We are living in perilous times brothers & sisters in the Lord, now more than ever we all need to get closer to God & follow His Word. Because darkness is getting darker in these last days, many brethren are being deceived with false doctrines, most of them are babes in the Lord, good people, but unfortunately as usual, the younger & weaker are the easiest prey for the wolves or false teachers. Please pray for them & pray for the Church in general.
The Word of God teach us about love, our motives must always be based on love. Sadly there are many Christians today, promoting God’s love but disregarding God’s Truth, using love as the excuse for interfaith unity & peace. But the Truth of God is always interwoven with His Love, they can’t be separated. We can’t show God’s love to people without giving them God’s Truth.
“till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14 that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine (G1319– teachings, precepts) by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: . Ephesians 4:14-16
The babes or immature in the faith can be tossed to and fro by every wind of false doctrine, they are easy prey of deceitful teachers, this is another reason why the truth needs to be spoken. In contrast a sign of a mature Christian is growing up into Christ. The word used by apostle Paul is not literally “speak‘ but it has a more deep meaning, some have coined the term, “truthing in love.” the Greek verb G226= alétheuó, really means to be true (in doctrine and profession). In context the apostle Paul is emphasizing the need to hold to and proclaim, the truth of the gospel, which includes the core truths of the Christian faith & also a way of live that backs up our profession of faith.
” Love without truth is apostasy. . . Apostasy is defined as a great falling away from truth: Literally, “a divorcement from truth“. Pastor Joseph Herrin, Parablesblog
While we all understand that we should pray for others, love and welcome everyone who wants to know God to our congregations, including people that don’t necessarily share our same doctrine (so they can hear the true gospel), we also understand that we cannot neglect the necessity of keeping the SOUND DOCTRINE being taught in our gatherings (1Tim 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim.1:13; 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1).
We should love even our enemies, but the bible is very clear that we are not suppose to imitate or follow the world but to be separated unto God.
The Word of God mentions the importance of staying in the same doctrine that we heard from Jesus & His apostles:
“Follow the pattern of sound teaching which you have heard from me in the faith and love that is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 1:13;
“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing . .” 1 Timothy 6:3-5;
See also 1 Tim 4:16; 1 Cor.11:1-2; 1 Cor.15:1-2 ; 2 John 1:9-11, Galatians 1:6-10, Romans 16:17, 2 Tim.4:3-4, 2 John 1:9, 2 Thess.3:6, 2 Cor.6, Luke 12:5, Col.2:8, etc. Every false doctrine will change the teachings of Jesus for something new, new revelations, new light, new interpretations, new awakenings, new moves of the Spirit.
It causes deep grieve to our hearts when we hear false teachings using the name of Christ, but we are also aware that this doesn’t take Him by surprise. The Lord warned us of this in His Word and instructed us to exercise discernment.
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” 1 Tim. 4:1
“Test (G1381: distinguish by testing, examine, prove, scrutinize, to see whether a thing is genuine or not) all things; hold fast what is good” 1 Thes. 5:21 – God alone is good –Mark 10:18
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (G1381: distinguish by testing, examine, prove, scrutinize, to see whether a thing is genuine or not) the spirits whether they are of God” 1John 4:1
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits“. Matthew 7: 15
In sheep clothing means that in their external appearance they look like Christians (we are Jesus’ sheep), but deep inside they are wolves, and are deceiving the sheep in order to destroy them, use them for their own gain. The word prophet originally means one who foretells future events. But prophets, however, also means anyone who speaks the words or revelations of God to the people, so the word came also to denote all who were leaders or teachers, like Abraham, Moises, etc. Gen. 20:7; Ex. 7:1; Deut. 34:10; Hos. 12:13
But. . . what fruits to look for?
Besides their actions or how they live their lives, their words are also their fruits. Do we understand how powerful words are? The Bible says: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” Prov. 18:21. Wrong teachings of the gospel or wrong teachings about the true doctrine of Christ can cause spiritual death!
“For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Luke 6:44
“Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees” Matthew 16:12
“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse (G1294=twist distort) things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears“. Acts 20: 29-31
“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. … This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables (G3454=Myth, inventions), and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.“ Titus 1:10-14
It is easy to see if these teachers are ministering for money & personal favors. See 2 Peter 2. “And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words” vs.3. We are not saying pastor/teachers should not get some financial aid from the church (but be careful with the hireling ones –John 10:12-13), are they selling books, sermons, magazines, videos, etc. Many today had made a business out of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (G3454=Myth, inventions),” 2 Tim. 4:3-4Warning Against False Doctrine
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, continue to remain at Ephesus so that you might command some to teach no other doctrine, 4 nor pay attention to fables (G3454=Myth, inventions), and endless genealogies, which cause debates rather than godly edifying, which is in faith. 5 Now the goal of this command is love from a pure heart, and from a good conscience, and from sincere faith. 1 Tim. 1:3-4
And DO NOT have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; instead, expose them. ” Ephesian 5:6-7,11
Articles related to the apostasy:
Sound the Trumpet in the Midst of Apostasy: The Enemy is in the Camp
Jesus Calling Devotional Bible—Putting Words in Jesus’ Mouth—And in the Bible