2 Peter 2:1-3
“1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 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: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
Often times the Bible will answer a question we may have within the very text we have questions about. As is the case here. How many of us have questioned who these “false prophets” and “false teachers” are that Peter has written of here?
Verse 1 makes it clear the false prophets were of old as he has put them in the past tense. We know by reading the Old Testament there were many false prophets in the nation of Israel back then. Look in the book of Jeremiah where the prophets were preaching that everything was good, God was going to continue to bless the nation. Yet, God was giving Jeremiah a word of warning to preach to the people. A word of eminent destruction that was coming if they did not repent of their sins.
Then Peter switches to the future tense when speaking of false teachers. He says they will be “among you”. Peter also tells of how these false teachers will bring in damnable heresies. How? “Privily” Or privately. In Other words these false teachers will sneak in their false doctrines little by little until they have captivated a following among the people. And how will they do this? The very next part of verse 1 “even denying the Lord that bought them”. These are saved people Peter is talking about. Unlike other passages that talk of false prophets and false teachers as being of Satan. These people are God's own people. How do we know this? Peter says they are going to deny the Lord that bought them. Who has the Lord bought? Who did He pay the price for by making Himself the ultimate sacrifice on the cross? Matthew 1:21 tells us he came to save His people from their sins. The false teachers Peter is writing of and is warning the churches of, are saved people. Some of God's elect. Maybe even men the Lord has called to preach but have fallen off into heresies. They are preaching the doctrine of devils. They are teaching after the traditions of man.
How will we recognize these false teachers? They will begin speaking evil of the truth of God's Word. They will try to justify everything they teach by proclaiming the very doctrines they were taught and may even have claimed to have believed themselves in the past are false. They will debate and argue against the very truths of God's Word. Many will claim to have some new found doctrine and will begin to pick and choose the scriptures they thing will justify this great reformation in their lives and in the ministry God has put them over.
They are nothing more than robbers of the Bridegroom and His Bride. Stealing away those once faithful members of the Lord's churches. All for personal gain and/or personal gratification.
2 Timothy 3:5
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
Romans 16:17-18
“17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
Praise ye the Lord!!!
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