Hebraic Musing – Are there Heresies that are Distracting Us from the Truth?
Churches and
religions of today have many ways to avoid the whole truth by accepting false
teachings about Jesus. Jesus warned us
in three Gospels – “See to it that no one
misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and
will mislead many.” Matthew
24:4-5, Mark 13:5-6 & Luke 21:8 What
are some deceptions that have crept into mankind’s theology? Here are nine Heresies to consider. (NKJV references)
Adoptionism – AKA Dynamic
Monarchianism holds that Jesus was adopted as the Son of God at his
baptism, his resurrection, or his ascension.
This early nontrinitarian theological doctrine is derived from the
account of Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:17 from which they’ve concluded that Jesus
was adopted by God the Father. And suddenly a voice came from heaven,
saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Another reference they use – “For to which
of the angels did He ever say: ’You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And
again: ‘I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son’” Hebrews
1:5. And Monarchianism similarly believes
God the Father is superior, above Jesus, so Jesus is not divine.
Apollinarianism – is a
Christological heresy proposed by Apollinaris of Laodicea (who died 390AD) arguing
that Jesus had a human body and a divine mind/soul; not a rational human mind.
Arianism – is a heresy
declaring that Jesus is not truly divine but was only a created being.
According to Arius (4th century), God
alone is immutable and self-existent, and the Son is not God but a creature
with a beginning. This Mormon and
Jehovah Witness teaching focused on Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. It teaches that God the Father created Jesus
before all else was created, but not divine. So, while Jesus is the son of God, He is
neither eternal nor as fully divine as God the father.
Docetism – AKA Gnosticism
is an early Christian doctrinal heresy affirming that Jesus did not have a
real or natural body during his life on earth but only an apparent or
phantom one based on an underlying belief that all material things are evil,
and all spiritual is good. So, for Jesus
to be good, He must not be human. Philippians 2:5-8 NIV says – …Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to
be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And
being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to
death—even death on a cross! So, Jesus
cannot be both physically human and also be spiritually in the Godhead.
Monophysitism – refers to Christians
who believe that Jesus’ nature remains altogether divine and not
human, even though he has taken on an earthly and human body with its cycle
of birth, life, and death. So, they believe
that Jesus looked like a man, but really was God. He never took on humanity, thus never was
human. Hebrews 4:15 is their supporting
scripture - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with
our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Psilanthropism – is a belief
that Jesus was always a man, never a god. He was only a mere human being. This is the typical modern liberal viewpoint
of modern liberalism.
Sabellianism – AKA Modalism believes
there are three ''modes'' or ''aspects'' of the same god instead of
being three persons in one. Instead, God
has three modes of operation, and they are exercised one at a time. This is contradicted by John’s account of
Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:16-17 in which all three persons are present. When He had been baptized, Jesus
came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him,
and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting
upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying,
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Tritheism – AKA Polytheism
is the belief that they are three distinct gods as in Mormonism and Hinduism. The
Greek and Roman cultures were accustomed to multiple gods with varying levels,
ministries, and missions; so for them, it was natural for a polytheistic
interpretation to fit their existing cultural way of thinking.
Points
to Ponder
How
many heresies do you recognize creeping into teachings you’ve heard?
How
many have exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped
and served the creature rather than the Creator? (Romans 1:25
“Do not be
carried about with various and strange doctrines. Hebrews 13:9
Yosef
a.k.a.
Joe Brusherd December
12, 2023
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