Destructive Doctrines, Doom, Depravity and Deceptions
Lesson 3 Depravity and Deceptions, 2 Pet. 2:17-22
I. INTRODUCTION
A. "There are two freedoms: the false, where a person is free to do as he likes...and the true, where a person is free to do as he should." (Charles Kingsley)
B. Which of these two freedoms is the false teacher offering his listeners? In our text Peter will give three reasons why the false teachers were preaching a false freedom: It is a freedom based on false promises, it is a freedom offered by false Christians, and it is a freedom that involves a false experience.
II. DISCUSSION
A. False Freedom Is Based On False Promises (vv. 17,18) Faith is only as good as the object of that faith. Having faith in idols, man, or the schemes of man can lead us to destruction, regardless of the strength of that faith. However, faith in Jesus Christ will accomplish something because God is not slack (or slow)concerning His promises (2 Pet. 3:9) and not... one word of all His good promise has ever failed (1 Ki. 8:56). In these two verses Peter will use three striking illustrations to show the emptiness of the promises of the false teachers.
1. Wells without water (v. 17a) The Greek word for "well" actually means "a flowing spring." A spring without water is no spring at all! Man has always had a thirst for knowledge concerning His Maker. Jesus offered Himself as "living water" to the Samaritan woman at the well (Read: Jn. 4:10-14). Yet, man often rejects the "living water" for an unsatisfactory substitute offered by a false teacher. Jesus produces on His promises, false teachers promise, but do not produce.
2. Clouds that are carried with a tempest (v. 17b) Clouds should announce rain, but sometimes they are without water, carried about of winds (Jude 12). Clouds bring a promise of rain, but empty clouds do not fulfill their promise. False teachers are just like that!
3. The mist (blackness) of darkness (v. 17c) The apostates promise to lead their followers toward the light, but instead lead them into the darkest of dark places ultimately, Hell.
4. If the false teachers really have nothing to offer, then how do they attract and keep followers? (v. 18) Peter offers three reasons:
a. The false teachers promote their doctrine eloquently using "inflated words that say nothing" (literal translation). We cannot be impressed with religious oratory. Apollos was fervent and eloquent but he was teaching the wrong message (Acts 18:24-28). While some of his writings were complex (2 Pet. 3:16), Paul kept his preaching simple and practical, not trying to impress or manipulate, but express and communicate.
b. Their appeal is to the lusts of the flesh . The list in (Gal. 5:19-21) shows the variety of "bait" the false teacher has at his disposal. The false teacher will avoid talking about anything that will damage his listener's egos (like repentance).
c. They appeal to those that are immature in the faith those that have barely escaped (marginal reading). They often have no real interest in the down and out sinner, because their true master has that person exactly where he wants them. The false teachers target new converts and that is why we must constantly be following up on our new brothers and sisters in Christ. One of the main reasons this very letter was written by Peter was to warn the church to care for the new Christians.
B. False Freedom is Offered By False Christians (vv. 19,20) the very ones offering freedom from sin are in bondage to sin themselves.
1. Peter has already shown them to be in bondage to such sins as: love of money, fleshly lust, and pride (2 Pet. 3,10-12, 14).
2. Compare the three men Peter has used as illustrations in this chapter: Noah separated himself from the apostates of his time and his whole family was saved; Lot lived closely among the apostates and lost his family; and Balaam was an apostate himself and lost his life.
3. Sin always promises freedom, but in the end brings bondage (Heb. 3:13). Lies will not make you free, only the truth can do that (Jn. 8:32; 17:17). Truth is the Word of God.
4. Verse 20 reminds us of Jesus' parable in (Mt. 12:43-45). Man needs to be reformed and regenerated. It takes much work to clean a house and keep it clean. It is not a one-time-does-it-all procedure. A Christian must learn to hate the things that are not good for him.
C. False Freedom Involves a False Experience (vv. 21,22) finding Christianity and then "going through the motions" of obedience to it is worthless. Only the Lord knows if a person is truly converted in his heart, but a person's actions do reveal their true intentions. The false teachers will claim to have had a soul-saving religious experience, but their actions will tell a different story. It is possible that they had at one time obeyed the gospel from the heart, but had turned away to their present mischief.
1. Separating the sheep from the pigs and the dogs. A pig can be made presentable for a moment but he will not stay that way long. He can look good for a while. The dog can regurgitate something that made him sick, but he is still a dog and will quickly return to that same thing. The dog can feel better for the moment, but he really has not changed. Both the pig and the dog cannot put off their old nature.
2. These false teachers are pigs and dogs. They can dress themselves up and pretend to be sheep for a while, but it will not last. The old man of sin will prevail.
III. CONCLUSION
A. The false freedom offered by these false Christians is based on empty words, with no divine authority.
B. No wonder Peter enjoined the brethren to make their calling and election sure. (2 Pet. 1:10) Have we truly been born again or have we only had a false religious experience based on false teaching?
C. Christ is "the truth" (Jn. 14:6) and following Him shall make us free. False teaching can only lead us to spiritual bondage!
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