THE DANGER OF HOLDING ON TO SECRET SIN

Three distinguishing marks of the Jezebel doctrine were all found in the Jezebel of the Old Testament, the mother and embodiment of false doctrines. Jesus made her name synonymous with false doctrine, any doctrine that teaches that something evil can be good, that the profane can be pure.

In Hebrew, Jezebel means "chaste, virtuous, without idolatry." Imagine! The most ungodly, idolatrous, scheming, hateful, woman in all the Bible called virtuous, without sin. Something very bad is named good. And, ironically, even "chaste"?

How did she become chaste? “And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel . . . and went and served Baal, and worshipped him" (1 Kings 16:30-31). Ahab means "one stamped with the nature of his father." Jezebel represents false doctrine and Ahab is its victim. The Bible states that it was not enough that Ahab had a heart bent toward sin, idolatry and compromise. He brings into his life a satanic influence that will confirm him in his sin. "But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up" (1 Kings 21:25).

The message is that the tendency of Christians who hold to secret sin and lust is to embrace and become married to a false doctrine that will only excite and confirm them in their sins. The last thing Ahab needed was a Jezebel. She brought out the worst in him, magnified it and destroyed him. So it is with false doctrine. If there is any sin, lust or worldliness in you, the last thing you need is a doctrine that will bring out your worst.

When David sinned with Bathsheba, he did not need a false prophet with a soothing message to tell him how much God loved him. He needed the uncompromising prophet Nathan, with a pointed finger, crying out, “Thou art the man.”

Those who preach the doctrine of Christ show the people the difference between evil and good. There is no mixture from their lips. "And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean" (Ezekiel 44:23).

We have an entire generation of mixed-up kids who cannot even recognize evil when they see it. False prophets have deceived them. They call it good when purple-haired rockers, dressed as sadomasochists, strut and gyrate sexually in the pulpit. We are told that sex outside of marriage is good as long as you are in love and as long as you truly respect the other person. False prophets have become the defenders of sin.