Beware of False teachers in the Church

Peter is in the finally stages of his life (2 Peter 1:14)

This second letter primarily warns Christian believers to beware of false teachers

He instructs Christians to Grow spiritually

Before concluding that The day of the Lord is soon coming

THEME Growing in the knowledge of

Jesus Christ

OUTLINE Identification/Greetings

(v.1-2) Precious Promises from God

(v.3-4) 7 ways to Grow in Christ

(v.5-11) Life Perspective before dying

(v. 12-15) Christian Faith & Foundation

(v. 16-21)

Peter immediately identifies himself as a servant to man and a slave to God

The way he views himself is significant

This self identification before his death reflects his knowledge of who he is & the purpose of his entire life.

Peter was identified ways throughout his life

A Fisherman (Mt. 4:18)A Water Walker (Mt. 14:22)An Apostate (Mt. 26)A Leader (Acts 1:15)A Preacher (Acts 2:14-36) A Criminal (Acts 12)A Church Elder (Peter 5:1)

Regardless of what society called him he found his identity in Jesus Christ

Question: What is there an area in your Christian life that you can grow in

Who does God say you are?

Peter encourages us to remember the benefits of God’s promises to those who believe in him

In these promises we have everything we need and we will escape the corruption of this world

He then challenges believers to grow giving us 7 categories to consider

7 ways to grow in Christ GoodnessKnowledge Self-control Perseverance Godliness Mutual affection Love (v.5-11)

Question: Is the area in your Christian life that you can grow in?

In the final section of this chapter Peter affirms that he is at the end of his life

He looks back in retrospective his gives perspective on life (12-15)

He then restates the foundations of our faith (16-21)

Question: Have you grown closer to Christ when you look at your life in retrospect?

THEME False Teachers

OUTLINE Destructiveness of False Teachers

(2:1-3)

Doom Of False Teachers (2:4-9)

Depravity Of False Teachers (2:10-17)

Deceptions Of False Teachers (2:18-22)

Chapter 2 Peter discusses the characteristics of false teachers He states that false teachers are

1. Secretive (v.1)2. Selfish (v.1)3. Have self-chosen doctrines, not from God (v.1)4. Identified as godly but their life style denies God (v.1)5. They are seductive & immoral (v.2)6. They devise clever lies to get hold of your money(v.3)

False teachers are already condemned by God

False teachers look like those who teach the truth but their message really drives people away from the truth

False teachers should remember that God knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment

Preach Gods’ word not a convenient doctrine that is aimed at gaining financial benefits (v.4-9)

Question: Have you ever encountered someone taught incorrectly about the bible for personal gain?

Chapter 2Peter continues by stating

that God is especially hard on false teachers who

Follow their own twisted sexual desires

Despise authority

Are Proud & arrogant

Scoff at things they do not understand

Indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight.

Delight in deception even as they eat with you in fellowship meals

Commit adultery with their eyes, & their desire for sin is never satisfied.

They lure unstable people into sin

Are well trained in greed(v.10-14)

Chapter 2These people are useless

They are like Balaam son of Beor (Numbers 22–24)

They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps those who loved to earn money by doing wrong

(v.14-17)They brag about themselves

They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption.

Chapter 2Peter then makes this statement regarding false teachers

“When people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and

Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are

worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the correct

way than to know it and then reject it” “A dog returns to its vomit” And another

says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

(v.18-22)

THEME Jesus soon to return

OUTLINE Scoffers & The Lord's Return

(1-3) Doom Of False Teachers

(4-9) The Day Of The Lord

(10-13) Saying Goodbye

(14-18)

At the conclusion of this second letter Peter reminds the reader to take heed to the words and commands of the lord given through the prophets and apostles.

Especially as it relates to promise of His coming

Scoffers will come in the last days and conveniently forget that the Word which tells of the judgment day by fire was also the same Word which brought about the destruction of the world by the flood.

(v.1-7)

Any delay is should not to be misunderstood as slackness on the Lord's part because Gods’ time is not like our time

Rather this delay should be viewed as a sign of the Lord's longsuffering, who does not want any to perish but for all to repent

(v.8-9)

Peter then discusses the events that will occur when the day of the Lord return will come

It will be an unexpected day of fiery destruction for some it will appear like a thief in the night.

For Christians is will be the anticipated day of glory so we are to focus on holy conduct and godliness, looking for to this fulfillment of God's promise of a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (10-13).

Peter concludes this letter by instructing us to view the longsuffering of the Lord as opportunity for salvation

He references Paul (someone he formerly feuded with) writing in his epistles regarding these issues (Eventhough ignorant people distorted his words as they do with other scripture)

Peter brings his second epistle, & essentially his life's ministry, to a close by praising God & Jesus to Christ (v.14-18)

Question: Are you willing to commit to increasing your knowledge of God & Jesus Christ?