October 28
“There were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber,” 2 Peter 2:1-3.
Peter wrote that there were false prophets in the past, there are false teachers in the present, and there will be false teachers in the future. Of course, that is no consolation. However, it is a good warning. It reminds us of our Savior’s own warning: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits,” Matthew 7:15. Their fruits are their teachings, which can be recognized in the light of God’s Word. John wrote in his First Epistle, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world,” 1 John 4:1. Those words were written before the end of the first century A.D. Unfortunately, the situation has not improved with the passing of time.
There will be false teachers in every generation. Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord said, “‘Behold, I am against the prophets,’ says the Lord, ‘Who use their tongues and say, “He says,”’” Jeremiah 23:31. They speak man’s word and claim it is God’s Word. The Lord adds, “(They) cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness,” Jeremiah 23:32. They are in the service of the devil, who is the father of lies (John 8:44).
Through the apostle Paul, the Lord issued the same warning: “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the heart of the simple,” Romans 16:17-18. God’s Word says, “Avoid them!” We should not welcome them and wish them well in their destructive ways. We should not invite them to participate in leading our worship services.
False teachers do not introduce themselves as false teachers. They “secretly bring in destructive heresies.” Their false teachings are soul-destroying. They are even so bold as to deny “the Lord who bought them.” They deny Jesus as the only Savior for sinners. They deny His redemption through His suffering and death on Calvary’s cross. They direct people to their own good works to gain eternal life. They accuse Jesus of lying when He says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” John 14:6.
Like the devil, false teachers are not idle and they do not take a vacation, and they neither slumber nor sleep. Unfortunately, with their deceptive words, false teachers persuade many people to follow their soul-destructive ways. False teachers, like atheists and agnostics and many other arrogant, ungodly people in the world, are engaged in the war against Christianity.
Christians should not silence their lips and act as if they are ashamed of Jesus. We are commissioned to be His witnesses unto the ends of the earth, and He has promised to be with us all the way.
“God’s Word is our great heritage,
And shall be ours forever;
To spread its light from age to age
Shall be our chief endeavor.
Through life it guides our way,
In death it is our stay.
Lord, grant, while worlds endure,
We keep its teachings pure
Throughout all generations.” Amen.