Depravity of False Teachers

Transcription

1 Bible Study Peter s Second Epistle August 25, 2013 Lesson 7 Depravity of False Teachers 12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 2 Peter 2:12-17 QUOTATION: Christians who strive to turn the other cheek and to love their enemies sometimes squirm at the thought of God s smiting his enemies. Some of the psalms even direct us to pray for God to avenge his name and his suffering people. The souls of the martyrs in heaven certainly are praying for that (Revelation 6:9-11). We squirm because we know how imperfect human justice is evidence in our

2 courts can be tainted, planted on the accused, or misinterpreted. Witnesses can lie. Lawyers can care more about their careers than the truth. Judges and juries can be wrong. But we need have no fears about God s justice it will be perfect. [People s Bible Commentary General Epistles by Mark Jeske, p. 176] But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed Peter s description here of false teachers as natural brute beasts may seem to us to be extreme, but remember he is talking about those who are denying the Lord who bought them (v. 1), who live ungodly (v. 6), which he later explains as those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority (v. 10), and whose attitudes are described as presumptuous and self-willed (v. 10). These are individuals who have left the faith. False teachers who deny the truths of God s Word and who defy God s will, Peter says, are acting in an irrational way and living on the level of animals who simply respond to their instincts. Consequently, just as a dangerous animal would be caught and destroyed, so ultimately these false teachers will be caught and destroyed by God. (cf. Mt. 11:20-24; 21:42-44)...speak evil of the things they do not understand... Every trade has its tools. The tool of the false teacher is his tongue. Sadly the false teacher generally not only proclaims his errors, but also speaks evil of the truth. As Paul explained to the Corinthian Christians, The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Cor. 2:14) Discussion Topic: Yahoo News, August 12, 2013 The following was reported: Religious people are less intelligent than non-believers, according to a new review of 67 scientific studies stretching back over decades. A team led by Miron Zuckerman of the University of Rochester found a reliable negative relation between intelligence and religiosity in 53 out of 63 studies. [ How ought we as Christians who believe in the truths of the Bible respond to such reports? [cf. 1 Cor. 1:18-31; Col. 2:6-10; 1 Pet. 3:15] 2

3 ...and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. God s judgment is sure to fall upon false teachers and upon those who follow their Christ-denying teachings. Often that judgment comes as a direct consequence of their own corruption. Lists can easily be compiled of people who have died of their excesses. Simply Google such things on the internet. Yet, even those false teachers who live long and outwardly successful lives will still face God s ultimate judgment. That truth is not stated with either joy or satisfaction, for God does not desire the death of the wicked, but rather would have them turn and live. (cf. Eze. 18:23, 32) God s warnings, however, should always be taken seriously! (cf. 1 Jn. 2:15-17) QUOTATION: God is deadly serious about people who distort his Word just look at the fearful curses in Revelation 22:18,19 that he places on anyone who adds to or subtracts from his biblical message. [People s Bible Commentary General Epistles by Mark Jeske, p. 176] They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. Sadly, religion is often used as a cover for lust. This has always been the case, but seems to be growing worse as time passes. This should not surprise us, for this is what the apostle Paul predicted would happen (cf. 2 Tim. 3:1-9). The solution as always is proposed and provided in God s Word (cf. Eph. 6:10-20). QUOTATION: The truly Christian life goes along in faith, serves everybody through love, and bears the holy cross. This is the true color, adornment, treasure, and honor of the Christian Church. But these people [Luther here refers to the monks and prelates of the Roman Church of his day.] have substituted sensual pleasure and a life of ease for the cross. Instead of love for their neighbor they seek their own advantage. They seize everything for themselves and let nothing of theirs benefit another person. Moreover, they are 3

4 totally ignorant of faith. Therefore they are nothing else than blots and blemishes, and Christendom has to suffer disgrace and mockery on their account. This, I think, is adequate rebuke for our spiritual lords. [Luther s Works, Volume 30, page 182] They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. Sin begins in the heart! (cf. Jer. 17:9; Mt. 15:18-19) The seriousness of the problem can be seen by the fact that Commandments 9 and 10 both deal with covetousness, which are heart-sins (cf. Ex. 20:17) that inevitably lead to hand-sins! Peter says that these false teachers have hearts trained (schooled or exercised) in these covetous practices. The activities of these individuals are not chance occurrences, but rather undertaken with intention. This explains Peter s earlier description of these teachers being presumptuous (cf. 2:10). In His Old Testament law God made a careful distinction between unintentional and presumptuous sins those committed with intention (cf. Num. 15:22-31; Dt. 17:12-13). The penalties for presumptuous sins were most severe. Peter is following Old Testament guidelines when he states that these false teachers are accursed children. Discussion Topic: It is hard in a rainstorm not to get your feet wet! Discuss the danger to our souls of presumptuous or intentional sinning. How do the concepts of relativism and the post-modern view of individual truth versus absolute truth, as well as the lazy whatever attitude of so many in our day contribute to presumptuous sinning? Discuss how the claims of false teachers complicate these matters. How can we protect ourselves from the spirit of our times, which takes such a casual attitude towards sin of all kinds and suggests that we take these matters way too seriously? They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness... Peter references the Old Testament account recorded in Numbers 22. Balaam was a false prophet hired by the Moabite King 4

5 Balak to curse Israel as it made its way up the east side of the Dead Sea in preparation for the invasion of Canaan. Balaam was warned by God not to go with Balak s representatives, but his lust for money overcame any thought of obedience (vs. 9-20)....but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. The most famous aspect of this account is that God permitted Balaam s donkey to speak and so to rebuke the prophet on God s behalf (cf. Num. 22:28-33). Balaam, under the guidance of the Spirit, consequently blessed Israel four times. Among those blessings was the beautiful prophecy: I see Him, but now now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel. (Num. 24:17a) Sadly, Balaam s lust for money led him to advise Balak on a successful strategy to seduce Israel. In the end, that sin cost him his life (cf. Num. 25:1-3; 31:8, 16). These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Wells without water are worse than no wells at all, for such wells carry the unfulfilled promise of refreshment, which then bring bitter disappointments. Rain clouds carried by a storm pass over quickly and fail to provide the rains that bring relief to drought-stricken fields. False teachers are such, and as such will endure unending judgment. Let us, therefore, pray for preservation from and the conversion of such false teachers! Pastor Paul D. Nolting/ Immanuel Lutheran Church / Mankato, MN 5

6 Summer 2013 Bible Study of 2nd Peter 1 2 Peter 1:1-4 Introduction and Greeting 2 2 Peter 1:5-11 Fruitful Growth in the Faith 3 2 Peter 1:12-15 Peter s Approaching Death 4 2 Peter 1:16-21 The Trustworthy Prophetic Word 5 2 Peter 2:1-3 Destructive Doctrines 6 2 Peter 2:4-11 Doom of False Teachers 7 2 Peter 2:12-17 Depravity of False Teachers 8 2 Peter 2:18-22 Deception of False Teachers 9 2 Peter 3:1-9 - God s Promise Is Not Slack 10 2 Peter 3:10-13 The Day of the Lord 11 2 Peter 3:14-18 Be Faithful Quotation: This letter is a grand gift from a loving God to his beloved people. These three chapters are Peter s last will and testament. They are wise, profound words from a mature Christian leader who knew that the time of his death was near. The letter contains solemn warnings and fearful curses, but it has wonderful gospel comfort as well. The main idea of the letter is found in its very last verse: Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (The People s Bible General Epistles by Mark Jeske, p. 135) 6