False Teachers - Part I
2 Peter 2:1-11

Introduction:
     Satan, who is the father of lies has sought to corrupt and destroy the truth since
the beginning when he told Eve “you shall not surely die”. Even today he works to
infiltrate the ranks of God’s army with his destructive lies and heresies. Satan sometimes
appears as an agel of light, and so may his ministers. 2 Cor. 11:13-15
     We must be on constant gaurd and put on the whole armor of Christ that we may
be able to withstand the deceptions of Santan and his false teachers. (Eph. 6:10-20)

I.   A Warning Concerning False Teachers (2 Peter 2:1)
     A. Just as there were false prophets in the Old Testament, so will there be in this age
     B. These will teach things contrary to God’s will 1Tim. 4:1-3
     C. These false teachers must be rebuked Titus 1:10-13

II.The Danger of Leaving the Truth (vs. 2)
     A. We who have the truth must beware lest we fall into curruption of the truth
     B. You can know the truth John 8:31-32
          1. This is to continue in the word of Christ
          2. This is the truth that makes us free
     C.  Having known the truth we can fall
          1. We can fall from steadfastness  1 Peter 3:17, 18
          2. Many have fallen and corrupted God’s word today
               a. Fallen through ignorance
               b. Using the Bible to “choose” prooftexts
               c. Denying the inspiration of the scriptures
               d. Motivated by greed (vs. 3)
 
III. God Will Punish These False Teachers and Protect the Godly (vv. 4-11)
     A.God’s word is holy and pure
     B. To corrupt the truth of God’s word is a sin
     C. God will deliver the godly, and punish the unjust (v 9)
          1. As with the angels that sinned (v 4)
          2. As with the world in Noah’s time (v 5)
          3. As with Sodom and Gomorrah (v 6)
     D. In these instances God accomlished two things:
          1. He punished the wicked
          2. He delivered the just from the wickedness of the people

Conclusion:
     Let us beware.There are those who “change the truth of God into a lie” (Rom. 1:25).
    God will deliver them to their onw destruction. He has promised that just as He will
    punish these false teachers, he will deliver the just.
 
Michael E. Grooms