Main Text:
Galatians 1:6–9
Supporting Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 13:1–5; Matthew 24:24; John 1:1–18; John 8:58; John 10:30; John 20:28; Acts 4:12; 2 Corinthians 11:3–4; Colossians 1:15–20; Hebrews 1:1–4; Jude 3
Imagine you are at a bank learning how to detect counterfeit money.
The instructor does not begin by showing hundreds of fake bills.
Instead, he hands you a genuine bill.
You study it carefully.
You learn its color, texture, markings, and security features.
Only after knowing the genuine article can you recognize a counterfeit.
The same principle applies to Christian doctrine.
Many religious groups use the Bible.
Many speak about God.
Many mention Jesus.
Many encourage moral living.
Some even call themselves Christian.
But using Christian words does not always mean those words carry the same biblical meaning.
As believers, we must know the authentic gospel so that we can recognize teachings that differ from it. At the same time, we are called to speak the truth in love, treating every person with dignity and respect.
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
Understand what historic Christian doctrine is.
Learn the origins of Jehovah's Witnesses, Iglesia ni Cristo, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).
Understand the major teachings of each movement.
Compare those teachings with the Bible.
Learn how to respectfully and lovingly share the gospel with members of these groups.
Throughout church history, false teachers and doctrinal errors have appeared.
Even during the time of the apostles, believers were warned about teachings that distorted the gospel.
Paul warned the churches in Galatia against accepting "another gospel."
John warned about those who denied the identity of Christ.
Peter warned about false teachers who would secretly introduce destructive teachings.
Jude urged believers to "contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God's holy people."
These warnings remind Christians that sound doctrine matters because it points people to the true Christ and the true gospel.
Before looking at these groups, it is important to understand that many of their members are sincere people seeking to honor God. Christians should never mock or mistreat them. Our goal is to understand their teachings accurately and respond with biblical truth and Christlike love.
Historic Christianity is rooted in the teaching of Jesus and His apostles as recorded in the Scriptures.
Although Christians from different denominations may disagree on secondary matters, historic Christianity has consistently affirmed several foundational beliefs.
There is one eternal God.
God exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
Jesus rose bodily from the dead.
Salvation is by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Bible is God's inspired and authoritative Word.
These foundational beliefs have been confessed by Christians across many centuries.
Jehovah's Witnesses began in the United States during the late nineteenth century.
The movement traces its origins to the Bible Student movement led by Charles Taze Russell.
Later, under Joseph Franklin Rutherford, the organization developed into what is now known as Jehovah's Witnesses.
Their worldwide work is directed by the Governing Body.
Jehovah's Witnesses use the Bible, but they also rely heavily on the teachings published by their organization.
They commonly use the New World Translation, their own English translation of the Bible.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that there is one God, Jehovah.
They reject the doctrine of the Trinity.
They teach that Jesus is not Almighty God.
Instead, they believe Jesus is God's first and greatest creation and identify Him with Michael the archangel.
They teach that the Holy Spirit is not a divine Person but God's active force.
They also teach that Jesus' resurrection was spiritual rather than a bodily resurrection.
Salvation is closely connected with faith, obedience, and loyalty to Jehovah's organization.
The New Testament presents Jesus as more than a created being.
John begins his Gospel by declaring that the Word was with God and was God.
Thomas addressed the risen Jesus as, "My Lord and my God."
Jesus accepted worship and forgave sins—actions associated with God.
The Bible also presents the Holy Spirit as personal, speaking, teaching, guiding, and being grieved.
Historic Christianity therefore understands the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to share the one divine nature.
Iglesia ni Cristo was founded in the Philippines in 1914 by Felix Y. Manalo.
The movement teaches that it is the restored true church in the last days.
Since its founding, it has grown internationally and now has congregations in many countries.
Iglesia ni Cristo teaches belief in one God, the Father.
It rejects the doctrine of the Trinity.
Jesus is honored as the Messiah and Savior but is understood to be fully human rather than fully divine.
The Holy Spirit is generally understood as God's power or influence rather than a distinct divine Person.
The movement teaches that membership in the Iglesia ni Cristo is essential to receiving salvation, together with faithful obedience to God's commands.
The New Testament repeatedly presents Jesus as possessing a unique divine identity.
John writes that "the Word was God."
Jesus declared, "Before Abraham was born, I am."
He claimed unity with the Father.
Thomas worshiped Him as Lord and God.
The apostles proclaimed salvation through Christ alone, not through belonging to a particular human organization.
The Bible teaches that the church consists of all who belong to Christ through faith, regardless of nationality or denomination.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith in 1830 in the United States.
Joseph Smith claimed that an angel named Moroni directed him to golden plates containing an ancient record.
He said these plates were translated into what became the Book of Mormon.
Over time, additional writings became important within the movement, including Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.
Members of the LDS Church use:
The Bible.
The Book of Mormon.
Doctrine and Covenants.
The Pearl of Great Price.
These are all considered authoritative within their tradition.
Historic Christianity recognizes only the Old and New Testaments as inspired Scripture.
The LDS Church teaches belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.
However, these are understood differently from the historic Christian doctrine of the Trinity.
The Father and the Son are viewed as distinct divine beings united in purpose rather than one Being in three Persons.
The LDS Church teaches that Jesus is the Savior of the world and that His atoning work is essential.
Members are encouraged to exercise faith in Christ, repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and continue faithfully in discipleship.
Temple worship and additional ordinances also play an important role in LDS practice.
Historic Christianity teaches that there is one eternal God.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons who share one divine nature.
The Bible consistently presents God's nature as unique and eternal.
The New Testament also emphasizes that salvation rests on Christ's finished work and is received by grace through faith.
This is the most important question.
Every group discussed today honors Jesus in some way.
The question is not whether Jesus is respected.
The question is:
Who is Jesus according to Scripture?
If Jesus is merely a created being, He cannot fully reveal God.
If Jesus is only a human prophet, He cannot bear the sins of the world in the way the New Testament proclaims.
The Bible teaches that Jesus is fully God and fully man.
Only because He is both can He perfectly represent God to humanity and humanity before God.
The identity of Christ is at the very heart of the gospel.
Respond with humility.
Remember that many members of these groups sincerely desire to obey God.
Respond with patience.
Do not expect one conversation to answer every question.
Respond with Scripture.
Instead of relying on arguments alone, encourage people to read the Bible carefully in context.
Respond with prayer.
Only the Holy Spirit opens hearts to the truth.
Respond with love.
Never mock another person's beliefs.
Instead, reflect the character of Christ while speaking honestly about biblical doctrine.
Historic Christianity teaches that there is one eternal God who exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jehovah's Witnesses, Iglesia ni Cristo, and the LDS Church each reject or redefine the historic doctrine of the Trinity in different ways.
Historic Christianity teaches that Jesus is fully God and fully man.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus is a created being.
Iglesia ni Cristo teaches that Jesus is fully human and not God.
The LDS Church affirms Jesus as divine but understands His relationship to the Father differently from historic Christian teaching.
Historic Christianity teaches that salvation is grounded in God's grace through faith in Christ.
Each of these movements includes additional teachings or structures that differ from the historic Christian understanding of salvation and the church.
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus consistently revealed His unique identity.
He forgave sins.
He accepted worship.
He calmed the sea.
He raised the dead.
He declared Himself the Good Shepherd.
He called Himself the Resurrection and the Life.
Most importantly, He died on the cross and rose bodily from the dead.
The Christian faith does not rest merely on the teachings of Jesus.
It rests on the person of Jesus.
Knowing Him truly is the foundation of eternal life.
First, know your Bible well.
The best preparation for recognizing doctrinal error is not becoming an expert on every false teaching but becoming deeply familiar with God's Word. Study Scripture regularly so that truth shapes your thinking.
Second, speak the truth with grace.
When discussing differences in belief, avoid ridicule or hostility. Remember that every person is made in God's image and deserves respect. Let your words reflect both conviction and Christlike love.
Third, keep the gospel central.
Many discussions can become focused on secondary issues. Return often to the central message of Christianity: who Jesus is, what He accomplished through His death and resurrection, and the invitation to receive salvation by God's grace through faith in Him.
Galatians 1:8
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse!"
In Lesson 9, we will study New Age Spirituality and the Occult. We will examine topics such as astrology, crystals, manifestation, tarot cards, spirit guides, channeling, witchcraft, and modern spiritual practices, comparing them carefully with the teachings of Scripture and learning how Christians can respond with wisdom, discernment, and love.