Wiedergeborene Christen und Sünde

(Geschrieben von Ron Graham)
„Wenn wir sagen, dass wir keine Sünde haben, so verführen wir uns selbst, und die Wahrheit ist nicht in uns.“ (1. Johannes 1:8). Jeder der sagt, er habe nicht gesündigt, lebt eine Lüge. In dem obigen Vers müssen wir beachten, dass Johannes auch sich selbst zur Menge der Sünder zählt. Er sagt, „wenn wir sagen, dass wir keine Sünde haben“. Das griechische Wort „ou“ bedeutet „kein“ und ist absolut und sehr nachdrücklich. Es ist als ob der Apostel jemanden gefragt hat, ob er sich für einen Sünder hält, und die Antwort war ein schallendes „NEIN!“.

„So verführen wir uns selbst.“ Auch hier zählt sich Johannes selbst zu der Masse, indem auch er sich selbst in die Irre führen würde, wenn er behaupten würde, er hätte keine Sünde. Wir erkennen einfach nicht die Wahrheit, wenn wir behaupten, dass wir sündlos sind. Johannes spricht in seinen Briefen zu Gläubigen in Christus, also spricht er zu mir und zu Ihnen; als Gläubige werden wir weiter sündigen, bis wir heimgerufen werden. Wenn Ihnen jemand etwas anderes sagt, so sind sie verführt.

„Wenn wir sagen, dass wir nicht gesündigt haben, so machen wir ihn zum Lügner, und sein Wort ist nicht in uns.“ (1. Johannes 1:10). Wieder müssen wir zuerst verstehen, dass Johannes zu den Gläubigen in Christus spricht, und nicht zu den Verlorenen. In diesem Vers sagt uns Johannes, dass wir Jesus Christus zum Lügner machen, wenn wir behaupten, dass wir nicht gesündigt haben. Johannes sagt uns, dass Sein (Gottes) Wort nicht in jemandem sein kann, der sagt, er hätte nie gesündigt, oder auch nicht in jemandem, der behauptet, er sündige nicht mehr, seitdem er gerettet ist. Wieder stellt sich Johannes selbst in die Mitte seiner Aussage, indem er die Worte „wir” und „uns” benutzt. Es bedeutet auch, dass wir nicht Gottes Heiligen Geist in uns haben können, wenn wir behaupten, ein sündloses Leben zu führen, schon immer oder seitdem wir wiedergeboren sind. „Denn aus Gnade seid ihr errettet durch den Glauben, und das nicht aus euch — Gottes Gabe ist es; nicht aus Werken, damit niemand sich rühme.“ (Epheser 2:8-9).

Nirgendwo in der Bibel wird uns gesagt, dass wir aufhören werden zu sündigen, wenn wir gerettet sind. „Meine Kinder, dies schreibe ich euch, damit ihr nicht sündigt! Und wenn jemand sündigt, so haben wir einen Fürsprecher bei dem Vater, Jesus Christus, den Gerechten.“ (1. Johannes 2:1). Sehen Sie, wie widersprüchlich dieser Vers ist, wenn wir die Auslegung der Schrift vernachlässigen? „Meine Kinder” bezieht sich auf wiedergeborene Gläubige, und Johannes möchte, dass wir diesen Punkt genau verstehen. Wenn wir die Worte „damit ihr nicht sündigt” mit dem vorangegangenen Vers vergleichen, sehen wir, dass Johannes nicht das Sündigen gutheisst. Er sagt einfach, dass wir uns von der gewohnheitsmässigen Sünde abwenden sollen. Mit anderen Worten: Unser Leben soll nicht mehr ein einziges Fest der Sünde sein ohne einen Gedanken an die Folgen. Wenn das der Fall sein sollte, hat man die Erlösung verpasst.

Benny Hinn: A Catholic Mystic (Blasphemy Series)

(Written by Joseph Chambers)
The world of Benny Hinn is a strange and mystical world. He fits perfectly into the category of a Charismatic Catholic priest, dispensing theological bondage and unbiblical superstition. A noted ministry described a past Benny Hinn three (3) hour video which presented him “as a ‘twentieth century’ ‘Holy of Holies’, a ‘point of contact’ for the power and anointing of God, much as Roman Catholic priests were presented during medieval times.” (The Confusing World of Benny Hinn, p. 79.) They also suggested that he is becoming a kind of “Charismatic Pope.”

There are a host of problems in the Benny Hinn world, but nothing is more dangerous than his Catholic style and theology. Kathryn Kuhlman was clearly the first public Charismatic to merge Catholic ideas and support with her Charismatic operation. Benny Hinn considers himself a benefactor and model of the Kuhlman mystic. Oral Roberts said on the three hour Hinn video, “I saw Kathryn Kuhlman as unparalleled”, implying that Hinn is greater than Kuhlman. Roberts then spoke of himself as having God’s power … in his right hand, but said of Hinn, his anointing “fills the building … a greater level has come.”

Benny Hinn And Catholic Confusion: There is not an organization on the face of this earth that is more thoroughly demonic than Catholicism. It is riddled with heathen teachings and doctrines of devils. Yet, Hinn proudly stated, “My upbringing, of course, was Catholic in that I attended the Catholic school in Jaffa, Israel. And so my mentality basically is a Catholic mentality. When I was born again, I was Catholic in my ways. I was very Catholic in my ideas, in my behavior.” (Christianity Today, Sept. 3, 1991.) Indeed, the mysticism that accompanies Hinn’s ministry, and according to his own words, has done so since the first time he spoke publicly is in the very style of a medieval mystic.

Benny Hinn personally told two reporters from the Toronto Globe And Mail about his first speaking engagement. This supposedly occurred on December 7, 1974, at the Trinity Pentecostal Church in Oshawa. His words were, “I held up my hands to pray and the 100 people present fell on the floor. That’s when I became aware of my tremendous power.” These kinds of phenomenon happen frequently in mystical religions, occultic ceremonies and with religious gurus, but are absolutely absent in Holy Scripture. The only time in the Bible that a person fell on the floor was when God Himself was manifested or an angel appeared to that individual.

Paul, Timothy, And The End Times

(Written by Jack Kelley)
Paul's letters to Timothy are the instructions from a mentor to a young pastor, one of the first ever, and contain advice on what to do and how to do it, as well as what not to do. It's the kind of thing you'd expect given the relationship.

But for no apparent reason Paul tucked several warnings about the end times into various places in his instructions. These are things Paul knew Timothy wouldn't have to deal with because he clearly described them as characteristics of the Latter Days. We'll take them each in turn.

1 Timothy 4:1-2
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

When I read this one I always think of certain televangelists who espouse a perversion of the prosperity gospel. They know what they're teaching is a compilation of half truths and outright lies, so in effect they're twisting God's word to steal from their followers. And without the least bit of shame they enjoy the lifestyles of the rich and famous at the expense of their contributors who, according to some reports, come primarily from the bottom 25% of the economic scale.

Taking advantage of their followers' lack of Bible knowledge and their misguided desire for a more abundant life , these predators foist one get rich quick scheme after another on their desperate flocks, bilking them out of the few discretionary dollars they have and leaving them worse off in the bargain. And they do it in the name of God. It makes you wonder what He'll say to them come judgment time.

But the prosperity teachers aren't the only ones in this category. There are others who teach things they know are contrary to what the Bible says. Some of these things come under the heading of conditional salvation, grace plus works, partial rapture, and other false teaching that can steal the joy of your salvation and rob you of your certainty. Their objective is to imprison you within boundaries of rules they themselves can't follow. Read Colossians 2:8-23 for Paul's opinion on these modern day legalists.

Then there are those who either treat the prophecies of our time as if they were all accomplished in history, or as if they're never going to be accomplished because they're all allegorical. These teachers also know what they're saying can't be reconciled with Scripture, but they ask you to believe it anyway, trusting in their superior intellect or advanced education instead of your own common sense. They take passages that can be clearly understood just as they're written by anyone with an average intellect and make them hopelessly confusing by violating the rules of context, re-defining terms, and making that which is real into something symbolic.

Different Religions, which one is correct?

(from gotquestions.org)
There is no doubt that the number of different religions in the world makes it a challenge to know which one is correct. First, let’s consider some thoughts on the overall subject and then look at how one might approach the topic in a manner that can actually get to a right conclusion about God. The challenge of different answers to a particular issue is not unique to the topic of religion. For example, you can sit 100 math students down, give them a complex problem to solve, and it is likely that many will get the answer wrong. But does this mean that a correct answer does not exist? Not at all. Those who get the answer wrong simply need to be shown their error and know the techniques necessary to arrive at the correct answer.

How do we arrive at the truth about God? We use a systematic methodology that is designed to separate truth from error by using various tests for truth, with the end result being a set of right conclusions. Can you imagine the end results a scientist would arrive at if he went into the lab and just started mixing things together with no rhyme or reason? Or if a physician just started treating a patient with random medicines in the hope of making him well? Neither the scientist nor the physician takes this approach; instead, they use systematic methods that are methodical, logical, evidential, and proven to yield the right end result.

This being the case, why think theology—the study of God—should be any different? Why believe it can be approached in a haphazard and undisciplined way and still yield right conclusions? Unfortunately, this is the approach many take, and this is one of the reasons why so many religions exist. That said, we now return to the question of how to reach truthful conclusions about God. What systematic approach should be used? First, we need to establish a framework for testing various truth claims, and then we need a roadmap to follow to reach a right conclusion. Here is a good framework to use:

1. Logical consistency—the claims of a belief system must logically cohere to each other and not contradict in any way. As an example, the end goal of Buddhism is to rid oneself of all desires. Yet, one must have a desire to rid oneself of all desires, which is a contradictory and illogical principle.

2. Empirical adequacy—is there evidence to support the belief system (whether the evidence is rational, externally evidential, etc.)? Naturally, it is only right to want proof for important claims being made so the assertions can be verified. For example, Mormons teach that Jesus lived in North America. Yet there is absolutely no proof, archaeological or otherwise, to support such a claim.

3. Existential relevancy—the belief system must conform to reality as we know it, and it must make a meaningful difference in the life of the adherent. Deism, for example, claims that God just threw the spinning world into the universe and does not interact with those who live on it. How does such a belief impact someone in a day-to-day manner? In short, it does not.

The Rapture And The Second Coming

(Written by Daymond Duck)
At the Rapture, Jesus will remain in the air or clouds (I Thess. 4:17).
At the Second Coming, Jesus will come down to the earth and stand on the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4, 9; Matt. 25:31-32).

At the Rapture, the Church will meet Jesus in the air (I Thess. 4:17).
At the Second Coming, the Church will follow Jesus to the earth (Rev. 19:14).

At the Rapture, the Church will go up to meet Jesus (I Thess. 4:17).
At the Second Coming, the Church will come down with Jesus (Rev. 19:14).

At the Rapture, the Church will leave the earth (I Thess. 4:17).
At the Second Coming, the Church will come back to the earth (Zech. 14:4; Rev. 19:14).

At the Rapture, Satan will be very active on earth (Rev. 12:12; 13:2).
At the Second Coming, Satan will be bound and chained and cast into the Bottomless Pit (Rev. 20:1-3).

At the Rapture, peace will be removed from the earth (Rev. 6:3-4).
At the Second Coming, peace will be restored on earth (Isa. 9:6).

At the Rapture, the Antichrist will appear and go forth conquering and to conquer (II Thess. 2:7-8; Rev. 6:1-2).
At the Second Coming, the Antichrist will be seized and cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:20).

The Rapture and Tribulation Period will come like a thief in the night to unbelievers (I Thess. 5:2-4).
At the Second Coming, every eye will see Him (Rev. 1:7; Luke 21:27).

At the Rapture, the Church will be removed from the earth (I Thess. 4:17).
At the Second Coming, the Lost will be removed from the earth (Matt. 13:36-43; 47-51).

The Rapture will before the Marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-10).
The Second Coming will be after the Marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:11-15).

At the Rapture, Jesus will come to receive His Church (John 14:1-3; I Thess. 4:13-18)
At the Second Coming, Jesus will come with His Church (I Thess. 3:13; Rev. 19:14).

There are no signs of the Rapture (Matt. 24:36).
There are many signs of the Second Coming (2520 days after covenant is signed, 1260 days after Antichrist defiles the Temple, after the Mark, after the Battle of Armageddon, etc.

The Rapture will take place in the twinkling of an eye (I Cor. 15:52).
At the Second Coming, Jesus will remain to reign on earth (Isa. 9:6; Jer. 23:5-6; Zech. 14:9; Hos. 3:4-5; Matt. 6:9-13).

At the Rapture, Israel’s enemies will try to destroy Israel (Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:16; Rev. 12:13-17).
At the Second Coming, Jesus will destroy Israel’s enemies (Rev. 19:17-21).

Headship in the Home

(Written by Joseph Chambers)
No man can be successful as the head of his home until he first makes Jesus Christ the true head of his own life. Jesus Christ gave us the perfect example by carefully maintaining His Father’s headship in His every word and deed. Remember, He said, “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak” (St. John 12:49-50). This is our perfect example for every man and woman. Our homes and our churches are suffering calamity because our culture has utterly forsaken true authority from God that is only known by submission.

The Holy Ghost is the author of all Scripture. When the Spirit spoke on this subject, He began by speaking to men because they hold the first line in obedience after Christ. “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (I Corinthians 11:3).

When a Godly man genuinely humbles himself to walk and live in the sweet lordship of Jesus Christ, that man becomes a dynamo for the gospel. There are few women that will not submit to such a good man. His love for his woman will be so beautiful and tender that every crisis of authority will be quickly settled. Listen to the Spirit of God, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). What an example to challenge a man to be His best. To love our wives like Jesus Christ loved His church is a powerful directive.

The world’s fallen culture is perfectly described in the Book of Revelation chapters two and three. The Spirit guided John in expressing what Jesus was saying to the church, “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols” (Revelation 2:20). Our world is being quickly destroyed by the “Spirit of Jezebel.” There are several expressions of this unclean spirit gripping the world and the church.
- Effeminate (wimpy) men that act, dress, or live without masculine characteristics.

- Masculine women that have forsaken the beautiful life of feminine purity.

- A society that has no sense of the God-ordained differences between male and female.

- A younger generation that is so confused about their physical person and role that they are like lost sheep.

- A world that is literally moving toward a value stripped culture that hates the name of Jesus Christ and the authority of the Bible.

Does God punish the sinner?

(Written by Tassos Kioulachoglou)
Many have created in their minds - with the help of religion - the image of an angry God, a God that is ready to throw fire from heaven and burn the sinners, punishing them for their sins. Similarly others, if something bad happens in the world, in their lives or in the life of somebody they know, attribute this to God with such words as: “the judgment of God fell on him”, “he did something bad and God punishes him”, “this evil is the punishment of God for their sins”. In other words they more or less attribute to God the evil that is happening in this world with the justification that this allegedly is the judgment, the punishment of God for the sin that is in the world. Is however this view right? Τhe answer is NO! I believe that in the age of grace in which we live, God does not condemn, punish the sinners. Be careful, I’m not saying that it is right for somebody to sin. I’m not saying that sin is not actually sin. I’m not saying that we do not need to confess our sins to the Lord and repent. What I’m saying is that the Lord does not condemn, does not punish people for sin, at least not in the age of grace we are living in. This of course does not mean that whoever sins will not also receive the respective awful results. The wages, the results, of sin is death (Romans 6:23) says the Word! However, these awful results are NOT the judgment, the punishment of God in the life of the sinner but the results, the fruit, of his own acts, of his sin. For example, let’s assume that somebody is an alcoholic, he does not get rid of his addiction, he is diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and dies. Is this the judgment, the punishment of God in his life? Did God cause this, punishing him for his doings? NO! He caused this to himself. Presenting this as punishment, as judgment of God for the acts of this man and attributing his death to God has no relation whatsoever to reality. God never did this and never wanted this!

But let us see the above with an example from the Bible. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the perfect representation of the Father. He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). Whoever saw Him saw the Father (John 14:9) and He only did what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). What therefore we will see Jesus doing, God would be doing the same today too. Let’s go then to John 8. There we see the Pharisees bringing to Jesus a woman that was caught during the act of adultery and asking Him what they should do to this woman. According to the law of Moses, this woman should have been stoned to death for her act. Her sin was punishable by death, no exceptions. But see here what answer Jesus gave to them:

John 8:7, 9-11
“So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

“Free Grace,” The Devil’s Joke

(Written by Joseph R. Chambers)
Free grace does not exist, but the free gift of grace does. Ask the Father if grace was free and He will answer, “It wasn’t for me!” Ask the Son what the price of grace was and His answer will be, “It cost Me My life!” The modern church has stripped the cross of Jesus Christ of all of its pain and suffering for those who will embrace it. The people that embrace this new compromise are as spiritually dead as the theologians that preach it.

A cross that costs nothing means nothing. The faith that shook the world during church history was always a faith that costs the followers everything — the deeper the embrace and the greater the sacrifice, the greater the impact. Find any adherent that is a part of this “free grace” mentality and you will find a spineless and soft religion. Nothing but a religious club of giddy worldliness can result from such cheap grace.

Grace costs the Father His only Son! What a price that Heaven had to pay to purchase man back to the family of God! Sin did not just separate man from God; it defiled and robbed Him of his very God-like character. Sin is as vile as the serpent that was its first mouthpiece. The Jewel of Heaven was the Father’s Only Son. He alone speaks the perfect revelations. When God created light, the Son of God was the light bearer. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Our God paid the ultimate price for grace through the gift of His Son.

The price of grace for the Son of God was beyond words. To leave His Father sitting on His majestic throne must have filled this great Heavenly temple with utter sadness. The Son could not come to earth as the Prince He was, but He humbled Himself to be stripped of His divine robe. From birth to death, someone was constantly seeking His destruction.