43-How to Identify a Cult - NKJ

1. Jesus Warned Us of False Teachers and Prophets.
Matthew 24:24 For false christs and false _prophets_ will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if _possible_, even the elect.

2. Truth in and Through Jesus Sets Us Free.
John 8:32 And you shall _know_ the truth, and the truth shall _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 put your trust in _princes_, Nor in a son of man, in whom _there_ is no help.

4. Jesus Is the Sole Source of Our Salvation.
Isaiah 45:22 "Look 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 And in vain they worship Me, _Teaching_ as _doctrines_ the commandments of men.'

6. Identifying Feature #3 - Each Cult Uses Pressure Tactics to Coerce Its Members into Submission.
Joshua 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, _whether_ the gods which your _fathers_ served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the _Amorites_, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. _Whoever_ _desires_, let him take the water of life freely.

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 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 a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. [14] For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; _otherwise_ your _children_ would be _unclean_, but now they are holy.

Ephesians 5:22-23 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the _church_; and He is 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 _unrighteous_ deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [11] And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, [12] that they all may be _condemned_ who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in _unrighteous_ness.

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, 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 said to them, "A little while _longer_ the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness _overtake_ you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.

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

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