False Religions: Apostates, Heretics, and Cults Week 7

a cup of cold water in your name. And so we ask that you bless this time, bless the study tonight now for it's in Jesus name we pray. Amen. All right, we're on page um 20 I believe of your notes and uh we're looking at false religions. We've been talking about the church and all that's involved with it. And right here we want to talk about false religions and we want to start by defining you can basically define them divide them into three different groups and and the first one is a a religion. Uh a religion is an organized system of faith and worship developed and established by man. Uh in Acts chapter 17 we have uh Paul who was there on the Mars Hill and if you remember back from probably your junior high history of the world.

Uh it talked about Mars Hill was a place where they had all the temples to the different gods like Zeus and all the other ones. as he was uh taking a tour of Mars Hill. They were to I I assume some of the Christians said, "Let's go up and look at Mars Hill." And it says in verse 16 that uh Paul waited for them at Athens and uh and he disputed verse 17 in the synagogue with the Jews and and and then certain uh philosophers uh Epicurans uh and the Stoics encountered him and some said, "What will this babbler say?" others. He seemed to be a setter forth of strange gods because he preached unto unto them Jesus and the resurrection.

And so they took him up uh and brought him unto our Ario Fagus uh saying, "May we know that this new doctrine whereof thou speakest? For thou bringest uh certain strange things to our ears, we would know therefore that these things what these things mean. for all the Athenians and the strangers which were there there spend their time and nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing and so it was just a place of debate and argument and you see that a lot in our society today as well and then Paul stood in the midst of Marshill and said you men of Athens I perceive that all things yours too superstitious now we think of the word superstitious we think like you know uh uh knock on wood or throw the salt over your shoulder or something like that don't walk under a ladder don't you know Don't cross over the path of a black hat.

What they were talking way you're too religious and is what the idea he's giving here. And um for as I passed by and behold your devotions I found an altar with this inscription to the unknown god whom therefore you ignorantly worship him declare I unto you. Now by the way this is one of the verses we use when we talk about why people ask well why do you do Halloween? We don't celebrate Halloween, but we use Halloween as an opportunity to reach out to the community around us. And also with with uh anything like Halloween, these other activities, it's always good for us as Christians to offer a a a an alternative for our children, a a controlled environment for them because the the world, they're going to see the world.

And if you just pull them out and say you can't do it without giving them an alternative, then they're going to be resentful and many times going to go behind your back on it. And and so I'm not saying we we need to celebrate like the world, but we need to offer things. But what we're doing this Saturday as an outreach, we're taking that unknown God, the thing that the world celebrates, we're using it to point them to Christ. A very pagan thing like this altar was, but to point them to Christ. And he goes on to say, God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands, neither is worship with men's hands, as though he needed things, seeing to give to all life and breath in all things.

So we talk about a religion, we're talking about where man has set up an a faith and worship. This is how we're going to worship God. And um in this day it would involve many times temples and altars and and idols and all the rest of it. Uh today you can still have some of that in in some places, but you also have just uh man's religion with man's rules and man's ways of doing things. And so when you think of a religion, think of as an organized system of faith and worship where somebody who's an apostate is an unsaved person who profess salvation but turned away from the truth. Uh look at 1 John chapter 2.

1 John chapter 2 and uh verses 18 and 19. 1 John chapter 2 and verses 18 and 19. Little children is the last times and as you've heard that uh Antichrist shall come. Even now are there many antichrists whereby we know not we know that it's the last time 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. So when you talk about somebody being apostate it's somebody that at least professed salvation. uh probably were not saved uh but have turned away from that truth, have turned away from the the gospel, have turned away from Jesus Christ and who he truly is.

Uh look at second Timothy chapter 3. Second Timothy chapter 3 and look at verse number beginning with verse number one. This know also in the last days perilous time shall come for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truceb breakakers, false accusers, incontinent uh and fierce, despiser, those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but not denying the power thereof, from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into the houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins led away with diverse lust.

Every learn ever learning and never able to come to knowledge of the truth. Now as Janice and Jambre withtood Moses so do these also resist the truth. Men of courage of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further. For their folly shall be manifest unto all men as theirs always was also was. And and so you got people that have has have turned away from the truth. The idea of the word apostate means to stand away from and and what they've done is here they were in the truth and they've stepped away from that truth and teaching. So when we say someone's an apostate, it's someone who has at one point believed the truth or taught the truth and professed the truth but now have stood away from stepped away from that.

Uh whereas religion really never was following the truth. they just uh establish their own religion. And then you have a heretic. And a heretic is a saved person who chooses to forsake the truth of God's word. Uh look at Titus chapter 3. So an apostate is somebody that was probably never saved to begin with. Whereas a heretic is somebody who was saved, who did know the truth, and and is still is saved. Obviously, they can't lose their salvation, but they've turned away from that truth. verses 10-11. A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject knowing that he that is such subverted and sinnth has been condemned of himself.

And the idea of the word heretic means to choose. He's chosen a different way. There are a number of um people that were well-known Christians either authors or musicians or whatever it might be who have now just said I don't believe in God. I don't believe in Jesus. and and and they seem to have a genuine testimony of salvation at one point but have turned away from that. Now they might be apostate because they never really truly were saved or they might be heretics who have tr turned away from that. Look at second Peter chapter 2 and verse number one. Second Peter chapter 2 and verse number one.

But there were also false prophets also among the pe. There were false prophets among also among the people even as there shall be false teachers among you who privately shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them. And so again it seems carry the idea that they were saved and and they are saved and bring upon themselves with destruction. So a heretic is somebody that that is turned away from the truth that they have embraced where apostate never was saved. Um and and heretics will have many different reasons. One is because of moral failure. Look at 1 Corinthians chapter 5.

1 Corinthians chapter 5 and verses 1-7. 1 Corinthians chapter 5 and beginning with verse number one. Is reported commonly there's fornication among you and such fornication is not so much as named among the Gentiles that one should have his father's wife. and you are puffed up and have not rather mourned that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you. For verily as absent of body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present concerning him that so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together in my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Your glory is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven love leth the whole lump. purge out there for the old leavenven that you may be a new lump as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Now, we don't know for sure who this man was. He might have just been a church member. Uh more likely he was probably some kind of a leader within the church that was living in in sin. And when somebody that is saved and is living in sin and still trying to preach and teach or whatever, he's a heretic because it's a moral failure. And then secondly is due to false teaching. Uh go over 1 Timothy chapter 1.

1 Timothy chapter 1 and verses 19 through 20. 1 Timothy chapter 1 1920. Holding faith in a good t conscience with some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck. Of whom is Alexander whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. And um so you have here the the these two uh men that had turned away from that and were teaching false doctrine, teaching teaching wrong things. And then look at 2 Timothy chapter 2 and look at verses 17 and 18. Second Timothy chapter 2 verses 17 and 18. and their word will eat as doth a canker of whom is himenius and felitus who concerning the truth have aired saying that the resurrection is passed already and overthrow the faith of some.

Nevertheless, the foundation goes on but these are these are men that were heretics. They started out teaching the truth and from all that we can understand these were people that at least verbally said we believe this and taught the truth and then they made changes and so they they they started teaching false teaching and then look at 1 Corinthians chap 11 and verses 19- 20. 1 Corinthians chap 11 verses 19 and 20. For there may be also heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When you come together therefore onto one place this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

There was a a divisiveness was going on and when when somebody becomes divisive uh they are moving to that area of being a heretic. Uh look at Galatians chapter 5 and verses 19 and 20. Galatians chapter 5. Verses 19 and 20. Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, uh hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies. These are the things that that God says are are wrong. And and and what happens is when we get these these things begin dividing the church. And so when we talk about false religions, we don't look at now there are some that are just write out false religions.

The Muslims, the the Buddhists, things like that. And even some Christian religions really are basically false religions. But there are other ones that have become they're apostate. And and these were people that that professed salvation but never had salvation and now are teaching the wrong thing. And then you got the heretics. So it just to understand that the difference in the Bible of these different ones and when Paul rebuked like right now I'm studying take a look at second Timothy chapter 1. You don't have this in your notes but I'm studying for the message for this Sunday night. I'll be preaching um the second half of Pastor Aners's message.

We divide it in two parts now. And um if you look at verse 15 it says this. Thou knowest that all all they which are in Asia be turned away from me of whom are Velius and her Herman Herman Mo whatever his name is. Um but the point is these guys he doesn't accuse them of false teaching. But what he does accuse him of is they've left. And there's sometimes people that just quit. They just leave the church. They leave, you know, these things. They're not necessarily teaching false things, but they've just left it as well. And and so we have a lot of different kinds of influences are out there in understanding that.

So we talk about different types of religious groups. You've got those that are false religions and um and basically these would be ones that just are clearly different religions. They're not trying to teach the Christian faith or whatever else it might be. And then secondly, you have cults. and uh cults I would put them in a different category than a false religion. Uh they are usually revolve around one person and uh and and there's a lot of things that that they they expect from everybody and they're and and it's it's like a controlling factor. And then you have number three, you have Christian religions.

And um these are these are ones that are based upon they call themselves Christians and yet they're not. Now, the extreme would be the Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses. Both of them would identify themselves as Christian, but they're they're they're they're clearly not in the same category. And you could also include some other uh religions that maybe started out well, but have turned the wrong direction as well. And then then fourthly, you have denominations or sects. That's seccts. Um, and these are these are groups within that the Christian grouping and and you got a denomination like the Lutheran or the Presbyterians or other groups and I wouldn't put them in the same categories of false religion although many times they are teaching but you know I know many Presbyterians that I think are genuinely saved and and do teach some very good sound things but yet they they've taken and and brought in things that are false and along and uh and then there are sects within that.

Even there's Baptist groups that I would not agree with. And and so I would look at them as as teaching false doctrine. There are some Baptist denominations, for example, uh teach a baptismal salvation. And if you're not baptized, then you're not going to heaven. And uh and and there are some that would teach a work salvation. And so these are within the denominations, you got to define that. and and so just kind of breaking it down so you understand when you're looking at a religion or a group or an individual, you know, how do they fit into that? Now, some of the signs of a a false religion or a cult is one leadership of unquest of of questionable character.

Uh usually especially with a cult you got somebody that that you know there's the leader the whoever the leader or leaders are you got to really question their motives their purpose uh their character many things about them and uh you got to really pay attention to that and especially today's world with the internet you know when you see something on internet you need to know who is who is this person what who is he associated with and and what is his character uh that tells you a lot about him And then number two is there's usually a belief in extra biblical revelation. For example, the Mormons have the Book of Mormon.

Um the Catholics have their traditions. There's there's extra biblical revelation. God has told me something or we've got this other book or this thing that can check and balance that. Uh and and so there's an extra biblical revelation. And then number three is salvation through works. It's going to come down to some kind of you either got to join our church, you got to follow our teaching, you got to do this or do that in order to be going to heaven. Um there's some kind of a salvation through works rather than through the grace of Christ. And then number four is there's a class system in heaven.

You can be as gods. You know, the Mormon churches teaches literally you can become a god uh like Jesus. Uh, and you know, the Jehovah's Witness teaches only so many of them are going to be the the chosen elite ones. And even in the Catholic Church, you have saints and you have different levels of purgatory and all these things. And and so you can be as a god is what they what they tend to teach. And then um number five is they teaching the need to correct doctrine and teaching. And usually what happens is they'll come in and say, "We we we've got something that nobody's ever had before." Now folks, there's nothing new under the sun.

Every time I think, you know, I'm working on a sermon or a series or something and I think, "Wow, I've got something nobody's ever done before." I I'll go on to Google and Google it and it's like 20 other pastors have taught the same thing and uh they came up with the same thought. And there's nothing new under the sun. Now, it might be new to you. It might be new to me. It might be a a little bit of a different way of presenting it, but ultimately the Bible's been here for hundreds and thousands of years, and we don't need somebody coming in and say, "Oh, man. I've got something that God, you know, knew here."

And so, somebody comes, I got new revelation. I've got new doctrine. I've got a new way of, you know, interpreting this. That should be raising red flags and you should be paying attention to that, saying, "What? Why? Why are this all of a sudden new?" Now again, it might be new to you and I found things that were new to me I'd never thought of before and and and so on, but when it comes down to it, they are not going to be able to correct doctrine and teaching. Um, now there are things that were not issues a couple hundred years ago because they just weren't. Um, and and so because to today's society, they've become more of issues and even doctrally.

uh and and sometimes you'll read some of the the the great Christian authors of uh 100 years ago like somebody like Spurgeon some of the things that he teaches I'm looking at like whoa but the thing is that was not an issue like the charismatic movement the modern charismatic movement has only been around since the early 19 early to mid 1900s before then there was no there was none of this angelic tongues and all the rest of that that wasn't even on the radar and so you're not going to see that back then. But all of a sudden, somebody came in and says, "Oh, we we learned something new. There's this angelic language that nobody else knows that you can learn that you could speak in."

And and and so you got this new thing. So you got to be real careful with that. And then number six is uh it appeals to emotions, pride, greed, etc., but not the intellect. Now I will make a little bit of exception there and that is that there's some some te teachers and and some people that they they are so intellectual that they have got to put God in the box of their understanding. And that's one of the things you got to be careful of also when you're when you're studying doctrine and when you're listening to teachers and preachers um you know be careful that they're not trying to put God into this box and this is how we understand God and and so now we've limited God because we're we're finite and God is infinite.

And so sometimes it is intellectual in the sense that we are the intellectuals and you need to listen to us because we understand what you don't understand and we've defined God and this is how we define him. But otherwise most religions will appeal to your pride, your emotions, your greed, you know, and and and and so it'll be something along that line that'll come into play with it. Um number seven is an overemphasis on one area of truth. Look at 1 Timothy chapter 4 and verses 1-3. 1 Timothy 1 4 1-3. Now spirit speaketh expressly that in latter time some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry and commanding abstain from meats which God had created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and and know uh the truth.

They what happens is is a false religion will grab hold of one thing and and just become that that becomes the the horse that they beat you know and it's their hobby horse and and and they begin to focus on that the point that that's what it's all about and even among our groups as I talked about with fundamentalism that was one of the problems with fundamentalism they got off track on what really the fundamentals were which originally they were beliefs in the fundamentals of faith and it became fundamentals became more about doing the dos and don'ting the don'ts and if you didn't agree with them on these certain standards then you weren't a fundamentalist and and and so that's what you get

off on and and that's what we have to be careful of is when they start focusing on one area of the truth and then and that's what's happened with the charismatic movement as well and I believe in the Holy Spirit and I think there was a a long time and even among some churches today there's a a deemphasis of the Holy Spirit and we should not he is a very important part of our life. But the Bible's very clear that his whole purpose is to point us to Jesus. He's not going to bring attention to himself. He's going to bring attention to Jesus. And the charismatic movement is taking the focus off of Jesus and put it on the Holy Spirit.

And and that's what we have to be careful of. Uh we we're probably going to get to the next page there. If you want to start passing that out, uh you can. Um and then number eight is hesitant to study the Bible, but rather debate. Um, when somebody wants to debate you, that's that's a red flag. Now, the other side of the coin is be careful that you aren't the debater. Uh, if you've ever had uh Mormons or Jehovah's Witness come to your door, uh, the tendency is what want to debate them. What they'll do is they'll come and they want to get you into their literature. They don't want to go to the word of God.

Whenever I have somebody knock on my door that's that's like a Mormon Jehovah's Witness, uh I will say to them, listen, I'd be glad to have a Bible study with you. We can stud and I'll I'll usually challenge them to study the book of John because right away in John, it starts out in the beginning was the word and talk about Jesus and and all rest of it. And and they don't want to do that. They want to debate you on some specific area and and that's where their literature tends to focus on as well and the rest of it instead of going into the word of God. Okay. So what they teach what we want to look for is is what do they teach?

And the first thing is I want to know what is your attitude towards the Bible in Isaiah chapter 8 and verse number 20. Isaiah chapter 8 and verse number 20. The Bible says to the law and to the testimony they speak not according to word is because there's no truth in them. So I want to make sure what is your attitude towards the Bible? How do you look at the word of God? Again, a lot of these guys come to your door, they don't have a Bible and say, "Let's open up the Bible together." They've got their literature. that may take a couple Bible verses that they've twisted. Um, you know, and and so, for example, a lot of times the Jehovah's Witness will come and and you'll turn to John and they'll say, "Well, the you know, our Bible says in the beginning was the word and the word was a god."

And uh, you know, and and and when they do that, they you know, they'll show me their translation. I'll say, "Well, wait a minute. The Greek says the word was the god." you know, and and you got to get back to that focus on the word of God. And and so what is their attitude towards the word of God? Some will add to the word of God when they've got another book of authority that they're turning to, whether it's a Christian scientist or whether it's a Catholic with the pope or, you know, and traditions or whether it's whatever it is. When they got in the book, that's not of God. It's always going to come back to the word of God.

Look at Psalms chapter 119. and verse number 89. Psalms 119 and verse number 89. Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. We don't need an additional book. We don't need another resource. Go to first Peter chapter 1 and verses 19 through 21. 1 Peter chapter 1 and verses 19- 21. I'm sorry, second Peter. Second Peter chapter 1. Verses 19- 21. We have also a more sure word of prophecy where unto you do well that you take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn. A day dark star arise in your hearts. knowing this verse that knows prophecies of scripture. Is there any private interpretation?

And again, when they say, "Well, this is, you know, you got to listen to my interpretation." Again, I I I like having people that tell me this, you know, help me understand the Bible. But when they start saying my interpretation, the only one you should listen to, that's a false religion. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake because we were moved by the Holy Ghost. Now, if you look back at verse 18, he says, "This voice which came from heaven, we heard when we were with him in the holy mount." Peter's referring back to the mount of transfiguration, remember where he went up there and the shikina glory of God came down.

Elijah and Moses were there and God said, "This is my son whom I'm well pleased." And what an amazing mountaintop experience. Wouldn't that be amazing if you could hear the voice of God audibly speak to you? You know, could wouldn't it be amazing if you could see the shikina glory of God? See these two great Old Testament prophets and Peter said that great mountaintop experience is nothing compared to the word of God. And and and you know that's what you you can't add to that. And so when somebody gets up and said, "Well, God showed me this or God told me this or whatever else." We don't need that.

I get up on Sunday say turn your Bibles to what is their attitude towards the word of God. Some will add to the word of God and some will take away from the word of God. Look second Timothy chapter 3. You all know that all scripture is given by inspiration of God. Uh go in revelation chapter 22. Revelation 22. I haven't gotten back into Revelation a whole lot with this new Bible. So, let's get turned there. Revelation 22:18 and 19. For I testify in every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in the book.

And if any man shall take away from the words of God of this prophecy, the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away part of the book of life and out of the holy city and from the things which are written in this book. Now, Deuteronomy chapter 4 and Deuteronomy chapter 12. Let's let's go ahead and turn over there. Um Deuteronomy 4 and verse 12. Lord spake unto you out of the midst of fire. You heard the voice of the words but saw no symbolitude. Only you heard a voice. And then turn over to chapter 12 and verse number 32. Chapter 12 and verse number 32. What things soever I command you observe to do it, thou shalt not add there unto nor diminish from it.

One of the things that you know understand what was written in Revelation that was the last book of the Bible does apply. I believe the whole Bible but yet there are other places in the Bible it says don't add to or take away from the word of God. And so somebody could read Deuteronomy 12 and say well that's it from here on you're not supposed to add to it. And and we have to have a full understanding of inspiration and of how we got the word of God. That's why I teach the series on bibology. Some of you are here for that. We'll get back to that again in the future. Um look at Proverbs chapter 30 and verse number six.

Proverbs chapter 30 and verse number six. Add thou not unto his words lest he reprove thee and thou be found a liar. So you got to have a right understanding of inspiration and you got to have a right understanding of preservation. You know the all these terms are important and that's why we teach that in bibology. I'm not going to go back and do that here. But in understanding that we also understand that this is the word of God and we have the complete word of God today and we don't need to add to it. And so when somebody starts getting up there and says well you know this is new revelation. This is new information.

We know something nobody else knows. That's when you find a false religion. And then some change the word of God. Go to second Timothy chapter 2. verses 14-18 Timothy 2:14-18. of these things put them in remembrance charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit but the subverting of the hearers study to show the self approved unto God a workman need not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word truth but shun profane and vain bablies for they will increase unto more ungodliness and their word will eat as doth the canker of whom is himenius and felitus who concern the truth of heir saying the resurrection is passed already and overthrow the faith of some so what they did is they took the word of god and they changed it.

And then look at 1 Timothy chapter 4 and verses 1 through3. 1 Timothy chapter 4:es 1-3. Now the spirit of spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry and commanding to absain from meats. What they did is they took the truth of God's word and they begin to twist it all around. Well, you shouldn't do this and you shouldn't do that. And and and so this is important to understand as I as I look at other religions, as I look at other groups, what I need to understand is where are these people coming from?

Some of them started out great. They were they had the truth and then they turned away from it. Now, some of them because they were apostates, they never really were saved. They they started out with the truth, but they they went the the different direction because they never knew the Lord. Some were heretics. And so, I want to understand that difference. And I want to look at what they're doing because some of them, it's very clear. They got the Book of Mormon or the Book of Scientology or whatever else it might be, and they've got these extra biblical things that are very clear. Uh the Catholics got the Apocrypha and so on.

other ones, it's not like they got an extra book, but they they've changed. They they teach differently and and they're they're looking to another foundation rather than the word of God or they have um in some way another taken away or added to the word of God. And this is what I want to look for with them. And then the next thing I want to look at is not attitude towards the word, but I want to look at their attitude towards Christ. And this is critical. Look at 1 John chapter 2 and verses 22- 23. 1 John 2 22 and 23. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist that denieth the father and the son.

Whosoever denith the son, the same hath not the father. But he that acknowledge the son hath the father also. So the person that denies Christ, who Jesus Christ truly is. Look at uh John chapter 5 and verse number 39. John five and verse 39 says, "Search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." I I want to go back to the word of God. What do they say about salvation? What do they say about about Jesus Christ? This is one of these, by the way, this is a great verse to use with people when they think they're a Christian. Well, go back, you know, can you show me from the Bible?

Uh, look at John chapter 17 and and verse number 17 as well. John 17 and verse number 17. Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy truth, thy word is truth. And so, what is their attitude towards Christ? What is their attitude towards who he is? and and a false religion number one will make him not fully God. In the beginning was the word and and we got to go right back to that foundational. So when you look at John chapter 1 and look at verse number one, in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. And down to verse 14, and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

We beheld the glory, the glory of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth. This is one of the big things about Jehovah's Witnesses. They say, "Well, he was a god, not the god." And when you confront them and they start bringing it up, you just tell them that I know a Greek scholar, his name is Wayne Surface, and he said is the god. Uh, your scholars are just as good as their scholars, so just go with that. But the point is they have the wrong attitude. They they say Jesus isn't really fully God. And when that when they got that, that's that's a false religion. That's apostate. That's heresy.

And and we need to understand that. Look at chapter 8 and verse number 58. Chapter 8 verse number 58. Jesus said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am." Clearly, he's here claiming that I am. I'm the I am God. I am the Jehovah. I am the I am that spoke to Moses. Without a doubt. In fact, they understood it so well, they were going to pick up stones to stone them for heresy. They they saw that as being a heretic that he claimed to be God. And then look at John chapter 10 and verse number 30. I and my father are one. And then John chapter 14 and verse number six. John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No man cometh on the father but by me." In verse number nine, Jesus said, "Have I been so long with you and yet hast thou not known me?" Philip, for he that has seen me hath seen the father, how sayest thou, then show us the father. Very clearly Jesus is God. And when a church or religion or a person doesn't teach that in any way, they're heresy. They're apostate. They're wrong. And and but the other side of the coin is they make them not fully man. Look at 1 John chapter 4 and verses 1 through3. 1 John chapter 4:es 1-3. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hereby know you the spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ has come to the flesh is not of God. And this is that spirit of antichrist. Where have you have heard that it shall come and even now already is in the world. So the church of Scientology teaches that Jesus wasn't really in the flesh. He was fully God. He was fully man. We call this a hypothatic union. Uh he he was not not half and half. He was not sometimes God and sometimes man. He wasn't just flesh on the earth and God in heaven.

He was fully God and fully man. And when the when the church religion doesn't teach that, somebody doesn't teach that, they're an apostate. They're heresy. And what they do is they make him only a great teacher. uh Matthew chapter 16, Matthew 16 verses 13-1 17. And this is a lot of what you see in the world today in religions is that they're basically Jesus well he's just a great teacher and and they don't see him as God. They don't see him as our savior. In in Matthew 16 13 when Jesus came to the coast of Cesaria Philip he asked his disciple Philippi he asked disciples saying whom do men say that I the son of man am?

And they said some say thou art John the Baptist some Elias and others Jeremas or one of the prophets. He saith unto but whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said thou art the Christ the son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my father which is in heaven." And he goes on to say, I'll build my church upon this, not upon Peter, but upon his statement that thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. Isn't it amazing that they've taken Peter's great statement and turned around to make him the the vicor of God and that he's somehow special because of that and the kind, you know, that's where we is is wrong.

They they've made him a great teacher rather than who he is. He's God. He's not just Elias or Jeremiah. He's not just, you know, a great teacher. Look at chapter 19. Look at verses 16 and 17. And behold, one came and said unto him, "Good master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why callst thou me good? There's none good but one, that is God. But if thou will enter in life, keep the commandments." Well, he's saying to him, "I'm either good and God or I'm not. If I'm not good, I'm not God. If I'm not God, I'm not good. You take God out of good and you have nothing left."

and he's trying to make that clear. Hebrews 1:8. Okay, let's turn over there. Hebrews chapter 1 and verse number eight. So, they have to be very clear that Jesus is God and Jesus is good. He's not just a great teacher, a great man, but he's he's he's God and he was a man, but um he was a hypothetic unit. But under the sun, he say, "Thy throne, oh God, is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is a scepter of thy kingdom. Great verse. Thank you for reminding me of that, Frank. I was trying to think in my head where the reference to that one was. You know, that is probably the clearest book, the clearest verse in the Bible of stating who Jesus is.

God says, "You are God." He says to Jesus, "Thou art God." God's speaking to the son. And so you know that's we and we teach that when we teach about God but it it just clearly so an apostate religion a heretic heresy religion will teach these things and will will be false in those areas and then we'll talk about letter C there attitude towards the substitutionary death. Let's just quickly look at second Peter 2:1 and we'll have to stop here. Second Peter 2:1. Second Peter 2:1, the Bible says, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them and bring them upon themselves swift destruction."

When they don't teach Jesus died in my place as my substitute, then they're a false religion. They're heresy. They're apostate. And that's what has to be clear. Now, why am I dwelling this? Because we've got tons of false religions. And somebody's I don't know if you ever asked this question as well. Why are there so many different religions in the world? If I wanted to destroy the economy of the United States, the best way to do it, flood the world with false money. and everything from stuff that is so real you could you you have to be an expert to tell difference to stuff that is so obvious even a little child would know it.

Years ago, I think it's probably about 20 years ago now, there was some guy that was passing out dollar bills. They were they were I think 20s that he had copied on a copier, a black and white copier and colored in with crayon. Serious. They showed a picture of the newspaper and he was going to stores and trying to buy stuff with it. You know what was even sadder than that? There was some stores that actually accepted the 20s, you know, and they made a big deal. I mean, you you could see the picture was like it was like child, you know, you could see that it was not real. There are some religions, some cults out there that you read about them and you think, how can anyone how can anyone believe that?

It is so obviously stupid and false and wrong. But there are other ones that have just an so much of the truth. It's really hard to spot those heresies. It's really hard to spot the apostate because they talk they use the same terms we do. They they talk about Jesus and they may even call him God, but they don't believe that in the same way we do, you know, and and they're so close and and and what would happen is if you did that with currency, people would get a point, I don't know what the real money is, so I'm not going to bother anymore. I'm going to give up on it. And that's what people do.

Well, I don't know when's the real religion, so I'm going to just stop believing in them all. And they turn away from God. And that's what Satan has done. And so we got to be able to identify that. And especially today's world with the internet, you got to know what is this this guy believe? What is he teaching? Because it will sound good. There's some guys in the internet, they're nuts. They're crazy. And and I don't see how anybody follow and I look and they've got thousands and thousands of followers. I'm thinking, why in the world would anybody listen to this guy? He is so far off the wall. But there's other ones, man. They look good. They sound good, but they're false. And even we can be fooled by that if we're not careful. All right, we'll stop there and uh let you get going.