100:00:00,040 –> 00:00:07,700If you jump around the Bible only choosing the bits that we want to hear,200:00:07,700 –> 00:00:13,000if we are Bible channel hoppers, we will not have everything that we need for life300:00:13,000 –> 00:00:17,780because we are not hearing everything that Jesus has to say to us.400:00:17,780 –> 00:00:20,299We become kind of malnourished Christians500:00:20,680 –> 00:00:23,200Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.600:00:23,200 –> 00:00:26,540I AM David Pick, thanks for being with us today.700:00:27,340 –> 00:00:29,100We want to make sure that we don’t become800:00:31,059 –> 00:00:33,259We want to know what Jesus had to say,900:00:33,259 –> 00:00:35,500and not just the parts that make us feel good,1000:00:35,500 –> 00:00:40,160but everything He had to say so that we don’t become counterfeit Christians.1100:00:40,160 –> 00:00:43,240Yes, that’s right, and we’re looking at 2 Peter chapter 2,1200:00:43,240 –> 00:00:48,000not the easiest part of the Bible but a very important part of the Bible.1300:00:48,259 –> 00:00:49,840And we don’t want to skip it for this reason.1400:00:49,840 –> 00:00:53,939It speaks about false prophets, it speaks about false teachers.1500:00:53,939 –> 00:00:56,700How would you identify a false prophet?1600:00:56,939 –> 00:01:00,340If you heard someone say something about, oh, Jesus died and rose and so forth,1700:01:00,340 –> 00:01:03,299and then was going on as a false prophet,1800:01:03,500 –> 00:01:06,760what would be the marks of what they were saying that would1900:01:06,760 –> 00:01:10,339twig your mind and heart to say I’m listening to something2000:01:10,339 –> 00:01:12,500that’s going completely in the wrong direction?2100:01:12,540 –> 00:01:17,000Well, 2 Peter chapter 2 is one of the passages in the New Testament2200:01:17,000 –> 00:01:21,800that gives us exactly the characteristics and marks2300:01:21,800 –> 00:01:24,059of those who mislead the people of God.2400:01:24,059 –> 00:01:27,580And so I think it’s a very important subject for us to get into today.2500:01:27,580 –> 00:01:29,099So let’s get into the message.2600:01:29,099 –> 00:01:31,300We’re in 2 Peter chapter 2.2700:01:31,300 –> 00:01:34,199As we begin our message here is Pastor Colin.2800:01:34,699 –> 00:01:37,519Quick summary of what we’ve learned so far from this letter2900:01:37,519 –> 00:01:40,839that God has given us everything we need for life in knowing Jesus3000:01:40,839 –> 00:01:45,180and God has given us everything we need for knowing Jesus in the Bible.3100:01:45,180 –> 00:01:48,699That’s a quick summary of 2 Peter chapter 1.3200:01:49,099 –> 00:01:50,580And you have all that you need in Christ3300:01:50,580 –> 00:01:52,980because you participated in the divine nature.3400:01:52,980 –> 00:01:55,279In Christ the Spirit is given to you3500:01:55,279 –> 00:01:57,699and in Christ you escape the corruption3600:01:57,699 –> 00:02:01,559that is in the world caused by lust, by evil desires.3700:02:01,559 –> 00:02:04,680In Christ sin is no longer your master.3800:02:04,680 –> 00:02:07,379It is your enemy but no longer your master.3900:02:07,379 –> 00:02:10,240So 2 Peter chapter 1 is all good.4000:02:11,179 –> 00:02:13,979And you might wish that the letter ended there.4100:02:14,539 –> 00:02:19,380But it doesn’t because alongside truth there is error.4200:02:20,059 –> 00:02:23,880Close to the genuine you will find the counterfeit.4300:02:23,880 –> 00:02:27,699Mixed with the wheat you will find the weeds.4400:02:27,699 –> 00:02:31,039And outside of heaven there is hell.4500:02:31,600 –> 00:02:37,339And 2 Peter chapter 2 is all about counterfeit Christianity.4600:02:37,820 –> 00:02:40,399Now let me just have a little parenthesis here4700:02:40,419 –> 00:02:42,380because it’s important for us as a congregation4800:02:42,380 –> 00:02:44,940to understand why we do what we do,4900:02:44,940 –> 00:02:49,119why we approach ministry in the way that we do in this church.5000:02:49,119 –> 00:02:53,600We are committed to the expository preaching of the Bible.5100:02:53,600 –> 00:02:56,380Which means that our normal diet, in our services,5200:02:56,380 –> 00:02:57,699in the ministry of God’s Word,5300:02:57,699 –> 00:03:02,020Is to work through Bible books in a kind of systematic way.5400:03:02,020 –> 00:03:04,699I have to tell you, there are some weeks5500:03:04,699 –> 00:03:07,240When I am a little tempted to wish5600:03:07,240 –> 00:03:09,320that it were not so.5700:03:09,320 –> 00:03:11,119And this week is one of them.5800:03:11,119 –> 00:03:13,699Because 2 Peter chapter 25900:03:13,699 –> 00:03:17,259is one of the hardest chapters in all of the Bible.6000:03:17,800 –> 00:03:19,979Dr. Mark Lloyd-Jones sort of encouraged me6100:03:19,979 –> 00:03:22,139when he said this in my reading this week,6200:03:22,139 –> 00:03:25,279he says, of all the chapters that are found6300:03:25,279 –> 00:03:26,460in the entire Bible,6400:03:26,460 –> 00:03:28,699the second chapter of 2 Peter6500:03:28,699 –> 00:03:30,740is among the most terrible6600:03:30,740 –> 00:03:33,039of all the chapters in the Bible.6700:03:33,039 –> 00:03:36,699Anyone who enjoys reading a chapter like this he says,6800:03:36,699 –> 00:03:38,820must surely be abnormal.6900:03:38,820 –> 00:03:43,820So if you read this and you think, oh my.7000:03:44,179 –> 00:03:46,259At least you know you’re normal.7100:03:46,380 –> 00:03:48,399At least you know you’re normal.7200:03:48,399 –> 00:03:49,720Now this remind us, I think,7300:03:49,720 –> 00:03:51,039it’s very easy, isn’t it,7400:03:51,039 –> 00:03:54,380to understand why many churches today7500:03:54,380 –> 00:03:57,339take a channel-hopping approach7600:03:57,339 –> 00:03:59,740to the preaching and teaching of the Bible.7700:03:59,740 –> 00:04:01,199You know the channel-hopping bit,7800:04:01,199 –> 00:04:04,460at least all the guys in the congregation know about this.7900:04:04,460 –> 00:04:07,539You know, we sit down on the sofa8000:04:07,539 –> 00:04:09,179and what do you have in your hand?8100:04:09,179 –> 00:04:11,600You have the remote when you put on the television.8200:04:11,600 –> 00:04:12,500And what do you do?8300:04:12,500 –> 00:04:14,440You ask the question in your mind,8400:04:14,460 –> 00:04:16,420now what’s on that I want to watch?8500:04:16,420 –> 00:04:17,399And you watch for a few minutes8600:04:17,399 –> 00:04:19,239and then what do you do?8700:04:19,239 –> 00:04:20,399You flick the channel and say,8800:04:20,399 –> 00:04:22,220what else is there, I’ll go into something else8900:04:22,220 –> 00:04:23,200because I’m losing interest9000:04:23,200 –> 00:04:25,359in the thing that was there.9100:04:25,359 –> 00:04:27,440Now that is fine when it comes to television,9200:04:27,440 –> 00:04:30,019actually moving off a channel is sometimes essential,9300:04:30,019 –> 00:04:32,760but it is not good when it comes to the Bible.9400:04:33,940 –> 00:04:35,700If we jump around the Bible9500:04:35,700 –> 00:04:38,040only choosing the bits that we want to hear,9600:04:38,040 –> 00:04:40,920if we are Bible channel-hoppers,9700:04:40,920 –> 00:04:43,359we will not have everything that we need for life9800:04:44,000 –> 00:04:45,399because we are not hearing everything9900:04:45,399 –> 00:04:48,119that Jesus has to say to us.10000:04:48,119 –> 00:04:51,700We become kind of malnourished Christians10100:04:51,700 –> 00:04:54,239and if you’re a malnourished Christian,10200:04:54,239 –> 00:04:56,959you don’t have the energy, you don’t have the muscle,10300:04:56,959 –> 00:05:00,399you don’t have the resistance to spiritual infection10400:05:00,399 –> 00:05:02,480that you need and what is true of an individual10500:05:02,480 –> 00:05:06,399also can be true of a church.10600:05:06,399 –> 00:05:09,640A church that simply picks from the Bible10700:05:09,640 –> 00:05:12,359the things that people most want to hear10800:05:12,399 –> 00:05:16,299can only ever produce weak Christians.10900:05:16,299 –> 00:05:18,079I mean we all want to be affirmed,11000:05:18,079 –> 00:05:19,640that’s just in human nature11100:05:20,559 –> 00:05:24,760but if a church lives on a diet of affirmation11200:05:24,760 –> 00:05:26,720and only affirmation,11300:05:26,720 –> 00:05:29,200the Christians will not develop the muscle11400:05:29,200 –> 00:05:34,000or the marrow that is needed for a healthy Christian life.11500:05:35,559 –> 00:05:37,059Now, if this church took11600:05:37,059 –> 00:05:39,279a channel-hopping approach to the Bible,11700:05:39,279 –> 00:05:41,179you can be sure you wouldn’t be hearing a sermon11800:05:41,220 –> 00:05:42,579on 2 Peter, Chapter 211900:05:43,980 –> 00:05:46,459but we are committed to hearing12000:05:46,459 –> 00:05:49,040what God has placed in the Scripture,12100:05:49,040 –> 00:05:52,279whether it immediately appeals to us or not.12200:05:52,279 –> 00:05:53,739Give me some encouragement to tell me12300:05:53,739 –> 00:05:55,279that you agree with that this morning,12400:05:55,279 –> 00:05:57,000is that right, that’s where we are.12500:05:57,839 –> 00:06:00,739I’m working on the assumption today12600:06:00,739 –> 00:06:04,739that if the Holy Spirit moved Peter12700:06:04,739 –> 00:06:07,940in his last letter to the church12800:06:07,940 –> 00:06:10,619to spend one third of it12900:06:10,619 –> 00:06:13,140on the subject of counterfeit Christianity,13000:06:14,279 –> 00:06:16,940then this must be something of great importance13100:06:16,940 –> 00:06:18,299for the church in every age13200:06:18,299 –> 00:06:21,380and therefore by default of great importance13300:06:21,380 –> 00:06:24,579for us in this church today13400:06:24,579 –> 00:06:25,980and so with that introduction,13500:06:25,980 –> 00:06:27,859I hope you will have your Bible open13600:06:27,859 –> 00:06:30,880and let’s apply ourselves to what God13700:06:30,880 –> 00:06:32,100is saying to us here.13800:06:32,100 –> 00:06:32,959Now, verse one,13900:06:34,500 –> 00:06:37,299there were also false prophets among the people14000:06:37,299 –> 00:06:41,700just as there will be false teachers among you.14100:06:41,700 –> 00:06:43,579That’s a definite statement,14200:06:43,579 –> 00:06:44,820it’s a matter of history14300:06:44,820 –> 00:06:47,299that there were false prophets14400:06:47,299 –> 00:06:50,500among God’s people in the Old Testament.14500:06:50,500 –> 00:06:52,940You remember what the penalty was for false prophecy,14600:06:52,940 –> 00:06:54,899we spoke about that last week,14700:06:54,899 –> 00:06:56,179the truth was that the people14800:06:56,179 –> 00:06:58,980rarely had the will to deal with false prophets14900:06:58,980 –> 00:07:01,420and so instead of being restrained15000:07:01,420 –> 00:07:03,540or cast out from the community,15100:07:03,540 –> 00:07:04,700they multiplied15200:07:04,700 –> 00:07:06,200and just read the Old Testament,15300:07:06,760 –> 00:07:07,579you will find that false prophets15400:07:07,579 –> 00:07:10,359caused untold spiritual damage15500:07:10,359 –> 00:07:13,239to the life of Israel.15600:07:13,239 –> 00:07:14,100Now it says, Peter,15700:07:14,100 –> 00:07:16,000in the same way,15800:07:16,000 –> 00:07:20,720there will be false teachers among you.15900:07:20,720 –> 00:07:22,320Now notice the phrase among you,16000:07:22,320 –> 00:07:23,359who’s he writing to?16100:07:23,359 –> 00:07:25,880He’s writing to the church16200:07:25,880 –> 00:07:28,920and he’s saying to local churches like ourselves,16300:07:28,920 –> 00:07:30,200ordinary congregations16400:07:30,200 –> 00:07:33,019and gatherings of Christian believers,16500:07:33,100 –> 00:07:36,540he says there will be false teachers among you.16600:07:36,540 –> 00:07:39,540He’s not talking about the false teachers16700:07:39,540 –> 00:07:40,380that you know,16800:07:40,380 –> 00:07:42,739new age folks that turn up on television and so forth.16900:07:42,739 –> 00:07:44,119We expect that,17000:07:44,119 –> 00:07:44,959he’s saying no,17100:07:44,959 –> 00:07:47,179I’m addressing a much more serious problem17200:07:47,179 –> 00:07:49,859and that is counterfeit Christianity17300:07:49,859 –> 00:07:51,660within the local congregation,17400:07:51,660 –> 00:07:56,660within the gathering of a church just like this.17500:07:57,440 –> 00:07:59,700Now this reminds us that of course,17600:07:59,700 –> 00:08:03,500there is no such this as a pure church,17700:08:03,500 –> 00:08:04,959this side of heaven.17800:08:06,100 –> 00:08:09,660The wheat and the weeds grow together always.17900:08:12,040 –> 00:08:13,000Warren Weersbe,18000:08:13,000 –> 00:08:15,820perhaps one of the most gracious of Christian writers18100:08:15,820 –> 00:08:17,000puts it this way.18200:08:17,839 –> 00:08:21,200Satan, he says is the counterfeiter.18300:08:21,200 –> 00:08:25,179He has a false gospel preached by false ministers,18400:08:25,640 –> 00:08:27,920not producing false believers.18500:08:27,920 –> 00:08:31,000And Satan plants his counterfeits18600:08:31,000 –> 00:08:33,960wherever God plants true believers.18700:08:33,960 –> 00:08:35,799That’s the principle of Jesus’ parable18800:08:35,799 –> 00:08:37,799of the wheat and the weeds.18900:08:37,799 –> 00:08:39,580Wherever the wheat is planted,19000:08:39,580 –> 00:08:41,020the enemy comes, Jesus says,19100:08:41,020 –> 00:08:44,440and he plants the weeds among the wheat.19200:08:44,440 –> 00:08:48,299Wherever God is doing a work in any church,19300:08:48,299 –> 00:08:52,299Satan will always plant weeds beside the wheat.19400:08:52,299 –> 00:08:54,679This is the issue that’s before us in 2 Peter.19500:08:55,059 –> 00:08:56,359And so it’s relevant for us as a congregation,19600:08:56,359 –> 00:08:57,479we’re not exempt from this,19700:08:57,479 –> 00:09:02,479no church in any time or place ever is, can or will be.19800:09:02,559 –> 00:09:03,520And the obvious question19900:09:03,520 –> 00:09:06,479is how can you then recognize a counterfeit Christian?20000:09:06,479 –> 00:09:08,880How do I know that I am a real Christian20100:09:09,820 –> 00:09:11,679and not a counterfeit one?20200:09:11,679 –> 00:09:13,479We’ll look at the answer to that question,20300:09:13,479 –> 00:09:16,039how do you know you’re not a counterfeit Christian,20400:09:16,039 –> 00:09:17,599in just a moment when we come back.20500:09:17,599 –> 00:09:19,239So I hope you’ll stay with us.20600:09:19,239 –> 00:09:20,559You’re listening to Open the Bible20700:09:20,559 –> 00:09:22,760with Pastor Colin Smith.20800:09:22,760 –> 00:09:24,599If you ever miss one of our messages,20900:09:24,599 –> 00:09:25,719it’s easy to catch up21000:09:25,719 –> 00:09:27,599or go back and listen again21100:09:27,599 –> 00:09:29,640by coming online to our website21200:09:29,640 –> 00:09:32,640at openthebible.org.uk.21300:09:32,640 –> 00:09:36,239You can also find Pastor Colin’s messages as a podcast,21400:09:36,239 –> 00:09:38,539and those are on all the main podcast sites.21500:09:38,539 –> 00:09:42,640You can find them by searching for OpentheBibleUK.21600:09:42,640 –> 00:09:45,799Back to the message, now, we’re in 2 Peter chapter two,21700:09:45,799 –> 00:09:47,760here again is Pastor Colin.21800:09:47,760 –> 00:09:50,320How do I know that I am a real Christian21900:09:51,159 –> 00:09:52,760and not a counterfeit one?22000:09:52,760 –> 00:09:54,799Well, that’s what’s before us today.22100:09:54,799 –> 00:09:57,520And we’re going to look at seven general characteristics22200:09:57,520 –> 00:09:59,440of the true and false believer.22300:09:59,440 –> 00:10:01,099Then one distinguishing mark22400:10:01,099 –> 00:10:03,840by which we may know that we are in the faith,22500:10:03,840 –> 00:10:07,159and then two ultimate outcomes.22600:10:08,679 –> 00:10:11,440So, first then seven general characteristics22700:10:11,440 –> 00:10:14,479of true and false believers,22800:10:14,479 –> 00:10:18,080authentic and counterfeit believers22900:10:18,080 –> 00:10:23,039who you will find in a gathering of a church like this.23000:10:23,039 –> 00:10:24,719Remember, second Peter, chapter one’s23100:10:24,719 –> 00:10:26,559been describing the true.23200:10:26,559 –> 00:10:29,039Second Peter, chapter two is describing the false.23300:10:29,039 –> 00:10:30,359You put the two alongside23400:10:30,359 –> 00:10:32,119and you see some very obvious contrasts.23500:10:32,119 –> 00:10:34,200The first is that the true and false23600:10:34,200 –> 00:10:36,260operate with different sources.23700:10:37,599 –> 00:10:39,940Chapter one in verse 16, Peter says,23800:10:39,940 –> 00:10:43,919”We did not follow cleverly invented stories.’23900:10:43,919 –> 00:10:45,760But if you look at chapter two in verse three,24000:10:45,799 –> 00:10:47,380the false teachers exploit you24100:10:47,380 –> 00:10:49,799with stories they have made up.’24200:10:49,799 –> 00:10:52,479We don’t invent what we’re saying, it’s the word of God,24300:10:52,479 –> 00:10:55,280Peter says, but the false teachers,24400:10:55,280 –> 00:10:57,640they are not drawing primarily on the word of God,24500:10:57,640 –> 00:10:59,760they are developing ministry24600:10:59,760 –> 00:11:02,239on the basis of their own creativity24700:11:02,239 –> 00:11:05,559rather than on the basis of the word of God.24800:11:05,559 –> 00:11:09,039The false teacher makes up his own message.24900:11:09,039 –> 00:11:11,479There’s a different message, therefore.25000:11:11,479 –> 00:11:13,260What is the substance of the message?25100:11:13,260 –> 00:11:16,659For the true teacher, Jesus Christ is central.25200:11:16,659 –> 00:11:18,619We have everything that we need for life25300:11:18,619 –> 00:11:22,239and for godliness through our knowledge of Him.25400:11:22,239 –> 00:11:23,580It’s through Jesus Christ25500:11:23,580 –> 00:11:25,500that we have everything we need for life,25600:11:25,500 –> 00:11:30,080so Jesus Christ is at the center in the true teaching,25700:11:30,080 –> 00:11:33,619but the false teacher pushes Jesus to the margins.25800:11:33,619 –> 00:11:34,799Chapter two, verse one,25900:11:34,799 –> 00:11:38,320”They secretly introduced destructive heresies,26000:11:38,320 –> 00:11:42,760”even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them.’26100:11:42,799 –> 00:11:44,799Notice the word, secretly.26200:11:44,799 –> 00:11:48,239You don’t expect someone who is counterfeit26300:11:48,239 –> 00:11:50,179to sort of walk into a church26400:11:50,179 –> 00:11:52,960and just openly deny the Lord Jesus Christ.26500:11:52,960 –> 00:11:55,320They never have any influence that way,26600:11:55,320 –> 00:11:57,580and so what happens is it’s much more subtle.26700:11:57,580 –> 00:12:01,280There’s just a movement away from the centrality of Christ.26800:12:01,280 –> 00:12:03,200If you listen very carefully26900:12:03,200 –> 00:12:04,799to what the false teacher is saying,27000:12:04,799 –> 00:12:07,239he talks a lot about how your life can change27100:12:07,239 –> 00:12:09,599if you connect with other people, have accountability.27200:12:09,599 –> 00:12:11,479All of these good things,27300:12:11,479 –> 00:12:12,599but if you ask the question,27400:12:12,599 –> 00:12:16,739is Jesus Christ really at the center of what he’s saying?27500:12:16,739 –> 00:12:18,559Would what he’s saying still be true27600:12:18,559 –> 00:12:22,179if you took Jesus Christ out or if he had never existed?27700:12:22,179 –> 00:12:24,919The answer is Jesus is not essential to what he’s saying.27800:12:24,919 –> 00:12:27,539It’s basically sociological.27900:12:27,539 –> 00:12:29,500It’s basically people in community28000:12:30,520 –> 00:12:34,479and Jesus Christ is somehow at the margins,28100:12:34,479 –> 00:12:36,359not at the center,28200:12:36,359 –> 00:12:38,880and therefore he does not get the glory,28300:12:38,880 –> 00:12:41,020and that is one of the key distinctions28400:12:41,020 –> 00:12:44,380between the true and the false.28500:12:44,380 –> 00:12:46,200The true and the false are in a different position.28600:12:46,200 –> 00:12:49,000Thirdly, the true Christian escapes the corruption28700:12:49,000 –> 00:12:50,580in the world caused by evil desires,28800:12:50,580 –> 00:12:52,419chapter one in verse four,28900:12:52,419 –> 00:12:55,380but listen to how Peter describes the counterfeit,29000:12:55,380 –> 00:12:57,159chapter two in verse 19.29100:12:57,159 –> 00:12:59,179They promise freedom,29200:12:59,179 –> 00:13:01,760but they themselves are slaves of depravity29300:13:01,760 –> 00:13:04,919because a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.29400:13:06,599 –> 00:13:09,340So, two very different dynamics at work here.29500:13:09,359 –> 00:13:12,859The true believer is one who is escaping the corruption29600:13:12,859 –> 00:13:14,700that is caused by evil desires.29700:13:14,700 –> 00:13:17,960The false believer is one who has mastered29800:13:17,960 –> 00:13:19,739by the corruption of evil desires29900:13:19,739 –> 00:13:22,419and his position has not changed.30000:13:23,380 –> 00:13:26,099Fourthly, there’s a different character.30100:13:26,099 –> 00:13:28,940The true believer we saw from chapter one in verse five,30200:13:28,940 –> 00:13:31,940he is pursuing goodness and knowledge and self-control30300:13:31,940 –> 00:13:33,580and perseverance and Godliness30400:13:33,580 –> 00:13:35,179and brotherly kindness and love.30500:13:36,140 –> 00:13:38,859What is the counterfeit Christian marked by?30600:13:38,859 –> 00:13:43,799Well, verse 10, arrogance, slander.30700:13:46,539 –> 00:13:49,400Verse 14, experts in greed.30800:13:51,780 –> 00:13:54,179Eyes full of adultery, verse 14.30900:13:54,179 –> 00:13:58,619And notice in verse 10 that Peter especially underlines31000:13:58,619 –> 00:14:02,020that the false teacher, the counterfeit believer31100:14:02,020 –> 00:14:05,039is one who despises authority.31200:14:06,960 –> 00:14:08,219In other words, if within you,31300:14:08,219 –> 00:14:11,619there is a deep and intense despising of authority,31400:14:11,619 –> 00:14:13,960you always fight it,31500:14:13,960 –> 00:14:16,739you need to check your spiritual condition.31600:14:18,159 –> 00:14:20,799That is not saying something that is encouraging31700:14:20,799 –> 00:14:23,020about where you are at.31800:14:23,020 –> 00:14:24,179It’s what we learn here.31900:14:25,239 –> 00:14:29,320Fifth, the true and the false make a different appeal.32000:14:29,320 –> 00:14:31,239And if you’re listening to a Christian teacher32100:14:31,239 –> 00:14:32,900or if you’re listening to a Christian counselor,32200:14:32,900 –> 00:14:34,320it’s always worth asking the question,32300:14:34,320 –> 00:14:35,919what are they appealing to here?32400:14:36,859 –> 00:14:39,299True teacher appeals to Scripture,32500:14:39,299 –> 00:14:40,900chapter one in verse 19.32600:14:40,900 –> 00:14:43,580We have the word of the prophets made more certain32700:14:43,580 –> 00:14:46,679and you’ll do well to pay attention to it.32800:14:46,679 –> 00:14:48,619Why should you listen to what I’m saying,32900:14:48,619 –> 00:14:49,979the true teacher says?33000:14:49,979 –> 00:14:51,440Because it’s the word of God,33100:14:52,380 –> 00:14:53,799but when you come to the false teacher33200:14:53,799 –> 00:14:55,940in chapter two in verse 18,33300:14:55,940 –> 00:14:59,979notice that he appeals to the lustful desires33400:14:59,979 –> 00:15:02,500of sinful human nature.33500:15:02,500 –> 00:15:06,239In other words, while the true teacher33600:15:06,239 –> 00:15:08,059shapes his message by saying,33700:15:08,059 –> 00:15:12,479what is in God’s word and how can I say it well,33800:15:13,400 –> 00:15:15,599the false teacher starts from saying33900:15:15,599 –> 00:15:17,140what do people want to hear,34000:15:17,140 –> 00:15:20,159what is really gonna ring the bell with the folks34100:15:20,159 –> 00:15:23,140and works from there.34200:15:23,140 –> 00:15:25,599This is a distinguishing mark,34300:15:25,599 –> 00:15:29,299appealing to the fallenness of human nature.34400:15:30,299 –> 00:15:32,479And then there’s a different fruit.34500:15:32,479 –> 00:15:34,280What fruit comes from these ministries,34600:15:34,280 –> 00:15:37,359what fruit grows in the lives of these different people?34700:15:37,359 –> 00:15:39,239The true believer, chapter one, in verse eight,34800:15:39,239 –> 00:15:41,619we saw is effective and productive34900:15:41,619 –> 00:15:43,760in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.35000:15:43,760 –> 00:15:45,299But the counterfeit believer,35100:15:45,299 –> 00:15:49,960chapter two in verse 17, is like a spring without water.35200:15:49,960 –> 00:15:51,260What a phrase that is.35300:15:52,159 –> 00:15:56,500See, promising much, delivering little.35400:15:56,500 –> 00:15:58,219A spring without water.35500:15:59,440 –> 00:16:01,359And then, of course, there is a different end.35600:16:01,359 –> 00:16:03,080If you ask about the ultimate end35700:16:03,080 –> 00:16:05,320of a true and a false believer,35800:16:05,320 –> 00:16:08,799this is the most disturbing contrast of all.35900:16:08,799 –> 00:16:11,000Chapter one in verse 11, the true believer36000:16:11,000 –> 00:16:13,580receives a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom36100:16:13,580 –> 00:16:15,440of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.36200:16:16,960 –> 00:16:19,239But the false believer, chapter two in verse one,36300:16:19,239 –> 00:16:21,679will experience swift destruction,36400:16:23,039 –> 00:16:24,859and their condemnation has long been36500:16:24,859 –> 00:16:27,400hanging over them, verse three,36600:16:27,400 –> 00:16:29,359their destruction has not been sleeping.36700:16:32,320 –> 00:16:35,380Now, only an abnormal person would find36800:16:35,380 –> 00:16:36,419any pleasure in this,36900:16:36,419 –> 00:16:39,599but we’re trying to take into our minds and hearts here37000:16:39,599 –> 00:16:41,200what the Word of God is saying.37100:16:42,719 –> 00:16:45,039And remember that our Lord Jesus Christ said37200:16:45,039 –> 00:16:47,440that on the last day there would be many37300:16:48,359 –> 00:16:51,340who had been involved in ministry in His name,37400:16:52,200 –> 00:16:53,960and He would say to them on the last day,37500:16:54,140 –> 00:16:55,640and He would say, depart from Me,37600:16:55,640 –> 00:16:57,080I never knew you.37700:16:58,020 –> 00:17:02,880Many who’d been involved in ministry in His name,37800:17:02,880 –> 00:17:06,619and He would say, depart from Me, I never knew you.37900:17:07,699 –> 00:17:09,099Now, who are these people?38000:17:10,579 –> 00:17:11,699Well, surely they’re the ones38100:17:11,699 –> 00:17:13,660that Peter is speaking about here.38200:17:14,939 –> 00:17:16,959The counterfeit believers38300:17:18,439 –> 00:17:20,939who He’s saying will be found in every church.38400:17:21,939 –> 00:17:26,939The weeds planted alongside the wheat,38500:17:28,319 –> 00:17:30,219and there are these great differences38600:17:30,219 –> 00:17:32,420between the true, the authentic, and the counterfeit,38700:17:32,420 –> 00:17:33,699the true and the false.38800:17:35,020 –> 00:17:37,979The counterfeit believer professes some kind of faith,38900:17:37,979 –> 00:17:40,660has some kind of experience,39000:17:40,660 –> 00:17:42,160but it’s a different source.39100:17:42,160 –> 00:17:43,180It’s a different message.39200:17:43,180 –> 00:17:45,900He’s in a different position, different character,39300:17:45,900 –> 00:17:48,859different appeal, different fruit, and different end.39400:17:51,140 –> 00:17:53,640Now, that leaves us with the obvious question.39500:17:53,640 –> 00:17:56,300Boy, how can I be sure that I am a true believer?39600:17:56,300 –> 00:17:58,099And we’re gonna come to the answer to that question39700:17:58,099 –> 00:17:59,640clearly in just a moment.39800:18:01,180 –> 00:18:02,939But I want us to make two applications39900:18:02,939 –> 00:18:04,819before we leave this distinction40000:18:04,819 –> 00:18:06,020between the true and the false.40100:18:06,020 –> 00:18:07,420The first is this.40200:18:08,359 –> 00:18:10,739The word of God says to Christian churches,40300:18:10,739 –> 00:18:13,959there will be false teachers among you.40400:18:16,020 –> 00:18:17,699Is there anyone who really thinks40500:18:17,699 –> 00:18:20,680that when the Word of God makes such a categorical statement40600:18:21,000 –> 00:18:22,199about the true and the counterfeit40700:18:22,199 –> 00:18:24,239being alongside each other that somehow40800:18:24,239 –> 00:18:25,839this is nothing to do with us40900:18:25,839 –> 00:18:28,060and that we would never know anything of that,41000:18:28,060 –> 00:18:30,640is there anyone who’s arrogant enough to think that?41100:18:30,640 –> 00:18:31,479Surely not.41200:18:34,000 –> 00:18:35,459What this means then41300:18:37,459 –> 00:18:41,619is that the church needs to be protected.41400:18:44,280 –> 00:18:46,479The reason that the church needs to be protected41500:18:46,479 –> 00:18:49,979is that amongst the many wonderful people41600:18:49,979 –> 00:18:52,520who come through the doors of the church each year,41700:18:54,300 –> 00:18:56,260there will be some who would41800:18:56,260 –> 00:18:58,579do the church more harm than good.41900:19:00,300 –> 00:19:02,900They may seem the nicest people in the world42000:19:02,900 –> 00:19:06,540but they do not believe in the authority of the Bible42100:19:06,540 –> 00:19:09,280and they do not believe in the exclusivity42200:19:09,280 –> 00:19:11,959of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.42300:19:13,839 –> 00:19:15,339They have religious interests42400:19:15,339 –> 00:19:17,260and they want to be involved in ministry42500:19:17,260 –> 00:19:19,579but they have a different source, a different message,42600:19:19,680 –> 00:19:21,939a different position, a different character,42700:19:21,939 –> 00:19:25,140different appeal, different fruit, and a different end.42800:19:26,140 –> 00:19:28,180And we must welcome such people42900:19:28,180 –> 00:19:30,359because they need Christ as much as we do.43000:19:31,979 –> 00:19:33,680But we must not allow them43100:19:33,680 –> 00:19:36,459to have influence within the church.43200:19:37,420 –> 00:19:41,219And part of the responsibility of pastors and of elders43300:19:42,160 –> 00:19:44,260is to protect the flock of God.43400:19:44,260 –> 00:19:45,739Remember Paul said there are wolves43500:19:45,739 –> 00:19:47,540who would come in sheep’s clothing.43600:19:48,420 –> 00:19:51,099And if we’ve understood this important teaching43700:19:51,099 –> 00:19:53,800that Peter gives in his last letter to the church,43800:19:54,900 –> 00:19:57,459you’ll understand that the church needs to be protected.43900:19:57,459 –> 00:19:59,020You will be very grateful to those44000:19:59,020 –> 00:20:01,780who are charged with that heavy responsibility,44100:20:01,780 –> 00:20:03,500and you will pray for them44200:20:05,439 –> 00:20:09,280as they discharge that for the good of the flock.44300:20:10,619 –> 00:20:12,300Is that clear from this passage of Scripture?44400:20:12,300 –> 00:20:14,780There’s a second application, and it’s simply this,44500:20:14,780 –> 00:20:17,020and you might be able to use this evangelistically44600:20:17,660 –> 00:20:18,500even this week.44700:20:18,500 –> 00:20:20,900Have you ever talked with someone who said44800:20:20,900 –> 00:20:22,420that they weren’t going to follow Christ44900:20:22,420 –> 00:20:23,859because they’d seen that some people45000:20:23,859 –> 00:20:26,619who say that they follow Christ are hypocrites?45100:20:26,619 –> 00:20:30,380Ever heard that argument as an excuse for not believing?45200:20:31,300 –> 00:20:33,219Well, I think Peter just blows that away45300:20:33,219 –> 00:20:35,000and really gives us the way to answer that.45400:20:35,000 –> 00:20:39,579I mean, isn’t that the strangest, strangest excuse45500:20:39,579 –> 00:20:41,140for not being a Christian?45600:20:41,140 –> 00:20:42,660I’m not going to follow Christ45700:20:42,660 –> 00:20:45,819because some people who claim to do so45800:20:45,819 –> 00:20:47,819are hypocrites or are inconsistent.45900:20:47,819 –> 00:20:50,959Look, what Peter teaches us here,46000:20:50,959 –> 00:20:52,859there will be false teachers among you.46100:20:52,859 –> 00:20:56,140Just makes it plain to any mature person46200:20:57,180 –> 00:21:00,280that skeptics will always be able46300:21:00,280 –> 00:21:03,119to point to inconsistency, and hypocrisy,46400:21:03,119 –> 00:21:05,739and failure in one way or another46500:21:05,739 –> 00:21:08,719that takes place within the church of Jesus Christ.46600:21:08,719 –> 00:21:11,660But listen, the existence of the counterfeit46700:21:12,119 –> 00:21:17,119is never a reason for rejecting the true.46800:21:17,160 –> 00:21:19,280And Peter’s kind of saying to us here,46900:21:19,280 –> 00:21:24,280come on, grow up, don’t be so naive.47000:21:26,119 –> 00:21:28,599Of course there will be counterfeit Christians47100:21:28,599 –> 00:21:30,540and you will meet them and you will be disturbed47200:21:30,540 –> 00:21:32,380and disappointed by their example.47300:21:32,380 –> 00:21:35,020But what else would you expect in this fallen world?47400:21:35,020 –> 00:21:36,400Don’t be so naive.47500:21:36,400 –> 00:21:39,239And don’t miss what’s real,47600:21:39,260 –> 00:21:43,819just because you have seen what is counterfeit.47700:21:43,819 –> 00:21:47,239And let’s be done with that nonsense as an excuse47800:21:47,239 –> 00:21:49,880for you staying away from real faith47900:21:49,880 –> 00:21:52,599and real following of Jesus Christ.48000:21:54,079 –> 00:21:56,479Pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible there,48100:21:56,479 –> 00:21:58,359looking at seven characteristics48200:21:58,359 –> 00:22:00,359of a counterfeit Christian.48300:22:00,359 –> 00:22:03,099And next time we’ll look at one distinguishing mark48400:22:03,099 –> 00:22:05,760of a true believer and two reasons48500:22:05,760 –> 00:22:08,199why Christians can have real hope.48600:22:08,479 –> 00:22:10,520So I hope you’ll join us for that.48700:22:10,520 –> 00:22:12,239You’ve been listening to Open the Bible48800:22:12,239 –> 00:22:15,680with Pastor Colin Smith and with a message called48900:22:15,680 –> 00:22:17,780Everything You Need for Deliverance49000:22:17,780 –> 00:22:20,459part of our series, Everything You Need for Life49100:22:20,459 –> 00:22:22,819based on 2 Peter.49200:22:22,819 –> 00:22:25,099If you ever miss one of the messages in our series,49300:22:25,099 –> 00:22:28,000it’s easy to catch up or go back and listen again49400:22:28,000 –> 00:22:30,540by coming online to our website that’s at49500:22:30,540 –> 00:22:33,380openthebible.org.uk49600:22:33,380 –> 00:22:35,459or go to your favorite podcast site,49700:22:35,459 –> 00:22:37,939search there for Open the Bible UK49800:22:38,020 –> 00:22:40,939and subscribe if you want to get regular reminders.49900:22:41,920 –> 00:22:42,959While you’re on our website50000:22:42,959 –> 00:22:45,339don’t forget about Open the Bible Daily.50100:22:45,339 –> 00:22:47,040That’s our series of short,50200:22:47,040 –> 00:22:49,420two to three minute daily reflections50300:22:49,420 –> 00:22:51,439based on Pastor Colin’s teaching50400:22:51,439 –> 00:22:53,920and read specially in the UK.50500:22:53,920 –> 00:22:56,760That’s Open the Bible Daily.50600:22:56,760 –> 00:22:59,199At Open the Bible we’re able to do the work we do50700:22:59,199 –> 00:23:01,260in bringing you the radio program50800:23:01,260 –> 00:23:03,800and the internet and the podcasts50900:23:03,800 –> 00:23:06,020only because of the generous support51000:23:06,020 –> 00:23:07,780which we receive from our listeners.51100:23:07,780 –> 00:23:09,819So if you’re already gift to support51200:23:09,819 –> 00:23:12,839open the Bible’s work thank you so much.51300:23:12,839 –> 00:23:14,300This month if you want to begin51400:23:14,300 –> 00:23:16,500to support open the Bible financially51500:23:16,500 –> 00:23:19,819we’d love to say thank you by sending you a free gift.51600:23:19,819 –> 00:23:22,380Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham51700:23:22,380 –> 00:23:23,739to tell us about it.51800:23:23,739 –> 00:23:26,219Everyone needs something to look forward to51900:23:26,219 –> 00:23:27,920but when life is difficult52000:23:27,920 –> 00:23:30,739hope can feel distant and hard to hold on to.52100:23:31,640 –> 00:23:33,900That’s why we’re delighted to offer52200:23:33,900 –> 00:23:36,760Grow in Hope by Colin Smith.52300:23:36,800 –> 00:23:38,880This 30-day devotional is designed52400:23:38,880 –> 00:23:41,660to help you fix your eyes on God’s promises52500:23:41,660 –> 00:23:46,140and find fresh encouragement even in challenging seasons.52600:23:46,140 –> 00:23:49,359Through daily Bible readings and practical reflections52700:23:49,359 –> 00:23:51,459Pastor Colin explores what it means52800:23:51,459 –> 00:23:53,680to have a living hope in Christ.52900:23:53,680 –> 00:23:55,739A hope that sustains us in trials,53000:23:55,739 –> 00:23:58,040strengthens us in uncertainty53100:23:58,040 –> 00:24:00,719and gives us confidence for the future.53200:24:00,719 –> 00:24:03,900Drawing on scripture and years of pastoral experience53300:24:03,959 –> 00:24:07,439he shows us how hope is not wishful thinking53400:24:07,439 –> 00:24:12,099but a certainty grounded in God’s character and promises.53500:24:12,099 –> 00:24:14,060Growing hope can be read on its own53600:24:14,060 –> 00:24:17,819or alongside, growing faith and growing love53700:24:17,819 –> 00:24:19,880as part of a devotional journey53800:24:19,880 –> 00:24:22,180through the enduring Christian virtues53900:24:22,180 –> 00:24:24,819of faith, hope, and love.54000:24:24,819 –> 00:24:26,300Get your free copy today54100:24:26,300 –> 00:24:30,040when you give a one-off gift of at least £6054200:24:30,040 –> 00:24:31,979or set up a new monthly gift54300:24:32,000 –> 00:24:34,280of £5 or more,54400:24:34,280 –> 00:24:36,880but please do remember to leave your name54500:24:36,880 –> 00:24:38,400and address when you give54600:24:38,400 –> 00:24:41,119so that we know where to send your book.54700:24:41,119 –> 00:24:42,640So, Pastor Colin’s book,54800:24:42,640 –> 00:24:44,760Grow In Hope, is our gift to you54900:24:44,760 –> 00:24:46,640when you set up a new direct debit55000:24:46,640 –> 00:24:48,280to the work of open the Bible55100:24:48,280 –> 00:24:50,920in the amount of £5 per month or more55200:24:50,920 –> 00:24:54,400or a one-off gift of £60 or more this month.55300:24:54,400 –> 00:24:56,719Full terms and conditions are on our website55400:24:56,719 –> 00:24:58,420and you can give online.55500:24:58,420 –> 00:25:00,160Please remember though, as Amanda says,55600:25:00,239 –> 00:25:01,939to leave your full name and address55700:25:01,939 –> 00:25:04,060so we can send you your gift.55800:25:04,060 –> 00:25:05,119For open the Bible55900:25:05,119 –> 00:25:07,459and Pastor Colin Smith I’m David Pick.56000:25:07,459 –> 00:25:08,819Glad you joined us today56100:25:08,819 –> 00:25:10,619and I hope you’ll be able to join us again56200:25:10,619 –> 00:25:11,839in our next program.56300:25:11,839 –> 00:25:15,839You often feel distressed at the sin56400:25:22,219 –> 00:25:23,880you see in your own life56500:25:23,880 –> 00:25:26,500and the sin you see all around you.56600:25:26,500 –> 00:25:29,339Find out why next time on Open the Bible