You cannot recognize a false teaching unless you know what the truth looks like. In today’s modern society we are led to believe that truth is relative and objective truth is non-existent.  If you buy into that philosophy, you will be ill equipped and easily deceived by any sort of false teaching coming down the pike.

Dear friends, 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. [1 John 4:1]

If you don’t want to be deceived, you must spend time studying the Holy Scriptures and know and understand what it says. If you’re not well grounded in the truth, you will be very vulnerable to falling for any deception.

You cannot rely on just listening to sermons and teachings from Bible teachers and pastors. You must let the Scriptures speak to you directly, and the only way to do that is to study them for yourself. Pastors, teachers, and websites such as this one can help point you to some things you may need to know and perhaps give you some ideas for further study, but you need to test (“examine” – NASB, “prove” – KJV) and confirm them on your own. You also need to understand the historical, cultural, and literary context of the scripture. Researching the background can provide deeper insights into the text.

Be open to new insights and interpretations. Scripture can have multiple layers of meaning, and different readings can offer fresh perspectives.

New doctrines, new revelations and new gospels are springing up almost daily. Some have been with us for some time. Many have been previously debunked, yet some people tenaciously hang on to them. And it’s going to get much worse. The Bible clearly warns that in the last days strange doctrines will come forth – introducing another Jesus, another Spirit, another gospel (Matt. 24:4-5; 2 Tim. 3:1-5).

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. [2 Thessalonians 2:9-10]

Even a cursory review of what has taken place in the Church during the last 100 years will reveal a fierce undermining of the faith. Precisely as the Bible warns (Mt. 7:21-23; 24:4,11,24; 2 Thes 2:3; etc.), today’s most effective enemies of Christ are those who claim to be Christians and call mankind not just to any old false religion but to a counterfeit Christianity.

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. [Matthew 24:24]

In some respects, believers of Paul’s day “had it easy” compared to this generation. In those days the opposition to truth was in the secular world around them – it had not yet infiltrated the Church under the guise of a more enlightened or advanced Christianity. While there were pressing pagan influences as well as some heretical teachings and practices here and there, they weren’t subjected to anything like the flood of false beliefs, teachings, and practices surging in on the tidal wave of today’s Christian media.

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. [Matthew 7:15-20]

Jesus warned us that these false prophets will come to us in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. False prophets won’t come saying that they are deceiving us. No, they will sound good and will claim they are telling the truth. So, rather than judging them by their words, we are instructed to judge the messenger by their fruit.

A Simple Test for Truth

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [John 14:6]

There it is… Christ is the way and the truth and the life. When testing for truth, what does the teaching say about Christ? What does the teaching say about salvation? If it is anything that denies the saving power of Christ or that there is another way to the Father besides Christ, you can rest assured the teaching and any miracle, signs and wonders accompanying it is a deception.

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. – 1 John 4:3 (KJV)

This doctrine is essential to the Christian system; and he who does not hold it cannot be regarded either as a Christian, or recognized as a Christian teacher. I believe the words of Christ in the gospels are the primary source material for discerning truth. The teachings found in the “epistles” or “letters” written by Peter, Paul, James and other followers of Jesus along with the Revelation of Christ should not be seen as adding new truth, rather they are instructional material for applying what Christ taught in the gospels. Not only do they NOT contradict John 14:6 but instead point us back to Christ as the truth and the life.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. – Colossians 2:8

The average American Christian defines God as Love, a word which is understood from a “feelings” humanistic and temporal viewpoint. This definition does not cause any problems to a sinful lifestyle, for the concept of tolerant love does not include the reality of a HOLY God, a JUST God, and a TRUE God.

The Love of God is also Just, which is not concerned with our comfort and feelings, but with what is Right. The Love of God is HOLY, which is destructive to sinful living and the carnal nature and is not tolerant toward rebellion and willful ignorance.

The question is, do you KNOW God in Christ Jesus … as He has revealed Himself in the Scriptures? Have you read His Book? Have you studied it? How can you be sure you know the real God in Christ Jesus if you have not studied what He has said about Himself?

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. – Hebrews 5:12-6:3

If what you believe to be true turned out not to be true, when would you like to know about it? When Christ appears with His angels to take His Church home, I pray that you know the Truth.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. – Rev. 3:10-11 – KJV