In his final words to the
church, the apostle Peter shared ways to grow in a relationship with
God. He also added that his experience with Jesus' transfiguration
upon the mountain was proof to the validity of his words, however,
there was a “more sure word of prophesy” with the
scriptures that were inspired by the Holy Ghost and given to holy
men. In chapter two and verse one Peter continued his discourse with
the idea of “false prophets” being among those who wrote
the scriptures, and he warned they would be among the church as well.
These false teachers would bring in “damnable heresies”
and would be “denying the Lord that bought them” which
would lead to their “swift destruction”. In chapter two
and verse two, Peter tells us the result of these false prophets
teachings. He wrote:
And many shall follow
their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be
evil spoken of.
Peter begins this verse by writing,
“And many shall follow their pernicious ways;” It
has been written that “False teaching seems to swoop in like an
eagle where the truth comes in on the back of a snail”. Peter tells
us that “many”
which means “much or large” groups of people “shall
follow” or “to follow
one's authority, to comply with, yield to” these teachers'
“pernicious ways” which means “destroying, utter
destruction, a perishing, or the destruction which consists of
eternal misery in hell”. This is the same Greek word “apoleia”
Peter used in verse one of this chapter. Because these teachings are
so convincing, “many” will follow them to their own
demise. Jesus said in the gospel of Matthew in chapter seven and
verses thirteen and fourteen:
Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is
the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to
destruction (apoleia), and many there be which go in thereat: Because
strait is the gate, and narrow is
the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.
Peter's
warning about these false prophets is that many will believe they are
following the straight path, but will actually be following the path
that leads to destruction.
The verse goes on to say, “by
reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” Because
of the teachings of these false prophets, “the way of
truth” which is the way Peter
has been describing throughout this book “shall be evil
spoken of”. Peter employs the
Greek word “blasphemeo” which means “to speak
reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate, blaspheme, to be evil
spoken of”. In other words, the teachings of the false prophets
will go so far as to revile, blaspheme and rail at God's way of
truth. Jesus said in the gospel of John in chapter fourteen and verse
six:
I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.
Any
prophet or teacher who disputes, rails on, reviles or blasphemes
these words by Jesus is a false prophet, and as Peter warned those to
whom he wrote in his day, we should be warned about them as well.
Eternal destiny depends upon it, and those who are following these
false prophets would be well-advised to search the scriptures daily
to see if their sayings are true.
Next
time we will learn the real motives of these false prophets, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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