07/09/2026
Characteristics of a Cult
A cult is a PERVERSION and DISTORTION of Biblical Christianity and a rejection of the historic teachings of the Christian Church. E.g., Church History, Arius etc 1 Jn 4:1,2 2 Tim 4:3,4
Grace or Works
One teaching absent from all of the cults is the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith, for them it is always faith through works or baptism etc. Eph 2:8-10 1 Tim 4:1
New Revelation
Many cults promote a false idea that God has revealed something special to them, something NEW that has never been revealed before Gal 1:6-9 or if they have no claim to NEW truth they may believe that they and they alone have the key to interpreting the mysteries of the Bible 2 Pet 1:6-9 eg. Roman Catholicism or Herbert Armstrong (Armstrongism)
Some cults have writings or source of authority that in their opinion supercedes the Bible eg. Mormons. A sure mark of a cult is that the final authority on spiritual matters rests on something other than the plain teaching of Holy Scripture.
Trinity
One characteristic that is found in all cults is false teaching concerning the person of Jesus Christ. Paul warned the church about following after another Jesus. 2 Cor 11:4 No matter what the particular beliefs of any cult may be, the one common denominator is that they all possess denial of the Biblical teaching on the deity of Jesus Christ.
Another characteristic of cults is either an inadequate view or total denial of the Holy Trinity. They usually say that the Biblical doctrine of the Trinity, one God in three persons, is of satanic origin or Pagan. Cults are therefore marked by their deviation on the doctrine of the Trinity and the nature of God.
Change of Beliefs
Many cultic groups say one thing publicly but internally they believe something totally different eg. Mormons in their first article of faith say “ we believe in his son Jesus Christ” this could mislead many into thinking that they are “Christian” when they are not, as you look deeper into their doctrines you will find that their teachings totally contradict the teachings of Orthodox Christianity.
