Beware of False Teachers
Notes
Transcript
Jesus called Peter, who was a fisherman by trade, to be a shepherd by calling when He said, “Take care of My lambs; shepherd My sheep; feed My flock (see John 21:15–17).
And Peter understood that being a shepherd meant two things: to nourish the flock, as Paul told the elders of Ephesus in Acts 20:28 “28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” and, also, to alert the flock, as Paul said two verses later in Acts 20:30 “30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” —because a shepherd who feeds the flock without warning it is only preparing it for the slaughter.
So in this second chapter, as we reach the core of Peter’s final letter, we will witness him give a sincere word of caution to those he loves so deeply.…
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
Verse 1: But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
This verse warns us that just as there were false prophets in the Old Testament times who misled the people of God and spoke lies in His name, there will also be false teachers in the New Testament times who will deceive the followers of Christ and introduce doctrines that are contrary to the truth.
These false teachers will not openly declare their errors, but will subtly and secretly infiltrate the church and spread their destructive heresies.
These heresies will not only harm the souls of those who believe them, but also dishonor the Lord who redeemed them by His blood.
These false teachers will deny the Lord in various ways, such as by rejecting His deity, His authority, His atonement, His lordship, or His second coming.
By doing so, they will bring upon themselves a swift and severe judgment from God.
Remember the words of our Lord Jesus...A warning from Jesus to beware of false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
A description of false teachers who creep in unnoticed and turn the grace of God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 2: And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
This verse tells us that sadly, many people will be deceived by the false teachers and follow their destructive ways.
These people will not only endanger their own salvation, but also cause others to stumble and blaspheme the way of truth.
What is meant by blaspheme the way of truth? It means they will speak evil against this truth about who Jesus really is.
The way of truth is the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the only way to God and eternal life. Let us not so quickly forget Jesus’s own words John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
A prophecy from Jesus that many false christs and false prophets will arise and deceive many.
23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
25 See, I have told you beforehand.
Then we read a prediction from Paul that in the last days people will not endure sound doctrine, but will heap up for themselves teachers who tickle their ears and turn away from the truth
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
Verse 3: By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
This verse exposes the motive and method of the false teachers. They are driven by covetousness, which is a greedy desire for money, power, or fame.
Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 2
What motivates these false leaders, these false teachers? Making merchandise of God’s people, their desire is not to feed the flock, but to fleece the flock.
They will exploit their followers with deceptive words, which are smooth speeches that flatter, manipulate, or entice them to support their agenda.
They will use various forms of deception, such as twisting the Scriptures, appealing to human passions, or promising false benefits.
However, they cannot escape the justice of God. Their judgment has not been idle, meaning that God has already pronounced their condemnation and is ready to execute it.
Their destruction does not slumber, meaning that God is not unaware or indifferent to their wickedness, but is watching and waiting for the right time to destroy them.
Matthew 23:14-15: A woe from Jesus to the scribes and Pharisees who devour widows' houses and make proselytes twice as much sons of hell as themselves. -
14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
1 Timothy 6:3-10: A warning from Paul to avoid those who teach false doctrines and use godliness as a means of gain. -
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,
4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
There are so many false teachings and doctrines of demons in our world today and even within churches that they are to numerous for me to list. As many theological statements of faith we have within Christianity there are counterfeits to go against them.
So with that the case let me just share with you what John MacArthur says “what the greatest danger facing the church today?”
He says and I quote,
“If you was to ask me what the danger, physical danger in a human body? I would day a deficient immune system. Because then you could die of 100 diseases. If the immune system can’t fight off infection, there are 100 ways to die.
So the greatest danger in a human body is the collapse of the immune system that is what fights off all the diseases.
And I would say in the church it’s the same thing. It’s a deficient immune system. It’s the inability to discern truth from error. It’s not recognizing deception. Any kind of thing that is not true has potential to do severe damage.
Knowing the truth is so vitally important...
We often will quote a verse from John 8:32
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Look what Jesus says before that statement as he has conversation with the Pharisees and a group of people as he is teaching in the temple.
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”
14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.
15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.
17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.
18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”
19 Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”
20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.
21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”
22 So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?”
23 And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.
26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.”
27 They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father.
28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
To believe a lie means death, to abide in His word brings truth which then brings life.
Beware dear ones of false teachers. Let us pray!