The thing about black ice is that we often don’t see it until we feel the wheels lose traction on the road. By then, if we are going too fast or adjusting the steering, it is too late and an accident may occur. It was the same when I hit that thin sheet of ice on the stairs- by the time my feet touched down, it was too late and I fell (yesterday’s post). But we don’t have to be unaware of what we are hearing from speakers, pastors, teachers, authors, etc.
Should we be trusting man to be accurate about the Word without looking into it for ourselves? Certainly not! Our beloved pastors are NOT God and therefore make
mistakes. The Bereans searched the
Scriptures to make sure Paul was accurate in what he was preaching (Ac. 17:10 -12).
All teachers of the Word should encourage us to check up on them. Besides the Scriptures I gave yesterday, we
also need to watch for these signs:
For if, indeed, the one
coming proclaims another Jesus, whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive another spirit, which you did not
receive, or another gospel, which you never accepted, you might well endure these . … For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. Did not even Satan
marvelously transform himself into an angel of light? Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also
transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be
according to their works. 2Cr. 11:4,13-15
-another Jesus- one who was not fully God,
was just a good man, good teacher or prophet
one who was not
fully man, or was Lucifer’s brother
one who had a wife,
or sinned, or never died for our sins
one who never rose
again
-another spirit- by believing in another
Jesus we would be receiving another spirit that is
not sent by God.
-another gospel - actual gospel- Jesus
came in flesh, died for our sins, rose again
He taught self denial as opposed to self
fulfillment (Lk. 9:23 ; Mt. 19:27 ;
Php. 3:7)
popular counterfeits
The self improvement
gospel- Self-esteem or self-help gospels are promoted today in books,
pulpits, and on radio, television, and internet. Focus is on self-dignity,
self-respect, self-worth, self-esteem as opposed to personal sinfulness,
repentance, denying self and living for Christ. “If we follow God's plan as
faithfully as we can we will feel good about ourselves.” Feeling good doesn’t make us saved and bound
for Heaven!
The
prosperity gospel goes by many
names: Word of Faith, Health and Wealth, Name It and Claim It. This other
gospel teaches that God provides rewards, including personal happiness,
financial wealth and physical health, for believers who have sufficient faith.
The judgmentless gospel- God is about restoring not judging. Jesus died for all so all can go to Heaven.
The moralistic gospel- Redemption comes through exercising one’s
willpower to be better with God’s help.
The kingdom or activist gospel- We can advance the kingdom through our
own efforts to build a new, better, just society.
…If anyone preaches a gospel to you beside what you have
received,
let him be accursed. Gl. 1:9
But the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times
some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings
of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy (speaking but not following Scriptures
themselves), being seared in their own
conscience (sin so much they don’t even feel bad about it anymore), 1Tm. 4:1,2
Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom
of God kingdom
of God
Lord, let us take seriously the many warnings You have given us to know You and Your Word so that we cannot fall by giving heed to false doctrines or Christianity. Open our eyes to see the truth and give us the courage to stand up for that truth.