DOCTRINAL POISON

“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.”
2 John 9 (NKJV)

• Many people claim to know Christ, they profess to be Christians, but their conduct is contrary to the teachings of the Scriptures (Titus 1:16).
“having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
2 Timothy 3:5 (NKJV)

• Being consistent and steadfast in the doctrine of Christ is one of the signs to know whether someone is a genuine believer or not.

• If someone is living in sin, he or she does not abide in the doctrine of Christ; it means the person does not know God (2 John 9).
• Without Jesus Christ, one cannot have access to God the Father. You cannot deny Christ and claim to know God (John 14:6).
  “Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”
  1 John 2:23 (NKJV)
• Thus someone who does not acknowledge Christ as Lord and Saviour does not know God.
• Someone asked a question: ‘What about billions of people in other religions in the world, does that mean they do not know God?’
  ~ Yes, they do not know God, since they refuse to acknowledge Christ (1 John 2:23).
  ~ Those who abide in the doctrine, teaching of Christ, know both God the Father and the Son– Jesus Christ (2 John 9).

• Heresies

• There are many heretic teachings, doctrines, being peddled in the body of Christ today (Acts 20:29,30; Jude 3,4).
• You should not be sentimental about it, whatever anyone brings that is not in line with the Scriptures should not be accepted or allowed (2 John 7,10,11).

• Pseudo – Christianity

• There are different religious organizations or groups based on Christianity, which their teachings and doctrines are contrary to the teachings of the Christian Bible.
• They use Christian phraseology, language and terminology; but the words have different meanings and interpretations in their religious organizations or groups.
• They claim to be Christians, but they are not; their teachings and doctrines are contrary to the teachings of the Bible.
• Bible scholars call them ‘cults’– those who have extreme, abnormal beliefs, and they are not part of the church of Christ.
• As it was in the Bible days, that false teachers peddled wrong doctrines, heretic teachings; so it is in our contemporary time ( Acts 20:29,30; Galatians 1:7).

1. “I marvel that you are now turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
2. Which is not another; BUT THERE ARE SOME WHO TROUBLE YOU AND WANT TO PERVERT [distort] THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
3. BUT EVEN IF WE, OR AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL TO YOU THAN WHAT WE HAVE PREACHED TO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.
4. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
   Galatians 1:6-9 (NKJV)

• Admonition

• Avoid those who peddle wrong doctrine and do not give them any audience (2 John 10,11).
• Apostle John admonishes us in his epistle:
  “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching [but diminishes or adds to the doctrine of Christ], do not receive or welcome him into your house, do not give him a greeting or any encouragement.”
  2 John 10 (Amp.)
• We should not be sentimental about it– avoid heretic teachers and their materials completely.
  “For the one who gives him a greeting [who encourages him or wishes him success, unwittingly] participates in his evil deeds.”
  2 John 11 (Amp.)
• If you accommodate, consider, or help the false teachers in what they do; you unwittingly, unintentionally, take part in what they do.
• Any support, in cash or in kind, you give to a false teacher or prophet, means you have sided with him and share in his evil deeds (1 Timothy 5:22).

Antidote

• Antidote to heretic teachings is being versed in the Word of God.
• Your depth in the knowledge of the Bible is a defence against false teachings.
• Be rooted in a word based church and be a part of the work there (Hebrews 13:9).
• Do not be a rolling stone Christian– someone who moves from church to church, who has no responsibilities (Ephesians 4:14-16)..
• Do not be a Christian who is not committed to a particular church– who does not submit to any pastor (Hebrews 13:17).
  “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
  Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV)

• Leaders

• Leaders should teach the truth always, keep reminding the people under their leadership about the present truth that they may be established (2 Peter 1:12,13,15).
• Paul said:

1. “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
2. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
3. “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
4. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse [misleading] things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
5. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”
   Acts 20:27-31 (NKJV)

• Prayer

• You will not be a prey in the hands of false teachers in Jesus’ name.
• You will not eat doctrinal poison in the mighty name of Jesus.
  Peace!