April 8
SEARED WITH A HOT IRON
-1ST Timothy 4:1 states, … Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience
seared with a hot iron; … Here is this same verse as it reads from Today’s English Version, … The Spirit
says clearly that some people will abandon the faith in latter times; they will obey lying spirits and follow the teachings
of demons. Such teachings are spread by deceitful liars, whose consciences are dead, as if burnt with a hot iron …
-2nd Peter 2:1 says it this way, … False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same
way false teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive UNTRUE DOCTRINES, and will deny the Master Who redeemed
them, and so they will bring upon themselves sudden destruction … ( Today’s English Version )
-It is interesting to take note of 1st John 2:18, which states, …Little children, IT IS THE LAST TIME
… In essence, John was saying that the latter times had already begun, even in his day. This would then tell us, that
those who are spoken of in 1st Timothy 4:1 have already surfaced, and have already caused MANY to depart from “THE
FAITH”, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience
seared with a hot iron; … It is sad to say that the church is always waiting for something to happen THAT HAS ALREADY
HAPPENED. They are so very careful to watch for deception, and a great falling away, but it has already taken place about
1,700 years ago with the entrance of a man by the name of Constantine.
-Prior to Augustine in the 5th Century, the vast majority of Christians, including the leadership, believed
in the salvation of all mankind through Jesus Christ. They understood that punishment in the ages to come was for the purpose
of purification and correction. Of the six theological schools known to the early church, four taught the salvation of all,
one taught annihilation, and only one taught eternal torment.
-So … What are seducing spirits, doctrines of demons, and speaking lies in hypocrisy? They are thoughts of STRONG
DELUSION sent by God into the minds of men who received not the love of the truth. These thoughts brought in UNTRUE DOCTRINES,
OR DAMNABLE HERESIES, WHICH RESULTED IN THE TEACHING OF “ETERNAL TORTURE”, and many other things that are nothing
more than the traditions of men. This untrue doctrine ( eternal torture ) has made the Word of God of none effect in the lives
of MANY people.
-The downward spiral which led up to this false doctrine began with Constantine ( 313 A.D. ) and the legalization of Christianity,
and culminated with Augustine, WHOSE CONSCIENCE WAS SEARED WITH A HOT IRON. He was instrumental in arguing ( 400-430 A.D.
) that the Greek word "aionios" signified endless and eternal torment, which in fact IT DOES NOT, but does only refer to punishment
within the ages of time. Augustine’s conscience was dead ( burnt, seared ) to the love of God. He, along with many others
after him, believed that God would be glorified in tormenting people forever. NOW THAT IS A CONSCIENCE SEARED WITH A HOT IRON!!!
Slowly the corruption spread, and little by little the pagan dogma gained upon the Christian doctrine, till the primitive
teaching on this point was condemned in a church council held A.D. 553; and the doctrine of endless punishment sanctified
as a fundamental article of Christian faith.
According to Dr. Harold Lovelace:
-"The Dark Ages, as they are known, came upon the world for about 1,000 years, AND THIS GREAT TRUTH WAS HIDDEN." ( Read
And Search God’s Plan, Dr. Harold Lovelace )
-What do you think made the Dark Ages so dark? Well … How about the DAMNABLE HERESY ( UNTRUE DOCTRINE ) of the teaching
of eternal torture? WHAT A DARK PICTURE OF GOD! Let us come out of darkness into His marvelous light. God is able to take
a conscience that has been seared with a hot iron, and to turn it into the mind of Christ!
-THANK GOD!-
