“Know the Truth”

2 Peter 2:1-10a

January 20, 2008 – ©Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes

Introduction

A family enjoyed a week-long vacation in Florida with their 10-year-old son. As they were packing up to leave the hotel, a young girl they had met at the hotel gave their son a teddy bear as a gift. At the airport they were going through the security area with their carry-on bags, a Transportation Security Administration worker noticed the outline of a gun inside the teddy bear. Opening up the bear, airport security workers found a loaded .22 caliber handgun inside. They later found out it had been reported stolen in 1996 in California. It’s hard to know whom to trust. Things aren’t always what they seem.

A Look at False Teachers

As we begin chapter 2 of 2^nd Peter, we read that both in Peter’s day and now false teaching and false teachers will try to lead people astray. False teachers will appear in every generation and every church. Their lies can destroy churches and the people who follow these lies. As verse 1 points out, “they secretly introduce destructive heresies.”

It may be a minor difference in interpretation, but it begins to make people question and even doubt. As false teachers gain popularity among people, they divide a church and, little by little, destroy a church.

The statement that some may “even deny the sovereign Lord who bought them” reminds me of the serpent in the Garden of Eden’s approach. The serpent questions God’s wisdom and authority. When Adam and Eve began to doubt God’s words, their relationship with God was destroyed. God created them, gave them a perfect place to live and provided for their every need. Yet, they turned their backs on God and believed the lies of the serpent.

God created us, provides for our needs, and cares for us. God also sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we can gain entrance into his eternal kingdom. Paul wrote, “For you were bought with a price; do not become slaves of human masters.” [1Cor7:23]. After all Jesus has done for us, will we deny Jesus’ saving work on the cross. Will we believe the lies that say we must earn our salvation?

Verse 2 tells us that some false teachers will encourage people to live according to their desires, rather than God’s ways. They will try to convince us to live a life that is immoral, or to conduct our affairs or business in ways that aren’t legal, or to live to satisfy our own wants, at the expense of others. Such living not only threatens our relationship with God, but also causes others to see Christianity as a fraud, as a lie.

Peter also said that it is the greed of the false teachers, whether greed for money or power or fame, that causes them to “exploit” or use Christians by speaking lies about our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

We hear about preachers on television and radio who “exploit” Christians, requesting money for their “ministry” – money that really goes into their pocket. They are greedy for wealth. Others are greedy for fame and will preach what they think people want to hear or what will make them popular and successful. They use the gospel for their own personal gain.

Regardless of the type of heresy, or whatever message the false teacher is speaking, Christians can be led astray and end up denying their faith in Jesus.

Also those who are not Christians can be kept from hearing the truth of the Gospel and finding Christ. However, in the end, false teachers face God’s judgment.

The Fate of False Teachers

Peter wrote, “Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” [2Pet2:3b]. Peter then gave three illustration of how God brought judgment and destroyed the unrighteous.

Even the angels, when they sin against God or turned from God, were punished. The ungodly and immoral people of Noah’s day refused to turn back to God, so only Noah and his family entered the ark, along with animals, and was saved from the flood. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were so evil and rebellious toward God that God finally destroyed everything in both towns. God will punish those who rebel against him.

Those who lead others away from God or cause others to do things that are not according to God’s Word will be punished by God. Jesus said that those who cause a believer to stumble would be better to have a large mill stone hung around their neck and be thrown into the sea [Mt.18:6]. God punishes those who cause others to fall.

Protection from False Teaching

So how does a Christian keep from being led astray by false teaching?

First, Matthew 7:20 tells us that we will know them by their fruit. The “fruit” most obvious of false teachers is that all that they do is for themselves. They are self-seeking. Whether they want power, money, or fame, it is all for their own glory. Preachers who are trying to build their own kingdom are false preachers. Look at the fruit of their ministry. Who does it glorify?

Second, Peter also says that “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials.” [2Pet2:9]. God is able to protect and rescue his own. When we seek the Lord, he will answer us. Jesus “is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing.” [Jude24].

Also, while Peter doesn’t mention it in chapter 2, he says in chapter 1 that we should remember what the apostles have taught them so that they will not be led astray. So the third way we can keep from being led away by false teaching is to know what Jesus taught.

We have four Gospels that tell us what Jesus did and said, and we have other New Testament books that help us understand what Jesus taught. So we have no excuse for not knowing God’s Word.

Jesus said in John 8:31-32, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Living according to Jesus’ teaching sets us free, but we have to know what Jesus taught. Reading the Bible provides the protection we need from false teachers. Knowing God’s Word helps us live for God.

Paul said to Timothy: “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. … Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” [1Tim4:7-8, 16].

If we make exercise a priority in our lives, that’s good. But if we say we don’t have time to read God’s Word, we risk more than our physical health. We risk our salvation.

§ When we live according to the world’s message, a “godless message,” we deny the truth of Jesus Christ.

§ When we demand our “right” to do whatever we want, to live immoral, corrupt, self-seeking lives, we deny the gift of God that we have received in Jesus Christ.

§ When we tell others that we are Christians and, therefore, forgiven, so we can do anything we want, we deny Christ and put others at risk of judgment.

Then, we become false teachers to people looking for a Christ-like model in us.

How we live as Christians matters. We can deny Christ with our words or with our lives. Psalm 119:9 and 11 says, “How can those who are young keep their way pure? By living according to your word. … I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

So “know the truth.” Live the truth! Knowing and living the truth can save your soul and others. Then we proclaim the truth by both our words and our lives.

Celebrate the Truth!

§ We have received a precious gift – our salvation through Jesus Christ.

§ We have received grace and peace in abundance through knowing the truth.

§ We have been given everything we need to live a godly life through our knowledge of Jesus Christ.

§ We have God’s promises of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Paul wrote in Romans 8:2, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” Having been set free from sin and death, we celebrate our freedom in Christ.

We celebrate this freedom in Christ

§ by being grateful for the gift we have received from Christ,

§ by honoring Christ in all we do and say,

§ by knowing the truth and proclaiming it to others.

So celebrate Jesus Christ in your life.

Know the truth. Live the truth.

Knowing the truth can keep you from living a lie!

Amen.

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This sermon is copyright ©2008 by Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes, Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church, Chicago, Illinois.