Vs. 1, “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.”  Yikes, this is not a comforting thought, but Peter does not shy away from confronting the enemies tactics.  Question: What did this look like?  If we look at Peter’s description of destructive heresies, this would indicate that there were some who were promoting division and strife.  Heresy originally meant “to make a choice,” but then it came to mean “a sect, a party.”  So basically, destructive heresy were those who were pressuring people to side with them and cause division.  Some of us are all too familiar with this when it comes to the history of our own churches.  Part of their deception was to come in with ulterior and hidden motives from the onset.  They manipulate God’s word to deceive, for their source is the father of lies, Satan.  Because of this, they produce many false Christians who only want their idea of Christianity.

Regarding application…Turning Away.  Vs. 21, “It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.”  This is a grave warning.  Peter is quite blunt to let us know that those who have known who Jesus is and have experienced the church yet turn away or in worse shape than if they had never known.  Like a dog who returns to its vomit, people would disgustingly turn back to the world (vs. 22).  Brothers and sisters, this should not be.  We should not be so quick to assume that everyone in the church has the mind of God.  That is why we should be discerning.  Remember Jesus’ exhortation, “be shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16).