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2 peter
2 – Enemies of Faith People look at persecutions, trials and temptations and think they are the enemies of faith. But the trails and temptations we experience are used by God to strengthen our faith. The true enemies of faith come in the form of false doctrines of men. Men who are motivated, not by God or his son, but by something or someone else. 2 Peter 1
12So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. 16We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." 18We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. (Mark 9:1-9) The
man with an argument is at the mercy of a man with an
experience. 19And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. True
prophecy is not manmade but God given. 2 Peter 2 (False Teachers and Their Destruction) 1But there were also false prophets among the
people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will
secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the
sovereign Lord who bought them(1John How can you tell if someone is a false prophet/teacher? “by their fruit you will recognize them.”(Matthew 7:15-20)
28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. A key error of discipleship is making
disciples of oneself instead of Jesus. Beware of any doctrine, denomination
or church which is named after or has it’s identity in a man. I.e. Calvin, Luther, the Pope or
even Pastor Joe.
Our identity should be in Jesus the
Messiah and our doctrine should be based on the whole Word of
God. Conclusion: Beware
of false teachers and their doctrines; they are the true enemies of
faith. ·
They make disciples of
themselves not of Christ o
Beware of any doctrine, denomination or church
which is named after or has it’s identity in a man or focuses on a man or
men instead of God. ·
You will recognize them
by their fruits o
Includes behavior and lifestyle, such as greed or
sexual immorality ·
Test their doctrine
against the Word of God. o
Of course this implies that one knows the Word of
God and understands it Related Bible Passages:Mark 9 1And he said to them, "I tell you the
truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the
The Transfiguration2After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 6(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" 8Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. 9As they were coming
down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had
seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what
"rising from the dead" meant. 1 John 2:22 Matthew 715"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Hebrews 12God Disciplines His Sons7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. James
1 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials (hint: suffering) of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything 1 Corinthians
10 13No
temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is
faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can
stand up under it. trials & temptations test and
prove our faith, validating it and making it stronger. |