TEXT: 2 Peter 2:1–10a TEACHER: Mark Driscoll RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2009

Introduction

At the end of 1 Peter, we learned that the church is led by the Chief Shepherd (Jesus Christ) and includes shepherds (pastors), who feed and protect the sheep (God's people). 2 Peter 2 introduces the wolves (false teachers). "With the wolves you cannot be too severe; with the weak sheep you cannot be too gentle." –Martin Luther New Testament descriptions of false teachers: Phil. 3:2; Col. 2:8, 18; 1 Tim. 1:3–7, 19; 4:1–2, 7; 6:3–5; 2 Tim. 2:14–18, 23; Titus 1:10–14; 2 Pet. 2:1–3; 3:16; 1 John 2:18

False Teachers (2 Peter 2:1–3a)

Six indicators of a false teacher (only one characteristic is needed to qualify as a wolf):

• Heresy – False belief regarding a primary Christian doctrine (for example, monotheism, the Bible is God's Word, the Trinity, human sin, Jesus--pre-existence, fully God and fully man, born of a virgin, sinless life, bodily resurrection--salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone)
• Sensuality – Loose living, condoning and encouraging sin
• Blasphemy – No fear of God, which leads to slander of God (for example judging God by criticizing the Bible)
• Greed – Profiting from the popularity of false teaching
• Lust – Practicing sexual sin and/or encouraging others to do so as well
• Despise Authority – Living as your own ruler, rejecting discipline

God’s Response to False Teachers (2 Peter 2:3–6)

• Destruction
• Condemnation (like the demons, the flood, Sodom & Gomorrah)

God’s Response to the Righteous (2 Peter 2:5-9)

• Preserved like Noah
• Rescued like Lot

A heretic claims to be a Christian but holds a false belief on a primary Christian doctrine.

A heretic is not...

• Someone who professes to be a non-Christian.
• A new Christian humbly sorting their theology out.
• Someone who disagrees over a secondary doctrinal issue (e.g. Bible translation, mode of baptism and communion, preaching format, church governance, women in ministry, spiritual gifts).
• Someone who made a mistake that was inconsistent with their belief.
• Someone who repented of false doctrine.

These people should be kept in the church and disciplined and/or instructed.

A heretic is...

• Someone who claims to be a Christian.
• Someone who holds a false position on a primary doctrinal issue.
• Someone who knowingly holds a false doctrine.
• Someone who habitually continues in false doctrine.
• Someone who will not repent or recant.
These people need to be rebuked and removed from the church before their following grows.

Two Errors Regarding Heretics

#1. Virtually no one is a heretic. Mistaken thinking that leads some to believe that virtually no on is a heretic:
• "They can't be a heretic because they are successful so God must be blessing them."
• "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion" (pluralism).
• "We are supposed to love everyone" (tolerance).
• "We are not supposed to fight."
• "They can't be a heretic because they're a very nice person."
• "They're not a heretic––they're a hero for standing up against authority."
#2. Virtually everyone is a heretic. Common characteristics of people who think virtually everyone is a heretic:
• Unholy and unhelpful apologetics and discernment ministries
• Ruled by fear
• Rigid eschatology ("end times" theology)
• Guilty of globalizing (blowing things out of proportion)
• Make accusations based on "guilt by association"
• Shoddy research, quote out of contexts, believe lies
• They fight over styles and secondary issues
• They hide behind the Internet and media
Everyone is a theologian. We are either believing and behaving that which is true, or believing and behaving that which is false.

Community Group Discussion Questions

1. What experiences have you personally had with false teachers?
2. Are you guilty of believing false teaching about any doctrines?
3. Are there any false teachers with whom you need to stop interacting?
4. Is there anyone you need to apologize to for wrongly judging?
5. Are you more likely to consider virtually no one or virtually everyone a heretic?
6. What can you do to grow in the truth and discernment?