“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 pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (II Peter 2:1,2).

The Scriptures include many grave and sober warnings. The context here is “the last days” (II Peter 3:3), and Peter prophesies that many professing Christians will follow the “pernicious ways” of the false teachers. These are not external enemies of the faith, but rather teachers who are “among you,” and who surreptitiously introduce their false teachings into Christian churches and schools.

The “destruction” which they bring upon themselves is actually the same word as translated “damnable” and “pernicious ways” in this passage. It is also used by Peter in 2:3, there translated “damnation.” It is rendered “perdition” in 3:7 and “destruction” again in 3:16. Such concepts are not pleasant, but neither are the heresies they accompany.

These heresies “even” extend to a denial of “the Lord that bought them.” The redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the price of our salvation, is based on both the grace of God (Romans 3:24) and the shed blood of Christ (I Peter 1:18).

Before proceeding to such open rejection of Christ, however, such “liberal” teachers must proceed subversively, first questioning the special creation work of Christ, then the authority of His word, eventually His virgin birth and resurrection, and finally, the efficacy of His saving work on the cross. Thus God’s way of truth today is “evil spoken of” (that is, “blasphemed”). Nevertheless, it is still the way of truth, and it is important for all true Christians to reject and correct such ruinous heresies. HMM