PRÉCIS ON DISTINGUISHING TRUE SONS OF GOD FROM THE PRETENDERS: FINAL SIFTINGS

SCRIPTURE. “Know and understand that it is [really] the people [who live] by faith who are [the true] sons of Abraham.” – GALATIANS 3:7, AMP

KEY TERM: “[TRUE] FAITH.” ‘PISTIS’ [πίστεως]: “From root words indicating, ‘Persuasion, credence, conviction (of religious truth).’” Also: “Reliance upon Christ or religious teachers fully faithful to Him and His Gospel and truth itself; assurance, fidelity, sincerity.” NOTE: “In the New Testament, ‘pistis’ primarily denotes a conviction or belief in the truth of something, often with the implication of trust and reliance. It is used to describe the faith that believers have in God and Jesus Christ, encompassing both intellectual assent and trustful commitment. ‘Pistis’ is foundational to the Christian life, as it is through ‘Faith’ that believers are justified and live out their relationship with God.”

QUOTATION. “Like Wheat and Tares, ‘True Ideas’ and ‘False Ideas’ have grown together throughout Church history, and it’s up to faithful Christians to be watchful and diligent to compare every idea with the Word of God and see if it lines up. As my misgivings about the class at church grew, I realized that my differences with the Progressives were much more substantial than I had realized at first—and that Christians have been fighting these battles for two thousand years.” ― ALISA CHILDERS, Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity, 2020; edited

COMMENTARY. “‘Know ye therefore’ – Learn from this case. It is an inference which follows, that all they who [truly] believe are the children of Abraham. ‘They which are of faith’ – Who [fully] believe, and who are justified in this manner. ‘Are the children of Abraham.’  

‘Abraham was the “Father of the faithful.” The most remarkable trait in his character was his unwavering confidence in God.’ They who evinced the same trait, therefore were worthy to be called his children. They would be justified in the same way, and in the same manner meet the approbation of God. It is implied here, that it was sufficient for salvation to have a character which would render it proper to say that we are the children of Abraham. ‘[Only] If we are like him, if we evince the same Spirit and Character, we may be sure of salvation.’” – JOSEPH BENSON, Notes on the Holy Bible, 5 vols., 1811-1818; edited

DK’S TAKE. I am driven immediately here to that decisive passage wherein The Apostle declares in this SEVEREST OF WARNINGS to the Church of the Last Days.

“The coming of the [Antichrist, the lawless] one is through the activity of Satan, [attended] with great power [all kinds of counterfeit miracles] and [deceptive] signs and false wonders [all of them lies], and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all the deception of wickedness for those who are perishing, because they did not welcome the love of the truth [of the gospel] so as to be saved [they were spiritually blind, and rejected the truth that would have saved them]. 

Because of this God will send upon them a MISLEADING INFLUENCE, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie, in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness.” – 2 THESSALONIANS 2:9-12, AMP

What Paul is clearly stating here is that in the Latter Times, the Christian Church would be shattered by a massive ‘Falling Away into Apostasy’ on the heels of its Rejection of Christ and Truth. Why? Because they will choose ‘ANOTHER CHRIST,’ another Deliverer to rescue us from the myriad crises that plague that Future World.

We are there, beloved. We have already done it! Twice!

THE CONSEQUENCES. Please drink in the following ‘Warning of all warnings’ from the Great Apostle to this Last Days Church, therefore.

If anyone teaches a DIFFERENT DOCTRINE and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine and teaching which is in agreement with godliness (personal integrity, upright behavior), he is conceited and woefully ignorant [understanding nothing]. He has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, which produces envy, quarrels, verbal abuse, evil suspicions,and perpetual friction between men who are corrupted in mind and deprived of the truth, who think that godliness is a source of profit [a lucrative, money-making business—WITHDRAW FROM THEM]! …

I am astonished and extremely irritated that you are so quickly shifting your allegiance and deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different [even contrary] gospel;which is really not ANOTHER [GOSPEL] but there are [obviously] some [people masquerading as teachers] who are disturbing and confusing you [with a misleading, counterfeit teaching] and want to distort the gospel of Christ [twisting it into something which it absolutely is not]. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we [originally] preached to you, let him be condemned to destruction! As we have said before, so I now say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from that which you received [from us], LET HIM BE CONDEMNED TO DESTRUCTION!” – GALATIANS 1:6-9; 1 TIMOTHY 6:3-5, AMP

CODA. Could there possibly be any who dare to question what God by His Apostle has written here? I urgently pray not, for it remains true for all Eternity that “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Selah.