How To Recognize False Teachers
3. Isaiah 8:20 Look to Gods instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.
4. Malachi 3:18 Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
5. Matthew 7:15-17 Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
6. 1 John 2:22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ.Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.
7. Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Now those who belong to the Messiah Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also be guided. Lets stop being arrogant, provoking one another and envying one another.
Christian Quotes About False Teachers
Todays church cannot remain faithful if it tolerates false teachers and leaves their teachings uncorrected and unconfronted. Albert Mohler
You can believe in whatsoever you like, but the truth remains the truth, no matter how sweet the lie may taste. Michael Bassey Johnson
If a person claim, Thus says the Lord and told you something but it contradicts the Bible it is not the truth. Dexsta Ray
We should no more tolerate false doctrine than we should tolerate sin. J.C. Ryle
Theres a name for pastors who never speak of sin, repentance, or hell. Theyre called false teachers.
Because my pastor told me so will not be a valid excuse for when you stand before the creator to give an account for your life.
The minister who caters his message to the whims of the world, telling unregenerate hearts only what they want to hear, has sold out. John Macarthur
The Churchs greatest mistakes occur when the people of God honor what a leader says without examining that instruction in the light of scripture. Bryan Chapell
People who call out false teachers are not divisive . People who embrace false teachers are divisive and can be deadly.
It is the nature of all hypocrites and false prophets to create a conscience where there is none, and to cause conscience to disappear where it does exist. Martin Luther
False teachers invite people to come to the Masters table because of whats on it, not because they love the Master. Hank Hanegraaff
Beware Of False Teachers
Just as the true prophets of Israel had to deal with the prophets of foreign gods and false prophets from among the people of the land, the apostles confronted false teaching from within the church and from without. The New Testament Epistles offer several characteristics of false teachers and those susceptible to their teachings.
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They Hardly Teach Repentance Forgiveness And Salvation
It is common in a lot of churches nowadays.
No one wants to say the truth to their congregation for fear of losing their members.
They are only concerned about preaching what the congregations want to hear.
They fear repercussions and therefore continue to spread lies.
False prophets hardly teach the gospel truths.
They only teach healing, financial prosperity and perform lots of fake miracles.
A true prophet is only concerned about the truth of the scriptures. Therefore, he speaks the truth and nothing else.
He is primarily concerned about the salvation of his congregation. He understands that all we have in life is vanity, and we must strive to be saved in the end.
He rebukes sin when he sees it and is never ashamed, to tell the truth.
False Doctrine Does Not Agree With Godly Teaching
InterpretationQuestion: What does Paul mean by stating that false teaching does not agree with godly teaching ?
False teaching will often teach license to sin freedom to disobey Gods law. Or it fails to produce holiness in the lives of those who follow it. This verse can be translated, These teachings do not promote a godly life or does not agree withthe teaching that accords with godliness . Since false teaching is worldly and from the flesh, it cannot produce the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, and self-control. In Colossians 2:21-23, Paul says this about a specific false teaching attacking Colosse:
Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch! These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings. Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the bodya wisdom with no true valuethey in reality result in fleshly indulgence.
When testing doctrine, we must ask, Does it lead to holiness? Does it teach correct Christology? Does it agree with the rest of Scripture? Does it teach submission to authorities or rebellion? While a true teacher is known for faithfully teaching Gods Word, a false teacher perverts it.
ApplicationQuestion: What are some of the prevalent false teachings attacking the church? How have you experienced them?
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How Can We Tell If Someone Is A False Prophet
God offers instruction on how His people can determine true from false prophets. In Deuteronomy 18:22, He explains, If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us to beware false prophets, who appear gentle but are not.
They come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them .
The bottom line is that false prophets bring a message that is not from God. Their message contradicts what God instructs, often appealing to our earthly cravings or passions. And ultimately, they produce bad fruit.
Trust instead in Jesus and the Word of God as given to us all in the Bible.
Avoid Rebuke Call Out
To avoid them, you have to know who they are. You cant avoid somebody if you dont know who they are. This idea of identifying and avoiding shows up in 1 Corinthians 5:11 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14 2 Timothy 3:5 2 John 10. In other words, Christians, and shepherds in particular, should be discerning and alert to behavior and teaching that dishonors Christ and destroys people and not treat it in a casual or harmless way.
And then in 1 Timothy 5:1920, Paul went beyond just avoid them to rebuke them publicly. So, speaking of elders who persist in error, he said, Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin and that can be sin of false doctrine or sin of evil behavior, anyone who does not accept correction rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear..
And then Paul went on and actually named destructive false teachers:
- Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me .
- You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes .
- By rejecting this , some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander .
- Their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus .
Paul names at least six false teachers that the church should watch out for.
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False Teaching Can Result From And Lead To Inappropriate Sensuality And Sexual Immorality
The idolatrous fixation on immoral behavior can yield false teaching. These false teachers do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites . As Peter observes, many will follow their sensuality , and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed . Teaching rooted in immoral desires yields immoral behavior. The risen Lord warns the churches in Pergamum and Thyatira about teachings that lead his servants to practice sexual immorality . In a postsexual revolution Western culture, people still their own sinful desires and accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions . Sensual urges and lust still motivate many to deny biblical truth about Gods design for sex and marriage and to justify atrocities like human abortion.
The Imitation Of Christ
He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, saith the Lord. These are the words of Christ and they direct us to imitate his life and character. The Imitation of Christ is a guide to following the example of Jesus Christ. It should be our most earnest study to dwell upon the life of Jesus Christ. The Imitation of Christ.
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False Teaching Is Sometimes Attributed To Demonic Deception
Some who depart the faith do so because they pay attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons . Paul cautions against affirming false apostles who are like Satan, who masquerades as an angel of light . Paul forewarns Galatian Christians not to believe any other gospel even if an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you . Not every spiritual work is from God. The spirit of the messenger and the message must be tested because, as John insists, spirits who do not confess Jesus are not from God .
Not every spiritual work is from God. The spirit of the messenger and the message must be tested.
They Misinterpret The Scriptures To Suit Their Selfish Aims
This is one of the most characteristic signs of fake pastors.
They are evil from their heart and dont care about the repercussions of their actions.
They misinterpret the scripture to deceive the gullible.
And God has promised that they will be judged in the end if they dont repent.
Just yesterday, I saw a video of a supposed man of God saying, If someone hits you, hit them back. He continued, after all, Jesus said that we would do greater things.
This so-called prophet has misinterpreted Christs message in John 14:12-14.
This is entirely a misinterpretation of the scriptures concerning love. Christ teaches that we love our enemies and do good to those that hate us.
But dont get me wrong. Most churches have different doctrines, of which some are misleading.
As Christians, we should be watchful and examine the gospel through the word of God.
Does the doctrine fall in line with Gods word?
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The Five Tests Of False Doctrine
T.D. Jakes says that God eternally exists in three manifestations, not three persons. Greg Boyd says God knows some aspects of the future, but that other future events are outside of his knowledge. Creflo Dollar says because we are created in the image of God, we are little gods. Mormonism says God revealed new scripture to Joseph Smith that supersedes the Bible. Roman Catholicism says we are justified by faith, but not by faith alone. This world is a murky madness of true and false. For every doctrine we know to be true, there seems to be a hundred pretenders.
False Teachers Are Men
False teachers are men-pleasers . They preach more to please the ear than to profit the heart: ‘Which say to the seers, See not and to the prophets, Prophecy no unto us right things: speak to us smooth things prophecy deceits” . ‘A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so. And what will you do in the end thereof?’ . They handle holy things rather with wit and dalliance then with fear and reverence. False teachers are soul-undoers. They are like evil chirurgeons, that skin over the wound, but never heal it. Flattery undid Ahab and Herod, Nero and Alexander. False teachers are hell’s greatest enrichers. Non acerba, sed blanda, Not bitter, but flattering words do all the mischief, said Valerian, the Roman emperor. Such smooth teachers are sweet soul-poisoners .
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False Teachers Are Pre
In John 10:11-13, Christ said that when the wolf comes the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep, but the hireling just runs away. Many false teachers focus exclusively on making money. Peter compared them to the false prophet Balaam. In 2 Peter 2:15, he said, By forsaking the right path they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. They minister in order to receive pay.
However, Paul declared that he I have desired no ones silver or gold or clothing . He also at times refused support from churches so they could not accuse him of greed . Sadly, many ministers and ministries promote themselves with the primary goal of making money.
Be careful of ministries and teachers that focus on money. Should pastors get paid? Yes. Should church members be cheerful givers? Yes. However, ministries should not focus on moneythey should focus on God and serving others. Be careful of ministries and teachers who are pre-occupied with money.
False Teachers Seek To Divide The Body Of Christ
Paul cautioned the church at Rome about those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught . In his admonition to Titus to avoid foolish controversies and quarrels about the law , Paul remarks, As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful he is self-condemned . Those who cause division are worldly, devoid of the Spirit, and are relentlessly pursuing their own ungodly passions .
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Watch Out For False Doctrine
11. Galatians 1:7-8 not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell!
12. 2 John 1:10-11 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting, because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds.
13. Romans 16:17-18 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset peoples faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.
14. Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
False Teachers And Their Destruction
2 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought thembringing swift destruction on themselves.2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless8 living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.
Footnotes
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False Teachers Are Identified By Their False Doctrine
If someone spreads false teachings and does not agree with sound words and with the teaching that accords with godliness
1 Timothy 6:3
When Christ said, by their fruit we would recognize them, clearly, one of those fruits is their teaching . When evaluating a preacher or teacher, we must consider his or her doctrine. In verse 3, Paul gives several characteristics of false doctrine.
ObservationQuestion: What are characteristics of false doctrine?
False Teachers Gain From Their Followers
False teachers make merchandise of their followers. ‘But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not’ . They eye your goods more than your good and mind more the serving of themselves, than the saving of your souls. So they may have your substance, they care not though Satan has your souls . That they may the better pick your purse, they will hold forth such principles as are very indulgent to the flesh. False teachers are the great worshippers of the golden calf .
Now, by these characters you may know them, and so shun them, and deliver your souls out of their dangerous snares which that you may, my prayers shall meet-yours at the throne of grace.
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