2 PETER: Growing in Grace & Truth

Transcription

1 2 PETER: Growing in Grace & Truth - Chapter 2 - (No /13/14 - NLC) I. INTRODUCTION A. In chapter 1, Peter exhorted the believer to grow in grace and to be firmly established in the truth of Scripture B. He emphasized growth in godly, Christian character and the need for integrity and moral excellence C. The apostle was laying essential groundwork for what he will address in both chapters 2 and 3 the reality of false leaders and deceptions within the Church II. THERE WILL BE FALSE TEACHERS 2 Pet. 2:1: 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. A. Numerous references to false prophets in the Old Testament 1. In the time of Moses (Deut. 13:1-5): 1 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, Let us follow other gods (gods you have not known) and let us worship them, 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him. 5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you. Deut. 18:20-22: 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in My name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death. 21 You may say to yourselves, How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD? 22 If 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc 11

2 what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him. 2. In the time of Elijah (1 Kings 18:19): 19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table. 1 Kings 22:19-23: 19 Micaiah continued, Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne with all the host of heaven standing around Him on His right and on His left. 20 And the LORD said, Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there? One suggested this, and another that. 21 Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, I will entice him. 22 By what means? the LORD asked. I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets, he said. You will succeed in enticing him, said the LORD. Go and do it. 23 So now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you. 3. In the time of Isaiah (Isa. 9:13-17): 13 But the people have not returned to Him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty. 14 So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day; 15 the elders and prominent men are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. 16 Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray. 17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men, nor will He pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks vileness. Yet for all this, His anger is not turned away, His hand is still upraised. 4. In the time of Jeremiah (Jer. 5:13, 30-31): 13 The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them. 30 A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end? 12 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc

3 Jer. 6:13-14: 13 From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. 14 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. Peace, peace, they say, when there is no peace. Jer. 14:13-15: 13 But I said, Ah, Sovereign LORD, the prophets keep telling them, You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place. 14 Then the LORD said to me, The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. 15 Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in My name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, No sword or famine will touch this land. Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine. Jer. 23:9-32: 9 Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones tremble. I am like a drunken man, like a man overcome by wine, because of the LORD and His holy words. 10 The land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land lies parched and the pastures in the desert are withered. The prophets follow an evil course and use their power unjustly. 11 Both prophet and priest are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness, declares the LORD. 12 Therefore their path will become slippery; they will be banished to darkness and there they will fall. I will bring disaster on them in the year they are punished, declares the LORD. 13 Among the prophets of Samaria I saw this repulsive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray. 14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his wickedness. They are all like Sodom to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah. 15 Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty says concerning the prophets: I will make them eat bitter food and drink poisoned water, because from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land. 16 This is what the LORD Almighty says: Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc 13

4 LORD. 17 They keep saying to those who despise me, The LORD says: You will have peace. And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, No harm will come to you. 18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear His word? Who has listened and heard His word? 19 See, the storm of the LORD will burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. 20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He fully accomplishes the purposes of His heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly. 21 I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in My council, they would have proclaimed My words to My people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds. 23 Am I only a God nearby, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? 24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD. 25 I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, I had a dream! I had a dream! 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make My people forget My name, just as their fathers forgot My name through Baal worship. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has My word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain? declares the LORD. 29 Is not My word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? 30 Therefore, declares the LORD, I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from Me. 31 Yes, declares the LORD, I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, The LORD declares. 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams, declares the LORD. They tell them and lead My people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least, declares the LORD. 5. In the time of Ezekiel (Ezek. 13:1-11): 1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: Hear the word of the LORD! 3 This is what the Sovereign LORD 14 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc

5 says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 Your prophets, O Israel, are like jackals among ruins. 5 You have not gone up to the breaks in the wall to repair it for the house of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the LORD. 6 Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, The LORD declares, when the LORD has not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled. 7 Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, The LORD declares, though I have not spoken? 8 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign LORD. 9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be listed in the records of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD. 10 Because they lead My people astray, saying, Peace, when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, 11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. B. Many false prophets & teachers promised in the New Testament 1. Mat. 7:15-16, 21-23: 15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? 23 Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! 2. Mat. 24:3-5, 11, 25: 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. Tell us, they said, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age? 4 Jesus answered: 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc 15

6 Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, claiming, I am the Christ, and will deceive many 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect if that were possible. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time John 2:18-19, 22-23: 18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. 22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist he denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also John 4:1: 1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world John 1:7-11: 7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. 6. Acts 20:28-31: 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc

7 7. 2 Cor. 11:3-4, 13-15, 26: 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve 26 I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 8. Gal. 1:6-9: 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! 9. Col. 2:4, 8, 18-23: 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc 17

8 21 Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their selfimposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence Thess. 2:1-3: 1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the Day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that Day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction Tim. 1:3-7: 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm Tim. 4:1-3: 1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth Tim. 4:3-4: 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc

9 14. 3 John 1:9-10: 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church Tim. 1:19-20: 19 Holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme Tim. 2:16-18: 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some Tim. 4:14-15: 14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. 18. Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9-24): 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19 and said, Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. 20 Peter answered: May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin. 24 Then Simon answered, Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me. 19. Acts 13:6-12: 6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc 19

10 name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun. Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. 20. Rev. 2:2: 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. III. ACTIVITIES & DESTRUCTION OF FALSE TEACHERS 2 Pet. 2:1-3: 1 They [false teachers] will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. A. Secretly introduce destructive heresies (v.1) 1. MSG: They'll smuggle in destructive divisions. 2. Jude 19: These [false teachers] are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 3. They sneak in, masquerading as true servants of God, dressed in sheep s clothes but in reality ravening wolves 4. Damnable [KJV: Gk. apoleia = resulting in ruin, loss, damnation (eternal) or perdition ] heresies (false teachings) are extremely destructive to people s lives 5. Jude 4: For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc

11 B. Deny the Lord who bought them (v.1) 1. As we will see later in vv.15, 20-22, these false teachers were once believers they had been bought [Gk. agorazo = to purchase, redeem ; used in 1 Cor. 6:20: bought at a price and Rev. 5:9: redeemed ] by the Lord 2. Deny [Gk. arneomai = to contradict, disavow, reject ; same word used to describe Peter s denial of Jesus 3 times!] C. Bring swift destruction on themselves (v.1) 1. The same destruction [Gk. apoleia] or damnation intended by their heresy! 2. Although their judgment seems to be delayed or sleeping (v.3), they will not escape damnation and when it comes, it will be swift and sudden D. Many will follow their shameful ways (v.2) 1. Many will be deceived (Mat. 24:5, 10-11) and the love of most will grow cold (Mat. 24:12) 2. During the Great Tribulation, the whole world will be deceived by Satan and the antichrist (Rev. 12:9; 13:14; 2 Thess. 2:7-12) 3. Characterized by shameful (immoral, lascivious) conduct 4. Like the spirit of Jezebel that was in the church of Thyatira (Rev. 2:20-23): 20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. E. They bring the way of truth into disrepute (v.2) 1. Lit. They cause the way of truth to be blasphemed. 2. AMP: Because of them the true Way will be maligned and defamed. 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc 21

12 3. MSG: They give the way of truth a bad name. 4. Rom. 2:21-24: 21 You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. 5. Such hypocrites and false leaders do great harm not only to their followers, but also to those who are outside of the Christian faith and Church they are stumbling blocks F. They are greedy for money (vv.3, 15) 1. This is one of the most common and obvious fruits by which false prophets can be recognized follow the money! 2. 1 Tim. 6:3-11: 3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But you, man of God, FLEE FROM ALL THIS G. They exploit gullible people with lies and fictitious tales (v.3) 1. Exploit [Gk. emporeuomai = to peddle, trade, buy & sell, make merchandise ] 2. 2 Cor. 2:17: UNLIKE SO MANY, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc

13 3. With feigned words and stories they have made up often exaggerated, fake testimonies and lies about the great work they are doing for the Lord they deceive many 4. Jude refers to these deceivers as dreamers (Jude 8) 5. Paul warns about similar kinds of people in Col. 2:4, 8, 18: 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by finesounding arguments 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. H. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping (v.3) 1. Although God s judgment for these money mongers may seem to have been delayed, make no mistake: it is not sleeping! 2. God and His justice never sleep nothing escapes His watchful eye! 3. Compare with Jude 4 (NAS): For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 4. As we will see in 2 Pet. 3:9, what man views as God s slowness or delay may actually be His patience God waiting for people to come to repentance 5. God often gives individuals (even Jezebel!) a space of time to repent (Rev. 2:21) 6. But some interpret a delay in God s judgment as a free pass to keep on sinning (Eccl. 8:11 - KJV): Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. MSG: Because the sentence against evil deeds is so long in coming, people in general think they can get by with murder. 7. In the next section, Peter gives three examples to show how no one escapes God s judgment 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc 23

14 IV. GOD S JUDGMENT ON THE UNGODLY & HIS RESCUE OF THE RIGHTEOUS 2 Pet. 2:4-9: 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5 if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard) 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. A. God did not spare angels that sinned (v.4) 1. Peter s first example demonstrates God s judgment on rebellion 2. Apparently, a group of angels rebelled along with Lucifer (Satan) and became the devil s angels (Mat. 25:41): Then He will say to those on His left, Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 3. Jude 6: And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home these He has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 4. Although Peter and Jude both refer to certain of these angels being bound or held in prison awaiting final judgment, others are seen in heaven (at a future time) warring with the archangel Michael in Rev. 12:7-9: 7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc

15 5. This first example that Peter gives to prove that God will judge ALL sin and ungodliness is a powerful one even angels will be judged! B. God did not spare the world from the Flood, but saved Noah and his family (v.5) 1. Peter s second example demonstrates God s judgment on wickedness, corruption and violence 2. There was great wickedness and evil on the earth prior to Noah s flood (Gen. 6:5, 11), and so shall it be in the last days just prior to the Rapture of the Church (Mat. 24:37-41) 3. There is abundant geological evidence of a global Flood observed throughout the earth today if God did not spare mankind in Noah s time for its evil and violence, neither will the wicked of this last days generation on earth be exempted! 4. Noah a preacher of righteousness a) No other reference in the Scriptures to Noah preaching, but it provides a powerful contrast to all the false preachers that Peter is writing about b) We are told in Gen. 6:9 that Noah was righteous, blameless and walked with God c) His faith and godly life were a continual reproof to the wicked around him (Heb. 11:7): By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 5. Only a few (eight including Noah) were saved from the Flood, and only a few will be saved in our day! a) 1 Pet. 3:18-20: 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc 25

16 b) Mat. 7:14: But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. c) Mat. 22:14: For many are invited, but few are chosen. d) Luke 13:23-24: 23 Someone asked Him, Lord, are only a few people going to be saved? He said to them, 24 Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. e) Rev. 3:4: Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with Me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. C. God did not spare Sodom and Gomorrah (v.6) 1. Peter s third example demonstrates God s judgment on homosexual perversion [see Gen. 19] 2. God s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah was to serve as an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter (NAS) 3. Peter speaks prophetically to those who would come later in time, imitating the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah 4. Jude 7: In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. 5. God s treatment of homosexual sin in Sodom was an example [Gk. hupodeigma = an exhibit for imitation or warning; an example or pattern ] to warn those who would follow in their footsteps 6. Perhaps the politicians and gay activists who are pushing the homosexual agenda and so-called same sex marriage should refresh their memories by reading Genesis chapter 19 in its entirety! 7. Ruth Graham quote: If God doesn t punish America, He ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah Cor. 6:9-11: 9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves 26 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc

17 nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 9. Rom. 1:24-27: 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. D. God rescued righteous Lot (vv.7-8) 1. Lot was distressed ( vexed KJV; lit. worn out, wearied ) and tormented (lit. tortured ) by the filthy conduct and lawless deeds of those around him that he saw and heard 2. Why aren t more people distressed about all of the open, blatant perversion in our culture today? 3. Or have we become like those that Paul mentions in Rom. 1:32: Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. 4. When the men of Sodom insisted on having sex with the two angels that had entered Lot s house, Lot rebuked them saying, Don't do this wicked thing. (Gen. 19:7) 5. What is difficult to understand is how Lot could be so distressed, how he could be called a righteous man, and yet offer to turn his two daughters over to the townsmen who were inflamed with lust to be sexually abused 6. One possible explanation is that Lot discerned something divine about the two men (he bowed down, called them lords and insisted on serving them in his house) and there 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc 27

18 was a certain code of honor for any guests that one had taken into their home [see Gen. 19:8: But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof. ] 7. God rescued Lot, giving him an angelic escort out of Sodom! 8. Like Lot, we must keep our godly testimony in the midst of a perverse culture (Phil. 2: NAS): 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. E. God knows how to rescue and punish (v.9) 1. The Lord knows how to rescue the godly out of temptations, trials and adversity 2. Ps. 34:19: A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all. 3. The Lord also knows how to hold [Gk. tereo = to guard, watch, keep an eye on; to prevent from escaping ; reserve KJV] the ungodly and the unrighteous for the Day of Judgment to be punished 4. Quote: The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine. V. ARROGANCE & REBELLION OF FALSE TEACHERS 2 Pet. 2:10-12: 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. 12 But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. A. Jesus taught that false prophets and teachers can be easily recognized by their fruit (life, conduct, character), NOT by their gifts! (Mat. 7:15-23) 28 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc

19 B. In vv.10-22, Peter continues giving detailed descriptions of the characteristics and lifestyles of false teachers C. The first thing mentioned in this section is the unbridled, lustful carnality and uncleanness of false teachers (v.10) 1. AMP: And particularly those who walk after the flesh and indulge in the lust of polluting passion 2. MSG: God is especially incensed against these teachers who live by lust, addicted to a filthy existence. 3. Jude refers to these individuals as dreamers that pollute their own bodies in a way similar to those of Sodom and Gomorrah (Jude 7-8) their pollution probably referring to sexual perversion D. The hallmark of every false prophet and teacher: they despise authority (v.10) 1. AMP: [False teachers] scorn and despise authority. Presumptuous [and] daring [self-willed and self-loving creatures]! They scoff at and revile dignitaries (glorious ones) without trembling. 2. MSG: God is especially incensed against these teachers who live by lust, addicted to a filthy existence. They despise interference from true authority, preferring to indulge in self-rule. Insolent egotists, they don't hesitate to speak evil against the most splendid of creatures. 3. Jude 8, 11: 8 In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings 11 they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion [see Num. 16] 4. Champions of unchecked liberty and freedom from all forms of government and restraint, these leaders cannot submit to authority they are restless wanderers, church hoppers that are continually roving about (Jude 13): They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. 5. They are bold [ presumptuous KJV; daring NAS] and arrogant [ self-willed KJV] 6. They are not afraid to slander, revile and scorn dignitaries, including celestial beings! 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc 29

20 E. In contrast, even holy angels, who might have more right because of their greater power, do not bring such accusations against inferior fallen angels (vv.11-12) 1. Jude 9-10: 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, The Lord rebuke you! 10 Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals these are the very things that destroy them. 2. False teachers, like brute beasts, ignorantly blaspheme and speak evil about matters that they don t even understand they are creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. 3. Jude 16, 18: 16 These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage 18 They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers [ mockers KJV] who will follow their own ungodly desires." VI. GREED & IMMORALITY OF FALSE TEACHERS 2 Pet. 2:13-16: 13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed an accursed brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey a beast without speech who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness. A. Hedonistic party animals, reveling and carousing in broad daylight in the church (v.13) 1. Blots and blemishes, they brought defilement into the church as they feasted with the brethren (perhaps at the Lord s Supper or other Christian festivals), converting it into a scene of riot and disorder 30 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc

21 2. According to Jude 4, these false teachers change or pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality [see how Paul refutes this false teaching in Rom. 6:1-2, 14-15] 3. Jude 12: These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm shepherds who feed only themselves. B. Filled with adultery, they seduce unstable souls (v.14) 1. Eyes full of adultery [lit. eyes full of an adulteress (feminine form) ] they desired every woman they saw, viewing her as a potential sex partner 2. Seduce [Gk. deleazo = to trip, bait, allure or trap; to delude, beguile, entice or seduce ] a) Used also in James 1:14 (AMP): But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). b) The picture is one of a fisherman luring and catching unsuspecting fish with bait 3. False leaders always target unstable souls, [lit. unfixed, vacillating ] those false teachers are just like wolves who will single out and separate the weakest member of a herd and then make their kill C. Like Balaam, they are experts in greed (vv.14-16) 1. Lit. trained, exercised, practiced in greed, covetous practices, extortion and fraudulency 2. These false leaders are highly skilled in what they do like Balaam [see Num. 22], they use their ministerial office in all sorts of money-making schemes (Jude 11): 11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion. 3. They love the wages of wickedness, signifying that they are prophets for hire they can be bought if the price is right! 4. They have left the straight way and wandered off (v.15) more about this in the next section 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc 31

22 VII. EMPTY PROMISES, DREADFUL END 2 Pet. 2:17-22: 17 These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 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. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: A dog returns to its vomit, and, A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud. A. Springs without water, empty words and promises (vv.17-19) 1. True teachers and spiritual leaders should bring the Water of Life to thirsty souls 2. These false teachers boast great promises and make big speeches, but in the end there is only empty disappointment 3. V.17 (MSG): There's nothing to these people--they're dried-up fountains, storm-scattered clouds, headed for a black hole in hell. 4. Jude 12-13: 12 These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. 5. As already seen in v.14, false leaders target new souls and recent converts, enticing and seducing them into error (v.18 - MSG): They are loudmouths, full of hot air, but still they're dangerous. Men and women who have recently escaped from a deviant life are most susceptible to their brand of seduction. 6. While promising freedom to new converts (perhaps from moral restraint), these leaders are themselves slaves of 32 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc

23 depravity and bring their followers into bondage as well (v.19 - MSG): They promise these newcomers freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, for if they're addicted to corruption--and they are--they're enslaved. B. False leaders are backsliders who have left the faith and gone back to their old life of sin (vv.15, 20-22) 1. It is clear from this entire second chapter of Peter s letter that false teachers started out in the faith (and quite possibly Christian ministry Jude refers to them as shepherds and stars {see Dan. 12:3}), but backslid and forsook the right way 2. Note the following from previous sections: a) They deny the Lord who bought them (v.1) b) They have left the straight way and wandered off (v.15) 3. They had escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome (v.20 - MSG): If they've escaped from the slum of sin by experiencing our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ, and then slid back into that same old life again, they're worse than if they had never left. 4. They are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning (v.20) 5. They knew the way of righteousness and turned their backs on the sacred commandments handed to them (v.21) 6. In Jude 12, false teachers are referred to as autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted twice dead. a) Like all sinners, they were once dead in sin and then made alive in Christ (Eph. 2:1-5) b) As a result of their apostasy and backsliding, they are now dead again c) This is a clear reference to the fact that they had been saved/regenerated and lost that spiritual life 7. They are like dogs returning to their vomit and washed pigs that instinctively go back to wallowing in the mud (v.22) 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc 33

24 8. Paul confirms this fact about false teachers in a number of his writings as well a) 1 Tim. 1:19-20: 19 Holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. b) 1 Tim. 4:1-3: 1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods c) 2 Tim. 2:16-18: 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. C. Fruit of false leaders summarized (Mat. 7:15-23 recognized by their fruit) 1. Greedy for money 2. Exploit unsuspecting people 3. Lie, exaggerate, make up stories 4. Proud, arrogant, boastful 5. Rebellious, despise authority 6. Slanderers, grumblers, faultfinders, blasphemers 7. Carnal, selfish, pleasure-seekers 8. Secretly flatter, entice, seduce others into sin 9. Slaves of depravity 10. Shameful, immoral 11. Backsliders who have left the faith 12. Restless, wandering stars 34 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc

25 D. Condemnation and judgment of false teachers summarized 1. Bring swift destruction on themselves (v.1) 2. Condemnation & destruction long hanging over them (v.3) 3. God will judge & punish them as He did with fallen angels, the wicked world of Noah s time and Sodom & Gomorrah (vv.4-10) 4. Brute beasts born only to be caught and destroyed (v.12) 5. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done (v.13) 6. They are an accursed brood (v.14) 7. Blackest darkness is reserved for them (v.17) 8. They are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning (v.20) 9. It would have been better for them to have never become Christians! (v.21) E. Church needs to be discerning 1. Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, John and Jude all warned us that there would be MANY false prophets and teachers in the Church and that we needed to be vigilant! a) Mat. 7:15-16, 21-23: 15 WATCH OUT for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will RECOGNIZE THEM. b) Acts 20:28-31: 28 KEEP WATCH over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So BE ON YOUR GUARD! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 2. We MUST have discernment to recognize and judge the fruit of Christian leaders 2 Peter - Growing in Grace & Truth (Ch.2).doc 35