While I’m Waiting (Week 1) 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5a “How Can I know if it’s Real”
Introduction
There are lots of religious people out there, and amongst them, plenty of false teachers to go
around. The doctrines we hear are as diverse as snowflakes, it seems. There are many who “claim” to
be Christian, but their actions prove those claims to be false. So, just how can you tell if someone is
“real” or not? This would seem to me to be an important question, as we live in these perilous times.
After all, we are commanded in Scripture to avoid that which is false. So, wouldn’t it be important to
separate truth from falsehood in order to be able to avoid those who would lead us astray? I believe so.
And so did the Apostles of Christ.
There are lots of religious people out there, and amongst them, plenty of false teachers to go
around. The doctrines we hear are as diverse as snowflakes, it seems. There are many who “claim” to
be Christian, but their actions prove those claims to be false. So, just how can you tell if someone is
“real” or not? This would seem to me to be an important question, as we live in these perilous times.
After all, we are commanded in Scripture to avoid that which is false. So, wouldn’t it be important to
separate truth from falsehood in order to be able to avoid those who would lead us astray? I believe so.
And so did the Apostles of Christ.
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from
God, because many false prophets have gone out in the world. 1 John 4:1
And also:
Now I urge you brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and
obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them, because such
people do not serve our LORD Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the
hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.
Romans 16:17-18