But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)
Not Everyone Is A True Preacher
Truth is older than error. Satan continually infiltrates the people of God with those who pretend to preach the word of God but are, in fact, false prophets and teachers. The error they teach is the great lie of the adversary of all men. While the world is held under the sway of his lies, the devil is crafty to embed those within the family of God who do not teach truth and present damnable heresies that are accepted as truth. And, like sheep led to the slaughter, many follow the teachings of men who are false to their eternal destruction.
Jesus taught that false teachers would arise in the kingdom of God. The apostles fought against the doctrines of men interposed upon the word of truth. The Holy Spirit warned of apostasy where the people of God would have itching ears to hear some new doctrine or follow some appealing gospel. False prophets have always been around. The nation of Israel was doomed through the teachings of false prophets. If Satan would attack the nation of God with false prophets, there is no doubt the devil will plant false prophets within the borders of God’s kingdom.
Paul warned the Ephesian elders of men who would rise from among themselves that were like savage wolves, speaking perverse things to draw away the people of God. In the church of Ephesus, false teachers would seize control and lead the church of Christ into falsehood, lies, deception, and error. Peter warned the church of false teachers among the faithful. Satan will present himself as a minister of light through the lives of these false teachers to destroy the church. Through the destructive heresies, the church will be led away from the truth found in Jesus Christ. The end will be the destruction of many souls.
False teachers are dangerous because they destroy souls. Their teachings are not from the word of God. They create doctrines foreign to scripture. Churches are created that cannot be found in Scripture. There are many preachers or so-called ‘pastors’ who are leading people astray through their own doctrines. They deny the teaching of salvation as given by Jesus and the Holy Spirit (sinners’ prayer, denying sins washed away). Worship is nothing like the early church. The church hierarchy is polluted in churches such as one man over a worldwide church (the Pope), preachers controlling churches, and women taking leadership roles. All of this comes from the false teachings and pernicious doctrines of corrupt men.
False preachers are real. And false preachers make false followers. Peter warned of false prophets to encourage the saints to examine the word of God and to test all the spirits. Every hearer of the gospel must be a diligent student to carefully examine what is taught and what is written (such as this brief). No one is exempt. Every word and thought must be challenged against what the Bible says. The Bible is the only revealed word of God, excluding the manuals, dogmas, and teachings of men (Book of Mormon, Koran). Truth is found in the Bible and the Bible alone, but that requires every soul to seek, examine, question, and challenge all teaching. If false doctrines are not challenged, false hope is established. And when false hope is established, souls are lost.
