AU: ICN Director TI: New Age, witches and Eternal Life ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debuchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- These are not my words, but the words of Paul, the Apostle of Christ as recorded in the Epistle to the Galatians. I don't think anyone can read these verses and not be convicted and found guilty of one of these sins. Paul wrote this letter to the churches in Galatia and it is said to be one of the earliest New Testament writings. Paul writes to clarify the issue of grace and works. In chapter five he contrasts two spheres of influence; the sinful nature and the Holy Spirit. A believer in Christ is FREE in Christ and not under the Law, but this freedom should be used to serve one another in love. If you are saved by your works under the Law then you are not under the Grace of Christ and are subject to the influence of the sinful nature. Those who have placed their trust in Christ are saved by grace and should live under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit. "So I say, live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. " Galatians 5:16-18 This means that a believer should be led by the Spirit and not be living under the influence of the sinful nature. Believers make mistakes and sin (1 John 1:9), but their lives must not be characterized by acts of the sinful nature or they will not grow spiritually. Paul is clear that salvation is not possible by works under the Law, so this means that any religion or religious movement that preaches salvation by works is not Christian and not Biblical. This includes the spiritism groups of the New Age. WICCA, a group that supports and encourages the use of witchcraft is a major influence in the New Age movement. The WICCA people claim to only support the "white" or "good" witchcraft, but notice that Paul includes all witchcraft as an act of the sinful nature. Other groups in the New Age movement teach that humans must locked into the impersonal "life force" and use that spiritual power to overcome problems of this life and ensure "salvation" in the after-life. This is divination and specifically prohibited by the Bible (Deuteronomy 18:10). New Agers believe they get help and messages from the dead spirits of past civilizations and from aliens who speak through "trance-channelers" or mediums. This is referred to in the Bible as necromancy (communicating with the dead). If these "mediums" are not just fakes then the only other Biblical conclusion is that they are communicating with angelic beings. But if these "spirits" or beings preach a message that is contrary to the Bible then Paul saids... "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! " Galatians 1:08 This means that if the message that the "medium" is getting is in contra- diction to the gospel preached by the word of God then it is a message from condemned spirits...ie from demons! Though the message seem to be a message of love and goodness it is NOT, but rather a demonic lie from a "wolf in sheep's clothing. " Now I know that many who are drawn to the New Age movement are innocently looking for truth and hope for a better life, but they become immersed into a vat of lies and confusion. They are then trapped in a tangled web of deceit....captives to a condemned message. If this is you then there is a yet hope...and that hope is in Jesus Christ. Hear what Jesus claimed for himself... "...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" John 14:6 Eternal life is in Jesus Christ the one and only Son of God...the lamb of God... "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. " John 3:17-18 If you're a captive of your sinful nature or confused about your salvation and want to be FREE in Christ then call me at (214) 271-2487 any time between 10am and 4pm M-F or leave me your name and phone number via the HOT -line here. Don't delay! Today could be your last chance for eternal life with Jesus Christ, our God and Savior!