December 16

" B ut there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies,

even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction."

2 Peter 2:1

The conflict between truth and error has been going on ever since Satan successfully misled our first parents in the garden of Eden with his subtle “Has God indeed said?” thus introducing doubt and questioning into the mind of Eve. Toleration of false teachers in the church of God is treachery to Christ. The false prophets in Israel were the bitter opponents of the revelation given through holy men who wrote and spoke as they were moved by the Spirit of God. The same is true today, except that the basis for all true testimony is now the completed volume of Holy Scripture, by which all teaching is to be tested. Against all false prophets we are to contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints, as declared in the Epistle of Jude.

The Christ is in Court today;

The World and the Flesh deride Him,

Mankind is jury and judge,

And the right of appeal is denied Him.

Who are His witnesses? Whom will He call

To answer for Him in the judgment hall?

The Christ is in Court today,

The World and the Flesh will try Him,

Mankind is jury and judge,

Shall those He hath loved deny Him?

We are His witnesses, ours is the call,

To speak for our Lord in the judgment hall.

—Annie Johnson Flint