Oh, beloved, there never was a day in the history
of the church when Christians needed more to
be rooted and grounded in the faith as in the
present day. For you and I both know that false
teachers are increasing and their doctrines are
becoming more plausible. You know something?
False systems. False doctrines. And their promoters
are described in this 14th verse of the 4th chapter
of Ephesians. Here it is. Sly men, cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive. In other
words, such men have selfish purposes and deceive
in order to profit from their lies. Paul's not
describing in these words people who sell insecure
oil stock or land. No. He's describing religious
leaders who come to us these days in the name
of Christ. There are those today who'll accept
anyone who topes a Bible under his arm. There
are still children in the body of christ who
will accept anyone as being sincere if they'll
just use the name of jesus or of christ that's
right these words given by paul are in keeping
with matthew the 24th chapter in the 24th verse
where the end of the age is described by the
lord jesus christ and he says For there shall
arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall
show great signs and wonders insomuch that, if
it were possible, they shall deceive the very
elect. Now then, we're told in 1 John, the fourth
chapter, to try the spirits. And this may be
done in several ways. First, Find out what the
attitude of the system of teaching is toward
the Bible. Whether the Bible is held to be the
complete revelation of God or whether it's only
a partial revelation with another book needed
to complete it. I'm always a little leery of
these folks who come around with another book
that you're supposed to read. with the Bible.
I'm going to tell you something. There is no
substitute for the word of God. All you need
is thus saith the Lord. You don't need anything
further to know God's truth than just the Bible
itself. For the Bible is the Word, the living
God. It is supernaturally inspired. It was written
by holy men of old as they were moved and inspired
by the Holy Ghost. It is the only true ground
of Christian unity and fellowship. Believe me,
it is the eternal tribunal by whose all men and
all nations shall be judged one day. Know that.
Accept nothing more than God's word. Next, ask
what your belief is concerning the person of
Jesus Christ, whether he is the eternal son of
the eternal God. born of a virgin, the perfect
man, and the perfect God, ascertain their attitude
toward the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ
on Calvary. Find out what they believe concerning
the eternal destiny of those who reject Jesus
Christ and refuse to believe in Him as Savior
through faith in His blood. Such a test reveals
The truth of their doctrine. Know that. Jesus
Christ is the very son of the living God. Coexistence
and co -eternal with the father. Who was conceived
by the Holy Ghost. Born in the Virgin Mary. Taking
upon himself the form of man. And by the shedding
of his blood. Atonement for man. He is not just
a beautiful example. Know that. It is more than
that. He is the very son of the living God. Nothing
else will suffice. for the transgression of men.
Know that.