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Notes for our next studies – 5 Common Heresies Today – borrowed from – pursueGOD.org

https://www.pursuegod.org/five-common-heresies-today-2/

WHY these studies? — SEE Ephesians 4:8-16 & Isaiah 30:8-11

— I want to open with a song… ‘The Heart of Worship’ — (#9)

Ephesians 4:10-16  He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)  (11)  And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,  (12)  to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,  (13)  until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,  (14)  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  (15)  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,  (16)  from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

— Q1/ What do you understand as you read this?

— Q2/ Why should we discuss misunderstandings and errors in our Christian faith?

#1 Jesus Was Just a Good Guy

This is the idea that Jesus was a really great guy, a wise teacher, a loving spiritual leader, a divinely-inspired prophet, or maybe even a special creation by God sent to save the world – but he wasn’t God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. This idea paints Jesus as something less than the eternal, uncreated God who created and rules the universe.
— (The error of this teaching is addressed and corrected in the following scriptures.)

John 1:1-10… (ESV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  He was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  (4)  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  (5)  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  (6)  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  (7)  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.  (8)  He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.  (9)  The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.  (10)  He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

— Q3/ Two people are referenced here, who are they?

John 8:57-59… (ESV) Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”  (57)  So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”  (58)  Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”  (59)  So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

— Q4/ What did these Jews understand about what Jesus said that made them so angry?

Hint: (GNB Vs.58) “I am telling you the truth,” Jesus replied. “Before Abraham was born, ‘I Am’.”

John 20:28-31… (ESV) Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.  (25)  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”  (26)  Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  (27)  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  (28)  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”  (29)  Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (30) Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; (31) but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

— Q5/ Much to talk about here, however, I want to focus on Vs.28-29… How do we receive these blessings?

Colossians 1:15-23… (ESV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  (16)  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.  (17)  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  (18)  And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  (19)  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,  (20)  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.  (21)  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,  (22)  he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,  (23)  if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

— Q6/ I want to ask you what goes through your mind as you read Vs. 19-20?

Colossians 2:2-10… (ESV) For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,  (2)  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,  (3)  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  (4)  I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.  (5)  For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.  (6)  Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,  (7)  rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.  (8)  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.  (9)  For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,  (10)  and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

— Q7/ In Vs.4 Paul writes of “plausible arguments” that lead astray, can you think of some arguments of Paul’s time that were being spread about Jesus?

Hint: We find one in Matthew 28:11-15.

— Q8/ Do you see our topic for today written of in Vs.8-9?

Philippians 2:3-11… (ESV) Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  (4)  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  (5)  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  (6)  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  (7)  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  (8)  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  (9)  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,  (10)  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  (11)  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

— Q9/ What do you receive from Paul’s statement in Vs.5-8?

— In closing… Q10/ How do you grasp the fact of a “Triune God-head”, the “Holy Trinity”,

also known as the “Three in One”?

After discussion and a song, we will move to a time of prayer.

This song reminds us that it is not just about doctrine, it really is about a relationship…

— ‘I come to the garden alone’ —  (#15)