The Gnostic Jesus, a Gnostic Christianity Eccl 3:15 That which is has already been, and what is to be has

already been; and God requires an account of what is past History has a funny way of repeating itself. As Christianity first began to grow, spiritual competition began to surface. As Paul, and the other apostles labored to build up the house of God which was to be the pillar and ground of the truth, the enemy also labored and bore the first competitor to the Church, Gnosticism. This was the first heresy that the church had to contend against. The old saying what crawls in one generation walks in the next. What we have emerging and synthesizing within the Church today is no different than before. Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat its mistakes. Its unfortunate that little attention is given to the early Church after the apostles. It was at this time that the challenges came into the body that prompted the church to explain its faith. As it was so it is again, Gnosticism has arisen in various ways to challenge us and the revealed Word of God and it is still alive and well in the year 2002. The person of Christ, the true Christian Gospel is again finding itself being distorted in the hands of those who think they have a greater revelation. The original Gnosticism that predated Christianity was a philosophical system built on Greek philosophy that taught matter was evil and the Spirit was good. According to the Gnostic world- view, the created order was evil, inferior, and opposed to the good. God created the first order, but each successive order was the work of anti-gods, archons, or a demiurges (a subordinate deity). These spheres are ruled by archons who guard their spheres by barring the souls who are seeking to ascend from the realm of darkness and captivity which is below, to the realm of light which is above. This was done by spiritual knowledge or experience, we identify it today as enlightenment. They taught a docetism which promoted a clear separation between the material and spiritual world. Some of the Christian Gnostics said since matter was evil God could not really incarnate in a human body He was not subject to any human experiences or feelings. The Christian form of docetism taught that Jesus body was not a real body, was really a (spirit) phantom. he only appeared in human form and only appeared to suffer, it was an illusion. Thus Jesus could be a pure spiritual being in the midst of an evil world and not be contaminated by it. Jesus only appeared to have flesh which denied his genuine humanity. They believed if Christ suffered he could not be divine, (this was an integral part of Gnosticism) because God cannot suffer. Instead the Bible says that God descended into sinful matter and took on human flesh, it was real, this they could not believe. You can see this error in the cults today when they refuse to believe the Bible teaches God became a man. And that the resurrection was a spirit body and not the flesh. The Bible teaches that the body that emerged from the tomb Sunday morning was the exact same body that went into the tomb except it was glorified.

The Bible term en sarki in flesh (2 Tim. 3:16) and became flesh (Jn 1:14), means Jesus is of a complete human nature, 100% humanity. 1 Jn.1:1-4. 1 John 4:2 says, that every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. John is writing after the resurrection, he uses the perfect tense in the Greek language that denotes a past action with continuing results into the future. Jesus came in the flesh, He rose in the flesh and is still in the flesh. Verse 3 then states, that every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. Those who deny that Jesus came in the flesh are of the anti-Christ spirit. This is one of the ways to discern a false teacher from a true one. But there are many other tests needed to be applied. If Jesus Christ is not presently in a flesh body in heaven then the integrity of His incarnation has been deprived. Then one would have to concede that he is no longer incarnate and he has no flesh today, we would then have no true resurrection, no mediator or high priest. This would mean that 1 Tim. 2:5 is not true there is one mediator between God and man, the MAN Christ Jesus.. When you have someone deny this doctrine indirectly such as Creflo Dollar or Kenneth Copeland who says Adam in the Garden of Eden was God manifested in the flesh (Following the faith of Abraham #01-3001 Audio side 1). Or the Mormon Brigham Young who says Adam is our father and God. (Brigham Young, Deseret News, 6/16/1873). It is denying Christ was the only God in the flesh, substituting another creature. This is the denial that John addresses every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God for it is an exclusive statement to mean Him alone as the only human who is also God. (Christ having two natures 100% God and 100% man ). You dont have to deny it directly, but can take away from this one time incarnation by adding another. Then there were others who denied he rose physically like the Jehovahs Witnesses do today, or the Institute of Divine Metaphysical Research. They claim he rose as a spirit no longer needing his body. Biblically He as God came in the flesh and rose in the same flesh, yet it was transformed to an eternal flesh body, not a spirit one leaving the flesh behind. The early church was adamant on this. Justin Martyr (A.D. 100-165) said plainly: The resurrection is a resurrection of the flesh which dies. As for those who maintain that even Jesus Himself appeared only as spiritual, and not in flesh, but presented merely the appearance of flesh: these persons seek to rob the flesh of the promise. Justin even insisted that Christ's ascension shows that it is possible for flesh to ascend into heaven. This means that this would include the rapture of which many cults deny. Tertullian declared the resurrection of the flesh to be the church's rule of faith, saying it was taught by Christ and only denied by heretics. In Against all Heresies Chapt.4. Cerdo, Marcion, Lugan, Apelles It states A resurrection of the soul merely does he approve, denying that of the body. He reinstated in heaven His spirit only. This man denies the resurrection of the flesh.

Gnosticism is a Greek term which relates to a special kind of privileged knowledge that is not common to all but to chosen ones. A Gnostic is a `knowing one'. (Gnosis means to know, we are familiar with the word agnostic - one who claims not to know). The Gnostics supposedly had knowledge of God that was exclusive, that another did not have. They considered themselves superior to the average Christian. The Gnostics taught that man is composed of body, soul, and spirit. The body and the soul are man's earthly existence, and evil. Enclosed in the soul, is the spirit a divine substance of man. This spirit is asleep and ignorant; it needs to be awakened and liberated by this special knowledge. (This teaching is also found in Caballa.) To the early Christian Gnostic salvation came by knowledge and experience, not by the Word of God. Those who did not have this knowledge were associated with ignorance. It was through esoteric truth they received direct revelation from the Spirit which was more important than the Word. Instead real spirituality according to the Bible promotes humility rather than pride. The Christians had the Scriptures. But Knowing God through a a written book was considered Head knowledge and insufficient for a spiritual life. The Gnostics offered experiential knowledge, the deeper things that came from the spirit. Pastor Bill Randles in his book Mending the nets puts it this way, The Gnostics were impatient with the standard Christian teaching regarding the knowledge of God. It was just too simple and pedestrian. Good enough for uneducated peasants, slaves, and the disenfranchised people who made up the bulk of the Christian converts in the first century (see 1 Cor. 1:25-26), but orthodox Christianity was far too plain for converted philosophers and intellectuals! Think of it this way. Do you know God? How do you know Him? Have you ever seen Him? Have you ever heard His audible voice? Have you gotten beyond the Scriptures into a deeper intimacy with God, or are you still on the level of mere head knowledge? You say you love Jesus, but have you ever seen Him? Are you still waiting for Him to come and rescue you in some kind of an escape plan? (Pastor Bill Randles, Mending the Nets p. 9) So what does this have to do with today, you may ask? Everything. The New Age movement which is Gnostic in its origin and mystical in its practice, has had a tremendous influence on the world and even the church. Its a blend of many esoteric methods to discover truth and live a freestyle spirituality. But it also has its presence in the Church and many are completely unaware what kind of Christianity they are practicing. They need the tools to distinguish and identify it. But the Church has never been an island by itself on this counterfeit spirituality. It has today, as it once did, come inside the Church. There are numerous epistles that address this ancient heresy that is now having a revival. Writers of the New Testament condemned many of the Gnostic teachings. There are numerous epistles that address this ancient heresy that is now having a revival. Paul emphasized a wisdom and knowledge that comes from God and does not concern itself

with idle speculations, angelic visitations, fables, and a amoral lifestyle (Col. 2:8-23; 1 Tim. 1:4; 2 Tim. 2:16-19; Titus 1:10-16). Paul addresses the Gnostic influences in portions of Colossians as a direct threat to Christ being our salvation and His being sufficient in all things. To overcome the indulgences of the flesh The Colossian Heresy taught a false philosophy, which denied the all-sufficiency and pre-eminence of Jesus Christ (Col. 2:8). When he wrote that in him dwells All the fullness of the deity bodily it was a rebuttal against the Gnostics. Ethical behavior among the Gnostics were on two ends of the spectrum. Some tried to separate themselves from all earthly evil in order to avoid contamination, other Gnostics were libertians. The spiritual knowledge meant having the freedom to participate in all sorts of indulgences. Since they had received divine knowledge and were enlightened, it didn't matter how they lived in the body. In its place they promoted Judaic Ceremonialism, attached special significance to the rite of circumcision, with the observance of special days (Col. 2:16-17). Asceticism which called for harsh treatment of the body to control its passions (Col. 2:20-23). 1 Tim.4:1-5 the forbidding of meats and marriage was even then found in early Gnosticism in their ascetic practices to purify the body. The denial of the flesh went to extremes. The teaching of demons was developing as well as spirits masquerading as the spirit of truth communicated to man by offering him superior knowledge beyond the Scriptures. This can be easily recognized in the new age movement under its practice of channeling or the old fashion sances. But can we recognize it when it takes place in the church? The apostle Paul explains they had revelation from angels (messengers) and they even went to the extreme and worshipped them (Col. 2:18), as they took delight in things they had not seen through vain imaginations, receiving visions that taught them. The Gnostic Carpocrates taught ...At every sinful and infamous deed an angel is present, and he who commits it ...addresses him by his name and says, `O thou angel, I use thy work! O thou Power of such and such, I perform thy deed!' And this is the perfect knowledge, unafraid to stray into such actions whose very names are unmentionable. (Quoted in Spirit Wars p.174 Peter Jones) Stories of angelic revelation that counter the word of God makes up a major portion of new revelation today. When Duplantis went to heaven by an angel he describes seeing the Father and Jesus I asked that angel, now, you know, kind of a dumb question. I said, Where's the Holy Spirit? The angel tells him hes on earth. Today people have angels appear and give numerous messages about peoples future, their ministry even about their city. We can hear similarities of the early Gnostic pursuits as certain men teach what will be in the future. In 1987, Jesus promised dramatic angel manifestations were going to increase in the church to Kenneth Copeland and that many will have visitations from the spirit realm.

Jesus also told Copeland A time is coming when there will be manifestation of angels more than usual, more than there has been in the past. Many of you are going to witness for yourselves the angel that has been put in charge and in command of your ministry and your life. Many of you are going to have visitations from the spirit realm. Many of you will have divinely appointed visions and dreams... Suddenly, you will be standing in that [spiritual] country, and suddenly you'll deliver a message and then suddenly you'll be brought back in your kitchen again. Oh, I have some outstanding things, saith the Lord. Kenneth Copeland, (Take Time to Pray, Believers Voice of Victory, February 1987, p. 9.) Rick Joyner states Angelic appearances will be common to the saints and a visible glory of the Lord will appear upon some for extended periods of time as power flows through them (Rick Joyner, The Harvest, 128-129). Benny Hinn says a similar thing, The angels of heaven are about to appear in visible formthe angels of the Lord are about to invade planet earth and come to your house and literally open the prison doors like they did with Peter. (Benny Hinn Honolulu Blaisdell, Jan.21, 1999). All this detracts from the uniqueness and sufficiency of Christ (Col. 2:18), as it shifts the focus off of Christ onto other experiences and other beings. Pauls solution was Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly the word is the revelation of Him who is our sufficiency, and the Holy Spirit accompanies the Word He wrote. It is Gods word that we are to know this is where the power of the Spirit is. There is not need to anticipate encountering angels when we are focused on Christ, especially receiving power or revelation from them. In Johns gospel and in his epistles, he countered heretical teaching that also included Gnosticism. John concentrates on it the most in his Gospel-- that God actually did become flesh. Every second letter in the Scripture is to counter a false teaching that has crept in and challenged what was already taught, so it was necessary to write another letter. I John directly confronts the Gnostic influence. This became a serious issue even after the apostles, as we read numerous refutations of the Gnostics by the early church fathers that were theologians and apologists. Some of the more important ones are Irenaeus, Against Heresies; Hippolytus, Refutations of All Heresies; Epiphanius, Panarion; and Tertullian, Against Marcion. Irenaeus (A.D. 130200), who had firsthand experience of Gnostic teaching, called those who blaspheme the Creator agents of Satan( Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.26.2). Hippolytus, in a graphic description of certain Gnostics who called themselves the Naasenes (from the Hebrew nahas, snake) or Ophites (from the Greek ophis, snake), who were worshipers of the serpent. Because they received secret knowledge as the serpent offered to them what he offered Eve in Genesis. Much like the Mormon church teaches today, that the Serpent making man fall gave him the opportunity to be a god.

Iraneaus took the time to research and read their writings and spoke with them became their greatest opponent debating them. He wrote, These men falsify the oracles of God and prove themselves evil interpreters of the good word of revelation. They also overthrow the faith of many, by drawing them away, under a pretense of [superior] knowledge, from Him who rounded and adorned the universe; as if, forsooth, They had something more excellent and sublime to reveal, than that God who created the heaven and the earth, and all things that are therein (Iranaeus, Against Heresies, Book 1). This certainly can fit into the genre' of today's Christianity. The Gnostics thought that one must directly experience the spirit to learn the truth, this being apart from the word. Stepping over into the supernatural, experience becomes the teacher and gives them real knowledge. What was and is now being taught is spirit to spirit communication that is completely outside the Biblical revelation given by the apostles. There were many facets to Gnosticism and we can find its echoing sound inside the churches walls even today. The Gnostics did not employ the mind. In a video from May 1994, Rodney HowardBrowne laid hands on a woman and encouraged her to Step over, step over, step over, step over into the realm of the supernatural. Step over out of the realm of reason into the realm of glory. Another time he said, (get out of your minds step over into the realm of the spirit of God.) This is an encouragement of Gnosticism. Who would encourage a person not to think analytically? When you hear to put your mind on hold; ignore reason; step over into some kind of supernatural realm it is promoting mysticism, and contradicts everything Scripture teaches about true spiritual knowledge and discernment. We cannot learn Gods truth without using our mind. We are one unit this is why we are told to love and worship with all our heart, strength, mind and soul. Where can we identify its practices inside the church today? This Gnostic Jesus was poured out in the new wine by Rodney Browne who began to rise to prominence in the early 90s, Benny Hinn inaugurated him at one of his meetings telling him to release the anointing of laughter on the people. (the laughter anointing just occurred at Hinn's meeting in Hawaii Jan.11 2002) For a Gnostic to ascend to commune with the perfect invisible God. Bordering on the macabre the master would lead the disciple in a prayer-chant of long vowel sounds and nonsense words: Zoxathazo a oo ee o0o eee o00o ee 00000000000 00000 uuuuu 000000000000 000 (p.33 Gnostic Empire Strikes Back, Peter Jones). The Gospel of the Egyptians, has the imperishable name: Ie ieus eo ou eo oua! Really truly, O Yessus Mazareus Yessedekeus, O living water, O child of the child, O glorious name, really, truly, aion o on, iiii eeee eeee oo oo uuuu oooo asaa {a}, really, truly, ei aasa oooo, O existing one who sees the aeons! Really, truly, aee eee iiii uuuuuu ooooooo, who is eternally eternal, really, truly, iea aio, in the heart, who exists, a aei eis aei, ei o ei, eo os ei . . . Thou art what Thou art, Thou art who Thou art! (Nag Hammadi Library, 204).

In the Kabbala unveiled is a chart with 72 names of angels angel 12 is hho angel 26 Haa angel 71 Hil --when the name of these deities are combined with the tettragrammaton in the 4 worlds of the Kabbala. Angel 41 haha angel 62 yaha angel 71 haiai. And when the name of these are spoken they sound very similar to what was going on in Rodney Browne's services as he preps people to laugh and has them drink in the new wine. Browne's chant Fill, ho ho hehe fill... haha haha hehe fil ho ho fill heha fill huho fill hahha fill hehe hahahaho. (ad infinitum) Whether he is aware of this is unknownl, but it does bring the results desired. It was this mantra that many learned to repeat in these meetings that made them incoherent intoxicated from the new wine. The body heat would increase paralysis would set in much like one experiences in Kundalini yoga. Even in Kundalini yoga the fifth located in the throat has a sound vibration of HA (Bernaed Gunther Energy Ecstasy p.22) The guru can touch chakra points on the forehead and the stomach to pass along the power to the recipient. Is this all coincidence or are there real powers working through all this? They certainly have been with the gurus and others into other religions and spiritual practices. The Gnostics used allegorical interpretations, spiritualizing literal meanings in the Scripture. There was an inner and an outer meaning to the Scripture (such as Rosicrucian's, and Masonry practice). Literal method of interpretation was abandoned and in its place was hearing and interacting with the Spirit alone. They received direct revelation from the Spirit which was supposed to be superior to the Word. Spirits masquerade as God or Jesus all the time. A Voice that was supposed to be Jesus spoke to Dr. Helen Schucman, a Jewish atheist and psychologist in 1965 in A Course in Miracles, that is an illusion, and sin is the illusion that separates us from our own innate divinity, our own godhood. This voice said to Forget your dreams of sin and guilt and come with me, the denial of the Cross is evident if there is no sin, Jesus Christ as Savior becomes meaningless. Echoing the Gnostics her Jesus declares, It is impossible to kill the Son of God. This spiritual knowledge was revelation that brought salvation to the Gnostics. K. Copeland states The Spirit of God spoke to me and He said, Son, realize this. Now follow me in this and don't let your tradition trip you up.' He said, 'Think this way--a twice-born man whipped Satan in his own domain.' And I threw my Bible down...like that. I said, 'What?' He said, 'A born-again man defeated Satan, the firstborn of many brethren defeated him.' He said, 'You are the very image, the very copy of that one.' I said, 'Goodness, gracious sakes alive!' And I began to see what had gone on in there, and I said, 'Well now you don't mean, you couldn't dare mean, that I could have done the same thing?' He said, 'Oh yeah, if you'd had the knowledge of the Word of God that He did, you could've done the same thing, cause you're a reborn man too. (K. Copeland, Substitution and Identification, K. Copeland Ministries, 1989, audiotape #00- 0202, Side B)

Notice God is saying if you had the same knowledge you could have defeated Satan in hell. It wasnt that Jesus was the chosen one, the Christ, but that we all are what he is, we just need this knowledge and we can do all that he can. This was exactly what the Gnostics taught in the early church. Benny Hinn who is the ultimate example of Gnosticism with a Christian covering explains his new revelation knowledge on the rebirth of Christ in hell: My, you know, whoosh! The Holy Ghost is just showing me some stuff. Im getting dizzy! Im telling you the truth-its, its just heavy right now on meHes [referring to Jesus] in the underworld now. God isnt there, the Holy Ghost isnt there, and the Bible says He was begotten. Do you know what the word begotten means? It means reborn. Do you want another shocker? Have you been begotten? So was He. Dont let anyone deceive you. Jesus was reborn. You say, What are you talking about? He was reborn. He had to be reborn, If He was not reborn, I could not be reborn, Jesus was born again. (Benny Hinn, Our Position In Christ, Part 1, Orlando Christian Center, FL. 1991), videotape #TV254.) Notice he says don't let anyone deceive you, insinuating this is absolute truth. Jesus was reborn just as we were. This is crucial, was Jesus reborn when only sinners need to be reborn again. Because ones spirit that is dead to God and they have no relationship with him there is the necessity to have the new birth. There are literally hundreds of examples such as this one in Hinns ministry. Hinn's ministry is operational by Gnostic type revelations of God said, the spirit showed me. In a similar fashion to the word faith teaching the Gospel of Thomas, begins by saying: These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down . . . Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death." In other words if you really know these words, then no sickness or death will befall you. This extreme can be found in the latter rain teachings as some have taught they will become immortal Today we have a new gnostic awakening that is taking place all over the Christian Church!! It is being called various names such as revival, renewal, even transformation, the power of God but it is far removed Scripture and no different than the Gnostic doctrine once practiced early on. We need to comprehend the extent of this gnostic influence today: Seeing it for what it is will help you withstand the deception that is now taking place. But you must see it for what it is or you will be carried away by it. I do not see any more middle ground on this issue, it will increase even more. In the Gnostic view of spirituality has man ascending to different levels, which it fostered a spiritual superiority through receiving visions, revelations, communications with angels, insight by God speaking directly and giving unknown doctrines; regularly in long conversations with its participants and giving doctrines that are not found in the Scripture.

We have heard the argument that the man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument This is what we are confronted in Mormonism, no matter what objective proof is shown to a Mormon, they rely on their subjective burning in the bosom experience and ignore what the Bible states as objective truth. Beliefs and systems of thought came from personal experience but this does not mean they are from God or of the truth. For those who have begun to practice their Christianity like this, it becomes very difficult to make sense to them why it is wrong. Because they cannot understand the truth from the word, they are unable, incapable to read or hear the word in its correct interpretation, its always outside the Biblical context and meaning. It means only what they want it to mean and that is subject to change at their own whim. Instead they have trained themselves to look to an experience and feelings to validate what they perceive as the truth. They can no longer follow logic through to its conclusion because they are not intellectually attentive, and the words that we are familiar with do not mean the same thing to them. Today we are told that we are going into higher levels by numerous movers and shakers of the new wave of the spirit: having Christ and his spirit is not enough one must come into greater experiences of the spirit to be with what is happening in the new thing. Normal worship is not enough, there must be power to shake the heavenlies and destroy Satan's strongholds. We must come to a new level to have power to do signs and wonders. This is Gnostic talk. Levels were never associated with Christianity but they were of Gnosticism. There is no one who has these levels incorporated into their theological position than Rick Joyner who speaks of levels of anointing. He believes the church is moving into a new level. he explains, There will be a. special anointing present for commissioning, confirming commission, imparting spiritual gifts, and stirring up again spiritual gift that have been dormant for a time, 'There will be a special anointing released for mobilizing the army of the Lord. and 'There will be an impartation of strategic vision ... to boldly march against the greatest strongholds of our time ... This army of which Joel speaks is about to be revealed ... They will take cities. They will burst through the enemy's strongholds and take houses (families). The very heavens and the earth are about to shake because of this great army ... the time has come. (The Morning Star, Prophetic Bulletin, August 1994) In his the book the Final Quest which is all about his vision Joyner describes himself ascending the multilevel Holy Mountain, above lower levels' of truth with which other Christians are content with such as Salvation, Sanctification, Prayer, Faith, etc. these are the lower levels. As he climbs, the mountain he learns new truths, gets new weapons and is at a greater vantage point to kill the Vultures and other demonic creatures that are coming after him. He even meets an angel called WISDOM, who teaches him to rise to the third heaven and this angel we later find is Jesus.

Wisdom which is Sophia the Greek word for wisdom was adored by some, and the church of Santa Sophia (Holy Wisdom) was built in Constantinople in the 6th century. Remembering that the Gnostic ascent is to discover the Christ-spirit within, read this quote from the book the Vision. Where wisdom tell Rick Joyner You are still lacking something very important. You must yet have a great revelation of the King. Even though you have climbed to the top of the mountain, and received from every truth along the way, and even though you have stood in the Garden of God, tasted of His unconditional love, and have seen His Son many times now, you still only understand a part of the whole counsel of God, and that only superficially. The Lord dwells within you. You have taught this many times, but now you must live it, for you have eaten of the Tree of Life. The angel then began to lead me back to the gate [out of the Garden of Paradise]. I protested that I did not want to leave. Looking surprised, the angel took me by the shoulders and looked me in the eyes. That is when I recognized him as the angel, Wisdom. You never have to leave this garden. This garden is in your heart because the Creator Himself is within you. On p.43 I then looked past him to the Tree of Life. I had a compulsion to grab all of the fruit that I could before leaving. Knowing my thoughts, Wisdom gently shook me. No. Even this fruit, gathered in fear, would go bad. This fruit and this tree are within you because He is in you. You must believe. Yet the Word of God tells us another story. It says that, with the Holy Spirit as our Guide not an angel who reveals secrets we can know what God has revealed through His Word. We do not need to discover inner wisdom by some esoteric route. Climbing up levels of knowledge to have greater revelations. So what are we to make of all this? In the Gnostic Empire Strikes back by Peter Jones a Christian refuting the Gnostic teaching he says this experience is the way to perfection and knowledge. Gnostic believers are saved when they realize who they are-a part of the divine; possessing within themselves the kingdom; capable of anything; and untrammeled by human traditions, creational structures, or divine laws. p.26. Theosophist and Anti Christian Joseph Campbell, in The Power of Myth, explains the ascension to mean that Christ has gone inward . . . to the kingdom of heaven within. (Douglas R. Groothuis, The Shamanized Jesus, Christianity Today, April 29, 1991, 20.) There is a fine line between the truth and error in all this. If truth is to be found within, it can be found anywhere, so long as it agrees with the subjective experience of a Gnostic. Irenaeus observed: they adduce an untold multitude of apocryphal and spurious writings, which they have composed. Some of the Gnostic documents are Letter to Rheginus, Treatise on the Three Natures, Apocalypse of Adam, the Gospel of Matthias, Acts of Peter, and Acts of Thomas. The

Apocryphon of James, The Acts of Peter, the twelve apostles, the treatise on the resurrection, three editions of the Apocryphon of John with the creation story reinterpreted. In the early church there were so-called infancy gospels that were written to fill in the details of the early unrecorded years of the life of Christ. The Birth of Mary, a work written in the middle of the second century; The Protoevangelium of James, written about the same time; the first Gospel of Infancy, composed about A.D. 400; which narrates the birth of Mary to innocents. Theses were stories circulating at the beginning of the second century all the way through the fifth century. These works include stories of Jesus forming clay figures of animals and birds which He makes walk, fly, and eat. Another account has a child who runs into Jesus falls down dead. These examples and representative of the fanciful nature of the accounts. It has been proven that Muslims have taken these stories from these apocryphal writings. It was the apostle Paul who warned in Galatians chapter 1 if we or angel from heaven brings any other gospel, they are accursed. Notice that he includes he himself among the we as the apostles, making the point that anyone can find themselves removed from the truth if they do not hold fast to the truth. They, the apostles held themselves to a higher standard. So even a witness of Christ in the early church can be subject to this. There were three categories of writings in the early centuries the Greek words were Homologumena, Antilogumena, Notha. Homologumena = all books accepted by the entire church east and west. Antilogumena= books accepted by some of the church these were disputed books because they were not familiar with them, but they were accepted later. Notha= writings claiming inspiration but were false. There were false books circulating by authors who claimed to be an apostle or penned an apostles name to them. Many of them were Gnostics, they were considered false because it contradicted the writings previously delivered. They as the church had to make judgments on so-called writings. Today its no different we have to make judgments; except these are in books, tapes, videos and crusades. All these are to be compared to what is already delivered. We're to discern and recognize who are true teachers and false teachers ... Believers are to use discernment -its a command and if you are not looking to discern, your being disobedient. We dont make a judgment on the power or experiences they give, but by what they teach. Gnosticism is even found in prophecy where one can hear a voice that can be inaccurate. The reason is because we must move up to a purer level.There is a prophet named Bob Jones who was told that the general level of prophetic revelation in the church was about 65% accurate at this time. Some are only about 10% accurate, a very few of the most mature prophets are approaching 85% to 95% accuracy. Prophecy is increasing in purity, but there is a still a long way to go for those who walk in this ministry. (The Prophetic Ministry, Rick Joyner- Morningstar Prophetic Newsletter. Vol. 3, No. 2, p. 2). Is the

church is too immature to bear 100% accuracy in the prophetic ministry at this time? I wonder how they handled this in the Old Testament times if they did not have to be 100% accurate? God has not changed his standard for truth has He? The Old Testament tells us if someone prophecies wrong even once we are told by God not to listen to them. Unfortunately people listen to them and not to God. All these Gnostic concepts are coming in by those who call themselves new prophets and apostles, they are the modern Gnostics in the church. Copeland recently in word faith church here in Hawaii addressed Islam and Sept.11, 2002 and said something outrageous even for those who follow his new revelation. Consider this statement, But There are going to be multiplied millions upon millions theres going to be close to a billion people that have been trapped in that religion, that over the next few months are gonna to come into the kingdom of God. Thats gonna happen, you watch and see what Im telling you (cheering) (Word of Life Christian Center Honolulu Hawaii, dedication celebration service, evening service, Dec.2, 2001.) This is just plain negligent to say, its a false hope based on his imagination. Now it has already been a 2 months lets give him 1 more to see how accurate he is. But I want us to consider how he arrived at this. He heard a voice? Benny Hinn has recently said that Government of Iran will topple soon, well theres probably no guesswork on that possibly happening, considering how unstable it has been. But he then goes on to say that God told him that the Muslims in Iran Iraq, and Saudi Arabia will mostly become Christians and he said it is happening already. I beg to differ, Im hearing more people are becoming Muslim sympathizing for them, this I hear from honest pastors they have lost numerous members to Islam since Sept.11th. Paul says in Col.3:16 to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly He makes us wise to what is written not beyond it. This why Paul gives the warning in 1 Cor. 4:6 that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. This means No new revelations for doctrine. But these men and many others are all about revelation. God supposedly spoke to them, yet Benny Hinn can actually say to those who follow him that God doesnt speak to us by voices we hear, he speaks to us by His word (Blasdell Honolulu Jan.10, 2002) How can he say this when his whole ministry is built upon things God spoke to him outside of the Scripture? Because those who are under his spell do not pay attention, they dont care if what he says counters the word of God, because they are not familiar enough with the Word of God to discern wheat from chaff. This also includes so called pastors. Some other examples of modern Gnostics, D. G. S. Dhinakaran an Indian evangelist of Jesus Calls ministry travels into the spirit world regularly, and describes many spiritual realities, which are recorded in his book, (not the Bible). Sometimes I have seen Jesus discussing the events that are happening in this world with His apostles in heaven. On Benny Hinns program he explained how he spoke to Paul, Peter and the God the Father in heaven (where else would this be accepted.)

From this experience he is now able to say that God does not do anything in this world without informing His prophets. He uses His chosen people like me to announce His acts to the people. When someone puts themselves in the place of authority like this, it is the doctrine that is spoken of in revelation --the Nicolaitans, that can control people by what they say. People who spiritually live by their dreams and visions are mystics, Gnostics. This breeds a superior spirituality, when real spirituality makes one humble and willing to lift up others. This false spirituality makes one think they are never spiritual enough until they have the same experience. Consider Jesse Duplantis who went to heaven among the many things he sees is God's finger barely move and an angel that was flying near Him was thrown up against a wall. His heaven was missing the Holy Spirit because He is secluded on earth. He sees little babies wearing nightgowns singing and flying around God's Throne that look like they came out of the breath of God. He believes they were new souls who came from the thoughts of God. And hears them saying to God, Can I be a spirit? Would you send me to the earth so I can be a spirit? I want to be a redeemed person. Can I be a spirit? (Heaven Close encounters of the God kind p.119). So we have Babies who are not spirits yet talking and want to be sent to earth to be a human. Looks like you no longer have to go to the Mormon church to get this kind of false teaching, its right here in books and on Christian TV and churches if your going to listen to people like this your just throwing your Bible away, (maybe thats what they want?). Not surprising that it is the Kabala, a Jewish mystical book that teaches that the soul is pre-existent, before conception (The Kabalah, page 17) Or we can look at Dr. Robin Harfouche another who went to heaven who says pain is a spirit, she learned this directly from Jesus when she went to heaven and Jesus walked with her and talked about any things. He told her that this spirit of pain is the open door to disease, the spirit of pain comes first, then the second thing that comes is the disease. Anyone who knows anything about the body and sickness knows this is not true. Especially with cancer. If you have pain it may be too late. Pain in cancer is a symptomatic working silently. So the Jesus that took her on a tour of heaven does not know the human body, science or medicine that he Himself created. One can only wonder where these people are traveling to. These are all examples of Gnostic and mystical type adventures in the spirit realm. They have little to do with the Bible and the Jesus who wrote it through the apostles. Trips to heaven are dime a dozen today and people will buy the books up. It doesnt seem to matter whether its from the Mormon Betty Eadie who ravished the secular world with her book Embraced by the light, or someone claiming a trip to heaven or hell with Jesus for the Christian illiterate. They love stories beyond the Scripture that was written by the hand picked apostles of the Lord. In the style of Bennys Good morning Holy Spirit Jesse Duplantis discussed on Hinns program on just one of his private conversations with God the creator of the universe, started off my day with the lord and said 'Lord Lord how you doing today. Its going to be a great day. And I noticed the lord wasn't acting right, cause I know God, you know

when your child is not felling good, right. Hinn, right! You know when something, you may not know what it is but he wasn't acting right for lack of a better term. I know God I know him and I know the fulness of his presence , and I know him. And I said something wrong. And this is what I'm saying, it wasn't with me. And then it hit me, I said Lord you had a bad day? Now watch this (whenever faith teacher says this you need to pay careful attention, here it comes) I said and he said Yea my children have been disobeying me then it dawned on me. I said somebody hurt you today, I said lord I don't ever want to hurt you anymore so lord Im going to cancel all my appointments and all this stuff that we call ministry and I'm gonna sit here and I dont know how to say this God for a lack of better term, till you fell better. Cause so many people hurt him that day Lord I said I'm just going to bless you I'm gonna praise you I'm gonna just call your name. And it dawned on me and the Lord went Thank you Jesse. (Interview-This is Your day, B. Hinn Feb. 2,000) This is has all the elements of gnosticism-- to have a private revelation by conversing with God, the content is not in the Bible and certainly contradicts the God of Scripture. Consider the concept of God having bad day! It appears God becomes more human than we are. Jesse is going to console God for everyones elses disobedience. God is called the God of all comfort, He sent to us Himself, the Holy Spirit who is the comforter for us. But now He needs comfort because hes bummed. And he gets his comfort from Duplantis of all people! God does not need anything to sustain Him, not food, water, air to breath. He does not need help or comfort from anyone else. Our help comes from the Lord he does not need any help from man least of all Duplantis. Thepeople who do this, as far as Im concerned, are in competition with each other with their new revelations. One of the major figures of the Theosophical movement, Alice Bailey, made an astute prophecy in 1957: The coming struggle will emerge within the churches themselves....The fight will then spread to thinking men and women everywhere who, in a protesting revolt, have denied orthodox churchianity and theology. This was a prophecy that I see coming true today with the modern Gnostics that call themselves apostles and prophets. Another New Ager Marilyn Ferguson: An increasing number of churches and synagogues have begun to enlarge their context...now the heretics are gaining ground, doctrine is losing its authority, and knowing is superseding belief. The radical Center of spiritual experience seems to be knowing without doctrine ... the teacher does not impart knowledge but technique. This is the 'transmission of knowledge by direct experience. Doctrine on the other hand, is second-hand knowledge, a danger' (The Aquarian Conspiracy, Marilyn Ferguson, Pages 371, 377.) I believe you can see this clearly in the ministry of Benny Hinn where its all about the anointing he dishes out that will flatten you on the ground, make you laugh, shake or just act foolish and think your being touched by God. The recipients of the apostles letters had the Scriptures. Knowing God through a book was considered Head knowledge, it was inferior to the early Gnostics and it is today to

the modern Gnostics! The teachings of the apostles was not sufficient, the spirit was the revelator for the new knowledge by experience. Those who hear Gods voice through the Scriptures are accuse of worshipping a book called by some bibliolatry. But any voice that teaches outside the Scripture, and is not finding its source in Scripture-- will lead one away from the God of the Scripture. The book is to lead us and keep us in correct understanding and in the will of God. His word works with the Holy Spirit. Today there are subtle ways in which the Scripture is demeaned by the Gnostics and elevated in its place are new unscriptural interpretations and concepts. For example, 2 Corinthians 3:6 is used that The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life, allegorized to mean that Scripture is a dead letter and what the Spirit is saying now what is important. In the God Chasers, Tenney writes indicative of this viewpoint A true God chaser is not happy with just past truth. He must have present truth. God chasers don't want to just study from the moldy pages of what God has done; they're anxious to see what God is doing. He is talking about the Bible compared to what is happening as revival today. This is Gnostic in its approach, belittling the Word and exalting a personal revelation, one supposedly received from the Lord above the Word. But this is not what the Apostle Paul is writing Paul is making a distinction between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. The old (the law) brought death, whereas the new brings life through the life-giving Spirit. The letter (the law) killed because no one was able to keep it. It made us guilty, while the New Covenant sets us free from the condemnation of the law. The law was fulfilled in the only person who could have fulfilled it, the God/man Jesus Christ, the person who was all the word and the wisdom of God became flesh. The faculty of Wagner Leadership Institute is said to be made up of mature and successful apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers of whom Jack Deere is listed under Division of Power Ministries. Jack Deere was once a teacher in a famous Seminary and he is also famous for Surprised by the spirit book is under, here is the direction they are leading the church in. You know Im gonna look up every reference to teaching in the Bible. so I just punched it in my computer concordance, looked up every single reference 'taught, teacher, teaching,' every single reference in the New Testament and its astounding. Did you know not one time, not one time does it say that Jesus taught the Bible?.. isnt that interesting not one time does it ever say that. It says He taught about the kingdom, taught about God, preached the Gospel of the kingdom, and the Good news. Not one time does it ever say He taught the Bible ...Well I thought Im going to look it up for the apostles so I looked up all the references with the apostles and did you know that with only one possible exception, it never says the Apostles taught the Bible?... (National Schooll of the Prophets: Jack Deere Mobilizing the Prophetic office May 11, 2000 11:30 AM tape #3) It may not say these exact words but one only has to read to see that Jesus began His ministry by quoting Scripture And He began to say to them, Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing (Luke 4:21). Jesus always quoted the Scriptures as the final source of authority (Matt. 22:29 32; Mark 7:9,13).

He used such terms toward the religious leaders as It is written, (repeated 92 times New Testament), have you not read? (Matt. 12:3; 12:5; 19:4; 21:16; 42; 22:31), search the Scriptures (John 5:39), is it not written in your law? (John 10:34; Luke 10:25) You err, not knowing the Scriptures. The apostles appealed to the Bible as well. And there are too many examples of quotes being explained from the Old Testament for anyone who has read the Bible to take Jack Deere seriously, Jack Deere You err, not knowing the Scriptures! This is a willful deception on his part. To a Gnostic the Bible can be spoken of as inspired, inerrant, infallible-- but not the final authority, Satan will not allow this because Satan wants authority. When it comes to a spirit speaking, or dreams and visions, or there experience of the spirit, the Gnostic will always allow them to have a greater place, and be the final authority because they disregard the Written word-- it is experience that counts. As a matter of fact most who call themselves charismatic involved in this movement would probably agree with the antichristian philosopher Joseph Campbell who said, I don't have to have faith, I have experience. We can see how dangerous this is now. It is challenging the very words of life Jesus gave to live by, it is the same spirit that went to Eve in the Garden and said, has God said?
Getting down with the Gnostics

Any time you have correct doctrine presented alongside the false, you're going to have division occur. Paul states clearly in Romans 16:17 Those who teach contrary to the teaching that has been given through the Apostles and Prophets, are those who are causing dissensions and conflicts. The only way to find this out is to side with the Scripture and use it to legally examine those questionable teachings. It's NOT those who are teaching sound doctrine, who are teaching the truth of the Word of God that are divisive. Rather it's those who teach contrary to the Word of God, contrary to what has been revealed by God in the Scripture. Today some have made it either the Spirit or doctrine, but it is not either or, they work together or not at all. When you see people do and say what no one has in the history of the church, and change the meaning of Scripture by teaching us to look for a new revelation from the spirit instead of the Scripture; thats Gnosticism. Gnosticism began to flourish in the second century as competition to Christianity, but proto-Gnosticism had begun before the first century. Over the centuries following Christ it has surfaced in many different forms but we are now faced with the challenge face to face. The Holy Scriptures are challenged as the completed revelation of God to mankind, continual revelations still occur to those who hear from God. All ideas have consequences when practiced. Right Biblical doctrine expounded in the Scripture conforms us to be in right relationship with Christ, wrong doctrine has us look

elsewhere. The Word is very clear in how we are to approach or spirituality. When left unchallenged these new practices redefine our Christianity. It can come from a book, a tape, a meeting but you will leave with a new paradigm. How we learn the knowledge and truth of God is crucial to understanding whether we are in the faith or have new way to practice our Christianity, removing us from the true faith.

The enemy not only wants to change Christianity but remove it from the earth, he does this by having us neglect or deny the written Word. Gnosticism is a natural alternative as many are already predisposed to hearing voices longing for more revelation. Interpreting the Scriptures allegorically or by personal revelation from the spirit can change the meaning of what is written. A voice heard from within or audibly that is put above the Scripture or used to interpret the Scripture can easily persuade someone into another view. We often hear God told me this, God told me that, when in fact it could be there own soul or spirit or something else. Certainly God can speak to us, He is alive and well, but when the voice speaks concerning doctrine or practices and gives new meanings, we must question it. Irenaeus describes the vision of Marcus the magician who sees the Supreme Tetrad descended from invisible, unnameable places in the Pleroma in female form to reveal to him something never before revealed to God or man, who he really was and how he came into being. The similarity to Marys appearances giving extra- biblical revelations cannot be overlooked. But it doesnt have to be a she it can be an angel or a former saint like Elijah who Benny Hinn said came into his room and because off this visitation had a double anointing come into his ministry. Gnostic Christs By denying Jesus came in the flesh the Gnostics had a Jesus of their own imagination and in its place of his unique Christhood was a personal Christhood for each. There are numerous old manuscripts available with reference to Gnosticism dating back to the early Church, they provide important insight into the teachings and influence of gnosticism on the world and in particular, the Church. These were numerous apocryphal writings that wrote where the Bibles gospels left off. They named them gospel and added whosever name they wanted it to be from. The Gospel of the Egyptians, The Gospel of Truth, The Gospel of the Twelve, The Gospel of Philip, The Gospel of Judas, The Gospel of Bartholomew, The Gospel According to Mary, The Gospel of Nicodemus, and The Questions of Bartholomew. There were many others without the name gospel in them. In the Christian Gnostic writings they all had Scripture passages with just a twist in them. The common denominator: the Bibles doctrines were reinterpreted into a mystical view. Then there is the gospel of Thomas. That has been made famous today by the liberal Jesus seminar that denies almost everything Jesus said.

From the opening verse: These are the secret words which the living Jesus spoke, and which Didymus [the twin) Judas Thomas wrote. In the canonical Gospels (Matt. 16:16), Jesus asks the question who do you think I am, and Peter one of his disciples the proclaims, You are the Christ the son of the living God, Jesus states this truth came from his Father. In the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, the living Jesus confesses that the disciples are Christs. Something that counters what the Father revealed to Peter in Matthews Gospel. In Gospel of Thomas, Thomas comes to comprehend that he is the spiritual equal of Jesus, his identical twin brother, Thomas is the true apostle whom every true Gnostic must follow. In the Gnostic Gospel of Philip You saw the Spirit, you became spirit. You saw Christ, you became Christ. You saw the Father, you shall become Father. (Gospel of Philip) But one receives the unction of the [...] of the power of the cross. This power the apostles called the right and the left. For this person is no longer a Christian but a Christ. (Gospel of Philip). While the language and terms may be different today, they all arrive at the same place. We can see this same view held by the religions and sects that had a new revelation. Jesus is no different from other men. (Divine Principle and its Application, Moonies (HSA-UWC, 1968), p. 75.) It is far more important that men should strive to become Christs than that they should believe that Jesus was Christ. (Mystic Masonry, by J. D. Buck, p. 62). May this manifestation lead you to see each other as the gods you are (Maitreya Message 13 Feb. 1982) ...Jesus became what all of you must be. ...Is he the Christ? O yes, along with you (The Course of Miracles pp. 83-84). This concept is alive in other religions in competition for true Christianity and it finds itself a resting place inside the church at large as well. Are you ready for some real revelation knowledge....you are god (Benny Hinn, Our Position In Christ, tape # AO31190-1) Christians are little messiahs (christ). Christians are little gods. (Benny Hinn Praise-a-thon (TBN),11/90, Our position in Christ, tape A031190-1) Elizabeth C. Prophet Who headed up the Church Universal and Triumphant Saint Germaine being the patron saint(or Christ) said, So you become like your elder brother, who was the Anointed One, Jesus, the Christ.' If you are to ascend to the heart of God, you must do so by first ascending to the level of your Christ Self (The Lost Teachings of Jesus, pp. 241-243). Elder brother is from Mormon teaching and held by other Mystic groups. The Gnostic learns through direct revelation and experience of the Spirit. The ultimate Gnostic revelation is that you discover God within, or Christ in you (individually), or that the Divine Spark dwells within each one of us. All of this, in whatever form, is a rehash of Satan's Lie to Adam and Eve in the Garden. For example, Kenneth Copeland brings the concept of the Gnosis out clearly as he explains, We are partakers of the divine nature. Well, now, you don't have a human, do you? You are one. You don't have a god in you. You are one. The Gnostic revelation YOU are God. Ive got an old revelation for you, we aren't God, never will be! We not equal to God in any manner; never have, never will be. He created us, and He alone is the object of our Faith, and we are to obey him.

Some teach we're in the God class, having the faith of God. Ive got a revelation for you, we aren't God, never will be! We not equal to God in any manner, never have never will be. He created us, and He alone is the object of our Faith we are to obey him. God has made us as much like Himself as possibleHe made us the same class of being that He is Himself! (Kenneth M. Hagin, Zoe: The God-Kind of Life (Tulsa, OK: Kenneth Hagin Ministries, Inc., 1989), 35-36, 41. The idea that man is a little god, small g or created in God's class of being is Gnosticism, rehashed and revitalized in a different package. The present gospel of Gnosticism is that, though Adam and Eve and all of us, were created in God's class of being, when man sinned, he fell below the God class from which he was first created. Jesus came to redeem us and restore us back to our rightful dominion, as little gods. Creflo Dollar echoes Hagin as he states on Ps.82 Now, notice what He says here, Ye are gods small g. You are gods? Somebody says You trying to say were gods? No, Im not trying to say were gods. He already said it. But what I want to know is Lord, how can we be gods? And He answers it in the next phrase. Because you are the children of the Most High. See if you are truly a child of God, if you were born out of God, you got to be a part of the God class. I know Im not God. But Im a child of the Most High. Hey, glory. And Im a part of the God class (Our Equality with God Through Righteousness 1/21/2001) Gnosticism's appeal to the spiritual seeker is that God can speak to apart from Gods word. This can come from without or within. What makes this interesting is that people hear a voice believed to be God, giving them a revelation to confirm a extra biblical teaching. Everybody wants to be in the knowing and this can be traced back to the Garden and mankind's first encounter with a spiritual being other than God. The first couple were offered enlightenment and equality with God, through a forbidden knowledge. Satan offered the secret by a whisper (this too was a quiet voice) you can be like God. After one is trained in the gnosis they see everything differently this is why Kenneth Copeland can say, When I read the Bible where He says, I AM, I just smile and say, Yes, I AM too. Where does the wisdom of man who is a creature made by God from the dust become a God come from? Madame Blavasky, who died in 1891, but whose writings are held in high esteem in the New Age Movement, attributed true spiritual knowledge to Satan. The appellation Satan . . . and Adversary belongs by right to the first and cruelest Adversary of all other gods-Jehovah; not to the serpent which spoke only words of sympathy and wisdom .... The Great Serpent of the Garden of Eden and the Lord God are identical .... Satan, the serpent . . . is the real creator and benefactor, the Father of spiritual mankind. For it is he who opened the eyes of Adam. (Helena Blavatsky, The Secret doctrine vol.3 p.386) Here we have the concept of Masonry, Mormonism and all other religions that contain an illumination which reject the true God and His word. A Voice heard that you put above the Scriptures to govern your life, would certainly not lead you to what God said but away from it. Simon Magus a magician in Samaria (Acts of the Apostles 8:9) the people said had the great power of God. He professed conversion and was the first to propose this idea of Oneness teaching. He stated that there was only

one person in the Godhead. The twist was that he was that person. Claiming to be the Father in Samaria, the Son in Judea, the Holy Spirit in the rest of the nations (from John Gill, sermons and tracts vol.3 p.513). He was denounced by Peter for trying to buy the Holy Spirit to have the power he had seen Peter possess (called the sin of simony today). To believe in Simon was enough for salvation, and no further requirements were needed from his believers to be saved. Simon announced the world would eventually be destroyed, but his believers would be saved from the dark forces which govern these lower planes. The followers of Simon were said to cast out demons, handle snakes, laid on hands on the sick for healing, and perform various magical rituals. This is why seeing what someone does as miraculous cannot justify they follow the truth. Gnostic proselytizing The effect on the average Christian has them question whether they have been taught the word correctly. It makes them want to pursue a new course where they follow these teachers of the gnosis because they want to be spiritual like them, they want to hear from God in a special ways. They want to have visions and the power to do miracles as Christ's. All ideas have consequences when practiced. Right Biblical doctrine conforms us to be in right relationship with Christ, wrong doctrine has us look elsewhere. The Word is very clear in how we are to approach or spirituality. When left unchallenged these new practices redefine our Christianity. It can come from a book, a tape, a meeting but you will leave with a new paradigm. How we learn the knowledge of God, the meaning of the core doctrines like faith, salvation, how we pray, and numerous other facets of the true Christian life can become redefined by the Gnostic view; when put in practice our Christian faith has been changed. An example: to the Gnostic redemption is not the transformation of the old creation by God's grace through a new spiritual birth. It is a new understanding that comes from a spiritual experience. Now dont get me wrong Im not against experiences when they are Biblical but we have need to qualify them by the Scripture before we go running off thinking its God. Today this is called a new paradigm, or critical mass, both of which are new age terms. With some of the language and teaching today one could almost assume that these Gnostic letters are being read and practiced. Kenneth Hagin states it this way, "One almost has to bypass the brain and operate from the inner man, which is our heart or spirit (Right and Wrong Thinking, Rhema, 1986, p.27). This is the opposite of what the Bible recommends, it never says to operate from our heart by itself, which is deceitful, but from Gods Spirit and Word. There are those who propose new teachings and tell us to leave the old behind for the new? The current trend of revelation is operated by dreams, visions and prophecies that entice numerous believers away from the objective truth found in the already revealed Word of God (the old). The new truth is subjective and its merit is accepted on experience. While experience may be a good teacher at times, it cannot be a correct teacher of truth in and of itself. This is why it is not the Word of God plus, it is the word of God period.

The Gnostics assumed to give the Holy Ghost as a seal the candidates against the attacks of the archons, they were driven away by the sweet odour which is above all things. The balsam was supposed to have flowed from the Tree of Life, which was mystically connected with the Cross; the chrism is in the Acta Thomae was called the hidden mystery in which the Cross is shown to us. Much like what is offered today with having this new anointing it will keep Satan away from you and your family. There were many gospel letters that were rejected as authentic. Many of the Gnostics were prolific writers and convinced people of their revelation by the weight and manner of their words. Among the many Gnostic gospels there were three Valentinian gospels: The Gospel of Thomas which was brief sayings of Jesus, the Gospel of Philip had sayings and esoteric revelations, and there was called the Gospel of truth which was similar to Johns but had a metaphysical slant. The Gospel of Philip, taught for one to go beyond spiritual into perfection, the sacrament of the Chrism (anointing) was necessary, which is superior to baptism. For this reason, it is fitting to baptize in the two, in the light and the water. Now the light is the chrism. there was the water anointing and the fire anointing. It goes on to say He who has been anointed possesses everything. Doesnt this sound vaguely familiar; a new and fresh anointing, a fire anointing. Translated in today's genre it is called the (New) anointing! Contrary to this the Bible teaches we as Christians are already anointed and complete by it. The real matter is our giving up ourselves over to Gods will and ways to be filled with the Spirit. He needs more of us, then we will have more of Him. Today for one to get the anointing they must come to a certain preacher to receive it (and often give a good sum of money). What does the Bible have to say about this? John uses the word anointing 3 times in Jn.2:20, through 27. The gift of the Holy Spirit (who by the way is God) leads the believer to be in the knowledge of the truth found in the Word, and give us power to live it. The Spirit helps us to understand the truth of Jesus' teachings and when someone understands Gods word they can apply it, walk in it and reap the benefits. This anointing is God himself, and is now for everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, it is not for an exclusive group of leaders. This anointing is our seal (Eph. 1), being in Christ makes us all anointed. There are not some anointed and others not. The Bible does not say go to this preacher or that one to receive it. No apostle ever said Im anointed, or suggested to come to him for the anointing or more of the Spirit. There is no special anointing mentioned for any apostle. The New Testament writers understood what it meant to be anointed in Biblical terms, today its another story. They recognized the same anointing was to the whole body of Christ, they never said they possessed a special anointing: 2 Cor. 1:21 Now he which establishes with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God; Who has also sealed us, and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Those who are established in Christ are anointed together having the same spirit. It is this

same anointing John refers to in 1 John 2:26-27 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide (remains) in Him. John tells us this anointing abides or remains with us v. 27. He is continually with you as he first began. This anointing we have already received, He is in us. The anointing teaches us that we are not to look to any certain person to be our only teacher or imparter. The Holy Spirit is the umpire making us discern what is spoken as true because he makes us understand Christs words. The anointing protects us from false teaching, because we are letting the Holy Spirit teach us from the Word. Do not quench the Holy Spirit by putting off judgment. Why do people keep coming back for more of this experiential anointing? It was a temporary experience not from God. The Holy Spirit who is the anointing is to lead us into truth, to Gods Word and point to Jesus Christ-- not anything or anyone else. I want the ancient anointing the one that doesnt corrupt, fade or take my mobility or thinking away. Our Faith The faith once and for all time delivered to the saints' is a Faith which is both Christ and Logos centered. Today many make a distinction between logos as the written word and rhema as the fresh word of God a word with power. This is a form of Gnosticism; they are making a dichotomy between the two. Logos is used in the New Testament as an utterance just as Rhema is used as an utterance and it is used as a command used in a revelation. It is used for the words of Jesus, as well as the words from the Father, the prophets, the apostles, the angels, and the church members. No Word of God, whether logos or rhema, is devoid of power. As Hebrews states, the word of God is living and powerful-and this word is the logos. But when spoken and accomplishes what it says it is called the rhema. The world was created by the Word, which is the logos of God. The Logos is the Word of God used from Genesis to Revelation. All the books of Scripture are the Word; Jesus Christ (John 5:39). By reading the logos from Genesis to Revelation you can receive all the spiritual revelation you need about God and His promises. As you receive knowledge and understanding about God, you receive faith. In John 1 the Word that is God is not rhema, but logos. In James 1:18 it says we were begotten by the Word of truth (logos). So there is absolutely no justification for regarding the rhema word as superior to the word logos. Especially a fresh, new word outside the Scripture. When our spiritual walk and understanding are guided by fresh words from the Lord and so called anointed revelation, we become dependent on particular men and meetings. Instead, we should be fostering our personal walk with the Lord through a

more sure word, by the Scriptures, which Jesus said is life itself. Our faith that was delivered to all the saints comes from His Word, God speaks to us by His Son (Heb.1), it is written down for equal access to all. Our faith comes from hearing the Word of God, the logos, not a Spirit with another word outside Scripture, that some may call the Rhema. So what do we do? If the roof is leaking do we keep on changing the rug? No, we need to fix the leaks in the roof and keep the rug. Its time for those who call themselves Christians to stand up for the truth, otherwise you find that you will soon be sympathetic with the Gnostics. Then you will be sitting down with them, the next step is you will be practicing Gnosticism. If you do not resist this wind of doctrine you may soon find yourself becoming a Gnostic new ager.