There’s a preacher on YouTube by the name of Gabe the street preacher, he’s been around for some years posting videos preaching on different street corners. He tends to frequent churches, colleges, concerts, parades etc.
Gabe states that he’s Christian yet denies fundamental Christian doctrine, some of which are listed here from his own channel. Doctrines Gabe the street preacher denies are (1) The Trinity / Godhead (2) believes a person must be baptised “in the name of Jesus Christ” for salvation thereby denying the commandment of Christ in Matthew 28:19 (3) a person must “speak in new tongues” as evidence of salvation. (4) Thinks born again Christians can lose their salvation.
(1) Oneness Pentecostals deny the plurality in the Godhead, namely the Trinity because they think by holding to the Oneness of God they must reject the 3 Persons within the Triune God. It’s not known if Gabe the street preacher identifies as a “Oneness Pentecostal”? But he certainly holds to the teaching that God as 1 individual.
The same is true of Muslim and Unitarians they also deny the plurality or Persons within the 1 God. And when the following passages are read in context the belief that God is 1 individual fails apart.
Gabe holds to the teaching of Modalism (otherwise known as Sabellianism) which has been proven as a heretical teaching. The following verse proves there’s 1 God (Deuteronomy 6:4) but since the Bible has no contradictions how does a Modalist interpret verses which shows a distinction between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
In the classic case of the Trinity found in the Gospel of John we read:
Clearly the Word is a separate Person from “God” John 1:1 says “the Word was with God”, in order for the Word to be with God denotes two Persons are in view. If we read the Greek which is even more powerful it reads that the Word was πρὸς τὸν θεόν which means “face to face” with God. How does Gabe the street preacher interpret this scripture if he denies the Trinity?
Another problematic verse is the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew:
In this account we have Jesus Christ in the water, Christ see’s the the Spirit of God coming down like a dove upon Him; and we have a voice from heaven. This is another proof text of the Trinity we have 3 Persons in view, the Lord Jesus in the water, the Holy Spirit coming down on Christ and the Father speaking from Heaven. How can verses like these be explained by a oneness person who denies the Trinity?
In a recent video Gabe went as far to make a claim that the Catholic church some how altered the text to insert the Trinity into the Bible. This claim lacks knowledge on a fundamental level, this is the same attack Muslims use against the Bible. It seems Gabe has more in common with Islam than Christianity. The reason why his argument is weak is because (1) the Catholic church was not in existence during the times of Christ (2) manuscripts were already being distributed throughout the world before the Catholic church was formed (3) in order for the Catholic church to “alter” the text of the Bible they would have to find every manuscript in the world and systematically alter the text without destroying the papyri by erasing/adding words.
We have over 5800 Greek New Testament manuscripts to date, with an impressive 2.6 million pages of biblical text. If Gabe the street preacher understood the silliness of his assumption he would see that it’s impossible for anyone to remove or add words into the text of the papyri.
This is not taking into account the Hebrew Tanakh (Old Testament) as well. All of which both the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts were distributed throughout the world. The Catholic church would have to gather each one in order to “change the text”. It’s an impossible feat just gathering them, on top of actually changing the text itself would require damaging the delicate papyri its written on.
Lastly, we have textual critics who have dedicated their lives to researching these manuscripts and none of which agree with Gabe. Also we must take into account that these manuscripts are written in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Aramaic, Syriac and Coptic. I’d love to hear from Gabe how he thinks it would be possible to complete such a task? We can rest assure that the manuscript evidence for our Bibles are solid and the text found within them sound.
It came suddenly a knock on the door, but you’re not expecting anyone who can this be? As you open the door you’re confronted with a well dressed individual, a Jehovah Witnesses. Immediately the Jehovah Witnesses goes into their well trained presentation, depending on the message that particular day they will ask leading questions.
All in the attempts to get you to agree to a “home bible study”. This is one of the main ways JW’s lure in unsuspecting people into the Watchtower cult. They will speak of subjects which are appealing to the flesh. What they won’t tell you upfront is that Jehovah Witnesses believe you must be part of the organisation in order to be saved.
If you visit the FAQ page on their website there’s an article called “Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Feel That They Are the Only People Who Will Be Saved?” if you ask “must I be a Jehovah Witness in order to be saved?” they will tell you no, as the following quote says:
It’s pretty clear that the Watchtower is deceptive in what they teach, on JW.ORG they will paint the organisation one way claiming “No. Many millions who lived in centuries past and who weren’t Jehovah’s Witnesses will have an opportunity for salvation.” but truly say “survival of individuals today depends on their faith and their loyal association with the earthly part of Jehovah’s universal organization.”
There’s double talk when speaking to Jehovah Witnesses and any group which claims exclusivity on salvation is a cult. Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ alone. Not in any organisation or group, the Lord Jesus said:
John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
We live in a day and age where the truth of God’s word is not held in the highest regard. Attacks on Christianity rages on with the infiltration of those who claim to be Christian but spread false doctrine; false teachers as the apostle Peter mentioned (2 Peter 2:1). The Lord Jesus warned us that wolves in sheep’s clothing would come to deceive (Matthew 7:15, 10:16, Luke 10:3).
Paul the apostle even grieved for the believers in Miletus and saying “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”Acts 20:29. The early believers had to deal with those who tried to bring us into bondage with false doctrine, those who would claim to be brethren.
Galatians 2:4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
For the next few posts, we’ll refute the false doctrine of the Christadelphians. As believers, we have fellowship (κοινωνία) when our doctrine is the same because of God’s word, not because we choose to place differences aside. True fellowship is something we automatically have not something we agree to have.
Let’s look at one claim made by the Christadelphian cult, we’re going to spend some time going through them one by one. As we test the spirits we will start to see how false doctrine cannot endure when we use God’s word to bring all falsity down.
2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Here’s a direct quote from the Christadelphian site under “our beliefs” and “Nature of Christ”.
“The fundamental truth of the Bible is that God is One. Any teaching that in any way appears to deviate from or undermime this profound truth must be very firmly substantiated. The doctrine of the Trinity pretends to be such a teaching, yet it is entirely absent from the entire Old Testament. This doesn’t make sense.” – christadelphia.org
I love how God shows the true child of God that such claims as these are not true, God has indeed shown us time and time again even in the Old Testament that God is comprised of 3 distinct persons in the Godhead. A common trait of cults is the attack on the “Trinity”, let’s have scripture do the talking.
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…
A classic verse which proves the plurality in the Godhead “Let us make” shows communication within the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). When the scriptures speak of “God” it’s referring to the being of God; God in His totality. Christians who believe in the Godhead never deny that God is one we completely believe in one God as the Shema states.
Let us (plural) because I’m not here writing to myself but to anyone else who’s reading this, just as God is not talking to Himself, He doesn’t have a split personality disorder. Therefore who is God speaking with when stating “Let us make”? Angels have no hand in creation, therefore, it’s not the angels God is speaking too, who is God speaking with?
Another Old Testament verse which proves the plurality in the distinction of persons within the Godhead is found again in Genesis. When the tower of babel was being constructed and mankind at the time was one language, they refused to obey the LORD by not scattering themselves and inhabiting all the lands. Instead, they looked to exalt themselves building a tower to reach heaven. Then the LORD came down to see the city and tower (Genesis 11:5)
Genesis 11:7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
The verse here says the LORD is speaking and says “let us go down”, once again who is the LORD speaking with? We can derive from these verses that there’s a conversation taking place between persons. Another verse I would like to bring to your attention is one in Isaiah. The prophet Isaiah saw the Lord in all His glory on the throne.
Isaiah 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
And if you’re familiar with the book of Isaiah, when he comes face to face with the Lord he becomes aware of his sin and says he’s undone. Isaiah is not the only one who had this experience Job felt the same way as well as John the apostle. When John came face to face with Christ in the book of Revelation it says he “fell at His feet as dead”(Revelation 1:17).
Isaiah goes onto say that he is a man of unclean lips he recognized his sin as he saw the Lord. Just as we all came to that same conclusion before the Lord that we too are sinners and have sinned against God.
Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
If Isaiah saw “the King, the LORD of hosts” which speaks only of God Himself then who did He see? Because the scriptures say that no man has seen God, and we know that God’s word never contradicts, therefore, who did Isaiah see?
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
He didn’t see the Father because no man can see the Father and live, He dwells in unapproachable light which no man can see.
1 Timothy 6:14-16 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Who did Abraham see when he was told Sarah would bare him a son and she laughed? Who did Jacob wrestle with when it’s stated Jacob wrestled with God? It’s easy for Christians to explain because we know that God is one but God is 3 distinct persons, therefore, we can prove that the Father was never seen but the Son was. This is why it’s very easy to break down the cult teachings of the Christadelphians or Jehovah Witnesses who only affirm God is one, but they fail to see the distinction of persons in the Godhead.
Question#1 for Christadelphians
If Christadelphians still want to deny Jesus as being God then they need to answer these 3 questions. God alone is the creator of all things as I’m certain they believe then why is Jesus Christ given the same attributes in scripture which belongs to God alone. The Psalmist when praying to God Almighty spoke these words.
Psalm 102:1, 25-27 [[A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.]] Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. … Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
We also have the writer in the epistle to the Hebrews making this direct claim about the Lord Jesus in the 1 chapter when it speaks about how Christ is better than the angels and attributing creation to Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:10-12 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
These 2 scriptures are in harmony with the gospel of John speaking of the Word being God and that nothing was made without the Word. John said all things were created by the Word another name for Jesus Christ.
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
The book of Colossians applies the same attributes which only belong to God to the Lord Jesus. Therefore if Jesus shares the same attributes of deity with the Father you must conclude that Jesus Christ is God, just as the Holy Spirit is God. All three distinct persons of the Godhead are co-equal sharing the same divine nature.
Colossians 1:14-17 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Question#2 for Christadelphians
Cults such as Christadelphians or Jehovah Witnesses say that Jesus was the first creation of God and through Jesus was everything else made. They normally cite the verse in Colossians 1:15 saying the mention of the word “firstborn” proves He was created. The problem with this is “firstborn” doesn’t mean actual birth.
Firstborn in Greek is prōtotokos which means also preeminence or position, it is because Jesus created all things He is before all things in position “firstborn”. We read later just a few verses down how Jesus is the “firstborn” of the dead.
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Now we know when something is dead it’s not born therefore we must conclude that it means Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected from the dead. Notice also that at the end of that verse it mentions “that in all things he might have the preeminence” meaning that He’s first in all things. God also calls king David His “firstborn” in Psalm 89 because he was chosen of the LORD, but as we know David was not the firstborn among the sons of Jesse.
Psalm 89:20-27 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
Question#3 for Christadelphians
In the Old Testament to “call upon the name of the Yĕhovah” (יְהֹוָה) is a phrase only used in reference to God. The Greek Septuagint is the translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek translated by the Hebrews at that time around 200-250BC.
The phrase “call upon the name of the Yĕhovah” is used in prayer worship and adoration only. The Jews translated that phrase into Greek as reading “call upon the name of the LORD” this phrase is used by Paul the apostle in reference to Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Why is Paul the apostle applying the same phrase to the Lord Jesus Christ?
Conclusion
If you’re part of the Christadelphian cult this is to warn you of the erroneous teachings you’re being indoctrinated with. We pray you’ll look into this for yourself open your Bible and see if these things be so. Don’t let this cult rob you of your eternity in heaven.
Christadelphians are not Christian. Like all cults, Christadelphianism denies one or more of the essential doctrines of Christianity: Jesus is God, the physical resurrection, and salvation by grace. In this case, it is the deity of Christ and salvation by grace through faith that are the problems with this group.
They teach heresies such as…
Jesus had a sinful nature (The Christadelphians, What They Believe, by Harry Tennant, The Christadelphian, England, p. 74 – this is a Christadelphian book.)
Jesus needed salvation, (Christadelphian Answers, ed. by Frank G. Jannaway, The Herald Press, p. 25 – another Christadelphian book).
Jesus is not God in flesh (Answers, p. 22).
That Jesus’ atonement was not substitutionary (Answers, p. 25; What They Believe, p. 71).
Baptism is necessary for salvation (What They Believe, p. 71,72, 207-210)
Again if you’re part of this cult read the Bible alone without any of the Christadelphian books/magazines and you’ll quickly start to see how their doctrine is of the devil.
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
It’s your choice your eternity, will you place it in the hands of a group of men or God?
Acts 20:29 “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”
Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
TEACHERS
They’re all around, teachers, we find them in all sorts of environments and institutions; places such as universities, technology firms, cooking school, language class their purpose is education. There’s no other place teachers can greatly serve than providing for the edification of the church, the body of The Lord Jesus Christ.
Elders who’re in the midst of the believers in the local gathering also bear the responsibility of being apt to teach (1 Timothy 3:2, 2 Timothy 2:24, Titus 1:9, 1 Peter 5:2) themselves being in a position of responsibility to the LORD as shepherding the flock. Also, young men who’re given the gift of teaching by God and raised up by the Holy Spirit to teach, become overseers or possibly both. As faithful men teach faithful men (2 Timothy 2:2).
Hebrews 13:17 “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.”
They bear a tremendous responsibility as those who’ll give an account to the LORD for their service of guiding the flock of God. That’s a heavy burden to have on your shoulders, and not all men are cut out for that responsibility. That’s why it’s vital that they’re raised up by the Holy Spirit, we’re talking about spiritual matters, not someone answering a job post by sending a resume, God does the raising up.
Handling the word of God is a great responsibility one to be taken seriously as they who handle God’s word will give a greater account to God Himself one day. Elders and teachers, but today we’re going to look at what constitutes those who would be false teachers.
FALSE PROPHETS
In the Old Testament the nation of Israel dealt with false prophets in their dispensation, as we are no longer in the days of the Old Testament it’s important to note that the OT has a tremendous amount of teachings and types we can learn from. In our day and age, we’re no longer under the Old Testament law, we’re now under the New Testament, under grace.
Looking at the OT scriptures we remember how Elijah dealt with the false prophets of Baal in (1 Kings 18:21–18:40) as he issuing a challenge telling them to choose a bullock and lay wood upon an altar, calling upon their god (Baal), but he would call upon the name of the LORD proving that the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob is the one true God.
Other false prophets such as Hananiah who spoke a lie unto the people of Israel telling them the yoke of Nebuchadrezzar shall be broken in 2 years and they will not serve the king of Babylon, speaking of the children of Israel’s captivity. But the prophet Jeremiah warned the people that this was not true but a lie (Jeremiah 28). The LORD said for this false prophesy Hananiah “broken yoke as wood” the yoke will now be made into iron around their necks (Jeremiah 28:13–28:14).
Ahab, son of Kolaiah, and Zedekiah the LORD was angered because they falsely prophesied a lie in the name of God and were slayed at the hands of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon. That’s the price false prophets paid when speaking lies in the name of the LORD (Jeremiah 29).
FALSE TEACHERS
Today we’re no longer dealing with false prophets as prophets are no longer used by God in our dispensation (Luke 16:16). Teachers raised up by the Holy Spirit are now used by God for the edification of the saints we come to understand what God expects of us through His word the complete canon of scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16–3:17 “All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
God used the major and minor prophets in the Old Testament to provide revelation of His word as they didn’t have a tangible Bible as we do today. They had some scriptures such as the five books of Moses (Genesis — Deuteronomy) and as time went on the scriptures were given through holy men of God moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
And just as Israel dealt with false prophets we as the Church have to beware of false teachers, we’re constantly told in scripture they would be prevalent in these last days, men of old creeping in, bringing in damnable heresies.
A few of many false teachers
The Lord Jesus had given this solemn warning concerning the Pharisees bringing to mind leaven. Leaven was used in bread in order to make it rise, but leaven also spreads throughout the bread put a little and the entire bread rises. The same happens with false doctrine.
Matthew 16:6 “Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”
God would always tell the children of Israel not to eat leaven bread as the OT scriptures have many pictures or types of spiritual things.
Some types are Abraham willing to sacrifice Issac his son and the ram caught in the thicket a picture of the Father giving His Son the Lord Jesus as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:8–22:13). Wonderful picture of the cross of Calvary (Jesus died for me!).
Joseph as a provider for the nation of Israel as they were in a great dearth (famine) suffering in hunger, then coming into a land with provision, food for them saving them from starvation (Genesis 45). A picture of us spiritually dead, no food for our souls in a dry and barren place until we’re saved by the Lord Jesus and He provides food for us.
Moses as the deliverer of God’s chosen nation Israel from the hard bondage of Pharoah in Egypt as he brings the people through the red sea being baptised unto Moses (1 Corinthians 10:2). Just as anyone born of God, were baptised unto the Lord Jesus.
Exodus 12:15 “Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.”
Paul speaking to the church at Galatia warned them of the leaven as sin to be avoided (Galatians 5:9). He said the same to the believers in Corinth telling them to purge out the leaven which made its way into the local body of believers (1 Corinthians 5:7).
Leaven
LEAVEN, n. lev’n. L. levo, Eng. to lift.
1. A mass of sourdough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of dough or paste, produces fermentation in it and renders it light. During the seven days of the passover, no leaven was permitted to be in the houses of the Jews. (Exodus 12)
2. Anything which makes a general change in the mass. It generally means something which corrupts or depraves that with which it is mixed.
Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (Matthew 16)
LEAVEN, v.t. lev’n.
1. To excite fermentation in; to raise and make light, as dough or paste.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (1 Corinthians 5)
2. to taint; to imbue.
This is what false teachers do they taint God’s word many cults like (Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventist) will say they believe God’s word and will use similar words and meanings as Christians but if you press them on issues of salvation you’ll notice it’s not enough for them to just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation (Acts 16:31).
Cult members feel the need to work for their salvation, for them just believing is too simple for them. satan knows salvation is simple, it’s so simple that he can’t take anything from it, therefore, he tries to get individuals to add to salvation thereby perverting the Gospel.
2 Timothy 4:3–4:4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
The above verse speaks of those who will not hear the truth of God’s word and they twist God’s word to suit their own needs. Most Bible-believing Christians know of the more popular false teachers out there, preaching a prosperity gospel. But how many are aware of those preaching erroneous doctrine such as:
Losing salvation
Second baptism of the Holy Spirit for salvation
Born again Christians being possessed by demons/unclean spirits
Speaking in tongues for salvation
Laying on of hands (healing)
Modern-day Profits/Apostles
WHAT DO WE DO?
This may be obvious but it’s never too old to hear, staying in God’s word with the help of the Holy Spirit will always preserve you. God guides us as the good shepherd. By staying in the word of God we can prove all things, holding fast to that which is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
By placing our dependence on the LORD He will never steer us wrong, He holds us up and establishes upon a rock, a solid foundation which is His truth; that being the Lord Jesus Himself.
CAN BELIEVERS BE DEMON POSSESSED?
Not long ago I’ve come across a video of a baptism of a young lady she was baptised by a known street preacher. What struck me was this young lady had professed to be saved as she was standing in the water waiting to be baptised, and the next moment was having “a demon cast out of her” in the middle of her baptism.
Bob Larson “Casts Out Dustly The Demon”
Now we have to ask ourselves a few questions. Can a truly born-again Christian be possessed by a devil? And if so would that mean that God is not powerful enough to keep the true believer who’s sealed by the Holy Spirit from such? Another possibility is that a person who’s truly possessed by a devil cannot be saved because darkness cannot dwell with light. A believer cannot be walking in the Light and possessed by satan at the same time.
1 John 1:5–7 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ”
Though demons can enter and possess any unbeliever, they cannot enter into the body of those who belong to the Lord. There are a number of reasons why this is so. The Bible says that the one who indwells believers (Holy Spirit) is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Those who have trusted Christ have been delivered from the possibility of demonic possession. Paul wrote.
Ephesians 2:2 “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”
True believers do not live any more under their authority, that is under the authority of satan. When a person is saved they belong to the LORD, not satan.
Colossians 1:13, 14 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
Believers have nothing in common with darkness or Satan. The Holy Spirit, and a demonic spirit cannot co-exist in the same person.
2 Corinthians 6:15 “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”
We have no biblical example in Scripture of a believer in Jesus Christ being demon-possessed. All cases of demonic possession were with those who were unbelievers and after became saved by the Lord Jesus.
Sometimes the following passages are cited as support of believers being possessed. Paul ordered the church of Corinth to deliver a believer over to Satan. What many don’t understand is this person was put out of the local body of believers not that the man who was put out was possessed.
1 Corinthians 5:5 “To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
The Bible speaks of two other individuals who were also delivered over to Satan. Again meaning placed outside of the local fellowship of believers. Not that they were demon possessed.
1 Timothy 1:20 “Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”
People Taken Captive is another passage speaks of people being taken captive by the devil.
2 Timothy 2:26 “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
The people under discussion in this context are not believers. Consequently, there is no Scriptural support for the idea that Christians can become demon-possessed.
What about stories of believers and demons? When people give examples of believers being possessed, there are a number of questions that immediately arise, “Were these victims of demon possession really believers?” “Were they actually possessed with a demon or is there another possible explanation for their behaviour?” Since the Bible gives no support that a believer can be possessed by a demon, some other explanation must be in order.
Permanent indwelling of Holy Spirit. The issue is clear. It is not whether a professing Christian can be demon-possessed, but rather can a genuine, “born again” Christian become demon-possessed? The Bible teaches that those who have trusted Christ are permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13,14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
You’re a new creation. Believers are a new creation in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
Body temple of Holy Spirit. The body of the believer is now a temple of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
Cannot separate the believer from The Lord. The Bible says that nothing can separate the believer from the love of God.
Romans 8:38,39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Specially mentioned are the angels and principalities angelic orders. Not even they can separate a believer from the love of God. All of these things would make demon-possession an impossibility for the believer.
The Bible never teaches a Christian can be possessed by a demon. The believer is “in Christ,”- one of His. Every example in the Bible of a person being demon-possessed concerns an unbeliever there are no examples of believers being possessed.
Furthermore, we must be careful not to depend on stories of believers and demon-possession many other explanations are possible. The Christian, who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, need not fear demon possession. Yet, demons do attack believers in various ways, therefore, it would be wrong to say they cannot have any effect on the Christian.
CONCLUSION
We can speak at great lengths concerning foundational truths ie salvation, baptism etc. This is here is not meant to go into great depths on those subjects, it was merely to point out that there are false teachers out there spreading heretical doctrines. Like the Bereans, they searched the scriptures daily to see if those things were so (Acts 17:10–17:11).
Doing the same we need to stay in God’s word so that we’re not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. The LORD preserves His saints and will never lead them astray.
Whatsoever Things Are True 