ORIGINAL OR FAKE?

2 Peter 2:1-22     

Monday, 17 June 2024

“…there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.   -2 Peter 2:1-2

      Imposters are common in our day—they trick people into making them believe they are important personalities and use them to their benfit! People are easily taken in by counterfeit men, in the guise of religiosity who craftily sow destructive heresies and deceptions into the mind of their hearers.  In 2 Peter 2, the apostle warns us believers into being duped by false teachers and their wrong teaching that can even endanger their eternity. SO BEWARE!

Let us focus today on addressing two vital aspects – distinguishing false teachers and a believer’s stand in such situations:

How do we recognize and respond to false teachers?

•        Arising from within: While we often associate false teachers with cults and religious sects, Peter warns of the unseen danger of false teachers who arise within the church. The attack from outside is easier to perceive due to the widely distinguished teaching and practices. However false teachers within the church are not easily recognizable as they seemingly work as one who is united with Christ. They are as “wolves in sheep clothing.”

Our response: We should be careful to distinguish them not by the mighty miracles they perform but the fruit of their character and conduct (Matthew 7:15-23). Rather than encouraging and embracing their teachings, we should constantly examine our own lives, living in the light of God’s word and consistently exhibiting good conduct and character.

•        Deceptive Teachings: The teachings of such individuals infiltrating the body of Christ are often hard to differentiate as their words are quite deceptive, mixing error with the truth of God’s word, like Satan’s crafty deception in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1). There are those who deny the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3: 3-4) and lead people away from the Word.

Our response: We need to be rooted in the Word of God to understand the deception and wrong doctrines in order to counter it. In Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus practically demonstrates to us how to identify and counter the lies of the enemy through God’s Word.

•        False Claims: One of Satan’s biggest traps is to draw many by teaching a way of salvation which does not include the narrow gate and difficult way (Matt.7:13-14). People are often enticed by their heresies because the cost of discipleship involves a self-denial and self-discipline that many are unwilling to go through. 

Our response: Stand firm on the truth of God’s Word knowing there is only one way to eternal life and that is by believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who died for our sins and has made us right with God. “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

      In revealing the eternal destruction that awaits false teachers, Peter persuades us to always be on our guard, rooted in the faith and not swayed by such heresies. As the enemy prowls around like a lion seeking who to devour, we need to be alert and resist him, firm in faith (1 Peter 5:7, 8). In these last days when many reject the authority of Christ, crave for worldly pleasure and reject the truth, we are warned to be vigilant, contending earnestly for the faith.

To Do:  "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. "(Jude 20-21)