Their Origins
False teachers have been around ever since religion began. The Bible clearly warns us against false teachers, as even in the days of Jesus there were those teaching false things. In John 2:18-19 Jesus speaks of how “many false prophets would come in his name”. In Matthew 24:11 Jesus speaks of “false christs and false prophets” who would arise and try to deceive people.
The Bible also has a great deal to say about false teachers in the New Testament. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitablefor doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”. This means that all believers should be knowledgeable of the Bible and use it to test teachings and promises.
Their Influence
False teachers establish themselves as popular teachers of doctrine and interpretations of the Bible. They often put themselves on a pedestal, claiming to be the “chosen” or “special” followers of God, and these claims are typically without solid foundation. They then use this false authority to lead others into error and their followers away from the truth.
False teaching typically appeals to our natural desires and indulgences, focusing on acquiring wealth, success, and power. They corrupt the purpose of Christianity into meeting the desires and wants of humans, instead of lifting up the followers of Christ to follow Jesus and be spiritually transformed. False teachers also add their own interpretations of the Bible and falsely twist passages to suit their own interests and goals.
Their Desires
False teachers often seek to gain power, influence, and wealth for themselves. They will often use this power to gain a following who will give them money, and they use their resources to promote themselves and their teachings. Their teachings typically remain focused on their materialistic desires rather than God, which can lead to a spiritual corruption and the spread of false teaching.
False teachers often try to convince their followers that they can live a life of luxury and material abundance if they follow the teachings of the false teacher. This is because they are looking to use their followers as a source of income and power. By offering promises of wealth and riches, false teachers can easily entice people into following them and believing their false message.
Their Dangers
False teachers lead people away from the truth and the teachings of the Bible. They often focus on prosperity and material gain rather than spiritual growth and transformation, leading people away from a spiritual relationship with God and into sin.
False teaching can also lead to division in the church, as false teachers often challenge the teachings of the church leadership, twisting the Bible and creating their own interpretations. This can lead to confusion and division amongst the believers, leading people away from a unified body of believers, and into error and apostasy.
Furthermore, false teachers can lead people away from the Word of God and the true gospel. They deceive those who listen to them, leading them away from the teachings of Jesus and the true gospel, leading to confusion and division in the church.
Their Warnings
The Bible is clear in warning us against false teachers. In 2 Peter 2:1, it states “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”
This passage warns us to test the teachings we hear and to be careful not to listen to those who deny the Lord and bring destruction. The Bible instructs us to be discerning and to not listen to those who are teaching false things.
Their Recognition
The Bible warns us to be aware of false teachers and to be careful not to be led astray by their teachings. In 1 John 4:1-6, we are told to “believe not every spirit,but test the spirits whether they are of God:” This passage instructs us to be discerning and to look to the teachings of the Bible in order to test any teachings we hear.
False teaching can be difficult to recognize, as false teachers can be well-spoken and persuasive. We must be vigilant and look to the Word of God to test them and their teachings. We must also strive to stay grounded in the teachings of the Bible and listen to teachings that edify and build up the body of believers in faith and love, instead of those that lead us away from the truth.
Their Consequences
False teaching brings destruction and apostasy, leading away from God and His truth. False teachers will continue to arise, even in the Christian church, and we must be aware of their lies and deceitful teachings.
We must test the teachings we hear and make sure that the teachings are in line with the teachings of the Bible. We must seek out true teachers who will edify and build up the body of believers and lead them closer to the Lord.
False teachers may deceive many, but the Lord will bring judgment and destruction to those who lead people astray. In Deuteronomy 18:20, it states “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die”.
Their Exposure
If we can recognize the signs of false teachers, either through our own discernment or by looking to the teachings of the Bible, we can be better equipped to identify false teaching. We must not be deceived by slick talkers and false promises, but must instead examine the teachings and make sure they line up with the truth of the Word of God.
False teachers must be exposed and their lies must be brought to light. In doing so, we can protect the church from the dangers of false teaching. We must seek out teachers who will edify and build up the body of believers in faith and in love.
Their Fruits
The fruits of false teaching are destruction and apostasy, as they lead away from God and His truth. False teachers typically focus on material and worldly desires, teaching false promises and mansions in the sky. The end result of false teaching is spiritual destruction, as their lies and deception lead away from the Lord instead of pointing people towards Him.
False teaching typically appeals to our earthly desires, rather than our spiritual needs. They can lead people away from the truth and into apostasy, causing confusion and division in the church.
We must be discerning and seek to identify false teachers. We must look to the Bible and its teachings in order to test the teachings of those who claim to be followers of Jesus. We must seek out teachers who will build up the body of believers and bring them closer to the Lord and recognize false teachers when we see them.
Their Antidote
The antidote for false teaching is the Word of God. We must gain a deep and intimate knowledge of the Bible in order to properly test teachings and promises. We must be discerning and examine any teachings we hear in light of the Bible to make sure they line up with its teachings.
We must also seek out teachers who will point us to the teachings of Jesus and His gospel. We must focus on our spiritual needs and on building a relationship with Jesus, rather than worldly desires and false promises.
For those who are followers of Jesus, it is our responsibility to hold ourselves and each other accountable and to reject false teachings when we hear them. We must make sure that the teachings of the church line up with the teachings of the Bible and protect the church from false teaching.
