Prevalence

Methods

Motivation

Characteristics

Fruit

False teachers were False teachers were among God’s people among God’s people

in the O.T.in the O.T. - - Ignored sin - Lam. Ignored sin - Lam.

2:142:14 Caused sin - 23:25-Caused sin - 23:25-

32; 28:15-17; 32; 28:15-17; 29:31-3229:31-32

Promised peace – Promised peace – Jer. 14:13-15; Jer. 14:13-15; 23:16-17; 27:14-23:16-17; 27:14-15; 15;

For gain - Is 56:10-For gain - Is 56:10-11; 11;

2 Peter 2:1 (NKJV)

But there were also false prophets

among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, . . .

There WILL BE False There WILL BE False Teachers Among us -Teachers Among us - Mat 24:5,11,24; Mark Mat 24:5,11,24; Mark

13:22; Luke 21:8; 13:22; Luke 21:8; Acts 20:29-30; 2 Cor. Acts 20:29-30; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; Galatians 11:13-15; Galatians 4:17; Ephes. 4:14; 2 4:17; Ephes. 4:14; 2 Thes. 2:3-12; 1 Tim. Thes. 2:3-12; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-9; 2 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-9; 2 Tim. 4:3; Titus 1:11; 1 Tim. 4:3; Titus 1:11; 1 John 2:18-19; 1 John John 2:18-19; 1 John 2:26; 1 John 4:1; Jude 2:26; 1 John 4:1; Jude 1:18; 1:18;

2 Peter 2:1 (NKJV)

But there were also false prophets

among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, . . .

•““Come to you in sheep's clothing, Come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” - Matthew 7:15 (NKJV)wolves.” - Matthew 7:15 (NKJV)•““but while men slept, his enemy but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.” - Matthew wheat and went his way.” - Matthew 13:25 (NKJV) 13:25 (NKJV) •““False brethren secretly brought in False brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth . . .)” - (who came in by stealth . . .)” - Galatians 2:4 Galatians 2:4 •““By the trickery of men, in the By the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,” - Ephes. 4:14 (NKJV) plotting,” - Ephes. 4:14 (NKJV) •““Creep into households and make Creep into households and make captives of gullible women” - 2 Tim. captives of gullible women” - 2 Tim. 3:6 (NKJV)3:6 (NKJV)•““Crept in unawares” – Jude 1:4Crept in unawares” – Jude 1:4

2 Peter 2:1 (NKJV)

who will secretly bring in destructive

heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift

destruction.

A false teacher is one who advances an

erring position, which in the process, jeopardizes the

spiritual well being of those who follow

them, causing division, and condemning

themselves. (Rom 10:17)

2 Peter 2:1 (NKJV)

who will secretly bring in destructive

heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift

destruction.

•Strongs Strongs - Destructive - - Destructive - apoleia,apoleia, ap-o'-li-aap-o'-li-a; - ; - ruinruin or or lossloss (physical, spiritual or eternal) :- (physical, spiritual or eternal) :- damnabledamnable

•Vines Vines – “Destructive - . . . – “Destructive - . . . indicating "loss of well-being, not indicating "loss of well-being, not of being," . . . (b) of persons, of being," . . . (b) of persons, signifying their spiritual and signifying their spiritual and eternal perdition, Mat_7:13; eternal perdition, Mat_7:13; Joh_17:12; 2Th_2:3, . . .”Joh_17:12; 2Th_2:3, . . .”

2 Peter 2:1 (NKJV)

who will secretly bring in destructive

heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift

destruction.

•Vines Vines – Heresies – 139 – Heresies – 139 hairesis - denotes (a) "a choosing, hairesis - denotes (a) "a choosing, choice" (from haireomai, "to choice" (from haireomai, "to choose"); then, "that which is choose"); then, "that which is chosen," and hence, "an opinion," chosen," and hence, "an opinion," especially a self-willed opinion, especially a self-willed opinion, which is substituted for which is substituted for submission to the power of truth, submission to the power of truth, and leads to division and the and leads to division and the formation of sects,formation of sects,

2 Peter 2:1 (NKJV)

who will secretly bring in destructive

heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift

destruction.

•Vines Vines – to "deny" the – to "deny" the Father and the Son, by Father and the Son, by apostatizing and by disseminating apostatizing and by disseminating pernicious teachings, to "deny" pernicious teachings, to "deny" Jesus Christ as master and Lord Jesus Christ as master and Lord by immorality under a cloak of by immorality under a cloak of religion, 2Pe_2:1; Jud_1:4;religion, 2Pe_2:1; Jud_1:4;

•i.e. The Gnostics – The i.e. The Gnostics – The Calvinist – Anyone teaching Calvinist – Anyone teaching ANOTHER Jesus!! Tit 1:16 ANOTHER Jesus!! Tit 1:16

2 Peter 2:1 (NKJV)

who will secretly bring in destructive

heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift

destruction.

•““But you, beloved, remember the But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: [18] how they told you Christ: [18] how they told you that there would be that there would be mockersmockers in in the last time who would walk the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly according to their own ungodly lusts.” - Jude 1:17-18 (NKJV) lusts.” - Jude 1:17-18 (NKJV)

•Mock the coming judgment – 2 Mock the coming judgment – 2 Peter 3:1-7Peter 3:1-7

2 Peter 2:2 (NKJV)

And many will follow their

destructive ways, because of whom

the way of truth will be blasphemed.

•Jesus was mocked – John 10:20 Jesus was mocked – John 10:20 – “He has a demon”– “He has a demon”

•Paul was mocked – “You are Paul was mocked – “You are beside yourself” - Acts 26:24beside yourself” - Acts 26:24

•If you are reproached for the If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, name of Christ, blessed are you, - 1 Peter 4:14-16- 1 Peter 4:14-16

•Why? “I was enraged against Why? “I was enraged against them” - Acts 26:11them” - Acts 26:11

2 Peter 2:2 (NKJV)

And many will follow their

destructive ways, because of whom

the way of truth will be blasphemed.

•Satan is a “deceiver” (Jn 8:44; Satan is a “deceiver” (Jn 8:44; Rev 13:9;20:3,9). Rev 13:9;20:3,9).

•Those who are from Satan “are Those who are from Satan “are false apostles, deceitful workers, false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. - 2 Cor. 11:13apostles of Christ. - 2 Cor. 11:13

•Flattering people to gain Flattering people to gain advantage – Jude 1:15-16advantage – Jude 1:15-16

2 Peter 2:3 (NKJV)

By covetousness they will exploit you with

deceptive words; for a long time their judgment

has not been idle, and their destruction does not

slumber.

•False teachers use every False teachers use every opportunity to deceive their opportunity to deceive their prey. (2 Peter 2:13).prey. (2 Peter 2:13).

•““Promising liberty” (19) – Promising liberty” (19) – constructing grace in such a constructing grace in such a way as to accept the sinful way as to accept the sinful conduct they were desirous of conduct they were desirous of practicing (2 Peter 2:14-19; practicing (2 Peter 2:14-19; Jude 4)Jude 4)

2 Peter 2:3 (NKJV)

By covetousness they will exploit you with

deceptive words; for a long time their judgment

has not been idle, and their destruction does not

slumber.

•Preying on the weak – Preying on the weak – (2:18; 3:17,18; Eph 4:13,14)(2:18; 3:17,18; Eph 4:13,14)

2 Peter 2:3 (NKJV)

By covetousness they will exploit you with

deceptive words; for a long time their judgment

has not been idle, and their destruction does not

slumber.

Romans 16:17-18 (NKJV)

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. [18] For

those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and

flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

CovetousnessCovetousness

• Their words were designed Their words were designed or molded to benefit them. or molded to benefit them. - (2 Peter 2:3; 3:3; Jude - (2 Peter 2:3; 3:3; Jude 11, 16).11, 16).

• Trained in covetousness Trained in covetousness themselves, they will themselves, they will allure through this "lust of allure through this "lust of the flesh" i.e. wealth, the flesh" i.e. wealth, health, power, influence - health, power, influence - cf. 2 Pe 2:14,18cf. 2 Pe 2:14,18

• Sound familiar?Sound familiar?

2 Peter 2:3 (NKJV)

By covetousness they will exploit you with

deceptive words; for a long time their judgment

has not been idle, and their destruction does not

slumber.

SensualitySensuality

• ““having eyes full of having eyes full of adultery and that cannot adultery and that cannot cease from sin, . . .” - 2 cease from sin, . . .” - 2 Peter 2:14Peter 2:14

• ““they allure through the they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, . . .” - 2 Peter lewdness, . . .” - 2 Peter 2:182:18

• ““These are sensual These are sensual persons, who cause persons, who cause divisions, not having the divisions, not having the Spirit.” - Jude 1:19Spirit.” - Jude 1:19

2 Peter 2:10 (NKJV)

But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the

lust of uncleanness . . .

RebellionRebellion

• ““. . . they said, 'We will . . . they said, 'We will not walk in it.” - Jeremiah not walk in it.” - Jeremiah 6:166:16

• ““reject authority, and reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. - speak evil of dignitaries. - Jude 1:8-9Jude 1:8-9

• Many decide their Many decide their religious beliefs based religious beliefs based upon what they want to upon what they want to believe! - (Rom 10:17; 2 believe! - (Rom 10:17; 2 Peter 3:16; 2 Tim 4:3,4).Peter 3:16; 2 Tim 4:3,4).

2 Peter 2:10,11 (NKJV)

. . . and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not

afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, . . .

2 Peter 2:1 (NKJV) . . . bring on themselves swift destruction.

2 Peter 2:3-7 (NKJV) . . . [4] For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell . . . [5] and did not spare the ancient world, . . . [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;

2 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) then the Lord knows how . . . to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

2 Peter 2:12-13 (NKJV) [12] . . . will utterly perish in their own corruption, [13] and will receive the wages of unrighteousness,

2 Peter 2:17 (NKJV) . . . for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

2 Peter 2:1 (NKJV) . . . bring on themselves swift destruction.

2 Peter 2:3-7 (NKJV) . . . [4] For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell . . . [5] and did not spare the ancient world, . . . [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;

2 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) then the Lord knows how . . . to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

2 Peter 2:12-13 (NKJV) [12] . . . will utterly perish in their own corruption, [13] and will receive the wages of unrighteousness,

2 Peter 2:17 (NKJV) . . . for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

2 Peter 2:20-22 (NKJV) 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."

Matthew 15:14 (NKJV) Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."

Luke 6:39 (NKJV) And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?

Matthew 23:15 (NKJV) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

Matthew 15:14 (NKJV) Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."

Luke 6:39 (NKJV) And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?

Matthew 23:15 (NKJV) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

Prevalence

Methods

Motivation

Characteristics

Fruit

If They – Minimize the Need for Authority

Depend on human wisdom

Minimize the need to OBEY God

Teach that God’s love & grace permits a continuance in sin

Reject examination

Know & Grow in the Truth!

2 Peter 1:10 (NKJV)

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and

election sure, for if you do these things you will

never stumble;