Introduction: How do you know, when it comes to your understanding of
God, if someone is leading you astray? How do you know if I’m leading
you down the wrong path in these lessons? If I might put in a word in
my own defense: my questions start with you reading the Bible. It is
hard to get too far off the path when your point of reference is the
Bible! Peter warns his audience that false teachers have historically
been a problem and will be a problem in the future. Let’s dig into
our study of the Bible and see what we can learn to protect ourselves
against false teaching!
- False Teachers
- Read Deuteronomy 13:1-3. What is and what is not a
criteria for determining whether a prophet is false? (What
is not a criteria is whether the prophecy comes true. What
is a criteria is whether the prophet suggests that you
follow other gods.) - Read Deuteronomy 18:22. How does this sharpen our thinking
about whether what a prophet says comes true? (In this
case the prophet is speaking in the name of the true God.
But, the prophecy does not come true. We need not be
concerned about prophets like that.) - Read Jeremiah 23:30-31. If a prophet gives credit to the
true God of heaven, is that proof that he or she is a true
prophet? (No. A person can make up his own prophecy, or
borrow it from someone else, and still attribute it to the
true God. But, that does not validate that person as a
prophet.) - Notice again the last part of Deuteronomy 18:22.
This, again, is a prophecy that God did not give. Is
this a false prophet? (The text says that “prophet
has spoken presumptuously.” If the penalty is “do not
be afraid of him,” then this is, at least, an
unreliable prophet.) - Have you noticed the “one way streets?” If a prophet
correctly predicts the future or gives credit to the true
God, that does not validate that prophet. However, if a
prophet incorrectly predicts the future or directs people
to false gods, then that is a false prophet.) - Read Lamentations 2:14. What other warning sign should we
look for in a false prophet? (They do not speak about sin
so that we can stay out of trouble.) - Read 2 Peter 2:1. In what way are false teachers like
false prophets of the Old Testament? (They deny that Jesus
is Lord. They introduce heresy.) - What happens to these false teachers? (They suffer
“swift destruction.”) - Read 2 Peter 2:2-3. What is another result that follows
false teaching? (It brings the way of truth “into
disrepute.”) - What parallel do we find to false prophets? (False
teachers make up stories, just like false prophets
made up prophecies.) - If you have a “presumptuous” teacher (compare
Deuteronomy 18:22), who is teaching something not
from God, is that also a false teacher? (The same
“don’t be afraid of him” should apply.) - Read Mark 9:38-40. What is not part of being a false
prophet or teacher? (Just because you are not part of the
“group” (your church or denomination) does not mean that
you are a false prophet or teacher. Notice that this
person both performs miracles and does it in the name of
Jesus.) - Punishment for False Teachers
- Read 2 Peter 2:4-6. We are going to stop before Peter
finishes his sentence. What does this suggest about the
fate of false prophets and false teachers? (God knows how
to punish those who do wrong and how to protect those who
do right.) - Read 2 Peter 2:7-9. I broke up this sentence because I
wanted to focus on Lot. Did Lot have good judgment? (Why
didn’t Lot move? If he was tormented and troubled by the
wickedness around him, why not move? Why let his wife and
family be pulled into evil?) - Why does it say that God saved Lot?
- Read 2 Peter 2:10 (first part). What are the two evil
traits of those who “especially” worthy of judgment (2
Peter 2:9)? (They follow their sinful nature, and they are
rebels against authority.) - Read 2 Peter 2:10-12. Think about this. Do people you know
“slander” those who live in heaven? (I’ve heard those who
make fun of God.) - Is denying that God is the Creator who spoke the
world into existence a “slander?” (If I had created
the universe in six days by speaking, and someone
said that was a lie, and that everything evolved by
chance and natural selection, I would consider that a
slander.) - Crime and Punishment
- Read 2 Peter 2:13-14. Peter writes that these false
teachers “carouse in broad daylight.” Are the character
defects of these false teachers something that is hard to
discern? (No! Peter writes it is plain for us to see.
Remember that in 2 Peter 2:10 he called them “bold and
arrogant.” This is not some secret heresy.) - When Peter writes that their “eyes” are “full of
adultery” do you think he is referring to sexual
sins? (Read Matthew 12:39, Hosea 1:2, and Revelation
17:1-2. Sexual sins may be included, but I think
Peter is writing about unfaithfulness to God. This
goes back to our earlier discussion about false
prophets directing us to other gods.) - Read 2 Peter 2:15. What do you know about Balaam? (Read
Numbers 22:10-12. The Moabite king wanted Balaam to curse
God’s people as they were on their exodus from Egypt.) - Read 2 Peter 2:16. Did Balaam say, “I would not consider
cursing God’s special people?” (Read Numbers 22:32-33. The
whole story is one of Balaam trying to go as far as
possible to win the favor (and the money) of the Moabite
king. It was a reckless course, and Balaam was saved by
his donkey.”) - Are you dumber than a donkey? What is Peter’s point?
(False teachers want to be part of what wickedness
“pays.” They want the “rewards” of the world. They
go so far that even a donkey can see the problem.) - Read 2 Peter 2:17-18. Do you know teachers like this?
(Many years ago, I visited a couple and they asked if I
had read the books of a certain religious writer. My
answer was “no,” but I sat down and read part of the book.
It was written in words that sounded religious, but it
promoted what the natural heart would want, and not
Biblical standards. In my mind it was obvious nonsense. My
first thought was that I could write books like that and
make a lot of money. My next thought was it would be hard
to imagine a greater sin than that! I think this is what
Peter is talking about.) - Read 2 Peter 2:19-20. Peter says the promise of these
false teachers is “freedom.” What kind of freedom does he
mean? (Peter uses these terms: “slaves of depravity,”
“entangled in” and “corruption.” What are the sins of the
world? What are the sins that entangled you before you
were converted? These false teachers argue that you can
enjoy the freedom of the sins that previously beset your
life while still being a Christian.) - Those of you who regularly read these lessons know
that I am a strong advocate of grace. However, grace
is not a license to sin. I recall a person speaking
about a very serious sin and saying, “God will
forgive me.” God does forgive sin, but God also died
to show that the law is just. We benefit by keeping
the law. - Let me give you two examples. A person rides a
motorcycle without a helmet because the rider
believes in the skill of those working in the local
hospital. A person pays no attention to diet and
exercise, because of the ability of surgeons to
successfully perform heart bypass surgery. Does this
make any logical sense? - Look again at the last part of 2 Peter 2:20. Why are these
people worse off? (They now feel justified in their
corruption. How can they turn to what is right when they
believe that God sanctions evil?) - Read 2 Peter 2:21-22. If the dog is back in vomit and the
pig back in mud, why would it have been better to never
know “the way of righteousness?” (Because of their example
to others. Being in the vomit and mud is now argued to be
the right thing.) - Friend, Peter tells us that some false teaching is
obvious. If a teacher undermines the true God or leads you
back into a sinful way of life, then you have to be dumber
than a donkey not to see the problem. Will you keep your
eyes open and your mind alert when you hear new teaching? - Next week: The Day of the Lord.