Guarding Against False Teaching

Bible Passage: 2 Peter 2:10b–22

Summary: In this passage, the apostle Peter warns against false teachers and their destructive ways, emphasizing their reckless behavior, the outcome of their teachings, and the dire consequences for those who follow them.

Application: This sermon can help Christians recognize the signs of false teaching in their midst and encourage them to stand firm in their faith, grounded in the Word of God. It addresses the importance of discernment and accountability within the community of believers.

Teaching: This sermon teaches that false teachers often distort the truth for personal gain, leading others astray. Believers must be vigilant and discerning to protect themselves and others from the spiritual dangers posed by such individuals.

How this passage could point to Christ: Christ is the ultimate truth and the foundation of sound doctrine. This passage points to the need to hold firmly to the teachings of Christ and the apostles to guard against the lies and distortions introduced by false teachers.

Big Idea: Believers must be vigilant in discernment, anchored in Scripture to combat the influence of false teaching that seeks to lead them astray.

Intro

We have been going through the book of 2 Peter, which discusses false teachers. You might be asking “Why have we gone through this subject for this long. I know to stay away.” However, though we know we must stay away, our hearts are continuously drawn to sin due to the nature we were born with from Adam.

"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate... For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing... Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:15, 18–19, 24–25)

Chuck Lawless, professor of Missions at Southeastern Seminary, says that one reason we are to study the actions of false teachers is to then ask the question “Is there any part of me that is like that?”

1. They Betray True Belief

2 Peter 2:10b-13

10 - 11

This passage can be a little difficult to understand. However, this passage is quoted by Jude in his book in verse 8. There he gives a story to explain the phrase “they blaspheme the glorious ones.”

Jude 8-9

Here Jude explains that though the archangel Michael could have easily dispensed judgement and won, to do so would have stolen the actions reserved for God, and instead told the devil, “The Lord rebuke you.” Judgment is of the Lord

Deuteronomy 32:35 “Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’”

12

They are driven, not by truth, but they are creatures of instinct, or creatures of their nature. Our sin nature is driven by our desire for instant gratification of our flesh.

It can be argued here that the specific false teaching that Peter is writing against is Epicureanism. This is the Greek idea that man should seek the highest good, which in their belief system was pleasure. Anything that pain or discomfort is to be avoided. Because of this they were known especially for their sexual deviance, prizing sensual pleasure. While we may think of this as an Ancient Greek philosophy that isn’t around as a major philosophical movement, I would argue that it is still around.

It is the societal expectation that teenagers and people before married will have multiple sexual partners prior to marriage, going against the Biblical expectation of chastity prior to matrimony.

Hookup culture is portrayed as “empowerment.” However, I don’t think anyone in the Cornell rape case right now would describe this as a good.

“No-fault” divorce makes marriage a simple commodity to be discarded as soon as the other person’s usefulness is used up.

Homosexuality and Transgenderism is not only accepted, but held up as a moral absolute to be accepted as it shows that societies ultimate good is for everyone do do what they beleive will make them feel good, though it not only goes against the Old Testament law, but as Paul says, the law of nature itself. If you don’t believe me on that last one, notice how same-sex marriages and transgenders don’t procreate and therefore must entice children and young adults into their cult.

We are told we can worship God on the river, on the gulf, or in the woods just as much as we can assembled in a house of worship. However, I’ve never met anyone who has used this argument who was known for their faithfulness to the Gospel.

Even sports can be twisted from something to help kids understand application of practice and hard work into successful results tries to entice our families to skip worshipping in order to find community within their fields. However, I believe the recent Sheriff’s calls to Medart show that this is a false Gospel. I’ve been to some uncomfortable business meetings, but never been to one where the police were called.

13

They plot and celebrate their false Gospel even while partaking of fellowship within the crowds. They don’t want to start their own movement, but instead infect and Copt other Gospel centered works. Successful false teachers don’t start their own churches, they take over others.

2. Greed Grips Their Hearts

2 Peter 2:14-16

14

The idea conveyed in verse 14 is that they entice. This word is used to mean “they bait,” like they bait a hook waiting for a fish ignorant to the ensnarement of the hook to chomp down.

Notice that Peter says that their prey are “unsteady souls.” This verse is in contrast to 2 Peter 1:12 “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.” Let us be established in the truth, not being swayed back and forth.

They take pleasure, and count as a treasure when they succeed in their deceptions

15-16

Peter then refers to Balaam, the OT prophet who was willing to cure the people of Israel in return for money from the king of Moab, one of their mortal enemies. Balaam was stopped by a donkey from fulfilling one time because his donkey turned around and started having a converstation with him, restraining him from the action.

Tony Merida, my former pastor, says that people should think too highly of themselves if God speaks through them, as one of his most faithful speakers was a donkey.

3. Empty Promises Ensnare

2 Peter 2:17-20

Sin always promsies to free a person from oppression, but instead it enslaves them to where they cannot overcome the sinful passions that they have gratified. They will always find themselves in a worse state than they were previously in after they begin to indulge their sinful urges.

4. False Teachers are Dirty Dogs

2 Peter 2:21-22

Tony Merida points out that we are all judged according to the amount of knowledge we have.

Luke 12:47–48 “And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”

this does not mean that those who don’t know are innocent as Romans 1:20 “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

No one is without excuse as we have broken even the laws of creation.

Echos Proverbs 26:11 “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.”

Application

Believers must be be sure to stand firm on the Scriptures, and not on what others have taught them. Scripture ultimately is the only infallible word.

Members must be sure to keep guard of the Gospel within our midst.

Non-members, search Grace and see if this is a trustworthy place to identify with.