The bible makes mention of Satan and of his
‘messengers’ (2 Cor. 11:14-15). What does the Bible reveals about false
teachers/teaching? The context in which
this statement is made of Satan and his efforts, is dealing with false teachers
who teach error.
Religious convictions are directly related to preaching.
There are several warnings from the Bible about how and why false doctrine
would arise. These provide us with an accurate picture of the moral status
of people as well as the answers to why there is religious division today. It
is due to error being preached.
Satan, through his “ministers”, wants to create
doubt about both the authenticity and inspiration of the scriptures. It is in
this way that Satan succeeds in preventing us from accepting the fact that
truth can be determined. If Satan can convince us that we cannot identify
truth, then no one can label anything as sin. Accordingly, if we can’t
determine sin, then Satan has accomplished his purpose. How has Satan gone
about to do this? He has convinced man that “the faith” (Jude 1:3) cannot be
determined. He has gotten people to accept that we cannot agree on what the
Bible teaches, and that therefore the many differing churches are all just
pursuing their own understanding of the Bible, and no one ought to question the
other, or pass ‘judgment’.
Satan’s purpose is to steer our thinking to accept
sincerity without any emphasis upon the doctrine. Thus we hear such
phrases as “there are many different roads to heaven and that we are all
traveling a different road, but they all head to the same place”. Consider the
following passages and see if sincerity without regard for doctrine will
suffice.
Matt. 7:13-14 – “Enter ye in at the strait
gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow
is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
If it doesn’t matter which ‘way’ you travel, as
long as you are sincere, why bother trying to “find” the narrow way? Does this
suggest that it matters what one believes and practices in religion?
Hear the apostle Paul’s warnings to Timothy in
1 Tim. 1:3-4, “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,
neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister
questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”
Notice the phrase, “…teach no other doctrine”.
If doctrine doesn’t matter, why did Paul tell Timothy to charge some “…that
they teach no other doctrine?” What “doctrine” did Paul want Timothy to teach?
For example, what was Timothy to teach about how one “calls upon the name of
the Lord”? Was Timothy to teach the same pattern of ‘calling’ that Paul taught?
Did Paul and Peter preach the same pattern?
Later in this same epistle in chapter 6:3-5,
Paul gave this warning, “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; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil
surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the
truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”
Did you notice again, Paul’s statement to
“IF ANY MAN TEACH OTHERWISE…AND CONSENT NOT…”? Teach other than what? He
said, “…even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Does this mean anything other
than to teach the same thing that Jesus taught?
More importantly, could Timothy know what Jesus
taught? Could Timothy teach the same thing? How could this warning be carried
out if Timothy could not distinguish “the truth” from “the fables”? Paul wrote
to Titus in Titus 1:11-16, of false teachers saying, “Whose mouths must be
stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for
filthy lucre's sake.” What things were not to be taught?
Paul went on to tell Titus how to deal with
false teachers. “Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the
faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn
from the truth” How can you turn from the truth if you can’t define what
truth is?
Paul warned Timothy in 2 Tim. 4:1-4, “I charge
thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick
and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 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...”
What about attitudes toward ‘sound doctrine’
today? Does it indicate that people want ‘sound doctrine’? Do they refuse
‘sound doctrine’ on how to be saved, on divorce & remarriage only if
fornication has been committed? What about ‘sound doctrine’ on abortion,
homosexuality, gambling, drinking, etc.? Does the Bible contradict itself on
these matters?
Are there those today who want a preacher who
will not condemn their ungodly lifestyles? Are there also preachers who are
afraid to preach ‘sound doctrine’ on these matters for fear of loss of
employment? These passages clearly teach that truth can be known, and if
it can be known, then it can be understood, and if it can be understood, it can
be agreed upon!
But Satan has deceived many into accepting the
“broad way”; the ‘one church is as good as another’ concept. Such was done in
the first century, and the apostle Paul called them what they truly are…false
& deceitful. He said in 2 Cor. 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.”
Notice that Paul by inspiration of the Holy
Ghost said that their end will be according to their “works”. Their “works”
refer to their false teaching. What if error is believed and obeyed? If error
is believed and obeyed out of ignorance, will ignorance excuse in the Day of
Judgment? How would this affect one’s salvation? Does doctrine matter?
What if one was preached error in regard to
what to do to be saved…would he be saved? In view of the fact that Satan does not
want anyone to be saved, we have warnings such as the apostle Paul’s about how
Satan’s ministers transform themselves into apostles of Christ. False teachers
existed in Jesus’ day, they existed in the apostles’ day, and they exist today.
That is why doctrine matters! It is why we must teach only what Jesus commanded
to be taught in order for sins to be forgiven.
Yes it is true that all must come to Jesus, or
‘call upon the name of the Lord’, but the question that needs to be given
careful study is, HOW DO YOU CALL? What does the Bible teach…by sincere prayer
or by faith and obedience? Which of the two is ‘sound doctrine’? Which do
you find taught and followed in the book of Acts?
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