2ND PETER CHAPTER 2

BB. (2 Pet 2:1 KJV) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

(2 Pet 2:2 KJV) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

• The Apostle Peter points out a very important and powerful truth. To wit: There were false prophets who would lead the people away from God; there will be false prophets who will lead the people away from God.
• Consider some of the following scripture references which speak of false prophets.

• The Apostle Peter keys in on the most effective tool of the false prophet when he says that they will secretly bring in heresies.

(2 Tim 3:13 KJV) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

• He also said,

(1 Tim 4:1 KJV) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

• Of course, the most damaging element of false teachings is the rejection of the Lord Jesus and His redemptive work. If a person can be persuaded to alter their worship and faith to disallow the work of Christ, they will then be tolerant of any substituted personality or teaching.
• The fact that cult religions are thriving in our day is a fulfillment of Bible prophesy. Not only did Peter say that many would follow the false teachers in his day, he also prophesied that the last days would be filled with scoffers (false prophets; unbelievers) who would ridicule the promise of the second coming of Christ. (2 Peter 3:33,4)

YOUR NOTES:

CC. (2 Pet 2:3 KJV) And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

• In the above scriptures, the Apostle Peter is driving the message home that ungodly, sinful, fleshly, wicked living will be dealt with in the most severe way. The Old Testament is full of such references showing us that God will judge wickedness.
• It is difficult to understand the severity of God’s judgments unless you have at least a basic understanding of the horror of sin. Though people living in Old Testament times did not have the sacrifice of Christ in which to trust, they did have the Law and the Prophets to help them understand God’s commandments. After the flood, Noah’s descendants reverted to pagan ways. During their efforts of building a tower to reach "the gods" (Babel) their language was confused and they scattered and populated various regions. The saddest of all their history is that they rejected Jehovah and went after gods of their own making. It wasn’t that they had no choice; they made the wrong choice!
• Abraham, grandson to Noah, was selected by God to become the father of a new nation which would be taught the precepts and laws of Jehovah. It was through this lineage that Christ would eventually come.
• One must remember that God did not just cruelly and without reason punish people. Sin and wickedness was always the contributing factor. Although the people who would become known as Jews were sovereignly chosen by God to be the lineage for Christ, He did not withhold His blessings from the Gentile (ungodly) nations who were kind and helpful to the Jews. It became evident, on more than one occasion, that the God of the Jews was the true and living God.

(Eph 4:11 KJV) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

• Peter compares the ability of God to deliver the righteous with His ability to punish the wicked. Never forget that God, regardless of man’s opinion, is the sovereign power and all other powers are subject to Him. We may not understand all that entails but it is true nevertheless. In fact, some may not like the way God works but it really doesn’t matter. He is God; He is sovereign; he is the final judge.
• Man frolics in his wicked ways and dares God to do anything about it. In foolish abandonment, he throws all caution to the winds and declares that he is the captain of his soul and he chooses his own destiny. This is so reckless! The truth is that a man’s destiny has already been determined. God has decreed: if you die in your sins you will go to eternal destruction (hell); if you die in His forgiveness, confessing Jesus as your Lord, you will enter into His kingdom and live forever. Man does not choose his destiny; he merely chooses the route.
• This verse has both comfort and terror.

FF. (2 Pet 2:10 KJV) But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

(2 Pet 2:11 KJV) Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

• Authority is a real sore spot with some people. They rebel against civil government and refuse to obey those who have rule over them. One of the important teachings of scripture concerns our response to government. (Ezr 7:26; Ec. 8:2; Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:1; Titus 3:1; 1st Peter 2:13,14; and many others.)
• Truly, the test of our submission to God’s authority is often seen in how we respond to man’s authority. If we are rebellious toward man, whom we can see, it is a small step to continue that rebellion toward God, whom we cannot see. The scripture which is, perhaps, the most difficult for many people is Romans 13:1, which states, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."
• It is very hard for Christians, even sinners, to obey a government which is corrupt and violent. Paul, wrote the above scripture at a time when the Roman government was the ruling authority. That government was overrun with wickedness, perversion, viciousness, and any other bad characteristic which you can name. (This was also the government which created the road system which connected all of the areas under it’s domain, unwittingly making it possible for the Christians to more easily spread the gospel message.)
• It seems to me that we are warned against belittling and mocking the civic leaders of our government. Now, I know that’s a difficult rule to follow. But, the warning is there nonetheless. Peter said, that the people who fight against their leaders are presumptuous, and self-willed. They want no control over them. The arrogance, which accompanies rebellion, belies a deeper problem of the heart.
• Peter, went on to say, that even the angels would not dare to bring accusation against wicked leaders (governments) though they (the angels) are greater in power than the civil leaders. This is a VERY powerful statement. Comparing finite human rebellion to angelic obedience drives the point home with great force. (We should learn from the angels that everything is in God’s hands. We may not understand it all ... but the fact remains: God is in control. He sets governments up, and brings governments down ..... PERIOD!)

GG. (2 Pet 2:12 KJV) But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

HH. (2 Pet 2:13 KJV) And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

(2 Pet 2:14 KJV) Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

(2 Pet 2:15 KJV) Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

(2 Pet 2:16 KJV) But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

• The phrase, "they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time," demonstrates the brazenness of a rebellious person. Rioting, looting, Etc, is generally done under cover of darkness unless the system has broken down completely. (Such as in Miami, Los Angeles and other places.) The reason a person can riot, with pleasure, in the daytime is that the individual has a complete lack of respect for authority and has become like a wild beast, unrestrained and destructive. The television coverage of the above referenced riots gives undeniable credence to the validity of the Apostle Peter’s position.
• Further, Peter states that these violent and rebellious people shamelessly maintain relationships with friends and acquaintances, using them in any way possible and for their own gain. Often, their ungodly influence "beguiling unstable souls" causes the weak to become like them. Evil attitudes breed like viruses and it isn’t long until anarchy (lawlessness, chaos, mob rule) becomes the norm. The Biblical rule of "leaven" comes into play. (This same scenario plays out in church families who rebel against leadership and use their influence to infect others (weak Christians) thereby causing spiritual anarchy to destroy the church.)
• In 35 years of ministry, I have seem more churches destroyed by the spreading of evil attitudes and rebellion than in any other way.
• Once a person allows himself to become a rebellious individual, his appetite for rebellion is like lust. "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin." His main goal becomes an unquenchable thirst for wickedness. He becomes ungovernable in all his ways. Only his "law" matters. His opinions and decisions are the "law" of his life. In that state of mind, he will try to influence anyone he can, using any method he can, to join him in his rebellion.
• We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will always correct us so that we do not yield to the temptation of selfishness and rebellion. Sure, they may be things we don’t like about government (civil or church) but we must be aware of the dangers of verbal expression and physical behavior.
• "Which have forsaken the right way" It’s always a heartbreak to see someone who knows better take the wrong path. Peter is not simply making wild accusations in his Epistle. He has personal knowledge of people, who at some time in their life, knew the difference between right and wrong. How many mothers have stood wringing their hands as they were told of their son’s wild and lawless ways. How many Pastor’s have watched in helplessness as members of their church have succumbed to the temptation of rebellion and sin. In each case, the sad comment is the same: "They knew better. I didn’t teach them to be like that."
• The Bible states that there is temporary pleasure in sin. (Heb 11:25 KJV) "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;" The rebellious heart seizes upon this "temporary" pleasure and ignores the eternal penalty. This error is repeated in every life which chooses to follow the path of sin and rebellion. The love for unrighteousness becomes the driving force. The fruit of rebellion is sweet in the mouth of the unrestrained. Upon his lips drips the nectar of lawlessness and it flows down to his belly in mockery. It’s satisfaction is temporary and must be replenished by ever increasing deeds of wickedness. The law of rebellion always escalates in intensity and behavior.
• God uses various methods to get a persons attention concerning his waywardness. He may use the Bible, nature, dreams, a song, a testimony, conscience, a child, a prayer, a sermon, etc. In Balaam’s case, God allowed a donkey to speak with a man’s voice. This extreme example demonstrates the extent to which God will go to turn people from their headlong plunge into the abyss of hell.

II. (2 Pet 2:17 KJV) These are wells without water ...

• The "these" to which Peter refers is the false teachers and false prophets. His condemnation of them is severe as he likens them to empty and dry wells. Everyone reading his epistle knew the devastation caused by dry wells. Parched and thirsty, travelers depended upon the life saving water at the well. Disappointment, and often death, was the result of empty and dry wells. "These" appeared to provide truth (living water) and their words and actions appeared to contain life. However, they were actually liars (no truth) and lived in sensuality and deceit (death). Anyone who depends upon these false teachers and false prophets finds themselves engulfed by great sin and perversion.

(2 Pet 2:17 KJV) "to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever".

• God’s judgement against false teachers and false prophets is severe and frightening. Peter’s statement may be interpreted in at least two different ways. (1) That the dark judgement was their eternal destiny and it was "reserved, waiting" for them. (2) That as long as they were practicing their false teachings they would remain in darkness (sin and separation from God). Either of these possibilities points out the futility of their actions. God is against them; darkness awaits them.

JJ. (2 Pet 2:18 KJV) they speak great swelling words of vanity ...

• Egotism, conceit and pride are all synonyms of vanity. The false prophet and false teacher flood their vocabulary and their presentations with ego-centered, self adulating words of praise and vain-glory. They are not embarrassed in their conceitedness. In fact, they use their boastfulness to advantage themselves through intimidation, causing the uninformed and weak to be awed and influenced by their words and behavior.
• The victim (or prey) is so overcome by the charismatic personality of the false teacher that his/her influence actually "bends" the truth (thereby making it a lie) and "redefines" behavior making evil turn into good and good turn into evil.

(2 Pet 2:18 KJV) allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness ...

• Naturally, since the false teacher and false prophet are servants of the devil, the flesh would become the focal point. It’s the same strategy used by the devil in the garden of Eden. We humans are always tempted by the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Every false teacher will appeal, in some way, to the flesh. Emphasis may be placed on sacrifice; pleasure; self abasement; possessions; desires and etc. In all cases, the motivation of the false teacher is to eventually become the leader and the beneficiary of all whom he can influence.
• The King James English word "wantonness" can be better translated as "unrestraint" or "impetuosity." These words are easy for us to understand in our present world. In urging people to follow him the false teacher/prophet boasts of his freedom and his lack of boundaries. He is proud of his impetuosity and calls it "freedom of expression." He encourages others to become reckless with the Truth and tempts them to follow his "care-free" lifestyle making everything accommodate his whims and desires. He perverts the Truth and uses the flesh and it’s pleasures as proof that it’s all O.K. As Debbie Boone sang a few years ago, "It can’t be wrong when it feels so right."

KK. (2 Pet 2:19 KJV) While they promise them liberty, they themselves are servants of corruption

• Can you see the irony in this verse. The prisoner (captive of sin) is making promises of freedom to others. It’s amazing that anyone would trust the word of a con artist. Yet, every day we can read of someone who has been bilked out of their money and has been left devastated and broken. Police files are full of scams and schemes which have been perpetrated upon the unsuspecting and ignorant. In most cases, the greed of the "scammer" was equaled by the gullibility of the "scammee." (Illustration: Mechanic in Clovis, Calif.) In a similar way, people are duped by the false teacher because he disguises his bondage as liberty. The hopes and dreams he is selling is really a box full of rocks. If you don’t understand true liberty (freedom from sin through Jesus Christ) false liberty can be dressed up to look pretty good.
• This is an enlightening and powerful appraisal of the false teacher/prophet. He considers himself to be a great leader, a free spirit, and a man of ability. The truth is that he is a man under the influence of the devil and is a servant to the devil’s desires and tactics. In fact, Peter declares that anyone who is overcome by another becomes that one’s slave. (To the believer/Christian, this is a good thing because our servant-hood to Christ is joyous freedom.) To the sinner, who is a slave to the devil, the bondage becomes devastating. His life is manipulated by wickedness through the devils’ emissary, the false teacher/prophet. This "surrogate" devil leads his followers into deeper and more intense rebellion against God and His Word.

LL. (2 Pet 2:20 KJV) For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

• Often, it seems, when someone has known the Lord and then turned their back on Him their backslidden condition precludes an admission of their loss. Of all the sad realities in Christianity, perhaps the saddest is the failure of anyone who forfeits the wonderful and blessed gift of life in Christ Jesus and then sets out to persuade others to follow him in his unwise and eternally regrettable decision.
• Also, it seems in many cases, that when one forsakes the Lord and returns to a life of sin his/her heart becomes hardened and sin becomes a greater taskmaster than before. A sense of futility and/or failure may cause that individual to become defensive. In a foolish and vain effort to preserve a feeling of "individuality" and "personal freedom" he/she erects a wall of seperation. Using deception, the devil and his helpers, encourage the construction of that wall and feed all sorts of "persuasive arguments" into the heart and mind of the false teacher/prophet backslider.
• Peter, makes the point that at the end of that deception (coupled with the totally depraved lifestyle of the false teacher/prophet backslider) is an inevitable end which is worse than the beginning. In other words, before the rejection was so complete and overwhelming, there was yet hope for reversal. Adding to the tragedy, is the evangelistic efforts of the false teacher/prophet to get as many others as possible to follow. The longer a person goes in their rebellion against God, the smaller is the statistical odds that they will return. Eventually, they become reprobate. Paul said it this way: "(1 Tim 4:1 KJV) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Tim 4:2 KJV) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

MM. (2 Pet 2:21 KJV) The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

• Peter uses a quote from a proverb to describe the sickening sight of someone returning to a life of sin. Almost always, the former sinful behaviors will again claim supremecy over the life of the sinner. He has no strength to fight it. He will do what his nature (sinful) dictates.
• This illustration is used to demonstrate the natural progression of one who has been set free from sin, but eventually rejects that freedom and returns to his old ways. The act of rejecting God is, in itself, an appeal to the devil and his wicked ways. Satan, after all, is the model God rejecter. The clear implication is that when we turn our back on the freedom which God offers the only other thing available is the bondage of sin.
• It is our personal responsibility to obey God and His Truth and to reject the devil and his emissaries. The Apostle Peter has, in direct and candid words, made the rules easy to understand. He instructs us to live a holy and righteous life and to reject false teachers and false prophets regardless of their appeal to our flesh.