Preacher's Study Notes 1994
From the lips of Jesus Christ: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
From the lips of Paul: “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30).
From the lips of Peter: “There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Peter 2:1-2).
Jude warns: “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4).
New Testament Christians are warned to “beware of false teachers.” My assigned topic is designed to study what the Bible says regarding this very important subject. This lesson will be divided into these areas:
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I. Introduction
II. Warning against false teaching
III. False teaching during the first Century
IV. False teaching during the twentieth Century
V. Closing observations
I believe in the old adage: “If you play with fire, you will get burnt.” Due to this well-known statement, I entered into this study of “False Teachers” cautiously. I felt a genuine need for the topic to get some major exposure but was reluctant to fill by mind and time with specific false teaching done during the twentieth century. We are nearly two thousand years removed from the false teaching of the first century, however, the false teaching of the twentieth century is all around us on billboards, television, radio, in cassette tapes, on videos, in varieties of religion, and last, but by no means least, sometimes false teaching is even found among our congregations. This alarms me, for the Scriptures are very plain in stating that false teachers have the ability to deceive the
very elect, as well as the hearts of the simple (innocent).
Romans 16:18 “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
Matthew 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christ’s, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
The Greek word “deceive” (Greek, planao) means “to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way, to go astray, wander, roam about;” and is translated in the following ways in the thirty-nine times it is used: deceive (24 times), err (6), go astray (5), seduce (2), wander (1), be out of the way (1). Metaphorically, the word signifies:
- • to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive
• to be led into error
• to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray, sin
• to sever or fall away from the truth
• to be led away into error and sin
Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
Mark 8:15 “And He charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.”
Luke 22:31 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.”
John 6:66-67 “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, 'Will you also go away?'”
Acts 20:29-30 “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievcous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
Romans 16:17-18 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
1 Corinthians 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
2 Corinthians 2:11 “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
Galatians 1:6-9 “I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
Ephesians 5:6-7 “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”
Philippians 3:2-3 “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.”
Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 5:22 “Avoid every kind of evil.” (NIV)
2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”
1 Timothy 1:3-4 “Timothy. . . charge them that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4 “Gives the warning. . . the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables.”
Titus 3:10 “A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition, reject.”
Hebrews 3:12 “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”
James 1:16 “Do not err, my beloved brethren.”
1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober be vigilant for your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
2 Peter 2:1-2 “. . . there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”
1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
2 John 7, 10 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an anti-Christ. . . If their come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.”
3 John 9-10 Help Christians who teach truth and "watch out for Diotrephes, who was one of the domineering false teachers, who would have nothing to do with John.” (NCV)
Jude 4 “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 2:2 The congregation at Ephesus was praised because ... "thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.”
Philemon is the only New Testament book that does not contain warnings against false teachers.
Notes from a sermon by Brother Paul Nichols
- Counterfeit God --- 1 Corinthians 8:4-6
Counterfeit Christ --- Matthew 24:24
Counterfeit Spirits --- 1 John 4:1, 1 Timothy 4:1
Counterfeit Angels --- Galatians 1:8, 2 Corinthians 11:14
Counterfeit Apostles --- 2 Corinthians 11:13
Counterfeit Prophets --- 2 Peter 2:1-2, Matthew 7:15
Counterfeit Teachers --- 2 Peter 2:2
Counterfeit Gospel --- Galatians 1:6-9
Counterfeit Miracles --- 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, Revelation 16:13-14
Counterfeit Worship --- Matthew 15:9, Colossians 2:23; Acts 17:23
Counterfeit Doctrine --- 1 Timothy 1:10,2 Timothy 4:3
- 1. Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection.
Matthew 22:23 “The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked Him . . .”
(Mark 12:18, Luke 20:27, Acts 4:1, 23:6-8).
2. “Ye must be circumcised to be saved.”Acts 15:1 “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”
3. Baptism of John after the baptism of the Great Commission.
Acts 18:24-28; 19:1-10 Apollos taught people to be baptized with John’s baptism. The solution was to baptize them again.
4. Sadducees believed in no angels and no spirits.
Acts 23:8 “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.”
5. Gnosticism.
“A system of belief combining ideas derived from Greek philosophy, Oriental mysticism, and ultimately, Christianity, and stressing salvation through gnosis” (New World Dictionary). You will. find some excellent material concerning Gnosticism in the Contending For The Faith commentary on First John by Brother Wayne Fussell. The information is found in the section noted as “Introduction to First John,” pages 215-218.
6. Baptism for the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:29 “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?”
7. Resurrection is past already.
2 Timothy 2:18 “Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”
8. Thessalonians misunderstood the truth regarding the second coming of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope . . . For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
9. Doctrine of Balaam.
Revelation 2:14 “But I have a few things against you, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”
First Corinthians 15
Paul dealt with the Corinthians, some of who did not believe in in the resurrection. He explained the serious consequences of this false doctrine. Paul’s way of handling this false teaching should be followed by us today whenever false teaching is promoted.
- · If there is no resurrection, Christ did not rise from the dead (v. 13)
· If there is no resurrection, the apostle’s preaching is vain (v. 14).
· If there is no resurrection, our faith is vain (v. 14).
· If there is no resurrection, the apostles are false witnesses (v. 15).
· If there is no resurrection, we are still in sin (present) (v. 17).
· If there is no resurrection, the dead in Christ will perish (past) (v. 18).
· If there is no resurrection, the living will also perish (future) (v. 19)
— Commentary on First Corinthians, Mark Bailey
10. Doctrine of Nicolaitans.
Revelation 2:6 [To the Ephesians] “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
Revelation 2:15 [To the church in Pergamos] “So hast thou also them them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”
1. Ecumenism. The Ecumenical Movement is a movement to unite all the different so-called Christian denominations into one big, world-wide organization or church body, ultimately to include even the non-Christian bodies of the religious world. It is now taken for granted that all Christendom will eventually be united and that it just a matter of time before this will be accomplished (M. L. Moser, Jr., Ecumenism Under The Spotlight, pg. 7)
2. Promise-keepers Movement. This is an organization of men, now numbering in the hundreds of thousands strong, who have made a commitment to keep seven promises. This project is spear-headed by Bill McCartney, James Dobson, Gary Smalley, and others, who have attempted to band men together to keep seven promises. The popular radio program “Focus on the Family” is involved in this movement. As a matter of fact, they are the ones who assist in assembling and distributing a large part of the material.
The sad part about this is, this could have had a positive a impression on thousands of families across America, if it had been kept Bible-based. However, when you get denominational minds together at work, they are going to come up with false teaching. Some of the promises are fine, well, and good but one of the promises in particularly is sinful and cannot be tolerated. Men of God cannot become members of “Promise Keepers” and remain loyal to God at the same time.
Before giving the seven promises that men are expected to make and keep, let me remind you that on the tapes and probably in the book the plan of salvation is wrong. The entire tenor of salvation is not Bible based. Good points are made regarding family, responsibilities, men becoming leaders of their home, etc. Christians, however, cannot support the “Promise Keepers.” The following material, taken from their literature, gives one an idea what the movement is about.
BECOMING A PROMISE KEEPER
We are offering you an opportunity this weekend to make a life-long commitment to become a promise keeper. We are seeking men who understand that becoming a promise keeper is a process and who acknowledge the grace and strength available through Jesus Christ. Will you agree to commit to the following covenant?
I AM COMMITTED TO:
- 1. Honor Jesus Christ through worship, prayer, and obedience to His Word in the power of the Holy Spirit;
2. Pursue vital relationships with a few other men, understanding that I need brothers to help me keep my promises;
3. Practice spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity;
4. Build strong marriages and families through love, protection, and biblical values;
5. Support the mission of my church, by honoring and praying for my pastor and by actively giving my time and resources;
6. Reach beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity;
7. Influence my world, being obedient to the Great Commandment (Mark 12:30-31) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
3. Catholic Evangelical Accord. This twenty five page document is a written agreement between the Pope of the Catholic church and a significant number of Evangelicals of our modern time. This accord agrees among many other things that it would be a sin, in violation of the “Catholic-Evangelical Accord” for a Catholic to try and convert a person from another religion. It would equally be a sin for one of the other religions --- Baptist Methodist, Pentecostais, etc.—to try and convert a Catholic. The Pope is working on agreements at the present time with Hindus, Buhdist, Mohammed and other religious faith to attempt to reach an agreement with them also. This project is an aggressive way of trying to get to the one world religion. More information on this area may be had in Ecumenism Under The Spotlight by M. L. Moser, Jr. This book Opposes this movement and clearly proves it to be false doctrine.
4. Calvinism. The following acrostic helps one remember the five cardinal tenets of Calvinism.
- T - Total Depravity
U - Unconditional Election
L - Limited Atonement
I - Irresistible Grace
P - Perseverance of the Saints
Notes on that lesson are available in the 1990 Preachers Study Notes available from Christian’s Expositor Publications.
We should make the point abundantly clear that the Bible does teach “imputed righteousness,” but the religious world has distorted the truth on the subject. Unfortunately, there are those in the church who have been influenced by writers, both in the church and out of the church who uphold an erroneous doctrine on the subject. This false doctrine is supportive of another false doctrine— “once in grace always in grace” --- and is just as wrong. This topic fits under Calvinism’s “Total Depravity.”
“I fail to find any lexicographer who defined the word “imputeth” to mean “transfer.” Now, if we understand the word “righteousness” to mean “justification,” and the word “imputeth” to mean “account,” the doctrine of Imputed Righteousness is simply that those who are ungodly are reckoned or accounted justified through faith in Jesus. Obviously, we must understand that sometimes “faith” is a synecdoche, whereby a part of something is named to suggest the whole thing faith, in this case, to suggest the obedience of faith.” (Johnny Elmore, 1990 Preacher’s Study Notes, pg. 154)
In a nutshell, righteousness is imputed to us, that is “we are counted righteous” by God through the obedience of His will. Righteousness was never transferred to us. There is a major difference in being counted as righteous and having the righteousness of Christ transferred to us.
6. Grace-Faith-Works Issue. The confusion on this subject has caused a number of people to leave the Church and unite with denominational religions. A number of men could be cited who at one time were considered faithful preachers of the gospel and got confused on this subject, and the consequences, is that some are involved with false religions to this day. Congregations have had to withdraw from members who taught publicly and/or privately the doctrine of all grace and no law. In my first thirteen years of preaching I never had this topic become an issue, but over the past few years it seems to be gaining momentum.
Brothers, sisters, and friends, please listen. I do have some concerns and sympathy toward the confusion on this problem. By and large we have all been raised with law-law-law and little or no grace taught. I was raised in a congregation with three full length gospel meetings every year. I don’t remember preachers preaching the subject of grace. I worked closely with several congregations in Missouri, and though I attended their meetings for thirteen years, I cannot remember one lesson given on grace. I have been preaching for nineteen years and have recently began to teach on Grace. We must remember that to preach grace is to preach Jesus Christ for “grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
I believe there is room for constructive criticism for failing to preach a balance regarding grace and law, faith and works. The position of grace and no law is a false doctrine. The position of law and no grace is equally false. They work together and not in opposition to one another. It is not law or grace, it is law and grace. it is not faith or works, it is faith and works. it is not believe or be baptized, it is believe and be baptized.
Caution should be exercised on this subject. Many have made blanket statements that throw the wrong signal and can easily lead people away from the gospel of Christ. As with any other topic, we must present the proper balance and the truth on this subject and not shun to declare the whole counsel of God.
7. Liberal views on fellowship. I have given a number of topics at these studies that are in print for deeper studies on the subject of fellowship Please review the Preachers’ Study Notes for the years 1990, 1991, and 1992, in which years, respectively, I presented studies on “Church Discipline,” “Judging” and “Fellowship.”
The liberal view of fellowship today is two fold:
- 1. The liberal view of those who are baptized believers state “You can fellowship any and all baptized believers even though you do not necessarily endorse their practice.” I listened to a man who use to be well respected in the brotherhood deliver his material on fellowship and then I asked him in private if this would be a proper synopsis of what he believes and teaches. He said it was. According to this view, your fellowship begins at the time of baptism; and how they worship, what they believe, how they practice is not a matter of fellowship. This is dead wrong.
2. The denominational view of fellowship is “if you believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God” then you are in our fellowship. It doesn’t matter what church you attend, where you choose to worship, or even if you choose to worship. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and attend the church of your choice. This message is what is promoted across the mass media and through mass publications.
8. The Truth About the Church of Christ --- Hugh F. Pyle
9. Televangelists. (T.V. Evangelist Pat Robertson and the 700 club, Oral Roberts, Jim Baker, Jimmy Swaggart, Robert Tilton, etc.). Christianity in Crises by Hank Hanegraaff documents and exposes of many T.V. Evangelists, including Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, and others.
10. Pastor Pete Peters. This preacher is a white supremacist based in Colorado. His preaching is characterized by strong teaching against the world-wide flood, and the rich man and Lazarus. This false teacher has carried much weight and persuasion in the northern areas of the our country.
11. John McArthur. A nationally known Baptist preacher, he is listened to by a number of Christian men and women. He has the ability to be good or even great, and he also has the ability to be very wrong. His teaching on salvation, worship, and several other doctrinal points is dead wrong. I have listened to John McArthur’s teaching, and it is extremely dangerous to recommend him to any Christians, especially to the newly converted. This man frequently teaches false doctrine.
12. J. Vernon McGee. Author of a popular Bible study program that is filled with false teaching and many Calvinistic ideas.
13. Many Bibles with study notes. Such works as the NIV Study Bible, New Open Bible, etc., are heavily influenced by Calvinism. Use with caution.
16. Bob George. George is founder and president of Discipleship Counseling services, conducts a daily biblical counseling program broadcast live over radio stations from coast to coast. He is another promoter of false doctrines on many key subjects like baptism, communion, worship, etc.. He teaches eternal security and has had a negative influence on members of the church. Brethren, stay away from those who teach these false doctrines! The risk is great.
17. Liberalism in the Lord’s Church. Statements and comments have been made, and positions are held by members of the Lord Church, which are disturbing:
- 1. Don’t preach on baptism, communion, one church etc. we have heard this all our life.
2. Don’t preach on women cutting their hair.
3. Some have sanctioned missing services for non-emergency reasons etc.
18. Radical conservatism. There are brothers and sisters in our rank who are “conservative to the point of being radical” that are subject to being watched very closely. They teach extreme views such as no birth control, no borrowing money, etc., forcing their opinions to the point of causing confusion in the body of Christ. This attitude of making laws where God did not make any is wrong. For example: some push home school to the point that if you don’t do as they do, you are viewed as less spiritual and looked down on and ostracized at times. Attitudes like these can cause division in the body of Christ, and create barriers that should not be present. To this concern, and all others, I sound alarm --- beware of false teachers!
Since we are caught up in this spiritual warfare how do we defend ourselves? To prepare for battle, every Christian needs to “put on the whole armour of God,” using the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
I admitted that I was nervous about reading all of this false material and putting this spiritual filth in my mind and in my brain. I cautiously did so in order to present to the brotherhood some valuable information that will arm them for battle against Satan, sin, and evil. I struggled with why am I so reluctant, and I finally realized that I was reluctant to dive into this information because of the serious warning given by Christ “beware of false prophets.” In view of the fact that the innocent or the elect could be deceived, was worrisome to me, and I did not want to deceived.
Please listen! You do not have to read all of this garbage to be ready to combat the false doctrines that will arise from time to time. If you will concentrate on reading and studying the Word of God you will be reading and learning how to identify truth from error. Remember that the Word of God is sharp, and more powerful than any two-edged sword. God’s Word is truth. Read it, study it, obey it, apply it and you will be prepared to meet whatever comes your way.
It is a physical impossibility to read all of the false teaching anyway. Hundreds of thousands of books are flooding the market and religious book stores. There is no way to read it all, and there is no reason to. If you will spend quality time reading and studying the Bible then you will be geared for combat.
Let us make an application from Paul’s writing to the Corinthians “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed, lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Never lift yourself up to the position that you do not believe you can fall. I have known great spiritual leaders who have done good things for the cause of Christ who have now “gone astray.”
I pray God that we will never be listed among those who have “gone astray;” for those “who have been led away from the right way” (2 Peter 2:15). I pray that we will be those who are described as “faithful until death;” those “who are fighting the good fight of faith.”
1633 Trinity View, Irving, Texas 75060
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