Peter

1 Peter 1  2  3  4  5  2 Peter 1  2  3

 

2 Peter 2

 

  • 2 Peter 2:1  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.

On one hand we have to beware of false prophets and false doctrines and on the other hand we must not be suspicious of every brother and sister in Christ who may disagree with us in some point and call them a false prophet. To keep from doing that our emphasis should be on the doctrine and not the person.

Judge every doctrine we hear by comparing it to the written word that our Lord saw fit to supply us with. In this day and age that false doctrine has increased, notice also that the ability to read and write has also increased so that we do not have to be ignorant of the word. A century ago people may have been able to claim ignorance but not so today. We at least here in the United States cannot say that we have no ability to study and read the word. The bible is taught everywhere and is even given away by certain groups. Let us take advantage of the freedom to study the word and glean from it's marvelous treasures every day.

False prophets arise and even deny the Lord. Some do not go that far but deny the Lord's right to interfere with their life. The whole attitude of the 90's was choice. Their thoughts and speech is, "I have a right to choose. No one has the right to tell me what to do, even God." Fifty years ago, we  have never heard as much criticism of God as we do today. There is even less of a fear of God even among Christian circles. No one recognizes a God of judgment anymore. Yet the bible clearly speaks of the fear of God and a day of judgment. On other hand some have preached God as nothing but judgment and not a personal, real, living God who loves and has mercy. He wants to save, heal and forgive. It is not God's will than any should perish.

How do we know the truth and how do we keep from being deceived? By constant study of the Word He has provided. Many gave their lives to translate and provide this word in our own language. Let's take advantage of it.

  • 2 Peter 2:2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

This is a continuation of the first verse warning of those that follow the false teachers. The way of truth and the gospel is evil spoken of by the world if those that claim to preach the gospel are not really people who know God but just use the word and preach false doctrine.

When we claim the name of Christ and do not live godly we bring reproach upon that name. If we use the name of Christ to propagate a false doctrine we also bring reproach upon the name of Christ. We must not take these holy things lightly. Jesus Christ paid a big price for our salvation. We must seek to walk in the truth and live according to godliness. As soon as you name the name of Christ, others will notice everything you do and say more than they did before. We actually become walking bibles and representatives of Jesus Christ.

  • 2 Peter 2:3 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.

Peter continues to warn that the traits of these false prophets and teachers is covetousness. Covetousness has been a snare to many. Some use the gospel for personal gain and make merchandise of people who believe. Their god is their greed and their own desires. They are not bringing people to Jesus Christ but desire to take advantage of people or draw people after themselves. They may act religious to make people think they are sincere. If you are a prayed up person who knows the word, you will know the difference between those who genuinely love God and want people to be saved, from those who exalt self and want people to follow them and desire to profit materially.

  • 2 Peter 2:4  For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

The angels that sinned were not spared so why do we think that we will not be judged if we knowingly continue in sin and do not repent?

  • 2 Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Only eight people from the Old World before the flood was spared. The ungodly were judged. Why do we even suppose that God will not bring judgment now?

  • 2 Peter 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

Sodom and Gomorrah was turned to ashes for our example. Let us not take the word of God lightly which is what leads us into unrepentant sin. We must take God's word seriously.

  • 2 Peter 2:7  And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

God will deliver those who believe and are grieved with sin.

  • 2 Peter 8: For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;
  • 9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Notice that it says here that the Lord knows how to deliver the godly. This does not promise deliverance to the ungodly. Yes, God loves us but He is also a God that has to judge the disobedient and the person who reject Him and His word. God gives us a way out of judgment. It is not His fault if some refuse to have anything to do with His salvation.

Imagine what kind of law we would have if we have laws written in our government against murder, theft and other crimes and our law kept forgiving people without the people making any kind of change or repentance. Pretty soon we would have lawlessness. A country cannot survive without enforcing the law of the land. God also has to bring judgment. He would rather save, forgive and heal but not everyone wants to be saved, forgiven and healed. Some want to hold onto their own sins and not give them up to the Lord. In order to one day remove sin completely, it will have to be stopped. God didn't make laws for us to ignore them, just as communities don't pass laws for them to be ignored.

Some try to find an alternative reason for our existence and insist on rejecting God and believing we evolved by some accident of nature.

Go look at the mountains of West Virginia in the fall and say there is no God, look at the ocean and it's vastness and say there is no God. See a baby delivered and held in its mother's arms and say there is no God. Only a fool cannot see the creator just about everywhere on this planet. He is more than just an impersonal force that has no place in the lives of individuals. He is a real, living, personal God who wants give us the Holy Spirit to live within us for eternity. He is a real living God who will allow us to visibly see Him when our bodies are changed to eternal bodies so that we can see Him in His glory and splendor. He is real folks. He is real. We do not have to wait to see Him physically before we can know who God is. That is what the new birth is. We can get to know God now through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

  • 2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

Here is something to beware of: The signs of ungodliness is uncleanness, rebellion against government, wanting our own selfish ways, speaking evil of God or His Son, Jesus Christ. They are not afraid to speak evil of those who preach the gospel. When someone asks me what I think of a certain preacher, I cringe inside. Who am I to give an opinion of a preacher? We can warn against false doctrine but we must be very careful not to be an accuser of the brethren and tear down the ministry of those preaching the gospel because it may be based on just rumors. Unless we have been to their church and heard it ourselves we don't know for sure. Even videos can be changed by blotting out part of what they are saying to make the message different that what they originally said.

  • 2 Peter 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

We should really acknowledge the respect and fear of God here. Angels do not bring accusation against even the wicked. Yet we are so quick to criticize and bad mouth leaders of the country or of churches. In the USA at least we have the right to vote. We should spend time instead in the presence of God praying always for our leaders and not bring railing accusations against them. How much more good would be accomplished? If they are people that will not repent, lets sincerely pray them out of office. It can be done. The power of prayer is marvelous. That prayer must be in faith. God will hear. If He does not remove them from office then He must have a purpose in them being there.

This does not mean that we allow leaders to break the law. If the law is broken then we do things accordingly to the law that removes them from office. There is a correct way this is done without name calling, backbiting, gossip and evil speaking. Remember Jesus as an example. He cast out moneychangers and upbraided the Pharisees but still you didn't see Jesus backbiting and gossiping. If we search our hearts, we can see the difference.

  • 2 Peter 2:12 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;
  • 13 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;

We must be careful not to be partakers in these evil things. Be slow to anger, think before speaking, don't be quick to judge and find fault, correct in meekness and be willing to give the benefit of the doubt. Treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves yet in the spirit of love. Yet we must be careful not put a stamp of approval on sin.

There is a way to overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit. This should cause us to grieve over sin but be compassionate to the ones caught in sin and desire to save them. The message of the gospel is salvation and deliverance not to destroy sin by destroying the sinner. Our job is to allow the Holy Spirit to use us to save, heal and restore, not to kill, steal and destroy. This is done by the shedding of the love of God abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Again Jesus is the example. He did not agree with sin but reproved it. Yet He gave power over sin and had compassion.

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

You see how holiness is to be part of our lives. There is clearly warning against sin all through the bible. We cannot say we are covered automatically by grace and expect to continue in sin. We are to be the exact opposite to having eyes full of adultery. The reason we have so much trouble in the flesh is that we are not truly repenting and forsaking our old ways. If God is truly upon the throne of our hearts, then we will not desire the old nature to reign supreme in our lives, we will desire the Holy Spirit to reign supreme in our lives.

  • 2 Peter 2:15 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;
  • 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbade the madness of the prophet.

Balaam is the example of who we should not follow. He was a prophet of God and one that God spoke directly to. A king hired Balaam to curse the children of Israel. At first Balaam refused to do that fearing God but later he figured out a way for God Himself to curse Israel by seducing Israel into fornication. Why did Balaam do this? He coveted the money that the king was going to reward him with. He loved the riches more than the souls of the Israelites. He loved material gain more than obedience to God. Was it worth it? No, Balaam doesn't have those riches today.

  • 2 Peter 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

A person who is carried away with sin is compared to clouds without water reserved for chains of darkness.

We don't have to be bound with these chains, we can be free by faith in our Lord Jesus. Jesus gives us power over these things. Faith in Jesus is what saves. We receive what we believe Him for.

  • 2 Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
  • 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

Sin is not liberty like some teach. It is not freedom. It is misery, bondage and unhappiness. To be free from sin is liberty, to serve the Lord with gladness is happiness. Yes we are free to do what we want but the "Want" is changed.

  • 2 Peter 2:20 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.
  • 21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

This is proof that a person who was once saved can backslide and be lost. I didn't say this, Peter did. It is possible to become again entangled in the sin we were forgiven and delivered from. We always have a power to choose. We can repent of sin any time if it is genuine, God will forgive and renew us to Him. Yet, let us choose to seek the Lord and not return to the mire and muck that we were delivered from. Open our eyes Lord that we can see. Deliver us from evil. Abide with us continually. -Dorna Chambers

2 Peter 3

 

 
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