Millions of believers have been deceived by a likewise deceived ministry into accepting false doctrine as spiritual truth! Such persons are not evil. They are not wicked children of the evil one. They are simply deceived. Being deceived is not a sin! Having your eyes opened to the truth and then rejecting it, that is a sin. In the 11th chapter of Romans, Paul addresses himself to the Gentile converts at Rome and cautions them: “Boast not against the (cut off) branches (the Christ-rejecting Jews), but if you (you Gentile believers) boast, (know this) you do not bear the root (Abraham), but the root bears you. You will say then, ‘the branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not highminded (arrogant, conceited), but fear (fear what?), for if God spared not the natural branches (the Jews) TAKE HEED LEST HE ALSO SPARE NOT YOU. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God. On them which fell, severity (was displayed by God), but toward you goodness (to-wit, mercy is given) IF YOU CONTINUE IN HIS GOODNESS, OTHERWISE YOU ALSO SHALL BE CUT OFF” (verses 18 through 22, Romans 11). It is almost impossible to mistake what Paul is saying in this passage. Would Paul give the Gentile believers in Rome an idle, or false, warning? Would he caution them they could be in jeopardy of being cut off from God and the great and ancient family of God if such an event cannot possibly occur?
In this passage Paul is merely elaborating on and agreeing with Jesus’ own teaching given in John, Chapter 15: “I am the vine and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch IN ME that bears not fruit (failing to produce a godly character in their lives) He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it that it may bring forth more fruit.” (verses 1 and 2). But there are many who do violence to this passage insisting it proves God takes the life of an unproductive and/or sinful Christian, taking them away to heaven early so they won’t be an embarrassment to Him and his Son any longer. What a doctrine of demons that is. The very worst of heaven has to be light years better than the best earth has to offer. So, in essence, in taking away a sinful believer from earth, God is thereby rewarding sinfulness in a most remarkable way! Such diabolic teaching has opened the floodgates of sin among God’s people. Why strive to root any and all in out of one’s life? The most it can cost you, they say, is a loss of a few rewards, and, if such sins are continued in and not abandoned, they can even get you into heaven a lot sooner!! If Satan didn’t come up with that teaching then it had to be one of his cleverest and most capable demons.
Satan enters into various assemblies and wrecks and ruins them with his warped, sin-spawning doctrines. God help you to understand is my prayer.
Christ’s Servant (Galatians 1:0-12),
Donald Wiley