Heresies

“For there must be also heresies among you ...”

by Walter Giddings

November 29, 2020

Scripture Reading:  Micah 6:6-8

What is heresy? Who among us are the heretics? Can we tell, or count, the Heretics among us, if we have little or no idea what Heresy is? We are 3 Questions into this Lesson. Have we even finished the 1st Paragraph? Are we belly up dead in the water already? If we have trouble with Investigation, shall we turn to Confession? Who, among us, is willing to have a good Confession before God “I am an Heretic!”? Volunteers, raise your right hand. Let the record of this proceeding show that we have one hand raised and it is mine. This is troublesome. At this point, let us ask, what does The LORD God require of us?

Micah 6:6-8

6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old

7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God

God requires us “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” Man translates H120 Adam, aw-dawm’. “He hath shewed thee, O Adam, what is good.” If we do justly, love mercy, as our Heavenly Father does, are we acting like Family? How important is it to know from God what is good? Do we know what is good apart from Him? What does the word “creature” mean? Are we creatures?

Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight : but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 

Creature translates G2937 ktisis whose seminal or seed meaning is “original formation”. Creature means that God “created to make” us. Does that mean that God in His work of Rescue, is returning us to “original formation”? Does God return us to the Forever-Living Body Adam had before he fell? Is The God of the Hebrews the one “with Whom we have to do”? Is The God of Israel the One to whom we must give account? Do we trust God, or man? Is Salvation too important to trust to man? Is God’s concept of Good better than ours? Since God is the One to whom we must give account, is his every Instruction helpful?

Back to Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. 

Would a failure to walk humbly with our God lead us into heresy? Without a working definition of Heresy will every Investigation fail to identify Heretics?

Greetings kindred and fellow sheep. We are on a first name basis here. My name is walter. Our Real Teacher is The Holy Spirit. I am your classmate in God’s classroom. Pastor Jerry of The Christian Reform Fellowship gave me the best definition of heresies I have ever heard. Heresies are lies about Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Who among us are immune from believing Lies? Who here has been taught lies about Jesus Christ? Can anyone here claim not being taught at least one lie about Jesus Christ, the Righteous? Anybody? What happened when you discovered the lie and told someone in church? Several of you here have been thrust out from at least 2, if not 3 synagogues! You have real credentials!

Titus 1:10-11

10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision : 

11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. 

If the 1st Century Remnant Church had to contend with Heresies, do we surely contend with them today? Is there anything new “under the sun”? In August 2020 my friend’s aunt, a retired school teacher, curious about the children’s Christian education, slipped into a classroom at an Indiana Methodist Church where she and her husband are long-time members. The male instructor was telling his young charges it was perfectly ok if they disagreed with him on any point and he welcomed discussion. The Old Testament is irrelevant, he said; it is full of made-up stories. And a number of the people of the stories were gay. My friend’s aunt thanked him for welcoming disagreement and discussion, and said she disagreed! The instructor’s face reddened with anger. It appeared children, not adults, were welcome to disagree. My friend’s uncle intends to be present at the next Board meeting. Will this couple join the ranks of the remnant Church with real Credentials? If adults have believed Lies about Jesus Christ, the Bishop of our Souls, how much more, children, who must trust adults?

After Paul’s accusers spoke, Felix, the governor, permitted Paul to speak in his own defense.

Acts 24:13-15

13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. 

14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the Godof my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets : 

15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

“After the way which they call heresy”. Was Paul’s worship of the God of our Fathers called heresy? Was Paul called an Heretic because he believed “all things which are written in the law and the prophets”? Is there anything new under the sun Verse 15? Could Paul’s accusers charge him with Heresy for his faith in the 2 Resurrections of the dead, of the just, and of the unjust? Or would that have been rank Hypocrisy? Did Paul’s accusers also allow “there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust”?

In Galatians 5 Paul, in his Epistle to the churches of Galatia, makes a classic comparison of “the works of the flesh” with “the fruit of the Spirit”.

Galatians 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies

Look what Paul says. How dangerous is it for anyone of us to fail to cease from the practice of anyone of these works of the flesh!“Of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:21

The danger of being disinherited by the practice of one of these works of the flesh is fearful!

Can anyone of these wreak havoc against our laying hold on eternal life?!

Is there a 2nd Witness to the dangers of Heresies? Are we free of Heresies and the dangers they pose to us?

2 Peter 2:1 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, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 

“There shall be false teachers among you, ...” Does The Scripture say there might be or “there shall be”?! How shall false teachers bring in “damnable heresies”? The word “privily” is what part of speech? Selah, seh’-law. Think about it. What are the parts of speech? They are noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. Of these 8 parts of speech which one fits “privily”? 

In verse 1, look at the phrase “who privily shall bring in damnable heresies”. “Who” is a relative pronoun, whose antecedent or relative is “false teachers”. What part of speech follows the word “privily”? What part of speech is the expression “shall bring in”? It is the verb to bring in. In what tense does the verb, to bring in, appear? The use of the word “shall” indicates what tense. Yes. The Future Tense. Does the word “privily” show how “damnable heresies” shall be brought in? What do we call the part of speech that modifies the meaning of a verb? Yes. Adverb. Is Adverb the part of speech that modifies the meaning of the verb to bring in? What does “privily” mean? It means secretly, surreptitiously, suggesting deceptively. The Greek verb is a compound word that is translated “privily shall bring in”. It is next of kin to related Greek verbs translated creep in unawares, meaning smuggle in, sneaky like.

Does “privily shall bring in” point to criminal intent?! Is this wilful, knowing, with malice afore thought Is this “teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake”? Is it hard for people of good conscience to understand this treacherous wickedness? Are we usually unprepared for it?

1 Timothy 1:5-6

5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. 

6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling. 

8956 “Some having swerved.” Is Verse 6 talking about Sheep swerving by deception? Who are the deceivers? What does God tell the endtime prophet Jeremiah?

Jeremiah 23:1 Woe unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

Are the Sheep being destroyed and scattered away from The Good Shepherd by deceivers in the Pulpits?! Are they preaching “things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake”? Who among us are immune from deception? Who among us has never believed a lie?! Do we remember the last time we believed a lie? Do we remember the last time someone deceived us? Are we a group of potential Hereticks? Or worse, are we a bunch of Hereticks? Or the worst, will we go to our Graves deceived by Heresies? God help us!

Have I believed lies? Yes! Am I immune to deception? No! Did Jeremiah instruct us from God that pastors “destroy and scatter the sheep” from God’s pasture? Deceivers are in The Pulpits! I am in The Pulpit. Is anybody getting nervous about this Lesson?

What do we do?

Is there anything unknown to God? No! Through the Verses we have just shared, God has shown us Deceivers are in The Pulpits!

Is The God of Israel a Providential God? Is God our Father a Provider for His Family? Does The God of the Hebrews provide us a sure Defense against Lies and Deception? Does a bear snack down on honey in the woods (23:22)? God through the Prophet Jeremiah is talking about The False Prophets:

Jeremiah 23:22 But if they had stood in my counsel and caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

Did God just tell us False Prophets could start a Revival? Did God just tell us preaching God’s Word, not man’s word, causes God’s People to be turned “from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings”?

The Holy Spirit gives Praise to the Congregation at Berea, the likes of which I have not seen elsewhere.

Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so. 

“And searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so.” If you and I can know daily whether those things are so, do we have a sure defense against deceptions and lies about our Saviour Jesus Christ? Are we in remembrance that the Word of God, the oldest literature in Adam, is dependable?

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

Why do we need instruction in righteousness? Does our conscience signal us we know the difference between right and wrong? Is the Law written in our hearts? Yes. But we just completed a brief look at the downside. We all take turns “being on the wrongside of this one”! No one of us has complete immunity to deception and lies. Adam did in his forever living body. He was not deceived. He fell knowingly. He did it knowing it was wrong, forbidden even! The Woman was seduced by The Serpent. The Man was not seduced by The Serpent. Why did he do it? Now without Help from Above, Adam is as helpless as The Woman. Now what deceives a woman does not deceive a man, and vice versa. The Proof that our Immunity to deception and lies is often incomplete is not only the Devil’s capacity, but his vested interest in taking us captive at his will.

2 Timothy 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 

Verse 26 reveals two evidences in our face. The Devil is still snaring Adam. The Devil still takes Adam captive. What does “at his will” mean? Is there an alternate translation in the margin of your Bible “who are taken captive by him (to do) his will.”? Who in our own families is taken captive by the Devil to do his will? Look at the Holy Spirit’s instruction through Paul: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Be not deceived :” There follows in verses 9-10 an impressive list of the works of unrighteousness, any one of which, continued in and failing of Repentance, can cancel our ministered entrance into The Kingdom. Bye, Bye Inheritance! Shall we read the rest of Verse 9 and all of Verse 10 when I say the word “Neither”? Read with me.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9 ..... (Neither) fornicators, nor idolators, 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.

Our conscience tells us these works are wrong! Why does verse 9 instruct us: “Be not deceived”?! Is Sin blinding? Is Sin deafening? Where are our eyes to see? Where are our ears to hear?

Is God aggressive in getting His Family back Is God aggressive in His Salvation Work for His Family (Verse 11:).

11 And such were some of you : but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 

It certainly looks Hopeless knowing we can’t save ourselves. But with God all things are possible. God asks the Prophet Jeremiah, “Behold I am the God of all Flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” Can we depend on the Scriptures? Is God able to open our eyes and unstop our ears? (Verse 16). Is Scripture profitable? Yes. Scripture is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Instruction in Righteousness (Verse 17). To what Purpose? So that ... what?

Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

The word “perfect” is translated from G739 artios, ar’-tee-os, fresh, that is (by implication) complete, as in completely baked bread.

Who among us right now feels complete? Who among us already counts himself to have apprehended? Are some of us half baked? Three quarters Nine tenths? If we are incomplete, is our Immunity to deception and lies about Jesus Christ incomplete? If we are still flesh and blood, and still here, are we still training for The Kingdom? Will it be my turn next to be an heretick? Will it be my turn next to be the Perfect Bad Example? How vulnerable are we? I still remember the heresies I used to believe! If it is my turn next to be an heretick how are you supposed to handle that according to the Scriptures? How do we turn a brother from an heresy back into The Truth?

1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

What is the Holy Spirit saying through Paul? Are heresies among us a “must”? Why To what purpose are these heresies? So “that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” Does this mean the brother that can turn me from an heresy back into The Truth? is a brother approved among us?

But heresies are dangerous!! Mouths that preach them must be stopped! Whole households will be subverted! The Damage can be incalculable! Is any gentle approach warranted in the face of this kind of Danger?!

Titus 3:10-11

10 A man that is an heretick, after the first and second admonition, reject.

11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, being condemned of himself.

According to verse 11, who in Church Government bears the Authority to condemn The Heretick? Is an Heretick self-condemning? Verse 10. What is an Admonition" If my Mother admonishes me or my brothers, what is she doing? “Just you wait till your Father gets Home”!! Has a policeman or deputy sheriff ever given you a Written Warning in lieu of a Ticket? How grateful were we? “After the first and second admonition, reject”! What does that sound like? I have often mused if Baseball be a Scriptural Game. Does that sound like Three Strikes you’re Out! Three Outs, you’re Out of The Inning!? This procedure in Titus seems like Summary Judgment. Does Summary Judgment seem appropriate to The Dangers posed by Heresies? Will rejection take away The Heretick from among us, stop his mouth, and prevent the subverting of whole houses? Who must reject The Heretick? Or could this pose irreparable Damage to New or Baby Christians? How do we strike a Balance here? Is rejecting the same as condemning? Are there other Procedural Scriptures?

2 Timothy 2:24-26

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 

Is being gentle, apt to teach, and patient applicable to damnable heresies, heresies which are able to damn whole houses? Do damnable heresies, heresies that can damn our Souls, warrant gentleness? Would failure to make an on the spot correction be too dangerous? What does being gentle, apt to teach, and patient have to do with heresies? Will verse 25 tell us ...

25 In meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth: 

Do we see the word heretick in verse 25? What does this verse have to do with Heresy? Do Hereticks condemn themselves? Are Hereticks self-condemning? Does this mean Hereticks “oppose themselves”? Is Heresy the Unforgivable Sin? Are Heresies Lies about our Saviour Jesus Christ? Is God able to deliver? Can God peradventure give Hereticks repentance to the acknowledging of the truth (Verse 26)? Will our Great Shepherd leave the 99 to return one Lost Sheep to The Flock?

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Can Hereticks “recover themselves out of the snare of the devil”? Is to recover Hereticks out of the snare of the devil just as important as to stop Heresies from subverting whole houses? How do we strike a balance? Do we have a second Witness to 2 Timothy 2:24-26?

Galatians 6: 1-3

1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 

If I am captive of the devil, holding to an Heresy, am I “overtaken in a fault”? Should a brother who is “spiritual, restore such an one as me “in the spirit of meekness”? Would Jesus leave the 99 to find me and bring me home to The Flock? Why should Lost Sheep stay Lost? Let us read verse 3 in unison:

3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

As an Heretick who ignores admonitions is Self-Condemned, so a man who thinks himself to be something is Self-Deceived. Who among us is Entirely Immune to Self Condemnation and Self-Deception?

Are we a little Nervous about this Lesson? How do we strike a Balance? How do we, on the one hand, make an on the spot correction and stop dangerous Heresies from subverting whole Houses? How do we, on the other hand, be gentle, apt to teach, patient, in meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves, who are overtaken in the fault of Heresy, threatening to subvert whole Houses? How do we strike a Balance?

Have we been here before? Does the word “privily” signify criminal intent? What is criminal intent? How does a Jury determine that The Accused intended to commit The Crime? Can anyone accidentally commit a crime? Is Scienter a necessary and imperative element of a crime? Must crimes be committed on purpose? Does a baby Christian, trying his new found wings intend to wilfully teach Heresies? Is a young Christian full of Zeal?

2 Peter 2:1 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, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 

Do heretics “bring upon themselves swift destruction”? Was Saul full of Zeal on the road to Damascus? How dangerous did Saul think heresies are? How dangerous did Saul think departure from the Old Covenant common faith after this Jesus Messiah Imposter was?

Acts 9:1-5

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest. 

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if be found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus : and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.

Verse 1: Will they slaughter Christians today? Do Trump supporters deserve death? What’s a few Christians? Verse 2: “whether they were men or women”. Why women with the men? Under Christ do men make decisions for their households? Why blame the women? Do wives of Hereticks give birth to Hereticks? Did Saul's zeal include genocide of the people of “this way”?

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

What was Saul’s answer? What were Saul’s first words?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord ...

Did Saul know the God of the Hebrews? Or did Saul know the imposter, the small g god of this world, the Serpent, who took the throne of dominion that Adam abdicated? Did Saul have to ask the Lord who he is? Was Saul a man of God? Was Saul God’s man? Did Paul call himself the least of the Apostles because he wasted the Genuine Remnant Church in the name of the counterfeit? Was Saul baptized for the remission of sins (Verses 20-21)?

Acts 9:20-21

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 

21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests

Saul confounded the Jews at Damascus. He was proving that this Jesus is very Christ, the Very Messiah! After many days had gone by the Jews took counsed, and determined to kill Saul. (Verses 26-27). At night the disciples at the wall let Saul down in a basket.

Acts 9:26-28

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples : but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 

28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 

Where Paul had once persecuted and wasted The Genuine Church for Heresy, in the name of The Counterfeit Church, he now entered upon a life of trials and persecutions by that same Counerfeit Church. Saul, the Persecutor, had joined God’s Persecuted! Saul, the Heretick, had joined “The Way, the Truth, and the Life”! With men this was impossible; with God all things are possible!

Did Saul do all his heretical persecutions from without, or outside, the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings? What if someone is teaching heresy from within the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings? What if that someone is me?

There is one thing above all others that I want you to take away from this Lesson. It is not entirely impossible for me to teach an heresy. Men often make mistakes. What if it is my turn to serve as the perfect bad example? God chose Paul to teach The Mysteries, things kept secret from the foundation of the world! Yet here, in 1st Corinthians 13, Paul makes a confession. Paul is talking about Now and Then:

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

Did Paul say “we”? This means that I see through a glass darkly; now I know in part. The use of language is constantly changing. Lucifer has his change agents altering the meaning of words over time. The word “perfect” is now expressed in American speech as complete, or completion. If you, my brethren, are permitting Jesus Christ to do his good works through you, are you nearing completion When was the last time you served as the perfect bad example? Our High Priest Jesus Christ is always ready for us to enter His Confessional.

We found two Procedures for handling Hereticks: Summary Judgment in Titus 3: 10-11 (three strikes, you’re out); and the gentler means in 2 Timothy 2:25 (“if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth”). If I preach/teach heresy within “the fellowship of His sufferings”, is that infinitely more dangerous than anything Saul did from without “the fellowship of His sufferings”? Would the procedure that applies to me depend upon my acts? If I am a Rebel recruiting others, as in “the rebellion of Korah”, or someone “who privily shall bring in damnable heresies”, is that clear implication of criminal intent? Or if I preach/teach heresy openly, not privily, and do not recruit others, will you show me mercy and entreat me, instructing me because I am opposing myself? What will you do with me if I preach Heresy?!!

Will any sermon leave us with a choice?

Scriptures

Micah 6:6-8 2 Timothy 2:26

Hebrews 4:13 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 11

Micah 6:8 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 Titus 1:10-11 *1 Corinthians 11:19* Acts 24:13-14 Titus 3:10-11 Galatians 5:20-21 2 Timothy 2:24, 25, 26

2 Peter 2:1 Galatians 6:1-2, 3 1 Timothy 1:5-6 2 Peter 2:1 (again). Jeremiah 23:1, 22 Acts 9:1-3, 4, 5, Acts 17:11 20-21, 26-28 2 Timothy 3:16 1 Corinthians 13:12