As believers in Christ we are to encourage each other in the doing of good works.
There are many religions that manifest good works but they are not of God.
Paul said in 1 Cor. 13 that we can do good things but not from the origination of love.
Jesus said there will always be wheat in with the tares and some will do good works too. Matt. 7:23 shows this.
I believe it is the fruit of their "words" that we can see and judge. What does it bring forth in our lives if we believe their message?
One fruit is that they bite and devour with their words of condemnation, trying to shame and bring guilt onto others. Name-calling and abusive behavior with insults is a clear example of walking after the flesh of which true false prophets and true believers can do.
They love to try to "lord it over the faith " of others by their "superior knowledge" and rely on their human scholarship to be-little you if you don't agree with their view of doctrine and others in their group that believe the same way as they do.
I believe that some believers in Christ can "act" like wolves because they are deceived by the subtleness of satan's belief system of "doing to get" and thus preach and teach his message of works-based mindset and beliefs.
There are others that are wolves and not born-again but only God knows the heart of man.
I have written about this a few times.
I agree that some people are definitely false prophets on purpose and others are just deceived and it is so subtle too....sometimes it is hard to pick them out because they could just be a product of false teaching or an incomplete understanding of the gospel of the grace of Christ and "in their own minds" are just trying to "defend the faith".
None of us have complete truth in all things. Only God knows and can judge the difference of what is in the heart of people.
Satan and his horde do not come to the believer in Christ and say "Sin all you want" because no one would for fall for such a lie.
Instead they come as "ministers of righteousness".
They want us to live by our own D.I.Y. self-righteousness/holiness so that we will be not be depending on what Christ has done for us by grace through faith alone for salvation.
This cuts us off from receiving the grace of God in our lives.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (KJV)
[SUP]14[/SUP] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
[SUP]15[/SUP] 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.
( notice that is "their" works )
This below in 1 Peter 1:13 is what satan is really after...this is why he has false prophets/teachers in our midst.
He wants us to fall away from grace and depend on our own performance and human will-power instead of what Christ has done in His finished work on the cross and resurrection.
1 Peter 1:13
[SUP]13 [/SUP] Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
There are many religions that manifest good works but they are not of God.
Paul said in 1 Cor. 13 that we can do good things but not from the origination of love.
Jesus said there will always be wheat in with the tares and some will do good works too. Matt. 7:23 shows this.
I believe it is the fruit of their "words" that we can see and judge. What does it bring forth in our lives if we believe their message?
One fruit is that they bite and devour with their words of condemnation, trying to shame and bring guilt onto others. Name-calling and abusive behavior with insults is a clear example of walking after the flesh of which true false prophets and true believers can do.
They love to try to "lord it over the faith " of others by their "superior knowledge" and rely on their human scholarship to be-little you if you don't agree with their view of doctrine and others in their group that believe the same way as they do.
I believe that some believers in Christ can "act" like wolves because they are deceived by the subtleness of satan's belief system of "doing to get" and thus preach and teach his message of works-based mindset and beliefs.
There are others that are wolves and not born-again but only God knows the heart of man.
I have written about this a few times.
I agree that some people are definitely false prophets on purpose and others are just deceived and it is so subtle too....sometimes it is hard to pick them out because they could just be a product of false teaching or an incomplete understanding of the gospel of the grace of Christ and "in their own minds" are just trying to "defend the faith".
None of us have complete truth in all things. Only God knows and can judge the difference of what is in the heart of people.
Satan and his horde do not come to the believer in Christ and say "Sin all you want" because no one would for fall for such a lie.
Instead they come as "ministers of righteousness".
They want us to live by our own D.I.Y. self-righteousness/holiness so that we will be not be depending on what Christ has done for us by grace through faith alone for salvation.
This cuts us off from receiving the grace of God in our lives.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (KJV)
[SUP]14[/SUP] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
[SUP]15[/SUP] 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.
( notice that is "their" works )
This below in 1 Peter 1:13 is what satan is really after...this is why he has false prophets/teachers in our midst.
He wants us to fall away from grace and depend on our own performance and human will-power instead of what Christ has done in His finished work on the cross and resurrection.
1 Peter 1:13
[SUP]13 [/SUP] Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
There..... fixed.