THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS
Series: 11-2021
False Teachers, Pastors, Prophets and Brethren
 
1.   False teachers, pastors, prophets etc defined
The LORD JESUS CHRIST Himself defines false teachers, pastors, prophets etc in Luke 6:26 as ministers of the gospel whom all people speak well of because of their false teachings.  You may want to read from verse 20 of that same chapter to fully comprehend CHRIST’s line of thoughts.  Notwithstanding, Luke 6:26 says “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”
 
Peter goes further to expatiate about false teachers in 2 Peter 2:1-3 (NLT)
“But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 3 In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.” 
 
Since these teachers do not teach and follow the doctrine of CHRIST and of the apostles they don’t have CHRIST in them, neither do they have the Father nor His SPIRIT and will therefore not hear CHRIST nor His Father.
 
2 John 9 says “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. ....”
 
JESUS CHRIST says in John 4:47 “He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”
 
1 John 4:6 “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
 
2.      How does the Bible sees false teachers?
a)  According to Galatians 1:8-9 [Good News Bible] false teachers are condemned to hell
 
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you, may he be condemned to hell! 9 We have said it before, and now I say it again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel that is different from the one you accepted, may he be condemned to hell!”
 
b) According to Philippians 3:18-19 they are the enemies of the cross of CHRIST whose god is their belly and their fate destruction
18 “For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation], 19 whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things.” 
 
c) According to Matthew 24:24, they will lead many astray
 
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
 
d) According to 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, they will appear as if they belong to GOD
 
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
 
e) According to Revelation 19:20, they will like their father the devil be destroyed
 
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
 
B. What the Bible says about those who follow their false teachings: this includes the members of their churches; those who support their ministries or sympathise with them
 
1         According to 2 John 9-11 such people will share out of whatever awaits false teachers on the day of judgement
 
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
 
2        Romans 1:32 says that anyone who has pleasure in them that commit evil (these includes these false ministers of the Gospel) will also partake of whatever judgement GOD has kept in store for offender
 
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
 
C.  What the Bible says about how true believers of CHRIST and by extension true ambassadors and disciples of CHRIST should react to false teachers
 
1.        Jude 3 enjoins true believers to contend or fight for the faith which GOD has once for all given to us
 
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
 
Verse 4 [NLT] says “I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
 
2.      Romans 16:17-18 tells true believers of CHRIST to mark or watch for false ministers of the gospel and keep away from them
 
17 [Good News Bible] I urge you, my friends: watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people's faith and go against the teaching which you have received. Keep away from them! 18 For those who do such things are not serving Christ our Lord, but their own appetites. By their fine words and flattering speech they deceive innocent people.
 
3.      Ephesians 5:11 warns believers against having fellowship with worthless evil deeds of darkness
 
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
 
Let me conclude this piece by reminding us of what CHRIST will always say when concluding a very informative teaching embellished with warnings.  This is found in Matthew 11:15 and many other passages of the Bible: which is
 
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
 
GOD bless you.