Satan's ministry is one of deception. He thrives by fooling a person into thinking he is serving God, hearing from God, or worshiping God. Peter writes that many false believers will follow false teachers in their destructive ways, demeaning the way of truth, and exploiting them with deceptive words.



SERMON SUMMARY NOTES



Satan’s ministry is one of deception. He thrives by fooling a person into thinking he is serving God, hearing from God, or worshiping God. He often uses false believers to accomplish his purpose (2 Cor 11:13-15). 
Israel’s history was filled with false prophets claiming to speak for God. A few were foreigners, but most, and the most dangerous, were Jewish; dangerous because they were accepted as God’s own people. Jeremiah said they preached what people wanted to hear, appealing to their sinful hearts (Jer 6:14). 
Paul warned that people would have itching ears … and heap up for themselves teachers (2 Tim 4:3-4). Itching ears is a figure of speech meaning appealing to what a person wants, especially their felt needs, the things they think they need. The result of itching ears is that people believe whatever they want and look for those who preach what their evil hearts long after. 


I. Destructive Ways (2 Pet 2:2). The reach of false teachers is significant. Many will follow their destructive ways (Mt 7:22; 24:5, 10-11; Mk 13:6; Lk 21:8; 2 Tim 4:3-5). Peter is not describing giant crowds of pagans, but those sitting in Christian assemblies thinking they are saved but are actually following false teachers and a false pathway to God.

False followers follow false teachers because people prefer to follow lies that make them feel good. Chasing false doctrine is evidence either of an unregenerate heart, or a deep Biblical ignorance. If a Christian does fall for a doctrinal lie, He doesn’t allow it for long before delivering him unto the truth (Mt 24:24; Mk 13:22; Jn 10:27; 16:13; 1 Cor 11:19). 
False followers march in the destructive ways (aselgeiais) of their teachers. Peter uses this word 3 times in this chapter (2 Pet 2:2, 7" class="scriptRef">7, 18) and it refers to unrestrained, uncontrolled, habitual animal instincts, especially of sexual immorality. There are no restraints on their sinful behavior. Jude compares them to the homosexual citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah (Jude 1:4, 7; Gen 18:16 - 19:29). This sin comes directly from the human heart (Mk 7:22-24), is a work of the sin nature (Gal 5:19), and a sign of being unregenerate (Eph 4:19; Jude 1:4).



II. Demeaning Way (2 Pet 2:2). Blasphemy is the demeaning, disrespect, or cursing of something which is to be held in regard. False teaching blasphemes (blasphemeo) the way of truth, which refers to doctrine, and Jesus is the ultimate expression of this truth (Jn 14:6; Acts 9:2; 16:17; 18:25-26; 19:9, 23; 22.4" class="scriptRef">22:4; 24:14, 22). True doctrine of Christ leads to true living. False teachers blacken the reputation of God’s people, tarnish the message of the gospel, and deflect from the Excellent Glory of the Lord (2 Pet 1:18). This is why the church must be careful to discipline errant members and oppose false teachers and their teaching who give Christianity a bad name (Rom 2:24; Tit 1:16).



III. Deceptive Words (2 Pet 2:3). False teachers exploit (emporeuomai) their followers for personal gain. Claiming to “minister” to them, false teachers take advantage of their followers by offering them something worthless for more than its true value. The gospel they offer is spiritually worthless but full of false promises (2 Pet 2:19). The godly teacher always gives what is of the greatest value freely (2 Ki 5:1-14; Is 55:1; Acts 3:6; 8:20). 
Contentment is being at peace with God’s provision, but false teachers are motivated by covetousness (pleonexia), an uncontrolled craving for more than what God gives. The gospel, for them, is a way to power and prosperity, and they offer the same to their followers, who are likewise motivated by greed (Jer 6:13; 8:10; 1 Tim 6:3-5, 9-10; Tit 1:7, 11; 1 Pet 5:1-3; Jude 1:11, 16)! Greed is the fuel of the so-called prosperity gospel.

The means of exploitation is deceptive words (plastos), from which comes the English word plastic. It describes that which is not genuine, but can be shaped and manufactured to serve any purpose of need. The words, even Bible words, of false teachers are meaningless, spoken only achieve whatever serves them at the time (2 Pet 1:16).

How contrary to Jesus who bore witness to the truth (Jn 18:37), brought the truth into the world (Jn 1:17), and is the truth (Jn 14:6).