Counterfeit gospels are not always obvious distortions—they are often produced by removing something vital from the message or adding something destructive to it. These counterfeits have multiplied in our time. While groups like Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons are easily recognized as false by even new believers, Paul’s warnings were not limited to such blatant errors. He spoke of “ministers” and “messages” that come dangerously close to the truth, so close that even genuine believers may be deceived for a time.
We are called to guard against the obvious counterfeits, but we must be even more vigilant against those messages that are 90% true and only 10% error. Paul’s warning is clear: “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” I have witnessed firsthand how a small error, tolerated on the periphery, can eventually become central—forced upon the congregation and used as the measuring stick for who is “in” or “out.” This is not a minor issue. When the spirit of error is allowed to operate, what begins as a subtle deviation soon corrupts the entire fellowship. The most dangerous cult is not always outside the church; it is often a congregation where the teaching appears biblical, yet the gospel is omitted or distorted in the most subtle ways.
Do not be deceived into thinking error is merely an intellectual problem. Deception is not the result of insufficient academic understanding. The true origin of error is the enemy’s sowing of bad seed—counterfeit gospels and tares—among the wheat. Satan’s strategy is to use these counterfeits to stumble, offend, paralyze, and persecute genuine believers, ultimately silencing the truth of God’s word. If he can keep believers ensnared in confusion, the work of God is hindered and the voice of the gospel is muted.
This is why it is essential to pursue a thorough grounding in the gospel and the truth. We are commanded to put on the whole armor of God, not as a suggestion, but as a necessity. Paul urges us to come into the “full assurance of understanding” concerning the truth of the gospel. Because counterfeits are subtle, we cannot trust our own opinions or traditions. We must diligently compare every teaching with Scripture and willingly submit our understanding to the authority of the Word. Anything less leaves us exposed.
Paul reminds us of the nature of our warfare:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
These are not empty words. God has provided spiritual weapons—His Word, His armor, and the discernment of the Spirit—to demolish strongholds and protect us from deception. Discernment is not optional; it is a safeguard, a means of building a solid foundation for our salvation. Without it, the entire structure is at risk.
We must continually examine what we believe and what we embrace, ensuring we remain on the path of salvation. This requires honesty before the Lord and a conscience kept clear—no unresolved issues, no hidden sin. Deception is a matter of the heart. When we embrace error, it is often because something within us is drawn to it. In my own experience, the Lord has graciously untangled theological snares I once accepted, but He also required me to acknowledge and repent of the heart inclinations that led me there.
If we accept the error—if we allow even a little leaven to remain—we lose more than doctrinal purity. We forfeit our assurance, our inheritance, and our sonship. The finished work of Christ is eclipsed by human additions or omissions, and the foundation of our justification is undermined. The result is paralysis, confusion, and the silencing of the gospel’s power in our lives and communities.
Therefore, let us be relentless in testing everything against the Word. Let us keep our hearts honest before God, practicing ongoing repentance and dependence on Christ alone. As we do, the Lord Himself will deliver us from deception, restore us to the truth, and establish us on a foundation that cannot be shaken. This is not a secondary matter. It is salvific. The integrity of the gospel and the reality of our inheritance depend on it.
