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To: Quix
Thank you so much for your reply!

IMHO, because the term gnosticism is ill-defined - it becomes the condemning perjorative of choice in many "debates" with other believers. But if one inquiries more closely as to the origin of the term, it becomes clear that the term originally is:

A collective name for a large number of greatly-varying and pantheistic-idealistic sects, which flourished from some time before the Christian Era down to the fifth century, and which, while borrowing the phraseology and some of the tenets of the chief religions of the day, and especially of Christianity, held matter to be a deterioration of spirit, and the whole universe a depravation of the Deity, and taught the ultimate end of all being to be the overcoming of the grossness of matter and the return to the Parent-Spirit, which return they held to be inaugurated and facilitated by the appearance of some God-sent Saviour.

These days, the term more commonly means "the doctrine of salvation by knowledge".

Any man can obtain knowledge wisdom requires humility. Even so, both knowledge and wisdom lead to despair:

I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all [they] that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. - Ecclesiastes 1:16-18

There is only one way out of this conundrum. And, unsurprisingly, it is the Great Commandment – to love God absolutely, i.e. with all our heart, mind, soul, strength and understanding. (Matthew 22:36-40) There is no alternative way to Truth than to abide in Him (John 15):

For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. – John 1:17

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. – John 8:31-32

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. – John 14:6

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. – John 16:13

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. – John 17:17

This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. – 1 John 5:6


901 posted on 12/05/2004 8:19:11 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Alamo-Girl

THOROUGHLY AGREE.

THANKS TONS,

as ever.

LUB


902 posted on 12/05/2004 8:36:07 PM PST by Quix (5having a form of godliness but denying its power. I TIM 3:5)
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