JESUS CHRIST IS LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME IN THE FLESH
BRAINWASHING BY FALSE TEACHING PRESENTED BY STEVEN SCHILLER
Reading
2Pe 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.
2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pe 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.
2Pe 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;
2Pe 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;
2Pe 2:6 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;
2Pe 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2Pe 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
2Pe 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.
2Pe 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
2Pe 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;
2Pe 2:13 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;
2Pe 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:
2Pe 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;
2Pe 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
2Pe 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
2Pe 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.
2Pe 2:19 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.
2Pe 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.
2Pe 2:21 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.
2Pe 2:22 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.
INTRODUCTION
1. In his discourse against "false teachers", Peter has written
strongly and harshly against these individuals...
a. They will bring in "destructive heresies", and bring on
themselves and those who follow them "destruction" - 2Pe 2:1,2-3
b. Their doom is certain, for God knows how "to reserve the unjust
under punishment for the day of judgment", as illustrated by the
2. Why such strong words? Is Peter justified in writing so harshly
against these "false teachers"?
3. The answer is "yes", for by inspiration Peter knows the true extent
to which these depraved individuals have fallen
a. Again, these "false teachers" are not just people who in their
ignorance are guilty of teaching error
b. Rather, they are very much aware of their deceptions and what
they are doing!
[In our text for this lesson, we learn from Peter just how serious is
"The Depravity Of False Teachers". For example..]
I. THEY "REVILE" AGAINST THOSE IN AUTHORITY 2 Pet 2:10-12
A. NOTICE THEIR CHARACTER...
1. They "walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness"
- 10
2. They are "presumptuous, self-willed" -2 Pet 2: 10
3. By so walking after the flesh, they became little more than
"natural brute beasts" - 12
B. IN THIS CONDITION...
1. They "despise authority" - 10
a. They do not appreciate the principles of authority and
submission - cf. 1Pe 2:13,14,15,16-17
b. They feel no need to submit to those over them
2. They "are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries" - 10
a. The word for "dignitaries" is doxa {dox'-ah} and literally
means "glories"
b. It can refer to human dignitaries such as church or civic
leaders, but also celestial beings (such as good and fallen
angels)
c. The context of verse 11 and the parallel passage in Jude 1:8-9
suggests that fallen angels (those mentioned in 2Pe 2:4
may be the "dignitaries" spoken of here
d. Thus in some way these individuals would speak derogatorily
of "fallen angels", something even angels "greater in power
and might" would not do!
3. They "speak evil of the things they do not understand" - 12
a. Once again Peter's charge is that they "speak evil"
b. The charge appears to be in the way they speak, even of
fallen angels...
1) With an attitude of despite towards those in authority
2) When they really are not in a position to know the whole
situation
c. With such arrogance and evil speaking, they corrupt
themselves! - Jude 10
[If the Scriptures condemn those who speak evil of "fallen angels",
what does that say of those who speak evil of "fallen individuals",
whether they be church or civic leaders? May Peter's words encourage
us to be very careful about such things.
The depravity of these "false teachers" is seen further as we consider
how...]
II. THEY "REVEL" WITH GREAT PLEASURE 2 Pet 2:13-14
A. THEY LOVE TO "CAROUSE"...
1. The word "carouse" (or "revel", the KJV uses "riot" and
"sporting") refers to extreme indulgence in sensual pleasures;
dissipation
2. They count it pleasure to "carouse in the daytime" - 13
a. This is not to suggest that it is all right to carouse at
night
b. But just demonstrates how depraved these individuals are!
3. Like "spots and blemishes", they carouse in their deceptions
"while they feast with you" - 13
a. They take advantage of gatherings with Christians
b. This they do with skillful deception
B. FOR THEY HAVE CORRUPTED "EYES" AND "HEART"...
1. Their eyes are "full of adultery" (cf. Mt 5:28) - 14
a. "that cannot cease from sin" (this speaks of their
depravity)
b. "...beguiling unstable souls" (taking advantage of the
immature)
2. Their heart is "trained in covetous practices" - 14
a. They are skilled in how to get what they want
b. And what they want all pertains to the flesh! (as implied
by the term "adultery")
[In such depravity they have truly become "accursed children" (14).
That they are even described as "accursed children" is another
indication that these "false teachers" were once true Christians
"denying the Lord who bought them" (1) and "after they have escaped
the pollutions of the world..." (20)
Another such indication is seen as we consider our last point
concerning the depravity of these false teachers...]
III. THEY "REVOLT" AGAINST THE RIGHT WAY 15-16
A. "THEY HAVE FORSAKEN THE RIGHT WAY AND GONE ASTRAY"
1. It is hard to forsake what you never had, or to go astray if
you were never in the right way
2. Therefore this phrase of Peter...
a. Lends support to the idea that these "false teachers" were
erring Christians
b. Sadly adds to the description of how far one can fall from
the Lord
B. "FOLLOWING THE WAY OF BALAAM..."
1. Like the prophet Balaam, they were swayed by the "wages of
unrighteousness"
2. Here Peter is evidently making a play on words, for he used
the same phrase earlier in a totally different way
a. In verse 13, the "wages of unrighteousness" refers to the
eternal compensation one receives for their sins
(condemnation)
b. In verse 15, the "wages of unrighteousness" refers to the
momentary compensation one receives for their sins (money,
fulfillment of fleshly desires)
3. But remember that Balaam was rebuked and restrained by a dumb
donkeywhospoke
Num22:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34-35
4. How much more should we take heed when it is the voice of an
inspired apostle (Peter) who seeks to rebuke and restrain the
madness of "false teachers"!
CONCLUSION (17)
1. In verse 17, we are given two illustrations that describe the
depravity of these false teachers...
a. They are "wells without water"
b. They are "clouds carried by a tempest"
-- Both illustrations describe things which promise much (i.e.,
water), but deliver nothing!
2. So it is with these "false teachers", who while promising much, are
so depraved themselves that there is only one thing awaiting them...
a. "to whom the gloom of darkness is reserved forever"
b. I.e., the same judgment given to the angels who sinned - 2 Pe
2:4
-- How ironic, that these individuals who were so bold to revile
fallen angels, will suffer the same punishment!
3. Peter will have more to say about these false teachers in the final
section of this chapter, especially with regards to their
"deceptions" and how they fail to deliver what they promise
In the meantime, remember that it is not sufficient to just "beware" of
false teachers, we must also being "growing" in the grace and knowledge
of Jesus Christ 2Pe 3:17-18 . Is this the case with you...?
HEAR
BELIEVE
REPENT
CONFESS
BE BAPTIZED
LIVE FAITHFULLY