43-How to Identify a Cult - NIV

1. Jesus Warned Us of False Teachers and Prophets.
Matthew 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and _miracles_ to deceive even the elect--if that were _possible_.

2. Truth in and Through Jesus Sets Us Free.
John 8:32 Then you will _know_ the truth, and the truth will _set_ 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 put your trust in _princes_, in mortal men, who _cannot_ save.

4. Jesus Is the Sole Source of Our Salvation.
Isaiah 45:22 "Turn to me and be saved, all you 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 They _worship_ me in vain; their _teachings_ are but rules taught by men.'

6. Identifying Feature #3 - Each Cult Uses Pressure Tactics to Coerce Its Members into Submission.
Joshua 24:15 But if serving the LORD seems _undesirable_ to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, _whether_ the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my _household_, we will serve the LORD."

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is _thirsty_, let him come; and whoever _wishes_, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

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 gift of God is _eternal_ life in _Christ_ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been _saved_, through faith--and this not from _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 if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. [14] For the un_believing_ husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the un_believing_ wife has been sanctified through her _believing_ husband. _Otherwise_ your _children_ would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

Ephesians 5:22-23 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the _church_, his body, of which he is the _Savior_.

9. Many Will Be Deceived Because They Did Not Receive the Truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 And in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. [11] For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie [12] and so that all will be _condemned_ who have not believed the truth but have _delighted_ 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 _answered_, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father _except_ through me.

11. Our Only Safety Is to Walk in the Light of His Word As He Reveals It.
John 12:35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, _before_ darkness _overtakes_ you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.

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

Next Bible Study: 44-Why So Many Denominations

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