Bible Devotions for Living

The Bible is clear that there are and will be false teachers among the true body of believers:

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies (2 Pet 2:1)

²⁸ Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. ²⁹ I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ And men will rise up from your own number with deviant doctrines to lure the disciples into following them. (Acts 20:28-30)

False teachers are extremely dangerous to believers. They are so destructive that Scripture describes them as savage wolves (Ac 20:29) because they are looking to devour and destroy God’s sheep. They devour believers by teaching destructive heresies (2 Pe 2:1), bringing in deviant doctrines (Ac 20:30), causing people to question or not accept Biblical doctrine (Rom 16:17), and adding to Biblical teaching (2 Jn 1:9). Some current day examples are people who teach there is another way to salvation apart from faith in Christ alone, pandering to the culture in areas like the wrongness of homosexuality or transgenderism, saying only parts of the Bible are to be followed, moral relativism, re-interpreting core teachings as metaphorical and not literal, hyper grace, telling people what they want to hear, etc. Many of their teachings may sound good to the unsuspecting believer because they are smooth talkers and speak with flattering words what people want to hear (Rom 16:18) but they are very dangerous. They do not have God (2 Jn 1:9) and they don’t serve the Lord (Rom 16:18) and their goal is to lead people astray (Ac 20:30).

You need to AVOID false teachers. If your pastor starts teaching falsely or adding to Scripture, avoid him and either leave the church or seek to have him removed. If you encounter a TV preacher or podcaster who has a false teaching, AVOID them. Have nothing more to do with them. Do not welcome a false teaching into you home, heart, or mind. Do not be deceived into thinking that a person who teaches falsely one minute can also teach good things. That is exactly how Saan works … in half truths to draw you in and shipwreck you. AVOID false teachers completely. Run away from them as if there were going to kill you because in a sense, that is exactly what they are doing.

⁷ Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. ⁸ Watch yourselves so you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. ⁹ Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and don’t say, “Welcome,” to him; ¹¹ for the one who says, “Welcome,” to him shares in his evil works. (2 Jn 1:7-11)

¹⁷ Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause dissensions and obstacles contrary to the doctrine you have learned. Avoid them, ¹⁸ for such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words. (Rom 16:17-18)

Think about it

Would you know false teaching if you heard it? Do you check teaching you hear against the Bible?

Do you see how dangerous false teachers can be … especially to people who don’t know Scripture well?

Since false teachers’ goal is to destroy and lead away, do you think you should ever listen to them … even if what they are saying might align to the Bible at times?

Do you realize how many false teachers and teachings are embedded inside what believers might call the church and on TV and podcasts, etc?

Do you still listen to a false teacher after you realize they are a false teacher? Why? Do you realize you are in danger?

Scripture says to avoid false teachers. That means two things, you need to be on the lookout for them and avoid them when you find one.