The Need to Address Alternative and New Religious Movements

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:2-3 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. Introduction As we begin to look at 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 is that the apostle Paul was beginning to address the issue concerning spiritual gifts. The issue of spiritual gifts was, in fact, the main theme as to have an understanding of what was involved as to the issue of the gifts of the Spirit. (v. 1) In order for the Church to know that of the issue of spiritual gifts is to know and understand what is involved concerning the issue of the gifts of the Spirit. Apparently, the apostle Paul had to the issue of spiritual gifts as to where the Corinthian believers came from t...

There is a vast difference between God's kingdom and man's own kingdom. The kingdom of God is based upon God's righteousness; man's kingdom is based upon the righteousness of men who seek to build their own righteousness: that of works-righteousness (Gen. 11). There are spiritual forces in the world today that goes against God's people establishing God's kingdom on the earth by which Satan is the Author of false religions (1 Tim. 4:1). Once again the kingdom of God is based upon the righteousness of God's divine character by which man-made religion seek to usurp the authority of God's kingdom (Gen. 3:5). When it comes to false religion and cults is that there is a "plethora" of sub-Christian groups and organizations that provides spiritual "alternatives" or assortment by which people can come to God (Jn. 10:1-4). It is a religion of works; not grace that seek to get God's approval by which to enter into heaven (Tit. 3:5). The On...

What was it that the apostle Paul did not want the Corinthian believers to be "ignorant" or "uninformed" when it comes to the issue of spiritual gifts? (1 Cor. 12:1b)  Before I begin to address that of this particular question it is important that I shed light upon the word "ignorant" or "uninformed." According to Romans chapter 11 verse 25, the apostle Paul says to the Roman Christians, "I do not want you to be ignorant of his mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in," (Luk. 21:24) What was the great mystery by which the apostle did not want the Romans Christians to be ignorant of by which to not be conceited or prideful? In Romans 11:25b it says, "Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,..." It is true that many of the Jewish people did not believe in Chri...

Why is it so important in understanding the issue of spiritual gifts? The apostle Paul begins by saying, "Now about the gifts of the Spirit my brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed." (1 Cor. 12:1)  In the first part of this verse according to 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 1, the apostle Paul says, "Now about the gifts of the Spirit..." In 1 Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul was addressing the issue of the abuse of the Lord's Supper. Now, going into 1 Corinthians 12:1a that the apostle Paul begins to address that of the issue of the gifts of the Spirit. The question: "What was the issue that the apostle had to address concerning spiritual gifts?" It is so important that God's people clearly understand the issue of spiritual gifts especially those who are leaders within the church today. There is such gross misunderstanding of the gifts of the Spirit by which there are those within the professing church today claim such prophetic...

During that of our "interactive" Bible talk and discussion we came from 1 Corinthians 12:1 where it says, "Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers, and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed." As we look closely at this particular verse it begins by saying, "Now about the gifts of the Spirit,..." The word "now" is when the apostle Paul begins to deal with the issue of the gifts of the Spirit. There is something about the gifts of the Spirit or spiritual gifts that the apostle did not want the Corinthians to be ignorant or "uninformed." It is so easy for the Church to have such a misunderstanding of the gifts of the Spirit by which such gifts can be abused. There are many Christians especially that of the leadership of the church that thinks that they have a complete understanding of such spiritual gifts by which it causes confusion in the minds of God's people. There are some within that of evangelicalism who carelessly, ...

Miller's Commentary Notes: Text: Acts 17:11 "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." Questions of Discussion 1. "These" refers to who? See, Bible Students at Berea (Acts 17:11). 2. What is the Greek verb for "more noble?" 3. What was it about the Berean Christians that was of such noble character than those in Thessalonica?  #3610 (See, Acts 17:11b) 4. Who was the Thessalonica? (Acts 27:2) #4442 Notes: ("Thessalonica"), the second city in Europe to hear the preaching voice of St. Paul, and probably the first church to receive an epistle from him, is now called Salonica. Situated on the Great Northern Military Highway from Italy to the east (known as the Egnation Way), it was a strategic commercial and military center in Paul's day. It is still the main street i...

There are books on the Christian marketplace and even on the social media that promote hearing God's voice. For example, there is a popular book entitled, "Hearing God Voice" by Henry Blackaby a Southern Baptist promotes the idea of having a personal and intimate relationship with God by hearing clearly what God is saying to a person. Blackaby goes on to say that there are "ways" by which people can hear God speaks to them, but, He also says that to hear the voice of God does contravene that of God's Word: that of the "revelation" of the will of God. As I begin to examine Blackaby statement is contrary to the clear teaching of scripture as well as a contradiction. It is impossible to promote hearing God's voice and at the same time claiming that such "revelation" does not contravene that of the Bible.  The apostle Paul warns that of believers to not "be tossed and where and there by every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men ...

There is a need to explain hearing God's voice! There are books that are in the Christian marketplace that promote hearing God's voice within a person's human spirit as if that is the basis of many evangelicals source of authority by which they judge spiritual "truth." It is "unfortunate" that many within the professing church today explicitly deny the authority and inspiration of the Bible. (2 Tim. 3:15, 16)  When it comes to the authority of scripture ("what we believe") and inspiration of the Bible ("scripture inspired by God) is the capstone by which it must be the foundation of the Church's teaching. Whenever the Church "substitute" God's Word in favor of what is mystical theology are in fact cross over the threshold of theological mysticism. The apostle Paul fought against mysticism in the church during his day. (Col. 2:18, 19) Therefore, for the truly elect are going to be the recipients of hearing the truth of G...

The central theme of the prosperity gospel according to 3 John 2 is that "God Wants to Prosper You in All Areas of Your Life: Financial, Business, and Your Health." Does the Bible teach that of believers prospering in all areas of life? There are many prosperity theologians who will contend that is it biblically warranted according to 3 John 2, but those who are critics of this "brazen" gospel all contend that it is important to look at 3 John 2 within its proper context. (1 Cor. 2:13)  There is a battle of a turf war between that of many prosperity teachers and critics of the prosperity gospel who seek the attention of their audience. Apparently, many Faith televangelists are winning the war due to their opulent lifestyle in distorting the biblical truth as oppose to critics and expositors who give a sound exegetical principle of God's Word (2 Tim. 2:15).  It also appears that proponents of the prosperity gospel are winning by cheating on the Bible's theo...

We live in a church culture that is no longer satisfied with knowing the truth of God's Word. Instead of hearing the truth of God's Word that many of our churches today, especially among evangelicals have in fact yearn to hear God's still small voice within their "human" spirit by which they explicitly deny that of the authority and inspiration of scripture. When the Church talks about that of the authority of scripture teach what we ought to believe and how we ought to live our lives. Also, when it comes to the inspiration of the Bible is that scripture is "inspired" by God by which God the Holy Spirit is the Author of scripture (2 Tim. 3:16). The Bible is the inspired, authoritative Word of God by which the church can confidently trust in what God's Word teaches as it pertains to life and godliness.  Everything that the Church needs to know is what is already revealed in scripture by which anything that is outside the boundaries of God's Word...