A Contrast of Worship
Book of 1 Kings Chapters 12, 14, 15
What is worship? Worship is homage rendered to Jehovah which is idolatry to render to any created being.
Exo 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Isa 2:8 Their land also is full of idols; “they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made”:
It is sin to worship any created being!
It is sin to worship an angel, who is also created beings!
We are to worship only the Living God!
Jer_10:10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
We know that Israel was now a divided nation. Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, was king of Judah, which included the tribe of Benjamin.
Jeroboam was now the King of Israel which included only the ten tribes now called Ephraim.
From this point forward the Books of 1 and 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles will record the histories of the different kings of the divided nation of Israel.
What is idolatry?
Idolatry is image worship or divine honor paid to a created object, including mankind and angels.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
How can we best describe those who are lost, keeping in mind that we were once lost?
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
The forms of idolatry are,
(1.) Fetishism, or the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc.(created objects on earth)
(2.) Nature worship, the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, as the supposed powers of nature.(created objects in the heavens)
(3.) Hero worship, the worship of deceased ancestors, or heroes.(all created objects)
Idolatry in Christian doctrine is anything that interferes between the soul and our Creator is idolatrous and is to be shunned!
1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Jeroboam turned the northern tribes to idolatry.
Idolatry is the religion of Satan! Remember Lucifer was just an angel created by Jehovah.
1Ki 12:26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
1Ki 12:27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
1Ki 12:28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Jeroboam was face to face with the greatest opportunity of his life.
Should he have determined to serve the Lord he might have easily been the mightiest monarch in the history of Israel.
God would have certainly been with him.
But if he disregarded the Word of God his kingdom would have come to nothing which it did.
It was a Prophet of God Ahijah that had told him of these things.
The only safe path of any ruler is the right path!
We could ask ourselves does God truly have any rulers on His side?
We know that the heart is the center of mankind’s personal activities.
Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
The world created by God before the flood was destroyed because of idolatry which led to wickedness!
Gen 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; “for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth”; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
We get a firsthand look at how false religions get started. They are conceived in the mind of some man or some woman!
Jehovah had already told Jeroboam how to get His blessings.
Jehovah has told us all how to get His blessings!
1Ki 11:38 And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.
Jeroboam made Shechem his capital city and then Jeroboam does something very foolish.
The apostasy of Jeroboam was willful, it was designed, and it was done deliberately!
He consulted with himself instead of consulting with Jehovah who had made him King of Israel.
The Lord Jesus Christ makes this thing simple to understand.
Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Our hearts must be fixed upon the Lord!
Psa 112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
The fact of the divided kingdom did not mean that the Northern Tribes were exempt from their covenant obligations to Jehovah!
They were still to observe the Books of Moses as much as the Southern Tribes.
All the tribes of Israel had the same Book of Moses!
These things caused stress upon Jeroboam, and he even became afraid for his life.
Jeroboam forgot the promises of God!
We tend to look at the world and forget the promises of God when we know that God has proven to us that He will never break a promise.
We do not need advice on how to do evil, we are born that way!
Jeroboam wanted advice on how to do a bad thing in the best way. He did not consult with God and God would not have answered such a request!
So many churchgoers today go to a place of worship that is convenient rather than seek a “Bible Believing” House of worship.
It is a fact that we will take the easy way out when it is available!
Just as a certain political party did in the days of Covid 19 when it made it a law to abandon the Church for fear of catching the disease forgetting the power of God.
Jeroboam shaped a new religion for his own purpose.
This is the way of radical Islam and other such religions. They rewrite their literature to adapt to changes they see in the world.
The Holy Scriptures never have to change because they were written by Jehovah and are perfect in any age!
Jeroboam even framed his words by the Word of God during the Exodus.
Exo 32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Exo 32:5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
Exo 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
Jeroboam proposed a perversion of the proper worship of Jehovah God.
“Calf is not a good translation of the Hebrew egel. A young bull in his first strength is meant: for instance, the word can describe a three-year-old animal.
Gen 15:9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer “of three years old”, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
A three-year-old bull would be a bull closer to his prime than a calf.
Jeroboam placed these idols of Baal in two separate locations.
(get pictures)
1Ki 12:29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
1Ki 12:30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
The name Bethel means “house of God” and this city was ten miles from Jerusalem.
This is the same place where Jacob had his vision of the angels of God ascending and descending on a ladder whose top reached into Heaven.
Gen 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
Gen 28:13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
Gen 28:14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Gen 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
Gen 28:21 So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
Dan, which means (a judge) on the other hand is located at the foot of Mount Hermon.
This is the same place where the Danites stole the shrine of Micah and set up false worship.
Jdg 18:29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.
Jdg 18:30 And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.
Jdg 18:31 And they set them up Micah’s graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
Jeroboam took advantage of this situation as he felt they would have no problem accepting his idols of Baal.
Jeroboam then installed false priests and false worship.
1Ki 12:31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
1Ki 12:32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
1Ki 12:33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
We should be very clear. Once we are aware of our Creator, we then must worship Him!
This is why the bible begins with the Book of Genesis.
This is why the world clings to the lies of evolution.
Evolution has proven to be wrong so many times it is pathetic that the world clings to it because they have no other theory except now where they use the word aliens so often.
We have only one duty as created beings!
Ecc_12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Jeroboam decided that his idols would also need temples as a place to worship and priests.
He was not about to use priests from the tribe of Levi because they might teach the truth of God.
Deu_10:8 At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
Jeroboam chose priests from every tribe but the Levites, going against the Word of God in any way that he could think of.
This is the way of almost all false man-made religions. They always will change the rules if people start leaving for the truth.
There are a few false religions that have some truth in them, but Christianity is all or nothing and based upon the truth of Jesus Christ and the true Word of God.
Jeroboam chose the eighth month and the fifteenth day to be as close to The Feast of the Tabernacles as he thought would work.
The Feast of the Tabernacles was on the fifteenth day of the seventh month.
Jeroboam did not consult with anyone else to create this false religion!
The people already understood that Jeroboam was chosen by God to lead this new nation, and Jeroboam kept it that way.
The Prophet Amos had confronted one of Jeroboam’s false priests with the truth:
Amo 7:10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.
Amo 7:11 For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.
Amo 7:12 Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:
Amo 7:13 But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court.
Amo 7:14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
Amo 7:15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
It may have been the king’s chapel and the king’s court but he was the wrong king.
Our Lord Jesus had some things to say about man-made religion:
Mat 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
The Holy Spirit says: Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Those who serve false religion have to understand the judgment of God will come upon them.
1Ki 14:15 For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger.
1Ki 14:16 And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.
Jehovah had placed Jeroboam on the throne of Ephraim, but it was Jeroboam who had turned against Him.
Jeroboam could have been a mighty king of Israel, but he rebelled against the truth of God.
Jeroboam is still suffering the judgment of God today and he will throughout eternity!
Now comes judgment upon the people who knew better.
Moses had warned these people:
Deu 4:27 And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.
Deu 4:28 And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
Deu 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Now judgment would come to Israel, and they would be scattered on the other side of the Euphrates River.
Politics had caused the people of God to sin!
During Covid 19 many of God’s people were directed to sin by our government and many of those who left the Church have never returned.
The Holy Spirit has also warned the Church of the coming judgment of God:
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
There will be no more warnings and judgment could come at any time because the “Rapture of the Church is the next thing on God’s timetable.
Once the Church is removed this world will rely on wickedness and idolatry just as those before the flood.
King Rehoboam and his son had also turned against Jehovah and God began his judgment upon Judah beginning with the King of Egypt.
1Ki 14:23 For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.
1Ki 14:24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
1Ki 14:25 And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem:
No doubt that Jeroboam had stirred up this king against Judah, and Shishak broke his peace agreement with King Solomon.
1Ki 14:26 And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
We know that King David had placed all his treasures in the Temple and so had many others.
We know that those golden shields would be valued at over thirty-three million dollars today.
There is a record of these events in Egypt.
With Judah humbled at the hand of this Egyptian King, Jeroboam had free reign to attack Judah at any time and he did so.
It was in the time of King Asa that change came to Judah.
*1Ki 15:9 And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.
1Ki 15:10 And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.
1Ki 15:11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.
1Ki 15:12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
1Ki 15:13 And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.
Finally, a king who was faithful to the Lord.
We should notice that Jehovah is still keeping his promises to King David and He will continue because the prophecy of Kings of Judah will last until King Jesus sits upon the throne of David.
King Asa reigned for forty-one years, and we can see that he had not been influenced by his grandmother Maacah’s false worship.
This Maacah was the daughter of Tamar the daughter of Absolom.
Asa removed his father’s idols.
Asa removed his wicked mother as Queen and her idols burning them in the Brook Kidron.
Asa removed the Sodomites from the land of Judah.
Asa did not remove all the high places of worship, and we do not have an explanation, but we can imagine politics were still involved.
Asa gave his treasures to the House of the Lord.
Amen
Apostasy
Understanding Apostasy
An Understanding of Apostasy
Book of 1 John Chapter 2 verses 15-29
In last week’s lesson we learned about Spiritual growth and in this week’s lesson we will learn why we need that growth.
Whenever the Holy Spirit takes the time to warn us about certain things, then we need to pay attention to what He says.
Reading the Scriptures every day is a wonderful thing and we all should do so, but sometimes we need to put our nose to the grindstone and really study to see what the Lord is saying!
This is one of those places!
When we think about “apostasy” in the church, we are talking about those who are forsaking the Lord Jesus Christ and His teachings.
The Apostle Paul says there will be a “falling away” from Christ!
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
In the Book to Timothy, Paul says “departing from the faith”.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Again in the Book to Timothy Paul writes they will not “endure sound doctrine”.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
These are all Scriptures dealing with “Apostasy” and there are many more.
How does the Apostle John teach us about these things? He says:
*1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
We cannot experience true victory in Jesus, until we have victory over this world of evil!
This is a world dominated by Satan and we must have victory over Satan and Jesus provides that victory!
Our faith is based upon the invisible things of God’s world, which He offers to us.
If we turn around and seek happiness in this world which will one day end, we are forsaking the truth of God!
This world may seem to be a good world, but it is an evil world!
We live in a world where our worthiness is determined by the amount of possessions we own!
Does this mean we cannot appreciate the wonders of God’s creation? Absolutely not!
God has provided all the things necessary for us to live a comfortable life and have joy in our lives.
The truth is, the heavens and this earth are just temporary things that are aging and passing away.
We live in a corruptible world, as those with powers use these same elements of the earth to indulge in corruption and sinfulness.
We must not become attached to the things of this world which will be destroyed!
There are no perfect governments on this earth.
There are no perfect societies upon this earth.
Even the church has forgotten to strive for perfection!
We may be loyal to some good things upon this earth, but we must stand against all the bad things of this earth!
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
We may live in this world, but we are not to be friends of this world!
Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
What is the real truth of this world we live in?
*1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
We can sit upon a mountain top and view the wonders of God’s creation and just say how beautiful is God’s creation, but when we get back home, we see something for different.
When we look out upon the societies, we see everyone lusting after the things of the flesh.
We see people giving in to the desires of the flesh.
We live in a sack of flesh that will indulge in any sinful behavior if and when it is given that opportunity!
In most cases it begins with the things we see!
The danger of these things is that we desire things that go against the truth of God.
We desire and go after these things to possess that are forbidden by the Word of God.
We may look upon another man’s wife with desire and this is the sin of adultery even if it goes no further than that desire!
Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
It may sound unrealistic, but we must make a vow with our eyes!
Job_31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
What was the downfall of the great King Solomon?
Ecc 2:10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Ecc 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
There is no profit from the things of this world!
Then there is the pride of life.
The pride we have that is centered upon ourselves, goes against the Word of God!
When we believe that we are so special that God will just bend over backwards to accommodate our own desires.
When we believe we can do all things without God we will be sadly mistaken.
There is no future without God!
Mat 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
When we fall into these traps, they become so deep they are hard to climb back out of them.
In fact we will not be able to on our own, we will just pass away with the rest of the world!
*1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
There is only one thing that we need to do every day. We need to do the will of God!
We must understand that there is nothing outside the scope of God’s sovereign rule!
Our own salvation falls under this rule of God!
2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
God does as He pleases and, it pleased God to provide us a means of eternal salvation!
God does not and will not ever adjust His plan to accommodate our will! We must obey His will for us!
But there is the permissive will of God, where God will allow certain things that fall in place with His eternal plan.
The truth is the Lord Jesus Christ died according to the preconceived plan of God for our salvation.
This does not mean that wicked men were not responsible for His death!
God knew there was no other way that we could be brought back in fellowship with Him!
We should stand in awe of our Great God who could conceive such a plan of salvation!
We can entrust our eternal days to our Almighty God!
We should rejoice in our salvation!
We can rest in peace as we observe all the things in this evil world we live in!
God holds people responsible for their sins, at the same time He has a plan of redemption!
Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
God proves that He is in total control of this world, but He allows us to make our own choices!
God lets us know that He loves us! It grieves God when we make the wrong choices!
God’s will, will abide forever!
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.
We must also realize that we are in the last of the last days!
*1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
There may not be more people who disagree with the doctrine of Jesus Christ, though I believe there are many more.
What we can be sure of in these last days is, that those who do reject Jesus speak with louder voices drowning out the Church because the Church has become so passive!
All the sinful movements move through our nation and others with much fanfare but if something good tries to do the same things then they are forbidden or drowned out because the Church refuses to take a stand and many even endorse this evil!
These loudly proclaim that God could never be a human and so the Scriptures are so full of errors that to believe we can know the actual Word of God makes us a people who border on insanity.
These antichrists broadcast their message freely, on every level!
There are also more antichrists in the church than ever before, and they too loudly proclaim a false doctrine driven by the world giving in to immorality.
John says we are approaching the midnight hour when darkness will assume to rule our world.
The Antichrist could step onto the stage of this world at any moment. He may already be there but hiding in the shadows!
This Antichrist is not the spirit of antichrist that is in our world now, but this will be an actual person.
This Antichrist will rise to be on the stage as a world leader and the world will listen to him because he will speak with the voice of Satan who has transfigured into a spirit of light.
2Co_11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
There are so many today denying the truth of God and the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can be certain that the Second Coming of the Lord is very soon!
What is the truth?
2Th_2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
We are in that day of the great falling away!
*1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Where do antichrist come from? They walk right out of the doors of the church proclaiming they have been misled.
Teachers who proclaim some new doctrine.
Preachers who have mixed the doctrine of evolution with the truth of creation.
Preachers who have allowed the government to dictate the doctrine of the Church.
Churches that have opened the church doors to the world denying the true Christ who is the foundation of the Church!
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
How can we know them?
*1Jn 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
That word unction means as believers we have the anointing of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit lives within each of us to guide us and to protect us from false things.
A non-believer or an antichrist cannot have the anointing to the Holy Spirit so they cannot know the truth of doctrines of the Bible!
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Joh 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
The Holy Spirit knows all things about Jesus Christ that we need to know so He will lead us away from the antichrist!
*1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
We are God the Father’s “little children” and we need to be warned!
Those who deny that Jesus is the Messiah are liars!
Those who deny that Jesus is a Person in the Personage of God, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit are all liars!
Those who deny that Jesus was 100% man and 100% God at the same time are all liars!
Those who deny the truth of the Word of God are all liars!
Those who deny that Jesus is God have chosen to believe the Anti-god!
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Those who stand against God the Father and His Son are doomed to damnation!
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
There are really no true Atheists in this world, but the world is full of people who claim some god and the only God is the Lord Jesus Christ!
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
I think the Holy Spirit answers every question that can be ask about our Savior right here in this passage!
Those who are sure we have a Creator had better know that God the Father sent forth His Son as this Creator and to reject any part of these things is to deny Him!
*1Jn 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
What we have heard from the Apostles is the “Gospel” of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is the “Gospel” that has all the answers of life and life eternal!
If we do not know God, how can we ever say we are pleasing to Him.
“And let’s just get one thing very straight right now, God is MALE and not female”!
How can there be a “Bride of Christ” if there is not the Groom, God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ?
It is the “Gospel” that must continue in us all our days once He has come into our hearts!
God has given us 66 books all bound up in one and any study of these books will lead you to the Lord Jesus Christ the answer to life, the answer to salvation, the answer to eternal life!
What words best describe the “Gospel”?
1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
There is only one “Gospel”!
It is by the “Gospel” that comes eternal life in fellowship with the Almighty God!
As long as we are upon this earth there will be those deny the “Gospel”!
*1Jn 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
John has already taught us that these who would “seduce”(entice, deceive, lead astray) would come from inside the Church.
1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us;
Those, some inside the church, will teach that there is some other way to restore fellowship with God and this simply is not true.
No one is good enough.
No one is righteous enough.
No one is rich enough.
We must always be on guard against false teaching because there is just too much at stake.
We will never regain fellowship with our Creator if we try some other way than the “Gospel”!
If God the Father, sent God the Son to die for us then, how could we ever believe that there was some other way?
God sent His Son to save mankind, if there had been some other way then there would be no need for the “Gospel”!
God then sent God the Holy Spirit to protect His investment!
Without the anointing of the Holy Spirit to seal our redemption we would still be lost!
Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit_3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
We cannot deny the Triune God and still say we understand the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ!
We are doomed to failure if we do not abide in our Savior!
*1Jn 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
1Jn 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
What is the greatest test of being a Christian? Do we rest in the truth of the “Gospel”?
Do we dwell with Jesus?
Are we ashamed of Jesus Christ?
Have we made our home with the Lord?
I can openly confess that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!
I fully believe that God has shown His love for me by Jesus Christ!
I can confess that I love God because He first loved me!
1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
I will have boldness in the Day of Judgment because “I know my name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life”!
I know the truth of God and this truth has made me free from the penalties of sin!
Joh_8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh_8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
I will never be ashamed of my Savior!!!!!
I am at peace with God because He called me to meet His Son!
I have been “Born Again” into the family of God!
Have You?
Amen
Let’s Pray!
LESSONS IN GOD'S WORD 