AVOID TEACHING AND PRACTICES OF FALSE TEACHERS – 2 PETER 2:1-22
INTRODUCTION
One of the strategies employed by Satan to lead believers astray is deception. He will secretly infiltrate the church and quietly introduce wrong teachings, to mislead God’s people.
Having emphasized the need for believers to grow in their faith, Apostle Peter shifted his attention to the false teachers, describing them and warning believers to be wary of them.
FALSE TEACHERS: WHO ARE THEY?
The word “false” is “pseudo” which means pretender, spurious, erroneous, and impostor, it is that which is not valid.
▪︎False teachers are propagators of erroneous Christian teachings.
▪︎They were bought by and followed Jesus Christ at one time but have now wondered from the truth (2Peter 2:1). Look up 1Cor. 6:20; Rev 5:9.
▪︎They now opposed the truth that once set them free and denied Jesus Christ, Who is the truth. Compare John 14:6.
▪︎Their teaching is described as “destructive heresies” (2Peter 2:2). A doctrine which tends to polarize the body of Christ and thus produce a sect that differs from the body of Christ.
▪︎When Christians fail to grow in their faith, they can easily stray away from the pathway of life. Check 2Timothy 4:3-4.
ATTRIBUTES OF FALSE TEACHERS
1. They are depraved (having or showing an evil and immoral character).
▪︎They cannot differentiate what is right from what it wrong. Check Romans 1:28.
2. They are fabricators of false stories. Check 2Timothy 3:13; Matthew 23:27-28; 24:24; Jeremiah 23:16;
3. They are greedy, with high lust for money (2Peter 2:3).
4. They are exploiters. (Acts 20:28-30; Matthew 7:15). Believers must not fall into their schemes.
5. They are destined for condemnation and destruction. They must not be followed. (2Peter 2:2).
Reflection:
(a) How do false teachers manage to gain access to the church, operate freely within the church and exercise so much influence.
(b) Discuss how we can guard the church against being carried away by the pretence of false teachers. Read 1John 4:1,5,6.
CONSEQUENCES OF FALSE TEACHING (2 Peter 2:4-9)
For every act, there is a corresponding reward or consequence.
Peter gives three historical examples to justify his position that there is a reward for every work, whether good or bad.
1. God did not spare the angels when they sinned (2Peter 2:4). Check Jude 6; Revelation 12:7-9.
▪︎If God judged the angels who rebelled against Him, He would not fail to judge false teachers who not only revealed against God but deceive and stirred up others to disobey God.
2. God did not spare the ancient world (2Peter 2:5).
▪︎God punished the wickedness and corruption of Noah’s day. Look up Genesis 6:5-8. Everyone was destroyed except Noah and members of his family.
▪︎The life of Noah presents a proof that Christians can live a righteous life in an ungodly society (Genesis 6:9), even in the face of ungodly practices in their offices and neighborhoods. We are to hold on without compromising our faith.
Reflection: Describe the implication of the grace Noah found in the eyes of the Lord as stated in Genesis 6:8.
3. God did not spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (2Peter 2:6)
God’s punishment came upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sinful activities. Look up Genesis 18:20; 19:12-13.
▪︎These cities were known for the most terrible sins on earth, including all kinds of sexual perversion. They even attempted to have a sexual relationship with angels (Gen. 19:1-5).
▪︎The cities were burnt to ashes.
▪︎Since God judged the ungodly Sodom and Gomorrah, all ungodliness that follows the pattern of Sodom and Gomorrah in our days will not escape God’s judgment. Sexual sins like homosexuality, bestiality, pornography, sex for money or marks, and the use of sex toys should be repented of to avoid God’s judgment.
▪︎ Note that God rescued Lot because he was a righteous man who was distressed by the depraved conduct of people around him (2Peter 2:8).
▪︎Christians must not be comfortable with the ongoing wickedness in the land but rise against it (2Peter 2:9).