1 John 4:1 – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world”
The apostle John was referring to the cults and sects that take a truth and go to the extreme or form their own exclusive groups. John said, “stop believing” because some of his readers were clearly carried away by the spirit of error. The spiritually gullible fall victims of the latest religious fads. We are not to believe every spirit-controlled teacher! However, we know they are true when they “confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh”.
Many cults and sects claim to be biblically based Christian organizations. They will even use the historic Biblical Christian language and even call themselves “the Church of Jesus Christ,” or “the Church of Christ,” but deny or redefine essential Christian doctrines to fit their eccentric teachings. Ask if one died today and stood before the Lord God and He asked you, “Why should He let you into heaven”?
Listen carefully to the response. Does the Church or group teach salvation by grace of God alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone? Do they add or detract anything from, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved”? Do they teach justification by faith alone? Do they add requirements like, water baptism, church membership, tithing, etc. as a requirement for salvation? I am convinced that the greatest need we have in our day is the gift of discernment.
It’s a brand new day! Keep enjoying Kharis!
Pastor Josh Laryea