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A. Their Presence; Their Popularity
B. Their Actions
C. A True Description of Them and Their Evil
Character (in Contrast With What They Look Like on the Surface)
D. Their Final Outcome
E. How We Must Respond to The,/Their Teachings
There Will Be Many (Increasingly So, in the "Last Days"), and They Will Look "Good" - [Many illustrations exist in the gospel, specifically the religious leaders of the day! At first, even the disciples found Jesus' opposition to them to be quite unexpected. Example - Matthew 16:6-7,11-12 ]; Matthew 7:15-20; Matthew 10:16; Matthew 24:11; Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Timothy 3:6-7; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 3:3; 1 John 4:1; Jude 1:4; Jude 1:17-18
They Will Have a Good Reputation/Good "Credentials" - Luke 6:26; Philippians 3:4-7; Galatians 6:12
They Will Want the Attention and Titles - Just like Worldly "Leaders" Do (See the previous section about the general concept of leadership.) - Matthew 23:5-7; Acts 8:18; Romans 16:18; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 3 John 1:9-10
Concerning Things in General - Matthew 21:23; Matthew 23:16-28; Matthew 25:44-45; Acts 8:18-19; 1 Timothy 6:5; 3 John 1:9-10; Jude 1:4,8,10-13,16,19
Opposition to God's Word; Replacing it with Substitutes - Matthew 15:2; Mark 7:3,5; Acts 20:30; Colossians 2:18; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Titus 1:9; Titus 1:14; 2 Peter 2:1b,3; 2 Peter 3:4-7; 2 Peter 3:16b; 2 John 1:7-11
Their Effects on Others
Blind Guides of the Blind - Matthew 15:14; Luke 6:39
Deceiving Everyone Possible - Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22; Romans 16:18
Causing Divisions - Acts 20:30; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 11:18-19
"Worming" into Homes, Attempting to Gain Control - 2 Timothy 3:6
Enticing/Enslaving - 2 Peter 2:18-19
Not Sparing Anyone They Can Get Their Hands [Teeth!] on - Acts 20:29
Introducing Teachings That "Eat" People - 2 Timothy 2:17 [Their teachings are treating the people like "pasture" - instead of feeding them, they feed on them!]
Disqualifying People for the "Prize" - Colossians 2:18
Bringing Truth into Disrepute - 2 Peter 2:2
They Can Be Recognized [Though Most Won't Recognize Them] - Matthew 7:15-20; Titus 1:16
With Reference to Themselves
Depraved/Blinded/Unspiritual Minds - Romans 1:28 [etc.]; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:8; Titus 1:15
Delights in What Is False - Colossians 2:18
Evil Deeds, Actions That Deny God; Followers of Their Corrupt "Instincts" - Philippians 3:2; Titus 1:15-16; 2 Peter 2:10,12-15,17-22
Warped/Sinful/Self-condemned - Titus 3:11
With Reference to Other People
False Prophets - Matthew 7:15-20
Blind Guides/False Guides - Matthew 23:16; Matthew 23:24; Acts 1:16b [example of a bad "guide"!]
Wolves - Luke 10:3; Acts 20:29-30
Deceivers/Antichrists - 2 John 1:7-11
Leaders of a Whole Host of Deceived and Depraved People - 2 Timothy 3:1-9
With Reference to the Truth
Will Distort it - Acts 20:30
Abandoning the Knowledge of God; Denying Truth - Romans 1:28 [etc.]; 2 John 1:7-11
Never Able to Arrive at Truth - 2 Timothy 3:7
Delighting in What Is False; Robbed of Truth - 1 Timothy 6:3-5
Teaching the "Myths" That People Want to Hear - 2 Timothy 4:3-4
With Reference to God
"Amputated" from Christ's Body; No Connection with the Head (Jesus Christ) - Colossians 2:18-19
Distorted Concept of Godliness - 1 Timothy 6:5b; 2 Timothy 3:5
Has Not Seen God - 3 John 1:10
They Will Get What They Deserve - 2 Corinthians 11:15
They Will Be Judged for Everything They Have Done - Jude 1:4,14-15 [context... illus. given of judgments in the past]
Swift Destruction - They Will Bring it upon Themselves - 2 Peter 2:1,3,9 [context... examples of judgment ]
Eternal Condemnation - Galatians 1:8-9
They Will Be Paid Back; They Will Perish - 2 Peter 2:12-13,17,20-21
Blackest Darkness - Jude 1:13b
Leave Them; Watch out for Them; Avoid Them; Don't Take Them in - Matthew 15:14; Romans 16:17-18a; Philippians 3:2; 2 Timothy 3:5a; 2 John 1:10-11
Do Not Follow Them; Do Not Let Them Disqualify You - Colossians 2:18a
Avoid/Have Nothing to Do with What They Say - 2 Timothy 2:23-24; Titus 3:9
Actively Oppose Them/Warn/Rebuke - Titus 1:13-14; Titus 3:10-11; Jude 1:3
Attempt to Bring Them to the Truth - 2 Timothy 2:25-26; Jude 1:22-23
Be Careful of Your Own Spiritual Condition - 2 Peter 3:17-18; 1 John 4:1; 3 John 1:11a; Jude 1:20-21
A Warning to Us about Leading Others Astray - Romans 2:17-29
God's Protection from False Teachers... - 2 Peter 2:9 [then illus.: Noah and Lot]; Jude 1:24-25
Dennis Hinks © 1994