2 Peter 2:1: But False Prophets Also Arose Among The People, Just As There Will Be False Teachers Among You

2 Peter 2:1

[1] But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (ESV)

One of the greatest challenges to the church of Jesus Christ in every age is exactly what the Apostle Peter is warning us about. Where there is a proclamation of the truth, there will be a distortion of that truth brought about by those who would undermine God's Word. What is even more disturbing is that so many Christians are caught unaware, even though the Bible is full of warnings against false teachers.

It has been said that there are warnings against false teachings in every single book of the New Testament, with the exception of Philemon. It is almost as if the Lord wanted his church to be aware of false teaching. The deceptions that are brought against the church are not small, although they may start small. Peter warns us that the heresies brought are destructive, even to the point of denying Christ.

It makes you wonder why the church at large is not more careful to avoid these dangerous heresies. Far too many churches spend almost no time concentrating on what proper doctrine is. We are told that if we focus too much on doctrine people will be turned off. We choose to find things that we think are more exciting to the world. The argument is that if we entertain the lost they will come to Jesus. This is folly.

We must be so careful to teach and believe what comes from the truth of God's Word. Doctrine is not optional, it is essential. The Apostle Paul said these words to Timothy that we would do well to heed: "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."

Would you be able to recognize a false teacher from one who teaches the truth? Continue in your study of doctrine. Know the truth, so that you can be equipped to refute that which is false.