Thy Word is False

     If you are a believer in Christ, you are well aware of the fact that the Bible claims itself as the "word of truth". It claims that God is true and every man a liar. It claims that Jesus is the truth. It claims that the Holy Spirit will guide us unto all truth. It is faith in these truths that cause men and women to trust that their sins are forgiven, they are born again spiritually, and they have been given eternal life. 

     But did you know that the word false is also frequently used in the Bible? It shows up sixty-four times in the King James Version. It is obvious that where truth is presented the forces of darkness are at work attempting to counteract the work of truth in the hearts and minds of the hearers. In the scriptures we find false witness, false report, false matter, false way, false tongue, false balance, false lips, false gift, false vision, false dreams, false burdens, false divination, false oaths, false swearers, false prophets, false Christs, false accusation, false apostles, false brethren, false accusers, false teachers, and "the false prophet". The one that turns up the most often is false witness, although we like to focus on false prophets and false teachers in our sermons and Sunday School classes. 

     The dangerous thing about that which is false is that it tends to occur within the community that claims it has the truth. In other words, we have lying and deception going on with a disguised undercover falseness that wants to appear as the truth so that people are honestly believing they are following the truth, while in reality they are not. The sad thing is that falseness is so deceptive that everyone thinks that their Christian community is walking in truth while it is the church or denomination down the street that is in danger of hell fire. 

     Some people have grown up within one Christian community or one denomination their whole life and the Biblical interpretation of that community is the only one with which they have intimate familiarity. Although their leaders warn them about false teachings of the groups around about them, they fail to take into consideration that falsehood is creeping within their own teachings and threaten to become like leaven which the Bible says will leaven the whole lump. Is it no wonder then that the Lord God thoroughly warns his people about that which is false creeping into the fellowship of the believers? 

     I want to list below some Biblical descriptions of falseness that enter into local bodies of believers. At a later time, we will look at that which is listed in more detail.

1. Ravening wolves in sheep's clothing. Matthew 7:15
2. Transformed into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14,15
3. I am Christ. Matthew 24:5; Mark 13:6; Luke 4:8
4. The scribes. Mathew 12:38-40
5. Good words and fair speeches. Romans 16:17-18
6. Sleight of men and cunning craftiness. Ephesians 4:14
7. Spoiled through philosophy, vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8
8. Seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. 1 Timothy 4:1-3
9. A form of godliness but denying the power. 2 Timothy 3:"5-9
10. Listeners with itching ears. 2 Timothy 4:3
11. Signs and wonders. Mark 13:22-23
12. Leaven of the Sadducees and Pharisees. Matthew 16:5-12

     Our adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour.  Be on alert for that which is false especially within your own group because that is where you will be deceived unless you are like those who venture out of the fold and test the waters of the groups round about you. Be blessed.