1 Timothy 4:1
[ The Great Apostasy ] Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
1 Timothy 4:1-3 (in Context) 1 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.


2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
2 Timothy 4:2-4 (in Context) 2 Timothy 4 (Whole Chapter)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.


2 Peter 2:1
[ Destructive Doctrines ] But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 2:1-3 (in Context) 2 Peter 2 (Whole Chapter)
2 Peter 2:4
[ Doom of False Teachers ] For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
2 Peter 2:3-5 (in Context) 2 Peter 2 (Whole Chapter)
2 Peter 2:12
[ Depravity of False Teachers ] But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,
2 Peter 2:11-13 (in Context) 2 Peter 2 (Whole Chapter)
2 Peter 2:18
[ Deceptions of False Teachers ] For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.
2 Peter 2:17-19 (in Context) 2 Peter 2 (Whole Chapter)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

I am lucky to be in SoCal. I got to visit Saddleback Church regularly for awhile. I have not read and has no interest in Purpose Driven Life book. But I have to say Rick Warren has the heart of Jesus. I believe this is a rare quality in these troubled time for so-called Christians. Come, see and listen. It is a open church and I was welcomed as a church should to all. That is a rare quality too. Church being most segregated organization. I believe Jesus would have talked and dined with Jews.. hehe.. meant to be a joke. I have no doubt he will talk to Muslims and help them as much as he can as he would to Jews. He asks what can he do for them instead of pointing finger and judge them. Most of so-called Christian leaders got enormous index finger. So they can point and judge others. They should cut them off because it will be in the way to heaven's door. I am not a member of Saddleback church. It is too far for me.

Hi jesus4me,

I do not believe that Mary is nor should be considered a Mediatrix or a co-Redemptress. What Leo XIII said is contrary to the Word of God. It is false. In posting what Leo said, I should have been more clear and showed my disagreement with what he said. I apologize if you thought I was disagreeing with you.

wilderness:

I am asking these questions as lovingly as I can, but nevertheless trying to bring outr the Biblical truth in the questions. Please answer these questions: Where in Scripture does Mary exhort followers of Jesus to make her Co-Redemptrix, or Co-mediatrix? Where does the Scripture condone the worship or deification of any of the Apostles, or Mary? Where in the Scriptures does it tell you it is ok to elevate anyone other than the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) to deification status? If the answer to any of these previous questions is "nowhere", then the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican are preaching false doctrine and endorsing idolatry all around the world.

A challenge I pose to the Roman Catholic Hierarchy: Does not the Scripture teach that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and man? Do the Scriptures not also quote Jesus Christ the Messiah (Savior of the world) as also teaching with authority saying He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man comes to the Father (God) except thru Him?

jesus4me said: "On another note, I'm not sure if any of you have seen how the Roman Catholic Church is trying to deify Mary worship, and trying to make her "co-redemptrix" to Christ."

Iucunda Semper Expectatione
On the Rosary
His Holiness Pope Leo XIII
September 8, 1894

2. The recourse we have to Mary in prayer follows upon the office she continuously fills by the side of the throne of God as Mediatrix of Divine grace; being by worthiness and by merit most acceptable to Him, and, therefore, surpassing in power all the angels and saints in Heaven. Now, this merciful office of hers, perhaps, appears in no other form of prayer so manifestly as it does in the Rosary. For in the Rosary all the part that Mary took as our co-Redemptress comes to us, as it were, set forth, and in such wise as though the facts were even then taking place; and this with much profit to our piety, whether in the contemplation of the succeeding sacred mysteries, or in the prayers which we speak and repeat with the lips.

http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_le13is.htm

On Page 13 of "The Purpose Driven Life", the reader is led into making a covenant in finding God's purpose for his/her life in 40 days of reading the book. Then in chapter one, the readers finds out that it is not about them, but yet they were just led to make a covenant in finding God's purpose for their lives in 40 days. This set the precedent for double-mindedness that follow many famous "leaders" in Christianity as they give religious guantlets for believers to respond to: even Mr. Graham, in flip-flopping on the Gospel message by giving the altar call to make a commitment to follow Christ to save themselves. If believers doubt their salvation, reading the scriptures regarding His promises to rest in Him shall do a far better job than taking up the religious challenge in making a commitment to follow Jesus.

God has made the Covenant saying He will do it. Even after having saved us, and He will help us to live as His, and all He asks from us is to believe in the One Whom He has sent. We should not be looking for assurances from man in following Jesus for we know that no matter how much the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. There is no power in the decision, but in believing in God and His Word to us in living the christian life as well as resting in Him that we are saved as His by faith.

John 6:28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

John 1: 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Galatians 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Philippians 3: 9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Philippians 1:6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Psalm 100:3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

I used to attend a church several years ago that had replaced Bible Studies with "purpose driven" studies and small groups, and something about the book at the time really disturbed me, but I couldn't quite get my finger on it, until I became familiar with the emerging church heresy and it's false social gospel. Upon studying up on their subtle reinterpretations of the Word, and the heresy of trying to usher in peace in the world by worldwide ecumenicalism, i started making connections in my mind and heart with what the Apostles warned concerning the end times, in the Epistles, and in the Book of Revelation with regard to false teachers and false doctrines. I firmly believe that this emerging church doctrine is a bridge that the enemy is using to unite Protestant churches with the Apostate church of Rome in order to create a world stage for the antichrist. Ancient Babylonianism is coming back into the culture with it's neo-pagan influences. The "madonna and child" pictured in many catholic books and pictures is not Mary and Jesus, but rather Ishtar and Tamuz.

On another note, I'm not sure if any of you have seen how the Roman Catholic Church is trying to deify Mary worship, and trying to make her "co-redemptrix" to Christ. I'm not making this up, there are many in the hierarchy of the church that are doing this, and promoting this deification of Mary. There have been "aparitions" around the world where "mary" or "the queen of heaven" as they call her is saying that she needs a place of worship everywhere in the world in order for peace to come. Sounds pretty heretical to me with the Bible speaking of false signs and wonders. I saw a very good Bible based DVD exposing this heresy up front. It was promoted by Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa where Pastor Chuck Smith and another narrator were showing a documentary with people around the world hailing mary as co-redemptrix with Christ. Testimonies of healing from mary were shown with people being drawn to the deception wide open. They were worshipping her as the"queen of heaven". If y'all would like more info on that specific DVD and learn more about how many protestants are falling away into icon worship, and maryanity together with the emerging church which promote "vintage worship", and catholic mysticism practices such as contemplative prayer, etc..... go to www.twft.com, or (1-800-272-WORD) or www.understandthetimes.org.

I too stopped reading his book; it is a "man centered" gospel. It has since been tossed from my library.

In his book Purpose Driven Life I got as far as chapter 11 and stopped to learn what he meant by "breath prayers". After learning the potential of what he was advocating the book was placed into the round file.

It's amazing what Mr. Warren has accomplished without the Spirit of God!

Decisional Regeneration
http://polemos.net/Articles/Decisional%20Regeneration.html

Regeneration or The New Birth
http://polemos.net/Articles/Regeneration%20or%20The%20New%20Birth.html