2 Peter 2:1-2 (KJV)

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of."

One of the biggest challenges in Christianity is finding out who truly is Christian and who is a false prophet. 

In 2 Peter 2:1-2, the Apostle Peter gives a warning about the presence of false prophets and false teachers. These individuals infiltrate the church subtly, bringing in “damnable heresies” that even deny “the Lord that bought them.” Their teachings often focus heavily on self-effort, works, and self-righteousness, rather than the true gospel of grace. The result is confusion and destruction, as they lead people away from the freedom found in Jesus Christ.

False prophets often emphasize what people must do to become righteous. The advocate for keeping the commandments, following rules, and striving to attain holiness through their own efforts. They present a religion of self, where righteousness is something to be earned or maintained by works. This kind of teaching directly contradicts the gospel, which tells us that our righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

The true gospel message is that Jesus has perfected us forever through His sacrifice on the cross.

Our righteousness is a gift from God, not something we achieve through our efforts or adherence to the law. False teachers, however, deny this truth, preaching a gospel of works. 2 Peter 2:2 describes how "many shall follow their pernicious ways." This highlights the subtle but dangerous allure of following or trusting in yourself.

Following your way is what makes us false teachers because Jesus is THE way, meaning only way.

The "lust of the flesh" in this context is not just about obvious sins, but about the pride and self-reliance. When people believe that their works and obedience are what make them righteous, they are relying on the flesh, not on God's grace. 

Self-righteousness is a form of pride that believes we can earn God’s favor by our own deeds. This is a trap because it leads us away from trusting in Jesus’ finished work. To rely on anything other than Jesus for our righteousness is to deny the sufficiency of His sacrifice.

These false teachers preach keeping the commandments and living righteously, but they neglect the foundational truth of the gospel: that our righteousness is from Christ alone. Even if we were to keep all the commandments, without the precious blood of Jesus, none of us could get to heaven. Good works are important as evidence of our faith, but they are not the basis of our salvation.

You can do "good works" without Jesus but you can never get to heaven of that alone.

The grace of God must always be our focus, not our self-efforts or perceived goodness.

Simply put, false prophets or teachers will always place works above the grace of God. 

The true message we are called to preach is one of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This is the gospel that saves, transforms, and sets people free. We must proclaim it boldly and clearly. People need to understand that it is not by works but by grace that we are saved and perfected forever in Jesus.

Amen!!