In the first article titled “How To Discern False Doctrine” we looked at two primary aspects of God’s plan for mankind that false doctrine attempts to lead people away from; namely the full grace (unmerited favor) God shows man and communion (intimate knowledge of and fellowship with) God. Let us build on this foundation and learn to become adept at distinguishing true doctrine of Christ.
Any doctrine that to any degree undermines or downplays what has been done for us by grace is false. True doctrine of Christ is going to fully give credit to God for the work of Christ, recognizing that fallen (corrupted) man has done nothing to aid in this most excellent redemption of man by the hand of God. So, let us lay the foundation of of what exactly has been done for mankind, totally by God, so that we can determine if a doctrine being passed along in Christian circles is in agreement or in opposition, even if very subtle opposition.
We have been redeemed. What does this mean?
1 a : to buy back : repurchase b : to get or win back. 2 : to free from what distresses or harms: as a : to free from captivity by payment of ransom b : to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental c : to release from blame or debt : clear d : to free from the consequences of sin. 3 : to change for the better : reform. 4 : repair, restore. 5 a : to free from a lien by payment of an amount secured thereby b (1) : to remove the obligation of by payment <the United States Treasury redeems savings bonds on demand> (2) : to exchange for something of value <redeem trading stamps> c : to make good : fulfill. 6 a : to atone for : expiate <redeem an error> b (1) : to offset the bad effect of (2) : to make worthwhile : retrieve. (Pasted from <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/redeemed>)
For simplicity sake we will sum up the redemption Christ has gained for us as getting or winning us back. So, what are we won back from?
Even to those who do not believe in the work of God through Christ it should be obvious and common sense as we experience this life in this age in this world that something, or rather many somethings, are very wrong. Yes, we may learn to grow up and accept these wrongs, but every human being I’ve ever met and had conversations with about such things recognizes that there are things in this world that we instinctively know are not right.
That observation does not tell us why things are so very wrong, however. All human beings observe that things often seem out of whack, but many may have spent a lifetime ignoring it and just learning to accept that this is the way it is, and we can do nothing about it, while others spend a lifetime trying to answer the question of why.
There is a very simple explanation for it given in Scripture (The Bible). Man (our particular type of being) was not created originally in the state we now find ourselves in as a part of this current world. The original pair of our particular race of mankind was created and placed in a place referred to in Scripture as the Garden of Eden (meaning pleasure or delight). It is described as a large garden paradise where first man and woman were safe and had full communion with the Word of God walking with them in the Garden.
No mention of death or what we typically consider as being mortal exists in the description of this creation of man and woman, neither do we find them facing feelings of mortality we call suffering, such as pain, sickness, disease, etc. We are told they had all that they needed and desired in this paradise setting God placed them in. However, they were given one negative instruction by God, an instruction of what NOT to do; just one.
God warned them not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil because if they did, they would surely be dying to die (many English translations delete the first and just put “die,” but in the Hebrew original it says as I previously stated). In other words, in the Hebrew it says God warned them that once they ate the fruit of that tree, they’d enter the process of death, being then under the dominion of death.
To contrast this death state man was warned not to enter, another tree existed in the center of the Garden as well, which God tells them is the Tree of Life. This tree had the ability to sustain their life so they would never perish as living souls, but could continue on indefinitely.
A character referred to as the serpent finds the woman near the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil one day and begins conversation with her. The purpose of this conversation is obvious to us reading it, but we must remember that this woman was naive and had never experienced mistrust or deception yet, so she had no reason to be on guard like we are regularly now in this fallen world. The serpent begins questioning her and making comments in such a way as to cause her to doubt what God had told her and her husband, and tempt her to eat of the fruit they were warned against.
The woman gives in to the temptation, eats, and then gives to her husband to eat also. This article is not going to go into detail of the deep layers of revelation encapsulated in this information we are given in Scripture. The point to keep in mind right now is that mankind had corruption enter in to our beings through this Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that God had warned us about, and still warns us about.
All of this was used as type and shadow for the spiritual reality we are offered now, whether to eat of the knowledge of good and evil apart from Christ, or to eat and drink of Christ, the Tree of Life. Each person has their own choice to make. The serpent still whispers to the minds of people to keep them convinced they should eat of the deadly fruit.
With that summed up, we can now clearly see what we are redeemed (won back) from. We are redeemed from death caused by eating of the knowledge of good and evil, participating in corruption that brings death.
No evangel (message, gospel) that has man working back to the original state of bliss in paradise with God, or earning it in any way, is true. No matter how subtle it may be, you must not allow any doctrine to enter your belief system, or remain if there already, that leads you to believe to any degree that you are able to redeem yourself or find your own way back. God gives a clear warning that such will only lead us to further destruction, as the Way is guarded by angels and a fiery sword.
Gen 3:24 AMP So [God] drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the Garden of Eden the cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep and guard the way to the tree of life. [Rev. 2:7; 22:2, 14, 19.] (Pasted from E-Sword, download free at www.e-sword.net)
Jesus reminds of this impossibility of finding the Way back apart from God’s will prescribed for us in Christ.
Joh 14:6 AMP Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.
Joh 10:6-11 AMP Jesus used this parable (illustration) with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about. (7) So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep. (8) All others who came [as such] before Me are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not listen to and obey them. (9) I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture. (10) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). (11) I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep. [Ps. 23.] (Pasted from E-sword)
Do not get confused with the parables and start thinking something like, “How can he be both the Tree of Life, the Way back to the Tree of Life, and the Door opening to the Way back to the Tree of Life?” For now simply know this is true; Christ has been made all by God the Father so God may be made all in all.
1Co 15:27-28 ESV For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. (28) When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. (Pasted from E-sword)
God becomes the air you breath, the water and wine you drink, the bread and flesh you eat, the rock under your feet to stand firmly on, the tower of refuge you find shelter in, the shield protecting you from the evil one and his arrows, the one who goes before you to lead you in the paths of righteousness and wisdom, your peaceful rest, your energy and strength, etc.
When we were disconnected from God by the fruit of the tree of death, we were not longer in connection to God as our all in all. Thus, the problems in the world; those things that all people instinctively know “just aren’t right.” We were not created for misery and suffering, originally, we were made to enjoy the bliss of God with all things, both needs and desires, provided for us, as we commune with God. God created us for that purpose – to fellowship, which is why by necessity we were originally designed to be in the image and likeness of God, unlike the animals.
Christ has redeemed us; rejoice!! Reject any and all doctrine that ignores or downplays this redemption worked on our behalf, however subtle that may be. We are now won back and able to commune fully with God once again through the Way, Truth, and Life that is Christ!
When the Holy Spirit excites the faith in you to actually believe and receive this good news (gospel), it begins a complete transformation in you, akin to the type and shadow in the natural realm of the caterpillar becoming a butterfly. I pray he will excite such faith in you if you have it not, or renew the spark of first love in you if you have strayed from it!
Even this faith God gives is not from yourself, and you can take no credit in obtaining it. This is on purpose, that man is never given any part in his redemption other than to receive it after the Holy Spirit provides faith to believe it. Again, this is designed so that the Most High is all in all, and all created by God is made subject to God. If you could redeem your own self and give your own self everlasting life in spirit and then in body, you would be your own god and have no need for communion with your Creator. Just as we were created to need breathable air, water, and food, so we are created to spiritually need God.
Any doctrine that teaches you to have anything but complete reliance on God as all you need for Life is false! It is like a teaching that would deny our need for breathable air, water, and food for our bodies. Such is the foolishness of the corruption caused by the serpent’s deceptive words and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Man can find some things and gain some knowledge in the state of corrupt without receiving the redemption. But, you can never have complete satisfaction without God. There is a God-sized and God-shaped hole in us all that cannot be truly filled by any other than the One who put it there. That is why all worldly pursuits only bring pleasure for a season or satisfy our inner longings temporarily, but leave us feeling empty still in the end.
We cannot do efforts in our flesh to fill in that hole. The flesh cannot even touch the hole, since it is spiritual. Some may figure this out early on in this life, while others remain stubbornly trying to do the impossible, going from thing to thing or person to person thinking the emptiness will finally be filled. Let me save you some time; it will not. Stop believing any doctrine that leads you to believe in any way that anything other than full blown blissful communion with God who redeems you can provide the deep satisfaction you hunger and thirst for.
Your works do not in any way change the redemptive power and plan of Christ put into action, not even any good Christian works you try to religiously perform to gain the favor of God and the things of his Kingdom. The quicker you realize this and live by faith according to it, the better.
May God be gracious to you that your faith may be alive for receiving your full redemption! We will continue on from here in the next article, looking at details of the true plan and true doctrine of Christ versus false ones.
