Antinomianism or the Theology of the Devil

Genesis 3:1-7
P. G. Mathew | Sunday, July 26, 2020
Copyright © 2020, P. G. Mathew
Language [Japanese]

As we study antinomianism, or the theology of the devil, keep in mind this verse: “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Heb. 2:1).

Many churches are synagogues of Satan. They preach antinomianism, which means teaching that is against God’s holy law. The theology of the devil is the exact opposite of the word of God. We see this in Genesis 2:17 and Genesis 3:4. In Genesis 2:17 God said, “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it, you will surely die.” In Genesis 3:4, the devil said to Eve, “You will not surely die.”

The devil is the father of all lies, and he is against us. He tempts us to sin, and we must say “No” to sin. Eve ate, Adam ate, and they both died. Now all descendants of Adam are conceived in sin and born as sinners to practice sin all their lives unless they experience regeneration from the Holy Spirit.

What, then, is the theology of the devil, which is preached in many churches today? Let us consider ten points.

1. No Regeneration Is Necessary

First, antinomianism says that no regeneration is necessary for salvation. But consider the words of Paul:

• Ephesians 2:1–5: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world [the ways of the devil] and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our [flesh] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of [God’s] wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive [through regeneration] with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

The sinner’s heart is twice dead. He is dead toward God and his righteousness. The sinner lives in sin and lives to sin. He is ruled by his father, the devil. He lives to satisfy his lust for evil. He is disobedient to God even while he is obeying the devil. Without regeneration, a sinner, being an object of God’s wrath, can only sin continually in thought, word, and deed. He does the opposite of God’s ten commandments, God’s moral law, every day.

But elect sinners experience regeneration and believe in Jesus Christ because of God’s great love and rich mercy. Paul exclaims, “It is by grace we have been saved.” In Romans 1, Paul writes about what we have been saved from.[1]

• Romans 1:18–24: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God  gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.” Instead of God’s wrath, we the elect experience God’s salvation—we who formerly suppressed the knowledge of God as revealed in nature, in conscience, and in the word of God.
• Romans 1:26: “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.”
• Romans 1:28–32: “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve [eternal] death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”

Sinners were given over by God to a depraved, twisted, perverted mind to do wickedness. Without the monergistic work of the Holy Spirit, twice-dead sinners can only sin. Regenerate people have new minds, new wills, and new feelings. They understand Scripture, the do the word, and they rejoice in God.

• John 3:3, 5: Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can [understand] the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” Verse 5: “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God [experience salvation] unless he is born of water and the Spirit.’” “Water” here means the word of God, according to Professor John Murray (see John 15:3). In other words, baptism will not save you, although the saved will be baptized. They see and they enter the kingdom of God, which consists in righteousness (doing what is right in the sight of God), which leads to peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Born-again people are the happiest people on earth.
• Galatians 6:15: “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.” Paul means a new creation of the Holy Spirit. Regeneration, in other words, is essential to salvation. Without regeneration, no one can be saved.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” One cannot be “in Christ,” that is, one cannot believe in Christ, without regeneration.
• Ephesians 2:5: “[God] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” God makes the elect sinners alive with Christ through regeneration.

The visible church consists of both sinners and saints. Only saints will persevere to the end. The unregenerate do not. (PGM) They will leave the church and join the synagogue of Satan. John writes about this in his first epistle.[2]

• 1 John 2:19: “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” Unregenerate people belong to the devil. They will come to church for a while, but eventually they go out forever to sin.
• 1 John 3:9: “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed [life] remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.”
• 1 John 4:7: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
• 1 John 5:1: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.”
• 1 John 5:4: “Everyone born of God overcomes the world.”
• 1 John 5:18: “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin.” We live by repentance and saving faith.

The unregenerate are children of the devil. Only the few regenerate are children of God.

• 1 John 3:10: “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” In this church, we love the family of God and take care of them. No one goes without food and shelter in this church.

There are only two fathers: God and the devil. The vast majority of the people in the world belong to the devil.

• John 8:44: Jesus said, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
• John 10:10: Jesus said, “The thief [the devil] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

2. No Repentance Is Necessary

The devil’s theology also teaches that no repentance is necessary. But what did Jesus teach?

• Matthew 4:17: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” “Repent” is an imperative. It is a command.
• Luke 15:21-24: Jesus spoke in Luke 15 about the prodigal son, who went out a sinner but came back a saint. Consider his confession to his father: “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven [that is, God] and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead [dead in Adam] and is alive again [regenerate]; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.’”

Consider also what Paul said. Did he say repentance is not necessary? No.

• Acts 20:21: “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” We must repent and believe.
• Acts 26:20: “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.”

God wants proof of our repentance. We prove our repentance by doing God’s will.

• Ephesians 4:28: “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to give with those in need,” which is what we do in this church.

3. No Obedience Is Necessary

The devil’s theology also says no obedience is necessary. But consider the following:

• Matthew 7:24: Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and [obeys them] is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” An obedient Christian is secure in his salvation.
• Hebrews 5:8–9: The Hebrews writer says about Jesus, “Although he was Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered, and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” If you do not obey Jesus Christ, you are not saved.
• Acts 5:32: “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
• Romans 1:5: “Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.” Paul calls the Gentiles to obey God, and we are Gentiles. We are called by the gospel to obey him.

4. No Faith as Trust in Christ Is Necessary

Antinomian faith is the devil’s faith. It teaches that one does not have to trust in Jesus (fides est fiducia); assensus only is necessary. Assensus means one only needs to believe that the Bible speaks truth, but does not have to trust in Jesus Christ. Assensus is the devil’s faith, as we can prove from James 2:14–19: 

• James 2:14–19: “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by [good works], is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and tremble.” Assensus only is the devil’s faith. True faith is the obedience of faith (Rom. 1:5).

5. No Fruit Is Necessary

Antinomianism teaches that no spiritual fruit is necessary. But what does Jesus say?

• John 15:1-6: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

A fruitless branch is a fake believer in God’s church. Ask yourself: Are you fruitful or fake? If you are fruitless, God will cut you off and throw you out to wither, be gathered up, and thrown into eternal hell. But a true Christian bears fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. We are talking about the fruit of the Spirit.

• Galatians 5:22–23: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Fruitless people are cut off, but fruitful people will be pruned through trials so that they will bear more fruit.
• John 14:15: Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” Love obeys God. We know the difference between regenerate people and fake Christians by their present obedience to God.

6. There Is No Cost of Discipleship

There is no cost of discipleship in the devil’s theology. But consider what Jesus said:

• Luke 14:25–27: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.”
• Matthew 16:24: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
• John 21:15–19: Peter denied Jesus three times as we read in Matthew 26. And after his resurrection, Jesus found him. He asked one question three times: “Do you love me more than these?” meaning “more than your life.” And he said, “Yes,” “Yes,” and “Yes.” Then Jesus said, “I believe you. They are going to crucify you. And you will be crucified and prove your faith in me as true.” Peter loved Jesus and proved it by his crucifixion for his faith in Christ.

7. Antinomian Doctrine Is a Buffet

The theology of the devil says that you can take what you like from God’s word. If you do not like repentance, you do not have to take it. It is like a smorgasbord. But what does the Bible say?

• 2 Timothy 3:16–17: “All Scripture is God-spoken and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Without good works, one’s faith is a lie.

8. We can add to, subtract from, and misinterpret Scripture

The synagogue of Satan misinterprets Scripture. That is why we need to have pious and learned pastors. We are surrounded by synagogues of Satan. When people get out of a Bible-believing church, they go to such churches. True churches are few and far between. They have four marks: They preach the word, they observe two sacraments (baptism and the Lord’s Supper), they exercise discipline, and they demonstrate true Christian fellowship. When we fellowship with one another, we find out our fellow believers’ needs, and we act to meet them. 

9. No sacrificial love for our brothers and sisters necessary

The devil’s theology says sacrificial love for our brothers and sisters is not necessary. Is that what the Bible teaches? No.

• 1 John 3:16–17: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” A man who does not love his fellow believers is not saved.

10. False Theology, Antinomianism, Sends People to Hell

The theology of the devil will send you to hell. Jesus said so.

• Matthew 7:21–23: Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them clearly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” My translation: “Go to hell!” It is correct. 

11. Conclusion

The purpose of this life is not to make a billion dollars. There is only one purpose for this life, and we find that out especially when we get older. Our bodies get weak, and we cannot get up, we cannot sit down, we cannot sleep, and all of a sudden, we realize that we are about to die.

What, then, is the purpose of this life? It is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. If you are not saved, consider the following;

• Acts 16:30–31: The Philippian jailer brought out Paul and Silas in the middle of the night. He asked them, “What must I do to be saved from God’s wrath?” He thought he was about to die. And the answer came: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved forever—you and your household.”

And if you are saved, you will listen to Peter:

• 2 Peter 1:10: “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.” Make sure you are saved through your present obedience. Peter made certain, and he was crucified for his faith.

Let me tell you the final word: there is eternal heaven and eternal hell. Jesus said, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Matt. 25:46). Therefore, may God help you to experience eternal life. If you are saved, rejoice with me. And if your friends and relatives are not saved, pray for them with fasting and praying, that they be saved and experience eternal life with God forever.

 

[1] For further study, read P. G. Mathew, Romans: The Gospel Freedom (Davis, CA: Grace and Glory, 2011), 47–70.

[2] P. G. Mathew, The Normal Church Life (Davis, CA: Grace and Glory, 2005).