How can I recognize a false teacher / false prophet?

[Solo]

How can I recognize a false teacher / false prophet?


Question: "How can I recognize a false teacher / false prophet?"

Answer: Jesus warned us that “false christs and false prophets†will come and will attempt to deceive even God’s elect (Matthew 24:23-27; see also 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 17-18). The best way to guard yourself against falsehood and false teachers is to know the truth. To spot a counterfeit, study the real thing. Any believer who is “rightly dividing the word of truth†(2 Timothy 2:15), and who makes a careful study of the Bible can identify false doctrine. For example, a believer who has read the activities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:16-17 will immediately question any doctrine that denies the Trinity. Therefore, step one is to study the Bible and judge all teaching by what the Scripture says.

Jesus said “a tree is recognized by its fruit†(Matthew 12:33). When looking for “fruit,†here are three specific tests to apply to any teacher to determine the accuracy of his or her teaching:

1. What does this teacher say about Jesus? In Matthew 16:15-16, Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?†Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,†and for this answer Peter is called “blessed.†In 2 John 9, we read, “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.†In other words, Jesus Christ and His work of redemption is of utmost importance; beware anyone who denies that Jesus is equal with God, who downplays Jesus’ substitutionary death, or who rejects Jesus’ humanity. First John 2:22 says, “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichristâ€â€he denies the Father and the Son.â€Â
   
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2. Does this teacher preach the Gospel? The Gospel is defined as the good news concerning Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). As nice as they sound, the statements “God loves you,†“God wants us to feed the hungry,†and “God wants you to be wealthy†are NOT the complete message of the Gospel. As Paul warns in Galatians 1:7, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.†No one, not even a great preacher, has the right to change the message that God gave us. “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!†(Galatians 1:9).
   
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3. Does this teacher exhibit character qualities that glorify the Lord? Speaking of false teachers, Jude 11 says, “They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.†In other words, a false teacher can be known by his pride (Cain’s rejection of God’s plan), greed (Balaam’s prophesying for money), and rebellion (Korah’s promotion of himself over Moses). Jesus said to beware of such people and that we would know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).[/*:m:o85cjacy]

For further study, review those books of the Bible that were written specifically to combat false teaching within the church: Galatians, 2 Peter, 2 John, and Jude. It is often difficult to spot a false teacher / false prophet. Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and his ministers masquerade as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:15).
Only by being thoroughly familiar with the truth will we be able to recognize a counterfeit.

Retrieved from http://www.gotquestions.org/false-teachers.html

 

[XTruth]

I agree w/ the article you posted. This is a good warning for all Christians, letting all know that it is possible to be led astray into err to start following a different Jesus, or another gospel (2 Cor.11:3-4). But this should be the question to pondar; how do we lead the false teachers, prophets, and students back to the truth? At least 99% of them don't think they're deceived. They've been taught doctrines of demons from seducing spirits (1 Tim.4:1) and believed it to be the Holy Spirit because they didn't test the spirits (1 Jn.4:1-6). They've divided and separated the word of the truth, but not rightly so (2 Tim.2:15). They think themselves to be wise, but are fools for not seeing the clear truth of the Word. I think we can spot the false doctrines taught and proclaimed by these false teachers and prophets by how they complicate the clear message relayed in the scriptures they use. So how do we get them to wake up to their folly before it's too late for them?

 

[Joe67]

Solo and XTruth,
Two good posts that lead us to consider.

It seems good to go forward and also ponder another testimony.

2 Tim 3:5
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. KJV

This is a presentation of those who are the seeds that spring up and grow up in all the form of the plant but the cares of this life and the lusts of other things choke out the fruit of the spirit. It is a fearful warning about being in church (any church) for many years and yet the fruit of the spirit to be lacking.

Our Lord said that by their fruits we will know. The fruits of the Spirit are not the doctrine; yet fruit grow out on the end of the branch of the vine/tree; which is the doctrine of God our Savior.
Our Lord said that he is the vine and his Father is the husbandman. He also said that we are the branches and that the branch cannot bear fruit of itself and that it must be pruned from the dead work so that the new growth can occur, from which the fruit is borne.

Joe

 

[follower of Christ]

Some ways to reconize false teachers...

1. Beware of teachers that demands compliance without explaination.
2. Beware of teachers whose explaination doesnt line up with the whole of Gods word.
3. Beware of teachers who focuses too heavily on part of the data and has to redefine words from other passages to make them fit with his interpretation of his pet verses.
4. Beware of teachers who focus only on Gods forgiveness or only on His judgment.
5. Beware of teachers who dont seem overly interested in the Bible and/or the Old Testament.
6. Beware of teachers who talk more about tithing than salvation.
7. Beware of teachers whose church seem more like a social club and Christs church.
8. Beware of teachers who dont have an overwhelming desire for the lost.

Just a few...

 

[Adullam]

By knowing Christ. :yes

 

[destiny]

Modern false teachers are usually ear ticklers, they omit the weightier parts of the word having to do with crucifying the flesh, taking up the cross, or "you must be born again." Anything having to do with judgment, wrath, or walking the narrow path is also out.
There is no conviction in what they teach since their god is a figment of the imagination and is not of the same character and nature as the god of the bible. It's all about whatever makes man feel good or will bring about tolerance and unity.

You won't get anything that will make you want to crucify the works of the flesh and live wholly for God, from a false teacher. They teach a form of cross-less "christianity."

 

[Adullam]

Modern false teachers are usually ear ticklers, they omit the weightier parts of the word having to do with crucifying the flesh, taking up the cross, or "you must be born again." Anything having to do with judgment, wrath, or walking the narrow path is also out.
There is no conviction in what they teach since their god is a figment of the imagination and is not of the same character and nature as the god of the bible. It's all about whatever makes man feel good or will bring about tolerance and unity.

You won't get anything that will make you want to crucify the works of the flesh and live wholly for God, from a false teacher. They teach a form of cross-less "christianity."

Definitely! :yes

 

[oneisgod]

Jesus said:-

Matthew 7:16
By their fruits YOU will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they?

So what has been the friut(s) of Christandom's churches?

One thinks of WW1 & WW2 which where sanctioned by the Europen churches on all sides in 1914-1918 & 1939-1945, what did Jesus say on this:-

Mark 12:31-33
The second is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.†32 The scribe said to him: “Teacher, you well said in line with truth, ... and this loving one’s neighbor as oneself is worth far more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.â€Â

Matthew 5:44
However, I say to YOU: Continue to love YOUR enemies. . .

So what "fruits" did they produce for the "Prince Of Peace" Jesus Christ?

In war what do we see?:-

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, 20 idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, 21 envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these. As to these things I am forewarning YOU, the same way as I did forewarn YOU, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.

What "fruist" does Jesus EXPECT from HIS followers:-

Galatians 5:22-25
On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus impaled the flesh together with its passions and desires. 25 If we are living by spirit, let us go on walking orderly also by spirit.

Do we see all the above in warfare?

So what did Jesus say:-

Matthew 7:16
By their fruits YOU will recognize them.

Seems quite plain to see to me!

WHAT KIND OF LOVE?

LOVE (Noun and Verb) [Verb] agapao and the corresponding noun agape (agape below) present "the characteristic word of Christianity, … "Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. … "Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom 15:2, and works no ill to any, Rom 13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,' Gal 6:10. …
In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant "love" and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential "love" in them towards the Giver, and a practical "love" towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giverb].â€Â-‘Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Bible Words’[/b]

 

[conchoreb]

I'm surprised no one mentioned it (or else I missed it) but a false prophet's prophesies are not fullfilled (usually). Witness the numerous JW predictions of the End.

 

[mutzrein]

Some good thoughts here, however I believe that Solo's motivation is to declare anyone who does not believe that Jesus is God (by his interpretation) to be a false prophet / false teacher.

 

[oneisgod]

I'm surprised no one mentioned it (or else I missed it) but a false prophet's prophesies are not fullfilled (usually). Witness the numerous JW predictions of the End.

I go by what Jesus said!

The example I used (WW1 & WW2) shows what the religions do that worship a trinity as God, which it the light of what Jesus said at Matt 7:16 shows them to be just what they are, bloody and violent!

Too that we can add what he said at:-

Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness.

Thus are the worshipers of "The LORD"!

 

[oneisgod]

Some good thoughts here, however I believe that Solo's motivation is to declare anyone who does not believe that Jesus is God (by his interpretation) to be a false prophet / false teacher.

But that is not true as Jesus said:-

John 14:6
Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.


So Jesus lead us to worshiup "The Father" not himself as that is were he leads us to!

 

[Solo]

Some good thoughts here, however I believe that Solo's motivation is to declare anyone who does not believe that Jesus is God (by his interpretation) to be a false prophet / false teacher.

One of the false teachings of false teachers is that Jesus Christ is not God Almighty. The Statement of Faith of this forum agrees with this truth that Jesus Christ is God Almighty.

• We believe that there is only one God, who is eternal and immutable, and manifests Himself in three distinct Persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  
  We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah, born of a virgin, totally without sin, God in human flesh, the One Who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, rose again from the dead on the third day, and ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven, where He now intercedes for us who believe in Him.

AND according to the Terms of Service of this Christian Forum, the putting down of the basic tenet of Jesus Christ being God in the flesh of the Christian Faith is considered a hostile act.

• 1 - This is a Christian site, therefore, any attempt to put down Christianity and the basic tenets of our Faith will be considered a hostile act. Statement of Faith

 

[Cornelius]

I'm surprised no one mentioned it (or else I missed it) but a false prophet's prophesies are not fullfilled (usually).

Jesus did not say, we must judge them by the accuracy of their prophesies, but by their FRUIT only.That means, you have to look past what they SAY and see what they DO.

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Somebody can have a real gift of prophecy and still no have any fruit.

1Co 13:2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, .........but have not love, I am nothing.

Notice a GIFT of prophecy, without love = being nothing in the kingdom. The GIFT does not bring salvation, but fruit does. It might be even a very good prophecy and come true, but without agape love, that prophet is false, because he does not move in the NAME of Jesus (he does not move in love (agape) , which is the nature, character and authority of Jesus )

 

[Cornelius]

The example I used (WW1 & WW2) shows what the religions do that worship a trinity as God, which it the light of what Jesus said at Matt 7:16 shows them to be just what they are, bloody and violent!

I am not a JW, nor a trinitarian, and I certainly will not go to any war. The Bible forbids it. There are many Christians who will not kill, and who are not "patriots" of any worldly country. We are citizens only of the Kingdom of God. We have been placed in certain countries by God's sovereignty to bring the gospel of peace to those who live in darkness in those countries. Living IN a country, for me , does NOT make me patriotic to that country. I have nothing to do with the country I live in, but to bring the gospel to them. I certainly will not take up arms against another country, I will not kill, besides, how do Christians in war know they have not killed another Christian in their attack. How do you know, that , that person that you have just killed, was not called unto salvation and you have just robbed them of that.

So its not JUST JW who feel this way.
C

 

[whirlwind]

Somebody can have a real gift of prophecy and still no have any fruit.

1Co 13:2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, .........but have not love, I am nothing.

I would add to that....

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?'

7:23 And then will I profess unto them, "I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.'

The deception is and will be very powerful for it appears they can teach, can cast out devils and do "many wonderful works," all in His name, as a Christ-ian.

Bullinger stated that "Those who crave for miracles and signs today will have them, but they will be Satan's miracles."

 

[MMarc]

Jesus said:-

Matthew 7:16
By their fruits YOU will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they?

So what has been the friut(s) of Christandom's churches?

One thinks of WW1 & WW2 which where sanctioned by the Europen churches on all sides in 1914-1918 & 1939-1945, what did Jesus say on this:-

Mark 12:31-33
The second is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.†32 The scribe said to him: “Teacher, you well said in line with truth, ... and this loving one’s neighbor as oneself is worth far more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.â€Â

Matthew 5:44
However, I say to YOU: Continue to love YOUR enemies. . .

So what "fruits" did they produce for the "Prince Of Peace" Jesus Christ?

In war what do we see?:-

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, 20 idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, 21 envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these. As to these things I am forewarning YOU, the same way as I did forewarn YOU, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.

What "fruist" does Jesus EXPECT from HIS followers:-

Galatians 5:22-25
On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus impaled the flesh together with its passions and desires. 25 If we are living by spirit, let us go on walking orderly also by spirit.

Do we see all the above in warfare?

So what did Jesus say:-

Matthew 7:16
By their fruits YOU will recognize them.

Seems quite plain to see to me!

WHAT KIND OF LOVE?

LOVE (Noun and Verb) [Verb] agapao and the corresponding noun agape (agape below) present "the characteristic word of Christianity, … "Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. … "Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom 15:2, and works no ill to any, Rom 13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,' Gal 6:10. …
In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant "love" and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential "love" in them towards the Giver, and a practical "love" towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver.â€Â-‘Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Bible Words’

Speaking of false prophets, your founder and many leaders of the Watch Tower prophecied FALSELY about the end of the world many times in fact...

The Bible even the NWT states if a thing prophecied does not come to pass then you have a false prophet....

The same teachings of false prophets you follow, also teach that Jesus never rose physically form the dead. My question is why do you follow false prophets who have not been born of the spirit?

And these same ''prophets'' you follow keep calling miracles done in the name of Jesus as Satanic...

Why do you follow false prophets????

 

[conchoreb]

I'm surprised no one mentioned it (or else I missed it) but a false prophet's prophesies are not fullfilled (usually).

Jesus did not say, we must judge them by the accuracy of their prophesies, but by their FRUIT only.That means, you have to look past what they SAY and see what they DO.

I don't disagree, however there are other criteria to use in determining who is a false prophet. The one I mentioned is described in OT. I'll look it up, but before I have time I'm sure someone who has the entire bible memorized will post the verse(s).

 

[Cornelius]

Somebody can have a real gift of prophecy and still no have any fruit.

1Co 13:2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, .........but have not love, I am nothing.

I would add to that....

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?'

7:23 And then will I profess unto them, "I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.'

The deception is and will be very powerful for it appears they can teach, can cast out devils and do "many wonderful works," all in His name, as a Christ-ian.

Bullinger stated that "Those who crave for miracles and signs today will have them, but they will be Satan's miracles."

We have to be careful not to take this so far, that we will deny real miracles , healings, prophesies etc . We are only commanded to look at their fruit. So miracles etc are all fine, as long as they go along with the fruit of the Spirit.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.
Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.
Gal 5:26 Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

[Cornelius]

I'm surprised no one mentioned it (or else I missed it) but a false prophet's prophesies are not fullfilled (usually).

Jesus did not say, we must judge them by the accuracy of their prophesies, but by their FRUIT only.That means, you have to look past what they SAY and see what they DO.

I don't disagree, however there are other criteria to use in determining who is a false prophet. The one I mentioned is described in OT. I'll look it up, but before I have time I'm sure someone who has the entire bible memorized will post the verse(s).

We do not have Old Testament prophets these days that speak the very words of God . We are told 1Co 14:29 And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern.

Notice that we are not told to stone them, nor to cast them out of they do not get it 100% correct. We all grow in our gifts and so will a young prophet too. Still, even with older ones, we only have to discern.

..................

Something to think about : Was Jonah a false prophet ? He prophesied that Nineveh will destroyed and that did not come to pass...........Jon 3:4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. .........and yet forty days later Nineveh was still standing !