Beware of False Prophets

Romans  16:17 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences  contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

False  teachings may seem insignificant and easy to overlook. Many accept false  teachers, even when they recognize that some of their doctrine is false,  believing that as long as “most” of it is true, that it’s good enough. But we  are warned to m...ark them and avoid them because ultimately these false 
doctrines diminish faith, stunt growth, damage testimonies, and may even
cripple  the Christian’s walk.

2 Peter 3:17 “ Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye  know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of  the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.”

-Teachings of losing one’s  salvation keep the Christian forever walking in the flesh and not the Spirit,  concentrating on dead works to maintain their standing before God.

-False  teachings of lasciviousness disguised as liberty keep the Christians behaving  carnally, damaging their witness and discouraging others
from repentance and  faith.

-When false promises of healing or guaranteed results promised  through agreeing in prayer do not produce the desired effects deceived believers  often attribute the failure to God.

-Wrong teachings on God’s will or his  sovereignty paint an unflattering picture of God and cast doubt upon his  goodness and mercy, driving the unsaved even further from him.

Much like  any lie, overlooking one false teaching, paves the way for more. Unwilling to  stand for one truth, many know that standing for another
truth will, shine a  light on their hypocrisy and so they fear to stand for any.
Truth no longer  absolute eventually becomes relative, leaving the believer open
to any  deception. And so false doctrines spread like a cancer, consuming
believers. 

Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep's  clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

2 Corinthians 11:13-15  “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into  the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an  angel of light. 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.”

1 Thessalonians 5:21 “Prove all things; hold fast that  which is good.”