Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
The Anti-Christ has brought forward many false prophets, who are this very day disseminating false doctrine throughout what many of us think is the church. But we are deceived also in even thinking that the traditional church belongs to the Messiah.
Here is why Yahshua warned us against false prophets saying, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” I know what a false teacher or false prophet is, because I used to be one of them.
I have stood in a pulpit and told my congregation that they were saved by grace alone. I lied! I didn’t know it at that time, because I was just mouthing what I had been taught by other false teachers.
I taught Roman Catholic Doctrine, teaching on things that were not in the Bible, like Christmas, and Easter.
I wondered why no one ever came forward and knelt at the altar, and why it seemed as though they weren’t listening, and this scripture tells me exactly why?
“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” (Vs 16)
The truth was just not in my words. I had no idea what the truth was, yet I knew something was wrong. I did not understand the scriptures that I was teaching on, and preaching from. Yet I had had heard the voice of my Savior calling me to serve. Little did I know that there was going to be more of His voice in my ear.
“Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.” (Vs 17-20)
My ministry simply was not bearing fruit. So, I began to look for the truth. We taught in those days that the Bible was true, but I was finding too many conflicts in what doctrine said, as opposed to what Yahshua / Jesus said.
For we told people that the Law was no longer in effect, but Jesus called that Lawlessness. We preach that anyone who accepted Christ as their Savior would go to heaven, but Christ taught, “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:14)
How is that reflective of a narrow way?
We taught that once we are saved, we are forever saved, but the Apostle Paul taught, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” (Philippians 2:12)
Many things did not ring true. So, what is the fruit of this kind of teaching?
We will have entire congregations who know nothing of the way of Christ, and know nothing of the Commandments of God, not even do they know or obey the basic Ten Commandments, but they will come to Christ wreaking of Pagan traditions.
Why? Because that is what we taught them.
Did Yahshua / Jesus not say, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23)
Here is the fruit of our false teaching! Those whom we have deceived will show up at the judgment thinking they are saved when they are not. They are Lawless, and do not have the love of God. because we taught them lies, and false doctrine. “A bad tree cannot bear good fruit!”
Those who have taught them this false doctrine will be first in line to be judged, and their judgment will be harsher than those whom they lied to.
James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
Those of us who have taught from the doctrine of the Anti-Christ need to take a long look at what we have done to others, thinking that we have saved them.
2nd Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.
Here is why I am constantly preaching on the Commandments of God, and the truth verses doctrine. It is my prayer that I might be able to undo some of the harm I did as a false teacher by bringing the truth now.
I know that for many of my preacher friends, this teaching will be difficult to grasp, but if you’ll see it in the Spirit, you’ll know that I am telling you these things because of the Love my Savior has for us!
2nd Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Shalom my friends,
Chuck Greever