Is Todd Bentley a False Prophet? –
Is Lakeland a False Revival?
“Strong Delusion”
2 Thess. 2:11
Someone might say: “How can you imply that Todd Bentley is a false prophet?!” My reply: Because I can read. Can you read? Have you and are you daily searching the Holy Scriptures? (Jn. 5:39; Acts 17:11) If not, you have no discernment and are ultimately going to be “ashamed.” (2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 5:11-14). Read God’s Word and repent of trusting men and not Him alone – “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart…” (Prov. 3:5-6) – “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exod. 20:3)
Any thrill-seeker who does not put this Lakeland “revival” to the biblical acid-test is in disobedience to the Almighty who instructed us to “believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because MANY false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 Jn. 4:1)
Bentley seldom uses Scripture which alone makes him completely false – “If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isa. 8:20; Ezek. 3:4; 2 Tim. 2:16-17; 1 Pet. 4:11)
Certainly, when Scripture is seldom mentioned, it will never be “Deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus” or that God is holy and hell is coming to all the unsaved.
I want to warn those who would support in any way or even be so brazen as to defend this deceiver, that you are going to answer to the LORD and be partaker of his evil deeds (Ezek. 14:1-; Hos. 4:9; 2 Jn. 7-11). Also, if you do repent and come out of this deception, you are going to be very embarrassed personally for having endorsed this wolf.
The Bible instructs us to “buy the truth, and sell it not” and to “hate every false way.” (Prov. 23:23; Ps. 97:10; 119:104; 128).
The frivolity/lightness by which he operates also identifies Bentley as a false prophet.
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:18
God’s people, in their backslidden and rebellious state, were divorced by Him for their lightness toward Him (Jer. 3:8-11).
Todd Bentley’s false visions, dreams, and lightness (instead of fear) toward the LORD are telltale signs that he is false:
“Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:32
Did you catch that last part of this verse? – “they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.” There will be no good fruit from this “revival” because of Bentley, yet perhaps people are being healed because of their own faith, or maybe there are no authentic, verifiable healings? In fact, beware because lying signs and wonders are connected to deception in 2 Thessalonians 2:
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
As we read in Jeremiah 16 (below), some are set in their hearts to shun His holy light of truth and go on in the lie. To them will be sent a “strong delusion” by God Himself:
“Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.” Jeremiah 16:17-19
Bentley grossly over emphasizes angels and even leads people to chant for angels to invade the meetings. Fallen angels (demons) oblige. The Heavenly Father/God’s Word tells us that He has spoken unto us in these days by His Son and that it is in His Son (not angels) that He is “well pleased.”
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” Hebrews 1:1-2
“And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Mark 1:11
BEWARE: We are warned about those who do not uphold Jesus Christ but rather direct people to look to and worship angels:
“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Colossians 2:18-19
It is being said that the angel that enables Todd Bentley’s ministry is the same angel as enabled the ministry and false teachings of William Branham in the 1940’s. William Branham began the “Latter Rain” movement out of which much of the dominionism theology comes today through a myriad of Word of faith deceivers.
The angel that visits Bentley’s meetings is a fallen angel. He is an angel for sure and he is either Satan or one of his fallen angels (1/3 departed from God). Jesus Christ, the nail-scarred, risen Savior is not glorified but rather the angel. There is no reconciliation with this angel showing up and the ministry of Christ and His apostles. Also, Todd Bentley calls the angel “Emma-O” and yet there is no mention of a female angel in the Bible. The Bible reveals Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer…all male angels. Note that Bentley (the one selling this whole bag of goods) is speaking here. He acts like he hears God as natural as one breathes. If so, why didn’t John, Paul, Peter, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Moses, or David hear God that clearly? Has the LORD changed? – “I am the LORD, I change not.” (Mal. 3:6) Is Bentley closer to the Almighty than these men whom we know walked with the LORD? Pfftttt He’s not even saved. Also, what happened when John saw the LORD? What was his reaction? He fell to the ground as one who was dead (Rev. 1:17). Bentley speaks as if he has this hearing ear and life that is always being visited by the Almighty…daily. Hardly. He is selling the crowd with these made-up stories. Not even the prophets and apostles mentioned above had this kind of relationship with the LORD. They certainly didn’t make common (profane) the LORD by acting as if He was their chum buddy. Can’t we see that he is making naïve people believe this so they will follow him and believe he is some great man of God? It’s a mere marketing scheme. Bentley is a circus conductor. He knows the formula for “revival” that gathers a crowd and that includes creating a phenomenon that makes it look like something is happening and act as if “God” is moving by doing physical things and psycho-suggestively seducing people to believe something is actually happening.
As we witness in the book of Acts, the apostles of Jesus “preached Christ” and gave glory to Him alone and it was in His holy name that devils were cast out and miracles were wrought by the LORD – not through an angel (Acts 3:16; 8:5; 9:20). Obviously the angel that accompanies Bentley is Satan, the fallen angel or one of the (one-third) angels that departed from God with him (Ezek. 28; Rev. 12).
There are gaping holes in his claims. For example: EVERYthing he is doing is being filmed and yet not 1 (not even one) of the numerous people he is claiming to have raised from the dead is on film. Not one resurrection has been validated by any independent organization. How interesting. Bentley and his marketing team claim that thousands have been saved through his ministry. How are people being brought to repentance and led to Christ when he doesn’t even preach the Word? Who/what is he leading them to? Pandemonium? This guy is the most obvious false prophet I think I have ever seen. There are many other things that reveal him as counterfeit.
Psychosomatic suggestion occurs when people’s minds are induced with an idea or notion and they are purposely conditioned in a certain direction or course of thinking. The whole atmosphere, tone, and ambiance of the Lakeland “revival” has been orchestrated to bring the desired results of its perpetrators. The attendees have not idea what planning has gone into those meetings. They think it is God. The place is charged with a type of hypnotic suggestion. From the tone of Bentley’s voice to the supposed claims and testimonials of miracles, to the false prophecies and words, to the well-trained stage hands, etc., all is intentionally set forth to suggest that something is really happening.
Like most so-called revivals today, the hypish marketing is a mere sales pitch to get people to come – and they do, by the thousands. Basically nearly any circus act that comes to town has an audience. People are so void of truth from personal elevation of Jesus Christ, denial of self, and study of God’s Word, that they are susceptible to any clown who comes on the scene with a new circus act, claiming it is of God.
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Ephesians 4:14-15
That’s all these “revivals” are – The architects create a phenomenon and make it look like things are really happening and the self-seeking and clueless flock. It’s a simple formula and hucksters know it – perhaps they are literal Satanists.
- “False teachings always point Christians to man, man made organizations, denominations, self, material things of this world, and how to please men. Many times false doctrines have some element of truth in them but the end result is always deception. Many times false doctrines might seem to use Scriptures as their basis but in many cases, scriptures are twisted so as to promote a tradition or false teaching…so, watch out.”
http://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2007/11/25/consequences-of-false-doctrines-on-a-christian/
Are things beginning to come clear as to what our LORD warned us was coming in the final days of this age?
“And MANY false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive MANY…For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:11, 24
The names of these conferences always include the words “signs and wonders” to draw sign seekers, not Savior seekers (Truth seekers). Truth seekers know better. They are not blinded by their lack of seeking God and diligently studying His Word and therefore will not be ashamed or embarrassed in the end (2 Tim. 2:15).
What did Jesus say concerning those who seek signs and not Him? – “But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it…” (Matt. 12:39)
Jesus commanded His people to go forth and preach the Gospel to every creature and THEN signs and wonders would follow – The LORD Himself would confirm His Word (Mk. 16:15-20). But Todd Bentley is not preaching the Word, so who is it that is doing the signs and wonders (if any) that are being done in these crowds of sign seekers who reject the truth? – “Even him, whose coming is after the working of SATAN with all power and signs and lying wonders…” (2 Thess. 2:9-12)
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles…” Revelation 16:13-14
After listening to and watching Todd Bentley for several hours, the discerning disciple will perhaps find that he is simply telling stories. They are preposterous. His stories are endless and the crowd just laughs and goes along with anything he says because of the supposed signs and wonders he is doing. It seems that the gullible just drink in anything that he says while completely ignoring the words of the One they claim to serve. How foolish.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18
To deceive some people, all a person has to do is have a stage act and it doesn’t even have to be a good one. All that is needed to gain a large following and draw international attention, is to have something to say and sound like you know what they are talking about. It’s just that simple in these last days because most “Christian” leaders are not right with God and therefore haven’t taught people to study to show their own selves approved unto God and test every spirit and doctrine against God’s Word (Acts 17:11; Eph. 4:11-14; 1 Jn. 4:1).
Look around you at the flakes who show up to see Bentley. No offense meant. The bottom line is that most people do not want to daily walk with Jesus by denying themselves, taking up the cross and following Him in a real way. So, they run to the next Mr. wonderful who claims that “God” is moving to get that quick fix to make up for their own personal rebellion and disobedience. Instead of getting the Holy Spirit, they get devils (2 Thess. 2:9-12). Quick fixes that are dependent on a mere man just isn’t how the LORD works. He also doesn’t bandaid our rebellion. We can’t shortcut the simple program He set up for us to love and learn of Him as we walk with Him through times of great joy and times of great tribulation and suffering and persecutions as He is conforming us to His holy image (Rom. 1:19; 1 Pet. 4:1-2; 12-13; 5:10, etc.).
This whole movement, like Brownsville and Toronto, is guided and controlled by subjective experiences and very bizarre ones at that. This foolishness is not reconcilable with biblical Christianity which is founded upon truth and doing it (Jn. 8:31-32; 17:17). The clowns who run these circuses pretend to be able to control or turn on and off the very Holy Spirit of God at any time THEY so desire. The LORD is not in control but rather THEY are. Their anthem is that of Satan and all rebels – “Not Thy will but rather MINE be done!” These men are utterly deluded. They pretend to have “faith” to “go up” to Heaven any time they so desire.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1
Being gullible is a curse, not a blessing – “The simple (gullible, naïve) believeth every word: but the prudent (wise) man looketh well to his going.” (Prov. 14:15)
They say things like “The things of the Spirit cannot be understood by the natural man.” BUT, they refuse to mention that the Holy Spirit will NEVER contradict what He gave us in His written Word – LOGOS (1 Cor. 14:33; 2 Tim. 3:16). These deceivers speak of being moved past the written Word to the “rhema word.” In this they are “beguiling unstable souls” who are not grounded in the LORD via His Word (Col. 2:6-10; 2 Pet. 2:14). The written Word is given by inspiration of the Holy Ghost and more authoritative than God the Father’s voice speaking audibly from Heaven (2 Pet. 1:16-21). – “Let God be true and every man a liar.” (Rom. 3:4)
“Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” 2 Peter 3:17
I believe it is highly possible that Bentley is a warlock and so are the other false prophets/apostles who have endorsed him. They are channelers of demons and have converged upon the gullible masses. Listen in these videos to the hideous laughter Bentley and others belch out. It sounds more than human as they laugh mockingly at how gullible people are to buy their bag of goods which they know is empty. This writer believes that this whole movement is a well-organized, premeditated infiltration being perpetrated by warlocks and witches. Some of the witches are out in the audiences channeling demons into those services.
While watching the videos, one will notice that Bentley is always forecasting and planting seeds about other nations to go before him in order to export or project this same demonic revival upon the souls of the people in those nations.
In these false revivals, it’s all about suggestion, posturing, and gimmicks. That’s why he has to say “fire, fire, fire…..” and “angels, angels, angels…” He is building people up into a frenzy and it is working. The power of pyscho-sematic (?) suggestion is one of the tricks he is using. Only those who study and know God’s Word will escape the “MANY false prophets” coming on the scene using Christ’s name to propagate these delusions and falsehoods (Matt. 24:5, 11, 24). Jesus is coming – ready or not!
The story telling clown has gimmick after gimmick that the naive buy wholesale without question….“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”(Rom. 16:18) – the very verse before this tells us that deceivers like Todd Bentley are to be marked/exposed and not followed and supported.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 says:
“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; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (stories).”
People who refuse to seek God in His Word to know Him, are being turned over to Bentley’s “fables.” Bentley is anything but a true preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He bears no resemblance of a godly man. This all just brings to focus of what the Holy Spirit forewarned us would be going on in the final days of this age before Christ’s return – people are so void of biblical truth in their personal lives and hearts that deeply hunger and thirst to know Jesus, that they look for something physical and so anyone who says something physical (sign, wonder, dream, vision, story) is happening in their ministry, becomes an overnight sensation.
Notice that Bentley’s endless stream of preposterous stories/fables are not on video – the actual event is never on video – because they never happened. Wake up! Neither are any of the people he claims to have raised from the dead on video. This is why he has to tell the story – because they never happened! How gullible can we be!?
QUESTION: Where in the Bible do we have even the slightest resemblance of kicking someone in the face or God telling a man of God to close line someone? Anyone who refuses to become a Berean believer is going to be led astray and ultimately damned –
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
They speak of “releasing the glory of God” as if God Almighty is being controlled by them. How arrogant!
The bottom line is that so many people just want to travel to some place and get an impartation of something because they are too lazy to seek God for it themselves. God only anoints those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). Disobedient people do not want to obey the LORD by denying themselves, taking up their crosses and following Jesus in a real way daily (Lk. 9:23-24). No, instead they want to go to a false prophet, believing he has an “anointing” to impart to them, not realizing that demons are being released into their lives.
Now, watch these videos below: Could it be that witches and warlocks (knowingly) have descended upon what is called “revival,” since there are so many gullible people willing to jump, shout, hooray, and travel hundreds and even thousands of miles to a sign-seeking thrill? Watch those who are laughing hideously. Seems to me they are laughing AT the naive who have gathered to receive of their lord Satan, captured by their own unwillingness to study, learn, and discern truth from error (1 Jn. 4:1). Where and how is Jesus Christ being glorified through this? Where is this reconcilable with Scripture and the true moving of the LORD? What is the point of just laughing and being intoxicated? Is it not a selfish thing? Where do we see such senseless nonsense in the New Testament Church in the Scriptures? If you are going to defend this, the burden of proof is upon you to produces several Bible references to what is transpiring in Lakeland (2 Cor. 13:2). Where are the changed hearts and lives? Where is the call to repent and lay down one’s life, be water baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost? (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4, 38-39; 19:1-6, etc.). Is sin being exposed? (Isa. 58:1; Lam. 2:14; Acts 3:1-26; Gal. 5:19-21) If there are true signs and wonders, where is the associated preaching of the truth as seen throughout Acts? Where is the fruit of the Holy Spirit being produced, calling and manifesting the love and holiness of God? Where is the witness to the world? (Acts 1:8)
NAR Delusion! Watch the video ordination of Todd Bentley by all the top NAR Warlocks
EXPOSE’ LINKS: Watch these and notice that as in any false revival meeting, the more foolish the stage actor becomes by falling over, acting like an animal, telling preposterous stories, chanting, or laughing hideously, the more the crowd responds positively as if that indicates that God is moving? How absurd! When the LORD moves people to repentance for their wickedness, then you have revival – but not until then. He is “holy, holy, holy.” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8) Also, notice that Bentley and some of the other people have to shake unnaturally to try to make people think that God is somehow working big in their lives – this is more marketing…it is suggestive and is supposed to be proof that THEY are super special, that something is really happening, and those who aren’t moved to shaking aren’t. Don’t be fooled by these gimmick “revivals.”
False Revival
David Wilkerson on this False Revival – http://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/i-cant-laugh-when-they-make-the-holy-ghost-look-like-a-fool/
Todd Bentley’s Occultic Tatoos http://www.toddbentley.org/todd-bentley.htm (these tatoos were done recently)
Exposing Todd Bentley: Part 2
Todd Bentley Videos http://www.toddbentley.org/todd-bentley-videos.htm
Wrestle Mania with Todd Bentley!!!
http://earthless.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/todd-bentley-lakeland-revival/#comment-423
Signs and Wonders and the Lakeland Revival – Part 2
Lakeland/Bentley Tribal Dance
The Luminous Vibrating Todd Bentley (more preposterous stories)
Aping the Practices of Pagan Spirituality
In this next video, you will see several name brand, known false prophets getting on the bandwagon since Bentley is now so popular. Was his “commissioning” for his sake or for their advantage to be associated with this and get free publicity? Also, since when do we see a woman in the Bible laying hands on and sending forth a minister? A woman can’t even be an elder (1 Tim. 3:2). Notice that there is no admonition whatsoever. Watch what is spoken over Bentley in these videos. You will notice (from the other warlocks) that the whole thrust of Satan here is to get rid of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and to replace it with something “new” and send it into the nations. Oh this whole movement is not new, it is a continuation of the manifest sons of God movement which began with William Branham and has been continued through false prophets like Benny Hinn, etc. It is “new” only in the sense that the enemy of souls wants to replace God’s Word and the true moving of His Holy Spirit which always brings a revelation of God’s holiness, the need for repentance, salvation, water baptism, the in-filling of the Holy Spirit and discipleship (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1-3, etc.). According to Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so we know His Great Commission hasn’t changed and is still being carried out by those who are true to Him in this last hour. Now watch this foolishness if you must as you keep in mind what the LORD told us was to come in this final time before His return – “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Rev. 12:12) Demonic Manifestation during Todd Bentley’s Apostolic and Prophetic Commissioning
READ EZEKIEL 34 JEREMIAH 23.
CAUGHT ON CAMERA! Todd White and Shawn Bolz – Proven Cold Readers!
Abiding
Colossians Narrated [podcast]
Colossians Chapter 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 7 as ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8 who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
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; 10 that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 24 who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 25 whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Colossians Chapter 2
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; 3 in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Colossians Chapter 3
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Colossians Chapter 4
1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3 withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: 8 whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; 9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 11 and Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. 15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds.
Grace be with you. Amen.
Written from Rome to the Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.
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Articles
Sinlessly Perfect? I Doubt it [podcast]
Yes the LORD commands His people to “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Yet we should ask whether or not His desire is for His people to tout to others that they are “sinlessly perfect” or does His Word rather reveal that His people are to be dependent upon Him through the humility of Christ and crucified life He ordained us to walk in? Did the apostles walk around telling people they were sinlessly perfect? No. Didn’t Paul confess his own utter poverty of spirit outside of the saving, present grace of Christ? Yes. (Romans 7:18, 24, etc.) Are there biblical warnings about claiming that one is sinlessly perfect? Yes. (Job 9:20; Proverbs 20:9)
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
Saints, would it be accurate to observe that we cannot possibly begin to appreciate this “so great salvation” that is Christ until we understand how lost, helpless, and alienated we were in our sin? (Ephesians 2:1-10; Hebrews 2:3) We must pray and study to understand the biblical doctrine of inherent sin, fallen mankind, and the holiness of God …. in order to begin to be able to appreciate the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
“If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.” Job 9:20
Solomon said:
“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9
Speaking of king David’s imperfections, even nearing the end of his life on earth, one commentator writes:
“Surely there can be little ground for the doctrine of perfectionism, otherwise David, whose religion was so earnest and so deep, would have been nearer it now than this chapter shows that he was.” Expositor’s Bible
“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20
I am not a good person, neither are you – “There is none righteous, no, not one“ (Romans 3:10). Admit it. The sooner we become HONEST with that which is more than obvious, announcing freely and transparently – that there is “NOOOO good thing” in us except CHRIST, the sooner God will begin a new, deeper work in us! (Romans 7:18, 24) The Cross!
God is able to establish our hearts in His grace and to multiply His grace to us (Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 3:18)
ALL of our deeds are not perfect (1 John 1:8-10). “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23). The truly righteous remain humble, teachable, and repentant. Note verse 21 saints:
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21
Saved by Divine Grace and Yet Now Made Perfect by Your Flesh?
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3
The Galatian believers had begun their walk with Christ by responding to the conviction of the Spirit, repenting, putting their faith in Christ, and being regenerated. Yet, now they were allowing false teachers to seduce them back under the law, law-keeping for righteousness – to attempt to please God by their own self-will and performance.
Jesus’ disciples must live a set apart life. Living sinless? Well, it can be done: Here’s the key – “In him (Jesus) is no sin. He that abideth in him sinneth not” (1 John 3:5-6). We whom Jesus has saved must “cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Yet, the only way to be sinless is in presently abiding in Him and that begins with the essential of announcing our own poverty in self which is being poor/desperately dependent on Him in spirit (Matthew 5:3, 6). Yet some insist that they are perfect by their own will, ability, and doing. This is the exact error of the Galatians which caused them to fall from saving grace (Galatians 5:4). They left Christ for something else – law keeping. Leaving Christ, departing from faith, and casting off trusting fully in HIS saving grace, is deadly. Realizing there is “NO good thing” in us except Christ, is essential to abiding saved in Him (Romans 7:18, 24; John 15:1-6). Galatians 3:3 says it all – “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). The great apostle of Jesus was desperate for the LORD, ever seeking His holy face and dreadfully not wanting “to be found having mine own righteousness which is of the law” (Philippians 3:9-10).
“The great secret of abiding in Christ is the deep conviction that we are nothing, and He is everything.” Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ
Heart purity and a sinless life emanate only from intimate union and abiding with a holy God. This occurs as we consent to the cross and not by human effort alone. Jesus raises up those who are truly bowed down – crucified with Christ (Psalms 145:14; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). One cannot possibly “stop sinning” until they come to Jesus and He saves them, making them new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Only then can the regenerated disciple “put off the old man” and “put on the new man” (Colossians 3:9-10). There MUST be something to “put off” …. that inherent sinful nature, otherwise no such language would be in Scripture (Colossians 3).
Beware of the sinless perfectionists who speak of overcoming sin outside of the daily cross and the saving, enabling grace of God. It’s only possible by God’s enabling grace in and through a true abiding relationship.
If we claim we are sufficient in and of ourselves and because of our own “natural ability” to do right, and can be perfect (which God requires) without Christ and our total trust IN HIM, we are apostate. Memorize Romans 4:4-5.
We cannot be “made perfect BY the flesh” or by means of our own self-will and effort alone. If that were possible WHY then did Jesus come? We are only perfect in the sense of Christ’s perfection AS we abide in Him (John 15:1-6). As we do, we will “walk in the light, as he is in the light … and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Here’s the whole verse:
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
Yes, we are “new creatures” in Christ and must humble ourselves before Him, put off the old man, put on the new man, and walk in the Spirit with Him. Yet, the victory Christ has wrought and ordained for us to walk in daily all begins with acknowledging instead of denying that there is something to deny and die to and “put off” (Colossians3:5; 2 Corinthians5:17-18). Denying that we have inclination toward sin is not the answer. Crucifying the deeds of the body by the power of the Holy Spirit is the answer (Romans 8:12-14). Many are getting hoodwinked by this self-righteous “I can do it with my own ‘natural ability’” spirit. This is a Christ-denying devil-exalting heresy, doctrine of devils (1 Timothy 4:1-3). Many who are not grounded in the grace and Word of Christ are adopting this error of Pelagianism which fosters self righteousness. They are aggressively teaching this sinless perfectionism (in the flesh) error to others. These people seem to have one common denominator – they have studied the teachings of Charles Finney or Mike Desario. Beware!
Many of those who preach sin without saving, rescuing, enabling, overcoming divine grace are perhaps still trapped in their own sins. They have no answer for others and therefore we should wonder if they have the LORD’s answer for and in their own lives. If they did, would they not be full of His great joy and sharing with others how to be delivered? Why are they content with condemning others in sin? Is God willing that ANY should perish? See 2 Peter 3:9.
Never forget to make a decision to be deepened in the essential truth that it’s “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”
“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; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7
WHEN we realize that God is “Holy, holy, holy,” we will no longer wrongly condemn others if they sin, just because the flavor of their sin differs from that sin which we’ve committed, knowing that the sin we committed was no less evil in the eyes of He alone who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
G.R.A.C.E. = God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense
It’s only by God’s grace that we are found and saved by Him and kept and enabled to please Him which includes participating in holiness, separated unto the LORD, as He is holy (Hebrews 12:14-15; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8, etc.).
Titus 2 tells us that we are only saved by divine grace and only kept to the end by His enabling grace.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:11-15
Deliverance from sin/sinning is only possible through faith, loving, worshiping, and obeying our LORD, that is, moment-by-moment abiding in Christ, the crucified life, being raised up by His Spirit (Romans 6; 8:13-14, etc.).
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:3-6
Perfection is the perfect forgiveness and justification of the LORD which God brings about by His Spirit and our faith which always brings our adherence to the daily cross (Philippians 2:12-13). It’s divine perfection worked out in the abiding disciple as he walks in the Spirit abiding in Christ (Galatians 5:16, 25, etc.).
True OR Feigned Holiness? | Saving, Enabling Grace | Have We Ourselves Become Pharisees? | The Spirit of Holiness |
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