Sermon Tone Analysis

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Introduction

Scripture repeatedly warns against false teachings, which deny or distort some aspect of the gospel.

The origin of such teachings is attributed either to human error or to demonic inspiration.

Polycarp

which deny or distort some aspect of the gospel.

The origin of such teachings is attributed either to human error or to demonic inspiration.

Joseph Barber Lightfoot and J. R. Harmer, The Apostolic Fathers (London: Macmillan and Co., 1891), 160–161.

“Let not those that seem to be plausible and yet teach strange doctrine dismay thee.

Stand thou firm, as an anvil when it is smitten.

It is the part of a great athlete to receive blows and be victorious.

But especially must we for God’s sake endure all things, that He also may endure us.”

Qualities of false teachings

They are valueless Mt 15:9 pp Mk 7:7 See also Isa 29:13; Eph 5:6; Col 2:20-23; 1Ti 1:3-7

They are destructive in their nature 2Pe 2:1 See also Mt 7:15; Ac 20:29-30; Tit 1:10-11

They have the capacity to lead people astray Ac 20:30 See also Eph 4:14; 1Ti 6:20-21; Heb 13:9; 2Pe 2:14-15; 1Jn 2:26

They may be popular 2Pe 2:2 See also Mt 24:4-5 pp Mk 13:5-6; 2Ti 4:3; 2Pe 2:18-19; 1Jn 4:1-5

They may be accompanied by miraculous signs Mt 24:24 pp Mk 13:22 See also 2Th 2:9-10; Rev 13:11-15

The origin of false teachings

Demonic inspiration 1Ti 4:1-2 See also 2Co 11:3-4; 1Jn 4:1-3; Rev 16:13-14

Human error 2Pe 2:3 See also Col 2:8; 1Ti 6:20-21

There are many that seem to be plausible and yet teach strange doctrines today.

This has always been the case.

Even since Old Testament times.

In the New Testament we are given descriptions of what strange (false) teachings are.

Descriptions of false teachings according to the New Testament.

Descriptions of false teachings according to the New Testament.

They are valueless

They are destructive in their nature

They lead people astray

They may be popular

They may be accompanied by miraculous signs

All of which comes to deceive the people of God.

The origin of false teachings according to Scripture comes from:

1. Demonic inspiration.

See also ; ;

See also ; ;

2. Anthropic inspiration.

Greed.

(Man Centered)

2 Peter

Peter begins this portion of Scripture with a warning.

And his concern comes from, according to , a desire to remind them of the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandments of Christ given through the Apostles.

False teachings are, as Polycarp noted, blows that seek to knock a believer down.

But God knows how to preserve His own even when inundated with false teaching and doctrines that seek to decimate our faith.

Our passage shows the seriousness of false teaching, how God will deal with it and how God will preserve His people.

Outline

1: The warning of false teachers (v.1-3)

2: Three Examples of how God brought judgement and rescued the godly (v.4-11)

3: Descriptions of false teachers (v.12-19)

4: The end result of false teachers (v.20-22)

A quick note: you can side by side read with Jude and find almost exactly the same concerns.

is a warning of false teachers coming.

And Jude speaks of them as arrived already.

1: The warning of false teachers (v.1-3)

Verse 1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

Prior to our text in the end of chapter one, Peter spoke of Jesus receiving glory from the Father at what is called the Transfiguration.

Jesus was “glorified” on a mountain in the presence of Peter, James, and John.

Which was recorded in the Synoptic Gospels.

Found in , and .

Jesus was transfigured meaning that (according to Luke’s account) the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.

And Moses and Elijah appeared with Him.

Found in , and

.

Jesus was transfigured meaning that (according to Luke’s account) the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.

And Moses and Elijah appeared with Him.

Peter wanted his readers to know that they did not follow cleverly devised myths but that they were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

They were not speaking of something that they made up.

They were eyewitnesses of His majesty and they heard the voice from heaven.

But Peter knew that their experience was not enough to give God’s people a firm witness.

He did what they had always done in the book of Acts.

He spoke of the prophetic word.

The Scriptures.

He said in ,

2 Peter 1:20-21

“knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

He appealed to the Scriptures to prove that they did not follow cleverly devised myths.

They had a more fully confirmed witness because of the prophetic writings given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

This is an important lesson for us.

Especially when dealing with false teaching.

What Peter does here is exactly what false prophets and teachers don’t do.

A false prophet or teacher is someone who:

1. Comes with their own interpretation of Scripture.

2. Attempts to produce prophecy from their own will.

Or we can say someone who attempts to produce from themselves what God can only produce.

Peter spoke of how false prophets arose among the people which is past tense in verse 1. Speaking of the people of Israel.

We can find an example of what they (the false prophets) were doing in .

Notice what they did there.

They were:

Filling people with vain hopes

They spoke of visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.

They continually said to those who despised the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you

And to everyone who stubbornly followed their own hearts, they said, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’

So, just as false prophets spoke then, so also were false teachers out to speak and lie to the people of God.

In verse 1, He pointed out two things they would do.

They will secretly bring in destructive heresies.

They will deny the Master who bought them.

They will deny the Master who bought them.

Notice he says secretly and not openly.

Meaning that they would creep into the church.