THE BABYLON DECEPTION: FALSE GRACE AND FALSE WORKS

THE BABYLON DECEPTION: FALSE GRACE AND FALSE WORKS

Date: 5/1/14 

FALSE GRACE

There is a deception in the churches around the world, but primarily in the West. This deception has its roots in Babylon and it is a very powerful deception which has led many people away from the truth.

Before we look into what false grace is, we need to see what the Bible says about grace. Here is what the Bible says about true grace.

We are saved by grace, not by works.

● Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

● Titus 2:11

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

We are justified by God’s grace and our faith in Jesus Christ.

● Titus 3:7

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

● Romans 5:1

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

We are not justified by our works.

● Romans 3:28

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

● Galatians 2:16

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

False grace is the false doctrine that teaches one can continue to sin (and rebel) against God and still be a Christian. What does the Bible say about this? Can a Christian live in sin (that he or she does not repent from)?

● Galatians 6:7-8 (Emphasis added)

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

● Luke 16:13-15 (Emphasis added)

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

● Galatians 5:19-21 (Emphasis added)

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

● Romans 6:16 (Emphasis added)

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

● Hebrews 3:12-15 (Emphasis added)

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Jesus told His disciples that if something leads them into sin, they need to get rid of it. He said: “[47] And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: [48] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (See Mark 9:47-48).

Jesus also told His disciples that they can only serve one master.

● Luke 16:13-15 (Emphasis added)

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Christians must choose whether they will serve Jesus Christ or serve themselves. One cannot serve both God and himself (or herself). If one chooses to serve his (or her) own will instead of God’s will that is rebellion and hardness of heart.

In the book of Revelation, Jesus Christ said, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (See Revelation 3:5.) (Emphasis added.)

Jesus will not blot out a Christian’s name from the book of life if the Christian is an overcomer. What must an overcomer overcome? In Revelation 3:5, Jesus was talking to the Church of Sardis. He said in Revelation 3:1-3 (Emphasis added):

“[3:1] And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

[2] Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

[3] Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.”

Jesus is telling His church in Sardis to repent because they are not holding fast to the truth. Many or most of them are spiritually dead. They believe they know God’s name, but do not and their actions (or works) show they do not have a relationship with God. He will blot their names out of the book of life unless they are overcomers.

God is calling out to His church to repent from sin and come out of the world and not believe in the false grace heresy which is a doctrine of the Nicolaitans.

Many churches today embrace false grace which says that a Christian can continue to sin without repenting and choosing to serve Jesus Christ instead of himself (or herself). We can either serve Jesus or not serve Him. There are no other options. We can say we are serving Jesus when we are really serving ourselves, but then we would be liers and hypocrites. James 4 talks about this.

● James 4:4-10 (Emphasis added)

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Today, this false grace has grown into such a huge stronghold of deception that pastors and teachers are bringing Rock music into churches, tolerating homosexuality, not speaking against abortion, and actively promoting Hollywood movies (such as Narnia, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings) and Hollywood TV shows. These are abominations to God. (See “The Babylon Deception: Rock Music” and “The Babylon Deception: Movies”.)

Christianity Today, a Christian magazine promoted Harry Potter in an article titled, "Editorial: Why We Like Harry Potter." They said, “...and this is why we recommend the books, Rowling's series is a Book of Virtues with a preadolescent funny bone. Amid the laugh-out-loud scenes are wonderful examples of compassion, loyalty, courage, friendship, and even self-sacrifice. No wonder young readers want to be like these believable characters. That is a Christmas present we can be grateful for.”

To support their position they said that other Christians support Harry Potter:  “What remains unreported is that many Christians—such as Charles Colson and Wheaton College literature professor Alan Jacobs—enjoy and defend the Potter series” (Editorial: Why We Like Harry Potter.")

The late David J. Meyer, a Christian pastor who had been a witch before finding Jesus wrote this about Harry Potter books in an article titled “Harry Potter? What Does God Have To Say?”:

"It was the Communist revolutionary Lenin who said, "Give me one generation of youth, and I will transform the entire world." Now an entire generation of youth has been given to a woman named J.K. Rowling and her four books on witchcraft, known as the Harry Potter Series.

“As a former witch, I can speak with authority when I say that I have examined the works of Rowling and that the Harry Potter books are training manuals for the occult. 
[…]

“The first book of the series, entitled "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone", finds the orphan, Harry Potter, […] is taken to "Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."  […] Harry Potter learns how to […] use witchcraft equipment. Harry also learns a new vocabulary, including words such as "Azkaban", "Circe", "Draco", "Erised", "Hermes", and "Slytherin"; all of which are names of real devils or demons. […]

“[…] By reading these materials, many millions of young people are learning how to work with demon spirits. They are getting to know them by name. […]

“The titles of the books should be warning enough to make us realize how satanic and anti-christ these books are. […] "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone", was a real give away. The […] third book was entitled "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."

“Sadly enough, this blatant witchcraft has been endorsed by well-known and respected "Christian" leaders, such as Dr. James Dobson and Chuck Colson [….] Harry Potter books are pure witchcraft and of the devil. The "Christian" leaders, however, defend them by saying that good magic always wins and overcomes evil magic.

[…]

“High level witches believe that there are seven satanic princes and that the seventh, which is assigned to Christians, has no name. In coven meetings, he is called "the nameless one." In the Harry Potter books, there is a character called "Voldemort." The pronunciation guide says of this being "He who must not be named."

Why would Christian leaders promote Harry Potter? They are deceived. The idea that one can never reject Jesus Christ once he or she has been saved is a powerful deception Satan has deceived many Christians with. This deception leads many Christians to be more open-minded to other deceptions. The deception that Harry Potter is an innocent fantasy that teaches good moral lessons is one of Satan’s traps to lead Christians away from God.

God’s Word forbids any meddling in any form of witchcraft or occult.

● Deuteronomy 18:9-12

9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

How can Christian’s justify watching Harry Potter movies (and reading the books) and other Hollywood movies? These are abominations to God.

[Authors Note: A couple years ago, I devotedly watched Hollywood movies each week. (See The Babylon Deception: Movies.)

Sometimes I would watch two movies a night. I found them addictive even though I was feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit that they were wrong. None of them were given a stronger rating than R and most were PG-13 or G, but even the G movies had things in them that God convicted me about. 

I started seeking God more (in prayer) and God put on my heart that I needed to get rid of all my movies (even my most favorite) and stop watching movies, so I did. It was hard, but I knew it was the right thing to do. 

Part of my reason for justifying my movie addiction was that God’s grace was there for me and I didn’t need to repent from this sin. I was under the deception of false grace, like many people today.  I did not realize that continuing in sin is actually rejecting God’s grace (or goodness) which leads us to repentance (see Romans 2:4). Rejecting God’s goodness (which leads us to repentance) is as easy as choosing our sin instead of repenting from sin and obeying God. I am writing this article to help you see the truth. Seek God on this and let Him show you the truth.]

If you believe that God gives you grace so that you can sin, you are under deception. The Bible says:

●Romans 6:1-2

6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

●Romans 6:15-16 (Emphasis added)

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Sin leads to death. Death is not only physical death but spiritual death: eternal separation from God.

If you overcome, you will inherit Heaven. If you do not repent from sin, but continue in sin…

● Revelation 21:7-8

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

We need to make this point clear: sin leads to eternal death.

Now that we have covered false grace, let us now look at false works.

FALSE WORKS

Nearly all false religions have one thing in common. They teach that you have to do good works in order to be saved. Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Catholics believe that your goods works save you or help save you in some way. This deception was creeping into the early Christian church not long after it was founded.

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Galatians to a church which had begun to drift from the truth of salvation by faith (in Jesus Christ) into a false doctrine of salvation by works.

Paul wrote (by the guidance of the Holy Spirit):

● Galatians 3:10-14

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

He also wrote:

● Galatians 2:16

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

● Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We cannot and will not ever be saved by our works. Deny self, trust in Jesus Christ, repent from sin, and seek God. That is the duty of a follower of Christ who has rejected his own will and has sought God’s will for his life.

Jesus Christ said:

● Luke 16:13

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

● Mark 8:34-35

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

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IF YOU ARE SEEKING TO KNOW GOD, please read this message.

God loves us so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and shed His precious blood to pay for all of these sins (and has risen from the dead).

If you repent (turn away) from your sins (Acts 3:19), and believe and confess aloud that Christ has done this for you (Romans 10:9-10), and have made Him your Lord and Savior (again Romans 10:9-10) you are saved. Now seek God with all your heart. Seek to know Him and you will (Jeremiah 29:13).

John 17:3 says: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

God said this in Jeremiah 29:13: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Emphasis added)

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Works Cited

"Editorial: Why We Like Harry Potter." http://www.ctlibrary.com. Christianity Today, 10 Jan. 2000. Web. 1 May 2014.

Meyer, David J. “Harry Potter? What Does God Have To Say?” http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org. Last Trumpet Ministries International, n.d. Web. 1 May 2014.