Characteristics of False Teachers

THE REALITY OF FALSE TEACHERS

2 Peter 2:1 “But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” “For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pt. 1:21)

2 Peter 2:1 “But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”

“And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, to draw thee aside out of the way which Jehovah thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee. ” (Deut. 13:5)

2 Peter 2:1 “But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.”

1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove [test - NKJ] the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

THE REASON THAT FALSE TEACHERS EXIST

Revenue… 2 Peter 2:3, 14-15 “make merchandise” of their hearers [or, exploit – NKJ] (v3) they taught what they did because they had hearts of covetousness (v. 14) Their attitude was like Balaam “who loved the hire of wrong-doing” or, “loved the wages of unrighteousness” [NKJ]

1 Timothy 6:5 “Wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain. ”

Titus 1:10-11 “For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake [dishonest gain]”

Rebellion… 2 Peter 2:10-12 Desire the filthy Despise dominion (authority) Daring (presumptuous) Self-willed Disrespectful of authority Mere animals (without reason) The speak evil objects whose worth and value they cannot appreciate

THE RECIPE FOR BECOMING A FALSE TEACHER

They Repress Their Real Intentions 2 Peter 2:1-3, 13-14 “Privily” – to smuggle in secretly (v. 1) “Feigned words” – fictitious (v. 3) “Revelling in their deceivings while they feast with you” (v. 13) “Enticing unsteadfast souls” (v. 14)

2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

They recruit their followers by promising what they cannot deliver “These are springs without water, and midst driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved” (2 Peter 2:17)

THE RESULT OF FALSE TEACHING

It results in repudiation of the Savior Who died for us “But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:1)

It results in many following after lasciviousness “And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Peter 2:2)

It results in the way of truth being evil spoken of “And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Peter 2:2)

It results in the damnation of its hearers and practitioners “But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:1)

It results in the corruption and damnation of those who teach it “And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not” (2 Peter 2:3)

2 Peter 2:4-6 “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” (2 Peter 2:9)

“But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed” (2 Peter 2:12)

“For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first” (2 Peter 2:20)

THE REMEDY FOR FALSE TEACHING

Remember the Revelation of God Remember those things taught by holy men of God (2 Pt. 2:1) It is through knowledge that we escape the pollutants of the world (2 Pt. 2:20) We are to desire the sincere milk of the word that we may grow thereby (1 Pt. 2:1-2) We must be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) God’s word thoroughly furnishes us (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Remember your Redemption The false teacher of 2 Peter 2 did not properly appreciate the blood of Christ (2:1) Reflection on our blessings will keep us from being easily seduced Doctrines that do not require much are not worth much

Remember the Righteous examples of others “and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their lawless deeds)” (2 Peter 2:7-8) We must emulate great men and women of faith

Remember the Reward awaiting the Righteous “For thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pt. 1:11) “But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Pt. 3:13)

“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (Psa. 119:104) “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Psa. 119:128)