Don't Be Led Astray By False Teachers

When you are young, you tend to resist the warnings given to you by your parents:

• "Watch out, the oven is hot!" to a young child.
• "Don't stay up too late -- you'll have a tough time in school tomorrow!" to a pre-teen.
• "Don't go out with people whose character is worse than your own" to a teenager.

Warnings are hard to swallow. But they are sometimes quite important and necessary. Peter reaches such a point in chapter two of his second letter. False teachers will surely come into the church to try and lead believers into ungodly living. While such a warning seems incredible, we see today many such false teachers who have indeed arisen within the churches and denominations around the world.

Scripture Passage: 2 Peter 2:1-22

Main Thought: Believers in the LORD Jesus Christ must learn to identify and forsake false teachers lest they be led astray into fruitless, ungodly living.

1. False teachers have always arisen to oppose God and pervert His truth --so beware! (2 Pet. 2:1-3)
2. God knows how to punish the wicked and knows those who are righteous among them -- so be strengthened! (2 Pet. 2:4-11)
3. Depraved teachers who show no regard for truth or prudence will suffer certain eternal damnation -- so be comforted! (2 Pet. 2:12-17)
4. False teachers can lead Christians astray with their perverted ways and word -- so be wise! (2 Pet. 2:18-22)

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a longtime their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. (2 Pet. 2:1-3, NKJV)

1. False teachers have always arisen to oppose God and pervert His truth-- so beware! (2 Pet. 2:1-3)

Where there is a genuine article, someone always seems to create a fake:

• Cola products
• Currency -- $100 bills
• Oil paintings

Since ancient times, false prophets have always arisen to oppose God's prophets:

• Moses vs. Jannes & Jambres (magicians in Pharaoh's court)
• Jeremiah vs. Prophets of peace
• Elijah vs. prophets of Baal

It seems if something is true or good, Satan tries to create a counterfeit of it to twist and pervert people away from what is true or good -- he is opposed to God and to His truth. Peter defines some identifying marks of the false teachers -- notice they first concern truth:

• Destructive heresies -- which are secretly brought in to the messages.
• Denying the Sovereign LORD who bought them -- referring to the identify of Christ, the redemption by Christ, the Lordship of Christ.
• Deceptive words -- used by covetous individuals who do not want your salvation or spiritual growth but want your money.

False teachers arise to oppose God's truth -- they are driven by greed and spurred on by Satan himself.

• God's people must beware -- just because someone preaches with a banner over his podium proclaiming "Jesus is LORD" does not mean the truth will be proclaimed.
• Examine their doctrine by comparing it with the clear teaching of Scripture. Cling to what is true and reject what contradicts God's holy word.
• Reject also the preacher/teacher who preaches that which contradicts God's word.

4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)-- 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. (2 Pet. 2:4-11, NKJV)

2. God knows how to punish the wicked and knows those who are righteous among them -- so be strengthened! (2 Pet. 2:4-11)

Here God's word delineates between the wicked who are judged and the righteous who are saved:
 

Those whom God delivers	Those whom God punishes
	Angels who sinned (v.4)
Noah & his family (v.5)	Pre-flood world (v.5)
Lot & his two daughters (v.7)	Sodom & Gomorrah (v.6)
Godly people (v.9)	Wicked people: unjust, walk according to the flesh, give in to lust, despise authority, presumptuous, self-willed, no fear of slandering angelic creatures. (vv. 9-10)

Judgment by God is swift and certain for those who oppose His truth and His ways. The angels who sinned (Peter does not elaborate on what sin it might have been) have been immediately judged. The ancient world did not continue to the present day but was totally destroyed. Sodom and Gomorrah reached the end of God's patience and are nonexistent today. Though it seems to us in time and space that the wicked are "getting away with it"-- God assures us in His word that those who oppose His truth get away with nothing. He is the One who knows all and will judge all according to His perfect standard of truth, righteousness, and justice.

But notice the other point Peter makes here: God knows how to save the righteous man or woman because He knows those who are His! He knew Noah personally among all the inhabitants of the ancient world. And he knew Noah's heart and his ways were righteous. He also knew Lot among the filthy, wicked inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. God even knew Lot's heart though he lived a less than godly life -- Lot was credited righteousness by his faith, just like his Uncle Abraham. (Gen. 15:6)

When was the last time you forget which child on the play ground or playing field was yours? Even in the midst of a great crowd of children, you -- the parent -- can spot them because you know them, because that child belongs to you and is a part of you.

God remembers you because you are His child. Certainly this points to the necessity of a personal relationship with God through faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. It also points to the great need for each believer to shine the light of righteousness in thought, word, and deed. This is a dark world being led astray by false teachers. We have the example of Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and Lot, a compromiser and even collaborator with the wicked. Who will have the greater reward when God judges their works of faith? Which of these two believers will you identify with in your life? Let us be found faithful like Noah who labored to live and proclaim God's truth to a dark world for 130 years...

12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. (2 Pet. 2:12-17, NKJV)

3. Depraved teachers who show no regard for truth or prudence will suffer certain eternal damnation -- so be comforted! (2 Pet. 2:12-17)

The story of Balaam is both humorous and sad at the same time. He was a sorcerer (Num. 24:1) who thought he had the power to bless or curse people. He had a reputation for providing this "service" for a fee -- cold, hard cash! As Peter points out, Balaam "loved the wages of unrighteousness" (2 Pet. 2:15, NKJV). He was in it entirely for what he could get out of it. When he persisted in trying to curse the Israelites for the gold of the Moabite king (Num. 22:7), God used a stubborn donkey to try and talk some sense into him (Num. 22:22-35). Balaam seems to have persisted in trying to use sorcery to obtain God's revelation. His love of money had distorted his spiritual understanding of God.

False teachers who continue in disregarding God's truth follow the way of Balaam -- loving money and the fruit of unrighteousness. False teachers exploit you because of covetousness (v.3). Peter even says their hearts are trained in covetousness -- by giving in to the lust for money and possessions they no longer realize how corrupt they are. As a result, they are:

• "like natural brute beasts" (v.12) -- speaking lies they believe are true!
• "accursed children" (v.14) -- condemned by God!
• "wells without water" (v. 17) -- empty, void of the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit!
• "clouds carried by a tempest" (v.17) -- driven by wickedness like a hurricane drives the clouds!

The judgment determined by those who persist in distorting God's truth and walking in greed is an awesome, ominous punishment: "for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever" (2 Pet. 2:12-17, NKJV). God will hold accountable those who stand before people as a Bible teacher (Matt. 5:19; Rom. 2:21-23; James 3:1). The false teachers face eternity in the blackness of darkness -- never again able to see the light of God, enjoy His peace, love, or joy anymore. They will be recompensed for their gross error in leading others astray -- but what a sobering thought it is!

We know we can identify false teachers by the holy measuring stick of God's truth. How else can we identify a false teacher? Use the technique "follow the money"...

• Many false teachers spend more time asking for money than feeding the people the word of God.
• The Jehovah's Witnesses who go door-to-door are a "free" distribution channel for the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society -- one of the largest publishing houses in the world!
• Look at the life-style of the one professing to be a Bible teacher -- watch out for those who wear precious jewels, drive expensive cars, and live in mansions off the contributions of their flock.

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." (2 Pet. 2:18-22, NKJV)

4. False teachers can lead Christians astray with their perverted ways and word -- so be wise! (2 Pet. 2:18-22)

Is it possible for a Christian to be deceived by a false teacher? Absolutely. If they are unable to attract you simply with deceptive words, false teachers will appeal to the lusts of the flesh. This technique is extremely effective.

"Word of Faith" teachers, for example, abound in the church proclaiming God wants you to be healthy and wealthy -- appealing directly to the flesh. Amazingly, throngs of people gather around such teachers as Kenneth Copeland, Frederick Price, John Avanzini who tell you that you can create your own reality by the "words of faith". Are you sick? Claim your complete healing "in Jesus' name"! Are you sweating the Visa bill this month? Claim the prosperity that God HAS to give you "in Jesus' name"! This is an absolute perversion of Scripture. Yet people simply ignore the fact that this teaching has no basis in Scripture. They ignore this because they lust for the benefits promised to them by the false teachers.

Peter points out the contradiction and the conclusion of believers who follow such false teachers:

• Contradiction (v.19) -- These false teachers are slaves to sin. A slave cannot lead anyone to freedom for the slave must do the will of his master. False teachers cannot lead anyone to true freedom in Christ for they themselves are slaves to sin. They can only lead believers back into the bondage of sin.
• Conclusion (v.20-21) -- Imagine a beggar who finds a real pot of gold coins. He now has the means to buy food, shelter, and clothing. The beggar buys himself an expensive Armani suit and the best steak dinner in town. He hires a limousine to drive him to a spectacular view of a river. Unfortunately, he accidentally dumps the gold coins into the river. Now he must use the pot to beg for money once again. How tragic! It would have been betterfor him to have never had the gold than to have it and lose it. The same is true of a believer who follows after the deceit and greed of a false teacher: "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them" (2 Pet. 2:20-21, NKJV).

A believer in Christ has the security of eternal life (John 3:16, 6:42,47) according to the promise of God, who is forever faithful (Deut. 32:4). Yet the believer will be judged by Christ for his deeds done in the flesh after the point of salvation. Those who follow Christ will be rewarded eternally with what is compared to precious jewels and gold. Those who lead an ungodly life, such as Lot, will have a place in heaven but theirreward will be lost (1 Cor. 3:10-15). Peter is not saying you can lose your salvation for this would contradict God's word. His point is that to know the way of Christ that brings such great love and joy to your heart only to throw it away by following the lusts of the flesh is a tragic thing.

Reflect on YOUR life: Are you following a false teacher who appeals to your lusts for gratification? Let it not be so for you and I -- resist the temptations of the flesh by trusting in God to bring you through them. Rely on His perfect provision for your life and make no provision for the lusts of your flesh. Reject the false teachers who attempt to woo you into greed, debauchery, and immorality. Follow Christ and listen to His teachers who faithfully live and proclaim the word of God.

Our Creator God loves you and wants you to know Him! If you would like to contact this ministry for further information or questions, please send your e-mail to:
Email: ministryrequest1@WordTruth.Com
Web Site: WordTruth.Com

©  Copyright 7/5/2002, Randy Lariscy.