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Image result for false prophetsJesus, the Son of God, is the Messiah. God sent him to live among us, die for our missing God’s goal (aka sin), be resurrected from the dead into an incorruptible body and ascend to heaven to be seated at the right hand of God as King.

We have 4 books that tell the good news (aka gospel) of Jesus. We have his words. We know the truth about why He came and where He now resides. This is not about acceptable theology or opinions of those who are weak in faith. This is about those who are deceived themselves and would deceive us as well about Jesus.We need to understand the seriousness of deception and our responsibility to look out for it constantly. What are we to do?  “Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good…” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Matthew 7:15-23  “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?‘ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

It may be of human origin and not from Jesus the Messiah

False doctrine comes from many sources. It may be of human origin or it may be from demonic origins, directly from the evil one.

Let’s explore a little more the human origins. It is striking that false doctrine can come simple by following traditions. What about Santa Claus? What about the Easter Bunny? What about Halloween?

The key to true doctrine are the words of Jesus, the Messiah.

Colossians 2:8 (NASB) — See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to the Messiah.

Rules and regulations about food rituals and other legalistic approaches are not from Jesus. Men love to create their own religion. It is dangerous and to be shunned.

Colossians 2:20–23 (NASB) —  If you have died with the Messiah to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as,  “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”  (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

It is all a matter of the heart. Jesus emphasizes this over and over. There is no ignoring it. Is what I am hearing about the heart or rote traditions?

Matthew 15:8–9 (NASB) —  ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.  ‘But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ ”

Isaiah 29:13 (NASB) —  Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote.