OzSpen said:
zeke25,
Would you be able to list half a dozen criteria you would use to help determine if somebody is of the 'household of faith' = Christian?
Oz
Ye Shall Know Them By Their Fruits
1. The question was posed to me, “Where are the signs and wonders of the heresy hunters?” The Bible says in Mark 16:17-18 KJV, “
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” But the bible does not say that you will be able to recognize men of God by their signs and wonders. In fact, the Scriptures warn us in numerous places that the antichrists will be able to perform signs and wonders too. The first evidence of this is in Genesis 3:1 KJV, “
Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which [Yahowah] God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” The point I am making here is that Satan can make an animal talk.
2. Have you noticed the tactics used thus far by those who employ lying signs and wonders. First, they accuse the brethren. Second, they make up derogatory names such as heresy hunter, then apply it to their enemies. The homosexuals employ the same tactic. They have coined the word homophobe, and attach it to those who disagree with them. Islam uses the term infidel, and apply it all who will not accept the moon god, Allah, as their own personal god. Heresy hunter, homophobe, infidel, it makes little difference, these are meaningless words spoken by confused minds. The tragedy is that there are confused ears that listen to meaningless words and draw sinful conclusions. These are accusatory terms employed against the true children of God. Who, does Scripture say, is the accuser of the brethren? Revelation 12:9-10 KJV, “
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” He twists the Scripture and tries to make it say what it does not say by questioning, “Hath God said? (Genesis 3:1)” This is one of the deceptive arguments the antichrists employ. They try to turn men of God away from the teaching of Scripture and use apologetics of their own making. Titus 1:16, KJV, “
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
3. The Bible does say in Matthew 7:16-20 KJV, “16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
” In other words, the strong teaching of Scripture leads us away from our empirical experiences and leads us to the word of God, the Bible, and what it says. Because our senses may be wrong, but the word of God is trustworthy.
4. So, what is fruit? Matthew 12:33 KJV, “
Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” Fruit is not the people that a leader or teacher gathers to himself. Fruit is not the change, for the better or worse, in the lives of those gathered around any particular teacher. Fruit is what grows from and hangs onto a tree. Fruit is the teachings and doctrines that exude from a man, and cling to him, so that others will be able to observe and see his beliefs and character. If this man performs signs and wonders, yet his fruit is in contrast to the Bible, then those signs and wonders are not from God. They are deceptions. Deuteronomy 13:1-3 KJV, “
1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for [Yahowah] your God proveth you, to know whether ye love [Yahowah] your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
5. The Bible gives us a second way to recognize those who represent Christ and how to recognize those who represent the antichrist. It is found in 1 John 4:1-3 KJV, “
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that [Yahoshua the] Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that [Yahoshua the] Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” What does it mean to acknowledge that Yahoshua the Christ has come in the flesh? When compared with other applicable Scriptures, its meaning becomes clear. If one confesses that Yahoshua the Christ came from God, that He came from His eternal preexistence which was God (John 1:1,14; 8:58; 17:5; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 7:3, Revelation 22:13)*, and has now taken on human flesh and is now God with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)*, then this one has confessed that Yahoshua the Christ has come in the flesh.
*NOTE. Isaiah 7:14 KJV, “Therefore [Yahowah] himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
” Matthew 1:23 KJV, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
” John 1:1,14 KJV, “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
” John 8:58 KJV, “[Yahoshua] said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
” John 17:5 KJV, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
” Colossians 2:9 KJV, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
” Hebrews 7:3 KJV, “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
” Revelation 22:13 KJV, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
”
6. I want the whole Christian community to understand I did not start this fight. I, nor by brothers who have the same calling in Christ, do not cause division. Those who preach false doctrine are the divisive ones. I am not unloving. Those who preach false doctrine are unloving. Those who teach false doctrine are despicable because not only are they hell bound, but because they drag others to their deaths as well. Scripture says these heretics are accursed. 2 Peter 2:1-3 KJV, “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.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
” 2 Peter 2:10-14 KJV, “10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
”. 2 Peter 2:17-22 KJV, “17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour [Yahoshua the] Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
”
7. It angers me greatly that the devil has a foothold on them, I wish to snatch them from the fire. Jude 23 KJV, “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
” But it angers me too, that they enjoy the devilish hook so much, that they use it to ensnare others. It is not I who says that I am not divisive and they are, it is Holy Scripture that says it in Romans 16:17-18 KJV, “17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord [Yahoshua the] Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
”
8. We welcome constructive input supported by Scriptures from the Bible. Please contact us by our email address
[email protected]. Copyright © 2005 Richard Douglas Mauck and/or Sandra Faye Mauck.
Oz, I realize this is not a total answer to your question. Mainly, I have not provided a list of fruit (doctrines) that exude from and cling to those who preach heresies against the essentials of the faith. This treatise was written to teach some how to fish, rather than to provide fish for one meal or one day.
Zeke25