The Danger Of False Teachers 8-29-26 AM

I.            The doctrine of false teachers (2 Pe. 2:1-2).

a.     Peter describes their teaching as “damnable heresies” or “destructive heresies” depending on your translation.

         i.      The word for heresies carries the idea of a choice, a party, or a teaching that creates division.

         ii.      Peter is concerned with doctrines that lead people away from the truth.

b.    Notice the inspired adjective – destructive.

         i.      This is not disagreement over something insignificant.

         ii.      It is about teaching that destroys spiritually.

c.     Peter then says that some even deny the Lord who bought them.

         i.      Whatever form their denial took, Peter is saying their teaching and their lives amount to a rejection of the authority of Jesus.

         ii.      It is a rejection of the Lord who purchased them, which He did so by means of His blood (Acts 20:28).

         iii.      These weren’t people outside of Christianity criticizing it.

         iv.      Peter warns of people who had been saved by Jesus but were turning from the Master who bought them.

d.     Sadly, many are going to follow their false teaching.

          i.      One version says, “…their sensuality.”

          ii.      Another version says, “…their lascivious doings.

e.      What this indicates is that their teachings were leading people from holiness.

          i.      It was some type of teaching that appeals to the flesh.

          ii.      Later in the chapter, Peter describes their lust, greed, and corruption.

          iii.      Their doctrine was giving people permission to live contrary to moral life Jesus calls His people to live.

f.       Notice the result – the way of truth will be blasphemed, or evil spoken of.

          i.      Their sin does not just hurt them.

          ii.      Outsiders, those in the world, will speak evil of the way of Christ because of them.

g.     We all should be aware that this happens even today.

          i.      When people claim to follow Jesus but live in open rebellion to Jesus, the world notices.

          ii.      We can’t tell people that Christ delivers from sin while we deliberately choose to live in sin.

          iii.      We can’t call others to holiness while defending our own ungodliness.

h.     We should never evaluate doctrine based on whether or not it makes us comfortable.

i.       A message isn’t true because:

          i.      I like it.

          ii.      It agrees with what I already think.

          iii.      A popular preacher says it.

          iv.      A religious tradition teaches it.

          v.      A lot of people believe it.

j.        A message is only true when it agrees with what God has revealed.

k.      Teaching that leads us from Jesus does not lead us to life.

II.            The design of false teachers (2 Pe. 2:1, 3).

a.     Peter not only tells us what false teachers teach, but also how the operate.

b.     Verse 1 says they secretly bring in these heresies.

          i.      Something is introduced quietly or craftily.

          ii.      It carries the idea of bringing something in by one’s side so as to hide it.

          iii.      Some have described this word to mean through the side door.

c.      False teachers don’t blow a trumpet and shout they are about to teach something that contradicts scripture.

          i.      Instead, error is mixed with truth.

          ii.      Enough truth is present to make the error sound believable.

          iii.      This is what makes false doctrine so dangerous.

d.     In verse 3, Peter says that through their covetousness, or greed, they will make merchandise of them with false words.

          i.      Notice their motivation – greed.

1.      Later he will say their hearts are trained in greed.

2.      They are not out to serve the people they are teaching but with what they can get out them.

3.      People are merchandise to them; something to be used for personal advantage.

          ii.      Notice their method – false or feigned words.

1.      The original language carries the idea of something formed or molded.

2.      This is where we get our word plastic.

3.      The words have been carefully shaped to sound good, be persuasive, in order to accomplish something.

          iii.      But sounding good and being true are not the same thing.

e.      It is for these reasons we always emphasize the need for book, chapter, and verse.

           i.      Not because every biblical conversation has to become an argument.

           ii.      Because God’s word is the standard, not someone’s personality.

f.        This requires discernment by every Christian.

           i.      We can’t outsource our Bible knowledge to someone else.

           ii.      People will let us down if we depend solely on them.

g.      The Bereans were praised because they searched the scriptures to see if the things Paul and those with him spoke were true or not (Acts 17:11).

h.      This is the responsibility of every Christian.

           i.      Listen carefully.

           ii.      Study humbly.

           iii.      Compare what is taught with scripture.

           iv.      Then, we have to be willing to reject even something we want to believe if God’s word shows that it is wrong.

i.        A counterfeit can only fool us when we don’t know the genuine article well enough to recognize the difference.

j.        The same is true spiritually.

k.      The best defense against deception is a deep knowledge of the truth.

III.            The destruction of false teachers (2 Pe. 2:1, 3).

a.      Peter has shown us what they teach and how they deceive.

b.      He now shows us where their road leads them.

c.       Peter wants Christians to understand that God has not overlooked what is happening with these false teachers.

           i.      Judgment may not happen immediately but that does not mean it is not coming.

           ii.      This is what verses 4-9 reveal.

1.      God did not spare rebellious angels.

2.      God judged the world in Noah’s day.

3.      God judged Sodom and Gomorrah.

           iii.      The point is that God knows how to judge sinful people and knows how to rescue those who remain faithful.

d.      The false teachers may appear successful for a season.

           i.      They may attract followers, gain influence, or benefit financially.

           ii.      None of those things will change the final outcome.

           iii.      Their judgment does not linger forever, their destruction is not asleep, and God has not forgotten.

e.      This means we should never judge the truth of a message by the popularity or apparent success of the messenger.

           i.      A large audience, financial success, popularity, or influence does not prove truth.

           ii.      God’s word will always be the standard (John 12:48).

f.        There is also another warning we must not miss.

           i.      Verse 2 says that many will follow them.

           ii.      This may be the most frightening part of the passage.

           iii.      False teaching does not just affect the teacher.

           iv.      People follow the false teacher, build their lives on that message, but are being led away from their only hope – the gospel.

g.      When God warns us about false teaching, He is not being too restrictive – He is protecting us.