Counterfeit--The True Source

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;...heresies..."

Galatians 5:19a & 5:20i

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.   And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1John 2:16-17

Where does all false teaching come from?  Paul shared a wonderful insight to the church in Galatia which was being hammered by legalistic thought.  Heresies are simply works of the flesh.  This is why false teaching is so magnetic; in that, it meets a carnal need or desire all the while maintaining the appearance of being spiritual.  The enemy of all knows this and has used it effectively since the Garden of Eden.   Satan used the weakness of the flesh to lead Eve into his deceptive web.  He still does that today but with several thousand years of experience to perfect his tactics.  Heresy, then, can be categorized into one of the three categories above that the Apostle John mentions, and this is useful to combat error for those who are wary and prayerfully observant.


His first trick was to make the fruit something appealing to Eve's carnality.  Read carefully, "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food...she took of the fruit thereof... (Genesis 3:6)."  Eve saw the forbidden fruit and was sure that it was good for her.  How did she know it was good?  She had never tasted it before.  Surely she was listening to the voice of the enemy over the voice of God in this!  This same temptation is still used effectively today and it still brings a loss of relationship with it as well.  There is no doubt that we are saved by the gracious act of Christ on the cross.  He was mercilessly beaten, ridiculed, mocked, and crucified cruelly for our salvation.  What love!  So then, what should our loving response be from a Savior so devoted to us that He took our suffering and shame?  Shouldn't such love cause us to deeply desire to attempt to please God with His assistance?  Too many, however, listen to men and women who excuse their sin and leave them compromised.  Sin is never "OK"!  God may well forgive the sin--but He does not always forgive the consequences!  Just ask King David.  Add to this those who teach that godlessness and immorality is acceptable and you can begin to see that this is a very effective demonic stratagem.  

What does the Word say on this?  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:1-2)."  Did you notice what Paul said should be our incentive to offer ourselves wholly devoted?  The tender mercies of God!  In view of such love and grace and mercy we should reasonably give ourselves wholeheartedly to the LORD.  Where is that teaching today?  Repentance is more than a one time thing.  It is a lifestyle lived at the foot of the cross crying, "I need thee every hour."  

The next thing that the serpent used was the beauty of the fruit.  "And when the woman saw...that it was pleasant to the eyes...she took of the fruit thereof...(Genesis 3:6)."  Eve saw it and just had to have it.  Maybe that is why false teaching that promotes sating yourself with this worlds temporary goods is so popular today.  Don't get me wrong!  God does take care of His children.  However, He has better for us than anything this world has to offer.  What good will a fancy car, a big house, and a fat bank roll do you when your family needs Christ?  Will this world's trinkets survive judgement and end up in eternity with you?  Jesus said to lay up treasure in heaven not build castles here in the sand.  The only treasure you can take to heaven are the family, friends, and loved ones you win to Christ so get busy sharing the Gospel!

The last tool in the satanic arsenal was pride--the very hair of the dog that bit Lucifer, himself.  Eve saw the tree as "...a tree to be desired to make one wise, "  John called this the pride of life.  Maybe that is why so many today are teaching us that we are little gods whose words can alter reality?  That same thought was in the garden as well.  Did not Satan make Eve doubt God as he said, "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:5)."  We may have to revisit this one again seeing it is a tenet of Gnosticism and also many in the Word of Faith movement.  Gnosticism, by the way, was the very teaching that the Apostle John called the spirit of antichrist in 1 John 2 and 4!  Maybe we need to carefully look at the revival of this ancient lie that we all have a spark of divinity a bit closer!  It does make one proud to know they are a "god"!

Since we are looking for deception as a sign of Christ's soon return  we might also need to look for a concept that will also point to the rise of the Antichrist since he comes first.  The key is in the Word!  He thinks he is god!  "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2 Timothy 2:4)."  There is much deception and false teaching out there.  Stay in the Word and keep looking up.  Jesus Christ our Blessed King is certainly Soon2Come!