Peter Warns All Believers Against False Teachers Within and Exhorts Us to be Steadfast Volume 24

Peter says these False Teachers are Willfully Sinning Stains to any Church 2 Peter 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 deceiving's while they feast with you; KJV Note: NLT=New Living Translation; NKJV=New King 👑 James Version The Apostle Peter begins this next passage with a very alarming concept and that is these false teachers of God's Holy Word will 'receive the reward of unrighteousness' (2 Peter 2:13). Now we are always inclined as human beings to think of a reward as something very beautiful and bountiful and beneficial to its recipient, however, in this case the reward these very people will receive from God is daunting and damaging and deadly. Why? Because they forsook the right way and went their own way. The English word 'reward' is translated by the Greek word misthos which means to be paid for your services by God good or bad service, as it is written by the Apostle Paul with these words concerning all of us human beings, 'For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) (NKJV). In other words, these false teachers of God's Word chose to be paid for their sin instead of repentance (turning from sin) from their sin to God and receiving His free gift of eternal life. They were the very opposite of Moses as the Word of God reveals Moses's design and desire in His inner man 👨, as it is written, "It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king's anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:27) (NLT). You see the reward or recompense or retribution for wrongdoing, that is, sin is death, first spiritual death which we all are born into and then physical death which also is the result of our sin. These false teachers of God's Holy Word rejected, refused, and resisted Him and His Word of Truth and instead turned to false gods, that is, doctrines or teachings of demons and in so doing were themselves deceived and they went about deceiving others. The Apostle Peter also said that these false teachers counted it and considered it and called it pleasure to riot in the daytime. They had no shame or self-reproach or sorry for the willful sinning they carried on even in the middle of the day. The English word 'pleasure' Peter uses here in verse 13 is translated by the Greek word hēdonē which means sensual delight; by implication desire: - lust, pleasure; sensualism is the (philosophy) the ethical doctrine that feeling is the only criterion for what is good. The English 'riot' is translated by the Greek word truphē which means (to break up or [figuratively] enfeeble, especially the mind and body by indulgence); effeminacy, that is, luxury or debauchery: - delicately, riot. In other words, these false teachers parade their debauchery, their sensualism, their lust, that is, their acts of sexual immorality of any kind out in the open for all to see, for they have been deceived by the Wicked one (the devil 😈) to believe that there is no inherent evil 😈in their beliefs and practices. You see Satan has only one way that he can hurt our Lord Jesus Christ and that way is to deceive as many human souls to follow his slogan and saying and system of 'Do what thou or you will', that is, not to do what God/Jesus wills. The Apostle Peter calls these false teachers spots and blemishes in the Church of God. The English word 'spots' is translated by the Greek word spiloō which means to stain or soil; to defile. The English word 'blemishes' is translated by the Greek word mōmos which is used this one time only in the entire New Testament and it means a flaw or blot, that is, (figuratively) disgraceful person. In other words, Peter who knows that he and every regenerated born again son and daughter of God/Jesus back then and throughout the history of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is not perfect nor is the physical body of believers in any Church, however, he declares these false teachers and false believers to be dirt and a defilement and a disgrace to any true Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he says they boast themselves among true believers as if they are the most favorite son or daughter of God/Jesus as they continue to willingly live openly and unashamedly against the will of God while they revel with true believers as if they themselves are true. They are like a pure white wedding gown that has been contaminated with motor oil spilled in various places on the dress 👗. The pure white wedding dress represents the True Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and these false teachers and false believers are the motor oil 🛢, dirty and grimy and ruining the dress making it useless, unclean, and unwearable. As Adam Clarke said of these, 'Forming opinions which give license to sin, and then acting on those opinions; and thus rioting in their own deceits.' Here is what the Pulpit Commentary had to say of 2 Peter 2:13, 'The false teachers shall receive its final reward in the world to come. Whichever reading is preferred, this clause is best taken with the preceding verse. As they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime; literally, counting the revel in daytime a pleasure. St. Peter has hitherto spoken of the insubordination and irreverence of the false teachers; he now goes on to condemn their sensuality. The words ἐν ἠμέρα cannot, with some ancient interpreters, be taken as equivalent to μαθ ̓ ἡμέραν, daily (Luke 16:19). Many commentators, as Huther and Alford, translate 'delicate living for a day'—enjoyment which is temporal and short-lived. But when we compare 1 Thessolonians 5:7, 'They that are drunken are drunken in the night,' and St. Peter's own words in Acts 2:15, it seems more probable that the Apostle means to describe these false teachers as worse than ordinary men of pleasure. They reserve the night for their feasting; these men spend the day in luxury. The word τρυφή means 'luxurious or delicate living' rather than 'riot.' Spots they are and blemishes. (For σπίλοι, spots, St. Jude has σπιλάδες, sunken rocks.) The word for 'blemishes' (μῶμοι) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. But compare 1 Peter1:19, where the Lord Jesus is described as 'a Lamb without blemish and without spot (ἀμώμου καὶ ἀσπίλου).' The Church should be like her Lord, 'not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing' (Ephesians 5:27); but these men are spots and blemishes on her beauty. Sporting themselves with their own deceivings; literally, reveling in their deceivings. The word for 'reveling' (ἐντρυφῶντες) corresponds with τρυφή, used just above. The manuscripts vary between ἀπάταις, deceivings, and ἀγάπαις, loves, love-feasts. The former reading seems the best-supported here, and the latter in the parallel passage of St. Jude (Jude 1:12). It is possible that the paronomasia may be intentional (compare the σπίλοι of St. Peter and the σπιλάδες of St. Jude). St. Peter will not use the honourable name for the banquets which these men disgrace by their excesses. He calls them ἀπάτας, not ἀγάπας—deceits, not love-feasts. There is no love in the hearts of these men. Their love-feasts are hypocrisies, deceits; they try to deceive men, but they deceive not God. While they feast with you. The Greek word συνευωχούμενοι occurs elsewhere only in Jude 1:12. The false teachers joined in the love-feasts, but made them the occasion of self-indulgence. Compare the similar conduct of the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 11:20-22)." If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Peter Warns All Believers Against False Teachers Within and Exhorts Us to be Steadfast Volume 23

The Apostle Peter Declares that these False Teachers are Like Wild Animals 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; KJV Note: NLT=New Living Translation; NKJV=New King 👑 James Version The Apostle now refers to these men and women with language that would not be ever used of human beings made in the very image of God, but because these people make themselves out to be part of Christ Mystical Body Peter has no shame or remorse in exposing them for what they really and truly are at their very core. The Apostle writes this of them in verse 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;" (2 Peter 2:12) (KJV). So that we may be very clear as to what he is saying of these false teachers of God's Holy Word, the English word 'natural' is translated by the Greek word phusikos which means physical, that is, (by implication) instinctive: Next the English word 'brute' is translated by the Greek word alogos which means (as a negative particle) and irrational: - brute, unreasonable. Then the English word 'beast' is translated by the Greek word zōon which simply means an animal. In other words, we know that God did not create the animal world with reason, that is, the capacity for rational thought, inference or discrimination and the state of having good sense and sound judgment. Wild animals have none of this, yet they were created with instinct (inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli) for example the spawning instinct in salmon year after year all salmon instinctively know when it is time for them to make that trip upstream. However, we human beings were made in the image of the Creator Almighty God and we were made to know Him and fellowship with Him and are given by Him rational reason. The animal world does not even know or understand that their is a God who made them nor can they ever know Him. Peter is saying here in this passage of Scripture that these men 🚹and women 🚺who willfully, willingly, and worthlessly pervert, profane, and prostitute the Holy Word of God are and have become just like the wild animal who has no reasoning capabilities at all. Paul the Apostle paints a picture of these men and women in this warning he gave to brother Timothy with these words, "You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! They are the kind who work their way into people's homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.) These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith. But they won't get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres." (2 Timothy 3:1-9) (NLT). Notice two of the very critical characteristics laid out for us by Paul of these teachers; (1) These false teachers of the Holy Word of God oppose the truth, that is, they stand against the very truth of the Word of God that they profess to be teaching and they fight against the truth of God's Word. (2) They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith, that is, none of them have ever been born again or born from above, therefore, their minds are corrupt continuously and they cannot reason or be rational when it comes to morality, for them any thing goes and anything anyone wants to do with their physical bodies is good and OK. Do we see then why Peter calls them 'brute beast', that is, wild animals. Animals don't know or understand moral behavior or the greater good, none of this is even real to them because they have no way to understand or know the God who created them. These false teachers could have come to know the gracious, good, and great God who created them, but they have rejected or refused or resisted His Spirit's conviction and have given themselves over to a reprobate mind by way of these words also from the Apostle Paul, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest/evident in them, for God has shown it to them." (Romans1:18-19 (NKJV). When Paul says here, they suppress the truth in unrighteousness, he means they hold down the truth because they want to and long to continue to live in their sin. Have you ever seen someone in a swimming 🏊pool take a fully inflated beach ball and sit on top of it and hold it down underneath the water, but what happens when the person gets off the beach ball, it pops right back up to the surface. The false teachers hold down the truth of God's Holy Word and never release their suppression because they want their sin more than they want God. It is their own desire for corruption rather than the light of the Gospel of Grace that will be their eternal downfall, for if they would release their suppression of the truth of the Word of God then their spiritual eyes would be opened to see the Majesty and the Mightiness and the Mercy of God who would then save them. They speak evil of God's truth because it condemns their sinful lifestyles and shows them that repentance is required and needed, that is, a turning away from those things to God so that they could be healed, just as Paul praised and was so thankful that many in Thessaloniki had done just that as it is written, "So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia. And now the Word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don't need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God." (1 Thessalonians 1:6-9) (NLT). Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of 2 Peter 2:12, "But these, as natural brute beasts,.... So far are these men from acting like the angels, that they are sunk below their own species, and are like beasts, and become brutish in their knowledge and behaviour; are like the horse and the mule, without understanding, act as if they were without reason; yea, are more stupid and senseless than the ox, or the ass, which know their owner, and their crib; and even in those things which they might, and do know by the light of nature, they corrupt themselves; and being given up to judicial blindness, and a reprobate mind, call good evil, and evil good, and do things that are not convenient, and which even brute beasts do not; and like as they are guided by an instinct in nature, to do what they do, so these men are led and influenced by the force and power of corrupt nature in them, to commit all manner of wickedness: and like them are made to be taken and destroyed; or, as it may be rendered, 'to take and destroy'; as beasts and birds of prey, such as lions, tigers, wolves, bears, vultures, hawks, &c. to which abusers of themselves with mankind, ravishers of women, extortioners, oppressors, thieves, robbers, and plunderers of men's properties, may be compared: or 'to be taken and destroyed'; that is, they are made or appointed to be taken in the net and snare of Satan, are vessels of wrath fitted for destruction, and are afore ordained to condemnation and ruin: and this being their case, they speak evil of the things they understand not; either of angels, of whose nature, office, and dignity, they are ignorant; and blaspheme them, by either ascribing too much to them, as the creation of the world, and divine worship, as were by some ancient heretics; or by speaking such things of them as were below them, and unworthy of them; or of civil magistrates, not knowing the nature and end of magistracy and civil government, and therefore spoke evil of them, when they ought to pray, and be thankful for them, and live peaceable and quiet lives under them; or of the ministers of the word, whose usefulness for the conversion of sinners and edification of saints were not known, at least not acknowledged by these men; hence they were traduced, and went through ill report among them, being as unknown by them; or of the Scriptures of truth, which heretical men do not truly know and understand, but wrest to their own destruction, or deny; and of the Gospel and the mysteries of it, which are things not seen, known, and understood by carnal men, and therefore are blasphemed, reviled, and reproached by them: and shall utterly perish in their own corruption: of which they are servants/slaves, 2 Peter 2:19, in their moral corruption, in their filthy and unnatural lusts, which are the cause of their everlasting perdition and destruction, to which they are righteously appointed of God." If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Peter Warns All Believers Against False Teachers Within and Exhorts Us to be Steadfast Volume 22

The Apostle Peter Declares that these False Teachers Even Scoff at Angels (Good & Evil) 2 Peter 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. KJV Note: NLT=New Living Translation; NKJV=New King 👑 James Version In the very last sentence of the previous verse 10, the Apostle Peter said that these false teachers were unafraid in their audacious falsehood to speak evil 😈of dignities. The reference is to angels by the use of that word, however, Peter most likely or could have meant that they railed against the true brothers and sisters 'in Christ' those of us who have truly been born again because we refute, reject, and refuse their twisting of Scripture to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16) and to the unfortunate destruction of the unsuspecting souls who hear and believe their falsehood because they are ignorant of what the Word of God truly declares. It is because these false teachers are the very ones the Apostle Paul warned brother Timothy about when he wrote these words to him in his first letter ✉, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron;" (1 Timothy 4:1-2) (NKJV). Now here in the very next verse Peter gives a comparison of these false teachers to the Holy Angels in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ always in Heaven with these words, "Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord." (2 Peter 2:11) (KJV). The angels who remain in Heaven around the Throne of God are sinless, subservient, and submissive to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and created much greater in power and might than man. The little English phrase 'in power' is translated by the Greek word ischus which means ability and strength. The little English word 'might' is translated by the Greek word dunamis which means force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): it is where we get our English word dynamite. In other words, these strong and powerful angels have the ability to do miraculous things within our natural world 🗺because they are supernatural creatures created by God/Jesus with those abilities, yet they don't even maliciously make railing accusations against these insubordinate wicked false teachers of God's Holy Word. The little English word 'railing' Peter uses in verse 11 is translated by the Greek word blasphēmos which means scurrilous (expressing offensive reproach), that is, calumnious (against man). The little English word 'accusations' is translated by the Greek word krisis which means as used in this context by Peter condemnation or damnation or judgement. In other words, these Holy Angels constantly and continuously in the very presence of God, could bring offense reproach against these false teachers of the Word of God making His Word into a license to sin with no repenting or no turning away from sin, but instead a continual living in sin with no remorse. The Holy Angels could declare to God/Jesus that these wicked men and women should be dammed to hell right away, yet they do not, for they could even bring such condemnation to the Lord God against the devil and the demons, but instead they do not. Why, we even perhaps the highest ranking Angel in Heaven (Michael the Arch Angel) in an argument or dispute over the body of God's servant and son Moses declaring only these words to the most disrespectful, diabolical, and disobedient (former angel now the devil 👿), "But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, 'The Lord rebuke you!' (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses' body.) (Jude 1:9) (NLT). Here is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary has to say of 2 Peter 2:11, "'Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities.' The Apostle passes on to describe another and more terrible manifestation of the lawlessness of these false teachers. They have so sunk themselves in the grossness of material self-indulgence that they revile and set at naught the spiritual world, and the powers that exist therein. In the term 'dignities' the Apostle's thoughts are of the angels, against whom these sinners scruple not to utter their blasphemies. The good angels, the messengers from heaven to earth, the ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, they are bold to deny; while concerning the evil angels, to whose temptations they have surrendered themselves, they scoff, representing their lives as free and self chosen, and at their own disposal. The two terms 'daring'; 'self-willed,' seem to point respectively to these two forms of blasphemy. They tremble not, they dare to deny the existence of the good, and they shrink not to mock at the influence of the powers of evil. Thus in mind and thought they are as debased as in their bodies, and by their lessons they corrupt as much as by their acts. 'Whereas angels, though greater in might and power, bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord.' The explanation of this passage is not without difficulty, because of the indefiniteness of the words 'against them.' To whom is reference here made? It can hardly be questioned that by 'dignities,' literally 'glories,' in the previous verse the Apostle meant angels, the dignities of the spirit-world, in contradistinction to 'dominion,' in which he before referred to those earthly authorities whom these false teachers set at naught. The verbs used in the two clauses support this view. The dominion they venture to despise, at the dignities they rail, whereas they ought to be afraid of them. Now even to the fallen angels there attaches a dignity by reason of their first estate. In the New Testament the chief of them is called by Christ Himself 'the prince of this world,' (John14:30) and by St. Paul 'the prince of the power of the air'; (Ephesians 2:2) and he has a sovereignty over those who shared his rebellion and his fall. Having described the railing of the false teachers in the previous verse as directed alike against the evil angels and the good, it seems preferable here to take 'against them' as applying to the evil angels. Even against them, though they must be conscious of their sin and rebellion against God, the good angels, who still abide in the presence of the Lord, bring no railing judgment, utter no reproach or upbraiding. There may have been in St. Peter's thought that solemn scene depicted in Zechariah 3:1-10, where, in the presence of the Angel of the Lord, that highest angel who is Jehovah's special representative, Joshua the high-priest appears, and at his right hand Satan standing to be his adversary, and to charge him, and the nation through him, with their remissness in the work of the restoration of God's temple. There the Angel of the Lord, full of mercy, as Satan was full of hate, checked the adversary's accusation, saying, 'The Lord rebuke thee, Satan.' The same application of the words 'against them' is suggested by the apocryphal illustration in St. Jude (Jude 1:9), where in the contention about the body of Moses no greater rebuke is administered to the devil by the Archangel Michael." If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...