Based on 2 Peter 2 (New King James Version)
“But 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. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’”
This prophesy has been fulfilled for a long time, the issue of having evil doctrines within most of our churches, things that sound like truth but very subtly lead to eternal destruction. And if we're not careful with them, we will either be swept away by them, or at the very least, we will be complicit. And for God, the accomplice is just as guilty as the one who does the wrong, as it is written: “Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:32.
To begin, we must understand what the Gospel or sound doctrine really is to know how to detect bad doctrine. There are three fundamental elements that are part of the Gospel, which are: A person must repent and convert from all their sins (“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before.” Acts 3:19-20). A person must accept and receive the Lord Jesus as their effective and literal Lord (“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:8-9). And a person must live to do the will of the Lord, (“For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” Romans 14:8-9. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven”. Matthew 7:21.) This is the Gospel. These things are what give us access to eternal life and rewards through the Lord Jesus Christ. And anything that deviates from these things is part of these destructive doctrines.
Now, some may argue that there are teachings that are based on Scripture, therefore, they cannot be wrong. And the point is that the devil tries to use certain parts of the Word to tempt us. If he tried to tempt the Son of God Himself with His own Word, how could he not do the same with us? Yes, it's true that he cuts, adds, and does different things with the passage he used with the Lord, but nonetheless, they were parts of Scripture. And what does the devil use to tempt us, even when using what is sacred? He tries to appeal to our sinful side. For example, who likes admitting their sins and having to change their lifestyle to follow the Lord? Almost no one. The vast majority want to go to heaven, but without abandoning sin. That's why some false doctrines tell you that God accepts you just as you are, and that there is no need to repent. You just need to believe. Another thing is: “Don't most desire for their will to be done rather than God's will?” That's why they tell you: God wants to make you happy, and He wants to grant you the desires of your heart, like the good Father that He is. And yes, we can ask the Lord for help, but always subject to one thing, as the Lord prayed: “Thy will be done.” God is not our servant; therefore, we should not treat Him as such. And they also tell you: If works couldn't save you, then they don't matter after receiving Christ either. And the problem with this is that this teaching invalidates the entire purpose for which the Lord created you and then saved you. We are saved for good works, to do His will. This is what the Word teaches: “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10. Sound doctrine is for your salvation. Therefore, if you want to obtain what God has reserved only for those who choose to love Him, for your own good, hold fast to sound doctrine and discard everything else, separating yourself from those who use godliness for profit to avoid being their accomplice (1 Timothy 6:5). So, are you following sound doctrine for salvation or other things that sound like truth that will lead you to eternal destruction? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!