False Teachers
False teachers, this is something that we must be aware of. As a whole, it appears that false teaching runs rampant these days. How does one distinguish between a false teacher and a teacher sent of the Lord? Scripture tells us that we will know them by their fruit.
Matthew 7:15-20 says, 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
One, who is sent of the Lord, will bear good fruit. While a false teacher, will not. Understand, this does not mean works can save us. In Ephesians 2:8-9 the Bible says, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Works do not save us. If works could save us, Jesus would not have had to die on the cross and the Law would have been sufficient. While works do not save us, as one follows, obeys and yields to Jesus, the only way, one will produce good fruit. James 2:14-26 says, “14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
God tells us we will know them by their fruit. A life abiding in Christ will produce good fruit. While a life not abiding in Christ, will produce bad fruit. What does the individual’s life look like? Does it look more and more like Christ or does it look more and more like the world?
So many today say God’s Word is full of error and that it is flawed. God tells us the opposite in His Word. 2 Peter 1:20-21 says, “Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
1 Peter 1:23-25 says, “Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”
What do we spend most of our time in? What do we place a higher value in? Do we place it in the doctrines of man, the Reformation, Calvin, Luther, books, devotionals, theology, creeds, institutions or seminaries? None of these, in and of themselves, are bad. However, if we place them at a higher value or equal to God’s Word this is sin and blasphemy. God tells us all one needs is His Word. John 14:23-26 says, “3 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” God’s Word is all that is needed. In Psalm 138:2, God tells us, “I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name. For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” God has magnified, placed is Word, at a higher authority than His very name. To deny His Word, deem it insufficient or belittle it in any way, is blaspheming His very name, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Truthfully, it is blaspheming something even greater than His very name. Do we spend more time and emphasis on other things or is the Word of God where our main time is being invested? Many of these things I discussed teach theology, the study of God but last I checked God tells us not to study Him but to abide in Him. John 15:4-11 says, “4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
When someone teaches, do they bear good fruit saying things that can only be found in God’s Word and their life is a reflection of Him, or when one teaches, do they bear bad fruit saying and doing things that cannot be found in God’s Word? Are they Abiding in Christ or are they living in the World? The Bible commands us to depart from false teaching. God commands us to not sit under it. 1 Timothy 6:3-5 says, “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.“
Many in America have given up their children to the education system where God has been removed or all but removed. People wonder why their are so many pagan children. This is because they were given to pagan teaching. In the public school system recent studies show only 30 percent graduate high school believing God’s Word as truth. Only 11 percent believe God’s Word as truth, with no error, before graduating College. This does not yet include those that finish their bachelors, go on to get a masters or even a doctorate. As a whole, our education systems have become a spiritual death march.
False teaching is real and it is rampant in our world today. How do we recognize it? We know God’s Word. If we know God’s Word, we will know false teaching when we see it because it will not add up to His Word. We are called at all times to bear fruit, in season and out of season. Romans 5:4-6 says, “4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Did you know that fruits that endure some stress actually taste better than fruits that endure no hardship or stress? Whether we are in the valleys or on the mountain tops we are called to bear fruit and we will be known by our fruit. It will be known if we are of the world or if we abide in Christ. As a farmer, it is very easy to know what kind of fruit a tree has. It is very easy to know if it is bad or if it is good. We are called to be on guard for the wolves in sheep’s clothing. They attempt to masquerade as good fruit. Much like satan masquerades as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” There are some bad trees that look very similar to good trees. However, the truth is seen very quickly once examined after the fruit bears forth. Once the fruit bears forth the good trees stay but the trees with bad fruit we cut down and cast them into the fire for they are no good. Be encouraged. God’s Word is enough for EVERYTHING in life. We are commanded by God to watch out for wolves in sheep’s clothing and to not sit under false teaching. We are only to sit under God’s teaching. We are to Abide in Christ and bear good fruit in season and out of season. Stay In His Steps.
Matthew 7:15-20 says, 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
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