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Shepherd's Watch: Discerning Wolves Part 1 The Foundational, Immutable Truths of Biblical Christianity

Shepherd's Watch: Discerning Wolves by Rev. Bruce A. Shields

The Christian faith is not a set of shifting shadows, sands, or opinions but a revealed body of truth from God. Scripture presents non-negotiable doctrines that define what Christianity is. To call oneself a Christian in the biblical sense, one must embrace, not deny, these essentials. What follows is a concise statement of the foundational, immutable truths of the faith, accompanied by Scripture references for each.


  1. God is the One, Living, Triune God. There is only one God who eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

    1. Deuteronomy 6:4

    2. Isaiah 44:6

    3. Matthew 28:19

    4. 2 Corinthians 13:14


  2. God is the Holy Creator and Sovereign Lord of All. God created all things, owns all things, and is perfectly holy. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” 

    1. Genesis 1:1

    2. Psalm 90:2

    3. Isaiah 6:3

    4. Revelation 4:11


  3. Scripture Is God-Breathed, Inerrant, Sufficient, and Final in Authority. The Bible is the very Word of God, without error in all it affirms, and is entirely sufficient for faith and life.

    1. 2 Timothy 3:16–17

    2. 2 Peter 1:20–21

    3. Psalm 19:7–11

    4. John 10:35


  4. Humanity is Created in God’s Image but Ruined by Sin. People are made in God’s image, have fallen in Adam, and are guilty before a holy God.

    1. Genesis 1:26–27

    2. Genesis 3

    3. Romans 3:10–12, 23

    4. Ephesians 2:1–3

    5. Romans 6:23


  5. Jesus Christ Is Fully God and Fully Man. The eternal Son took on true humanity by the virgin conception and birth, yet without ceasing to be God.

    1. John 1:1, 14

    2. Matthew 1:18–23

    3. Philippians 2:5–11

    4. Colossians 2:9

    5. Hebrews 1:3


  6. Jesus Lived a Sinless Life. Christ obeyed the Father perfectly and is the spotless Lamb.

    1. Hebrews 4:15

    2. 1 Peter 2:22

    3. 2 Corinthians 5:21


  7. Jesus died a Substitutionary, Atoning Death on the cross. Christ bore the wrath our sins deserved, securing redemption for His people.

    1. Isaiah 53:4–6

    2. Romans 3:24–26

    3. Romans 5:8

    4. 1 Peter 3:18


  8. Jesus Rose Bodily and Conquered Death. Christ’s resurrection is historical, bodily, and essential. Without it, there is no salvation.

    1. Luke 24:36–43

    2. 1 Corinthians 15:3–8, 12–20

    3. Romans 10:9


  9. Salvation Is by Grace Alone through Faith Alone in Christ Alone. No one is saved by works, law-keeping, rituals, or morality. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in the crucified and risen Christ, with true repentance.

    1. Ephesians 2:8–9

    2. Romans 3:21–28

    3. Acts 2:38

    4. Titus 3:4–7

    5. John 3:3–7


  10. Justification Produces New Life, Sanctification, and Evident Fruit. Those God justifies, He also sanctifies. Real faith bears real fruit in obedience and love.

    1. Romans 5:1

    2. James 2:14–26

    3. 1 John 2:3–6

    4. Matthew 7:16–23

    5. Hebrews 12:14

    6. Philippians 1:6


  11. The Holy Spirit Indwells, Seals, and Empowers Believers. The Spirit gives new birth, indwells, seals, gifts, and transforms Christ’s people.

    1. John 14:16–17

    2. Romans 8:9–11

    3. Ephesians 1:13–14

    4. 1 Corinthians 12:4–11


  12. The Church is Christ’s Body and Pillar of the Truth. Believers gather for worship, Word, ordinances, fellowship, discipline, and mission.

    1. Acts 2:42–47

    2. 1 Corinthians 12:12–27

    3. Matthew 28:18–20

    4. 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

    5. Matthew 18:15–20

    6. 1 Timothy 3:15


  13. Christ Will Return, Judge, and Reign Forever. Jesus will return bodily to judge the living and the dead; the righteous enter eternal life, the wicked eternal punishment.

    1. Acts 1:11

    2. 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

    3. Revelation 20:11–15

    4. Matthew 25:31–46

    5. 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10


Biblical Christianity is not a private label we attach to ourselves; it is a humble submission to God’s revealed truth. To “adhere” means to confess these doctrines, reject their denial, repent of sin, and entrust yourself wholly to Christ as Lord and Savior. The gospel demands allegiance to Jesus and obedience of faith, not mere cultural association or selective agreement. Romans 1:5; Luke 9:23; John 14:15


Scripture commands us to measure every message and messenger by this apostolic truth. Paul warns plainly: “Even if we, or an angel from heaven, should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, he is to be accursed.” Galatians 1:8–9.


We are told to watch out for those who oppose the doctrine we have learned and to turn away from them. Romans 16:17–18. False apostles disguise themselves; Satan does too. 2 Corinthians 11:3–4, 13–15. Those who teach a different doctrine do not consent to sound words and produce strife and ruin; we must not receive or endorse them. 1 Timothy 6:3–5; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; 2 John 9–11.


As stewards of the gospel, believers have a duty to protect Christ’s flock by identifying error clearly and, when necessary, naming those who propagate it. Scripture models this practice not to score points, but to safeguard souls and preserve the purity of the faith. The biblical pattern combines courage and charity: warnings are specific, publicly accountable, and tethered to God’s Word so that the church can “test all things; hold fast to that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21. Naming false teachers or notorious sinners is therefore an act of pastoral love and obedience, not personal vindictiveness, and it helps vulnerable sheep avoid deception and return to sound doctrine.


Old Testament examples

  • Korah, Dathan, and Abiram—rebellion against God’s appointed authority: Numbers 16:1–3, 31–35

    • Sin defined: “For rebellion is as the sin of divination… Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, He has also rejected you.” 1 Samuel 15:23


  • Balaam—led Israel into idolatry and immorality: Numbers 31:16

    • Sin defined: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3; “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14; see also “The prophet… who would seduce you from the way… that prophet shall die.” Deuteronomy 13:5


  • Nadab and Abihu—unauthorized worship before the LORD: Leviticus 10:1–3

    • Sin defined: “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.” Deuteronomy 12:32 (cf. incense commands in Leviticus 16:12–13)


  • Hophni and Phinehas—corrupt priests profaning offerings of the LORD and sexual immorality: 1 Samuel 2:12–17, 22–25

    • Sin defined: “All fat is Yahweh’s.” Leviticus 3:16; “The person who eats the fat… shall be cut off.” Leviticus 7:25; “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14


  • Ahab (and Jezebel’s incitement) idolatry, murder, theft/coveting: 1 Kings 18:17–18; 1 Kings 21:25

    • Sin defined: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3; “You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13; “You shall not steal… you shall not covet.” Exodus 20:15, 17


  • Gehazi—greed and lying: 2 Kings 5:20–27

    • Sin defined: “Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh.” Proverbs 12:22; “You shall not covet.” Exodus 20:17


  • Uzziah—unlawfully usurped priestly worship: 2 Chronicles 26:16–21

    • Sin defined: “You and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood… But the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.” Numbers 18:7 (cf. 2 Chronicles 26:18)


  • Hananiah—false prophet: Jeremiah 28:15–17

    • Sin defined: “The prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name… that prophet shall die.” Deuteronomy 18:20


  • Shemaiah the Nehelamite—false messages and prophecies: Jeremiah 29:31–32

    • Sin defined: Deuteronomy 18:20–22 (same standard against false prophecy)


  • Shemaiah son of Delaiah and Noadiah the prophetess—urging unlawful temple refuge: Nehemiah 6:10–14

    • Sin defined: “Let no one enter the house of Yahweh except the priests who minister.” 2 Chronicles 23:6; “The outsider who comes near shall be put to death.” Numbers 18:7



New Testament examples

  • Ananias and Sapphira—lied to the Holy Spirit: Acts 5:1–11

    • Sin defined: “Do not lie to one another.” Colossians 3:9; “Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh.” Proverbs 12:22; “You shall not bear false witness.” Exodus 20:16


  • Simon Magus—attempting to buy the gift of God (greed and corruption): Acts 8:18–24

    • Sin defined: “The love of money is a root of all sorts of evils.” 1 Timothy 6:10; “You cannot serve God and wealth.” Matthew 6:24


  • Elymas (Bar-Jesus)—called out as a “son of the devil” deceit; turning others from the faith: Acts 13:8–11

    • Sin defined: “Even if we… should proclaim… a gospel contrary… he is to be accursed.” Galatians 1:8–9; cf. “Woe to you… for you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people.” Matthew 23:13


  • Peter (Cephas)—hypocrisy/partiality contrary to the gospel: Galatians 2:11–14

    • Sin defined: “Woe to you… hypocrites.” Matthew 23:27; “There is no partiality with God.” Romans 2:11; “My brothers, do not hold your faith… with an attitude of personal favoritism.” James 2:1


  • Hymenaeus and Alexander—blasphemy: 1 Timothy 1:19–20

    • Sin defined: “Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of Yahweh shall surely be put to death.” Leviticus 24:16; cf. “You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain.” Exodus 20:7


  • Hymenaeus and Philetus—taught the resurrection of believers would not take place: 2 Timothy 2:17–18

    • Sin defined: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:17; plus the anathema on contrary gospels Galatians 1:8–9


  • Alexander the coppersmith—opposing apostolic teaching, doing much evil: 2 Timothy 4:14–15

    • Sin defined: “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God.” 2 John 9–11


  • Demas—loving this world; abandoning faith: 2 Timothy 4:10

    • Sin defined: “Do not love the world nor the things in the world.” 1 John 2:15; “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62


  • Diotrephes—rejecting apostolic authority and slandering brethren, pride: 3 John 9–10

    • Sin defined: “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6; “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you.” Ephesians 4:31; “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers.” Hebrews 13:2


  • “Jezebel”—a false prophetess promoting sexual immorality and idolatry: Revelation 2:20

    • Sin defined: “Abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from sexual immorality.” Acts 15:29; “Flee sexual immorality.” 1 Corinthians 6:18; “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3


  • Balaam—invoked as a named pattern of corrupt teaching of immorality and idolatry: Revelation 2:14

    • Sin defined: same as above Exodus 20:3; Acts 15:29; 1 Corinthians 6:18


This biblical witness shows that when error endangers the flock, leaders and laypeople alike should issue precise, Scripture-anchored warnings—including names when necessary—for the sake of truth, repentance, and protection. This foundational Christianity is our measure, what we are to test, not only others, but ourselves, to see that we are truly right with God. This test works with denominational theology, self-professed Christian organizations, speakers, "coaches", prophets, or any other self-appointed title, group, or system of belief claiming to be Christian. If they fail this test, they are NOT biblical Christians according to the Word of God.


1 Corinthians 4:5 — "…[the Lord] will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and make manifest the motives of hearts…"


2 Corinthians 4:2 — "But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth…"


Ephesians 5:11–13 — "And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light…"


Ecclesiastes 12:14 — For God will bring every work to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.


These essentials are the fixed points of the Christian faith. They define the gospel we proclaim, the church we build, and the hope we hold. We must cling to them, contend for them, and lovingly call others to them. In the coming posts, we will expose common distortions of these truths, test popular teachers and movements by Scripture, and equip you to discern truth from error so that you can “hold fast the faithful word” and avoid those who are, by Scripture’s own verdict, false teachers and cursed. Titus 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

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