False Teachers in the last days

The book of 2 Peter teaches us that in the last days we need good virtues to be an overcomer and secondly the warning with regard to false teachers

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
(2Pe 1:20-21)

Interpretation of Scripture not exclusive to an individual, otherwise they become Gnostics claiming that they are the only ones receiving divine revelation. There isn’t any new revelation; even Solomon says that there is nothing new under the sun. God is not Schizophrenia with regard to His Word, Commandments and promises. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). If there are teachings that the preacher claim as new revelation contrary to classical theology or doctrine, it is best to stay away from such a person. Daniel say God as the Ancient of days (Dan 7), never expect God to change to accommodate and decide to become relevant in today’s society. God’s plumb line never changed and neither did His moral standards and requirements. Who are we to correct the Almighty and test His eternal Wisdom?

Marks of false teachers
1. Blinded by human reasoning and greed. Seeking unrighteous gain, not just being money by stealing glory and honor from God by heaping upon themselves recognition from man.

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
(2Pe 2:15-16)

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
(Jud 1:11)

Not just following the error of Balaam but having the same spirit of Cain who walked out of the Presence of God to dwell in Nod, meaning being a wanderer. A wanderer is never satisfied and cannot find a firm footing. The true footing of our faith is when God builds us upon the Rock when the storms hit and winds blow, we will prevail as overcomers. Cain was also pioneered cities where much evil and injustice lurks. False teachers not just heap upon themselves earthly gain and recognition but also build to show their strength and ability. We have to remember that to prevail against the gates of hell; it has to be Christ that does the building and not us. Let us not measure our ministry or faith but the bigness of the outward, but being a spiritual giant.

2. Fleshly and destitute of the Spirit

These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
(2Pe 2:17)

There will be deep spiritual dryness that God and people cannot draw from. There is no life in the spirit. As the fig tree that was cursed by Jesus due to lack of fruits, the fruits we are to bear are of the Spirit for God to harvest (Gal 5 and Eph 5). Any intimacy bear fruit as with a marriage, thus our intimacy with the Holy Spirit produces fruits of the Spirit. There is also a tempest that the Prince of Peace cannot calm because He does not dwell there in the first place. Such is reserved the horror darkness, need I elaborate further.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
(Rom 8:1-2)

False teacher preach against commendation and rightly so because in Christ there is not condemnation. But the condition of not living in condemnation is when we don’t walk after the gratification of the flesh but after the Spirit. Basically there is an over emphasis on the side of grace which is the receiving benefits we don’t deserve. There is another side of grace not much talked about is the ability to overcome.

And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
(Psa 105:10)

Preachers of grace hit out against the moral law of God or the 10 commandments because they see the condemnation aspect. However to the transformed (Jacob and Israel are the same person, but the latter being the one transformed) the law becomes a covenant of life. As with a marriage, to the unmarried it appears to be a condemnation or restriction in relationship to the married it becomes of covenant with blessings and intimacy.

3. 'Logical' and superficial

For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
(2Pe 2:18)

False teaches emphasize ‘what can you and I get out of this’ teaching, may it be blessing, healing, prosperity, blessing, etc. It serves to gratify the flesh for the Kingdom of God is not about that but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Again this emphasis is on the inward not the outward.

4. Perversion of true liberty

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
(2Pe 2:19-22)

The cross brought us freedom from sin but into the mastery of our Lord Jesus Christ. Either we have the devil as the father (together with his lusts) or we have the Heavenly Father (John 8:44).

‘In the midst of their talk of liberty, these men are the vilest slaves; their own lusts gain a complete victory over them, and they are actually in bondage. When men are entangled, they are easily overcome; therefore Christians should keep close to the word of God, and watch against all who seek to bewilder them. A state of apostacy is worse than a state of ignorance.’
Matthew Henry

The correct preaching

True teachers and preachers of the Word of God focus on righteousness because as Jesus says in Matt 24, in the end days there will be lawlessness and love of many will grow cold. Rejection of the moral law of God will definitely lead to lawlessness, people choosing to live according to what they perceive is right. Love growing cold because instead of loving God and others, there is the love for self and gratifying of it. That is why we need God’s righteousness and teaching of it, for the gratification of self is insatiable. Jesus promised that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness WILL be satisfied (Matt 5:6). How else can we live a fulfilled life unless we seek first righteousness of God? Why settle for anything else that is secondary? Right teaching preserves us from doom when the door of the 'Ark' is closed by the sovereign hand of God in the coming of great flood of evil. There have been preaching that is said to touch felt needs, the true work that God wants to do in us is beyond that. It is the touching the core of our lives and touch the roots and if necessary to uproot the unrighteousness so that righteousness can be planted instead. The former 'touching' can address human felt needs but also addresses issues of life superficially.

And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
(2Pe 2:5)