Wednesday, August 23, 2017

The Deception and Denial of False Teachers (2 Peter 2:1)


SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 03/24/2004

 

                                                                                                                       

My Worship Time                              Focus:  The deception and denial of false teachers

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  2Peter 2:1

 

            Message of the verse:  “But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach their destructive heresies about God and even turn against their Master who bought them. Theirs will be a swift and terrible end.”  (NLT)  “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.”  (KJV)

            As Peter begins this chapter in his letter he begins by contrasting false teachers with those who he had just been writing about at the end of chapter one, those who had been the ones who God used to write the Bible.  Peter then changes from false prophets to false teachers in this chapter, because there are no more prophets in the Church today, there are only those who teach what has already been written in the completed Word of God.

            These teachers bring about deception to those who will listen to them.  Satan deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden.  Satan first questioned God’s Word, and then he denied God’s Word, and then he substituted for God’s Word, by using his own, when he said “you shall be like gods.” Peter uses the words “destructive heresies” in this verse, and the word heresies has some different meanings:  “1) act of taking, capture: e.g. storming a city 2) choosing, choice 3) that which is chosen 4) a body of men following their own tenets (sect or party) 4a) of the Sadducees 4b) of the Pharisees 4c) of the Christians 5) dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims.”

            These false teachers also denied the faith, and the Lord who bought them.  Now Dr. Wiersbe teaches that these false teachers were not saved, and says that Christ bought the entire world when He died on the cross, but not all will be saved.  He goes on to say that Christ bought the whole field, (the world), to get the treasures that were in it.  (I know that some will not agree with this).  These false teachers will deny the teachings of the Gospel, and deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and God who came in the flesh, and also that it is not necessary for a person to accept His forgiveness through His work upon the cross.

 

             Spiritual meaning for my life today: The subtleness of these false teachers is what is so deceptive in the works.  I am so glade that I have the Spirit of God in me to give me the wisdom to understand His Word, so that the Lord will protect me from these false teachers who are in the Church today.

 

The Word of God was challenging to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord in the circumstances of our investments, and also our church.  I am thankful to the Lord that Sandra is beginning to understand more fully the problems that Andrew is going through.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Proverbs 3:7-9

7  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.

8  It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.

9  Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 

 

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