Beware the Wolves

I hope you have noticed how we have had to fight off the false teachings of man from literally the very first verse of the first book of the Bible (Genesis) to very nearly the last verse of the last book of the Bible (Revelation). Astounding (Dan 7:15, 28; 8:27; Rev 10:10)!1 This section of the book, in the next four chapters, brings this matter to a conclusion as we deal head-on with the subject of being deceived by “false teachers” and “false prophets” who teach “different gospels” (i.e., fake gospels).

THE SUM OF THY WORD

You will hear much disagreement among men about the Gospel and Plan of Salvation that I have explained to you in this book, but we must approach God on His terms and as instructed to in Scripture, not however men, committees, conferences, councils, synods, and institutions think or feel it should be done. We must examine and harmonize “the sum” (Psa 119:160; cf. 2Ti 3:16–17) of what Scripture teaches to arrive at correct doctrine and teaching; we cannot pick and choose some verses while ignoring others (or even entire books), nor can we rewrite Scripture to suit our own personal beliefs, as some have done.2

SCRIPTURE WARNS OF DANGER

The apostle Paul knew full well that “false teachers” and “false prophets” would arise and deceive many, and he labored diligently—even agonizing over it—to warn his flock about the danger. His warnings are direct and explicit:

“Be on guard for yourselves and for 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. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.” – Act 20:28–31

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel [i.e., fake gospels] which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. – 2Co 11:3–4

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. – 2Co 11:13–15

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! – Gal 1:6–9

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. – Eph 6:11

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. – Col 2:8

Let no one in any way deceive you. – 2Th 2:3

So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught [i.e., the Gospel as given in Scripture], whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. – 2Th 2:15

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. – 1Ti 4:1

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. – 2Ti 4:3–4

Peter likewise warns us:

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them … and in their greed they will exploit you with false words. – 2Pe 2:1–3

Be diligent … just as Paul … wrote to you … in all his letters … in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. – 2Pe 3:14–16 (my emphasis)

Jude warns us:

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down [delivered ESV] to the saints. – Jud 3

John warns us:

Beloved, 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. – 1Jn 4:1

“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching [i.e., the true Gospel as given in Scripture], do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.” – 2Jn 10–11

Jesus warned us:

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” – Mat 7:15

“Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. … For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” – Mat 24:11, 243

“‘But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'” – Mat 15:9

And He even posed the question:

“However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” – Luk 18:8

As you can see, Scripture is full of warnings regarding this subject. In fact, the magnitude of this danger is almost beyond comprehension! Down throughout the centuries hundreds of millions (billions even) of people have been deceived by false teachers and false prophets! Please understand, therefore, that I am writing to you very boldly in this section of the book (see Rom 15:14–16; 2Co 10:1–2; cf. Act 4:31; 18:28; 19:8; 20:31; 1Co 4:14; 2Co 7:8–10; Gal 2:11; Eph 4:15; 1Th 5:14; 2Th 3:15; 2Ti 3:16; 4:1–4; Tit 1:9, 13; 2:15; 2Jn 10) so you can understand the gravity of the situation you face today in finding truth. I am doing this out of care and concern for your eternal well-being: I don’t want to see you on Judgment Day and have you say to me that I did not warn you about the false teachings and fake gospels of man that can lead you to destruction (Act 20:20, 26–31; Col 1:28; Eze 33:1–6).

IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH

In fact, great discretion and discernment must be exercised if you do not want to fall victim to the “trickery” and “deception” of man (and Satan). Those who wish to “call on the name of the Lord” (see Act 2:21; 22:16; Rom 10:13; 1Co 1:2; cf. Gen 4:26; Isa 12:4; Psa 91:14–15; 105:1; 116:4, 13, 17) must do so “in spirit and truth” (Joh 4:23–24; cf. Psa 145:18; Jud 3; Luk 18:8; Col 1:23) and in accordance with the clear instructions we are given in Scripture, not “in spirit and the false teachings of man” (i.e., their whims, opinions, or personal theologies). It is very easy to be confused about which is which, especially for someone new to the faith, for we’ve had centuries now (over two thousand years) of the following:

• “False teachings” (see 2Pe 2:1; Col 2:16, 22; Heb 13:9; cf. Luk 18:8; Php 3:2; Rev 2:9; 3:9),
• “Fake gospels” (paraphrase, “a different gospel”; see 2Co 11:3–5; Gal 1:8–9; Mat 24:5; cf. Jud 3),
• “Myths,” “cleverly devised tales,” and “cunningly devised fables” NKJV (1Ti 1:4; 2Ti 4:3–4; Tit 1:14; 2Pe 1:16),
• “Varied and strange teachings” (Heb 13:9; cf. 2Th 2:1–3),
• “Perverse [twisted ESV] things” (i.e., distortions of the truth; Act 20:30),
• “Decrees, teachings, and commandments [precepts] of men” (see Col 2:20–23; Tit 1:13–14; Mat 15:9; Mar 7:7),
• “Self-made religion” (Col 2:23; cf. Mat 23:27–28; 1Ti 4:8),4
• “Philosophy and empty deception … according to the elementary principles of the world” (Col 2:8, 20–23),
• “Traditions of men” (see Mat 15:3, 6; Mar 7:8–13; Col 2:8; cf. Rev 2:9; 3:9),
• “Errors of unprincipled men” (see 2Pe 3:17),
• “Destructive heresies” (2Pe 2:1–3),
• Mysticism, “magic,” “sorcery,” and superstitions (Act 8:9–24; 13:6–8; 19:19; Gal 5:20; Rev 9:21; 18:23; 21:8; 22:15),
• “Worldly and empty chatter” (1Ti 6:20),
• “False and empty words” (see 2Pe 2:3; Eph 5:6),
• “Persuasive arguments” (Col 2:4),5
• “Smooth and flattering speech” (Rom 16:18),
• “Distortions” (see Gal 1:7; 2Pe 3:16),
• “Doctrines of demons” (1Ti 4:1),
• “Schemes of Satan” (paraphrase; 2Co 2:11; cf. Mat 4:1–11; 16:23; Mar 8:33; Luk 4:1–13; Joh 8:44; 13:27; Act 5:3; 1Co 7:5; 2Co 11:3, 14–15; Eph 4:27; 6:11–12; 1Pe 5:8–9; Jas 4:7; 2Th 2:8–9; 1Ti 5:15; Rev 12:9–11; 20:8–8; Gen 3:1),6
• “Deceptions of wickedness” (see 2Th 2:9–12),
• Opinions, personal beliefs, personal theologies, and fanciful interpretations (Col 2:16–18; 1Ti 4:3, 8; cf. Pro 14:12; 16:25),7
• “Visions” and “worship of angels” (Col 2:18),
• Rites, rules, rituals, sacraments, ordinances (human), catechisms, creeds, and ceremonies (1Ti 4:1–3; Rev 13:1–18; 17:1–18:24),
• “Great signs and [false] wonders” (i.e., fake miracles, delusions; Mat 24:24; Mar 13:22; 2Th 2:9–12; cf. Rev 13:11–13; 16:14; 19:20),
• “False prophecies” (paraphrase; see Mat 7:15; 24:11, 24; Mar 13:22; Act 13:6; 2Pe 2:1; 1Jn 4:1; Rev 16:13; 19:20; 20:10; cf. 2Pe 1:20–21), and
• “Trickery of man” (Eph 4:14; cf. Luk 20:23; 2Co 11:13–15; 1Ti 4:1–3; Php 3:2; 2Pe 2:1–3; 3:16–18; contrast with Joh 4:23–24; Act 17:11; Jud 3; 2Co 13:5; Rev 3:11; 18:4–5).

And on top of all that, there are hundreds of sectarian and denominational divisions8 and dozens upon dozens of theological systems and frameworks9 made up by men, committees, councils, synods, and institutions all piled up on top of one another and masquerading as so-called “Christianity,”10 obfuscating the pure truth of the Gospel given in Scripture (Luk 18:8; Joh 4:23–24; Act 17:11; Jud 3; 2Co 11:3–4, 13–15; 13:5; Eph 4:14; 5:6; 1Ti 4:1–3; Php 3:2; 2Pe 2:1–3; 3:16–18; Heb 13:9; Rev 3:11; 18:4–5). Astounding! Shocking! Tragic! What an absolute travesty and mess man has made of the pure and simple Gospel truth given in Scripture!

Compounding the situation even further is the staggering amount of noise generated by the secular world with its God-denying media and institutions trying to drown out the Gospel message and the name of Jesus altogether by creating even more false teachings that masquerade as science, but which are in reality fake science. Yes, we are being fed today fake news, fake science (e.g., the so-called theory of evolution), fake entertainment (e.g., lip-synced performances, so-called reality but scripted TV), fake food (e.g., margarine, fake meat), fake body parts (e.g., vanity cosmetic surgery), fake economics (e.g., Keynesian economics, debt as an asset), fake money (e.g., fiat currencies), and fake secular religions.11

These false teachings and fake gospels (see the chapter Some Popular False Teachings for a list) are shouted 24/7/365.25 (i.e., nonstop, every day, all day long) in blaring volume from both secular media sources as well as so-called “Christian” pulpits, broadcasts, books, movies, publications, and even seminary schools. And we are gradually conditioned by repeated, frequent, and persistent marketing propaganda (for that is exactly what it is) to accept the fakes (the false teachings) as the real thing and even to begin to believe them in place of the real. The same thing has happened to Christianity over the last two thousand years: We have been gradually trained and conditioned to accept and even believe that the fakes are the real thing, and in many cases, we cannot even tell the difference anymore!

This is a very sad state of affairs, as few today can even recognize true Christianity, and people are more confused today than ever before by all the false teachings as well as by seeing an almost endless stream of hypocritical pretenders proclaiming to be “Christians” parading before and all around them.12 Many today aren’t even sure who is a true Christian, what a true Christian church even looks like, or how to truly be saved according to the instructions given in Scripture! Some new to the faith think that if they simply find and attend a church that says the name of Jesus often and loudly enough that they are good to go—but that just isn’t the case!13 Even worse, many who are lost or new to Christ give up when confronted with so many differing and conflicting teachings, all claiming to be the true Christianity of the Bible but are not.

SNARES, TRAPS, PITFALLS, AND SCHEMES

The Bible describes these false teachings and fake gospels as—

• “Snares” (see Rom 11:9; 1Ti 3:7; 6:9; 2Ti 2:26; cf. Psa 69:22; 91:3; 106:36; 119:110; 140:5; Pro 12:13; 14:27; 29:6; 18:7; Jer 18:22; Hos 5:1),
• “Traps” (see Mat 22:15; Mar 12:13; Luk 21:34; Rom 11:9; Jos 23:13; Job 18:10; Psa 69:22; 140:5; 141:9; 142:3; Jer 5:26),
• “Pitfalls [pits]” (see Psa 35:7; 119:85; Jer 18:22; Mat 15:14; Luk 6:39), and
• “Schemes” of man and the devil (2Co 2:11; Eph 6:11; cf. Rom 10:2; 16:18; Eph 5:6; 2Ti 3:13; Tit 1:10; Heb 2:1; 1Jn 2:26; 3:7; Jud 3; Rev 3:11; 12:9; 13:14; 18:23; 19:20; 20:8; Hos 4:6)

—and they are set up to try to stop you (or turn you back, away from, or out of the faith) at each step of the way along the path to eternal life.

But we must not let false teachings turn us out of the straight and “narrow” path to eternal life (Mat 7:14). If you will, I am “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” of modern, liberal, corrupt, apostate, “lukewarm,” dead, pretend, fake, so-called “Christianity”: “make straight” the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (see Mat 3:3; Mar 1:3; Luk 3:4–5; Joh 1:23; cf. Act 13:10; Rev 3:16; Isa 40:3), and I have declared to you the true, correct, and complete Gospel (Act 20:20, 26–27, 31) in this book exactly as it “was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jud 3 ESV) in NT Scripture.15

YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY WOLVES

Further to the point, Jesus tells us to “beware the wolves” (paraphrase; see Mat 7:15). The reality of the situation today is that you are surrounded on all sides and as far as the eye can see16 by—

• “Wolves” (“ravenous wolves”; Mat 7:15; 10:16; Luk 10:3; Act 20:28–31),17
• “Vipers” (Mat 3:7; 12:34; 23:33; Luk 3:7; Psa 140:1–5),
• “False teachers” (2Pe 2:1; cf. 2Ti 4:3–4; Col 2:21–22),18
• “False prophets” (Mat 7:15; 24:11, 24–25; Mar 13:22; 2Pe 2:1–2; 1Jn 4:1; cf. Rev 16:13; 19:20; 20:10),19, 20
• “False Christs” (see Mat 24:4–5, 23–26; Mar 13:5–6, 21–22; Luk 21:8),21
• Modern-day “Pharisees” (Mat 5:20; 15:1–9; 16:6, 11–12; 23:1–36; Mar 8:15; Luk 12:1; 18:11; Joh 12:42; cf. Mat 3:7; 12:34–35; 26:59; Joh 8:44; Luk 6:39; 11:39–44; 22:2; Rom 10:1–4; 16:18; Php 3:2; Rev 2:9; 3:9; Ecc 1:9; Psa 140:5),22
• “Deceitful spirits” (also “spirit of error”; see 1Ti 4:1; 1Jn 4:6),
• “Liars in hypocrisy” (see 1Ti 4:2),
• “Deceivers” (Tit 1:10; 2Jn 7; cf. 1Jn 2:26),
• “Smooth talkers” (paraphrase; see Rom 16:18),
• “Rebellious men, empty talkers” (Tit 1:10),
• “Lawless” men and institutions (2Th 2:8; cf. Rev 13:1–18; 17:1–18:24),
• “Unprincipled men” (2Pe 3:17; cf. Eph 4:14; 2Pe 2:1–3, 7; Tit 1:10–11),
• “Natural men” (also the “untaught”; 1Co 2:14; 2Pe 3:16; cf. 1Jn 4:5; 1Co 1:18; 2Co 4:3–4; Jud 19; Joh 8:43; 14:17; Mat 13:11; Gal 1:7; Pro 14:12) who seem to want to tell you what the Bible means all the way from creation in Genesis to prophecy in Revelation,23
• “False brethren” (2Co 11:26; Gal 2:4),
• “Antichrists” (plural; 1Jn 2:18, 21–22; 4:3; 2Jn 7),23a and
• Preachers for “greed” and “sordid gain”24 (Tit 1:11; 1Pe 5:2; 2Pe 2:2–3; cf. 1Ti 3:8; 6:9–10; Eze 33:31; Mat 6:24; 19:22; Luk 12:15–21)25

—who are teaching contrary to Scripture. That is, they are preaching “a different gospel [i.e., fake gospels] … a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you” (Gal 1:6–9; cf. 2Co 11:3–4; Act 4:12; Jud 3).26 These “ravenous wolves” will try to “trick,” “mislead,” and “deceive”27 you into following their false teachings and fake gospels. The “naïve” (Pro 1:1–7, 22; 7:7; 9:4; 14:15, 18), those “lacking sense” (i.e., gullible; Pro 6:32; 7:7; 24:30), those “wanting to have their ears tickled”28 (2Ti 4:3–4), and those seeking a feel-good, easy form of Christianity will seek out and follow these false teachers and their false teachings/fake gospels.29

BE ON THE ALERT! DO NOT BE DECEIVED!

While it is my “duty”30 to teach and preach the Gospel to you faithfully, accurately, and completely (Act 20:18–32; cf. 1Co 9:16), it is your responsibility, and Scripture exhorts you, to do the following:

• “Be on the alert” (Act 20:31; 1Co 16:13; Eph 6:18; 1Pe 5:8),
• “Be on guard” (Act 20:28; 2Ti 4:15),31
• “Beware” (Mat 7:15; 16:6, 11–12; Mar 8:15; 12:38; Luk 12:1, 15; 20:46; Php 3:2),
• “Be diligent” about your salvation (2Ti 2:15; Heb 4:11; cf. 2Pe 1:10; 3:14),
• “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” (2Co 13:5),
• “Take heed,” “give attention,” and “pay close attention … [to] ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (Act 13:40; 1Co 10:12; 1Ti 4:13–16),
• “Continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast,” “devoting yourself to the apostles’ teaching” (see Col 1:23; Act 2:42),
• “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Php 2:12), and
• “Contend earnestly for the faith32 which was once for all handed down [delivered ESV] to the saints” (Jud 3)

—lest you be—

• “Tricked” (see Luk 20:23; Eph 4:14),
• “Deceived” (see Mar 13:22; Rom 16:18; 2Co 11:3–4, 13–15; Gal 6:7; Eph 4:14; Col 2:4, 8; 2Th 2:3, 9–12; 1Ti 2:14; 4:1; 2Ti 3:13; Tit 1:10; Jas 1:16; 1Jn 2:26; 3:7; 2Jn 7; Rev 12:9; 13:13–14; 18:23; 19:20; 20:3, 8–10; cf. Act 8:9–11),
• “Misled” (see Mat 24:4–5, 11, 24; Mar 13:5–6; Luk 21:8),
• “Led astray” (see Mar 13:22; 1Co 12:2; 1Ti 6:21; 2Ti 2:18; 2Pe 2:15; Rev 2:20; cf. Pro 12:26),
• “Enticed” (lured, seduced; see 2Pe 2:14, 18; cf. Jas 1:14),
• “Bewitched” (Gal 3:1; cf. Gal 1:6–9),
• “Deluded” (see Col 2:4; Jas 1:22),
• “Drawn away” (see Act 20:29–31),
• Made to “drift away” (see Heb 2:1),
• “Exploited” (see 2Pe 2:3),
• “Moved away” (Col 1:23),
• “Taken captive” (see Col 2:8),
• “Carried away” (Heb 13:9; 2Pe 3:17),
• “Tossed here and there” (Eph 4:14),
• “Turned aside” (Rom 3:12; 1Ti 1:6; 5:15; 2Ti 4:3–4; cf. Act 1:25), or
• “Turned away” (see 2Ti 4:3–4)

—from the pure truth of the Gospel as given in Scripture (again, Jud 3) and into following the false teachings and fake gospels of man.

Please realize that there is a “spirit of error” (1Jn 4:6) in the world, and there are also “deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” (1Ti 4:1–2; cf. 1Jn 4:1–2; Joh 14:17; 1Co 2:12–14; 2Th 2:9–11; Rev 20:8; 1Sa 16:14).33 Always remember that you are in the middle of a spiritual war, and even though you cannot see them, the “world forces of this darkness [and] the spiritual forces of wickedness [evil] in the heavenly places” are very real (paraphrase; see Eph 6:12), and they are firmly set against you in spiritual warfare. They will lead you to eternal death if you let them!

WE ARE TO BE SHREWD (WISE)

Moreover, not only must one be born again according to the instructions given in NT Scripture, but a newly born-again Christian34 is still vulnerable to being preyed on by the “wolves.” Yes, even after being born again, you can still be “taken captive,” “bewitched,” “turned back,” “turned aside,” and “hindered” (see Col 2:8; Gal 3:1; 4:9; 5:7; 2Ti 4:3–4). Paul warns about this very thing:

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock…I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.” – Act 20:28–31 (my emphasis)

So please realize that your diligence about false teachings mustn’t stop even after you are born again (Mat 18:6; Mar 9:42; Luk 17:1–2; cf. Psa 105:15). Jesus told the apostles to “be shrewd35 as serpents and innocent as doves” (Mat 10:16; cf. Luk 10:3) as He sent them out to preach the Gospel, knowing they were going to face a veritable gauntlet of persecution, mistreatment, and even “false Christs.”

I believe an analogous situation applies to us today: We face a bewildering array of false teachings and fake gospels that are laid out in front of and all around us like a giant maze or minefield that we have to navigate if we want to find our way in truth to eternal life.36 We must, therefore, be wise in discerning what is the true Gospel that was given in Scripture. Matthew Henry writes:37

[1.] Be ye therefore wise as serpents (Mat 10:16), wise to discern that which is really good and that which is counterfeit; wise to distinguish things that differ, to improve opportunities. While we are in the midst of so many deceivers, we have great need of that wisdom of the prudent which is to understand his way, Pro 14:8. [2.] To be simple concerning evil—so wise as not to be deceived, and yet so simple as not to be deceivers.

We must, therefore, not be “foolish” but rather be “mature in our thinking” and “filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” as we stand for the pure truth of Scripture (see Luk 16:8; 1Co 14:20; 2Co 11:3, 14; Eph 5:17; Col 1:9; 2Ti 2:15). I have explained to you in this book that Christianity and the Gospel are much more than simply:

• Memorizing John 3:16,
• Putting a bumper sticker on your car,
• Singing and dancing to “Christian” music or singing “kumbaya” around a campfire,
• Being able to speak in gibberish (i.e., so-called tongues),
• Praying the rosary (or saying “Hail Marys”),
• Holding up a wafer and chalice while staring at them and pretending they are the actual body and blood of Christ,
• Attending church weekly, or you know, on those special holidays—just to be safe,
• Just “feeling Jesus in your heart,”
• Saying the name of Jesus loudly and often (even when done with sincerity), and
• “Just believing” (i.e., “faith alone”)—for even the demons tremble and believe, but they are not saved (Jas 2:19).

TEST YOURSELVES TO SEE IF YOU ARE IN THE FAITH; EXAMINE YOURSELVES!

Please don’t just take my word on all of this. Do your own homework through serious and rigorous Bible study to confirm that what I’m writing to you in this book is true. It took me nearly three years of serious study to sort through all of these false teachings myself. Perhaps you will do it much faster than I did, but that gives you some indication of the amount of time and effort that will be involved if you truly want to find truth and break free from the errant doctrines and fake prophecies which abound today (if you have already succumbed to many of them, as I had). You will have to decide for yourself how much you desire truth and how much time and effort you are willing to put in to find it so you can truly worship the Lord “in spirit and truth” (Joh 4:23–24; cf. Psa 145:18; Jud 3).38 You must really, really, REALLY want to know and understand God’s truth (not man’s truth; see Rom 3:4) as if your eternal soul depends on it—which it does (Mat 7:7–8; Jas 1:5–6; cf. 1Co 2:14)!

As mentioned, it is not easy to find and then “continue in” (remain in, stay in; Col 1:23) the truth. You must “press on to maturity” (Heb 6:1; cf. Col 1:9–12, 28; Php 3:12–14; Heb 5:11–14; 1Co 14:20; Eph 4:11–16; 1Pe 2:2; 2Pe 3:17–18)39 in faith while also continually “growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2Pe 3:18). You need to do that so you are not “tricked,” “deceived,” or “led astray” by the false teachings of man by being “naïve,” gullible, or “ignorant,” either of “the snare [wiles] of the devil” (2Ti 2:26; cf. 2Co 2:11; Eph 6:11; Mat 10:16) or of what is actually written in Scripture. You must know Scripture better than the “wolves” who are trying to mislead you!

To those who already profess faith in Christ, if you have any doubt that you are obedient to the true and correct Gospel as it was given in Scripture (Jud 3) or that you have been properly born again according to the instructions given in NT Scripture, it would be eternally wise to recheck your understanding of what Scripture actually teaches (which this book has correctly explained to you) to ensure your eternal salvation (2Co 13:5; Jud 3; Gal 1:6–9; 2Ti 4:3–4). Please heed the instructions from the Lord on this matter and do the following:

• “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Php 2:12), and
• “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2Co 13:5).

Please understand that you can, in fact, be “taken captive” (Col 2:8) and have your “crown of life” (Jas 1:12; Rev 2:10; cf. 2Ti 4:8; 1Pe 5:4; 1Th 2:19; Rev 3:11) “taken from you” (i.e., stolen by those who teach and preach wrongly; see Rev 3:11; cf. Hos 4:6; Rom 10:2).40 We are told that “ignorance” of what God expects from those who “call on the name of the Lord” (see Act 2:21; 22:16; Rom 10:13; 1Co 1:2; cf. Gen 4:26; Isa 12:4; Psa 91:14–15; 105:1; 116:4, 13, 17) will not be an excuse on Judgment Day (see 2Co 2:11; cf. Hos 4:6; Pro 1:22, 32; 14:15, 18; Rom 1:21; 16:18; Mat 15:14; Joh 4:23–24; 2Co 11:3; Col 2:8; Eph 5:15–17; 1Co 14:20; Jer 5:21; Mar 4:9; Rev 2:7; 3:6).

The discussion of false teachers and false prophets continues in the next chapter.