2 Peter 2:10b-22

2 Peter 2:10b-22

Most Wanted

I. We must be able to recognize danger if we’re to avoid it; so we must identify the characteristics of false teachers (Vv. 10b-16)

a. Peter starts by telling us how to identify external characteristics of these false teachers. They’re characterized by their bold arrogance. They have no respect for authority, even unwisely disrespecting more powerful demonic beings to impress their followers. As opposed to powerful angels, who wisely trust completely in God and His perfect judgment over their own when dealing with their fallen angelic brothers; being faithful to proclaim His Word, just as He gives it. These false teachers were living wildly and impulsively according to instinct, but acting superior in knowledge, power, and understanding, even though they didn’t actually know what they were talking about or how dangerously they were living. They’re foolish actions were inviting trouble they couldn’t handle and would lead to destruction as they reap what they sowed. (Vv. 10b-13a; 2:1; Zech. 3:2; Acts 19:13-16; 1 Cor. 10:14-22; Gal. 6:7-8; Eph. 6:10-20; Jude 8-9)

b. They were also characterized by audacious lust and limitless greed. They engaged in lustful, wicked, and sinful activities during the day that would make a pagan Roman blush. They even perverted the fellowship meals that accompanied the Lord’s Supper. They were “stains and blemishes” on the ordinance and the community of believers. They lived in constant sin, always on the prowl for sexual conquest, and were continually “enticing” others to sin with them. Their greed knew no limit, as they “trained”, or exercised their hearts for maximum greed. They were truly “children of the curse”, like Balaam, who seemed like a good guy, was a prophet of God, but whose greed led him astray to attempt to induce God to curse Israel. When God refused, Balaam convinced the Moabite king to send women to seduce the Israelite men. Balaam was so spiritually blinded that he wasn’t able to see God’s messenger to him, and God used his donkey, who was more spiritually astute than the profit, to speak to him and open his eyes. His foolish ways were pursuing the “wages of unrighteousness” which pay out in God’s certain judgment. (Vv. 13b-16; Job 31:1; Numb. 22-24; 31:16; Matt. 5:28; Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:15; 1 Cor. 11:17-22; 1 Thess. 5:7; Jude 11-12; Rev. 2:14)

II. We must be able to recognize danger if we’re to avoid it; so we must recognize the schemes of false teachers (Vv. 17-19)

a. Peter describes these false teachers as, “springs without water, and mists driven by a storm”. He says they’re wells who promise refreshment in the desert, but only prove to be dry, and they’re storm clouds that blow up promising rain only to blow by without a drop. They employee flashy speech and grandiose promises, targeting and enticing immature believers to believe that Christ saved them so that they could be free to enjoy the lustful pleasures of life. All the while, as they promise these gullible Christians freedom, they themselves remained enslaved to sin. (Vv. 17-19; Prov. 10:11; 14:27; Jer. 2:13; John 4:13-14; 7:37-38; 8:30-36; Rom. 6:14-18; 8:2; 1 Cor. 6:12; 2 Cor. 3:17; Matt. 5:14; Gal. 5:1-10; 1 Pet. 2:16; Jude 12-13)

III. We must be able recognize danger if we’re to avoid it; so we must discern the true nature of false teachers (Vv. 20-22)

a. At one point, these false teachers looked for all the world as though they had repented and trusted in Christ. They said the right things and did right the things for a season, but their heart had never been truly transformed. Their cleansing had only been external, and like a pig to mud or a dog to its vomit, they returned to the filth from which their heart never left. Our salvation in Christ is completely secure because it’s His unmerited gift. While it doesn’t result in perfection, it does change our hearts to hate sin, to desire to grow in righteousness, and persevere in Christ. However, to know the truth, acknowledge the receipt of the truth, then completely reject the gospel truth of salvation through grace by repentant faith, and turn back to the sin from which one claimed to be delivered, is to reject the only means of salvation, and end up in a worse state than when one lived in ignorance of the truth. This was the true nature of these false teachers. It was revealed through the fruit of their lives. They knew the truth, claimed the truth, but rejected the truth with their lives, and even tried to “entice” the weak and unsuspecting to join them. They’re pervasive in the church, eternally dangerous, and must be identified and rejected. (Vv. 20-22; Lev. 11:7; 1 Kings 21:19; Prov. 26:11; Matt. 5:21-23; 7:6; 10:22; 11:21-24; 12:43-45; 13:3-9, 20-22; 24-30, 36-43; Mark 3:21-30; Luke 6:46; 12:47-48; John 6:39-40; 10:27-30; Rom. 3:21-26; 1 Cor. 10:12; 2 Cor. 13:5; Phil 1:6; 2:12-16; 2 Tim. 2:16-19; Heb. 2:1-4; 3:14; 6:4-6; 10:26; Jas. 4:17; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; 1 John 2:19; 5:16; Jude 20-21; Rev. 2:7, 10, 17, 26; 3:21; 21:7)