Introduction. From the moment the Holy Spirit warned the elders at Ephesus of the grave dangers facing the church, wise Christians have been vigilant. There are two threats mentioned. One from outside: “grievous wolves coming in among you not sparing the flock” and the second from within: “from among yourselves men will rise up.” As a preacher and an apostle, Paul had warned against this for three years. We see how important this is since he “never ceased to warn” about it.
The need to be acutely aware of these dangers did not start with Paul. Jesus also warned His disciples of these same concerns in His Sermon on the Mount. There will always be a wide gate leading to destruction that many will enter and a narrow path leading to life that a few will find. After this warning Jesus revealed the issues His genuine disciples would face. First, there would be “ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing” coming into their midst from outside. Second there would be “many” disciples who call Jesus Lord, but don’t truly want to do the will of God. (Mt. 7:13-23). Since Jesus will tell them “I never knew you … you who practice lawlessness,” they pose a severe danger.
We will know the wolves by their fruits and the false disciples by their lack of interest in doing the will of God. Since these people love the world more than God, John’s warning perfectly fits the dangers they pose. The fruits of both false prophets and false disciples are here:
- savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves ... remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. (Acts 20:29-31)
The need to be acutely aware of these dangers did not start with Paul. Jesus also warned His disciples of these same concerns in His Sermon on the Mount. There will always be a wide gate leading to destruction that many will enter and a narrow path leading to life that a few will find. After this warning Jesus revealed the issues His genuine disciples would face. First, there would be “ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing” coming into their midst from outside. Second there would be “many” disciples who call Jesus Lord, but don’t truly want to do the will of God. (Mt. 7:13-23). Since Jesus will tell them “I never knew you … you who practice lawlessness,” they pose a severe danger.
We will know the wolves by their fruits and the false disciples by their lack of interest in doing the will of God. Since these people love the world more than God, John’s warning perfectly fits the dangers they pose. The fruits of both false prophets and false disciples are here:
- Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1Jn. 2:15-17)