So true….yet so difficult to address. “ Do you see my brethren that the majority are not on the narrow and hard way that leads to life? No, the majority are on the easy way that leads to destruction. These are the ones who profess Christ, but are trusting in their own works. They are… Continue reading The Natural Man and the Visible Church
Author: Ron Francis
Heresy vs Apostasy
It’s pretty much the norm today Mike. Some form of Heresy.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.Old John Gill wrote: “ This is called “strait”; because faith in Christ, a profession of it, and a life and conversation agreeable to it, are attended with many afflictions, temptations, reproaches, and persecutions. “Entering” in at it is by faith, and making a profession of it: hence it follows, that faith is not the gate itself, but the grace, by which men enter in at the right door, and walk on in Christ, as they begin with him. ”
The attractiveness of degrees of truth mixed with some amount of false doctrine has been with the world since the beginning, just read Genesis 3.
You couldn’t mention every group today but I often read that the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) worldwide has one of largest followings. Highly influential in their music and teachings. But bottom line is there are many ways to off the old and narrow path. Just read John Bunyan.
by Mike Ratliff
10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. Titus 3:10-11 (NASB)
True Biblical discernment is crucial for the spiritual health of the Body of Christ because there has and always will be a plague of false teaching and teachers upon it until our Lord’s return. In the Truth War that is upon us in the Church, we have many enemies trying to come in “unawares.” They try to infiltrate, appearing as “Orthodox” but their teaching is deceitful, degrading, and damnable (2 Peter 2:1). Those of us who have been gifted by God with spiritual discernment are, therefore, also given the job of flushing these people out. Part of this job is knowing who our enemies really are. Are they apostates or are they simply holding to some heresy that doesn’t fall…
View original post 873 more words
But prove yourselves doers of the word
We certainly have an anger problem if one reads the news. I find your discussion much more useful than Beth Moore’s tweet that she would take a time out since she can’t control what she says. I’d much rather follow your scriptural path! May God help us.
by Mike Ratliff
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. James 1:22 (NASB)
The visible Church in our time has been compromised for the most part by human philosophy and has succumbed to the pressure from the world to not emphasize God’s truth as absolute. Professing Christians who discount the Word of God as absolute truth are actually placing their intellect, their beliefs, and the counsel of their own hearts above the Word of God as it relates to authority and truth. It is one thing for an atheist to denigrate Christians, the Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the God the Holy Spirit. That is almost expected and should not surprise us. However, when the majority of professing Christians demand the right to behave contrary to what the Word teaches about Christian behavior can God’s judgment…
View original post 1,227 more words
Does Biblical Doctrine Matter?
This is a hard one to read. Hits close to home. My personal Journey out of Richard Fosters style of Spiritual Formation, probably began 15 or so years ago, as I began to question these teachings and reading my Bible more diligently. Before that since the early 80’s I studied then and even taught them.… Continue reading Does Biblical Doctrine Matter?
Rainbow Trout 