Detecting Heresy...

How Heresies Find Root In The Church?

This is an important question because heresies abound dogmatically.

The term heresy means a teaching that is contrary to biblical doctrine. The apostle Paul confronted heresy in the Colossian church (Colossian. 2:1-23).  

Satan initiates heresy in Bible believing Churches by masquerading it as Bible doctrine worthy of debate.  Heresy will always find its opportunity to abound where the knowledge of God's word is weak.  Heresies always rely on human insight and wisdom. Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write transparently about the evil of heresy.  All heresies at its origination is in self exaltation. The apostle Paul deliberately condemns any and all teaching that credits humanity and not Christ with being the answer to all of life's problems.

I.  The Apostate & The Facts- vs. 4

{} In Disguise - 4a.  ...certain men crept in unawares…

They Compliment - Compete - Complain -

{} In Disaster - 4b.  ...ordained to this condemnation...

{} In Disgrace - 4c. ...turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness…

{} In Disbelieve - 4d.  ...denying the only Lord God…

II. The Apostasy & The Acts  - vs. 5, 7

In The Face Of Apostasy...

How Are We To Act?  How Does God Act?  How Do Apostates Act?

{} The Acts Of Jude’s Love - Reminding

> Acting Out Of Necessity -  5a. ...I will therefore…

> Acknowledging Our Neglect - 5b. ...though ye once knew this...

{} The Acts Of The Lord’s Love - Redeeming

> A Faithful Lord - 5c. ...how that the Lord… Power Of  Redemption

> A Full Love - 5d.  ...having saved the people… People Of Redemption

> A Foreign Land - 5e.  …out of the land of Egypt… Place Of Redemption

> A Fatal Blow - 5f-5i

] When Of God’s Judgment - 5f.  ...afterward…

] What Was God’s Judgment - 5g. ...destroyed… See Luke 12:5

] Who Was God Judging? -5h  ...them… See Rev. 20:11-15

] Why Was God Judging? - 5i. ...that believed not…

{} The Acts Of The Apostates - 6,7

> The Angels Who Wouldn’t Beware - 6

] Rejected Their Position Of Holiness

] Renounced Their Place In Heaven

] Reserved Their Punishment In Hell

> The Sinners Who Wouldn’t Believe - 7

] Immoral Practices - 7. It was voluntary sin & vile

] Impossible People - 8. Sensual - Sexual - Shunning -   Slanderers

How do we detect heresy?  As we study God's Word, we learn heresies can be discovered by asking probing questions. Example:

1. Does it stress man-made rules and taboos rather than God's grace?

2. Does it foster a critical and condemning spirit toward others?

3. Does it stress formulas, secret knowledge, or special visions over the Word of God?

4. Does it elevate self-righteousness rather than the imputed righteousness of Christ Jesus?

These are just some of the questions. To resist heresy, you must renew your mind with the Word of God. Remember: Salvation is by Grace through faith... Salvation is not secured by a persons behavior but the Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ.

Heresy represents teaching that deviates from the truth. We are warned against it in Acts 20:29-32 and Philippians. 3:2.

Heresies include teachings that Jesus is not divine and that the Holy Spirit is not a person (Jehovah's Witnesses, Christadelphians, etc.), that men may become gods (Mormonism), that there is more than one God (Mormonism), that Jesus lost His divinity in hell and finished the atonement there, and that good works are necessary for salvation (all cults emphasize this), to name a few.   Even the New Testament church had false or heretical teachers who taught erroneous doctrine.   Some epistles were specifically written to combat them (Galatians, 2 Thessalonians, Jude). Paul warned the believers in Rome against identifying with those who promoted divisiveness and heretical teachings (Romans 16:17), especially those who placed the law as preeminent over God's grace. The law condemns, grace converts.  The law seeds rejection... grace breeds repentance (Romans 2:4).

Not everyone who makes an incorrect doctrinal statement is a heretic. When Apollo's was further instructed concerning the gospel, he grew into a very influential Christian leader (Acts 18:24,28). By contrast, Hymeneus and Philetus were heretics when they rejected God's truth and hindered the faith of some believers (2 Timothy 2:16,18).

However, heresies always conceive subtly (Jude 1:4a) and seduces, even thrives in the arena of debate. Spiritually discerning Believers will reject heresy and its seduction for debate. 

Our only sufficiency necessary to expose heresy is the Word of God under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit.   

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger 

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