2 Peter 2:1-3

False Teachers are Secretive

Their teaching is not always seen but is destructive

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Claim to teach truth but discreetly change it

Mormons/JW

Prosperity gospel

Taking Scripture and morphing it to opinions

The Bible should be the guiding light to everything we believe

Contextualization vs. Over-Contextualization vs. Under-Contextualization

Culture does not dictate the meaning of Scripture but only the application of Scripture

False Teachers Deny Jesus

False teachers will be destroyed for their actions

Denial of Jesus results in eternal destruction for anyone

Philippians 3:17-21 “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

Matthew 10:32-33 “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

The Bible is clear that we must accept Jesus

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Acts 2:21 “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

Romans 10:9-10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Mark 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

False Teachers Promote (Ungodly) Freedom

2 Timothy 4:1-5 “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Jesus saves us into a life of freedom yet we shouldn’t abuse it

The question is not, “How much can we get away with?” but “What does Jesus want?”

2 Corinthians 9

False Teachers Hurt the Name of Jesus

False teaching causes problems in the church

Misunderstanding, disunity, selfishness (in church vision)

Church problems impact the world

Church should not try to appear perfect but should be consistent in word and action

James 2:14-22 “14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”

Recent SBC scandals, Ravi Zacharias, Mark Driscoll/Mars Hill, Local churches

Followers help their cause

You do not have to be a key leader to influence others

If Christians try to play both sides then the water is muddy

What does your social media follow list look like?

False Teachers are Motivated by Greed

Ultimately the goal of false teachers is worldly comfort

Don’t think they are out to destroy the church and Christianity. This allows for guards to drop which is exactly what Satan wants.