False Teachers

  • Human Philosophies

    Colossians 2:8

    God prescribed food laws and other ritualistic observances for old covenant Israel, so we know that these practices are not inherently evil. They only become wrong when they become ends in themselves (1 Sam. 15:22–23). We might not ...Read More

  • Paul’s Presence in Colossae

    Colossians 2:4-5

    Our mystical union with Christ and His people through the Holy Spirit has profound implications for how we pray for believers in other places. Because we are united to the One who transcends all, our prayers are a profound encouragement ...Read More

  • The False Prophet

    Deuteronomy 13:1–5

    False prophets exist in our day insofar as there are many men and women who are claiming to speak for God and yet teach aberrant doctrine. While we must not be contentious over minor matters, we should never be afraid ...Read More

  • The Teaching of Demons

    1 Timothy 4:1-3

    John Calvin also points out that it has been common throughout history for heretics to shun true holiness and offer in its place a substitute to conceal their own wickedness. We are prone as human beings to make God’s ...Read More

  • The Gospel of God’s Glory

    1 Timothy 1:11

    Matthew Henry writes, “Much of the glory of God appears in the works of creation and providence, but much more in the gospel, where it shines in the face of Jesus Christ.” True preaching of the gospel must include news ...Read More

  • The Law and the Lawless

    1 Timothy 1:9-10

    There are innumerable ways the Law is not used lawfully. Some try to find a secret code by counting letters and numbers. Some try to base a weight-loss program on the food laws in the Torah. Others read the Law ...Read More

  • The Goodness of the Law

    1 Timothy 1:8

    Matthew Henry reveals one of the lawful uses of the Torah when he says that “the law is still very useful as a rule of life.” Paul will point us to the Law as a guide to ethical behavior (Eph ...Read More

  • Ignorant and Vain Discussion

    1 Timothy 1:6-7

    Matthew Henry says, “Mere talk, especially in religion, is meaningless, and yet many people’s religion consists of little else but meaningless talk.” Is your practice of the Christian religion tied up in endless talk on peripheral matters, or is ...Read More

  • Confrontation in Antioch

    Galatians 2:11–13

    The confrontation with Peter is an important segue for Paul to begin explaining the doctrine of justification, and we will consider it more tomorrow. Today, consider how Peter’s failure proves that “we are nothing with all our gifts be ...Read More

  • A Heavenly Gospel

    Galatians 1:11–12

    Paul in Galatians often says things like “the gospel that I proclaim” (2:2) in order to set the true message of salvation apart from the different gospel of the Judaizers. Make no mistake, however, Paul knew that it was ...Read More

  • Maligning Paul’s Character

    Galatians 1:10

    The context of Galatians 1:10 refutes any notion that Paul was a people-pleaser. Would a man concerned to win the acclaim of all people call down curses upon some of them (vv. 8–9)? Paul’s becoming “all things ...Read More

  • Beware of Apostasy

    Deuteronomy 13

    Of course, we realize that anyone who abandons Christ did not ever have saving faith to begin with (1 John 2:19). Nevertheless, this truth should not make us complacent; rather, it should encourage us to demonstrate the reality of ...Read More

  • A Warning About Leaven

    Matthew 16:5–12

    It is not always easy to recognize false teaching because those who teach error often mix it in with some legitimate truth. That is why we must be well grounded in the doctrines of Scripture, for if our grasp of ...Read More

  • False Prophets and Their Fruits

    Matthew 7:15–20

    Though we are all responsible to evaluate our teachers by the fruit of their teaching and lives, it does not necessarily follow that this evaluation is solely an individual responsibility. In fact, we need other Christians who are grounded in ...Read More

  • Remember the Apostles

    Jude 17–19

    In our day, those who teach heresy often plead with evangelicals to remain in liberal churches so the church may put on a unified front. But those who remain committed to God’s Word are never the cause of separation ...Read More