Beware of Extra Biblical Teaching 8-20-26

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My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

What is extra- Biblical teaching? Something added that was not in the original scriptures.  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth (3 John 4).

Why did John write to the people in that era and for ages to come including the church today?

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 (1 John 4:1).

Notice in some of John’s writing he addresses the saints as little children, which means they were immature, even still he wanted them to be aware of erroneous and false teaching. John knew that it was easy for baby Christians to deceived by false teaching because they did not have enough knowledge and understanding. I am the same way. People’s spiritual growth is important to me.

How could anyone test spirits if they did not understand the difference between truth and error? It is so sad when people think they are more mature that they actually are, which stems from pride and it is difficult to get through to them.

How to test the spirits- First of all I am talking about ungodly or demonic spirits, spirit of error (plural because there are many), just as there are many false prophets, apostles and teachers; there is only One Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Truth). My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me (John 10:27).

Example of false teachers: Gnostics - John exposed who these types of people were: They claimed to be the enlightened one with all knowledge. It has been said that the Gnostics were teaching that Jesus could not have come in the flesh because all flesh is evil. For many deceivers have entered into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist (2 John 1:7).

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,  which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.  

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. If anyone comes to you with any other doctrine (Galatians 1:6-9).

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: 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, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (Revelation 22:18-19).

Be careful about some of the new translations!!!

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Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org