Christ Our Refuge Study Guide Anchored to Christ CORCOR:: Message One ( (050612PM050612PM050612PM)))) Astheendofthe physicalworldapproachessodoesearth'sdarkestspiritualhour. SatanknowsthatGodhas planstosave" agreat multitudewhichnoone couldnumber,ofall nations,tribes, peoples, andtongues, standingbeforethethroneandbeforethe Lamb,clothed withwhiterobes,withpalmbranchesintheirhands …”(Revelation7:9). SototrytothwartGod's harvestof precioussouls andtopreventtheworldfromcomingto Christ,Satanhasdeployedlegionsofliars.Falsesignposts—all pointingpeopleawayfrom Christ.This isnotnewtoourgeneration.Falseteachershave beena partofthelandscapefrom thestart. Thingsweresobadone hundredyearsago,thatthegreatest Bibleteachersofthatgeneration bandedtogether toputuptheflagoftruth.Whatthosemendidisnowacommonformof mockeryintheworld.Theysatdownanddeclaredwhatwerethenonnegotiablesofthefaith. ButasweopentoMatthew24again,weareopeningtowhat Iconsideroneofthesaddest doctrinesintheBible--theteachinginGod's Wordaboutthe antichrist,andSatan’sallout,final assaultupontheGospel. When Christ returns there is a powerful, pervasive, and universal leadleaderer who speaks eternally damnable lieslies--------backedbacked by the most believable signs and wonders ever witnessed on planet earth. PleaseopenwithmetothenextsectionofMatthew24. • Matthew24:15“Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,’ spokenofby Danielthe prophet, standingintheholy place”(whoeverreads,lethimunderstand), • Matthew24:24For falsechrists[pseudochrists]andfalse prophets[pseudoprophets] will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Attheendofdays,Satansendstoearththeexpressionofall of mankind’sdesiresinthe person oftheantichrist.Inaveryshorttime almost all of the earth willfollowhim!Thatisthesaddest commentaryonthefallenheartofhumanitytherecouldever be.Wantingalwaysthe wrong choice. Theantichrist,likeSatan—comestokill,steal,anddestroy.Christ,ontheotherhandcameto offeranabundantlife.IfyouhavenevertrustedChristasyourSavior,I wouldurge youto receivehimtoday.WhenyoucalluponChrist tosaveyoufromyoursins,Goddeliversyoufrom the powerofdarknessandtheireternallydamnablelies--andbringsyouintothewonderful kingdomof HisSon. Today,just asduringtheTribulationyears,therewill beonlytwotypes of peopleonthe planet—truthloversandtruthhaters.Opennowto2Thessalonians2,andstandwithmetosee thatdarkhour. 2Thessalonians2:112Now,brethren,concerningthecomingofour LordJesusChristandour gathering together toHim,weask you,2nottobe soonshakeninmindortroubled, eitherby spiritorby wordorbyletter,asif fromus,asthoughthedayofChristhadcome.3 Let no one deceive you byanymeans; for that Daywillnotcomeunless the falling away comes first,and the man of sin isrevealed,the sonof perdition,4whoopposesandexalts himselfaboveall that iscalledGodorthatis worshiped, sothathe sitsasGodinthetempleofGod, showinghimself thathe isGod.5DoyounotrememberthatwhenIwas still withyouI toldyouthese things?6 Andnow youknowwhatisrestraining,thathemayberevealedinhisowntime.7Forthe mysteryof lawlessness isalreadyat work;only Hewhonowrestrainswilldosountil Heistaken outoftheway.8Andthenthelawlessonewillberevealed, whomthe Lordwillconsumewiththe breathof Hismouthanddestroywiththebrightnessof Hiscoming.9Thecomingof thelawless oneisaccordingtothe workingofSatan,withall power, signs,and lying wonders ,10andwith allunrighteousdeceptionamongthosewhoperish, because they did not receive the love of the truth ,that theymightbe saved.11AndforthisreasonGodwill sendthem strongdelusion,that they should believe the lie ,12thattheyallmaybecondemnedwho did not believe the truth but hadpleasureinunrighteousness. The Fundamentals of the Faith Attheendofdays,truthisunderattackandlies willabound. ThatiswhyJesussaidwatchoutfor falseteachersandcounterfeitreligion.Whenfacedwitha similarsituationatthe turnofthecentury,evangelicals producedaworkcalledthe FUNDAMENTALSin19091915.Thewritersreadlike aWho’sWhoof Christianityoftheday: R.A.Torrey[of Biola],B.B.Warfield[of WestminsterSeminary],J.C.Ryle[devotionalwriter], G.CampbellMorgan[anexpositor pastor],C.I.Scofield[ofthestudyBible],James M.Gray [MBI],A.T.Pierson[devotionalwriter]andsoon. Thesemendistilleddownthefundamental beliefsthatdistinguishatrue believerfromafalseor counterfeitone.Theyboileddownalltheologyintosevenessentials.Theythenpresentedand explainedthesesevendoctinesinamulti-volumesetof bookscalled“ The Fundamentals ”.Here istheir listofthesevenessentials. 1. INSPIRATION: TheInspirationandReliable HistoricityoftheBible. 2. CREATION: TheerrorofEvolutionismandDarwinism. 3. DOCTRINE: Thenamingofthecults'errors [JehovahWitness,Mormonism,Christian Science,Spiritism]. 4. DEPRAVITY: The realityofsin. 5. SUBSTITUTION: BiblicalsalvationbyfaiththroughthegraceofGod. 6. IMPUTATION: TheerrorsofRomanCatholicism. 7. CHRISTOLOGY: TheDeity,thework,andthe personal visiblereturnofChrist. How to Spot a False Teacher Thesemenweremakinga“mostwanted” posterfor believers—showingwhotheenemyofthe truthwas.Sohowdowespotthese falseteachers?Whatdothesesignposts pointingpeoplein thewrongdirectionbelieveandteach?Whatisthemessage promotedbySatan’s legionof liars? Oftenitisnotwhattheysay—butwhattheydon’tsaythat identifies them! Whatdofalse teachersdeny?Howdoyouspotafalse teacher?Thereare clearsignsofanapostateorfalse teacher: 1. THEY DENY CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY. 1Timothy4:1NowtheSpiritexpressly saysthatinlattertimessome willdepart fromthe faith ,givingheedtodeceivingspirits anddoctrinesofdemons, 2. THEY DENY OUR LIBERTY IN CHRIST. 1Timothy4:3 forbiddingto marry,and commandingtoabstain fromfoods whichGodcreatedtobe receivedwiththanksgiving bythosewhobelieveandknowthetruth. 3. THEY DENY DIVINE POWER. 2Timothy3:45traitors,headstrong,haughty,lovers of pleasure rather thanloversofGod,5havingaformofgodliness butdenyingits power . Andfromsuchpeople turnaway! 4. THEY DENY BIBLICAL TRUTH. 2Timothy3:8Nowas JannesandJambres resistedMoses, sodothesealsoresistthe truth: menofcorruptminds,disapproved concerning the faith; 5. THEY DENY THE NECESSITY OF SOUND DOCTRINE. 2Timothy4:34Forthe timewillcomewhentheywillnotendure sounddoctrine,butaccording totheirown desires,becausetheyhaveitchingears,theywill heapup for themselvesteachers;4and theywillturntheir ears away fromthetruth,andbeturnedasidetofables. 6. THEY DENY THE DEITY OF CHRIST. 2Peter2:1Buttherewere alsofalse prophetsamongthe people, justastherewillbe false teachersamong you.Theywill secretly introducedestructiveheresies,evendenyingthe sovereignLordwhobought them --bringing swiftdestructiononthemselves.(NIV) 7. THEY DENY THE REALITY OF CHRIST COMING AGAIN. 2Peter3:3-4 knowingthis first:that scofferswill comeinthelastdays,walkingaccordingtotheir own lusts,4andsaying,“Whereis the promiseof Hiscoming?For since the fathers fell asleep,allthingscontinueastheywere fromthebeginningofcreation.” 8. THEY DENY THE NECESSITY OF PERSONAL HOLINESS. Jude18howthey toldyouthattherewouldbemockers inthe last timewhowouldwalkaccordingtotheir ownungodlylusts. 9. THEY DENY THE NECESSITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Jude19Theseare sensual persons,whocausedivisions,nothavingtheSpirit . The World Detached from TruthTruth--------ShipwreckShipwreck Loveofthetruth,aswesawearlier inIIThessalonians2,is the proofofsalvation.Lostones neverreceivealoveofthetruthsotheyneverseekoutandfindChrist'sofferofsalvation. Tonotlove thetruthleadsto“shipwreck”;itmeantthatthe shipyoutrustedtotakeyouacross thedangerouswatershadfailedyouandyouwerenotgoingtomakeit.Ifyouloseyourshipin themidstofthesea thereisusuallynohope,noplace togo—andcertaindeath. Thinkofthe implicationsofbeing inadoomedboat.NotbelievingthetruthaboutGodmeans thatallwhocountonalietoget them safely totheother shore—arelost forever! RememberthatPaulusesthiswordtodescribethosewhothrustawaysounddoctrineandtryto sailontheir own,withoutChrist'sway,truthandlife. 1Timothy1:1920havingfaithandagoodconscience,whichsomehavingrejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck ,20ofwhom areHymenaeusandAlexander,whom I delivered to Satan that theymaylearnnottoblaspheme. Whatcancauseasoul to beshipwrecked? • Falseteachers • BeliefinafalseChrist ThatwasoneofChrist'sconstantwarnings.The mostdangerousshipwreckisnot the onethat merelyendangersyour body.Jesuswarnsthatfalseteachingcansinkyoursoulaswell. Sohowdowe stay safeasthesedark dayscast their shadow across society,media,culture,and everyother realmofdailylife?Onlyoneway—checktheanchorof your soul. Whentheworlddarkens,culturecrumbles,andtruthdies—you know the end of the world is near. Itisthenthat Jesuswarnedthatthechurchwouldfill upwithfruitlesscounterfeits.When thathappensitistime forbelievers tobrace for the stormthatweknowiscoming.Thewaves willonlyincrease.Spiritualdarknesswillonlydeepenasdeceptions grow.Thesearedayswhen wewhoknowandlovethe LordJesus shouldreachintoourheartsandgrabontoouranchor lineandfeelit stronglyholdingus securely—tuggingushomeward. Jesus is Our Anchor Hebrews6:1112,1820Andwedesirethateachoneof you showthe samediligencetothe full assurance( plerophoreo-tooverflowinglywearorholdor possessorhave )ofhope until the end,12that youdonotbecome sluggish,butimitatethosewhothroughfaithandpatienceinherit the promises.18thatby twoimmutablethings,inwhichit isimpossible forGodtolie,wemight have strong consolation,whohave fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope setbeforeus.19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul ,bothsureandsteadfast,andwhichentersthe Presence behindthe veil,20where the forerunner has entered for us ,evenJesus, havingbecome High Priest foreveraccordingtotheorderof Melchizedek.NKJV