Merchandising The Word of God, Part #3

From the entire description in this chapter, it is clear that the persons referred to, though once professors of religion, had become eminently abandoned and corrupt. The focus of these messengers changed from fulfilling the ordinance of God to fulfilling their earthly ambition. It may not be easy to identify them with any particular denomination or class, but they existed then and they exist now. A few of the sects in the early Christian church bore a strong resemblance to this description; and there have been those in every age who have strongly resembled these persons. This chapter, therefore, possesses great value as containing important warnings against the arts of false teachers, and the danger of being seduced by them from the truth. 

One cannot help but marvel at the changes taking place in Christendom as it struggle to adapt to the changing demands of society. What once was characterizede as unholy and impure now requires a second look through tinted glasses. A religion that once flourished within the confrontational nature of John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness, "Oh ye generation of vipers...". This once confrontational religion has now dumb down its approach in the name of peace and policitial correctness, it has agreed to respect the rights of all religions. The fire and brimstone has been retired and sunshine and favors have become the modern day message. 

Verse 1. But there were false prophets also among the people. In the previous chapter, (2 Peter 1:19-21,) Peter had appealed to the prophecies as containing unanswerable proofs of the truth of the Christian religion. He says, however, that he did not mean to say that all who claimed to be prophets were true messengers of God. There were many who pretended to be such, who only led the people astray. It is unnecessary to say, that such men have abounded in all ages where there have been true prophets.

Even as there shall be false teachers among you. The fact that false teachers would arise in the church is often spoken of in the New Testament. They arise privately, in a secret manner, or under plausible acts and pretenses. They would not at first make an open statement of their doctrines, but while their teachings seemed to be in accordance with truth, covertly maintain opinions or interpretations which would destroy the very foundations of religion. The Greek word here used, and which is rendered "who privily shall bring in," (pareisagw,) means properly to lead in by the side of others; to lead in along with others. Nothing could better express the usual way in which error is introduced into Christianity. It is by the side, or along with, other doctrines which are true; that is, while the mind is turned mainly to other subjects, and is off its guard, gently and silently to lay down some principle, which, being admitted, would lead to the error, or from which the error would follow as a natural consequence. 

Those who indoctrinate error rarely do it openly. If they would at once boldly" deny the Lord that bought them," it would be easy to identify them, and the mass of professed Christians would be in no danger of embracing the error. But when principles are laid down which lead to doubts on remote points are suggested which may involve the error; or when a long train of reasoning is pursued which may secretly support the error; there is much more probable that the mind will be corrupted and turn away from the truth.

In essence, there are numerous scams being played out over the internet. The gauntlet ranges from those with impressive titles and government positions, promising to send huge sums of money, to those who invoke the name of God and promise an intersession in exchange for a small sum of money. These scams will not go away because of the profitability of such. There always seems to be a group of people who will believe whatever is dangling in front of them, if it will bring peace to their inner longing. The doctrine of prosperity that teaches Christians are wealthy and sinner are poor, fails miserably in the light of the Word of God and common sense. Yet, there is no limit to the number of struggling Christians who will defend these damnable heresies.

Damnable heresies. aireseiV apwleiaV. "Heresies of destruction;" that is, heresies that will be followed by destruction. The Greek word which is rendered damnable, is the same which in the close of the verse is rendered destruction. Heresy is a departure from the truth. In the early history of Christianity, the church established the basic teachings of the faith. Those basics can be found in the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed. Over the centuries, however, theologians and religious figures have proposed doctrines that contradict established Christian beliefs. To keep those beliefs pure, the church once singled out people who taught or believed in ideas that was considered a threat to Christianity. 

Persecution became widespread as popes authorized inquisitions. Those investigations often resulted in torture and execution of innocent victims. This was not a workable solution to the problem. Jesus addressed the problem as such in Matthew 13:30, “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” John encapsulated the new concept 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Paul set guidelines by admonishing Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The thing which false teachers attempt is divisions, alienations, or parties, in the church, and these would be based on the erroneous doctrines which they would promulgate through the twisting, misapplying and misinterpretation of the scripture. What would be the particular doctrine in this case is immediately specified, that they "would deny the Lord that bought them." The idea then is, that these false teachers would form sects or parties in the church, of a destructive or ruinous nature, founded on a denial of the Lord that bought them. They would draw attention to themselves by making false promises in the name of God, for the purpose of obtaining wealth and power. Such a formation of leaders would be ruinous to holiness, to good morals, and to the soul. 

The authors of these sects, holding the views which they did, and influenced by the motives which they would be, and practicing the morals which they would practice, as growing out their principles, would bring upon themselves swift and certain destruction. It is not possible now to determine to what particular class the apostle had reference here, but it is generally supposed that it was to some form of the Gnostic belief. There were many early sects of so-called heretics to whom what he here says would be applicable.

In conclusion, It is strictly and properly true that only of the Son of God has "bought" us. The Father indeed is represented as making the arrangement, as giving his Son to die, and as the great Source of all the blessings secured by redemption; but the purchase was actually made by the Son of God by his sacrifice on the cross. Whatever there was of the nature of a price it was paid by him; and whatever obligations may grow out of the fact that we are purchased or ransomed are due particularly to him, 2Co 5:15. These considerations seem to me to make it clear that Peter referred here to the Lord Jesus Christ, and that he meant to say that the false teachers mentioned held doctrines which were in fact a denial of that Saviour. 

He does not specify what constituted such a denial; but it is plain that any doctrine which represented Jesus, his person, or his work, as essentially different from what was the truth, would be a denial. If he was Divine, and that fact was denied, making him wholly a different being; if he actually made an expiatory sacrifice by his death, and that fact was denied, and he was held to be a mere religious teacher, changing essentially the character of the work which he came to perform; if he, in some proper sense, "bought" them with his blood, and that fact was denied in such a way that according to their views it was not strictly proper to speak of him as having bought them at all, which would be the case if he were a mere prophet or religious teacher, then it is clear that such a representation would be in fact a denial of his true nature and work. That some of these views entered into their denial of him is clear, for it was with reference to the fact that he had "bought" them, or redeemed them, that they denied him. 

And bring upon themselves swift destruction. The destruction here referred to can be only that which will occur in the future world, for there can be no evidence that Peter meant to say that this would destroy their health, their property, or their lives. The Greek word (apwleian) is the same which is used in the former part of the verse, in the phrase "damnable heresies

The focus of Christianity in Jesus's day, in Peter's time and under the teaching of Paul was never about amassing wealth and claiming it to be the blessing of God.  Their focus was the finish work of the Cross.  When we present a Gospel that indicates that the Blood of Jesus alone is not sufficient to save us from our sins, that we must purchase our salvation through an MLM concept, we are guilty of denying the Power of God.