Yes, fierce wolves are coming in and will not spare the flock. They will come in using a different "gospel" which are “twisted things” to draw away disciples after themselves. Therefore we are to be alert and on our guard because once the wolves leave with the sheep it will be too late for us to share the gospel with them. So fierce wolves will not be coming in announcing that they’re about to draw away disciples after themselves, but through words contrary to the true gospel will draw disciples after them using twisted things.
These are not like the wolves we may hear through the night as they surround their prey to go in and devour them. No, if that was the case then the world would be able to notice them too. But these wolves come “in sheep’s clothing”. So the wolves will look like sheep, smell like sheep, and act like sheep so that their only distinction will be their false gospel or twisted things.
Matthew 7:15 ESV Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Friend, we must be very careful to preach and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) which is the only way to “protect the flock.” Notice from Acts 20:28-31 that the “flock” is protected by the “blood” Jesus shed on the cross.
There is an amazing illustration of the blood of Jesus protecting the church. In the Middle East, there is a particular kind of worm called a Tolah (the word means “crimson”), and it has a certain characteristic: when the Tolah is pregnant and about to give birth it climbs up in a tree and uses a twig of the tree to pierce its own heart so that the resultant blood flow will produce a cocoon-like shelter for its young. The Tolah literally sheds its own blood, gives its own life to protect its newborns. In Psalm 22 (the “Psalm of the Cross”), this is the very word Jesus used, when speaking through David He said, “But I am like a worm (Tolah) and not a man” (Psalm 22:6). Click here for a reference regarding the Tolah worm. The blood of Jesus protects the church (and therefore the sheep) from a distorted gospel thereby sparing the flock. The gospel of Jesus Christ protects the church from those who would seek to bring in destructive teachings.
Acts 20:28 ESV Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Galatians 1:8-9 ESV But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
2 Peter 2:1 ESV But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
Question 9: How do Jesus' death and resurrection protect the church from “destructive heresies," according to the passages and illustration above?
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Yes, "destructive heresies" come from those who deny the Master who bought them. They deny both the Master and the purchase He made at the cross. They deny the blood He shed to purchase His people, the cross He died on to make us righteous, the payment He made at the cost of His life.
The church is protected when it is focused on this purchase price made at the cross when it is focused on "the Master who bought them." And more disciples are made, that is, those who put faith in the message of the cross and who enter into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ themselves.
And isn't this the goal of the church? To make disciples of all nations? In order to do so, the church must focus like a laser on the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Question 10. Why is it important for the church to clearly define and clearly preach the gospel of Jesus Christ?
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Rick writes, "It is so easy for churches to fall into the trap of trying to bring in the numbers, preach things that are pleasing to hear, make the church for all people and all beliefs. They don't want to preach all that "blood and death" stuff, No heaven, No Hell. The Gospel is clearly and simply laid out. All power and authority was given to Jesus Christ, crucified for our sins, He was buried and 3 days later He was risen in new life, all according to the Scriptures.”
Miles writes, "Many churches today stray from the gospel by accepting cultural norms or political correctness they will focus on programs, music and try to appeal to what everyone wants to hear. We must as a people and church remain in Him, remain in the Gospel."
Peter writes, "Because we are so prone to wander from the simplicity of the gospel message itself. We have to keep presenting the gospel, not just in salvation appeals but in the process of sanctification for every believer for every life situation. The gospel is the power of God to salvation, Romans 1: from saving faith to living faith. The Just shall live by faith. Faith in the Gospel of Christ and His Cross."