Defenders of Truth

Time with the Real Not the Fake

Many of you may have heard this illustration before, however, I have found it to be the one of the best illustrations when it comes to the work of the teacher.

There is a group of people that are concerned with the work of ensuring the currency we have in our hands is truly minted.

This group of agents have four tests as it pertains to knowing the real from the fake.

Touch Test: consistency of the bills… what material is used

Tilt Test: things that can only be seen with special lighting or by turning the bill a certain way.

Look At Test: Does the bill have all the required markings

Look Through Test: Can you find the hidden images.

These agents do not spend time with the fakes to know what a fake looks like… they spend so much time with the real bill they can tell the difference almost immediately.

As we consider the impact of their work, how would this impact the work of biblical teachers, and the congregation.

Touch- how consistent is what is being taught with the bible?

Tilt- was the verse taken out of contexts (eisegesis vs exegesis)

Look at- does the teaching have all the markers of sound study?

Look through- does the teaching contain a hidden agenda?

Teachers of the bible should be so well versed with scripture they can train others how to tell the counterfeit from the real. They teach people to spend time with the truth and not a counterfeit gospel

Teachers are the defenders of truth, they champion the deliverance of the captive in professing truth.

Ephesians 4:11–14 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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.

The five fold ministry given as a gift to equip (katartismos)

Craftsman of the church

They work on building

Function of the craftsman

equip the saints

build up the body

bring into unity and maturity

Prevent the body from being tossed around by doctrine

human cunning

craftiness

Trickery

deceit

Teachers contend against false teachers and teachings that can mislead the flock

Without the Teacher

2 Peter 2:1–3 ESV

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Scripture tells of a time in which sound teaching will not be tolerated

Covertly bringing in false doctrines, heresies which lead to destruction

Many will follow because they twisted the Truth

This was the issue with the Church in Pergamum (Rev 2:14)

teachers who were teaching the congregation falseness causing them to stumble

The Church in Thyatira (Rev 2:20-23)

congregation that tolerates the false teachers

hold to the deep things of Satan… they prefer these over truth

2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

When the teacher is absent the people wander

They no longer tolerate good food… they want fast food…

Teaching the Fullness of the Gospel

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Teacher is concerned with making more than followers they are concerned with making disciples

The command to teach is not only part but to teach the fullness of what Christ commanded.

To teach all that He commanded the teacher must diligently study His word

Teachers are Guardians of Knowledge

Malachi 2:7 ESV

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Instruction is for all 5 but concerns the lips of the teacher

When people are looking for knowledge the teacher instructs

Teachers are messengers of the Lord

Good teachers teach people to love the word of God

Teaching People to Be Set Free

John 8:31–32 ESV

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Remember teachers focus not on making followers but making disciples

Teachers arent speaking in their own words they teach people to abide in the Word

Teachers deliver the ones held captive to false doctrines and heresies… they contend against situations like Balam and Balak

The work of the teacher is to bring into alignment any who is found in errant theology or heresy.

They teach peolpe to use their five senses when engaging the word of the Lord.

When we look at the vein found in the major Pauline writing his focus is on defending against false doctrines that have made their way into the church… today the church in America needs the teacher to step back into their role refuting false doctrines, false Jesus, false gospels which have the church looking more after the things of the flesh than they look after the word of God…

Today their is a calling for the guardians of truth to rise up and to route the falsities that are leading many into destruction.