1 John 4:1-3 (KJV)
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 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.
How to Determine If Someone Is Preaching the Truth About Jesus and Avoid Confusion (& a lot of Trouble)
Bible (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee)
How many times have you believed and followed the wrong ideology, and how much has it cost you? When I was growing up in the 70’s, slogans like “Make love not war,” “If it feels good, do it,” and “all religions lead to Heaven” were popular. Whether dealing with religious or secular matters, there are a multitude of ideas for you to embrace and pattern your life after. These choices or “truisms” are not new: They have been around for centuries. With respect to salvation, there are multiple “truisms,” but only one truth.
Contrary to popular (post modernist) belief, truth is not relative. With respect to salvation, the most essential, foundational truth is that Jesus is “the way the truth and the life,” and no man can come to Father God but by Him (John 14: 6). The Bible gives a most strident rejection to any belief that says otherwise. Three words characterize the denial of salvation through Jesus: false prophet and antichrist.
Religions such as Mormonism (Latter Day Saints, or LDS) and Jehovah’s Witnesses, deny the deity of and salvation through Jesus alone. All men are our neighbors, and we are to love out neighbors, so we are not to hate or mistreat those who have beliefs other than ours. However, we are responsible for what we believe and how we live. This means that as a member of “the called” or Christian church, we have to live as the Bible teaches us to.
The criteria for salvation is fixed, so be alert and quick to act. Don’t believe every charismatic speaker who claims a little gospel here and there, but sprinkles their message with lies. Remember: “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Galatians 5: 9). Rather we are to “try the spirits whether they are of God.” Judge every message you hear by whether or not the deity of Jesus is preached or denied. Whenever who hear a denial of the deity of Jesus, turn away. In doing so you will save yourself from many a dark night of the soul.
