If You Love Me . . .14

Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. (James 2:21-23)

Because of the Gnostic emphasis on specialized knowledge as the means of obtaining union with God, the Christian churches neglect the New Testament emphasis on godly behavior, assuming it is our belief and confession that result in eternal residence in the spirit Paradise.

The end result is lawless people—precisely what Antichrist, the Lawless One, desires.

Antinomianism is an evil offspring of Gnosticism. Antinomianism maintains that people are saved by grace through faith apart from any observance of the laws of God. The term means "against law." The dictionary defines antinomianism as follows: "The doctrine or belief that the Gospel frees Christians from required obedience to any law, whether scriptural, civil, or moral, and that salvation is attained solely through faith and the gift of divine grace." (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright © 1992 by Heighten Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from INSO Corporation. All Rights Reserved).

Antinomianism is the prevailing doctrine of numerous Christians. Whenever it is preached that Christians must obey the commandments of Christ and His Apostles the modern believer cries "legalism!" "Pharisaism!" But if some preacher, following his own doctrine, leaves his wife and takes up with another woman, his brothers (who encouraged his antinomianistic preaching) cry "shame, shame, shame!"

Why do we cry shame when a minister of the Gospel commits adultery? Our doctrine states that God sees us only through Christ. However, our conscience and common sense know something is amiss.

It is obvious that the philosophy of antinomianism has heavily influenced Christian thinking. But such a philosophy would be totally foreign to the Apostle Paul.

Antinomianism produces lawlessness to the utter delight of Antichrist.

The fourth of the four horsemen of error is dispensationalism. Dispensationalism may prove to be one of the most destructive models of interpretation ever to influence Christian thinking. Dispensationalism has produced lawlessness in the Christian churches:

By its teaching that Israel and the Christian Church are two separate entities.

By its teaching that God has one kingdom for people of Jewish birth and another, heavenly kingdom for people of Gentile birth.

By its teaching that the Lord Jesus is returning to "carry His waiting bride to Heaven."

By its teaching that the "dispensation of grace" was not revealed in the Old Testament but is a special parenthesis in God's dealing with man.

By its teaching of a "pre-tribulation rapture" that will prevent the suffering of Gentile Christians.

Primarily by its teaching that we now are in a dispensation of grace, meaning we are saved (brought to the spirit Paradise) by an abstract unconditional amnesty unrelated to our conduct, apart from any transformation of our personality from unrighteous behavior to righteous behavior.

These five doctrines of dispensationalism are unscriptural. They have effectively produced lawlessness in the Christian churches. What a joy dispensational theology must be to the Lawless One!

To be continued. If You Love Me . . .15