“FALSE RELIGIONS AND CULTS”

Introduction

1 John 4:1

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God;

because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

THE “AUDIENCE”

1 John 4:1a“Beloved…”

Every “Christian” must know about false religions and cults.

THE “CAUTION”

1 John 4:1b“…do not believe

every spirit…”

“believe” = “have faith in” “spirit” = “demonic spirit”

THE “COMMAND”

1 John 4:1c“…but test the spirits…”

“test” = “approve of or disapprove of”

THE “CRITERIA”

1 John 4:1d“…whether they are

of God…”

Criteria = “a standard by which to judge”

THE “CONSPIRACY”

1 John 4:1e“…many false prophets have

gone out into the world.”

“false prophet” = “religious imposter”

SOMEFALSE RELIGIONS

•JUDAISM•ISLAM•BUDDHISM•HINDUISM•ROMAN CATHOLICISM

Christian

Islam Hinduism

SOMERELIGIOUS CULTS

•JEHOVAH WITNESSES•CHRISTIAN SCIENCE•MORMONS•NEW AGE•UNITY

“BIBLICAL TRUTH”UNDER ATTACK

• THE “DIETY” OF CHRIST• THE “INSPIRATION” OF

THE SCRIPTURES• THE “SINFULNESS” OF

HUMANITY

• THE “SALVATION PLAN”

REFERENCES ONRELIGION & CULTS

•Matt.15:8-9•2 Tim.4:3-4•2 Pet.2:1•1 Jn.4:6•Rev.22:18-19

MATTHEW 15:8-9

(Jesus said) “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the command-ments of men.”

2 TIMOTHY 4:3-4

“…the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires…they will heap up for themselves teachers and they will turn…away from the truth…”

2 PETER 2:1

“…there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord Who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”

1 JOHN 4:6

“We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

REVELATION 22:18-19

“For I testify to every-one who hears the words of the prophecy…if anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and…..

…if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life…”

PERSONALPERSONAL APPLICATION APPLICATION

* KNOW the difference!* KNOW the difference! “ “be wise as serpents”be wise as serpents”

* SHOW the difference!* SHOW the difference! “ “harmless as doves”harmless as doves”