FALSE PROPHETS AND FALSE CONFESSIONS
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. —Matthew 24:4-5 NIV
11 And many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. —Matthew 24:11, 24-25 NIV
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ —Matthew 7:15-23 NIV
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. —Revelation 13:11 NKJV
4 TESTS OF A FALSE PROPHET
1. Deceptive Doctrine.
Their doctrine results in
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. —Revelation 20:10 NIV
2. They Promote Immorality Instead Of Holiness.
For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. —2 Peter 2:18 NIV
Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. —Jeremiah 14:14 NIV
3. Causes Division Instead Of Unity.
4. Corrupt Character.
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. —2 Peter 2:1-3 NIV
Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. —Matthew 7:17-20 NIV
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ —Matthew 7:21-23 NIV
For everyone calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” —Romans 10:13 NIV
HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M SAVED?
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. —1 John 5:13-14 NIV
“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God seed remains in him. They cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. —1 John 3:9 NIV
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. —1 John 4:7-8 NIV
The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: we know it by the Spirit he gave us. —John 3:24 NIV
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. —1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV
If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved – even though only as one escaping through the flames. —1 Corinthians 3:15 NIV
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. —Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
1. Salvation is
.
2. It’s
Life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23 NIV
And this is what he promised us – eternal life. —1 John 2:25 NIV
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. —1 John 5:13 NIV
3. Forgiveness.
Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins. —Acts 13:38 NKJV
..“For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” —Jeremiah 31:34 NKJV
As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. —Psalm 103:12 NKJV
4. Redemption.
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. —1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV
5. Total
.
“Why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do the things which I say?” —Luke 6:46 NKJV
Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven, for many will say to me on that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders or miracles in your name and then I will declare to them I never knew you, depart from me you who practice lawlessness. —Matthew 7:21-23 NIV