“These people are springs without water, mists driven by a storm. The gloom of darkness has been reserved for them.” (v. 17)

Let’s make sure we know what Peter is warning against in this chapter:

He isn’t merely warning the believer away from all the untruth in the world. He’s warning believers against heresy in the church.

It’s a warning we ought to heed.

So how do you spot a heretic?

Whenever someone claims a Christian identity but accommodates the flesh…

Whenever Christian preaching affirms sin, especially by undermining the plain truth of God’s Word…

Whenever the awesome holiness of Christ is downplayed and the human condition goes unchallenged…

…you’ve got heresy.

And it doesn’t matter how smart the argument sounds: If it is uprooted from the inspired Word, then it is ultimately worthless. It’s a dry spring devoid of Christ’s living water. It’s smoke blown around by the culture’s winds.

So listen up, church! Listen to how they handle the Word, how they speak of the revealed Christ, and how they urge humility and repentance and worship (or don’t). Because that will tell you if you should drink from their well.

— Tyler