Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they be of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world (I John 4: 1). All doctrine and teachers are to be tried according to the Word of God. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them (Isa. 8:20). Every message, messenger, and method is to be judged according to the Word of God. The church at Ephesus was commended because they hadtried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars (Rev. 2:2). The church at Pergamos was rebuked because they tolerated those that held the doctrine of Balaam, and the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate (Rev. 2:14,15). It is never right to tolerate false teachers, but they are to be tried by the Word of God, and exposed. Of course those who want to disobey the Word of God will seek by every means to avoid this teaching.We are to MARK them and AVOID them. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them (Rom. 16:17). Those whose conduct and teaching contradicts the Word of God are to be marked and to be avoided. This requires discernment and judgment in the light of the Bible. The ecumenicalists, new evangelicals, and compromising fundamentalists will resist any effort to obey this Scripture. They cannot be marked and avoided, unless they are judged according to the Word of God. We are to REBUKE them. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith (Titus 1: 13). This was written to Titus, because there Were those going from house to house and subverting whole houses with false doctrine (v. 10-16). Are we to sit silently by, while they do this, without rebuking and admonishing people to avoid their teaching? No, the faithful servant of the Lord is to be Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers (Titus 1:9). We are to have NO FELLOWSHIP with them. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them (Eph. 5:11). Reprove means to censure, condemn, find fault, rebuke, and to refute. How can we obey this Scripture unless we try them by the Word of God? We are to WITHDRAW from them. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which ye received of us (II Thess. 3:6). We are to withdraw from those whose doctrine and conduct does not conform to the Word of God. The context clearly shows that obedience to sound doctrine is what Paul has in mind, for he says, if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet, count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother (II Thess. 3:14-15). Paul admonished Timothy to withdraw thyself from those who consent not to wholesome words ... and to the doctrine which is according to godliness (I Tim. 6:3-5). We are to TURN AWAY from them. Concerning the last days, he says that some will have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. from such turn away for such people are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (11 Tim. 3:5,7). How can we turn away from them if we do not identify them, and this requires that their message be compared to the Word of God. It is the business of the true preacher to: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (II Tim. 4:2). This is usually an unpopular and thankless task but it is the duty of the God-called man.We are NOT to RECEIVE them into our house. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds (11 John 10, I 1). There is no doubt about who John is speaking about, it is Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ... (v.9). By radio, TV, music and literature, false prophets are brought into the homes of many Christians today. Brethren, this ought not to be! We are to REJECT HERETICS. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject (Titus 3: 10). We should reject those who deny redemption by the blood of Christ. There are many who deny this or some other doctrine of the Word of God. If they will not respond to being admonished, then they are to be rejected. We are to look out for those who preach another gospel. Paul warned about those who preachedanother Jesus ... another spirit ... or another gospel (II Cor. 11:4). How can we know them unless we judge their Jesus, their spirit, and their gospel by the Word of God? Paul called such preachers false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ (11 Cor. II: 13). He explains in v. 14-15 that these preachers are the ministers of Satan. The God-called man must be just as faithful today in exposing the ministers of Satan. Paul warned the Galatians about those who pervert the gospel of Christ. He also said, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (See Gal. 1:6-9). Multitudes today are preaching a perverted gospel. Those who teach salvation by baptism, or by works, are teaching a perverted gospel. Those who preach a salvation that you can lose, are preaching a perverted gospel. The charismatics, Catholics, many evangelicals, and many fundamentalists (?) are preaching a perverted gospel. Yet, we are supposed to cooperate with them in evangelism and Christian work, according to many today. If we fail to expose these false prophets, then we have betrayed Christ and His gospel.We are to SEPARATE from them. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch no the unclean thing; and I will receive you (II Cor. 6:17). This makes it plain. Gods people are to come out of apostasy and religious error. How can any Bible believer remain in the National Council or World Council of Churches? How can they remain among compromising evangelicals and wishy-washy fundamentalists?
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 04:43:14 +0000
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