Guarding Our Faith Exposing False Teachers

[Chad]

Guarding Our Faith Exposing False Teachers
(Radio 8/28/2006)
Charles F. Stanley

Scripture: Revelation 20:10; 2 Peter 1:12-15

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most encouraging and powerful message that has ever fallen upon the ears of man because it is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ that reveals to us the true nature of God. It has shown us how we can be forgiven of our sins; how we can be set free of our sin; how we can have a personal intimate relationship with Jesus Christ; how we can have this awesome assurance of His unconditional love; how we can overcome any fear of death and that can change our eternal destiny.

Is it any wonder that this Book is the battlefield of Satan? He will do his best, has been doing his best to destroy this Book and to destroy the biblical image of who the person of Jesus Christ really and truly is. Satan tried his best to destroy the Person of the Gospel, who is Jesus Christ, and through the centuries has tried to destroy the church, the followers of Jesus Christ and His messengers.

Jesus said the gates of Hell will not be able to prevail against the Body of Christ. Satan is not going to win this battle, but he's at work by trying to undermine the truth of the Gospel in the churches all over the world.
How do you detect false teachers?

• Identify them by their message.
  • Deception
    • Matthew 7:15-23
    • Ephesians 4:22
    • Ephesians 5:6
  • Denial
    • Deny the truth, or some of the truth
    • 2 Peter 2:1-2
  • Sensuality
    • Interpret Scriptures so they are permissive
    • 2 Peter 2:18
    • Jude 4
    • 2 Peter 2:2-3
  • Basic truths every believer must know
    • 2 Timothy 4:1-2
    • Galations 1:4-6
  • False teachers plant a seed of doubt
  • Message leads down a fivefold pathway
    • Deception
    • Division
    • Danger
      • 2 Peter 2:18-19
    • Disillusionment
    • Destruction
• Identify them by their character
  • Jude 12-13
• Identify them by their lifestyle
• Identify them by the people who follow them
  • 2 Timothy 4:3-4

How do you protect yourself from false teachers?

• Study and know the Word of God.
• Refute false doctrine
• 1 Peter 3:15
• Be on the alert for false doctrine
• 2 Peter 3:17-18
• Separate yourself from false teachers They can be persuasive, even if you intend for them not to be.

Copyright 2011 In Touch Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. www.intouch.org. In Touch grants permission to print for personal use only.

 

[jari]

Thanks for posting this Chad. But I think its very vague so that I cant tell very well based on these scriptures given who really is false teacher unless having one's own desires for example is one key factor. But i think its vague to use that alone to determine this as humans always have desires. Perhaps it means desires that completely seal out God's will and godliness?

I posted while ago about this same subject in here: http://www.talkjesus.com/bible-study-hall/38771-how-readest-thou.html

Theres some points of thought if anyone wishes to take a look.

I love the word where it says "by their fruit you will know them"

Because fruit of God's holy spirit is:

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

So true teacher would have this while false teacher would not and infact they would have it contrary.
For example false teacher would have in them and effect for you to have:
No-love, no-Joy, no-peace, no-faith, no-meekness.

False teacher only give you despair , hopelesness, doupt, fear, pride, sadness , and cold heart!

 

[jiggyfly]

I agree Jari it is somewhat vague.
Something I did take notice of is that there is no mention of HolySpirit in this article. According to the scriptures and my experience, HolySpirit is the one who leads us into all truth. Without HolySpirit leading you and revealing truth none of the scriptures will be any good to you as a defense against deception.

While these are very good guidelines, without HolySpirit's leading these same scriptures can become ammunition for the enemy to cause deception.

He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:17

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26

 

[jari]

Amen Jiggfly. But we must remember that christian can also make mistakes and teach false things, this does not make them "false teachers" however. False teacher or false prophet is some one who is not born again christian and teaches his own things that are contrary to everything in bible.

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

In Doctor Stanley's defense I would point out that the he did list Mat. 7 15-23 as a reference.
I do agree with jari and jiggy's additions.

I might also add that there are many levels of deception.
Many cults have some good fruit to hold up for show.
Then there are ministries that may be sincere and be experiencing success but holding on to doctrines that men designed in honest error as jari points out.

I was taught many errors in my first three years of studying and it took many more years to purge them.I feel I would be a fool to believe I had it totally right at this point.

With the internet I can get to original translations and study the surrounding history and culture for context.I can learn in a day what took me a month to learn 15 years ago.So I feel half of what I thought I knew was wrong.

While these are very good guidelines, without HolySpirit's leading these same scriptures can become ammunition for the enemy to cause deception.

absolutley true,a double edged sword that can harm it's owner if not rightly dividing with help from the holy Spirit.

 

[RJ]

I agree Jari it is somewhat vague.
Something I did take notice of is that there is no mention of HolySpirit in this article. According to the scriptures and my experience, HolySpirit is the one who leads us into all truth. Without HolySpirit leading you and revealing truth none of the scriptures will be any good to you as a defense against deception.

While these are very good guidelines, without HolySpirit's leading these same scriptures can become ammunition for the enemy to cause deception.

He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:17

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26

1 John 4:1
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

I agree that the spirit of Christ wil lead you in all truth.

Whether you get it from him directly through his word or perhaps something you learn from another Christian, he leads you in all truth.

I have my own test and beyond the above verse, I don't know off-hand any other scripytures that support my method, other than the one where it says that all good things come from above. Also, everything that I have learned from God, I put it t this simple test and it has never failed me.

Any truth or doctrine that you have presented to you, as long as the outcome or result of that truth is positive,good and can not lead to bondage, then it is of God. Perhaps one might say that yes your outcome is positive and good but, that it is still not the defenitive answer. I say then, until the defenitive answer is revealed, then you are atleast on a good and positive track...and that ain't bad!

Here is a couple of quick doctrines that I have seen over time and think that they are false teachings because of a potential negative or bad outcome.
1. You must be Water Baptised to be saved.
2. If you do not speak in tongues, you dont have the Holy Spirit in You and You are not saved.
Either one of these can falsely lead a person to the bondage that the Water Baptism didn't work for them or they can't speak in tongues, either situation can lead a person to feel that they are unsaved!

Test the Spirit and know that your answer is the good and perfect will of God and that this is his purpose for those who love him!

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

There are lots of things to consider to remain balanced on how to even approach the situation.

#1
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

It should have a solid basis in scripture.There should be two or three witnesses(supporting scripture). The original intent of the writer should be researched and adhered to as much as is it is possible with the information available.It should pass this standard before we can judge fruit.I feel love is a better standard than good because the whole good and evil thing got us into the need for redemption.

The balancing act is because we don't want to cause division,frustration or divert attention from the Gospels purpose of gathering together God's people.

#2
2 Timothy 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

The hashing out of doctrines should probably not be done in front of new believers or those who are struggling and need to be fed.
Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep but some one has to prepare the meals and make sure there is adequate nutrition being distributed.

When God's people rise up and start enforcing the truth in the "way"
the church will be drawn to the truth through love for God.