Jude 8-11, 16
January 23, 2000

How to Recognize False Teachers

Introduction: Paul predicted that false teaching would abound in the latter days (I Timothy 4:1-3). "The Latter Days" began in Paul's time, and of course we are still living in the latter days now. Everyone knows that there are many false teachers. Not only are they very numerous, but they use the media, they deceive many, and they are a serious problem to the Church. In Acts 20:28-31, Paul said to the Ephesian elders that wolves would enter in, and devour God's sheep. Well, we don't want to be eaten by wolves, so how can we sheep recognize these wolves in sheeps' clothing? Jude elaborates on two major characteristics of false teachers:

I. False teachers encourage the sins of the flesh (Jude 8).

A. Every Christian struggles with the flesh (see Romans 7:15-25).
B. Some of the sins of the flesh are listed in Galatians 5:19

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,



C. One example that comes to mind is early Mormonism. Joseph Smith had literally scores of wives, and the Mormon church practiced polygamy. They later quit because the Federal Government made them stop by force of arms.

D. Jude gives the example of Balaam, the false prophet we read of in Numbers 22-25 and is further explained in Revelation 2:14. He could not curse Israel, but he counseled the Midianites to seduce the Israelites with sex, and so brought great destruction on Israel. See also Numbers 25:1-2, 6.

E. Beware of false teachers who tell you that sexual immorality is OK. The latest variation in our own time is that homosexuality is OK, not sinful, just a normal alternate lifestyle. It is being pushed in the major denominations, and there is even a homosexual denomination of churches.

II. False teachers have problems with authority (Jude 8-9).

A. This is a special problem for Americans, because we are a nation born in rebellion, and we had a frontier where everyone did what was right in his own eyes, and Mr. Colt and Mr. Winchester made the law of the land. We are a nation of rugged individualists and Lone Rangers.

B. We must learn to guard our tongues about those in places of authority and power. The archangel Michael was careful even to speak respectfully about Satan. Paul lashed out once at the High Priest who was persecuting him, and instantly apologized (Acts 23:1-5). How careful we should be about criticizing the President and other government leaders.

C. Jude gives us the rebellion of Korah in Numbers 16 as an illustration. Korah and nearly 15,000 people were killed by God for daring to rebel against Moses and Aaron whom God had chosen as prophet and priest.

D. Not only do they rebel against people in authority, and offices of authority, but false teachers rebel against doctrinal authority: the creeds and confessions (which are not 100% perfect), the Word of God itself (which is inerrant).

1 Jude gives Cain as an example. When God told Cain and Abel to bring an offering, he told both of them that he wanted a lamb. Cain rebelled against God's method of atonement for sin, and in anger murdered his brother.

2. The cults twist the Bible, and write their own holy books.

Conclusion: There are many false teachers: Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and some from within the mainline Churches. How can we tell false teachers? How can we stay true to the faith? We must be alert to these two characteristisc: Do they tell us that immorality is really OK? and secondly, Do they tell us that we need some other inspired book besides the Bible, or that the Bible is not really the inerrant Word of God. People who say these things are false teachers.