The Golden Calf Is in the Church Today: Exposing Idolatry in the Church (PART 2) (False Teachers)

The Golden Calf Is in the Church Today: Exposing Idolatry in the Church (PART 2) (False Teachers)
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In the Church today are many people who believe that they can live in sin and still go to Heaven. Deception and false teaching are replacing the teaching of all of God’s counsel (Acts 20:27). There are rave parties at some Churches. Worship at many Churches has become entertainment with loud rock groups. Many Church youth groups have video game nights or movie nights, where they play worldly video games and watch worldly movies. Does this agree with God’s Word? 2 Corinthians 6:16-17 says:

[2 Corinthians 6:16-17]

“[16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”

God wants us Christians to come out from the world and forsake sin. Let’s look at Hebrews 10:26-30, to explain this better. It says:

Hebrews 10:26-30

“[26] For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

[28] He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: [29] Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

[30] For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.”

Hebrews 10 speaks of a person who trampled under his feet Jesus Christ, and treated with contempt the blood of Christ, by which he was made clean and saved. He actually was set apart to Abba God by the blood of Jesus (i.e. sanctified by the blood). This person will be judged with God’s fiery indignation and vengeance because this man forsook Christ in order to have his sin.

What we are seeing in Hebrews 10 and throughout the Bible is that God’s Word clearly teaches something that few Churches actually teach. The Bible teaches that sin ultimately produces eternal separation from God because of the person’s choice to harden his (or her) heart against God and not repent (change one’s mind and choice) from sin. This hardness of heart is warned about in Hebrews 3 and elsewhere.

Hebrews 3 and the Falling Away

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 3:12-14 gives the answer.

Hebrews 3:12-14

“[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;”

This is very clear about falling away through rebellion against God. Hardening our hearts through sin (which is deceitful) will mean that we will no longer partake of Christ.

The teaching that Christians can never fall away coupled with the teaching that they don’t need to repent from sin, together, are lies the devil has told the Church, by way of false teachers or by deceived teachers. By believing this deception, a Christian will be tempted to go after sin or selfishness, and may fall away through hardness of heart. This dangerous teaching must not be listened to or received. We Christians must come out from it and forsake teachers that teach such heresies and deceptions.

(Note: Some pastors are well-meaning but deceived to deny the biblical doctrine that Christians can fall away, but God’s sheep cannot. We must remember that God is not bound to time or dimensions. God’s sheep, who He foresaw would remain with Him, can never fall away because God sees them in Heaven. But, God never saw those who fell away in Heaven. Therefore, those who fell away never were God’s sheep. There are many verses in both the Old and New Testaments to support this solid doctrine.)

2 Peter 2:17-20 Expounded

2 Peter 2 warns about false teachers, who do not truly care about the souls of men.

2 Peter 2:17-20

“[17] These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. [18] For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

[19] While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. [20] For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”

Let’s define some of these words and phrases to understand better what Peter is writing.

(1) “...they speak great swelling words of vanity...”

“Swell” means “To increase the size, bulk … to cause to … increase.” (Webster’s 1828…). The Greek word for swell is huperogkos. It means being:  “...overswollen [too swollen]; metaphorically, immoderate [not restrained: excessive], extravagant [exceeding what is reasonable]:...” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon).

(Note: Bracketed text was added.)

These false teachers (who are selfish and proud) speak words that are arrogant and exceeding the doctrine of the Bible. These false teachers declare emphatically that their interpretation of a couple verses (taken out of context) is correct and that, in essence, God will just let Christians live in sin. They may not say that so strongly, but that is where their teaching will lead.

(2) “...they allure through the lusts of the flesh...”

The Greek word for allure is deleazó. According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, deleazó means: “1. properly, to bait, catch by a bait: … 2. as often in secular authors, metaphorically, to beguile by blandishments [a type of flattery], allure, entice [to tempt by offering sinful pleasure], deceive: …” (Bracketed text was added.)

By speaking mostly about grace, taken out of context, these false teachers will naturally lure people into sin because we Christians still have a carnal nature that we must say no to (Ephesians 4). When our resolve to deny sin access to our lives wanes (or weakens), we become very vulnerable to the devil’s snares, such as lust, doubt, pride, gossiping, greed, idolatry, bitterness, and many other sins. If you think about this from the Bible’s (or God’s) point of view, by our taking down the need to repent from sin, we will have nothing to keep us from pursuing sin, in one form or another. God’s Word is clear that those who continue in sin (without forsaking it) will not enter Heaven (Revelation 21:7-8).

(3) “...through much wantonness, those that were…”

Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines “wanton” as: “3. Wandering from moral rectitude ; licentious ; dissolute ; indulging in sensuality without restraint ; …” [End quote]. According to this same dictionary, licentious means being “...unrestrained by law or morality…” And, in this dictionary, dissolute means: “1. Loose in behavior and morals…"

There are many Christians who have turned toward immoral behavior and lifestyles. There are many marriages ending in a legal divorce. But, God does not see these broken relationships as divorce according to His Word. Jesus said these words in Luke 16:18: “[18] Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”

Jesus said in Matthew 5:32: “[32] But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” According to God’s Word, once a couple is married, they can never remarry to anyone else. The only exception is if one spouse dies, or if one spouse commits fornication.

In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus said that adultery included lusting after someone you see. That includes lusting after a picture of someone.

Matthew 5:27-29

“[27] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: [28] But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. [29] And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”

What are the consequences of lusting after people we see? If one never repents from it (i.e. change one’s mind and actions toward this sin), Jesus made it clear that he (or she) would be in Hell (Matt. 5:29). If we have to take drastic steps to keep ourselves from temptation, then we must do it. Of course, we don’t need to literally pluck out our eyes. For instance, if going to a beach causes one to stumble, then the best thing to do would be to never go at a time when other people are around.

Going only when it is certain that no one will be at that beach would be much better than going to a beach and struggling with temptations. If one struggles with lusting after women (or after men) at beaches or elsewhere, then I recommend that he (she) should never go to beaches or areas where he (/ she) get strongly tempted. If one struggles with internet addictions, staying off the internet (except when one actually needs to use it) would be far better than going into sin, and hardening one’s heart through the deceitfulness of sin.

(4) “While they promise them liberty,...”

2 Peter 2:19 says: “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” Liberty in Greek is eleutheria. It is: “freedom, liberty, especially: a state of freedom from slavery.” (Strong’s Concordance). In Greek, “corruption” is called phthora. It is: “corruption, destruction, decay, rottenness, decomposition.” (Strong’s Concordance).

False teachers say that we have freedom from the law so that we can no longer have to repent from sin, but that is a lie. Freedom from the law refers to the Old Testament laws about feast days, sacrifices, offerings, and other ordinances meant for the nation of Israel. But, this was fulfilled by Jesus Christ. There is no freedom in sinning. Sin is bondage and it leaves us feeling dirty and unfulfilled. And, it eventually will bring one into damnation if he or she doesn’t repent and forsake sin (i.e. corruption). God promises us true blessings, joy and peace, and that all our needs will be met in Him. Let’s look at Psalm 36:7-9.

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."

Conclusion

Let us put our trust in God, rest in Him and in His promises, and forsake what leads us into sin. Let us walk in the light as God is in the light (and He is Light), and God will greatly bless us in close fellowship with Him and in getting all our needs met in Him. The world has nothing to offer compared to what God has to give us, if we will surrender ourselves to Him and rest (i.e. trust) in Him.

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:

Biblehub.com.

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