vanquished by their enemies. We must remember that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” The Egyptian empire crumbled after God, directing Moses, led the Jews out of that country; the Selucids, sent by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, committed the abomination of desolation in the Jerusalem temple, and Jewish guerrillas under Judas Macabee wrested the temple from them; Obadiah tells the story of the end of the Edomites-enemies of the Jews who arose from Esau’s descendants; no longer do the Ammonites or Moabites exist; the Moors eventually were replaced by Catholic power in Spain; the Nazis lost WW II and their hideous concentration camps were emptied of survivors; and lastly, the Soviet “Refusniks” were allowed to emigrate to Israel, followed by the downfall of Communism in Russia and eastern Europe. These are just some examples of the love our God shows those who believe in Him. Praise be to Him forever!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2017. All Rights Reserved.
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