Christian Humanism

 

 

When the gospel is mixed with humanistic principles it then becomes “another gospel”. When human beings are elevated to a status of “little gods” or elevate humanity to a position of greatness, or even in serving humans in priority over service to God, man has created an idolatrous religion.

Christian humanism came forth from the Renaissance and Enlightenment era and was embraced by those educated in humanistic principles. Christian humanism is a religious philosophy, but it is not Biblical. Christian humanism embraces the self, the free will, freedom of the individual and exalts these principles over the sovereignty of God.

This false religion is embraced by some denominations and Christian groups today. It espouses a false free will doctrine in which man is able of his own reconnaissance to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ and rejects the scriptures which say that the unbeliever’s mind is blinded to the gospel message. Not only is the mind of men blinded to the gospel but the heart being desperately wicked cannot choose what is good because no good thing dwells in the unregenerate heart.

Just as Satan wanted to be God and usurped authority over God’s sovereignty over him, so do the Christian humanists reject God’s control over them. The will to do and perform is God given and does not in any way originate from man, yet the Christian humanist insists he can choose his own way.

Scriptures declare that without Jesus we can do nothing. In other words, even our bad choices are because God allows them. Everything you do is because God allows it. Why? Let’s take a look at what the bible says,

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; and His sovereignty rules over all. Ps. 103:19

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and HE DOETH ACCORDING TO HIS WILL in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? Daniel 4:35

And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion. Ex. 33:19

Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live. Deut. 30:6

See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me; it is I who puts to death and gives life. I have wounded, and it is I who heals; and there is no one who can deliver from My hand. Deut. 32:39

The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. 1 Sam. 2:6-7

But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does. For He performs what is appointed for me, and many such decrees are with Him. Job 23:13-14

But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. Ps. 115:3

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Cor. 2:14

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren; And whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Rom. 8:29,30

For though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls. Rom. 9:11

Does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? In order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,Even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. Rom. 11:5

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise….that no man should boast before God. 1 Cor. 1:27-29

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 1 Cor. 15:10

Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. Gal. 1:4

But when He who had set me apart from my mother’s womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me. Gal. 1:15-16

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace. Eph. 1:4-6

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). Eph. 2:1-5

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. Eph. 2:8-9

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Eph. 2:10

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Phil. 2:12-13

God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 2 Thess. 2:13

Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity. 2 Tim. 1:9

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Heb. 12:2

Peter…to those…who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.. 1 Peter 1:1

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy. Jude 1:24

And those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful. Rev. 17:14

The Christian humanist does not like the idea of submitting to the sovereign God because the Christian humanist wants to think that he/she is in control. But, no, the Christian humanist is not in control, rather is under the control of the sovereign God. Remember that God uses the foolishness of preaching to save, but he is the one who does the saving!

Maranatha brethren!

Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

We all know that the Bible says that Satan is a liar and a thief and that he comes to kill, steal and destroy, but did you know also that the greater one lives in you? That is if you are born again of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s take a look at what the Bible says Satan and his hordes are capable of doing, and by the way don’t underestimate the devil’s cunning because if you don’t know the greater one’s power in you then he really can wipe you out. The devil uses people and even Christians so be aware of this.

• And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 1 Chronicles 21:1
• And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day? Luke 13:16
• And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.
• And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him. John 13:2
• And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, that thou doest, do quickly. John 13:27
• But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost. Acts 5:3
• In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4
• And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Ephesians 2:2
• And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 2 Timothy 2:26

We can see that the devil can provoke someone to do something, bind up, sift, put something in the heart, enter into, blind, work in, and take captive. The devil can even use us if we are not careful because he knows our weaknesses.

The greater one (the Holy Spirit) in us is smarter than the devil and so we need to rely on him for wisdom, knowledge and his power in prayer. He will tell us what to do in every attack that comes against us. Be aware that the devil works in the heart of people in their weaknesses. Behind the scenes, the demonic realm is using people to do their dirty work. That is why the Bible tells us that we are not fighting flesh and blood but demonic powers.

These demonic powers work in people and through people to accomplish their evil deeds and we should not get into it with another person because the devil is inciting them. What we need to do on the offensive is guard our hearts as scriptures tell us. We all blow it and I know that I certainly have, but the Lord has been showing me that the people who rise up against you are the devil’s schemes to try and make you ineffective for God.

We should also pray about everything and cast down all thoughts contrary to scriptures. Leave vengeance and vindication to God and he will come on the scene and help you. Don’t forget that he has angels working on your behalf as well.

I would not advise, going looking for trouble, because if we are on the war path, most certainly we will find trouble! Do not underestimate the devil’s power to deceive, but at the same time keep your eyes on Jesus and fulfilling your call and God will give you victory through Jesus Christ in every battle!

“Above all else, guard thy heart; for out of it flows the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:24

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” Ephesians 6:12 KJV

Remember that the greater one lives in you and he is quite able to outwit the devil and his demons!

Maranatha brethren!

The Sheild of Faith

Did you ever wonder why the Bible defines Faith as a shield?
“Take up the shield of faith.”

The Bible says that God is our shield. Shield is the noun and faith is the verb (action)

Biblical faith is not human belief. While men may tell you that and in particular the prosperity gospel, it in fact is not so. Let me show you what the bible says.

Gen. 15:1 “I am thy shield.”
Deu. 33:29 “ the Lord the shield of thy help.”
2Sa 22:3 “He is my shield”
2Sa 22:36 Psa 18:35 “the shield of thy salvation..”
Psa 28:7 “The LORD [is] my strength and my shield.”
Psa 33:20” he [is] our help and our shield.”
Psa 84:9 “O God our shield.”
Psa 91:4 “His truth is my shield and buckler.” (protection)

God is a shield and faith in God becomes a shield of protection. When we take up the shield of faith we are taking up God’s protective covering.

Eph 6:16 Above all take the shield of faith.

Faith in this scripture is pistis in the Greek which means;belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same conviction of the truth of anything, in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.

In other word, faith in God is what protects us from the devil’s flaming arrows (attacks)

Jer 46:3 Order ye the buckler and shield , and draw near to battle.

What is faith? Heb 11:1 “Faith is………the “substance” The correct translation for this word is Hypostasis-substance which actually means foundation. So faith is our foundation. Foundation means -the substantial quality, nature, of a person or thing.

So faith is God’s nature and not human belief. All the man made faith in the world will not move a mountain but the faith of God…his nature, his person will indeed move a mountain. So when we take up our position in God’s protective covering then we can quench the fiery darts of the enemy. Human belief will never keep one safe and secure form Satan’s attacks. Sooner or later you will fall if you are relying on your own belief.

The bible says that Jesus is our foundation (1 cor.3:11,12 and 2 Timothy 2:19)

Faith (confidence in God based on relationship with him) is the foundation (God’s quality and nature) of things hoped for.

In the Greek, hoped is ….. elpizō which means to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence.

So faith (confidence in God based on relationship with him) is the foundation (God’s quality and nature) of things hoped for (waited on for salvation with joy and full confidence.)

Which obviously means having no doubt. If you have doubt and waver you probably do not have real faith but only human belief which wavers and is not fully confident.
So then

Faith(confidence in God based on relationship with him) is the foundation (God’s quality and nature) of things hoped for (waited on for salvation with joy and full confidence.) and the evidence of things

Evidence- elegchos (a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested.) not seen… blepō (to discern mentally, observe, perceive, discover, understand, to turn the thoughts or direct the mind to a thing, to consider, contemplate, to look at, to weigh carefully, examine.)

Here it is in a nutshell…. Faith (confidence in God based on relationship with him) is the foundation (God’s quality and nature) of things hoped for (to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence) the evidence (proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested)NOT SEEN. ( discerned, considered, perceived, examined ,tested)

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Now that we know what faith is let us discover where faith comes from. Romans 10:17 says “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Let’s take a look at the Greek translation for this scripture. Faith is Rhēma uttered speech of God.

So when we get a rhema or an uttered speech from God, which comes through hearing ( through revelation of the logos (written word) which can be received in different ways via the Holy Spirit such as dreams visions, revelation, inspiration)

This hearing ….comes from God. So in other words when we get a rhema then faith will come…God’s supernatural faith and not merely human belief. When you have this kind of faith you will not doubt no matter if the devil comes to you and tells you the opposite….you will know that you know that you know and no one can tell you otherwise…that’s real faith!

The bible says that JESUS is the author of our faith! Jesus is the Archēgos ( the chief leader, prince, example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer,)

And JESUS is the Finisher of our faith ! Jesus is the teleiōtēs (one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith)

Let’s put it all together now….. Jesus is the leader and perfecter of our faith (trust and confidence in God without any evidence seen) and comes from having received a rhema word from the Holy Spirit which is our shield of protection from God against all the attacks of the enemy.