Discerning Truth in an Age of Deception

Mark Them and Avoid Them

There was a time when plain truth didn’t need an apology.

A preacher could stand, open his Bible, and say, “Thus saith the Lord,” and people understood that truth mattered more than comfort. But today we live in a different hour—an hour where error is often tolerated in the name of unity, and where discernment is sometimes mistaken for judgment.

Yet the Word of God has not changed.

The apostle Paul wrote:

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” — Romans 16:17 (KJV)

That is not a suggestion. That is a command.

And if we are going to be faithful in this generation, we must learn again what it means to discern, to mark, and when necessary—to avoid.

The Battle Begins in the Heart

Before we look outward, we must first look inward.

Paul reminds us in Galatians:

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh…”

The first battlefield is not Washington, not the culture, not some organization—it is the human heart. The same flesh that produces sin in the world lives in every man apart from the grace of God.

But God, in His mercy, did not leave us without clarity.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest…” (Galatians 5:19)

And then He names them:

Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, idolatry, hatred, strife, envyings, drunkenness—and more.

These are not hidden things. They are visible fruits.

And Scripture is clear:

“…they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

So yes—we are called to recognize sin, to warn about it, and to avoid it.

The Call to Discernment

We are not called to blind faith—we are called to tested faith.

• “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
• “Try the spirits whether they are of God.”

Not every voice that sounds spiritual is from God.

Not every teacher who uses the name of Christ speaks truth.

And if we do not discern…

We will be deceived.

Mark Them—But Mark What?

Paul tells us to “mark them,” but he gives us the standard:

“…contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned…”

The issue is not personality.

The issue is not politics.

The issue is doctrine.

Anything that contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture must be identified for what it is—error.

But we must be careful here.

Not every disagreement is heresy.

Not every mistake is a false gospel.

There is a difference between:

• A misunderstanding
• And a message that corrupts the gospel itself

And we must know the difference.

The Spirit of Antichrist

Now we come to the heart of the matter.

The Bible draws a line that cannot be blurred.

“Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist.” — 1 John 4:3

This is not my opinion.

This is Scripture.

Any person, organization, or religious system that denies:

• That Jesus Christ is the Son of God
• That He came in the flesh
• That He alone is the way of salvation

is not simply mistaken.

It is operating under what the Bible calls the spirit of antichrist.

That is strong language—but it is biblical language.

History Has Seen This Before

This is not new. The church has faced it from the beginning.

Early Gnosticism

They said Christ did not truly come in the flesh.

They replaced the cross with secret knowledge.

But the Word declares:

“The Word was made flesh…”

So the church rejected it.

Arianism

They taught that Jesus was not fully God, but a created being.

But Scripture says:

“The Word was God.”

Because if Christ is not God—He cannot save.

Systems That Add to Christ

Throughout history, there have been teachings that add works, money, or human authority to salvation.

But the Bible says:

“If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

Whenever anything is added to Christ—the gospel is lost.

Modern Distortions

Today, there are still voices that:

• Redefine who Jesus is
• Present Him as one option among many
• Replace repentance with self-centered blessing

But Jesus said:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life…”

Not a way—the way.

Why This Matters

Error rarely announces itself as error.

It often sounds:

• Spiritual
• Encouraging
• Even biblical

But if it shifts the focus:

• From Christ to man
• From repentance to reward
• From truth to comfort

Then it is not harmless.

It is dangerous.

Avoid Them

Paul did not stop at “mark them.”

He said:

“Avoid them.”

That means:

• Do not follow
• Do not endorse
• Do not allow their influence to shape your faith

Not out of hatred.

But out of protection.

Because what you listen to will shape what you believe—and what you believe will shape your eternity.

The Balance We Must Keep

We are not called to:

• Hate people
• Condemn souls
• Act as final judges

But we are called to:

• Identify false doctrine
• Warn others
• Stand firmly on truth

Jesus said:

“By their fruits ye shall know them.”

Not by popularity.

Not by influence.

But by fruit.

A Final Word from a Country Preacher

Church, the danger in our day is not just sin…

It is confusion.

And confusion thrives where discernment dies.

So test every voice.

Measure every message.

Weigh everything by the Word of God.

And when something does not line up with Scripture—

You don’t have to attack it…

But you do need to avoid it.

Because in the end:

It is not about who is loudest.

It is not about who is most followed.

👉 It is about what is true.

And truth is not found in men.

Truth is found in Jesus Christ—and in His Word.

“Mark them… and avoid them.”