Identifying false prophets and false teachers is a critical task for believers striving to maintain the integrity of their faith. The Bible provides clear guidelines to help Christians discern between true and false prophets, ensuring that they are not led astray by deceptive teachings. This article will explore five biblical ways to recognize false prophets and teachers, drawing from both the Old and New Testaments. By understanding these principles, believers can protect themselves and their communities from spiritual deception and remain grounded in the truth of God’s word.
If the Prophecy is Never Fulfilled
How can we recognize false prophets or false teachers? According to the Bible, Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 18:22:
“If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.”
Deuteronomy 18:22
This means that God instructed the Israelites through Moses that if a prophet’s prophecy is not fulfilled, then that prophet is a false prophet. For instance, Jonah 3:4 states:
“Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, ‘Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.'”
Jonah 3:4
However, as we know, the city of Nineveh was not destroyed as Jonah had prophesied. Does this make Jonah a false prophet? Not at all.
Prophecies in the Bible often served as warnings about the consequences of not repenting. Jonah’s preaching in Nineveh was one such warning. The people of Nineveh heeded the warning and repented, which led God to relent and spare the city. Similarly, the history of Israel’s punishments in the Old Testament shows that God often delayed or withheld judgment when His people repented in response to prophetic words.
Therefore, this first method of identifying a false prophet—whether their prophecy is fulfilled—does not contradict the account of Jonah. If a prophet’s words do not come to pass and there is no call to repentance or change, then that prophet is speaking falsely.
Does the Prophecy Align with God’s Word?
The second way to identify identify false prophets and false teachers. So, if a prophecy is fulfilled, can we confidently say that all prophets are true prophets? Not necessarily. Sometimes even the prophecies of false prophets come true. Therefore, God provided another method through Moses to test a prophet’s authenticity.
In Deuteronomy 13:1-3, Moses instructed the Israelites:
“If a prophet or one who foretells by dreams appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, ‘Let us follow other gods’ (gods you have not known) ‘and let us worship them,’ you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Deuteronomy 13:1-3
Therefore, even if a prophet’s prophecy is fulfilled, the Israelites were required to check if the prophecy was consistent with God’s word. God had explicitly commanded them in the Ten Commandments:
“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me”
Exodus 20:2-5
Therefore, when determining whether a prophet is true or false, it is crucial to verify whether their prophecy aligns with the Bible. The Apostle Paul emphasized this in the New Testament. In 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Paul warns the Corinthians:
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.”
2 Corinthians 11:3-4
Similarly, in Galatians 1:8-9, Paul says:
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”
Galatians 1:8-9
Therefore, when a preacher is delivering a sermon or a prophetic word is given, it is very important to ensure that it aligns with the Bible, just as the Bereans did when they received the gospel of Jesus (Acts 17:11).
Examination of Moral Life
The third way to Identify false prophets and false teachers is by assessing their moral lives. God is holy, and a prophet of the holy God should live a holy life and lead others towards holiness. This does not mean that a true prophet is always perfect; only Jesus is perfect. However, a true prophet is continuously growing into the image of Jesus and helping others to do the same.
God speaks about false prophets who live morally corrupt lives in Jeremiah 23:14-18:
“And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that not one of them turns from their wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
Jeremiah 23:14-18
Similarly, in Ezekiel 13:5, 10, 22, God condemns false prophets who deceive and cover up wrongdoings, encouraging evildoers instead of turning them back to God:
“You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord… Because they lead my people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash… You dishearten the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and you encourage the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives.”
Ezekiel 13:5, 10, 22
Therefore, we should not hastily accept someone’s teachings or prophecies without examining their moral life. We must see if the fruit of the Holy Spirit is evident in their life, as described in Galatians 5:22-23:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23
Additionally, 1 Corinthians 13:2 emphasizes the importance of love:
“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:2
Thus, repentance and moral integrity are crucial. The Bible clearly states that teachers and prophets who persist in public sins and live unholy lives are false prophets and false teachers. Jesus himself warns in Matthew 7:15-16:
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.”
Matthew 7:15-16
The Gift of Discerning Spirits
The fourth way to identify the false prophets and false teachers is the gift of the decerning Spirit. In our previous article on prophets and prophecy, we discussed that true Christians have differing opinions about the continuity of the prophetic ministry in the church today. Some believe that the prophetic ministry was only for the early church and does not continue today, while others believe that prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit that persists in the present church.
If one believes in the continuation of prophecy as a gift of the Holy Spirit, it is crucial to remember that the gift of discerning spirits is also a gift of the same Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:10-11 states:
“To another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”
1 Corinthians 12:10-11
Those who possess this gift of discerning spirits can identify the spirit from which a prophecy originates, thus protecting the church from false prophets and teachers. 1 Corinthians 14:29 advises that:
“Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.” This means that prophecies should not be accepted blindly but should be evaluated for their authenticity.
1 Corinthians 14:29
If the gift of prophecy exists, so does the gift of discerning spirits. If there is a prophet who prophesies by the gift of the Holy Spirit, there must also be someone with the gift of discerning spirits to evaluate the prophecy. This ensures that, as written in 1 Corinthians 14:26-33, God’s service is conducted in an orderly manner.
Is the Person of Christ Affirmed?
The fifth way to recognize false prophets and false teachers is by examining their stance on the person of Jesus Christ. As believers in Jesus Christ, we must be vigilant about any teachings that attack or distort His nature.
1 John 4:1-3 says:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”
1 John 4:1-3
Jesus Christ is fully man and fully God. This belief is fundamental to our salvation. If Jesus is not fully human, His sacrifice on the cross could not atone for our sins because the sacrifice of a perfect man was necessary for eternal redemption. Likewise, if Jesus is not fully God, our faith in Him would be in vain because only God can forgive sins.
Therefore, any prophet or teacher who attacks or denies the full humanity and full divinity of Jesus Christ is a false prophet, false teacher, and a liar. Their teachings should be rejected, as they are contrary to the core truths of Christianity.
Recognizing false prophets and teachers is essential for safeguarding one’s faith and ensuring the purity of the Christian community. We hope this article has provided valuable insights into identifying false prophets and teachers. We invite you to share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below. If you found this article helpful, please share it with others who might benefit from it. Don’t forget to explore other articles on our website for more enriching content. Your engagement helps us continue to provide meaningful and informative resources for the Christian community. Thank you for reading!
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