"Christians" - Are there "doctrinal errors" that one can "believe in", "preach, and practice...

Question

... that can keep one from recieving the gift of heaven?

Lately I've been hearing a lot of talk of "doctrinal errors".

What are some of these "doctrinal errors"?

Examples? (I'm interested in answers from the Word of God.)

What types of things should one look out for pertaining to errors being taught concerning the Truth?

Thanks Ryan. But I really interested in some answers on this.

Some VERY interesting and helpful material from many. Tnank you!

Answer 1

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

If you see people claiming to have a "special anointing from God", you are seeing false Christs...false prophets are everywhere, and even "shewing great signs and wonders" via the television screen, that is deceiving millions...
I'd say, given that Jesus warned us that these things would come to pass, and we see that they are, indeed, happening, my own advice would be to turn around and run from these false Christs and false prophets, jsut as fast as your legs can carry you, in spite of their "great signs and wonders"...
Beware when you see men and women lining up at an altar to be "slain in the spirit"...
Know that "slain" means "killed", and it isn't a nice thing to have happen to one's spirit. Being spiritually dead might explain why so many of these people get uptight and downright nasty when anyone asks about thier beliefs.
Some very nice people have gotten caught up in the "charismatic movement"...some of them are not so very nice any more, which is not surprising.
Please, don't let it happen to you.

Answer 2

The only doctrinal errors that creep into Christianity are those that are added by "traditions" or deliberate design. Consider the Catholics praying Saints and the Virgin Mary. Really there is nothing in the bible that supports this. Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. NO MAN comes unto the father except BY ME." So why spend time praying to anyone else?

There are more, many more. Consider the people who claim haviing multiple wives is biblical. True many of the old patriarchs had lots of wives. But that ALWAYS lead to trouble. Even for David, even for King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. Moses was the only smart one. He had three wives but only one at a time.

The way to avoid doctrinal errors is to read the book yourself. Let the living Word of the Living God guide you and you'll avoid the pitfalls.

Answer 3

That is a good question. The only way to cover (be aware) of all doctrinal errors that come your way is to be astute in the scriptures. You learn to recognize false teachings by comparing them to the truth. So, read, study, memorize the scriptures regularly and you'll be all right. You may not know exactly what is wrong with what you heard, but a red flag will go up inside your spirit and you can search the scriptures for the truth. Why else do you think God wants you to learn the scriptures and hide them in your heart? It's not just to direct your life, but protect you from the evil one who twists the Word to say what he wants.

Answer 4

Absolutely.
I do not believe you can be saved without accepting the doctrine of the divinity of Jesus.
Without accepting this, the moral transforming power of the Gospel is lost.
If God just sent another "fall guy" to die for the sins of the world, then it really communicates nothing of His essential love and goodness.
When one believes, with the heart, that the Creator of the universe died on a cross for their sins, what but a wicked rebellious heart could prevent them from coming to a trusting surrender to God?

Answer 5

Everyone who is born again by the Holy Spirit will be saved.

Ephesians 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

People like to come up with all kinds of man made doctrines based upon selected portions of the Bible to claim that one sect of Christianity can't save people. A common one is Protestants who claim that a Catholic can't be saved because they don't trust in Christ alone for their salvation but in Christ plus works. Then there is the claim that if a person doesn't have the right doctrine about the person of Jesus Christ they cannot be saved because they don't trust in "the Jesus of the Bible".

While correct doctrine is important when it comes to salvation it is God who chooses whom He is going to save and there is no theology exam given at the gates of Heaven. Evangelists try to put salvation in a box saying that a person has to be convicted of sin or believe that Jesus died for their sins, rose on the third day and now lives forever. Those are important, but what did Jesus say about the work of the Holy Spirit?

John 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

If you interviewed 100 people who show evidence of having been born again and asked them what they felt and knew at the time of their conversion you would get 100 different answers. If you want to know about doctrinal errors they are as common as weeds in an untended garden. Look on the Free Stuff page @ http://web.express56.com/~bromar/ and you can find many links to learn correct doctrine from. Then after you have looked at 3 or 4 of them you will see that many people have differing views, all based up the Scriptures, regarding different aspects of what the Bible teaches on non-essentials of the faith. Hence the disclaimer at the top of the Free Stuff page.

Answer 6

Well, some of the so-called televangelists -- and in particular Benny Hinn -- preach that there are actually NINE persons in the Trinity. The Father, Son and Hoky Spirit each is its own Trinity. "He believes that the Biblical Adam flew into outer space, that when God parted the Red Sea He made it into a wall of ice..."

Answer 7

Some doctrinal errors floating around in different denominations are:
1. everyone goes to heaven
2. all religions are the same
3. God loves you, He will not send you to hell
4. if you get baptized you go to heaven
5. the Bible is full of errors
6. all you have to do is ask God to forgive you
7. if you are a good person you will go to heaven
8. if you do good works you go to heaven

Answer 8

Stick to the Nicene Creed and any preaching that deviates from that is not Christian,biblical or apostolic. Meditate on the First Chapter of the Gospel of John.

Answer 9

It really revolves around, "What must I do to be saved?"

Anything other than believing in the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, is a doctrinal error.

1 Cor. 15:1-4
I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

Romans 10:9
...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Titus 3:5
...not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us...

Ac 16:30-31
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...”
_____________________

Items to look out for...

1.) They will say they are the "only way" when Jesus said clearly HE is the only way. Just because they use the name of Jesus, doesn't give them the authority of Jesus.

2.) They will say their "custom" Bible is the only accurate translation, such as Jehovah Witnesses. (Can be proven a corrupt translation with simple Strong's Concordance)

3.) They will promote another book instead of or in tandem to the Bible. Mormonism is a good example here.

4.) Mediation to God will include something or someone other than Jesus. This could include saints, priests, Mary, the Law, the church itself, an angel or prophet.

A good rule of thumb is how they handle the deity of Christ. If they say that Jesus is not God come in the flesh, that is extreme doctrinal error.

That is the pivotal point of all doctrinal error.

Answer 10

The first thing you should not believe is the preacher. Second the Bible is a history book. The words that Jesus spoke rang a long time because Matthew, Mark, Luke werent even a live when Jesus suppose spoke those words. the Bible was written 400 years after Jesus died. Who knows what he said.