FALSE TEACHERS

2 Peter 2:1-3

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Many people believe there will be individuals from all
      denominational churches who will be saved eternally.
      1. They tell us that God is too good to condemn good and
         honest people.
      2. They say that God will not save just a few who might be
         holding to a particular doctrine, but will save all who have
         lived right.
   B. God is good, but He is also severe. Rom. 11:22
      1. The problem with our religious world today is that people
         are not being warned about false teachers.
      2. The Bible not only warns that false teachers will come, but
         also instructs on how to recognize them.
      3. From our text, let's look at several ways to identify and
         avoid false teachers.

I. FIRST OF ALL, THERE WILL BE FALSE TEACHERS AMONG US. 2 Pet. 2:1
   A. God's people have always been plagued with the problem of false
      teachers.
      1. Jer. 14:14; 5:31
         a. There prophets taught what the people wanted.
      2. The same is true in the New Testament era. 2 Tim. 4:3-4

II. FALSE TEACHERS COME IN SECRETLY. 2 Pet. 2:1
   A. No teacher of error will come into a congregation and admit    
      that he is a false teacher. He will not say, "Don't listen to  
      me, because what I am saying is false."
   B. Other verses show the manner in which they come. Jude 4; Gal.
      2:4
   C. We must be on constant guard.
      1. We must try the spirits. 1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11
         a. We can be gullible or naive; our eternal destiny hangs in
            the balance.
   D. False teachers will come; we are foolish if we believe it can't
      happen in our own congregation.

III. THEY SPEAK DECEPTIVE WORDS. 2 Pet. 2:3
   A. If a false teacher sounded like one, no one would listen.
   B. His speech sounds good; he is educated, persuasive, and very
      talented. 2 Pet. 2:18; Jude 16 - "great swelling words of
      emptiness."
   C. Rom. 16:17-18 - The word "simple" (Gk. akakon, which Thayer
      defines as "fearing no evil from others, trusting everyone").
   D. Jesus said they are wolves in sheep's clothing. Matt. 7:15
      1. His life appears to have so many virtues that people say,
         "Oh, he is such a kind, humble, sincere man. Surely he could
         not be a false teacher." 
   E. Paul said that Satan's ministers will be disguised as ministers
      of righteousness. 2 Cor. 11:13-15
      1. They go to great lengths to deceive. Eph. 4:14-15
      2. They make great effort to win converts. Matt. 23:15
   F. Thus, consider all these things: he is educated, sincere,      
      humble, reaches converts; nevertheless, he is a false teacher.

IV. THEY SEEK TO PLEASE THEMSELVES. 2 Pet. 2:3,10,14,18
   A. They serve their own belly, their own fleshly appetites. Rom.
      16:18; Phil. 3:19
   B. They suppose that godliness is a way of gain to them. 1 Tim.   
      6:3-5
      1. Their teaching satisfies the flesh of man more than it fills
         his spiritual needs.
      2. Application: Gymnasiums, multi-purpose buildings, food,
         fun, frolic; satisfying of the flesh.
   C. They are confused and do not know what "the church," "the
      spiritual institution of God" is.
      1. They can't distinguish between the holy and profane. Ezek.
         22:26
         a. Their Church buildings are used for social and
            recreational activities instead of a place solely for
            worship.
   D. May we be given the wisdom to see through this flesh -         
      satisfying "brand" of Christianity.

V. THEY WILL HAVE MANY FOLLOWERS. 2 Pet. 2:2
   A. Few things the Bible teaches is more tragic. Matt. 7:13-14;    
      Luke 13:24
   B. People today cannot comprehend how salvation could be so
      narrow.
      1. God's people, those who believe and love the truth, have
         always and always will be in the minority.
      2. We believe what the Lord said - "only a few will be saved,"
         and we strive to be of that few.

VI. THEIR END IS DESTRUCTION. 2 Pet. 2:1,3
   A. The Scriptures reveal that believing and practicing false      
      doctrines will cause one to be lost. 2 John 9; Matt. 7:21-23;  
      Titus 1:13-14; Matt. 15:9; 2 Thess. 2:10-12; Gal. 1:6-9
      1. It doesn't matter if one is honest and sincere; if he is    
         holding to falsehood, it will condemn him.
      2. For example, one cannot affirm that "Peter was a Pope," and
         another "Peter was not a Pope" and both be right in God's
         sight.
      3. One cannot believe that "baptism is for remission of sins"
         and another "baptism in not for remission of sins" and both
         be right.
         a. How can both be right (saved individuals) when they
            clearly contradict one another, when one is holding to
            truth and the other error?

Concl.
   A. The Bible teaches us how to recognize and avoid false teachers.
   B. Let us be wise that we might be of the few who will be saved
      eternally. Eph. 5:17; Prov. 23:23; Psalm 119:104; 1 Thess.     
      5:21; 2 Pet. 1:10
   C. We need to pray Paul's prayer. Col. 1:9-10