1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-- bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
There have been false prophets throughout the history of man. They claim to know the mind of God but are lying. If all religions are true, then why are there so many different ones that conflict with each other? Let's face it- someone is lying, deceived, ignorant or crazy. I am not talking about some of the minor interpretations which you see among some of the denominations, but the basic clear and repeated gospel and person of Jesus Christ. God wants His people to be protected from lies.
Many who deny the divinity of Christ are very sly and crafty. You will read their material and the first thing you might see is lots of quotes from the Bible. There are all kinds of verses, with very good and interesting articles in their magazines, literature. books or tracts.
Two such popular cults are the Mormons and the Jehovah Witnesses. They want to start interesting you in Bible studies then, after a bit will share with you some of their commentaries, further interpretations, extra books and literature. The Watchtower magazine begins to give a different slant on what you have been taught and have read in the Bible. The book of Mormon is used as authoritative.
Peter warned, “They will deny the Sovereign Lord who bought them.” If anyone denies the sovereignty and divine nature of Christ, beware. The Bible says, "You are not your own, you were bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your bodies."
Paul said in Acts 20:28-30 "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God which he bought with his own blood. 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 that is exactly what is happening.”
Friends, the Bible is the completed revelation until Jesus returns. This is all we need.
Many people, even within our churches and popular Christian denominations will hold a Bible in their hands and tell us they are teaching the Scriptures, but their teaching is false.
False teachers bring reproach upon true saints and the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of these impostors, "the way of truth will be maligned.
I am most troubled by the statements I am hearing lately among some of our mainline denominations. They claim the Bible does not define the church, rather the church defines and interprets the Bible. Considering the homosexual acceptance by clergy we are told by some denominations and pastors, the church is constantly changing and it should because it is the authority of truth and defines the Bible in each age. Catchy, huh?
How we apply these truths in each culture may be challenging, comparing the jungles of Africa with the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, but the principles laid down by God’s Word always becomes the foundation we are to follow.
Application: Always be as the Bereans in the book of Acts who "examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11
Prayer: Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long. Ps 25:4-5
