1. Message In 2 Peter – Number 1 – Learning From False Teachers – Part 1 (2 Peter 2:13) Series

1. MESSAGE IN 2 PETER – NUMBER 1 – LEARNING FROM FALSE TEACHERS – PART 1 (2 PETER 2:13)

[1]. LEARNING FROM FALSE TEACHERS - INTRODUCTION

The parable of the Tares showed that after the good seed was sown by the Lord and His Apostles, very soon, Satan would launch the counter attack in his effort to destroy and mutilate the seed.

He had his agents all too willing and enthused to do his desire in the destruction of the good seed. I feel certain that these agents were not maliciously trying to destroy such as a Marxist decree would do to shut down gospel preaching. In all probability these agents believed themselves to be correct but they were not converted, and were raised up by the devil to do his work.

That us why these people are described as wolves in sheep clothing. If it was the wolf who appeared in the full light of day, that wolf would not get a chance. That would be like a false teacher getting into a church and having boldly written on his/her clothing, “FALSE TEACHER”. No, they don’t work that way; they sneak in as pretend sheep.

In Peter’s last days on earth, he was well aware of the operation of false teachers, these destroyers of the faith. They were such a concern to the health of the Church that all the Apostles addressed the matter. The two most prominent letters dealing with this great threat are Jude and 2 Peter. I took up the items of Jude in a series of messages - https://sermoncentral.com/sermon-series/messages-in-the-book-of-jude-sermon-series-from-ron-ferguson-22849

There are considerable similarities between Jude and 2 Peter 2; but on the other hand, there are also marked differences. My purpose is NOT to go into all the arguments of comparison between the two passages. Whether Jude relied on Peter or Peter relied on Jude or whether there was a third document involved covering false teachers that both drew upon, we do not know in spite of all the wild speculation, and it does not matter. Both Jude and Peter adapted their writing to their audiences and wrote under inspiration accordingly.

Jude was the half brother of the Lord and the family was well known to the Disciples and sometimes travelled with them. It was about the time of the cross that the Lord’s brothers became believers and true members of the faith. To me is seems strange that the boys grew up with Jesus and saw His sinlessness, etc., yet did not believe. Here is the scripture saying that:-

{{John 7:3-5 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea that Your disciples also may behold Your works which You are doing, for no one does anything in secret, when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world,” for NOT EVEN HIS BROTHERS WERE BELIEVING IN HIM.”}}

The Church has always suffered under the actions of false teachers and in fact for more than 8 centuries the church WAS the false teaching until the Reformation. I think that in the past 150 years false teachers have sprung up everywhere with Law keeping, weird and fanciful doctrines and practices. It has accelerated in the last 50 years and I think that is because of a greater access to a universal audience via the communication channels especially the Internet.

In our current time, the decline of the church is all too evident with so many false things entering (Beliefs of the Popes, Archbishop of Canterbury, church leaders in the USA) that sees the church in freefall to its own inner departure from God. The churches have become WOKE, and so weak spiritually, that there is no opposition to false teachers. The word of faith movement – health and wealth – prosperity teaching – has causes worldwide disruption to genuine faith.

False teaching can thrive in experiences churches – Pentecostal, Charismatic – because these churches are often weak in doctrine, and when the doctrinal foundation is not cemented in, then they are open to false teaching through lack of discernment.

The Christian life is like a man who stands sturdy when the storms are raging. It is like that man having two strong legs, one called “Faith” and the other called “Doctrine”. When one of those legs is weakened through neglect or attack, then the man is unsteady and could collapse. A person taught in the scriptures has the correct balance of faith and doctrine, and that is what makes a sturdy man of God. {{1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Act like men. Be strong.”}} {{Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the full armour of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil,”}}