What False Teachers Can Teach Us About Ourselves

Introduction

2 Peter 2:11–22 ESV

whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

Has there ever been a time that you believed something that wasn’t true? When did you realize that it was wrong.

As a child, I thought that quicksand was going to be a much larger problem than it actually was.

I will never forget something that Dr. Jason Duesing said in a doctoral seminar. People often believe the side of an argument that they hear articulated well the first time. Unfortunately, people believe the first thing that they hear. Articulate teachers and eloquent speakers do not make the message the truth.

Soren Kierkegaard // There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true. The other is to refuse to believe what is true.

Explanation

2 Peter 2:11-16 “whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.”

Explanation of Angels: Angels show a restraint that these teachers do not. Instead of passing judgement upon these false teachers themselves, they are awaiting the justice of the Lord.

The qualities of false teaching/false living: These teachers were actually worse in some ways than the rest of the world. We often look for teachers to confirm what we want to believe or we want to do.

Deceptive: Deception is causing someone to believe something that is not true.

Eyes full of adultery: No one begins with “eyes full” of adultery, but adultery’s goal is always to get there.

Douglas Moo // Pleasure is a goal never reached; it is always somewhere in the distance, urging one on to new and more sinful practices, never quite satisfying.

They entice unsteady souls. “They seduce unstable people.”

Believe what I believe.

Live like I live.

We are a culture that is drunk on pleasure. Lust is definitely the sin being discussed here, BUT you can lust after anything that bring you pleasure.

Peter says, “Do not live as they are training you to live. Live as Christ taught you to live.”

Hearts trained in greed.

Jesus is the goal of gospel ministers. Money is the goal of false teachers.

Balaam (Numbers 22-24) agreed to prophecy as bidden by Balak in return for personal gain.

Many preaching and teach for personal gain, whether money, power, or something else.

2 Peter 2:17-22 “These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.””

Sin enslaves a person.

Sin promises a sense of freedom, but it actually enslaved.

Alcohol, drugs, and pornography are the common illustrations. However, you can be enslaved by any sin - whether it’s gossip or cocaine.

Sin takes your life back from Christ slowly - step by step - and places chains on it.

Mortification is the act of putting your sin to death. John Owen wrote the foremost on this topic. He said, “Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.”

Symptoms of deep and abiding and enslaving sin - dangerous sin.

Firm establishment over a long period of time and settlement into a habitual practice.

The heart things it is fine and does not attempt to get rid of sin.

Conscious temptation is often successful.

When a man fights sin only because of the earthly consequences of that sin.

When sin prevails, even though God has given you an instance for repentance through the Holy Spirit and a particular circumstance.

It is better to never have confessed Jesus than to confess Jesus without a care for following Him.

What does verse 20-21 mean? Does it mean you can lose your salvation.

Peter is still talking about heretics.

People who have a knowledge of God, but they do not know God.

Deep punishment awaits those who misconstrue the words of God for their own profit.

Sinners will always return to their sin as a dog to its vomit.

Only believers can mortify sin.

Invitation and Application

Resist false teaching.

Are you trying to benefit from unrighteousness in any way?

Do not let sin enslave you.

Discuss 2 Peter 2:19-20.

Sinners return to their sin.