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,”}}
[2]. DESCRIPTIONS OF FALSE TEACHERS
The whole of chapter 2 of 2 Peter is taken up with the activities and descriptions of the false prophets, or false teachers. Peter does not mince words here. He tells it as it is and resorts to a number of metaphors to drive home the state of these false ones. These following, are metaphors used, and some are similar to Jude:-
(A). STAINS AND BLEMISHES (VERSE 13)
Stains and blemishes are imperfections, and when they occur in something very valuable then they are horrible and ugly. The Church of the living God is perfect without stain or blemish and when these false teachers come in it is ugliness and horrible. {{2 Peter 2:13 “suffering wrong (justly) as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. THEY ARE STAINS AND BLEMISHES, revelling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you,”}}
(B). EYES FULL OF ADULTERY (VERSE 14)
Adultery is lust and these false teachers lust after power, influence and the cult following. They are deceitful like adulterers. I don’t think the word here speaks about lusting in the fleshly sexual way but they do lust for greed and power. They entice unstable souls and the verse says that. Unstable souls are those who have no foundation. The only foundation is what Christ laid; there is no other, and it is all on sand outside of God. Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges says about the word “enticing” - [[It means primarily to “take with a bait, or in a snare.” The idea suggested is that the false teachers attended the Agapae as seducers of the innocence of others.]] {{2 Peter 2:14 “HAVING EYES FULL OF ADULTERY and that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls - - - -}}
(C). HEART TRAINED IN GREED (VERSE 14)
Very, very few false teachers are free from the love of money. Most of them are extremely greedy for money, especially the false teachers of the word of faith movement some of them worth more than 100 million dollars. That was extortion from the deluded and deceived people who adhered to them. On another tack they are greedy for numbers, these being numbers of people who come under their influence. {{2 Peter 2:14 “having eyes full of adultery and that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, HAVING A HEART TRAINED IN GREED - - - -}}
(D). ACCURSED CHILDREN (VERSE 14)
Accursed children are those upon which God curse rests. There are two examples which come to mind. The first is Paul’s summation of the Galatian false teachers where this was said, not once but twice for just emphasis – {{Galatians 1:8-9 “Even though we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.”}}
The second is the curse that rests on all those who hate Israel and work towards her demise and curse the nation – Genesis 12:3. Peter’s word used for “accursed” - This is a Hebraism, meaning literally, "children of the curse," that is, persons devoted to the curse, or who will certainly be destroyed. {{2 Peter 2:14 “having eyes full of adultery and that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed - ACCURSED CHILDREN.”}}
(E). WATERLESS SPRINGS (VERSE 17)
In a parallel expression, Jude uses “clouds without water,” and I am taking from my message there and adapting it for this – [[False teachers look like the real thing, act like the real thing, move along like the real thing, but they produce nothing at all for God; and nothing refreshing can ever come from them. People are tricked into believing these springs are producing goodness, and give hope in a hopeless world, but they are deluded. It is surprising how people can believe a lie, and get caught up in the lie. Just look at politics! It all seems like the real thing. The test of time and the results from those springs will confirm they are false. In fact, the empty buckets prove they are false. We have considered enough so far to know that the quality of those teachers fails against the water standard of God’s word, as the emptiness verifies what type of springs those men are.]] {{2 Peter 2:17 “THESE ARE SPRINGS WITHOUT WATER, - - - - -}} https://sermoncentral.com/sermons/worthless-clouds-without-water-carried-by-the-changing-winds-jude-1-verse-12-ron-ferguson-sermon-on-false-teachers-267543
(F). STORM-DRIVEN MISTS (VERSE 17)
Jude speaks of the waterless clouds being driven along and Peter speaks of mists that hold promise of rain relief, but they produce nothing. There is no real substance or clarity with false teachers. They are deluded and uncertain, but still forge on with their agendas. The KJV and a few others translate Peter’s expression as “clouds” but it is rightfully mists, misty “clouds”. The false teaching is empty, erroneous, and disgraceful. Paul used much the same expression here – {{Ephesians 4:14 “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and CARRIED ABOUT BY EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming,”}}. It can sometimes be noted that people who have succumbed to false teaching sometimes drift from one false doctrine to another and from one false teacher to another. {{2 Peter 2:17 “These are springs without water, and MISTS DRIVEN BY A STORM, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.”}}
(G). SLAVES OF CORRUPTION (VERSE 19)
Many of the Greek expositors prefer “servants” to “slaves”. These false teachers are in bondage as servants working the dictates of that bondage. These teachers are in bondage to their own errors, and often sensuality. They are hypocrites who set standards for others, yet don’t adhere to them themselves. The devil makes sure those he uses for the propagation of false teaching are well and truly hooked to be servants of the devil’s bidding. Their false teaching brings corruption to the good seed and therefore they are servants of that corruption. {{2 Peter 2:19 “promising them freedom while they themselves are SLAVES OF CORRUPTION, for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.”}}
(H). BY INFERENCE, DOGS AND SOWS (VERSE 22)
The proverb Peter quotes is – {{2 Peter 2:22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”}}. The dog and a pig are the two most unclean animals considered by the Jews, and the Law.
This is what Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges says here –[[The dog had ejected what was foul; the sow had washed herself, but the old nature returned in both cases. Those who after their baptism returned to the impurities they had renounced, were, in the Apostle’s eyes, no better than the unclean beasts. In the union of the two types of baseness we may, perhaps, trace a reminiscence of our Lord’s teaching in Matthew 7:6]]. As well there is one simile for these false teachers:- as unreasoning animals (verse 12).
[3]. WATCH THAT WE DO NOT DEVELOP SHADES AND TRAITS OF THESE FALSE TEACHERS
Now we know there is a world of difference between one who belongs to Christ and a false teacher (unconverted). Peter also spends this chapter describing the state of these false teachers; the traits by which they can be recognised. The section I want to do could be titled, “Watch that we do not develop shades of these traits.” Learning from them – SO that I be not like them. I will consider five of their characteristics.
[A1]. SECRETLY INTRODUCE DESTRUCTIVE HERESIES”. VERSE 1
{{2 Peter 2:1 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will SECRETLY INTRODUCE DESTRUCTIVE HERESIES, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.”}}
These false prophets are acting covertly and working to a self-devised agenda. They are sneaks, subversive and dishonest through and through. We must be as open as the day for we walk in the light. There is no room for secret planning even when the outcome may be considered good for any fellowship. Sadly there are sneaks in churches who have agendas even though they can’t be termed false teachers. The end does not justify the means. The end of all this will be the eventual denial of the word of God; even the denial of basic doctrines concerning the Lord Himself. No deception or hidden matters ought to be there.
CAUTION:- Watch the temptation for secretly planning our agenda for the saints. We are children of the light, not of the night. We don’t deal secretly with our brethren. We are to be “open faced”.
[B2]. MANY WILL FOLLOW THEIR SENSUALITY.” VERSE 2
{{2 Peter 2:2 “And MANY WILL FOLLOW THEIR SENSUALITY, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned.”}}
These are the ones who act according to their senses, which is no more than the outworking of human reason justifying the person’s behaviour. The wisdom of man is foolishness to God, but today this human wisdom seems to prevail in all quarters. There is inevitable departure from God’s truth because unconverted man considers God’s truth as bendable and not absolute, even as false. It can be “adapted”, even rejected or reasoned away. This “logic” is so easy to accept but will end in evil and ruin.
CAUTION:- Watch out for any insidious move within us to water down the word of God or to approach it in such a manner that we are interpreting it by human reason and bypassing the wisdom imparted through the Spirit of God.
[C3]. “IN THEIR GREED THEY WILL EXPLOIT YOU.” VERSE 3
{{2 Peter 2:3 “and IN THEIR GREED THEY WILL EXPLOIT YOU with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”}}
Again their working is an insidious move that will begin to intrude into unsuspecting and gullible folk. Forget about greed being associated with money alone. There are many branches to the greed tree. There is greed for money, popularity, power, influence, importance, dominance and control. False teachers, especially in leadership, are caught up in many forms of this exploitive greed. Human psychology (usually diametrically opposed to the wisdom of God) is applied. It is so destructive and so many get caught up in the flattering words and the sensual appeal of the false prophets. In the word of faith movement, the greed is very much apparent from the leaders – MONEY!
CAUTION:- Watch out for any tendency in us towards a desire for popularity, dominance, power and control among the people of God. Cut that branch off with a sharp axe. Be very astute about any desire for money.
[D4]. “INDULGE THE FLESH IN CORRUPT DESIRES.” VERSE 10
{{2 Peter 2:10 “and especially those who INDULGE THE FLESH IN ITS CORRUPT DESIRES and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties.”}}
This trait again is a many-branched tree. It goes beyond the narrow “sins of the flesh” being understood as sexual immorality. It will embrace all that is grouped under the term “flesh”. In a believer there is constant conflict with this family of Amelek but the conflict is there and real and known to be so. With a false teacher, there is no conflict because there is no spiritual nature that has been regenerated; no quickening through the Spirit, so the flesh has complete dominance. The works of the flesh are outlined in Galatians 5:19-21:-
{{“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”}}
Many of the above constantly plague false teachers because they are of the flesh. There is no indwelling Spirit to produce the fruit of the Spirit. Christians may be confronted by the same works of the flesh, but there are the resources to overcome the flesh. Even so, we must be on guard.
CAUTION:- Watch out for attacks by the enemy - frontal (direct); rear attack (those things that we embrace almost unknowingly, that sneak up on us; lateral attack (things that join us sideways and “walk” with us). Many are the strategies and weapons used by the enemy. Be aware of the works of the flesh, but seek for growth in the fruit of the Spirit:-
{{Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”}}
[5]. “AND DESPISE AUTHORITY.” VERSE 10
{{2 Peter 2:10 “and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and DESPISE AUTHORITY. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties.”}}
God is the ultimate authority but this world has cancelled out the absolutes pertaining to Him. False teachers will always negate God’s absolutes, and therefore God’s authority, found only in His word. “The Bible,” they state, “contains the words of God (in places) but be selective.”
They love to set themselves up as authorities or appeal to others of their kind. Sometimes they reject the authority of the land and go about to establish their own brand of righteousness.
CAUTION:- Watch that the Word of God always has the proper place in your life because it is the ultimate authority given by God to direct our way. If we set adrift the Word of God, our lives will drift too.
Following this, there is a Part 2 that will come shortly.
