Guarding Against False Teachings: The Truth of Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Eternal Stakes of True Biblical Preaching

True biblical preaching is not about entertainment or self-help; it is about presenting the life-giving truth of God's Word and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The stakes are eternal, and nothing is more significant than where we will spend eternity. The message of the gospel is transformative, offering hope and salvation through Jesus Christ. It is crucial to understand that the purpose of preaching is to convey these eternal truths, not to cater to our temporary desires or to entertain. The eternal destiny of souls depends on the faithful proclamation of God's Word.

In a world where many seek messages that make them feel good or provide quick fixes, it is essential to remember that the gospel is about eternal life and the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. The focus should always be on the truth of God's Word, which has the power to change lives and lead people to salvation. As believers, we must prioritize hearing and sharing the true gospel, understanding that the stakes are incredibly high. [03:03]

2 Timothy 4:2-4 (ESV): "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

Reflection: How can you ensure that you are prioritizing the true gospel in your life over messages that simply entertain or provide self-help?

Day 2: The Danger of Compromised Doctrine

Many churches have compromised on doctrine and morality, leading to a watered-down gospel that focuses more on social connections and self-improvement. This compromise often results in the church being seen as a social organization rather than a beacon of eternal truth. When churches prioritize social acceptance and personal improvement over the transformative power of the gospel, they lose their true purpose and fail to address the deeper spiritual needs of individuals.

The true gospel calls for repentance, transformation, and a commitment to living according to God's Word. It is not about fitting in with societal norms or making people feel comfortable in their sin. As believers, we must be vigilant in upholding sound doctrine and moral integrity, ensuring that our faith communities remain focused on the eternal truths of the gospel rather than becoming mere social clubs. [04:14]

Galatians 1:6-7 (ESV): "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ."

Reflection: In what ways might you be tempted to compromise on doctrine or morality for the sake of social acceptance or personal improvement? How can you guard against this?

Day 3: The Essential Truth of Christ's Return

Denying the return of Christ is a heresy that undermines the entire gospel. The return of Jesus is essential for the vindication of God's holiness and the ultimate restoration of all things. Without this, evil would never be judged, and God's kingdom would never be fully realized. The promise of Christ's return gives believers hope and assurance that justice will be served and that God's perfect plan will be fulfilled.

The return of Christ is not just a theological concept; it is a foundational truth that impacts how we live our lives today. It reminds us that we are accountable to God and that our actions have eternal consequences. Living with the expectation of Christ's return encourages us to live holy and purposeful lives, knowing that we will one day stand before Him. [08:38]

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (ESV): "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."

Reflection: How does the promise of Christ's return influence your daily decisions and actions? Are there areas of your life where you need to realign your focus in light of His return?

Day 4: The Motives Behind False Teaching

False teachers often have hidden motives such as greed, power, and sexual immorality. They exploit their followers with false words, leading them into error and away from the truth. It is crucial to be discerning and grounded in the Scriptures to avoid falling prey to such deception. False teachers may present themselves as genuine and caring, but their true intentions are often self-serving and harmful to the spiritual well-being of their followers.

As believers, we must be vigilant in testing the teachings we hear against the Word of God. We should not be swayed by charismatic personalities or appealing messages that deviate from biblical truth. By staying rooted in Scripture and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can discern the motives behind false teachings and protect ourselves from being led astray. [14:22]

2 Peter 2:1-2 (ESV): "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. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed."

Reflection: Are there any teachings or influences in your life that you need to examine more closely for hidden motives? How can you ensure that you are discerning and grounded in the truth of Scripture?

Day 5: The Power of Forgiveness

Holding onto unforgiveness can enslave us to the very people we despise, making them our gods. True freedom comes from forgiving those who have wronged us and allowing Jesus to be the master of our attention and emotions. This leads to the fruit of the Holy Spirit, such as love, peace, and joy. Forgiveness is not just a one-time act but a continual process of releasing bitterness and resentment, allowing God's grace to heal our hearts.

Forgiveness is a powerful act that reflects the heart of the gospel. Jesus forgave us while we were still sinners, and He calls us to extend that same forgiveness to others. By forgiving, we break the chains of bitterness and open ourselves to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. It is through forgiveness that we experience true freedom and the fullness of God's love. [30:30]

Colossians 3:13 (ESV): "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we delved into 2 Peter 2:1-3, where Peter warns about the rise of false prophets and teachers who will introduce destructive heresies. These false teachers will deny essential truths of the gospel, including the return of Jesus Christ, and will lead many astray with their sensuality and greed. The stakes are incredibly high, as the eternal souls of individuals hang in the balance. True biblical preaching is not about entertainment or self-help; it is about presenting the life-giving truth of God's Word and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We explored how some churches have compromised on doctrine and morality, leading to a watered-down gospel that focuses more on social connections and self-improvement rather than the transformative power of Christ. This compromise often results in the church being seen as a social organization rather than a beacon of eternal truth. Peter himself faced accusations of being a false teacher, but he stood firm on the essential truths of the gospel, including the return of Christ to judge the living and the dead.

False teachers often agree with most of the gospel but introduce just enough error to distort the entire message. They deny the return of Christ, which is essential for the vindication of God's holiness and the ultimate restoration of all things. This denial leads to a theology that promotes living for the moment without accountability, which is heretical. The gospel is not about escapism but about restoration, where Jesus will return to restore everything to its original, perfect condition.

We also discussed the motives behind false teaching, which often include a desire for power, greed, and sexual immorality. These teachers exploit their followers with false words, leading them into error and away from the truth. The congregation is urged to be like the Bereans, who diligently studied the Scriptures to discern the truth. Forgiveness is also a crucial aspect of the Christian walk, even towards those who have caused church hurt. Holding onto unforgiveness can enslave us to the very people we despise, making them our gods.

Ultimately, the answer to all these issues is the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must ground ourselves in the Scriptures, live by the truth, and proclaim it boldly. The stakes are eternal, and we must consider where we will spend eternity. The call is to turn to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and to live a life that reflects His love, peace, and truth.

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Key Takeaways

1. help; it is about presenting the life-giving truth of God's Word and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The stakes are eternal, and nothing is more significant than where we will spend eternity. [03:03]
2. The Danger of Compromised Doctrine: Many churches have compromised on doctrine and morality, leading to a watered-down gospel that focuses more on social connections and self-improvement. This compromise often results in the church being seen as a social organization rather than a beacon of eternal truth.

3. The Essential Truth of Christ's Return: Denying the return of Christ is a heresy that undermines the entire gospel. The return of Jesus is essential for the vindication of God's holiness and the ultimate restoration of all things. Without this, evil would never be judged, and God's kingdom would never be fully realized.

4. Motives Behind False Teaching: False teachers often have hidden motives such as greed, power, and sexual immorality. They exploit their followers with false words, leading them into error and away from the truth. It is crucial to be discerning and grounded in the Scriptures to avoid falling prey to such deception.

5. The Power of Forgiveness: Holding onto unforgiveness can enslave us to the very people we despise, making them our gods. True freedom comes from forgiving those who have wronged us and allowing Jesus to be the master of our attention and emotions. This leads to the fruit of the Holy Spirit, such as love, peace, and joy.

### [03:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:57] - Reading of 2 Peter 2:1-3
[01:59] - The Stakes of Preaching
[03:03] - Eternity at Stake
[04:14] - Compromised Doctrine in Churches
[05:26] - Peter's Defense Against False Accusations
[06:22] - The Essential Truth of Christ's Return
[07:49] - The Heresy of Denying Christ's Return
[08:38] - The Importance of Christ's Return
[09:22] - Restoration Theology
[10:10] - The Scroll and the Lion of Judah
[11:00] - The Good News of Christ's Return
[12:28] - Gaslighting and False Teachers
[14:22] - Motives Behind False Teaching
[18:10] - Denying the Power of Jesus' Words
[20:51] - The Danger of Popularity Over Truth
[23:13] - The Shift from God-Centered to Man-Centered Worship
[24:18] - The Commonality Among False Teachers
[26:02] - Personal Responsibility in Following False Teachers
[30:30] - The Power of Forgiveness
[33:24] - False Teachers' Motives: Passions and Greed
[40:26] - The Prevalence of Sexual Immorality Among False Teachers
[45:02] - The Responsibility to Be Bereans
[47:00] - The Call to Know Jesus Personally
[48:11] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are the characteristics of false teachers as described in 2 Peter 2:1-3?
According to Revelation 19:11-16, what are some of the attributes and actions of Jesus when He returns?
In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, what reasons does Paul give for why people will turn away from sound teaching?

Interpretation Questions

Why is the return of Jesus Christ essential to the gospel message, according to the sermon? [08:38]
How do false teachers exploit their followers, and what are their motives as discussed in the sermon? [14:22]
What does it mean to be like the Bereans, and why is this important in discerning false teachings? [45:02]

Application Questions

Reflect on the importance of true biblical preaching. How can you ensure that you are not just seeking entertainment or self-help but the life-giving truth of God's Word? [03:03]
Have you ever experienced or witnessed compromised doctrine in a church setting? How did it affect your faith or the faith of others around you? [04:14]
The sermon emphasizes the essential truth of Christ's return. How does this belief impact your daily life and decisions? [08:38]
Discuss a time when you had to discern the truth from false teachings. What steps did you take to ensure you were grounded in Scripture? [14:22]
Forgiveness is a crucial aspect of the Christian walk. Is there someone you need to forgive to experience true freedom? How can you take steps towards forgiveness this week? [30:30]
How can you actively ground yourself in the Scriptures to avoid being led astray by false teachings? What practical steps can you take to study the Bible more diligently? [45:02]
Reflect on the motives behind false teachings, such as greed and power. How can you guard your heart against these temptations in your own life and ministry? [14:22]

Sermon Clips

1. "When we gather on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, and this weekend at family camp, we are not playing games. The eternal souls of every person in the room rides on the stake of a clear presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, a faithful breakdown of the life-giving truth of God's Holy Word. In the presentation of this, there is a collision between the lies of the world and the truths of God's eternal kingdom." [01:59] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "True biblical preaching is to ponder what is really at stake. Eternity is at stake. Eternal life or eternal death. Nothing is more significant that is laid out on the table in front of us than that. This is bigger than life or death. This is. Where will you spend all eternity? You'll either spend it in the presence of God in perfect peace surrounded by the presence of the personification of love, Jesus Christ himself, or you will spend it eternal conscious presence in hell, under punishment, under torment." [03:03] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The gospel does not promote an escapism theology that Jesus died on the cross to pluck us out of this evil world, take us to heaven, and just let the world go to hell in a handbasket. That's not what the gospel promotes. The gospel promotes and preaches a restoration. It's a restoration theology that Jesus Christ is coming back when he wants, and when he comes back, he's taking back everything that was lost in the fall and restoring it back to its original paradise condition and better." [09:22] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "To deny the return of Christ, to redeem all things, is to deny a central piece of the gospel, that the good news of Jesus Christ is that Jesus, when he died, purchased back for himself all of the things that were lost, in the fall. He didn't just die on the cross to provide us a means of salvation. That's part of it. But he purchased back for himself what was given over to Satan when sin entered into the picture." [11:00] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If you are a truth teller, and if you're a Christian, you should be, you'll be gaslit more than a pyromaniac's dream presentation on the 4th of July. But you just keep standing on the truth. Truth always wins, and liars will be shown to be liars. They'll win some battles, but they will lose the war. A liar's father is the devil because he is the father of lies. And when a person lies, and lives in lies, they are doing the work of the father of lies." [13:50] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "When you deny your body of fulfilling its lustful passions outside of God's plan and order, you are essentially worshiping God. You're saying, God is the Lord of my body. God is the Lord of my life, and therefore, I will honor him with the totality of myself, including my body. When we walk in the flesh, we belittle the master who bought us." [36:48] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The answer to all of this is the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have a responsibility. We have a dire responsibility to be Bereans, to go home and study the scriptures to show yourself approved, to test, to test teachers with the knowledge of the word of God. We have a responsibility to disciple our homes and families so that when we hear nonsense, we will detect it and we won't put ourselves under it." [45:02] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Consider today that you may have your life unexpectedly expired this afternoon. Where would you spend eternity? You cannot stand before the judgment seat of God and say, well, pastor so and so hurt me. Well, this happened. Well, my mom. Well, my dad. Well, my brother. Well, my sister. Well, my wife. Well, my husband. It will, he's going to ask you, but what about you? Did you know Jesus?" [46:42] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "I preach. I don't care if preaching this way means you'll never come back to this church. I preach. I don't care that a seed is planted in your heart. That at some point, God will activate that seed even if it's years down the line and he'll use that to draw you to the truth and the truth is you need Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Turn to him today and turn from your sin and experience the life-changing message of the gospel." [47:49] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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