False Teaching

	"But false prophets also arose among the people," we read in 2 Peter 2:1-3, "just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.  And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in {their} greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."
	Our topic for this study is, "false teachers."  The entire second chapter of Peter's second epistle is devoted to a discussion of false teachers.  You should take time to read the whole chapter.  For now, though, lets pick up the discussion with verse 12.
	"But these," the passage indicates, "like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, having eyes full of adultery and that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; forsaking the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the {son} of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but he received a rebuke for his own transgression; {for} a dumb donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.  These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.  For speaking out arrogant {words} of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.  For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.  For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.  It has happened to them according to the true proverb, 'A dog returns to its own vomit,' and, 'A sow, after washing, {returns} to wallowing in the mire.'" 
	What can we learn about false teachers as we consider this Scripture and others?  The first thing we should recognize is that false teaching is real.  Not many people would deny this fact after reading these verses.  But, unfortunately, most people don't bother to consider the Bible before arriving at a belief. A quick glance at the religious world today reveals that most people believe that doctrine is a matter of personal opinion. You may believe one thing while I believe something entirely different.  We all have rights to our own beliefs, some claim.  And we are all correct in what we believe, they assert.  This philosophy is only partially true.  We may believe different things.  As Americans we have the right to do so.  But we're not all correct.  Some teaching is true and some is false.
	"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons," is how Paul sees it in 1 Timothy 4:1.
	"And many false prophets will arise," Jesus warns in Matthew 24:11, "and will mislead many."
	False teaching is very real.  Let's examine what the New Testament has to say about false teaching and see whether we can learn to recognize it.  In order to be effective, false teaching must look like it is right.  Few people are going to race after something they know to be wrong.  So false teachers come with the appearance of authority.  But this authority, like the teaching, is false.
	"Now we request you, brethren," Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, "with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come."
	Paul is concerned that someone would mislead the people by pretending to send a letter from him.  False teaching does its best to look right.  But it is always a lie.
	"By means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron," Paul describes in 1 Timothy 4:2.
	False teaching is just that: false.  But it is always presented in a persuasive manner.
	"I say this in order that no one may delude you with persuasive argument," Paul warns in Colossians 2:4. 
	False teaching may involve commanding that which God has not.
	"{Men} who forbid marriage {and advocate} abstaining from foods," Paul explains in 1 Timothy 4:3, "which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth."
	"Now these things, brethren," Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 4:6, "I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to exceed what is written, in order that no one of you might become arrogant in behalf of one against the other."
	False teaching may involve commanding that which God has not, or it may consist of not commanding that which God has.
	"Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ," we read in 2 John verses 9-11, "does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into {your} house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds."
	False teaching may consist of commanding that which God has not or not commanding that which God has.  This may involve our worship.
	"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord," Paul states in Philippians 3:1-3.  "To write the same things { again} is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.  Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the {true} circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh."
	False teaching often takes the form of human tradition.
	"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception," we find in Colossians 2:8, "according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ."
	False teaching is very real.  It looks right, although it is always a lie.  It is spread through persuasive arguments, often in the form of human tradition.  It involves either commanding that which God has not or not commanding that which God has.  It may show up in the way we worship.  If we are not careful about seeking the truth and shunning false teaching, we should be cautioned that God will allow us to be mislead.
	"Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity," Romans 1:24-25 reveals, "that their bodies might be dishonored among them.  For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."
	"And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer," verse 28 adds, "God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper."
	"And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming," 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 promises, "{that is,} the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.  And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness."

	False teaching is very real.  It looks right, although it is always a lie.  It is spread through persuasive arguments, often in the form of human tradition.  It involves either commanding that which God has not or not commanding that which God has.  It may show up in the way we worship.  If we are not careful about seeking the truth and shunning false teaching, we should be cautioned that God will allow us to be mislead.
	In addition, false teaching is dangerous.  We should actually say that it is deadly.
	"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders," Jesus warns in Matthew 24:24, "so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect."
	"For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy," Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, "for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you {as} a pure virgin.  But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity {of devotion} to Christ."
	False teaching is real.  It can be recognized.  It is deadly.  But it can be combated.  It can be combated by learning to recognize the actions of false teachers and by making sure that our own actions are in strict agreement with the will of God.
	"Beware of the false prophets," Jesus urges in Matthew 7:15-27, "who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn {bushes,} nor figs from thistles, are they?  Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So then, you will know them by their fruits.  Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.' Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock.  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and {yet} it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand.  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall." 
	False teaching can be combating by insisting on actions which agree with God's will.  And, obviously, false teaching can be combated by insisting on words which agree with God's will.  False teaching is combated through true teaching.
	"But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith," Paul explains in 1 Timothy 1:5-7.  "For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions."
	"If anyone advocates a different doctrine," Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:3-5, "and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited {and} understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain."
	"But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed," Paul instructs in Galatians 1:8-9.  "As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed."
	"Beloved, do not believe every spirit," 1 John 4:1 advises, "but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
	"Now I urge you, brethren," we find in Romans 16:17-18, "keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting."
	"I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book," Revelation 22:18-19 alerts, "if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book."
	False teaching is real.  It can be recognized.  It is deadly.  But it can be combated.  It can be combated by learning to recognize the actions and words of false teachers and by making sure that our own actions and words are in strict agreement with the will of God.  The Bible instructs that false teaching must be opposed.  After all, only the truth will set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.lockman.org)