Page 253 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

FALSE TEACHING

FALSE TEACHING. Doctrine which is contrary to being deceived (2 Ti. 3:13); “feigned words” (2 Pe. 2:2);
that taught in the Word of God. “many deceivers are entered into the world” (2 Jn. 7);
The Dangers of False Teaching. (1) Salvation depends “certain men crept in unawares” (Jude 4);
on sound doctrine (Ro. 6:17; 1 Co. 15:1-4; Col. 1:21-23; “seducers” (Re. 2:20).
2 Th. 2:13-15; 1 Jn. 3:24; 4:6, 7; 2 Jn. 9). (2) False Protection from False Teaching. (1) Ordain only
doctrine opens Christians to satanic attacks (Ep. 6:14). qualified leaders (Tit. 1:9-11; Ac. 20:28-32). The
(3) False doctrine will bring shame at the judgment seat leaders must have the ability to teach sound doctrine
of Christ and will keep the person from finding God’s and must be ready and able to protect the believers
perfect will (2 Ti. 2:15). (4) False doctrine injures the from every wind of false doctrine (Ep. 4:11-14). The
spiritual life (2 Ti. 2:14-17). (5) False doctrine is a leaders must also have the kind of lives that will not
leaven which corrupts the entire body (Ga. 5:9). (6) allow Satan to bring reproach upon the church. (2)
Fellowship with false doctrine can keep the Christian Guard the door to the church. The church must be
from getting a full reward (2 Jn. 8-11). careful about those who join, particularly those who
The Church Leader’s Relationship with False Teaching. come from other churches. If the church members are
(1) Pastors and teachers are responsible to protect God’s not in unity as to the doctrine of the church there will
people from false teachings (Ac. 20:28-32; Ep. 4:11-16). be problems. (3) Maintain standards for teachers and
One of the pastor’s chief duties is to protect the flock. church workers (Tit. 2:3). Paul said that even the older
The Apostle Paul was continually burdened about the women who teach the younger women must have the
danger of false teaching (Ac. 20:31; 2 Co. 11:1-4; Ga. right kind of Christian lives and they must teach the
4:11-20; Ph. 3:1-3, 17-21; 1 Th. 3:1-5; Col. 2:1-4). (2) right things. The churches must have high standards for
False teachers are crafty and pastors must be alert, wise, all who teach and serve in the various ministries. To fail
knowledgeable, and zealous to deal with them here is to invite doctrinal trouble. (4) Exercise a strong
successfully (Ep. 4:14; Tit. 1:9-11). (3) The ability to teaching ministry to ground the church in the Word of
protect the churches from false teaching is a God (Mt. 28:20; 2 Ti. 2:2). (5) Exercise discipline and
qualification for pastors (Tit. 1:9-11). Men who refuse separation (Ro. 16:17-18; 2 Th. 3:6; 2 Ti. 3:5; Tit.
to deal plainly with error have no business in the 3:9-11).
ministry. (4) To warn and teach about false doctrine is a The Nature of False Teachers. (1) False teachers are
mark of a good minister of Jesus Christ (1 Ti. 4:1-6). not serving Jesus Christ, but their own interests (Ro.
Why Does God Allow False Teachers? (1) False 16:17-18). (2) False teachers are Satan’s ministers;
teaching reveals true from false Christians (De. 13:1-4; counterfeit Christians (2 Co. 11:1-5; Ga. 2:4). (3) False
1 Co. 11:18-19; 2 Ti. 2:16-21; 1 Jn. 2:18-19). (2) God is teachers are cursed (Ga. 1:6-9). (4) False teachers are
allowing Satan and evil men to work out their own wills cut off from Christ (Ga. 5:4). (5) False teachers shall not
to a certain degree in this present age (2 Th. 2:7-11). inherit the kingdom of God (Ga. 5:20-21). (6) False
God has set the bounds of their liberty, though, and teachers are reprobate (2 Ti. 3:8). (7) False teachers are
their judgment is waiting (2 Pe. 2:3-9; 2 Ti. 3:8-9; Jude imposters (2 Ti. 3:13). (8) False teachers are
14-15). condemned and subverted (Tit. 3:10-11). (9) False
The Evil of False Teaching. (1) False teachers are teachers do not have God (2 Jn. 9). (10) False teachers
deceivers; they profess to be representatives of Christ, are not of God (1 Jn. 4:5-6). (11) False teachers are
but actually they represent the devil (2 Co. 11:13-15; 1 twice dead, reserved for hell (Jude 13). (12) False
Ti. 4:1-2). (2) They turn people away from the truth teachers do not have the Spirit (Jude 19).
(Ga. 1:6-7). (3) False teachers are thieves and Separation from False Teaching. [See Separation.]
destroyers; they rob and confuse the very churches God [See also Anglican Church, Apostasy, Apostate, Church,
is building (Jn. 10:10; Ac. 20:30). (4) They rob people Churches of Christ, Counsel, Cunning Craftiness,
of liberty in Christ (Ga. 2:4). (5) They follow the Dispute, Dissimulation, Doctrine, Eastern Orthodoxy,
doctrine of devils (1 Ti. 4:1-4). Entice, Episcopal, Fable, False Prophet, Flattery,
The Deception of False Teachers. The N.T. refers Flattering Titles, Foolish Questions, Fundamentalism,
frequently to the deception of false teachers: “come to Heresy, Inspiration, Lutheran, Methodist, Micaiah,
you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening Modernism, Mother of Harlots, New Evangelicalism,
wolves” (Mt. 7:15); “deceive many” (Mt. 24:4-5, 11, Presbyterian, Profane and Vain Babblings, Prophecy,
24); “deceitful workers” (2 Co. 11:13); “false brethren Revelation, Roman Catholic Church, Satan, Seduce,
unawares brought in, who came in privily” (Ga. 2:4); Seventh-day Adventism, Sporting, Timothy, Tradition,
“cunning craftiness” (Ep. 4:14); “seducing spirits” (1 Ti. Unitarian Universalist, Unity, Vain Babbling, Wind of
4:1); “speaking lies in hypocrisy” (1 Ti. 4:2); “who creep Doctrine, World Council of Churches.]
into houses” (2 Ti. 3:6); “seducers ... deceiving and

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