False Prophets and Teachers Who Privily Bring in Damnable Heresies - Part 996

"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 1:3)

"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. 

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment, and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned [them] with an overthrow, making [them] an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] unlawful deeds;)

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.

But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government, presumptuous [are they], selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities -- whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord." (II Peter 2:1-11)

The epistle of Jude elaborates on bringing not railing accusations but instead, as we see here, "The Lord rebuke thee." (Jude 1:9)

"Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignitaries -- yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation but said, "The Lord rebuke thee." But these speak evil of those things which they know not, but what they know naturally as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves." (Jude 1:8-10)

Note that these speak evil of those things which they know not. These have not searched the scriptures for the truth but instead -- as false prophets and false teachers -- have privily brought in damnable heresies that deny the very Lord that bought them. (II Peter 2:1) 

"But the Spirit speaketh expressly -- that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron -- forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats; which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe, and know the truth. For every creature of God [is] good and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving ... for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer." (I Timothy 4:1-5)

Peter further scribed: "But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption, and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings, while they feast with you -- having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls, and heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children' which have forsaken the right way, and are gone ] astray following the way of Balaam [the son of] Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but was rebuked for his iniquity; the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet." (II Peter 2:12-16)

Can you imagine a donkey forbidding a prophet to speak his madness? "And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, "What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?" And Balaam said unto the ass, "Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee." (Numbers 22:27-29)

Indeed, "these are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever ... for when they speak great swelling [words] of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh [through much] wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error -- while they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption -- for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is brought in bondage -- for if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning -- for it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it] to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." (II Peter 2:17-21)

Moreover, "woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear; clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever." (Jude 1:12-13)

These are the same false prophets and teachers identified in Philippians. "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping [that they are] enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God [is their belly] and [whose] glory  [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things." (Philippians 3:19-20)

Paul probably said it best when he wrote to the church in Corinth. That is, "As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? Because I love you not? God knoweth. But what I do, that will I do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion -- that wherein they glory, they may be found as we. For such false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ and no marvel, satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (II Corinthians 11:10-15)

Do not be defrauded by the certain men crept in unawares -- the dog that is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed has returned to her wallowing in the mire. (II Peter 2:22) But there is no need for you to do the same. Instead, seek Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Search the scriptures for the truth is in them. Most of all, don't let anyone preach unto you another gospel than that which was taught in the apostles' doctrine. (Acts 2:38-42) Stand in the offering plate.