Lesson 13

Portrait Of A False Teacher

2 Peter 2:1-9

Today we have arrived at Chapter 2 of Peter's second epistle. (Some of you may be thinking "It's about time." We took a long time working our way through Chapter 1).

There is a distinct and mark change in tone and content from Chapter 1 to Chapter 2 of Peter's second letter. Chapter 1 might be described as being about Living Principles. Chapter 2 is about Lying Professors. While Chapter 1 is pastoral, Chapter 2 is prophetic. In Chapter 1, Peter writes tender words of encouragement. But in Chapter 2, he writes blistering words of rebuke.

Two words in 2:1 sum up the subject of this entire chapter - "false teachers." And while we like the Sunday morning sermons to be "nice" and "positive", preaching the "whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27) means that from time to time we must speak boldly and directly about error and those who disguise themselves as Christians while teaching it.

The nation of Israel was constantly being led astray by false prophets. But the problem did not disappear with the institution of the church, the arrival of the Holy Spirit and a New Covenant. Just as there had been false prophets in Israel, Peter warned that there were going to be false teachers within Christianity (v. 1).

Counterfeits are nothing new. Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has always been a great imitator and deceiver. According to the Bible there are false Christians (Matthew 13:38), a false gospel (Galatians 1:6-9) and even a false righteousness (Romans 9:30-10:4). Some day, Satan will introduce to the world a false Christ (II Thessalonians 2). Thus, we should not be surprised to discover that within Christianity there are false prophets and false teachers.

In the first nine verses of Chapter 2, Peter answers two important questions about false teachers. First, how do you recognize and identify a false teacher? Finally, what is going to happen to them?

The False Teacher Described, 2:1-3.

The picture painted by Peter of a false teacher is not very pretty!

First, Peter says they are divisive. According to verse 1, they "bring in damnable heresies." The modern definition of a heresy is "any religious belief that is strongly at variance with established beliefs." The Greek word for "heresy" portrays the idea of promoting a party spirit, that is, causing a division. Galatians 5:20 lists heresies with other works of the flesh. Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. According to Peter, this is exactly what false teachers do. They divide the church by introducing religious beliefs that are strongly at variance with established beliefs.

According to verse 3, they use, what Peter calls, "feigned words" to promote their heresy. The word feign means artificial. In fact, the Greek word is "plastos" from which our word "plastic" is derived. Plastic words. Words which can be twisted into anything you want them to mean. False teachers use a Christian vocabulary but they do not have a Christian dictionary. They use the same vernacular that we are familiar with but their words have different meanings. Verse 18 says that they "speak great swelling words", that is, their sermons and speeches will impress you.

Please keep in mind that these heretics are not innocently ignorant in what they are saying. Acts 18:24-28 introduces us to Apollos who innocently and ignorantly taught things that were not completely accurate before being taken aside by Aquilla and Priscilla and being taught the more perfect way. Apollos was not a heretic. But the teachers to which Peter is referring are. They are not innocently ignorant. They deliberately teach false doctrines.

These false teachers are not really even saved. Later in the Chapter, Peter compares them to dogs and hogs (not to sheep). According to Jude 19, they do not have the Spirit. Peter says that they deny the Lord who bought them. There is no limit to the atonement. Christ's death included even those who deny Him! Christ died for false teachers who deliberately divide the people of God with destructive heresies, I John 2:2!

The second thing that Peter says about these false teachers is that they are immoral and sensual. It is the meaning of the false "pernicious ways" which means licentious conduct. False teachers satisfy their own lusts under the guise of religion. Verse 14 says that there eyes are full of adultery and that they cannot cease from sin. Verse 18 speaks about their lustful flesh and wantonness (lewdness).

It is rather surprising for us to read in verse 2 that such immoral teachers would be followed by so many. These false teachers are very successful in their ministry! They have glowing statistics to report and great crowds gather to hear them. But statistics are not proof of authenticity. According to Jesus, the broad way that leads to destruction is crowded.

Verse 2 goes on to remind us that their filthy lives brings great disgrace to the name of Christ.

The third thing that Peter says about these false teachers is that they are greedy, v. 3. False teachers are interested most in money. Thus, they exploit ignorant people to pad their own pockets. They are not ministers. They are merchants!

Jesus said, "By their fruits you shall know them." What are the fruits of a false teacher? He is divisive and deceptive with his teaching; he is immoral and lewd in his conduct; he is greedy and exploitive in his manner.

We read Peter's words and perhaps we can think of somebody who falls into that category but they seem to just go on getting away with it, year after year. It's enough to leave you shaking your head and asking, "Why does God allow that stuff to go on? Why doesn't God put a stop to that?" which leads us to the second question that Peter answers in this text, vs. 3b-9.

The False Teachers Doomed, 2:3b-9.

These are some difficult verses to figure out. They are shrouded in mystery and not fully revealed in Scripture. (I dealt with this section because it relates to I Peter 3:18-21 in a message I called "Four Very Hard Verses").

It is not necessary to debate the hidden mysteries of these verses in order to get the main message. God judges rebellion and will not spare those reject His will! We may think that their judgment is lingering for a long time or that their destruction is asleep (verse 3) but you can know that it is coming.

To prove that, Peter cites three examples. First, in verse 4, Peter reminds us that God has reserved in judgment even fallen angels. If God judged the angels, who, in many respects are higher than men, then certainly He will judge false teachers.

Peter's second example, verse 5, is God's judgment upon the old world with the Genesis flood.

Peter's third example, verse 6-8, is God's severe judgment upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha.

Peter is careful to point out that God's hand of judgment does not fall indiscriminately. Even as God judges sinful and rebellious men, he spares and delivers the righteous. According to verse 5, God delivered Noah and, according to verse 7-8, God delivered Lot.

Having cited these three examples of God's certain judgment, Peter applies the lesson to the subject at hand in verse 9. Make no mistake. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly and the Lord knows how to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.

Beloved, let us beware of counterfeits. Not everyone claiming to represent Christ and teach Christianity is a true teacher. Can we identify them? Yes. By their divisive and deceptive doctrines. By their immoral lifestyles. And by their greedy motives. What will happen to them? Ultimately they face the doom of God's certain judgment. Righteous teachers (like Noah) have nothing to fear. Make sure you are following a true teacher.