🐺 Devotional: Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing — Guarding Against a Different Gospel

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“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
— Matthew 7:15 (NIV)

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⚠️ A Warning from Jesus

 

Not everyone who teaches, preaches, or claims to speak for God is from God.

Jesus warned us clearly: many would look the part, but inwardly have corrupt motives, false doctrine, or deceptive

spirits.

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They may:

• Use the name of Jesus

• Quote parts of Scripture

• Appeal to emotion or miracles

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But what they teach leads people away from the true Gospel.

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“For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:13

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🧠 The Danger: A Different Jesus

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The Bible doesn’t just warn about false teachers — it warns about a false Jesus and a different gospel.

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“For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed… you put up with it readily enough!”
— 2 Corinthians 11:4 (ESV)

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Many cults, false religions, and even “progressive” theologies redefine Jesus:

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• As just a prophet

• As a created being

• As a symbol, not Savior

• Or as someone who permits sin rather than frees from it

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But the real Jesus is:

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• Fully God and fully man (John 1:1,14)

• Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)

• Crucified and risen (1 Corinthians 15:3–4)

• Coming again as Judge and King (Revelation 19:11–16)

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🛡️ How to Guard Against Deception

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• Know the Word

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“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” — Psalm 119:105

False doctrine thrives where biblical ignorance grows.

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• Test the Spirits

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“Test the spirits to see whether they are from God…” — 1 John 4:1

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• Cling to Sound Doctrine

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“Preach the word… For the time will come when people will not endure sound teaching…” — 2 Timothy 4:2–3

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• Stay Rooted in Christ Alone

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No religious system, no additional book, no charismatic leader can replace the sufficiency of Christ and His finished work.

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🧭 Analogy: The Counterfeit Bill

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Bank workers are trained to spot counterfeit money not by studying every fake, but by knowing the real bill so well, any distortion is immediately obvious.

Likewise, the more you know the true Jesus of Scripture, the easier it becomes to spot the lies.

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🙏 Prayer

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“Lord, give me a discerning heart. Help me to know You through Your Word and Spirit so clearly that I am not swayed by deception. Protect me from false teachers, and give me courage to stand for truth, even when it’s unpopular. Let me follow You — the true and living Christ — all my days. Amen.”

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📖 Scriptures for Discernment

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• Matthew 7:15–23 – Wolves in sheep’s clothing

• 2 Corinthians 11:3–15 – False apostles and a different Jesus

• Galatians 1:6–9 – Warning against another gospel

• 1 John 4:1–3 – Test every spirit

• 2 Timothy 4:2–5 – Endure sound doctrine

 

📝 Reflection Questions

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1. Am I regularly comparing teachings I hear with God’s Word?

2. Do I know the real Jesus of Scripture well enough to recognize counterfeits?

3. Am I willing to stand for truth even if it’s unpopular or costs me something?

 

💡 Final Thought

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In a world filled with noise, lies, and twisted truths, we must anchor our faith in the unchanging Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Not the Jesus of man-made religion.
Not the Jesus of culture or convenience.
But the Jesus of Scripture — crucified, risen, and coming again.

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“Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!”
— Galatians 1:8