REPROBATION, PART 2 -- Additional Disclosure
(2 Corinthians 13:5)
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
In the first message, we discussed what reprobation really is. We also discussed many of the elements that lead up to the "state of reprobation" which is commonly discussed among Christians, but not in enough detail so that the discussion becomes fruitful. The extremely sad thing about this is that unenlightening and misdirected discussions on reprobation . . . can actually lead to the same. Remember, a lack of knowledge is the road to captivity (Isaiah 5:13) and the path to destruction (Hosea 4:6).
There are some issues in Hosea 4:6 that also relate to today's subject, relating to our heart for knowledge in and of God -- experiential knowledge -- extending beyond head knowledge. Experiential knowledge is knowledge that affects how we live, not just what we know. Let's touch on them for a moment before we proceed.
Hosea 4:6 is a very common passage of scripture. For those that might not know or remember what it says, however, it says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." Take note of "willful ignorance". The people of God, here, were guilty of rejecting knowledge. The word "rejected" in this verse means "to spurn". It also means "to disappear", implying that knowledge was there, but decreased. The same word is also translated contemn, despise, disdain, loathe and . . . yes, you guessed it . . . REPROBATE. Hosea 4:6 is, DIRECTLY, another exposition in the scriptures on reprobation.
We'll review Hosea in detail another time, but that's all we need to borrow from it on today. Let's move on and cover three scriptures about reprobation that we mentioned, but did not expound on this past Monday.
Here are the three passages mentioned at the end of last week's message, with extracted issues that provide further insight with regard to reprobation -- helping us to recognize and overcome them.
JEREMIAH 6:30
(Jeremiah 6:30) Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.
As many, if not all of you, know, Jeremiah ministered during a very trying time in the history of God's people. It was a time of great apostasy. The children of Israel were not exemplary in their heart towards God. In the latter part of Jeremiah 6, God is reaffirming Jeremiah's call in ministry AND restating the mindset of the people. NOTE: A person cannot be successful in ministry without knowing the state of the people he/she is going to minister to.
Note, if you will, the elements mentioned by God about the people in Jeremiah 6:28-29:
- They are all "grievous revolters": The
word "revolters" here
is extremely important. It means "to turn away" or "to be refractory".
Now the word "refractory" is not commonly used. It has two major definitions: 1) resisting control or authority (stubborn, unmanageable) and 2) resistant to treatment or cure (non-responsive to stimulus). A synonym for "refractory" is "unruly". Therefore, people in this state are "at-risk". They cannot prosper in God. If God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints and the edification of the body of Christ (and He did), how can a person expect to prosper if they despise leadership????? They can't. People who resist leadership resist the gift and grace of God. Those who resist the grace of God will eventually be given over to a reprobate mind. Don't be one of them.
- "Walking with slanders": When slander
has free course among God's people, much damage occurs. Please keep in
mind that "slander" is
not just someone talking about someone else. It is a form of false witnessing.
It is marked by untruth/lying about someone for the purpose of destroying
the image that people have of a person. The enemy gains nothing by establishing
lies about one of his own. He does, however, gain a foothold against the
kingdom of God if he can get people to believe a lie about someone who lives
godly in Christ Jesus. When "walking with slanders", the people of God are
embracing (and not resisting) the act of defaming someone's character and,
hence, trashing their name, reputation and character among God's people.
Slander is not to exist or be tolerated among God's people. Interesting,
slander only finds life when it can find people who are foolish enough to
listen to and embrace the lie(s). OPERATIVE QUESTION: The things that you
believe about people . . . ARE THEY TRUE? Are you believing things about
people for convenience sake. 'Nuff said.(?) NOTE: Many believe lies about
people for the express purpose of having an excuse to separate themselves
from the person being lied on. That person is cursing him/herself.
- "They are all corrupters": Corruption is another element that has no place among God's people. God's people are called to be a pure people. God's people are called to be a humble people. A submissive people. A people who hunger and thirst after righteousness. A people zealous of good works. Corruption can only find a place to settle in the lives of people who are not striving to enter in at the strait gate. It can only "set up camp" in the heart of people who are not diligent in their pursuit of God. Corruption, in and of itself, is a reprobate (rejected and worthless) act, but it is an element on the path of "full blown reprobation).
2 TIMOTHY 3:8
(2 Timothy 3:8) Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
- According to sources, Jannes and Jambres were
the Egyptian magicians who "confronted" Moses when he commanded Pharoah to "let my people
go". You remember. Moses threw down his rod and it became a snake. They did
the same (although Moses' snake ate up their snakes). They tried to duplicate
many of Moses' deeds through the Lord -- for the express purpose of mocking
Him, to proclaim that what Moses was doing was indeed nothing. This was considered "resisting
of the truth". No matter what Moses did, they looked to discredit him and
his source -- the Lord God Almighty. Likewise, today, there are many . .
. (sadly) right in church, that do not seek to please God. They only seek
to discredit -- the children of the devil that they are.
- Paul gives further attributes of these people. They are men of
CORRUPT MINDS. There's that word corruption again -- meaning "spoiled
and depraved". Corrupt people are people who are without God. People without
God are marked by their consciences (that which they approved or disapprove
of -- by word and deed). In other words, a person's conscience is "branded" by
whom they belong to and/or are subject to influence by -- hence Paul's
other statement referring to people whose "conscience is seared by a hot
iron (branded)" (1 Timothy 4:2).
- These types of people are REPROBATE (rejected) CONCERNING THE FAITH. They
do not reflect the will of God in thought or deed. They are also condemned
of themselves (professing themselves to be wise/effectual, despite extremely
obvious evidence to the contrary). They still see fit, however, to discredit
others. God declares that they shall be exposed, just as Jannes and Jambres
were, for the frauds that they are. While opposing the Lord God and seeking
to show people to be unapproved, they shall, themselves, be manifest as erroneous
and unapproved . . . by God Himself.
NOTE: Jannes and Jambres were servants of Pharoah. Pharoah was evil. Some leaders in "Christian circles" are just like Pharoah -- unregenerate, hard-hearted and void of the truth, surrounded by flunkies that flaunt their foolish and deceitful "gifts" who strive to protect them and enhance their leader's reputations via their foolishness. They seek to discredit everything not associated with them -- regardless of the evidence. Evil and those that serve it cannot and will not be protected from God. Those involved can only repent, if they are to have hope. Otherwise, Pharoah (and those like him) and Jannes and Jambres (and those like them) will all suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.
ANOTHER NOTE: Jannes and Jambres were men of corrupt minds. Pharoah was also corrupt. People teach today that leaders draw people just like themselves. There is SOME truth to that statement, but not to the degree that people believe. A morally bankrupt person will be drawn to a morally bankrupt leader, but they will also despise a leader that is not morally bankrupt. You see, this "who a leader draws" issue is not just about the leader. It's about the person who is drawn to a leader and the covering up of inquity that is accomplished in the process. Let's put it this way -- John 3:20-21 says, "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. {21} But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." Wicked, depraved, reprobate people steer as clear as they can from leaders who are willing to "shine the light of truth". Like Cain, they are satisfied to be in church (the building -- God's vicinity). They have no real desire to be right before and approved by God. Honor from others is enough for them. This is the act of a reprobate.
TITUS 1:16
(Titus 1:16) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
- Icing on the cake here. Remember, Monday's message. I stated that
reprobate people don't necessarily leave church. Many reprobate
people claim to believe in God. Many reprobate people claim to be Christians.
They profess that they know God, but their works say otherwise.
- That being said, be careful who you say does not belong to God. While
this (someone's state) is usually evident, the element keeping a "Christian" from
properly identifying other Christians (remember, we shall know them and be
known by fruit) is an APPROVED AND VALID POINT OF REFERENCE. In other words,
so many people in Christendom are void of truth that it is difficult, as
a people, to make proper affirmations and discernments. Let's scale this
down to an individual level, so we can deal with it properly. What I'm saying
is that a person has to be thoroughly solid -- rooted and grounded -- in
the word and will of God in order for one's discernment to be accurate. Without
accurate discernment, a person can't even save himself/herself -- let alone
identifying the fruit of others. If your knowledge of God is weak or limited,
ask God for wisdom. The ability to judge oneself and discern the acts of
others is a "skill" that will save your life. Don't let it go undeveloped
or underdeveloped.
- Just in case someone didn't catch the underlying statement in Titus 1:16,
Paul is not talking about people outside of the church here. He refers to
them as "abominable, disobedient and unto every good work reprobate." If
you're thinking, "that doesn't belong in the church", you're absolutely right.
The operative question here is "how do you deal with it"? It is countered
with ministry. It is countered with exposure. It is countered with the exposure
to truth and authoritative handling by leaders (and others) who have a passion
for the health of God's people.
- Beware of reprobate good works. Every good work done by a person is not genuine. Another definition of "reprobate" is "void of judgment". Some people do things that appear to be good on the surface, when, in fact they are masking their true state. A person guilty of this is "void of judgment". Many people of this mindset feel that their "good works" will get them justified, despite their corruption. Remember, Matthew 7:21 says, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." The people in this passage, when confronted, began to "show God their resume" -- presenting their "good works" as reason to be allowed to enter heaven. God's response was, basically, "So what!" He then referred to them as "workers of iniquity. God finds no pleasure in people who call Him Lord, but have no heart for His person and character -- no recognition or submission to what He has said. The "good works" of such people are reprobate (worthless and rejected).
Conclusion
How did God provoke all of this? My wife and I were out at an establishment recently, when we ran into one of our sisters in the Lord. We were discussing many issues during the time of fellowship and the issue of reprobation came up. The sister made mention of someone that we all knew who was involved in homosexuality. She mentioned his state in later years and its relation to reprobation. The Lord began to deal with me immediately, resurrecting much information that He had been revealing over the course of many years.
I was so stirred up from this interaction with the sister!!! The Lord wouldn't allow me to rest (until I had fulfilled the call of His grace for this matter). I was reminded of the traditional beliefs about reprobation and how erroneous they are. I was reminded of how important it is for people to understand reprobation. Too many people think that it's only associated with extreme wickedness, but have no idea of its base elements. People are so "aware" of the extreme elements that they don't realize the danger is GREATER with regard to its basic aspects, which, by the way (if you haven't already figured this out) are rampant in Christendom -- from the pulpit to the door.
My heart bled even moreso, because this person who mentioned reprobation was manifesting the signs herself. She thought that the person she presented was reprobate, when she was showing signs of "infection" herself. How did I know? Without my divulging of the entire conversation, the things the Lord had me notice were the following:
- She was professing herself to be wise -- about that and other issues --
and she didn't have a remote clue of what she was discussing.
- The glory of God being presented in her conversation was corruptible.
- She was vain in her imagination. We didn't really
discuss this one, so I'll digress for a moment. The word "vain" means "foolish or idolatrous".
The word "imagination" in Romans 1:21 means "discussion" and "internal consideration" (that
which one ponders in their heart). It refers directly to one's reasoning.
I'll give a better example in the next bullet point.
- She was a revolter (suggesting to my wife that she
do something that the husband was opposed to), thus, despising authority.
She was also rejecting many of the statments being made (resisting the
truth), without just cause or evidence, knowing that what I said was true.
That's too light. Here's a better example? As we discussed the concert
by an 800 voice choir to commemorate Detroit's 300th birthday, I stated
that we would not be going. There was no interest -- especially in light
of the fact that "gospel" music events
such as this, for some reason, draw heavy participation from effeminates
and lesbians. I stated that this was an affront to God and talked about how
vexing it would be, considering the fact that the pretense for gathering
was to praise God. Her response? "Homosexuals are everywhere. They're in
your church. They're sitting there saying amen while you're preaching. They're
sitting right under your nose." That was a foolish statement -- for several
reasons. It was directly affronting to a pastor. It was not true. She had
never so much as stepped in our church, nor did she know anyone who goes
to Remnant Christian Assembly, so she couldn't say what was or wasn't going
on there (and in addition, she couldn't even speak from revelation -- there
are no homosexuals in our church). Homosexuals AREN'T everywhere. That didn't
change the fact that the statements I made about the event were true -- that
the event would be clouded by the presence of an abominable mindset (as my
description included many of the choir members). It was foolish and misguided.
Remember Jeremiah 6's notes.
NOTE: To tooooooo many people, Christian music is a form of entertainment. It is not entertainment. It is sacred and should embody the character of He who is to be honored by such. Considering Christian music to be a form of entertainmet -- by the performer or the beholder -- is, in and of itself, an act of reprobation. If this is you, REPENT!
- She showed signs of worshipping the creature above the Creator. She will not despise HER pastor, but she was willing to despise another pastor -- knowing full well that both were set for the defence of the gospel. Since the other pastor was not HER pastor, she apparently felt it was okay to disregard and disrespect him. NOT SO! NOTE: A lot of "church folks" are going to suffer because of this one. Many people only honor THEIR pastor. In so doing, they disregard other pastors and, for some reason, deceive themselves into believing that God is not concerned with their behavior. When a person dishonors ANYBODY that God honors . . . need I finish this statement? When you dishonor someone that God honors, you are dishonoring Him. Hence, to dishonor another person's pastor, without just cause, is to dishonor God; therefore, the servitude of one's pastor is being exalted above God's desire for all that He honors to be honored. He/she is no longer serving God properly. They are serving the creature above the Creator. Did you get that? You know these people. They honor what the pastor says above what God says. Hopefully, this is not you.
All of these elements were present and she had no idea whatsoever. My heart goes out to her and we pray for her, but we also realize that a person does not reach this state, as mentioned in the first part of this message, without being the main cause of their state. There is not much you can do for such a person. The best "medicine" is preventative. We need to help people be all they can be. Don't wait for folks to be in dire straits before doing something about it.
In closing, here's some recap. Reprobation can be a state of being. A particular work or act can also be reprobate. In addition, there are certain acts that can and will (if not countered) lead to reprobation. Reprobation, in and of itself, is not something that cannot be overcome. If a person travels that road, however, and does not repent and walk in the enlightened path, they will die.
As stated, many "reprobate" people do not leave church. As a matter of fact, they very well may be quite active. They are guilty of and embrace many of the elements discussed over the course of these two messages. Sadly, many reflect these "fruit" and must come to a place where they can recover themselves out of the snare of the devil. In these last days, with the church under great siege, it is teaching such as this (no matter who it comes through) that will become the source of deliverance for such people. Everyone will not die, but many will. Sad, but true and it is the truth that makes us free. Selah.
Again, is reprobation what you thought it was? If not, praise God that you found out . . . in time to fulfill the call. Then again, if you have a problem with anything said here ... well, do I need to make that plain?
Until next time, keep the word and be blessed!
Cry Aloud: Volume 5, Issue 29 -- Reprobation, Part 2 (Additional
Disclosure)
Copyright © 2001, CyberSaint/Scenario Ministries International
An outreach ministry of Remnant Christian Assembly, Inc. All rights reserved.
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