Question
The Lord Knows
2 Peter 2:1-22
Key Verse 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.”
Read verses 1-3. Just as there were false prophets among the people, are there false teachers among us? (1a) What do false teachers do? (1b) What happens to false teachers? (1c, 3b) What are two results of false teachers? (2) What causes these false teachers to exploit us?(3a)
Read verse 4-9. What happened among the angels, the ancient world, and Sodom and Gomorrah? (4-6) What was similar between Noah and Lot and how did God intervene
their lives? (5c,7) What does the Lord know? (9)
Read verse 10-12. Which kind of unrighteous people are described as the prime examples of God’s judgment? (10) Even though angels are stronger and more powerful than men do they make slanderous accusations in the presence of the Lord? (11) What is true of these bold and arrogant men? (12,10b)
Read verse 13-16. What happens to these men? (13a) What do they do? (13b,14) What is the similarity between these men and Balaam? (15-16)
Read verses 17-22. What is true of these men and what is reserved for them? (17) How do these men entice people? (18) What do they promise, but what are they slaves of? (19) What is true of these men who knew Jesus, but become entangled in the world again? (20-22)
Manuscript
Message
THE LORD KNOWS
2 Peter 2:1-22
Key Verse 2:9
“[I]f 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.”
In today's passage Apostle Peter continues to warn his audience to grow in the divine nature and not to follow the false teachings and ways of false teachers. Peter reveals that the outcome of them is destruction and also the same for all who follow them. May God help us to live lives that are truly participatory in God's divine nature, especially holy lives just as He is holy.
Part I - The Lord knows how to rescue godly men; while punishing the unrighteous (1-9)
Look at verses 1-3. "1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They 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."
Peter reveals that in all times, including the times they were living in and by extension even today, there are false teachers who introduce destructive heresies, even some that deny that the Lord is Sovereign and who purchased their lives from wickedness and now belong to Him. Of course most people are not so stupid to say something so directly as this, but they say things like, "You don't have to worry about your sin. It's completely understandable. All men are sinners and no one has power to overcome their sin. Just remember Jesus forgives you!" They use Jesus' sin forgiveness as a license to remain in their sin and not to truly repent.
Peter says that these false teachers are bringing swift destruction on themselves. But even though this is the case their message is so popular, it's because it's what man's itching ears want to hear. Who doesn't want to hear that they don't have to repent and leave their life of sin? Everyone wants to hear about God's love, but few want to hear, "Go now and leave your life of sin?" So among the fellowship of believers there will be those who will bring the way of truth into disrepute, by continuing to live ungodly lives and yet calling their way, the way of truth.
Peter says their motivation is greed. They say what their audience wants to hear, because they want their financial support; they don't want to alienate or anger their cash cow. Many such teachers live really good lives and it looks envious. But Peter says that they are in reality men on death row imprisoned in penthouses. Their lives look good, but in reality very soon destruction is going to fall on them.
Look at verses 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."
In these verses Peter reveals that God will not spare such men. Peter points out that God did not even spare angels when they sinned. God incarcerated such beings in hell to await the coming judgment where their final sentence will be handed down. Peter points out that God even brought judgment upon the whole world one time because men did not repent after hearing the preacher of righteousness Noah calling them to repent. At home I have several fish in two fish tanks and I have a small plastic bottle that contains fish flakes that I feed to my fish. Basically, God made the whole population of the earth, besides 8 people to become a big bottle of fish flakes, because they refused to live lives of righteousness, when called to do so. But not only that. Recently, I took my family down to San Diego and we visited the lighthouse at Point Loma. It is on situated on a 400 ft. cliff. The lens used on this lighthouse is over 3 ft. in diameter and about 5 ft. tall. It was illuminated with sperm whale oil and/or kerosene and when lit it could be seen out to a distance of 28 miles. Like all lighthouses this one was used as a warning beacon to alert ships of impending doom if they got any closer. Well, God also had a warning beacon, but He did not use a 5 ft. tall crystal lens, instead God used two complete cities, Sodom and Gomorrah. Maybe the equivalent to Downey and Cerritos. God brought punishment on them for their wickedness, but also as an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly, they are going to be turned to ash.
But many might say, "If this awaits the ungodly, then we are all doomed!" The prophet Isaiah said this very thing when he came face to face with the LORD Almighty. Isaiah 6:5 reads, “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Our lips are just as unclean as our neighbors. We are all like Lot, we live among lawless men and are witnesses of their filthy deeds. It distresses us to see such wickedness and godlessness, but what is most distressing is that we are also tempted by our own sinful nature. Paul cried out, "Oh! What a wretched man I am! I do what I don't want to do!" Peter says, that just as God knows how to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment; He also knows how to rescue the righteous from their trials. Recently, I sinned against one brother. I judged him wrongly. I completely misrepresented him, even though I know him. When I realized this I apologized many times. But I felt so bad. I felt like a great hypocrite and a terrible coworker. I discouraged two precious coworkers by my actions. I'm one of the eldest American shepherds, but I acted so immaturely. I knew better and yet I still did it. I felt so bad that I wanted to shrink back into the background. I thought it would be better if I just keep my mouth shut and let others take my position. I know I'm not qualified. I did not intend to hurt or discourage my coworkers, but I did. But this verse teaches me that even though I cannot rescue myself, God knows how to rescue me.
Look at verse 9 again, "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." We are not promised that we will avoid trials, but that we will be rescued from our trials. Personally, this means that I can expect that I will suffer many more trials. My faith is to hold onto the Lord who knows how to rescue me; not to give up, but continue to live by faith from first to last. Not to shrink back, not to quit, but repent, and live by faith in the knowledge that the Lord knows how to rescue me. Our Lord knows how to rescue each of us.
Part II - They are like brute beasts (10-22)
But what is the difference between the righteous and and godless? When we look at a man like Lot, he didn't look any different at all than those God torched; and when we see the end of his life, it was truly shameful and tragic. So what is the difference? Look at verse 10a, "10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority." In each of us is a corrupt desire, that comes from our sinful nature. We are called to put to death our sinful nature; to not follow our corrupt nature. Those who don't put to death their sinful nature, despise authority. They reject the Lord's authority over them, including those who the Lord has placed over them. They are like Cain who despised God's authority, "Will you not be accepted if you do what is right?" Instead, he talked back to God, "Am I my brothers keeper?" Once there was a woman, whom Jesus said to her, "It is not right for the bread of the children to go to the dogs!" This woman could have talked back. "Do you call me a dog?! Who are You to call me a dog?" Instead, she said, "But even the crumbs fall off the table to the dog." She did not try to defend herself or challenge Jesus' authority, but fell upon His mercy for her. How many of us demand our 'rights' and dignity, but never respect the authority God has placed over us? We can know for sure that those who don't respect the authority of God placed over us is because they are following their corrupt nature.
Look at verses 10b-12, "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." Such men are quick to slander others. But even angels do not slander the devil. They call on the Lord to rebuke him (Jude 9). How many times have I complained and slandered my coworkers! How many times have I heard my coworkers complain and slander one another! And yet even angels don't do such things, even though they are without blemish! I follow my instincts instead of the Word of God.
Look at verses 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.[e] 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." But arrogance and pride is not the only attributes of the ungodly; they never stop sinning. They seek pleasure and have no shame. They are greedy and love wickedness. Nothing restrains them and they will not allow anything to restrain them. Even animals have more sense then them.
Look at verses 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.”"
We may think that such men have a lasting impact and influence, but in reality, they mouth empty words. They think they are somebody, but in reality they are nobody. They talk about freedom, but have never experienced it themselves. They are slaves of their depravity. Sadly, such men may have known the way of righteousness, but they refused to follow the way of righteousness. In reality they were always corrupt from the beginning to the end.
In today's passage Peter encourages us to live for righteousness and not follow the false teachings that were all around them. We have all been taught the way of righteousness, may we continue to living lives that are holy and pleasing to God and not to turn our backs on the sacred command to be holy and to make disciples of all nations. May we live by faith in our Lord's ability to rescue us from all unrighteousness.
One Word: He knows how to rescue us!
Manuscript
Biblenote
The Lord Knows
2 Peter 2:1-22
Key Verse 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.”
Read verses 1-3. Just as there were false prophets among the people, are there false teachers among us? (1a) What do false teachers do? (1b) What happens to false teachers? (1c, 3b) What are two results of false teachers? (2) What causes these false teachers to exploit us?(3a)
1-1) Read verses 1-3.
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They 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.
1-2) Just as there were false prophets among the people, are there false teachers among us? (1a)
Location of false teachers are “among us” which means that they are living among people.
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 13:1-5
In Jesus’ days: Matthew 15:1-9
In the Book of the Acts: Acts 15:24
In the Epistles: 1 Timothy 1:18-20
In The Revelation: Revelation 13:1-8
False teachings are nothing new. Even while Jesus was in the earth, there are false teachers and prophets. (Mt. 7:15-20)
“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? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.(Mt. 7:15-20)
1-3) What do false teachers do? (1b)
They will secretly introduce destructive heresies. They even deny the sovereign Lord
1-4) What happens to false teachers? (1c, 3b)
They will bring swift destruction on themselves.
1-5) What are two results of false teachers? (2)
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
Many christians will be misled by false teachers.
The way of truth would be hurt by those false teachers.
There are various ways for false teachers to do damage to Christians. They damage the the image of Christianity as a whole.
1-6) What causes these false teachers to exploit us?(3a)
The false teachers are motivated by greed.
Read verse 4-9. What happened among the angels, the ancient world, and Sodom and Gomorrah? (4-6) What was similar between Noah and Lot and how did God intervene their lives? (5c,7) What does the Lord know? (9)
2-1) Read verse 4-9.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell,[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%202:1-22&version=NIV1984#fen-NIV1984-30489a"a] putting them into gloomy dungeons[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%202:1-22&version=NIV1984#fen-NIV1984-30489b"b] 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 exampleof 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.
2-2) What happened among the angels, the ancient world, and Sodom and Gomorrah? (4-6)
There are three examples of God's judgment: 1) The angels; 2) Noah and the great flood; 3) Sodom and Gomorrah.
These judgments point to God's final judgment.
Lord God will punish the ungodly on the day of judgment, drawing this conclusion from the three examples of the angels, the flood, and Sodom and Gomorrah).
Angels -
A reference to the angels who fell with Lucifer due to his false teaching of pride and rebellion described in Isaiah 14:12-15 and Revelation 12:9.
Some referers Genesis 6:1-4.
The ancient world - God judged those ungodly people in the Noah’s day.
Sodom and Gomorrah - God judged sin when he burned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes, killing all the inhabitants. This judgment by fire shows the example of future judgment.
2-3) What was similar between Noah and Lot and how did God intervene their lives? (5c,7)
There are two examples of God's preservation of the righteous: Noah and Lot
God judged the flood generation while at the same time sparing Noah
God judged Sodom and Gomorrah, while at the same time sparing Lot.
It draws the conclusion that Lord God will preserve the godly in the midst of their trials.
Just like Noah being protected, Lot was rescued out of Sodom before it was destroyed. God rescues the righteous from judgment.
2-4) What does the Lord know? (9)
The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials like Noah and Lot.
The Lord knows how to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment.
False teachers are kept by God like prisoners awaiting the sentencing that will send them to eternal prison in the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15)
God is still holding those unrighteous people from Sodom and continuing thir punishment.
For God to “continue” their punishment means that they are in unending torment, since that occurred thousands of years ago.
Read verse 10-12. Which kind of unrighteous people are described as the prime examples of God’s judgment? (10) Even though angels are stronger and more powerful than men do they make slanderous accusations in the presence of the Lord? (11) What is true of these bold and arrogant men? (12,10b)
3-1) Read verse 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.
3-2) Which kind of unrighteous people are described as the prime examples of God’s judgment? (10)
They follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature.
They despise authority.
They are bold and arrogant.
They are not afraid to slander celestial beings.
3-3) Even though angels are stronger and more powerful than men do they make slanderous accusations in the presence of the Lord? (11)
No. Even angels who might have more right to do so because of their greater power, do not bring such accusations against inferior evil angels.
3-4) What is true of these bold and arrogant men? (12,10b)
Peter mentions those false teachers who blaspheme.
They are like wild animals which is “creatures of instinct”. Those animals will be destroyed and false teachers will perish.
Read verse 13-16. What happens to these men? (13a) What do they do? (13b,14) What is the similarity between these men and Balaam? (15-16)
4-1) Read verse 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.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.
4-2) What happens to these men? (13a)
They will be sent to hell because of their payment for their harmful teaching and sins.
4-3) What do they do? (13b,14)
They openly sinned in broad daylight.
They are spiritual blots and blemishes before God.
They are lustful and adulterous.
They never stop sinning.
They spiritually seduce the Christians who are unstable.
They are experts in deceiving and motivated by their greed.
4-4) What is the similarity between these men and Balaam? (15-16)
Balaam was bent on cursing Israel, though God had forbidden it. He wanted the money Balak offered him.
Similarly false teachers loved money and attempted to extract money from naive listeners.
Balaam was rebuked by his own donkey. It reflects not only his foolishness but also false teachers’ foolishness.
Read verses 17-22. What is true of these men and what is reserved for them? (17) How do these men entice people? (18) What do they promise, but what are they slaves of? (19) What is true of these men who knew Jesus, but become entangled in the world again? (20-22)
5-1) Read verses 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,”[HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%202:1-22&version=NIV1984#fen-NIV1984-30507f"f] and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
5-2) What is true of these men and what is reserved for them? (17)
False teachers promised satisfying truth but in reality had nothing to offer.
It seems that the thirsty traveler comes to the spring expecting cool, refreshing water in vain.
They are reserved in blackest darkness. Their destiny is hell.
5-3) How do these men entice people? (18)
Their teachings are empty. There is not truth at all.
They are spiritually inaccurate and dangerous, but still they adversely influence many.
Their fine-sounding message appeals to new converts.
They entice people who are just escaping from the past sinful desires because new converts have not yet developed spiritual strength.
5-4) What do they promise, but what are they slaves of? (19)
They promised freedom while they are slaves of depravity.
5-5) What is true of these men who knew Jesus, but become entangled in the world again? (20-22)
Such false teachers were once saved, but now are worse than those who would never been saved.
They once knew the Lord but turned their backs on the sacred command.
Apostle John said “this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.” (1 John 3:23)
It is impossible to believe on Jesus if one is not obeying his command.
It is impossible to love a person if one is not trying to protect neighbor from the harmful effects of false teachings.
They return to their former sins and spiritual death which are like eating once vomitted again.
Conclusion:
False teachings have always been around and will always be around as long as mankind exists. It will increase as we closer to the time of Christ. We should never leave our guard down, because as soon as we do, we are on the way to either following false teaching or promoting false teaching. May God help us and strengthen us with God’s grace and justice to fight against false teachings.
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