What other scriptures emphasize the importance of rejecting false teachings? Jeremiah 29:31 – God’s Verdict on a Lie “Send word to all the exiles, saying, ‘This is what the LORD says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: “Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, though I did not send him, and made you trust in a lie,”’ ” (Jeremiah 29:31). God exposes Shemaiah’s counterfeit message and orders the exiles to reject it. Scripture repeats this call to reject falsehood again and again. Old Testament Echoes: Warnings Before Christ • Deuteronomy 13:1-4 — if a prophet urges, “Let us follow other gods,” “you must not listen.” • Deuteronomy 18:20-22 — the prophet who speaks presumptuously “shall die.” • Isaiah 8:20 — “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” • Ezekiel 13:3 — “Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!” • Zechariah 10:2 — “The diviners see false visions; they comfort in vain.” Jesus’ Own Voice: Protective Warning from the Shepherd • Matthew 7:15-16 — “Beware of false prophets… By their fruit you will recognize them.” • Matthew 24:4-5 — “See that no one deceives you.” • Matthew 24:24 — “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” • John 10:5 — “A stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Apostolic Intensifiers: Guard the Gospel • Acts 20:29-30 — Paul foresees “savage wolves” coming “from among your own number.” • Romans 16:17-18 — “Watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles… Keep away from them.” • Galatians 1:8-9 — even an angel preaching “a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you: let him be accursed!” • 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 — false apostles “disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.” • Ephesians 4:14 — no longer “tossed by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching.” • 1 Timothy 4:1-2 — “in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits.” • 2 Timothy 4:3-4 — people will gather teachers “to suit their own desires.” • Titus 1:10-11 — “rebellious talkers and deceivers… must be silenced.” • 2 Peter 2:1 — “false teachers will secretly introduce destructive heresies.” • 1 John 4:1 — “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits.” • 2 John 7-11 — do not even welcome anyone who does not remain in the teaching of Christ. • Jude 3-4 — “contend for the faith… for certain men have crept in unnoticed.” Key Traits of False Teachers Highlighted by Scripture • Self-appointed, not God-sent (Jeremiah 29:31; Ezekiel 13:6). • Promise peace while ignoring sin (Jeremiah 6:14). • Crave personal gain and applause (Micah 3:11; 2 Peter 2:3). • Twist or add to the gospel (Galatians 1:7). • Produce rotten fruit—division, immorality, greed (Matthew 7:20; Jude 12-13). Practical Discernment Steps Drawn from These Passages 1. Measure every message by the written Word (Isaiah 8:20; Acts 17:11). 2. Examine the messenger’s fruit and motives (Matthew 7:16; 1 Timothy 6:3-5). 3. Cling to the core gospel of Christ crucified, risen, and returning (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Galatians 1:4). 4. Stay rooted in sound teaching through regular Scripture intake (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 5. Protect the church family by lovingly but firmly confronting error (Titus 1:9; Jude 22-23). From Jeremiah’s day to ours, God’s voice rings clear: reject the lie, embrace the truth. |
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