How Should Christians Call Out False Teachers?

How should Christians call out false teachers just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity high on Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day.

Would love to hear from you and our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes or so. So jump on the phone right now, here's the phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question on one of our social media websites and you can email us anytime at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to D in Nashville Tennessee D what your question for Israel. I've been studying. First John three and five.

Specifically, the references to the idea that the person born of God does not stand or cannot stand.

And as you notice many interpretations and there's two in particular that I thought seemed feasible or strong, and I wanted to get your opinion on this. The pros and cons of both of these. One being that it's making a distinction between the flesh, which does stand and the seed of God within us or the spirit of God, which cannot stand in the other being the idea that it's talking about a very specific sin descend into death and not send any general sense. I wanted to see if you thought either of those interpretations was the correct one, or if there's some other one you think is better stated, thank you for that question.

So one of the issues with first John is just just the context. As we approach this book is important for us to understand the audience the original audience. There had recently been some kind of a spit split or schism in the church. There were a group of people that were there that had left abandoned the faith in the it seems like there characterized by some people say it is a sort of low view of the flesh and also low view of sin.

God's law. Sometimes this is called antinomianism a rejection of God's law because he likes him or say what sin is not that big of a deal we don't have sin anymore. And of course that's part of why John gets in the discussion that he gets into in chapter 1, and so that helps. I think to inform, as were looking it at these passages that helps to inform the right interpretation. Now, with regard to the second interpretive interpretation that you mentioned. Where there's a specific sin being mentioned the sin unto death. I think that that has some feasibility to it because of chapter 5 specifically were John gets into the Senate to death. But, at least for my part, it is life as I've studied the book of first John and preach through first John exit right in the middle of the of the pandemic. A couple years ago I would. These are really just that he did it preach through first giant in the way I understand this this idea of the one who is born of God, not sitting.

It certainly doesn't doesn't mean that we are sin less. This idea of sinless perfectionism and again I think that's that's one of the things that John rebukes early on. He's just saying look a certain sort of going off of what Jesus you know you will know them by their fruits. There is write up a life that's characterized by the rejection of the gospel in the abandonment of God's law, which seems like that the group had a left the church was embracing and then there is the life of of the children of God. Those were born of the spirit.

We know that were not sinless, but there is this battle that we enter into with sin.

There is this real struggle that we experience as I think I think that the idea of continuing in sin. I think it has to do with that group that had left in chapter 2, verse 19 he says they went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us, but they went out that it might become plain that they all are not of us. You have been anointed by the holy one, and you have all knowledge, I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth and so you had this group that was denying Christ rejecting the law of God in abandoning the church and that is I think I think what what John is his address and when he tucked away the ones born of God doesn't doesn't continue in sin like they're not there not apostatized in abandoning the church and so a lot of people have read those verses and thought to themselves, oh boy, I still struggle with sin. I must not be born of God but that's why we really have to understand the context I wouldn't see the first interpretation that human genetic of those two interpretations I think I think there's there's more value to remorse that I will I see more strength in the second one. I wouldn't see it as this this distinction between you know my flesh, which is sitting. But my spirit, which is not sitting sort of compartmental lead compartmentalizing the flesh and spirit, that of the good that that it all is what John is doing.

In fact, the false teachers that John, I think, is addressing in first John had this sort of dichotomy where they were separating flesh and spirit, low view of the body low view of creation and so there's some people say this is this is the beginning of what John is addressing here is the beginning of the heresy that came to be known as Gnosticism, which which really minimized creations all the body is evil and in the spirit as a good and working to be middle released from our bodies one day.

By the spring and thought I wouldn't see that as being a legitimate interpretation, especially considering what it is that John is is combating here and what was playing the church at that time and so appreciate your question D and thank you for calling in no way drill when I was a teenager I was involved in a denomination that held that philosophy held that theology that once a person was filled with the Holy Spirit, they could no longer volitional lease sin, and I can tell you is a team who certainly struggled with with them at 16 years of age.

That really set me up for a lot of guilt and failure. Yeah, I mean it really is heartbreaking because I have seen it in that the pendulum swings when you have these these really legalistic approaches to the Christian faith. Nine people are loaded down with this idea of sanctification of the law are the Christian life. That just isn't biblical words like if you're if you're real Christian, you're knocking to struggle with sin or you'll be able to do not send anymore right well then immediately you know adult what how long to take one hour, two hours before you realized that I must not be a real Christian.

Because the thought is that I was yet 10 minutes they go not long at all. And then what ends up happening so often in these churches is that the pendulum just swings the other way. It was a love as I just can't. If I can't do it all that I just couldn't know if I want to crash and burn. Might as well go down with style kind of a thing and so that's I really do have a right understanding of the grace of God, a right understanding of the law and our relationship to the laws Christians one of the things I've I've noticed during this broadcast now for four years. Is there so much confusion out there about the law of God, and there's just as much confusion, if not more about the gospel and so it's really important that we address these issues really well said your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and we'd love to receive your questions about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology, you name it we are open to it. Here's the phone number and will be taken calls for the next 15 minutes or so at 833-843-2673 you can spell it out on your phone, 833 thought core 833 the core and of course you can leave us a voicemail at that same number 24 hours a day will believe it or not this Thursday, June 30 core Christianity will be airing. It's 1000th episode and to celebrate we are offering a special giveaway package.

Yeah, we are honestly so excited about this bill and I just want to say on the air. Thank you Lord for your goodness to us, for your faithfulness to us and thank you to all of you who listen to the broadcast and continue to support us were were really stoked about this 1000 episode and so mark your calendars because on Thursday were to be announcing the winner of a giveaway that were doing three listeners are going to receive a gift package that includes three of our latest Bible studies on Ruth on the parables and also on the book of Philippians, a brand-new coffee mug that we recently design of drinking out of it right now here in the studio as well as some local San Diego coffee here and a pair of Sony Bluetooth headphones so that we can listen to the broadcast, just with clarity and no interruption or distraction. So if you want to enter to win these items, you can still enter you go to core Christianity.com/giveaway and so make sure you do that makes you tune in on Thursday for a thousand episode were to be announcing the winners. We are really excited about this, so please go to court, Christianity.com/giveaway and sign up do that today. Core, Christianity.com/giveaway and get involved in our contest only to receive voicemails here core Christianity and here's one we received from one of our listeners named Adam a lot of the thing that going around within our community, and even in Christian life.

Also, what is the false teaching is being promoted by a chart so good. I see a lot of positive thing that revolves around prophecy somebody who prophesied something is going to happen at the date and time and when we look that so-called a lot of all that never came through so many of you other believers into believing in it is something that we can do beyond itself is being corrupted and that going into the path of evening. How do we combat with those people and their belief so that they can play them on the back from their evil.

Thank you. Well the first thing I'll say is just this Jesus is against the false teachers.

He's the one who wages war on them with the sword that proceeds from his mouth. I just preached on this this past week. In the book of Revelation chapter 2 where Jesus is addressing the church in Pergamum. He says to the angel of the church in Pergamum write the words of him who has a sharp two-edged sword, and when he begins to address some of the issues that that he had there in in Pergamum he says I have a few things against you, you have some there who hold the teaching of bail him who taught Bay look to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality, so also you have some hold the teaching of the nickel legends. Therefore Jesus says to churches that are in there embracing false teaching for us when we embraces. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon in war against them with the sword of my mouth.

He was an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches route as I prepare to preach on Jesus's letter to the church there in thigh attire. He says again to them. I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and his teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. See, Jesus takes the purity of his church very seriously and false teaching false teachers have always been a problem. Really this is something that Jesus warned us against. I think of Paul speaking to the Ephesian elders in acts chapter 20 where he says, look, don't forget brothers for a period of three years. I did not cease to warn you night and day with tears in my eyes saying that soon right savage wolves are going to come in and not sparing the flock we brothers and sisters as Christians need to take doctrine seriously, we need to take the truth. Seriously, we need to take the word of God seriously and when there is false teaching in the church just like me and with Jesus is addressing the church of Pergamum.

There were the church in Thyatira were called. The church is called to repentance and if were in churches where this is happening with the were called to get in in churches were and were knocking to be led astray where the truth of God's word is not being compromised now get this is different than it I disagree with the programs in my church or you know II don't know we don't all get along politically or or whatever were talking about real false teaching. Going against the word of God, and in those situations. Are you to find another church and when it comes a false teachers we call them to repentance. We preach the truth of God's word and we warn them because it is this this it's it's a terrifying thing when you think about it.

I mean, this is why James said in James chapter 3 verse one let not many of you become teachers brothers.

Knowing that will receive a stricter judgment that what were preaching what were teaching is so important because faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. And so for not getting the word of Christ. If churches are proclaiming the truth of God's word and we aren't within the church being built up as the body of Christ, and so Jesus takes this very seriously and we need to take it very seriously and I think what it is you asking at one of the things we can do is pray. Another thing that we can we can do to make sure that were taking it seriously is B Berberian study the Scriptures know what you believe know why you believe the things that you believe so that when you hear something that's that's out there that's not in line with the faith once for all delivered to the saints shall be able to discern and sift through the nonsense. If ever you hear it and and you know, pray, you know, for the for the piece in the purity of the church and and there are times I think with certain false teachers who are leading many people astray that we do need to just confront it certainly and address it. Even as Jesus does there in in Revelation chapter 2 where he says you know you're tolerating that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. What she's really doing is leading people astray don't tolerate that anymore brothers and sisters don't tolerate false teaching. Cling to the truth cling to the gospel and may God help us all to do that while that is some really good counsel, Israel, and I'm sure there are many people listening right now who know of situations like that, they have friends, brothers and sisters in Christ you are attending churches with some of these false beliefs and they been hesitant to say anything, they'd kind of been reluctant because I don't want to rock the boat but as you said very clearly Jesus the sword coming forth and it we need to be bold right we do, we do need to be bold and Emmett were talking about here. Why is Jesus. What is a you such strong words will because were talking about his bride. He cares about his bride. He cares that we care about the bride Remington and and so mom is seeking some people like it they could see this and I think there's a such a low view of of the church and in so many today were they just a boy, though those words are really strong but hey you're talking about the bride of Christ you're trying to lead the bride of Christ astray and Jesus will never put up with that and we should never put up with that either. I meant this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez were still taking your calls. Questions about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine or theology cures the phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 we do receive voicemails and you can leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day. We try to review our our voicemails each day, and here's one that came in from one of our listeners name Barb in Lebanon, Pennsylvania will yell you all morning nonbeliever Randall God word Marie landmass because I couple people before and they doubt tremble or that you want and allow the guy down all the time. I am born again. I can praying I could be listening and I tremble at God's word all the time. Thank you bye-bye we all should tremble at the word of God doubt course, we don't tremble at everything in the word of God certainly wouldn't.

When we hear the law what God calls us to even those descriptions of God in his majesty. I think that they do and and ought to create in us the sense of awe, the sense of trembling the sense of fear when we read Scripture and and and we we see those individuals who had a vision of the Lord, whether it was Isaiah in Isaiah chapter 6 or John in Revelation chapter 1, they are full of trembling there full of terror because there there in the presence of the holy one. Now I'm sure you're familiar with what Isaiah said in Isaiah chapter 66 what God said through the prophet Isaiah, thus says the Lord. Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house that you would build for me and what is the place of my rest. All these things my hand has made and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord, but this is the one to whom I will look he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.

God's eyes are on those who take his word seriously who tremble at the warnings in Scripture, who rejoice in the promises of the gospel that we receive in Scripture and so I would say you mean in answer to your question, I I think that we all should must take the word of God very seriously but but to be honest with you. There are times in the Christian life where our hearts grow Dole where you know we read Scripture we read even the warnings and they don't seem to be registering. We wait we read the promises of the gospel and were so distracted by so many other things which were not able to bask in the joy in the hope that we have in Christ. And so, and in situations like that.

I don't think that would mean that you're not born again or that you've lost your justification or something like that know it's it's we humble ourselves and we say God right height. I know that I don't tremble at your word like I should help me Lord have mercy upon me and Ensign were continually pursuing the Lord and so I would save him. Praise God when when you read Scripture in your coming to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and you tremble and in August when I just meant to dip to be left there and that in that state of trembling.

We need the comfort of the gospel, the comfort of the forgiveness of sin.

So we go from from that fear to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, the risen one, do not be afraid of fear not, I am the one who conquered sin and death and hell as we need to take all of those things very seriously and we don't and Francis be honest there are there are there many times we don't where we just neglect the promises the warnings when we don't.

God says no. Take them up and humble yourselves before me and pray pray we we all want to praise as we as we open up the Scriptures that that guy would help us to receive the word rightly with humility, with faith, with hope with love and with trembling and we know again Isaiah 66 to we know that God looks on the humble on those who take his word seriously into the something that we should all strive after as the children of God, and I think the Lord that you take his word seriously and this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez, just a reminder, our 1000th episode is coming up this Thursday and we have a special giveaway to celebrate were giving a three listeners, a gift package including our three latest Bible studies on Ruth parables in Philippians a brand-new coffee mug with core Christianity's logo on it. A bag of San Diego's finest coffee to go with the mug and a pair of Sony Bluetooth headphones. We would love to have you win then all you have to do is go to our website to sign up for this giveaway and that's at core Christianity.com/giveaway let's go to John calling in from Missouri. John what your question for atrial Bible study that I have put together.

It had the verse second Peter chapter 2 verse I always assumed that the demons are were the ones that were cast out the angel that were cast out with Satan.

According to the Scriptures are locked up until the day of judgment. So who are the demons that are on earth open site give us height havoc. John think that question and thank you for the ministry that you do to the church in in prison and jail. There may the Lord bless you and may the Lord work in the hearts of those to whom that your ministering to and so with regard to to what Peter says in second Peter. There's also parallel text into chapter 1 I think here it's talking about a very specific group of angels, not just all angels in general this is for if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness, to be kept until the judgment if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved no I think it's at think the Angels associated with the deception in the times of Noah. He begins to talk about Noah right after that and then in Jude verse six it says the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling. He is kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the day of judgment, so another, the evil one is is very active in the world today. We know that there are. We don't know how many but we know that there are are countless. It seems evil, wicked angels that are under the judgment of God.

I do believe that right now on the basis of Revelation 20 that Satan, the evil one is is limited in his abilities bound.

If you will, so that the gospel can continue to go out and will continue to go out until the end of the age, but there's no contradiction here. It's not like it's not like these angels are are locked up and now there are no more fallen angels that are engaging in the affairs of men that we have to be watchful because the evil one does go about like a roaring lion, as Peter said, seeking to devour the people of God we trust in Jesus.

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