Truth or Terror: The Biblical Reality of Apostasy

[bdavidc]

For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. ~ Jude 1:4

Did you know that false teachers are marked for judgment. A false teacher is someone who pretends to speak for God or teach the Bible but instead twists Scripture, rejects sound doctrine, and leads others away from the truth. They are not just confused, they are willfully deceptive. They may use Christian language, quote verses out of context, or present themselves as loving and wise, but what they teach directly contradicts God’s Word. Jesus warned that false teachers are wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15), and the apostles repeatedly exposed them for what they are: enemies of the cross, agents of destruction, and corrupters of souls.

Jude doesn’t soften the truth. He tells us plainly in Jude 4 that the judgment of these people was “marked out long ago.” The Greek word used is prographó, it literally means “written beforehand.” In other words, their destruction was not a surprise to God. It was decreed in eternity past. Their damnation is not accidental, it’s intentional. God planned it. Their fate is sealed.

False teachers are not just wrong. They are beyond repentance. Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:26-27, and 2 Peter 2:20-22 all describe the terrifying reality of apostates, those who have seen the truth, tasted the good things of God, and yet turned away deliberately. They are not ignorant, they are hardened. Their hearts are seared, their conscience is dead, and they have chosen darkness over light. Jude and Peter don’t tell us to try to win them back. They tell us to contend for the faith (Jude 3) and to rescue others from their influence (Jude 23), but the false teachers themselves are described as “twice dead,” “uprooted,” and “reserved for blackest darkness forever” (Jude 12-13).

This isn’t just some New Testament warning, it’s consistent with the whole Bible. In 2 Kings 19:25, God tells Hezekiah, “Did you not hear long ago how I made it, from ancient times that I formed it? Now I have brought it to pass.” God’s judgment is not an afterthought. It’s part of His eternal plan. The verdict against false teachers was written before the world began.

There’s a reason Scripture does not call us to have endless debates with these deceivers. We’re not told to “hear them out” or “build bridges.” The Bible calls them accursed (Galatians 1:8-9), dogs (Philippians 3:2), and ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15). They are children of wrath, vessels of destruction, enemies of righteousness, and they are headed straight for eternal judgment. Their presence in the church is a test, and those who follow them will share their fate unless they repent and return to the truth.

Let’s stop dancing around the issue. False teachers will pay dearly for what they are doing. God is not mocked. Judgment is coming, and it is already written in the books of heaven. If you’re following a teacher who distorts the gospel, denies the deity of Christ, promotes works-based salvation, twists Scripture to fit culture, or excuses sin, run. Their end is destruction (Philippians 3:19).

We don’t play games with the truth. We stand on it, proclaim it, and defend it. And we warn others plainly: God has already marked out judgment for the deceivers. You don’t want to go down with them.

 

[Matthias]

The OP contains some good points. It offers me another opportunity to call for the teaching of church history in all churches, and privately in homes.

 

[JustMe]

A very important topic that all of faith, in God should consider seriously. And thank you for your concern for others in Christ, about it.
However for me, I'm not that personally concerned about being misled by false teachers and their wares of devious doctrine. I'm not new at being confronted with this subject.

I've warded off and have been vigilant to this real threat for quite some time. And I usually practice extra patience when dealing with this subject as I do not want to pre-judge or become over zealous with a quick pronouncement of judgement.

I'm a serious student of God's word and I listen to the Spirit of God in matters of this kind. I compare a potential false novel or a re-packaged older false doctrine against scripture and ask the basic question, "What does scripture say about it?" And this work is usually very thorough.

I also consult others better versed in the subject, as a safety check, to review my view.

And if possible, I also attempt to gauge and examine the spiritual fruit of this potential false teacher, by examining gestures, speech, text, tone of voice and even actions over time. And then I ask if this is the type of fruit desired of God or not.

I also examine if the gospel of the Kingdom of God is being taught according to scripture.

These steps and others allow me to evaluate and discern if false teaching is being performed or not.

Thanks again

 

[soberxp]

I deeply realize what kind of destructive impact those false teachings will have on the world.
But I can't change the current situation. There are these signs in some versions of the Bible, although it is not obvious.
The most common situation is that people introduce secularized concepts into the Bible, which is usually a wrong path.
I cannot think about the motives and intentions of those who deliberately distort the teachings of the Bible.But I have seen many newcomers understand the situation of the Bible with a wrong attitude of resentment and hatred,This was also the beginning of their misunderstanding of the words of the Bible.
The most terrifying thing about fake teachers is not that they do it on purpose, but that they are wrong without realizing it and think they are absolutely right.

 

[bdavidc]

I deeply realize what kind of destructive impact those false teachings will have on the world.
But I can't change the current situation. There are these signs in some versions of the Bible, although it is not obvious.
The most common situation is that people introduce secularized concepts into the Bible, which is usually a wrong path.
I cannot think about the motives and intentions of those who deliberately distort the teachings of the Bible.But I have seen many newcomers understand the situation of the Bible with a wrong attitude of resentment and hatred,This was also the beginning of their misunderstanding of the words of the Bible.
The most terrifying thing about fake teachers is not that they do it on purpose, but that they are wrong without realizing it and think they are absolutely right.

I really appreciate the concern, and you’re right, false teaching is a serious and destructive issue. The Bible clearly warns us that false teachers will secretly bring in heresies that can lead many astray (2 Peter 2:1–2). While it’s true we can’t change the whole world ourselves, we’re not called to be passive. God tells us to test every teaching against His Word (Acts 17:11), to expose error (Ephesians 5:11), and to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). One of the biggest dangers is when people mix worldly ideas or philosophies into Scripture, which only leads people away from Christ (Colossians 2:8). I’ve also seen how hurt, bitterness, or pride can cause people to misunderstand the Bible, and sadly, that’s often where their rejection of truth begins. But maybe the most dangerous thing is when false teachers truly believe they’re right. As 2 Timothy 3:13 says, many are “deceiving and being deceived.” That’s why we all need to stay grounded in God’s Word, remain humble, and be willing to compare everything to what Scripture actually says, because that’s our only safe foundation. We might not be able to fix everything, but we can be faithful with the truth God has given us.

 

[Behold]

How do spot a : False Teacher....= Luke 11:35...

Read this list, and then take note of who Teaches what is on this list and this will help you to discern the false, the fake, the deceived, who live on Forums to try to ruin your faith, or literally lead you to Hell, if you are not a Christian and are here on the Fourm.
-
-
1.) Avoid anyone who tells you that you have to be water baptized to go to Heaven.

2.) Avoid anyone who says that "you can lose your salvation"

3.) Avoid anyone who teaches that "Mary ascended to Heaven, as a perpetual virgin, and is now "co-equal" with Jesus regarding the "work of redemption".

4.) Avoid anyone who teaches that "Dead faith" is "dead Salvation".

5.) Avoid anyone who teaches that "Jesus started your salvation, and now you get to try to complete it"

6.) Avoid anyone who teaches that "confessing sin, then repeating it" is "Real Christianity".

7.) Avoid anyone who teaches that you are to "Live in a state of repentance".

8.) Avoid anyone who teaches that "your bible is filled with errors, and now let me show you the Greek that i can't actually read"..

9.) Avoid anyone who teaches that taking communion unworthily, can cause your death.

10.) Avoid John Calvinism and never look back.

11.) Avoid anyone who says...>"The bible is just a book".

12.) Avoid anyone who says..."you can't really know for sure if you are saved, or if you are going to heaven".

13.) Avoid anyone who says that you have to "endure to the end" if you want to go to heaven.

14.) Avoid anyone who says that Acts 2:38 is the real Gospel.

15.) Avoid anyone who teaches that "doing righteousness" is being righteous."

16.) Avoid anyone who says..>"God saved you so that you can now go and keep the Law".

17.) Avoid anyone who says that you can't get married, again

18.) Avoid anyone who says that a literal Hell and Lake of Fire does not exist.

19.) Avoid anyone who teaches Preterism.

20.) Avoid anyone who says that Satan does not exist, or no longer has any power.

21.) Avoid anyone who teaches that We'll all be saved in the end... everyone.

22.) Avoid anyone who would teach you "Lordship Salvation"

 

[Behold]

Here is another View, regarding how to spot a Deceiver.
-
-
Now who is the most dangerous type regarding Christianity?
This is going to be a clever devil who reinvents scripture that denies the Cross of Christ, yet pretends to be "biblical-scriptural" TRUTH.
That is someone like John Calvin.
This is something like the "cult of Mary" Doctrine regarding : Salvation

Who are these people, and how do you spot them on : FORUMS and in PULPITS and on TV ????????

They are ministers of the Devil.. .they are "Dark Lights".... Luke 11:35... and their converts come to Forums and they preach from Pulpits and they build churches in the USA and around the world.
The NT says they are "ministers of Righteousness".. and that means they talk about doing righteousness, and all about you and your self effort, and never do they PREACH or TEACH The Cross of Christ, where God's Righteous is actually found.

The can't teach about the Cross of Christ other then to pervert it...... as they've never been there in person, kneeling... and that is why they talk about law, sin, trying to be righteous, commandment keeping, ....water baptism, and SELF SELF SELF Effort to try to STAY SAVED or go to Heaven.
And yes they talk about Jesus, but they dont teach "The Cross of Christ', because they've never been there.
They teach "living Holy" but they dont teach "The Cross of Christ" as where the ""Gift of Righteousness"" is OFFERED to a believing sinner.
They teach " how to have a deeper spiritual walk" but they dont teach "The Cross of Christ" and necessary to obtain i


Why dont they teach The Cross of Christ?.
Its because they've not literally met the Holy One who died on The Cross... So all they have, is "what you must do", vs What God has done for you, = through The Cross of Christ... as :

"The Gift of Salvation"

"The GIFT of Righteousness"

"The GIFT of Eternal life".

 

[soberxp]

, false teaching is a serious and destructive issue. The Bible clearly warns us that false teachers will secretly bring in heresies that can lead many astray (2 Peter 2:1–2). While it’s true we can’t change the whole world ourselves, we’re not called to be passive. God tells us to test every teaching against His Word (Acts 17:11), to expose error (Ephesians 5:11), and to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). One of the biggest dangers is when people mix worldly ideas or philosophies into Scripture,

I really appreciate the concern, and you’re right, false teaching is a serious and destructive issue. The Bible clearly warns us that false teachers will secretly bring in heresies that can lead many astray (2 Peter 2:1–2). While it’s true we can’t change the whole world ourselves, we’re not called to be passive. God tells us to test every teaching against His Word (Acts 17:11), to expose error (Ephesians 5:11), and to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). One of the biggest dangers is when people mix worldly ideas or philosophies into Scripture, which only leads people away from Christ (Colossians 2:8). I’ve also seen how hurt, bitterness, or pride can cause people to misunderstand the Bible, and sadly, that’s often where their rejection of truth begins. But maybe the most dangerous thing is when false teachers truly believe they’re right. As 2 Timothy 3:13 says, many are “deceiving and being deceived.” That’s why we all need to stay grounded in God’s Word, remain humble, and be willing to compare everything to what Scripture actually says, because that’s our only safe foundation. We might not be able to fix everything, but we can be faithful with the truth God has given us.

https://www.christianityboard.com/t...ind-find-the-answer-in-the-bible-first.69595/

The correct way to end fake teachers

 

[bdavidc]

How do spot a : False Teacher....= Luke 11:35...

Read this list, and then take note of who Teaches what is on this list and this will help you to discern the false, the fake, the deceived, who live on Forums to try to ruin your faith, or literally lead you to Hell, if you are not a Christian and are here on the Fourm.

How to Spot a False Teacher — Test Everything by the Word of God (1 John 4:1, Acts 17:11)
“Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.” — Luke 11:35

---

1. They teach salvation is not by faith alone
   Ephesians 2:8–9 — “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works…”
2. They preach another gospel or add to the true gospel
   Galatians 1:6–9 — “If any man preach any other gospel... let him be accursed.”
3. They deny the eternal security of the believer
   John 10:28–29 — “They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
4. They require works, rituals, or law-keeping to stay saved
   Romans 11:6 — “If by grace, then is it no more of works...”
5. They say you can’t know for sure you are saved
   1 John 5:13 — “These things have I written... that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”
6. They reject or twist the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ
   1 Corinthians 15:14–17 — “If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain...”
7. They teach everyone will be saved in the end (universalism)
   Matthew 7:13–14 — “Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction... few there be that find it.”
8. They deny the existence or reality of hell
   Luke 16:23–24 — Jesus described hell as a place of torment.
9. They teach that Jesus is not fully God
   John 1:1, 14 — “The Word was God... and the Word was made flesh.”
10. They deny the literal Second Coming of Christ
    Acts 1:11 — “This same Jesus... shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
11. They downplay or deny the authority of Scripture
    2 Timothy 3:16–17 — “All scripture is given by inspiration of God...”
12. They claim new revelation that contradicts the Bible
    Proverbs 30:6 — “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee…”
13. They boast in spiritual gifts, signs, or experiences over doctrine
    Matthew 7:22–23 — “Many will say... Have we not prophesied?... And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you.”
14. They teach that sin doesn't matter or that grace permits sin
    Romans 6:1–2 — “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.”
15. They twist repentance into ongoing works-based effort
    2 Corinthians 7:10 — “Godly sorrow worketh repentance... not to be repented of.”
16. They teach that Jesus only began your salvation and you must finish it
    Hebrews 12:2 — “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…”
17. They promote law-keeping as the way to please God
    Galatians 3:2–3 — “Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
18. They deny Satan’s activity or existence
    1 Peter 5:8 — “Be sober, be vigilant... your adversary the devil... walketh about…”
19. They teach you must ‘earn’ or maintain righteousness
    Romans 4:5 — “His faith is counted for righteousness.”
20. They mock or reject the final judgment and Lake of Fire
    Revelation 20:15 — “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
21. They twist God’s grace into legalism or license
    Jude 1:4 — “Turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness...”

---

Final Warning (Sola Scriptura):
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them.” — Romans 16:17

 

[Matthias]

Listen to, believe, and obey God and his Son the Messiah.

 

[Matthias]

I was reading something this afternoon about a false teacher (who flourished from the 1930’s to the mid 1980’s) which reminded me of this thread: False teachers always have a list of things which they assert will help us spot a false teacher. An important lesson from the False Teacher Zone.

***

Be a Berean (Acts 17:11).

 

[JustMe]

Here are a few characteristics I've picked up over the years on this subject of false teaching/teachers:

1. The attitude of false teachers is one of pride.

2. Many possess an immense ego placing themselves as judge and jury of God's word, presiding as its sole interpreter. In reality they are reaching for straws, and really find it difficult to harmonize scripture. If faced with a real issue of ignorance in scripture, especially in a public environment, they usually and quickly want the entire subject shut down to cover their lack of insight, and followed up with some high sounding words.

3. Closely related is arrogance is another trait of false teachers, with an overinflated sense of their own importance, and easily rebel against God's word.

4. Some even consider themselves prophets or even seers. They often claim to have special revelations or insights that are not from God. They can entice followers with high-sounding but empty words, often boasting about their spiritual experiences or new revelations.