Modern-day Pharisees are not hard to find. In reality they abound more today than at any other time in the history of the ekklesia of God, better known to most as the "church" or the "body" of Jesus Christ. What is most heartrending is the fact that they do not recognize themselves. To suggest that their belief system is thoroughly "antichrist" would cause a swift and vehement denial to burst from their lips. In their eyes their beliefs are "Bible based" and their faith pleasing to God.

We must ask the question: How does the word Pharisee apply to countless people in this day? What is so antichristian about their beliefs? What kind of deception has crept in to cause professing Christians to so oppose the Lord Jesus whom they love and serve?

This article will expose some of the most insidious aspects of the falling away of which Paul wrote in his second letter to the Thessalonians. The Greek word for the translated "falling away" is apostasia and is defined "defection from truth (properly the state)." Apostasy is now fully evidenced; it is all around us, but tragically those who are apostate do not realize it. The nature of the deception that has drawn them away from true faith in Christ would appear to be good rather than deceptive. But this is where the passage from Isaiah is applicable. "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).

There is no easy way to gradually work our way into explaining the insidious aspects that must be addressed here. It is necessary that we straightforwardly present truth that will set many free--if they will hear what the Spirit has to say through this message the Lord has made so plain.

Over the past month, every day, the Lord has brought to my attention parts of this message. I knew a few weeks ago that He had a message that must be written, but at that time I didn't know what the topic would be. For 30 days now, each and every day He has opened up more and more truth. At first I began to see a little bit of what He was revealing, and now the message is clear. Up to now all the notes have been kept in a document, waiting for Him to say that it is time to begin writing.

And now . . .

What is a Pharisee?

The Greek word for Pharisee is "Pharisaios" and is defined as "exclusively religious." The Pharisees of Jesus' day were entrenched in the Law and used it to accuse Jesus of wrong doing. But He always had strong words of rebuke for them. They not only followed the Law very religiously but expected everyone else to adhere to it as well--even after their Messiah had come to free them from the constraints of the Law. They preferred adherence to the Law in the strength of self.

And so it is that now we have modern-day Pharisees who prefer to adhere to New Testament "law" through the strength of self. They have failed to understand that death to self is required of all who would follow Jesus, the living Word.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through Him, and without Him nothing came to be which has come to be. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:1-4 EMTV
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He that follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 EMTV.

Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone)

The Protestant Reformation was basically a rebellion against Roman Catholicism, to show that the truths of Scripture did not agree with "Romish" doctrine. The following is from Wikipedia:

"The Five solas" describe what these Protestant leaders believed:

• Sola Scriptura. This means "The Bible only". The Protestants believed that they should only read the Bible to find out what God wants them to believe. They did this instead of listening to the Pope or the Priests in the Catholic church.

• Solus Christus. This means "Jesus Christ only". The Protestants believed that the only way to heaven is by Jesus dying on the cross. They did this so they did not have to pray to Mary or Saints or Angels.

• Sola Gratia. This means "Grace only". This talks about going to heaven. It means that God lets people into heaven who do not deserve it. It also means that no one deserves to go to heaven.

• Sola Fide. This means "Faith only". Protestants believed that people must trust Jesus. They have to trust that Jesus lets people into heaven. Only people who trust Jesus can get to heaven.

• Soli Deo Gloria. This means "Only worship God. He is wonderful". It also means that God is the only one people should worship. People should not worship the Catholic Pope or Priests. People should not trust the Catholic church to get to heaven. People should only worship God.

The words "Sola Scriptura", "Solus Christus", "Sola Gratia", "Sola Fide" and "Soli Deo Gloria" are not English words. They are words written in Latin.

There is a movement today based on "Reformed Theology" and taken from the time of the Protestant Reformation. The understanding today has strayed to a more legalistic stance than what the Reformers established centuries ago. The Sola Scruptura now practiced has become antichrist in its use. Rather than hearing the voice of the Spirit of truth, the knowledge of good and evil is in full operation. And we know how anti-God that is, when used by mortal man.

James Parnell (1636-1655) had this to say:

And though they call the scripture their rule and guide, yet they receive not power from it to enable them to walk according to it; but are altogether erring from it, in anything that crosses self; but as many as receive the Light, receive power to follow it, and come out of the corrupt sinful nature, which they live in who know not the Light, (John 1:12), and here the Light is above the scripture.

And though they say, the scripture is the judge and trier of spirits, yet in the same it witnesses against them, to be liars, and bears witness of Christ to be the judge, and trier, and searcher of the heart, and discerner of the thoughts, (Hebrews 4:12, Romans 1:16, 1 Peter 4:5), and that whatsoever makes manifest is Light, (Ephesians 5:13), therefore that which manifests false spirits is the Light, and not the letter, which Light manifested and discovered false spirits before the scripture was written. And also, though they say, the scripture is the judge and trier of spirits, yet by the scripture they cannot discern or judge of spirits; else, what makes all this difference in judgment amongst them who profess to try spirits by the scripture, and profess it to be their rule, and ground their judgments upon it, yet are so confused in the same, and never a one knows which is the Truth, when the Way is but one? . . .

. . . And they are found the ministers of antichrist, who would cast Christ out of his throne, and take the scripture out of its place to exalt above him, applying to it that authority which alone belongs unto him, for their own by secret self-ends; so that in that, they apply such authority to the scripture, by doing so, they rob Christ of authority, and undervalue him, as the Pharisees did, who thought in the scriptures to find eternal life, but would not come to Christ that they might have life; in whose steps you and your teachers are now found, professing Christ in words, but in Life denying him, and therefore must be judged and condemned by him, as they were.

There is power for the Christian life only through the indwelling Christ; it is His life that must be lived through us, if we are to be righteous in His sight. "But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:30-31) Never in a million years can we be pleasing in God's sight through the efforts of self. Never in a million years can we, by religiously adhering to the printed word, add anything to what Christ has done and still does in us by His Spirit. For ". . . without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto God . . ." (Hebrews 11:6a).

A man by the name of Isaac Penington (1616-1679) spoke these words:

The true sanctification consists in the growth of the seed, and its spreading, like a leaven, over the heart, and over the whole man. By faith Christ is formed in the heart; the hidden man in the mystery is formed there; and as this seed, this leaven, this man grows, so he makes the man holy in whom he grows. The seed of life, the kingdom of heaven, is an holy thing; and as it grows and spreads, it purgeth out the old leaven, and makes the lump new; but now, in Christians that have grown up in the apostasy, this seed is not known, this leaven is not so much as discerned; but their holiness consists in a conformity to rules of scripture, received into the old heart and understanding.

There is a favorite scripture verse used by those who strongly abide by the present-day Sola Scriptura. It is "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16 ASV) What they overlook is the verse before that: "And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings [Old Testament] which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:15 ASV) When Timothy was a baby the New Testament had not all been written and compiled into its present form. This next passage is very descriptive and applicable: "But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned [Greek: 'sincere']: from which things some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling [Greek: 'babble']; desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm. (1 Timothy 1:5-7).

To put our trust in a "bible," and our interpretation of it, is to turn our back on the only one who gives Life. And that is Christ, the living Word. We become guilty of placing our idol before Almighty God and Jesus Christ His Son, thereby rejecting the Spirit of Grace.

A young man who has a wonderful testimony[1.] of God's work in his life wrote on Facebook: "Most people who call themselves Christians do not mind when the Holy Spirit is slandered, but will fight ferociously when their god, the bible, is threatened." ~Austin La Turno