II Peter 2:10-16

The character of false teachers

“Would you open your Bibles with me to...”

2Tim. 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

2Tim. 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

2Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

2Tim. 4:4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Pray

Into

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine…”

√ False teachers

Paul’s warning to young Timothy regarding the false teachers in the Last Days adds an interesting fact to our study in Peter’s letter…

…they will be popular!

It will be unpopular to point out their error, yet as we see in Paul’s instructions to Timothy it is our sacred duty.

Ap. A warning we all ought to heed! Popularity is not a test for spiritual truth!

As we continue our study of Peter’s warning about these men he now reveals the true nature of the false teachers that plagued the Church in his day.

That is – what makes these guys tick?

√ A crisis in the 1^st Church

Today we tend to romanticize the “New Testament” Church! The truth is that they experienced the same problems that we do – that’s why Peter is addressing the issue of false teachers – it had reached a crisis level in the Church!

Paul exhorts Timothy – our opening text

Paul addresses the issue in II Tim. 3:1-9

Jude – the whole point of his letter!

Ap. They’re still with us today!

As we’ve pointed out in our previous studies these false teachers are alive and well today. Therefore, we must take special note of the Bible’s warnings so that we can identify them for 2 reasons…

1) So we don’t get caught in their web of deceit & become unfruitful for Jesus.

2) So we recognize the signs of the Last Days (II Tim. 3:1) – no time to be on the fence!

Let’s be students of the Word so that we might understand the true nature of these false teachers.

Walk according to the flesh (vs. 10-11)

2Pet. 2:10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,

2Pet. 2:11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

1) Walk according to the flesh

Peter and the other apostles emphasized a life of purity and devotion to Jesus in their teaching.

Calling believers to walk in the Spirit and deny the flesh.

However, the false teachers who Peter warns us about were characterized by a life given to the indulgence of the flesh.

They walked in the Flesh and resisted the Spirit.

Worse, they were actually teaching others to indulge the flesh – and claimed that was God’s will!

Ex. The church of Thyatira – Rev. 2:18-29

Rev. 2:20 “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

Rev. 2:21 “And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

Rev. 2:22 “Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

What does it mean to walk according to the flesh? Peter points out the characteristics of a walk in the flesh.

√ “Lust of uncleanness”

“uncleanness” = moral contamination

In context, morally contaminated in regards to sexual purity, like the people of Sodom & Gomorrah.

These false teachers were driven by their lust to reject God’s parameters for sexual expression and used their influence to victimize people…

…in the name of God!

Ex. Common characteristic of false religion

Joseph Smith – took more than one wife, some as young as 13, some married to other men, and did it all in the name of his “Jesus”.

Cornerstone of Mormon doctrine not rejected until Utah desired statehood.

Mohamed – took more than one wife, some as young as 13, one married to his own son, and did it all in the name of his god.

Ap. Moral impurity is a trademark of false teachers

A man’s moral convictions reveal the God that he serves – either the God Who is Spirit, or the god of his own flesh!

√ “Despise authority”

False teachers reject all authority, which Peter in his first letter had said was established by God (I Peter 2:13-25).

Makes sense, if they’re going to do their own thing – pursing the lust of their flesh, then they certainly aren’t going to be accountable to anyone!

It’s easier to justify your behavior when you reject all authority accept your own will!

Ap. Jesus said…

“If you love me, keep my commandments”

John 14:15

Ex. Common in false religion – making oneself a “god”

The teaching of Jesus and His apostles emphasized a perspective of service to God and others.

Peter, Paul, James and Jude all spoke of themselves and us as…

“bondservants”

…of Christ. That is, following the example set by Jesus they recognized that as Christians we belong to a Master – that Master is Christ.

Conversely, the false teacher in Peter’s day rejected the authority of Christ in their life and saw themselves as “masters” of their own destiny.

Ap. Beware of religious leaders who are not under the authority of any and make themselves unaccountable to anyone.

“Don’t touch the Lord’s anointed!”

Ex. Un-named local leader – rejected the review of unbiased Christian leadership and has now had his affiliation revoked. What was once a mightily force for the KOG in our community is now largely an unfulfilled dream.

√ “Presumptuous”

This word literally means…

“One who goes beyond what is right, excessively forward –forceful”

Or…

“Daring”

…in a negative sense.

This is the kind of person who uses their charisma, or intimidation, to manipulate people to do their bidding.

Ap. Hugh red flag! Beware when you feel you’re being manipulated to go against your conscience, or made to feel unspiritual if you don’t go along with them.

√ “Self-willed”

They do what they want to do, regardless of what God says or in spite of what others might council. Unteachable.

√ An example from Peter’s day

Peter gives us an example from his own day of how these false teachers operate.

2Pet. 2:10b …They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,

2Pet. 2:11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

A false teacher has such a high opinion of themselves, that they do not have enough brains to fear the power of God…

…or, fallen angels.

Note the word “dignitaries” in vs. 10 – it’s the same word that Jude uses to describe the devil in Jude vs. 8-9…

Jude 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.

Jude 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Ap. It’s a great mistake to either ignore Satan, or give him too much credit.

Peter and Jude point out that these false teachers are spiritual ignorant! While they proclaim to have special spiritual knowledge and insight…

…they demonstrate by their behavior and words that they don’t have a clue!

Ex. Be careful that you don’t follow the unbiblical methods of dealing with the devil

“I’m comin against you ta-night! That’s right Satan, you better start shaking in your boots cause a child of Go-da, is a comin for ya ta-night! I bind ya, and I loose a blessing”

Question; why is it that we don’t ever find one of Jesus’ disciples pray a prayer like that?

Could it be that while these teachers proclaim to have some special truth that God has revealed to them that they are really spiritually ignorant?

And if they bind Satan – how come he keeps getting away?

Jude reminds us that when we’re dealing with the unseen world of the Spirit that we are to stand firmly behind the Lord Jesus and let Him go to battle for us!

If Michael isn’t going to fight the devil on his own, you and I who are only people better not try it either!

√ So, a false teacher is characterized by a life of the flesh – while proclaiming to be spiritual their behavior makes evident that they are driven by their own flesh.

Secondly, they act like animals!

Act like animals (vs. 12-14a)

2Pet. 2:12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,

2Pet. 2:13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,

2Pet. 2:14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.

2) They act like animals

That is to say, these false teachers are driven by their fleshly instincts…

…not by the Spirit of God.

Ex. Animals follow their instinct – not rational thought – if you own a pet – especially a dog, they’ve probably done something that embarrassed you!

The point – animals don’t have sense enough to exercise self-control – they just act on the impulse of their flesh.

That’s one of the defining characteristics between people and animals. Animals are driven by their natural instincts, people have the capability of denying what the flesh desires…

…that they might choose a higher good.

However, regarding false teachers Peter says that they follow their fleshly instinct – just like an animal…

Speak about things they don’t understand

They don’t even try to hide their sin

They see dear saints as an object of their lust

They seduce weak people for their own pleasure

Their heart is bent on taking what belongs to others

…in fact, they cannot stop themselves from sinning!

Ex. They would come to the communion meal with the intent of seducing weak sisters.

√ The danger of false teaching

You ultimately become like the one you serve.

If you chose to serve God – then day by day you will find that by the power of His Spirit you will transformed into His image.

If you chose to serve the god of your flesh – then day by day you will find that you will be conformed to the image of your god – unredeemed – lust driven – corrupted flesh!

The Bible warns us that the flesh is insatiable. You simply can not satisfy it.

Ex. Food – Thanksgiving feast – stuffed with enough food to feed most third world villages for a week…

…someone makes some popcorn – you stuff it in your mouth!

That principle is true of every pursuit of our flesh.

√ The end for those who act like animals

Peter closes this section with another example from history – the false prophet Balaam.

They follow the way of Balaam (vs. 14b – 16)

2Pet. 2:15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

2Pet. 2:16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

3) The way of Balaam

Speaking of false teachers, Peter calls us to look at the example of Balaam.

Called by Balak, the king of Moab to curse Moses and the children of Israel.

God said “no” – don’t go!

Balaam wanted the money “love the wages of unrighteousness”.

So he went.

Even after God intervened – trying to turn him from his madness – Balaam wanted the money so badly that while God wouldn’t allow him to curse Israel – he told Balak how to defeat Israel…

…by introducing the young men to sexual idolatry.

√ The false teacher

Whether in Moses day, or Peter’s, or our own…

…the driving motivation in the heart of a false teacher is a lust for money and sex – even in the name of religion!

They are spiritually insane – like Balaam, who ignored the warnings of God to his own destruction.

For Balaam was killed by the people of God when they defeated the armies of Moab.

Even so, the false teachers today will one-day receive the “wages of unrighteousness” that they have earned.

Ap. The false teachers today

They’ve been warned…

By the Holy Spirit

By the Word of God

By the people of God

…maybe even by a talking Donkey!

Yet, most of them continue teaching their false doctrines – in their arrogance and presumptuous ways mocking those who have tried in love to correct them.

Some have gone so far as to “prophecy” against them!

Close

√ Take the Bible’s instruction to heart

Guard yourself from the seductive voice and methods of the false teachers!

They may be popular – but we’re called to judge their message against the truth of God’s Word – not on how big a show they have.

√ Sign of the times

Remember, the Bible tells us that the rise of false teachers is a sign of the Last Days.

Our duty is to teach the truth and to warn against the false teaching in our day, while looking for the return of our Lord!