False Christs, False Prophets and False Teachers

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“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)

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1. This is certain, rather than merely possible

When Jesus speaks about the last things on the Mount of Olives, his first repeated warning concerns deception, before wars, earthquakes or famines:

“Be careful that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.” (Matthew 24:4–5)

“Many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray.” (Matthew 24:11)

“For false christs and false prophets will arise, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.” (Matthew 24:24)

Paul leaves the Ephesian elders the same warning:

“For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” (Acts 20:29–30)

False teachers are a problem within the church as well as outside it; they often arise from within. Every believer therefore needs to learn discernment.

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2. Their characteristics

False christs, false prophets and false teachers take different forms, but they usually share certain characteristics.

1. Departing from Christ's gospel

This is the central test. First John provides a clear touchstone:

“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit who doesn't confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.” (1 John 4:2–3)

Paul speaks still more severely:

“But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any ‘good news’ other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.” (Galatians 1:8)

Anyone whose “gospel” differs from the one revealed in Scripture is a false teacher, however famous or charismatic they may be, even if they claim an angel appeared to them.

Common departures include: denying Christ's deity, denying his substitutionary atonement on the cross, denying bodily resurrection, adding conditions for salvation beyond the gospel (“faith in Jesus plus these deeds is what saves you”), or removing the gospel's demands (“believing is enough; repentance and a changed life are unnecessary”).

2. Exalting themselves above Christ

False teachers often elevate their own authority to unreasonable heights: “You can know God only through me”; “My words are equal to God's words”; “You must not question me.”

True teachers direct people to Christ; false teachers direct people to themselves. John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). This is the posture of a true servant. If a teacher's ministry grows, their name becomes more prominent, and Christ becomes increasingly blurred within it, that is a danger signal.

3. Telling people what they want to hear

“For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts, and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3–4)

False teachers often speak of what people enjoy hearing: success, blessings, how special you are, and how God will not trouble himself over those “little things”. They avoid what people dislike hearing: sin, repentance, self-denial and the cross. Their packaged “gospel” is sweet, but they have removed the bitter medicine.

4. Bearing the wrong fruit

Jesus gives a simple and powerful means of discernment:

“By their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:16)

Look at their character: humble or arrogant? Their attitude to money: generous or greedy? Their treatment of vulnerable people: protective or exploitative? Their private life: does it agree with what they say on the platform?

Second Peter identifies several common fruits of false teachers: greed, using fabricated stories to profit; sexual immorality, indulging lust; and pride, despising authority (2 Peter 2:1–3, 10–14).

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3. Practical questions for discernment

When you encounter a new teacher, a new “spiritual” book or a new church movement, ask yourself:

1. How do they speak of Christ? Is Christ central or a supporting character? Are the cross and resurrection essential or optional?
2. How do they treat Scripture? Do they explain the text faithfully, or lift it out of context to serve their opinions?
3. How do they understand their own authority? Do they welcome questions or forbid them? Do they direct people towards Christ or themselves?
4. What fruit does their life bear? Can their character, marriage, finances and relationships withstand scrutiny?
5. Is this consistent with the faith the church has held together for two thousand years? Be especially careful when someone claims to have discovered “truth no one has seen for two thousand years”. If it concerns who Christ is or how people are saved, test it against Scripture and the central faith confessed by the historic church.

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4. How can you protect yourself?

First, read Scripture carefully yourself. Recognising counterfeit money depends on familiarity with the genuine article: knowing how the paper should feel and where the watermark belongs makes anomalies stand out. The more familiar you are with biblical truth, the more readily you can recognise false teaching.

Second, commit to a healthy church. A lone sheep is easiest for a wolf to carry away. A community with faithful pastors and mutual care greatly reduces the risk of being deceived by false teaching.

Third, do not be led by feelings. False teachers are often skilful at stirring emotions. They excite you, move you and make you think, “That's exactly right!” But Scripture, rather than feeling, is the standard of truth. Teaching that feels wonderful while departing from Scripture is more dangerous than teaching that makes you uncomfortable while remaining faithful to Scripture.

Fourth, remain humble without abandoning discernment. “Do not judge” does not mean “do not distinguish right from wrong”. Jesus himself tells us to beware of false prophets, which requires judgement. You can respect someone while testing whether their teaching agrees with Scripture.

Jude's exhortation offers a beautiful conclusion:

“But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love … contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 20–21, 3)

Faith “once for all delivered” means that every age does not need a new, upgraded gospel. The faith given once in Christ is sufficient. Your task is to preserve the true gospel, rather than invent a new one.

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Conclusion

Dear brothers and sisters, the existence of false christs, false prophets and false teachers is explicitly foretold in Scripture. It is certain, rather than merely possible. In this age of information overload, every kind of “spiritual teaching” is within reach, making wise discernment all the more necessary.

The key is familiarity with truth, rather than suspicion. The more you know the true Christ, the true gospel and the true Scriptures, the less room falsehood has to hide.

Let us pray together:

Lord, give me wisdom to discern. Help me test all teaching by your word instead of being led by appearances, eloquence or emotion. Protect your church from false teachers. Help me remain faithful to your word, turning neither to the right nor to the left, and contending earnestly for the faith once for all delivered. In the name of the Lord Jesus, amen.

📖 Church and the Last Things · A six-part series

1. Believers Who Have Died and Believers Still Living When the Lord Returns
2. Different Views of the Last Things
3. The Church: God's Household
4. The Church: Christ's Body
5. The Church's Mission
6. False Christs, False Prophets and False Teachers (this article)

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Further reading: Study Guide: Discerning Heresy and Standing Firm in the True Faith

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