posted by Truth In Scripture

March 19, 2012

  

There is an error, called the error of the wicked spoken of in our Bibles that we had best understand.  We need to know what this error is and the consequences of living a life believing in this error.  Many sheep have been led astray by the error of the wicked.  This is one way people fall away from the living God and end up right back wallowing in the mud immersed into and practicing sin.

The Apostle Peter ended his second and last known epistle to the brethren with a warning about the coming judgment of God (the Day of the Lord) and a call for us to remain steadfast to endure through many things.   These anointed words specifically named an error that was already spreading based on the twisting and misunderstanding of Paul’s letters to the early churches. 

2 Peter 3:17 Beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with THE ERROR OF THE WICKED

This error has become so widespread and so egregious after 2,000 years of apostasy that those clinging to the error of the wicked are by and large the people at the top of our religious organizations.  Error has crept in unawares and the doctrines that conform one to godliness and holiness have been lost in the resulting apostasy.   Peter reminded the brethren that we had to diligently pursue the peace and holiness to see the Lord.  In referring to the writings of Paul, Peter assures the brethren they speak the same gospel yet indicates that Paul’s writings were being twisted by those holding to this error of the wicked.

2 Peter 3:14-16 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

It is beyond this post to get into all the perversion of Paul’s letter’s by wicked men; but let it be said, those teaching a God that only loves, a faith that is based on saying words with one’s lips and a walk of holiness that requires nothing from us (perverted grace) – embraces most of the false gospels that do not purge sin from the congregation and produce the double minded harlots serving both God and their flesh that the Apostle James wrote about.

The error of the wicked is the belief that one can continue in willful sin and remain in the love and hedge of God’s protection.  No, No, No.  This is an egregious error that will keep one from the blessings of God and ensure they receive the wrath of God abiding upon them. 

Wicked people = Sinful people

Wickedness is sin

Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.

Number 16:26 Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.

The error of the wicked is the perversion of God’s grace and His love to accommodate sinful lives and consequently not purging out sin.  All the warnings on deception warn the brethren of this one very wicked deception.  This is the most basic doctrine of a demon that has consumed modern day Christianity that is built by twisting Paul’s messages just as Peter wrote 2,000 years ago.   

This is not about sinless perfection.  I am not speaking about a mistake or a falling down in sin or even a new babe in Christ struggling to put to death the flesh as they are sanctified and purged of the power of sin in their lives.  I am talking about those that have rationalized sin and accepted it and keep on sinning willfully as the desires of Satan they want to do in their heart (John 8:44).  I am talking about those living, walking, talking and acting just like the world practicing sin with impunity without fear of the Lord and a total perversion of what the grace of God is all about.  We are to strive against all sin and to depart from all inequity;  otherwise we are not the Lord’s and believe in vain.  When we truly love God in our hearts,  we will hate sin and flee from it.  The things of this world, its lusts and its passions will not capture our hearts.  If and when we make a mistake we run to throne of mercy and grace and confess it to the Lord.  Wicked people love sin more than then they love God and they are not willing to give it up.  They are idolaters to boot.

God’s people are not supposed to be commingling with the wicked.  We are supposed to come out and be separate lest we too be partakers of their judgment that is poured out upon them. (2 Cor 6, Revelation 18, etc)

2 COR 6:14-16  Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?

How can we be so blind to the truth?  How can Paul’s epistles be so twisted to think we don’t have to deal with this problem called sin and worldliness?  It pains me to see many men of God compromise the WORD and only preach partial truths.  When they come to the passages that speak to the righteous judgment of God for sin, the wrath of God and all the warnings about being deceived over this very issue of willful practice of sin, they skip right over it.  If somehow those Scriptures such as Ephesians 5:5-6 are mentioned, they are explained away to keep people away from the fear of the Lord.  

Ephesians 5:5-6 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  

These pastors that skip over these clear teachings of Paul are either not appointed by God to preach or else they have placed their selfish ambition and interest ahead of feeding the flock the true unadulterated WORD (e.g. a hireling per John 10).  I hope they wake up and repent as they will endure a stricter judgment.  Wake up people.  There are a lot of very nice people that are teaching wickedness all in the name of God. 

The tickling of ears and building of reputations, names, ministries and buildings must stop.  We the Body of Christ do not get to decide who Jesus chooses and puts into His church.  We must sow the truth and let God decide when and to whom to give the increase.  The vast majority of organized Christianity has long ago departed from sound doctrine and has replaced truth with doctrines of demons.

1 Timothy 4:1  Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy

Hello we are living in these times my friends right now.  It is waxing worse and worse.  What is evil is now called good and what is good is now called evil.  Today is the day of salvation. 

I thank God for the epistles the Apostle Paul left for us today.  Those letters contain profound wisdom on heavenly things and the Lord Jesus Christ.  They speak of the immeasurable love God has for us in sending His own son to die while we were yet sinners.  Paul’s letters describe God’s plan of salvation and define for us the blessings and gifting the Lord has given to us to navigate the narrow path.  The new covenant of faith is clearly distinguished from the old covenant and the Law of Moses.  Yet at the same time Paul preached holiness, he preached the fear of the Lord and spoke of the wrath to come upon all who would pervert grace and practice sin, not walking in a true faith.  Paul called these fake “believers” hypocrites having a form of godliness.

2 TIM 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

We are embracing such people and calling that love.  In our apostasy we have perverted grace and we have certainly perverted love.  For those that claim fellowshipping with other brethren means to socialize and hang out and participate in their sinful deeds,  please go read 1 Corinthians 5 and tell me what secret meaning there is in this verse.

1 COR 5:11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

But we should know that God never changes.  Jesus is the same yesterday today and forevermore.  Wicked men have debased the Scriptures creating an image of God in their own carnal mind and the sensuality (feelings) of what their flesh desires.  This Jesus which is a false jesus, only loves people and does not bring judgment.  These wicked people never overcome sin or the world, they don’t even try as to do so would be ”works” that would make them a legalist.  LOL   The same teach others they don’t need too either and error compounds error and the tares are multiplied.  Sadly the truth is all around them and contained in the very letters of the Apostle Paul that they have blatantly perverted and used to create their false jesus and false gospels.

Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

The list of Paul’s passages that are omitted or explained away to justify sinful and worldly living are too numerous to list but here is a top of mind favorites from my perspective:  Eph 5:5,  1 Cor 6:9, Col 3:5-6,  Romans 6:15, Romans 8:13, 2 Cor 7:1 and Hebrews 12:14.

Jude wrote of these wicked men that had infiltrated and perverted the truth 2,000 years ago.  It has only waxed worse in these latter days.

Jude 3-4  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is not loving on wicked people that are willfully practicing sin.  Sure God is patient and He is merciful as Peter said not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.  Yet consider:

Psalm 7:11-12 God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked every day.
 If he does not turn back,
He will sharpen His sword;
He bends His bow and makes it ready.
He also prepares for Himself instruments of death;
He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.

Psalm 5:4-5 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood

The error of these wicked people is their foolishness to think one is saved from the wrath of God by the outward appearances and lip based profession of faith.  Those that believe this lie and practice rebellion to God’s word are already enduring the wrath of God.  The powers of darkness, the demons are already abiding upon them bringing judgment and stealing the truth out of their heart.  As Psalm 7 shows us above,  God sends the enemy with fiery arrows and sharpens His Bow to bring judgment upon the wicked.

Colossians 3:5-7 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

The wicked only become more wicked unless and until they repent.

Ezekiel 33:11 As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

I have come to see the God sent delusion that Paul spoke about not as some visual Houdini of a false jesus that gets people following the antiChrist.  I see this delusion being God forcing all who love sin (i.e. the wicked) to drink in judgment which makes them spiritually drunk and staggering in the daylight.

2 Thess 2:11-12 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

I believe Isaiah 29 tells us exactly how God uses false teaching and false teachers as judgment for those that love unrighteousness.  They will never ever be able to see or hear the truth unless the Lord is His mercy allows them to see it.  We must pray for these as we are all saved by grace and if you know what I am speaking about in this post, you too know how you were saved and that no man can boast.

Isaiah 29:5, 9-15 But the multitude of your enemies will become like fine dust, and the multitude of the ruthless ones like the chaff which blows away; and it will happen instantly, suddenly…..

Pause and wonder!
Blind yourselves and be blind!
They are drunk, but not with wine;
they stagger, but not with intoxicating drink.
10 For the Lord has poured out on you
The spirit of deep sleep,
And has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets;
And He has covered your heads, namely, the seers.

11 The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, “Read this, please.”

And he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.”

12 Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, “Read this, please.”

And he says, “I am not literate.”

13 Therefore the Lord said:

“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work
Among this people,
A marvelous work and a wonder;
For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”

I believe there is hope.  People can change, they can repent.  If God put it on my heart and put it on your heart, HE can do it to others.  We need to sow the good seed, the truth and love our neighbors as we would love ourselves.  If I was about to step into an eternal fire and be destroyed, I would hope someone would love me by warning me in a way I would give heed to the warning.  I pray all of us will be worthy to stand before the son of man and escape all these things that are coming upon this earth and the people of God.

Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man

I lived most of my life holding to the error of the wicked.  I thought I could continue in willful sin and as long as I believed Jesus was the son of God and died on a cross, I had already punched a one way ticket to heaven.  Thankfully the Lord had other plans and by His mercy did not allow me to stay in my delusion.  There is a rising attack on those preaching holiness and warning of the righteous judgments of God.  I hope you are not one of them and are stuck holding to this error of the wicked.