Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Disarming a cult

Sorry everyone, I've been so busy packing and getting ready for our move tomorrow.  I really haven't had much time to study or much on my mind other than "lets get the frack out of here and get to Vancouver already why don't we?"

So it's been mad mad mad...  

  Anyways, here's something that I've been pondering.  When I was in the ICOC it was frequently impressed upon us that we could lose our salvation.  Like snake oil salesmen, cults typically create a need in order to sell a product.  That being the need for their brand of doctrine.

  This created a very real fear in me that allowed them to control me.  If I missed my quiet time, or disobeyed my authority or felt particularly sinful that day - I was likely going to hell.  However if I felt like I had a good quiet time, my authorities were happy with me, and I was firing on all 4 cylinders - I was making it to heaven.  This is complete and utter bullshit and NOT the life that God or his Son intended for us.

  Let's disarm the lies.

  First of all they love to base their entire "fall away" doctrine on Hebrews 6:4-6

"4 For it is impossible for those once enlightened, besides tasting the celestial gratuity and becoming partakers of holy spirit,
5 and tasting the ideal declaration of God, besides the powerful deeds of the impending eon,
6 and falling aside, to be renewing them again to repentance while crucifying for themselves the Son of God again and holding Him up to infamy."


this letter that was not even written to the gentiles of the nations, which, unless you're a jew - does not apply to you.  This letter was written to the jewish nation of Paul's day.  In particular those who had been present at pentecost and given gifts when the Holy Spirit descended upon them.

   When the Kingdom failed to appear due to the lack of repentance on the part of Israel their powers and their repentance when with it.  After which, it was impossible to renew it as the means that which produced it were no longer available.

  Today we live in an age of grace, which Paul expressly taught.  In place of repentance and pardon, we have faith and justification.  For which there is no falling away, it's entirely of grace from first to last.

  In fact, ironically as the ICOC and COC attempt to justify their salvation by works (baptism, legalism etc. etc.) actually do the opposite. As written in Galatians 5, those who try to earn their salvation by the law actually FALL AWAY from Grace.  This does not remove their salvation from them, only the privileges given tot he Body of Christ.  For by attempting to earn salvation for one's own self - you in effect deny the work of Christ at Calvary.

  Further Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states "For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God's approach present, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting." It was never out of us to begin with. We had NO involvement in this salvation at all.
 
  Again 2 Timothy 2:11-13 says "Faithful is the saying: "For if we died together, we shall be living together also; if we are enduring, we shall be reigning together also; if we are disowning, He also will be disowning us; if we are disbelieving, He is remaining faithful -- He cannot disown Himself."

  Please note - If we are DISBELIEVING he is remaining faithful. Faithful to what? Faithful to his plan to redeem the human race, for this is why he is called the Christ.
  If we disown him, we may not take part in the Body of Christ, but we will STILL be saved. That's what Jesus was tortured and died for after all!! 

  Please - if anyone dares challenge your salvation believe this; you were saved 2000 years ago because of what Christ did through his torture and death, burial and resurrection.  There is nothing YOU can do to challenge the work that GOD accomplished through his Son.

   Any belief that denies that is utter arrogance and self worship.  Who are you to say that your works, or lack thereof can deny the power of God?

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