Almost without exception the evangelical Christian world believes that forgiveness of sins and Salvation can be had by praying a simple prayer to God, confessing your sinfulness and Receiving Jesus as your personal Savior. So much so that the entire church world today measures their success or failure against how many people they can persuade into praying the prayer.
If many respond to the invitation they are pronounced Saved and forgiven of sins, taken into the church and taught that God will some day ‘clean’ them up and they will be able to live a better life than before. Although the sin never really stops (and this includes ALL sin: fornication, molestation, adultery, drunkenness) it will in time become less and less as you learn to cope with your sinful nature through the application of His Grace.
No one questions this formula or tries to alter it to a more Biblical perspective, although NOTHING in Scripture garners it any support. In the Bible the Procedure is simply: Repentance and Faith…..Repentance Proven by Deeds and Faith Working by Love. But no one seems to care. They gauge everything off the formula and even those who tend to use the correct terminology (mentioning repentance and faith) still hold that Real Salvation can be had using the formals. (otherwise they would abandon them as false!)
This applies to their understanding of Revival as well. Since a huge response is considered successful, whatever it takes to get the platform lined up with people is a movement of God! Whether its music, worship teams, motivational speakers or just plain emotional hype, it’s counted as God sending His Holy Spirit to rally the troops. There’s no godly sorrow for sin among them or anyone crying out to God for Mercy, the tears are brought about by the Soft Sell Message that God loves and has forgiven them in spite of their vile hearts.
Therefore no one comes away from these meetings seeking to Clear themselves of any wrong doing or make restitution for their sin. There is no Zeal to Do the Right thing by Faith working by love to cleanse and purity the heart. The Revival was successful if they all prayed the prayer and went home feeling warm and fuzzy about meeting God. The Evangelist, triumphant in the revelry of the day, goes his/her way believing that God has anointed the message and is moving among the people. Church attendance increases.
Accordingly the System grinds on. Getting further and further from the Biblical standards. A new version of the old formula comes along once or twice a year, endorsed by the celebrity preachers of the day, and everyone jumps on board. The Christian market is flooded with new books, DVD’s, tapes, tracts and all kinds of other materials to inspire the latest resurgence of church membership and a flurry of activity. The local pastors are excited to introduce the fresh concepts into their churches and get a reaction from the people. But the new format is just another version of the old one. All based on instantaneous salvation without a REAL Repentance and apart from Genuine faith.
Again, no one seems to care or make any attempt to restore Biblical Purity. Everyone has an opinion however and some even recognize the dilemma, that something is Desperately Wrong with the standard of conversion in the churches. Yet nothing changes and the formulas remain intact. Salvation has nothing to do with anyone coming out of sin!
That the present day system is a mess of confusing doctrines, mens opinions and religious rhetoric, any causal onlooker could easily determine. But has anyone ever really given it any serious thought as to where all these things originated and HOW we arrived at this existing quandary? It CERTAINLY wasn’t something we learned from the Bible! An atheist could read the first few chapters of the Book of Acts and see that it offers absolutely NO support for anything going on in the churches today.
Nevertheless, HOW did we go from: ‘Repent, Deny yourself, Take up your cross and follow Jesus, Endure to the End, count the cost, Strive to enter the Narrow Gate,’
To: ‘Confess your sinfulness and Receive Jesus as your Personal savior!’ (Which is WRITTEN NO WHERE in the Pages of Scripture!)
WHO decided that this was the Gospel and the Other, (Quoted directly by Christ Himself!) is not? And WHEN did it happen? What is it that has made this non-biblical method so universal that EVERYONE is willing to face the eternal Judgment on such a flimsily base?
There’s a great deal at stake in answering these questions in an honest and fair manner. Entire creeds, confessionals, doctrinal statements and the orthodoxy of huge denominations are on the line here. To admit error would be tantamount to unconditional surrender in time of war! The very Core of their existence is founded on these things. People have willingly given their lives for less a cause than what we’re asking them to examine by these few simple questions.
The reason this discussion is so mystifying to most church goers is the fact that it so deeply rooted in ancient history that NO ONE knows where to begin! Most are satisfied believing that they are somehow connected with the Apostles and that their particular church group originated from Apostolic Doctrines. Even though history can place an almost exact date on the formation of EVERY evangelical denomination somewhere between the 1500 and 1800 hundreds. NONE of them have their roots in Apostolic Christianity. Including the much lauded Catholic church.
Why then does almost everyone think otherwise? These are merely basic historical facts easily verified through research. They are not a matter of anyone’s opinion or private interpretations. But to be aware of how all this has brought us to where we are today, you do need examine the facts OUTSIDE the Box of your cherished denominations and doctrinal roots. Otherwise you will NEVER be able to see beyond the arguments between the theologians and scholars.
Understand that you can always find a dissenting voice in the mix no matter how you approach these things. But understand also ‘who’ is Grinding the axe and why. Examining something objectively when your mind has already pre-determined the outcome is impossible. If you have abandon the first principles of Repentance and faith in their purest form, as handed down by Christ and the Apostles, nothing really remains of substance in your preaching of the Gospel.. Either we begin here or not at all, to argue this would be a betrayal of the faith.
Origins:
First let’s establish a Premise from which to begin. (a basics of truth we can all agree upon, if that’s possible) During the Apostolic period of the Christian Church the Preaching and the Doctrine were Sound and Pure. Handed down from Christ Himself and the Holy Prophets and entrusted to a select group of men who wrote down MOST of what we accept as our New Testament Scripture. Unless we can agree that Christianity began on a Principle and foundation of Repentance, Faith and Purity, our discussion is in vain.
Also it is necessary to understand that the purpose of this article is not to write a detailed account of Church history. Although it will include several historical facts, dates and persons, but only as it relates to our main Subject of the Preaching of Repentance and faith. It is my intention to show how the Demise of this message (in its purest form) is the main reason behind the Great departure from the faith we have seen over the Centuries. When you realize how far back this goes into ancient times and how much it has effected the preaching of the Gospel today, perhaps you will be able to recognize the real difference between the Spirit of Truth and the sprit of error in your own churches.
The Instructions were Simple! Go forth, into all Nations, Preaching Repentance and Faith, Baptizing in the Name of Jesus! From the beginning the CORE of the Message was TURN From Sin to God, be Cleansed from the inside out and FOLLOW the Master. Simplistic and Powerful, unmistakably from God!
Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Luke24:46-48
However after the deaths of the Apostle and their immediate disciples, this Message got Confused with a mixture of pagan philosophy, mens opinions and endless conjecture! What began in the first thirty to forty years of the fist Century AD and spread throughout the ancient world like wild fire, (turning people from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God!) was extinguished around 417AD in Rome. In this timeframe a bitter controversy had arisen between a British Convert Named: Pelagius and a Roman Catholic Bishop Named: Augustine over free will and infant Baptism.
Pelagius was keenly aware of the Pagan Doctrine of the Manichean, (the teacher of Manicheanism was called Mani) who regarded the Nature of man to be corrupted to the point that his will was powerless to Obey God’s Commands. Augustine, having converted to Christianity from a combination of Gnostic and Manichean teaching (Manicheanism is a form of Gnosticism, maybe better: a combination of Neo-Platonist and Manichean teaching) around 386, (shortly after Roman Emperor Theodosius I decreed the death of all Manicheans and shortly before he declared Christianity the only legitimate Roman Religion.) Thus his conversion was one of necessity not conviction of Truth.
Augustine became a major player in ancient Rome as a scholar theologian skilled in Latin literature as well as Pagan beliefs and practices. He was the son of a Roman Pagan father and Catholic mother and studied as a youth under the Pagan Philosophy of Cicero and Plato. He was well known for his sexual escapades which developed into a lifelong obsession with lust. By his early twenties he was teaching grammar and perusing a career in the ancient philosophies. In 383 he moved to Rome and began to move among what he considered the most brilliant minds of the times. At thirty through his new Manichaean friends he won the prestigious position as professor of rhetoric in Milan.
Politically connected and a respected scholar, he continued to dapple in the pagan philosophies and take up with other women as opportunity presented itself. Although his supposed conversion to Christianity is highly venerated in Christian literature to the point of legend, it occurred merely as is related above, out of convenience during a period of political unrest in the Roman Empire. He then became a driving force in the corruption of Bible Doctrine that extends throughout history to Present day.
The Early Church was a collection of in home churches established by a group of traveling Evangelists in the ancient world that lasted until about 325AD. When the New Testament speaks of the Church in Corinth or the Church in Rome or any number of other towns and cities, it is referring to these house churches. (Acts2:46, Rom16:5, 1Cor15:19, Col4:15, Phil1:2) Persecution was common place in the Roman Emperor from Nero to Domitian. Which spans from 54 to 96AD. By the end of the 1st Century all the Apostles were gone and the churches were in the hands of their immediate Disciples.
According to the writings of these Disciples (such as PolyCarp, Clement, Ignatius, Barnabas and others) They managed to keep the Message of Repentance and Faith Pure and Contended earnestly against the onslaught of false doctrines coming out of the Roman Empire. But the forces of evil were hard at work to hinder their progress. As the 2nd Century progressed most of these Disciples were either killed or disappeared from the scene. Rome slowly began to gain pre-eminence as the Center of Religious influence and the Bishops started maneuvering for power. In 189AD an African Bishop named Victor gained an ecclesiastical authority and became bishop of Rome. He began immediately to break away from the teaching of the Apostles.
One of his departures from Apostolic teaching was the controversy over the observance of Easter. In accordance with the Gospel of John the observance was held by the churches on 14th of the Jewish month of Nisan. (which corresponds with the Jewish Passover) Victor wanted it moved to the following week corresponding with the Roman Calendar, The debate became so heated that Victor excommunicated the anyone who adhered to the teachings of the Apostle John and his disciple Polycarp. He also changed the reading of the Mass in the Roman Churches from Greek to latin and wrote theology in latin. He remained in power until 199AD establishing Pope like authority in Rome.
Thus the spirit of error had gained its foothold in the early church well into the Second Century AD. The debate took the focus off Repentance and faith and centered around interpretations, manuscripts and speculative teachings about God. During this time the second generation of Pre-Nicean fathers introduced many heresies into the church. The disputes continued as the church took on more and more the appearance of ecclesiastical hierarchies run by a group of men hungry for power and influence, rather than an evangelistic movement preaching Christ to the lost world.(The Early Church, By: Henry Chadwick)
Setting the Stage:
The Supposed conversion to Christianity of Roman Emperor Constantine in the early 3rd Century marks a major turning point of church history. He was the son of Constantius Chlorus, a former military man of high position in Rome who managed to get an appointment to Junior Emperor of the western empire in 293 under Diocletian, who was Senior Emperor. (those were called “Augustus”, the Junior Emperors were called “Caesar”) As a member of the high court under his father and Diocletian, Constantine was schooled in the ancient philosophies and had the benefit of fine Roman education. He began early on serving in Military campaigns and gained a fine reputation as a soldier in the Roman army. Among the many intrigues he witnessed in the Roman courts of power was the Great Persecution that broke out (in 303) under Diocletian against the Christians.
In 306, after various and brutal campaigns of conquest in the Empire, Constantine’s father took sick and died suddenly, but not before appointing his son in his place. This was opposed to Diocletian wishes, although Constantine maintained his power base in the West and expanded his boarders in Britain, Gaul and Germania. After he defeated the raiding armies of the Franks he launched a major building campaign and issue more tolerate decrees of the Christians. His military conquests continued in the West and his political rivals moved to dislodge him from power.
The rebellion that lead to his conversion took place in 312 when his rival Maxentius, lead his army against Constantine’s eastern flank, weakened by his deployment of troops along the Rhine to contain the Franks. Constantine could not risk withdrawing the bulk of his army off the Rhine to meet Maxentius’s advance so he mustered his praetorian and Imperial Horse Guard, and some other troops, marched them across the Alps into Italy and prepared to meet Maxentius’s much larger force in a decisive battle that would decide the fate of the Western Empire. He first encountered Maxentius’s heavy Calvary and lured them into trap, surrounded then slaughtered them in the field. He then quickly moved through Northern Italy and met the bulk of Maxentius’s forces at the battle of Milvian Bridge.
Arrogantly assuming Constantine’s army was no match to his superior numbers; Maxentius advanced from his fornications (fortifications? This was the strongly fortified City of Rome) and met them in the filed. As the Myth is told, Constantine prayed to a ‘god’ asking to be shown a sign under which they would conquer the enemy. Supposedly he had his soldiers paint a symbol of the Labarum (Greek symbol for Christ) on their shields and right before the battle they witnessed a shining cross (symbol) appear in the Sky with the words, ‘In this Sign you will Conquer’. History records that Constantine won the great battle, consolidated his power and credited his victory to the Christian God. (Constantine was a worshiper of the sun god Sol invictus and this was probably the god he prayed to. He saw a vision of a crosslike shape above the sun and heard the words “By this, conquer”. The Labarum was a field sign with the initials of Jesus Christ applied on it. Maybe it would be worth mentioning that in Constantine´s mind, the new Christian god amalgated with Sol invictus to one deity. This was quite usual in Roman thinking: Sol himself was a syncretist deity, created out of different sun gods) (On Line Wikipedia)
What does all this have to do with Repentance and faith? Everything when you realize that at this point in Church history the Christian church moved from underground into the grand cathedrals of Rome and took on a priestly appearance of new authority. Constantine’s reforms began immediately with the Edict of Milan (313), which stopped all persecutions and returned confiscated property to the Christians. He then set out on his building projects of the famous Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Saint Peter’s Basilica and many others. While transforming other pagan temples into Christian churches.
He also took an active part in what he considered contending against heresy, which lead quickly to the famous Council of Nicaea in 325. Attended by over 220 Bishops, mostly Greek, it began in May of 325 and went into June. THIS was the beginning of the end for the Preaching of Pure Repentance and faith within what was forming as the SYSTEM. The issues taken up at the Council were: Arian question (a heresy of ancient times), the celebration of the Passover, the Meletian schism (another heresy), the Father and Son, (early discussion of concept of Trinity) (this last identical to the Arian question) The baptism of heretics and persecution. (the question was if people, who denied Jesus in the time of persecution should be allowed to retain their positions of authority in the church and if baptisms executed by them and by heretics would be valid or should be repeated) They adopted a Creed and passed measures ruling over the establishment of authority in the churches.
NOTHING they debated or discussed had anything to do with re-focusing the Gospel on the Message of Repentance and faith. The Creed stated basically their concept of God and the rulings centered around ordination, Holy communion and reading of a Mass. Thus the Catholic church was now established and would exercise more and more authority over the Empire as time went on. Constantine died in 337 leaving a power vacuum among his surviving sons and daughters, they then brutally fought for power, just like their father had done. His rightful heir, oldest son Crispus, he had killed in 326 for his alleged immorality; he may had other motives. Constantine’s impact on Church history cannot be passed over lightly.
It set the stage for the Death of the Gospel Message preached by the Apostles by establishing a System that could eradicate any opposition that opposed its authority.
The Turning Point:
In 354 Augustine was born. The System of Christianity was well established in Rome by this time, including Bishops and a Pope ruling over the churches with great influence and authority. Augustine had the perfect power base from which to monumentally disseminate his version of Christian Doctrine. From 413 to 427 he wrote an immense apologia called the ‘City of God’ in which he argues for just war, the church militant on earth and the dual nature of man. Drawing from his Manichean background he saw the nature of man as corrupt but the soul pure. Therefore a constant struggle was engaged, the good against the evil, darkness verses light. This was the bases of his original sin teaching that the sin of Adam is passed down corrupting man’s nature making it impossible for him to obey God.
Here is a quote from his confessions:
"I still thought that it is not we who sin but some other nature that sins within us. It flattered my pride to think that I incurred no guilt and, when I did wrong, not to confess it... I preferred to excuse myself and blame this unknown thing which was in me but was not part of me. The truth, of course, was that it was all my own self, and my own impiety had divided me against myself. My sin was all the more incurable because I did not think myself a sinner". (Confessions, Book V, Section 10)
However Augustine had a serious obstacle to overcome in a devote believer from Britain named Pelagius who was keenly aware of the influence Manicheanism was having on Christian doctrine especially in relation to the nature of sin.
Pelagius believed, as the early Apostles and their disciples, that man was born innocent with full freedom of choice to do either right or wrong. He was alarmed on his journeys to Rome when he heard the Doctrine of Augustine expounded, that although God Commanded Obedience, He must also Grant man the ability to obey! Given the permissiveness’ he had witnessed among professed Christians in the Empire, he was deeply concerned that such teachings were giving men an excuse to sin.
First of all Augustine could not read Greek, so he had to rely on the Latin translations of Jerome, who was a Roman theologian noted for his vicious attacks against opponents. His translations became the basis of the Latin Vulgate which was used as the Catholic Church Bible over the next 1500 years and up to the creation of the King James Version of the Bible into English in 1611.(Used until it was replaced in the 20th century) Consequently much of Augustine’s understanding of the Scriptures came from this Latin influence and writings that suggested the Apostle Paul was teaching a transfer of sin, in Romans 5, that Adam’s sin was handed down to his posterity from parents to children.
This was disturbing to Pelagius. He wrote in his own commentary on Romans showing that Paul was not teaching a hereditary transmission of sin passed down from Adam in the reproductive process. That sin was a voluntary choice that once chosen then corrupts the desires to further sinning. Pelagius regarded the doctrine of original sin as a disastrous concession to the Manicheans. It brought about the idea that infants were born depraved and required baptism to save them. Although Pelagius did not deny that men were born with the need of redemption, but he did affirm they had the ability to Obey God and repent of their sins.
To this day Pelagius is misrepresented by his critics as denying man’s need for Grace. (Saying, in other words that man can save himself by obeying God!) But he DID NOT in any manner whatsoever claim that man could ‘save himself’ only that he was FULLY capable of obedience to God and Stopping sin. Grace also, he would affirm, was as stated in Titus2:11-14, the Divine aid or assistance from God to live a godly live in Christ, with self control in the present age.
Pelagius said:
“God Justifies by faith apart from works of the law. But in this the Apostle is speaking of circumcision and Jewish ritual, not exempting man from the Works of Righteousness whereby his faith is made perfect!” (James2:22-24) (Pelagius Commentary on Romans, Theodore Debruyn)
To Pelagius Salvation necessitated to ‘Believe’ and to ‘DO’, the focus was on Action, not God doing it for you. But Augustine had already affirmed in his theology that man could not obey because of his inherited corrupt nature. In this the controversy began that would shape the outcome of Christian Doctrine into modern times. Events moved quickly in 412 when one of Pelagius disciples, Celestius was formally censured at a synod in Carthage.
But the Pelagian teaching kept up its influence in published tracts circulating the Empire and continuing to create a stir among the Augustinian proponents. Augustine responded by publishing his own tracts and even writing a ‘courteous’ letter to Pelagius. But the debate continued to heat up. When Pelagius was openly critical of Jerome’s commentary on Ephesians, the tables began to turn against him. He suffered more vicious attacks from Jerome and his disciples who declared throughout the region that Pelagius denied original sin and man’s need for Grace.
Pelagius did not want a bitter controversy, he was only concerned about preaching the truth and promoting holy living in Christ. To help quell the disputes he appeared before two Synods, one in Jerusalem the other in Palestinia, and was declared orthodox at both! But that wasn’t good enough for Augustine, he wanted the teachings of Pelagius silenced once and for all. So he convened his own councils denounced Pelagius, won the approval of his African Bishops and submitted the matter to Pope Innocent in Rome. The Pope pronounced Pelagius and his disciples excommunicated unless they renounce their doctrines. (Pelagius was not permitted to face either of these councils or answer any of the charges brought against him.)
However Pope Innocent died shortly after this incident and was succeeded by Pope Zosimus. Celestius then decided to put the matter before the new Pope and defend Pelagius teaching, assuring him they indeed believed in infant baptism, but made it very clear that man’s will was free and independent, able to Obey God. He left a book with the new Pope explaining free will and man’s responsibility to repent. This book much impressed the Pope, along with the high morality of the Pelagian followers. He even spoke to the African Bishops telling them they had reacted to prejudice accounts of Pelagius. But they exploded with fiery indignation and tried to force the Pope’s hand against Pelagius.
Augustine then used his connections to enlist the Emperor himself in the fray, to pressure the Pope. An Imperial edit was issued in Rome on April of 418 officially banishing Pelagius teachings as a threat to peace. As pressure from the Emperor increased the Pope was compelled to act and issued his own formal condemnation of Pelagius. He and his disciples fled Rome to the East and soon disappeared from the scene in mysterious manner, along with their teaching.
Augustine had triumphed. The opposition was silenced and the stage was set for the Corrupted Catholic church to dictate orthodoxy for the next 1000 years. The Message of Repentance and faith were officially dead at this point in history, (418AD) rendered null and void by the Augustinian Doctrines of Original sin, Election, Predestination and the nature of God. All of which originated (without a shadow of a doubt!) from his Pagan teachings. History Proves that Augustine converted to Christianity out of necessity, never abandoned his former pagan ideals, would resort to any means to defeat and silence his opponents and advocated just war (which eventually would lead the Catholic church into the horrible Crusades and butchery of the inquisitions).
Having a Wrong Concept of God and a distorted understanding of Salvation by faith renders genuine redemption impossible. When Converts can be brought to Christ ‘in their sins’ incapable of Obedience from the heart, Repentance becomes mere confession of sinfulness, not a forsaking or stopping of any sin!
Catholic Salvation through the ages is based on this fallacy and although the Protestants of the reformation rejected and broke away from the endless rituals and liturgy, they tightly embraced the Augustinian notion of Original sin. Therefore True Repentance on both sides is highly unlikely.
Further opposition to the Augustinian doctrines did occur in the Empire, but nothing of any consequence or that had any lasting effect. Dissenters were quickly refuted by Augustine and forced to flee or face the possibility of prison or even death. As Augustine pressed his Doctrines of Predestination and irresistible Grace, based on man’s inability to obey God, a competent Bishop named Julian of Eclanum withstood him.
But with his political connections and prestigious position, Augustine could not be contested. To this Day you will find that anyone who opposed him is considered a Pelagian heretic!
Who are the Real Heretics?
This is the legacy handed down through the ages and has Created a Monstrous System of Error in Control today. Many wrongly believe that the Great Reformation, that brought us out of the Dark ages of the Catholic tyranny, restored the Pure Gospel Message or Repentance and faith to the world. But it failed to return the church to its Apostolic roots.
All it really accomplished was to create more factions and division in the church by continuing to Build on Augustine’s error of Original sin. Had the Reformers abandon these notions instead of expounding on them and expanding their influence, perhaps much of their work would have had a lasting effect on society. But as history reveals, even they persecuted others who denied that man was born depraved and was fully capable of obedience to God by his free and independent will.
If you Examine the Record you find Pelagius in Perfect agreement with the Early Church fathers. The concept of original sin did not come about until some time in the 4th Century and by NO MEANS is it taught by the Apostle Paul in Romans Five. Who are the real heretics? The Evidence points to the Modern Churches who STILL Embrace Augustine’s Doctrines!
Justin Martyr, (100-165) Said:
“Every created being is so constituted as to be capable of vice and virtue. For he can do nothing praiseworthy, if he had not the power of turning either way.” And “unless we suppose man has the power to choose the good and refuse the evil, no one can be accountable for any action whatever.” (A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
“Every created being is so constituted as to be capable of vice and virtue. For he can do nothing praiseworthy, if he had not the power of turning either way.” And “unless we suppose man has the power to choose the good and refuse the evil, no one can be accountable for any action whatever.” (A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Tertullian (160-225) said:
“No reward can be justly bestowed, no punishment can be justly inflicted, upon him who is good or bad by necessity, and not by his own choice. (A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
“No reward can be justly bestowed, no punishment can be justly inflicted, upon him who is good or bad by necessity, and not by his own choice. (A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Origen (185-254) said,
“The soul does not incline to either part out of necessity, for then neither vice nor virtue could be ascribed to it; nor would its choice of virtue deserve reward; nor its declination to vice punishment.” Again, “How could God require that of man which he [man] had not power to offer Him? (A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
“The soul does not incline to either part out of necessity, for then neither vice nor virtue could be ascribed to it; nor would its choice of virtue deserve reward; nor its declination to vice punishment.” Again, “How could God require that of man which he [man] had not power to offer Him? (A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Clement of Alexandria (150-216) said, “Neither promises nor apprehensions, rewards, no punishments are just if the soul has not the power of choosing and abstaining; if evil is involuntary. (A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Justin Martyr said, “The human race…from Adam had fallen under the power of death and the guile of the serpent. Each one had committed personal transgression.” (c.160, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, p. 271, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Irenaeus said, “By means of our first parents, we were all brought into bondage by being made subject to death.” (c.180, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, p. 271, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Justin Martyr said, “In the beginning, He made the human race with the power of thought and of choosing truth and doing right, so that all men are without excuse before God.” (c.160, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, p. 271, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Justin Martyr said, “Let some suppose, from what has been said by us, that we say that whatever occurs happens by a fatal necessity, because it is foretold as known beforehand, this too we explain. We have learned from the prophets, and we hold it to be true, that punishments, chastisements, and good rewards, are rendered according to the merit of each man’s actions. Now, if this is not so, but all things happen by fate, then neither is anything at all in our own power. For if it is predetermined that this man will be good, and this other man will be evil, neither is the first one meritorious nor the latter man to be blamed. And again, unless the human race has the power of avoiding evil and choosing good by free choice, they are not accountable for their actions.” (c.160, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, p. 271, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Justin Martyr said, “I have proved in what has been said that those who were foreknown to be unrighteous, whether men or angels, are not made wicked by God’s fault. Rather, each man is what he will appear to be through his own fault.” (c.160, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, p. 286, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Tatian said, “We were not created to die. Rather, we die by our own fault. Our free will has destroyed us. We who were free have become slaves. We have been sold through sin. Nothing evil has been created by God. We ourselves have manifested wickedness. But we, who have manifested it, are able again to reject it.” (c.160, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, p. 286, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Melito said, “There is, therefore, nothing to hinder you from changing your evil manner to life, because you are a free man.” (c.170, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, p. 286, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Theophilus said, “If, on the other hand, he would turn to the things of death, disobeying God, he would himself be the cause of death to himself. For God made man free, and with power of himself.” (c.180, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, p. 286, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Irenaeus said, “But man, being endowed with reason, and in this respect similar to God, having been made free in his will, and with power over himself, is himself his own cause that sometimes he becomes wheat, and sometimes chaff.” (c.180, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, p. 286, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Irenaeus said, “’Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds’…And ‘Why call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do the things that I say?’…All such passages demonstrate the independent will of man…For it is in man’s power to disobey God and to forfeit what is good.” (c.180, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, p. 287, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Clement of Alexandria said, “We…have believed and are saved by voluntary choice.” (c.195, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, p. 287, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Clement of Alexandria said, “Each one of us who sins with his own free will, chooses punishment. So the blame lies with him who chooses. God is without blame.” (c.195, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, p. 287, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Clement of Alexandria said, “To obey or not is in our own power, provided we do not have the excuse of ignorance.” (c.195, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot, p. 287, published by Hendrickson Publishers)
Tertullian said, “I find, then, that man was constituted free by God. He was master of his own will and power…For a law would not be imposed upon one who did not have it in his power to render that obedience which is due to law. Nor again, would the penalty of death be threatened against sin, if a contempt of the law were impossible to man in the liberty of his will…Man is free, with a will either for obedience or resistance.
Many of these Disciples quoted were Directly associated with the Apostles. Wouldn’t it stand to Reason that if the Apostles taught the concept of original sin, it would be Clearly stated first in the Scriptures and then by their immediate disciples?
Until Augustine in the fourth Century no one argued in favor of an inherited sin concept. Nor did anyone suppose that God existed Outside of Time or has Predetermined everything from eternity, or had Elected some to be Saved and others lost! These were all Pagan Concepts, easily confirmed by researching, Manichiean, and Gnostic beliefs. Both of which teach without doubt that sin is in the Nature, not a Choice!
The Fallacy of Augustinian Doctrine runs directly through the Reformation to Modern Day. With only a FEW small exceptions along the way. If you trace the opposition raised against this doctrine you will find that in EVERY instance the dissenters were severely persecuted and considered heretics of the worst kind. Perhaps one of the last significant movements to restore Apostolic roots to the teaching of the Gospel happened in 1500’s Germany with the Anabaptists. But unfortunately little is known of them in our day because they were deemed heretics by the reformers who lived at the same time.
The movement began in Germany at the dawn of the printing press. (which was first assembled in 1439 in Germany) Fresh translations of the Scriptures in the native languages began to appear and the common man was able for the first time to have and to read the Very words of Christ for himself! Many came to understand how they had been short changed by the Controlling Catholic church for so long and a small explosion took place. People started speaking out, writing tracts and articles, exposing the errors that had kept them in bondage to sin. The fact that they did all this without an organization to back them up, no publishing houses and very few of what anyone would consider ‘scholars’, plus gave it all away for free, should serve to raise your eyebrows to the source of their success.
Like the Apostles they roamed the country side preaching Repentance and faith, proclaiming man’s responsibility to Obey God and his ability to do so. They had no real structure or System to hinder their evangelist fervor. Their efforts were based on the Word and a life of Following the example of Christ. Faith was expressed in the DOING what Jesus had Commanded, not debating what it meant! In comparison to the Protestants of the reformation (who considered them heretics) they answered in this manner:
The Anabaptists did not answer John Calvin in writing. They answered him with their lives.
"I am the way and the truth and the life."
"I am the way and the truth and the life."
To the Protestants, the Bible was the manifesto, an end in itself. Once they reached an agreement on how to "properly" interpret it, they revered it and treated it with gallant devotion. They preached and persecuted and fought mighty wars in defense of the Bible and its doctrines.
To the Anabaptists, the Bible was simply the book that took them to Christ.
The Protestants found the "key" to Bible interpretation in the epistles of Paul. But the Anabaptists found it in Christ and his Sermon on the Mount.
The Protestants saw in Paul a great theologian, the expositor of the doctrines of faith and grace. The Anabaptists saw in Paul a man who forsook everything to become a "fool for Christ's sake." They found community with him in his martyr's death.
The Protestants lived to obey their authorities. They spoke much about "God-ordained authority" and held their princes and church leaders in highest esteem.
The Anabaptists lived to obey Christ.
The Protestants worked en masse and waited until "everyone was ready" to make changes in religious practice.
The Anabaptists did, on first opportunity, what they thought Christ wanted them to do. If no one else joined them, they did it alone.
The Protestants followed a logical course. Theologians, princes and educators planned what to do in a way that made sense.
The Anabaptists followed Christ without making plans. That did not make sense. But it was the secret of their great strength. And it led them . (Peter Hoover, Secret of Strength)
Both movements had their extremes and can be accused of false doctrines. In this observation we will reserve the finger pointing to the Original sin issue because it alone has served to Render the Message of Real Repentance null in void in our time frame.
As with every movement outside the System throughout history (if you investigate them) the Converts Truly Repented and Came OUT of their sins. They Followed Christ, not Doctrines, and they OBEYED the Word at all cost to themselves. Surly these are those of whom the World is NOT Worthy and are Dead yet Speak volumes to our generation. (Secret of the Strength, By Peter Hoover, ebook: www.gw.org:80/Sos/index.htm)
The Anabaptists were persecuted practically out of existence before 1600. Those who escaped alive found their way to the new world and eventually became other denominations among the many already in existence. Like the holiness reformers after them, these splintered organizations quickly became mere shadows of their original roots. Today the entire System is corrupted and without exception has embraced the ‘Come in your sins’ message as Gospel. Although you will find much said about holiness, the necessity of obedience to Christ and godly living, you WON’T find anyone willing to say that the sin has to Stop in the Process of Repentance.
They will say that the convert must ‘Want’ to Stop sinning, have a ‘Desire’ to stop and even ‘hate’ the sin, but it’s a foregone conclusion that the sin will never come to a complete stop as long as the person is breathing! (and this includes sins such as adultery, molestation and thievery.) The Grace of God can Call, Compel, prevent, even overpower your will (in some form) BUT it Can’t STOP the sin! God can make you believe and turn to Him, but at best you are only partially obedient, Divided in heart and serving two masters. ALL because you are Born a Sinner by Nature, powerless to Obey Him and free only to choose from your evil desires.
The entire Lie would unravel in moments if Grace could Stop the sin. This is why from Augustine to now they have fought so viciously against this. As shown, Grace can do everything required to Call and Redeem man, but it falls short of eradicating the sin nature entirely (although some believe that sanctification takes care of the problem, but the possibility of falling back into sin is ever present while alive). IF indeed this Grace (in whatever form) can Stop the sin, then the house of cards comes down! Then you would have to Repent (stop sinning!) and Obey from your heart. You would not be able to Come into the Kingdom dragging the Old Man with you!
The Entire Lie Hangs on the existence of Original Sin. If it can be wholly removed or does not actually exist, the System falls apart. Millions if not Billions of souls have based their eternal destiny on this fallacy and have came to God in their sins. Whole Generations have come and gone believing in it! Wars have been fought over it, Nations destroyed by it. It’s the Top of the Pyramid of all false Doctrines. They will do anything to Protect it and Destroy anyone who opposes it. It is Satan’s Masterpiece!
No comments:
Post a Comment