FALSE TEACHERS CONDEMNED - 2 PETER 3:3-22

False Teachers Condemned
2:3-10a

Because false teachers pervert God’s word, they are condemned and they will be destroyed, even if they appear to get away with it now. (3)

To prove his point, Peter listed a series of judgments imposed by God and recorded in the Old Testament to show that he can and will do it.

First, Peter showed that God did not spare angels when they sinned. (4) He cast them into hell. This is similar to Jude 6, which says angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, God has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment comes.

Although the English translations say God cast them into hell, Peter did not use the New Testament word for hell, “Gehenna”. Instead, he used the word “Tartarus”, the holding place for people after death. He may have done this to emphasize that they were not in the place of final torment, but they were punished and restrained in some way (chains) as they were kept until the judgment.

There is disagreement about which even Peter has in mind here. Some believe it is about the angels who sinned by rebelling with Satan against God. Others believe it refers to the events of Genesis 6, when the “sons of God” married the daughters of men. Since Peter has already mentioned this (1 Peter 3:19), and it matches up with Jewish tradition, the latter is likely what Peter referred to.  

Second, God did not spare the ungodly when he destroyed the world by flood. (5) (Genesis 6-8) This is the story of Noah and the ark.

Third, he destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness, raining down fire and sulphur, giving us an example of the final judgment of the ungodly. (6)(Genesis 19:23-29)

These events show that God knows how to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the final day of judgment. (9) The false teachers denied the return of Christ and future judgment. Peter refuted them with these examples.

Underlying this is the belief that God does not change. He hates sin and will punish it.

Notice, though, that in the midst of judgment, God preserved the few who were righteous. He rescued Noah and his family. He rescued Lot and his family. This would have been an encouragement to these little churches in northern Asia who were the few in the midst of a multitude of the unrighteous.

It is also an encouragement to us today: God will rescue us through trials. Those trials may come from the presence of false teachers, but would include any trials in which our faithfulness to God and his word are subject to persecution and ridicule. God will rescue us from apostasy.

God rescues us even from the final judgment, because we are his. Remember the scene in Revelation 20:11-15, the Great White Throne Judgment. As the world stood before the throne, books were opened that contained the names of all people and their sins. But, then, the Book of Life was opened. Those whose names were in the book, the believers, were spared and welcomed into the New Jerusalem. Those whose names were not written there were thrown into the lake of fire. God will vindicate and preserve us while he judges and punishes those who reject him and his Son.

Judgment for Rebellion and Sensuality
2:10b-16

Peter pointed out two egregious sins that lead to judgment, First is “lust of defiling passion”, meaning sexual immorality. The false teachers in Peter’s time were known for sexual immorality, believing that there would be no judgment of it.

Second, they despised authority. (10) They did not accept and obey the authority of Christ, his word or his church.

They were bold and willful, or arrogant. They had a great deal of confidence in themselves, untempered by humility or spiritual wisdom. They were so arrogant that they did not hesitate to blaspheme or slander the glorious ones (celestial beings). In contrast, good angels, though greater in might and power, did not slander the evil angels before the Lord. (11) They left judgment to God.

But the false teachers evidently did slander the angels, blaspheming about matters of which they were ignorant. So, Peter says, they are like irrational animals who will be caught and destroyed.

Most of you likely do not slander fallen angels. However, the point Peter makes of making proclamations about things we do not know is relevant to our time. God, through the Bible, revealed to us what he wants us to know and how much he wants us to know. He did not reveal everything he knows.

There is much we do not know. Here is an example. We understand God is a trinity; Father, Son, and Spirit are all part of the Godhead. We do not know or understand everything there is about this concept. But, it is not for us to make things up, which is what speculation is. It is especially not for us to make things up and claim they are true.

So, if a preacher says each member of the Godhead is a Trinity, so there are really nine members of the Godhead, he is speculating at best, or lying intentionally to get attention. And Peter makes it plain that judgment is coming for false teachers.

In verse 13, Peter returned to the idea of the immorality of the false teachers. He said they: (1) revel in the daytime, meaning they could not wait until dark, when evil things usually happen, making them blots and blemishes on the church; (2) revel in their deceptions at the love feasts; (3) commit adultery and looked at every woman as a candidate for it (14) ; (4) insatiable for sin; (5) entice unsteady souls; and (6) are greedy.

Certainly they are not those who pursue holiness as God commanded.

They are under God’s curse. (14)

The false teachers have gone astray. They followed the way of Balaam. Balaam was a prophet in the Old Testament who took money to prophesy against Israel. His donkey rebuked him, meaning he had less insight into God’s work than a donkey! (Numbers 22-25, 31) He led the people of Israel astray. Comparing the false teachers in Peter’s day to Balaam was to say they were as despicable as he was.

Peter had still more to say about the false teachers. They were waterless springs and mists driven by the storm. (17) These are two great images for those who live in the desert. Both promise refreshing water, but deliver nothing but disappointment. Similarly, the false teachers promised understanding of the things of God, but instead delivered confusion and lies.

They also seduced recent converts, teaching that sexual promiscuity is the pathway to freedom. Peter saw the paradox in the promise of freedom, for the false teachers were slaves to sin. (18-19)

Since the false teachers had, through supposed conversion, escaped the defilements of sin, to be again enslaved by them is a worse state than their lostness before conversion. (20) Thy would have been better not to know the way of salvation than to know it and turn back from it. (21)

We must learn to discern the difference between truth and false teaching.

We must avoid false teaching, even more so if it entices us to sin.

And we must certainly not become false teachers, for a terrible judgment awaits them.

Man of Sorrows

"Man Of Sorrows"

Man of sorrows Lamb of God
By His own betrayed
The sin of man and wrath of God
Has been on Jesus laid

Silent as He stood accused
Beaten mocked and scorned
Bowing to the Father's will
He took a crown of thorns

Oh that rugged cross
My salvation
Where Your love poured out over me
Now my soul cries out
Hallelujah
Praise and honour unto Thee

Sent of heaven God's own Son
To purchase and redeem
And reconcile the very ones
Who nailed Him to that tree

Oh that rugged cross
My salvation
Where Your love poured out over me
Now my soul cries out
Hallelujah
Praise and honour unto Thee

Now my debt is paid
It is paid in full
By the precious blood
That my Jesus spilled

Now the curse of sin
Has no hold on me
Whom the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed

Now my debt is paid
It is paid in full
By the precious blood
That my Jesus spilled

Now the curse of sin
Has no hold on me
Whom the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed

Oh that rugged cross
My salvation
Where Your love poured out over me
Now my soul cries out
Hallelujah
Praise and honour unto Thee

Hillsong (minus one stanza) 

FALSE TEACHERS (part 1) - 2 PETER 1:12-2:3

The Reminder
1:12-15

Peter, as an apostle, urged his right and need to remind his readers of these qualities even though they were established in their faith. (12) He knew that his time was about up, he would put off his body soon. (14) And, he not only wanted to remind them while he was alive, he wanted them to know them well enough to recall them after his death. He wanted them to continue pursuing the virtuous life as long as they lived.

This is why we listen to the same sermons repeatedly and read the same scripture constantly. We want them ingrained in our memories so we easily recall them.






Eyewitness Testimony
1:16-18

One reason Peter would make every effort to teach them correct doctrine was that he was an eyewitness to Christ’s majesty.

The false teachers with whom Peter battled did not believe the Jesus would return. In addition to being false, this teaching removed the sense of urgency in living the virtuous Christian life in view of his return. We see this in verse 4 of chapter 3: “where is the promise of his coming?”.

Peter wanted to provide proof and authority for his teaching the Christ would return and in teaching the need to live accordingly. Peter appealed to the Transfiguration, where he witnessed the majesty of Christ.

The Transfiguration is that event when Jesus took Peter, James and John up onto a mountain to pray. Jesus’ appearance changed and his clothing became a dazzling white. The Father declared Jesus to be his beloved Son. The three disciples saw his glory. This even is recorded in Matthew 17.

First of all, Peter stated that the Apostles (“we”) did not devise clever myths when the told the power of Jesus and his return, or his “powerful return”. This is what the false prophets accused them of.  Instead, he said, they were eyewitnesses to his majesty. Majesty is another word for glory. They also heard the voice of the Father declaring that “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. (17)

Peter saw the Transfiguration as a type of Jesus’ return in glory. The Transfiguration occurred right after Jesus taught the disciples that he would return in glory. (Matthew 16:25) Jesus received glory and honor at the Transfiguration: glory in the change in his appearance and honor in the stated approval of the Father.

Jesus later reiterated that he will come “in his glory” (Matthew 25:31)

The Transfiguration was history, not myth, and so the Parousia, the return of Christ, is also a truth and not a myth.  


The Truth of Christ’s 2nd Coming Is Also Based on the Prophetic Word
1:19-21

Peter’s first argument for the second coming was the Transfiguration. The second argument for it is the prophetic word, the Old Testament, as interpreted by the apostles. (19)

We must pay attention to the Word because it is a lamp shining in a dark place. It is the light for our path. We must pay attention to it until the Lord returns.

The Lord gives the believer the ability to understand his word. “For God, who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

When Jesus returns, the prophetic word will be fulfilled. He will give us his light, increasing our understanding. His light as the Living Word will outshine the light of the Prophetic Word. “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

That being true, the Prophetic Word is still sure and what we look to until Christ returns. Peter emphasized that no prophecy of Scripture came from someone’s own interpretation. This is likely a criticism of the false prophets who referred to Scripture, but interpreted it to fit their own ideas. Their ideas came from the will of man. Because of that, they went against the apostolic teaching and interpretation.

Rather, prophecy came as men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (21)  God gave the Word and the interpretation by the apostles.

Because of this, we can trust the Scripture and believe the things it teaches are from God.

Because of this we accept the teaching of the apostles as recorded in the Scripture as the correct teaching of Jesus and the correct interpretation of the Old Testament.

We do not invent new interpretations that contradict the Scripture.


False Teachers Will Come
2:1-3

As false prophets came to Old Testament Israel, false teachers will arise within the church. This is why believers must be reminded of the importance of a godly life and of the truth of Jesus’ second coming. This is why they needed, and we need, to understand and hold to the truth of the Bible, the prophetic word.

False teachers usually come from within the church, not without, although they may eventually leave the church.

They will secretly bring in destructive heresies:  they do not announce that their teaching is a heresy. Sometimes they are simply ignorant. Sometimes they want attention. Sometimes they think they are smarter than the apostles.

Heresies are destructive - they destroy faith and faithfulness.

Legalism leads to reliance on works and a diminished appreciation of grace.

Antinomianism (teaching there is no moral law) leads to immorality.

Gnosticism (belief in secret knowledge) leads to ignorance of the Bible & inserting other religious ideas into Christianity.

Some will even deny Jesus, the master who bought (redeemed) them. They will deny:
(1) his divinity;
(2) his exclusive ability to save;
(3) his resurrection; and
(4) his substitutionary, penal atonement.

Many follow sensuality. (2) How many so called Christian leaders have we seen fall as a result of this? Peter did they blaspheme the way of truth.
If you act as bad as the pagans, or worse, you cause them to believe the gospel is false. It is similar to God telling the Israelites that, because of the way they acted, God’s name was profaned among the Gentiles.

Peter also said false teachers exploit others in greed, using false words. We have many that do that today, telling people to give money to them and that, in return, God will make the giver rich.

How do we detect heresies? By knowing the truth:
-by study of the Word
-by sound teaching of the Word.

If you know what is true, you can detect what is false!

Lamguage of Lament

Here is a good article on a neglected subject. 

QUALITIES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE - 2 PETER 1:5-15

Growing in Godliness
1:5-7

Because Christ has given us everything we need for godliness (“for this reason”), Peter exhorts us to add good things to our faith. The basis of this sanctification process is grace (“his divine power has granted to us”). With his grace as the basis, we strive to be godly.

In our striving, we add virtues, good qualities, to our faith. (5) Peter gave a chain of eight good qualities to pursue. This does not mean it is an exhaustive list. There are other lists of godly qualities in the New Testament. But it contains the qualities Peter wants, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to emphasize to his first readers in Asia, and now to us.
The first thing we supplement our faith with is virtue. The NIV says “goodness”. The word means “moral excellence”. It is the same word used in verse 3, when Peter said Christ called us to his own glory and excellence\goodness.

Next, we should supplement our faith with knowledge. We need knowledge of God and his will for us. We get this through study of his Word, which teaches us these things. As we know more about God, we know more how to live in a way that pleases him.

We also add the quality of self control. Paul listed this as one of the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22) We do not give into every impulse. In contrast, the false teachers are often criticized in the New Testament for being driven by sensuality and corruption.

Next, we add steadfastness. The NIV says perseverance. We do not give up and we do not give in when it comes to our faith. Those who would soon endure persecution needed to have this quality so they would not renounce their faith in Jesus when things got bad.

Peter said we must add the quality of godliness. Although Peter said Christ had given us everything we need for godliness, we still pursue it. We attempt to reflect the character of God. We live a life that pleases God.

We also add the quality of brotherly affection. (7) This is the Greek word “philadelphia”. This is the family-like devotion among brothers and sisters in Christ. We support each other and take care of each other. We suffer when others suffer and rejoice when they rejoice.

The last quality is love. Love sums up all the other qualities. One who loves will possess and display the other qualities. False teachers, though, tend to love themselves.

Godly Virtues & the Kingdom
1:8-11

Verse 8 tells us that, if we have these qualities and they are increasing, they will keep us from being ineffective and unfruitful in our faith (the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ).

If we do not have here qualities, we are blind to spiritual truth and have forgotten that Christ paid for our sins. (9) This will lead to our falling away. We will not live as forgiven sinners. There are many people in evangelical life that are this way.

In contrast, if we pursue and practice these qualities, we are assured of eternal life in the kingdom of God. (11) So, we must be diligent in pursuing these qualities, showing that our calling and election are sure, in other words, that we are truly saved. (10) Those in whom these qualities exist and abound are effective and fruitful with respect to their knowledge of Christ. Those who do not have these qualities give no evidence of conversion.

 There are many false teachers today. Many of the make a lot of money from their false teaching and spend it on themselves lavishly.

There are also many today who made a profession of faith early in life, but today do not attend church, or have even abandoned the faith. They did not pursue these virtues in their lives. They do not have assurance of salvation.

The Reminder
1:12-15

Peter, as an apostle, urged his right and need to remind his readers of these qualities even though they were established in their faith. (12) He knew that his time was about up, he would put off his body soon. (14) And, he not only wanted to remind them while he was alive, he wanted them to know them well enough to recall them after his death. He wanted them to continue pursuing the virtuous life as long as they lived.

This is why we listen to the same sermons repeatedly and read the same scripture constantly. We want them ingrained in our memories so we easily recall them.

Eyewitness Testimony
1:16-18

The false teachers with whom Peter battled did not believe the Jesus would return. In addition to being false, this teaching removed the the sense of urgency in living the virtuous Christian life in view of his return.

Peter wanted to provide proof and authority for his teaching the Christ would return and in teaching the need to live accordingly. Peter appealed to the Transfiguration.

The Transfiguration is that event when Jesus took Peter, James and John up onto a mountain to pray. Jesus appearance changed and his clothing became a dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared in glory and spoke about Jesus’ departure. The disciples saw his glory. This even is recorded in Luke 9:28-36.

First of all, Peter stated that the Apostles (“we”) did not devise myths when the told the power of Jesus and his return, or his “powerful return”. This is what the false prophets accused them of.  Instead, he said, they were eyewitnesses to his majesty. Majesty is another word for glory. They also heard the voice of the Father declaring that “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. (17)

Peter saw the Transfiguration as a type of Jesus’ return in glory. Jesus received glory and honor at the Transfiguration: glory in the change in his appearance and honor in the stated approval of the Father.

The Transfiguration was history, not myth, and so the Parousia, the return of Christ, is also a truth and not a myth.  

The Truth of Christ’s 2nd Coming Is Based on the Prophetic Word
1:19-21

Peter’s first argument for the second coming was the Transfiguration. The second argument for it is the prophetic word, the Old Testament, as interpreted by the apostles. (19)

We must pay attention to the Word because it is a lamp shining in a dark place. It is the light for our path. We must pay attention to it until the Lord returns. When Jesus returns, the prophetic word will be fulfilled. He will give us his light, increasing our understanding. His light as the Living Word will outshine the light of the Prophetic Word.

That being true, the Prophetic Word is still sure and what we look to until Christ returns. Peter emphasized that no prophecy of Scripture came from someone’s own interpretation. This is likely a criticism of the false prophets who referred to Scripture, but interpreted it to fit their own ideas. Their ideas came from the will of man. Because of that, they went against the apostolic teaching and interpretation.

Rather, prophecy came as men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (21)  God gave the Word and the interpretation by the apostles.

Because of this, we can trust the Scripture and believe the things it teaches are from God.

Because of this we accept the teaching of the apostles as recorded in the Scripture as the correct teaching of Jesus and the correct interpretation of the Old Testament.

We do not invent new interpretations that contradict the Scripture.