Monday, September 8, 2014

Recognizing and protecting oneself from false teachers

As an aside, a quote from The Matt Walsh Blog “In more primitive times they burned heretics at the stake. Now we greet the blasphemers with applause and multi-million dollar book deals. I’m not sure if the latter response is any more enlightened than the former, but both are wrong.”

http://themattwalshblog.com/2014/09/04/joel-osteen-wife-heretics-thats-america-loves/

Today people want their ears tickled by TV preachers like the Osteens rather than following the clear command of Jesus; Luke 9:23, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

Jesus warned us again and again about false teachers:

Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Mark 13:21-23, " And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christ’s and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."

Paul warns us in Acts 20:29-30, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.  Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.”

And again in Hebrews 13:9, "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meat), which have not profited them that have been occupied therein."

Peter warns us in II Peter 2:1, “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, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

The best way identify and recognize false teachers is to study the Word and “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11. CM reminds us to be like the Bereans, Acts 17:11, "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."

Like the Olseens, there are many TV evangelists who promote the prosperity gospel; send money and it will be returned to you multiplied or some other such nonsense. That said, not all who preach on TV are false teachers. A couple of my favorites are David Jeremiah and Ravi Zacharias.

Law vs. grace, as in Paul’s time as today. Whether it’s today’s Catholic who combines works with the gift of salvation given us by the completed work of Jesus on the cross or it’s the person who falsely believes that salvation comes through works; both are practicing a false belief. Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

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