After reading an answer to a question regarding a Bible passage, I was just thinking about how prevalent false teachers are among us in these last days. are. John, by inspiration wrote, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehoods” (I John 4:4-6 NIV).
The Actions of False Teachers
• They Desert — In these last days, as God’s Word says, so very many have fallen away; becoming apostate. The apostates teach that which is contrary to truth. They may have been taught correctly, but choose to desert such instruction. We are warned to mark them and stand against them. Paul wrote, “As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be under God’s curse” (Gal. 1:9).
• They Distort — By playing on people’s emotions, false teachers will distort the truth. They make things sound close enough to the truth that people fall into believing lies.
• They Deny — Those who teach falsehoods today deny they are doing so. They say they have received new revelations directly from God. However, their greatest denial is that of the truth of God’s Word itself, rather they devise and teach human concepts.
Believers are instructed to avoid such people. “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental principles of this world rather than on Christ” (Col. 2:8 NIV).
• They Divert — False teachers are servants of Satan. The devil and his demons use heretical teachers to divert new believers and immature believers from adhering to God’s Word. They can do this because, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” (I Tim. 4:1-2).
The Actions of True Teachers
It is essential that, in these last days, churches ensure that truth is taught from the pulpits and lecterns in worship and study.
• They Disciple — To do that effectively, they are prepared personally so they can instruct both publicly and privately. The goal of true Bible teachers is to lead unbelievers to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Further, it is their responsibility to ensure the new converts receive proper biblical instruction to help them mature spiritually.
• They Defend — Jesus Christ, His Word and His followers are under attack today, and it will only get worse in the last days of this age. Paul told Timothy that evil men and imposters would go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Bible teachers and Christians of all ages must take a stand for truth amid a world of false teachers. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer for the hope you have…” (I Peter 3:15).
• They Discern — Again, Paul wrote by inspiration: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (I John 4:1-2).
• They Direct — As the day approaches when Christ will return, the truth must not be hidden. We must direct others who need to be saved to the gospel, the truth of Christ. We must also discern who are false teachers and give directions to others to avoid them. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (I Thess. 5:11).
