2 Peter week 4 False Teachers Ps 10:26-36; Deut 13:1-5; 2 Pet 2:1-10a[1]; Matt 7:1-20

Introduction  https://youtu.be/5MSoF5hP3ZY

In introducing this series on 2 Peter I pointed out that in hindsight I realised that the Spirit led me to do this teaching because this book was written as a reply to false teachers, a problem which in the context of the Anglican diocese of Perth, is a major issue. Who are these deceptive brethren, how can we recognise them through their way of life, and what do they teach? Here is some background[2].

Background

On the 24^th of February, despite various objections before and during the service, our archbishop ordained two candidates with a history of sexual relationships outside of marriage[3]. This follows the diocese accepting a gay rights activist as precentor of the Cathedral[4] who has been in a civil relationship[5] with another male in the UK.  Thes gay men have signed the Faithfulness in Service agreement of the Anglican Church, which pledges them to live a “chaste” life[6]. However, none of these people have obeyed the biblical exhortation to “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance”[7], which involves a public renunciation of a former sinful way of life[8]. Without such an act, the fundamental idolatry of sex[9], outside the life-time commitment of biblical marriage[10], makes the promise of “chastity” unbelievable. Since Peter has already upheld “partnership in the divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4) as the meaning of salvation, we must conclude that these men are not true brothers of Christ[11].

Exposition

“But false prophets[12] also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers[13] among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift[14] destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth[15] will be blasphemed. 3 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.”

False teachers contradict the apostolic tradition by starting a new tradition not supported by the history of the Church. Whilst perhaps being very charismatic personalities[16], false prophets lack divine authority[17], and focus on a message of peace and security, strongly avoiding words of divine judgement[18]. Since they arise “among you”, Peter views these people as a part of the Church that has left the true faith. They “will secretly bring in destructive heresies” from the outside. In contemporary language they bring in something of “the spirit of the age”[19] common to popular culture. These teachers will be swiftly destroyed, that is, their heresies will “send them to hell”[20] because they have “denied the Master who bought them”[21]. In this chapter it is the lifestyle of the false teachers that is the problem[22]. Their denial of Jesus is communicated by moral disobedience to his commandments. They are not true disciples (Matt 28:18-20).

“many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed”. Both in the Old Testament and here, “way”, stands for “lifestyle” (Deut 5:33; Prov 1:15; 2:20; Isa 30:21; Jer 6:16 etc. James 5:19) and “sensuality” can be rendered “immorality”[23]. What exactly is in mind is not stated[24], but some form of sexual depravity that was shaming the church[25].

V.3 “in their greed they will exploit you with false words.” These folk exploit or “make merchandise” of things they have made up, they cannot control their greed. Greed is one of the things most spoken against across the New Testament[26], so that the condemnation and destruction hanging over the heads of these lustful men[27] is active, even if presently invisible. In Romans 1:18-32 Paul presents a scenario of active divine judgement working itself out in the sins[28] of people[29] by focussing on the sin of homosexual practice[30].  We need to understand that “the punishment for sin is more sin” (Augustine). Or to put this a simpler way, the more someone sins the less of the glory and honour of God there is in their lives. To establish this Peter piles up a list of three terrifying Old Testament examples:

v.4 “If God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment”. This seems to refer to the angels in Genesis 6:1-4 who cohabited with human women by crossing species lines so stirring up the final judgment of their Creator. The next reference is to “a flood upon the world of the ungodly” (v.5) in the time of Noah whose preaching of righteousness[31] was ignored by the world. Then we have the infamous case of Sodom and Gomorrah[32]  “condemned…to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly”[33]. In the context of false teaching today, at least of the sort that liberal Anglicans specialise in, Sodom stands for the surety of final judgement. This introduces Lot[34], whom we are told was himself “rescued”[35] but suffered continuous torment of soul[36] at the site of the sensuality of his day. In scripture Sodom and Gomorrah have become signs of God’s sure wrath[37] and the knowledge of the state of their wickedness offended Lot’s conscience continually. According to Luke[38], Jesus whole life was a trial, and I believe we sin by underestimating the sensitivity of the holy Spirit-filled Son of God to the wickedness of the world into which he came. We too are under such trials (James 1:12; 1 Pet 1:6). One thing which always characterises false prophets is that, in their dismissal of divine judgement[39], they never suffer anguish of heart for the lost as true prophets/teachers do in their union with Christ[40]. Once commentator challenges us all by saying that today “there appears to be no discernible difference between the lifestyles of those inside and those outside the church. Would (2) Peter think that the teachers he opposes have won?” (Davids). If the diocese does go ahead in affirming the blessing of same sex couples the answer is unavoidably clear. Whilst the Lord will protect the righteous who belong to him, the unrighteous will face a dreadful and unavoidable Day of Punishment. Knowing this must move us in the true Spirit of the prophets[41] to continually intercede for all these people.

When Peter summarises the sort of sin we are talking about he describes such people as those who “indulge[42] in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority” (v.10 a). Literally they “go after” sin and “despise lordship”. Their passions are uncontrolled and they flaunt their “liberty” or freedom to sin shamelessly[43]. We are not talking about genuine believers in their ongoing struggle with their weak natures and lusts, such struggles are in fact a sure sign of salvation[44]. Just ss sexual tension[45] has virtually disappeared as a virtue from wider society, some people want it to be banished from the Church as well. This is more than disgraceful, it is a total failure to understand that the tension of living in “the time between the times”[46] is essential to Christian growth[47].

Conclusion

There is a profound sense that those who know what the Church has always taught about sex in marriage between a male and a female (Matt 19:4-6) but who advocate other forms of sexuality are false teachers[48] offending God and Christ as Lord. The practice and propagation of sexual activity outside marriage is a denial of the Master who gave his life to liberate us from the evil of this age. The prospect of divine judgement is fearful.

It is only by standing with Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration (our topic last week) that we can see how far false teachers fall short of the glory of God. To the degree that we are living distantly from such a profound spiritual revelation of Christ to that degree we will lack the power of discernment and become more and more influenced by the “spirit of the age”, which will shake the Church so that it becomes “tossed to and fro …and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Eph 4:14). I ended my sermon last week with a reference to the one true story, that of Jesus in all its dimensions in scripture, heresies always diminish Christ’s story and so fall short of salvation. Belief in a final divine Judgement[49] by Christ is an integral part of His story. After an age of mercy will come an age of wrath (Rev 6:16). When trendy bishops, teachers and priests deny this they cease to preach the gospel and imperil the Church with irrelevance because they bypass the Spirit of the Lord. Compromise might bring short term favour with the world, but beyond that final failure is decreed[50]. In response to these things, the Spirit would lead us to correct, contend with, pray for, serve and love all people, including the false prophets and teachers, “for God so loved the world that…”