Thursday, December 13, 2018

Eternally Fatal Deception



Introduction. . .

Luke 21:7. . .

v.7
And they asked him, saying, Master, 
but when shall 
these things be? 
and 
what sign 
will there be 
when these things 
shall come to pass?

The disciples question Jesus regarding End Times and His return.

They ask Him to reveal a sign that will alert them to His coming.

Jesus responds by giving them more than "a sign"... He provides them with a whole list of signs to watch for.

However ... today we are often told that "there are no signs"... or ... even if we are told to watch for signs

... the most important ... first "sign"... is ignored ... or ... taken out of the order of importance Jesus established in this passage ... to be redefined 
by ourselves ... in a multitude of various ways. 

BUT ... if we pay closer attention to what Jesus really said first ... and ... foremost ... we will discover that the primary "sign" to watch for

... is deception.

v.8
And he said, 
"Take heed 
that ye be 
not deceived

Why must we "take heed" and be careful to watch for deception?

... Because End Times will be a time of great deception

... and ... ironically ... in spite of advanced technology ... and multimedia informational systems ... for the most part ... people will choose to "not know ... and not want to know" the most important things in life

... and while at the same time people will not want to know about deception

... they will be ... ignorantly ... and ... eagerly ... following deceivers ... and ... false saviors.

for many 
shall come 
in my name
saying, 
I am Christ; 

Yes ... at the very same time ... that most people will not want to know ... the "many" are going to come in the "name of Christ"

... saying that they are Christ ... speaking in the place of Christ ... with the nefarious intention of deceiving ... or ... indictrinating others with the false ideas they ... themselves ... have carelessly embraced.

What does Jesus mean when He says "many shall come in my name"?

He is telling the disciples ... and us ... two things:

(1) that there will be many who will claim to be Jesus ... or savior.

Will they actually be saying the words, "I am Christ"? ... Yes ... many will actually use those words.

... BUT ... claiming to be Christ can also be said and implied in other ways.

When Jesus said, "many" will make that claim ... it could very well mean that many will also presume to take the position of spiritual authority over others

... to take the place of God ... the Holy Spirit

... to become "thee" exclusive teachers of the Word of God ... the only ones who are allowed to bring forth and expound God's Holy Word

... usurping a preeminently ordained position which is held exclusively by the Holy Spirit.

However ... independent believers and teachers within the body of believers ... the genuine Church consisting of genuine ... born again of the Holy Spirit believers ... wherever they happen to reside on Earth

... are also called to personally bring forth the Word of God to one another ... family ... friends ... and as God ... the Holy Spirit leads ... whenever ... and wherever ... He leads them ... (see John 17).

... While the Word is to be brought forth under the Authority of the Holy Spirit ... as it is given by the Holy Spirit ... in an orderly fashion in the local body of genuine believers ... and elsewhere ... as prescribed in the Scriptures

... at the same time ... what is given by the Holy Spirit ... is not to be controlled ... modified ... or censored in any way by anyone ... even those in positions of authority ... since the Holy Spirit is God

... and God's nature is one of order ... wisdom ... and always ... without exception ... in harmony with the totality of the Word of God ... and ... keep in mind ... positions of authority can be self-appointed

... and ... bought and sold freely in a fallen world.

In the above passage ... 
Jesus is warning about deceivers that have disregarded the Holy Spirit and become their own god /own j-esus when they "come in the name/Word of God."

How will we be able to discern what is coming from the Holy Spirit and what is coming from mere opinions of men?

Whatever is given by the Holy Spirit ... will be in harmony with the totality of Scripture.

... While much can be learned from the opinions of men regarding Scripture ... much deception ... can also come from the opinions of finite men ... so should never be held with the same regard as God's Holy Word ... but measured up to the totality of the Scriptures ... before accepting it as truth.

We need to keep asking ourselves ... "Where did I get this doctrine?"

... Did I find it in the Scriptures ... or did I just hear it from a preacher ... or television program ... commentary? ... etc.

Doctrine must be completely backed by Scripture ... not taken out of context ... and not contradicted by any other Scripture.

We are not to ever give the full meaning of words ... brought forth by men ... whether written or spoken

... the same preeminent authority as the Holy Spirit ... regardless whom that human being might be 

... but must be schooled first of all ... ourselves ... under the Authority of the Holy Spirit ... "working out our own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12)

... so we might know what the "perfect will of God" really is (Rom.12:2)

... according to ... what God has really said ... and intended to say ... with the Words He has used.

We are ultimately responsible for what we do with the precious Word of God entrusted to us

... and in the end ... being deceived ... will not be an acceptable excuse when we stand before Christ.

Jesus, Himself, has warned us to value the costly gift of salvation He has so generously offered us through His suffering and death on the cross.

"Behold,
I come quickly:
hold that fast 
which thou hast, 
that no man 
take 
thy crown." 
(Rev. 3:11)

...Jesus also warns...

(2) that they will come in His Name ... His "Name" is "the Word of God(Rev.19:13)

... so Jesus is telling us that they will also be using the Word of God ... Holy Scriptures

... to deceive.

Therefore ... Bible study must be a diligent personal Word study

... letting the Word of God expound ... interpret ... and ... apply ... the Word of God.

... in other words ... the Word of God interprets the Word of God.

... And it takes the Holy Spirit ... to "rightly divide" /"expound" the Word of God. 
(2 Tim. 2:15)

... Therefore ... to have the Holy Spirit ... "ye must be born again" of the Spirit ... (John 3)

*See blog post*
"Nicodemus..Lessons in Dimensions"
      ***Article List***
                     at
     bottom left column

and 
the time 
draweth near
go ye not therefore 
after them."

At the time Jesus was giving this warning ... deception ... was already at work in the world through the doctrines of the Scribes and Pharisees.

..."End Times" would officially begin at His death and resurrection ... the moment our means of salvation was secured

... so He was warning them ... and us ... about this spiritual deception

... before He even began to outline the very last physical signs of End Times.

"Father ... Son 

... a..n..d ........"

We sing the "doxology"...  say we believe that the Bible teaches that God is a triune God

... and that this trinity consists of three ... One in the same ... equal persons ... the Father ... the Son ... and ... the Holy Spirit.

But do we really believe it?


We understand who the Father and Son are ... but ... when it comes to the Holy Spirit ... there seems to be some problems regarding who He is and how He functions in our life.

Some church members think that He isn't even a person ... so have been referring to Him as an "it."

But ... of the Holy Spirit ... Jesus says ... to become a genuine believer ... one must be born again of the Holy Spirit. (John 3)

... And ... Jesus ... in Matthew 12:32 ... warns that those who "blaspheme" the Holy Spirit ... cannot be forgiven


... they cannot be saved ... converted ... receive eternal life ... in Christ ... as we shall see:

Matthew 12:30-32. . .

v.30

"He that is 
not with me 
is against me;
and 
he that 
gathereth not 
with me
scattereth abroad.

Jesus defines our "born again" salvation experience in much greater detail than we usually hear today

... and ... if we are not personally studying the Scriptures ourselves ... we may fall into the clutches of distractive ... deceptive ... doctrines

... spending our time running after spiritual experiences and manifestations that we have been told ... prove we have the "Spirit"

... "Be not deceived."

Jesus then explains how to avoid deception ... and ... emphasizes the consequences for disregarding His warning.

He tells us that being in harmony with Him and His Word

... is not an option.

... His very Name is

... "the Word of God."
(Rev. 19:13)

If we are not "gathering"... [G4863 .. drawing together .. collecting ... genuine believers] ... with Him ... we are actually doing the opposite

... (like the devil) ... working against Him ... scattering ... causing confusion ... hindering the work of God.

However ... while unity is the goal ... it can also be part of the deception

... when unity fails to be in harmony with the Word of God.

... for Jesus also prays to the Father ... that believers will find unity

... only in and through their knowledge of the Truth of His Word.
... (See all of John 17
... especially ... 17:17)

v.31
Wherefore I say 
unto you, 
All manner of sin 
and 
blasphemy 
shall be forgiven 
unto men: 
but 
the blasphemy 
against 
the Holy Ghost 
shall not be 
forgiven 
unto men.

Wow !! ... this ... definitely is not a verse to be overlooked!!

... There is no forgiveness ... no salvation experience available to those who "blaspheme" the Holy Spirit.

... Only eternity in Hell awaits those who "blaspheme" the Holy Spirit.

Therefore ... it is mandatory ... a preeminent priority ... to understand the meaning of the Word ...  "blasphemy" in this warning Jesus is giving us:

Blasphemy
[G988]
= slander
=injurious speech
=vilification
=railing

These are the obvious manifested expressions of  blasphemy usually attributed to spiritually ... eternally fatal consequences

... of attacking the authority and significance of the Holy Spirit.

However ... the more subtle ... less considered ... definitions found in the Word of God

... qualify also as spiritually ... eternally fatal ... attacks against the Holy Spirit

[G988] ... continued:

="Detraction"
=making a person seem little or unimportant
=denigrate
=diminish
=soft pedal
=ignore
=put down
=de-emphasize

[G984]
=to hinder 
=hurt reputation
=harm position

So how are the above detractions used to blaspheme the Holy Spirit?

... They diminish His preeminent authority and position as:

1..Comforter
    (Jn.14:16)

2..Spirit of Truth
     (Jn.14:17)

3..Intimate Personal
Teacher of Scripture 
and interpreter of life
experiences 

4..Reminder of the
Word of God
     (Jn.14:26)

5..Jesus' Gift of Peace
     (Jn.14:27)

6..Motivator 
to bear witness .. testify inspiring to act or speak.
     (Jn.15:26-27)

7..Jesus' Messenger 
Show..explain..bring 
forth details of coming events)
    (Jn.16:13-14)

8..Indwells believers
     (Rom.8:11)
     (1Cor.6:19)

9..Power that raises
from the dead or at
Rapture/Gathering
     (Rom.8:11)

10..Empowers to 
overcome the flesh 
and walk in the Spirit 
     (Rom.8:12-14)

11..Gives assurance
that believers belong to Christ
      (Rom.8:16)

12..Produces fruit of 
the Spirit in our life:
love - joy - peace - patience/ long-suffering - gentleness - faith - meekness - temperance (i.e. not controlled by the flesh)
      (Rom.8:23)

13..Strengthens
believers when weak .. gives power to walk in the Spirit
      (Rom.8:26)

14..Searches hearts to 
lead in prayer and 
pray for believers 
      (Rom.8:27)

15..Causes believers 
to magnify Jesus
preeminent righteousness and honor His
Authority 
      (1Cor.12:3)

16..Manifests (reveals)
every believer's gifts 
...and...
equips every believer
(man or woman) for specific
"administrative" [G1248]
service/ministry:

•Word of Wisdom

•Word of knowledge

•Faith (from Scripture)

•Healing
spiritual physical
... connects also to knowledge and wisdom:

•Working of miracles [G1411]
..."achieving what appears to be impossible"

by providing:
power - strength ability
by sharing:
resources -wealth - workers 
by assembling:
groups to accomplish what
one person is not able to do alone

Prophesying 
Bringing forth and applying the Word of God to present time
...and...
developing future
circumstances

Discernment of 
spirits and engaging in spiritual warfare 
(Gal.6)

Expertise in translating
the Word of God into the various languages of the many geographical locations in the world
(1Cor.12)

[All definitions above are taken from the original languages ... Hebrew and Greek]

Only "blasphemy" against the Holy Spirit ... carries the eternal death penalty.

v.32
And
whosoever speaketh
a word against 
the Son of man
[Jesus Christ]
it shall be 
forgiven him: 
but 
whosoever 
speaketh against 
the Holy Ghost
[Holy Spirit]
it shall not be 
forgiven him
neither 
in this world, 
neither
in the world 
to come.

... and again in ...

Mark 3:28-30...

v.28
Verily I say 
unto you, 
All sins 
shall be forgiven 
unto the sons of men,
and blasphemies 
wherewith soever 
they shall 
blaspheme:

v.29
But 
he that shall 
blaspheme against 
the Holy Ghost 
hath
never forgiveness
but is in danger of
eternal damnation:

v.30
Because 
they said, 
He hath an 
unclean spirit.

This 30th verse in Mark, chapter 3, above ... provides the reason for the entire discourse Jesus gave regarding "blasphemy."

... It was in response to the Scribes' verbal attack against Him ... saying Jesus had an "unclean Spirit"

... when ... in reality ... He actually embodied the Holy Spirit.

* * * * *
For more information see article at this blog:
"Nicodemus..Lessons in Dimensions"
...at...
Article List
in bottom left column.
* * * * *
To avoid eternally fatal deception ... by becoming a genuine believer ... new person in Christ Jesus

... scroll to the top of this page

... click on the gift wrapped in gold in the left column

... and
... follow the directions.
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