DOCTRINE of BALAAM

[tsth]

I'm undecided or possibly indifferent, but it doesn't really matter what "I" believe. You just asked about twice dead in those passages, and the ones I posted in response, were what came to mind. I'm not bound by OSAS nor loss of salvation. I merely believe that one should abide in His Word, if they believe in Jesus Christ, then they simply abide in His Word, then neither doctrine would be applicable to a person.

:il:

In His Love,

Suzanne

[larryt]

In the NT we are told 3 things about Balaam:

The WAY of Balaam in

2Pe 2:15  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the WAY of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

As Susan described this WAY is described in one word - GREED.

The ERROR of Balaam in

Jude 1:11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the ERROR of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

I think the ERROR of Balaam is that he thought he could circumvent(make an end run around) Gods plan and get away with it.

The DOCTRINE of Balaam in

Re 2:14  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the DOCTRINE of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

The DOCTRINE(or teaching) of Balaam is described as casting a stumblingblock before the children of Israel.

stumblingblock -- 4625 the greek skandalon from which we get the word scandal.

As the story goes Balaam could not curse the Israelites because God had forbidden him. But he really wanted the money. So Balaam came up with the plan to get the money and not directly curse the Israelites but taught Balak to get the Jews to curse themselves.

Specifically,I believe the DOCTRINE of Balaam is

teaching the people of God to do things that cause them to incur the chastisment of God rather than the blessing. What do you think?

LT

[tsth]

Specifically,I believe the DOCTRINE of Balaam is

teaching the people of God to do things that cause them to incur the chastisment of God rather than the blessing. What do you think?

I agree in the sense that today's false teachers do much the same in teaching Christians to focus on self-fulfillment, prosperity, etc.......under the guise of being "spiritual", when in reality they are causing them to sin, which would be in alignment with the Scriptures mentioned about false teachers. They are therefore going to cause Christians to bring chastisement upon themselves in that sense. I am not sure whether the correct term is chastisement or judgement though, and whether they are true Christians or not, which brings us back to amazing's question mentioned above.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[larryt]

Specifically,I believe the DOCTRINE of Balaam is

teaching the people of God to do things that cause them to incur the chastisment of God rather than the blessing. What do you think?

I agree in the sense that today's false teachers do much the same in teaching Christians to focus on self-fulfillment, prosperity, etc.......under the guise of being "spiritual", when in reality they are causing them to sin, which would be in alignment with the Scriptures mentioned about false teachers. They are therefore going to cause Christians to bring chastisement upon themselves in that sense. I am not sure whether the correct term is chastisement or judgement though, and whether they are true Christians or not, which brings us back to amazing's question mentioned above.

In His Love,

Suzanne

Hi Susan,

By false teachers I take it that you are refering to 2Peter which ends with

2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Because of this verse I believe they were never saved in the first place. The dog is still a dog and the pig is still a pig. Their nature had not been changed. (I don't want to be dogmatic about that here though.)

It doesn't have to be unsaved false teachers that are adhearing to the doctrine of Balaam. It can be anyone that is telling the sheep to do things that God doesn't like, that it is OK to sin. In Revelation Jesus is concerned about His people having stumblingblocks put in their way. Just a little more sin allowed in the church.

These unsaved false teachers were following the way of Balaam. Judgement is their reward.

The believers(children of Israel) are being lead away to join themselves to the world, curse themselves, and thus incur God's chastisment.

LT

[amazedbyhislove]

Two things come to mind:

1) False teachers sin was of the spiritual nature leading others astray and not a physical sin.

Both the Prodigal Son & King David sinned in a big way and came to repentance.

They never stopped loving God even though their was a relatively brief time of physical sin but because they were true Christians, God chatised them.

2) False teachers today appear to be without chatisement...

Think of Hebrews 12:8 "But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."

So it appears they were never saved. The Prodigal son was always a son, went to llive in the pigpen with the pigs, but couldn't be happy and remain there, because he was a son and not a pig. The Holy Spirit would not let a truly saved person remain in sin.

[amazedbyhislove]

One more thing re: the chatisement of God's children when they go astray..... His kids remaining His kids.....

Ps 118:18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Edited October 16, 2004 by amazedbyhislove

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When Balak the king of the Moabites sought for advice on how to defeat the Jewish people who had come up from Egypt Balaam the prophet advised him that there was only one way that Balak could have a chance of victory. That was to find some way of dividing the jews from God by causing the jews to do something against Gods will.

So the doctrine of Balaam is used by satan and his servants to infiltrate the body of Christ and introduce doctrines against the Word Of God. The object is to get people to follow another jesus and therefore make their faith of no use unto salvation. So any doctrine that opposes the Word, that contradicts Jesus commands to us are balaam doctrines.

All Praise the Ancient Of Days

[wondering04]

Numbers 22 gives the picture of Balaam.

Balak (which mens waster) was the king of the Moabites. He saw that with God's help the Israelites had defeated the Amorites. Moab was fearful of the Israelites and wanted to find a way to weaken the Israelites.

He asked Balaam (which means swallower of the people, devour) who was the son of Beor (which means fire). to curse the Israelites. Balaam did not live with the Israelites (the 10 northern tribes). They came to Balaam with a diviners's fee and Balaam was pretty upright here, he told them to wait and prayed to God.

God told Balaam, "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." Balaam told the Moabites that he was told by God not to do this.

Balak sent more princes and did not take no for an answer. He offered big bucks for Balaam's curse.

Basicaly the Prophet Balaam saw a chance for a Profit.

He disobeyed God's direct order and turned for money.

Balaam then gives a hint to Balak of what he would accept in erse 18 "...Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more."

He then goes and prays to God again, and God says to go with them but do only what God tells him to do.

Needless to say, Balaam did not follow God's directions so the Angel of the Lord came and stood in Balaam's way. He beat the donkey, whereupon the donkey did talk with Balaam. The angel of the Lord says to balaam v.32 "I have come out to stand against you because your way is perverse before Me."

Balak brought Balam up to the high places, v.41 = it is in the high places that the altars of the heathen gods were located.

Chapter 23

Balaam says in direct rebellion to God, "Build seven altars for me here, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams." Remember that all sacrifices were to be done in the temple by the priests. What is a prophet doing ordering sacrifices. This was not his calling as a prophet, nor was it the right place or the right reason or the right time.

God gives Balaam a prophesy to speak about the blessing and prosperitty of Jacob and Israel.

Three prophesies were given by Balaam, and Balaam saw that God was intent on blessing Israel.

Balak was angry at Balaam, especially since Balaam has taken money from him and not prouduced the curse Balak wanted.

So in chapter 24, he gives a 4th prophesy that ends up with Edom shall be a posession, and Jacob will reighn.

He speaks against all the nations that came against Israel.

In verse 14 of chapter 24 of numbers Balaam says, "And now, indeed, I am going to my people. Come I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the later days."

So he not only advised Balak how to defeat the Israelites (by intermarrying and seducing them), but he also directly disobeyed God, and overstepped his bounds.

God does not take kindly to those who do not speak his word, who prophesy lies, and disobey Him.

It is an eyeopener to read the minor prophets, the last 12 books of the Old Testament to see God's heart in this.

Heather

[gypc]

This is a very good topic and one we need to understand. We are in that time of "the great falling away".

Paul gives us easy to understand warnings of what we should do.

1 Tim 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

[larryt]

Hi wondering,

That was a good synopsis(3 chapters) of the Israelites dealings with Balaam. This was even before they entered the promised land. Another point well taken was Balaam heard from the LORD. And so it is not passed up you made a very good observation below.

Balak brought Balam up to the high places, v.41 = it is in the high places that the altars of the heathen gods were located.

Chapter 23

Balaam says in direct rebellion to God, "Build seven altars for me here, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams." Remember that all sacrifices were to be done in the temple by the priests. What is a prophet doing ordering sacrifices. This was not his calling as a prophet, nor was it the right place or the right reason or the right time.

This man who heard from God went to the pagan places and not to the place of God. Though he was not a member of the tribes of Israel he did know who the true and living God was. Whether or not Balaam was saved is not the issue here. What is known is that he did have an understanding of spiritual things.

When the man of God goes to extra-biblical sourses(the pagan high places) for guidance great caution is needed. And Wondering, you had it right that Balaam had already made up his mind that he wanted the worldly treasures.

LT