False Leaders (long article, but worth the read)

FOCUSING ON LEGALISM AND WORKS INSTEAD OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SAVIOR

Matthew 7:21-23 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Knew is ginosko in Greek, meaning 1) to learn to know, to come to know, to get a knowledge by perception, to feel, to become known 2) to know, to understand, to perceive, to have knowledge of 3) a Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman (compare Gen. 4:1).

Iniquity is anomia in Greek, meaning illegality, violation of law, or wickedness.

They preach the gospel Sunday morning, commit adultery in the afternoon, and perform miracles that night. "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Rom. 11:29)." Christians need to stop being duped by charisma and charismata, and scrutinize a leader's character. How a leader treats spouse and children speaks volumes about character.

Galatians 5:4-10 "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be."

Truth is aletheia in Greek, meaning reality, fact, the truth as taught in the Christian faith, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike the superstitions of the Gentiles (non-Jews) and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians.

Christians are to be characterized by faith motivated by love and obedience to the truth; not a list of commands, but a Person who has expressed Himself truly (John 14:6). The ten commandments are preceded by "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage (Exodus 20:2)," and many of the Hebrews rightly obeyed their Deliverer. When God declared Himself One, He commanded the Hebrews to love Him with their whole being (Deut. 6:4-5), and Jesus added "love thy neighbor as thyself" (Mark 12:28-31). In the upper room discourse, our Deliverer from the bondage of sin gave many commands; the primary one being to love one another (John 13:34), and it is capped by His prayer regarding His oneness with the Father and believers (John 17).