Do we know who it is that we are following?

There are many "Christian" leaders being followed today, these leaders have leaders themselves with those leaders having leaders which predated them. This procession goes back on through to the reformation, and the entire history of the Catholic "Church" right on through to the days of Paul when he said the following.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also OF YOUR OWN SELVES shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away DISCIPLES AFTER THEM.
Act 20:31 Therefore WATCH, and REMEMBER, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day WITH TEARS.
Paul gives one final warning, after warning night and day with TEARS about what was about to happen. Ravenous wolves came in soon after and did not spare the flock in order to draw away disciples from Christ to themselves. Paul calls them Ravenous Wolves for doing so.
It's a common belief to believe that because we're following religious leaders from 2 to 5 hundred years ago or even religious writings from the 2nd century like those of Justin Martyr that we're following some good ole time religion that is free of modern corruptions like prosperity preachers or rock concerts being passed as worship. Although the religions that are being followed may be old, it certainly doesn't make them good. We tend to compare the old hymns to modern "christian" rock and take that as some kind of assurance that we're in the true faith but that is not the standard for Truth. The standard for Truth is The Gospel, also known as the Doctrine of Christ, The Law of Christ and the Testimony of Christ in the scriptures, this is the faith that Yahshua Authored.
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Yahshua the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the stake, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim.
One of these leaders is the Father of the Catholic Reformation, Martin Luther. Martin Luther is also the father of the widely accepted "Faith Alone" doctrine, but he also kept many of the Catholic doctrines such as Sabbath to Sunday move, replacing Yahweh's Feasts with Christmas and Easter (Pagan holidays that predate Christ), the eating of unclean foods , veneration of saints, certain sacraments, etc.. It's estimated that there are about 1 billion protestants in the world today, of which the overwhelming majority follow Luther's teachings in one way or another and subsequently follow Catholic tradition. It's both interesting and expected that this man has garnered such a huge following preaching such a broad path. Listen to what the mediator of the New Covenant has to say about the Law, the path that leads to eternal life, false prophets and the final day of judgement.
Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Yahshua taught that the Law and the prophets teach us to love our neighbor and equated the Law to Love.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait(narrow) gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
The actual path that leads to life is not a broad path and there are not a lot of people on it. Just how narrow is it? Yahshua gives more information in the below verses.
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT.
Only a few will find that gate because it truly is hidden in Christ (I cannot overstate this). All we have to do is put our faith in the Word that Christ spoke.
Mat 7:15 BEWARE of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
This instruction should be kept in mind when looking at the father of the Catholic reformation.
Just how corrupt was his fruit?
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Master, Master, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; BUT HE THAT DOETH the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 MANY will say to me in that day, Master, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works(Miracles)?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity(anomia- transgression of law).
The Greek word Anomia means to transgress the Law, which is the definition of sin throughout the Bible. Yahshua is saying that it is those that work iniquity that bring forth corrupt fruit and they will be rejected and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth THESE SAYINGS OF MINE AND DOETH THEM, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Once again Yahshua points to His own words as being the path that leads to eternal life. He did not point to Paul and He most certainly did not point to Luther. Luther took a few choice verses from Paul's letters to the Roman and Galatian Assemblies and created doctrines that completely contradict the Doctrine of Christ, all the while retaining many of the falsehoods espoused by the Catholic Church. The result of this marriage between Luther's and Catholicism's doctrines are the over 40,000 denominations that we have today.
Luther had a very unique way of focusing on specific scriptures ,while ignoring the ones that completely contradicted his own doctrine. Look at his interpretation of the below verses.
"The Jews are a people who have persecuted the prophets and continue to reject the message of salvation. As it says in 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16, they killed Lesus and are the enemies of all mankind."
Another example.
"They (the Jews) are the synagogue of Satan, as it says in Revelation 2:9. Their rejection of Christ makes them part of Satan’s work in the world."
And another...
"The Jews are a people who do not recognize Christ as their Messiah. Therefore, they are children of the devil, AS CHRIST HIMSELF SAID in John 8:44."
Christ was not speaking to all Jew's in John 8:44. He was speaking of people that had a murderous spirit and that rejected His Words. Look at the verses that precede it.
Joh 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of Elohim: this did not Abraham.
These specific people were murderous and this is not a trait specific to any one people as we will see a little later.
Joh 8:42 Yahshua said unto them, If Elohim were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from Elohim; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even BECAUSE YOU CANNOT HEAR MY WORD.
They could neither understand His speech nor hear His Word. Yahshua was speaking about these specific people that were murderous and rejected His Words.
Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Yahshua spoke nothing but Truth.
Joh 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, WHY DO YOU NOT BELIEVE ME?
Joh 8:47 He that is of Elohim heareth Elohim's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of Elohim.
Look at the below quotes from a pamphlet authored by Luther called "The Jew's and their Lies".
"First, their synagogues or churches should be set on fire, and whatever does not burn up should be covered or spread over with dirt, so that no one may ever be able to see a stone or cinder of it."
"Second, their homes should likewise be broken down and destroyed. For they pursue the same aim as they do in their synagogues."
"We should likewise forbid the Jews to usury...We should not allow them to own any land, as they are nothing but parasites."
"Let me give you my honest advice: the Jews are a useless people... they are parasites who do not belong in society."
Instead of hearing John Chapter 8 and examining his own heart. Luther used it to justify the root of bitterness within himseld while provoking people to commit hateful, murderous acts against the Jewish people. He must have justified himself with scripture quite a bit in order to sink to these levels. In his mind he was justified but not according the Gospel of Christ (Christ's Words). He was guilty of the exact same things that the people Yahshua called "Children of the Devil" were guilty of. He did not hear Yahshua's words and he provoked people to hatred and murder. Ironically this is the person that people are listening to for understanding about justification through Faith in Christ.
The following is just an exercise. I'm not claiming to know Luther's fate or whether He repented of all of this wickedness he committed or not. That said, Imagine that it's the day of judgement... you're standing in line to get to the Judgement Seat... You raise your head and see Luther being judged, not by his own doctrines, but by the very Words of Christ that he taught against. A few moments later he's thrown into the lake of fire. Now you're standing there waiting your turn, all the while knowing that this is the man that you decided to place your faith in when you should have placed your faith in Christ. What a terrible thought, but it's one we should be aware of because this is exactly what Christ warned about.
Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, BOTH shall fall into the ditch.
Luther's doctrines were instrumental in the Nazi's efforts to exterminate the last known tribe of Israel from off the face of the planet. These efforts failed only after murdering upwards of 7 million Jews and torturing and raping countless others. Just as terrifying is the thought of the innumerable multitude of people that have followed this mans teachings to the grave when they should have been following Yahshua.
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear MY VOICE, and I know them, and THEY FOLLOW ME:
Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.