Colossians 1:28-29
"Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
This verse really shows the heart and purpose of Paul the Apostle. His goal was to lead both Jew and Gentile to Jesus Christ by teaching them the whole council of God. Paul was constantly faced with false teachings that were spreading in the churches he helped start. He refuted them and encouraged the believers to get back to the truth that had been preached to them before.
This is happening today and is why I write these messages every single day. There are so many false religions and teachings being spread that many are falling away or not coming to the Lord because they are following these lies. So how do we know what is a false teaching? If it is not supported by the Bible or tries to do away with sound doctrinal teaching based on scripture, it is false. If it is in the Bible, then it should be taught and it should not be changed.
My goal is to share God's Word so fellow Christians can be encouraged, strengthened and grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ. I also want to share the Gospel with those that do not know the Lord Jesus so that they may come to repentance and into the saving grace of Christ.
Jesus and the writers of the New Testament warned us that there would be false teachers, false prophets and false christs:
Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."
Matthew 24:11
"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many."
Matthew 24:24
"For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."
2 Cor 11:13
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ."
1 Tim 6:20
"O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—"
2 Pet 2:1
"But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction."
1 John 4:1
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
1 John 2:18
"Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour."
1 John 2:22
"Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son."
1 John 4:3
"and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world."
2 John 7
"For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."
The reason I listed so many verses is to show that the writers of the New Testament, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, were warning us that false teachings would come. They were a threat in their day and they are a threat today. Please read these verses carefully because these warnings pertain to a lot of the teachings regarding Jesus as taught by the Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Islam and other religions.
The Bible, God's Word, says these are false teachings and that we should avoid them and teach against them. These false teachings can sometimes confuse us and make us doubt what we believe. I conclude this with the encouragement that Paul gave to Timothy, the young pastor at Ephesus that he had discipled who was dealing with these very issues:
2 Tim 1:13-14
"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us."
