Today many who say I am a Christian attend a church that teaches false doctrine. The danger of participating in or supporting false doctrinal teachings carries eternal consequences which are...
Colossians 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
The Living Word
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Christ talks to us through His Word, Dreams, Visions, and whispers in our prayer closets and during our daily walk with Him. The dreams, visions, and whispers will never contradict His written Word. If you hear something that contradicts His Word then it wasn't spoken by Him. To determine contradiction you must compare all things heard or seen with the written Word. Failure to do this leads you into the doctrines of devils and men!
We are to be like those in Berea
Acts 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Doctrine of Christ (KJV contains 4 verses)
1 Timothy 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Doctrine/s of men (KJV contains 4 verses)
Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Colossians 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Doctrines of devils
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Being a true Christian is not easy, it requires diligence on a daily basis! Is eternity in heaven with our Lord worth the effort? Absolutely!!! The consequence of lacking diligence is...
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Doctrines summary
In the Old Testament God was in the temple, people met in churches, temples, and synagogues. (Actual buildings to meet with God)
In the New Testament we are God's temple, we do not have to go to a building to meet with God.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
So how do we recognize false doctrine? We compare the doctrine to God's Word.
From Webster: Doctrine is a set of ideas or beliefs that are taught or believed to be true. : a statement of government policy especially in international relations.
To finish how to recognize a false doctrine lets do a simple exercise together to determine whether a doctrine is true or false based solely on God's Word.
Basis for the Rapture Doctrine (KJV)
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Christ talks to us through His Word, Dreams, Visions, and whispers in our prayer closets and during our daily walk with Him. The dreams, visions, and whispers will never contradict His written Word. If you hear something that contradicts His Word then it wasn't spoken by Him. To determine contradiction you must compare all things heard or seen with the written Word. Failure to do this leads you into the doctrines of devils and men!
We are to be like those in Berea
Acts 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Doctrine of Christ (KJV contains 4 verses)
1 Timothy 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Doctrine/s of men (KJV contains 4 verses)
Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Colossians 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Doctrines of devils
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Being a true Christian is not easy, it requires diligence on a daily basis! Is eternity in heaven with our Lord worth the effort? Absolutely!!! The consequence of lacking diligence is...
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Doctrines summary
- The Word is sufficient for all
- Adding to the Word, such as rituals, opinion, practices, and traditions puts you at risk of following after mans doctrine
In the Old Testament God was in the temple, people met in churches, temples, and synagogues. (Actual buildings to meet with God)
In the New Testament we are God's temple, we do not have to go to a building to meet with God.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
So how do we recognize false doctrine? We compare the doctrine to God's Word.
- If the doctrine is in agreement with God's Word as determined by examining the Holy Scripture in detail then it would be sound doctrine
- If the doctrine contradicts God's Word when examined in detail then it is false doctrine
From Webster: Doctrine is a set of ideas or beliefs that are taught or believed to be true. : a statement of government policy especially in international relations.
To finish how to recognize a false doctrine lets do a simple exercise together to determine whether a doctrine is true or false based solely on God's Word.
Let's look at the Rapture Doctrine
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
- John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
- 1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
"To summarize, these passages teach that the shout of an archangel and the blowing of a trumpet will herald the sudden appearance of Jesus in the heavens (1 Thessalonians 4:16). The dead in Christ will be resurrected and rise up to meet the Lord in the sky. Then, those saints who are alive will be "caught up" to the Lord. Paul concludes his description in 1 Thessalonians 4 by encouraging his readers to "comfort one another with these words."
And truly the Rapture is a comforting thought! Consider the promises contained in the concept of the Rapture. Jesus will bring with Him the spirits of those who have died in Him (1 Thessalonians 4:14). He will resurrect their bodies in a great miracle of re-creation; He will reunite their bodies with their spirits; and He will then glorify their bodies, making them immortal. And those believers who are living will not even taste death. Rather, they will be caught up to the Lord, and in transit, they will be translated from mortal to immortal".
Basis for the Rapture Doctrine being called False Doctrine (KJV)
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
- Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 Paul writes in reference to 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17 to clarify what was stated so that no one should be deceived. He says before we gather to the Lord we must first witness the 'falling away' of the church, the man of sin must be revealed, and he must be seen sitting in the temple showing himself that he is God.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Paul writes the dead will rise first then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds. The dead rising here would be considered the 'first resurrection'. In God's Word the 'first resurrection does not occur until after the great tribulation as we are told in Revelation 20:5-6. In fact the 'first resurrection' only appears twice in the Bible and that is in Revelation 20:5 & 6.
By now I hope I have been able to share why false doctrine is very dangerous and risky.
I picked the Rapture for an exercise because it is something most people are familiar with. The whole picture in detail must be considered as God has clearly described, concerning the falling away, the man of sin, and the man of sin sitting in the temple calling himself God. He also clearly says the dead rise first and then we who are left follow.
For those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture you are supposed to be gone before these events so the impact of seeing these events unfold may have quite a shaking affect on your faith. Are you prepared to deal with this change?
God also tells us what to expect before we meet Him in the air.
Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
In closing here are some common areas within the church that should raise a red flag regarding false doctrine.
In America any church that is a 501(c)(3) has to answer to the U.S. Government as their ultimate overseer. "According to the Internal Revenue Service, no substantial part of a religious, tax exempt church may engage in any activity which may be attempting to influence legislation and the church may not intervene in political campaigns. In other words, if the government decides to secretly disappear dissidents, the church must remain silent or risk losing its tax exemption. If the government continues to expand its infanticide policies by extending the murder of babies to include post-delivery abortion, then the church must remain silent. If the government engages in any heinous, genocidal act, such as the murder of 1.2 million Iraqi’s, under the false pretense of looking for weapons of mass destruction, the church must remain silent or risk losing the tax advantages for being a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization". (Read More)
- Those who say there is no hell
- Those who say all faiths take different paths to arrive heaven
- Those who say God and Allah are the same
- Those who say taking the 'Mark of the Beast' is forgivable and you will still go to heaven
- Those who say the church is the only mediator between God and Man
God's response in order
- Isaiah 14:9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
- John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
- Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
- Revelation 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
- John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
AMEN
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