Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

II Peter 2:1-8

As God’s priests, we are responsible for knowing and doing what he wants in a way that is pleasing to him. It is why he gave the instructions he gives about understanding his word and was so detailed in what he commanded. Jesus warned repeatedly that there would be those who deliberately misled people. In their effort to mislead, he said they would disguise themselves to appear as real Christians in Matthew 7:15-16. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" According to Matthew 24:24 they will do things that make them appear to be greater Christians than the real ones. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

When Jesus announced that he would betrayed by one of his disciples, all of them asked if it would be them. Jesus clearly identified Judas as the one, they thought Judas could not be the one. Almost any of the others were more likely. John 13:26-29 tells the story. “Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.” They selected Judas to keep the bag because they trusted him so much, and they couldn’t believe it could be him. False teachers and prophets appear the same way.

Paul says it shouldn’t surprise us that they disguise themselves since Satan himself appears as an angel in II Corinthians 11:13-15. “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Peter stresses that the false prophets will be right among us, in our own organizations. They deliberately teach false doctrine, and stir up controversies to gain a following and weaken or destroy the church. Some even go so far as to deny that Jesus is the son of God, or that we are saved by believing in him. They do this while pretending to believe in Christ.

“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.” (II Peter 2:1)

Titus 1:7-11 describes the qualifications to be considered before a man is selected to pastor a church. It is essential that he believes and practices sound, proper doctrine because there are so many false teachers according to verses 10-11. “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.” He will need to be securely grounded in the truth to prevent them from leading others astray by sound teaching. The false teachings are taught for profit, either by obtaining money from their hearers, or to improve their standing in their group.

Unfortunately, many have not learned the truth, and are susceptible to their wicked and dangerous ways, doing the same things. They face the same judgment if they do. Because they do wickedly, while claiming to be Christians, they cause Christianity to be hated, using the church to further their own agenda.

“And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 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.” (II Peter 2:2-3)

In the messages tot eh churches in Revelation, The Lord referrs to three different false teachers who are turning Christians away and warns the churches that they need to stop tolerating them. If they continue to allow their teaching, God will dystrophy both the false teachers and those who adhere to their teachings. The church at Pergamos had two groups of false teachers. Thyatira only had one group, but it was even further from the truth. A more in depth look at their teachings can be found in the Messages to Churches sectionof this blog. That their judgment is sure is clear from how God has dealt with other sin.

“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)” (II Peter 2:4-8)

Hebrews 10:29-31 asks, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

The best way to protect ourselves or others from being drawn away from the truth is taking the time to study the scriptures for ourselves, and finding out exactly what God meant. According to I Corinthians 2:14, we would not normally be capable of understanding the things of God. Jesus promised that we would receive the Holy Spirit to teach us in John 14:26. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” He will use the things We learned from Christ via the apostles. He will guide us to the truth according to John 16:13. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” As we have already seen, he has provided a way for us to check out our understanding.

Peter tells us that some of these things are going to be hard to understand, especially in Paul’s writings, and that those who don’t take the time to study thoroughly will distort them in II Peter 3:16. “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”