Yes—awareness is essential because false teachers have been infiltrating the church since the first century, and Scripture repeatedly commands believers to be on guard.
Jude, Peter, John, Paul, and Jesus all warn about false teachers who creep in unawares and deceive believers. Les Feldick teaches that false teaching is part of the end-times scenario and that believers must test everything by the Word of God rather than by human opinion.
Jude 3-4 — Jude directly explains why believers must earnestly contend for the faith—because ungodly false teachers have crept in and are turning grace into lasciviousness and denying the Lord.
1 John 4:1 — This verse commands believers to try the spirits because many false prophets have gone out into the world—the key biblical basis for discernment.
2 Corinthians 11:4 — Paul warns that false teachers can preach another Jesus, another spirit, or another gospel, which is exactly why awareness is essential.
Scripture is emphatic that false teachers will infiltrate the church. Galatians 2:4 tells of 'false brethren unawares brought in' who tried to spy out the liberty believers have in Christ and bring them into bondage. In his one-chapter letter, Jude writes that certain men have 'crept in unawares'—'ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ' (Jude 4). He therefore urges believers to 'earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints' (Jude 3). John reinforces this: 'Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world' (1 John 4:1). Paul also warns of those who preach 'another Jesus,' receive 'another spirit,' or accept 'another gospel' (2 Corinthians 11:4). Jesus Himself made deception the first thing to watch for when asked about the end of the age: 'Take heed that no man deceive you' (Matthew 24:4). And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold (Matthew 24:12). Daniel 12:10 adds that the wicked shall do wickedly, none of them shall understand, but the wise shall understand. The second chapter of 2 Peter is also devoted to warning about false teachers.
Les Feldick teaches that false teachers are nothing new—they were present even in the first-century church. In Galatians 2, false brethren were 'brought in unawares' to the Jerusalem council, and the writers of Scripture were already aware of this (Clip 0). Les points to Jude and 2 Peter as warnings that these teachers 'come into a local church' so deceptively that the average church member does not know what they are doing (Clips 1, 4). He emphasizes that false teachers 'turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness' and deny the only Lord God (Clip 1). Les stresses that false teaching has opposed Christianity from day one and will have a heyday during tribulation, while believers are the only deterrent to wickedness (Clip 3). When the disciples asked the Lord about His coming, His first word was 'Do not be deceived,' making false teaching 'part and parcel of the end times scenario' (Clip 5). Most importantly, Les tells believers that God has given every believer 'the wherewithal' to discern spirits—but only by lining teaching up with the Word of God. 'You don't go by what some preacher says... you don't go by what I say... you line it up with the Word of God' (Clip 2). He warns that Satan wants to neutralize the Body of Christ so that it says nothing; if good men do nothing, bad things happen, and Satan has full sway (Clip 6). Since Paul took time in roughly A.D. 55 to teach new converts about the end of the church age, believers today must also know what Scripture teaches and what to look for (Clip 7).
They are brought in unawares. In Galatians 2, Paul describes 'false brethren unawares brought in' who came in privily to spy out liberty (Clip 0). Jude says they have 'crept in unawares' (Clip 1). Les Feldick observes that influential leaders are often involved, because these people 'were brought in' to the Jerusalem council to oppose Paul and Barnabas (Clip 0). They are so deceptive, Les says, that the average church member does not realize what is happening (Clip 1).
Jude describes them as 'ungodly men' who 'turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness' and deny 'the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ' (Jude 4). Paul says they preach 'another Jesus,' bring another spirit, and offer another gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4). Les adds that they 'speak evil of those things they know not,' just as Jude 10 says (Clip 1). They come in every hue and color, leaving church members confused about what is right and wrong (Clip 4).
The Holy Spirit inspired John to say, 'Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God' (1 John 4:1). Les Feldick explains that every believer has the wherewithal to discern spirits, but only by lining teaching up with the Word of God. 'That's your only criteria,' he says—not what a preacher, seminary, or Les himself says (Clip 2).
When the disciples asked Jesus about the sign of His coming, His first answer was 'Do not be deceived' (Matthew 24:4). Les says deception and false teaching are 'part and parcel of the end times scenario' (Clip 5). During tribulation, false teachers will have a heyday while believers are the only deterrent to wickedness (Clip 3). The wise, Daniel says, will understand—so believers need to know what Scripture teaches (Clip 7).
False Brethren Brought In Unawares
Les shows from Galatians 2 that false teachers were present even in the first-century church—brought into the Jerusalem council to oppose Paul and Barnabas—proving this is nothing new.
Jude's Warning Against Ungodly Teachers
Les reads Jude's description of false teachers who 'crept in unawares,' turn grace into lasciviousness, deny the Lord, and speak evil of what they do not know—so believers should recognize them.
Test Everything by the Word of God
Les teaches that every believer can discern false spirits, but only by lining every message up with the Word of God rather than trusting preachers or seminaries.
False Teachers in the End Times
Les explains that false teaching has opposed Christianity from day one and will have a heyday during tribulation, while believers are the only deterrent to wickedness.
2 Peter 2 and the Last Days
Les says 2 Peter 2 and Jude warn that false teachers are coming in the last days, and we are seeing them today from every direction—leaving average church members confused.
First Sign: Do Not Be Deceived
Les points out that when the disciples asked about the end of the age, Jesus' first warning was 'Do not be deceived,' making deception a key marker of the last days.
Another Jesus, Another Spirit, Another Gospel
Les warns from 2 Corinthians 11 that false teachers can present another Jesus, spirit, or gospel, and that Satan works to neutralize the church so it stays silent.
Understand the Times
Les says if Paul taught first-century converts about the end of the church age, believers today must know the Scriptures and what to look for, because the wise shall understand (Daniel 12:10).
Galatians 2:4: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
Shows false teachers were already infiltrating the apostolic church to rob believers of their liberty in Christ.
Jude 3: Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jude's command to earnestly contend for the faith is the direct biblical response to the presence of false teachers.
Jude 4: For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the central verse describing false teachers' character and their deceptive method of creeping in unawares.
Jude 10: But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
Confirms that false teachers speak evil of things they don't understand, showing their ignorance and danger.
1 John 4:1: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Gives believers the command and rationale for testing every teaching against God's Word.
Matthew 24:4: And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Jesus' first response to the disciples' question about the end of the age is a warning against deception.
Matthew 24:12: And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Shows how growing iniquity in the last days affects believers and why deception thrives.
2 Corinthians 11:4: For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Paul warns of counterfeit Jesuses, spirits, and gospels—an explicit reason for spiritual discernment.
Daniel 12:10: Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Daniel's prophecy shows that in the last days the wise understand while the wicked do not, underscoring why believers must know the Word.
Because they are ungodly men who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness and deny the only Lord God (Jude 4). Les Feldick explains they are brought in or creep in unawares, and they are so deceptive that average church members often don't know what they are doing (Clips 0, 1).
Look for those who turn grace into license, deny the Lord, preach another Jesus, or offer another gospel. The Bible says to 'try the spirits' (1 John 4:1), and Les says the only criteria is to line everything up with the Word of God (Clip 2).
Yes. Jesus' first warning about the end of the age was 'Take heed that no man deceive you' (Matthew 24:4). Les says false teaching is part and parcel of the end times scenario and will increase as iniquity abounds (Clips 3, 5).
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Grace vs. Law — Galatians Chapter 2