Oppose Those Who Oppose the Truth | 2 John 7-9

The Deception of False Teachers and the Need for Discernment

Let's turn back over in our Bibles to 2nd John, 2nd John, and today we're going to focus on verses 7 -9, not so much on verse 8 today, but the rest of them. 1st John 7 -9, God's Word says,. For many deceivers have gone out into the world.

Those who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, this is the deceiver and the antichrist. See to yourselves that you do not lose what we accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.

Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting, for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

This is God's Word. Amen. So, this is a very important letter, as we've seen, and this passage is continuing on much of what the Apostle began discussing in verse 7, which we dealt with the previous Lord's Day.

And this leads me to a very important public service announcement to begin with, and that is that deception is easy. Deception is easy, but discernment is not. Discernment is not so easy. Deception is easy, but discernment is not so easy.

In other words, it is far easier to be deceived than to discern. It is far easier to be deceived than to discern the truth, oftentimes. And it's just like Hebrews 5 says, verse 13, because everyone who lives on milk and not solid food is unskilled, unfamiliar with, untrained, ignorant in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

He's an infant, a babe, right? But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice, constant daily practice, to distinguish good from evil, or right from wrong, truth from error.

Amen? That's the key to a lot of this. And so, again, deception is easy, discernment is not so easy. That takes constant practice, constant practice, by exercising our powers of discernment daily and applying scripture to what we see and hear and learn.

Now, we also want to remember that biblical preaching, biblical preaching is defined not merely by teaching and applying sound doctrine. It is that, but it's not just that. It also requires, it requires warning against false teaching and teachers, right?

It also includes naming names, just like the prophets of old and the New Testament did and does. So, and refuting, so arguing against and refuting heresy and heretics and those who contradict sound doctrine in detail, in depth, thoroughly, and not just thoroughly, but regularly and frequently, right?

That's the pattern of the New Testament in the apostolic ministry, and what the New Testament itself directs elders and pastors who teach to do. They must be silenced. They must be silenced. That's what God's Word says.

They must be silenced by opposing their error and exposing their error. So, this is very important. Often neglected, but very important biblically. Now, this brings me to another very critical public service announcement, and that is that when you study the deceivers and antichrists in scripture, you will find that it reveals the destructive, pervasive, temporal, and eternal consequences of false teaching.

False teaching is extremely destructive and pervasive and has both temporal and eternal consequences. As you see from John's writings, the New Testament writings, all throughout. And the antichrist errors that the Apostle John is warning against in his letters, they manifest themselves in various different ways, right?

There's many different ways in which we see it manifest, and that is there's three basic categories. There's doctrinal, moral, and spiritual. There's more. It goes on, but those are the three basic ones.

Doctrinal, moral, and spiritual. Now, doctrinally, the antichrist deceivers denied the doctrines of Jesus as the Christ and Son of God. And they further denied that Jesus came in the flesh, the incarnation, which resembles early Gnostic thought, right?

This is basically Gnosticism, a form of it. And they also taught that salvation came solely from the Divine Son's entry into the world, rendering Jesus' historical activity, and especially his sacrificial death, spiritually insignificant and unnecessary.

Not only that, but not true. They deny it. They deny it because they reject the incarnation. Christ can't be crucified unless he is incarnated as a man. You can't crucify a ghost or a spirit. So, they agreed, as well, with the heresy of docetism, right?

Docale, which is that Christ only appeared to be a man, and thus denied, further, Jesus' entire humanity as a whole. They totally denied it. So, in some ways, that's worse than even other heresies who say, well, he was partially a man or a hybrid or something.

These guys totally denied Jesus' humanity, his genuine human nature and experiences on Earth. And since then, he is still the God-man, right? Christ does not cease to be the divine God-man, divine human God-man, truly God, truly man, like the creeds say.

Now, morally, these false teachers and deceivers claimed communion with God and to have a knowledge of him while walking in darkness at the same time and disregarding God's commandments, disobeying them, while refusing to acknowledge their own sinfulness, right?

They were hypocrites, like it says in 1 John. He who says he has no sin is a liar. The truth is not in him. This hypocrisy likely stemmed from their false doctrine and their false Christology, right? Because all of this is related.

The Bible is a system of doctrine, and it's all related. You deny one thing, especially an important thing, it's going to affect many other areas of your understanding of the Bible and the doctrines of the Bible.

So they denied the salvific importance of what God's Son accomplished in the flesh and likewise rejected the moral significance of their own thoughts, words, and actions in their physical nature. It's not inconsequential or unrelated, the fact that they deny that Jesus was a man and that they downplayed their own sin or denied their own sin in their flesh, in their physical nature.

And lastly, but not the only thing, spiritually, these apostate leaders and defectors from the true church, the apostolic church, claim to be spirit-led teachers and prophets. That's what they claim.

That's what they claim. Yet John warns against accepting their authority. And he says to distinguish, to discern between a spirit of deceit animating the antichrist and the spirit of truth guiding authentic believers.

Like he says in 1 John 4 and here as well, right? In verse 7 and on. In 2 John. Believers are commanded to test spiritual claims by examining whether the teaching reflects Christ's true doctrine and law.

Both. His doctrine and his law. The law of Christ, right? The law of God. Same thing. His love and his divine benefits including the spiritual anointing of God that gives us truth and understanding. A right understanding of Jesus' teachings.

And a genuine born-again peripateo. One of the apostles, John's favorite words, right? Lifestyle. Walk. Peripateo. Of sanctification. Right? Of sanctification. Of growth in holiness and obedience. And mortifying our flesh in our sin as well.

And repenting of it. So I want to read again the passage in 2 John. In verses 7 through 11 again. Now, this is what the apostle speaks to us. For many, remember, many deceivers have gone out into the world.

Those who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. See to yourselves. Be sober. Watchful. Vigilant. Discerning. Discerning. That you do not lose what we accomplished.

But that you may receive a full reward. And like I mentioned, I'll come back to verse 8 later on. I think probably in the next Lord's Day. Anyone who goes too far. Take note of that. Look at what he says in verse 9.

Anyone who goes too far. Too far. There's a range. A limit. There's a boundary or a line that cannot be breached or crossed. Anyone who goes too far. And does not abide in the teaching of Christ. Does not have God.

At all. If you cross that line. The one who abides in the teaching. That is the teaching of Christ. Of God. And of Christ the God-man. He has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching of Christ.

Do not receive him into your house. Do not receive him into your house. Or church. Metaphorically speaking. And do not give him a greeting. For the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

So this is very. Again this is an extremely. Important passage that's full of things that we need to. Digest and understand. One thing to consider. That we've dealt with many times before is that. In our day there are far too many.

Antichrist to count. There are. A multiplied. Heresy. Endless different varieties of. Heresies and false teachings. And antichrist. They have multiplied. It is an endless morass of confusion. And denials of primary doctrines of the faith.

Once for it all delivered to the saints. Like Jude says. One such example of this. Is a book. And now a movie called the shack. You know and I've. Drawn attention to this before but this book is. An absolute abomination.

It portrays God the father as an obese black woman. And the Holy Spirit as some Chinese woman. And it is. A horrendous concoction of blasphemous heresies and false teachings. That. It's like. It's not really something that we've seen in history.

Nothing is new. But this is just a really despicable concoction of false teaching. And it's also universalistic. There's all kinds of. Heresies. Just in that one book. It's hard to count them all. And you have churches celebrating this stuff.

Promoting it. It's an utter shame. But. This brings us to another important question. That we need to remind ourselves of. And that is. To define the key terms right. What what exactly is. False this false what is false teaching.

That contradicts or denies the teaching of Christ. What is heresy. Right this is all these are all very. Important questions that we need to understand. Because that's the difference between eternal life and death.

In many respects. And. Generally speaking. Generally speaking. False teaching and heresy. Denies. It denies. It contradicts. It goes against. Or it undermines. Primary doctrines of scripture. Right primary doctrines of scripture.

Now obviously there's a follow-up question there. What are the primary doctrines. Or teachings of scripture. There are many. But the the. Usually and the main ones. Tend to be four of them. They tend to be four of them.

They tend to be the doctrine of God. By extension the doctrine of Christ. Right that Christ is both the God man. The doctrine of man. Secondly. So the doctrine of man. There are many heresies about. That teach that man is perfectible.

Or that man doesn't need. Christ to forgive his sins he can. He can work his own way towards salvation and things like that. There's a doctrine of salvation. Also. Right so God man. And then salvation how do we get.

Right with God how are we made just or right with God. Many false views of salvation. As you as we all should know. Right they're everywhere. And many of them. Claim to be of Christ. Many of them. Roman Catholicism.

Mormonism Jehovah's Witnesses. Eastern Orthodoxy they're everywhere. And they are some of them are massively. Popular. Right. Some of them are imploding but. They're still out there. Now and also. Lastly but not least.

Is the doctrine of God's word. The doctrine of God's word. And of scripture. Right because. One of the first things you tend to see. When people are doctrinally compromised. They tend to deny scripture.

Or that God wrote. Or inspired or not inspired. But rather breathed out. They help Nelson's breathe out scripture. Right. And so when you start denying. That scripture is God's breath. You start denying anything goes.

You start denying all kinds of stuff. And that's what the liberals do. They start denying. Cardinal doctrines. Salvation. The incarnation. All kinds of stuff. It is antichrist. So that is. And that is why.

The early church. And many of the early creeds. Were formulated to refute. False teachings and heresies. Of the trinity. Of God and of Christ. Like docetism. Which was also addressed. In the council of calcedon.

451. Right so. This is. The early church recognized. A lot of these primary issues. And they sought to deal with them. And. Refute the heretics. So. There is a caveat. Here though. There is a however that we need to.

Reconcile as well. In order to be biblically. Comprehensive and responsible. Because. We need to make a careful distinction. As well. Because there is a difference. Between. An intentional. Or willful.

Rejection. Of one of these doctrines. And between. Not believing something. Due to ignorance. Or inconsistency. Or a lack of understanding. There is a difference. Biblically there. And let's turn to. Let's turn to.

Intentional Heresy, Ignorance, and Repentance

The letter of 1st Timothy. In chapter 1. To see this distinction. Being illustrated by the apostle Paul. To his. His trainee. His pastoral trainee. Timothy. 1st Timothy chapter 1 verse 12. 1st Timothy chapter 1 verse 12.

Here we find. A very important passage. That is. Very relevant to all of this. The apostles. Writing. God breathed words. Saying. I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord. Who has strengthened me. Because he regarded me faithful.

Putting me into service. Even though. Listen to this. Formally I was a blasphemer. And a persecutor. And a violent aggressor. A blasphemer. Yet. I was shown mercy. Because I acted what? I acted. Ignorantly.

In unbelief. Very important distinction there. And the grace of our Lord Jesus. Was more than abundant. With the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy saying. And deserving of full acceptance.

That Christ Jesus came into the world. To save sinners. Among whom I am. Foremost. Yet for this reason. I was shown mercy. Notice he says that before and after. I was shown mercy. God's mercy. So that in me as the foremost.

Christ Jesus might demonstrate. All his patience. As an example for those who are going to believe. Upon him for eternal life. Amen. I was shown mercy. Because I acted. Ignorantly. In unbelief. That's a key distinction.

Beloved. And it's one that we have to reconcile. And not lose our balance with. There is a difference. Between somebody who is adamantly. Rejecting a doctrine. Especially a primary doctrine. And somebody who is sitting.

In church. Maybe confused. Maybe confused because they were. They grew up in a false teaching. And they haven't fully. Sanctified their minds yet to understand. The right doctrine yet. There's a difference there.

Even though Paul adamantly. Opposed the church. Yet he still acted. Ignorantly in unbelief. That's something that we have to keep in mind. And that also helps us to see. That even though people will persecute us.

And attack us. We have to look past the surface. And recognize. Look a lot of times these folks. Just might be acting out of. Ignorant unbelief. And we need to pray for them. Evangelize them. And seek their salvation.

As God's vessels of mercy. To them. Amen. So even though. That's not to say that ignorance. Is not a problem. Ignorance is not an excuse either. It's something that still needs. To be dealt with. Because ignorance of God's truth.

Must still be dealt with. Especially. Neglectful or willful. Willful ignorance. Now that's sin. That's more clearly sin now. If it's neglectful. Or willful ignorance. Or refusing to learn. Much like we saw.

What I warned us about earlier. With pietism. Or mysticism. Or a lot of these schools of thought. These Christian quote unquote movements. That claim that we don't really need knowledge. So much as we need experiences.

And things that are not doctrine. So. As if you could have love. Without truth. Right. And. What is. Because. God's word is adamantly clear about this. My people are destroyed. Perish. For what? A lack of knowledge.

That's a memory verse. We should internalize. Because you have rejected knowledge. So that's a willful rejection. Right. You have rejected knowledge. I also will reject you. From ministering as my priest.

Since you have forgotten. The law. Of your God. They forgot it by. Neglecting it. Right. Disregarding and disobeying it. Through neglect. I myself also will forget. Your children. If you can't say amen.

You ought to say ouch. Hosea 4. 6. So. Believers. Who are ignorant. Must be willing to be corrected. We have to seek. To correct our. Misunderstandings or false understandings. Especially of primary doctrines.

And seek constantly. To grow in. Our understanding and application. Of God's word. Especially of primary doctrines. All of God's word. But especially primary doctrines. Much of which are. Very. Adequately.

Biblically and faithfully. Summarized in our reform standards. The confessions. The catechisms. That's why we use them. And recommend them to you all. To read so that you can internalize. And understand.

The most important doctrines of scripture. And study them. Right? So. In that sense. There is no excuse. But it still happens. We still need to be. We are all wrong about something. But we need to seek to learn and to grow.

Because there is such a thing. There is such a thing. As immature believers. Especially in. Shallow churches. Inconsistent believers. Ignorant believers. They may. They may very well still be believers.

But they are. Immature. Ignorant. Or inconsistent. And yet they are repeatedly. Rebuked. Chastised. And castigated by God. And by God's word. And by God's people. And God commands us to rebuke. The ignorant.

So that they may learn. And teach them. This is what 2 John. Also recognizes in verse 9. Right? Notice when I said that. 2 John verse 9. There is an acknowledgement here. Of that. Of this situation as well.

If we go back to 2 John verse 9. We see. What God's word says. Anyone. Anyone. Who goes too far. Who goes too far. So notice there. There is a certain amount. Of error. That is tolerated. But when you go too far.

And you stray too far. From the range. Or the limit. Or the boundary. Or the line that cannot be crossed. Now you're into. Now you're into. Problems. More serious problems. And does not. Abide in the teaching of Christ.

Does not have God. At all. If you cross that line. Of primary doctrinal. Rejection. And you do not abide. In this doctrine of Christ. As an example. There are others. But this is one example. You do not have God.

At all. And the apostle deals with many of these other. False teachings. And just like when he said in 1 John 1. If you say you have no sin. You're a liar. And God's truth is not in you. That is a false doctrine of man.

Right. You can't be a hypocrite. Saying that you are of God. And then you walk in darkness. If your peripateo. Your walk. Does not agree with your. The doctrine that you profess. You're a hypocrite. And you do not have God either.

So not all error. Is damnable heresy. But all error. Should and must be corrected. Right. Not all error. Is damnable heresy. That will damn you to hell. But. Nevertheless. All error. Should and must be corrected.

Should and must be corrected. As best as we can. That's why we seek the means of grace. And we seek a faithful church. That will teach us these things. And correct us when we err. And we seek to grow in the grace.

And knowledge of our Lord and Savior. Like scripture repeatedly says. Genuine believers. However still sin. Right. And can and do. And still will be. Subject to error and sin. Whether doctrinal. Or behavioral.

To varying degrees. To varying degrees of maturity. Or immaturity. Right. They may well still be believers. But there are struggles there. Of levels of maturity. And sin and error. Levels of intensity.

But there is a. There's a remedy for all of that. Right. There's always a remedy. And one of the precious remedies. Against these errors. And sin. Is repentance. That's what repentance is for. In part.

That is what repentance is for. That is why repentance. According to scripture. And God. Is a gift of God's grace. Right. Repentance is a gift. Of God's grace. And the Lord's slave. Pastor. Must not be quarrelsome.

But be kind to all. Able to teach. Patient when wronged. With gentleness correcting. Those who are in opposition. If perhaps. God may give them. Grant them. Repentance. Right. If perhaps God may give them.

Repentance. Leading to the full knowledge of the truth. So repentance. Leads to a full knowledge. Of the truth. When we repent. Of our errors. And they may come to their senses. And escape from the snare of the devil.

Having been helped. Captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2. 24 -26. Amen. That is the blessing of repentance. Repentance is not just dealing with. Sin issues or behaviors. It's also. Doctrinal error.

That helps turn us. In the right direction. Towards the knowledge of the truth. The full knowledge of God's truth. That is also why. Our reformed catechisms. And confessions. Likewise affirm. That repentance unto life.

Is a work. Of God's free grace. Right. Of God's free grace. Wrought in the heart of a sinner. By the spirit. And the word of God. By the spirit. And the word of God. His means of grace. And that repentance.

Is a gospel grace. By which we are made aware. Of the many evils of our sin. By the Holy Spirit. By faith in Christ. We humble ourselves over our sin. With godly sorrow. Hatred of it. And self-loathing.

We pray for pardon and strength of grace. And determine and endeavor. Work towards. By the power supplied by the spirit. To walk before God. And to please him in all things. Amen. That's what our reformed Baptist standards.

Affirm and teach us. About scripture. And. This is extremely. Important things to understand. Beloved. There's another very important. Public service announcement. That this now brings me to. Because we must discern.

Discerning False Behavior and Religious Hypocrisy

Not only false teaching. But also false behavior. Right. Not only false teaching. But also false behavior. And false words. Especially. Religious hypocrites. Who say one thing. Or teach one thing. And yet believe or do another.

There's repeated warnings. In scripture about that. From the words of Christ himself. Against the Pharisees. Religious hypocrites. In James chapter 2. You say you have faith. But you have no works. Demonstrating your faith.

Your profession of faith is a lie. You're making God a liar. Because you do not have. A regenerated faith. In the gospel. That also sanctifies us. Daily. Now. Let's turn over to. Titus 1. 16. Titus 1. 16.

Another one of the pastoral letters. Titus 1. 16. God's word says. Through the apostle Paul. They. Who are they? Rebellious men. Empty talkers. And deceivers. According to verse 10. Antichrists. Right?

Deceivers. Antichrists. Profess to know God. But by their works. They deny God. They deny the true God. Being detestable. And disobedient. And unfit for any good work. The apostle is warning against these men.

Rebellious men. They claim to know God. And to speak in the name of God. And to teach the things of God. But they are. Denying him by their works. Beloved. It's a sobering warning. And this brings me to yet another.

Sad and sobering warning. Against one such pastor. That I used to. Follow and like. And recommend. And mention in my sermons before. And his name is. G Craig Lewis of EX Ministries. And. This man. He actually claimed to be a prophet.

Who had a vision from God. And some years later. Became a pastor. Of Adamant Believers Council. His church. But. In addition to all of that. Multiple. Allegations. And piles. Of damning evidence. Started to.

Be exposed online. About this man. Of church abuse. Manipulation. Lies. Hypocrisy. Adultery. With numerous women in his own church even. One of his cousins. Who worked with him in ministry. Even recovered a hard drive.

With gigabytes of data. Of explicit images and videos. Of this man. Sleeping with other women in the church. It's like the Epstein files. It's utterly. Shocking and perverse. And I thought this man. Was a man of God.

He deceived me. It hurts to say it. And some of his teaching and practice. Became increasingly problematic. Throughout the years. There were warning signs. He had certain tendencies that were. They were warning signs.

He had a very much like. A cult of personality. And very controlling tendencies. As well. It's like. He would. And he would only preach. Topical messages. And would tend to leave you. Hanging on his next word.

It's almost like you didn't know. What he was going to say next. Because he didn't have. A robust confession of faith. So you didn't know. Where he was going to go next. And that caused a lot of problems.

As well. And now. Many of his former close friends. And even partners in ministry. For years. Many of them are calling on him. To repent and step down. And exposing all of these. Horrendous sins. That.

Are being alleged against him. And the evidence is utterly damning. It greatly disturbed us. Because God used this man. In his ministry to lead. My wife and I. To Christ. Through his videos. And. It was a very.

Shocking. Disturbing. Thing for us to. Witness. We only met him once. At his church. When we visited Dallas. But. That's part of the problem here. There are many lessons. To take away from this kind of example.

And I'm not the only one. Who is a victim of this kind of. Deception. There were others. Many others. This man had a global. International ministry. And he's not the only one. There are other men. Even men in our own circles.

Reform circles. Who fell. Because of infidelity. Or adultery. Or many other things. Stephen Lawson. And various other men. That have been recently exposed. So there are many important lessons. To take away from this.

And there is a reason. Why the apostles. And scripture repeatedly. Warns us against these men. Because deception. Is far easier than discernment. They can even deceive. Mature believers. And one of the first.

Most important lessons. Is to be careful who you trust. Be very careful. Who you trust. Or who you place your. Reliance on. Or confidence in. Be very careful. Especially if you do not know them. Yourself personally.

Right. We didn't know this man. We only met him one time. We shook his hand. We talked a little bit. And that was it. We saw one of his presentations. Another occasion. But that was it. The only exposure we got.

Was his public ministry. His public teaching and videos. And sermons. Be careful who you trust. There is a reason. Why God instituted the local church. Which many deny. The necessity and importance of.

But there is a reason why God. Commanded us. To congregate together. And know ourselves. Each other personally. There is a reason for that. And trust is based on. Credibility. Consistency. Reliability.

Fidelity. Faithfulness. Truth. Without hypocrisy. Right. This man is utterly disqualified. Utterly disqualified himself. And yet he. Continues to do ministry. Even though he has been exposed. With an embarrassing.

Amount of evidence online. He is not the only one either. He is not the only case. Sadly. But it happens. Over and over again. And we cannot let. That those things. Cause us discourage. They can be discouraging.

But we need to understand. That this is ultimately a good thing. For them to be exposed. They need to be exposed. The right way. The right way. So because on the one hand. We have an obligation. To reject and oppose.

False teaching and teachers. Like the sermon title says. Oppose those who oppose the truth. But on the other hand. We have to be willing. To listen. And to take heed. To the warnings against false teaching.

And teachers. We have to be honest and fair. And be willing to hear. And examine the other side. The other concerns. The other arguments. Even if you initially favor one side. That happened with us too.

I was very skeptical. Of the claims against this man. Because. We were blessed by his ministry. In many ways. I learned many good things from him. But more and more. Increasingly. The evidence. The receipts.

The interviews. The testimonies. Multiple people being abused by him. Sexually. Ecclesiastically. Church abuse. All of these different things started to come out. And it became to the point of being practically undeniable.

But we have to be willing. Sometimes we deceive ourselves. By refusing to listen. It's so much easier to be deceived. Than to discern. Sometimes. Often times. Not only that. But we have a biblical obligation.

Beloved. To examine all sides. And discern the evidence. Biblically. And judge righteously. When you do not have enough information. You have to be careful to refrain. From jumping to an unrighteous judgment.

Or a premature conclusion. We must. Do these things. Scripture commands it. Proverbs 18 .13. He who responds with a word before he hears. It is folly and shame to him. Right? Basic principles of. Conflict resolution.

And seeking to find out where the truth lies. Between a conflict. Of two or more sides. Proverbs 18 .17. The first to plead his case seems right. Until another comes. And examines him. John 7 .51. Does our law.

Judge a man. Unless it first hears from him. And knows what he is doing. So yeah. Even those who are being accused. They need to be able to answer. To those accusations. And sadly this man. Has not. He has attempted to.

But he hasn't really acknowledged anything. And he continues to do ministry. The opposing side. Also. This is another important thing. Take away. The opposing side must be careful. To not sin. In the process of exposing or calling out.

False believers. Or brothers or teachers or whatever. Especially. By not distorting or misrepresenting. Or slandering. Or libel. Or reviling etc. We have to be. Agents of the truth. And that can be a stumbling block.

Because there were men who were. Exposing this man. But they were also misrepresenting him. And I could tell that they were. Because I was familiar with what he actually taught. Publicly. So we have to be careful.

We have to be balanced. And we have to maintain truth and integrity. In all these things. Especially. In serious matters like this. Even though I learned. Like I mentioned. I learned many good things from this man.

Now he's not reformed. He's an Armenian. He's not reformed. But I learned many good things from him. Even though. He has completely. Just about completely disgraced himself. And disqualified himself. It does not necessarily mean.

That everything he taught. Was bad or unsound. That's an abusive ad hominem fallacy. Right? Yes, this man is a hypocrite. He may have done. He's being accused of all these things. The evidence is damning.

But just because he did those things. Does not necessarily mean. That everything he said was a lie. Or false. We have to be careful not to lose our balance. In the other direction. And reject everything he said.

Just because he's a hypocrite. And that is in part because. Scripture itself. Alone. Is the ultimate. Final. Infallible. Standard of truth. We have to judge all things. By scripture ultimately. Right?

Biblical Standards, Church Discipline, and Testing Claims

What a man says and does. We have to judge it by scripture. Much like Jesus said. Right? He said the scribes and the Pharisees. Have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. Therefore. All that they tell you do and keep.

But do not do according to their deeds. For they say things. And do not do them. Because they are hypocrites. And Jesus repeatedly called out the Pharisees. For their hypocrisy. They may have said true things.

But the way we know that they're true. Is by confirming them with scripture. Even so. If the allegations. Are true. And it is hard to deny that they're not true. He needs to be called out. Continue to be called out.

And church discipline. And probably excommunicated permanently from his church. Because there are still women in that church. Whom he had. Adulterous affairs with. It's an utter. Utter disgrace. Utter disgrace.