Heresy comes
from the Greek word ‘hairesis’ which means
discord, contention or a self-chosen opinion. It is the word used in 1
Corinthians 11:19, Galatians 5:20 and 2 Peter 2:1. In 1 Corinthians 11:19 and
Galatians 5:20, the word ‘hairesis’ from which the word ‘heresy’ comes from, is
used to connote factions within the body of Christ.. Any person who believes in
a heresy will go to Hell on that very grounds of believing in that heresy
(Galatians 5:20) for it is a sin of the flesh.
Heresies are “every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God”, and seek to stop people from “bringing
into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). As
long as a doctrine, ideology or philosophy seeks to exalt itself against the
knowledge of God, it is heresy. Peace, as opposed to disorder, comes from
knowledge of God. Thus, heresies lead to discord within the body of Christ
because they cause confusion about God, hindering a person from growing in more
peace in God which comes from and is the knowledge that one is being made right
with God.
Heresies can be discerned only through the
discerning power of God. As long as anything seeks to challenge God’s Word,
Character, Sovereignty, Power, Authority, Command, Nature, Will, Purpose, Design
or anything else about God, and claim to be true, it is heresy. It must satisfy
both of these tests:
- 1. Challenge to challenge God’s Word, Character, Sovereignty, Power, Authority, Command, Nature, Will, Purpose or anything else about God; and
- 2. Claim to be the truth
Heresies not only claim that God lied,
but that He is a liar. They are attacks on the character of God. As long as
makes any truth claim that is not the truth of God, it is a heresy for it
challenges God’s Word. Thus, the secularist who accuses God as unloving because
He allows suffering, and says there is no God, is a heretic. The religious person claims that God tells him
to kill people to carry out justice for God, is a heretic. Likewise, the person
who claims that humans have rights, especially when she says they come from
God’s grace, by that very claim is challenging the Sovereignty of God. This is
because rights can only be exercised by a Sovereign and He who can claim Truth,
that is God. Thus, she who says that humans have rights are saying that humans
are also Sovereign in their own right which is absolutely false.
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