[Biblemat] Article - False Teachers are Good at Creating A Diversion

[GLClair at aol.com]

FALSE  TEACHERS  ARE  GOOD  AT 
CREATING  A  DIVERSION 
Sometimes when a false  teacher is confronted directly with his/her false 
concepts that they are  fostering as coming from the Bible, rather than facing 
the truth they will seek  to divert the truth seeker away from their public 
error. This tacit is often  referred to a divisional; this evasive concept is 
often utilized by our  denominational neighbors whenever we confront them with the 
truthfulness of a  Biblical proposition. There is no possible way for the 
proponents of the faith  only doctrine of salvation from sin to use the Bible to 
teach such a philosophy.  Yet, in spite of this fact they will seek to teach 
this doctrine openly and  often with great enthusiasm even to the point of 
creating a diversion when a  knowledgeable Bible student confronts them with the 
teaching of the Bible.   
An example of this is  found in many historical public debates between 
faith-only advocates and members  of churches of Christ. Perhaps a good illustration 
of this can be shown from an  examination of the way the very first converts 
to Christ were saved from sin.  Please look at the passage of Scripture --- 
cf. Acts 2:37-42,   
“37 Now when they heard  (this,) they were pricked in their heart, and said 
unto Peter and the rest of  the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? 
NOTE --- This question by the multitude has  reference to the guilt that they 
felt from understanding that they were involved  in the wickedness of 
rejecting and crucifying Jesus Christ, they showed great  faith [i.e. belief] in the 
truthfulness of the sermon they had just heard and  sought information about 
how to be forgiven for their  sin. 
38 And Peter (said) unto  them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you 
in the name of Jesus Christ  unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall 
receive the gift of the Holy  Spirit.  
NOTE --- Peter answered their question by  telling the believing audience 
[i.e. the Jews possessed faith only at this  point], Peter says repent and be 
baptized [i.e. immersed] for the remission of  sins, and ye shall receive the 
gift of the Holy  Spirit. 
FURTHER NOTE HERE --- We understand from this verse that  salvation from sin 
was to be received by those who already possessed faith after  they repented 
and were baptized. 
The result of their  belief, repentance, and baptism, as stated in verse 38 
is “remission of  sins” --- See the results in verse 41. 
39 For to you is the  promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar 
off, (even) as many as  the Lord our God shall call unto him. 40 And with 
many other words he testified,  and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from 
this crooked generation.  41 They then that received his word  were baptized: 
and there were added (unto them) in that day about three  thousand souls.  42 
And they  continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in 
the breaking  of bread and the prayers.” ASV 
Creating a  diversion: 
Whenever a faith only  teacher is confronted with an exegesis such as this by 
the editor, they will not  respond directly to the truthfulness of the 
exegesis but will seek to divert the  argument away from these verses and inject 
such references as John 3:16 or  similar passages seeking to contradict the 
exegesis of Acts 2. Yet whenever one  is successful in showing that no 
contradiction exists between the selected  verses of Scripture. The false teacher’s next 
diversion will be directed to the  Greek text and the word and, eis  which they 
will contend is the  correct use of the word, and {i.e. eis}, in the text of 
Acts 2.  Indeed, the preposition eis may be  interpreted a number of ways but 
the context here in Acts 2 is correctly stated  in the ASV and the KJV, 
repentance and baptism are both “for the  remission” of sin. 
These diversionary moves  are a waste of good energy but to the false teacher 
who subscribes to the “faith  only doctrine” nothing will dissuade him/her 
from diverting attention away from  truth. In some discussions I have found 
that even when one is successful in  dealing with all these and other diversions, 
the false teacher will not  acknowledge his error. Is there anywhere else 
that we may be able present in  dealing with such false teachers? The only other 
place where I have found any  satisfaction in dealing with faith only teachers 
is that found in James  2:1-25, “17 Even so faith, if it have not works, is 
dead in itself.  18 Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: 
show me thy faith  apart from (thy) works, and I by my works will show thee (my) 
faith. 19  Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also 
believe, and  shudder. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from 
works  is barren? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he 
 offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Thou seest that faith wrought  
with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; 23 and the scripture  was 
fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto  him 
for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. 24 Ye see  that by 
works a man is justified, and not only by faith.”  ASV 
CONCLUSION: 
Remember, dear brethren,  no false teacher with an image problem, possessed 
by dishonesty, or ignorant  will be easily led away from his/her error. The 
Bible is clear about this matter  --- 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, “11 and for this 
cause God sendeth them a  working of error, that they should believe a lie: 12 
that they all might be  judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in 
unrighteousness.”  ASV 
James 5:20 “let him know, that he who converted a  sinner from the error of 
his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a  multitude of sins.” 
ASV 
1 John 4:6, “We are of God: he that Chynoweth  God hearth us; he who is not 
of God hearth us not. By this we know the spirit of  truth, and the spirit of 
error.” ASV 

Garreth L. Clair 
January 9, 2007 




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