Judgment is Coming to False Teachers
May 15, 2021
Commentary
Jesus had told the disciples that false teachers would come (Matt. 24:11). In the past many false teachers arose in the nation of Israel (v. 1). Peter knew what it was to deny Christ in a moment of weakness (Matt. 26:70). False teachers are dangerous because many in the church follow their reckless ways (v. 2). They speak evil of the truth. Those who profess Christianity and live immoral lives bring great discredit to the Christian cause. False teachers gain a following primarily because their message gives licenses to the flesh rather than the crucifixion of the flesh. God is aware of this situation and His judgment will fall on those who pervert the truth (v. 3). We must be careful to avoid false teachers today. Beware of special meanings or interpretations that belittle Christ or His truth. Peter gives three historic examples of God’s judgement of sin:
The fallen angles (v. 4; Gen. 6:1-4).The people of Noah’s day (v. 5; Gen. 7).The people at Sodom and Gomorrah (v. 6; Gen. 19).
We see an explanation of Divine deliverance (vv. 7-9). In light of Genesis 19 it may seem very strange that Lot is used as an example of righteousness. Perhaps it was because he was righteous in contrast to the wicked people around him. Seeing and hearing their vile ways day after day Lot was grieved to the point of inner torture. (v. 7). God rescued Lot from Sodom, and He can rescue us from the temptations and trials we face in this wicked world. Lot was not sinless, but he put his trust in God and was spared when Sodom was destroyed. God will judge those who cause the temptations and trials, so we don’t need to worry about justice being done in our day.
Application
I always need to check my Bible when someone is teaching Christian principles. It is important that I can recognize false teaching when I hear it. The more I know the truth the easier it will be for me to recognize the false.
2 Peter 2:1– 9 (NET)
1 But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves. 2 And many will follow their debauched lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation pronounced long ago is not sitting idly by; their destruction is not asleep.
4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment, 5 and if he did not spare the ancient world, but did protect Noah, a herald of righteousness, along with seven others, when God brought a flood on an ungodly world, 6 and if he turned to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when he condemned them to destruction, having appointed them to serve as an example to future generations of the ungodly, 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless men, 8 (for while he lived among them day after day, that righteous man was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) 9 —if so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials, and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment,
Illustration: Patience Can Turn Wrath to Worship
Waiting for a light to change at an intersection was a man in a car anxious to make a right turn. He was impatient because the car in front of him would not make a right turn. He did not see the pedestrian in the crosswalk for whom the man in front was waiting. Furiously he honked his horn and raced his motor. When the car in front of him finally cleared the intersection the angry motorist took off with his tires squealing while glaring and shaking his fist at the man in front. In the process he didn’t see the patrol car at the other side of the intersection. Quickly with his siren and flashing lights going he proceeded to give a citation. It would be easy to say that he got what was coming to him. (Source Unknown)