The Gnostic believed that the earth is surrounded by a number of cosmic spheres (usually seven) which separate man from God. These spheres are ruled by archons (spiritual principalities and powers) who guarded their spheres by barring the souls who are seeking to ascend from the realm of light which is above.
The Gnostic also taught that man is composed of body, soul and spirit. Since the body and the soul are part of man's earthly existence they are evil. Enclosed in the soul, however, is the spirit the divine substance of man. This 'spirit' is asleep and ignorant; it needs to be awakened and liberated by knowledge.
According to the Gnostic the aim of salvation is for the spirit to be awakened by the knowledge so the inner man can be released from his earthly dungeon and return to the realm of light where the soul becomes reunited with God. As the soul ascends, however, it needs to penetrate the cosmic spheres which separate it from its heavenly destiny. This too, is accomplished by knowledge. One must understand certain formulas which are revealed only to the initiated.
Ethical behaviour among the Gnostic varied considerably. Some sought to separate themselves from all evil matter in order to avoid contamination. For other Gnostic, ethical life took the form of libertinism. For them knowledge meant freedom to participate in all sorts of indulgences. Many reasoned that since they had received divine knowledge and were truly informed as to their divine nature, it didn't matter how they lived. (the False teacher) Such an attitude is a misunderstanding of the gospel.
The Spirit has explicitly said that during the last times there will be some who will desert the faith and choose to listen to deceitful spirits and doctrines that come from the devils; and the cause of this is the lies told by hypocrites whose conscious are branded as though with a red-hot iron ; they will say marriage is forbidden and lay down rules about abstaining from foods which God crated to be accepted with thanksgiving by all who believe and who know the truth.
Everything God has created is good and no food is to be rejected provided grace is said for it; the word of God and the prayer make it holy. If you put all this to the brothers you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus and show that you have really digested the teaching of the faith and the good doctrine which you have always followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales. Train yourself spiritually.
Physical exercises are useful enough but the usefulness of spirituality is unlimited since it holds out the reward of life here and of the future life as well; that is a saying you can rely on and nobody should doubt it. I mean that the point of all our toiling and battling is that we have put our trust in the living God and he is the saviour of the whole human race but particularly of all believers. This is what you are to enforce in your teaching. - 1Tim. 4:1-11 -
Apostle Paul on a number of occasions, reminded his readers that they were saved from sin to holiness. They were not to have an attitude of indifference toward the law. They had died to sin in their baptism into Christ and so were to walk 'in newness of life'. - Rom. 6:1-11 -
John reminded the Christians that once they had been saved they were not to continue living in sin.
Anyone who sins at all
break the law,
because to sin is to break the law,
Now you know that he appeared in order to abolish sin,
and that in him there is no sin,
anyone who lives in God does not sin,
and anyone who sins
has never seen him or known him.
My children, do not let anyone lead you astray:
to live a holy life
is to be holy just as he is holy;
to lead a sinful life is to belong to the devil,
since the devil was a sinner from the beginning.
It was to undo all that the devil has done
that the Son of God appeared.
No one who has been begotten by God sins;
because God's seed remains inside him,
he cannot sin when he has been begotten by God.
In this way we distinguish the children of God
from the children of the devil:
anybody not living a holy life
and not loving his brother is no child of God's. - 1John 3:4-10 -
These Gnostic teachings also had.............................
Page 2
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!
I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.
HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-25 -
No comments:
Post a Comment