LESSON FIFTEEN - Learning to Discern
HOW CAN WE GUARD OURSELVES FROM FALSE TEACHING?
As you read this lesson, be sure to hover over the the Bible verses to read them or look them up in your own Bible. When the Bible passage is longer, you need to click on “more” in the bottom right corner of the pop-up window.
There are many false preachers online, on the radio, and on television. We must watch out for their lies.
God warns that there will be false teachers in the last days.
1 Timothy 4:1-5 (NASB) Compare translations and the original languageMany false teachers say we shouldn’t eat meat, and some teach that their leaders shouldn’t get married.
God warns that false teachers will come from within local churches.
Acts 20:27-30 (ESV) Compare translations and the original languageWe must beware of false teaching creeping into our church.
God warns that there are false prophets in the world.
2 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV) Compare translations and the original languageOne mark of false teachers is that they want us to give them money so that God will “bless” us.
God has given us His Word so that we can know the truth.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NASB) Compare translations and the original languageThe more we study the Bible, the easier it will be to spot false teaching.
God has given us His Spirit so that we can discern what the Bible teaches. 1 John 2:25-27 (NASB) Compare translations and the original language
The Spirit of God helps us to remember and understand what the Bible teaches.
Any teaching must agree with what the Bible already has taught.
1 Corinthians 14:32 (KJV); Isaiah 8:19-20 (NKJV) Compare translations and the original languageIf teaching doesn’t agree with the context of Scripture, then that teaching is not true.
The church is built on the teachings of Christ, the apostles and the prophets. Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV) Compare translations and the original language
Without the Bible, we have no basis for our faith.
Some false teachers will deny that God is triune. 1 John 2:18-24 (NASB) Compare translations and the original language
Anyone who denies that God is triune is a false teacher.
Some false teachers will deny that Jesus is God in the flesh.
1 John 4:1-6 (ESV) Compare translations and the original languageAnyone who denies that Jesus is God in the flesh is a false teacher.
Some false teachers will claim to have a new “gospel” that they received from an angel. Galatians 1:6-10 (NASB) Compare translations and the original language
Anyone who claims to have a special word from God aside from the Bible is a false teacher.
Consider memorizing one of the following passages (in whichever translation you prefer) as a summary of this lesson: Matthew 7:15-16 (ESV) or Galatians 1:8-9 (NASB).
Praise God for the privilege He gives us to share His Gospel of salvation! Let’s humbly encourage others to share with those around them.
The joy with which God fills our hearts moves us to care about the lost around us.
How can you humbly encourage a fellow-believer to share the Gospel?
Ask God to give you a heart to humbly lead others by example to share the Gospel.
The hardest part of the conversation is starting it. Ask God to give you the words to say, then step out by faith, and speak.
Bible References
Read the Bible in your own language here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the Authorized King James Version (AKJV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the King James Version (KJV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the New King James Version (NKJV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the New American Standard Bible (NASB) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the English Standard Version (ESV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read the Bible in its original Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek languages or Septuagint couresty of BLB www.blueletterbible.org.
The automatic reference tagger courtesy of FaithlifeReftagger www.faithlife.com/products/reftagger.