How many of modern evangelical church-goers are just going thru the motions of church and worship, feeling that something is missing or a general apathy toward worship and church? Far too many. I will attempt to show that this apathy and emptiness is a result of the practices of the modern church which are in direct contradiction with scripture, and as a result; the Church is reaping a Curse. Stephen was stoned to death because of False accusations of blaspheming the Temple and the Law.
Act_6:8 KJV And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
C.H. Spurgeon called by many - one of the greatest Preachers of the 19th century, preached extensively about the role of the Law in the Church: “Now, what has our Lord to do with the law? He has everything to do with it, for he is its end for the noblest object, namely, for righteousness. He is the "end of the law." What does this mean? I think it signifies three things: first, that Christ is the purpose and object of the law; secondly, that he is the fulfillment of it; and thirdly, that he is the termination of it.” Christ the End of the Law - A Sermon No.1325 Delivered on November 19th, 1876, by C. H. SPURGEON
Do Spurgeon’s statements align with Scripture?
The Bible is clear that Stephen was stoned because of False accusations:
Act_6:13-14 KJV And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: (14) For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
The False witnesses said these things; Stephen never spoke against the Law, customs of Moses or that Jesus did away with the Law.
Paul was also falsely accused while in Corinth:
Act_18:12-13 KJV And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, (13) Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
Paul was again falsely accused at the Temple:
Act_21:27-28 KJV And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, (28) Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
What the Bible recorded as the false accusations of Stephen and Paul; Spurgeon and all modern
evangelical preachers have taken these false accusations and twisted them to be accepted as truth - and the basis for hundreds of denominations.
The Bible is very clear about such teachings:
2Pe_3:15-17 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you; (16) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable twist, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (17) You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
This is a warning to all believers, not to follow such teachings, or teachers. These same types of teachers are spoken of in Matthew:
Mat_7:22-23 KJV Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me , ye that work iniquity.
Iniquity is an unfamiliar term to most of us. Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament terms
defines iniquity as: “lit., "lawlessness" (a, negative, nomos, "law"), is used in a way which indicates the meaning as being lawlessness or wickedness.”
1Jn_3:4 KJV Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
When the modern church accepted what Spurgeon preached: “that he (Christ) is the termination
of it (the Law)” the Church has adopted the doctrine of iniquity – lawlessness.
What is the logical conclusion to this lawlessness doctrine?
Here is the logical progression of this type thought:
1 Christ terminated the Law.
2 We are under grace, only.
3 We aren’t under the Law.
4 Without the Law there is no Sin.
5 Without Sin all things are permissible.
Published by 119 Ministries with permission from Awakened Church
Act_6:8 KJV And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
C.H. Spurgeon called by many - one of the greatest Preachers of the 19th century, preached extensively about the role of the Law in the Church: “Now, what has our Lord to do with the law? He has everything to do with it, for he is its end for the noblest object, namely, for righteousness. He is the "end of the law." What does this mean? I think it signifies three things: first, that Christ is the purpose and object of the law; secondly, that he is the fulfillment of it; and thirdly, that he is the termination of it.” Christ the End of the Law - A Sermon No.1325 Delivered on November 19th, 1876, by C. H. SPURGEON
Do Spurgeon’s statements align with Scripture?
The Bible is clear that Stephen was stoned because of False accusations:
Act_6:13-14 KJV And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: (14) For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
The False witnesses said these things; Stephen never spoke against the Law, customs of Moses or that Jesus did away with the Law.
Paul was also falsely accused while in Corinth:
Act_18:12-13 KJV And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, (13) Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
Paul was again falsely accused at the Temple:
Act_21:27-28 KJV And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, (28) Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
What the Bible recorded as the false accusations of Stephen and Paul; Spurgeon and all modern
evangelical preachers have taken these false accusations and twisted them to be accepted as truth - and the basis for hundreds of denominations.
The Bible is very clear about such teachings:
2Pe_3:15-17 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you; (16) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable twist, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (17) You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
This is a warning to all believers, not to follow such teachings, or teachers. These same types of teachers are spoken of in Matthew:
Mat_7:22-23 KJV Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me , ye that work iniquity.
Iniquity is an unfamiliar term to most of us. Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament terms
defines iniquity as: “lit., "lawlessness" (a, negative, nomos, "law"), is used in a way which indicates the meaning as being lawlessness or wickedness.”
1Jn_3:4 KJV Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
When the modern church accepted what Spurgeon preached: “that he (Christ) is the termination
of it (the Law)” the Church has adopted the doctrine of iniquity – lawlessness.
What is the logical conclusion to this lawlessness doctrine?
Here is the logical progression of this type thought:
1 Christ terminated the Law.
2 We are under grace, only.
3 We aren’t under the Law.
4 Without the Law there is no Sin.
5 Without Sin all things are permissible.
Published by 119 Ministries with permission from Awakened Church
