A Calling Card of the Cults

264 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 3:1-5, But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Tim 3:1-5) I was scrolling through my Facebook page the other day and stumbled on a message by Francis Chan. He is a gifted preacher and well known in evangelical circles. He was preaching on an encounter he had with a couple of Jehovah Witnesses that came into his yard. He told them how happy he was to see them and wanted to tell them about some miraculous ways that God had answered prayer in his life. They left, they didn't want to hear about it, because Jehovah Witnesses do not believe that God heals today. I mention this today because in our text Paul talks about a time when people will rise up in the church and have all the “form” of godliness, (remember the word means “formula”) but denying it's power! This is one of the calling cards of cults. These “forms” of godliness are usually produced in people by obeying a set of rules (a formula) that earmark the specific cult. Not all “cults,” deny the power of God, but most do reduce Christianity to a formula rather than a relationship. Bottom line is a formula seeks to produce salvation by works, thereby removing the power of God from the mix. Always remember beloved, the power of godliness is found in grace, and it is by grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast!” (Eph 2:8,9) Let us learn from the Galatians who had allowed a doctrine of salvation by works to infiltrate the church, listen to what the Holy Spirit had to say to them in Gal 3:1-3, “ Ga 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” Remember these words and you will do well when the cults come knocking on your door. “And from such people turn away.