I’ve heard a lot of Christians talking about false teachers more often these days. What I don't hear being discussed is how we will recognize a false teacher. Are they true or false teachers?
Did
you know?
False
teachers actually love to enjoy their evil pleasures in broad daylight! They
are like “unthinking animals.” They also delight in deceiving you, even while
they are right there eating among you in your Christian fellowship meals! They
are a disgrace, but do you recognize them? (Based on 2 Peter 2:12-13)
False
teachers are at our churches. They may be in our Bible study groups. They may
even come to our homes.
“They will act religious, but they will
reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”
(2 Timothy 3:5)
“Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its
fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” (Matthew 7:20)
It takes time
to “see the fruit” of a person. We need to see how people act or better yet how
they don’t act! We need to see what people will actually do and what they won’t
do. Then we can have a better idea of who they really are or who they are not.
What they claim by what they speak is insufficient for us to believe them.
Their actions (or inactions) will show you! This takes some time. Patience will
reveal a person’s true intentions, along with prayer and the Word of God.
Did
you know?
False
teachers commit adultery with their eyes because their desire to sin is never
satisfied. False teachers have their own twisted
sexual desires and they lure unstable people (those who have barely escaped a
lifestyle of deception) back into sin. (Based on 2 Peter 2:14, 18)
“They are the kind who work their way into
people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with
the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.” (2 Timothy 3:6)
Where are the
man’s eyes? Are they looking back at you in the face or viewing your body in a
sexual way. Just because you are lonely, doesn’t mean you should allow yourself
to be carried away by evil lusts. This goes both ways with women viewing men
inappropriately, too.
Did
you know?
False teachers have hearts that are
well-trained in greed. They live under God's curse. However, you may recognize
them if you listen carefully because they will scoff at things they don’t
understand. (Based on 2 Peter 2:12, 14)
“In their greed they will
make up clever lies to get ahold of your money. ...” (2 Peter 2:3)
“You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or
greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy
person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by
those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who
disobey Him.” (Ephesians 5:5-6)
False
teachers do not tell you that you must obey God. They live in disobedience themselves.
This is certainly one way to recognize them. For God calls us to obey Him in
every area of our life. The teacher must be pure, moral, and obedient to God.
Did you know?
False teachers promise freedom. Yet,
they themselves are slaves to sin and corruption. They brag about themselves
with empty, foolish boasting and they are doomed to the blackest darkness forever
and want to take you with them! (From: 2 Peter 2;12-19)
You are a slave to whatever controls
you. Don’t forget last month’s blog post on consequences in which God’s Word
tells us: “... Sin is crouching at the
door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
(Genesis 4:7)
Did you know?
False teachers “speak great swelling
words of emptiness.” (2 Peter 2:18)
Unfortunately,
it is common that when a preacher or teacher is speaking in this way (with
“great swelling words of emptiness”), most people don’t recognize it. Instead,
they believe they are being encouraged by what they’re hearing. We need
salvation and the Holy Spirit within us in to determine the truth.
“For the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine (wholesome teaching); but after their own lusts, they
will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them what
their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3)
The
time has already come. It is already evident in our world today by “gay
churches” using a revised “queen James bible version,” and by “nude churches” with
the preacher and those attending church without any clothes on. These heresies
are abominations to a Holy God.
So,
who do you believe? Do you choose what you want to hear and apply only what you
like to your life? There must be a standard and it is God’s standard that must
be applied. We must utilize the Bible (God’s Word) as our standard.
There
was a time when I had “deaf ears” and “blind eyes.” Although I grew up with
morals and a belief in God from my mind, I had yet to fully understand God or
love Him as I should. I had yet not loved God from my heart nor had I
understood that this is, in part, how I could be saved. I didn’t hear or see
the whole truth in the church of my youth.
Most
of what I heard, I tended to believe. However, when there is a wolf in sheep’s
clothing, it’s not always as easy to detect the truth. They are not always easy
to recognize because they wear a disguise.
“Beware of false prophets who come disguised
as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)
We
won’t know what to believe unless we have discernment from the Holy Spirit. We
must believe. We must receive salvation and be born again. We need to get
baptized. Please see my prior blog entries on “Salvation,” “Baptism,” and “Born
Again!” You must first believe in God and in Jesus Christ, not just in your
mind, but in your heart, too. Without him, what will you believe? How will you
know the truth?
We
were warned: “I know that false
teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among
you...” (Acts 20:29)
How will you
know who the false teachers are and who they are not? You must seek God for His
discernment to know the truth! Jesus Christ told us that we will recognize a tree
by its fruit (Matthew 12:33). Does the teacher provide the whole truth of the
gospel, believing and applying these teachings themselves to their own lives?
Do their characteristics glorify God or do they display pride? Does the teacher
display morality and the love of God first and foremost?
Did you know?
“... There were also false prophets in Israel,
just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach
destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. Many will follow
their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the
way of truth will be slandered. (2 Peter 2:1-2)
Thank God for
the following:
“... But God condemned them [the false teachers] long ago, and their destruction will not be
delayed. For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into
hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of
judgment.” (2 Peter 2:3-4)
Did
you know?
False
teachers “despise authority. These people
are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so
much as trembling.” (2 Peter 2:10)
Yet on the
other hand: “... False messiahs and false
prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones.” (Mark
11:22)
“... False teachers are so
eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. ...” (Galatians
4:7)
“And many false prophets will appear and will
deceive many people.” (Mark 24:11 and Matthew
24:11)
If
you didn’t know this, you have now been warned!
“For He [God] knows those who are false, and he takes note of all their sins.”
(Job
11:11)
Did
you know?
Some
who are deceived don’t even realize it about themselves!
“... Evil people and impostors will flourish.
They will deceive others and will themselves be
deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:13)
Wow! To not even
realize it about yourself! Now, that’s something to really think about!
So,
if God knows who is good and who is evil, shouldn’t we seek Him for all truth,
along with His Word in prayer to know who and what to believe? I pray we will
not be deceived. I pray we will all received God’s discernment through our own
obedience and love for God.
“And now I make one more appeal, my dear
brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset
people’s 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.” (Romans 16:17-18)
Until
we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.
God’s Word for Today: “Jesus
told them, ‘Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name,
claiming, “I am the Messiah,” and saying, “The time has come!” They will
deceive many. But don’t believe them.’ ” (Luke 21:8 and Matthew 24:4-5
combined together, as they are nearly identical)
Copyright © 2015 by Patricia
Shehan
All scripture is quoted from various
translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word) and is set it italics.
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