Jude 1:3-4, "...But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. NLT
The word "Gnostics" comes from the Greek word 'gnosis' meaning "for knowledge". Gnostics believe that the material world is evil. They claimed that the God of the old testament was a lesser god, an inferior being who emanated from Yahweh, called the Demiurge.
Gnostics sees sin in a way that is extreme. They believe they're incapable of committing real sins, though their bodies could engage in sinful lifestyle. What this implies is that if they commit a sin, it is only their bodies that is involved not their soul or spirit, so God won't count sins committed in the body against them because their spirit is perfect but the body( which belongs to the evil material world) is inherently sinful.
This is not far from what some are teaching& preaching on the altar today telling believers that if they sin, it is only their bodies that is affected but God still sees them as perfect and unblemished. They are the modern day "Christian" Gnostics who have twisted the message of God's marvelous grace to mean what it is not.
I once read an article online where the writer insinuated that gays will enter heaven as long they are born again. Then I ask, "Is it possible to be a gay and still be born again"?
At other times, I read on Facebook where someone raised the issue of adultery, insinuating that it is only the body that is involved not the soul or spirit so if a Christian dies in the act, he will still enter heaven. I guess he was trying to say it is the body that committed the sin not his soul/ spirit. That's funny right?
I doubt if a studious believer who has read the bible from cover to cover will ever swallow that junk. In fact, if that's the case, may be no one will go to hell. Unfortunately, alot of young and vibrant folks are buying into this teaching all in the name of grace.
They shun reasoning with scriptures all because they're hearing what suits them from their teachers. Teachings like this have a semblance with Gnosticism but quite a number don't know because it is "Christianized".
Whenever God is addressing sin, he doesn't separate the act from man's sinful flesh. He addresses the total being.
Consider how Jesus addressed a new testament church in the book of revelation: “I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things. “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols" (Rev 2:19-20 NLT).
Did you notice Jesus didn't make any distinction between the flesh and spirit when addressing the sin of the church in Thyatira? He addressed them in their totality.
He didn't say, "I know your body sinned with Jezebel buy I'm exonerating your spirit or mind". If he had said that, He would have validated the Gnostic belief.
The way to press a self destruct button is to believe these junks peddled around by people who coat lies with a little truth. The devil knows that many won't swallow error as it appears so he has found a way to coat it with a little truth so that it can be swallowed.
Dearest, the time has come for you to know God for yourself through the study of the word or else you'll be misled into perdition. This is the age of systematic deception, beware.
Father, I will not be conquered by the deception of this age in the name of Jesus Christ.