“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there
will be very difficult times … These teachers oppose the truth …
They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith.” (2 Timothy 3:1, 8)
“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and
wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look
for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
“… some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches,
saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives” (Jude 4)
Today, one of the dangerous false teachings is antinomianism:
grace-only, cheap-grace, hyper-grace, easy-believism, etc.
This is the notion that a one-time justification saves, apart from sanctification.
But, this is an incomplete understanding of God’s wonderful free gift of grace.
The problem with easy-believism is that it allows those who are NOT walking in
obedience to live comfortably with a false sense of assurance, which leads to
the tragedy described in Matthew 7:21-23 (for example). It encourages people
who are living in hypocrisy, disobedience, and sin to have a false assurance!
Reasons for false teaching in the churches
● Satan
“the ruler of this world” (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11)
“the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4)
“deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9)
“there is no truth in him ... he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44)
“the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19)
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks
about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8)
● Deceived, ignorant pastors
Some pastors have innocently been deceived by Satan,
through their family and friends, through their denominations,
through famous church leaders, Bible commentaries, books, videos, etc.
Some pastors are genuinely ignorant of what the Bible actually teaches.
And, of course, the responsibility for this is on them.
● Worldly, greedy pastors
Some pastors have just chosen to “backslide”, “fall away”, etc. …
being more interested in the things of the world than the things of God.
Preaching popular messages keeps the people coming back to church,
and keeps their tithes coming in also. Many churches these days have
large mortgages and large staffs, all of which which need to be funded.
This is why home groups are a much better way for believers to fellowship.
There is no financial pressure to keep the money coming in, and they
are freer to follow the Spirit instead of any particular denomination.
The 2 most critical False Doctrines in today’s churches
● Once saved, always saved
There are many NT verses that threaten the loss of salvation!
● The pre-tribulation rapture
You aren’t going anywhere … except through economic collapse,
famine, persecution, and the great tribulation of the antichrist.
So, get ready … spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically!
True believers will be led by the precious Holy Spirit. And they
will follow Him, and the Scriptures … not people, pastors, churches!