False Teachers

False Teachers
The apostle Peter writes,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
As believers in Christ Jesus it cannot be emphasised enough that we must be on the lookout for false prophets. For false teachers.
In our multimedia world where anyone can preach anything from anywhere in the world and make it sound good. It is essential that we carefully check what we are listening to with regards to biblical teaching.
It is therefor essential we know what we as believers in Christ Jesus believe. That is why we must read and study the Bible for ourselves.
Now while there may be slight differences about how we should worship and other minor points in the scriptures we as believers should at least have an understanding of the basics all Christians the important things that make us believers in Christ.
For me the key points that make a person a believer in Christ Jesus is expressed in the Apostles Creed. While it was not written by an apostle of Jesus it expresses the basic doctrine all believers believe.
The Apostle Creed reads,
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin        Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.
Question, Do you believe these twelve points? Do the men and women that you listen to, that claim to be believers in Christ Jesus believe this?
Please think about it.

False Teachers

False Teachers
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
We as Christians I believe are living in the times Paul talked about. Especially here in North America.
The laws that give Christians the right to present their faith to the world is a double edged sword to us. It allows us to present the gospel message in spirit and in truth. While at the same time allowing those claiming to be Christian to twist the truths in God’s word for their own gain.
It’s not a new thing even in the apostle Paul’s day there were people who were perverting the teachings of God. That’s why Paul warned against them.
Today with all the media we have at our finger tips its easy for false teachers to have a forum for their teachings.
Especially when it come to those calling themselves evangelical Christians there is no oversight. They can preach anything and hide behind laws that allow them to sue anyone who speaks out against them.
It therefore falls upon the individual Christian to know what they believe and why.
As Christians we need to be praying, studying the scriptures and seeing for ourselves what they say. What is right and what is wrong.
We need to be attending a Church that is truly based on the scriptures.
We need to be questioning our pastors, evangelist and teachers about things they’ve said especially if we don’t understand what they said. A good honest teacher of the Bible will take time to explain what they said.
Even then I would suggest that you take time to look at what the person said and see that they are presenting scripture in the right context as it is in the Bible.
It’s easy to make scripture say anything you want it to say by misquoting it.
It is important also not to follow a man, a preacher, or evangelist. I’ve seen many people follow a specific preacher and when he fell and made mistakes or was proven to be a fraud the person following him has fallen also.
The writer of Proverbs tells us,
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”Proverbs 3:5,6.
It is God that should be the centre of our lives. We should look to Christ as our example. Not a mortal man.
Please think about it.