PIC: the-Dead.the-Book-of-Life.and-eternity. Pete Garcia. Rev310.net
For me, the passage of Matthew 7:15-27 used to be the scariest in the Bible. Read this verse 23 in particular:
‘I never knew you;
[you are banished from My presence],
[disregarding My commands].’
– Matthew 7:23
But I’ve come to understand it better lately. I know I am not one of them. This passage does not refer to me, a truly born again believer. Yes, I am truly born again! Are you, you think?
Luke records a similar teaching
24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door [force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin]; for many, I tell you, will try to enter [by their own works] and will not be able.
25 Once the head of the house gets up and closes the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door [again and again], saying, ‘Lord, open to us!’ then He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you are from [for you are not of My household].’
26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; 27 but He will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers!’
– Verses 24-27 of Luke 13:22-30
I have verily entered “through the narrow door“. Jesus is that Door John 10. I’m already in with “the head of the house“!
What about you? Or will Jesus say this to you? …”you are not of My household.”
John records that people did not understand the parable of the door into the sheepfold, and the shepherd of the sheep John 10:1-6. So Jesus used another figure of speech “I am the Door“ John 10:6-10 to help understand who He is. He said: “I am the Door for the sheep….”
John 10:6-10
6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.
7 So Jesus said again, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I am [b]the Door for the sheep [leading to life]. 8 All who came before Me [as false messiahs and self-appointed leaders] are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security). 10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
BibleGateway Footnote about the “I am” Statements: John 6:35 Jesus uses the words “I am” over twenty times in this Gospel. Especially memorable are those places where “I am” is followed by a metaphor that declares His deity and His relationship to mankind as Savior (this is the first of seven such references); see 8:12 (Light); 10:9 (Door); 10:11 (Good Shepherd); 11:25 (Resurrection); 14:6 (Way, Truth, Life); 15:5 (Vine).
Jesus goes even further to help us understand Him, sharing the parable of the Good Shepherd. You can read that in John 10:11-18.
The warning of Matthew 7 that Jesus gave us starts like this: “Beware of the false prophets”
15 “Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus].
– Matthew 7:15-16
PIC: Prophets Today?_GotQuestions.org
Such warnings are all over the New Testament
Scripture warns us: be careful about which teachers and preachers you are listening to and following. Some are false: false prophets-apostles-teachers — preachers who are not what they appear to be.
* Don’t go to their apostate churches!
* Don’t listen to their music and promote them in what you sing in church!
* Don’t sing the apostate music of the Bethel, Hillsong and Elevation apostates.
Guard your church from apostates
We can discern who these are — by the fruit of their ministries. It’s not “judgemental” to discern right from wrong. In fact, Scripture encourages us to be discerning. 1
16 By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus].
Recognize them by their fruit
Look at their teachings, Jesus warns us. Do you look? That is what many are looking at these days.
These conservative Bible teachers are looking, and I agree with them: Craig of CrossWise, Jeremy Sanders, Justin Peters, Todd Wilkin, Joseph Mattera, Alisa Childers, Paul Fahy, Rick Becker of ‘Famine In The Land’, Biola Magazine Staff (article of ), Dennis Swick… and many more.
Wolves-like-sheep_BY-Chris Ensminger. i6yrDhfZ-XQ. Unsplash
Wolves are outside the Bible…with “contrived doctrine“
What we see in NAR-type Charismatic circles is not what Scripture relates to us! These wolves are outside the Bible, teaching folk as if they are inside. But they are not teaching the Bible. Scripture tells us they have concocted “contrived doctrine” MerWeb: contrived, false, simulated, a mock-up (created to look genuine), fake.
This passage describes the NAR:
2 Thessalonians 2:9–12
9 The coming of the [Antichrist, the lawless] one is through the activity of Satan, [attended] with great power [all kinds of counterfeit miracles] and [deceptive] signs and false wonders [all of them lies],
10 and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all the deception of wickedness for those who are perishing, because they did not welcome the love of the truth [of the gospel] so as to be saved [they were spiritually blind, and rejected the truth that would have saved them].
11 Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie, 12 in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness.
Be careful how you follow God
The Matthew 7:15-27 warning is still the scariest Bible verse – for those lost amongst apostates. It tells “the so-called brother“, professing Christians: examine your faith and make sure you are in His Way everlasting.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.
FOR MORE:
Salvation in Christ is beyond huge…Which do you want? The “iron-clad” humongous type of salvation we have in Christ, or, on the flip-side…“The limits of what God will do for sinners”.
Parables about Himself…the parables “I am the Door for the sheep, the shepherd of the sheep, and the Good Shepherd.
Depart from Me references:
Matthew 7:23…”depart from Me [you are banished from My presence]“
Matthew 7:15-27…”Beware of the false prophets, [teachers]“
Luke 13:22-30…“Strive to enter through the narrow door [force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin]“
Promises God makes about your salvation…The “iron-clad” humongous type of salvation
Jesus declares He is God in 7 “I am” Statements…Read here the “I am” Statements. Excerpt: There are seven (7) “I am” statements of Jesus where He made it clear He claimed to be God – and Savior of all sinners who repent (John 14:6).
Examine yourselves…Examine your faith
Prepare Your Eternity with great fear and trepidation…prepare as if Heaven depends on it (because it does)
Jesus saved me…I am truly born again. Are you, you think?
So you think you are a Christian saved by His amazing grace
Many are invited but few are chosen. Why you?
Jesus saves and Jesus condemns
About Being Apostate… following “another gospel”
I biblically tut these apostate imposters
Know your terms. Truth – Apostate – Antithetical – Heritical
Deviating from Scripture. How they do it, these Bethel Prophets and Pastors
The so-called brother…and sister…professing Christians. Excerpt: As wheat and the tare, there are two types of “Christian”:
(1) the truly born again believers and
(2) “the so-called” brothers.
Big difference. Huge. They will not spend eternity in the same house!
About False Teachings of Today
7 signs you are in a counterfeit church | By Joseph Mattera | Voices |
The Pharisee Card by Todd Wilkin, Issues, Etc., March 7, 2009 Excerpt: In fact, Christians who demand doctrinal purity are really following the example of Jesus, of Paul and the other Apostles (Matthew 7:15; see also Matthew 24:10–11; Mark 9:42; 2 Corinthians 15:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 Timothy 4:16; 6:3–4; Titus 1:7–9; 2:1, 7–8; 1 John 4:1; 2 Peter 3:17 and Matthew 15:6-9; Isaiah 29:13).
“If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – John 8:31–32
Bethel Redding & Modern Apostles: A Biblical Analysis | podcast on YouTube with Alisa Childers
Cessationism or Continuationism? | by Craig of CrossWise | September 16, 2023 | https://notunlikelee.wordpress.com/ | Excerpt: I submit that cessationism is not Biblical. I will briefly explain why I think is so further below…. Before going further I absolutely agree that most of the “sign gifts” we see or hear about nowadays—especially those seen on TV or video—are not real in the sense that they emanate from pseudo-prophets and pseudo-apostles (or even pseudo-Christs)….
“The NAR is a dangerous movement, in many ways threatening Christianity: some seekers may think the NAR reflects true Christianity; some outsiders may assume the NAR is true Christianity, and thus label true Christians part of this movement; it is spiritually dangerous; etc. To my mind, it looks to be negatively represented in Matthew 7:21–23 and 2 Thessalonians 2:9–12.”
Why I Began Blogging / It’s Been Ten Years! | by Craig of CrossWise | September 17, 2020 Excerpt: “Those who consider the long ending of Mark must understand that it’s an all or nothing proposition….”
Two NAR Organizations to Watch | by Holly Pivec | Mar 31, 2015
God’s Super-Apostles: An Interview with Doug Geivett |Talbot School of Theology Faculty Blog – The Good Book Blog —
The Feelings, Whispers & Omens of Sean Feucht | by & Blog |
Footnotes
- Quote from: God’s biggest warnings to us today
What were the warnings given throughout the New Testament?
The Gospel message comes with warning labels (so to speak). There are many passages. Many. You really cannot miss them if you read the Bible. Here is a short list of some of them:
See this short list of 4 passages in one link or: 1 John 2:18-19, 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 1 Timothy 1:3-7.
For a bigger list, see: About False Teachings of Today listing these passages.
References warning against following “different doctrines” and false teachers:
PIC: Palehorse74_four _horsemen _of_apocalypse. Art by Pete Garcia. Rev310.net
See in one link, or: 2 Peter 1:20-21, Jude 3,4, Titus 1:9, 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, 1 John 2:18-19, 1 Timothy 1:3-7.
Also see in one link all these references:
1 John 4:1, 2 John 1:7-11, 1 Peter 4:17, James 3:1, James 5:19-20, Acts 20:28-31, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Galatians 1:6-10, Galatians 2:4-5, Romans 16:17-19, 2 Corinthians 2:17, Ephesians 5:6-13, 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, Titus 1:10-11, Colossians 2:18, 2 Peter 2:1-3, 2 Peter 3:15-16, 2 Timothy 2:16-18, 2 Timothy 2:19-26.Also see in one link or: 1 John 4:5, 1 John 4:6, Luke 11:52, 1 John 4:5, 2 Timothy 4:3, Isaiah 29:13-16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Luke 21:33, Hebrews 4:12, Acts 17:11, Genesis 3:1-6, Ephesians 4:14, Matthew 15:6-9 and Isaiah 29:13.
And don’t miss Luke 13:27 and this – Ephesians 4:17-19.
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