Exposing the False Teachers of the 21st Century (Titus 1:10) (Hyper Grace)

Exposing the False Teachers of the 21st Century (Titus 1:10) (Hyper Grace) [Print Document]

Titus 1:10-11

“[10] For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: [11] Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.”

Today, more than ever before, there is a pernicious teaching that has crept into the Church. It fuels the sin nature and lures people into its deadly snares. Nothing is more destructive than “hyper grace” teaching. For a believer in “hyper grace” teaching, sin is “not such a bad thing” because “hyper grace” teaching allows for Christians to live in sin. If a Christian were to shack up with another Christian, “hyper grace” teachers would act as if it were okay, and look the other way.

Their teaching has even opened the door for the acceptance of other religions into a type of false gospel that copies what C.S. Lewis wrote about in his book Mere Christianity (we'll get to that soon). Billy Graham said in an interview with Robert Schuller that he believed non-Christians (such as Buddhists and Muslims) could be saved even if they never trusted in the Name of Jesus Christ and never made Him their Savior and Lord [A.]. Let's look at a portion of Graham's interview.

Billy Graham Believes Jesus Christ Is "Not" the Only Way

[Billy Graham said:] "[...] whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don't have, and they turn to the only light that they have, and I think that they are saved, and that they're going to be with us in heaven." [A.]

[Robert Schuller said:] "What, what I hear you saying that it's possible for Jesus Christ to come into human hearts and soul and life, even if they've been born in darkness and have never had exposure to the Bible. Is that a correct interpretation of what you're saying?" [A.]


[Billy Graham said:] "Yes, it is, because I believe that. I've met people in various parts of the world in tribal situations, that they have never seen a Bible or heard about a Bible, and never heard of Jesus, but they've believed in their hearts that there was a God, and they've tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived." [A.] [End quote]

Where does Billy Graham get this false teaching from? The Bible certainly does not teach that people of other religions can be saved apart from making Jesus their personal Savior and Lord. Rather, God’s Word says:

1 Timothy 2:5 says: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

Acts 4:12 says: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

John 14:6 says: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 says: “[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.”

Romans 10:9-10 says: “[9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Confessing that "Buddha has the light", or that "Muhammad is the prophet of Allah", or that "Joseph Smith has the light", and doing good works does not save anyone. Only by confessing with one's mouth the Lord Jesus and believing in one's heart that God had raised Jesus from the dead is one saved (see Romans 10:9-10).

C.S. Lewis Wrote that Jesus Christ

Is "Not" the Only Way

C.S. Lewis promoted the same dangerous false teaching as Billy Graham did. Lewis wrote these startling words in Mere Christianity:

“There are people in other religions who are being led by God’s secret influence to concentrate on those parts of their religion which are in agreement with Christianity, and who thus belong to Christ without knowing it. For example, a Buddhist of good will may be led to concentrate more and more on the Buddhist teaching about mercy and to leave in the background (though he might still say he believed) the Buddhist teaching on certain other points. Many of the good Pagans long before Christ’s birth may have been in this position.” [B.]

God said in His Word, the Bible, through Paul, that the nations of the world should seek the Lord, and if it is true that they are seeking God, then they verify by contact and find God because He is "...not far from every one of us...".
Acts 17:27 says: "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:"

Notice that in Acts 17, Paul never said they would be saved by concentrating on any part of their religion? Paul never said that they would be saved by their works or by being separate from evil things that their own people did? In Romans 1, God had Paul write:

Romans 1:18-22
"[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,"

Notice verse 20? God's creation, human beings, understood the truth about God, but they refused to seek God, and rejected Him. Remember how Paul (a.k.a. Saul) had a vision when he was on the road to Damascus? Jesus appeared to Paul (Saul) and showed him the truth about Who He is. At that time, Paul was called Saul, and he was hunting down Christians to arrest and bring back to Jerusalem.

Paul's Conversion

Acts 9:3-6
"[3] And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."

After that experience, Paul became a born-again Christian and began preaching the Gospel.

Jesus does appear to people and shows them the truth about Who He is. There are many testimonies of Muslims turning to Jesus Christ for salvation, and leaving Islam. They are persecuted by their families for becoming Christians, but they love Jesus and are willing to count the cost of following Him.

So, the false teaching that lost souls can be saved through their religions is unbiblical and dangerous. Another dangerous teaching that many Christians have accepted is that once you are saved and born-again, you "never" truly need to repent because they think you can "never" fall away.

Once Saved, always Saved?

Some false teachers say that once you are saved, you are "always" saved, even if you live in sin and never repent.

But, what does the Bible say? Let’s look at 1 John 2:1-6.

1 John 2:1-6

“[1] My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: [2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

[3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. [4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. [5] But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. [6] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

Notice verse 4, which says: “[4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”  How can this be more clear? If someone says that he knows God, but does not keep God’s commandments, he “...is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” He doesn’t have the Holy Spirit and he is not saved. He may say he is a “Christian,” but he is not a true Christian because he has bad fruit. Every tree is known by its fruit.

Jesus said these profound words in Matthew 12:

Matthew 12:33-34

“[33] Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. [34] O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

Titus Chapter 1 and Vain Talkers

Let’s go to our text, Titus 1:10-11.

Titus 1:10-11

“[10] For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: [11] Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.”

Why would false teachers teach “hyper grace”? Is it possible they do it to bring in lots of money? Or, is it for fame? Or both? Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines “lucre” as: “Gain in money or goods; profit;...”  The Greek word for filthy lucre is aischrokerdés. It means being greedy for filthy lucre or just filthy lucre. False teachers secretly look forward to gaining profit or money from people they deceive.

The Greek word for “vain talkers” is mataiologos. It also means: “...one who utters empty, senseless things: Titus 1:10.” “Vain” in Webster’s 1828 dictionary means both: “1. Empty; worthless…” and also “8. False; deceitful; …” [End quote]. These false teachers in Titus 1:10-11 speak deception and what is spiritually empty or lacking.

“For the love of money is the root of all evil:…”

(1 Timothy 6:10)

Their teaching that God wants to bless you with wealth and prosperity, and that you don’t need to repent from your sins is lacking in Biblical truth. It is deception that mixes error with truth. God does desire for us Christians to have what we need for living and for not being in debt, but our spiritual needs are more important than our physical needs or desires. In the Bible, God is not focused on giving material possessions. God is focused on meeting our spiritual needs first, and then our physical needs. But, continuing in sin keeps that door shut. And, false teachers’ teachings make the sin nature feel comfortable, while hindering spiritual growth. They tickle people's ears with their clever and nice-sounding words. Paul warns us with these words:

[2 Timothy 4:2-5]
"[2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

People go after false teachers when they are following their lusts and not God's Spirit. What false teachers say sounds good to the carnal mind, but it is very destructive when believed.

The main reason Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit, and lied about how much they received from selling their land, was greed (Acts 5). They loved money more than they loved God. And, they preferred to do their own will over God’s will. Having hearts that were very hardened against God, they forsook the truth for money (Luke 16:13). That is why God had to strike them down. They were not God’s sheep because they did not follow Jesus and walk in His way (John 10). They followed after their fleshly natures, and not God.

In 2 Timothy 4:10, Paul writes that a friend of his, named Demas, forsook him. Why? 2 Timothy 4:10 (a.) says, in part: “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;...” Demas loved this present world. It is implied that Demas loved this world over God, and forsook Paul as a result.

That falls in line with what Hebrews 3 admonishes (or warns). Hebrews 3:7-8 says: “[7] Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, [8] Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:” How could we harden our hearts? Hebrews 3:12-13 gives the answer.

Hebrews 3:12-13

“[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.”

Conclusion

According to God’s Word, we can harden our hearts through the deceitfulness of sin because sin is deceitful. The devil can appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). So likewise, sin can appear to be very acceptable and attractive if we are not guarding (i.e. keeping) our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 says: "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." [Webster's 1828 dictionary defines keep as: “4. To preserve from falling or from danger ; to protect ; to guard or sustain.” This same dictionary also defines keep as: "19. To maintain ; not to intermit ; as, to keep watch or guard." See Proverbs 4:23.]

Sin is destructive to those who give place to it. Cain killed Abel out of jealousy, pride, and bitterness (Genesis 4). Romans 6:16 says: “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?”

If we go after sin, we could not enter Heaven, unless we repent. The New Testament Greek word for “repent” is metanoeó. According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, this word means: “...to change one's mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins:...” So, the biblical definition of repenting from sin is hating the sin; changing your mind from acceptance of the sin to rejection of the sin; and desiring and making the choice to do differently next time temptation comes.

We Christians have a great promise from God in Psalm 36:7-9. God promises to right now and in the future abundantly satisfy us with the abundance of His house. Abba Father God also promises to cause us to drink of the river of His pleasures. These are godly, rich, delightful pleasures. They are not at all like the sinful pleasures of the world, which produce bondage. Rather, these godly pleasures truly bless you when you partake of them. And, you partake of them through faith and by seeking a closer relationship with God (2 Peter 1:3).

 Psalm 36:7-9

“[7] How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

[8] They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

[9] For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”

If you are coming here as a non-Christian, I encourage you to read this. God desires to have fellowship with you, as you make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior.

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References:

[A.] "Billy Graham Believes Catholic Doctrine of Salvation Without Bible, Gospel, or Name of Christ." biblebb.com. (http://www.biblebb.com/files/tonyqa/tc00-105.htm)

[B.] Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. "Nice People or New Men [chapter]." http://pdbooks.ca

Biblehub.com.

Webster, Noah. American Dictionary of the English Language. United Books Press, Inc., 2009. (i.e. Webster's 1828 dictionary)

[Note: In 2 Peter 1:3, the word for knowledge in Greek is epignósis, or experiential knowledge. It is knowledge gained through personal experience. As we get to know God personally, we will experience His love and care in our emotions because we would be opening the door to God’s love. We will be able to receive all that He promises to us because our faith will be more strongly placed in God, and not in ourselves. See Mark 11.]