The False Teaching of Gnosticism
- They teach that the trinity is three personalities in one
- They do not explain how God created the heaven and earth
- They teach Jesus did not experience pain on the cross
- They overlook the fact that Jesus had a family
- They deny that Jesus was born as a baby that grew up to an adult. They teach that Jesus did not come in the flesh.
- There are forms of Gnosticism in some denominations today
- Catholicism is an example of Gnosticism, they can’t tell you where Jesus came from, it’s also a form of idolatry
- We do not use imagery like rosaries to pray
- Be careful of songs you may sing like, “Holy holy holy” one of the lyrics say, “God in three persons blessed trinity”.
9 Main Points of Gnosticism
- A claim to a higher and special knowledge of truth, a tendency to regard knowledge as superior to faith (back of Dakes KJV, p. 50)
- Separation of matter & spirit, the flesh being essentially sinful and the source of all evil
- The attempt in solving creation by another god
- A denial of the true humanity of Jesus Christ
- A denial of the personality of the Supreme God
- A denial of the free will of man
- A claim that spiritual communion with God is attained through asceticism or denial of pleasures
- A combination of Christian doctrines with pagan philosophy
- O.T. scriptures were the product of the God of the Jews but not the true and supreme God
What We Believe About Jesus is True & Is Found In The Bible
- Jesus was with the Father in the beginning John 1:1
- Jesus always existed in heaven before existing in Mary’s womb Phil 2:7
- Jesus had an earthly father and family
- Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am” John 8:58
- When Jesus came down, he was a baby, had to be nursed, learned how to walk, and grew up like a normal man Luke 2:52; John 6:38
- Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh Rom 8:3; II Cor 5:21
- Jesus’ ministry went as far as Syria. Syria’s capital is Damascus (see Dakes’ KJV Bible Maps)
- Because Jesus partook of flesh & blood, we also are able to live free from sin Heb 2:14-18
The Jew’s God & The Christian’s God Are The Same (Acts 11:18; Rom 10:12)
- Unbelieving Jews went to great lengths to show they don’t have the same God Matt 13:45-46
- The Jews knew who God was John 8:41
- The Jews only had a problem with Jesus John 5:18
- The Jews didn’t believe on Jesus because they grew up with Him and they knew his family, so to them he could
not have come down from heaven John 6:38, Matt 13:54-58, John 6:38 - Some people today have a problem with both because, they get God and Jesus mixed up
- Jesus influenced the disciples after being with them 3 years Matt 26:73; Acts 4:13
Concerning The Preachers Appearance
- Preacher-man should look like one, you won’t need to wear a white collar for people to know
- Preacher-woman are to dress appropriately, to not wear tight apparel that would detract from the sermon, including wearing black gothic nails I Tim 2:10
The Apostle John Writes To Combat Gnosticism
- He says after the resurrection Jesus could be touched I John 1:1
- Jesus was not a ghost as the Gnostics teach
- We shall see Jesus as He is I John 3:3
- God is made known or declared for all to understand John 1:18
- The Gnostics taught against the resurrection but Paul said if Christ be not raised then your faith is vain I Cor 15:17
- John says we can also have fellowship with God & Jesus because they are real & not imaginary I John 1:3
- Heaven & the holy city is not imaginary but real Rev 21:1-2
- The Disciples taught God raising Jesus from the dead Acts 2:32, Acts 4:10
Assignment
Perform an internet search for “gnostic” and “Gnosticism”. Read and study: John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John.
