43-How to Identify a Cult - NAS

1. Jesus Warned Us of False Teachers and Prophets.
Matthew 24:24 "For false Christs and false _prophets_ will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if _possible_, even the elect.

2. Truth in and Through Jesus Sets Us Free.
John 8:32 And you will _know_ the truth, and the truth will _make_ you free."

3. Identifying Feature #1 - Cults Usually Have One Powerful Person Who Becomes the Cult's Leader and Even Source of Salvation.
Psalms 146:3 Do not trust in _princes_, In mortal man, in whom there is no _salvation_.

4. Jesus Is the Sole Source of Our Salvation.
Isaiah 45:22 "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and _there_ is no _other_.

5. Identifying Feature #2 - a Cult Leader's Teachings Become Absolute Truth.
Mark 7:7 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, _TEACHING_ AS DOCTRINES THE _PRECEPTS_ OF MEN.'

6. Identifying Feature #3 - Each Cult Uses Pressure Tactics to Coerce Its Members into Submission.
Joshua 24:15 "If it is _disagreeable_ in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for _yourselves_ today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your _fathers_ served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is _thirsty_ come; let the one who _wishes_ take the water of life without cost.

7. Identifying Feature #4 - Each Cult Denies the Central Truth of the Gospel That Jesus Is the Divine Son of God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is _eternal_ life in _Christ_ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through _faith_; and that not of _yourselves_, it is the gift of God;

8. Identifying Feature #5 - Cults Often Urge Their "Converts" to Leave Their Families.
1 Corinthians 7:13-14 And a woman who has an un_believing_ husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. [14] For the un_believing_ husband is sanctified through his wife, and the un_believing_ wife is sanctified through her _believing_ husband; for _otherwise_ your _children_ are unclean, but now they are holy.

Ephesians 5:22-23 Wives, be _subject_ to your own husbands, as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He _Himself_ being the Savior of the body.

9. Many Will Be Deceived Because They Did Not Receive the Truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 And with all the _deception_ of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not _receive_ the love of the truth so as to be saved. [11] For this reason God will send upon them a _deluding_ influence so that they will believe what is false, [12] in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took _pleasure_ in wickedness.

10. Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Discovering Jesus Results in Discovering His Way of Life.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one _comes_ to the _Father_ but through Me.

11. Our Only Safety Is to Walk in the Light of His Word As He Reveals It.
John 12:35 So Jesus said to them, "For a little while _longer_ the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not _overtake_ you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.

Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a _light_ to my _path_.

Next Bible Study: 44-Why So Many Denominations

c:\a-\bibsty\_redo_st\updatefi\k_43_na.htm