HOW WILL WE KNOW FALSE TEACHERS
By: Bill J. Houghman
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Isaiah 8:20
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.
Galatians 1:8
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.
1 Timothy 6:3
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
2 John 1
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
ARE WE TO JUDGE TEACHING
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1 Corinthians 10:15
15. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
1 Corinthians 14:29
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
1 Thessalonians 5:21
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Acts 17:11
11 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.
Jude 1:3
3. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
ARE WE TO OPENLY CHALLENGE THESE FALSE TEACHERS
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1 John 4:1
1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1 Timothy 1:3
3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
2 Timothy 4:2
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Titus 1:10
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
12 One of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians [are] alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Revelation 2:2
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
ARE THERE BIBLICAL PRECEDENTS FOR NAMING THESE FALSE TEACHERSS BY NAME?
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Galatians 2:11
11. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
1 Timothy 1:19
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
2 Timothy 1:15
15. This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
2 Timothy 2
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
3 John 1:9
9. I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth [them] out of the church.
WHAT TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE FOR JUDGING THESE MEN AND THEIR TEACHING?
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Matthew 22:29
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
2 Timothy 3:16
16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
1 Timothy 4:13
13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:16
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Titus 1:9
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
1 Corinthians 2:15
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1 Corinthians 5:12
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1 Corinthians 6:2
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
1 Corinthians 6:5
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
John 7:24
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
WHAT SHOULD BE THE CHRISTIAN’S RESPONSE TO FALSE TEACHERS AND
THEIR TEACHING?
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Romans 16
17. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Titus 3:10
10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
2 Thessalonians 3:6
6. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
2 Thessalonians 3:14
14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
WHAT SHOULD BE THE RESPONSE OF ONE WHO IS REBUKED AND CORRECTED BY
GODLY MEN?
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Lamentations 3:40
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.
Proverbs 27:5
5. Open rebuke [is] better than secret love.
Proverbs 15:32
32. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
Hebrews 12:5
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
1 Corinthians 10
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
James 3:2
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body.
1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
