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b'In most crime shows there is at least one episode involving something\\ncounterfeit: currency, artwork, even identities. While many of these shows\\ndepict the criminals using state-of-the-art technology to create their\\nfakes, they are really just using the newest toys to commit the oldest\\ncrimes. People have needed a way to spot forgeries for ages. But how do\\nthey do it? I once heard a story about an FBI agent who talked about\\nmethods of spotting counterfeit money. Holding up a crisp twenty-dollar\\nbill, the agent said the best way to catch a fake was to study this\\u2014the\\nreal thing. They don\\u2019t study the endless ways something could be made\\ncounterfeit; they study the details of the real thing. In the Bible,\\nteachers like Paul were constantly warning fellow Christians about false\\n(or counterfeit) teachers. So, should we go around assuming no teacher can\\nbe trusted? That won\\u2019t work, because the Bible makes it clear we need\\nmentors, teachers, and trusted friends to help us grow. Instead, we can\\nlearn from the FBI\\u2019s counterfeit-spotting techniques. To recognize a fake,\\nwe need to study the real thing, aka the Bible. In the book of Genesis, we\\ncan learn about the first counterfeit truth ever told to Eve and Adam\\n(chapter 3). Because humans listened to a lie and rebelled against God, our\\nrelationship with our Creator was broken. But that wasn\\u2019t the end of the\\nstory. Throughout the Old Testament, God prepared to send His Son, Jesus\\nChrist, who is called not only \\u201cthe truth,\\u201d but also \\u201cthe way\\u201d and \\u201cthe\\nlife\\u201d (John 14:6). Jesus didn\\u2019t just teach us about the way to be made\\nright with God, He literally made the way for us through His death and\\nresurrection. The gospel is the greatest treasure, and we surely wouldn\\u2019t\\nwant a counterfeit of it. \\u2022 Abigail Scibiur \\u2022 How does focusing on Jesus\\nhelp us recognize counterfeit teachings? \\u2022 The Christians in Galatia\\nstarted following a false teaching, so Paul reminded them of the true\\ngospel\\u2014the good news about Jesus dying and rising from the dead to forgive\\nus and make us right with God. Paul explained these truths and urged the\\nGalatians to reject false teachings (Galatians 1:6-8; 3:1\\u2013 4:7). Who are\\ntrusted Christians in your life who could help you discern false messages\\nby comparing them to the gospel? Do you have any questions you could ask\\nthem about now? (You can also learn more about the gospel on the \\u201cKnow\\nJesus\\u201d page.) Jesus answered, \\u201cI am the way and the truth and the life. No\\none comes to the Father except through me.\\u201d John 14:6 (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\n1Tim.6.3-1Tim.6.16|John.14.6'