HOW TO RECOGNISE FALSE DOCTRINES

Look at Ephesians 4:14,15.

We are instructed to grow up spiritually, so that we will not be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. There are many voices and doctrines clamouring for our attention. It is important to be established in the truth, so you can easily recognise what is false.
Do you know how to recognise a counterfeit pound? Become so familiar with the real pound that when you see a counterfeit you will know it, instantly. In the same way, as we become so familiar with the true Bible doctrines, we can, instantly, recognise the false doctrines that blow our way.

There are many cults, false religions, humanistic teachings and occult groups who promote doctrines clearly opposed to what is revealed in the Bible. The best rule of thumb is to ask, “Can these teachings be supported by Scripture? Is there anything in the Bible that would contradict these teachings?” Some groups will use just enough Scripture to sound biblical. The Bible tells us that by the testimony of two or three witnesses let everything be established. (2 Cor. 13:1.) It is important to find two or three, or more, verses of Scripture ...in their context... that support a particular doctrine. If someone teaches something based upon one verse taken out of context, this is a good sign that the doctrine is false.

Detailed below are some of the foundational, true doctrines that false teachers will negate, twist or use to deceive.

1. The deity of Christ: Jesus Christ is actually God in the flesh, the second person of the Trinity.

(John 5:18; John 10:30-33; John 20:28; Col. 1:15-19.)

False teachers will deny the deity of Christ. They will call Jesus a great moral teacher, a prophet or just a good man, but they will deny that He was God in the flesh.

2. The Virgin Birth of Christ: Mary was a virgin, and she was “with child” by the Holy Spirit.

(Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-23; Luke 1:30-35.)

False teachers will deny the Virgin Birth of Christ. They will take an intellectual, scientific approach and deny the miracle of a virgin being with child.

3. The Bible is the inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are infallible and inerrant.

(2 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 4:12; 2 Peter 1:19-21.)

false teachers will deny the inspiration of the Word of God. They will attempt to discredit the veracity of God’s Word and reduce its authority as God’s Word to man.

4. The blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of our sins.

(Matt. 26:27,28; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:12-14,22.)

False teachers will deny the importance of the blood of Jesus. They will attempt to negate sin, man’s guilt, and, therefore, the need for the spotless blood of the Lamb of god for the remission of sin.

5. The death, burial and resurrection of Christ was substitutional and valid.

( John 20:1-9; Acts 1:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:12-17.)

False teachers will usually agree that a man named Jesus died on the cross and was buried; however, when it comes to the resurrection of Christ, they will deny it a historical fact.
The resurrection is the crux of a Christian’s faith. The resurrection of Christ is the fundamental truth that the early church preached. To deny the resurrection is to void the Christian’s hope of eternal life after the grave. As Paul said, And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins (1 Cor. 15:17).

6. The Godhead is made up of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

(Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 John 5:7.)

False teachers will deny the existence of the Trinity. If they do acknowledge the three persons - Father, son and Holy Spirit - they will not call them co-equal. In fact, they will accuse Christians of teaching polytheism: the plurality of gods. As Christians, we believe that there is one God Who consists of three persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

7. After Creation, man fell; salvation was made available through repentance and the shed blood of Christ. Salvation is received by faith through grace to whosoever will believe on Jesus Christ.

(John 3:16; John 14:6; Rom 6:23; Eph. 2:8,9.)

False teachers will deny the need for repentance, or faith for salvation. Often they will promote such doctrines as salvation by good works (the idea that we can work through our efforts and good works to obtain salvation); universal salvation (the idea that everyone will be saved in the end - including Satan, himself); relativism (the idea that you can believe anything you want to believe about God and salvation. They deny Jesus as the way, truth and life, and consider Him to be one of many ways to God. There are no absolutes, everything is relative); or even reincarnation (the idea that we go on to another plane, or form of life, in our next life).

8. The return of Jesus Christ is imminent.

(Matt. 24:1-51; Acts. 1:9-11; 1 Thess. 4:15-17.)

False teachers will not only deny the resurrection, but they will deny the physical, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ as an event that will actually take place.

9. There is a literal heaven and a literal hell.

(Matt. 25:31-46; Luke 16:19-26; Rev. 21:1-8.)

False teachers will deny the existence of either heave or hell, or both. Most often, their claim is that “a loving God could never send anyone to hell.” The Bible teaches that there is a real hell and a real heaven. God doesn’t send people to hell; but, because of their own choice to reject Jesus Christ as Lord, they send themselves to hell.

10. There is a final judgement - one for unbelievers and one for believers.

(John 12:47,48; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev 20:12-15.)

False teachers will deny the reality of the final judgement. The Bible teaches that we are appointed once to die, and then the judgement. (Heb. 9:27.) Unbelievers will stand at the Great White Throne of Judgement because they have not believed on or received Jesus Christ, their names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and they will have to face an eternal death in hell in the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15.) Believers will stand at the Judgement Seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10) where our works as believers will be judged and rewarded. ( 1 Cor. 3:10-15.)

Learn these foundational truths. Study these subjects, in depth, using your own Bible. As you become familiar with the truth, it will be easy for you to recognise things which are false.

Also, be alert when you notice the following types of things:

An exclusive attitude - the idea that this group, or teacher, is the only group with the truth.

Leaders, or teachers, who court your allegiance to them, personally. We follow Jesus, not other men or women.

Books or “revelations” that people introduce that are contradictory to the Bible. The Bible is the final standard and authority. We do not accept anything that contradicts the written Word of God.

Trust your “gut” feeling when you sense something, or someone, is teaching false doctrine. The Holy Spirit, living within you, will alert you to false doctrines if you will follow your spirit. If you suspect that you have encountered false doctrines or teachings, but you are not certain, talk to your pastor or other Christian leaders whom you trust.

 

HOW TO FIND A GOOD CHURCH

As a new, or young, Christian it is important to find a good church. If church life was meaningless to you in the past, or is a foreign environment to you, you may wonder why finding a good church is so important. You may wonder what you should look for in a church. You may wonder what to do when you find a good church. Before we look at these areas, there is one golden rule that you must bear in mind at all times.

The Golden Rule in How To Find a Good Church: Realise that the perfect church does not exist!

If you are looking for the perfect church, then you might as well stop now. Churches are made up of imperfect people with a desire to serve and follow a perfect God. God is perfect, Churches are not. Besides, as one preacher said, “If you ever found the perfect church, you would ruin it the first day you attended!” With that in mind, here are some helpful hints on finding a good church

REASONS TO FIND A GOOD CHURCH

Read Acts 2:41,42. From these verses, we can see four great reasons the first church gathered together; those reasons are valid for us today.

1. You need good doctrine.

The best and healthiest way to grow, as a Christian, is to feed on good doctrine. There is plenty of bad doctrine in the world and among false religions. You want to start your Christian life by being instructed and established in good Bible-based doctrine. Doctrine, which consists of the basic fundamental beliefs, is to a Christian what a solid foundation is to a building. With the proper foundation, the rest of the building will go up properly and will be secure. In the same way, with proper doctrine as our foundation, a Christian will grow up strong and healthy.

A good church will have a pastor, and possibly other leaders, who are gifted by God to teach the Word. These people are responsible to teach sound, biblical doctrine, just as the apostles did in the early church.
Look for a church that teaches basic things such as: salvation by faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ; the Bible as the inspired Word of God; the Trinity as the three persons of the Godhead - Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the baptism in the Spirit; the importance of evangelism and discipleship; the goodness of God demonstrated by healing, the abundant life and the walk of victory in Christ. You will want to find a church where there is a spirit of faith, not an attitude of doom and condemnation.

2. You need fellowship.

God didn’t create you to be a “lone ranger.” He created you with a need, and a desire, for friendships of various levels. As a Christian, you need the other members of the Body of Christ for encouragement and fellowship. Sometimes we need spiritual fellowship, and at other times, we just need Christian friends with whom we can enjoy wholesome fun.

A good church ought to be like a family. When you were born again you became a member of God’s family. He wants you to be involved with other members of the family of God. When you become a Christian, your natural family and friends don’t always understand your life. A good church family will be there to support and encourage you in the Lord.

3. You need the breaking of bread.

You might wonder what this means. In the early church, the term “breaking of bread” became the name for the institution of the Lord’s Supper. It is during this ordinance of the church that we remember what the broken body and shed blood of Jesus means to us. We can thank Him for the healing which He provided for us through His broken body and for the forgiveness of our sin which He provided for us through His shed blood.

A good church will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on a regular basis.

4. You need prayer.

Faith-filled, Spirit-led prayer is one of the mightiest tools God has given us. As we yield ourselves to God’s Spirit in prayer, we can find and follow His plan and purpose for our lives, our families, our church and our community. Prayer is our vital link to heaven and God’s resources. A good church will place an emphasis on prayer. It is important to find a praying church: a church that teaches you how to pray and sets aside time for prayer.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GOOD CHURCH

Read Ephesians 4:11-16. This passage of Scripture teaches us some of the things that will be found in a good church.

1. Look for a church with a strong pastor.

One of the gifts that God gives to the Body of Christ is pastors. It is important to find a church with a strong pastor. A strong pastor is someone who has a definite call from God to be a pastor. A strong pastor will have a loving and caring heart like Jesus did when He looked upon the multitudes and saw that they were like sheep without a shepherd. A strong pastor will be a servant; his or her attitude will not be that of a dictator, but that of a servant. A strong pastor will teach and preach the Bible, not man’s ideas, traditions or doctrines.

Generally speaking, churches that are run by boards, committees, elders or small, controlling groups tend to have problems really moving ahead with God’s plan. They tend to get bogged down in meetings, bureaucracy and politics. It seems to be God’s best plan to have a church that is led by a strong pastor who is surrounded by those who can provide godly counsel and wisdom when called upon.

2. Look for a church that teaches and perfects the believers for the work of the ministry.

As a believer it is important to be a part of a church that is helping you to do the work of the ministry. By “work of the ministry” we mean anything that has to do with building up the Body of Christ. This includes the ministry of reconciliation (soulwinning) that every believer has been entrusted with, as well as other areas of helps ministries, teaching and preaching. A good church will be teaching and equipping you so that you can function in the place that God has designed for you.

3. Look for a church that teaches and challenges you to grow up spiritually.

As a new Christian, you are a “babe in Christ,” but you don’t want to remain a spiritual baby. Over time, and with the proper instruction, you should begin to grow spiritually. It is heartbreaking to see a person who has been a Christian for a good many years but who is still a baby, spiritually speaking. A good church will speak the truth in love and challenge you to grow. At times you will need loving correction, gentile instruction and occasional reproof to help you grow into mature spiritual adulthood. A good church will challenge you to develop your own personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
This type of church will help make you a disciple of Christ, so you are developing a healthy dependence upon the Lord and His Word. A good church will provide anything necessary to teach and challenge you to grow up into Him.

4. Look for a church with a loving atmosphere.

There is just something about feeling “at home” in church. One of the joys of the Christian life is to be a part of a church family that loves and cares for one another. This is the type of church that edifies itself in love.
A loving church family, led by a loving pastor, will be there when needs arise in your life. Perhaps there will be a time when you will need someone to perform a marriage, a funeral, water baptism, a baby dedication, hospital visitations or pray for you or those in your family who are sick. Perhaps you will need food, clothing or material things, at some time. When you are an active part of a local church, that church family will be there to help meet your needs. A church with an atmosphere of love, forgiveness and acceptance is the type of church in which you will grow and blossom.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND A GOOD CHURCH

Read Matthew 6:33 and 1 Corinthians 6:19,20. In these Scriptures, we can see that we are to seek first God’s Kingdom. We can also see that we are not our own, but we belong to God. We are told to live our lives in such a way as to glorify God. One of the best ways  to seek first God’s kingdom and to glorify God is to be involved in helping to fulfil the vision God has given to your pastor. How can you seek God’s kingdom and glorify God through a local church? Two words can sum it up: BE FAITHFUL.

1. Be faithful with your time.

First, be faithful to attend church on a regular basis. The only way you can get to know the heartbeat of a church is to attend regularly. That doesn’t mean you have to be there every time the doors are open, but determine to regularly attend Sunday mornings and /or Sunday night and /or the midweek service. If you are in the process of finding a church home, then visit a church for at least a month to get an accurate picture of what the church is all about. Make a point to get to know some of the people. Ask church leaders the questions that are important to you. Make the most of your time by attending a variety of things the church has to offer.

2. Be faithful with your attitude.

Be teachable. Don’t be a know-it-all. Be open to hear and receive God’s Word. Avoid being critical. Do what the Bible says and walk in love - believing the best about everyone, including the pastor and the church leaders. Don’t be offended if everyone doesn’t reach out to you like you expect. You take the initiative to meet people, to find out what types of programs, classes and activities the church offers. Be free from unrealistic expectations. Don’t be a complainer or a murmurer. Don’t have an attitude that says, “Well, if I were the pastor...I would do this...I wouldn’t do that...I can’t believe they are going to do this.” Church leaders and church members are just ordinary people who are doing their best to follow and obey God. Be merciful and supportive in your attitudes. One negative spark can light a whole church on fire. If you can’t say something nice or edifying to others in the church, about the church, then don’t say anything at all. If you find that you don’t understand things that are happening in the church, then make it a point to talk directly to the pastor or those in leadership. Avoid being a negative person in your speech or in your attitudes.

3. Be faithful with your talents.

The best way to feel a part of a church, to meet other people and grow with a church family is to get involved. Use your talents and do something. Find out where and how you can get involved in the church. If there are church-worker classes to take, then sign up. Let the pastor, or those in leadership, know that you desire and are willing to get involved wherever they need your help. You would be amazed at how significant your contribution to the church can be. Perhaps you are gifted to work with children, or maybe you have a bubbly, outgoing personality or great organisational skills. Be faithful to make your talents available. Don’t be discouraged if you aren’t asked to do the very specific thing you wanted to do. Sometimes you need to prove yourself faithful in little things before you can be entrusted to do other things, Trust the pastor and the church leaders to use you where the needs are the greatest. In due season, as the Bible teaches, when God has counted you faithful, He will put you in the ministry that your heart desires, the ministry that He has given you the talents to fulfil.

4. Be faithful in your commitments.

Be a person of your word. If you say that you will be somewhere, then be sure to follow through. If you say that you will be involved in a particular part of the church, then be faithful to the end of your commitment. Don’t quit halfway through. Be faithful to prepare and fulfil your commitment. Do everything with a spirit of excellence. Avoid the “this is good enough to get by” mentality. God’s kingdom and work of God deserve nothing less than excellence. Pay attention to details and avoid being sloppy in your commitments. Be the kind of person who can be counted upon. Be the kind of person that exemplifies commitment!

5. Be faithful with your resources.

Be faithful to use your resources to further the Gospel through your church. If God has enabled you to prosper in financial and material things, be generous in your giving. Remember, God has given you the ability to obtain wealth so that He may establish His covenant on the earth. (Deut. 8:18.) He certainly wants you as a believer to be blessed in life and to enjoy abundance, but be sure to keep a healthy perspective on cheerful and generous giving. The Bible teaches that the tithe, which is ten percent of your increase, or income, belongs to the Lord and should be brought to the storehouse, the local church that you attend. In addition, we are commanded by God to give offerings to worthy ministries that are propagating the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to give alms to those who are poor and in need of material things.

It is sad to say that many Christians will trust God in other areas of their lives, but when it comes to money, they keep a tight grip on their wallets. Don’t have a stingy spirit. Be known as a giver. Be faithful with your material and financial resources by giving to your local church. make a decision to be a regular, committed tither and offering and alms giver. Be a faithful channel God can flow through in the area of giving. Trust God to multiply your giving back to you, so you will have more to give!

Notes ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________