What is the prosperity gospel and why is it dangerous?
The prosperity message promises health and wealth now if you have enough faith or give enough money. It trades the cross for comfort and treats God as a means to our desires. This teaching reduces God to a genie who grants your every wish and promises you success in all that your do. Scripture warns that some will accumulate teachers who tell them what they want to hear. These teachers preach a gospel that is easy to live with and requires no cross to bear. When we read scripture we find that Christ calls us to deny ourselves, trust His wise providence, and treasure Him above all. The true gospel gives eternal life, not guaranteed luxury. See 1 Timothy 6:9–10; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; Luke 9:23.
Is universalism biblical?
No. Universalism says that God loves everyone so much that all will be saved and go to heaven in the end. Jesus spoke plainly of eternal life and eternal punishment. He painted a picture of two paths – a wide and easy path leading to eternal destruction and a narrow one leading to salvation. He told us that few would chose the narrow path. Those who reject the Son remain under God’s wrath. Salvation is offered to all but it is only truly received by those few who repent and believe. God’s mercy is wide and real, but it does not cancel His justice. See John 3:36; Matthew 7:13-14; 25:46; Revelation 20:15. Read the article “Hell is a Real and Terrible Place” to further explore this subject.
How do we test prophets and teachers?
This is a serious question that goes back to the earliest Churches. Paul cautioned against false teachers in almost all of his epistles. In the years that followed the church codified solid doctrine in creeds. There are several going all the way back to the first century, but one of the most comprehensive is the Nicene Creed of 325. This creed encapsulates the teachings of the New Testament in a few succinct paragraphs and can be used to test the message of prophets and teachers against. Of course the authority is Scripture itself. As with the Bereans in Acts 17 – we must test the teachings we receive against God’s word. If their words contradict the Bible or pull hearts from the Lord, reject them. See Deuteronomy 13:1–5; Matthew 7:15–20; 1 John 4:1–3; Acts 17:11.
What are legalism and license, and how do we avoid both?
Legalism adds human rules to the gospel or uses obedience to earn favor with God. License twists grace into permission to sin freely. Both deny the power and purpose of Christ’s work. The gospel frees us from trying to earn salvation, and it trains us to say no to sin and yes to godliness. We stand firm in freedom, walk by the Spirit, and keep in step with Scripture. See Galatians 5:1, 13; Titus 2:11–12; Galatians 5:16.