Sermon Cloud

Falsehood: Identifying False Teachers

2 Peter 2:10-22

Intro: Todd Bentley – Lakeland Revival (April-August 08).  Knee guys in gut with stage IV Colon Cancer and said, “I had to be obedient to the Lord sir.”

Proposition: False teachers and false teaching always act like they are helpful but eventually will kick you in the stomach.  They can tear down believers, churches, and even denominations.  We must know how to identify false teachers.  Peter gives us 5 ways to do that.  If you see people doing one ore more of these things – WATCH OUT!  U might get kicked.

1. Despise Authority (10-11)

The false teachers of Peter’s day were making up false theologies about angels and not only rejected God’s authority – but despised it.  Peter called them “daring” – in that they dared to go against God’s authority.  They were “self-willed” instead of submitting to authority.  And Peter wrote that “they do not tremble” at spiritual powers and authority.

All false teachers look to make themselves the authority – and therefore they despise true authority.  They often hide their rejection of authority so to be accepted – but quietly and behind the scenes they plant seeds of doubt.  They get their cue from Satan – the adversary.

 “Did God really say…?”  “You will not surely die.”  ‘God is trying to keep something from you.”

I don’t mean to say all false teachers are malicious like Satan.  Some think they are doing the right thing – and do not realize that they are spreading falsehood.  Best example is when Jesus tells Peter and the disciples He is going to die on the cross.  Peter says – no way!  Jesus says, “Get behind me Satan.”

What kind of authority is most often despised by false teachers?  The Bible and the Church.

The Bible: For false teachers the Bible simply becomes a tool to back up their beliefs instead of a tool to shape their beliefs.  So the liberals take out Scripture they don’t like.  And the legalists highlight certain ones over others.  Both pretend to have some level of respect for the Bible but despise it.

The church: False teachers usually seek power in their churches and seek to spread doubt of those in authority – unless that person agrees with them.  If someone on church leadership is on their side then they will stand by them.  But if that person ever disagrees then they will be turned on.  You see it isn’t the authority false teachers honor – they simply respect the power they get when authority backs them.

But God has given the Church the authority over what is truth and that must be respected.

14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 1Tim. 3:14-15

Elsewhere Paul points out to Timothy that the pastor’s main job is to preach the word.  And in Php. 1:18 he writes about preachers with false motives: But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

2. Put Pleasure above Purity (12-13)

Peter says that some false prophets are like wild animals.  Instead of thinking about what is good and right - all they care about is their natural instincts for pleasure.  Peter says, “they count it as pleasure to revel in the daytime.”  In other words – they have no shame in their sin and falsehood.  He goes on to say they are “reviling in their deceptions.”

The ultimate goal of any false teacher is his own pleasure.  I mentioned last week that they pursue 3 different kinds of greed: money, sex, or power/prestige.  All 3 are avenues for pleasure.  We are shocked by the first two and tend to ignore the last one. 

Ex. Church in Indiana where pastor ran up 100k in debt for personal use and was calling women in the church to flirt with them.  Those stories shock us.  But the vast majority of corruption in a church is a play for power.  At almost every church you will find people making power plays.  Sometimes the pastor, or deacons, or a committee, or members of the church.  And spreading falsehood is the weapon of choice.

But is the church ever supposed to be about power?  Or is it to be about purity, love, and servanthood?

43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44 "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men." 45 But they did not understand what this meant… 46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all--he is the greatest. Luke 9:43-48

3. Seek to make other stumble. (14-16)

Peter says, it’s not enough for false teachers to stumble.  Anyone can do that.  False teachers are so dangerous because they make others stumble too!

Ex. Kicking back of heels.  Movies: save bad guy from falling – and they try to pull you down.

Notice Peter says they seek to entice “unstable souls”.  They look to pick off the weak ones.  Ex. National Geographic.  Hunting animals pick off the weak of the herd. 

So one answer to avoid falling into false teachers is to grow!

Causing weak or new believers to stumble is the worst kind of evil.  Jesus held nothing back against such people.

If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.  Matthew 18:6

Peter also compares false teachers to Balaam who was willing to be paid to prophesy against Israel – but was stopped by an angel and a talking donkey.  How dangerous are false teachers?  It can take an angel and a talking donkey to change their ways.  So be careful or you just may get pulled down with them.

4. Offer freedom and fulfillment but possess neither. (17-19)

False teachers offer things they do not have.  Peter says they are “Springs without water.”  They pretend to be a place you can be refreshed but offer nothing.  They are mists that you think refresh but are really just a damaging storm.  They promise freedom but are really slaves.

Ex. Con artist/Madoff

These false teachers spread the idea that freedom comes by ignoring God’s laws.  But Peter, and Paul elsewhere, said that true freedom comes from keeping God’s laws –which are summed up in loving God and loving others.

13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:13-14

If someone is spreading anything that goes against loving God and others – RUN!  They don’t offer you freedom but bondage.

Jesus had some tough words for such false teachers as well:

13 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. 15 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. Matthew 23:13, 15

5. Destined to fall. (20-22)

The true colors of false teachers will eventually show.  Peter says they are like a dog returning to its own vomit or a pig going back to its filth.  Both animals were considered dirty.  And these teachers proved they didn’t really know Christ, because they returned to life as dog and pig.

If you are ever tempted to follow falsehood – remember it is destined to fall.  Truth will always win out in the end, and justice always comes to those who live wickedly.

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. 10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. 11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. 12 The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; 13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. Psalm 37:7,9-13

When the nations crumble -The Word of the Lord will stand
Kings may rise and fall – but His love will endure
Though the strong may stumble
The joy of the lord is my strength
To my soul, I will not be shaken, I will not be moved.

When falsehood succeeds – don’t worry.  It will fail.  It will crumble.  But the Word of the Lord will stand – and if you stand with it you will not be shaken.

Conclusion: Len’s boat.  No plug.  People helped.  Could have fixed it with proper knowledge.  Don’t make holes.  Know God’s Word.  Help those who are sinking.