Since the "Protest"-ant Reformation, which was really nothing more than a power grab of Church property, launched under the false guise of fighting heresy, with the destruction of the Church authority to determine what is right or wrong teaching, a whole host of heresies sprang forth which became acceptable and out in the open.
While heresies had always existed since the time of the Early Church, such heresies were severely dealt with, and rightfully so. Post-Reformation, heresies were not only sprang forth, but were legitimised. This was because the mother of all heresies, that everyone can interpret the Scripture in accordance to his own personal interpretation, was not just accepted, but instituted in what now became of the Church. It was instituted as a result of the destruction of Church authority to determine what is right or wrong teaching. So now, instead of the Church determining what is right or wrong teaching, as per Scripture (James 3:1; Ephesians 4:11-15), each individual could now do so based on his own "private interpretation", in violation of 2 Peter 1:20-21:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
What gives you, the individual, the right to determine what Scripture means? What gives you, the individual, the right to determine whether a particular interpretation of Scripture is right or wrong? Are you the Holy Spirit? Are you His messenger? Are you God Himself or His representative?
Unless God has truly given you real spiritual revelation of what a particular verse, passage, chapter of book of Scripture means, you have no authority or right to claim that your interpretation is true. If you claim that you have such authority or right, despite not being given real spiritual revelation from God, you are a heretic. For you violate the Word of God, in imposing your own "private interpretation" of Scripture in violation of 2 Peter 2:20-21. You have no right at all to speak about what Scripture means or does not mean, let alone teach Scripture to you. Your words about the meaning of Scripture are poison to the soul and God despises them. Shut your mouth about Scripture before you damn yourself to Hell by your heresies!
Ephesians 4:11 sets up the five offices, that of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. The 'He' refers to God, not man. It is God who ordains people to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, not man. It follows therefore that anyone who is ordained by man to be of any one of these offices, he is not only a heretic, but a blasphemer, for he calls God a liar in violating what is clearly the authority of God and God alone to ordain people to all five of these offices.
In the Old Testament, false prophets were to be put to death, for precisely this reason: that they seduced people away from worshipping God, making themselves God, hence blaspheming God (Deuteronomy 13:1-11). They did so by introducing heresies, that is, false teaching that led people away from God. Likewise, the New Testament also speaks of false teachers very severely (2 Peter 2: Jude). As Scripture says in 2 Peter 2:1-22:
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
The descriptions in 2 Peter 2:1-22 and also Jude 1:1-25 do not only serve as descriptions of the character and conduct of false teachers. They also serve as criteria to determining whether any particular teaching is false so that one may discern whether a teaching is true or false, and hence whether a teacher of the Word is true or false, for you shall know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16). The key test as to whether a teacher is a true or false one, is that of his teaching. For just as good trees bear good fruit and cannot bear bad fruit, and bad trees cannot bear good fruit, but only bad fruit, the legitimacy of a teacher is evident in his teachings. For as Scripture says:
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.'
(Matthew 7:15-20)
Indeed, where the teachings of a person are not right, it is wrong, not just in letter, but also in spirit, as there is no middle ground, and he is therefore a false teacher. Such a person's teaching are not inspired by God, but by his own flesh and his own lusts (2 Peter 2:10; 1 Jude 16). In teaching Scripture, he is exercising illegitimate authority, making him a blasphemer in the eyes of God, since he is not ordained by God, and his doctrine heresy. Although his doctrine may be true in accordance to the letter of the Word, it is borne out of the wrong manner of spirit, rendering it to be false doctrine altogether. Such makes it evil doctrine, being full of spiritual error, and also giving birth to more error. For error only leads to more error.
For what makes a doctrine true is not just in letter alone, but in spirit Where a doctrine has the wrong spirit behind it, despite being in accordance to the letter of the Word, it is false doctrine, because it is inspired by deceiving spirits that are not of God. That alone makes it false doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1-4). This explains why there is so much confusion in the Church over doctrine. Despite many different 'denominations' (or more properly speaking, sects) affirming the same doctrine in accordance to the letter, there is a different spirit behind these each of these sects in relation to the same doctrine.
A person who teaches is either ordained by God or not ordained by God. As long as he is not ordained by God, he is a false teacher, by virtue of not being ordained by God. Such a person will inevitably teach false doctrine, whether in letter, spirit or both in letter and spirit, because he does not have the anointing of God to teach. Flee such people!
Teaching Scripture is itself an exercise in authority as evident from James 3:1 which says "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment." This verse does not simply that people must be careful about what they teach because they will receive a greater judgment. Its meaning is far deeper than that. It is saying that because those who are teachers receive a greater judgment, they must be careful. They receive much greater judgment because they are entrusted with the God-given authority to teach, in such a way that means Heaven or Hell, life or death for those who are under their authority.
Since people under their authority are bound to their teaching, that is why they receive a much greater judgment, because God entrusts the Salvation of people under their authority in their hands by means of their teaching, not that people are saved by works, but that Salvation is a process, and to make it to the end, one must always remain on the right path. To remain on the right path after having received the gift of Salvation, one must be sitting under the right teaching, to which one is bound.
Teachers have immense power and authority to lead people on the right or wrong path, determining their ultimate destiny of Heaven or Hell, by virtue of the authority they have to determine whether those under them are holding onto the right or wrong doctrine, and to command them to believe in the right doctrines, and to reject the wrong doctrines. That explains James 3:1 in light of Ephesians 4:11.
It is clear from Scriptures that only those ordained by God have the authority to teach others Scripture, and that those who do not have such authority, but yet teach Scripture, are false teachers. Such people are heretics and blasphemers. False teachers can be discerned by their fruit, that is, their teaching. What makes a teaching true or false is not just whether it is in accordance with the letter of the Word, as many people think, but also whether it is of the right manner of spirit. For spiritual doctrines is not about what is being purported to be the truth, but the manner of spirit behind why the doctrine is being preached.
Owing to the rejection of the God-ordained authority of teachers within Church the truth, Church authority on what is right or wrong teaching has been destroyed, which has given all individuals legitimacy to claim that their own private interpretation of Scripture is right, and that anyone who does not agree with them, no matter how right, is wrong. This is extremely dangerous and has damned many souls to Hell.
It has led to nothing but a whole host of heresies, and absolute spiritual confusion, owing to the inability to definitively resolve what is the true interpretation of Scripture, precisely because everyone has become his own pope. It has also turned Christianity into an individual rather than collective faith, because everyone is his own authority, and he need not submit to any pastor, priest, prophet, or pope. Yet, all these heresies have been justified by the idea of "religious freedom", which is the secular version of the heresy that everyone can interpret Scripture for himself by his own private interpretation.
While heresies had always existed since the time of the Early Church, such heresies were severely dealt with, and rightfully so. Post-Reformation, heresies were not only sprang forth, but were legitimised. This was because the mother of all heresies, that everyone can interpret the Scripture in accordance to his own personal interpretation, was not just accepted, but instituted in what now became of the Church. It was instituted as a result of the destruction of Church authority to determine what is right or wrong teaching. So now, instead of the Church determining what is right or wrong teaching, as per Scripture (James 3:1; Ephesians 4:11-15), each individual could now do so based on his own "private interpretation", in violation of 2 Peter 1:20-21:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
What gives you, the individual, the right to determine what Scripture means? What gives you, the individual, the right to determine whether a particular interpretation of Scripture is right or wrong? Are you the Holy Spirit? Are you His messenger? Are you God Himself or His representative?
Unless God has truly given you real spiritual revelation of what a particular verse, passage, chapter of book of Scripture means, you have no authority or right to claim that your interpretation is true. If you claim that you have such authority or right, despite not being given real spiritual revelation from God, you are a heretic. For you violate the Word of God, in imposing your own "private interpretation" of Scripture in violation of 2 Peter 2:20-21. You have no right at all to speak about what Scripture means or does not mean, let alone teach Scripture to you. Your words about the meaning of Scripture are poison to the soul and God despises them. Shut your mouth about Scripture before you damn yourself to Hell by your heresies!
Ephesians 4:11 sets up the five offices, that of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. The 'He' refers to God, not man. It is God who ordains people to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, not man. It follows therefore that anyone who is ordained by man to be of any one of these offices, he is not only a heretic, but a blasphemer, for he calls God a liar in violating what is clearly the authority of God and God alone to ordain people to all five of these offices.
In the Old Testament, false prophets were to be put to death, for precisely this reason: that they seduced people away from worshipping God, making themselves God, hence blaspheming God (Deuteronomy 13:1-11). They did so by introducing heresies, that is, false teaching that led people away from God. Likewise, the New Testament also speaks of false teachers very severely (2 Peter 2: Jude). As Scripture says in 2 Peter 2:1-22:
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
The descriptions in 2 Peter 2:1-22 and also Jude 1:1-25 do not only serve as descriptions of the character and conduct of false teachers. They also serve as criteria to determining whether any particular teaching is false so that one may discern whether a teaching is true or false, and hence whether a teacher of the Word is true or false, for you shall know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16). The key test as to whether a teacher is a true or false one, is that of his teaching. For just as good trees bear good fruit and cannot bear bad fruit, and bad trees cannot bear good fruit, but only bad fruit, the legitimacy of a teacher is evident in his teachings. For as Scripture says:
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.'
(Matthew 7:15-20)
Indeed, where the teachings of a person are not right, it is wrong, not just in letter, but also in spirit, as there is no middle ground, and he is therefore a false teacher. Such a person's teaching are not inspired by God, but by his own flesh and his own lusts (2 Peter 2:10; 1 Jude 16). In teaching Scripture, he is exercising illegitimate authority, making him a blasphemer in the eyes of God, since he is not ordained by God, and his doctrine heresy. Although his doctrine may be true in accordance to the letter of the Word, it is borne out of the wrong manner of spirit, rendering it to be false doctrine altogether. Such makes it evil doctrine, being full of spiritual error, and also giving birth to more error. For error only leads to more error.
For what makes a doctrine true is not just in letter alone, but in spirit Where a doctrine has the wrong spirit behind it, despite being in accordance to the letter of the Word, it is false doctrine, because it is inspired by deceiving spirits that are not of God. That alone makes it false doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1-4). This explains why there is so much confusion in the Church over doctrine. Despite many different 'denominations' (or more properly speaking, sects) affirming the same doctrine in accordance to the letter, there is a different spirit behind these each of these sects in relation to the same doctrine.
A person who teaches is either ordained by God or not ordained by God. As long as he is not ordained by God, he is a false teacher, by virtue of not being ordained by God. Such a person will inevitably teach false doctrine, whether in letter, spirit or both in letter and spirit, because he does not have the anointing of God to teach. Flee such people!
Teaching Scripture is itself an exercise in authority as evident from James 3:1 which says "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment." This verse does not simply that people must be careful about what they teach because they will receive a greater judgment. Its meaning is far deeper than that. It is saying that because those who are teachers receive a greater judgment, they must be careful. They receive much greater judgment because they are entrusted with the God-given authority to teach, in such a way that means Heaven or Hell, life or death for those who are under their authority.
Since people under their authority are bound to their teaching, that is why they receive a much greater judgment, because God entrusts the Salvation of people under their authority in their hands by means of their teaching, not that people are saved by works, but that Salvation is a process, and to make it to the end, one must always remain on the right path. To remain on the right path after having received the gift of Salvation, one must be sitting under the right teaching, to which one is bound.
Teachers have immense power and authority to lead people on the right or wrong path, determining their ultimate destiny of Heaven or Hell, by virtue of the authority they have to determine whether those under them are holding onto the right or wrong doctrine, and to command them to believe in the right doctrines, and to reject the wrong doctrines. That explains James 3:1 in light of Ephesians 4:11.
It is clear from Scriptures that only those ordained by God have the authority to teach others Scripture, and that those who do not have such authority, but yet teach Scripture, are false teachers. Such people are heretics and blasphemers. False teachers can be discerned by their fruit, that is, their teaching. What makes a teaching true or false is not just whether it is in accordance with the letter of the Word, as many people think, but also whether it is of the right manner of spirit. For spiritual doctrines is not about what is being purported to be the truth, but the manner of spirit behind why the doctrine is being preached.
Owing to the rejection of the God-ordained authority of teachers within Church the truth, Church authority on what is right or wrong teaching has been destroyed, which has given all individuals legitimacy to claim that their own private interpretation of Scripture is right, and that anyone who does not agree with them, no matter how right, is wrong. This is extremely dangerous and has damned many souls to Hell.
It has led to nothing but a whole host of heresies, and absolute spiritual confusion, owing to the inability to definitively resolve what is the true interpretation of Scripture, precisely because everyone has become his own pope. It has also turned Christianity into an individual rather than collective faith, because everyone is his own authority, and he need not submit to any pastor, priest, prophet, or pope. Yet, all these heresies have been justified by the idea of "religious freedom", which is the secular version of the heresy that everyone can interpret Scripture for himself by his own private interpretation.
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