February 10, 2008
Sun Oak Baptist Church

Introduction

        The danger of false teachers is real. 2 factors inevitably lead to luke-warmness in a Christian’s life; to compromise both personally and corporately; 2 factors contribute to Christians moving away from God instead of towards Him: false doctrine and personal sin. False doctrine and personal sin are the leaven the leavens the loaf in a Christian’s life.

        In verses 2:17-22 Peter makes 3 points about false teachers:

                1. First, in verses 17-18 he illustrates the emptiness of false                 teachers’ doctrine.

                2. Second, he illustrates the emptiness of their promises.

                3. And finally, he illustrates their inevitable end.

I. The empty doctrine of false teachers. 2:17-18

        A. The importance of sound doctrine.

                1. The word doctrine is found over 30 times in the NT. It refers                 to things that are taught; to the body of commands, laws, and                 principles that form the basis of our faith. See Matt. 16:12; John                 7:16; Acts 2:42; Rom. 16:17; etc.

                2. Eph. 4:11-15. One of a pastor’s primary functions in the                 church, as the under-shepherd, is to insure, protect, and                 promote sound doctrine in the church. See also Eph. 2:19-22.

                3. “Doctrine” is truth – truth as “truth” is defined by God in the                 Bible. John 8:32: “…you shall know the truth, and the truth                 shall make you free.”

        B. 2 colorful and vivid metaphors to illustrate the emptiness of the         doctrine of false teachers. See 2:17a.

        Remember the kind of climate found in the Middle East. Israel is an arid place. Total average rainfall is 25 inches per year, but from May all the way through October there is little if any rain. Water is a very precious commodity in Israel.

                1. False teachers are wells without water. See John 4:13-14                 and 7:37-38.

                2. False teachers are like clouds carried away by a tempest or                 driven away by a storm. See 2:17b.

                3. False teachers have a reservation. See 2:17c and Matt.                 25:30.

        C. Peter then explains why false teachers’ doctrine is empty: the         words they use, the basis for their message, are empty. See 2:18a.

        The word “swelling” here means “puffed up or extravagant.

        D. Finally: Peter answers why – how and why can Christians listen to         or believe Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, Oral Robert, Joel Osteen,         Kenneth Copeland, and so on in the world. Peter’s two-part answer:

                1. False teachers “allure” their followers through the lusts of the                 flesh – through lewdness. See 2:18b.

                2. The people listening don’t know any better. See 2:18b-c.

                The KJV and the NKJV make the end of this verse a little confusing. Look at the end of verse 18 again and follow along as I read a better translation: “they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error.”

        Please note: Lord willing, this message will be continued next Lord’s Day.

II. The empty promises of false teachers. 2:19-21

III. The inevitable end of false teachers. 2:22

Conclusion