False Teachers

One thing is for certain, there are a great number of false teachers out there!  This is what 2 Peter 2 is showing us in today's passage.  These false teachers give the facade that they are speaking from the Holy Spirit when in reality, they are only motivated by greed.  You know those of whom I am talking about.  Don't you?  Well, let's see what Peter tells us.

2 Peter 2:1 says this:

"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction."

Peter plainly tells us that there will be false teachers among us.  Have you ever encountered on.  You can see them daily on television or even hear them on the radio.  One of them may eve be the pastor of your church.  Have you ever heard a pastor who never mentioned Jesus?  The way I see it, if you don't mention Jesus, the cross, the suffering, then you are teaching a false gospel.  They are merely "denying the Master who bought them".  They are only appearing to be saved to ensnare followers.  For me, and it should be for you as well, ALL ABOUT JESUS.  

Peter also says that these false teachers will "secretly bring in destructive heresies".  This doesn't mean that their teachings will be secret.  But, what it does mean is that the deception nature of their teaching is secret.  These folks wouldn't just come out and tell you that what they are teaching you is deceptive.  What would be the point?  They wouldn't be leading you down the wrong path if they came out and told you.  

If we go further and look at 2 Peter 2:2-3, it says "And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.  And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."  Peter tells us that these false teachers will have many followers.  Remember several years back the Bakkers?  Jim and Tammy Faye.  I was probably in high school when their "empire" fell.  If you do remember, do you also remember how many people were following them?  People would flock to them.  They believed every word that was said.  But, come to find out, those Bakkers were awfully greedy.  They only wanted your money.  See, Peter tells us that too.  He says that "their greed will exploit you".  I could go on with more recent examples.  

All of this is said to merely warn you.  Be very wary in who you put your trust in when it comes to the gospel.  There are those who are greedy enough to feed you a line that you'll fall for that doesn't coincide to the scriptures.  For this very reason we should hide the words of the gospel in our hearts, so that we will know when false teachers lurk.