False Teachers: Our Warning and Duty

Introduction.

The Pastoral Epistles:

1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus

Who wrote this? Paul

When and where did he write it? Around 65 AD in Macedonia

What are the Pastoral Epistles:

These are letters written to specific Pastors addressing church life and organization. These were written late in Paul’s ministry and are personal in nature.

Who are the Pastors:

Timothy (in Ephesus) and Titus (in Crete)

An Apostle

Paul opens his letter to Timothy with a strong message of his authority.

1 Timothy 1:1 (ESV)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

This is done to establish Paul’s authority to charge Timothy to confront the false teachers. At least two of the false teachers are elders (1 Timothy 1:20)

Notice the tone of the opening towards Timothy.

My true child in the faith

This is a letter of guidance and encouragement to Timothy.

A Warning

The modus operandi (MO)

The acronym MO is short for modus operandi, an expression directly from Latin meaning “way of operating.” The phrase specifically refers to the particular, often characteristic manner someone goes about doing something—later broadened to one's “style.”

What they teach?

They were teaching a different doctrine.

Therefore doctrine matters.

This was a false gospel.

What they do?

They focus on the items that are not important.

They seek to control behavior.

1 Timothy 4:3 explains that forbade marriage and created dietary restrictions.

Think about this for a second, Joel Osteen, who in his famous Larry King interview, became the king of I don’t know, finally made a stand in 2009. When he said that we should not eat pork or shellfish.

He could not stand for the clear teaching of Scripture, but he made a stand for dietary restrictions that are not for Christians.

Why they do it?

They are driven by selfish ambition, desiring the position but not the responsibility.

Covetous- Titus 1:11;

2 peter 2:3

Titus 1:11 (ESV)

11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

2 Peter 2:3

3 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.

Ungodly- Jude 4; 8

Jude 4 (ESV)

4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Jude 8 (ESV)

8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.

Proud and Ignorant- 1 Timothy 6:3-4

1 Timothy 6:3–4 (ESV)

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,

Corrupt and reprobate- 2 Timothy 3:8

2 Timothy 3:8 (ESV)

8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.

How they do it?

They focus on myths and endless genealogies.

They teach without understanding.

They are confident about their teaching but have no idea what they are saying.

“Not a trickle, not a stream, not a river, but flood stage! Financial flood stage! Miraculous flood stage and breakthroughs of an uncommon nature. For this is the time. This is the time, ha, ha, ha! Yeah, this is the time,” saith The LORD, “when the bottom of the world will become the top of the world.”

Kenneth Copeland Sep 2019

The result

People become focused on speculations instead of God.

We look at secondary issues instead of the primary issues.

We become evangelists for speculations instead of the Gospel.

I want you to listen to this teaching by someone is leading a church. Tell me what do you hear, what is missing?

I believe Jesus wanted to REVEAL who he now was to John in order to offer a new perspective of his identity. Notice that Jesus said “I died, but look…”.  As to say “John you need to see me the way I am –truly divine and all powerful.”

I want to challenge you to view Jesus not how he once was, but who He is and who He will soon be.  When you pray and visualize Him, imagine an all-powerful, divine Lord who can do anything….and who loves you enough to die for you.  That’s who Jesus really is.

People become confident on speculations and ignorant of the Gospel.

How can we tell?

Way to detect false doctrine.

First, know the true doctrine.

Look first at the message; what is being taught? Is it in alignment with all of Scripture?

Look at the behavior of the leader. Is it like the behaviors listed above?

this is not an expectation of sinless leaders, but leaders who desire to be like Christ.

When you know the true, any false doctrine will become evident.

You do not need to be an expert in the false doctrines, just focus on the true doctrine.