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THREE DISTORTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY:
Almost from the beginning there were forces at work within Christianity that would have destroyed or sidetracked the movement. Of these, three created many problems and have continued to reappear in other forms today. The three aberrations are contrasted to true Christianity.
THREE DISTORTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY:
Almost from the beginning there were forces at work within Christianity that would have destroyed or sidetracked the movement. Of these, three created many problems and have continued to reappear in other forms today. The three aberrations are contrasted to true Christianity.
JUDAIZED CHRISTIANITY
THEIR DEFINITION OF A CHRISTIAN: Christians are Jews who have recognized Jesus as the promised Savior. Therefore, any Gentile desiring to become a Christian must first become a Jew.
THEIR GENUINE CONCERN: Having a high regard for the Scriptures, and God's choice of Jews as his people, they did not want to see God's commands overlooked or broken.
THE DANGER -Tends to add human traditions and standards to God's law. Also subtracts from the Scriptures, God's clear concern for all the nations.
APPLICATION: Do you appreciate God's choice of a unique people through whom he offered forgiveness and eternal life to all peoples?
THEIR DEFINITION OF A CHRISTIAN: Christians are Jews who have recognized Jesus as the promised Savior. Therefore, any Gentile desiring to become a Christian must first become a Jew.
THEIR GENUINE CONCERN: Having a high regard for the Scriptures, and God's choice of Jews as his people, they did not want to see God's commands overlooked or broken.
THE DANGER -Tends to add human traditions and standards to God's law. Also subtracts from the Scriptures, God's clear concern for all the nations.
APPLICATION: Do you appreciate God's choice of a unique people through whom he offered forgiveness and eternal life to all peoples?
LEGALIZED CHRISTIANITY
THEIR DEFINITION OF A CHRISTIAN:
Christians are those who live by a long list of do's and dont's. God's favor is earned by good behavior.
THEIR GENUINE CONCERN:
Recognized that real change brought about by God should lead to changes in behavior.
THE DANGER:
Tends to make God's love something to earn rather than to accept freely. Would reduce Christianity to a set of impossible rules and transform the Good news into bad news.
THE APPLICATION:
As important as change in action is, can you see that God may be desiring different changes in you than in others?
THEIR DEFINITION OF A CHRISTIAN:
Christians are those who live by a long list of do's and dont's. God's favor is earned by good behavior.
THEIR GENUINE CONCERN:
Recognized that real change brought about by God should lead to changes in behavior.
THE DANGER:
Tends to make God's love something to earn rather than to accept freely. Would reduce Christianity to a set of impossible rules and transform the Good news into bad news.
THE APPLICATION:
As important as change in action is, can you see that God may be desiring different changes in you than in others?
LAWLESS CHRISTIANITY
THEIR DEFINITION OF A CHRISTIAN:
Christians live above the law. They need no guidelines. God's Word is not as important as our personal sense of God's guidance.
THEIR GENUINE CONCERN:
Recognized that forgiveness from God cannot be based on our ability to live up to his perfect standards. It must be received as a gift made possible by Christ's death on the cross.
THE DANGER:
Forgets that Christians are still human and fail consistently when trying to live only by what they 'feel' God wants.
THE APPLICATION:
Do you recognize the ongoing need for God's expressed commands as you live out your gratitude for his great salvation?
THEIR DEFINITION OF A CHRISTIAN:
Christians live above the law. They need no guidelines. God's Word is not as important as our personal sense of God's guidance.
THEIR GENUINE CONCERN:
Recognized that forgiveness from God cannot be based on our ability to live up to his perfect standards. It must be received as a gift made possible by Christ's death on the cross.
THE DANGER:
Forgets that Christians are still human and fail consistently when trying to live only by what they 'feel' God wants.
THE APPLICATION:
Do you recognize the ongoing need for God's expressed commands as you live out your gratitude for his great salvation?
TRUE CHRISTIANITY
THEIR DEFINITION OF CHRISTIANITY:
Christians are those who believe inwardly and outwardly that Jesus' death has allowed God to offer them forgiveness and eternal life as a gift through faith and are seeking to live a life of obedient gratitude, fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit, for what God has done for them. The true believer has been baptized by the Holy Spirit and has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to enable him to live the life God has intended. By the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, the true believer has become a useful vessel to aide in bringing God's kingdom to fruition. The true believer is a worker in the harvest.
THEIR GENUINE CONCERN:
Christianity is both private and public; with heart belief and mouth confession. Our relationship to God and the power he provides result in obedience. Having received forgiveness and eternal life, we are now challenged to live that life with his help.
THE DANGER:
Avoids the above dangers.
THE APPLICATION:
How would those closest to you describe your Christianity?
Do you think you live so that God will accept you?
Do they know that you live because God has accepted you in Christ?
You are to live as accepted by God because of what Jesus Christ has accomplished; by His death and resurrection. There is nothing that we can do to be found acceptable to God apart from the atonement that Jesus made for our sin. Our lives should give that message to the world, that they too may know Him, our Savior Redeemer.
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THEIR DEFINITION OF CHRISTIANITY:
Christians are those who believe inwardly and outwardly that Jesus' death has allowed God to offer them forgiveness and eternal life as a gift through faith and are seeking to live a life of obedient gratitude, fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit, for what God has done for them. The true believer has been baptized by the Holy Spirit and has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to enable him to live the life God has intended. By the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, the true believer has become a useful vessel to aide in bringing God's kingdom to fruition. The true believer is a worker in the harvest.
THEIR GENUINE CONCERN:
Christianity is both private and public; with heart belief and mouth confession. Our relationship to God and the power he provides result in obedience. Having received forgiveness and eternal life, we are now challenged to live that life with his help.
THE DANGER:
Avoids the above dangers.
THE APPLICATION:
How would those closest to you describe your Christianity?
Do you think you live so that God will accept you?
Do they know that you live because God has accepted you in Christ?
You are to live as accepted by God because of what Jesus Christ has accomplished; by His death and resurrection. There is nothing that we can do to be found acceptable to God apart from the atonement that Jesus made for our sin. Our lives should give that message to the world, that they too may know Him, our Savior Redeemer.
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