New Testament warnings that document and prophesy the degradation of the church from the first century forward

In a previous article, it was shown Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount prophesied that “many” people would take a “broad” – or somehow false way of practicing the Christian faith that leads to “destruction.” And “few,” He said, would be able to find a “narrow” and “difficult” way that leads to life.

Matthew 7 – ¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

As will be shown further along in this article, Matthew 7:13-14 is just one passage among a few in which Jesus speaks of the “many” who He prophesies will have catastrophic shortcomings. It is important to understand Jesus’ warning against a “broad” way leading to “destruction” is not just a prediction about those who do not practice Christianity. Jesus was speaking to God seekers. His messages were given from the epicenter of the Hebrew faith in the regions in and surrounding Jerusalem. He was seen by onlookers who respected Him as a Jewish holy man, a rabbi, a prophet, or teacher of the way of following the true God. The subject at hand in the Sermon on the Mount was the right way to follow God and Jesus contrasted wrong ways also to emphasize there is a right and wrong way to follow God. The “broad” way is the wrong way of those who otherwise seek to follow the true God. It is thus a warning to Christians.

Again: as will also be further shown in this article, Jesus’ warning was to those who would seek to become Christian. He speaks of people who may even be very sure of themselves in their understanding and practice yet they take a “broad” way. He said this would be true of “many.” And indeed, “many” are not taught this.

Full disclosure: The true way of the Christian faith involves obeying Jesus and the whole gospel. It requires being born again, meeting conditions of heart Jesus specified (Mt 18:3, Lk 14:26-33, etc). It requires receiving the Holy Spirit in truth, turning from all sin in the power of God (Rom 6:6,7). It calls for abiding in Christ (Jn 15) and walking according to the Spirit (Gal 5, Rom 8) as a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). The normal Christian life is summed in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

This was written by the apostle Paul who warned Christians that they may accept a counterfeit Jesus, a counterfeit spirit (posing as the Holy Spirit), and a counterfeit gospel

2 Corinthians 11 – ⁴ For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

By stark contrast, Jesus said His true sheep discern and heed His voice (Jn 10). He said they flee from strangers (false representatives of God). Jesus said eternal life is to know God (Jn 17:3), not just know about God. The test of the claims of a Christian individual or group is the fruit (Mt 7:15-20) – the results, outcomes, and evidences of the presence and working of the true Holy Spirit serving the true Jesus and true gospel.

Jesus – who warned also of goats among the sheep, and false prophets, and many in the Parable of the Sower who would hear the word of truth but bear no fruit – thus prophesied much failure for those who would pursue the Christian faith. This has not been consciously recognized by many, if they have ever realized it at all and what it could imply for them. But the ramifications of the Lord’s prophecies of “many” who fall short are profound, and the honest of heart who wishes to live for God would do well to consider these truths before God.

Jesus and the writers of the New Testament did definitely predict degradation of the church and an intermingling of false teachings with truths that would work against people seeking to live as Christians and the ultimate purposes of God. In Luke 18:8 Jesus asked “when the Son of Man returns, will He really find faith on the earth?” This is anything but a bold prediction of great glory. It is a statement made in sorrow. Despite preachers who may optimistically offer declarations to the contrary, Jesus’ statement is one more among many veiled prophecies that many people will join the Christian faith yet settle on some lesser plateau, and never know it. Jesus’ statement is a veiled prophecy that faith that pleases God will be a rare commodity when He returns. Indeed, it will be held only by a “few” Jesus said find the “narrow” way that leads to life.

Many / Few

In speaking of “many” as opposed to “few,” the Lord prophesied false teaching and false disciples would be prevalent, even a majority. The term “few” speaks of a minority, even a slim minority. The “many” who are on the broad way, the New Testament abundantly shows, may very well be fully convinced they are among the “few.” This article adds dimension and proof to the aforementioned previous article of Jesus’ words contrasting the “many” and “few,” with further scriptural witness from the epistles.

While this article does not present all evidence that it could to show the New Testament prophesied degradation of the church, it highlights key verses that ought to be sufficient for a “Berean” (one who is honest in heart) and who knows the Holy Spirit’s witness.

Indeed, that which is called “the church” – or the public face of Christianity – has been marked since the beginning by gross disobedience to many critically important commandments Jesus gave. Jesus in John 17:11, 20-23 called for the church to never divide, and there are now thousands of divisions performing a kind of cancel culture against one another. Jesus in John 13:34-35 commanded everyone called Christian to be characterized by the same godly love that He had, and this has long been anything but the case. In John 14, and elsewhere, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit who was to make these commandments and all else God asked for possible – and the Spirit is supposed to be evidently indwelling and guiding everyone named for Christ, but this also is rare among many who call themself by Christ’s name.

Many through the past nearly 2000 years have however joined some form of the Christian faith for the blessings, privilege, and eternal life God promises those who obey Him. Jesus is the way, truth, and life. He is the only way to eternal life, and thus “many” have been hand raisers. There were also centuries when it was mandated by law and/or social pressure to join the faith. Many through the past two millennia have wanted what God offers. “Many” even redefined the standards to accommodate themselves along the way.

God however never changes and Jesus from the beginning set very high standards. In His earthly ministry, Jesus showed He was not willing to lower the bar just to accept converts. John the apostle records in his gospel that “many” wanted to join Jesus, and believed on His “name,” but Jesus would have none of them.

John 2 – ²³ Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. ²⁴ But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, ²⁵ and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

The impulse among “many” people to join Jesus, if they could, was present from the moment Jesus began preaching. Indeed, many will follow a charismatic leader they perceive can provide them what they want. But John says Jesus “did not commit Himself to them” because He “knew what was in man.” This indicates they were not where God needed them to be, to say the least. As was shown more thoroughly in the previous article, Jesus had more to say about the “many” who would readily seek to join the Christian faith, but who He prophesied would be washouts or be shallow or practice sin and false ways.

Matthew 7 – ¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

The “many” of Matthew 7:13 is not primarily speaking of people who pursue other faiths or live without faith. Jesus was a prophet and the subject of His Sermon was the way of eternal life for the true followers of God. The “broad” way was a warning to those who would pursue Christ, not to those who did not pursue Christ.

Jesus’ whole Sermon had other things to say contrasting right and wrong approaches. Matthew 7 winds down the three-chapter Sermon on the Mount with critically important warnings about those who would seek to follow Jesus the Messiah. From Matthew 5-7 Jesus’ teachings contrast right ways and wrong ways. For example in Matthew 5, He repeats the saying “you have heard that it was said to those of old … but I say to you.” And in Matthew 6, Jesus contrasts right and wrong ways of charitable deeds, prayer, fasting, and other things that God expects. The standard Jesus sets goes above the Old Testament Jews’ standards and the whole theme therefore is a right vs. wrong way to practice the faith.

It makes perfect sense therefore that in His parting words, He warns in chapter 7 with a contrast to a “broad” false way with a “narrow” true way. Jesus is consistent in His use of contrast.

To suggest a “broad” way is one merely taken by someone not even seeking the true God is to miss the point. Jesus did not need to talk about false religions. It is a given their way is to destruction. Of course one could say false religious or atheistic ways also are a “broad” way, but that is not what Jesus was really speaking of when He spoke of a “broad” way that “many” would take. Jesus was addressing those wanting to follow the true faith and it bears repeating He counterpointed the true (narrow) way against false (broad) ways.

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus referenced the same “many” of Matthew 7, saying they would even seek to enter the true faith and not be able. It is clear Jesus’ prophecy of “many” in Luke’s gospel was a parallel to the same “many” He prophesied in Matthew 7, as He spoke on the same subject, and used the same key words – many, narrow gate, few:

Luke 13 – ²³ Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”  And He said to them, ²⁴ “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

When asked if “few” are saved, Jesus’ implicit answer was yes. He illustrates the affirmative answer saying “many” would seek to enter and be unable. In saying “many” will be unable, He means they will not enter into the truth of God even if they are otherwise churchgoers or consider Jesus to be the Christ and they “seek to enter” the way that leads to life. So to tie Jesus’ words on the same subject from Matthew 7:13-14 and Luke 13:24, Jesus said in Matthew 7:13 “many” will take a broad way leading to destruction, and Jesus said in Luke 13:24 the same “many” will be those even seeking to enter but not able.

And this is not all Jesus said of the “many” who would call themselves Christian but be on a “broad” way who “will not  be able” to enter the “narrow” gate.

Matthew 24 – ³ Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”…⁴ And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. … ¹⁰ And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. ¹¹ Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹² And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But he who endures to the end shall be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

In Matthew 24, Jesus indicated that by the time preceding His second coming, there will be “many” who call themselves His followers but they will be without spiritual discernment. Jesus says they will not know better than to follow after false Christs or false prophets (or false teachers). Jesus had said in John 10 that His true sheep know His voice, and “flee” from “strangers.” In Matthew 24, the “many” who go after false Christs and false prophets pursue what can only be called strangers.

As you may see, it was Jesus who set the tone that corruption would come to a people who sought to follow Him. He also said in Matthew 7:21-23 that “many” would be rejected at the judgement seat though they claimed exceptional works done in His “name.”

Matthew 7 – ²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

The “many” of Matthew 7:13, Matthew 7:22,  Luke 13:24, and Matthew 24 are a general reference to the same “many” – speaking of people who “seek to enter” but are unable and whose end is “destruction.” This “many” speaks of a greater number than the “few” who find a narrow way that leads to life.

But here is a fact: It has been possible for almost anyone to claim the title of “Christian” who wishes to claim their approach to the faith is the “right” or “better” or “more biblical” way than others. People have done and claimed so many contradictory things as purported “Christians” over the past 2000 years. There are thousands of divisions today, more than has ever been. This shows that the faith God commanded to stay as “one” has only ever divided and divided more and more. Almost nothing stops people who feel sure of themselves from declaring themselves the followers of Christ.

This phenomenon of misguided confidence is exactly as was seen in the Scribes and Pharisees who opposed Jesus. In common with the Jews who resisted Jesus and Christians who claim to follow Jesus but do not is each could feel sure they stood for the true God. Jesus however says “many” who claim His name are on the “broad” way to “destruction.” The “many” cannot enter the “narrow gate” though they “seek to.”

Like the Scribes and Pharisees and all who ever served God with their fleshly minds, presuming they were God-guided or spiritual, but were not, “many” Christians have sought to live unto the true God. The common denominator of Pharisees and Christians deluded in presumption is the fallible, sinful fleshly mind, aided and abetted by evil spirits of false religion, as will be shown.

Jesus said in John 6:63 “it is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing.” False ways are of the flesh. Galatians 5:20 says heresies are works of the flesh. The sin in the flesh of humanity and evil spirits that coax and steer their impulses meant “many” would go a wrong way assuming otherwise. The New Testament prophesies further the church would degrade from the pure state it began from.

Epistle Prophecies of Degradation of the Church

[Apostle Paul prophecy] Acts 20 –  ²⁹ For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. ³¹ Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. …

Paul did not spell everything out but stated “men will rise up” who would speak “perverse things.” Paul means they will introduce new teachings they made up themselves and declare they are the teachings of God for everyone to follow. This is possible if a person misinterprets the Bible, or contrives doctrines based on their view of what God may “really” mean. They also may heed demonic whisperings which will be shown further along.

In any case, we know these things did happen countless times after the New Testament was written. Even before the New Testament was completed, as noted, the New Testament shows so much corruption which was of the flesh had started before Paul’s “departure.” Note Paul says, “remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”

This means God was showing Paul for years that the church would be infiltrated by corruptions, compromises, and people would fall for it. The New Testament teaches that to change the expectations and rules of the faith means that results God wants will not happen, and results God does not want will happen. Paul says he warned the church night and day for three years with tears that corruptions would certainly come, and these would lead to a degraded state of affairs.

[Apostle Peter prophecy] 2 Peter 2 – But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³ By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. …

Peter says something like what Paul said. He warns “there will be false teachers among you” who will “secretly bring in destructive heresies.” These heresies (false teachings) could be terrible or seemingly benign things that shift the faith. They are “secretly” brought in meaning they escape detection as false and are accepted as true.

Peter says of false teachers “they will exploit you with deceptive words.”  All humans have a need: to be reconciled with their Creator. Those who “exploit” this need prey on their fellow man. The New Testament says they may even do this unwittingly but others do it knowingly as well.

Peter said also “many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.”

This is the same “many” Jesus spoke of. The “many” will accept a falsehood and not discern it is false because they are not walking closely with Jesus who would have warned them; He is able to make Christians who can hear Him feel uneasy about false teaching.

Peter says the result of “many” following the false teachers’ “destructive ways” is that “the way of truth will be blasphemed.” This means people will speak critically against the Christian faith which was the one thing that was not supposed to happen if people had really been walking with Jesus.

Christianity was supposed to make a people of God’s name who gave glory to God and provided people a way to find God. It was not supposed to make God look bad, but Peter prophesies this will happen because “many” will follow ways “destructive” to the true faith.

[Apostle Paul prophecy] 1 Timothy 4 ­– Now the [Holy] Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, ² speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, …

IMPORTANT: Paul says “in latter times” and some today falsely assume Paul speaks of some time in the very distant future (like maybe the 20^th century? – some have assumed).

This is NOT correct. When the New Testaments speaks of “latter times” that means THEN. In the first century! There are at least 19 New Testament verses by all major speakers/writers who indicate they believe the first century was the “latter times” or the “last days.”

These words were written to Timothy to warn him of a problem he would have to deal with! They were not some academic exercise or prophecy for the sake of prophecy to Timothy. Paul was preparing Timothy with warnings Paul heard from God.

So … It is common for Christians to look back at imagined better days of the faith. Or perhaps people may assume the church was not so corrupt until very recently? Not so! Paul’s warning to Timothy of demonic teachings infiltrating the church in latter times does not mean long after the first century in which the letter was written. It has been shown that deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons were actually already among them. The epistle to the Corinthians addressed divisiveness and sin, the epistle to the Galatians addressed major heresy that needed to be corrected, the epistles of John addressed false teachers and prophets and a spirit of “antichrist.”

The New Testament abundantly documents demons attacked the church from the start with false leaders seducing the people and sinners acting as bad leaven in the church.

Paul in 1 Timothy 4 explicitly states God is prophesying that the church will accept teachings given them by the devil.

Paul declares:

• People will “depart” the true faith to make up their own in Christ’s name
• Church leaders or others will speak “lies in hypocrisy” to deceive the people
• The deceived will heed “deceiving spirits” (spirits of false religion – evil spirits – demons from Satan who are tasked to subvert the true faith.)
• They will pass along “doctrines of demons” (the teachings of demons)
• People will cauterize their conscience with a “hot iron” so it no longer works

Understand that the true church Jesus established is an ATTACK on Satan. It seeks to help people come away from sin and know the true God. It is to be instrumental in Satan’s ultimate judgment. So it is the enemy of Satan, and Satan DID attack it. “Many” were fooled by him.

[Paul writing a management level letter to a high-level church leader, Timothy of Ephesus] 

2 Timothy 2 – ¹⁴ Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” …

Paul is warning Timothy people are to cease vain arguments about unimportant or false things. He says these “will increase to more ungodliness” and they will “spread like cancer” to the rest of the church members.

IMPORTANT: That Paul is generally speaking of these terrible things means they will happen. And because they can happen once, they can happen again and again. This is because Christians are not error-proof. God does not guaranty Christians will automatically self-right themselves. On the contrary He warns they may not. He warns Christians to not be ignorant and tells them how to stand against error, but many never listened. We can see in hindsight that the meaning and purposes of the faith were changed early on by theologians/leaders who declared themselves interpreters and guardians of the faith. There has been no end to this phenomenon.

So, the New Testament prophecies of degradation we read do not necessarily speak of one-time events of the church being corrupted and then God fixes it (such as the Reformation which was falsely billed as a comprehensive overhaul). God speaks of the capacity of humans to think they are right when they are wrong. Only the living present Jesus can correct this, and one must come to Jesus in spirit and truth.

[Paul comments further] in 2 Timothy 2 – ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Paul counsels Timothy in dealing with sinning Christians. Paul states Timothy should carefully correct them with humility “if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

Paul is not being willy-nilly in saying an erring Christian has given themselves over to being “captive” to the “will” of the “devil.” He means it literally! Paul is the one who said “doctrines of demons” and “deceiving spirits” will invade the church. He is the one who said ”for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears” of coming corruption which has Satan behind it. Paul is saying Timothy must be careful and hope God will let the erring Christian “come to their senses” because they are Satan’s captive and only God can give them repentance to come free.

[Paul prophesying] 2 Timothy 3 – But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ⁶ For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, ⁷ always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. … ¹³ But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 

Again, Paul, in writing of the “last days,” is speaking of his present day!  These words were written to Timothy with a warning from God. Paul was preparing Timothy so he could be watchful and pray and know what was coming. Thus, since the time the New Testament was written, Paul said people in the church “will” (or may) have wrong motives of heart and not be guided by the Spirit of God or heed Jesus’ voice.

It must be understood Paul is not speaking of non-Christians. He is speaking of the people of the churches. In Bible interpretation, it is a given people outside the church will have sinful ways as described. Paul’s focus is the church. He is instructing a church leader about corruption in church leaders and members. We may know that because Paul says these corrupt ones are those who are “having a form of godliness but denying its power.”

A “form of godliness” means they are acting religious or pious. They put on an act of being good Christians. When Paul speaks of “godliness” he is not meaning heathen or false religions who worship idols or other deities.

The word “godliness” is a reserved for the true faith. These corrupt people will make a pretense and put on the appearance of practicing the true faith.

Paul says “evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” In speaking of “imposters” he means false Christians, false teachers, false prophets. He says “they will grow worse and worse,” indicating a problem that will not improve. He says such ones are “deceiving and being deceived,” meaning the deceivers are themselves first deceived.

Paul is saying motives such as the love of money can be in them. These sinning wrong-headed church members may fit any or all of the following description: Paul says they “will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,”

Someone who loves God is someone who seeks to do all Jesus says, and knows Jesus directly. Paul is describing opportunistic self-serving people who are themselves deceived and Satan’s captive. They may not even realize this is what they are. With all they know, they may just believe they have an interest in the things of God and they believe in Jesus. Paul speaks also of a type of person who is attracted to the things of the true faith as “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

A person who majors on Bible study, listening to sermons, and so forth may be taking in information but they have not “come to the knowledge of the truth” in a sense of deep knowing truth taught to their spirits by God. They have not entered God’s rest (Hebrews 4:1-11), they do not abide in Christ (John 15:1-10); they do not hear or obey the Shepherd’s voice (John 10:4,5), nor do they walk according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1-4).

These are the kinds of people who will have joined the church because they want what God offers. They comprise a dumbed down mainstream level of spirituality among the “many” who have joined Christ’s church. Why did they join? They may have good intentions bundled in with all their motives, but at root, they don’t want hell and do want heaven and so they attempt to side with what they think is good for them. They are doing what’s best for themselves – or so they think – by attempting to cozy up to the true God. This is the kind of person Paul is referring to.

[Paul prophesying] 2 Timothy 4 – ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. 

Paul is saying it is not just the leaders who are to blame, it is people who want an easier way of practicing the faith. They – 

• Have itching ears (itching for an easier or different way to be called Christian)
• Will no longer endure sound teaching (which calls for a “narrow” and “difficult” way)
• Will stack up teachers (who will tickle their ears and tell them what they want to hear)
• Will turn away from the truths God wants them to know and live by
• Will live in a new construct of teachings

In order to be accepted, false teachings must appear to be true teachings. They readily employ the scriptures to support what they assert. The scriptures can be taken out of context. They can be used to say things God never intended them to say. People who have no discernment or who cannot tell they are hearing a subtle (or great) deviation from the truth will fall for it. In their hearts these who Paul speaks of are itching for it. This began as early as the first century and took off after the fourth century!

Paul is prophesying a future for the church of co-dependence and enablement.

He is saying there is a ready market, as it were, of consumers of false teachings. He is saying church leaders can set up shop and spin narratives that sooth and comfort the people in false doctrine and the people like the way it makes them feel. Or they may dumb down or utterly change the faith. They will all the while tell themselves they are true followers of Christ. They will all feel assured they are in the faith and can hope for heaven.

Paul is not specific what these “fables” and false teachings are. We can say with confidence ANY teaching is false that is not harmonious with the teaching of the first century that Paul and the apostles and Jesus taught. Any teaching that works against God’s purposes is false.

There are countless permutations today and there have long since been. Some of these are time-honored and now held as sacred. They are in fact false teachings that are very old and now have status as ancient truths, but they are not in keeping with what Jesus approved of.

The test of authenticity is the results. Jesus said “by their fruit you will know them.” In saying this, Jesus warned from Day One false teachers would come to bear bad fruit. He warned us all.

[Warnings by apostle John] 1 John 2 – ¹⁸ Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. …

²⁶ These things I have written to you concerning those who deceive you. ²⁷ But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

John is warning his contemporaries corruption had started. We know corruptions never ceased and only increased through the centuries. John said “they went out from us.” He is dealing with a specific false sect of Gnostics and Docetics but John’s warning has broader application. He speaks of “those who deceive you.”

IMPORTANT: John refers to the indwelling Holy Spirit who is supposed to be like a BUILT-IN LIE DETECTER for the Christian. John says, “the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you.” 

John means no one needs to “teach” them truth from falsehood. God in them would do that if they could hear from God. John is encouragingly giving benefit of the doubt that these who read his words do have the “anointing” that “teaches.”

This is the same as the “voice” of Jesus. Heeding it is an earmark of a true Christian. 

[John the apostle dealing with same issues] 1 John 4 – Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. … ⁴ You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. ⁵ They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. ⁶ We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

John documents a “spirit of error.” In saying “test” the spirits, John says the spiritually sensitive Christians are to discern if they are listening to a teacher or person under the influence of Jesus Christ or an evil spirit of false religion. John says the sound of their music, as it were, does not ring true. He says, “They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.” People “of the world” are not born again. They are controlled by Satan, the spirit that rules people of the world, and will be attracted to the false ones. John says that too —

1 John 5 – We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

John warns the sheep the false teachers speak in ways that sound true and reasonable and good to the people of the world. John says: “⁶ We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us.” –

The apostle John says that the ability to know the truth when you hear it is given by God. He is the one who spoke of the “anointing” that “teaches.” Jesus is the teacher. His sheep know His voice.

Much more could be brought to support the suppositions made. 

Some key takeaways:

• The New Testament prophesies the church would be filled with false teachers
• It says the deceivers are themselves first deceived
• False or deceived Christians will also be prevalent. There are “many” says Jesus
• When they hear truth it will sound to them as false
• When they hear falsehood it will sound true
• Though “amen” means “let it be so,” and is to be the Spirit’s witness, many may have a damaged or broken amen
• They lack spiritual discernment and are as the “blind” who argued with Jesus
• Only a person truly guided by God’s Spirit walks a “narrow” way “few” find
• The “many” are characterized by their confidence in things they believe which God has not actually said as they understand it
• They often use the Bible to create their arguments and reasoned positions
• Evil spirits are also aiding and abetting them
• The deceived take counsel among one another
• They take approval from one another
• They validate one another
• We are at the end of the age when bad fruit has bloomed unabated for centuries
• Jesus says the church will be full of deceived “Christians” at His second coming
• In their heart, they may like their form of the faith and be in a comfort zone

Jesus does not say ones such as these really love Him as He accounts “love.”

Jesus in John 8 encouragingly said to those in a place to receive that “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The degree of closeness and commitment to Jesus required is supposed to be very great. He alone can keep us. The test is the results – fruit. God calls for this.