FALSE TEACHERS. 1st Timothy 1:7. In contrast to the 'holy men of God" were the "false prophets who were among the people" in Israel during Old Testament times. Some things and some people do not change. False prophets like Balaam made claims and predictions with ulterior motives similar to those of false teachers today. False teachers seek popularity and personal gain, often financial. They have learned to use words deceptively, making themselves socially acceptable and appealing to those pursuing a worldly lifestyle and status.
If God’s love is not in a person’s heart, they really shouldn’t teach the law because they do not understand its purpose. A faithful teacher knows that the law is our “schoolmaster” to bring us to Christ, where we find salvation in Him. Even though the law is good, when it is misinterpreted by those who have other motives, it can become a tool of bondage for the sinner who tries to use it as a means of salvation. Both sin and the law can keep people in slavery.
Spiritual and godly living is not as important to false teachers as the pursuit of satisfying the "lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life." False prophets preached peace when there was no peace because of the wickedness of men. False peace is taught by false teachers today who will not confront sin and will not warn their hearers of the consequences of sin. They want people to be comfortable and want everyone to be tolerant of others no matter how deviant their lifestyle may be. I saw an advertisement for "evangelistic meetings" that said the subject would be "The Good News about Hell !!" The teaching those who would have attended heard - "There is no Hell!"
Much of the false teaching today, just like in the early church, is related to the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just as the false prophets in Old Testament times told the people only what they wanted to hear, false teachers are undermining both His deity and His humanity. The significance of Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection is diminished, and His teachings are twisted to fit people’s desires. The apostles' teachings are also ignored, explained away, or rejected.
All of these teachings continue today and seem to be growing as immoral living becomes more widespread. Books, TV programs, and seminars are being held that belittle the fundamentals of the Bible and weaken basic Christian doctrine as taught by our Lord, the apostles, and Bible-believing teachers. Such people blend in among the people of God as they try to secretly introduce destructive, sectarian, and divisive doctrines in subtle ways. By playing with words and using biblical terms in ways that differ from their biblical context, even some of God's people question what faithful men have taught them.
Many people use "Born again" to mean simply updating something like a house, car, or even a doctrine, rather than experiencing a new nature born in a person by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. False teachers often distort words like salvation, faith, inspiration, and truth, presenting a meaning that conflicts with what the Bible teaches.
Further dangers from false teachers come not only with their "damnable heresies" or points of view, but they go even further by denying the Lord who "bought" them. This word "bought" does not mean they are children of God, but that the death of Christ has paid the price for sin sufficient to meet the needs of the entire world. It is "unto all" but only "upon all" who believe. The salvation of the soul is limited to those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ alone as the Savior of sinners. The outcomes of such rejection of the Lord are condemnation now and eternal destruction that will inevitably follow.
False teachers can often be identified by how they live and whether they condone immoral practices that have become common and accepted in modern society. It is easy for those who lead sexually immoral lives to listen to and agree with teachings that do not condemn their lifestyle. Greed and a desire for money are also major motivations behind their teaching. Any money that the people of God contribute to "Christian causes" should be used to promote reliable ministries that we know are biblical and beneficial to others, and the funds will be used in ways that we know God can use and bless. False teachers whose lifestyles, promotions, and interests are inconsistent with God's truth must be rejected, not supported.
There are often evasive words used when a false teacher is asked to provide proof of their teachings from the scriptures. The evidence supporting their claims of miracles is frequently absent. They can become upset, angry, and offended when challenged to produce evidence for the results they claim and the source behind their teachings. A true teacher who ministers the word for our Lord Jesus Christ has nothing to hide. He will not ask for financial support to be given to him. One who preaches the truth in love does not handle the word of God deceitfully. He will be open, honest, and willing to answer questions from those who genuinely want to know the source of his teachings, why he is doing it, and how he is supported.
Pernicious ways lead to division and destruction. The "way of truth" is pure and brings delight to those who hear and obey it. We must expect opposition to the way of truth and its teachings because they oppose what appeals to the flesh and support moral depravity accepted today as normal. In many places, moral depravity has been legalized, and anyone who speaks against it can be accused of violating these new laws. The way of the ungodly and the way of truth cannot be mixed or followed at the same time.
The dangers of false teachers stem from their desire to make money for themselves and gain personal benefits. Their false words are used to manipulate and deceive God's people. They tailor their messages to what people want to hear, hiding what should truly be revealed. To spread their message, they employ clever, dishonest words, often mixing scripture references out of context. They appear loving, friendly, and authoritative, maybe even exceptionally wise, so they can carry out Satan's dark plans without feeling shame. Their smooth words seem gracious, forgiving, and convincing. At the same time, they work to weaken the messages of truth, faith, and righteousness.
Over the years, a person gains knowledge from others, time, experience, and books. When new thoughts and information are acquired, curiosity ignites within someone as they feel driven to share what they've learned. A person can be trusted to tell you the truth if they have received it from God through those whom He has entrusted with the responsibility and gift to teach His people. Timothy learned from his teachers in his youth to value and pass on his faith.
There are other people around who want to teach but have not learned the truth from God through His word. They have read and been attracted to what modern writers teach as a “better rendering” of a subject. “Revisionist history,” they say, gives us a better understanding of how to make the teachings in the scriptures “more relevant” to today’s society. They subtly imply that their views are superior to what “holy men of old,” guided by the Holy Spirit, wrote. Such teachers aim to demean and intimidate those who have not attended a seminary of “higher learning,” targeting others impressed by their charisma who fall for their modern legalism.
Sin takes advantage when false teachers emphasize specific commands because it fosters resistance to the purpose of the commandments and leads to rebellion against God. The law shows us what is needed to please God, and when we face our need for His mercy, God’s grace becomes so crucial that we give up trying to do what we cannot do. Then, a sinner accepts with a grateful heart what the Lord Jesus Christ has done on our behalf when He bore our sins in His own body on the cross. The law, misapplied, can bring spiritual death. That is why false teaching is so serious and dangerous.
The law is holy, but sin tries to misuse what is sacred for wrongful reasons. The law itself is not at fault, but its improper use is. God's standard is the law, and when used as God intends, it is not only holy but also righteous, just, and good.
Test the teachings that others share. Ensure their teachings are rooted in the solid foundation of biblical inerrancy. Behind parents, teachers shape the lives of those they instruct and even influence the direction of the nation. True teachers genuinely love their students, recognize their potential when they understand the truth, and in good conscience, avoid what they know is false. Such teachers understand what is essential and what is nonsense, and you will recognize them because they walk in the light of God's revealed will through His word.