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ISMs verses the Word of God
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ISMs verses The Word of God

• Definition ism is a suffix on the end of a
  word it indicates a system of belief, a
  doctrine, a theory
• ATHEISM the belief that there is no God
  godless-ness, or no-God-ism (from a no, and
  theos God)
• SKEPTICISM the doctrine that all knowledge is
  un-certain doubt, uncertainty, unbelief as to
  the truthfulness of Christianity
• NATURALISM the theory that all things are
  natural no spiritual realm all is here by
  evolution natural, physical matter has always
  existed and always will exist

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MODERNISM popular name for infidelity
disbelief in the deity of Jesus, inspiration of
the Bible, resurrection, miracles, fiat creation
by God, judgment day, heaven, hell, etc.

• RATIONALISM the theory that human reason is
  the superior source of knowledge rejection of
  divine revelation and all that cannot be
  explained to the satisfaction of (some) human
  thinking
• CALVINISM the doctrines originating with John
  Calvin, including total depravity, unconditional
  election and predestination, limited atonement,
  irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the
  saints

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UNIVERSALISM the teaching that all men will
eventually be saved universal salvation all
will be eventually in heaven, no hell

• DENOMINATIONALISM the doctrine that Christs
  church consists of many, or all of the sects and
  par-ties professing Christianity sectarianism
  Church of Christ is made up of all churches
• CATHOLICISM the beliefs and practices of those
  who hold to the infallibility of the Pope of Rome
  and look to him as their spiritual father
• SPIRITISM the theory that the living can
  com-municate with the dead a kind of witchcraft
  or occult

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PHARISAISM the practice of binding human
tra-ditions and leaving undone the commandments
of God having the self-righteous spirit of the
Pharisees in general

• MORMONISM the religious system based on the
  Book of Mormon and the supposed revelations of
  Joseph Smith
• ECCLESIASTICISM (Gr. ekklesia church) an
  authoritative governing body or hierarchy in a
  church a central governing body in religious
  affairs also, the practice of regarding
  preachers as autho-rities

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SOCIALISM the movement among denominations
that stresses the whole man concept (Lk. 252)
rather than the need of salvation from sin the
preaching of the social gospel, or the practice
of that which is for mans betterment here and
now, rather than in the hereafter

• INSTITUTIONALISM the establishing and
  main-taining of human institutions
  (organizations) to do the work the God has
  assigned to the church church-support of
  missionary societies, benevolent institutions,
  colleges, etc.
• LIBERALISM an attitude of loose and broad
  appli-cation of the Scriptures opposition to a
  Bible pat-tern free to practice without a
  thus-saith-the Lord

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HUMANISM the belief that man is the measure of
all things no God man is all and controls all

• SUBJECTIVISM the belief that all morals (right
  and wrong) originate from within man
• MATERIALISM the approach to life that places a
  priority on gaining and keeping material
  possessions material things are the most import
  things in life

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PREMILLENIALISM the theory that Christ will
re-turn to earth, rapture his people, fight the
battle of Armagedon, leave and return again to
reign in person in Jerusalem over an earthly
kingdom for one thousand years, before the
judgment day

• JUDAISM (Gal. 114, the Jews religion),
  conformity to Jewish rites, ceremonies, beliefs
  binding the Law of Moses as a condition of
  salvation
• GNOSTICISM (Gr. Gnosis knowledge), the
  belief that all matter is evil, Jesus is a
  created angel, and the way to salvation is
  through special knowledge

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ISMs Are Human WisdomGods Word is Divine
Wisdom

• Jas. 315-17, This wisdom is not a wisdom that
  cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual,
  devilish. 16 For where jealousy and faction
  are, there is confusion and every vile deed. 17
  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure,
  then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated,
  full of mercy and good fruits, without variance,
  without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of
  righteousness is sown in peace for them that make
  peace.
• 1. Listen to Jesus!
• Mat. 158,9,12-14, This people honoreth me with
  their lips But their heart is far from me. But
  in vain do they worship me,

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Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men
Then came the disciples, and said unto him,
Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended,
when they heard this saying? But he answered and
said, Every plant which my heavenly Father
planted not, shall be rooted up. Let them alone
they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the
blind, both shall fall into a pit.

• 2. ISMs are beyond the doctrine of Christ!
• 2 Jn. 9-11, Whosoever goeth onward and abideth
  not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God he
  that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both
  the Father and the Son. If any one cometh unto
  you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him
  not into your house, and give him no greeting
  for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his
  evil works.

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3. ISMs are promoted by false teachers

• 2 Pet. 31, among you also there shall be false
  teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive
  heresies
• 4. ISMs, when tested by the Word of God, are
  al-ways proven to be false
• Rev. 22, I know thy works, and thy toil and
  patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men,
  and didst try them that call themselves apostles,
  and they are not, and didst find them false.
• 5. The test Do they speak according to
  doctrine of the apostles?
• 1 Jn. 41-6, Beloved, believe not every spirit,
  but prove the spirits, whether they are of God
  because many false prophets are gone out into the
  world .

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Hereby know ye the Spirit of God every spirit
that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh is of God and every spirit that
confesseth not Jesus is not of God and this is
the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have
heard that it cometh and now it is in the world
already. Ye are of God, my little children, and
have overcome them because greater is he that is
in you than he that is in the world. They are of
the world therefore speak they as of the
world, and the world heareth them. We are of God
he that knoweth God heareth us he who is not of
God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of
truth, and the spirit of error.

• Acts 242, And they continued stedfastly in the
  apostles' teaching (or, doctrine) .

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6. The ISMs of men are something different
from the gospel delivered by the apostle Paul

• Gal. 16-10, I marvel that ye are so quickly
  remov-ing from him that called you in the grace
  of Christ unto a different gospel 7 which is
  not another gospel only there are some that
  trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of
  Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from
  heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other
  than that which we preached unto you, let him be
  anathema. 9 As we have said before, so say I
  now again, if any man preacheth unto you any
  gospel other than that which ye receiv-ed, let
  him be anathema. 10 For am I now seeking the
  favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to
  please men? if I were still pleasing men, I
  should not be a servant of Christ.

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7. ISMs are philosophies and traditions of
men. Let us beware!

• Col. 28, 20-22, Take heed lest there shall be
  any one that maketh spoil of you through his
  philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition
  of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not
  after Christ ... If ye died with Christ from the
  rudiments of the world, why, as though living in
  the world, do ye subject yourselves to
  ordinances, 21 Handle not, nor taste, nor touch
  22 (all which things are to perish with the
  using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?
• 8. ISMs can arise among the brethren!
• Acts. 2030, and from among your own selves
  shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to
  draw away the disciples after them.

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9. Some ISMs result from apostasies

• 1 Tim. 41-3, But the Spirit saith expressly,
  that in later times some shall fall away from the
  faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and
  doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men
  that speak lies, brand-ed in their own conscience
  as with a hot iron for-bidding to marry, and
  commanding to abstain from meats, which God
  created to be received with thanksgiving by them
  that believe and know the truth.
• 2 Thess. 23, will not be, except the falling
  away (Gr., apostasy) come first

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What Are We To Do?

• 1. Hold the pattern of sound words
• 2 Tim. 113, Hold the pattern of sound words
  which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love
  which is in Christ Jesus.
• 2. Hold to apostolic doctrine
• 1 Thess. 213, And for this cause we also thank
  God without ceasing, that, when ye received from
  us the word of the message, even the word of
  God, ye accepted it not as the word of men,
  but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which
  also worketh in you that believe.

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1 Cor. 112, Now I praise you that ye remember
me in all things, and hold fast the traditions,
even as I delivered them to you.

• 3. Preach the word, and only the word!
• 2 Tim. 42-4, preach the word be urgent in
  season, out of season reprove, rebuke, exhort,
  with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time
  will come when they will not endure the sound
  doctrine but, having itching ears, will heap to
  themselves teachers after their own lusts and
  will turn away their ears from the truth, and
  turn aside unto fables. But be thou sober in all
  things, suffer hardship, do the work of an
  evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.

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4. Never deny the faith of which Jesus is the
Author! Rev. 213, thou holdest fast my
name, and didst not deny my faith (objective
faith).

• 5. When human wisdom conflicts with divine, God
  is true and man is a liar!
• Rom. 34, let God be found true, but every man
  a liar as it is written, That thou mightest be
  justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when
  thou comest into judgment.

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• 5. Never elevate your own human wisdom above
  Gods divine wisdom found in the Bible
• Isa. 558-9, For my thoughts are not your
  thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith
  Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the
  earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and
  my thoughts than your thoughts.
• 1 Cor. 318-21, Let no man deceive himself. If
  any man thinketh that he is wise among you in
  this world, let him become a fool, that he may
  become wise. For the wisdom of this world is
  foolishness with God. For it is written, He that
  taketh the wise in their craftiness and again,
  The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise that
  they are vain. Wherefore let no one glory in men