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False prophets
2 Peter 2:1 says that there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:11 “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”
False prophets have taken over the majority of churches in America and yet people do not recognize them, even the ones that
are obvious are not viewed as false prophets. We have preachers in America saying that homosexuality is okay, telling people
that sex before marriage is no big deal, saying that you can continue going out and getting drunk and still be saved. Wake up
people! These false prophets are easily recognizable!
Jesus said in Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves.”
There are even preachers that drink, smoke, and cuss behind the pulpit! Hello people, these are wolves in wolves clothing!
Jesus said they would be in sheep’s clothing, meaning they would not be that obvious. If people cannot even recognize a false
prophet in wolves clothing, how are they to recognize those in sheep’s clothing? These false teachers are going to look like a
Christian, act like a Christian, and sound like they know what they are talking about, but do not be deceived!
Isaiah 8:20 “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
Biblical preaching has been replaced with the world’s way of finding salvation. Four steps to finding God, the Romans road to
salvation, all these silly methods! Look at the way Jesus and the apostles preached; was it at all, like what is going on in most
churches today? Look at today’s silly preaching and compare it to how Jesus and the apostles taught. Preachers say it is easy
to make it to heaven; Jesus said strive to enter through the narrow gate. Preachers act as if everyone in their church is going to
heaven; Jesus said few shall enter. Preachers comfort people with empty words; Jesus convicted people with the law.
Preachers today do not teach anything like Jesus or the apostles did and this is why so many people in church are lost.
Jesus said in Matthew 15:8-9 “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their
heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
People believe they have been saved, because they were baptized in a church. They believe that they were saved when they
walked down to the altar and asked Jesus into their heart. People believe all they have to do is ask for forgiveness of their sin
and they are saved. People do not even understand what true repentance is anymore. Some believe they are saved just
because they go to church and read the bible. Many preachers will tell you that if you do these things you will be saved. These
are all commandments of men. Do not be deceived by these false teachers. You must follow the word of God.
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.”
False teachers deceive people, because they use worldly principles rather than preaching the word of God. Do not follow any of
these methods that preachers use to water-down Christianity. Preachers think they can give you what you need to know about
the gospel in a few simple steps. They teach the traditions of men rather than the law of God. They tell you that you have been
saved according to the world’s way of salvation instead of teaching you the way to salvation through Jesus Christ. They give you
the teachings of men rather than the teachings of God. The pastor talks about worldly things that have no influence toward
righteousness. They teach things that are unbiblical and rarely talk about sin. What happened to preaching the law? What
happened to conviction of sin and people coming to repentance?
1 Timothy 1:6-7 “From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law;
understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.”
This describes the majority of preachers in America. They have replaced biblical preaching with idle talk. They tell stories and
make jokes rather than preaching the law. They teach the new age, simple gospel that allows everyone to continue in sin, never
feel a need to repent, and never examine themselves to see if they are in the faith. This new age gospel is a lie that is sending
millions of people to hell.
Galatians 1:8 “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.”
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And
no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Romans 16:17-18 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which
ye 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.”
Paul is warning you to avoid false prophets because they can deceive you, especially if you are not mature in your faith. Paul
says that with smooth words and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the simple. Smooth words that comfort a person
rather than preaching the law to convict them of sin. Flattering speech; lifting up a person to make them feel good rather than
teaching them the commandments of God.
It might be difficult to point out many of these false teachers, because you will find that everything they are preaching is true. The
problem is, they are only preaching half of the truth. They are comforting people rather than instructing them. People are like,
“Well, what is so wrong with that? So long as he’s not teaching lies and heresies, it’s okay, right?” Wrong, and I will tell you why.
A preacher does not have to lie to you or give you false doctrine to mislead you.
If someone only gives you half of the instructions to build something, will you be able to finish it? Do you see the problem yet?
You are probably thinking that you could figure out how to finish building something with only half of the instructions, but think
about this. A lost person walks inside of a church to see what this Christian stuff is all about. They hear all this good stuff about
how God loves us and forgives us for our sins, but they do not hear the gospel or the truth about following Christ. They just pray
that simple prayer and then continue living the sinful life they enjoy, believing they are saved and on their way to heaven. Do you
see a problem now?
James 2:15-16 “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye
warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”
In other words, if a brother or sister is in need of the truth and the pastor preaches love and peace and blesses them, but does
not teach them how to live a righteous life, what good is he doing? He has not led these people to salvation. Is all he has done
is made them feel comfortable being lost. Is all most preachers do is tell you that God loves you and will forgive you for your sin,
but they do not teach you about confession or repentance so that you will be saved. It’s like telling someone who is about to
jump out of a plane that their parachute will open up and keep them from hitting the ground, but not telling them how to open
their chute. We have millions of professing Christians on a free fall and they are going to hit the ground because they do not
know how to open their parachute. The false teachers who only tell you half of what you need to know are leading people down a
path that leads to death.
The most common false teacher found in today’s churches is what I call the half gospel preacher. They only give you half of the
truth and it causes you to be deceived. They quote Romans 3:23 to make a person feel better about living in sin rather than
quoting Romans 6:23 to warn them that sin leads to death. They give them John 3:16 to tell them that whosoever believes will
be saved rather than John 3:20 telling them that everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light. They tell
you that the love and grace of God comes to those who follow His commandments, but they do not tell you that the judgment and
wrath of God comes to those who find pleasure in unrighteousness. You see, a false teacher only tells you the things you want
to hear, because they want to keep you comfortable.
Paul said in Galatians 1:10 “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should
not be the servant of Christ.”
Do you think Jesus was worried about peoples comfort? Jesus came to save sinners, not to comfort them and keep them from
the fear of the Lord.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:34 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
Do you know what that sword is? It is the word of God! We are to preach the truth in order to convict people of their sin so that
they may be led to repentance and be saved.
Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:2-4 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long
suffering and doctrine.”For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap
to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
That time is here and it is because there are so many false teachers out there preaching lies, heresies, and half-truths. People
have the wrong gospel and are following the wrong god, because the truth is not being preached. It is very important that you find
a church that preaches the gospel. Every church is going to have different views on certain things, but the most important thing is
that they preach the law of God so that people are convicted of their sin and the gospel of Jesus Christ so they can be saved.
Whether you are looking for a church or you are already a church member, I cannot stress enough the importance of recognizing
false teachers and avoiding them.
Galatians 1:9 “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.”
I pray you understand why this is so serious, and you see how important it is that you avoid false teaching.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:11 “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”
False prophets have taken over the majority of churches in America and yet people do not recognize them, even the ones that
are obvious are not viewed as false prophets. We have preachers in America saying that homosexuality is okay, telling people
that sex before marriage is no big deal, saying that you can continue going out and getting drunk and still be saved. Wake up
people! These false prophets are easily recognizable!
Jesus said in Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves.”
There are even preachers that drink, smoke, and cuss behind the pulpit! Hello people, these are wolves in wolves clothing!
Jesus said they would be in sheep’s clothing, meaning they would not be that obvious. If people cannot even recognize a false
prophet in wolves clothing, how are they to recognize those in sheep’s clothing? These false teachers are going to look like a
Christian, act like a Christian, and sound like they know what they are talking about, but do not be deceived!
Isaiah 8:20 “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
Biblical preaching has been replaced with the world’s way of finding salvation. Four steps to finding God, the Romans road to
salvation, all these silly methods! Look at the way Jesus and the apostles preached; was it at all, like what is going on in most
churches today? Look at today’s silly preaching and compare it to how Jesus and the apostles taught. Preachers say it is easy
to make it to heaven; Jesus said strive to enter through the narrow gate. Preachers act as if everyone in their church is going to
heaven; Jesus said few shall enter. Preachers comfort people with empty words; Jesus convicted people with the law.
Preachers today do not teach anything like Jesus or the apostles did and this is why so many people in church are lost.
Jesus said in Matthew 15:8-9 “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their
heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
People believe they have been saved, because they were baptized in a church. They believe that they were saved when they
walked down to the altar and asked Jesus into their heart. People believe all they have to do is ask for forgiveness of their sin
and they are saved. People do not even understand what true repentance is anymore. Some believe they are saved just
because they go to church and read the bible. Many preachers will tell you that if you do these things you will be saved. These
are all commandments of men. Do not be deceived by these false teachers. You must follow the word of God.
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.”
False teachers deceive people, because they use worldly principles rather than preaching the word of God. Do not follow any of
these methods that preachers use to water-down Christianity. Preachers think they can give you what you need to know about
the gospel in a few simple steps. They teach the traditions of men rather than the law of God. They tell you that you have been
saved according to the world’s way of salvation instead of teaching you the way to salvation through Jesus Christ. They give you
the teachings of men rather than the teachings of God. The pastor talks about worldly things that have no influence toward
righteousness. They teach things that are unbiblical and rarely talk about sin. What happened to preaching the law? What
happened to conviction of sin and people coming to repentance?
1 Timothy 1:6-7 “From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law;
understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.”
This describes the majority of preachers in America. They have replaced biblical preaching with idle talk. They tell stories and
make jokes rather than preaching the law. They teach the new age, simple gospel that allows everyone to continue in sin, never
feel a need to repent, and never examine themselves to see if they are in the faith. This new age gospel is a lie that is sending
millions of people to hell.
Galatians 1:8 “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.”
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And
no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Romans 16:17-18 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which
ye 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.”
Paul is warning you to avoid false prophets because they can deceive you, especially if you are not mature in your faith. Paul
says that with smooth words and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the simple. Smooth words that comfort a person
rather than preaching the law to convict them of sin. Flattering speech; lifting up a person to make them feel good rather than
teaching them the commandments of God.
It might be difficult to point out many of these false teachers, because you will find that everything they are preaching is true. The
problem is, they are only preaching half of the truth. They are comforting people rather than instructing them. People are like,
“Well, what is so wrong with that? So long as he’s not teaching lies and heresies, it’s okay, right?” Wrong, and I will tell you why.
A preacher does not have to lie to you or give you false doctrine to mislead you.
If someone only gives you half of the instructions to build something, will you be able to finish it? Do you see the problem yet?
You are probably thinking that you could figure out how to finish building something with only half of the instructions, but think
about this. A lost person walks inside of a church to see what this Christian stuff is all about. They hear all this good stuff about
how God loves us and forgives us for our sins, but they do not hear the gospel or the truth about following Christ. They just pray
that simple prayer and then continue living the sinful life they enjoy, believing they are saved and on their way to heaven. Do you
see a problem now?
James 2:15-16 “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye
warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”
In other words, if a brother or sister is in need of the truth and the pastor preaches love and peace and blesses them, but does
not teach them how to live a righteous life, what good is he doing? He has not led these people to salvation. Is all he has done
is made them feel comfortable being lost. Is all most preachers do is tell you that God loves you and will forgive you for your sin,
but they do not teach you about confession or repentance so that you will be saved. It’s like telling someone who is about to
jump out of a plane that their parachute will open up and keep them from hitting the ground, but not telling them how to open
their chute. We have millions of professing Christians on a free fall and they are going to hit the ground because they do not
know how to open their parachute. The false teachers who only tell you half of what you need to know are leading people down a
path that leads to death.
The most common false teacher found in today’s churches is what I call the half gospel preacher. They only give you half of the
truth and it causes you to be deceived. They quote Romans 3:23 to make a person feel better about living in sin rather than
quoting Romans 6:23 to warn them that sin leads to death. They give them John 3:16 to tell them that whosoever believes will
be saved rather than John 3:20 telling them that everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light. They tell
you that the love and grace of God comes to those who follow His commandments, but they do not tell you that the judgment and
wrath of God comes to those who find pleasure in unrighteousness. You see, a false teacher only tells you the things you want
to hear, because they want to keep you comfortable.
Paul said in Galatians 1:10 “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should
not be the servant of Christ.”
Do you think Jesus was worried about peoples comfort? Jesus came to save sinners, not to comfort them and keep them from
the fear of the Lord.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:34 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
Do you know what that sword is? It is the word of God! We are to preach the truth in order to convict people of their sin so that
they may be led to repentance and be saved.
Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:2-4 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long
suffering and doctrine.”For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap
to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
That time is here and it is because there are so many false teachers out there preaching lies, heresies, and half-truths. People
have the wrong gospel and are following the wrong god, because the truth is not being preached. It is very important that you find
a church that preaches the gospel. Every church is going to have different views on certain things, but the most important thing is
that they preach the law of God so that people are convicted of their sin and the gospel of Jesus Christ so they can be saved.
Whether you are looking for a church or you are already a church member, I cannot stress enough the importance of recognizing
false teachers and avoiding them.
Galatians 1:9 “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.”
I pray you understand why this is so serious, and you see how important it is that you avoid false teaching.
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