“That punishment is for those who are always doing the evil that their sinful selves want to do. It is for those who hate the Lords authority. These false teachers do whatever they want, and thy are so proud of themselves. They are not award even to say bad things against the glorious ones” (2 Peter 2:10, ERV).
The first epistle of Peter was a letter of comfort to the believers who were suffering persecution from external enemies. His second epistle is a warning to Christians about internal attacks, complacency, and heresy. faith is non-negotiable. Peter spoke severely against false preachers, so much so that this led to his martyrdom. You, too, can be someone who defends the present truth and that makes it clear, in their own life, that faith is non-negotiable. In his second epistle, Peter presents the characteristics of the false teachers: they will be prevalent in the last days (see 2 Peter 2:1, 2); they will say anything for money (see verse 3); they will be disdainful of heavenly matters and of divinity (see verses 10,11); they will do whatever they feel like (see verses 12—17); they will be proud and boastful (see verses 18, 19); they will be judged and punished by God (see verses 20-22).
The success of many false teachers is that they create emotional ties with their listeners that are difficult to break, but the majority of them indulge in immoral conduct. “It is a fact that throughout the history of the Christian church weak doctrines have often been accompanied by weak morais. Those who depart from God’s standard of truth find it easy to abandon His standard of personal conduct also.”—SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 615). Ie is only a matter of time before the great majority of those promoting division in our church end up tangled in immoral situations.
The final test to unmask false teachers is to observe how they refer to God: they are disrespectful of God and have to fear to blaspheme what God has made holy. A severe judgment is awaiting them: “Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things; they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. Now, in their despair, these teachers confess before the world their work of deception. The multitudes are filled with fury … , and they turn upon the false shepherds. The very ones that once admired them most will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them. The very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised for their destruction. The swords which were to slay God’s people are now employed to destroy their enemies.”—The Great Controversy, ch. 41,
Stay alert to identify false pastors.
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Taken from: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2023
“DAUGHTER OF MINE” Do Not Be Afraid
From: Arsenia Fernandez-Uckele
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Esteban Cortes
