False Teachers

By: Dan C. Bailey

Most people believe that one preacher or teacher of the Bible is as good as another. But this, my Friend, is not the teaching of the Bible. God has told us in His Book that there would be false teachers. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction" (II Peter 2:1). Therefore, one preacher or teacher is not as good as another!

" Yes," says someone, "the Bible does speak about false teachers, but most who teach about God seem really sincere." Listen to what Jesus said about false teachers. "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:15-20). What could be more innocent looking than sheep? They are so gentle and easy to get along with. They are so harmless looking. The devil realizes this and so he clothes his servants with "sheep's clothing." This deceiver must not be followed. He must be resisted. "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (l Peter 5:8),

It is about time that people started studying the Bible for themselves instead of the only relying upon what the preacher says. Jesus taught, "Search scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39). In the first century, some honest souls searched the scriptures.  "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). In I John 4: 1, we read "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." Can we do anything less today and still be pleasing to God?