For a long time I have been burdened by the knowledge that the church is full of false teachers and prophets. Their teaching has damaged, even destroyed many in the church. Many, although not all, of these teachers lead very large congregations and have huge organizations and thousands of followers. Each week the prayer group of my church prays against false teaching and specifically that false teachers and prophets be identified, exposed and discredited. This post is my extension of that prayer and to my readers to help you identify, expose and discredit the false teaching that is running rampant throughout the Body of Christ.
There have always been false prophets and teachers
2 Peter 2:1 (HCSB)1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves.
In the Old Testament, we find prophets in Israel who claimed to speak for God, but who were clearly false prophets.
1 Kings 22:5-6, 23 (HCSB)5 But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what the LORD’s will is.”6 So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about 400 men, and asked them, “Should I go against Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain?” They replied, “March up, and the Lord will hand it over to the king.”23 “You see, the LORD has put a lying spirit into the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”
Ezekiel 13:2 (HCSB)2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD!
Jesus warned us about false prophets.
Matthew 24:24-27 (HCSB)24 False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.25 Take note: I have told you in advance.26 So if they tell you, ‘Look, He’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; ‘Look, He’s in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
There were also other warnings.
2 Peter 3:3 (HCSB)3 First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, living according to their own desires,
Jude 1:17-19 (HCSB)17 But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;18 they told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers walking according to their own ungodly desires.”19 These people create divisions and are unbelievers, not having the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 11:12-15 (HCSB)12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about.13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.15 So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.
The Dangers of False Teaching
Paul described this false teaching as another gospel.
2 Corinthians 11:4 (HCSB)4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!
Galatians 1:11-12 (HCSB)11 Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not based on human thought.12 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation from Jesus Christ.
The danger of false teaching is that it ruins the people who listen; it shames the people who teach; it increases ungodliness; and it spreads like gangrene. It leads many Christians astray and causes them to become disillusioned with the church. False teaching causes confusion, disagreements, and disorder rather than love.
2 Timothy 2:14 (HCSB)14 Remind them of these things, charging them before God not to fight about words; this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers.
This gospel is not from God but from Satan.
2 Corinthians 11:12-15 (HCSB)12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about.13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.15 So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.
Galatians 1:6-9 (HCSB)6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ ⌊and are turning⌋ to a different gospel--7 not that there is another ⌊gospel⌋, but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the good news about the Messiah.8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him!9 As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!
The best way to guard yourself against false teachers and teaching is to know the truth. Careful study of the Word of God will help you identify a counterfeit because once you know the genuine article you will be able to quickly identify a fake.
2 Timothy 2:15 (HCSB)15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.
There have always been false prophets and teachers
2 Peter 2:1 (HCSB)1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves.
In the Old Testament, we find prophets in Israel who claimed to speak for God, but who were clearly false prophets.
1 Kings 22:5-6, 23 (HCSB)5 But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what the LORD’s will is.”6 So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about 400 men, and asked them, “Should I go against Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain?” They replied, “March up, and the Lord will hand it over to the king.”23 “You see, the LORD has put a lying spirit into the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”
Ezekiel 13:2 (HCSB)2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD!
Jesus warned us about false prophets.
Matthew 24:24-27 (HCSB)24 False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.25 Take note: I have told you in advance.26 So if they tell you, ‘Look, He’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; ‘Look, He’s in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
There were also other warnings.
2 Peter 3:3 (HCSB)3 First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, living according to their own desires,
Jude 1:17-19 (HCSB)17 But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;18 they told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers walking according to their own ungodly desires.”19 These people create divisions and are unbelievers, not having the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 11:12-15 (HCSB)12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about.13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.15 So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.
The Dangers of False Teaching
Paul described this false teaching as another gospel.
2 Corinthians 11:4 (HCSB)4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!
Galatians 1:11-12 (HCSB)11 Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not based on human thought.12 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation from Jesus Christ.
The danger of false teaching is that it ruins the people who listen; it shames the people who teach; it increases ungodliness; and it spreads like gangrene. It leads many Christians astray and causes them to become disillusioned with the church. False teaching causes confusion, disagreements, and disorder rather than love.
2 Timothy 2:14 (HCSB)14 Remind them of these things, charging them before God not to fight about words; this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers.
This gospel is not from God but from Satan.
2 Corinthians 11:12-15 (HCSB)12 But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about.13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.15 So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.
Galatians 1:6-9 (HCSB)6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ ⌊and are turning⌋ to a different gospel--7 not that there is another ⌊gospel⌋, but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the good news about the Messiah.8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him!9 As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!
The best way to guard yourself against false teachers and teaching is to know the truth. Careful study of the Word of God will help you identify a counterfeit because once you know the genuine article you will be able to quickly identify a fake.
2 Timothy 2:15 (HCSB)15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.
False Teachers
Paul describes false teachers as people who teach that you had to obey the Mosaic law and all the trappings that go along with it including the genealogies and then the myths that they dreamed up. He said that they didn’t understand what they were saying and insisting on.
1 Timothy 1:7-9 (HCSB)7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.8 But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately.9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers
These people were teaching that the way to salvation was through strict obedience to the Mosaic law, in other words works, not through the grace of God.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (HCSB)8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift--9 not from works, so that no one can boast.10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
How to Identify False Teachers
You can identify false teachers by their teachings. If there is an uneasy feeling that it doesn’t square up with Scripture, then study the Word to see if it either lines up with biblical doctrine or it doesn’t.
Titus 1:16 (HCSB)16 They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.
Matthew 12:33 (HCSB)33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
Here are some tests to determine whether the teaching is true or false.
1) What does this teacher say about Jesus?
Any person who challenges Jesus Christ's work of redemption is suspect. If they deny that Jesus is equal with God, or downplay His sacrificial death, or reject His humanity, refusing to teach that He is at once fully God and fully man, then they are false teachers.
Matthew 16:15-16 (HCSB)15 “But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”
2 John 1:9 (HCSB)9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son.
1 John 2:22 (HCSB)22 Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son.
2) Does this teacher preach the gospel?
The gospel is the good news concerning Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (HCSB)1 Now brothers, I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand on it.2 You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you—unless you believed for no purpose.3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Things like “God loves you,” “God wants us to feed the hungry,” and “God wants you to be wealthy” sound wonderful, and are wonderful, but they are not the complete message of the gospel. Current events and the injustices of this fallen world are of great importance to the Church and to Christians, but they are not the gospel. No matter how great the orator or preacher if their primary message is not the gospel of Christ...... beware.
3) Does this teacher exhibit character that glorifies the Lord?
Jude11 (HCSB)11 Woe to them! For they have traveled in the way of Cain, have abandoned themselves to the error of Balaam for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
Jesus said we would know these false teachers by their fruits;
Matthew 7:15-20 (HCSB)15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
False Prophets
A prophet speaks divinely inspired messages to others. God tells the prophet what to say and the prophet tells others what God said. I want to emphasize that prophecy is forth telling not fortune telling. Prophecy is speaking the word of God that He gives to individuals for edification, not fortune telling.
How to Identify a False Prophet
What about somebody who prophesies something and it comes true?
Deuteronomy 13:1-3 (HCSB)1 “If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,2 and that sign or wonder he has promised you comes about, but he says, ‘Let us follow other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us worship them,’3 do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul.
Paul describes false teachers as people who teach that you had to obey the Mosaic law and all the trappings that go along with it including the genealogies and then the myths that they dreamed up. He said that they didn’t understand what they were saying and insisting on.
1 Timothy 1:7-9 (HCSB)7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.8 But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately.9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers
These people were teaching that the way to salvation was through strict obedience to the Mosaic law, in other words works, not through the grace of God.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (HCSB)8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift--9 not from works, so that no one can boast.10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
How to Identify False Teachers
You can identify false teachers by their teachings. If there is an uneasy feeling that it doesn’t square up with Scripture, then study the Word to see if it either lines up with biblical doctrine or it doesn’t.
Titus 1:16 (HCSB)16 They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.
Matthew 12:33 (HCSB)33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
Here are some tests to determine whether the teaching is true or false.
1) What does this teacher say about Jesus?
Any person who challenges Jesus Christ's work of redemption is suspect. If they deny that Jesus is equal with God, or downplay His sacrificial death, or reject His humanity, refusing to teach that He is at once fully God and fully man, then they are false teachers.
Matthew 16:15-16 (HCSB)15 “But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”
2 John 1:9 (HCSB)9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son.
1 John 2:22 (HCSB)22 Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son.
2) Does this teacher preach the gospel?
The gospel is the good news concerning Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (HCSB)1 Now brothers, I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand on it.2 You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you—unless you believed for no purpose.3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Things like “God loves you,” “God wants us to feed the hungry,” and “God wants you to be wealthy” sound wonderful, and are wonderful, but they are not the complete message of the gospel. Current events and the injustices of this fallen world are of great importance to the Church and to Christians, but they are not the gospel. No matter how great the orator or preacher if their primary message is not the gospel of Christ...... beware.
3) Does this teacher exhibit character that glorifies the Lord?
Jude11 (HCSB)11 Woe to them! For they have traveled in the way of Cain, have abandoned themselves to the error of Balaam for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
Jesus said we would know these false teachers by their fruits;
Matthew 7:15-20 (HCSB)15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
False Prophets
A prophet speaks divinely inspired messages to others. God tells the prophet what to say and the prophet tells others what God said. I want to emphasize that prophecy is forth telling not fortune telling. Prophecy is speaking the word of God that He gives to individuals for edification, not fortune telling.
How to Identify a False Prophet
- Have all their prophecies come true and have they been 100 percent accurate without any manipulation?
- Does the prophet point to anyone other than the Jesus?
- Does the prophet use supernatural or occultist techniques in their prophecy?
- Does the supposed prophet have a rebellious, unrepentant spirit?
What about somebody who prophesies something and it comes true?
Deuteronomy 13:1-3 (HCSB)1 “If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,2 and that sign or wonder he has promised you comes about, but he says, ‘Let us follow other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us worship them,’3 do not listen to that prophet’s words or to that dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul.
Photo by Bart Christiaanse on Unsplash Be on Your Guard
by Laura MacCorkle
Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 2 Peter 3:17, NIV
Who of us doesn’t remember a film, television show, book or play with some swordsman in chainmail declaring, “On guard!” before engaging in a duel with someone else?
In that type of adversarial situation, the warning is said to alert the other party that “I’m armed, so prepare to defend yourself.” And in light of the current belief battles going on today within evangelical Christianity, that meaning has been front and center in my head and heart—especially after reading through today’s verse in 2 Peter.
I did a little further study and found what I read in the New Testament portion of The Bible Knowledge Commentary to be quite helpful in understanding this passage:
If [Peter’s] readers were not careful, they could be carried away by the error of lawless men … The verb “carried away” emphasizes a group or corporate movement. False teachers are not satisfied with ambushing one or two, now and then, here and there; they want to sweep large groups of people away from the correct doctrine of Christ. Those who keep company with such people are in danger of being led astray.
I don’t need or want to name prominent names or cite recent book titles or the like within the Christian bubble, as I’m sure that one or many have already come to your mind by this point in today’s devotional. Sadly, false teaching is everywhere these days and only seems to be gaining momentum as we head further into the twenty-first century.
It’s alarming, for sure, to hear those who are in pastoral, shepherding or leadership positions mishandle God’s Word or imply that there is suddenly a new “change” in the meaning of scriptural doctrines that trained theologians and Bible scholars have agreed upon for centuries prior.
But Truth is supposedly relative in the world where we now live, isn’t it? What’s true for you may not be true for me and so forth. Right? So how do we arm ourselves and follow Peter’s instruction to “be on your guard” as believers?
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
First, there’s grace. Unmerited favor from God. How do we grow in that? By reminding ourselves continually of what God did for each and every one of us. If we don’t understand grace, then we will never know who God is, what he stands for and what a right relationship with him looks like. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). When we get that, in turn, our lives will be lived from a place of humility and in testimony of what God has done through us.
And then there’s knowledge. We will only grow spiritually and know God as much as we can in this life if we know the Word. And that doesn’t begin and end only with what someone says the Bible says (which isn’t bad in and of itself). But it means reading the Bible for yourselfon a continuing basis, so that it will take root in your heart and inform your thinking and your actions. There is no better way to mature in the Lord and know Truth (and be corrected in your thinking, if it’s “stinking”) than to spend time getting to know God through the Word.
No one else can have your spiritual relationship for you. And anyone who leads you away from Truth is leading you away from a secure position. So be on your guard. And get in there, dig deep and know His unchanging truth.
by Laura MacCorkle
Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 2 Peter 3:17, NIV
Who of us doesn’t remember a film, television show, book or play with some swordsman in chainmail declaring, “On guard!” before engaging in a duel with someone else?
In that type of adversarial situation, the warning is said to alert the other party that “I’m armed, so prepare to defend yourself.” And in light of the current belief battles going on today within evangelical Christianity, that meaning has been front and center in my head and heart—especially after reading through today’s verse in 2 Peter.
I did a little further study and found what I read in the New Testament portion of The Bible Knowledge Commentary to be quite helpful in understanding this passage:
If [Peter’s] readers were not careful, they could be carried away by the error of lawless men … The verb “carried away” emphasizes a group or corporate movement. False teachers are not satisfied with ambushing one or two, now and then, here and there; they want to sweep large groups of people away from the correct doctrine of Christ. Those who keep company with such people are in danger of being led astray.
I don’t need or want to name prominent names or cite recent book titles or the like within the Christian bubble, as I’m sure that one or many have already come to your mind by this point in today’s devotional. Sadly, false teaching is everywhere these days and only seems to be gaining momentum as we head further into the twenty-first century.
It’s alarming, for sure, to hear those who are in pastoral, shepherding or leadership positions mishandle God’s Word or imply that there is suddenly a new “change” in the meaning of scriptural doctrines that trained theologians and Bible scholars have agreed upon for centuries prior.
But Truth is supposedly relative in the world where we now live, isn’t it? What’s true for you may not be true for me and so forth. Right? So how do we arm ourselves and follow Peter’s instruction to “be on your guard” as believers?
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
First, there’s grace. Unmerited favor from God. How do we grow in that? By reminding ourselves continually of what God did for each and every one of us. If we don’t understand grace, then we will never know who God is, what he stands for and what a right relationship with him looks like. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). When we get that, in turn, our lives will be lived from a place of humility and in testimony of what God has done through us.
And then there’s knowledge. We will only grow spiritually and know God as much as we can in this life if we know the Word. And that doesn’t begin and end only with what someone says the Bible says (which isn’t bad in and of itself). But it means reading the Bible for yourselfon a continuing basis, so that it will take root in your heart and inform your thinking and your actions. There is no better way to mature in the Lord and know Truth (and be corrected in your thinking, if it’s “stinking”) than to spend time getting to know God through the Word.
No one else can have your spiritual relationship for you. And anyone who leads you away from Truth is leading you away from a secure position. So be on your guard. And get in there, dig deep and know His unchanging truth.
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