SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Special acknowledgment is gratefully given to Dr. Walter R. Martin,
Director, and Gretchen Passantino, Senior Research Consultant, of The
Christian Research Institute, for their invaluable contributions to the
appendix of this volume.

The Lord Jesus warned, "Beware of false prophets [teachers], who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Mt. 7:15). The apostle Paul also warned in Acts 20:29-30, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."

There was another warning from the apostle Peter, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who secretly shall bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways...." (2 Pet. 2:1-2).

These warnings and others, carried throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Scriptures, tell us that we are to be on guard to avoid deceptive and false teachings by false Bible teachers and false prophets. As forewarned by the Lord Jesus and the apostles Paul and Peter, many people today have been deceived into believing blasphemous and heretical teachings that are in conflict with the Holy Scriptures. These people may think that they are Christians and act as though they are Christians and have been told that they are Christians but are in fact - not!

The most important question any professing Christian can ask themselves is this: What is my salvation based upon? The answer to this question will determine their eternal destiny. This is why the apostle Paul advised professing Christians to, "Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves...." (2 Cor. 13:5). But how are we to examine ourselves? The Lord Jesus gave the answer, as recorded in John 5:39, when He commanded, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me."

The following material is offered to help you to search the Scriptures, as the people in the town of Berea did more than 1,900 years ago (Acts 17: 10-12). The example of the Bereans is one in which all people have been advised to follow. As they did, we are to study (2 Tim. 2:15) the Scriptures and to search out the Scriptures and to meditate (1 Tim. 4:15-16) upon them. As you do so, may you find and take the narrow way [the Lord Jesus], that leads to your knowing the truth [the Lord Jesus], and have eternal life [the Lord Jesus] with God the Father by doing His will which is to trust solely in the finished work of Christ alone by faith alone for your salvation (Mt. 7:13-27). This is why the Lord Jesus declared,..."I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (Jn. 14:6). Maranatha!!!