The Bible is Meant to Be Understood (Ephesians 3:4) by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), (NKJV)

Identifying False Teachers 1.They Appear to be Faithful Christians: (Matthew 7:15-23) "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. …

Identifying False Teachers 1.They Appear to be Faithful Christians: (Matthew 7:15-23) "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (NKJV)

Identifying False Teachers 2. They Appear to be Amazing/Convincing: (Mark 13:21-23) "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it. "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. "But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand. (NKJV)

Identifying False Teachers 3. They Appear to be Godly (2 Timothy 3:5) having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: (2 Timothy 3:16-17) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: Through Direct Command (Matthew 15:4) "For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: Through Approved Example (Philippians 3:17) Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: Through Inescapable Conclusion (Acts 10:44-48) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because…

Why People Are False Teachers Lack of Scriptural Authority For What they Teach: Through Inescapable Conclusion …the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers They may be false because they teach beyond their level of understanding. (2 Peter 3:16) as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers They may be false because they teach beyond their level of understanding. (1 Peter 4:11) If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies…. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers They they may not be obedient to God’s will. (John 8:32-40) "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever…

Why People Are False Teachers They they may not be obedient to God’s will. …"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. "I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father." They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers They they may teach for fiancial gain. (1 Timothy 6:5) useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. (NKJV)

Why People Are False Teachers They may not want the pure message of the scriptures (2 Timothy 4:3-4) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (NKJV)

Dealing With False Teachers Romans 16:17 “…I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” (Eph. 5:11) “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” (2 Thess. 3:14) “And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.”

Dealing With False Teachers We must identify (“note”) them & “Avoid” them & we must “expose” them (Eph. 5:11)

False Teachers Produce False Disciples Immediate rejection – unwilling to consider (Luke 24:9-11) Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. (NKJV)

False Teachers Produce False Disciples Begin w/false major premise (Mark 12:18-27) Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: "Teacher… …Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?”

False Teachers Produce False Disciples Do not truly believe in the scriptures (John 5:46-47) "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. "But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" (NKJV)

False Teachers Produce False Disciples Lack of Knowledge (Acts 19:1-5) And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (NKJV)

False Teachers Produce False Disciples Wrong focus – some have “What’s in it for me?” mentality (John 6:26) Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. (NKJV)

Accept the Truth! Believe in Jesus (Jn. 8:24)? Repent of your sins (Lk. 13:3, 5)? Confess Christ before men (Mat. 10:32- 33)? Baptized in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit (Mat. 28:19) for the remission of your sins (Ac. 2:38)? Believe based upon a proper understanding of the word (Rom. 10:17)?