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2 Peter 2:2-3a

September 25, 2008

Text: 2 Peter 2:2-3a And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:

There shall be false teachers

2 Peter 2:1 But [in contrast to 1:19-21] there were false prophets also among the people [Israel – the old covenant people, Jude1:5] , even as there shall be false teachers among you [“who are in Christ,” 1Pet.5:13-14], who privily shall bring in damnable heresies [doctrines the bring punishment], even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Among you

Acts 20:30 Also of your own selves [the flock, the church] shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Their message: God will not punish you

Jeremiah 14:13 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place

Everything is positive

Jeremiah 23:17 They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil [no judgment] shall come upon you.

“…do whatever they want. The prophets tell them, "The LORD has promised everything will be fine.” CEV

'Everything will go well for you.'" They tell all who live by their own stubborn ways, "Nothing bad will happen to you." GW

“They keep saying to these rebels who despise my word,`Don't worry! The LORD says you will have peace!' And to those who stubbornly follow their own evil desires, they say,`No harm will come your way!' NLT

Personal gain or self-centered profit

Micah 3:11 Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us."

They scoffed at the promise of Christ’s second coming

2 Peter 3:3-4 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

No coming – No judgment

Malachi 2:17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

BUT…He comes to judge!

Jude 1:14-15 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

2 Timothy 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:

Their message spreads like a cancer – overthrowing the faith

2 Timothy 2:17-18 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past [the dead are already w/ the Lord]; and they overthrow the faith of some.

Peace and temporal security is their focus

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh [“the coming of the Lord…the Lord himself shall descend from heaven,” 4:14,16] as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety [security from any danger or loss]; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Denying the Lord by denying accountability

Psalm 10:13 Why do the wicked renounce [deny] God? He has said in his heart, "You will not require an account."

Many shall follow the false teachers

2 Peter 2:2 And many [“among you” v.1] shall follow their [“false teachers,” v.1] pernicious [or lascivious] ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of [blasphemed].

Always popular with the majority

Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

We are warned about the many

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Philippians 3:18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

They promise freedom

2 Peter 2:19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved.

Their lascivious ways attract the many

Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

The many followers like what the false prophet offers

Isaiah 30:9-11 For these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay any attention to the LORD's instructions. 10 They tell the prophets, "Shut up! We don't want any more of your reports." They say, "Don't tell us the truth. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. 11 Forget all this gloom [negative judgment]. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your 'Holy One of Israel.' (NLT)

The many are controlled by their lusts

2 Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

The way of truth shall be blasphemed

2 Peter 2:2 And many [“among you” v.1] shall follow their [“false teachers,” v.1] pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of [blasphemed].

Paul separated from those that blasphemed the kingdom

Acts 19:8-9 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

The false teachers are greedy for selfish gain

2 Peter 2:3a And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:

2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: