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Therefore, the Lord says you must die. Your life will end this very year because you have rebelled against the Lord. —Jeremiah 28:16
These sobering words were delivered to a false prophet named Hananiah, who had prophesied that the Jewish people would be restored from Babylon within two years. This prophecy contradicted Jeremiah’s clear teaching that they would be captives in Babylon for seventy years, not two. Satan has always had his prophets who look right and sound right. They are like Hymenaeus and Alexander, who shipwrecked their own faith by teaching that the resurrection was past (1 Timothy 1:19-20). False doctrine works its way into churches as well as into individuals. It misleads and steers away from faith and a good conscience. All true teaching will produce “love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and sincere faith” (v. 5). Judge all teaching. The teaching may look good and sound right, but does it lead to godly actions? Does it lead people away from “talking foolishness” (v. 6) and cause them to focus on saving sinners? Keep your doctrinal ship steered down the center of the channel. Beware of the shorelines, no matter how appealing. The rocks of destruction lurk just beneath the surface!
Suggested Reading:
Jeremiah 28:1-29:32
1 Timothy 1:1-20
Psalm 86:1-17
Proverbs 25:17