Guarding New Members Against Error And
Fanaticism
Satan Annoys and Distracts New Believers—Wherever there is
a little company raised up, Satan is constantly trying to annoy and
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distract them. When one of the people turns away from his sins, do
you suppose that he will let him alone? No, indeed. We want you
to look well to the foundation of your hope. We want you to let
your life and your actions testify of you that you are the children of
God.—
Manuscript 5, 1885
.
No Lack of Isms to Delude New Converts—Satan is constantly
seeking to lead men into error. He is the God of all dissension, and
he has no lack of isms to bring forward to delude. New sects are
constantly arising to lead from the truth; and instead of being fed
with the bread of life, the people are served with a dish of fables.
The Scriptures are wrested and, taken from their true connection, are
quoted to give falsehood the appearance of truth. The garments of
truth are stolen to hide the features of heresy.
Paul planted the pure truths of the gospel in Galatia. He preached
the doctrine of righteousness by faith, and his work was rewarded in
seeing the Galatian church converted to the gospel. Then Satan began
to work through false teachers to confuse the minds of some of the
believers. The boasting of these teachers, and the setting forth of their
wonder-working powers, blinded the spiritual eyesight of many of the
new converts, and they were led into error....
For a time Paul lost his hold on the minds of those who had been
deceived; but relying on the word and power of God, and refusing the
interpretations of the apostate teachers, he was able to lead the converts
to see that they had been deceived, and thus defeat the purposes of
Satan. The new converts came back to the faith, prepared to take their
position intelligently for the truth.—
Manuscript 43, 1907
.
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Erroneous Doctrines by Professed Believers—We shall all be
severely tested. Persons who pretend to believe the truth will come to
us and urge upon us erroneous doctrines, which will unsettle our faith
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