The Dangers of False Teachers
2 Peter Sermon Series, Part 3
2 Peter 2:1-22
Introduction
- Purpose: Peter gives guidance and reassurance to the growing church
-- As a disciple maker his desire is to see others grow in knowledge of Christ
-- Promise he stands on: the Gospel we/they are preaching is Jesus!
-- Re: The Gospel is our measuring stick; and it is what saves (not us)
- In our message last week, we talked about the sufficiency of scripture
-- It is our measuring stick, and how we are to face a trouble world
- This morning we will examine a very common topic in this world
-- Level Set: False teachers are not new, they have always existed
-- We can all cite folks that we believe are teaching false gospels
-- But honestly, we need to check ourselves on setting up as their judges
-- The judge in all of this is God, and we’ll see that today
-- APP: this is why I’m not going to spend time listing them, ok?
- As we discussed last week – our source of truth is the Word of God
-- The legitimacy of God’s word is where we find our foundation/wisdom
-- Bible is given so when we can hear something we can know if it’s truth
- So, with that said (RE: context is critical), let’s dive into Chapter 2
- Read 2 Peter 2:1-22 / Pray for guidance & transparency … start with obvious
Point 1 – What are false teachers?
- When Peter writes that they “cleverly teach”; it’s a warning of departing truth
-- They bring to bear their thoughts/preferences rather than God’s commands
-- They bring heresies to the church that are destructive to souls of others
- EX: “All roads lead to God, so just be a good person and you’ll get there”
-- Sounds really good, but it is a bold-faced lie that pollutes the truth (Jn 14:6)
- EX: “God is love, and so “I” should be able to love whoever “I” want”
-- The big (deceptive) clue is that it centers around “I” … and not on God
- False teachers present ideas that lead people into a false sense of security (v1)
-- This is where we must be alert and able to defend the faith boldly
-- KEY: You cannot defend it if you do not know it (must read God’s word)
- What these false teachers do is deny the sovereign Lord who leads them
-- They deny the truth that He is Lord, and that He reigns supreme
-- It does not suggest that they used to be believers and are now unbelievers
-- IMP: They are persons who NEVER knew God personally; denied as Lord
- So, since they deny Him, they bring destruction upon themselves (v1)
-- Get this: The destruction that God brings is complete, permanent … hell
-- APP: We must make sure we teach sound doctrine; to know His word
- TR: So, how can we be on the lookout? They are actually easy to spot …
Point 2 – False teachers are selfish and ignore God’s judgment
- Sadly, many will be drawn to them because they seem attractive (v2)
-- When Peter writes about shameful immorality – he is very blunt
- Setup: What they did is take Greek culture and bring it into the church
-- IMP: The church should NOT look like the world; we’re called to be different
-- 1 Peter 2:11, “Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.”
- What Peter says (word use) they perform “blasphemeo”
-- Literally means they injure the reputation of someone else (blaspheme)
-- KEY: Christ’s reputation is injured when teachings about Him are not biblical
- Now, take a look at the description Peter gives us (v3)
-- These false teachers were only interested in themselves; what brings them recog.
-- Peter says they were greedy, and they fabricated stories to fool others
-- Get this: Self-exaltation is the primary motivator of a false teacher
- What Peter says at the end of verse 3 is critical for you and me to grasp:
-- “God condemned theme long ago, their destruction will not be delayed.”
- At one time, angels rebelled against God, and they were judged (v4)
-- Peter gives us the judgment of God through the flood in Genesis
-- The people of Noah’s time rejected God, and they were judged
-- Then we have Sodom and Gomorrah – two cities destroyed by God (v6)
- APP: There is a pattern here: unconfessed sin leads to turning from God
-- This turning from God leads to destruction for our ultimate denial of Him
-- It is a pattern that we must be aware of, partial repentance is not repentance
- TR: We must know, God is not fooled by those who live this way … Why?
Point 3 – False teachers will be rebuked by God
- False teachers despise authority – they blindly ignore things of God
-- When you despise something, you literally “look down upon it”
- Don’t miss: Big: The authority they despise is what comes from Jesus!
-- They prefer their own ways, rules, and believe “God’s Law” isn’t for them
-- Warning: These people thrive in churches where accountability is weak
-- Challenging verse to consider: Luke 6:46, “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?”
- Now, I want to call our attention to something here on this (RE: topic of grace)
-- APP: We can learn a lot from even the angels’ response to God (v11)
-- God has already pronounced judgment; he doesn’t need a cheering section
-- RE: the battle is the Lord’s (Jonah had this same problem, btw)
- False teachers enjoy their sin, they make a mockery of God
-- But even more, they go after those who needed to be shown grace the most
• “Commit adultery with their eyes” – They lust after everything
• “Lure the unstable” – They seek out the weak, the lost, the vulnerable
• “Well trained in greed” – Led and motivated by self-promotion
• “Live under God’s curse” – Cursed by God, doomed to be destroyed
- Let me tell you, this is a ferocious description of these teachers (v14)
-- FACT: There is an eternal punishment in store for those who live this way
-- Peter is SOUNDING THE ALARM … we’d be wise to heed it today
-- James 3:1, “Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
- Numbers 22-24 gives us this story that Peter refers to in v15-16
-- Balaam was supposed to be a prophet of God; called to serve God
-- But he loved money more than he loved God; he desired to pursue his own fame
- Imagine that: A “man of God”, teaching opposite to God’s word
-- This is allowed when the people being taught don’t know God’s word
-- APP: If you read the word faithfully, it becomes part of who you are
-- Dig Deeper: Reading it faithfully allows it to read YOU (causes you to change)
- Balaam was guilty of twisting the teaching, and God rebuked him for it
-- Using an animal that cannot speak, God ridiculed & corrected Balaam
-- FACT: He was shamed by a silly animal for his heretical teachings
-- APP: We should not be fooled into thinking we won’t be corrected either
- TR: So, for you and me, what can we take away from Peter’s teaching?
Point 4 – Why are false teachers so dangerous to the church?
1. False Teachers are not useful
- Peter used picture language to describe the false teachers (v17)
-- People go to a well to get water; the water keeps them alive
-- Some wells contain no water; they look good but … a dry well is not useful
- A mist is not wet enough to make the land wet (cause crops to grow)
-- And a strong wind can quickly blow the mist away and dry out the area
-- This is picture language; compares false teachers to common topics
2. False teachers have no ability to help others
- IMP: False teachers have no power to help other people (v17)
-- The place of ‘black darkness’ refers to the darkest place (hell)
-- Key: The false teachers will have the same punishment as fallen angels
-- Remember what we saw earlier in 2 Peter 2:4, “For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.”
-- A false teacher will lead others astray, provide no hope of salvation
3. False teachers rely on their own skills
- Why? They want to impress other people (v18)
-- They try to attract people who have not learned much about God
-- People find the Christian life is difficult; they are told lies to “make it easier”
-- Suggest people do not need to change their behavior or repent (compromise)
-- They could still enjoy their former evil desires (ref: sin and still be saved)
-- The danger of a false teacher is that it’s all about them: their thoughts, and ideas
4. False teachers will often choose wickedness
- A person is a slave to whatever has become his or her master (v19)
-- False teachers are slaves to their own wicked desires, lead others into them
-- In contrast, Christians are called to be slaves of Jesus Christ
- RE: Jesus promised to make people free:
-- John 8:32, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
- Peter leaves nothing out as he continues in v20-21 …
-- The false teachers could have escaped from these wicked ways
-- They learned about the Lord Jesus Christ; learned about God’s Law
-- APP: When people become true Christians, it affects their decisions, thoughts
- IMP: A wicked person can learn about God; He can ask God to forgive
-- And these false teachers knew about God but refused to obey His word
- This was far worse for them because they would not repent
-- Peter may have been thinking about a story that Jesus once told:
-- Matthew 12:43-45, “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So, it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”
-- APP: If you don’t clean & protect the house, it’s going to get invaded again!
- TRANS: Jesus already described how they will act, Peter confirms it here
Conclusion
- Why is this message important in 2022? Peter draws out real life application:
1) False teachers will constantly portray themselves as being above sin
-- They promote a “do what I say … not what I do” methodology
2) A false teacher will always seek to promote themselves, not Christ
-- It is always for their benefit, even when it’s hidden by “religious” things
3) The thing to remember is that Jesus taught exactly the opposite:
-- Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
-- This is the ultimate verse about it’s not about you …
- Then, He demonstrates the method for turning away from sin: THE CROSS
Deeper examination for us:
- Are we living the same life as a false teacher; or do we live under Christ?
-- Have you turned to Him to be made sinless; or is it still about you?
- You might say this doesn’t apply since you don’t teach … but don’t you influence people around you in your life for Christ? Parent? Coworker? Etc.?
-- Don’t we have the power to lead others astray with our very words or actions?
- Pray
