Discussing false teachers is challenging. I want to be careful when I critique another teacher. In chapter 2 of 2 Peter, Peter warns his followers about false teachers and false prophets. It is possible to disagree with someone on certain biblical teachings without considering them “false teachers.” Many Christians disagree on matters of baptism, communion, spiritual giftings, modes of worship, etc… Peter is dealing with teachers that come into the assembly and teach doctrines that contradict teachings that the apostles and the Lord had previously given (3:2) (Jude 3).
I’ve noticed that immorality often lays at the heart of false teaching. In most places, when an apostle is correcting false teaching, they immediately reference immoral behavior and the acceptance of immoral behavior. Peter is no exception. His description of false teachers is almost totally a description of immoral behavior: covetousness, ungodliness, lawlessness, lust, presumptuousness, self-will, evil speaking, rebelliousness, adulterers, lewdness, corruptness, polluted. So, at the root of false teaching is a license or a down-playing of sin. Nowhere in scripture do you read any apostle speaking lightly of sin. God’s grace is amazing in that it forgives the sinner, cleanses the sinner, and gives the sinner new birth. With this new birth comes the power to walk as sons of God. To: walk in the light, to walk in truth, to walk in faith, to walk as Christ walked, to walk in love, to awake to righteousness and sin not, etc… So, in order to teach immorality these false teachers deny the Lord that bought them (2:1). You can’t confess Christ and license sin. “Let all who name the name of Christ depart from iniquity (2 Tim 2:19).”
Of course, there are basic tenets of the faith that we must get right. As stated, one core doctrine is our freedom from sin, but there are others. The certain return of Christ is addressed in chapter 3. Scoffers will mock the return of Christ in the last days. Peter, Paul, and Jude all warn of this scoffing. The revelation of God in Christ is also a core belief. Jesus is the Son of God and has revealed God to us. It is by the “righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ that we are saved (1:1). “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life (1 John 5:12).” The scriptures teach that Jesus is the way, and the only way to God, no one comes to the Father except through Christ (John 14:6). Peter is so bold to say: “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).” In our day all of these false teachings are manifest. It’s very common for teachers to speak of Christ being one of many ways to God—the heart of new age teaching. That we are saved by grace and God isn’t concerned with our behavior thereafter. Love without accountability is taught. And certainly, the return of Christ and the day of the Lord, a day of judgment, is mocked, ignored, or twisted.
I encourage you to stick with the scriptures. Be prayerful over everything you read and hear. Respect your teachers; but, be noble minded, like the Bereans. Search the scriptures to examine what you’ve been taught (Acts 17:11). And, by all means, don’t reject teaching just because you haven’t experienced it yet. Faith in the truth will bring the fruit God has promised!