Destructive Doctrines, Doom, Depravity and Deceptions
Lesson 2 Doom and Depravity, 2 Pet. 2:10-16
I. INTRODUCTION
A. We cannot ignore the inroads that false teachers make into the church. We must heed Peter's warning because they have a subtle approach with a deadly message.
B. While it is unhealthy for us to constantly dwell upon the negative aspects of religion we must be ready to give a defense of, and contend earnestly for the faith. The workers that were repairing the walls of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah kept their swords at hand.
C. We must not only be prepared to defeat the apostates, but we must be willing to replace their teachings with the truth.
D. In this section of 2 Peter 2, Peter condemns the false teachers for three specific sins: their reviling, their reveling, and their revolting.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Their Reviling (2 Pet. 2:10-12)
1. Those pictured here are a proud people, showing no respect for any authority.
a. God has established authority and when we resist authority we resist God (Rom. 13:1ff.).
b. We are to pray for, and respect those in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-4; 1 Pet. 2:11-17). It is a serious thing for a Christian to oppose the law or secular authority and he must be sure it is the will of God if he does oppose them.
c. Those that have spiritual authority over us deserve our honor and support (Heb. 13:7, 17; 1 Pet. 5:1-6).
2. The reason for, the seriousness of, and the judgment of their reviling.
a. The reason (v. 10) "looking out for number one." These false teachers are interested in protecting their egos and their pride. These men were bold to the extent of being presumptuous. They were also self-willed, "living only to please themselves." They were arrogant and hypocritical (Prov. 21:24). They did not care who they spoke out against or how they spoke. They reviled even the glorious ones; probably angels but definitely dignitaries. They actually are daring God to judge them.
b. The seriousness (v.11) Even the angels know better than to revile another of God's beings; they remember Satan's fall and the seriousness of revolting against God (Jude 8,9). It is sin to speak evil of others and God's people must avoid it (Ps. 36:3). When we revile the government are we taking such passages as (Titus 3:1,2) into account? Daniel (Dan. 1) and the Apostles (Acts 4) are good examples of how to be civilly disobedient without reviling authority.
c. The judgment (v.12) According to Peter the destiny of these "unreasoning animals" (NASB) is to be slaughtered. "They scoff at things outside their own experience" (Phillips). "They blaspheme in matters they do not understand" (NIV). Believers must study so that we can distinguish between truth and false teaching; not be enamored by the false teacher's "great swelling words of vanity" (v. 18). These unspiritual brutes will lead others to destruction with them; they won't go down alone!
B. Their Reveling (2 Pet. 2:13-14a)
1. At the expense of those who support them the false teachers live in luxury, softness, and extravagance. Some even attempt to "prove" from the Bible that their lifestyle is right; e.g.: the so-called gospel of health and wealth.
2. (v. 13) Paul rebuked those with this attitude in (1 Cor. 11:20-34). They had used the "love feasts" to display their wealth and impress the ignorant, instead of helping the poor get a decent meal. They became spots and blemishes on the assembly.
3. They became guilty of the same sins as their Jewish predecessors the Pharisees (Mt. 23:25-28). False doctrine => false living => more false doctrine.
4. (v. 14a) The apostates were assembling with the saints for two reasons: to satisfy their own lusts and to capture converts to their cause (2 Tim. 3:6).
a. The false teachers consider themselves to be free, but they are are slaves to their sins they cannot cease from sin.
b. They bait their trap beguiling unstable souls (Jms. 1:14). Using the bait of "liberty" they entice the weak to follow their false doctrine. Using the bait of "fulfillment" they call on their followers to "find themselves," and thus become so self-centered that they are light-years away from Christ.
c. There is no freedom or fulfillment apart from Jesus Christ "The purpose of life is not to find your freedom, but to find your master" (P.T. Forsyth). Your master must be Christ.
5. Those that take the bait are unstable souls. These souls are not established in the faith (Rom. 1:11; 16:25; 1 Thess. 3:2, 13). While Peter was sure his readers were established in the present truth (2 Pet. 1:12) he took time to warn them anyway.
C. Their Revolting (2 Pet. 2:14b-16)
1. The apostates in view here have deliberately abandoned the straight and narrow path. Believers are sheep and need to remain close to the shepherd; the false teachers on the other hand are "brute beasts."
2. In addition to wanting to satisfy the cravings of their flesh, these false teachers are covetous and want to exploit their fellow man (v. 14b). They have the insatiable desire for more more money, power, prestige, etc. "Their technique of getting what they want is , through long practice, highly developed" (Phillips). They are experts at exploiting the unstable and the innocent.
3. As Peter says, these false teachers are cursed children. They belong to the Devil, their end is Hell, and their earthly gain is for nought (Jn. 8:44; Mt. 25:41; Mt. 16:26).
4. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10). Therefore we must take heed and beware of covetousness (Lk. 12:15).
5. The case of Balaam (vv. 15.16) The Gentile prophet who tried to curse the Jews (Num. 22-24). Cooperated with Balak even though he knew it was wrong why? Covetousness. God turned Balaam's curse into a blessing (Deut. 23:4,5; Neh. 13:2). However, through Balaam's work, the Moabites were able to defeat Israel. In Balaam we see both of the aspects of apostasy that Peter is emphasizing in these verses: sensual lusts and covetousness.
a. Like all false teachers he was a rebel against the will of God. He knew the right way, but chose the wrong way for money.
b. He tried to "adjust" God's will to fit his viewpoint (Num. 22:41; 23:13, 27).
c. Even though he had a God-given gift he prostituted that gift for gain.
III. CONCLUSION
A. The sins of reviling, reveling, and revolting all spring from the same source pride and selfish desire. A true servant of Christ does not operate at such a worldly level (Phil 2:20,21). The true servant is not in the ministry for the money or the glory, but serves God from a loving and obedient heart. He follows in the footsteps of Jesus.
B. False teachers are on every hand pleading for our support, so we must study the truth so that we can meet their doctrine head-on; rightly dividing the word of truth and contending earnestly for the faith. We must practice spiritual discernment and continue to grow in the knowledge of the Word of God.
C. One day every religious fraud will be uncovered by God and like animals "taken and destroyed" (v.12). They will receive their "reward of unrighteousness" (v. 13), which will compensate for the wages they have exploited from the innocent. They will be banished from the presence of the Lord forever.
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