by Jared Hardin

November 8, 2023

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.”

- 2 Peter 2:1

Last Sunday, I preached from 2 Peter 2 on the danger of false teachers who smuggle heresies into the church. I will continue that topic from that same chapter this coming Sunday. This concern for false teachers is all over the Bible. Jesus talks about it. So does John, Paul, and Peter. This means it’s something we need to discuss as well. It can be easier and seem “nicer” to ignore false teachers and give them the benefit of the doubt. But there is great danger in doing this. The Apostles did not ignore them, nor should the church and its leaders (Rom. 16:17, Eph. 5:11, 2 Jn 1:10).

For the church’s benefit, and whoever else may read this article, I’ve listed five of the most common false teachings people fall into today. There are certainly more than this, but these seem to be the most widespread.

1. Prosperity Theology

Perhaps the most pervasive and dangerous teaching in American churches today is prosperity theology. This movement teaches that God wants every person to be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous in this life. Christians simply need to have enough faith to “claim” these blessings.

Watch out for anyone who tells you that you can live “your best life now.” Watch out for anyone who tells you that you will be healed from any sickness or disease if you just have enough faith. That is not the teaching of the Bible. Paul was struck with some sort of ongoing “thorn” in his flesh, and the Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (1 Cor. 12:9). Job was a righteous man, and yet he suffered great tragedy, and loss of his health and wealth.

Dangerous prosperity preachers to avoid include individuals like Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, Paula White, John Hagee, TD Jakes, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, and many others.

2. Arianism

Arianism (named after a man named Arius who died in AD 336) is the teaching that Jesus the Son does not share divine equality with God the Father. In other words, in this view, the Son possesses divine power, but he is a created being like the angels.

From the beginning of the church, this belief has rightly been condemned as heresy. Unfortunately, many American evangelicals have not been properly instructed in what the Bible teaches on this subject. According to the State of Theology survey conducted by Ligonier Ministries, 44% of self-described evangelicals agree with the statement: “Jesus was a great teacher, but he was not God.” Even worse, 61% of self-described evangelicals agree with the statement: “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.”[1]

Let’s be clear: the Bible teaches that Jesus is one with the Father (Jn. 10:30) and that Jesus is himself God (Jn. 1:1). Jesus shares “equality with God” (Phil. 2:6) and “God was pleased to have all his fulness dwell in him” (Col. 1:19).

Today, movements like Mormonism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the eternal divinity of the Son and his equality with the Father. They are dangerous heresies to be avoided.

3. Pelagianism

Named after a man (Pelagius) who lived more than 1500 years ago, Pelagianism teaches that human beings are born innocent and are capable in their own strength of living moral lives. In other words, Pelagianism denies original sin.

Once again, so-called evangelicals are misinformed. 66% agree that “Everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God.”[2]

The Bible, on the other hand, teaches that all human beings are descendants of Adam and are therefore guilty before God, and naturally inclined toward sin (Rom. 5:12, 18). This means that human beings have no hope of salvation or pleasing God apart from God’s grace (Eph. 2:8-9).

4. Universalism

Universalism teaches that every single human being will eventually be saved. There are various forms of this. Some teach that hell is only temporary. Others teach that there is no such thing as hell at all. Many universalists today believe that Jesus is not the only way of salvation and that everyone finds their own path to God.

This is not true. Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6). Furthermore, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

As our church’s statement of faith says, “There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.”

5. Legalism and Antinomianism

These are two opposing heresies that are two sides of the same coin. Both of them misunderstand the Law of God.

Legalism says that one achieves status as a child of God through rule-keeping. Paul condemned this heresy strongly in Galatians 1. You do not earn your salvation by acting a certain way or performing certain rituals. We are justified before God by faith alone.

Antinomianism is the other side of the coin. The term literally means “anti-law.” Antinomians teach that since we are saved by grace through faith, we can enjoy moral freedom without consequences. This moral free-for-all is just as dangerous as legalism, and the Bible warns against it (Rom. 6:1-2, 2 Peter 2:18-19).

Conclusion

Christians have a responsibility to know the Bible and avoid false teaching. Keep an eye out for these five errors as you make your way through the world. But don’t be discouraged! God has given us his Scriptures and his Church to help lead us to truth. The Bible is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (1 Tim. 3:16). And the true Church possesses the “faith once for all delivered to the saints” and is the “pillar and buttress of truth” (Jude 3, 1 Tim. 3:15).