“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” – 2 Peter 2:1
We are warned, over and over, that false teachers are inevitable. They’re going to be a part of Christian life until Jesus returns so Christians must be prepared at all times! Know the truth. Study the Word for yourself. Check what you hear or read online against God’s unchanging word.
Someone who makes a simple mistake isn’t a false teacher, especially if they receive correction with a humble spirit. Be cautious in labeling a person a heretic when they simply lack understanding or disagree with you. Nonetheless, those who teach falsely about God the Father, Jesus the Son, or the Holy Spirit teach destructive heresy because they keep those who would worship God from worshiping Him as He truly is. Those who teach falsely about the gracious salvation that’s only available through faith in Jesus Christ and to which no person or church can add teach destructive heresy that keeps people from living joyfully in the grace God would bestow upon them.
Peter particularly condemns those who teach a false and lesser version of Jesus, reducing the Master Who died for them to something less which would be incapable of actually atoning for their sin. Jesus is eternally the Son, not a created being. Jesus is one with God the Father, not merely a teacher, prophet, example, or revolutionary. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He lived without sin, died a sinner’s death on a cross, was buried, and physically rose from the dead. Jesus is fully a person as well as fully God. He had to be both to accomplish what He accomplished by His death and resurrection.
Today, false teachers are more widespread than ever and can easily build huge online platforms. God will punish them eternally, but they may still cause a great deal of harm in the near term. Know the truth. Study the Word for yourself. Check everything you hear against God’s unchanging word. #FollowJesus