When Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone, it became a hot selling model because it opened a new segment among cell phones, called 'Smartphone' which combined the compactness of a cell phone and the utility of a computer. It became so famous that it has now become a status symbol to own it. This has wooed the Chinese to make 'copycat' versions of it, which looks like an iPhone but functions much poorly than a normal Nokia. But still, people buy that too. Have you ever wondered why? Why should people spend their money to buy a phone which is of much inferior quality than a normal one? It's because they want to own something, which looks like the original magnificent one.
Evangelical Christianity also has many 'copycat' preachers and teachers. They appear like Christians. They talk like Christians. They do ministry like Christians. But in reality, they are not. Just like how an untrained eye will find it difficult to differentiate the original iPhone from the fake one, it might be difficult to differentiate the true and the false teachers of Christianity. But God has not left us without hope. He has given us Scripture to instruct us about the signs of a false teacher. Also He has blessed us with the Holy Spirit, who will give us the power of discernment to separate the wolves from the sheep.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
(Heb 4:12)
These are some of the signs of a false teacher.
1) They will preach a different gospel:
The false teacher will always preach a gospel which is either completely different from the one which the apostles preached or add additional false doctrines to it. This is the gospel which the apostles preached.
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
Paul says again in Corinthians that if anyone who preaches a different gospel or a different Jesus or a different Holy spirit, then he is a false teacher.
For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
(2Co 11:4)
Church of Later day saints (Mormons) preach a different Jesus.
2) They will add false doctrines to the gospel:
Galatians added circumcision to the gospel of Christ. But Paul calls it as false gospel and he condemns them as false teachers.
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
(Gal 1:8)
Likewise if a person adds prosperity, success, wealth and health to the gospel of Jesus which the apostles preached, then he is a false teacher. Some of the notable examples in India are Sam P Chelladurai, Dinakarans, Sam Jebadurai, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen etc.
3) They will not accept the Deity and the humanity of Jesus Christ:
Bible affirms that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. Anyone who denies one or both of these, is a false teacher.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Many cults like Jehovah witness, Seventh day adventists etc deny this doctrine.
4) They may arise from the sheep:
Many often, false teachers arise from a church which has been established by biblical basis. Biblically and historically we can find the same.
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
(Mat 7:15)
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.
5. They will secretly introduce false doctrines:
Most of the time, these teachers will introduce false doctrines like an additional appendix discretely. For example, many preachers don't preach about Hell and Judgement, because they don't believe it. But when we ask the reason, they would say they want to preach the love of God instead of acknowledging their unbelief. Same can be true for prosperity preachers.
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
6. They will have fruits of the flesh in their lives:
A hallmark sign of a true Christian is the fruit of the Spirit which will be evident in their lives. They may believe in false doctrines out of ignorance but as soon as God regenerates a person, his lives will be evident by the spiritual fruit. But a false teacher will have the fruits of the flesh in their lives.
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
7. They will be lovers of money and sensuality:
This is evident in the lives of most of the preachers found in our society.
For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
(Jud 1:4)
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
8. They may do signs and wonders:
False teachers can do miracles, signs and wonders just as the true ones. Some may do in the name of Jesus also.
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
9. They may preach the true gospel out of selfish motives:
Here these preachers preached the gospel so that the persecution of Christians would increase (Php 1:17). Likewise they may preach the true gospel out of selfish motives from the flesh.
God has graciously given us these 9 marks of a false teacher from Scripture. The more we meditate on the Scripture, the more God will illuminate us and give us the wisdom of discernment to differentiate them.
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
(Heb 5:14)
Therefore let us also become mature in Christ and be watchful for the false teachers. May God bless you all!
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