April 8: EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE TO CHRIST
[Jesus] . . . presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs . . . speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3
We believe that Jesus is alive (Acts 2:24), but too often we are literally consumed with activities and pursuits that do not pertain to His kingdom. And while certain sins may be regarded as abhorrent, others have ceased to be regarded as sin at all. Jesus came to free us from the tyranny of all sin because it hurts and harms the objects of His love (people!) and leads them toward the second death (Revelation 20:14), a death from which there is no resurrection. Ever since His resurrection and ascension, Jesus is out of the reach of His number one adversary—or is He? It is through harming people that the enemy continues to inflict pain in the heart of Jesus.
The most far-reaching harm—worse than all earthly wars combined—has resulted from compromising Biblical truths. The devil’s specialty is leading leaders to compromise or contradict the established precepts of God (Ezekiel 22:26; Malachi 2:8). Contradictions to God’s Word are elevated to “church doctrine” status. Is it any wonder that every vice known to man is running unchecked through the churches? Genuine victory over sin is rarely seen, and churches are rendered powerless to truly help their members avoid or escape demonic traps. Many perceive the words of Jesus as harsh and unyielding, yet in order to aid us in escaping eternal ruin, He gives us the priceless and unchanging words of eternal life (John 6:68).
Satan’s initial lie denying the reality of death has mushroomed into a multiplicity of unbiblical ideas: reincarnation, consciousness of the dead, seances to communicate with the dead, ancestor worship, universalism, praying to dead saints, “new age” spiritualism, worship of relics and statues, purgatory, sorcery, and the “soul that cannot die” which leads directly to the most heinous accusation against God: never-ending fiery torture of unrepentant sinners. These last two false ideas combined lead to the manmade doctrine of infant baptism, as if the Judge of the Universe would sentence unbaptized babies to an eternal life of punishment like a capricious pagan god. These idolatrous ideas have been cherished above Scripture. Not one of them has a legitimate place among Christ’s professed people. And none pertain… to the kingdom of God. However, these false teachings do allow us to recognize and identify modern-day Babylon.
Jesus is patiently calling His people out of false worship and confusion, which is why the enmeshed religio-political world of our day is called Babylon (see Revelation 17, 18): “Come out of her, my people…” (18:4). Paul’s abiding thankfulness that he had been called out of error added power to his manner of speaking and writing. He, along with the Lord, has often been called harsh and unyielding. But never forget, it’s a matter of eternal life or the second death.
What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?... For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 1 Corinthians 4:21; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5