False Teachers  

• 1^st – Nothing new… vs. 1
  • 1^st – False prophets…
    • It is CRITICAL to be in the WORD – have the KNOWLEDGE of Christ…
      • Because in the second SECTION of the book – we see there are FALSE teachers among us…
      • And the ONLY way to KNOW a FALSE teachers – is by KNOWING the TRUTH!
      • But these FALSE teachers are nothing new!
    • There were [indicative] false prophets among the people!
      • FALSE prophets [ψευδοπροφήτης] – LYING [ψευδής] prophets [προφήτης]
      • Israel had a LONG history of FALSE prophets – we came to DECEIVE the people!
      • King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to visit King Ahab of Israel – I Kings 22:4-8
      • Ahab wanted Jehoshaphat to join him in going to battle against Syria…
      • Jehoshaphat wisely asked if they could seek the Lord for advice…
      • Ahab agreed and called FOUR hundred prophets – all of whom promised VICTORY in battle!
      • One of the prophets even made horns of iron prophesying victory – VERY dramatic…
      • But the men were NOT prophets of God – they were all FALSE prophets!
      • There was only one TRUE prophet in Israel – Micaiah [note the ratio – 400:1]
      • But Ahab did not like Micaiah – because he always brought BAD news!

• When you step on a rusty nail – get bit by a dog – you need to get a shot to save your life…
• But there are people who refuse to get the shot – because it will HURT!
• People rarely want to hear the TRUTH – because the TRUTH often HURTS…
• They do NOT want to hear about sin – judgment – they would rather be ENTERTAINED…

• That is why many churches only talk about HAPPY subjects – no HURT feelings…
• Because churches are more interested in filling the SEATS – than making SAINTS!
  
• 2^nd – False teachers…
  • Even as there will be [indicative] false teachers among you…
  • FALSE teachers [ψευδοδιδάσκαλος] – LYING [ψευδής] teachers [διδάσκαλος]
  • Seeing how people HAD been DECEIVED – by FALSE prophets…
  • It should come as no SURPRISE – people will STILL be DECEIVED – by FALSE teachers!
  • I know of a BIG church – openly teaches people do NOT need to REPENT to be saved…
  • TEACHING – the Old Testament is not real – just Jewish stories written as moral lessons…
  • DENYING there is a hell – it is just an invention of men meant to control people…
  • God LOVES everyone just as we are – EVERYONE is saved – sounds like a great message…
  • But there is a PROBLEM – it is not the TRUTH of the Word – they are FALSE teachers!
  • Satan is not creative – he just copies what has worked in the past…
  • Satan DECEIVED people in the past by telling them what they wanted to hear…
  • SINCE it worked before – that is what he continues to do today…
  • Not to say there is ONE good church for every FOUR hundred…
  • But it should motivate us to VERIFY what a PASTOR teaches – to be sure it is TRUE!

• 2^nd – Defining FALSE teachers… vs. 1-3
  • 1^st – Come SECRETLY… vs. 1
    • Who [come] secretly!
    • SECRETLY [παρεισάγω] only here NT – to be SNEAKY…
    • We might ASSUME – we could recognize a FALSE teacher from a mile away – EASY to identify…
    • But FALSE teachers to not announce their entrance – hello I am a FALSE teacher…
    • They are just like their MASTER – who transforms into an Angel of light – II Corinthians 11:14
    • The impression most have of satan is a red horned – pitchfork wielding – ugly monster…
    • But the description actually comes from the Greek god Pan – god of the underworld…
    • Likely satan spread this description of himself – so people would NOT recognize him…
    • Satan is not ugly – God created him as the perfection of beauty – Ezekiel 28:12 
    • Likewise – FALSE teachers will imitate Godly men – they will LOOK like the real deal…
    • But they will always contradict the Word – draw others from a relationship with God!
  • 2^nd – Teach HERESY… vs. 1
    • Bring[ing] in destructive heresies!
      • DESTRUCTIVE [ἀπώλεια] 20x NT – carries the idea of ETERNAL destruction…
      • HERESY [αἵρεσις] – 9x NT – most often interpreted by the word SECT [denomination]
      • FALSE teachers lead others to follow a SECT – that leads to ETERNAL death!
    • Even denying the Lord who bought them!
      • Their SECT – does NOT acknowledge the Lord who BOUGHT them…
      • Rather than teaching about a MASTER [δεσπότης] who OWNS us…
      • INSTEAD they talk about a God who has to give us whatever we want…
      • They are NOT teaching the truth – they present a FALSE gospel…
      • They teach we follow Jesus only to see what we can get!
      • God is not an ATM – put in our prayer – and out comes the MONEY…
      • Rather He is our MASTER that we must submit to because we were bought with a price!
      • I Corinthians 6:20 – “You were bought at a price – therefore glorify God in your body…”
  • 3^rd – Bring DESTRUCTION… vs. 1-2
    • Bring on themselves swift destruction!
      • They teach a DESTRUCTIVE [ἀπώλεια] message – leads to their DESTRUCTION [ἀπώλεια]!
      • And their DESTRUCTION comes swiftly – that does not mean it happens QUICKLY…
      • The point is it is INEVITABLE – their FATE is certain – HELL is their destination!
        
    • Many will follow [indicative] their destructive ways!
      • FOLLOW [ἐξακολουθέω] – compound word – means to follow OUT – leaving the FAITH…
      • DESTRUCTIVE [ἀπώλεια] ways – they will lead MANY others down a DESTRUCTIVE path…
      • Not because people are DECEIVED – but because they do not WANT the truth!
      • People do not want TRUTH – they look for leaders to tell them what they WANT to hear…
      • They look for pastors – churches – who tell them their LIFESTYLE is OK with God…
      • Because of this a lot of churches have gotten away from teaching the Word of God!
      • II Timothy 4:3 – “A time is coming [and now is] when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will… look for teachers who will tell them what they want to hear.”
    • Because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed [indicative]!
      • The results of MANY people following – destructive – FALSE teachers…
      • Is THE [definite article] truth ends up being [passive] blasphemed…
      • BLASPHEMED [βλασφημέω] – spoken of as evil!
      • When those who follow FALSE teachers outnumber the righteous – rules begin to bend…
      • It is a crime to pray – bring a Bible into school – mention the name of Jesus…
      • But it becomes the moral high ground – to protect homosexuality – and abortion!
      • Isaiah 5:20 – “Woe to those who call evil good – and good evil.”
  • 4^th – For the MONEY… vs. 3
    • By covetousness they will exploit you!
      • COVETOUSNESS [πλεονεξία] – the motive of these teachers is GREED – to make money…
      • One EASY way to spot a FALSE teacher – follow the MONEY…
      • FALSE teachers do NOT look to HELP others – they only look to HELP themselves…
      • Pass the OFFERING plate one more time – sow another seed into the KINGDOM…
      • Everything they do is about getting more MONEY!
      • Philippians 3:17-19 – “They are enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite… all they think about is this life here on earth.”
    • With deceptive words!
      • DECEPTIVE [πλαστός] – to carefully mold – like an artist works with clay or stone…
      • These FALSE teachers – carefully craft their WORDS [λόγος] to EXPLOIT us…
      • EXPLOIT [ἐμπορεύομαι] – where we get the word EMPORIUM – market…
      • They use their WORDS to try and make us into their own personal MARKET!
      • The Temple – the Jewish religion – had become a moneymaking industry…
      • The priests would always find a flaw in a sacrifice – you had to buy theirs – TRIPLE rate…
      • All purchases had to be with a Sanctuary Shekel – exchange rate was EXTORTION…
      • So Jesus drove people from the temple with a whip – overturned tables!
      • John 2:16 – “Do not make My Fathers house a house of merchandise!”
      • Churches are to be a place where people come to LEARN about the Lord…
      • Instead in many people are taught about a God who only WANTS their MONEY…
      • Giving people the idea that Jesus is just another SCAM – a way to make a MONEY…
      • God does not want or need our MONEY – He is the creator of Heaven and Earth!
      • His church should be a place of PRAYER – where men can come to KNOW God!
      • I fear if Jesus walked into many churches TODAY – He would OVERTURN a lot of tables!
  • 5^th – Their JUDGEMENT… vs. 3
    • For a long time their judgment has not been idle!
      • LONG time [ἔκπαλαι] – 2x NT – out of old times…
      • The thought is God JUDGED these FALSE teachers a LONG time ago…
      • They might THINK they are getting away with something – but they are WRONG!
        
      • Many assume they are OK because God does not immediately JUDGE them…
      • They make mistake of interpreting the PATIENCE of God – for the ACCEPTANCE of God…
      • Just because God has not JUDGED yet – does not mean God will not JUDGE!
    • Their destruction does not slumber!
      • SLUMBER [νυστάζω] – 2x NT – nodding off – to be negligent or careless…
      • God is not SLEEPING when it comes to the DESTRUCTION of FALSE teachers…
      • DESTRUCTION [ἀπώλεια] – for the FOURTH time – their END is sure!
      • God is PATIENT – giving time to repent and turn back to Him…
      • God WAITS to punish sin – only because He loves the sinner – II Peter 3:9
      • God is LONGSUFFERING – to give time to repent and turn back to Him…
      • But for those who harden their hearts – do not to repent – their DESTRUCTION is certain!
      • Galatians 6:7 – “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap…”
    • THREE examples to show the certainly of JUDGEMENT and DESTRUCTION!

• 3^rd – Three examples… vs. 4-6
  • 1^st – The Angels in hell… vs. 4
    • [SINCE] God did not spare the angels who sinned – but cast them down to hell…
      • And delivered them into chains of darkness – to be reserved for judgment!
      • HELL [ταρταρόω] – only here NT – a word from Greek mythology…
      • The destination of the WICKED – where they are PUNISHED for their evil deeds…
      • DELIVERED into chains of darkness – GUARDED until they are JUDGED [κρίσις]!
    • The judgement of FALLEN angels…
      • ¹/₃ of all the angels REBELLED along with satan – Revelation 12:4
      • God CAST them out of heaven – they were BANISHED to the earth – Luke 10:18
      • But there is a final JUDGEMENT – that awaits these fallen angels – Jude 1:6
      • When they will be cast into the Lake of FIRE prepared for them – Matthew 25:41
      • Revelation 20:10 – “Lake of fire and brimstone… tormented day and night forever and ever.”
    • Waiting in HELL…
      • In general – HELL is NOT the dwelling place of FALLEN angels – II Corinthians 4:4
      • But the angels referred to here could be from – Genesis 6:2
      • When ANGELS [בְנֵי־הָֽאֱלֹהִים] had RELATIONS – with daughters of men…
      • The result was the [נְּפִלִים] – giants on the earth – titans – Genesis 6:4
      • Because of their SIN [relationship with women] – they were cast into [ταρταρόω]!
    • The point is simple – God did NOT spare the angels…
      • FALSE teachers might think they are above being JUDGED – like ANGELS…
      • But since God did not spare ANGELS from the JUDGEMENT and DESTRUCTION…
      • How much more certain can we be that God will judge FALSE teachers!
  • 2^nd – Cataclysm of Noah… vs. 5
    • [God] did not spare the ancient world – but saved Noah – one of eight people…
    • A preacher of righteousness – bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly!
    • God did NOT spare the ANCIENT world – they were DESTROYED…
    • We are told then men began to MULTIPLY in the days before the FLOOD – Genesis 6:1
    • Men were living to be over 900 years old – the population could have been over NINE billion!
    • But with the exception of Noah and family [eight] – because he preached RIGHTEOUSNESS…
    • The rest of the UNGODLY world – was wiped out by the FLOOD [κατακλυσμός] – Genesis 7-9
    • FALSE teachers might think they will not be DESTROYED – because they are the MAJORITY…
    • As long as they have enough people FOLLOWING them – they will be SAFE…
    • But since God was willing to wipe out BILLIONS – only saving EIGHT…
    • How much more certain can we be that God will judge FALSE teachers!
  • 3^rd – Catastrophe of Sodom and Gomorrah… vs. 6
    • Turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes – condemned them to destruction…
    • Making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly!
    • God turned [τεφρόω] the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ASH…
    • JUDGED [κατακρίνω] them – and DESTROYED [καταστροφή] them…
    • As an EXAMPLE [ὑπόδειγμα] – a visual aid – a WARNING [perfect] to those who are UNGODLY!
    • The Lord rained down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 19:24
    • Most scholars believe – God sent a METEOR shower from the heavens…
    • It ignited the asphalt [tar] and the salt pits in the area completely DESTROYING everything…
    • So that NOTHING – not even a blade of grass – remains to this day!
    • How completely will the destruction be when God brings in JUDGEMENT and DESTRUCTION…
    • It will be like the FALSE teachers never even existed – they will be wiped off the earth!

• 4^th – The conclusion … vs. 7-11
  • 1^st – RESCUE the Godly… vs. 7-9
    • LOT was RIGHTEOUS [δίκαιος]
      • Considering his CHOICES – walking by SIGHT – choosing to live in Sodom – Genesis 19:26
      • It is ONLY because of what Peter writes here – we know Lot was RIGHTEOUS!
    • Who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked…
      • For that righteous man – dwelling among them – tormented his righteous soul…
      • From day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds!
      • Lot was TROUBLED [oppressed] by the WICKED men of Sodom…
      • WICKED [ἄθεσμος] – to break the LAW [of God] in order to fulfill our lusts…
      • By LIVING among them – Lot was FORCED to see and hear their EVIL deeds…
      • Which caused his righteous soul to be TORTURED [imperfect] on a daily basis!
    • [God] delivered righteous Lot!
      • God did not bring DESTRUCTION on Sodom and Gomorrah till he was safe…
      • Yet Lot LOST all of his possessions and his home – his married daughters died in Sodom…
      • He LOST his wife – she went back to Sodom – Genesis 19:26
      • He LOST his TWO daughters to the immorality of Sodom [seduced him while drunk] 
      • So his decision to live Sodom – in the end – cost him EVERYTHING!
    • The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations!
      • TEMPTATION [πειρασμός] – God knows HOW to RESCUE us from TRIALS…
      • But the point is – how much better it is to AVOID the TRIALS…
      • If Lot had chosen NOT to live in Sodom – he would NOT have tortured his soul…
      • He would NOT have lost his possessions – he would NOT have sacrificed his family!
      • In the same way we need to be careful with FALSE teachers – be WISE…
      • Not because the Lord is unable to DELIVER us – but there is a COST…
      • Too often we believe what we are told – because we are looking to a PERSON…
      • We should not just accept the words of TEACHER – no matter WHO is teaching…
      • If we only know what the TEACHER has told us – then our FAITH is in HIS words…
      • But if we seek the Bible for the answers – then our FAITH is in the WORD!
      • Acts 17:11 – “Search the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things are so.”
  • 2^nd – PUNISH the ungodly… vs. 9-11
    • To reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment!
      • God will KEEP the SINFUL for the day of JUDGEMENT – when they will be PUNISHED…
      • PUNISHED [κολάζω] – 2x NT – to be cut off [passive]
      • Especially [most of all] – those who WALK [present] – according of the FLESH – FIVE ways!
      • 1 – Lusts of UNCLEANNESS [μιασμός]– only here NT – to stain – defile – pollute…
      • 2 – Despising [think nothing of] AUTHORITY [κυριότης] – divine authority…
      • 3 – PRESUMPTUOUS [τολμητής] – only here NT – to show NO respect…

• 4 – Self-willed [αὐθάδης] – 2x NT – a word that means to be ARROGANT…
• 5 – Not TREMBLING [τρέμω] when they BLASPHEME [βλασφημέω] the GLORY [δόξα]

Because they best way to overcome a LIE – is with the power of the TRUTH!

FALSE teachers POLLUTE others – by DESPISING the Lord – having no RESPECT…

They are ARROGANT – and do not TREMBLE when they blaspheme the LORD…

Therefore God is the one who will CUT them off – on the DAY of JUDGMENT!

Whereas angels – who are greater in power and might…

Do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord!

WHEREAS [in contrast] – angels who have MORE [μέγας] power and might…

Do NOT blasphemous [βλάσφημος] judgement [κρίσις] against FALSE teachers before God!

Which tells us HOW to deal with these men who DESTROY the lives of others…

We do not make ACCUSATIONS against FALSE teachers – we do not JUDGE them…

Instead we make sure we have the KNOWLEDGE of the Christ – we focus on Jesus…