False Teachers and Prophets

Doctrine of Devils
An introduction to False Teachers and Prophets

¹But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, ² by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, ³ men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴ For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; ⁵ for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer (1 Timothy 4:1-5)

The above passage is talking about leaders within the church that have fallen because of their lust and now are teachers in their ways of perdition[1].  False teachers which mingle the truth with a lie; Paul warns that in these latter times there will be false teachers. All true Christians know that false teachers exist; and though it may sound harsh, I will go as far as to say that if no (local) false teacher instantly came to mind when I made that statement. Then you are more than likely a prime candidate to be (if you are not already) a sheep that will be slaughter by a false teacher.

Even as a child I was able to discern the con –men of the gospel.  I remember walking down the street on Sunday morning while neighbors turn on their AM radio to the God Father of false teaching Reverend Ike. Reverend Ike was a flashy totally transparent false teacher, that at the height of his popularity boasted a Sunday morning  broadcast of over  of 1770 TV  and radio station across the United States, and a viewership of over 2.5 million.  Known for his gaudy mink coats, and his fleet of 13 Rolls Royce automobiles, Reverend Ike was the first real prosperity preacher of modern time to deal almost exclusively with African Americans. Because of his outspokenness Rev Ike was not well received by many whites, yet many of his heterodoxal statements like "The best thing you can do for the poor is not to be one of them, and Forget about the Pie in the sky (alluding to salvation) get yours today !”; and his most famous statement, “Money is not the root of all evil, it is the lack of money that is the root of all evil” has become the calling card of preachers and hucksters of the prosperity gospel today.  In July of 2009 Reverend Ike dies of complications due to a stroke

 Recognizing False Teachers

One of the biggest mistakes by Christians today is that we add everyone that say they love Jesus to our mist. This includes false converts, like Judas and Demas (John   6:7, 2 Tim 4:10) and false teachers like Hymenaeus and Alexander; (1 Timothy 1:20) But Jesus warns us that not everyone that names of the name of Jesus will be one of his.(Matthew 7:22-23) in that verse he is speaking of false converts. In Matthews 7:15 Jesus warns us against false teachers,  in the book of Titus and also in First and Second Timothy are laced with examples and warning of  false teachers. So the question is not are there false teachers, the question is how do we recognize these false teachers? 

³If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;  ⁴He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, ⁵Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.  ⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:3-6

 Using the above scripture as a guide line we can say that there are 7 major characteristics of a false teacher, and any one of these characteristics are a likely hood to the other 6. To some degree a flse teacher will have all of these characteristics (though fame and power over people may be exchanged for, or added to money is all cases) with that said let’s address the 7 characteristics of a false teacher.

1.     False teachers advocate a different doctrine besides what Christ advocates.

(V3) A false teacher may start off with small insinuations but will grow into full blown misdirection away from the truth which is in Christ Jesus. They may alter the message of the gospel so that it is less offensive, or they may bring question to scripture so that the bible becomes one source for truth rather than the only authority of Truth. Statements like “We all worship the same God” are an immediate red light for me.  ( John 14:6)

2.     False teachers do not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(V3)When confronted about their teaching, false teachers typically refuse to listen to what the Bible has to say. They prefer playing mind games using the intellect, anecdotes, stories, confusion and quotations rather than quoting chapter and verse from the Bible.

3.     False teachers promote a lifestyle of ungodliness due to the errors in their teaching 

(V4) Without exception false teachers have major problems with sin themselves. And it is their problem with sin that is the driving forces behind their incorrect theology. Their hidden agendas or perverted and twisted minds motivate them to use the bible to promote their personal perversions.  This is ultimately important that we understand that all false teachers have a hidden agenda in their teaching. Bar-none.

4.     False teachers are conceited and yet they understand nothing

(V4) False teachers are prideful and conceited for them teaching is a platform to show their intellectual superiority, they thrive on making other feel inferior. Yet when their knowledge of scripture is contested it becomes evidently clear they don’t know as much as they think they do.

5.     False teachers have a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words

(V5) False teachers, like to sire up question that make themselves appear intelligent. This is often done in a humble setting while in truth they seek to create their own platform. In the end the false teacher will cause division in the local body not unity.

6.     False teachers create within the body of Christ envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and destitute of the truth.

(V5)  Friction and strife will especially come from those that are already developing their own agenda, therefore a false teacher will oftentimes  be developing other false teachers after himself (Matthew 7:16-20). Also there will be strife with those that are destitute of the truth, as new coverts, and those not well verse in scripture. (Hosea 4:6) Lack of knowledge may give the false teacher the upper hand, but Paul teaches that we must “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.'' ( 1 Thess 5:21)

7.     False teachers use a form of godliness to advance some selfish agenda for their own advantage. 

(V5)  They believe that they can use religion and people’s spiritual fervor to take advantage of them. Many false teachers can be known simply by the fact that they are fleecing the sheep by taking their money or worse yet, their dignity. The bottom line is that they are not about Jesus Christ and the gospel but about themselves and earthly gain

Ok now that we know how to recognize false teachers what do we do when we encounter one?  How to deal with false teachers  Part 2 Contend for the Faith

Your Brother in Christ
T.Charves FireSpeaks

 Similar Post

• Meekness of Wisdom
• The Broken Wheel of False Teachers
• Dealing with the Pain of Betrayal
• Offenses Will Come
• Accepting Whatever Comes from the Pulpit 
• Contend for the Faith

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[1] Perdition = a state of final spiritual ruin; loss  of the soul; damnation.

The Anagram of Christmas

The Anagram of Christmas

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, [yet] you put up with it easily enough.(2 Corinthians 11:3-4)

Christmas should be a time for us to worship the birth of Christ Jesus, but slowly the enemy is replacing Christ with Satan (Santa) and it is being done so subtly that even the most devout Christians don’t see it happening. But this is the practice of Satan to make small changes until the time that he can overtly attack the truth.

Consider this even though this is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ is the name Jesus or the name Santa that rest on the lips of most parents everywhere, even most Christian parents during this time of year? Why do we willingly lie to our children about Christmas teaching them to worship a false God called Santa Claus, then go to church and confess how worthy God is to be worshiped?

I know you’re saying “Troy it’s not that big a deal” Or is it? We tell our children not to lie yet we lie to them about Santa Clause, and what confuses me it there is no real reason for us telling this lie.

But this little white lie can’t hurt, can it?
This little white lie can very easily be as damaging as any big black lie. Ask yourself this question. What do you say to your child when he comes home from school teary-eyed from being teased and called names because he still believed in Santa Clause? Do you put your arm around him and tell him mommy just told you a little white lie. How do you justify the wasted tears and feeling of betrayal because you imparted the belief of a false God by the name of Santa Clause? Can you honestly say that the lie is worth the hurt?

But the hurt runs far deeper than just a little child’s feeling. Because it is a lie it must be justified or else your children will see you as a liar, so you bring others into your lie. Your family and friends, all unite with you to deceive your children. This lie teaches your children to distrust those members of their family that they should trust and subject them to the deception of others who make promises of never lying to them. How many times have you read about child molesters that have secrets from their victims? In many cases, it is because the victim feels betrayal from his parents

Because you have told your child the lie of Santa Clause you cannot tell him/her the truth of Jesus Christ. This may sound strange but a lie and the truth cannot live together, they are antagonists to one another. The lie of Santa Clause automatically kills the truth of Jesus Christ. So whatever you don’t tell me a little white lie won’t hurt anyone.

The Anagram of Santa Claus
If you rearrange the letters of the name Santa you will get Satan, this practice of creating anagrams has been used by the occult to hide secret names or meaning so they could transmit subliminal messages to those unaware and openly communicate with those ‘” in the know”.

Sanat Kumara is the most well-known anagram in the occult world. Sanat is better known as Satan. Sanat Kumara was mentioned briefly by the theosophist Helena Blavatsky. She claimed he belonged to a group of beings, the "Lords of the Flame", whom Christian tradition have misunderstood as Lucifer and the fallen angels (Wikiedia, 2011). This is the Santa that we urge our children to worship.

Now rearrange the letters of Claus and you get Lucas, which is a new age code for Lucifer. Moreover, many Modern Theologians believe that the Claus is symbolic of the claws of Satan which many Christians attribute to the biblical references of Lucifer or Lucas as a lion: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour “ (1 Peter 5:8).

Maybe we are better off referencing Saint Nicholas, The Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology quotes “Old Nick” as being a well-known British name for the devil, derived from the Dutch Nikken, the devil. The Oxford English Dictionary Vol III D-E also references Santa or the Devil as being "Old Nick", as does Dictionary.com

Cause My People to Forget My Name by Their Dreams

“Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal[1]?” Jeremiah 23: 27(Amplified)

Don’t be fooled it is the goal of Satan to take Christ out of the mouths of God’s people, During Christian holidays when we should be praising Him the most, We have been deceived by Satan’ cunning and our minds have been led astray from our sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Simply by adding the names of false gods, like Santa Clause, the tooth fairy, and the Easter bunny, worldly replacements for Jehovah and Jesus. Satan has caused God’s people to forget[2] (or never be taught) the Name of God with lies and fairy tales of myths and false gods, which we tell even to our friends and neighbors, ...and even worst our children

Satan desires to be God and hates God’s people, and he will do all he can to pervert the word of God, and to be worshiped as God. And the weapon that he uses is a lie. Do not let his lie fool you or your children.

Teach them the truth, Defend the truth, Speak the truth, and never perpetuate Satan’s lie about Santa Claus again. Bring Christ Back to Christmas.

It getting late but I have so much more, but until next time be blessed

With love your brother in Christ

T.Charves FireSpeaks

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[1] supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanites (False Gods)

^[2] Sad as it is we live in a society where Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy, and Easter Bunny are more popular than Jesus. What’s worse is that these imaginary personas can be spoken of in the walls of the school and the courts of our justice system but Christ cannot. We have made idolaters of our children, teaching them to love the gifts greater than the giver, and have hidden the Name of God and Christ from their ears. The dilemma is not about the enemy as much as it is our lust that has turned us from God.

Offenses Will Come

Offenses Will Come

Matthews 18:6-7(KJV)
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

So that we have a better understanding of the what is being said to us let read Matthews 18-6-7  This often heard verse is almost never identified in scripture because of it often mis-uses. miscues, and possibly controlling spirit of those that hide behind it.

My personal Commentary (FireSpeaks)
A mature Christian should never do those thing which would lead a new convert to sin or incorrectly perceive God. This is about how to rightly disciple the new Christian. Jesus Christ wants us to not just tell people about Christ but disciple them to maturity in their faith, not say those things which can cause a new Christian to regret,  coming to God, stumble in his faithfulness toward God, be offended in  his faith feel inferior to his leader.

Christ warns “Whoso shall offend one of these little one” The word used for offend is skandalizō (skan-da-le-zoo ) which means;  

• to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may grow {in his faith} 
•  to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey { as in the church, Christianity of even God and Christ Jesus}

Little ones does not mean young in age but rather young in his walk with Christ. we get this from the content of verse 6b “Which Believes in me”. Now here comes the warning, “it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck,” This is not a generalization but a pinpointed targeted warning that is only associated to one person, HE THAT OFFENDS !!!!

Now we get to verse 7  which starts with a warning to the entire world of those that will offend new convert to Christ. “Woe unto the world because of offences!” Now the realizations concerning offenses “for it must needs be that offences come;” Christ is saying He knows that people will get offended, That is, such is the depravity of man that there will be always some who are attempting to make others sin; some people of wickedness endeavoring to lead Christians astray, or do those things which are hurtful this is not a debatable argument. Young Christians, or those weak in their faith (the subject of this passage from proper context), will through lack of knowledge, or self will, or painfulness will be offended. BUT!
“woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” From the previous verse we can see in Christ’s eye it is better to drown to death, with an anvil tied around your neck suffocating in your own mucus, and water and blood then to be the person that cause that offense against His little ones.

Lets get a clearer understanding of what is being said, in the next passage the Apostle Paul is comparing this action of offending little one, with offending Christ Himself! Now this becomes a very weighty subject.

^[12]But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. ^[13] Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend 1 Corinthians 8:12-13

In Romans chapter 14,  Church members were becoming "bent out of shape" over things that irritated them but had little or nothing to do with salvation. They blew these irritants out of proportion, which created disruption, and offense within the Congregation.

The root of these offenses is not actual issues of salvation but prideful things that many leaders of the church wanted to install into those that they felt were not living up to the standard of their expectation (see blog on Unwilling Sacrifice) let us make no mistake offenses wheather between one Christian to another, or from an unbeliever to a believer almost always ( almost) find their origin in the pride of the offender. In Proverb 13:10, King Solomon writes "By pride comes only contention, but with the well-advised is wisdom." Contention divides by causing and offense. Much of the strife and disunity in the church today is promoted by those who seem bent on "majoring in the minors things” causing an offense in the heart of brothers.

Now let’s revisit 1 Corinthians 8:12-13; In the above passage Paul, provides the correct example concerning how to deal with Christians that may not have a strong a faith. Draw your attention to the fact that he calls this behavior of offending a Christian a sin! Making the offense on par with sin against Jesus Christ himself “Such a sin against a brother in Christ is a sin against Christ Himself!”  Amazingly when addressing this offensive demeanor many Christian act as though the offense is no big deal, they even go as far as to say thing like “ You know I love you Get over it” It is that serious!  Though the passage ( 1 Corinthian 8:12-13) address offending a brother by telling him what he should or should not eat ( doctrine of the devil)  it is clear that the act of offending a brother is the sin not the food which is eaten. In the same way when we cause a Christ to be offended by our inconsiderate way of handling a problem we sin not just against that person but against Jesus Christ Himself.  Paul's conclusion, then, is that he would never even give the appearance of sin if it would harm a brother in the faith, or harm a brother growth in his faith.

T.Charves FireSpeaks

         

Suggested reading on offenses 

1.)Dealing with Betrayal
2.)Unwilling Sacrifice
3.) Meekness of Wisdom
4.)Fixing the Broken Wheel of Flawed Teaching  
5.) Doctrine of Devils
6.) Contend for the Faith

A Fire that is not Quenched

Where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:48)

Where is that place where the worms do not die? Jesus in Mark 9:48 tells us that Hell is the place where the worms do not die, and the fire of hell is never quenched. How powerful is this passage? Not this passage so to speak but passages like it ( some listed below) were a deciding fact in my walk with Christ.

I came to Christ not for a better life. The often misused method of witnessing that says “Jesus will fix your health, finance marriage or whatever wrong in your life” would have never worked on me, because I was content where I was, I was in sin where I was, and I was making a lot of money where I was. As a matter of fact my income right now about 65% less than it was since I’ve come to God through Jesus Christ as compared to when I was in the world.

What I’m saying is I did not come to Christ for what He could give me, I came to God and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior because I fear (note present tense) going to hell. My desire is to never know that place where the worms do not die and the fire is not quenched. I came to Christ because I wanted the salvation, the other stuff I consider a bonus. That is way even in my witnessing I will never tell someone that “Jesus loves them”. Nor will I ever tell someone that they are now saved, They must know their salvation themselves.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5

Who Are the Reprobate?
The reprobates are those that have been rejected by God and because of their unrepentant sin are condemned to the eternal damnation in hell, that place where the worms do not die and the fire is not quenched. The Apostle Paul is asking us to check if there is any unrepentant sin, if we truly believe the doctrine of Jesus Christ and have we adhered to that doctrine. Paul is saying consider heaven where there will be no pain (Revelation 21:4)[1] and hell where there is continual pain (Matthew 25:30[2]) and decide by the doctrine of Jesus Christ where we might go.In spite of what is clearly written in scripture, we live our lives for the present not taking into consideration what may become of us after our time on earth has ended.

Understand Paul's letter was not to the sinner, it was to those that professed that they were Christians. Paul was asking to the church at Corinth “Are you really Christians or are you just pretenders? Are you walking that walk of a Christian counted among the elect, or are you straddling the fence of between saved and reprobate?”

Lets us not make a mistake the reprobates are in the church as well as outside the church. The bible is full of examples of those that profess to believe but have failed to value their relationship with God. When you ask them if their profession of faith in Christ is true, they get angry, jump down your throat and want to fight you. (All of which answers the question for them) Sadly they are convinced that a sinner prayer, (which is not in the bible anywhere) or baptism, or pretending to keep the law, or some other work has assured their salvation, and all is well with their soul.

Paul’s task to the Corinth brings to light the deceptive powers of Satan and a warns the elect against having a complacent attitude toward salvation. Many Christian profess Christ however their lives do not support such claims. Most people can’t tell the difference between the life of a non-believer and the life of a believer. (See  Peculiar People)

Complacent Salvation
There is continual argument as to whether a Christian can lose his salvation [3] (Hebrews 6:4-6) though it may seem otherwise I am confident that the scripture teach that a true Christian cannot lose their salvation. However, a Christian may give away his salvation, and even worst there are those that have been deceived into thinking they are Christian and think they are saved, when in fact they are not.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:22-23

I think it is clear that Jesus is not talking about sinners in the above passage. An unregenerate sinner would never knowingly profess the name of Jesus nor would he prophesize or cast out devils in Jesus’Name, or do any wonderful works would he do in the name of Jesus. (Matthew 12:25) However, if he believes himself to be a disciple of Jesus, and having a intellectual understanding of scripture, he might think he could do these things in Jesus' Name. Matthews 7:22-23 leads us to believe that because they went to Jesus to confirm their actions, they did in fact prophesize, and they did cast out devils, and they did do many wonderful things. Moreover they may have even said while they were doing these things "In Jesus' Name" However because Jesus denied even knowing them they did not have Jesus' authority to do those things, or they were deceived by Satan into believing they had actually done those things.

So often we the elect see wonderful works of healing, and prophecy, and we think that because a individual does these thing they are of God. We become so impressed with he works that we don't see the spirit behind the works therefore we can quickly become deceived.. Satan used Jannes and Jambres the Egyptian magicians to opposed Moses with their magic which appeared just like the works of God, but they weren't of God. In the same way Satan can and will use his minions to fool the elect if we are not grounded in prayer and knowledge of scripture.

For this reason the Apostle Peter wrote to make your calling and election sure through faith and other virtues (2 Peter 1:5-10)[4] that we do not become deceived by the assurance of salvation. This issue of salvation should not be taken lightly, hell is not to be taken lightly. Because if we are wrong the penalty is too great, and there is no do over in salvation we must get it right the first time. Therefore as Paul says “knowing the terror of the Lord” I persuade you to examine yourselves and prove yourselves, that you can make your election and calling sure.



Your Brother in Christ
T.Charves FireSpeaks

 About the Author:

Troy Pearsall is the author of FireSpeaks prayer and meditation blog, a blog dedicated to the practice and discovery of Christian Prayer and Meditation  http://firespeaks.blogspot.com. 

You have full permission to reprint this article within your website or newsletter as long as you leave the article fully intact and include the "About The Author" resource box. Thanks!:-)

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[1] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

[2] Other verses of hell, ( Matthews 22:13, Luke 16:23, 2 Samuel 22:6,  II Thessalonians 1:9, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 9:2, Revelation 14:11, Revelation20:14, Luke 16:24)

[3] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Hebrews 6:4-6

[4] And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 2 Peter 1:5-10 (King James Version)

How Can They Ever Obey God?

AsI come closer to the day they we will adopt a child, God has given me more andmore revelation of his intent. Just the other day the spirt of God spoke to meand said. "If your children can not obey you howwill they ever obey God?"


Iwondered was God giving me a word for someone else? or for myself. I thoughtI no longer have any children what can this mean. and then I realized that Iwould soon have little feet running through my home, and God has not given forme to be a foolsih steward of His children. So even before they came he wasinstructiing me on how to raise them.

ButI fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, soyour minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:3

But by the subtilties of this world we have lost God requirementfor raising our children. The world teaches that we should let tem be their ownpersons, that we should let them make decision on issues that we find much tooimportant for children to decide. Give them freedom means teach them to hateGod's word.

This is what the world has for our children, But God's plan forour children which is written in scripture is very clear. This posting isactually and old posting with a few changes as God has led me to post it. Ipray that it will be as enlightening to you as it was for me. Please leave acomment as the spirit unction you.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old,he will not depart from it.Proverbs 22:6

In aworld where our children are being killed, at an enormous rate, the possibilityof reaching adulthood for urban children (especially African American boys)becomes more and more difficult each day. Children are disrespecting theirparents, joining gang, doing drugs, experimenting with homosexualrelationships, and ever kind of perversion you can imagine. Grandparents are the parents of the 2K era, not only raising their children, but now raisingtheir children’s children. God has been taken out of the schools, and out of thecourts, and for many Americans; God has been taken out of the living rooms anddinner tables as well. Is there any wonder that our children have been given upto a reprobate society.

But noloving parent wants to see his or her child die, and nothing is more tragicthan to have a parent bury his own child. Nothing except when a parent has tobury his own child and know within his/her heart that his child has not beensaved. Nothing is more tragic than when a parent realizes that his child willburn eternally in hell, because he/she has never taught them about Jesus. Thebible is very clear about this even a good person (by society’s standard) will go to hell if they have not put theirfaith in Jesus.

Forthis reason it is of the utmost importance that we teach our children aboutChrist, and help them to develop a relationship with Him so that in time oftrouble they will be properly equipped with the spiritual things needed tobattle this corrupt world

The bible teaches that we should “Trainup a child in the way he should go and when he gets old he will not depart fromit” (Proverbs 22:6)yet, this world has taught us that we should let our children make their owndecisions about their faith. Are we truly followers of Christ, or followers ofthis world? Will we conform to the ways of this world, and let out childrenmake this exceedingly crucial and consequential decision of their faith? Orwill we be transformed by the word of God and Train up or children in the waythey should go? The Apostle Paul teaches us “For we must allappear before the judgment seat of Christ;[even our children] thatevery one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hathdone, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, wepersuade men; [work urgently with everyone, toconvince them of the need for Jesus Christ and ready them to face God.]^[1][1](2Corinthainas 5:10-11)
Who wants to have to deal with the guilt of saying “IfI had only taught my son /daughter about Jesus”? Or even worse, “I thought I hadenough time to teach them about Jesus.”

Theonly question that remains is how do I train up a child? Should we read childrearing books by Dr Spock, or some other deep thinker? Or should we take theadvice from our friends whom had all their children go to college? Maybe weshould just medicate our children to the point that they walk in a state ofsemiconscious stupor, that’ll teach them to act right! Let’s see what the biblesays about this subject.

Deuteronomy 6:1-7 Now these are thecommandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your Godcommanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go topossess it: That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutesand his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son'sson, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. Heartherefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, andthat ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promisedthee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. Hear, O Israel: The LORDour God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart,and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I commandthee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligentlyunto thy children, and shalt talk of them [ourchildren] when thou sittest in thine house, [while sitting around the house] and when thou walkest by the way, [and when you go for walks with your children] and when thou liest down,[andbefore bed] and when thou risest up.[and first thing when you rise in the morning]

 Inshort it says to teach your children the law of God, not that we are justifiedby the law but that by the law (Ten Commandments) we show our children insimple terms what sin is.[2][2]Now pay attention to God’s promise when you teach the law toyour children verse 2 says “that their days may beprolonged!” This is the simplicity that isin God’s Word. How many children do we know or have heard of that have died soyoung not knowing God? Good children some who have simply been in the wrongplace at the right time to die?

 Nowverse 3 says “observe the law and do it” (here is the promise again) “andall will be with well with you, and you will prosper in the land of milk andhoney as God has promised”. What isimportant to understand is that of all the promises made to Israel, it is theobserving of the law which initiates these promises in their life. Likewise ofall the inherited promises to the Christian nothing is it true if we don’tfollow the law of God. I know we are taught we as Christian are not under thelaw and this is true, but if a Christian breaks the law he does so as a sinnerand the law was made for the sinner. Can a Christian be a sinner also? Is not asinner one who sins? Don’t even Christians occasionally fall into sin? But itis the law which convicts the non-repentant sinner and faith in Christ Jesus,which acquits us of our sin. In this knowledge we see the real need of JesusChrist as our savior.

So GodCommands Israel that they teach the law to their children because it is inhaving a knowledge of the moral law of God (summed up in the 10 Commandments)that gives not just our children but even adults a foundation of what sin is,and the realization that without Christ we will never have salvation.

Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us untoChrist, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24

 It isin teaching the moral law that we show our children what sin 1John 3:4 tell us “sin is transgression of thelaw”,and Paul teaches in Romans 7:7 “Iwould not have known sin, if not by the law” So we have established that what we train our children is in the knowledge of sinthrough the law. let go back to Deuteronomy 6 to see how we train up ourchildren.

And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and theyshall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon theposts of thy house, and on thy gates. Deuteronomy 6:8-9

That isthat you should forever have the commandment in front of your children, notjust that you read them occasionally but that they become a tool to teach themall they need to know in life. This is of utmost importance, also that you notjust force them on them but your children express to you their understanding ofthem in daily life.

When achild lies ask questions of him like “Youknow its wrong to lie don’t you?” (Wait for their answer) “now tell me why you should not lie.”Their answer should not be founded in you but in God. by this I mean if theiranswer is because you will spank me, it may be true but that’s not enough,guide them with patience to see that what they did is a transgression of Godlaw not just mommy and daddy’s rules

Readhere how the message bible explains the next two verses of Deuteronomy 6

Write these commandments that I've given youtoday on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside yourchildren. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in thestreet; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when youfall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribethem on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates. Deuteronomy6:8-9 (The Message)

So we teach our children to learn obedience toward God. which has its root in obedience to each of us. And we do this by constantly teaching and speaking on the things of God. I hope this helps, I knowit may seem too easy, as if I had circumscribed the complicated task of rearinga child to a few lines in the bible, but the bible says we should not throughthe hidden things of this world even as Eve was by the serpent, belead astray from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 11:3)

Your brother in Christ

T.Charves FireSpeaks

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[1][1] That which is in “[ ]” is added by author.

[2][2] Romans 3:20 (Amplified Bible) for no person will be justified(made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His (God’s) sight by observing the worksprescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make menrecognize and be conscious of sin [^]notmere perception, but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance,faith, and holy character]