title heresy
Contents br> The problem of heresy is emerging as a serious problem in Korea, the United States, or any country where there are some churches. Even in mission fields where the gospel is beginning to enter, this problem is serious. Not to mention the harm to the soul caused by heresy, it is causing great losses both domestically and socially. The Bible gave detailed words to clearly discern heresies. The saints must fully discern the heresy, protect their own souls, the souls of their families, and the souls of their brothers and sisters, and strive to fully testify to the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ.
Heresy is used in several terms in the Bible. “Heresy” (2 Peter 2:1, Titus 3:10), “false prophet” (Matthew 24:24), “false Christ” (Matthew 24:24), “deceiver” (2 John 1:7), “ “deceivers” (Titus 1:10), “preying wolves” (Matthew 7:15), “false teachers” (2 Peter 2:1), “lawless ones” (2 Peter 3:17). “Heresy” is “hairesis” in the original New Testament text, which means “people who oppose what is perfect” and “a counterfeit organization that is not original. Regarding biblical truth, “heretics” can be defined as those who deny the correct doctrine (correct teaching) of the Bible and claim false doctrine. Their purpose is to satisfy their greed by tricking the soul with cleverly crafted words.
“They have taken the words of their covetousness and made them yours; their judgment from ancient times does not delay, and their destruction does not sleep” (2 Peter 2:3).
Spiritually, of course, these are Satan's instruments to deceive the soul from the right doctrine (teaching) and lead them to hell. Heresy already existed in the early church. They were mad at deceiving the few members of the Church of God at that time, and they began to disturb the churches of God.
At that time, the representative heretics were
First, there were those who denied the death and resurrection of Jesus on the cross.
“But there have also been false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who secretly introduce destructive heresies, denying the Lord who bought them, and bringing upon themselves the impending destruction” (2 Peter 2:1).
Second, there were heretics who used sex.
“Many will follow their sensuality, and by this will the way of truth be blasphemed” (2 Peter 2:2).
“Those who suffer injustice at the price of iniquity, they delight in contact by day, spots and blemishes. When they banquet with you, they communicate with them in their deceit, with eyes full of lust, they do not cease to sin; They have a trained heart, children of the curse” (2 Peter 2:13-14).
Third, there were heretics who denied the return of Jesus.
“Know this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts, mocking them, saying, “Where is the promise of the coming of the Lord?” (2 Peter 3) :3-4)
Fourth, there were heretics who denied the truth of salvation, claiming that one must be circumcised to be saved.
“There are many who are disobedient and speak vain and deceitful people, especially in the circumcision, and they will shut their mouths to take the unclean, and they fall all over the house, teaching the wrong things” (Titus 1:10-11).
Fifth, there were heresies that denied the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for redemption.
Sixth, there were heretics who argued for dualism and denied ethics.
“But you have this; you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” (Revelation 2:6).
After the age of the early church (the age of the apostles) passed, the age after the apostles, that is, the age of the inner apostles, came, and the heresies began to appear with increasing momentum. There was a heresy called the "Ebionites". As Jewish legalists, they claimed false doctrines such as “Jesus kept the law and became the Messiah” and “Peter became a true apostle by keeping the law, but Paul was not a true apostle because he did not keep the law.”
There was a heresy called “Docetism”. They are dualists, the spirit is holy and the flesh is evil. Therefore, it was argued that it was free to use the flesh as desired. These were heretics who inherited the false doctrines of the Nicolaitans of the Apostolic Age.
There was a heresy called "Cerinthus". They denied the virgin birth of Jesus and denied the resurrection of Jesus. They taught the false doctrine that Jesus became the Messiah when the Holy Spirit came upon him when he was baptized, but when he died, the Holy Spirit left him and he died in agony and suffering. They emphasized the Holy Spirit, and they immersed themselves in mysticism by falsely emphasizing the Bible and exercising the Holy Spirit, claiming that all miracles of Jesus are by the Holy Spirit, and that anyone can perform miracles like Jesus when the Holy Spirit comes upon them.
There was a heresy called “Montanism”. This wave was started by Montanus, and he deified himself by claiming that the new Holy Spirit could be received by Montanus, and even foretold the date of Jesus' return. There was a heresy called "Arianism". They denied the Triune God.
There was a heresy called “Pelagianism”. They claimed that they could be saved by human law as by the gospel.
Then, in the 4th century, a huge heresy pretending to be Christianity appeared. It is a heresy that combines syncretism, ritualism, marianism, idolism, ecclesiasticalism, legalism, and paganism, which is called the Roman Catholic Church. After that, the Reformation took place and the heresies that started appearing like bamboo shoots were innumerable. It is no exaggeration to say that this is the golden age of heresy (?), where not only special cult groups but also churches recognized as evangelical denominations are showing cult activities. Looking at today's modern Christianity, I think of the words of Jesus.
“Many false prophets will arise and deceive many” (Matthew 24:11).
What characteristics do heretics have? I would like to examine the characteristics of the cult and the general characteristics that the cult has in its own way.
The Bible says, first, that heresy has a Christian background.
“There will be false teachers among you” (2 Peter 2:1).
“Children, this is the last time, and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so many antichrists have arisen now, and therefore we know that it is the last time. Otherwise, they would have dwelt with us, but all of them went out to show that they do not belong to us” (1 John 2:18-19).
Second, heresy denies that Jesus is the Christ.
To deny that Jesus is the Christ means to deny that only Jesus is the true Savior. It is the claim that there is another savior or way of salvation other than Jesus. “Who is a liar? is he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He who denies the Father and the Son is the antichrist. He who denies the Son does not have the Father also, but whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father.” (1 John 2:22) -23)
Third, heresy denies that Jesus came in the flesh, that is, as a man.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world, and by this you know the Spirit of God, that every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God and confesses Jesus. Every spirit that does not do it is not of God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, you have heard that it is coming, but it is already in the world” (1 John 4:1-3)
“If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
Fourth, heresy denies any one of the correct teachings of the Bible about Jesus.
“But there have also been false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who secretly introduce destructive heresies, denying the Lord who bought them, and bringing upon themselves the impending destruction” (2 Peter 2:1).
Fifth, the cult leader claims to be the Messiah, the Second Coming Jesus, or God.
“Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:5).
“He opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or those worshiped, and sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4)
Sixth, heresy is immoral.
“Many will follow their sensuality, and by this will the way of truth be blasphemed” (2 Peter 2:2).
“For there are some who have come in secretly, for these are from ancient times those who were written beforehand to receive this judgment, who are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into lust, and denying the only Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord.” (Jude 1:4)
Seventh, deceive people with lies.
“I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because of your knowledge, and because every lie is not born of the truth. Who is the liar? He is the antichrist” (1 John 2:21-22).
“But the Holy Spirit plainly says that in the latter days some will turn from the faith and turn to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons; these are liars with hypocrisy, whose conscience has been scorched” (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
“The coming of the evil one will come according to the work of Satan, with all powers and signs and false miracles and all deceitfulness of unrighteousness, on those who are perishing, for they have not received the love of the truth, that they may be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2: 9-10)
Eighth, heresy is disguised as false godliness.
“Forbid marriage and destroy plants.