Judgment for False Teachers

Like Jesus and Paul, Peter warned about false prophets.  In II Peter 1:21-2:2 he reminds us that God directed the prophets, but that false prophets teach contrary to what God said.  “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  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.  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

He prophesied that there will be false prophets in every organization, teaching things that go squarely against what God has said, even to the point of denying that Christ is God’s son, or that he is able to pay for man’s sin.  Unfortunately, they will draw away a lot of people and cause Christianity to be rejected both for their ungodly teachings and the constant fighting among the different groups.   As we look at modern Christianity, it easy to see how completely Peter and Paul’s prophecies have been fulfilled. 

Peter goes on to explain that to these false prophets Christianity is just a way of making money, playing on people’s emotions and lusts, not understanding that God’s judgment is coming, as II Peter 2:3-11.  “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.  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;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.  Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.” 

We can look back in history and see where God Judged the entire world for their wickedness in Noah’s day, or Sodom and Gomorrah in Abraham’s day, while sparing Noah and Lot and their families.  He knows how to save the righteous and destroy the wicked, and will destroy those who just think they can do as they please.  Like a bunch of animals, they destroy things they don’t understand never realizing that their actions will cause their own deaths.  They are quite proud of their ability to fool real Christians and consider them as mugs to be taken advantage of, as II Peter 2:12-16 tells us.  “But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.”

Like Balaam, they have gotten caught up in the earthly rewards and get involved in sexual sin, ripping people off, and deliberately misleading people.  Before long their wickedness is apparent to those around, like Balaam’s was to his donkey.  While they sound very spiritual and exciting, they have nothing of real value to offer the Christian, as II Peter 2:17-22 warns.  “These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.  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.

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.  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

While they make great promises about What God can do, and have been deeply involved with the church and gotten their lives straightened out for a time, there is no underlying change.  They revert to their old attitudes and behaviors when they get a chance.  Hebrews 6:4-6 warns, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” 

When they have been that involved, seeing God’s power so clearly, then turn their backs on it, never accepting God gift of salvation as good enough, there is nothing that will ever change their minds, and God will not make a special way of salvation for them.  Like Judas Iscariot, they have made their choice, and can’t even use ignorance as an excuse.  Other people still have the possibility of turning to God.