Warning against False Teachers
2 Peter 2:1-3 But false prophets
also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you,
who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who
bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their
sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
3 And in their greed
they will exploit you with false words.
What is heresy? Heresy means not the whole
truth of God, they will twist the scriptures in order
to fit their opinions. These are destructive to the soul, as noted before they
will come like sheep in wolves clothing.
They are workers of Satan without their
knowledge and they will deceive many.
(Matthew 24:5)
They will pervert the gospel of Christ.
Pervert means corrupt. Corrupt the gospel of Christ.
Acts 20:30 and from among your own selves
will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away
the disciples after them.
How to identify them?
1.
They will add to the
gospel of Jesus Christ. They will add works to grace. A good example is when
false teachers came and taught the Galatian church
that you need to keep the ceremonial laws, including circumcision plus the
gospel, then you will be saved. Paul said, that is another gospel, see below.
Galatians 1:8-9 But even if we or
an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we
preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If
anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him
be accursed.
Accursed,
in Greek Anathema; given over to the judgments of God. He who corrupts divine
truth is an enemy of God, and is under the curse.
2. They are proud, not humble.
1 Timothy 6:3-4 If anyone
teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound
words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with
godliness, 4 he
is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.
3.
They are covetous and
greedy for money.
2 Peter 2:3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words
Another translation on 2
Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make
merchandise of you:
4.
They are ungodly, as you
can check their lifestyle doesn’t confirm what they are teaching, their
lifestyle is ungodly
Jude 4 For certain people
have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation,
ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our
only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jude 8 Yet
in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh,
reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.
5.
They will make you laugh, they will mix God’s word with entertainment.
2 Timothy 4:3 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,
6.
They have new
revelations from God.
Jeremiah 23:16 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.
7.
They will not teach God’s
wrath against Sin, Repentance and living a life of holiness towards God.
8.
Micah 3:5 Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets
who
lead my people astray,
who cry “Peace”
when
they have something to eat,
but declare war against him
who
puts nothing into their mouths.