False Teachers

Peter opens his letter by asserting his credentials as an apostle. In specific, he refers to his presence at the Transfiguration. From there, he calls attention to false teachers, present in Old Testament times, Peter's era, and in the modern-day church. " False teachers" are not limited to those who are obviously profane and sacrilegious, but also to those who subtly distort the word of God and the person of Jesus. The following is copied from Bible.org...

False teachers speak of “Jesus,” but it is a “Jesus” of their own making, a “Jesus” with whom sinful men feel comfortable and affirmed. They wish to follow and imitate such a person, but they deny the real Jesus, substituting a more palatable Jesus. So it is that false teachers gain a following by tickling the ears of those who will not have the real “Jesus.”

In the last days there will be a rise in such teachings as well as a pervasive apathy toward the things of God. Peter describes this phenomenon as "scoffers who will mock the truth and follow their own desires". It kind-of seems like we're there, doesn't it?

Tomorrow's reading: 1 John 1:1-4:6