Can you be saved and still follow a false teacher?
Question
Can you be saved and still follow a false teacher?
Answer
Excellent question. The short answer is “yes.” When one is initially saved they know very little of the truth. All they are normally familiar with is the elementary truths of salvation — and even these they can not fully explain, but have only joyfully experienced. However, salvation is not dependent on how much you know (i.e. Gnosticism), but rather whom you know – a relationship with Christ (in which one learns).
Notice Paul’s warning to the Church of Corinth. Notice he speaks to “the church” which contains both the lost and the saved:
2 Corinthians 11:1 I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles." I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.The Bible specifically teaches us that as “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 Pet. 2:1). Thus, it is possible for Christians to follow false teachers at times and so John warns us “… do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). Their deception is so well disguised that they may appear to come close to taking the elect with them to their destruction, but of course this is not possible (Mark 13:22).
Though the elect will never fully and completely fall away from Christ, they may be deceived for periods of time. They may be deceived pertaining to certain doctrines, while in others they are orthodox (there is a lot to learn – it never ceases, praise God!!!). Thus, it is imperative for the Christian to: (1) study the Scripture for themselves (2 Tim. 2:15; Rom. 12:1-2, which includes familiarity with theology, history, etc.), (2) submit themselves to others who know (and live) the truth (Eph. 4:11-16), (3) but continue to examine even what they say (and do) (1 John 4:1), and (4) confront them when there appears to be discontinuity in word and deed (Matt. 18:15f). If a saint determines a teacher to be false though he is responsible to take appropriate actions (i.e. not follow their shameful ways, 2 Pet. 2:2, etc.).
This brings us to our pastor. Since we are to “obey [our] leaders and submit to their authority [as] they keep watch over [us] as men who must give an account, [we must] obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to [us]” (Heb. 13:17), seeking a church with true biblical leadership and teaching is imperative. The pastor should be trained in the Word and its interpretation. Though he will not be perfect in all that he says or does (you will NEVER find this in this world), he will be loyal to the Gospel. In addition, this is where denominations are important as they indicate a particular doctrinal direction in the teaching of the church. However, not only are denominations important, but how the “individual” church itself practices what it believes is also very significant (i.e. Though I presently attend a PCA church, I personally would not attend every PCA church for assorted reasons (i.e. opinions on NPP, FV, differences in worship styles, etc.). Though each true church is a part of the greater church, each is also individualized). Thus, one must pray and be diligent in following Christ in this most crucial of decisions.
Answer by: Joseph R. Nally, Theological Editor, on behalf of the staff at IIIM. The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily the “official position” of Third Millennial Ministries.
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