Identifying False Teachers Series

One sees this kind of false teaching in theologically liberal churches. They teach a different doctrine. Their teaching does not agree with the sound words of Jesus. And the result of their teaching is godlessness. They approve and endorse sexual orientation and gender identity that is contrary to God’s word. False teaching wants to affirm people in their sin instead of calling them to a Biblical standard that is set by God himself. False teaching approves sin rather than confronting it and calling people to repentance. It is no wonder that liberal churches are seeing massive numbers leave the church because there is nothing supernatural and transformative in those churches. They are like the world and there is little difference between such a church and any other social club where people gather for friendship.

So, the first way to identify false teachers is that false teachers deviate from the truth.

II. False Teachers Divide the Church (6:4b-5a)

Second, false teachers divide the church.

Paul went on to write of a false teacher in verses 4b-5a, “He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth.” Paul repeatedly told Timothy that false teachers were contentious.

For example, Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1:3-4, “As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.”

He wrote in 2 Timothy 2:14, “Remind them [the false teachers] of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.”

And he wrote in 2 Timothy 2:23, “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.”

And in his letter to Titus, Paul wrote in Titus 3:9, “But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.”

Paul wanted Timothy to understand that the contentiousness of the false teachers produced disorder and division rather than peace and unity among God’s people. The false teachers did not necessarily intend to divide the church. No doubt they wanted as many adherents as possible to follow their teaching. Nevertheless, all false teaching divides the church.

This is what happened in the Reformation. Martin Luther never intended to see a new and different denomination. He saw false teaching in the Roman Catholic Church, particularly with respect to the doctrine of justification. The Roman Catholic Church taught that one is saved by faith plus works. Luther came to understand that one is not saved by faith plus works but rather one is saved by faith alone. Good works is a fruit or result of saving faith. Initially, he tried to correct the false teaching. But instead of correcting its false teaching, the Roman Catholic Church threw Luther out of the church by excommunicating him. Multitudes followed Luther as he had come to a correct understanding of the truth. And many remained in the Roman Catholic Church. They would not correct their false teaching and the result was a divided church.