How to Recognize a False Teacher

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Elizabeth619

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2011
6,397
109
48
#1
Good article I found....


Jesus warned us that “false Christs and false prophets” will come and will attempt to deceive even God’s elect (Matthew 24:23-27; see also 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 17-18). The best way to guard yourself against falsehood and false teachers is to know the truth. To spot a counterfeit, study the real thing. Any believer who “correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) and who makes a careful study of the Bible can identify false doctrine. For example, a believer who has read the activities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:16-17 will immediately question any doctrine that denies the Trinity. Therefore, step one is to study the Bible and judge all teaching by what the Scripture says.

Jesus said “a tree is recognized by its fruit” (
Matthew 12:33). When looking for “fruit,” here are three specific tests to apply to any teacher to determine the accuracy of his or her teaching:

1) What does this teacher say about Jesus? In
Matthew 16:15-16, Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and for this answer Peter is called “blessed.” In 2 John 9, we read, “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” In other words, Jesus Christ and His work of redemption is of utmost importance; beware of anyone who denies that Jesus is equal with God, who downplays Jesus’ sacrificial death, or who rejects Jesus’ humanity. First John 2:22 says, “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.”

2) Does this teacher preach the gospel? The gospel is defined as the good news concerning Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, according to the Scriptures (
1 Corinthians 15:1-4). As nice as they sound, the statements “God loves you,” “God wants us to feed the hungry,” and “God wants you to be wealthy” are not the complete message of the gospel. As Paul warns in Galatians 1:7, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” No one, not even a great preacher, has the right to change the message that God gave us. “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:9).

3) Does this teacher exhibit character qualities that glorify the Lord? Speaking of false teachers,
Jude 11 says, “They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.” In other words, a false teacher can be known by his pride (Cain’s rejection of God’s plan), greed (Balaam’s prophesying for money), and rebellion (Korah’s promotion of himself over Moses). Jesus said to beware of such people and that we would know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).

For further study, review those books of the Bible that were written specifically to combat false teaching within the church: Galatians, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, and Jude. It is often difficult to spot a false teacher/false prophet. Satan masquerades as an angel of light (
2 Corinthians 11:14), and his ministers masquerade as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:15). Only by being thoroughly familiar with the truth will we be able to recognize a counterfeit.


I think it is important that we all know how to recognize such people especially on forums like these. They are everywhere.
 

Descyple

Senior Member
Jun 7, 2010
3,023
48
48
#2
Very good article you posted Elizabeth619. And I agree completely with the articles three main standards of identifying false teachers.

A while back I did a brief study about how many times the Bible warns against false teachers and false prophets, and it was definitely an eye-opener to discover the abundance of warnings and constant exhortations (both in the Old and New Testaments) to always be on the look out for such people (although I personally try to be extremely cautious as to "who" I label as a false teacher or false prophet). Three weeks ago I put together a YouTube video which is comprised of some of the specific biblical warnings against false prophets. I think it may fit well with the article.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN-Ng8Qcd80[/video]
 
Jul 29, 2012
1,211
2
0
#3
1 John 4

New Living Translation (NLT)

Discerning False Prophets

1 Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 2 This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. 3 But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
 
S

simplyme_bekah

Guest
#4
The Holy Spirit will let you know.
 
S

simplyme_bekah

Guest
#5
There was a guy that made me really angry recently that came into my store while I was working. He almost got himself punched by another guy because he would not get out of his face while talking about God with alcohol on his breath. I sorta shamed him and told him that you cant stand there talking about God when you reek of alcohol because that means you are no different then a unsaved person so why should they believe a thing you have to say. He tried to tell me that it says in the bible that Jesus made wine. I got to tell him that I had a bible that told exactly what Jesus says about strong drink offering to get it for him to read. He was unable to meet my eye. I then said to him that you cant take the words of the bible and twist them around to suit your life. Did I do the right thing I wonder? I told him that he needs to ask God for discernment when he read the bible. He asked me what is that. I told him that it means you ask God to show you exactly what his word means when you read it. Could this be God using me to reach out to this guy?
 
C

Ciscokid

Guest
#7
How to Recognize a False Teacher?
Actually it's very simple--ya take what they teach then compare it to what the scriptures teach. Where it gets hard--is when Christians don't think "out of the box". They accept what they have been told---AND NEVER SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES FOR THEMSELVES.

Take salvation for example --no ONE-single- scripture gives a full explaination of a subject. Salvation cannot be totally explained or outlined by using one scripture.i.e.John 3:16, Romans 10:9
Acts 2:38 The scriptures--when gathered together --totally explain salvation. And then the truth is ONLY found when it is honestly searched for.Lord bless
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#8
An easier method to this, just turn on TBN. There you go, whoever is on is likely a false teacher.
 

damombomb

Senior Member
Feb 27, 2011
3,801
68
48
#9
Luke 6:45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil ... For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

 
C

Ciscokid

Guest
#10
LOL Ugly--very true!!!
 
S

syborg

Guest
#11
Read the book of 1 John. . .
 
Jun 24, 2010
3,822
19
0
#12
People need to be taught the word from those that God has raised up to teach. They are not necessarily gifted but they are given grace to be a teacher. They are growing like all other believers in grace and knowledge of Christ and they are walking by faith as any just person would, having been justified by faith through the blood of Christ. When they teach, they may not have it all down and correct, but he Holy Spirit will be faithful to guide them into truth and we have to trust that promise for those that teach.

If believers are being taught sound doctrine, they will not have to concern themselves with false teachers. The word and doctrine in their heart that they live by and practice will discern for them what is of God and what is not. However, they must hear the word on a daily basis and must be taught doctrine continually to be build up in the faith. The purpose of being taught the word and doctrine is to bring us to a place in our walk that we are able to think with God in many different areas of truth. The more areas of doctrine we have the greater capacity we have to think with God and to have His thoughts ordering our steps in the details of life.

The word and and doctrine we learn and are fed as the bread of life will always reveal Christ and draw us to Him as our head in the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit takes what we have dwelling within and quickens us with the life of the truth in a situation so that we can experience living by every word of God as a practice and not as some isolated hope. To walk by faith is to live by the promises of God that we have been given through the word and doctrine. God is faithful to His word that we have in us filling up the rooms of our soul just like furniture in the living room.

2Tim 3:16,17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Col 1:9-11
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Instead of us focusing on what is false, we should make every effort to be built up in the truth under a godly teacher God has raised up and the more we learn God's truth the more that is not of God will easily be discerned.

2Tim 1:13,14
13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#13
None of us is to call ourselves a teacher:

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. Matt 23:8 RSV
 
G

Graybeard

Guest
#14
An easier method to this, just turn on TBN. There you go, whoever is on is likely a false teacher.
that is quite judgemental don't you think?
 
J

jkalyna

Guest
#15
Good article I found....


Jesus warned us that “false Christs and false prophets” will come and will attempt to deceive even God’s elect (Matthew 24:23-27; see also 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 17-18). The best way to guard yourself against falsehood and false teachers is to know the truth. To spot a counterfeit, study the real thing. Any believer who “correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) and who makes a careful study of the Bible can identify false doctrine. For example, a believer who has read the activities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:16-17 will immediately question any doctrine that denies the Trinity. Therefore, step one is to study the Bible and judge all teaching by what the Scripture says.

Jesus said “a tree is recognized by its fruit” (
Matthew 12:33). When looking for “fruit,” here are three specific tests to apply to any teacher to determine the accuracy of his or her teaching:

1) What does this teacher say about Jesus? In
Matthew 16:15-16, Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and for this answer Peter is called “blessed.” In 2 John 9, we read, “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” In other words, Jesus Christ and His work of redemption is of utmost importance; beware of anyone who denies that Jesus is equal with God, who downplays Jesus’ sacrificial death, or who rejects Jesus’ humanity. First John 2:22 says, “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.”

2) Does this teacher preach the gospel? The gospel is defined as the good news concerning Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, according to the Scriptures (
1 Corinthians 15:1-4). As nice as they sound, the statements “God loves you,” “God wants us to feed the hungry,” and “God wants you to be wealthy” are not the complete message of the gospel. As Paul warns in Galatians 1:7, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” No one, not even a great preacher, has the right to change the message that God gave us. “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:9).

3) Does this teacher exhibit character qualities that glorify the Lord? Speaking of false teachers,
Jude 11 says, “They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.” In other words, a false teacher can be known by his pride (Cain’s rejection of God’s plan), greed (Balaam’s prophesying for money), and rebellion (Korah’s promotion of himself over Moses). Jesus said to beware of such people and that we would know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).

For further study, review those books of the Bible that were written specifically to combat false teaching within the church: Galatians, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, and Jude. It is often difficult to spot a false teacher/false prophet. Satan masquerades as an angel of light (
2 Corinthians 11:14), and his ministers masquerade as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:15). Only by being thoroughly familiar with the truth will we be able to recognize a counterfeit.


I think it is important that we all know how to recognize such people especially on forums like these. They are everywhere.
IS THAT A REAL GOLDEN HAT. NICE.
 
J

jkalyna

Guest
#16
:D THIS IS WHAT I THINK, I THINK IT IS SOMEONE WHO IS RELIGIOUS TEACHING ABOUT JESUS. WITH RELIGION THERE IS ALWAYS A CONFLICT AGAINST JESUS TRUE WAYS, WHICH IS FREEDOM, WITH NO HANGUPS. JUST SAYING SOMETHING I HOPE.:):p:rolleyes::cool::D:):eek: