False teachers and Apostasy

All down through history there have been false teachers and there are still false teachers around today and many believers have been influenced by them.  One of the big problems is that many believers believe anything they hear from the pulpit or a teacher, mainly because they don’t take the time to study the Bible for themselves.  Paul said this in 2 Timothy 2:15-19, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Paul warned about the false teachers in his day.  This is what it says about this subject in the footnotes in my Bible word for word, “False teachers are still spouting lies. Some distort the truth, some delude it, and some simply delete it saying it no longer applies. But no matter how many people follow the liars, God’s truth never changes, is never shaken and will never fade. When we know and believe God’s truth He will never forsake us.”

How will believers ever come to know the real truth if they never study it themselves?  How will they know what to stand for?  I heard, or read, it said that, “if you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.”  If you are not reading or studying the Word, you will be missing the very thing that will help you become more like the Lord.

Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote about this subject also warning against false teachers and also apostasy, turning away from Christ.  He said this in Jude 1:1-4, “Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.  Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Word and its truths must never be compromised.  The Word of God is reliable and should never be twisted to say what people want it to say.  When people do that, they end up confusing the hearers and that will cause misunderstanding.  People who twist the truth to fit their own lifestyles are playing with fire and will reap the consequences.  Believers have a responsibility, also, to study so that they won’t fall into false teachings.  Every believer should know the basic doctrines of the faith and stand on those truths so they won’t be drawn into any lies from false teachers.  That will only be accomplished through study and meditation of the Word, along with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and to keep you from being deceived and to fill you with His wisdom.  

I know I write on this subject often but I think it is so important.  I have given you food for thought and I hope you will start studying if you are not doing it.  May God bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!