False Teachers Within the Body

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves (2 Peter 2:1).

Notice in this passage that false prophets arose among the people and there are false teachers among you. Peter did not say they are outside the body of Christ they are within. Every church needs to be on guard from false teachers because they are already inside.

Jesus warned us:

Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).

They are swift, cunning, and even seem like one of us which they are not. They will cause dissentions among the ranks and confusion within the church. They are in the church, and they are a clear and present danger. 

J.C. Ryle wrote:

False prophets and false teachers within the camp have done far more mischief in Christendom than all the bloody persecutions of the emperors of Rome.

Let that sink in for a moment. False teachers have done more harm, more mischief that all of the emperors of Rome. It has been said that the greatest danger for today is not the government, the LGBT community, or other religions. The greatest danger in the church are false teachers within. 

The church needs to be on guard, be ready to call for repentance, rebuke false teaching, and, when it is necessary, execute church discipline.