2 Peter Series - Especially True of False Teachers

Especially True of False Teachers

2 Peter 2:10-22

The church in Corinth was a prime example of false teachers embedded inside and outside of the Church. Peter probably dealt with some of the same people that Jude and Paul did. Peter now exposes the characteristics of false teachers. 

First, these teachers followed their “corrupt desire of the flesh and despised authority.” Peter had seen enough throughout the churches mentioned in his first letter. There were those who would have raised the banner, “If it feels good do it. or “I did it my way” When they followed their own desires, birthed by their innate sinful nature, anything was acceptable as long as it was relative to their own moral compasses. Many were converts who had lived under the Greek and Roman philosophies of desire (give into whatever pleases you)(Epicureans). Also Peter included the concept of rebellion or despising authority. There were many who challenged Paul in Corinth, and Peter as well remembered the Sanhedren’s orders to desist from speaking in the authority of Jesus’ name or ‘Who do you think you are?’

Application - In Peter's day there was a large group of people who followed the teachings of Epicurus. This teaching spread throughout the hellenized world through Greek domination. The definition for an Epicurean is a person devoted to sensual enjoyment, especially that derived from fine food and drink and today’s world especially in the western world, the philosophy of Epicureans lives on in full strength. This mindset also has permeated the church, maybe not in the sexual, but certainly in materialism, and some radically. Jesus' admonishment of the Laodicians was that they bragged they needed nothing, they had everything (Rev.3:17). Peter saw false teachers arise out of this mindset, and certainly there are false teachers today who believe materialism is okay, in fact we must prosper in it, that God wants us prosperous in material things. 

Peter characterized false teachers with rebellious and corrupt desires. We have rebellion in the church in many forms, from the top down. There are church leaders who are steep in corrupt desires, prosperity and pleasure is their only message. Then there are rebellious leaders and teachers who buck every authority that doesn’t recognize them as leaders, teachers and authoritative in their churches. So many churches have splintered, divided, and died because of rebellious and corrupt desires of materialism and Epicureanism.

 It may take the discipline of God to open our eyes and ears to see the dangers that this divisive teaching and lifestyle has had on the church.

Next, Peter describes the characteristics of arrogance and brashness of these false teachers. Let’s look at the text, “Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done.” 

They would stand in the center of a plaza or at the gate of the city and rail on legalities or imprecate (to utter evil) against things that they didn’t fully understand. Peter and Jude (v,8) both describe them as beasts, unreasoning animals, charging into arguments and biting with words towards those they intended to hurt or disdain. Peter and Jude both understood that God’s grace and love were the primary elements in Jesus’ teaching and living with people.

Application - Look at the demonstrations and rallies, you will find Christians who will yell and scream, even in profanity, at injustices and governmental legalities. They, as a mob, take on the animalistic nature of the mob and attack, not fully understanding what or why they are doing it. We see this today, played out on the television or social media. Like animals, their intent is to harm, not realizing they will be caught and tried for the destruction they have done. Jesus taught us to love one another (Jn.15:12, 1 Pet. 4:8, Eph. 5:21; 1 Jn. 4:8). These are true teachings that we must follow. False teaching has worked its way into the church through this pandemic and our untamed sinful natures and tongues. We must follow the teachings of Jesus, and the apostles.

Third, Peter addresses the false teacher's desire for pleasure. Those who came out of the Greek philosophies of pleasure, only understood the bases of pleasures. They were given to sensual desires: reveling in gluttony, sexuality, and greed as we have learned earlier. Let’s look at the text, “Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.” 

Peter contented with false teachers at evangelistic events, meals in the homes of believers, as well as events held in open air forums. Peter saw the abuse of the false teachers on the new converts, widows, and young men and young women. They were rapacious (aggressive) in their schmoozing at a love feast. They would agree with people only to gain a foothold or gain an ear for their views on religion with persuasive words. Peter also called them experts on greed, taking an offering two or three times in order to garner more money for themselves or pet projects, much like Balalam, who was persuaded by his ‘wages of wickedness’ to curse the Israelites by foreign kings, only to be reprimanded by a donkey who had more discernment. Peter doesn’t specifically refer to the false teachings about Jesus, but there were many who denied or misaligned the scriptures to produce a new revelation, a new teaching on the deity, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. These false teachers attacked with the hopes of drawing people to their way of thinking, and they did this with subtleness, abstruse and hair splitting arguments. 

Application - “Money, Money, Money” this has been the bane of many false teachers. I remember an insurance businessman who worked the church for clientele as an elder and teacher. He was smooth. Then there are the visiting evangelists or teachers who schmooth the people to give to their project. They took two or three offerings, even wanting the people to give every cent in their pockets, purses, or wallets. Afterwards,  I have heard them boasting that they sure knew how to take an offering. They would do this under the guise of cheerful giving, but in reality it was rapacious and greedy. Peter ran into these teachers many times as they were trying to fleece the sheep. False teachers are consumed with the need for more money. There is never enough for them. 

If it is truly an offering for God, then God will put it on the hearts of his people to give joyfully, cheerfully, and not under compulsion. Moses didn’t need to take two offerings for the tabernacle, and Paul commended the Macedonians for giving beyond their means. Generosity is non-negotiable for the community of Jesus followers, but let it be God led.

Lastly, Peter describes the sins that have befallen the false teachers. Let’s look at the text, “These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

The consistency and depth of integrity of these people are merely vapors, mists that can be easily blown away. Their words were empty, without substance, meaningless, as well as arrogant and boastful, built upon their own words or works of deception that appeal to the lusts of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life (1 Jn.2:16). They focused on the new believers who were not grounded in the Word of God, and easily deceived. They boasted of their freedom to do whatever they fleshly desire, while they are still held captive by their depravity and iniquity. Peter points out that these “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them” 

Peter had seen many who had succumbed to the flesh after they had been set free by knowing Christ Jesus (Ananias and Sapphira). It didn’t turn out well for them. “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” Peter’s heart was as a shepherd for the flock, he was to protect them from all enemies, especially those who were ‘wolves in sheep’s wool.’

 Peter concludes with two proverbs of gross proportions, “Of them the proverbs are true: ‘A dog returns to its vomit,’ and, ‘A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.’” There were plenty of dogs in Peter’s day, and he probably had seen sick dogs from malnourishment eat the very vomit that they threw up. He likened it to people who had been set free from a certain sin, only to give into the sickness of sin, and return and even become worse than they were before. Second, the proverb addressed the filth of sin, He likened it to sows wallowing in the mud. You can take and clean a sow, but it's fleshly nature is to return to the sty and smother in the filthy mud.

Application - Integrity and consistency should be rock solid in the life of a Christian. But when this is not so, temptations will many times be too enticing (James 1:13-15) leading back to sin, this is what the false teachers hope for and prey upon. False teachers are clever and subtle like their mentor the Devil, they will sound smooth, enticing you with temptation, only to drag you back to the sty you just left. 

In my early time of ministry in a low income housing unit, we had approximately 200 residents in the complex. Many were poor, abused, and some possessed, and all lost without Jesus. There was this young lady we invited to church, she was a lady accustomed to the streets at night. She came to church in the van we drove, and gave her heart to Jesus. She came back to her home, and she couldn’t go in because of the demonic possession in the apartment. She asked me if I could help. I prayed through on what God would have me do, I went into the house and began destroying anything that was occult, sexual, or remotely demonic related. Then we anointed the apartment with oil over all entrances. She was able to come into her home without any oppression from demonic authorities.  She was fine for a few weeks, but then she stopped coming to church, and when she saw me she would run away. I found out she returned to her old lifestyle, and now was worse than she was before coming to Christ. 

We had a few who were victorious in coming out of sin and living for Jesus, but I have seen many of these situations, where the newly born Christians have been preyed upon and tempted by the ungodly and false teachers. Today, in that complex they have built a Mormon ward. God's word is confirmed again.  

If you are reading this and know of someone who has fallen back, I ask that you reach out to them and to pray for them, and if your friends are new in Christ, disciple them, for I know that the enemy is out there waiting and looking for an opportunity to lure them away by enticing temptations and teachings of men and demons. 

I’m again going to include the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). If you have already asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, then share this message with someone who hasn’t. 

A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis