Wolves Among The Sheep 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.(2Peter 2:1) Notice the among you. 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.(2Peter 2:3) While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.(2Peter 2:19) Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.(2Peter 3:17-18) Notice it says they are denying the Lord that bought them. What we believe of the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord is foolishness to the world and for the most part they just tolerate us.There isnt a real danger in tolerating but it could lead to some physical harm in some places and to some mental distress if we let their foolish thinking bother us. But I believe Peter is speaking of something very different here.Note he says false teachers and the word privily is the Greek word Pareimiand this is the only place it is used in the New Testament.It has to do with spys and traitors planted among us.The words damnable heresiesmean destructive personal opinions.Verse 2:3 says they use covetousness which here refers to extortion. These are dangerous people and Peter goes on to mention how God had to bring harsh judgement on similar circumstances in the past.These are empty wells as far as the truth is concerned but it seems that many flock to hear them because they allure through the lusts of the flesh and the word wantonnessmeans filth and I believe we recognize what God thinks of the desires of the flesh. 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.(2Peter 2:18) Great swelling words of vanity or emptiness,what an appropriate way of describing false teaching.They promise liberty but the ones who follow them are brought into bondage. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.(2Peter 2:19) The only way we can keep from being led away by them is to continue to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. Our greatest threat in growth in the Christian life wont come from the outside world but from amongst the church. Our greatest danger isnt physical persecution brought on by the world system,but false teaching within the church. Over the centuries the church has thrived on persecution but has almost been destroyed by false teaching. Paul reminded the Ephesians elders what would come on them and I believe we are experiencing it today. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.(Acts 20:29-30) Notice the among you again, and also of your own selves shall men arise. He also reminds Timothy of a time when many in the church will have itching ears and turn from the truth. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.(2nd Timothy 4:3-4) I believe the theythat Paul is referring to in these verses is within the Church.This is people that seemingly have received Christ as their Savior and are rejecting the truth of Gods Word.They have their own personal cravings and personal gratification in the forefront of their thinking.They have itching ears,wanting to hear something new,like the philosophers on Mars Hill and they pile up to themselves teachers that give them what they want to hear.The novelty wears off quickly and then the desire for newer. Many today do not want to hear of the total depravity of the human race,total condemnation and no works they can do to change that situation,and the need for salvation,justification before God and the only way to have that justification is through faith in the sacrifice of Gods Son on the cross.His dying and shedding His blood and His resurrection from the dead. They do not want to hear of the set apart life they can have now.The indwelling Spirit of God living the life of Christ in and through them.They do not want to hear of presenting their bodies a LIVING sacrifice now in this life. They do not want to hear that Christ is coming back for His Church and that could be any moment and that is our blessed hope. It seems that the sound doctrine that Paul taught is not enough for them.Condemnation,free justification in Christ,Christ living out through believers by the power of the Holy Spirit of God and Christ being manifested through our lives and the hope of Him coming back for His Church,isnt enough,its too much of depending on God and not enough self-gratification. When people avert themselves from the truth then they open themselves up to all kinds of Satanic influence and are easily turned aside to error. The desire for something new or different can easily lead to Satanic influence and error.The teachers that are heaped up can twist the Scriptures to satisfy any longing ear that wants to hear something new or different.You can decide what you want to believe and they will be willing to provide you with Scripture to back it up and if Scripture doesnt agree then just disregard it or misapply it.First its Turn Awayfrom the truth and then it is Turn Aside to false or fiction. Yes the danger is right among us. False teaching is based on deception and to the hearers ignorance of the teaching of the Scripture and ignorance of the power of God can open oneself up to being deceived by these false teachers. Some false teaching can be very obvious to students of the Word but some can be very deceptive and very hard to detect without discernment by the Spirit of God.Some false teaching can contain a great amount of the truth. Paul warns of this in (2Corinthians 11:13-15) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2Corinthians 11:13-15) Jesus in (Matthew 24:24) in speaking about the deception in the Tribulation under the antichrist states:For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. The deception will be so great under the antichrist and so close to the truth that if it were possible the very elect could be deceived.That will be very powerful deception. I believe we are experiencing some very strong deception today.Many have just enough truth in their teachings that they can draw followers who do not have enough understanding to discern the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. They teach much of the truth on the surface to lure you in and once they have you in they can flood you with deception.They prey on people that just wont get into the Word themselves and dont allow the Spirit of God to grow them and teach them.These false teachers desire a following and that seems to prove to themselves that they are right.It feeds their ego.They also insist that they are right and that anyone that disagrees with them are wrong.They are constantly trying to prove everyone else is wrong and that they are the only ones that possess the truth.Also we should not allow ourselves to be fooled into thinking that cults are only small groups either. Someone once said that if Satan cant push you in the wrong direction,he will push you overboard in the right direction.Maybe that is why their teaching is so deceiving. Our belief system should be based on Gods Word and not Gods Word based on our belief system. We that are saved,born of the Spirit have the Spirit of God indwelling us and we have the Word of God and if we are in it and are prayfully and sincerely desiring the truth,I believe He will guide us in it and grant us the ability to discern the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.So we should be in the Word ourselves and grounded in the truth so we wont be lead away by every wind of doctrine but to be able to search them out and expose them.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 13:13:48 +0000
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