False Prophets 101 - Another Gospel

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. II Cor 11:3-4

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. II Cor 11:13-20

The context of II Corinthians is that not only was someone teaching another gospel and another Jesus but he was charging the believers money for the message. The believers thought that since Paul was giving the message for free - this other guy must really know something if he was charging for it. Even back then, a man would punch someone in the face and try to pass himself off as a minister of righteousness.

It wasn't just in Corinth that this was occuring, but also in Galatia. Paul writes:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Gal 1:6-9

Paul is saying that it is not JUST that it is another gospel, but it is a perverted gospel - a twisted gospel. Notice that twice it says "let him be accursed." That means it is a very serious offense with God and the punishment is established. Whoever perverts the gospel, a curse will come on them.

2nd Peter also addresses this same issue. Please read 2 Peter because I don't have the space to put the whole chapter here, just a few verses:

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 2 Peter 2:1-3

But it gets worse, for Peter states how the true brethren are OVERCOME by these false prophets:

For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

This is deadly serious! Heresy is a very serious subject, one that we don't hear enough teaching on. There are several definitions of the word heresy. It means sects or denominations, any opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, it also means to take or to capture as in storming a city! Bottom line it is false doctrine. Someone who believes heresies is a heretic. That is the rub, THEY BELIEVE HERESIES.

I am very concerned about the plethora of heresies being bandied about on the internet these days. One by one I have watched as brothers and sisters that I have respected in the Word and in Christ - get sucked into the dark side of some of these heresies. What am I to do when I watch all my internet friends become heretics before my very eyes? This is what God's Word says:

But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. Titus 1:1-3

So here is my first admonition. But I will be posting on some of the specific heresies and false prophecies that are on the internet these days. Am I posting this because I'm so great and I'm such an on-top-of-everything believer and therefore closer to God than you? By all means NO! I have believed some of the same things until the Lord opened my eyes and I repented of the belief of false doctrines. I'm just a regular joe-blow believer who loves God and loves the TRUTH and loves those believers I see diving into the shallow end of the pool. If one person turns away from and repents from being a heretic by these posts, then praise the Lord. But know this:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21

Heresy is SIN! Just as bad a sin as Adultery, Fornication and Witchcraft! Those who participate in Heresy WILL NOT inherit the Kingdom of God!

Some excellent teachings from Zac Poonen on how to spot heresies and deception are here:

How To Escape Deception
Eight Ways of Decieving ourselves
I just found these and haven't listened to them yet, but I will as soon as I can:
Another Jesus
Another Spirit
Another Gospel

Dear Heavenly Father, Show us what is YOUR truth Lord in the midst of all this perverted gospel. Help us to change our minds to believe only Your Truth and Your word and protect us from heretics and heresies. Thank you for Your Wonderful Son, Jesus Christ - who died for us so that we can know the truth that sets us free. In Jesus Name. AMEN