1. “Paid Back for Doing Harm” 2 Peter 2:13-22 February 14, 2010

2. “A man’s reputation is what other people think of him; his character is what he really is.”

3. I. False teachers are identified by their true character (13-14) Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes on the church. They are blots and blemishes on the church. They revel in their pleasures while they feast with you. They revel in their pleasures while they feast with you. They never stop sinning. They never stop sinning. They seduce the unstable. They seduce the unstable. They are experts in greed. They are experts in greed.

4. II. False teachers wander from the straight way (15-19). They follow wickedness. They follow wickedness. They are compared to Balaam. They are compared to Balaam. He loved the wages of wickedness. He loved the wages of wickedness. He was rebuked by a donkey. He was rebuked by a donkey. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. They are springs without water. They are springs without water. They are mists driven by a storm. They are mists driven by a storm.

5. II. False teachers wander from the straight way (15-19). They are full of empty promises. They are full of empty promises. They appeal to lustful desires. They appeal to lustful desires. They entice weak people. They entice weak people.

6. III. False teachers are worse off than before (20-22). They are entangled again in corruption. They are entangled again in corruption. They had the opportunity to escape the corruption. They had the opportunity to escape the corruption. But they became overcome by the corruption. But they became overcome by the corruption. They turned their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. They turned their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Two proverbs Two proverbs

7. Two proverbs: Proverbs 26:11 – “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.” Proverbs 26:11 – “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.” A Syrian story of Ahikar – “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” A Syrian story of Ahikar – “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

8. III. False teachers are worse off than before (20-22). They are entangled again in corruption. They are entangled again in corruption. They had the opportunity to escape the corruption. They had the opportunity to escape the corruption. But they became overcome by the corruption. But they became overcome by the corruption. They turned their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. They turned their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Two proverbs Two proverbs Better to not even know the way of righteousness. Better to not even know the way of righteousness.

9. Conclusion Judgment awaits false prophets who do harm to the body of Christ. Judgment awaits false prophets who do harm to the body of Christ. Be on guard against their teaching. Be on guard against their teaching. In order to be on guard, we must be grounded in Biblical doctrine. In order to be on guard, we must be grounded in Biblical doctrine. Practice spiritual disciplines so that we may grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Practice spiritual disciplines so that we may grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.