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? Do 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.
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.
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.
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 falseteachers, 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?
“… 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)
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!
(Job 11:11)
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
