I. Something less than or different from the truth
A. Idolatry in the Old Testament (Exodus 20:3-6; 32; Judges 2:7-13, 16-19; 1 Kings 11:4-8; 12:25-33; 14:23)
B. Idolatry in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 10:14; Galatians 5:19-21; Colossians 3:5; 1 Peter 4:3)
C. 21st century counterfeits (Galatians 1:6-7)
II. Counterfeit teachers
A. Jesus’ warning (Matthew 7:15-23)
B. Warnings from Peter and Paul (2 Peter 2:1-3; Acts 20:29-30)
III. How do we guard against counterfeits?
A. Individual responsibility (2 Timothy 2:15; Philippians 2:12)
B. Congregational responsibility (Revelation 2:2, 6, 14-16; Titus 1:10-11)
C. Counterfeits have always been and will always be unacceptable (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1)
A. Is “the doctrine of Christ” exclusively “the doctrine about Christ”? No!
B. Is “the doctrine of Christ” all that was taught by Christ? Yes! (John 12:48)
II. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “TRANSGRESS”? (2 John 9)
A. “Goes on ahead” (ESV); “goes too far” (NASB); “runs ahead” (NIV); “so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ” (The Message)
B. Progressiveness is harmful to the church when it rejects, ignores, or contradicts revealed truth (Colossians 3:17; Matthew 28:19-20)
C. We need dedicated, active, soul-seeking disciples to fill this house (Romans 12:1-2; 2 John 8)
III. WE MUST BE VIGILANT AGAINST ERROR (2 John 10-11)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
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