Below is an exchange centered around the article, Strong Delusion. Mike is addressing this acquaintance’s concerns which are here representing the more liberal approach to the question of the need for spiritual maturity.

Mike Vinson wrote:

Hi L____,

Thank you for your input here. I can now see that I need to dwell a lot more on the ‘my yoke is easy’ part of the gospel. I’m also considering Gary’s comment about having an introduction to that article. The last thing in the world I want to do is to discourage anyone.

Having said that, I must say that, I want to tell you that this whole article, Strong Delusion, is nothing but an e- mail to an acquaintance. His position was identical to yours. He had the exact same prayer you have here in this e- mail to Gary; “Lord please show me if I am wrong.” That is my prayer too. In the confidence that we both want Truth (Christ) above all, I am taking the time to attempt to give you scripture on this subject. I am well aware that I can change no one. I firmly believe that all Truth is only by divine revelation. Flesh and blood [ that’s me] hath not revealed it unto you but My Father which is in heaven (Mat 16:17). I’m not set in concrete on anything, but I do believe that I am founded in scripture. It is with these convictions and with the confidence that we are both sincere in our prayer that I am taking the time to give you these scriptures and ask you some questions. My questions are not asked in a condescending spirit. I hope that they don’t come across that way. But I admit that I do not understand how you cope with the scriptures I am presenting, if you do not acknowledge some kind of difference between those who are ‘called,’ and those who are ‘chosen.’ Must God be guilty of ‘looking despairingly,’ on those who are in the called but not chosen group? Let me know if I am missing something here.

I am going to go through your comments and ask some questions, and probably make some observations. Afterward, I want to make a few statements and observations about the teachings of Mr. A. E. Knoch. You started with the following:

Where Mike was going with his article [ Strong Delusion] is this: There is a difference scripturally between children of God [ Gk: nepios – These are immature and carnal.] and Sons [ Gk: uihos – These are mature and “grown up in Christ.”]. They believe that only the “sons” inherit the kingdom AT THE FIRST RESURRECTION. Only those who have overcome the world, as Christ did (experientially), will be awakened at the first resurrection. Mike continuously uses unrelated scriptures to get back to his need to be crucified and suffer constantly. As far as I can tell there are a few things here that are out of balance.

I have already thanked you for pointing out a need for balance on my part. But I’m at a loss to understand how you can consider chastening and suffering as “unrelated” to spiritual maturity.

You might want to consider the following three scriptures if you really want the Lord to “show me if I am wrong:”

1. 2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
   Is Paul unaware that we have nothing to do with our salvation? Does He not realize that everything is in the hands of a loving Father? I believe that we would both agree that Paul is aware of God’s sovereignty and His love. So why does he say things like this, as if we ought to expect to suffer if we want to reign with Him, as if it might really be possible to deny Christ? Could it possibly be that the Holy Spirit inspired him to say these things because there is absolutely no contradiction between “being careful to maintain good works” (Tit 3:8), and understanding the sovereignty of a loving Father? Could God’s sovereignty include the need for “the foolishness of preaching?” Could it be that a sovereign, loving Father actually wants His children to learn vigilance?
2. 1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
   1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned [ to the 2nd resurrection] with the world.
   Do you find the last part of this verse to be despairing and disgusting?
3. Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son [ the spirit could have used ‘nepios‘ here but it didn’t] whom he receiveth.
   This entire book is designed to mature the Hebrews who were as attached to nothing beyond ‘the law,’ as Christians are “nothing … but Christ and HIM crucified.”

Please tell me, why was it so important to Paul that the Corinthians get beyond the “milk” of the word? He tells us that he shed tears over this. Why would he do this? Had he ‘lost his joy?’ Or could it be that the maturing process involves times of ‘shedding tears,’ ‘chastening,’ and ‘scourging’ which, for the present, is not joyful but, “afterwards … yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness?” Is this not the process that Paul and Peter and James and John all reveal to be the way God has determined to bring his sons to maturity? Or do the scriptures reveal an emphasis on the sovereignty of God to the exclusion of any need for chastening and scourging?

Besides, Paul says in Galatians, You are all son’s [uihos] of God through faith in Christ Jesus … and
if you are sons, then heirs. With their version of the gospel (Lord please show me if I’m wrong) it kind of takes away one’s joy.

Here we are. You quote Gal 3:26. You say that my “version of the gospel (Lord please show me if I am wrong) … kind of takes away one’s joy.” The last thing I want to do is to see my own three sons without joy. To that very end I have given them pain and spankings and made them learn to be accountable for their actions. Why would I inflict pain on the very people I love? Because I know that “afterwards it would yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness.”

Now it is for that same reason that I ask you, because you truly want to know if you are wrong, are you aware that only three verses after Paul says, You are all sons [uihos] of God through faith in Christ Jesus … and if you are sons, then heirs, He also makes this statement:

Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child [nepios], differeth nothing from a servant [ who is not an heir], though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children [nepios], were in bondage under the elements of the world:

L____, this is a warning against succumbing to ‘strong delusion,’ (I am Abraham’s seed, I have never been in bondage to anyone because I have believed in Christ and Him crucified). In your present understanding of the scriptures such an interpretation of these verses ‘ takes away your joy,’ but notice how this chapter ends:

Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise [ the elect].
Gal 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh [ Born of the same Father but of an Egyptian wife, these are the called but not chosen] persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

This last verse is tied to the first three verses:

Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child [nepios], differeth nothing from a servant [ the son of God who is born of an Egyptian, who is not an heir], though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time [ second resurrection – Eze 16:55 – When? Answer: Then. Look at that scripture] appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children [nepios], were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we [ if we are no longer nepios] are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Now one can only hope to see him at his coming if he is an exceptional overcomer.

That word, ‘exceptional,’ is not mine, nor is it scripture. ‘Overcomer,’ on the other hand, is scripture. It is all through Paul and the so- called ‘circumcision epistles.’

The rest of us ordinary Christians, the ones who are always aware of the many additional ways in which we need God to sanctify us, have no hope or joy of his coming … because we’re too carnal … too immature.

So the immature differ nothing from the mature? The called are just as well off as the chosen? And the many differ not from the few?

What if a group of brothers and sisters, awaiting their Father’s return from a long journey, gathered around the window in the living room, excitedly awaiting their Father’s return. The Father shows up and the children all run outside to meet him (as my children often do). Instead of hugging and kissing all of them (as I do) the Father hugs the older, more mature ones, and looks despairingly at the other, younger children, their faces beaming with joy, and says, sorry, you can’t be with me… you’re not mature enough. The thought is so repulsive, even from a human standpoint. Paul asked the Galatians, “What has happened to all of your joy?” The Galatians would have had to answer by saying, “It’s gone Paul, for now we must keep the law and hope we do so well enough to merit the kingdom.” In a similar way, it seems to me that subscribers of this whole sons vs. children doctrine would likewise have to respond, “Our joy too is gone, Paul. We’ve only a hope that God will bless us to suffer enough to refine us enough to merit being with Christ at his coming.” No longer is the kingdom given to little children, but only to the mature.

Look at what you are saying. You are saying that, because you are disgusted with the idea of any real need for maturing, that therefore, in reality, the heir, though a nepios, differs nothing from a uihos, because no loving Father, “from a human standpoint,” would dare to call many to Him and then send them strong delusion. Not only does the nepios differ nothing from a uihos, but the ‘many’ differ nothing from the ‘few’, and the called differ nothing from the chosen. And why is this all so? Because, “The thought is so repulsive, even from a human standpoint.” ‘The human standpoint’ does not dictate to the scriptures, L____. “Many are still called and few are still chosen; a nepios, though the heir, still differeth nothing from a slave; the called are still not the chosen.”

Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.[ while they were in their mothers womb]
Rom 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16 So then [ it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Hey, it doesn’t sound fair to me either, but I have come to where I accept these plain statements of scripture.

2Th 2:11 And for this cause [ because they receive not a love of the truth] God shall send them [ those who are “unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe”] strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness [ Saw no need to be overcomers].

Paul tells us that every thing that happened to Israel in the wilderness happened to them “for our admonition:

1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as [ were] some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Does this sound like we are being told ‘Don’t concern yourself with whether you are maturing in Christ. After all you have a loving Father who would never say to those who see no need to overcome, ‘I never knew you’. What does that last verse say for the belief that ‘a nepios differs nothing from a uihos?’ I only want you to consider what you are believing, and ask yourself, “is there any scripture for my beliefs?”.

If indeed the events in the wilderness are written for our admonition, what does the story of Korah’s rebellion have to tell us?

Num 16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took [ men]:
Num 16:2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
Num 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them [ the nepios differs nothing from the uihos]: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

These are all Israelites, all covered by the blood of the lamb, all baptized in the sea. But there is what appears, “from a human standpoint,” an unfair distinction being made between the priest and the people. I think you are familiar with how this story ended. Those who, “from a human standpoint,” were “disgusted” with God’s apparent favoritism were swallowed up by the earth.

L____, I don’t know you from Adam, but I do know that we both were born in Adam. I, like you and like Paul, continually struggle against the flesh. But you are dead wrong about the joy of the overcomers. It is not until you come to believe and know that, in Christ, you really can be “free from sin” that you begin to experience the joy that Christ in you produces. I, like Paul, am still “dying daily.” But in the meantime:

Php 3:8 I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the [ first] resurrection of the dead.
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

There is a “prize” for the “overcomers” only, and that ‘prize’ is to rule over and to bring to maturity those who do not see the need to “press toward the mark for the prize…”

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

What it all boils down to is will you believe the beast that sits in the temple and tells you that you can never make war with him and ever have any hope of overcoming him, or will you believe the Truth which says that “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”? Don’t believe that lie of ‘the beast.’ Believe the truth, “you can do all things through Christ,” including being “free from sin.”

Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Here is what Paul means by ‘free from sin:’

Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you:

In one sense, you are right, because we do have joy in Christ. But that joy does not rest on the ability of grace to continuously cover my never diminishing sins; rather it rests in the fact that:

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching [ chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Now you know what Paul had in mind when he said:

Rom 5:20 Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

We will never out- sin grace because God knows how to deal with each and every one of us to deliver us from evil.

“Do not be afraid little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” – Jesus

“Little flock” is just another way of saying the “few chosen.” This verse that you’re quoting is actually saying that God gives the kingdom to the few overcomers.

Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

On the other hand, here is what we are told happens to the nepios who refuses to come to maturity and to bear fruit:

Mat 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Same Jesus saying the same thing, just in other words, because we are assured that “many are called but few are chosen. It is really good news, because He works all things after the counsel of his own will.

I have as much trouble as any average person expressing myself. Forgive me if I have given you the impression that ‘immaturity,’ as it is discussed by Paul or Christ has anything to do with how recently we have come to understand God’s word. It is obvious from the fact that Paul was called several years after the other apostles that maturity is not necessarily connected to how long we have known the Lord. But be honest with yourself. How would you sum up the tone of your questions and comments above? Are you telling me that we don’t “need to be crucified and suffer?” In the light of Paul’s many statements to the contrary, I seriously doubt that you are saying that.
I feel foolish having to ask you to forgive me while I quote just one such scripture, but please realize this is just for the sake of this discussion:

Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

What I’m thinking is that you are not aware of the fact that I am constantly combating Mr. A. E. Knoch’s “Works have nothing to do with our Pauline, grace only calling.”

Of course, the truth is that Christ and every other writer of the New Testament agree with Paul, when he states that Christ will render to every man according to his deeds [ Greek – ergon – works] (Rom 2:6).

Mr. Knoch states that what sets the Concordant Version apart from other versions is that it assigns one English word to each Greek word using the Concordance. However you will notice that they are very conscientious not to follow their own rule when it come to this word ‘ergon.’ ‘Ergon‘ could and should consistently be translated ‘works.’ The one good thing about the Concordant Version is that it is consistent in translating the word ‘aion.’ That is because this word is consistent with their correct understanding of that word. Not so with the word ‘ergon.’ It interferes with Mr. Knoch’s “no works” doctrine every time it appears in any epistle written by Paul. But to Mr. Knoch’s dismay, Paul uses this word ‘ergon,’ more than all the other writers of the new testament combined.

Mr. Knoch didn’t let that deter him from teaching that we should “learn to revel in our freedom from law.” I am attaching a letter I sent to Gary Amirault the week before Ray sent me your letter, which demonstrates that we are indeed free from the law of Moses, yet we are not now, in Christ, lawless. Rather, like Paul, we had better be “delighting in the law of God after the inward man” (Rom 7:22), “under the law to Christ” (1Co 9:21), and “fulfilling the law of Christ”(Gal 6:2), etc., etc.

There are obviously two conflicting laws being discussed in the new covenant writings. One is called an “administration of death” and the other is called the “ministration of the spirit [ which] gives life” (2Co 3:6-7). But none of Paul’s statements about “being under law to Christ,” stood in Mr. Knoch’s way. He simply consistently changed the translation of the word ‘ergon‘ to ‘acts,’ ‘ideal acts,’ or ‘deeds.’ Anything but it’s best translation, ‘works.’ That word must not be allowed to appear in Paul’s epistles. Conversely, he just as consistently translated it as ‘works’ whenever it appeared in the so- called ‘circumcision epistles.’ The consistency with which he adhered to this double standard reveals his bias against admitting that Paul stresses ‘works’ more than all the other writers combined.

Speaking of those who refuse to “go on unto maturity” (Heb 6:1), Paul has this to say in Titus:

Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

This epistle is short but is the heaviest of all on this word ‘ergon.’

This is getting too long, but you did pray, “(Lord please show me if I’m wrong),” so I am taking the time to discuss this with you. I hope that you and Gary will be as considerate of me.

To that end I have but one question for you and all our Concordant brothers. What does “Many are called but few are chosen,”mean to you? Does this mean that God calls many but then, “The Father shows up and the children all run outside to meet him (as my children often do). Instead of hugging and kissing all of them (as I do) the Father hugs the older, more mature ones, and looks despairingly at the other, younger children, their faces beaming with joy, and says, sorry, you can’t be with me… you’re not mature enough. The thought is so repulsive, even from a human standpoint.” If you are so disgusted with the idea of some of God’s children being disqualified from the first resurrection, who do you believe the scriptures are referring to when they warn us against what happens to those who are “called to be saints” (1Co 1:2), but are ” cast away.”

1Co 9:27< But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Do you really think this is just a rhetorical statement by Paul? Are you truly comfortable having no such concerns of your own?

What do scriptures such as, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (1Co 10:12), mean to you? I don’t mean to discourage you, but I truly believe that the teachings of A. E. Knoch are as near to “strong delusion”, sent to those who do not “receive the love of the truth,” as anything out there.

Don’t allow the fact that you may not be making the progress that you would like at this time to influence you to ignore the entire thrust of the scriptures which is, in a nutshell:

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

I am well aware that I am totally incapable of making you see anything, but I with you pray that if I am wrong that the Lord will send someone along who will take the time to help me as I feel I am doing for you.

I Pray that I am humbly in His service.

Mike