Separation (Part I)

Lesson Content

When apostle Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, he exhorted the people saying, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40). This untoward generation can be divided into two groups:

1. Perverse in doctrine

2. Perverse in life Perverse in doctrine: a) Those who do not hold the doctrine of repentance: A man cannot call himself a Christian merely because he is born in a Christian family, brought up by Christian parents, has a Christian name, goes to church regularly, leads a moral life, gives offerin gs and observes traditional rituals. Some think it is sufficient to live such a life and therefore they teach accordingly. However, such a teaching is completely contrary to the Word of God. In his epistle, Peter explains that we are not redeemed from vain traditions by silver and gold, but by the precious blood of Christ (I Pet.1:18,19), and that we are born again by the incorruptible seed, even the Word of God or the gospel (I Pet.1:23,25). A saved Christian is therefore, one who has accepted Jesus, through the gospel, as his personal Saviour and Lord (Jn.1:12; Rom.10:9) and has confessed and forsaken all his sins having repented of them (Prov.28:13; I Jn.1:9).

(b) Those who hold wrong teachings about water baptism: Certain erroneous baptisms:

(i) Infant baptism (ii) Baptism by sprinkling (iii) Baptism given by those who are not Spirit-baptized. (iv) Baptism in Jesus’ name, without faith in the Trinity.

(c) Those who do not believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the sign of speaking in tongues, and preach or teach against it. (e.g. The Brethren Mission, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Nominal Christians).

(d) Those who do not believe in the Trinity (Unitarians, Jesus’ Name Mission etc.).

(e) Those who do not believe in the fully consecrated apostolic ministry (Lk.14:26,33). John, the disciple of love, says that we should not bid ‘God speed’ to a man who holds perverse doctrines. This shows how important it is to be separated from such people (II Jn.10,11).

Moral

The doctrine o f Christ not only leads us to salvation, but also does a work of sanctification in us. As perverse doctrines are not from God, they do not fulfil these purposes. So, we should not have fellowship with those who teach perverse doctrines.