SARDIS - A FRUITLESS CHURCH (Rev 3:1-5, Pastor Jack), 21 Sep 2003 Emmanuel BPC Sermon Summary

Transcription

1 MARANATHA MESSENGER Weekly Newsletter of Private Circulation Only MARANATHA BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 23 November 2003 Present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28). Address: 63 Cranwell Road, Singapore Tel: (65) Fax: (65) Website: * Sunday School: 9.45 am Worship Service: am Wednesday Prayer Meeting: 8.00 pm Pastor: Rev Jack Sin (Pager: ) SARDIS - A FRUITLESS CHURCH (Rev 3:1-5, Pastor Jack), 21 Sep 2003 Emmanuel BPC Sermon Summary Introduction o The writer of Revelation, John, was kept alive till about AD (while the rest of the apostles minus Judas Iscariot were martyred for their faith). The 2 reasons are : 1. To take care of Mary, mother of Jesus. This shows that Jesus loves Mary, therefore asked his best disciple to take care of Mary, before he died on the cross. 2. To write the book of Revelation. o Revelation is the only book where almost the entire book is written about the future. There are actual events which will happen. o Are the 7 churches that are written in the book of Revelation, referring to real churches or a representative of today s churches? Answer : They are both real and representative. o Sardis is the 5 th church mentioned in the book of Revelation. o Who is the angel of the church of Sardis? Is it referring to the leader of an Angel who protect the church? Answer : It is more likely referring to the leaders (and members) that are serving in the church. o John is the inspired stenographer of the Book of Revelation. God is the real author of the book. o In Rev 1:20 -> 7 Stars : Rev 3:1 -> The 7 Spirits of God refers to the perfection of the character of God. o Rev 3:1 -> God knows the work that we have done. Sardis is a living church yet dead. A contradiction. Why? Are we living a corporate life of victory for Christ or are we a living dead church? o Verse 2: We are told to be : 1. Watchful : to be awake and vigilant. Are we watchful against Satan, worldliness, sin and self? Put on the full armour of God daily. 2. To strengthen the things that remain, to be faithful and diligent. If we were to be indifferent or neglect what we have, it will die in due time. One needs to work hard and press on for Christ. 3. Ensure that what we do is acceptable to God always.

2 o 3 Vital Elements: Verse 3: - We are to remember, hold fast and repent. - To err is human, to forgive divine; To forget is also human, to remind, Divine. - Hold fast means to hold on, cling on tenaciously. Hold fast to what? To the Word and promises of God. - To repent, is by God s help, to change the old self. Change of mind/orientation. - To repent of our sins, bitterness, anger, lying, covetousness etc, all of the things which are not pleasing to God. o The Lord warns us that we are not watchful or we will be caught off guard when the Lord comes again. o Rev 3:4 -> There are still a few people who are faithful to the end. Be the faithful remnant. o Rev 3:5 -> Those who overcometh (Rom 8:37), 1. Shall be dressed in white raiment. 2. Names shall be written in the Book of Life 3. Names shall be confessed before the Father and before the Angels. Let us therefore be an overcomer for Christ and walk worthy of our calling of faith. Lucy Kumala * * * * * * * * * Summary of Book Examining and Exposing Cultic and Occultic Movements by Jack Sin Introduction The book gives fundamental dimensions in regards to the widespread cults and their influences in the world. The author started by giving the reasons why the cults grow rapidly. 1) Because man s spiritual need fulfilled for satisfaction as the cults do. 2) Because cults answer the emotional desire of the seekers. The basic idea is feeling good as pointed by the author, and not for the truth. 3) Cults know that acceptance by others is one of man s issues of life. They answer this need by giving such social security as what the author said as tightly knit communities. 4) The anti conservatism and authority of the church proclaims the freedom to do what they like in the practices and beliefs in the cults. The author called this disillusions. 5) Cults grow because of the lack of discernment of their followers. The author points this as seductive attractions in the mind of superficial religious seekers. 6) Cults answer deep curiosity of future revelation apart from God s Word by the apparent ability to foresee or predict future events. The author presents cults in the ancient world. In primitive age, animals captivated

3 the mind of the worshipper craved as images on caves. In the early agricultural time, when people left the nomadic life style and became settled, the expressions of cultic beliefs seen in the worship of energy (weather). There was worship of the dead practiced by some known places like Egypt and the Central America. The difference was that the previous has no human sacrifice and the later did (the Aztecs). The colour of cults in Greece and Rome seem to be on legendary in their historical origin. There was Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and Ecstasy, the cult of Cybele of Rome, the great mother goddess (3 BC), bull cults in Rome that was put to its end by Constantine in AD 4. The famous bull cult was of the Minoans in Crete. From non-christian cults, the author points out good numbers of some outstanding Christian cults. The basic difference between cults and religions lays on the claim on Christianity (13). Christian cults absolutely deny salvation by grace through faith, eternal punishment, and claim the direct revelation of God, replacing the authority of God in their beliefs and practices by embracing the teachings of the leader of the group (13-15) The author called this deviation of Christian faith (13). The early Christian cults grew rapidly in AD 1. The author submits the idea of cult in the mind of the Jews and the Romans for true Christian church in the early age. This new religion (p.11) became the fertile place for another new different ideas as in: Montanism (AD 156) emphasised on emotions, eschatology and fanaticism in the Holy Spirit. Arianism (revived in Jehovah s Witnesses) taught the anti-deity of the Second Person, God the Son was a created being, and the deity solely possesses by God the Father. Gnosticism (revived in New Age Movement) has the absurd ideas of Christianity, Plato and Zoroastrian. It produced in the philosophy of good and evil, spirit is good and matter is evil. Therefore as forced spiritual beings, mankind who live in the material world could understand God when they attained gnosis/knowledge revealed by Christ. Manicheanism (Mani, AD 300), the extreme representation of Gnosticism, provides the way to the bringing of the light by which mankind could release themselves from the darkness. The early cults were dealt with by the Council of Nicea (AD 325). Jehovah s Witnesses, contradict their teachings with Biblical doctrines in regards to Trinity: there is no Trinity, Christ deity: Christ is not God but first created being of God, Christ s humanity: incarnation of Michael the archangel, Christ s bodily resurrection: it was Christ s spirit and He had different material body after resurrection, atonement: purchase only the holy life and the lost blessing in time of Adam, salvation by grace: salvation by obeying the law, no assurance of salvation, redemption: only to 144,000, hell: no hell, man is annihilated. They do not practice blood transfusion, vote, flag salute, national service, Christmas or birthdays. Outstanding leaders: Charles Taze Russell, founder of Jehovah s Witnesses and The Watchtower (1884), predicted Christ s coming and Armageddon in 1904, 1918 and His successor, Joseph Ruttherford coined Jehovah Witnesses from Isaiah 43:10 (1937), moved the headquarter to Brooklyn. Jehovah s Witnesses grew greatly under Nathan H. Knorr. Frederick W. Franz predicted the Advent in The Mormons, as the author explains, attack a great deal of biblical doctrines. That flesh and bones possessed by God and He achieved Godhead by time and works attacks the doctrine of God s absolute deity. That Father, Son and Spirit are three distinct Gods attacks the doctrine of Trinity. That God the Father related to Mary for Jesus conception attacks the doctrine of God is Spirit. That man is eternal like God, the fall was not sinful, and man is potentially to be like God attacks the doctrine of man s total depravity. That Mormon converts are the actual offspring of Abraham by the Holy Spirit attacks the doctrine of man as fallen, sinful creation, unable to save himself. That Christ s blood effective for universal resurrection and not personal

4 attacks the doctrine of atonement. That salvation by works (Mormon Church/ Church of the Latter Day Saints is the only true church), baptism and faith attacks the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith alone. That Book of Mormon attacks the doctrine of sufficiency of God s Word. Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism, claimed the Mormon faith based on the vision from angel Moroni and his translation on ancient golden plates to Book of Mormon. His successor was Brigham Young, built Salt Lake City, Utah. Mormons has >10 million followers in about 90 countries. Christian Science denies the authority of the Bible. The founder, Mrs. Marry Eddy Baker claimed her writing Science and Health inspired and authoritative. Healing is a must observation. God is divine principle, impersonal spirit. Trinity is polytheism, dualism in Christ (divine idea), Jesus is human man, evil is illusion and therefore Christ s death on the cross for man s sins is unnecessary, sin is illusion, salvation is sin, Holy Spirit is divine science, there is no physical, visible resurrection of Christ. The author suggests tips to evangelise them. Since they are well-read and intelligent people but take Bible passages out of context, Christians must be able to present the most related biblical doctrines. Facts must be emphasized than subjective opinions. Unification Church (Moonies), flourished in America (1970s). Sun Myung Moon claimed to receive God s revelation to continue and accomplish Jesus mission on earth. Moon s Divine Principle is the third testament of the Bible. Satan s intercourse with Eve resulted in man s spiritual corruption. Eve s intercourse with Adam leads to mankind physical corruption. Salvation requires Jesus for spiritual and physical redemption through marriage. This was not achieved and therefore Jesus had to die on the cross. Jesus was not equal with God though He was perfect and divine. Christ s resurrection was not physical; it does not accomplish physical redemption. Christ was supposedly raised as a spirit fulfils the redemption of man s spirit. All human beings will become divine spirits and dwell in heaven with God. Unity School of Christianity by Charles and Myrtle rejects the Trinity, Jesus deity, and personality of Holy Spirit, atonement, heaven, hell, sin and devil. There is possession of consciousness of Christ as He is the complete idea of perfect man and divine mind. Jesus is not God in flesh neither He should be worshipped. He is the ethical Messiah of the world because He remained in the high state of spiritual consciousness. Problems of man find solution in the correct thinking. Christadelphian by Dr. John Thomas is a non-christian cult. Though they believe the Bible is infallible and inerrant, they claim Jesus to be sinful, needs salvation, and will come to set up His earthly kingdom. The wicked will be annihilated, no assurance of salvation, baptism is necessary for salvation. No substitutionary atonement in Christ. Their magazine is The Apostolic Advocate started by Dr. Thomas (1834). Elpis Israel was the book (1862) of his theology. The Way International by Victor Paul Wierwille teaches the Bible is God s Word but rejects Christ s deity and humanity, Trinity, and salvation by grace, even by the book Jesus Christ Is Not God by V.P. Wierwille. According to him, The Holy Spirit refers to God and the Holy Spirit refers to God s impersonal power. No atonement needed for sinful man, the dead will be unconscious in their state. The facts of crucifixion were changed from two thieves to four. Jesus was not raised on the third day but second day (Saturday). Freemason or The Lodge is a fraternal organization teaching the followers good morals with secret rites and ceremonies. They are anti biblical and syncretic in doctrines, achieving degrees by some influences to the society. They are rooted in the pagan mystical worship of the sun in Ancient Religion of the East. Swearing is required

5 to join the group. They reject the authority of the Bible. They appear as Christian religion but do not claim Christ as their centre of faith, but have the faith in pantheon of deities. It is what the author strongly called the devil s invention (46). The New Age Movement is satanic in origin, the mythical Age of Aquarius, the age of new beginning, a worldview. It brought to the public attention by its prophetess of Hollywood, Shirley MacLaine. It believes in oneness of essence, exalting man as god. New Age Movement has some outstanding characteristics like: various sources of truth (eclecticism), no biblical claim and authority (syncretic religion) and supports ecumenism, all reality is one (monism), God is all and all is God (pantheism). They believe in reincarnation, the sinlessness of man. New Age Movement is popular in therapy (acupressure, chiropractic, autoregresion, crystals, rolfing, therapeutic touch, biofeedback, feng shui, mental imaging, hypnosis, and yoga). Yoga is a path of union for transcending the mind in order to unite with the higher self (which is the you ) or God self. There are 6 or more different types of yoga (80-83): The author mentions the occultic practices. Ouija board is a direct play on the power of the devil wrapped in game that could cause the user has the access to possession. This game was known in Egypt as a form of divination. A pokemon game is another form of occultic game mania. The basic rejection towards these activities is that those things are not biblical. The practice of the occult is strongly condemned in the Bible. Besides, they give way for deception and enslavement to sin and the Devil (66). Additional view on some occultic practices like fantasy games are they offer polytheistic concept of life, non-theistic universe, man can be better spiritually, encourage immorality, abominable practices, and unedifying fantasies. Other occultic practices mentioned are astrology, horoscopes, geomancy, crystal gazing, fortune telling. Conclusion Psychology and the falsehood of Bible decoding as the author puts in the last part. Basically the secular psychology based their all assumptions and theory on evolutionism, existentialism, behaviourism and humanism, capable to deal with man s problem superficially and temporary. It teaches that man is basically good and sometimes in its practice necromancy (Rogers), illusion (Freud), mythology and fantasy (Jung), animal nature idea (Skinner) is imputed (91-92). For decoding the Bible, the author submits that it is none other than type of divination or bibliomancy related to the tradition of some myths and numerology (96). The book has its relevant and useful application and conclusion in its chapter, helping the reader to get the whole idea of what it is the current cultic and occultic movements. Wiwin Sunarto * * * * * * * * * At the Pulpit Theme for the Quarter: Cultivating Christian Disciplines Rev Jack Sin "The Discipline of God-honouring Thought Life (Phil 4:6-9) *These hyperlinks work with Word 97 and later version.

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