Introduction

Can’t believe it all

The truth is that you can’t believe everything you hear people say. Not everything that is taught in every church is firmly grounded in the Word of God. You have to test everything.

My Charismania: I grew up in a church that had a number of beliefs that they claimed were Biblically based. When I went to Bible college, many of my peers and my professors challenged my theology. I began to search the scriptures to find support for the theology I has been taught all my life only to find out that some of what I had been taught was not grounded in God’s Word, but in the opinion and experiences of the religious leaders in my church. Sometimes their teaching had been based on what sounded good (as they were shouting at the top of their lungs) in a sermon rather than on what God’s Word actually said. It wasn’t very trustworthy.

You can’t believe all who claim to speak for God without testing what they say. Canyon Bible Church is not centered around my personality, but it’s centered on the Word of God. So…Don’t believe what I say unless it is clearly backed up with scripture. God’s Word says that you MUST test what is taught.

Mac and Joel: In doing research this week for this teaching, I came across one solid Bible teacher who was pointing out a theological error in another very popular religious leader, who is not known for his accuracy. (I’m not going to mention names for now). Another critic came along, cited that Jesus said not to judge and then said that pointing out a religious leaders wrong doctrine is being judgmental. Is that what Jesus meant by “do not judge”?

When Jesus says not to judge, he means don’t judge person’s character on the basis of their appearance or language or race or clothing or background or family. Don’t jump to conclusions before you know their whole story. However, Jesus Himself often pointed out false doctrine. So did Paul, Luke, Peter and John as well as many of the OT prophets. He commands us to be on guard against the deceptive schemes of the enemy. Testing doctrine for accuracy is not being judgmental… it’s being discerning,.

Religious teaching is either helpful or harmful. There is never a middle ground. Teaching is either from the Holy Spirit and backed up by the authority of God’s Word or it is of a false, deceptive, demonic Spirit and it will end in confusion and deception and a drifting away from a solid, scriptural, foundational truth.

God speaks truth. He is not a God of confusion (1 cor 14:33). However, Satan is a liar and a deceiver. In John 8:44, Jesus calls him the father of lies. So it is critical that we are able to discern the difference between Satan’s lies (which often sound really good) and God’s truth (which sometimes is difficult to hear).

As a church that takes God’s Word very seriously, we have a responsibility to guard the accurate teaching of the scripture. 1 Timothy 6:20 Paul says to his student, “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” Scripture and it’s clear teaching has been under attack since the very beginning and the attacks continue today.

1 John 2:18 says, “¹⁸ Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour”

It is fair to say that many people who are religious teachers today would be considered by John to be “anti-Christs.” – they are teaching a religious doctrine that is in opposition to the clear teaching of God’s Word.

When we consider all the groups that refer to the Bible both inside the evangelical church and those in:

• in the cults
• Groups on the outskirts and fringes of Christianity
• Churches that are highly progressive or liberal
• the New Age teaching,

…it is accurate to say that most people who are handling the Bible in America today, are not handling it carefully. Often we hear comments that people are looking for a church that is “rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 and they just can’t find one. Canyon is striving to be a church that is teaching the Bible completely and accurately and doing its part in filling the gap that currently exists for churches with solid Biblical theology.

PROF: When I was in college, a secular college professor who knew that I was going into ministry asked me, “how much longer do you think Christianity is going to survive? Another 20 more years maybe?” (I think she was trying to discourage me from making a career is what she saw as a dead religion) I was somewhat shocked by the question. I know I didn’t answer her well…

But I say to you, church, that there is a responsibility that we have to guard the truth and pass it on to the next generation. We are intentionally a multi-generational church. (We don’t play punk rock music nor do we play organ music. We do church the way we do it in order to keep generations together for the purpose of making disciples) Titus 1:9 gives the command to “ hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that [we] may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”

In our church, this duty is felt most heavily by me as the pastor and is upheld by our elders. We are striving to teach more and more accurately and clearly here at Canyon so that you might be equipped to identify false doctrine in our culture and then to pass on accurate information about Christ to the next generation. That’s a holy legacy that we want to begin right now in the very first weeks of our church’s existence. God through the Apostle John tells us to be careful and to test often. Turn over to 1 JOHN 4 and look at verse 1

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 2 and 4 mentions the presence of those who are false prophets – who are against Christ – who oppose the Messiah – who are “anti-christ” – within the ranks of the church body. These people or teachers or prophets will be very convincing. In 1 John 2:19 it says that some who are currently attending the church will be deceived by these anti-christs and to the shock of those who are pursuing the truth of God’s word, they will leave the church.

CULT RECRUITS: When I worked in the Southern Baptist church, we often saw people leave the evangelical church in order to join a local cult in our area. We were always shocked (and grieved) when it happened.

The question we are going to deal with today is: How do we identify these anti-Christ’s? In chapter 4, John gives us 3 very basic tests to identify false teachers. These are not the only 3 tests that you can use, but these 3 are the most basic tests and if a church leader or Bible teacher fail at any of these 3 tests, that person is IMMEDIATE disqualified!

I want to help you remember these three test with a pneumonic: DOA. That stands for Deity, Obedience, Authority. If they get any of these 3 wrong, they are dead on arrival. Let’s take a look at test #1

Deity: Do they confess the Deity of Christ? (1 John 4:2-3)

1 John 4:

² By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus, is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

Test #1 is: do they believe that Jesus is God?

• Do they confess that Jesus is the Son of God (John 20:31) –
• the only begotten one of the Father (3:16) and
• is one with God (John 10:30)?
• Or do they believe that Jesus was not divine, that Jesus was a created being, or that Jesus was some kind of sub-god?

Demon-inspired religious system often begin with denying the deity of Christ.   BUT, the language in the passage goes a step beyond just affirming the deity of Jesus. Look what it says: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. What does that imply?

First of all, (#1) Jesus was God who came in the flesh. Some religious system say that Jesus was not both fully man and fully God. This passage directly affirms that Jesus was God in the flesh. He was 100% man and 100% God. Look at the very beginning of 1 John again with me. John says in chapter 1 verse 1….

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life

Jesus came down in reality and came physically. John 1:14 says “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us….” He did not come down just theoretically or spiritually. His coming was very literal and physical. However, he was not just a normal man. He was the very Son of God. 1 John 1:2 says

² the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us

Prior to Jesus coming to earth in the flesh, he was dwelling with God the Father in heaven and He was of the same essence as God. John 1:1-2 says:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God.

Jesus is the eternal son of God who has always existed in perfect unity, essence and fellowship with the Father. What was Jesus doing before He came to earth? Both John and Paul (Col 1:16) say that he creating the heavens and the earth. That seems like a God sized task! Look at John 1:3 –

³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

That brings us to the 2^nd fact about who Christ is

Second, (#2) Jesus is a member of the Trinity. Jesus and the father are of the same essence. Paul says (Col 1:19) that in Christ “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” Part of believing that Jesus is God is the belief in the Trinity. The Biblical belief that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are 3 separate persons yet are all 3 equally and fully God is fundamental to accurate and truthful Biblical teaching.

Then if Jesus came in the flesh and he is God, then why did He come?

Lastly, (#3) Jesus is the Messiah. He came to fulfil the prophecy in regards to a coming Messiah who would be the propitiation for our sin. We are going to talk more about the concept of propitiation in a few weeks. For now, let’s understand that Jesus came for a purpose. He came to offer himself as a sacrifice for our sins so that we, as sinners, could be forgiven and be right with God. God’s justice and mercy found their fulfillment in the person of Christ.

So here is what is implied what we claim the Deity of Christ:

1. Jesus came in the flesh, but he is fully God. He is 100% man and 100% God
2. The Trinity exists and being fully God, he is a member of the Trinity
3. Jesus is the Promised Messiah

John doesn’t go into all the details about all of those beliefs. He just simply states here that all true teachers and true prophets of God get these simple facts about Jesus right. To deny any of these basic teachings about Jesus, is to deny Christ. That is a serious charge. In 1 John 2:22, John says,

²² Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

Band CULT: I have often played in college jazz big bands. One of the musicians in a band I played in gave me a religious book from a cult that he was a part of. He asked me to review a few passages he had highlighted. I took it and I read the highlighted passages. I was hoping to open up a dialog with him about the true Jesus Christ written about in the Bible. In this book, it would say a line or 2 that seemed to line up with scripture and then a line would be a little off. Then a few more lines that seem to be true and then a line that was way off. Among other things, this cult was denying the deity of Christ.

After a couple weeks, I got back together with this guy and he asked me about the book. I told him that I had been walking with the Lord for a long time and I could recognize the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I told him that his book was not inspired by the same Holy Spirit that I know.

He asked me, in a joking tone, “do you think it was inspired by a demon then?” I told him that the same inspiration behind the Bible was not behind his religious book. Then he asked me, “how did you feel when you read the book?” I told him that when I read the his book, I felt a heavy spiritual oppression.

If a religious teacher denies who Jesus is, they don’t have information about God the Father right either and therefore they are teaching a false religion. Their religion is not inspired by the Holy Spirit, but inspired by a demon. That is test #1. If you get the Deity of Christ wrong, then your teaching is DOA – dead on arrival. It’s a big deal and most false teachers will fail test #1.

That brings us to the second test. Test 2 has to do with the life of the teacher.

Obedience – Do they live lives consistent with the clear commands of Scripture?

We get this concept from 1 John 4:4

⁴ Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

According to scripture, here is what is true about the true follower of Christ:

• They escaped corruption and are now are a partakers of the divine nature – 2 Peter 1:4
• The Holy Spirit dwells in them – Romans 8:9-11
• They possess eternal life – 1 John 5:13
• They are not as susceptible to being deceived because the Holy Spirit illuminates truth and overcomes falsehood – 1 John 4:4
• They have the mind of Christ and they have good judgment – 1 Cor 2:15-16

If those things are true of the disciple of Christ, then those facts must be exceptionally true of those who teach the Word. We have to ask ourselves these questions about those who teach scripture:

• Is the Spirit who is in this teacher greater than the spirit that is in the world?
• MORE DIRECTLY: Are they living their life according to the principles of God’s word or do they live a lifestyle that appeals to the flesh and emulates the priorities of the world?

In a word, it comes down to obedience. Does their life conform to the commands of Christ?

Pastor Bob Coy has been in the news for the last couple of weeks. He is considered one of the most influential preachers in the country. He pastors a church of nearly 20,000 people in Ft. Lauderdale FL. According to Christianity Today, he just finished a series on marriage at his church and his teaching series called “Building a Godly Marriage” from the year 2000 is a very popular download.

Last week, it came out that he has a serious pornography addiction and he’s been cheating on his wife for a number of years. Is Bob Coy’s doctrine good? In word (in speech, in sermons) it is actually it’s very good. Does he believe in the deity of Christ? That is what he preaches. However, there is more to teaching the Bible than mere words. It is both taught and caught. A Bible teacher is required to live out his faith in front of God’s people. Because of that, Bob Coy has been removed from ministry. He’s not living the truth that he teaches.

I sincerely believe that Bob can be restored to his family and come clean before God if he has a truly repentant heart. Right now, however, he doesn’t pass test #2 – obedience. Does the teacher conform to the commands of Christ? If not, they are DOA – dead on arrival. The consequences of his actions have resulted in his necessary resignation from ministry.

Mark, that sure seems harsh. What about grace? What about forgiveness? Do you want to be under that same judgment? “Judge not lest you be judged.” If He repents, he can stand forgiven before God (1 John 1:9). However, Bible teachers are held to a very high standard. Look at what James 3:1 says about Bible teachers:

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

If there is a massive moral failure in my life or in the life of any of the other elders or pastors at this local church, they will be removed from public ministry immediately!

That brings us to the 3^rd and final test from this passage. First, is the Deity of Christ, Second is the Obedience of the teacher. Third is the Authority of Scripture.

Authority – Is the Bible the authoritative source of their teaching?

1 John 4:5-6

⁵ They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

CULT MISSIONARIES: I had some people come and knock on my door a few weeks ago. They were openly denying the deity of Christ, they were saying that the Biblical doctrine of the Trinity was a pagan ideology and then they were telling me that there was another way to heaven other than through the Jesus of the Bible.

So I grabbed one of these cards. I asked them if I could share some scripture with them. They refused. I began to read scripture anyway. They literally started talking over the top of me. Honestly, in my flesh I did not handle the situation in the best way I could have. I was offended that these folk were standing on my property, trying to deceive me and not letting me get in a word edgewise at my own house. I was so upset that someone came to my door, denied the deity of Christ and then refused to look at even their own scripture as authoritative truth. I saw them again in my neighborhood a few days ago. I told myself the next time, I’ll have a little more grace.

This card is a good test. A false teacher will bristle when they hear the scripture that is on this card because “They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world…” There was no evidence that these people at my door were children of God. They were simply parroting false doctrine they had heard in their religious meetings that had absolutely no basis in the facts of God’s Word.

When you speak to a false teacher about God’s Word, they usually don’t listen. They have no real capacity for it. They have no way to truly understand Biblical truth. The truth is that before we knew Jesus, we did not have the capacity for Biblical truth either.

People who truly believe in God’s word as an authoritative source are a very small portion of the population of this world. The world clings on to false teaching because sinful people tend to be attracted to worldly language. (& so did I) Sinners are attracted to error. (& so was I) Sinners are drawn to demons, seduction, and deception and have no mechanism for discerning truth from lies. (before Christ we were just like that too) Just because a teaching is popular, does not mean it is accurate. (As believers) We must test everything to see if it conforms to what we know of the written Word of God. Back to verse 1 –

…do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…

However, there is fellowship among those who are true believers. When believers open up the word, there is a deep sense of unity that’s formed around the word. True disciples love the Word of God. A true disciple acknowledges that if their theology does not conform to the written word, they must change their theology and are excited to have a better understanding of God’s Word.

⁶ We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Whoever knows God, listens to His word. They are like the ones who are true Bereans – who are studying the scripture to see if what is being taught is really true.

Life Application

What about us? Are we in the Word? Are we students of the scriptures? The only way we’ll know the difference between truth and error is by placing ourselves under the authority of God’s written Word.

Then test what you hear. Is it accurate or is it DOA? Does the teacher acknowledge the deity of Christ, obey His commands and use the Bible as his authoritative source

Teaching Outline

God’s Word says that you MUST test what is taught.

Religious teaching is either helpful or harmful

Three Ways to Test a Bible Teacher

#1 Deity: Do they confess the Deity of Christ – 1 John 4:2-3

Demon-inspired religious system often begin with denying the deity of Christ

Three Fundamental Truths about Jesus

(#1) Jesus was God who came in the flesh – John 1:14, 1 John 1:2,

(#2) Jesus is a member of the Trinity – John 1:1-2, Col. 1:16

(#3) Jesus is the Messiah – 1 John 2:22

All true teachers and true prophets of God get these simple facts about Jesus right

#2 Obedience – Do they live lives consistent with the clear commands of Scripture? 1 John 4:4, James 3:1

#3 Authority – Is the Bible the authoritative source of their teaching? 1 John 4:5-6