January 8, 2017
Morning Service

II Pet. 2

 

            Chapter one of II Pet. Finished like this:

2Pe 1:20-21  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  (21)  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

            And when we think of what Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  The Scripture Paul knew of was the Old Testament writings, the history, the law, and the prophets.   AND THESE WERE NOT WRITTEN FOR PRIVATE INTERPRETATION, BUT FOR ALL MANKIND.  Let’s see what chapter holds for us this morning.

 

2Pe 2:1-22  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)  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  (3)  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:

·         Now look at this picture!  False teachers, damnable heresies, denying the Lord, headed for destruction.  Many shall follow their pernicious ways, the way of truth being evil spoken of, and their driving force is covetousness, where they take and make merchandise of you. 

·         Charismatic speakers,  they are in it for capital gain, and whatever else may satisfy the flesh.

·         You will not be taken advantage of by these false teachers if you know your Bible.  It is so important to study your Bible, and know the truth as God gives it.  DO NOT BLINDLY TAKE SOMEONES WORD FOR IT, PROVE IT YOURSELF, AND BE BLESSED.

And these people think they are getting away with something, well think again;

whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

·         Peter now uses examples of God’s judgment on the ungodly, and sinners  to prove that these men, and women that are false teachers, will receive their just reward.

(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; 

·         Jude is a one chapter letter.  He warns of this very subject, almost exactly of the same things that Peter does.

·         Jud 1:6  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

·         Read Jude, it’s a very stern warning for those that would consider, or have already gone back on the Lord.  There is a judgment waiting for the unfaithful.

·         Peter goes on with more examples.

(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;  (6)  And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 

·         Do you remember what God said about the people of this time? 

·         Gen 6:5-7  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  (6)  And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.  (7)  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

·         But it says Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord.

·         Jesus said one time, Luk 17:26-30  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  (27)  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 

ANOTHER EXAMPLE:

(7)  And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:  (8)  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 

·         (28)  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  (29)  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  (30)  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

·         Peter is warning, there will be a judgment, and we must all be ready.

And then his words of encouragement.

(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: 

·         If you are trying to live for the Lord, you will be delivered from the judgment to come.

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

·         Believe me, if you have never experienced wandering through different denominations, these people exist.  However, if you know your Bible, you will recognize them, and will flee from them.  The Word gives us the true Gospel, and describes the false, and the true disciples of Christ.  You will know the difference.

(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 forbad the madness of the prophet.  ( Numbers 22 )

(17)  These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.  (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.  (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.  (22)  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

·        We call them backsliders, those that have once served the Lord faithfully, and then went back to living the life they did before, Peter says they are worse than before.

ALMIGHTY GOD, REVEAL THIS TRUTH TO ALL THOSE WHO NEED TO COME HOME, AND HELP US TO REMEMBER THIS SEVERE WARNING LEST WE ALSO FALL AWAY.  AMEN.