False Spiritual Teaching

(Col. 2:6-19)

False Prophets/Teachers

Will arise and mislead many (Matt. 24:11, Gal. 1:6-9, Phil. 3:2-3, 2 Tim. 3:13, 2 Pe. 2:1-3, 2 John 7, Rev. 16:13)

Some will arise from within the church (Acts 20:28-30, 1 Tim. 1:3-7, 2 Tim. 2:16-19, 1 John 2:18-29, Jude 4-19)

Some Forms of False Teaching

Ritualism: Jewish ceremonies & traditions only served to point the way to (to foreshadow) Jesus Christ. (Col. 2:16-17, 2
Tim. 3:5, Titus 1:10-16, 3:9-11)

Intellectualism: Understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ primarily depends upon how receptive one’s heart is to his
Word/Spirit and not upon one’s “education”. We must not allow ourselves to be deluded by persuasive sounding
arguments, philosophies and “religions” based on worldly principles (Col 2:4 & 8, 2 Tim. 3:7)

Mysticism: (Col. 2:18-19, Deut. 18:9-14)

The Source of False Teaching

The source of deceptions are the (stoicheia) “powers” and “authorities” of this world. (Col. 2:10)

False Teaching Should Not Be Tolerated (Deut. 13:5, 2 Cor. 11:3-4, 13-15, 2 John 9-11)

Our current culture chafes against discrimination & exclusivity.

Scripture only mentions "tolerance" once, in Revelation 2:20, where Jesus in talking to the church at Thyatira says -
"'But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and
leads my bond-servants astray, so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.", and there it is
used in a negative sense.

False Teaching Should Be Opposed (Dan. 3:15-18, Acts 13:6-12, 2 Tim. 4:14-18)

False Teaching should be boldly challenged and God has the power to guide and sustain us in doing so.

True Prophecy

Is a divinely inspired expression of the mind of God on a matter (examples, Isa. 1:10-20, Mic. 6:1-12)

Testing Prophesy

Must be in complete harmony, not partial harmony, with God’s word, will and standards (Jer. 14:14-16, Heb.
2:1-4, 1 John 4:1-6)

Must come to pass (Deut. 13:1-4, 18:21-22)

Must benefit God’s people by promoting true worship (Jer. 23:32-34)

Look to the “fruits” (Matt. 7:15-23, Mk. 13:21-23, 1 Tim. 6:3-5, 1 John 3: 9-10)

Signs and wonders are not sufficient evidence (Matt. 24:23-24, Rev. 19:20)

Some, at least in early church, granted the gift of discernment (1 Cor. 12:10)

Living and Growing in the Christian Faith

Helps us to guard our hearts & minds from false teaching. (Col. 2:6-7, Ps. 119:104)