![]() ![]() They also demanded that the Gentile converts observe the Law of Moses (Acts 15:5). The first to arrive on the scene were the Judaizers who responded to the inclusion of Gentiles in the church by demanding that they be circumcised in order to be saved (Acts 15:1). Early CultsĪll these apostolic warnings were much needed, for the early church was assaulted by false teachers and cultic groups from the beginning. He says some will be motivated by sensuality and others by greed (2 Peter 2:2-3). Peter contributed to this chorus of warnings when he wrote that there will be false teachers “who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them” (2 Peter 2:1). ![]() In his first letter to Timothy, Paul warned about deception in the end times: “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). Paul says that if an angel of God were to come with a gospel different from the one revealed in the Scriptures, we should reject his message and “let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9). Likewise, Paul speaks out strongly against false and deceptive teachers. He then states that “anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God,” and he admonishes believers in the strongest of terms to avoid association with such people: “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11). As John puts it: “Many deceivers have gone out into the world” (2 John 7). Nearly all of John’s second epistle is devoted to a warning against false teachers. The test He prescribed was to ask the person in question to confess that “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh” (1 John 4:2). He also challenged believers to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). John warned that Christians are to be on guard against “antichrists” - whom he defined as those who deny that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:18,22). His apostles warned repeatedly about the danger of false and deceptive teachers. The warnings of Jesus are not the only ones in the Bible concerning cults. ![]() This latter statement is particularly chilling since it indicates that the cult leaders of the end times will have supernatural powers and will therefore be able to deceive many people through the performance of miracles. In verse 11 He focused on false prophets: “And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.” And, again, in verse 24 He mentioned both groups: “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” This is the only sign that He repeated in that memorable speech - and He repeated it twice. “Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many” (Matthew 24:5). In His Olivet Discourse, when He listed the signs of the times that would point to His soon return, the very first sign He mentioned was an epidemic of false Christs. Jesus warned repeatedly that in the end times the world would witness many false Christs and false prophets. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |