Last Day Things: How to Meet False Teaching and False Teachers
Edit Note: Because of eye surgeries and retina problems I write with one eye closed, so I sometimes miss grammar or spelling mistakes. No excuse. Just saying. Feel free to correct what my wife does not. :)
"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."
2Pe.2.1-3.NASB
As the spiritual conflict deepens in the short time before Jesus returns in the clouds of heaven (1 Thess. 4. 13-18), we will have more of this spirit to meet within the church itself (2 Tim. 3.1-5). Of such, Paul says, "turn away". Jesus warned of such things and Peter is passing that teaching on to his own flock. It is the counsel of truth and reconciliation Jesus taught the church in Matthew 18.15-22. Repentance and forgiveness are always held open, but fellowship for the apostate is not, not until the church receives evidence in their works that their faith in Christ is restored. The blood of Christ cleanses all sin on the condition of confession to him directly and to whom ever he sinned against. (1 John 1.9).
No human meditator or intermediary is needed as some communions wrongly teach.
Restoration, not destruction is the object of church discipline, yet in such a way that the "sheep" of God are protected from the wolves.
Jesus said,
"For false Christs' and false because affiliations prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance." Matthew 24.24-26
In addressing the same problem Paul taught his "son" Timothy what to do when such teaching occurs in the church.
"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4.1-5
Why did he tell him to turn to the Word of God?
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3.16,17
Chapter 3 of 2 Timothy says the context for this counsel is false teaching, teaching that was upsetting weak households in the church.
We hold such false teachers and their listeners to the word of God, with gentleness, kindness, but firmness. It is a solemn charge to Timothy, who was fearful by nature. Paul said that in season and out of season, in times for teaching appointed by the church and in daily life, he should be prepared with the word to "reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction".
This is part of the pastor's work, one of evangelism as well, and one we see too often neglected today. Family affiliations and long-standing friendships should not and will not cause the faithful under shepherd of the church to run from this painful calling.
Open sin, not secret hidden motives, go unreproved and unrebuked until members can no longer tell sin from righteousness. The new and weaker members become confused and some leave the church as they see a double standard practiced by weak, timeserving pastors.
It is true that we should "take heed lest we fall" to self-righteousness, becoming forgetful of our own standing by grace alone through faith in Christ. On the other hand, God's word must be "preached" in the spirit and power of Elijah, a prophetic voice of proclamation declaring the unsearchable riches of Christ and the authority of God's Son.
"Cry loudly, do not hold back;
Raise your voice like a trumpet,And declare to My people their transgression
And to the house of Jacob their sins.
“Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways,
As a nation that has done righteousness
And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God.
They ask Me for just decisions,
They delight in the nearness of God."
Isaiah 58.1,2
The last day message is the eternal gospel in the setting of a judgement that has already begun. Rev. 14.6-12; Rev. 18.1-4
The first messenger and message God sends to earth once the judgment began was this:
"And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, “ Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters." Rev. 4.1-6
This is the first of four distinct responses by God to the work of the dragon and his beastly powers on earth. Jesus called the devil the father of lies. This is his power, the power to deceive. The Lord's power is the truth of the living Word, Jesus Christ.
Like Paul's counsel to Timothy, the last messages for earth are a preaching of the law and gospel (Rev. 14.12). God's remnant people will call the world to faith and repentance, to obedience to the full commandments of God (including the seventh-day Sabbath) and the pure doctrine of Christ our Righteousness. For only by the blood of Christ will anyone stand in the judgment of God.
The beastly powers of apostate religious and secular authority imitate and oppose God's Christ in his person and his work as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world". False religion, accompanied by Satan's "signs and wonders", threaten to deceive the very elect of Christ. The work of Christ as mediator is supplanted by the false mediations of men. With all deception they wage war against the church of the the living God, those who "keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus". (Rev. 14.12).
We are in this judgment hour now. We have this and the other three messages to preach. This is"our Father's business" and we must be about it.
Sin threatens to consume the very elect, Jesus warned. Therefore, he has given men and women the spiritual gifts, truth, and power of his Spirit to meet the crisis.
Our God of love is a God of holiness and truth, righteousness and peace. He made that peace through the blood of the cross and it is this cross we proclaim. We proclaim the hidden wisdom of God in the foolishness of a crucified and risen Lord. The word of the cross is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe. It is also the Word soaked in blood by which all humanity will be judged see 1 Cor. 1.17-2.16).
The coming judgment of God will mean salvation for the oppressed and destruction for the oppressor. Both aspects of the judgment are our message. Law and gospel are the twin pillars supporting the temple of God. The word of God (law) and the testimony of Jesus (gospel) seal the last days saints in their loyal to Christ and his faithful remnant (Rev. 12.17; 14.12). Not the devil or all that hides behind the gates of darkness can overcome the light God has given those who have made a covenant with him by blood (Rev. 12.10-11).
Jesus is coming soon. The devil is warring as never before (Rev. 12.12,17)
We cannot sleep as those in darkness, but must work while it is still called the day. We will not be distracted or overcome by darkness and those who love it, but will live as soldiers of the cross, walking in the banner of light that shines from it.
Today is the day of salvation for all who heart the law and gospel preached. Today, says Scripture, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as the children of God did in the wilderness and died there. But enter the rest that remains in the promises of God.
"For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two- edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4.8-16
We overcome evil with truth, immorality with the goodness of God, lies with the truth as it is in Christ. Ours is a spiritual warfare, therefore, we must always remember to,
"...be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6.10-13
