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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.Ivor J.W.Oakley (15-10-2000
Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Additional Reading Galatians 1:1-17
The broad way, which is crowded,
leads to destruction. The narrow way, where there are far fewer travellers,
leads to life. Being a Christian puts limitations on belief and behaviour, for
all has to be within the confines on God’s Word – unlike the broad way, on
which people can believe what they like and live as they please. To follow the
narrow way means a radical break with the old life, goodbye to sin and pleasing
and relying on self, and all forms of worldliness. This leads to unpopularity
and the criticism of men who consider the committed Christian to be
“narrow”, “rigid”, “bigoted” or “odd”. Yet it is a wonderful
way, and the noblest men have walked it, especially the Lord Jesus Christ. It is
totally satisfying, brings peace beyond understanding and joy unspeakable, the
companionship of Christ. The way ends in glory.
It is no accident that this
section ends with a warning about false prophets. The reason why many walk the
broad way and shun the narrow way is because they are influenced and taught by
false prophets. So they have missed the narrow way and ended not in life but in
destruction. False prophets claim to be teachers from God, but are teaching
error and heresy. This applies to the cults, but also to teachers of liberal
theology within mainline denominations which used to be orthodox until 150 years
ago.
The fact of false prophets is prominent in both the Old and New Testaments. They are dangerous because they are not recognised as such, and often the damage has been done by the time people face up to the problem. Although a prominent Bible theme, it is not a popular theme today. Rather than speaking of “truth and error”, we are told to acknowledge complimentary insights. We all have different insights, we have a lot to learn from one another, there is no place for bigotry and exclusiveness and thinking you are right and the other man is wrong. This is the atmosphere in the secular world, and in much of church life – thanks to ecumenical movement.
Jesus’ mention of false prophets is by no means new.
If his hearers remembered their Old Testament they would remember that there
were warnings throughout the Old Testament. Over so many generations, false
prophets arose, falsely claiming they were called and sent by God. They misled
people of God, weakened their spiritual life, led them from God and his will,
caused enormous damage and were a real factor in awful judgement on Israel and
Judah.
Deuteronomy contains warnings
about seduction by false prophets (Deuteronomy 13:1-5). For Jeremiah this was a
constant problem. The false prophets’ message was not from the Lord but from
their own imagination. They never warned the people, brought false comfort
saying “Peace, peace, all is well” (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11; 14:14; 23:9f).
Their godless, evil lives led many of God’s people astray, encouraging them in
sin and waywardness. False promises, empty comfort, failure to warn of sin and
God’s judgement and disaster led them to be called “wolves” because of the
damage done (Ezekiel 13:1; 8:1f; 22:27). Zephaniah warned of prophets who were
light and treacherous (Zephaniah 3:3).
In the New Testament the Lord
Jesus warned that false teachers would increase and be more dangerous before the
second coming. There is hardly a New Testament epistle which does not give
warning against false prophets. Paul warned of those who preach another gospel
(Galatians 1:8). The epistle to the Colossians is devoted to dealing with the
Colossian heresy (Colossians 2:8). Test the spirits to see whether they are
from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John
4:1). If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take
him into your house or welcome him (2 John 10).
Much of Church history is taken
up with the combat and fight against heretical teaching. That is why, in the
early Church, creeds were drawn up to define the truth. Confessions of Faith
were drawn up in the Reformation times, and in our age we have
Doctrinal Basis. During the Reformation, Luther and Calvin were returning
to the New Testament Gospel, in a break from the false prophets of Rome.
Similarly in the 18th Century Wesleyan Revival, Wesley was returning
to the New Testament Gospel. His strongest enemies were his fellow clergy –
they were the false prophets who had departed from New Testament Gospel, and
would not allow him in their churches. This is the situation today in many
theological colleges and university faculties of theology, but not in
evangelical bible colleges. If men do not go in as Bible believing evangelicals,
they will certainly not come out as them. Sadly it is reflected in the rejection
of traditional Christian moral standards of many religious leaders.
John Stott has had many battles to face, and in his writings the emphasis is this: Truth matters. God’s truth builds up God’s church. Error destroys it. If the church had heeded Christ’s warnings and applied his tests, it would not be in the state of theological and moral confusion in which it finds itself today.
They come in sheep’s clothing
but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. The false prophet claims to be from God
but he is far from that. Has appearance of true prophet. Does not say and do
wrong things so that he can be identified at once. Subtle and clever. No one
suspects. God’s people can be misled; they deceive even the elect
(Matthew 24:24). Find out too late how much damage has been caused. They often
use orthodox language (though put different meaning on it) and the unwary are
caught out. They will only concede that Jesus was a man with a very strong
consciousness of God, who lived very closely to God. In the Cross they see a
wonderful example of forgiving love, an inspiration to us to live a better life,
but not a place where sin is punished and God’s justice is satisfied.
John Stott says many Christians are gullible and believe anything. They are not discerning or use their critical faculties. Easily taken in by charm and learning. “He should not be so naïve as to suppose that because a man has a PhD or DD, or is a theological professor or bishop, he must be a true and orthodox ambassador of Christ. Look beneath appearance to the reality. What lives under fleece? Is it a sheep or a wolf?” His real nature will sooner or later be seen. In the end, his influence is utterly destructive of true spiritual life.
False prophets –what he has to offer from distance
looks alright, but when examine his teaching closely and test it against the
Word of God, it is of no value for spiritual life and can never sustain the
soul. Useless and harmful. He may be very nice and pleasant and kind, but
essentially he has no message of true Christian discipleship.
The false prophets are
recognised by their fruits. Much debate about whether “fruits” refers to
false prophets’ teaching or his life. Belief or behaviour? During the
Reformation, Protestants took this to mean the false teaching of the Church of
Rome. Others said it was his kind of life which was hypocritical. In fact, both
are meant. Wrong belief and wrongdoing go hand in hand. Vital connection between
what a man believes and what he does. Creed and conduct are connected. Erroneous
doctrine will finally lead to perverted, ineffective morality.
C.H.Spurgeon was involved in the “downgrade
controversy” in 1887, which eventually led him to withdraw from the Baptist
Union. He was concerned about the number of ministers who challenged the full
inspiration of Scripture, the atonement, judgement on sin, eternal punishment,
God’s righteousness and justice (though not his love!). They questioned the
need for new birth since God is the Father of all. They questioned Christ as the
God-man. Spurgeon saw that doctrinal decline meant a decline in the spiritual
life of the church, the introduction of entertainment into life of church,
attempts to unite church and stage, cards and devotions, dancing and sacraments.
So one of the marks of false
prophets is that they offer easy religion. Old Testament false prophets said
“Peace, peace” where there was no peace. Assured people all was well in the
church when it was not well. If people were in no danger, there was no need for
radical treatment; if there was no sin, there was no urgent need for repentance
and new birth. They blurred salvation and the necessity for it. Concerned not to
be faithful to God, but to be popular. So not going to upset people.
The false teacher does not
necessarily openly deny things, but passes over them in silence. Note that what
the preacher does not say is as significant as what he does say. I recall
a minister who did not believe in the second coming. Although he would argue his
point in private, he would not tell his congregation publicly, he just avoided
the subject completely. Therefore those only knowing his ministry grew up in
total ignorance of the second coming. This demonstrates the great advantage of
systematic exposition. Cannot avoid these subjects. But can easily do so when
choose text from here and there randomly.
Likewise in the presentation of
Christian living, all are comforting and easy and flattering. No emphasis on
holiness, self-denial, repentance, cross to be borne, the demands of full
consecration. No narrow way, for all roads lead to God. No preaching which will
probe the heart and conscience, and challenge and disturb. Never humble men’s
pride. Leaves ego and human pride unscathed. Often deals with trifles.
I have heard of a sermon on the
Road to Emmaus in which the main point made was the advantages of a walk in the
countryside. I have heard of the experience of one preacher who was asked by the
elders why he kept speaking from the Bible, why not talk on roses? One of my
students in Glasgow recalled the first time he visited a church before his
conversion, where the topic of the sermon was “Keep Oban tidy”.
Motive behind false prophets is self-interest. Concerned with position, standing, prestige, and self-importance. Not concerned with the flock or the truth, but himself. Ministry is way of making a living and seen as a “job”. Friendly and affable but not saintly. No aura about him that suggests he is a man of God. Popular, not least with non-Christians. No calling by God – how can he because he does not know God. So no interest in God, his word and glory.
Reformers, especially Luther and Calvin, emphasized
there is a yardstick by which all may be assessed. If Jesus can speak of true
and false prophets, it assumes there is an objective standard to which man’s
ministry can be brought, and which will reveal if man is true or false. Martin
Luther said “Cling to the pure word of God for then you will be able to
recognise what is right.” John Calvin said “All doctrines must be brought to
the word of God for in judging false prophets the rule of faith, i.e. Scripture,
holds the chief place.”
J.C.Ryle said “The best
safeguard against the false prophet is regular study of the word of God, with
prayer for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is a lamp to the feet
and a light to the path. It is the neglect of the Bible which makes many a prey
to false teachers. They hide under the excuse that they are not learned. But the
plain truth is that they are lazy and idle about reading the Bible and do not
like the trouble of thinking for themselves”.
Some would say that the problem
is we cannot know the entire Bible, and even Christians differ about
interpretation. This is where the value of doctrinal basis is concerned.
Emphasizes great basic truths which are at the heart of the Gospel: the Trinity;
Christ as God and man; his substitutionary death; saved by grace alone; new
birth; Second coming; Heaven and hell. Christians may differ about spiritual
gifts, church government, election and free will, and details about the future.
But these matters are secondary. It is the great Gospel truths which are at the
heart of salvation that we must not treat as negotiable. In the midst of the
ecumenical movement, this is a helpful statement why evangelical churches cannot
cooperate with other churches if they question Scripture, eternal punishment,
Christ’s deity and atonement, the virgin birth, miracles and resurrection.
True prophet will be without
pomp, self-importance, he will not treat lightly and jovially the great truths
of faith. No self-confidence and self- assertion. He will be clothed with
humility. Be concerned with God, his truth, and right relationship with him.
John Stott suggests four tests to help identify false prophets: check their message, their conduct, their motive and the effect of their teaching. Truth matters and builds up the church. Error leads to disaster in individuals and the church. Be on guard. Do not be naïve. Test the spirits. Test everything. Hold on to the good (1 Thess. 5:21).
