THE DOCTRINE OF BALAAM

By John Cooper

Balaamism was one of the first heresies, along with Gnosticism and the error of the Judaisers. It is evident that in the first century the gospel was already under attack from within, being perverted and corrupted, as is witnessed by the amount of New Testament space allocated to teaching designed to counteract these errors. Gnosticism is repudiated in John's epistles, Jewish legalism is refuted by Paul in Galatians in particular, but also in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, Philippians chapter 3, Colossians chapter 2, 1 Timothy 1:3-11, Titus 1:10, 11, 14-16, 3:9 and in Hebrews. It falls to Peter, Jude and Jesus Christ to contend with the doctrine of Balaam - 2 Peter, Jude and Rev. 2:14-16, 20-24.

Balaam was an Old Testament prophet, who, knowing the mind of God (that God was intent on blessing the children of Israel) and knowing the character of God (that God cannot punish the righteous as if they were wicked - Jonah 3:10, or bless the wicked as if they were righteous - Sam. 2:27-33, Numbers 14:30-34); decided, for the sake of Balak's reward, to try to entice the children of Israel to sin against the LORD, thereby causing God to turn against them, in which he succeeded - Numbers chapters 22-25:9 & 31:1-16. Balaamism has since been characterised by compromise with the world, spiritual infidelity and frequently sexual immorality, amongst people professing to be Christians.

Points of the Heresy

1. It is a subtle heresy:

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies" 2 Peter 2:1. "For there are certain men crept in unawares" Jude 4.

2. It involves a perversion of the doctrine of grace:

"...turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness" Jude 4. "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." 2 Peter 2:19.

3. This teaching is attractive:

"And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." 2 Peter 2:2 (see Romans 3:8).

4. Its teachers are characterised by covetousness:

"And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you" 2 Peter 2:3. "...an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children" 2 Peter 2:14. "Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward" Jude 11.

5. They are fleshly:

"...turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness" Jude 4. "Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh" Jude 8. "Having eyes full of adultery" 2 Peter 2:14. "...walking after their own lusts" Jude 16, 18. "...sensual" Jude 19. "...them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness" 2 Peter 2:10.

6. They do not recognise God-given authority:

"(They) despise government...(they are) self-willed" 2 Peter 2:10. "(They) despise dominion" Jude 8.

7. They are presumptuous and arrogant towards the powers of darkness:

"Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord." 2 Peter 2:10-11. "(These) speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke thee". But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves." Jude 8-10.

8. They ignore the warnings of scripture. For example:

They come recklessly to the Lord's table (see 1 Cor. 11:27-34). "These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear" Jude 12.

9. They are empty kettles, making a lot of noise:

"Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." Jude 13. "...they ...count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you...clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever." 2 Peter 2:13, 17.

10. They make claims about spiritual gifts they do not really have:

"...clouds they are without water, carried about of winds;" Jude 12 (see Proverbs 25:14). "These are wells without water..." 2 Peter 2:17.

11. They lack the fruit of the Spirit:

"...without fruit...having not the Spirit." Jude 12, 19 (see Galatians 5:22,23).

12. They are enmeshed in sinful habits:

"Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin...they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." 2 Peter 2:14, 19.

13. They prey on new converts and the spiritually immature, attracting them through sensuality:

"...beguiling unstable souls...they allure through the lusts of the flesh , through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error." 2 Peter 2:14, 18.

14. They are boastful:

"...their mouth speaketh great swelling words..." Jude 16. "...they speak great swelling words of vanity..." 2 Peter 2:18.

15. They pander to people's ego:

"...having men's persons in admiration because of advantage." Jude 16. "..they shall with feigned words make merchandise of you:" 2 Peter 2:3.

In short, we are looking at a popular, subtle heresy which makes much of grace, liberty in the Spirit, freedom from the law, etc. but leads directly into bondage to Satan, and ultimately, to damnation.

Manifestations of Balaamism

The doctrine of Balaam is detectable by the following manifestations:

1. There is an implication that the denial of justification by works means that practical obedience does not matter.

2. There is a likening of obedience to the gospel (the teachings of Christ and his apostles) to bondage under the law.

3. There is a rejection of rebuke and correction as condemnation and legalism.

4. There is a misuse of the doctrine of assurance.

Balaamism refuted

1. The apostle Paul is at pains to point out that we are not justified by the works of the law of Moses, but that we are justified by faith in Christ. "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached and every man presseth into it." Luke 16:16. Faith in Christ means believing that he is the One he claims to be - the Christ, the Son of God. John 20:31.
Thereby we acknowledge his authority. If we accept the Teacher, then we will do what he says:

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."

Matt. 7:24-27. The evidence of faith in Christ is therefore obedience to him, James 2:14-26.

2. Far too often the excuse "were not under the law, but under grace" is used to justify disobedience. This implies that obedience to Jesus is bondage under the law. But the scripture says, "...the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" John 1:17. Jesus himself said: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matt. 11:28-30.
"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15.
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:" John 14:21.
"If a man love me, he will keep my words:" John 14:23.

It is the Christian's pleasure to serve Christ, and this is the proof of our love for him: 1 John 5:3, and 2 John 6.

3. Rebuke and correction are very much needed, indeed they are part of the ministry of the scriptures, 2 Tim. 3:16, and also of Christ's true servants: 2 Tim. 4:2-4 and Titus 2:15. It is the characteristic of false prophets to flatter. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for being carnal (1 Cor. 3), for tolerating fornication (5), for going to law before the unbelievers (6), for drunkenness at the Lord's table (11), and for heresy regarding the resurrection (15). He rebuked the Galatians for being led astray by false teachers (Gal. 3:1), and he rebuked certain Thessalonians for being lazy (2 Thess. 3:6-12).
Sadly, today there is a tendency to reject any negative teaching or rebuke as a condemnation from Satan, when it may well be the strivings of the Spirit of God, calling to repentance. Make a note of people who reject scriptural exhortation as legalism.

4. The misuse of the doctrine of assurance involves applying the promises of the scripture to those to whom they do not apply. A common example is John 10:28. The previous verse, however, tells us to whom the promise is given - the Lord's sheep, who hear his voice and who follow Him.
This practice leads to complacency, and inoculates the victim against exhortation which would lead to repentance and restoration. There is often a tendency to apply 'promise' scriptures to oneself, but 'warning' scriptures to others.
The true doctrine of the grace of God does not lead to licence. It is true that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, 2 Cor. 3:17, but this is liberty from the regulations of the Mosaic law, and not the liberty to live as we please. Indeed, the fruit of the Spirit is self-control. (Gal. 5:23).
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." Titus 2:11-15.

Jesus on Balaam

Jesus in His letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation, had to write and rebuke five of them for having fallen, and he exhorts the remaining two to hold firm! One doubts whether the churches resented this intrusion into their private affairs as 'judgmentalism' and 'legalism'. We do know for a fact that the church of Laodicea rejected the revelation as canonical, and was shortly afterwards destroyed by earthquake. How relevant these messages are for the churches of today! One of the matters which Jesus raises is the doctrine of Balaam. There he rebukes a church for tolerating the presence of some who merely hold the doctrine of Balaam, Rev. 2:14.

Conclusion

Such is His abhorrence of this teaching. And no wonder, for it debases His work on the cross, making it into an excuse for sin. Jesus did not die so that we could serve the devil and still enter into the kingdom of heaven! The churches need to realise that Jesus Christ still walks in the midst of the candlesticks and He still holds the angels of the churches in His right hand. He is therefore directly involved in the lives of the churches. His eyes are still like a flame of fire and He knows all about what is going on in the churches. Nothing can be hidden from Him. He is the Head of the Body, and He still executes judgement in the assemblies (Rev. 2:20-23). We must all appear before Him as individuals to give account of our deeds, and hopefully, to collect our rewards.

Has not the time come to recognise the sovereignty of Jesus Christ in the churches, and to remove those offences which displease him?

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Appeared in Issue 3 -- May 1998
"...contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" -- Jude v3