Testing Every Teaching Against the Word of God
After laying the positive truth of the gospel, the Scripture calls believers to identify and reject its counterfeits. The issue is not whether adherents are sincere — sincerity does not make error true. The test is whether doctrine agrees with the apostolic pattern revealed in Scripture. Error must be named. False teaching endangers souls.
Galatians 1:8
"Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel… let him be accursed."
Jude 3
"Earnestly contend for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints."
1 John 4:1
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God."
2 John 9
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God."
Principles for Distinguishing Truth from Error
Error must be identified
Calling false teaching by a polite name does not make it safe. Scripture names false prophets, false gospels, and false teachers.
Sincerity does not make error true
Many sincere people have followed sincere teachers into sincere error. Truth is determined by the word of God, not by personal conviction.
False teaching endangers souls
The soul that follows a corrupted gospel may believe itself saved while remaining lost. The stakes are eternal.
Scripture must test all doctrine
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20)
Each entry identifies the founder or origin, its core claims from a biblical standpoint, and the specific scriptures that conflict with those claims. Click any entry to expand.
"False" here means teaching doctrines contrary to the apostolic pattern — regardless of the sincerity of adherents. Islam, Buddhism, and Confucianism are major non-biblical worldviews rather than churches, but are addressed here as systems that conflict with the biblical gospel.
Part 2
Doctrines that commonly appear across denominations — each examined against the apostolic standard of Scripture.
The Biblical Pattern for Salvation
The New Testament shows a consistent pattern — the same steps appear repeatedly in the book of Acts.
Hear the Gospel
Romans 10:17 ↗"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Believe
John 8:24 ↗"If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."
Repent
Acts 17:30 ↗"God… commandeth all men every where to repent."
Confess Christ
Romans 10:9 ↗"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus…"
Be Baptized for Forgiveness
Acts 2:38 ↗"Repent, and be baptized every one of you… for the remission of sins."
Remain Faithful
Revelation 2:10 ↗"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
Part 3
Compared with the Church of Christ established in the first century. Anything founded centuries later cannot be the church Jesus established.
Historical Note
Dating back to Moses around 1500 BC, the Old Testament predates the New Testament Church, yet it contains remarkable prophecies pointing forward to Christ. The early world religions listed below also predate Christianity — yet none contain the gospel plan of salvation that was fully revealed through Jesus.
Isaiah — "The Fifth Gospel"
Written around 700 BC, Isaiah is often called "The Fifth Gospel" because of its extraordinarily detailed prophecies about Christ's identity, suffering, and role in salvation — written 700 years before Jesus walked the earth.
Isaiah 53 — The Suffering Servant
Written 700 years before Christ, this chapter describes a servant despised and rejected, pierced for our sins, silent before his accusers — a prophetic portrait of the crucifixion in stunning detail.
"He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities… and by his wounds we are healed." — Isaiah 53:5
Isaiah 9:6–7 — A Child Born to Govern
Centuries before Bethlehem, Isaiah foretold a child whose government would have no end — given titles that belong only to God himself: Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
"For to us a child is born… And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." — Isaiah 9:6
Isaiah 53:6
"We all, like sheep, have gone astray… and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Isaiah 12:2
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."
Matthew 16:18
"Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Acts 2:47
"The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
Early World Religions
Founder: Various
Predates Christ — no knowledge of the gospel
Founder: Siddhartha Gautama
Enlightenment philosophy — no personal Creator God
Founder: Confucius
Human moral philosophy — no plan of salvation
First Century — The Church Established
Founder: Jesus Christ
Established at Pentecost — Acts 2. This is the only church with apostolic authority.
Middle Ages
Founder: Muhammad
Qur'an presented as replacing the gospel — 570 years after the church
Founder: Church division
Development of papal authority, tradition alongside Scripture
Protestant Reformation
Founder: Martin Luther
Faith only; rejected Catholic authority
Founder: Henry VIII
State-controlled church; infant baptism retained
Founder: John Calvin
Predestination; infant baptism
Founder: John Smyth
Faith only; baptism symbolic
Later Movements
Founder: John Wesley
Wesleyan holiness; infant baptism
Founder: Holiness leaders
Sinless perfection teaching
Founder: Joseph Smith
Additional scriptures; denial of the Trinity
Founder: Charles Taze Russell
Denial of Christ's full deity
Founder: Charles Parham
Tongues as required sign of salvation
No Divisions — 1 Corinthians 1:10
"Now I beseech you, brethren… that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind."
One Body — Ephesians 4:4–5
"There is one body, and one Spirit… One Lord, one faith, one baptism."
There is one gospel. It was delivered once for all to the saints.
No founder, council, vision, or tradition may alter it.
The Word of God is the final and sufficient test of all doctrine.
Return to the apostolic pattern. It has never been improved upon.
Galatians 1:8–9
"Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."