What do you believe is the most popular false doctrine and why?

[Stephen]

For me it's the whole Prosperity preaching these days that is in total opposition to Christ's ministry and teaching.
If the love of money is the root of all evil then how is it okay to validate yourself as "blessed" from God or marked as favored to his expense via a public and rather vulgar display of wealth?

For others it may be OSAS, a teaching that eliminates every heed and warning in the NT against allowing unclean spirits into a completely cleansed house...

What are some others.. old and new alike?

I reckon equal between OSAS and Penal Substitution.

 

[Josiah]

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Those hold that Jesus is not the Savior but just the possibility-maker or offerer or helper.... As in "God makes it POSSIBLE for all to be saved" Or "God opened the door to heaven but you got to get yourself through it."



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[Fritz Kobus]

That Jesus' death didn't forgive our sins is the worst false doctrine there is.

The OP asks for the most popular false doctrine and I want to explain why I think that what I wrote is not only the worst false doctrine but also the most popular one. Whenever anyone says that Jesus' death only gave potential for our sins to be forgiven and that we have to do our part first are part of that false doctrine. I see it all the time on Christian sites where Jesus' death really didn't forgive but only gave the potential to forgive. That's Satan snickering in the background as he has confused yet another believer into refusing the beautiful atonement/justification of the cross by Jesus' death and resurrection,

Agree. Jesus death does forgive our sins, more specifically, His blood washes our sins away. The forgiveness is through the blood, which is efficacious because of His death. This washing is through faith, so applies to all who believe.

 

[Tigger]

I have to go with the prosperity gospel. Seeing a preacher using God’s Word to become filthy rich off of desperate people just burns me up.

 

[Pedrito]

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I suggest that Lämmchen is correct in saying (in Post #2):

“That Jesus' death didn't forgive our sins is the worst false doctrine there is..”
And in Post #3:
“I see it all the time on Christian sites where Jesus' death really didn't forgive but only gave the potential to forgive.”

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However, if that idea is really true, how does it stack up with the idea that God had already predetermined to which human individuals that forgiveness of sin would be applied to, and to whom it wouldn’t be?

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Of course, the common wriggling-around and dancing-around response, that nobody can have faith by themselves*, and that therefore God chooses to give faith to some, has the same problem. God is seen to be choosing to whom forgiveness of sins will apply, thereby actually supporting a “potential to forgive” perspective.

That people can hold both these conflicting ideas in their minds simultaneously, is indeed baffling, but typical.

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Which is it folks? Does Jesus’ substitutionary death and the resulting forgiveness of sins apply to all people? Or is the resulting forgiveness of sins merely potential in nature?

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* Ephesians 2:8 is commonly interpreted to mean that faith is the gift of God. However, in the original Greek language, each noun has a gender (masculine, feminine or neuter – think of the masculine and feminine noun genders in Spanish and Italian). In the Greek, the “that” in “that not of yourselves” is neuter, and the nouns translated “grace” and “faith” are both feminine. Therefore the “that” refers to the process of salvation, which rightly is said to be “not of yourselves”.

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[Stephen]

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I suggest that Lämmchen is correct in saying (in Post #2):

“That Jesus' death didn't forgive our sins is the worst false doctrine there is..”
And in Post #3:
“I see it all the time on Christian sites where Jesus' death really didn't forgive but only gave the potential to forgive.”

===================================================================================

However, if that idea is really true, how does it stack up with the idea that God had already predetermined to which human individuals that forgiveness of sin would be applied to, and to whom it wouldn’t be?

===================================================================================

Of course, the common wriggling-around and dancing-around response, that nobody can have faith by themselves*, and that therefore God chooses to give faith to some, has the same problem. God is seen to be choosing to whom forgiveness of sins will apply, thereby actually supporting a “potential to forgive” perspective.

That people can hold both these conflicting ideas in their minds simultaneously, is indeed baffling, but typical.

===================================================================================

Which is it folks? Does Jesus’ substitutionary death and the resulting forgiveness of sins apply to all people? Or is the resulting forgiveness of sins merely potential in nature?

===================================================================================

===================================================================================

* Ephesians 2:8 is commonly interpreted to mean that faith is the gift of God. However, in the original Greek language, each noun has a gender (masculine, feminine or neuter – think of the masculine and feminine noun genders in Spanish and Italian). In the Greek, the “that” in “that not of yourselves” is neuter, and the nouns translated “grace” and “faith” are both feminine. Therefore the “that” refers to the process of salvation, which rightly is said to be “not of yourselves”.

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According to some Jesus' death forgives everyone's sins so all get a prize. All go to heaven no matter how wicked they are.

 

[Josiah]

According to some Jesus' death forgives everyone's sins so all get a prize. All go to heaven no matter how wicked they are.

I know of none who hold to that.... at least none here.

Jesus died for ALL and thus forgiveness is "there" for all... but not all are saved or forgiven because not all have faith. It's Sola Gratia - Solus Christus - Sola Fide, not Sola Gratia - Solus Christus. Faith receives what is THERE and thus applies what is THERE to the individual. We are saved by grace in Christ through faith; faith matters. The divine gift of faith is how God applies the gift to an individual. I don't think there is any here at CH that deny the role of faith as you suggest.



To the topic: I hold that the most dangerous view is that Jesus is not the Savior. That gets to the very core and foundation of Christianity. Some hold that Jesus only makes salvation POSSIBLE, not that He actually saves anyone... that God OFFERS the gift but doesn't actually ever give it... that Jesus helps people save themselves but doesn't actually save anyone.... that Jesus opened the door to heaven but it's up to each person to get through it all on their own... these views mean that God saves no one, each saves themselves by their OWN efforts (although some agree with Judaism and Islam that God HELPS us) but if self saves self, then Jesus doesn't. And this is exactly what some hold: The Deacon of my former Catholic Church said exactly that: "Jesus technically saves no one but each saves themselves by what they do." THAT I think is the biggest danger to Christianity for if Jesus is not the Savior then Christianity clearly is wrong... and all other religions have it right: we save ourselves (albeit perhaps God makes it possible and empowers all this).


Blessings


- Josiah



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[Pedrito]

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Post #26:
According to some Jesus' death forgives everyone's sins so all get a prize. All go to heaven no matter how wicked they are.

It would be interesting to see the Scripture references employed by the advocates of that teaching.

If no definitive and precisely relevant scriptures can be found, then we have identified yet another belief that was not contained in the Simple Original Apostolic Gospel.

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[Fritz Kobus]

According to some Jesus' death forgives everyone's sins so all get a prize. All go to heaven no matter how wicked they are.

Those "some" folks are way off. They probably don't accept the Bible as the very Word of God, or have a bad translation or interpretation, for the Bible clearly refutes such a position in John 3:18 (and other places).

“... he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

 

[Albion]

You're right about that, Fritz. Anybody who thinks that everyone goes to heaven thanks to Jesus' sacrifice probably has never read the Bible with any care.

On the other hand, relatively few people DO think that way. It's much more an issue that people delight in debating than it is a significant theological controversy.

 

[Fritz Kobus]

On the other hand, relatively few people DO think that way. It's much more an issue that people delight in debating than it is a significant theological controversy.

Good point. I think many believe all will go to Heaven but in a more general sense, not specifically based on Jesus' sacrifice for sins.

 

[Fritz Kobus]

What defines a controversy vs just differing interpretations? I ask because I wonder if the different views on millenialism and the associated finer points of each millenial position comprises a controversy or is simply different interpretations. But there can be consequences in society from some of the millennial positions.

 

[Spindle4]

What are some others.. old and new alike?

Interesting subject.

A few years ago after settling into a particular local ekklesia I was dismayed to discover a missionary couple in leadership, and some others who came into the fellowship later, believed in Theistic Evolution, something which is incompatible with Scripture.

This was an opportunity to challenge what they had been taught elsewhere.

 

[Albion]

Good point. I think many believe all will go to Heaven but in a more general sense, not specifically based on Jesus' sacrifice for sins.

That may well be so, but that view would be even less common among Christians than the other one.

 

[Josiah]

Good point. I think many believe all will go to Heaven but in a more general sense, not specifically based on Jesus' sacrifice for sins.

Good point.

Yes, universalism is a very, very dangerous (and popular) heresy.... it makes Christ irrelevant (indeed - everything in Christianity irrelevant). And I think there are a lot of CHRISTIANS who embrace this ancient, dangerous heresy.

My parents have a personal friend who is a coordinator at a mortuary, he works with grieving families. He commented that in over 40 years, he as YET to hear of anyone who believed their loved one was in hell (LOL)... maybe 90% believed they were in heaven and the rest that their loved one was just "gone" and "dead."

Here again, the heresy is that Jesus is not the Savior. The difference between what I posted ("I am") and universalism is that universalism says no one is the Savior (none needed) whereas the heresy I condemned is that Jesus is not the Savior (but only possibility-maker or helper or offerer).


Blessings!


Josiah



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[Fritz Kobus]

I think it has been mentioned but I guess the biggest heresy is the idea of Thies

Interesting subject.

A few years ago after settling into a particular local ekklesia I was dismayed to discover a missionary couple in leadership, and some others who came into the fellowship later, believed in Theistic Evolution, something which is incompatible with Scripture.

This was an opportunity to challenge what they had been taught elsewhere.

Yes, I do think that theistic evolution is probably the biggest heresy of all and I suspect many of the other false teachings stem from it.

My guess is that 90% of churches are not Bible-believing churches. Among Bible -believing churches there surely are folks who believe theistic evolution, but hopefully those are few and far between.

 

[Faithhopeandcharity]

Salvation or justification by faith alone:
Bible alone;

 

[Fritz Kobus]

Salvation or justification by faith alone:
Bible alone;

Well they say justification is by faith, but that faith is never alone.

 

[Faithhopeandcharity]

Well they say justification is by faith, but that faith is never alone.

So it’s faith alone, but that faith is not alone, then it’s not faith alone? (Luther was mentally ill I guess)

faith and baptism Mk 16:16 acts 2:38-39 (sacraments are the promise or sacred oath of the father) acts 8:36-38 1 pet 3:20-21

God sealed Noah and his family in the ark and God seals us in the new covenant ark of salvation
God breathed life into Adam, gen 2:7 and we received this life from our fathers!

Christ breathed on the apostles our spiritual fathers, we receive the new covenant life of God’s grace from them thru faith & baptism! Jn 20:21-23 Mk 16:16 acts 8:36-38


Christian ritual of baptism:
Immersion, sprinkling, pour pure water over the forehead three time with the words, I baptize thee in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit! Ez 36:25-27 Mk 16:16 Matt 28:19 Acts 2:38-39 Acts 8:36-38 Acts 22:16
1 Pet 3:21

Proper intention: to make a new creature in Christ, to put on Christ, initiation into the new covenant of grace
Matter: pure water
Form: the words

Born again! Born from above!


'The Father has set his seal' on Christ (John 6:27) and also seals us in him (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:23, 4:30). Because this seal indicates the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Baptism,

Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life." 87 The faithful Christian who has "kept the seal" until the end, remaining faithful to the demands of his Baptism, will be able to depart this life "marked with the sign of faith," 88 with his baptismal faith, in expectation of the blessed vision of God - the consummation of faith - and in the hope of resurrection.

St. Paul tells the faithful at Ephesus that they have been “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” This is in terms of an indelible character imprinted on the soul in the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. It is not as if this invisible mark is simply decorative. Rather, through it, we are enabled to participate in Christ’s mission and in his offices of priest, prophet, and king. Eph 1:13

Sealed by God eph 1:13 sealed by God (ez 36:25-27) in the ark of salvation by baptism just as Noah was sealed by God in the ark of the flood gen 7:16

1 Pet 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us!
(Ark of Noah a type of the church, member of Christ and his church and salvation by baptism!)
(Outside the ark of Noah none were saved, outside the church (the ark of salvation) none are saved!)


Sealed in the ark, sealed in the church the ark of salvation by baptism!

 

[Fritz Kobus]

Baptism is our formal entry into the Kingdom of God.