Doctrines of Strange Fire (That Separate God's People)

By G. Michael Epping

In preparation for writing this book, I immersed myself in the Word of God, and some of the most prominent Biblical teachings from every corner of Christianity, including Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational, Charismatic Renewal Movement, the Toronto Blessing, and the Brownsville Revival.

The first great deception which will be investigated, concerns the issue of Eternal Security. The second great deception concerns the Gifts of God to the Church, and the third great dilemma concerns the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Probably, the greatest need of the Church today is to settle, once and for all, the three doctrinal disputes contained in this book. The Word of God always takes precedent over man-made doctrines. A doctrine that has been revealed to be false, according to the dictates of Scripture, needs to be changed (if possible) or thrown out. Doctrines of strange fire should have no place in the body of Christ, especially in our worship of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: G. Michael Epping
• Release date: Sep 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310621536

G. Michael Epping

Dr. Gary Michael Epping Ph.D. received Bachelor and Graduate degrees in Business Administration, and was a University Professor for twenty-five years. After a radical spiritual transformation in the Brownsville Revival in the mid-1990’s, he has subsequently received both Bachelor and Graduate degrees in Biblical Studies and Theology. After ministering for eight years as missionaries in Thailand, the Eppings are now living on a ranch in Montana, where MIchael is a minister, rancher, and writer.

Book preview

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DOCTRINES OF STRANGE FIRE

THAT SEPARATE GOD'S PEOPLE

By Dr. Gary Michael Epping

Antelope Hill Publications

Smashwords Edition

Copyright: 2008

(Originally titled "The Great Doctrinal Divide)

2nd Edition: 2013

All rights reserved by Gary Michael Epping

ISBN: hh9781301222216

Licensing notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy.

Other books by Dr. G. Michael Epping

*A Revolution From Darkness To Light

*Spiritual Stirrings Of The Awakening

*Pathways Into The Glory & Out Into The World

*Strong Meat For The Spiritually Maturing Christian

*The Great Doctrinal Divide That Separates God’s People

*Daily Readings On The Obedience Of Man & God’s Blessing

*Releasing Great Grace And Great Power

*The Last Days Omission

*Birth Pangs Of The Tribulation (Part 1)

*Tribulation Rising (Part 2)

*Unfolding of the Great Tribulation (Part 3)

* The picture on the cover is a reproduction of an original painting, which the author had painted especially for this book by Artist Boomlert Boonma, who works at the Night Gallery in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Table Of Contents

Title

Note From The Author

Preface

1st Foreword

2nd Foreword

Chapter 1 - Truth and Doctrine

Chapter 2 - Eternal Security

Chapter 3 - Gifts Of God

Chapter 4 – Spirit Baptism

Chapter 5 – Church Unity

Afterword

Endnotes

Bibliography

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

Dr. Gary Michael Epping Ph.D. received Bachelor and Graduate degrees in Business Administration, and was a University Professor for twenty-five years. During that time, he taught and published several scholarly articles about the business world. After a radical spiritual transformation at a long-running revival in the mid-1990’s, he subsequently received both Bachelor and Graduate degrees in Biblical Studies and Theology, in order to prepare himself and his family for spending eight years as missionaries in Thailand. The Epping family returned to America in 2009, and is currently living in Montana, where Michael is a minister, rancher, and writer. At this time, I want to thank my wife, Diane, for standing with me through all of the trials of writing these of books. I also want to thank Fiona Higgins, a missionary in Thailand, for editing all of the books that I have written.

PREFACE

In preparation for writing this book, I immersed myself in the Word of God, and some of the most prominent Biblical teachings from every corner of Christianity, including Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational, Charismatic Renewal Movement, the Toronto Blessing, and the Brownsville Revival. My greatest confidence is that my face is set like flint on the Word of God, and the absolute Truths that lie there. My greatest fear is that Christians will continue to follow man-made half-truths, rather than the Bible, and the subtle deceptions that reside there. I heard the most profound statement about God, in a lecture by Dr. Michael Brown, who is one of the best theologians in the world today.1 He basically said his greatest insight from the Bible could be put into a single statement: Obey God and be blessed; disobey God and suffer His wrath if an unbeliever, or have His hand of protection removed if a Christian. The nature of obedience revolves around knowing and following the Truth of God, which He has revealed in the Holy Bible. We are told to obey God, rather than the half-truths of man, and lies of Satan. Obeying man or the Devil, clearly can result in disobedience to God. Obeying God means to follow His Word exactly, without adding to or deleting from It, which is sternly warned against in the last chapter of Revelation. When we change the Word, we in essence are following another Gospel, another truth, and another Jesus, which are deceptions dictated according to the word of man. Obedience means to follow exactly what God says, not what we think He says. That is why it is of critical importance to keep the Bible as the central focus of our obedience. If we need help, God has given us another Comforter, the Spirit of Truth (Holy Spirit) to speak to and guide us in understanding His revelation. At this time, I want to thank Margaret York, who helped my wife and I with the initial editing of the rough draft. I also want to thank both Douglas Higgins and Mark Durene for proof reading the book, and giving valuable feedback. I especially want to thank Fiona E. Jensz-Higgins, who diligently edited the final draft of the book, catching errors that had slipped past the rest of us. She has faithfully been a part of the final editing of all the books I have written to date.

It is the primary purpose of this book to examine the nature of God’s Truth, and the man-made doctrinal distortions that have arisen from not following it. The central focus of examination in the first chapter concerns the nature of truth, according to God and mankind. Anything that does not reflect the Truth of God cannot be absolute and unchangeable. At best, such a truth can only be relative and ever changing, according to the needs and circumstances of man. At its worst, a ‘professed truth’ is nothing more than a distortion, falsehood, and lie. In the first chapter, we will consider two main issues. The first is to see if absolute Truth can exist in a world that is inhabited by sinful men and fallen angels. Then, we will proceed to the issue of doctrine, which can be according to God, man, or Satan. At the end of Chapter One, we should be in a good position to consider the three great deceptions that have hung over the Church like a dark cloud, since the start of the second century.

In Chapter Two, the first great deception will be presented, which concerns the issue of Eternal Security. We will first look at the two opposing sides in this doctrinal dilemma, and then turn to the Bible to see what God says about the conditional or unconditional nature of this central feature of Christianity. Only then will we be able to discern what is Truth and what is deception.

The second great deception concerns the Gifts of God to the Church, which will be the topic of Chapter Three. Are these gifts permanent to all generations, or are they temporary and meant only for the first century Church? After looking at the two major doctrines in this area, we will again turn to the Bible to settle the dispute, and reveal the Truth from the lie. Chapter Four investigates the third great dilemma that separates God’s people. This dispute concerns whether the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is for today, or whether it ended with the New Testament Church. As with the first two doctrinal dilemmas, we will consider each doctrinal side before going to the Word of God to differentiate what is false from what is Truth.

Chapter Four is on the Glorious Church of God. This chapter is only just the beginning, and is a taste of what is yet to fully come. The rest of the story is being laid out before our very eyes, but you must follow Jesus, the ‘living Word,’ to see its progress and soon completion. I have used the term ‘rising’ here, since it conveys an aspect of continuing from the present into the future. Obviously, the Glorious Church without a spot or wrinkle has not yet fully manifested itself in our earthly realm of existence. Yet with the revival movements at the turning of the century, we can see the beginning signs of its ascension. The Kingdom of God broke through into the earthly plane of existence two thousand years ago with the appearance of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the ministry of the Son of God, Jesus. This was the beginning point of the Last Days. Today, we are nearing the end point of these same Last Days. The same Jesus that left this world at the beginning of this dispensation, will return at it’s end to a Glorious Church without a spot or wrinkle. But, until then, we need to prepare ourselves to do our part in bringing about the completion of God’s Plan. Probably, the greatest need of the Church today is to settle, once and for all, the three doctrinal disputes contained in this book. Only then can we hope to move into a position to become the Glorious Church.

This book was meant to be read from the beginning to the end, as the sequential presentation of material is critical. In each of the three doctrinal disputes, the reader needs to first consider each of the opposing sides of the dilemma with an open mind, before proceeding to the section on evaluation and conclusions. Skipping ahead to read the conclusions first, can only distort and taint the objectiveness that is critical for the reader as he proceeds. This was the way each chapter was written. The conclusion was not known before the start of each chapter on the three doctrinal dilemmas. I objectively gathered information on each doctrinal side, before turning to the Word of God to see what He had to say about each issue. Only then was it possible to evaluate the doctrinal positions in relation to the absolute Truth of God. I strongly suggest you read the chapters in this same fashion. For the same reason, please do not read the last chapter first. This can only taint your reading of the text. In addition, if you pass this book along to a friend, or talk to someone that is just starting the book, please do not tell them the findings. Let them experience the book on their own. This is paramount for one to be able to fairly evaluate the material of the book, especially if the conclusions of the three doctrinal disputes are different than the doctrines the reader has been following prior to reading the book.

We all should proceed as followers of Jesus, who are on a quest for the absolute Truth of God as revealed in the written Word, the Bible. Likewise, we should all be willing to change our doctrinal position, if it has been clearly shown to be in error with what is revealed in the Bible. The Word of God always takes precedent over man-made doctrines. A doctrine that has been revealed to be false, according to the dictates of Scripture, needs to be changed (if possible) or thrown out. If there is another existing doctrine that does follow the Truth of God, we should adopt and follow it. If no such doctrine exists, then a new doctrine needs to be written and put in place with the help of both the Bible and the Holy Spirit. The Church of today should have no place for doctrines of strange fire.

FOREWORD

MARK DURENE, MISSIONARY

Several years ago I received an e-mail from a successful professor whose life had been turned upside down by a powerful encounter with God. He wanted advice on how to best prepare himself, his wife and his three young children to move from their home in the United States to take on a career as a missionary. That professor was Dr. G. Michael Epping, who has become my friend and missionary compatriot in Chiangmai, Northern Thailand. He has turned his personal spiritual revival into sacrificial action as a Thai-speaking minister of the Gospel to Buddhist Thailand.

Dr. Epping is passionate about unity in the universal Church. That passion has inspired this book. In it he identifies three dominate doctrinal issues that have polarized Christians for centuries. In an attempt to resolve these doctrinal divides, he has referenced detailed historical and scriptural support for each side before arriving at his conclusions.

The first of these issues deals with the question of Eternal Security. Is it possible for Christians to fall away? Or once they are saved, are they guaranteed eternal life regardless of how they live the rest of their life?

The second doctrinal issue has to do with the legitimacy of spiritual gifts today. Have they ceased with the establishment of the scriptures and the church age? Or can Christians still appropriate these gifts today?

The third and final issue involves the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and its accompanying practice of speaking in tongues. Is its observance among Christians today of God, Satan, or something else?

Dr. Epping is the right man for this job. His spiritual walk has led him through a broad doctrinal range of experiences, including Roman Catholic, Baptist and Pentecostal theologies. He has arrived at clear and strong conclusions, and backs everything up with scriptures. I guarantee that you will learn much from this book whether or not you agree with Dr. Epping’s conclusions.

Sincerely, Mark Durene, Missionary

FOREWORD

DOUGLAS J. HIGGINS

I have known Dr. G. Michael Epping for two years as a fellow missionary in Thailand.  During that time he has impressed me with his passionate desire to see the truth of God revealed in the hearts and lives of men and women.  He pursues the things of God with hunger and fervour and writes honestly and with integrity.  I particularly enjoyed reading the Great Doctrinal Divide.  Its historical insights are very well researched and Dr Epping has provided a point of view that reflects his own beliefs yet retains a fair sense of balance including all major doctrines.  He has willingly tackled subjects that have split the thinking in the church for years and has provided a view point that while not being universally popular, will I believe bring Biblical truth to issues often clouded by tradition.  He has been bold yet tender in his approach to three very delicate issues in the church today.  His own personal journey through one of the most amazing moves of God The Brownsville Revival is reflected in his writings.  I believe this experiential knowledge of God brings a depth and richness to the book that enhances the content.  He has written with a scholarly depth yet in a manner that most people will find easy to read.  An achievement in itself!  While not everyone will agree with Dr Epping’s conclusions they are scripturally sound and deserve to be read with an open heart and mind. God may very well desire to speak to you, whether or not you are prepared to listen is entirely up to you.

Douglas J. Higgins, Missionary

CHAPTER 1

TRUTH AND DOCTRINE

Before going into a discussion of God’s absolute Truth (often referred to in the book with a capital ‘T’), we will start with some definitions of key terms that will set the groundwork for a study on truth. These are based on an unbiased source, the dictionary. The word ‘truth’ is defined as, ‘conformity to fact or actuality; a statement proven to be or accepted as true; sincerity; integrity; fidelity to an original or standard; reality, actuality; and that which is considered to be the supreme reality and to have the ultimate meaning and value of existence.’ All of these definitions have a sense of being a relative truth (changing over time or according to circumstances), except the last, which reflects the absolute Truth of God. A half-truth is, ‘a statement, especially one intended to deceive, that omits some of the facts necessary for a full description or account.’ Clearly, this shows there is no absolute truth in a half-truth. Rather, it is an attempt to mix a lie with the truth. The result, however, is still a falsehood. Sooner or later, like vinegar and oil, real truth will separate itself out from the lie. A lie is, ‘a false statement deliberately presented as being true; a falsehood, and something meant to deceive or give a wrong impression.’ A lie is often cloaked in the sheepskin of truth. Yet, with careful examination, a false truth can be uncloaked, and the lie revealed. A closely related word is falsehood, which is ‘an untrue statement, a lie; the practice of lying; and lack of conformity to truth or fact, inaccuracy.’ Finally, the word false represents the opposite pole of Truth. It can be defined as, ‘contrary to fact or truth; deliberately untrue; arising from mistaken ideas; intentionally deceptive; not keeping faith, treacherous; and not genuine or real.’1

SOURCE OF ABSOLUTE TRUTH

Absolute truth does exist, and is not relative. Contrary to the scientifically-enlightened, secular-minded, modern educators, Truth is absolute. If your definition of truth is different than my definition of truth, then the existence of this deviation indicates that one or both of us does not know the real Truth. We are rather using the word ‘truth’ to represent something else, that is other than the Truth. The word half-truth is a distortion in itself, since a little bit of lie added in with a lot of truth is still a falsehood. If you can say maybe, then what you are saying is not true, but rather a corruption of the Truth. The Truth is always true, and never something else, which defines the absolute nature of the Word. Truth never changes, and has existed since the beginning of time, and will last into eternity. The shining light of Truth has no shadow or hint of darkness, yet it can penetrate through the darkness to the core of a lie. If given an opportunity, the white light of Truth can even pierce the dark blackness of an unsaved mind. Truth is absolute, and therefore can only originate from God Himself. Truth exists in a plane above the human realm of mankind. The beliefs, ideas, statements, and actions of human beings, can be based on things that are both true and false. That is the nature of a fallen world. Truth, however, resides above our corrupt world, and exists in the purity of the third heaven, which has no corruption, sin, or lies. Yet, this Truth is available for our fallen world because the Kingdom of God has broken through with the gospel of Jesus and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Truth can exist today in this physical plane of existence because of the redemption that is reflected in God’s Word, the Holy Bible. God’s Word is the sole standard from which to measure Truth. Each of us will one day be judged according to what Scripture dictates, at either the Judgment Seat of Christ or the Great White Throne Judgment. No man-made defenses will be heard here, but our judgment will be according to the Truth of God, and whether we obeyed it or not. You can search the world over, but can never find the real Truth except in this one Great Revelation. So, if you want to know the Truth, then turn away from the distortions of man, the Devil, and the world. No Truth can ever lie there. There is only one earthly place to know Truth, and that is in the Bible, which came from the spoken Word of God. The bottom line is that Truth is the person called God. So, if you want to know the Truth, then get to know God intimately. Even though God’s Truth is absolute and unchanging, it can have endlessly different applications, as can be seen down through the centuries of Church history. Even though the Bible can be applied in many different ways, the Truth of the Word never changes. Presented below are some key passages of Scripture that make reference to both Truth and the absence of Truth.

SUPPORTIVE BIBLE PASSAGES

Jesus Is Truth

Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (Jn 14:6).

‘For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ’ (Jn 1:17).

‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth’ (Jn 1:14).

‘Jesus answered Pilate saying, You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me’ (Jn 18:37).

The Holy Spirit Is Truth

‘This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth’ (1 Jn 5:6 ).

‘But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come’ (Jn 16:13).

‘The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you’ (Jn 14:17).

‘When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me’ (Jn 15:26).

‘We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood’ (1 Jn 4:6).

The Father Is Truth

‘Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth’ (Psalms 31:5).

‘Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase’ (Da 4:37).

‘The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth’ (Ps 145:18).

‘For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.’ (Ps 100:5).

‘Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell’ (Ps 43:3).

‘Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.’ (Ps 25:5 ).

The Word Is Truth

‘Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth’ (Jn 17:17).

‘Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’ (Jn 8:32).

‘Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true’ (Ps 119:142).

‘Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding’ (Prov 23:23).

‘Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.’ (Ps 51:6).

Duties Of The Believer

‘Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment’ (Pr 12:19).

‘The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will speak no lies, nor will deceit be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid’ (Zep 3:13).

‘These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts’ (Zec 8:16).

‘True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin’ (Mal 2:6).

‘Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say ‘ (2 Cor 12:6).

‘Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body’ (Eph 4:25).

‘Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place’ (Eph 6:14).

Lies And Falsehoods

Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning’ (Jer 9:5).

‘and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved’ (2 Th 2:10).

‘and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain’ (1 Tim 6:5).

‘Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous’ (Ps 31:18).

‘No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence’ (Ps 101:7).

‘The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful’ (Pr 12:22).

‘A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish’ (Pr 19:9).

‘A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare’ (Pr 21:6).

‘Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices’ (Col 3:9).

‘But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death’ (Rev 21:8).

‘Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood’ (Re 22:15).

Deceivers And False Accusers

‘For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people’ (Ro 16:18).

‘Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming’ (Eph 4:14).

‘While evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived’ (2 Tim 3:13).

‘For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group’ ( Tit 1:10).

‘Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist’ (2 Jn 1:7).

‘Jesus replied, ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony’ (Mt 19:18).

Coming Of False Christs

‘For many will come in my name, claiming, I am the Christ, and will deceive many’ (Mt 24:5).

‘For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible’ (Mt 24:24).

‘Then if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ! or There! do not believe it’ (Mt 24:23).

Coming Of False Doctrine

‘For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil: He practices ungodliness and spreads error concerning the LORD; the hungry he leaves empty and from the thirsty he withholds water’ (Is 32:6).

‘Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees’ (Mt 16:12).

‘See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ’ (Col 2:8).

‘Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them’ (Heb 13:9).

False Apostles and Prophets

‘If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him’ (De 18:22).

‘Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, This is what the Sovereign LORD says--when the LORD has not spoken’ (Eze 22:28).

‘Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves’ (Mt 7:15).

‘And many false prophets will appear and deceive many people’ (Mt 24:11).

‘For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ’ (2 Co 11:13).

Coming Of False Professions

‘My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain’ (Eze 33:31).

‘Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven’ (Mt 7:21).

‘He replied, Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me’’(Mk 7:6).

‘Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say’ (Lk 6:46)?

‘They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good’ (Tit 1:16).

‘Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth’ (Tit 1:16).

Coming Of False Shepherds

‘Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done, declares the LORD’ (Je 23:2).

‘My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place’ (Je 50:6).

‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock’ (Eze 34:2)?

‘The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it’ (Jn 10:12).

Coming Of False Teachers

‘They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men’ (Mt 15:9).

‘They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm’ (1 Ti 1:7).

‘For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear’ (2 Ti 4:3).

‘They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain’ (Tit 1:11).

‘But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves’ (2 Pe 2:1).

Coming Of False Worship

‘So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes’ (Ge 35:2).

‘You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below’ (Ex 20:4).

‘Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them’ (De 11:16).

‘You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god’ (Ps 81:9).

‘I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols’ (Is 42:8).

‘Dear children, keep yourselves from idols’ (1 Jn 5:21).

THREE PRIMARY SOURCES OF DOCTRINE2

The term doctrine means to teach the substance, with the teachings of the faith having always been a part of God’s work with man. Theology is another relevant term, which means the study of or discourses with God. At a basic level, there are three types of doctrine: the Doctrine of God which is