God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)
How can we spot a false teacher? Peter in the first two chapters of his second epistle provides a good comparison between true believers (chapter 1) and false teachers (chapter 2). We live in the light of God’s Word (1:19). They “secretly introduce destructive heresies” (2:1). We grow in the knowledge of our “Lord Jesus Christ” (1:16). They “deny the Master who bought them” (2:1). We are “partakers of the divine nature” (1:4), manifesting mortal excellence, self-control, perseverance and love (1:5-7). They manifest the deeds of sensuality and greed (2:2-3). We follow the prophetic Word (1:19-21). They follow “false words” (2:3). We are promised eternal life abundantly supplied to us (1:11). They are promised judgment and swift destruction (2:2-3).