False Teachers Hurt Christianity

by Josh Hollingsworth
(Bryant, Arkansas)

II Peter 2:10-13

INTRODUCTION:
What is a false teacher? False is contrary to truth or fact and a teacher is one who teaches. So in Christianity a false teacher is one who teaches contrary to the truths of God and the Bible. Do false teachers fool us? Do we know what we believe and why we believe it?

The Bible talks about false teachers and tells us not to be tricked by their message or their lifestyles. False teachers give Christianity a bad name and prey on undescipled and new Christians. The Bible tells us in II Peter 2:10-16 that false teachers can be detected by different characteristics. They are rebellious, animalistic, and deceitful.

THEME: WHY ARE FALSE TEACHERS HARMFUL TO US AS CHRISTIANS?

I. FALSE TEACHERS ARE HARMFUL TO CHRISTIANS BECAUSE    THEY ARE REBELLIOUS.
   (vs. 10-12a)

   A. Rebellion Grows Out Of a Negative Attitude. (Numbers 14:9)
      1. Negative attitudes have a snowball effect. (Numbers 14:9)
      2. Lashing out is a sign of wrong attitudes. (Numbers 22:29)
      3. Sin begins with wrong attitudes. (Mark 7:18-19)

   B. We Are Rebellious By Nature. (Deuteronomy 31:27-29)
      1. We received our sin nature from Adam. (Genesis 4:8-10)
      2. Our sin nature is inherited from generation to generation.
      (Genesis 4:8-10)

   C. Rebellion Leads To Rejection Of God. (I Samuel 15:23)
      1. A fool rejects God. (Psalms 14:1-3)
      2. There are consequences of rejecting Jesus. (Hebrews 10:26)
      3. Rejecting God makes it impossible to hear him.
      (I Corinthians 2:14-15)

   D. We Always Pay For Our Rebellion. (II Chronicles 12:8)
      1. We lose more spiritually than we gain physically.
      (II Chronicles 12:8)
      2. Rebellion is costly. (Deuteronomy 28:47-48)

T.S. WHY ARE FALSE TEACHERS HARMFUL TO US AS CHRISTIANS?

I. FALSE TEACHERS ARE HARMFUL TO CHRSITIANS BECAUSE THEY ARE REBELLIOUS.
   (vs. 10-12a)

II. FALSE TEACHERS ARE HARMFUL TO CHRISTIANS BECAUSE    THEY ARE ANIMALISTIC.
   (vs. 12b)

   A. They Were Like Brute Beast. (vs. 12b)
      1. Their actions were like animals.
      2. They were uncontrollable.

   B. They Were Creatures Of Instinct. (vs. 12b)
      1. They followed their instinct and did not ask God for direction.
      2. If it felt good they did it.

   C. They Were Caught And Destroyed. (Jude 10)
      1. Nothing can be hidden from God. Psalms 7:9
      2. They could not escape God’s judgment. I Kings 22:34

   D. Like Beasts They Too Will Perish. (Ephesians 4:22)
      1. Old body is corrupt. Romans 6:6
      2. Will perish because of deceitful lusts. James 1:21

T.S. WHY ARE FALSE TEACHERS HARMFUL TO US AS CHRISTIANS?

I. FALSE TEACHERS ARE HARMFUL TO CHRISTIANS BECAUSE THEY ARE REBELLIOUS. (vs. 10-12a)
II. FALSE TEACHERS ARE HARMFUL TO CHRISTIANS BECAUSE THEY ARE ANIMALISTIC. (vs. 12b)

III. FALSE TEACHERS ARE HARMFUL TO CHRISTIANS BECAUSE    THEY ARE DECEITFUL.
   (vs. 13)

   A. Deceit Will Come Back To Haunt Us. (Genesis 37:31-34)
      1. We reap what we sow.
      2. Our deceit will not go unnoticed. Exodus 2:12-14

   B. Deceit Only Compounds Our Problems. (James 7:10-11)
      1. We reap more than we sow.
      2. Covering sin leads to more sin. II Samuel 11:25

   C. Deceit Is More Powerful Than We Realize. (Judges 16:19)
      1. Never underestimate its power. Romans 7:11
      2. There is extra danger of intentional sin. Numbers 15:30-31

   D. Deceit Leads To Disaster. (II Samuel 1:13)
      1. Lying can bring disaster upon the liar. II Samuel 1:13
      2. Disaster comes if others share in our deceit. II Samuel 1:13

CONCLUSION:
Why are false teachers harmful to us as Christians? False teachers are harmful to Christians because they are rebellious. False teachers are harmful to Christians because they are animalistic. False teachers are harmful to Christians because they are deceitful.

False teachers are harmful to Christians because they are rebellious. Are you rebellious or are others influencing you to be rebellious? Will you give in to God’s authority and not be rebellious to Him today?

False teachers are harmful to Christians because they are animalistic. Do you go be your instincts or by the Bible? Will you make decisions by the Word of God or will you be caught and then perish by God judgment?

False teachers are harmful to Christians because they are deceitful. Are you deceitful to those around you? Will you ask God to take your deceit away and replace it with the things of God?