A Warning Against False Teachers

Eagle's Landing Sermons

A healthy church guards against false teachers. “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” — 1 Timothy 1:1–2 1. The threat of false teachers. “As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine…” — 1 Timothy 1:3 The gospel of Jesus must be our highest priority. How Do We Identify False Teachers? a) False teachers typically target spiritual babes. “…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” — Ephesians 4:13-14 b) False teachers twist the truth. “…There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.” — 2 Peter 3:16–17 c) False teachers have an unhealthy craving for controversy. “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.” — 1 Timothy 6:3–5 “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.” — Romans 16:17 d) False teachers chase fleeting pleasures. “And in their greed they will exploit you with false words.” — 2 Peter 2:3 “For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites.” — Romans 16:18 “And many will follow their sensuality…” — 2 Peter 2:2 e) False teachers don’t look like false teachers. “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” — 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 2. The fruit of false teachers. “…nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.” — 1 Timothy 1:4 False teaching leads to false living. 3. The motive of false teachers. “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” — 1 Timothy 1:5 The motive of false teachers is self-promotion. “Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions." — 1 Timothy 1:6-7 “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.” — Acts 20:29-30 “…desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” — 1 Timothy 1:7 4. The false gospel of false teachers. “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine…” — 1 Timothy 1:8-10 The purpose of the law is to show us our need for a Savior. “Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” — Romans 5:20–21 “…in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.” — 1 Timothy 1:11 How do we, as a church, avoid false teaching and remain a healthy church? 1. Prioritize the gospel daily. 2. Commit ourselves to Gospel preaching. 3. Be a student of God’s Word.