What do we do with what is false?

The greatest problems for the Church actually don’t exist outside but from within. Peter has spoken of the prophets of God, “… prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (1 v 21)

And now he moves to those who are not speaking from God but are within the church still.

“But 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—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. (2 Peter 2 v 1-3)

• There have always been the false alongside the true. The true is within the Church and so is the false. It has always been so. They will be among you.
• False teaching isn’t announced as false teaching by false teachers who believe they are false. They actually believe they are true. They do their work secretly but this isn’t to say they are fully aware of being deceptive rather their teaching could carry excellent packaging, they may be wonderful communicators and be able to handle the Scriptures but behind it all, in secret, they and those who hear them can be deceived.
• False teachers look as saved as anyone else in the church, the Lord bought them. However, they harm people because the heresies are destructive.
• False teachers will be destroyed. They will lose out. They will suffer the consequences. There is always a cost.
• False teachers will attract many Christians who begin to believe their teaching. Success isn’t the measure that God is blessing.
• The ancient way, the way of truth, the path walked among by generations is brought into disrepute by followers carrying false teaching in their lives.
• The heresies are always self-centred. It is always about greed. It is about ego. I deserve and I desire to be and to have and to take.
• False teachers may look like they are doing well but one day they will stand before God.