Heresies in The Church: Staying Rooted in Biblical Truth
Heresy is more than just a theological disagreement—it's a rejection or distortion of essential Christian teachings. At its core, heresy represents a serious deviation from the doctrines that form the foundation of biblical Christianity.
Throughout Church history, heresies have led to confusion, division, and spiritual harm, causing believers to stray from the truth of the Gospel. Notable heresies such as Arianism, Gnosticism, and Pelagianism all threatened to undermine the very heart of the faith.
The Church’s response to these heresies wasn’t silence or compromise—it was the clear affirmation of sound doctrine through councils, creeds, and faithful teaching. Heresy is not a minor issue; it’s a direct attack on the truth of God's Word and a serious threat to the unity and spiritual health of the Christian community.
Throughout the centuries, many heresies have surfaced within Christianity, each distorting vital truths of the faith in unique and damaging ways. These teachings often arise subtly—mixing a little truth with a great deal of error—but their impact is anything but minor. They challenge the nature of Christ, the role of grace, the authority of Scripture, and the identity of God Himself.
While some heresies were born in the early centuries of the Church and addressed through historic creeds and councils, others continue to influence theology, culture, and even certain Christian movements today. Below are a few of the most notable and historically significant heresies every believer should be aware of—so we can better discern truth from error and hold fast to the Gospel entrusted to us.
An Introduction to Notable Heresies
Arianism is one of the earliest and most influential heresies the Church had to confront. Named after Arius, a 4th-century Alexandrian priest, this doctrine denies the full divinity of Jesus Christ, claiming that the Son was a created being—not eternal, and not of the same essence (homoousios) as the Father. Arians taught that while Jesus was exalted, He was still subordinate to the Father and therefore not truly God in the same sense. This directly contradicts foundational Christian beliefs such as John 1:1, which declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Gnosticism is an ancient heresy that deeply threatened early Christianity and still echoes in modern belief systems today. At its core, Gnosticism teaches that personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis)—not faith in Christ’s atoning work—is the key to salvation. Gnostics view the material world as inherently flawed or evil, created by a lesser deity, and believe that within each human being is a “divine spark” trapped in a physical body. The goal of salvation, then, is to liberate that spark by gaining hidden knowledge and escaping the material realm altogether.
One of the most dangerous aspects of Gnosticism is its denial of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. According to Gnostic thought, a holy God could never truly take on a material body. Some claimed that Jesus only appeared to be human or that the divine Christ temporarily inhabited a man named Jesus. This directly contradicts Scripture, which boldly declares in John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Denying the incarnation is not just theological error—it is a rejection of the very means by which God chose to save us.
Pelagianism, named after the British monk Pelagius in the 4th–5th century, teaches that human beings are born morally neutral—that the Fall of Adam did not corrupt human nature. According to this view, people have the innate ability and free will to choose good without the need for divine intervention. Pelagianism claims that grace may assist in making good choices, but it is not essential for salvation because human beings can essentially achieve perfection on their own through effort, discipline, and moral behavior.
This heresy was soundly condemned by the Church, particularly by theologians like Augustine, who affirmed that apart from God’s grace, humanity is enslaved to sin and incapable of choosing righteousness on its own (see Romans 3:10–12). The Bible clearly teaches that we are “dead in our trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and that salvation is by grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8–9).
Standing Guard Against Heresy
In today’s world, heresy rarely announces itself as false teaching. Instead, it often comes cloaked in spiritual language, motivational tones, and partial truths that feel good but quietly pull us away from the Gospel. With the explosion of voices across the internet—churches, YouTube preachers, social media clips, podcasts, radio shows, and TV programs—we are bombarded from every angle.
Many of these messages are well-produced and emotionally moving, but that doesn’t mean they’re rooted in biblical truth. In fact, this flood of information has made it easier than ever for the enemy to shoot his “flaming arrows” (Ephesians 6:16)—disguised as encouragement, enlightenment, or even “new revelation.”
The danger lies in how subtle it can be. A message might promote self-worth but ignore the need for repentance. It may emphasize God's love while never mentioning His holiness. It might talk about faith but detach it from the person and work of Jesus Christ. These teachings sound spiritual—but lack the Spirit of truth. That’s why discernment is crucial.
Believers must test every message against Scripture and remain anchored in sound doctrine. The Bible warns in 2 Timothy 4:3–4 that a time would come when people would gather teachers to suit their own desires, turning away from the truth and toward myths. That time is now.
Heresy is not just a historical issue or a problem for theologians to sort out—it’s a present and pressing threat that can infect hearts, homes, and entire congregations if left unchecked. Like a virus, false teaching spreads quickly, especially in a world filled with platforms that allow untested messages to reach millions in an instant.
That’s why it's not just pastors or scholars who need to be vigilant—every member of the Church must take up their post as a soldier of Christ. We are called to be armed with the Word of God, not only to protect ourselves, but to safeguard our families, our communities, and the body of Christ from spiritual deception.
As Paul told Timothy, we must “guard the good deposit” entrusted to us (2 Timothy 1:14) and contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). In an age of spiritual confusion, it is truth that sets us free—and truth must be defended by a Church that knows it, lives it, and refuses to let it be compromised.
In a world overflowing with competing voices—false prophecies, lies, counterfeit doctrines, and spiritual confusion—it is more important than ever for believers to be grounded in the truth of God’s Word. Heresies don’t always come wearing horns; they often appear gentle, spiritual, even compassionate. But anything that twists Scripture, denies Christ’s work, or elevates human ideas over divine revelation is a danger to the soul.
The Church must be discerning. Christians must be watchful. And every believer must be rooted in Scripture, guided by the Holy Spirit, and shaped by sound doctrine. Truth is not a matter of opinion—it is the person of Jesus Christ, revealed through the Word. When we stand on that truth, we cannot be shaken. When we know that truth, we will recognize the lie. And when we love that truth, we will be equipped to defend it—for the sake of our own souls and the spiritual health of the Church.
1. Anchor yourself in God’s Word.
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” John 17:17
a. The Bible is the primary and infallible source of truth.
b. Every teaching, belief, or spiritual experience must be tested against Scripture.
c. A Christian must be a diligent student of the Word.
d. Read systematically-approaching the Bible in a planned, organized, consistent way rather than flipping through pages. Following a reading plan. (genres: law, history, wisdom, prophets, gospels, epistles, apocalyptic)
e. Interpret in context-understand verses in their historical, grammatical, and literary context.
2. Cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus
“My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’” Psalm 27:8
a. Doctrine is important but it’s not just about knowing facts-it’s about knowing a person. Through prayer, obedience, and intimacy with Christ, a believer becomes more sensitive to what is of God and what is not.
b. Pray for discernment and a deeper love for truth.
c. Abide in Christ-stay connected to Him daily, not just intellectually but relationally.
d. Follow His voice-through the Spirit’s prompting and conviction. The Holy Spirit helps you understand the Word and to apply it personally. As you read the Word you may feel a verse “stand out,” bring clarity, correction, or comfort-that’s often the Spirit speaking.
e. Prompting means the Spirit may prompt you in various ways: a sudden urge to pray for someone, a nudge to speak, act or hold back in a situation.
f. Conviction is when the Holy Spirit alerts your conscience that something is wrong or out of alignment with God’s holiness. When something needs to be addressed. It could also be leading to repentance or confession that leads to restoration and freedom.
g. It’s also not just about hearing the voice but responding. Obedience is evidence of love for Christ. The more you respond to His voice, the clearer it becomes. The more you ignore it, the duller your sensitivity grows.
h. Discernment is key. How do you know it’s the Spirit and not your own feelings? Does it align with Scripture, does it reflect Christ’s character? Does it produce good fruit?
3. Examine the fruit and the foundation
“You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn brushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.” Matthew 7:16-17
a. Test teachings, ministries, and people by their doctrinal foundation and spiritual fruit:
i. Does it glorify Jesus as Lord and Savior?
ii. Does it align with biblical truth?
iii. Does it lead to holiness, humility, love, and repentance?
iv. Does it edify the body of Christ?
4. Stay rooted in the historic Christian faith
“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15
a. Truth does not evolve with culture. Stay rooted in the orthodox doctrines passed down through Scripture and affirmed by the early church.
5. Learn in community, but with discernment
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1
a. Surround yourself with mature believers, godly mentors, and a biblically faithful church.
b. Seek accountability, ask questions, discuss and test doctrines together.
6. Watch out for red flags
“But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
a. Some signs that a belief system or teaching may be false:
i. Twists Scripture out of context
ii. Exalts man rather than God
iii. Promotes secret knowledge
iv. Downplays repentance, sin or the cross
v. Focuses on worldly success, signs, or feelings over Scripture
vi. Absence of Scripture
Guard the Truth, Live the Truth
In a time of spiritual confusion and rising deception, holding to the truth is not optional—it’s vital. Heresies may come in new packaging, but their goal remains the same: to distort the Gospel, divide the Church, and draw hearts away from Christ. As followers of Jesus, we are called to stand firm, stay alert, and remain anchored in God’s unchanging Word. This means knowing Scripture, walking closely with Jesus, listening to the Holy Spirit, and surrounding ourselves with godly community. It also means being willing to lovingly confront error and uphold sound doctrine. Truth is not just something we believe—it’s something we live. So let us guard it, proclaim it, and pass it on faithfully to the next generation. In doing so, we honor Christ, protect His Church, and shine His light in a world desperate for what is real.