Identify and Avoid
“Now I beseech you, Brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine you have learned; and avoid them” (Romans 16:17).
The Apostle Paul is warning the church to watch out for false teachers. He is instructing them, and us, to mark them and avoid them. False teachers must be identified as such before they can do harm to those that are exposed to their teaching. All false doctrine comes from deceiving spirits that use these false teachers to propagate their lies. It is of upmost importance that ee identify and steer clear of these false teachers. However, we are to pray for them that they will repent of their false way (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
False teachers were a problem in the early church and they are a problem today. In the Olivet Discourse, the Lord Jesus warned about not being deceived by imposters that would come in His Name. In fact, when addressing the future, the time after His departure, it was the very first thing he mentioned which tells us of the importance He placed on it. Paul also warned of those that would depart from the faith in the latter times (the time we live in now).
“Now the Spirit speaks expressly that in the later times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1).
We are in those later times that Paul warned about. Our faith must remain fixed in Christ and His sacrificial death on the Cross. He paid the sin debt owed to God and opened the way for fellowship with the Lord. False doctrine always changes the truth of the Gospel in some way. If we do not understand who Jesus is and what He accomplished, we can be easily deceived. The Apostle John instructed us to test the spirits.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
The Holy Spirit will always points us to Christ and Him crucified. If any doctrine minimizes the Lord’s sacrificial death at Calvary then you can be sure that deceiving spirits are involved. Our Lord came to die on the Cross to deliver us from “this present evil world.” Satan knows that our victory is found in the Cross, and only in the Cross, and will do all he can to either keep us from the Salvation offered there, or offer us false doctrine which us intended to move our faith from the correct object to a false way. The Apostle Peter calls them “damnable heresies.”
“But there were false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring damnable heresies, even denying the Lord Who bought them, and bringing upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:1).
Peter goes on to say that many will follow these false teachers. Why? They will present doctrines that itching ears want to hear and that will result in the fulfillment of evil desires and/ or causing those that follow them to ignore God’s will, or Word. Paul said the following regarding these deceivers:
“For they who are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:18).
There are only two kingdoms – the kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan, and the Kingdom of Light ruled by the Lord. These false teachers are serving the kingdom of darkness to satisfy their earthly needs and fleshly desires. Those that do not know the Word of God are easy marks for these false teachers who appeal to them through flattery. There words are smooth and very tempting to those that have little knowledge of the Lord’s ways and Word.
As Paul mentioned in our introductory verse; he gave us fair warning to mark them, that is, to identify them and to avoid them. Deception is widespread in the church today. The Lord warned against this prior to His departure and we must guard against it today. Our faith must be in the provision the Lord has given us which is Christ and Him crucified. If our faith remains in His provision, the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.
Living our lives according to God’s Word is the greatest life. Should we veer off of the truth that His Word brings us then we will pay the price. There are false teachers out there today offering doctrines of devils and tempting their followers to go their pernicious ways. We must guard against these brokers of evil. Just as their father the Devil, they are seeking whom they might devour.
“But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockery in the last time, who should walk are their own ungodly lusts. But you, Beloved, building up yourselves on your most Holy Faith, praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 17,18,20).
Always Remember,
God Loves You!
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