But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction – II Peter 2:1.

     The pastor of the church I was visiting was doing a sermon based on a book about the prodigal son. In the course of the message the pastor mentioned that the book’s author did not believe in the atonement. Even thought this pastor did believe in the atonement, he shrugged that aspect of the author’s theology off, as if it was some minor point not worthy of further scrutiny. I wonder how this pastor would respond if he saw a cobra aimlessly meandering down the aisle of his church? I am sure he would do everything in his power to protect those sitting in the pews from harm. Entertaining dangerous theological ideologies is just as deadly as allowing a cobra free reign in your church.
     The apostle Peter said, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” – I Peter 1:18-21.
     Who His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you are healed. - I Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:5.
     For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (brought to life) by the Spirit. – I Peter 3:18.
     But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. – II Peter 2:1
     The apostle Paul also warns us that anyone who does not teach what the apostles taught concerning Jesus was preaching “another Jesus” (II Corinthians 11:4) and those who did so were “accursed.” (Galatians 1:8). That’s strong language, but those who were chosen by God to be our founding teachers, were genuinely concerned about the spiritual welfare of God’s people. They were quick to defend the truth from the undermining heresies and false teachers that would attempt to destroy God’s church.
     Let’s follow the apostle’s example in being diligent to guard the Lord’s flock from harm, and kill those destructive and deadly heresies before they even reach the door of the sanctuary.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ - II Corinthians 11:3.

Copyright 2011 by H. D. Shively