(A prize -winning sermon prepared in 1954, But extremely timely Today)

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matt. 7:15.

There are only two roads along which men may travel in this life the broad way which leadeth to destruction, and the narrow way which leadeth to everlasting life. This is the dogmatic assertion of Jesus Christ the true Prophet of God, which is accompanied by one of the most urgent admonitions to be found in all the Bible, “Enter ye in at the strait gate....... Because straight is the gate and narrow is the way. Which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Realizing that the principle thus stated would become the battle ground upon which the most terrific controversy of the ages would rage down through the tempestuous centuries of the future, and in order to give guidance and direction to His faithful followers who would be called upon to fight the battles of orthodoxy and defend this principle against unbelievable and superhuman odds, this same - Jesus warned, “Beware of false prophets."

Thus it is that the subject of false prophets or false teachers is first introduced in the New Testament by none other than Jesus Christ.

This tremendously important word of warning is seen to be all the more significant in light of the illustration which follows showing the horrible end of those who, having followed false leadership and false teaching, seek to enter into the kingdom of Heaven only to have the Lord say, “I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity.”

In this passage Jesus tells us plainly of the vicious ministry of the cleverly disguised false prophet which will succeed in deceiving “many” into thinking that there are ways of entering into the kingdom of Heaven other than the straight and narrow and of the tragic destructiveness of such ministry in bringing about the eternal damnation of precious never-dying souls.

To Jesus false prophets were not imaginary; they were terribly, menacingly real! Surely then His words of warning should be taken seriously to heart; and we should be constantly on the alert to uncover the 'wolves in sheep’s clothing’ who have it in their power, through their false teaching, to plant the “kiss of death’’ upon the souls of men and thus damn them to eternal destruction in a Devil’s Hell! We cannot afford to be guilty of hiding or covering up or of giving aid and comfort to such wretchedly despicable characters.

Since this is a matter of such grave and serious consequence, we will do well to prayerfully study the careful Bible teaching on this subject there is an abundance of Scripture testimony which, added to this warning of Jesus brings the subject into such clear focus that even a child can understand. May God help us see and understand the facts and to act upon them in accordance with His blessed will.

1. FALSE PROPHETS ARE CLEARL CLEARLY Y FORETOLD

A. There Were and Shall Be False Prophets.

Looking further into God’s Word we discover that Jesus spoke of these false prophets in two other passages. In Mattew 24:11 He said: “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”

Again, in verse 24 and in Mark 13:22 Jesus said; “For there shall arise false Christ, and false prophets.”

Paul spoke of false teachers in his day. In II Corinthians 11:13-15 he wrote: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed [literally, transform themselves] as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

When Paul called the elders of the Ephesian church together, he said: “Take heed...... For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” - Acts 20:28- 30.

In Galatians 2:4 Paul tells of: “........ false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty..... that they might bring us into bondage.”

Can there be any question that he is speaking about false teachers when, in Galatians 1:8,9, speaking of those who would “pervert the gospel of Christ,” he says: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed”. Once more he speaks of those who ‘have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof,’ “men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith,” and he commands, “from such turn away” (II Tim. 3:5-8)

As forceful and clear as Paul’s words are concerning false prophet there is yet more-much more! The Apostle John speaks of them in I John 2:18,19, referring to them as antichrists. He says: “..... even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us.”

This same apostle warns: “Beloved, believe not every spirit..... because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”-I John 4:1.

Again: “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”-II John 7. One of the strongest statements to be found in all of the New Testament about false prophets is in II Peter 2:1, where Peter says:“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable [destructive] heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction”

Finally, we come to the exhortation of Jude who writes- in verses 3 and 4: “.....It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares..... ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus, Paul, John, Peter and Jude all combine to give us this straight forward presentation of the facts. Although the facts are not pleasant and of necessity must be a terrible embarrassment to the church of Christ there is no holding back there is no hedging and no effort to explain away the awful truth- “there shall be false prophets.” Instead there is constant, solemn emphatic and impressive warning, “beware,” “take heed,” “earnestly contend.” B. . False Prophets Are to Be Plentiful!

As we consider these testimonies and predictions concerning false teachers the question naturally arises: Were these false teachers, to be the exception to the rule? Were they to represent isolated cases of heresy and apostasy? or, Were they to be in plentiful supply?

The answer is plainly stated. First of all, in every reference concerning them, with the exception of those referring to the Antichrist or the False Prophet of the tribulation period, they are spoken of in the plural. Second, we are told by Jesus in Mathew 24:11 and three times over by John (I John 2:8; 4:1 and II John 7), that there will be “many” false prophets. Besides this, the description of their activities and successess, as we shall shortly see, clearly indicates that there would be an over-abundant supply of them.

Summarizing the teaching of Scripture regarding false prophets to this point, we have learned that, as there were false prophets throughtout the past and during the personal ministry of Christ and His apostles in the early church, there were to be such false teachers during the course of the church age. We have also learned that there were to be “many” of them engaged in this unsavory business of ruining lives, shattering hopes, and destroying men’s souls.

But it is not enough to know that there shall be “many” such false prophets. We must know something about their methods of operation, the message they proclaim and the results they obtain. As we look again into the pages of the Bible we find that we are not left in ignorance about these things.

God has implemented His warnings concerning these wicked men with an abundance of information concerning their activities. There is no excuse for any careful Bible student being deceived, because the Word of God carefully informs us of

II WHAT THEY WILL DO AND TEACH

Consider first, A. Their Methods of Operation The following statements of Scripture tell the story: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”- Matt. 7:15.

“...... shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” - Acts 20:29,30.

“....Cause division and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned.” -Rom. 16:17.

“There be some that trouble you, and would prevent the gospel of Christ.” - Gal. 1:7

“False brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty..... that they might bring us into bondage.” -Gal. 2:4.

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”- II Tim. 3:5

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching eas"; - II Tim. 4:3

".....who privily shall bring in damnable heresies... many shall follow their pernicious ways." - II Pet. 2:12.

“Scoffers, walking after their own lusts.” - II Pet. 3:3.

“They went out from us, but they were not of us.” - I John 2:19.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits... because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” I John 4:1.

“For many deceivers are entered into the world.” - II John 7.

“For there are certain men crept in unawares.... speak evil of those things which they know not ... mockers.... walk after their own ungodly lusts... who separate themselves.” - Jude4,10,18,19. “Deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.... [transforming themselves as the ministers of righteousness.” - IICor.11:13-15.

It isn’t a very pleasant story, is it? Perhaps you will be able to understand these passages a little better if I give you their content under four simple headings.

First of all, these teachers are:

1. Deceitful

They are descibed as “Deceivers and: deceitful workers”. The word in the original means “to lead astray.” Hence these men who pose as teachers and seek the privilege of leadership among God’s people are treacherous men who are engaging in traitorous activity.

Because they are not worthy of the position they assume, they are pointed out as; “false prophets”; “false teachers”; “false Christs”, “false apostles”; “false brethern”; they are referred to as “antichrists.” Although they profess to be teachers of truth, they are “false teachers” of that which is the opposite of truth.

Their deceitful character is further pointed out in the words of Jesus when He says that they will “come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Posing as members of the Lord’s flock, they are actually bloodthirsty beasts of prey seeking to devour the flock.

Because of their cleverness in the art of deception, we are warned not to believe every spirit, but to “try the spirits whether they are of God.” We are told to test them regarding their belief in the miracle of the incarnation, involving the doctrine of the virgin birth, the deity the sinlessness, and the miraculous character of the life of Jesus from His conception to His ascension.

We are informed that far from being trustworthy teachers of the truth, they are actually “scoffers” and “mockers.” So succesful are they in their deceit that they are able to convey the impression that they are “apostles of Christ” and “ministers of righteousness”. If we find it difficult to believe that this is possible we are told not to marvel, “for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness. In fact, Jesus said that they would be so clever that “if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect” (Matt. 24:24).