Keep Your Focus on Jesus

Jesus made a tremendous claim about Himself in John 14:6 when He said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”

Who is the One who makes such a claim about Himself? How does this claim impact a person's faith? If a person truly believes this claim made by Jesus, how does their belief change the way they live? Those are important questions for every Christian to answer.

Countless people in our world refute this claim made by Jesus, saying, “There are many paths to God. There are many religions, but as long as they all point in the same direction, they are to a great extent equal.”

Others are indignant at His claim, saying in effect, “How dare He think He is the only way to the Father.”  Still others try to discredit the claim of the Lord Jesus, saying that He didn't really mean what is written or that He didn't really say what John wrote.

Genuine Christian believers through the ages; however, have staked their lives on this claim that Jesus made about Himself.

PAUL ATTACKED THE FALSE IDEAS ABOUT CHRIST HEAD ON!

Col. 2:8, Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

First Century Attacks on Christ’s Deity and All Sufficiency.

The Book of Colossians is Paul’s Answer. The apostle Paul wrote the book of Colossians to counter the arguments that were being circulated by a number of false teachers who claimed that Jesus was a good man but that belief in Him was not required or sufficient for salvation.

The Cults and False Teachings Were Not Necessary.  These were teachers who advocated that other doctrines and cults had their place as equals to Christianity.

False Teachers Perverted Teachings on Christ’s Person and Sacrificial Death.

Col. 2:4-5, And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. [5] For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

In response to these false teachers, Paul began declaring that they should not let anyone delude them. Don't be misled by these false teachers! As you read these verses of warning from Paul, consider what it means to be deceived or “cheated” by those who give false instruction.

Paul Fought The False Teachers By Declaring the Facts About Christ.

Col. 2:2-4,  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; [3] In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. [4] And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Paul further responded to these false teachers by presenting two main arguments, both of which will be examined in closer detail in the first portion of this study:

Paul Proclaimed the Truth about Christ’s Deity. The false teachers have a wrong understanding about the deity of Jesus Christ. They do not understand that He truly was God incarnate, or God “in flesh.”

Paul Proclaimed the Truth about Christ’s Death. The false teachers have a wrong understanding about the blood of Jesus Christ and what His death on the cross really meant. They do not understand the atonement that was made by Jesus Christ for the sins of all mankind.

According to Col 1:14, We Have Some Beautiful Benefits Through Jesus Christ.  Paul lists five benefits God gives all believers through Christ:

1.  He made us qualified to share in his inheritance.

2.  He rescued us from Satan's dominion of darkness and made us his children.

3.  He brought us into his eternal kingdom.

4.  He redeemed us -- bought our freedom from sin and judgment.

5.  He forgave us for all our sins.

Thank God for what you have received in Christ.(Stanley & MacArthur)

PAUL PROCLAIMED THE FACTS ABOUT WHO JESUS CHRIST REALLY IS.

It is Impossible To Fully Understand God.

Remember God is Incomprehensible. Certainly it is not fully possible for any of us, in our finite human state, to comprehend the fullness of our infinite God. None of us are fully capable of comprehending the glory of the Trinity or the majesty of Jesus Christ.

Job 11:7, Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

Isaiah 40:18, To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

Remember God Can Be Known.

John 17:3, And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

1 John 5:20,  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true [God our Heavenly Father], and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

To a certain extent, all that we know about God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are things that we know in part. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Cor. 13:12).

It is Possible to Understand God through Christ’s Revelation of Him!

John 14:7, If ye had known me [Jesus Christ], ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Even so, there are some truths that we can know with certainty about God because Jesus Christ made those things very plain to us and explained them not only in words but by the actions of his life.

Commitment to Christ-Centered Insight Leads to More Understanding (Col. 2:2-3).

Christ Centered Insight into God’s Ways Enables Believers to Know Truth More Fully. Paul did not want any believers to stop at knowing the glorious riches of his mystery (Col.1:27), he wanted them to have the full riches of complete understanding.

Christ Is the True Mystery of God (Vs. 2). Christ is the revealer of God to man.  There is no understanding of God apart from Christ. There is no complete understanding of God apart from a personal relationship with his Son.

A Mystery is Understandable by Believers. A Mystery is a truth concealed in the OT period and now reveal in the NT period.Christ in effect has unveiled God for us to know Him. Christ is the mystery, yet he is a mystery revealed to those who believe -- as is the mystery of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col.1:27), and the mystery that Gentiles and Jews can be united in one body (Col.1:26).

John 1:18, No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Hebrews 1:2-3, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] Who being the brightness of his glory [All Divine Perfections], and the express image of his person [Exact Representative of God], and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

All spiritual knowledge, understanding, and wisdom is in Christ! The force of this passage, Col. 2:2-3, is that all, and not merely some of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are contained in Christ; therefore, to search for them outside of Him is doomed to failure. But not only are they in Christ, but they are contained in a hidden way.  Thus complete understanding obtained through a personal relationship with Christ himself assures believers of the truth and helps them recognize and avoid heresy. Everything anyone wants to know about God and his purposes in the world are answered in the person of Christ. The mystery is revealed because it is Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (MacDonald)

We can secure these deep riches through the discipline of meditation.  These “hid” “treasures” do not lie on the surface, but must be sought for earnestly, as men seek for hidden treasure.  Dig then beloved, into the richest vein in the universe, dig even deeper to find what you are longing for! These are not matters of external observances, such as the false teachers believed, but they can be secured only by deep and serious meditation on the truths of Christ.

Hidden does not mean concealed, but rather that they were laid up or stored away to be made available to those who desire a deepening relationship with Christ.  Fellowship with through meditation is one key to open the door to access these hid treasures.  Certainly these words are a great comfort to us who do not have to look any farther for wisdom and knowledge than to our Savior, Jesus Christ. As believers we are already possessed of all wisdom and knowledge, yet we have a long way to go to attain maturity and complete understanding.  Meditation upon specific truths about Christ is the key to securing these treasures and faith in application of the truth to our need is the key to enjoying the treasure. (MacArthur)

Psalm 1:2, But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

1 Tim. 4:15, Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Christ is the Only Rich Gold Mine of Spiritual Insights (Vs. 3). For in Him are hidden (Col. 1:26) “all the treasures of wisdom (Col. 1:9) and knowledge.”

Knowledge Is the Apprehension of Truth. (What We Need to Know)

Knowledge is prudent judgment. Knowledge is often described as good judgment. True knowledge is found only in Christ.

Wisdom Is Truths Application to Life. (How We Need to Live)

Wisdom is prudent action.  Wisdom is application of good judgment in the form of good actions. True wisdom is found only in Christ.

Faithfully look to Christ for the answers and solutions you yearn for.  Both “knowledge” (what I need to Know) and “wisdom” (what I need to do) are found in Christ (Rom. 11:33; 1 Cor. 12:8) whose wisdom is foolishness to the world (1 Cor. 1:21-25), but who is the power of God by which a believer receives “righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).  Certainly this encompasses all areas of life and nothing is left wanting or unsatisfied.  It is imperative that we faithfully look to Christ with every need, concern, or cry for help.

Commit yourself to the truth in Jesus Christ the Lord. As believers, we all need to grow to maturity in the faith we have received. Paul reaffirmed this to them in 2:1-3 so that we would not be deceived by any arguments from false teachers. The false teachers had their fascinating philosophies, but in Christ we have “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (v. 3). Any man-made philosophy that has no place for Christ is unworthy of our consideration. We are rich in Him; why lower ourselves to follow man-made doctrines? Let religious teachers come along with their “hidden doctrines”; we have all wisdom hidden in Christ, and we are “hid with Christ in God” (3:3).  At first, lies don't sound like lies. The false teachers did a good job of making their teachings sound plausible and of using persuasive tactics to cause the believers to question their faith. When believers are fully committed to the truth in Jesus, they will not be easily deluded when others offer "treasures of wisdom" not found in Christ. (Stanley & MacArthur)

If we have a more complete understanding of who Jesus Christ is then we can appreciate His complete ability to provide for us– his all sufficiency is rooted in His divine nature and power. This then is the solid foundation on which we grow and develop in every area of our lives.

The fact is, if we do not fully know Christ Jesus, we cannot know his sufficiency. And if we do not believe that He is sufficient, and have an ability to access His sufficiency, we are vulnerable to arguments that can lead us astray—away from Christ and away from the perfection to which Christ calls us. (Anders)

On the other hand, if we have a deep understanding of all that Christ has provided for us and all that He makes available to us, we have a solid foundation on which to grow and develop in every area of our lives. A solid foundation, one established on the eternal principles of God's Word, must become our desire if we truly are to live meaningful, satisfying, and victorious lives!

I Am Confused About God...What Can I Do?

Text: Genesis 1:1; Exodus 34:4-9, 14; Deuteronomy 6:4; 10:12, 17-18; Psalm 95:1-11; Heb. 11:6

Theme: God is important because He is the Source, Meaning, and Purpose of all life.

Relevance:

Who is God?

Today, there is no common understanding of who God is. Many people make up their own definition of who God is. We must be sure we are talking about the same God when we address the question, “Who is God?”

Why do we need to know teaching about God and His existence?

1. To avoid falling into ancient false belief systems already identified and discredited in Christian history.

2. To avoid being deceived by a present-day cult or false religion.

3. To strengthen my own faith and walk with God.

4. To be able to speak intelligently about God with others.

Introduction:

The greatest and most profound idea the human mind can ever conceivably entertain concerns the possibility of the existence of a personal God. The sheer importance of man’s response to this idea cannot be exaggerated, for it will not only govern his life down here but also determine his ultimate destiny. Unless one satisfactorily answers the who question, he cannot possibly solve the how, why, when and where problems of his own existence. –H. L. Willmington 

Unfortunately, we can become confused about God. In some instances it is the fact that we were taught wrong in the first place, and others simply created in their minds an idea of God from select verses in the Bible while ignoring others. Yet some individuals have blended several religious traditions together to develop their unique idea of God. Because of these contradictions, misinformation, and general confusion some have rejected the notion of a God altogether. They have wrongly concluded there is no reality to the God claims. Still there is hope of understanding the truth in this all important matter. Yes, the truth about God can be known and experienced deeply when we turn to the reliable message of the Word of God. This will require separating our personal concept of God from the reality the Bible portrays, but this is a worthwhile adventure! Let us begin....

Lesson:

I.                   Exploring Misconceptions About God—What are Some False Concepts of God?

Belief in the reality of God is one thing, but mankind’s conceptions of God are quite different, conflicting, and often erroneous.

A.     There is No God—Atheism.

1.Atheism is a denial of the existence of God. It is unnatural and an abnormal assertion on the part of people (Rom. 1:22; Ps. 14:1).

2.Some atheists have admitted they reject the concept of God because a belief in God spoils their idea of pleasure. They generally do not want to be accountable to God because they do not want the constraints, morality, and ethic that are hardwired to Him. They claim to be free thinkers, but the reality is they are slaves to their own appetites worshipping themselves.   

3.Have you ever tried to imagine what life would be like without God? There would be no absolute standard of right and wrong, no hope of heaven, no supernatural help or enablement, no higher purpose for life, and no reason to expect good, justice, or mercy. We would be subject to the random blows of fate, chance, and chaos. Order, predictability, and design would be lost or greatly diminished. There would be no reason for faith and worship and our unique character as human beings would not be true. We would be simple animals, who die and all existence is over in death. Much or what we take for granted in life would be gone if there were no God.

B.     There is No Knowledge of God—Agnosticism.

1.Agnosticism asserts the impossibility of knowing the certainty of God. It is a form of skepticism. They deny God is knowable.

2.Someone has observed the agnostic cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman—he running away!  

C.     God has Abandoned Us—Deism.

1.A philosophy that contends God exists and is the Creator of all things, but He is not a personal God. It holds that God is present in creation only in His power, but not His being and nature.

2.Deism rejects the need for special revelation—the Bible—holding that man is intellectually sharp enough to know there is a Higher Being or a Divine Architect.

3.This philosophy portrays God as the invisible Clockmaker, who wound up the universe, then left it for man to run.

D.    There are numerous gods—Polytheism.

1.This is the concept and belief in many gods as in ancient Greek mythology and Hinduism. The theory assumes the existence of many gods. This is a concept of growing acceptance in the Western world because of movies portrying 'superheroes' and special individuals as gods and demigods. 

2.In the environment of the Bible most societies were polytheistic: there were ‘many gods and many lords’ (1 Cor. 8:5). Different deities had different functions, associations, characters, and mythologies. –Harper's Bible Dictionary

3.In the Bible the gods of the heathen are declared to be "vanity," and "nothing," mere imaginary beings, without power either to hurt or to save. (Jer. 2:28; Isa. 41: 29; Isa. 42:17; Ps. 106:28.) –Hodge, Charles: Systematic Theology

E.     Matter is the only reality—Materialism.

1.Materialism is a theory that physical matter is the only or fundamental reality and that all being and processes and phenomena can be explained as manifestations or results of matter. –Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

2.This theory holds that the universe has always existed and will always endure forever.  Thus no God or Creator. It ignores the distinctions between matter and mind and militates against the concept of “innate knowledge” of God. The theory states that knowledge and sensation are produced by external stimulation—experience. It holds that matter is the only reality and that everything in the world, including thought, ideas of God and truth, will, conscience, soul, and emotions can be explained in terms of matter.

3.Materialism essentially ignores the spiritual realm altogether, choosing instead to live self-indulgently for this temporal world.

F.      God is all and all is God—Pantheism.

1.Pantheism denies the personality of God—God and the universe are one and the same. It holds that all finite things are divine. In other words God is nature—a mountain, rock, tree, an animal. All of nature is God.

2.New Age environmentalism is a present day example of pantheism. It’s “mother earth” concept is nothing more than the worship of created things. Hinduism is likewise pantheistic holding all life to be sacred (Rom. 1:25).

II.                Examining Our Concept of God—How Can We Test Ourselves to Detect False Ideas About God?

Explore these passages of Scripture to identify modern forms of idolatry and misconceptions about God (Exodus 20:1-6; Deut. 5:6-11; 2 Kings 17:1-41; 1 Kings 18:17-46; 1 Samuel 7:1-17). This is an Idolatry Detection Examination. Think about how you spend your time, treasure, and energy.

A.     What or who have I put “before” God? Entertainment, internet, sports, job, education, plans, spouse, body, possessions, wealth, or fame (Ex. 20:3)

B.     What or who is most important to me? (Ex. 20:3)

C.     What “images” of God have I erected literally or conceptually? Divine Santa Claus, Cosmic Killjoy, A Force, Loving passive Grandfather, The Man Upstairs, or an unreasonable Tyrant (Ex. 20:4). Beware of the person who ignores the Bible revelation of God and says, “To me, God is like….”

D.    What or who do I “bow down” to with total allegiance and loyalty? (Ex. 20:5)

E.     Does my love for a person, place, thing, or idea provoke God to jealousy? (Ex. 20:5)

F.      What or whom do I respect and fear most or as much as I fear God? (2 Kings 17:7)

G.    What ‘secret devotion’ would I be embarrassed for others to know about? (2 Kings 17:9)

H.    What ‘religious’ practices do I rationalize to justify my participation in them? (2 Kings 17:13, 14)

I.       What commands of God’s Word do I explain away to accommodate my beliefs or behavior? (2 Kings 17:15, 16)

J.      Who do I admire greatly and find it difficult to evaluate them objectively or who do I defend tenaciously? (2 Kings 17:21, 22)

K.    What beliefs or superstitions do I mix with my Christian faith? Fate, luck, karma, fatalism ect. (2 Kings 17:16, 17)

III.             Correcting Our Misconceptions of God—What Can We Do To Refuse The Lies and Embrace More Truth About God? 

God forgives and restores His people to fellowship with Himself even after extended periods in deep dark sin and/or idolatry. He graciously protects and gives us victory over our spiritual enemies. One key is immersion in the Word of God! 

A.     Text: 1 Samuel 7:1-17, read and study this chapter in God’s Word carefully. It will serve as the point of instruction to help us regain our spiritual equilibrium and make things right with the Lord.     

B.     Chapter Outline:

I.                    The Ark of the Lord is situated in Kirjathjearim for twenty years (v. 1, 2)

A.     A place was prepared for the Ark of the Lord (1)

B.     A person was prepared to keep the Ark (1)

C.     A period of twenty years the Ark remained there (2)

II.                 Israel repents of idolatry and devotes themselves to serve God exclusively (v. 3-6)

A.     Israel mourns after the Lord (2)

B.     Israel repents of idol worship (v. 3, 4)

C.     Israel gathers in Mizpeh for rededication (v. 5, 6)

D.     Israel confesses her sins against the Lord (v. 6)

III.               The Lord defended Israel and delivered her from Philistine attack (v. 7-12)

A.     The Philistines plan to attack Israel (v. 7)

B.     Israel pleads with Samuel to cry out to God for them (v. 8)

C.     Samuel offers a burnt offering and prays to God for his nation (v. 9)

D.     God responds in great power to deliver and help His people (v. 10-12)

IV.              The Lord subdued Israel’s enemies continually under Samuel’s judgeship (v. 13-17)

A.     The Philistines were subdued during Samuel’s judgeship (v. 13)

B.     Israel’s lands were restored to them from the Philistines (v. 14)

C.     The Ammorites were at peace with Israel (v. 14)

D.     Samuel was a faithful and effective judge throughout his life (v. 15-17)

C.     Chapter Summary: Our God is a Restorer, Reviver, Protector, and Helper and He gives His people victory over all their enemies. Even after extended periods in deep dark sin, He remains our help and hope for revival and revitalization. He will even revitalize us after periods of deadness, unfruitfulness, and barrenness. When we humble ourselves in repentance and rededication, He will graciously receive us, even after periods in idolatry. He will give His people victory again in spite of our many defeats when we trust His great power and strength.

D.    Applications:

1. Does the passages expose any SIN I need to confess and forsake?  1Sam. 7:5. Perhaps prayerlessness or a weak and inconsistent prayer life is a problem. Irregular prayer habits, no family prayer time. Perhaps prayer is not a passionate experience; it has become dull and routine.

2. Is there and ERROR in belief or behavior to avoid or correct? 1Sam. 7:2, 3. The people “lamented” after Jehovah, but they had not repented of their idolatry. They were practicing some form of syncretism—a blend of idolatry with the worship of Yahweh. God wanted them exclusively to Himself and true worship.

3. Is there a WARNING for me to recognize and heed? 1 Sam. 7:1-3. Israel was living under harsh Philistine dominance and oppression. They were a depressed and defeated people suffering under the cruelty of the Philistines. Sin may be pleasurable for a season, but we will live with the awful consequences and painful memories of our shameful decisions. We must constantly remind ourselves that sinful living has grave consequences.

4. Are there any COMMANDS for me to obey? 1Sam. 7:3, “If ye do return unto the LORD with all your heart, then put away the strange gods…” Returning to the Lord requires a complete rededication; He wants a total commitment to Him as we forsake all forms of idolatry. Many times traditions, pride, power, money, prestige, property and false concepts of God are not forsaken hindering our full devotion to the Lord.

5. Are there any INSTRUCTIONS for me to follow? 1Sam7. How to Have Victory in the Lord

                                                                     i.            Desire and pursue genuine fellowship with the Lord (v. 2)

                                                                   ii.            Return to the Lord through self-examination, confession, repentance, and obedience (v. 3, 6)

                                                                  iii.            Remove all idols from your heart and mind to serve The True and Living God exclusively (v. 3)

                                                                 iv.            Restore prayer as a spiritual discipline both individually and cooperatively (v. 5, 6)

                                                                   v.            Submit to the authority of God’s Word, His judgments, and His genuine leaders (v. 6)

                                                                 vi.            Expect the enemy to discourage and frustrate your rededication, but decidedly resist him (v. 7)

                                                                vii.            Cling to the Lord by faith during trials and testings—fight your battles in prayer (v. 8)

                                                              viii.            Keep the Cross of Christ central to experience victory over your enemies (v. 9)

                                                                 ix.            Trust God for victory over your spiritual enemies; rely on Him to protect you through the battles (v. 10)

                                                                   x.            Understand that your spiritual enemies are no match for Almighty God (v. 10)

                                                                 xi.            Enter each battle with confidence in the Lord, that He will give another victory (v. 11-13)

                                                                xii.            Trust God to enable you to restore and regain loses in relationships and opportunities in His timing (v. 14)

                                                              xiii.            Commit yourself to a life of devotion to the Lord and victorious living (v. 13-17)

Our worship, service, relationships, and devotional lives should all be positively impacted by the realities of God as revealed in the Bible. A great exercise we could engage in is to take one truth about God and think on it, memorize it, and commit it to heart. Also commit to memory a related verse reference to strengthen your knowledge of that truth about Him. This will not only help our personal perception of God, but it should influence our faith interactions with Him also. Likewise this information provides us with insights to intelligently communicate what the Bible says and what we believe about God to others. These timeless truths also protect us from false ideas about God and enable us to recognize false forms of worship or error-ridden systems of theology. Yes, even if we have made the mistake of embracing a wrong idea about God, we can repent before the Lord. He will forgive us and cleanse us. He will help us know Him according to the truth as stated in the Bible. 

Beware of Religious Charlatans!

A Profile of Religious Charlatans

2 Peter 2:1-3

Subject: False Teachers and Preachers

Theme: be on guard against the attack of false teachers and preachers because their message will hinder growth in grace. Acquaint yourself with their motives and methods in order to detect them, and be assured God will execute full judgment upon these rebel deceivers (Matt. 7:13-29).

Relevance:  we Believers protect ourselves and our love ones when we heed Peter’s warnings about false preachers and teachers. It is incumbent upon each of us to learn how to discern truth for ourselves, and teach it to others correctly and accurately. God reveals in this passage that false preachers and teachers will themselves meet destruction, and others will be destroyed by them. But as Christians we can wage spiritual warfare more effectively if we know our spiritual enemies, the techniques heretics use, and the end result of their deception. Be assured God's desire for us to be discerning and armed against religious lies is well founded and gravely needed in a time when specific truths are being watered down or outright denied. 

Introduction:

As long as we live in a fallen world, counterfeiting will exist. There will always be someone who, for personal gain, will use an imitation of the real to lure others to something of no value. Banks deal with this problem every day and train their tellers to be alert to the possibility that some of the paper currency they are handed may not be authentic. Their first line of defense is to know the real. They work with and handle the real every day until the feel and appearance of the authentic is deeply ingrained in their minds. When a counterfeit bill passes through their hands, an alarm goes off in their minds. Then they examine specific areas of the bill which will prove the true identity of a counterfeit (Source Unknown).

Since the inception of the Christian Age, spiritual counterfeits have appeared—false teachers who pass their teachings or lifestyle off as the real thing. In chapter 1, Peter urges us to abound in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, remembering the apostles’ teaching and staying true to the sure Word of Scripture. Now, he challenges us to be alert, and unwavering in this day of deceptions. We must be alert to the presence of false teachers.  First, let us consider the Description of False Teachers.

Message:

I.                   The False Teachers Motives and Methods Were Exposed by Peter ( 2 Peter 2:1-3). Peter opens this section by declaring that false teachers are bound to appear but will ultimately be condemned by God.

A.     They Were Anticipated (2:1).

                                                1.      False Teachers Were Predicted (2:1—“there shall be false teachers”).  At the close of chapter 1 Peter referred to the prophets of the OT as men who spoke, not by their own will, but as moved by the Holy Spirit. Now he mentions that in addition to the true prophets in the OT period, there were also false prophets. And just as there will be bona fide teachers in the Christian era, there will be false teachers as well.

                                                2.      These False Teachers Take a Place Inside The Churches (2:1)-“false teachers among you.”

i.        They pose as ministers of the gospel. This is what makes the peril so great. If they came right out and said they were atheists or agnostics, people would be on guard. But they are masters of deception.

ii.      They carry the Bible and use orthodox expressions —though using them to mean something entirely different. The president of a liberal theological seminary acknowledged the strategy as follows: Churches often change convictions without formally renouncing views to which they were previously committed, and their theologians usually find ways of preserving continuity with the past through re-interpretations (MacDonald & Farstad).

                                                3.      They Have Brought Worldly Ideas and Values into the Churches.  When the Edict of Milan was passed in a. d. 313 the church was then free to move into the world, legally and openly propagating its doctrines. But at the same time, the world also began to move into the church, diluting its message for the next 1,200 years until the Reformation broke forth on the scene. But it is obvious from 2 Peter 2 that the world was already in the church well before the time of Constantine. Believers in all ages must be constantly on guard against its attack. –Walvoord: The Bible Knowledge Commentary

                                                4.      Where Are These False Teachers Found Today? They reside in every Christian and so-called Christian denomination! The offense of some is greater than others, the deviations from the Scriptures differ in degrees, and the level of deception is not identical for each group. Still errors and misconceptions have infected every Christian movement or organization to some degree. While some movements are purer than others, Christians must cling to the Word of God as the standard of truth and measure everything else by it.

                                                5.      Stay Alert and Arm yourself with the Truth! Since false teachers were anticipated and active in the Christian world, we must be on guard against their attacks and faithfully wage a spiritual warfare against them (Eph. 4:11-16; 6:10-20). We must arm ourselves with the Word of God and become so familiar with the truth, that lies and false teaching are immediately obvious.  We should also be in a Bible-Believing and Bible-Preaching church as much as possible to further learn, grow, and protect ourselves and family from false teachers and their messages.  Lastly, we must learn and live the Word so effectively that we can fight the lies by teaching and arming others against the attacks of false teachers.

B.     They Are Deceptive (2:1).

                                                1.      Verse 1 Summarizes The Methods Of The False Teachers: (1) they appear among the people as members of the church; (2) they work secretly, under cover of hypocrisy, pretending to be what they are not; (3) they bring in their false teachings alongside the true doctrine, and then replace the truth with their lies; (4) their lives deny what their lips teach. In other words, “heresy” is not simply false doctrine; it is false living based on false doctrine. “Wolves in sheep’s clothing” is the way our Lord pictured them (Matt. 7:15; and see 2 Cor. 4:1–2; 11:13). –Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament

i.        W. A. Criswell describes the false teacher as follows: ... a suave, affable, personable, scholarly man who claims to be the friend of Christ. He preaches in the pulpit, he writes learned books, he publishes articles in the religious magazines. He attacks Christianity from within. He makes the church and the school a lodging place for every unclean and hateful bird. He leavens the meal with the doctrine of the Sadducees.

ii.      Jesus warned that deceivers would increase as the end of the age approached. Peter predicted and Jude declared their presence in the early churches. Even more now than then, false teachers mingle themselves within true Christianity. Like Satan, the false teachers come as angels of light. Peter and Jude help us spot these apostates by unveiling their: (1) destructive heresies, (2) depraved, immoral character, and (3) dangerous deceptions.

                                                2.      While Professing To Be Ministers Of Righteousness, They Secretly Bring In Soul-Destroying Heresies Alongside True Bible Doctrine (2:1). It is a deliberately deceptive mixture of the false and the true. Primarily, they peddle a system of denials. Here are some of the denials which can be found among certain modern groups:

i.         They deny the verbal, plenary inspiration of the Bible, the Trinity, the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, and His death as a Substitute for sinners. They are especially vehement in their denial of the value of His shed blood. They deny His bodily resurrection, eternal punishment, salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the reality of miracles in the Bible.

ii.       Other false teachings common today are:

a.       The Kenosis theory—the heresy that Christ emptied Himself of the attributes of deity. This means that He could sin, make mistakes, etc.

b.       The “God is dead” fantasy, evolution, universal salvation, purgatory, prayers for the dead, etc (MacDonald & Farstad).

iii.      The ultimate sin of false teachers is that they even deny the Master who bought them (2Pet. 2:1). While they may say nice things about Jesus, refer to His “divinity,” His lofty ethics, His superb example, they fail to confess Him as God and as unique Savior.

a.       Nels Ferré wrote, “Jesus never was or became God. ... To call Jesus God is to substitute an idol for Incarnation.”

b.       Methodist Bishop Gerald Kennedy agreed: I am frank to confess that the statement (that Christ is God) does not please me and it seems far from satisfactory. I would much prefer to have it say that God was in Christ, for I believe that the testimony of the New Testament taken as a whole is against the doctrine of the deity of Jesus, although I think it bears overwhelming witness to the divinity of Jesus (MacDonald & Farstad).

                                                3.      Their Greatest Offense is their Denial of the Lord Jesus Christ (2:1)—“even denying the Lord that bought them.”  In this and in many other ways, false teachers deny the Lord who bought them. Here we should pause to remind ourselves that while these false teachers to whom Peter refers had been bought by the Lord, they had never been redeemed. The NT distinguishes between purchase and redemption. All are purchased but not all are redeemed. Redemption applies only to those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, availing themselves of the value of His shed blood (1 Pet. 1:18, 19).

i.         In Matthew 13:44 the Lord Jesus is pictured as a man who sold all He had to buy a field. In verse 38 of that same chapter, the field is distinctly said to be the world. So by His death on the cross, the Lord bought the world and all who are in it. But He did not redeem the whole world. While His work was sufficient for the redemption of all mankind, it is only effective for those who repent, believe, and accept Him (MacDonald & Farstad).

ii.       The fact that these false teachers were never truly born again is indicated by their destiny. They bring upon themselves swift destruction. Their doom is eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

C.     They Are Quite Effective (2:2).

                                                1.      Peter Predicts That They Will Attract A Large Following (2:2). They do this by scuttling the biblical standards of morality and encouraging the indulgence of the flesh. Here are two examples:

i.         Anglican Bishop John A. T. Robinson wrote: ... nothing can of itself always be labeled as “wrong.” One cannot, for instance, start from the position “sex relations before marriage” or “divorce” are wrong or sinful in themselves. They may be in 99 cases or even 100 cases out of 100, but they are not intrinsically so, for the only intrinsic evil is lack of love.

ii.       In the book Called to Responsible Freedom, published by the National Council of Churches, young people are counseled: In the personal, individual sense, then, what justifies and sanctifies sexuality is not the external marital status of the people before the law but rather what they feel toward each other in their hearts. Measured in such a way, holding hands can be very wrong indeed while intimate sex-play can be right and good (Believers' Bible Commentary).

iii.      Remember large crowds and huge membership does not automatically equal God’s approval or activity upon a movement.

                                                2.      As A Result Of This Type Of Behavior, Taught And Practiced By False Teachers, The Way Of Truth Is Maligned (2:2)—“the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”  

i.         Unbelievers develop a deep contempt for real Christianity because of the teachings, influence of these false teachers and their followers.

ii.       These false teachers claimed that knowledge was superior to practice, so they argued that it did not matter how Christians behaved, as grace could forgive every sin, no matter how great. The Bible consistently denounces this idea (Rom. 6:1-4; 1Jn. 3:3-10). Peter sorrows that the immorality of so-called-Christian groups will bring the true faith into disrepute.

iii.      But, God's justice for anyone leading another astray will be swiftly meted out.

D.     They Are Greedy Manipulators (3: 3).

                                                1.      Their Motives. These false teachers are covetous and greedy, both in the sexual and financial realms (2:3). They have chosen the ministry as a lucrative profession. Their great aim is to build up a large following and thus to increase their income.

                                                2.      Their Manipulations (3:3). They exploit people with false words—“feigned words.”

i.        Darby said, “The devil is never more satanic than when he carries a Bible.” So these men, with Bible in hand, pose as ministers of righteousness, give out well-known evangelical hymns, and use scriptural expressions. But all this is camouflage for heretical teachings and corrupt morals (Believers' Bible Commentary).

ii.      They make false plastic or fabricated statements, literally making up whatever suits the ears of the hearer (1Thes. 2:5) to manipulate them for gain. They make merchandise of believers; that is they exploit you for commercial or money-making schemes for themselves.  If they cannot beg the money out of your purse or pocket they will try to manipulate it out!  They will use charity pleas, and place impoverished children from distant lands on the TV screen and plead with you to give to their cause. The problem with too many of these is that they use most of the donations for something else, and the needy and hungry little children remain hungry and unclothed!

                                                3.      Their Judgment (3:3).  An awful condemnation awaits these religious fifth-columnists. Their judgment has not been idle; it has been arming itself for the slaughter. Their destruction has not been nodding its head in sleep; it has been wide awake, ready to pounce like a panther. –MacDonald: Believer's Bible Commentary

E.     They are Nothing Like the Lord Jesus Christ!  Jesus was warning the people of His day to be on the lookout for gifted leaders who would take advantage of them and lead them astray. They would be men who looked good on the outside but were corrupt on the inside. They would perform well (Matt. 7:13-27).

                                                1.      To put it bluntly, too great preachers and teachers are not necessarily great Christians. The same goes for famous gospel singers and best-selling Christian writers.… Praise the Lord for all those who are true to Jesus Christ and the Word of God, but such Believers are among the few. 

                                                2.      The best picture of what a Spirit-filled man looks like is Christ. His life was characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, and so on in the midst of a world characterized by just the opposite of those things. He was certainly no wimp. He stood up to His detractors when it was appropriate. But He knew when to be silent as well. He had the courage and wit to take on the intellectuals of His day on their turf according to their terms. He spoke with authority. People, especially children, were attracted to Him. Even sinners loved to be with Him. He was a very secure man. There was nothing pretentious or intimidating about Him. He didn’t need those props. And at the end of His life He tackled the toughest account of all—death. And He won! – C. Stanley: The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life

Please consider carefully and prayerfully what I have recorded, restated, adapted, quoted, incorporated, recited, and included in this lesson/article. I have quoted many other works in this article on purpose to demonstrate that this is not merely my opinion on these matters. Most importantly I have slavishly held to the text of God’s holy Word. The concern is real and the spiritual danger is serious. Please consider what is stated here with a sincere heart. I pray that Christ Jesus will give tremendous light by His Spirit of grace.