False Teachers

[CFU_Christians]

Matthew 7:15
[ A Tree and Its Fruit ] "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Matthew 7:14-16 (in Context)

Matthew 24:11
and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
Matthew 24:10-12 (in Context)

Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.
Matthew 24:23-25 (in Context)

Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible.
Mark 13:21-23 (in Context)

1 John 4:1
[ Test the Spirits ] 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.

1 Timothy 1:3
[ Warning Against False Teachers of the Law ] As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer
1 Timothy 1:2-4 (in Context)

2 Peter 2:1
[ False Teachers and Their Destruction ] But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2 Peter 2:1-3 (in Context)

Do you ever wonder why God warned us, several times, about false teachers/teachings/doctrines/prophets/etc? Notice Matthew 7:15. False teachers are not going to be  big red men with horns. That'd be a dead giveaway that the teacher and teaching were not from God. False teachers will walk among us....look, speak and act like us (atleast in public). They will be good at fooling us to think they are a Christian and a person of God. That is why we need the warning. We have to watch and be on alert for them.

2 Peter 2:1 says "they will secretly introduce destructive heresies". Secretly. Subtely. Doubts and false doctrine is planted this way. Which makes it so easy to be fooled. 1John 4:1 says, " to test the spirits to see whether they are from God". Even demons know and quote scripture. And twist it to fit their meaning or agenda. Therefore, we are to test. Don't take anyone's word for it. God gave us all access to him and his Word. We need to use it. It is our sword. We need to know it and use it. Be prayerful and have an open, listening heart. The Holy Spirit is here to guide us.

But that's not all. Not only should we be mindful of false teaching, we need to be mindful that we are not the ones spreading the false teaching. Look at 1 Timothy 1:3. Those men were not teaching false doctrine to decieve. They thought they were adding to and making better what God had commanded. They thought they were helping people by combining man's laws with God's work. They thought people needed to "prove" their faith in God by meaningless talk and outward showings.

Ladies, these people are out there. Let's be mindful of what we hear and also what we say.