False Teachers & Their Fruit

Introduction:
In His concluding thoughts—Jesus reminds us that this life is about living in a way that is pleasing to God or facing the eternal consequences. There is a recurring theme of judgment in Chapter 7. See 7:2; 13; 19;23; 27. To please God we must enter the narrow gate & follow the narrow path. Today’ lesson covers His warning about dangers that could prevent our entering the narrow gate. In 7:15 Jesus says that false teachers are a threatening reality! Dealing with them is just a fact of life. There will be times when we have to deal with those who attempt to subvert our faith.

I. What is a false teacher?
    A. This is the person who appears to be ______________ _________.
        1. Nice; pleasant; pleasing. SEEMS to be a genuine Christian.
        2. ________ the right things; seems sincere; talks about God, Jesus, religious matters.
    B. Eventually, one begins to see in his ______ something wrong w/his teaching & manner of life.

II. Identifying marks of a false teacher.
    A. His teaching & influence have no strait gate & no narrow way!
        1. This is the person who leaves out the ________ of the ________.
    B. He leaves out _____________.
    C. He leaves out the _________ & _________ of God.
        1. Scripture not only emphasizes love/grace (Jhn. 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9…
        2. But judgment; God’s wrath on those who refuse to know Him
            a) Rom. 11:22; 2 Cor. 5:11; Heb. 12:29
    D. He leaves out the doctrine of ___________ & eternal punishment.
        1. We need to be reminded of this—see Acts 24:24-25.
    E. He leaves out the doctrine of _______.
        1. Eph. 2:1; Rom. 3:23—all have sinned! All have fallen short!
        2. Serious matter! Some smooth this over. Remember 1 Jhn. 3:4!
    F. He leaves out _________________.
        1. Self-examination neglected. But what about 2 Cor. 13:5?
    G. He leaves out _______ _____________.
        1. Obedience is not that important. Rom. 12:1—offer body as a living sacrifice! Involves a commitment on our part!

III. How to spot these identifying marks.
    A. 7:16—you will know them by their ____________.
        1. Judge their fruits by God’s world—7:21; 24.
    B. Do the actions in their _________ contradict what comes out of their _______?
        1. The _____ reveals the _________. Citizenship in God’s kingdom is not a matter of _________, but of _______!
        2. Jhn. 7:38—a true child of God is different!
    C. _________ and ______ are inseparably linked!
        1. A man’s nature is bound to come out!
    D. Does this mean we need to be ______________? Some sense FT’s behind EVERY bush!
        1. Some constantly in a _____________ or ___________ mood. Causes them to lose their
            sense of __________ or ___________.
        2. 7:16—it is at the level of _________ these judgments are to be made!
        3. There is no need to go prying into the hearts of others. All we need to do is wait until
            the tree bears fruit and we shall not have to wait long. (Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship, p. 146)
        4. We must be willing to give the ___________ of the ______ until circumstances are clear!
    E. When FT’s fruit revealed—must hold up their teaching to God’s word—1 Jhn. 4:1
        1. No response? Relationship must be severed—2 Thess. 3:14-15.

Conclusion: False Teachers offer easy salvation. A wide gate; a broad way. They are still around today! Look at Paul’s writing in 2 Cor. 11:13-15. Let us strive to serve Him to the best of our ability!



False Teachers & Their Fruit Introduction: In His concluding thoughts—Jesus reminds us that this life is about living in a way that is pleasing to God or facing the eternal consequences. There is a recurring theme of judgment in Chapter 7. See 7:2; 13; 19;23; 27. To please God we must enter the narrow gate & follow the narrow path. Today’ lesson covers His warning about dangers that could prevent our entering the narrow gate. In 7:15 Jesus says that false teachers are a threatening reality! Dealing with them is just a fact of life. There will be times when we have to deal with those who attempt to subvert our faith. I. What is a false teacher? A. This is the person who appears to be ______________ _________. 1. Nice; pleasant; pleasing. SEEMS to be a genuine Christian. 2. ________ the right things; seems sincere; talks about God, Jesus, religious matters. B. Eventually, one begins to see in his ______ something wrong w/his teaching & manner of life. II. Identifying marks of a false teacher. A. His teaching & influence have no strait gate & no narrow way! 1. This is the person who leaves out the ________ of the ________. B. He leaves out _____________. C. He leaves out the _________ & _________ of God. 1. Scripture not only emphasizes love/grace (Jhn. 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9… 2. But judgment; God’s wrath on those who refuse to know Him a) Rom. 11:22; 2 Cor. 5:11; Heb. 12:29 D. He leaves out the doctrine of ___________ & eternal punishment. 1. We need to be reminded of this—see Acts 24:24-25. E. He leaves out the doctrine of _______. 1. Eph. 2:1; Rom. 3:23—all have sinned! All have fallen short! 2. Serious matter! Some smooth this over. Remember 1 Jhn. 3:4! F. He leaves out _________________. 1. Self-examination neglected. But what about 2 Cor. 13:5? G. He leaves out _______ _____________. 1. Obedience is not that important. Rom. 12:1—offer body as a living sacrifice! Involves a commitment on our part! III. How to spot these identifying marks. A. 7:16—you will know them by their ____________. 1. Judge their fruits by God’s world—7:21; 24. B. Do the actions in their _________ contradict what comes out of their _______? 1. The _____ reveals the _________. Citizenship in God’s kingdom is not a matter of _________, but of _______! 2. Jhn. 7:38—a true child of God is different! C. _________ and ______ are inseparably linked! 1. A man’s nature is bound to come out! D. Does this mean we need to be ______________? Some sense FT’s behind EVERY bush! 1. Some constantly in a _____________ or ___________ mood. Causes them to lose their sense of __________ or ___________. 2. 7:16—it is at the level of _________ these judgments are to be made! 3. There is no need to go prying into the hearts of others. All we need to do is wait until the tree bears fruit and we shall not have to wait long. (Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship, p. 146) 4. We must be willing to give the ___________ of the ______ until circumstances are clear! E. When FT’s fruit revealed—must hold up their teaching to God’s word—1 Jhn. 4:1 1. No response? Relationship must be severed—2 Thess. 3:14-15. Conclusion: False Teachers offer easy salvation. A wide gate; a broad way. They are still around today! Look at Paul’s writing in 2 Cor. 11:13-15. Let us strive to serve Him to the best of our ability!