There's a Crack in Your Armor Perry Stone

overthrown the faith of some weak believers in the church (2 Tim. 2:18). Paul said this false teaching corrupted the faith of some and “will eat as doth a canker” (v. 17, KJV ). The Greek word for “canker” here is gaggraina , which alluded to an ulcer that gnaws on the skin or in the physical body. This is where we derive the English word gangrene —an infection that eats away at the tissue of the body and, if untreated, can eventually cause death. A severely diseased limb with gangrene must be amputated. Here, Paul is instructing the church to shun (separate from) Hymenaeus and Philetus as their teaching was corrupting and spreading throughout the church like gangrene! This reveals the proper way to use the sword of the Spirit, in the sense of cutting away false teaching or exposing dangerous heretical doctrine, contrary to the revelation of the Scriptures. The Word of God has a piercing power and divides the soul and spirit, meaning the thoughts of man from the thoughts of God (Heb. 4:12). Christ, Paul, and all of the apostles wielded the Old Testament into a powerful weapon of war to defend the Christ as the Messiah, using the Torah and the Prophets, and building their doctrine on the words of Christ and revelation from God Himself (Gal. 1:12; 2:2). Let me point out, it is for the purpose of cutting away false doctrine and not cutting down to the ground someone who has a difference of opinion or a different method of ministry than you do. Some of the false teaching spreading like gangrene in the body of Christ is: • Hell does not exist. • All men will end up in heaven no matter what religion