LIBERALISM: THE NEW GNOSTICISM

2 Peter 2:9-22
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of
judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government.
Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the
Lord.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they
understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots
they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have
exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor,
who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is
reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through
much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is
overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than
the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it,
to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the
sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Neander has described Gnosticism as "the first notable attempt to introduce into Christianity the existing
elements of mental culture, and to render it more complete on the hitherto rather neglected side of theoretical
knowledge; it was an attempt of the mind of the ancient world in its yearning after knowledge, and in its
dissatisfaction with the present, to bring within its grasp and to appropriate the treasures of this kind which
christianity presented" (Antignostikus, Intro, 199).
2 Tim 3:7-8 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes
and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate
concerning the faith.
A section of the church was dissatisfied with the simplicity of the gospel, and sought to advance to something
higher by adopting the current speculations ..... The late books of the New Testament are all occupied, more or
less, with this movement, which was the more dangerous as it threatened the church from within" (Professor E.
Scott, The Apologetic of the New Testament, 14).
2 Cor 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your
minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
"Gnosticism," says Dr. Gwatkin, "is Christianity perverted by learning and speculation" (Early Church History
73). The intellectual pride of the Gnostics refined away the gospel into a philosophy. The clue to the
understanding of Gnosticism is given in the word from which it is derived - gnosis, "knowledge." Gnosticism
puts knowledge in the place which can only rightly be occupied by Christian faith. To the Gnostic the great
question was not the intensely practical one, "What must I do to be saved from sin?" but "What is the origin of
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evil?" "How is the primitive order of the universe to be restored?" In the knowledge of these and of similar
questions, and in the answers given to these questions, there was redemption, as the Gnostic understood it.
1 Tim 6:20-21 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain
babblings, and oppositions of science [knowledge] falsely so called: Which some professing have erred
concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
A claim on the part of the initiated to a special knowledge of the truth, a tendency to regard knowledge as
superior to faith, and as the special possession of the more enlightened, for ordinary Christians did not possess
this secret and higher doctrine.
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and
godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
In the First Epistle of John there is a distinct polemical purpose. There is no book of the New Testament which
is more purposeful in its attack of error. There is "the spirit of error" (1 John 4:6), opposing the Spirit of truth.
"Many false prophets are gone out into the world" (4:1), and this from the church itself, "They went out from
us, but they were not of us" (2:19); and these false prophets are distinctly named "the antichrist" (2:22) and "the
liar" (same place), and "the deceiver and the antichrist" (2 John 7). This peril, against which the apostle writes,
and from which he seeks to defend the church, was Gnosticism, as is proved by what is said again and again in
the epistle of the characteristics of this insidious and deadly teaching.
The Gnostic claim to knowledge throws light upon many passages in this epistle. John refers to his
opponents' using such phrases as "I know God," "I abide in Christ," "I am in the light." These lofty claims were
made by persons who did not love their brethren on earth, who did not walk in Christ's footsteps, and who were
destitute of love. The apostle therefore describes these lofty claims as false, because those who made them
possessed neither love nor obedience. (from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database
Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

I. THE QUESTION OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN WORSHIP. [Relate growing up in holiness faith.]

A. The new Gnostics say, “Why shouldn’t we use mechanical instruments? The Bible doesn’t forbid it.”
What exactly does the Bible say?
1. Matt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

2. 1 Peter 3:21-22 Who [Jesus Christ] is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and
authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

3. Acts 8:14-16 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the
word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them,
that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

4. Acts 9:29 And he [Paul] spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the
Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

5. 1 Cor 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

6. Col 3:16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the
Father by him.
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B. “In the name of the Lord Jesus” obviously means by His authorization.
1. Nowhere in the New Testament scriptures do we find the authorization to introduce mechanical
instruments of music into the worship.

2. From the secular historical perspective:

a. "The organ is said to have been first introduced into church music by Pop Vitalian in 666. In 757,
a great organ was sent as a present to Pepin by the Byzantine Emperor, Constantine, and placed in the
church St. Corneille as Compiegne." (Chambers Encyclopedia, Vol 7, p. 112)

b. AQUINAS "Our church does not use musical instruments, as harps and psalteries, to praise
God withal, that she may not seem to Judaize." (Thomas Aquinas, Bingham's Antiquities, Vol. 3,
page 137)

c. AUGUSTINE "… musical instruments were not used.” (Augustine 354 A.D., describing the
singing at Alexandria under Athanasius)

C. The new Gnostics argue, “The Greek word psallo actually means “to pluck,” as in playing a musical
instrument.”
1. Eph 5:18-20 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody
[psallo] in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

2. psallo NT:5567, primarily "to twitch, twang," then, "to play a stringed instrument with the fingers,"
and hence, in the Sept., "to sing with a harp, sing psalms," denotes, in the NT, "to sing a hymn, sing
praise"; (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson
Publishers.)

3. Paul is speaking of plucking the heartstrings. We all have a heart.

4. If it does mean to play mechanical instruments, it is a command inclusive of all Christians. Then
every one of us who doesn’t have the ability or means to have and play an instrument are in violation.

II. THE QUESTION OF WOMEN IN PUBLIC LEADERSHIP ROLES.

A. The new Gnostics argue that women were accepted as deaconesses, citing Romans 16:1-2.
1. Rom 16:1-2 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at
Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in
whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself
also.

2. Phebe was a woman who served the Lord by helping many in Cenchrea.

B. She – or any other woman – could not have served as a deacon.

1. 1 Tim 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own
houses well.

C. The new Gnostics say that the church wrongfully restricts women from leadership roles.
1. 1 Tim 2:11-12 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach,
nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
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2. The women do teach: children – as did Lois and Eunice -- and ladies classes scripturally. They
teach in private situations as they have examples – Aquila and Priscilla. Men and women both
need to seek and fulfill their scriptural duties and privileges.

III. THE QUESTION OF BAPTISM.

A. The new Gnostics reject the necessity of baptism for salvation.
1. Acts 11:17b “… what was I, that I could withstand God?” was Peter’s response when questioned
about teaching and baptizing Gentiles.

B. Neither can we withstand God!

1. Matt 3:16-17 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the
heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon
him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

2. Mark 16:15-16 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

3. Matt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

4. 1 Peter 3:21-22 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting
away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and
powers being made subject unto him.

5. 1 Cor 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not
deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves
with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the
kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

6. Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

7. Rev 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and
the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own
blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.

Invitation: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Christ as the Son of God, Be Immersed for the remission of
sins, and then grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, remaining faithful until death.

If one is a Christian and has done anything publicly to bring reproach upon the church, then
that person or those persons are invited to remove their separation from God by public repentance
so that prayers can be offered for them.