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If there is one thing that characterizes the days we
are living in it is the flourishing of false gospels. I wanted to include
a section with some hints to help you identify a false gospel. Keep in
mind that not all false gospels are cults like the Mormons or even Roman
Catholics, but they are found in many Protestant churches. This not only
includes small out of the way churches but those of mainline
denominations. Sometimes identifying a false gospel can be difficult but
those that hold false gospels will eventually expose themselves. Let us
look at some of the teachings that will help us identify the false, so
you may be on guard.
Jesus Christ
If He is thought of as only a prophet,
teacher, holy man, martyr, sect leader and is not taught that He is God,
then you have entered into a false gospel. Run for your spiritual life.
If they doubt His resurrection, ascension, and miracles on earth, then
they are a false gospel.
The Holy Spirit
If He is spoken of as a force or power. He
is the third person of the Godhead and co-equal to God the Father and God
the Son. If they speak of Him as an impersonal force, or anything less
than God, then you have stepped into a false gospel.
The Bible
How does your group or church view the
Bible? Are they saying we don't have the Bible today? Have they replaced
the King James Version with modern trash-lations and then vehemently
denigrate the King James Version? Does the pastor or leader continually
tell you that certain verses should not be in the Bible? Do they doubt
parts of the Bible such as denying the teachings of the miracles? Do they
deny the existence of Satan? Any attack upon the Scriptures will give you
an insight into the unsaved state of the preacher or teacher. Do they
deny the inerrancy of Scripture?
Signs, Wonders, and Tongues
If the church or group you visit believes
in things like speaking in tongues, slain in the Spirit, prosperity and
healing teaching, visions, verbal prophecies, and rock music instead of
music glorifying God, then you have stepped into a false gospel. The
Charismatic / Pentecostal movement is the binding cord of Ecumenicalism.
Roman Catholic Sympathizing
If you go to a church or group which is
sympathetic to Roman Catholicism, then you have entered a false gospel.
Roman Catholicism is a descendant of the religions of Egypt and Babylon
and has nothing to do with the true gospel.
Free Will and Loss of Salvation
If you find a group that teaches that you
can lose your salvation or believes that you can "accept
Christ" then you have wandered into a false gospel. Man does not
have free will as we are either slaves of Satan or servants of Christ.
As you progress in the Christian faith you
will find many more ways the church has become the enemy of Christ. If
you cannot find a good church or a home group, then it is spiritually
safer that you stay home and start your own group. I can guarantee there
will be a small group of like-minded believers who will have the same
disdain for the false teachings. Eventually all the true Christians will
probably go back to house churches anyway, which is the New Testament
paradigm for the "ekklesia."
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