What the Bible says about Jesus

The True Light "In him, (the Lord Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world,…the world didn’t recognize him." John 1:4,9.
The Good Seed and the Weeds The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seeds in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. Matthew 13:24,25.

Friday, September 1, 2017

MP3 Audio File Update to "The Joshua Tree"


UPDATE: Now you can listen to the complete recording of "The Joshua Tree" ebook 
To read the "The Joshua Tree" text 
thanks to a true and excellent work of love, cooperation of my good friend Walter Cameron (c.) Whitaker who graciously lent his vocal talent and skill. 
I want to first and foremost thank my Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit´s  inspiration for the birth of a seed planted in my heart in 1988 as I was pondering at the way His providential hand had guided me all my life. That seed that was birthed in a simple thought of a lost man walking in a desert grew throughout subsequent years of further learning experiences and the inspiration from the Word of God into this spiritual journey that I am finally able to share with you.

I also want to express my gratitude to all the "Joshua Trees" examples and models who helped me and blessed me by letting the Truth, the light and the life giving Lord Jesus grow and manifest in their own life, the fruits of love, abiding in Him and serving others faithfully in words and deeds where He planted them. If you are reading this you know who you are!


Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." I Samuel 7:12.
Link to the MP3 audio file.

                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God (Genesis 21:33). 
Here is old Abraham just planting a tree and living by his well. Why are we told this? It is symbolic of what is taking place in his heart and life. The tree immediately brings to mind Psalm 1, which says the man of God will be like a tree planted by rivers of living water, bringing forth its fruit in season. Here is a life that is fruitful, that is concerned about those immediately around and is pouring out blessing into their lives and hearts.

Abraham calls on the name of Jehovah, the Eternal God. If the church desires to do anything to help this poor, blind, bleeding, struggling world in which we live, it will only be as Christian people rediscover what it means to live daily in the strength, the power, the purpose, and the glory of calling upon the Eternal God.
This is what writes joy in our hearts, joy that the world is so vainly seeking to find. Abraham found joy, and thus he was the center of blessing to the land of the Philistines. In finding and rediscovering those springs of spiritual strength, he did more to advance the cause of social justice and welfare in the land of the Philistines than any of their programs and plans could have done. 


Excerpt from Ray Stedman´s devotion. Continue reading "This Thirsty World"

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Mercy, Forgiveness and the Ways of God - Revised and updated


Mercy, forgiveness and the Ways of God
Written and published by Jean-Louis. 12/2012. Revised 2017

This reflection follows my train of thought in a previous post on forgiveness and restoration.
 http://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2017/08/intercession-and-heart-of-god-when.html

The basic text is found in Isaiah 55: 8: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and "your ways are not my ways”

1. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
As an interpretation of this statement of God by the mouth of the prophet, I've always heard that man is so much inferior to God that he can in no way be compared to him. This being true, I do not think that this is the primary meaning or intent of this passage. The usual statement´s application covers any condition and any situation that baffles human understanding and prevents any further action or probing because of the transcendental nature of God. 

A closer analysis of the whole context in the preceding verses and the previous chapter show that God here is teaching by analogy a very important lesson on forgiveness and the resulting effects of the demonstration of compassion, mercy and grace, attributes of His divine nature. The way I understand it,  He is saying that whereas man would exact payment for food and water and work for wages, God gives freely and graciously if wicked man would turn to him and receive pardon. Whereas man in his natural state would not forgive wrong done to him and retaliate, seeking revenge, the Lord is compassionate and forgiving. So, to this extent and in this sense, it is true that man is unlike God. It reveals more about the pettiness of man´s spirit contrasted with the magnanimous, compassionate loving heart of our merciful Heavenly Father.

First notice the order. The verse begins with the Alpha, the beginning, the initiator of everything good and holy in our lives.

It is my understanding that this verse does not mean that man is unable to think like God because man as a new creature, born again by the power of the Holy Spirit has the indwelling Spirit of Christ as Paul says in I Corinthians 2: 12-16:
12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.[c] 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”But we have the mind of Christ.” For a more detailed, concise explanation of what it means to have the mind of Christ.
     
2. "And your ways are not my ways.”
In the first part of the verse, the contrast between the OT and the NT scriptures is obvious and clear. On the other hand, the second part speaking of the ways of the Lord presents a word order in the reverse, beginning with man and his ways.

Psalm 103: 7 states that: "He made ​​known his ways to Moses." But "he made ​​known his deeds to the son of Israel." "The Jews require a sign," Paul declares in I Corinthians 1:22.

To me, the verse in Isaiah 55 simply means that man in his natural state as a sinner would not forgive an offense against him. Rather he would seek a means of revenge for expressing his resentment, bitterness and anger.

An example of these attitudes and intentions of the heart occurred very early in the history of man. Genesis 4:23 tells us how a descendant of Cain, Lamech, known for his jealousy, anger and murder of his brother Abel, boasted of his intention to avenge an injury by the death of his opponent and that he would be willing to take revenge seventy-seven times.

Contrast this malicious intent in the heart of a wicked man with the Lord Jesus´ answer  when Peter asked how many times we should forgive our brother who has offended us. Here is the beginning of the parable of the unmerciful servant "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21,22. NIV
 

While man since the dawn of time has sought revenge, the Lord God full of compassion and forgiveness has reconciled us to himself through the sacrifice of his Son, the Lord Jesus-Christ. It is He through the operating power of the Holy Spirit who gives us the will, the courage and the strength to seek reconciliation and to forgive those who offend us. The Lord does not ask us to do whatever He commands us without giving us specific instructions, clear explanations and strength to do His will.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Romans 15:5-7.
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
 (NIV)


Understood that way, the Lord reveals the chasm between sinful man and a Holy God and provides the only way to ford the distance between the two by the power of His word in His covenants and promises. This way is found throughout the whole Bible as being the Lord Jesus-Christ, the Word of God.

Revelation 22:12,16,17 sets the final stage:
12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man [g]according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things [h]for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

In Isaiah 55, the Lord alone extends an invitation to the sinner hungry and thirsty for real spiritual bread and water because of His mercy and compassion for His rebellious wayward children.

Now, it is at the end of the time of grace, the church age, that finally the bride (the church) and the Lord Jesus (who is the spirit of prophecy) both in one accord reiterate the invitation to those who hear and desire to come and share of the heavenly banquet.
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and [i]from the holy city, which are written in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with [j]all. Amen.

Jean-Louis.

Monday, August 21, 2017

In my Father´s Garden

In my Father´s Garden
Composed and published by Jean-Louis Mondon 

As the golden dawn was announcing  a new day
My Heavenly Father, the Master Gardener
Woke me up from the morning mist
And invited me for a light walk

Let´s go down to my Garden, he said
Together we will stroll where the air exhales
His sweet subtle calming fragrance
Splashing with resplendent light
The foot paths in diaphanous tones

Together in sweet communion
We will walk rejoicing on this earth
Your blessed home, granted to you
My good and beautiful creation

There I will show you a most exquisite flower
One that grows and blooms
Turning towards the sun, matchless love
Of my beloved Son, Jesus your Lord

The soft soothing warmth of the rays
Emanating from His eyes filled with goodness
Beckons the poor in spirit and humble at heart,
Touching and healing even the most broken

The fragile beauty of its essence
Never fades into forgetfulness
But dying to self will be transformed
Into good and lasting fruit
For the flowing spring of the water of life
That feeds it never, ever runs dry.

Making Connections VII: The Master Race (Pastor Charles Lawson)

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

In The Name of Purpose: Sacrificing Truth on the Altar of Unity

Republished from http://www.inthenameofpurpose.org/index.html
by Tamara Hartzell, 2006

"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see,
and ask for the old paths, where is the good way,
and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.
But they said, We will not walk therein."

~ Jeremiah 6:16 ~
  

"Today's Christianity may be having a lot of fun in its new way of thinking and behaving, but this isn't a game. Eternal souls are at stake, and the departure from the faith is real. Jesus Christ is being presented as a way of relativism rather than as the way and the truth, and the faith is being presented as an ever-changing method or experience that can be inserted into any faith." (In the Name of Purpose, p. 385)

Simply being a Christian does not automatically immunize us from deception. Scripture's numerous warnings are meant to be heeded. If Christians couldn't be deceived, then the Holy Spirit would be wrong about those who will "depart from the faith" (see 1 Timothy 4:1).

Sadly, this departure from the faith will be so great that the Lord Jesus Christ asks us to consider whether He will actually find faith on the earth when He returns (see Luke 18:8). Since Christians today are trading in the truth of the faith for interfaith unity and are falling for the false gospel of the (New Age) New Spirituality that says all religions are equally valid paths to God, it's no wonder the Lord Jesus Christ asked this.
The universal religion with its spiritual transformation is not coming; it is here. The Angel of light's kingdom is gathering together "all men of peace" from "every world religion" "as the embodiment of the emerging Kingdom of God on earth."* In this emerging interfaith kingdom there is:

  • "One Truth," yet many theologies;
  • "One God," yet many paths;
  • "One Church," yet many expressions; and
  • "One Divine Life," yet many 'little Christs.'
Despite its deceived claims that its message hasn't changed, today's Christianity is embracing the teachings of the counterfeit kingdom. As a result, it is being steadily transitioned away from Jesus Christ, the Rock of Offence, to the universal "Christ" who broadly accepts people within all religions/faiths. Its purposeful pursuit of unity with the world truly is uniting today's Christianity with the world.

"The religion of the future will be a general converging of religions in a universal Christ that will satisfy all ... In the end, it is hoped that the Christian will become a better Christian and each Hindu a better Hindu." —Jesuit theologian Father Jacques Dupuis, at the 2003 interfaith congress "The Future of God"*
"The Christ has no religious barriers in His consciousness. It matters not to Him of what faith a man may call himself." —Alice Bailey & Djwhal Khul*
"I happen to know people who are followers of Christ in other religions." —Rick Warren*
"He ['the Christ'] inaugurated the new era and ... the new world religion began to take form. The word 'religion' concerns relationship ..." —Alice Bailey & Djwhal Khul*
"I have known many people who believe in the Messiah of Jesus, regardless of what religion they are, because they believe in him. It's about a relationship, not a religion." —Rick Warren*
"The day is dawning when all religions win [sic] be regarded as emanating from one great spiritual source; all will be seen as unitedly providing the one root out of which the universal world religion will inevitably emerge. Then there will be neither Christian nor heathen, neither Jew nor Gentile, but simply one great body of believers, gathered out of all the current religions." —Alice Bailey & Djwhal Khul*
"I thought, you know where people are moving in they probably need new houses of worships, temples, and synagogues, and churches, and stuff like that." —Rick Warren* "The church is bigger than any organization in the world. Then you add in Muslims, you add in Hindus, you add in all the different religions, and you use those houses of worship as distribution centers, not just for spiritual care but health care." —Rick Warren*
"I could take you today to a million villages ... they got a church. Or they got a synagogue. They got something. They got a house of worship. The church is the biggest organization in the world.... And I came up with a thing called the P.E.A.C.E. Plan. When Jesus sent the disciples out, he said, 'When you go into a village, you find the man of peace.' Now this person doesn't have to be a Christian.... You find the person of peace, and then you begin to do the P.E.A.C.E. Plan ... Now why am I telling this to you? Because we're going public with it this next year in 2006.... And I believe it will change the world." —Rick Warren*

Yes, change is the order of the day.

Truth becomes the sacrifice:

  • when absolutism is out, and relativism is in;
  • when obedience is out, and pragmatism is in;
  • when teaching is out, and dialogue is in;
  • when thus saith the Lord is out, and consensus of opinion is in;
  • when using Scripture to judge right and wrong is out, and unity with tolerance at all costs is in;
  • when the narrow way is out, and the broad way is in.
While Christians have slumbered, the new way of thinking and acting has been built up underneath the old, leaving the old to crumble virtually without notice.

   
It used to be that faithfulness to God
turned the world upside down.
 
Now faithfulness to the world
is turning Christianity upside down.
 
For more information, In the Name of Purpose: Sacrificing Truth on the Altar of Unity is presented on this site as a free e-book. (It is also now available in print through Xlibris.) Presenting numerous quotes, this book documents the unscriptural path of the Purpose-Driven Paradigm, which is culminating in Rick Warren's interfaith P.E.A.C.E. Plan.
Among others, the book includes quotes from Rick Warren, Ken Blanchard, William Easum and Thomas Bandy, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Neale Donald Walsch, Alice Bailey and her spirit guide Djwhal Khul, as well as quotes from Scripture, A.W. Tozer, Charles Spurgeon, Warren Smith, Ray Yungen, Chuck Baldwin, Paul Proctor, etc.
If you are led to help pass on the information contained, this e-book may be linked to as well as freely distributed (without alteration). See the Book Contents page of this site for the various options in opening the e-book.
*For these quotes and their endnotes see In the Name of Purpose (PDF), pp. 185-187, 202, 232-233, 260-262, 273, 367.

     
Posted February 2008:
  
Are You "Being Led Away with the Error of the Wicked" to the New Age Ark of Oneness?
 
(Click here to download in PDF format.)
 

NEW - posted December 2012:

"Reimagining" God:

Turning the Light off to Look for "Truth" in the Corner of a Dark Round Room

by Tamara Hartzell



From the Author's Note to the Reader:

Despite the absurd belief that dispensing with the truth of God's inspired Word is a move toward God, this way of thinking simply could not be any more backward. This way of thinking has already moved today's Christianity "forward" in its faith to the doctrines of devils found in the channeled teachings of occultists and New Agers. And these same doctrines of devils that are already embraced as "God's truth" in today's Christianity comprise the emerging faith that will bow down to the devil's Antichrist and take his mark. Will you be one of them? I pray not. This day is rapidly emerging on the horizon and will be here much sooner than you think.

Many in today's Christianity are succumbing to the darkness of this new way of thinking. Many in today's Christianity are succumbing to the emerging faith of the Antichrist. Many in today's Christianity will bow down to the image of the beast and take his mark. That's right, in today's Christianity. Are you certain that you will not be one of them? How scriptural is your faith? Does your faith come from inside or outside the "box" of the Word of God?

The mission? Oneness. The path? Darkness. The door to it all? "Yea, hath God said ...?"


"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."
~ 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 ~

"And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to
blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell
in heaven.... And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship
him whose names are not written in the
book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
If any man have an ear, let him hear."
~ Revelation 13:6, 8-9 ~



(Click here to download this free e-book in PDF format. It's a large file that can take up to a few minutes to fully appear.)
This book has been printed as two books, Volume 1 (consisting of Parts 1-5) and Volume 2 (consisting of Part 6), and are available directly from Amazon. To order Volume 1 click here, and to order Volume 2 click here.

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Update to the Poison of False Teachings

An international perspective on global spiritual contamination
 by Jean-Louis Mondon

A few years ago, I was researching for an article I was writing on the subject of  “The Poison of False Teachings”. I found an interesting comment related to the theme posted by a brother on a French site “VoxDei”. The comment might be sufficient to illustrate the main idea of my article since I cannot locate the original French text. See the additional commentary below.

My original article was written in the spring of 2005 when I had just come back from my second trip to Brazil. While shopping in a Christian bookstore, I was surprised and dismayed to see the same books we could find on the racks of most Christian and secular bookstores in the US. They were translated and sold quickly because of their popularity in the US. Needless to say, discernment is absent and sorely lacking from a lot of Central and South American Churches

Back in the US, I was hit with the news that the  conservative church I was attending since 2001 had started a Sunday School study program with Warren´s book “Purpose Driven Church”. I was helping the Pastor in the Hispanic mission and after talking to him about the book, he invited me to teach a class on the New Age Movement and false teachings instead of Rick Warren´s book. Our Hispanic brothers were very receptive, the discussions were lively and interesting often expanding on other ramifications of the deceptive nature of other Christian emergent and other "movements" and their misleading doctrines.

I could sense a real hunger and thirst for knowledge and the need to be equipped to expose the lies when they were witnessing to people in the community. I was greatly helped in my research by Warren B. Smith´s first edition of his book “Deceived on Purpose” that can be purchased at “Lighthouse Trail Research”

While still in the US, I started blogging about the same time as the book “The Shack” by Paul Young was received so openly with great fanfare in the Christian Community since after all it was only fiction and we christians also need to be entertained by writers who are not teaching doctrine, but simply are using their God-given inspiration in relating true experiences so touching and personal that they resonate with the majority of readers. Hoorah for sanctified imagination!

Well, back to the present with a movie based on “The Shack” and the recent release of another book “ Lies we believe about God” which doesn´t leave a lot of wiggle room as to the intent in writing his first book. Find the excellent review by the “Lighthouse Trail Research” where you can also purchase the new booklet “The Shack and its New Age Leaven  http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=12290
              __________________________________________________


The Poison of False Teachings
The ever pressing need for spiritual discernment in today´s church.

The following is an illustration demonstrating the process of contamination.  (Based on my own experiences both physical and spiritual as a flower grower and supervisor on a flower ranch in S. California.)

Setting the stage
A greenhouse full of flowers and plants.
It´s time to fertilize the plants to help them grow and to become strong and beautiful.

Equipment needed:
A tank for mixing, water, a pump and a hose with a nozzle to carry the water and fertilizer mixture under pressure to spray the plants.

Worker´s equipment:
Waterproof  protective suit, boots, gloves and a protective respirator mask.

Fertilizer: (Percentage not accurate, solely used for the story).
Chemical contents in a paper bag in soluble powder form.
Inert ingredients: 99.5 %
Active ingredients: 0.5 %

Instructions:
Fill the tank, dilute the appropriate dose of fertilizer and start spraying the plants.

Expected results:
Plant growth.

Change of scene
Now let´s imagine a scenario in which instead of fertilizer somebody inadvertently, without paying attention to the warning on the label or perhaps intentionally would mix an insecticide or pesticide to the water.

Everything stays the same, the place, the worker, the plants and flowers, the water, the equipment, even the inert ingredients in equal measure, everything, except the 0.5 percent (more or less) of the lethal amount of poison for the plants.

What would be the effect on the plants?  At least, they would wilt, become yellow, lose their vigor, their beauty and even dies if the insecticide concentration was strong enough.

Now let´s change the scene once again.
Let´s imagine any church building. We see the building, the people, the praise group or choir, the musical instruments, the pulpit and the pastor preaching from the word of God, the bible. 

Or it could be a Sunday school or a home group meeting in which the leader and participants share their testimonies, stories or illustrations aimed at helping the group understand the lesson.
So you see the parallel with the situation in the green house.

Every time someone (the worker spraying the plants) brings the Word of God and explains it simply, clearly and faithfully the Scriptures under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the listeners (represented by the plants) grow in wisdom, understanding, love, inner strength, etc. and are consoled, encouraged in all the aspects of  Christian living if they practice the lessons of the Scriptures with diligence and obedience to the Lord´s words and his commands.

The stories, illustrations, parables, poems and personal testimonies can be compared to the inert ingredients that help to carry the biblical message to the participants. They are neutral and serve as a framework for the spiritual content.  They can be interesting, fascinating, but what provides the growth in the Christian hearer is the powerful and penetrating Word of God that operates a work of conversion in the sinner, purifying the human heart and spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who through the Word illuminates, establishes and edifies by giving him or her light, strength, peace and consolation. The list of blessings and benefits of the Word of God in the life of the believers is inexhaustible.

The Word of God is so filled with life, power and so efficacious that just one verse of the Bible is enough to change a hard heart and impenetrable, to open the mind and change the heat and life of a man and to draw him from death to eternal life, from darkness into the marvelous light by the power of the Holy Spirit who applies the Word of Life in the heart of the sinner and operates his invisible and yet manifest work. Jesus said: “my words, they are life and they are spirit”.

New change of scenario.
Here we have the same situation, the same building, the same congregation, the same praise group, instruments, pulpit, the same pastors, The same Bible, everything is similar.

It could happen that some illustrations, poems or stories accompanying the message or the biblical lesson contain doubtful and imperceptible doctrinal elements and false teaching, read from a book or watched and remembered from a radio or a TV program. Or even worse, a deliberate departure, addition to or subtraction, or distortion from the very meaning of the words, verse or context, an action forbidden by God himself  who made this very clear in the scriptures of the Old and New Testament.

Let´s suppose that the person doing it lacks discernment and speaks with no knowledge of the origin, nature or the impact of what he is relating. It does not matter, the effect can still have devastating consequences in the life of the people who hear, absorb and assimilate the teaching because poison is poison even in small quantities, even coming from a well-intentioned person.  Depending on the vulnerability and lack of discernment of the believer the influence and its effect will be more or less serious.

In the church, our Father God gave us everything we need, the structures, the equipment, the pastors, the teachers, the brothers and sisters participating in the worship. He gave the breath and the voice to praise him, to proclaim his message of love and pardon, our mind and heart to receive, believe and share the good news of the Gospel. This Word, and the practice of good works that the Father entrusts to our responsibility helps us to grow, mature and  to be conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus. His Word is pure and cannot be mixed with anything  else that is impure.
A teaching that is contrary to the Word of God is poison to our soul. We cannot allow our mouth to transmit what is poisonous (venom coming from the  serpent mouth) to other ´s ears.

Pastors and teachers, of course, bear a greater measure of responsibility when it comes down to exercising wisdom and prudence towards teaching and teaching the Word of God. Indeed, every Christian ought to use the Word (written) as a filtration system to judge what is good and true (see Acts 17:11 as Paul talks about the noble Bereans) when spiritual teaching is involved. The Scriptures along with the help of the Holy Spirit help us to discern and to protect our minds from error and we must handle them as offensive weapon to combat the lies and wiles of the adversary.
  
Antidote, protection, discernment of the Spirit and preserving our freedom in Christ.

The best antidote if we inadvertently swallowed spiritual poison is the truth of Word of God that purifies us (Eph. 5:26-27). Interestingly enough the hope of seeing our Lord and waiting expectantly for his soon return purifies us also. (I John 3:3).

The Word of God is compared to bread. Jesus warned us that our bread must be kept from any addition of the yeast of the Pharisees that is hypocrisy when we embrace the position and conduct of those who spread false teachings and add burdens that the Lord himself has not given us. It is interesting to note that the leavening that the baker uses to make the bread rise can only be effective in a lukewarm environment described perfectly in the spiritual condition of the church of Laodicea in the book of Revelation.  Yeast cannot survive or thrive in hot or cold temperatures which neutralize its active properties. It is enough to observe the effects to recognize the causes.
Zeal without knowledge is unprofitable. Prov. 19:2; Romans 19:2.

Knowledge without love puffs up like yeast.
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge. But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God. I Corinthians 8:1.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision, nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?  That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.  A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”  I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. Galatians 5: 6-10.

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Proverbs 30:5

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:12-16.

In conclusion, here is a strong word of exhortation to love and walk in the Spirit in order to preserve the freedom to which we were called and for which Christ died for us.

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.  So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5: 13-18.
        _____________________________________________________

 Additional commentary on the effects of the spiritual contamination of false teachings.

Philippe, a French blogger shared the following in a comment: (Translation by this blogger)

"I found an article on false doctrines with the following passage with a  good explanation of the mixture with false teachings.

In the Greek texto of 1 Thessalonians, the name for the impurity rising to the top through the infiltration of an erroneous teaching is “Akatharsis”. The opposite term in Greek is Katharsis, from which the English name “Catharsis” is derived. This term does not mean impure in the sense of “our sin not being washed”. (In that case, a very different  word  “Absolusio” would be used, where we get the term “Absolution” from.)

It does not mean either “separate the evil and hold on to the good”. The Septuagint translates this from the Hebrew text with the meaning of “take the good from the evil”, using again another Greek word “Ekagageis” found in Jeremiah 15:19. The impurity of "Akatharsis" means that there is a mixture that cannot be washed and for which there exists no efficient process of separation. In "Katharsis", there is a purifying form of some substance. However in Akatharsis, we find something which is a mixture of pure and impure.

This mixing is not simply something superficial that can be washed away. We are dealing with an homogeneous blend that needs to be discarded and totally replaced.

It seems impossible to me once the leaven incorporated to the dough has risen to separate the flour from the leaven.

Therefore, we must leave the churches that spread false doctrines, because it is impossible to change them.

We need to leave them before we become contaminated ourselves."
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For a deeper study of the passage in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, link to 1Thessalonians 5:22—The Sin Sniffer’s Catch-All Verse

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