 Worldliness Do not be deceived; “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) 2

 Unity in diversity (2 Cor 6:14; Eph 5:11) Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (2 John 9-11) 3

 Those who “love to have it so” An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end? (Jeremiah 5:30-31) 4

 Told we cannot identify one as a false teacher unless he is insincere or dishonest (knowingly / deliberately false)  Some results of this error:  Must read hearts to determine motives  Bible not clear enough to be definitive  Open-ended fellowship with sin  Viewed as factious if one raises Bible concerns 5

 A prominent view among brethren: “A false teacher is surely one whose dishonest motives and/or ignorance distinguish him from the sincere brother who has reached an erroneous conclusion.” Ed Harrell, “Homer Hailey: False Teacher?” Christianity Magazine, Nov 1988, p. 9 6

 A prominent view among brethren: “I do not regard Homer Hailey as a false teacher...because I am persuaded by his conduct and his arguments that he honestly believes that he is faithful to God’s teaching on the subject.” Ed Harrell, “Divorce and Fellowship”, Written speech at Florida College Open Forum Feb

 A prominent view among brethren: “You have noticed that I have said little about false doctrine. There is a reason for that: ‘false doctrine’ is an unscriptural term!” R. Andrew Parker, Sentry Magazine, XVII:1, Mar 31,

 Dishonest motives  Hypocrite  Conscious effort to deceive  “Knowing and deliberately teaches error”  Insincerity  Ignorance  Leads to the view that there is no such thing as a “false teacher" 9

“ First, I judge Oral Roberts to be a sincere and honorable man. I would not make such a sweeping statement about many of the religious leaders I have studied... Nonethe-less, I suspect that some readers will be troubled by an objective biography of Roberts which does not conclude with a harangue against religious quacks and profiteers. The facts simply will not bend to such a clear and moral interpretation.” Oral Roberts: An American Life David Edwin Harrell, ix 10

 Not determined by motives  Motives do not determine the truth of a teacher’s doctrine, Phil 1:15-18  FALSE: “Falsehood, perversion of religious truth” (Moulton, 442)  FALSE TEACHER : “One who teaches false doctrine” 11

Teaches destructive heresies 1 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 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 2 Peter 2:1-2 12

Causes divisions and stumbling contrary to revealed truth 17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18) 13

Teaches contrary to sound doctrine 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine… 10 …that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 …according to the glorious gospel…” (1 Tim 1:3, 10-11) 14

Teaches against revealed truth 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. ” (Galatians 1:8-9) 15

Assess teacher by his teaching 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world… 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:1, 6) 16

An action takes its nature from its relation to God’s truth, not from the attitude of heart with which one acts ◦ Nadab and Abihu, Lev 10:1-3  Good intentions ◦ Saul, Acts 23:1 (26:9); 1 Tim 1:13  Clean conscience 17

Same is true of false teaching and its teacher 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. (2 Tim 2:16-18) -Nothing said of dishonesty, insincerity or ignorance 18

Forced to read hearts to identify and oppose false teachers ◦ Jesus reads hearts, Matthew 9:4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?” 19

Forced to read hearts to identify and oppose false teachers ◦ Fruit reading - Not heart reading For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? (1 Cor 2:11) 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. (Matt 7:15-16) 20

Forced to read hearts to identify and oppose false teachers ◦ Objective standard of testing: Revealed truth And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)  Baptist error on Acts 2:38 (saved before baptism?)  Christian error on 1 Cor 6:9-11 (adulterous remarriage sanctified?) 21

Clarity of truth will be called into question more and more ◦ “Always have been differences, and still are.” “Fellowship on Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage” Samuel G. Dawson, p. 23 ◦ So many different positions held by sincere men -- how can we be confident of the truth?! 22

Clarity of truth will be called into question more and more “There have been significant differences on these issues since the beginning of the restoration of the New Testament way of Christ in America..…Campbell...Scott… Brewer…McGarvey...Lewis…Otey…Srygley… Hardeman…Whiteside… The point is that we regard these men as giants, and rightly so. 23

Clarity of truth will be called into question more and more “We use their commentaries, often quote from them, and are thankful for their service. Why all of a sudden must we now press each other to draw lines of fellowship when men of similar stature have such differences?” (Dawson, 23-24) 24

Clarity of truth will be called into question more and more  Social gospel?  Instrumental music in worship?  Women preachers and elders?  Plan of salvation?  The reasoning of human wisdom, 1 Cor 4:6 25

Clarity of truth will be called into question more and more  God’s word becomes suspect on every disputed subject For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. (Romans 3:3-4) 26

Clarity of truth will be called into question more and more But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! (2 Cor 11:3-4) 27

Clarity of truth will be called into question more and more...how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets... (Eph 3:3-4) 28

Clarity of truth will be called into question more and more ◦ We are becoming a people willing to compromise truth for “peace” And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ When there is no peace. (Jer 6:13-14) 29

Will become impossible to oppose and close the door to error ◦ Will eventually “receive” all who are sincere with honest motives If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (2 John 10-11) 30

Will become impossible to oppose and close the door to error ◦ Contending for the faith will be ridiculed and condemned as “factious” Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3) 31

Lessons like this will be viewed as: ◦ Alarmist ◦ Legalistic ◦ Extremist ◦ Watchdog ◦ Having a personal agenda “Is there not a cause?” 32

Fellowship with false teachers will… ◦ Give error freedom to spread ◦ Solve nothing while increasing sin ◦ Compromise our fellowship with God ◦ Cause our souls to be lost Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.” (2 Cor 6:17-18) 33