False Gospels Articles
Within a couple of decades after Christ's death, false teachers, false gospels and false doctrines were already affecting the church. Gnosticism and legalism were two of the main ones then, but others have become popular since. Many of the same deceptions are around today. These articles show the biblical truth about going to heaven, whether or not there is an ever-burning hell, the immortality of the soul, the place of law within a Christian's life, and the doctrine of eternal security—'once saved, always saved'.
A World Held Captive
Summary: You live in a world of awesome progress, but paradoxically, of appalling evils. Why? It's a world held captive, deceived into loving its captivity. Deliverance from kidnap in deception, human discontent, suffering and death hastens nearer. World peace, happiness and joy are just around the corner!
Beware of Philosophy
Summary: In the end, philosophy is merely man's search for answers without God. Mike Ford exposes philosophy's fundamental faults and directs us toward real truth, found in God's Word.
Caught Up in the Rapture
Summary: Is the rapture biblical? If so, when will it occur? Where do the saints go? Richard Ritenbaugh clarifies this sometimes confusing subject from the Bible.
Damnable Heresies
Summary: Indeed, many heresies crept into the church over the past several years. John Ritenbaugh explains the difference between heresy and apostasy, how Satan works to introduce heresy into the church, and most importantly, what we can do about it!
Deceptions of the End Time
Summary: Our world is full of lies and liars, and many in God's church are ignorant of just how much deceit is out there. Jesus tells us, however, that the best way to resist deception is being convicted of the truth.
Do We Have 'Eternal Security'?
Summary: Are we "once-saved, always-saved"? Once God grants us His grace, are we assured eternal life? Richard Ritenbaugh exposes the fallacies of this Protestant doctrine of "eternal security."
Eternal Torment?
Summary: When the incorrigibly wicked are thrown into the Lake of Fire, will they be tormented forever? Richard Ritenbaugh sets the matter of Revelation 20:10 straight.
Is God a False Minister?
Summary: John Ritenbaugh exposes the deplorable contraditions in the arguments of those who advocate doctrinal change. By their reasoning, they portray God as 'a confused and false minister who lacks the power to instruct his chosen leaders to 'get it right." But that is not the way the Bible portrays Him!
Is Heaven the Reward of the Saved?
Summary: Most of Christianity believes humans go to heaven or hell after death, but is this so? John Plunkett contends that this belief does not originate in the Bible—and in fact, the Bible reveals a very different Christian destiny.
Is the Christian Required to Do Works? (Part One)
Summary: Why do so many nominal Christians reject works and obedience to God's law? John Ritenbaugh posits that they do this because they fail to gather God's whole counsel on this subject. In doing so, they miss vital principles that help to bring us into the image of God.
Is the Kingdom of God Within You?
Summary: Luke 17:21 has tripped up Protestants for centuries. Using the context and the meaning of the Greek, Richard Ritenbaugh explains that this verse's meaning is very plain!
Jesus and 'the Spirits in Prison'
Summary: Peter's statement that Jesus 'preached to the spirits in prison' (I Peter 3:19) has for years baffled many a Bible student. Richard Ritenbaugh examines this verse in context, showing that the traditional interpretation is woefully off-base to the point of suggesting a totally unbiblical conclusion.
Let No One Deceive You
Summary: We live in a day of increasing knowledge—to the point that we are increasingly overloaded with information. Richard Ritenbaugh argues that these and other modern factors lend themselves to deception, yet this is one of the primary end-time trends that Jesus warns us against!
Nicolaitanism Today
Summary: Three of the seven churches of Revelation 2 receive warnings from Christ to beware Nicolaitanism. What is it? Richard Ritenbaugh shows how Nicolaitanism--a form of Gnosticism--still plagues the church today.
Religious Confusion and You
Summary: Nothing is more confused than the state of religion today. God's people can stay above the fray by being firmly grounded in His Word. Included are seven principles of Bible study.
The Flood Is Upon Us!
Summary: In Matthew Christ likens end-time events to the time of Noah's Flood. John Ritenbaugh gives insight into how this end time flood might manifest itself and what we can do to avoid being swept up in it.
The Four Horsemen (Part Two): The White Horse
Summary: At God's command, the white horse and its rider gallop over the earth 'conquering and to conquer.' Richard Ritenbaugh analyzes the symbolism of this horseman, a precursor of the destruction that is wrought by its fellows.
This Is Not God's World
Summary: The Amish and Mennonite peoples have built a way of life around coming out of this world. Although we commend their zeal, the proper emphasis consists of avoiding the religious, psychological and philosophical systems of this world. God promises to destroy them when Christ returns.
Trends in Global Religion
Summary: Ron Sellers, a religious trend watcher, sees great instability in world religion, and it is mirrored in God's church. Richard Ritenbaugh shows how this dovetails with Bible prophecy of the end time.
Was God's Law Nailed to the Cross?
Summary: Many use Colossians 2:14 to 'prove' God's law is done away. Is this really what Paul means? Earl Henn uses the Bible to explain the apostle's intent in this verse.
What Evolution Really Means
Summary: In the church, the argument over evolution was settled long ago, but such is not the case in the wider world. David Grabbe goes beyond the science to what embracing evolution actually says about a person's—and a society's—relationship with God.
What Is a False Prophet?
Summary: The Bible warns us that a great False Prophet will soon arise to sway mankind into idolatry. In addition, numerous passages speak of other false prophets and false teachers in the church and in the world. David Grabbe, in exposing the differences between false prophets and true ones, explains what we need to look out for as the end nears.
What Will You Be Doing in the Next Life?
Summary: Are you one who won't be there—because you're deceived into a false salvation? Nothing is more misunderstood than the difference between "GRACE" and "WORKS."
Whatever Happened to Gnosticism? Part One: False Knowledge
Summary: "Gnosticism" sounds like an old and very dry Greek philosophy, the subject of a somnolent college lecture. Not so, says David Grabbe. Gnosticism is very much in vogue today in books and movies--and in the belief systems of a great many people who profess to be Christian.
Whatever Happened to Gnosticism? Part Three: Satan's Three Heresies
Summary: When Satan confronted humanity's first parents, Adam and Eve, he fed them three heresies that he continues to promote to deceive the world today. David Grabbe expounds on these three lies, revealing how Gnosticism incorporated them into its parasitic philosophy and way of life.
Whatever Happened to Gnosticism? Part Two: Defining Gnosticism
Summary: For many of us, Gnosticism is difficult to pin down, and this is because it is not itself a religion but a philosophy that piggy-backs on religions. David Grabbe explains how we can see this in Paul's epistles to the Galatians and Colossians, in which he combats Gnosticism's twisting of the truth of Jesus Christ.
For more on ancient and current false gospels and doctrines, such as the immortality of the soul, 'once saved, always saved', Gnosticism, and other deceptions, see the False Gospels Sermons page.
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False Gospels
