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2 Peter 3:3 – Mockery of Honor

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Will

First of all knowing this, that in the last days scoffers will come, walking according to their own lusts,

Truth to Learn

There are many today who mock Christians and who scoff at the truth of the Bible, but some day they will be silenced.

Behind the Words

The word translated “first of all” is the Greek word proton, which is an adverb that denotes “preeminence in importance or location.” In this case Peter is not saying that this is the first in a series of things to know, rather he is saying that this is the most important thing to know.

The word translated “scoffers” is the Greek word empaiktēs, which means “someone who mocks or scoffs at the truth,” and it is often used of false teachers (like those we learned about in the previous chapter).

Meaning Explained

Peter said a couple of verses back that he had written both this and the previous letters “as reminders to stimulate you to sincere thinking.” The thing he wants his readers to remember is in the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the apostles. He now tells us another thing that he wants us to remember.

He starts this verse off with, “First of all.” The most important thing he wants his readers to remember is that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking our faith and following their own evil desires. These scoffers will be constantly under the servitude of their own lusts according to Peter. Instead of living a victorious life by the power of the Spirit of God, these false teachers live their lives controlled by their overpowering desires (the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life). Jude, in his short letter, says something very similar:

But you, beloved ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers following after their own ungodly desires.” (Jude 17,18)

Peter will get into more detail in the next verse concerning the specifics of their scoffing. For now, let us consider that today there are many people in the world who mock Christianity and who portray Christians as mindless buffoons sitting in church pews droning on, “Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves …” These same people who make a mockery of what we hold dear and sacred are controlled by their own lusts. In fact, they are so enslaved to them that they can’t possibly understand how anyone in their right mind could give up control of his or her life to God, because they don’t know Him.

Application

Our responsibility in the face of these scoffers is to live lives worthy of the Name by which we are called. We may not silence these scoffers while they are on this earth, but at the Great White Throne judgment when they stand before the one to whom we are submitted today, they will submit… and be committed… to the lake of fire. They will be eternally separated from the One at whom they are now scoffing, and on that day they will not think it so funny.

So… live your witness before all the world and don’t be a chameleon even though some may mock you!

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Peter 3:2 – The Old and The New

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Will

to be mindful of the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

Truth to Learn

Christians need to allow God to speak to them from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Behind the Words

The word “prophets” is transliterated from the Greek word prophētēs. This is a compound word made up of pro, meaning “before, in place or time” and a form of phēmi, which means “to show or to make one’s thoughts known.” As used in the New Testament, the most common use of prophētēs is to refer to someone who makes proclamations before they happen, though it can refer to someone who stands before others and makes proclamations.

“Savior” is translated from sōter, which is derived from sōdzō, meaning “to rescue, to save, or to deliver.”

The word “apostles” is from the Greek word apostolos. This is made up of apo, meaning “from or away from” and stellō, meaning “to set firmly.” Hence, apostolos refers to a person who has been “sent away” with a specific commission.

Meaning Explained

Peter stated that he has written this second letter in order to stir up the memories of those to whom he is writing. He wants them to remember things that they have thoroughly investigated and have learned. He now gets a little more specific in today’s verse, and he will get more specific yet in the next verse.

He wants his readers to remember “the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets.” Clearly he is referring to the writings of the prophets in the Old Testament (which to his first century readers was the only testament). Peter is not asking Christians to throw out the Jewish Scriptures; rather, he is encouraging us to continue to read and study the Jewish Scriptures as well as “the command given by our Lord and Savior.”

Jesus Christ brought in a new dispensation with new revelation about the person and work of God and His desire for a personal relationship through faith. Peter is now closely tying that in with all the previous revelation about God contained in what we now call the Old Testament.

Much can be learned about how God wants us to relate to Him by studying the lives of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob along with other spiritual giants of the Old Testament like Noah, Moses, Elijah and David. It’s not just a book of Jewish history, it’s filled with examples of faith and obedience that we New Testament Christians can learn and grow from. Furthermore, the Old Testament contains numerous prophesies about the birth of Christ, the life of Christ, the death of Christ, and the return of Christ in His triumphal glory.

Application

There are many foundational truths contained in the Old Testament that are of vital importance to our understanding of God. Christians need to have a firm grasp of God’s teaching in both the Old and New Testaments. If you haven’t already done so, commit today to reading through the entire Bible. Also, commit to studying the lives of Abraham, Moses, and David. The same God who loved them and blessed them for their faithfulness also loves you, and He hasn’t changed!

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Peter 3:1 – Forward, or Reverse?

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Will

Beloved, I now write to you this second letter, in which I am stirring up your sincere thinking by way of a reminder,

Truth to Learn

We all need to be reminded of Biblical truths.

Behind the Words

The word translated “sincere” is the Greek word eilikrinēs, which is made up of eile, meaning “the shining or splendor of the sun” and krinō, meaning “to judge, discern, or examine.” So, eilikrinēs literally means “judged or examined in the sunlight.”

The word translated as “thinking” is the Greek word dianoia, which is a compound word made up of dia, meaning “through” and a form of noeō, which means “to think over.” Hence, dianoia means “to thoroughly think over or to think completely through.”

Meaning Explained

Peter starts off this third section of his letter with an explanation of why he is writing. He says this is the second letter that he has written to these people and that the reason for writing both letters was that they might be “reminders to stimulate you to sincere thinking.”

Peter wants to remind these people that they have thoroughly thought about the previous truths taught to them by Peter and others. They have taken the words of Scripture and have given them careful examination under the most illuminating conditions. They have not just accepted teachings on face value, especially those teachings of the Old Testament and of Christ himself (as we will see in the next verse). They have thoroughly examined them and thought about them extensively.

So how is this different from the “full knowledge” possessed by the deceived ones in the verses we studied in the last chapter? Those people possessed a “full knowledge” of salvation. That is, they tried to intellectualize their way into Christianity instead of believing their way in. The act of salvation is not an act of our intellect; it is an act of our will. It means a submission of our will to His in accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as complete payment for our sins. To understand it intellectually and to believe it are two distinctly different things. What Peter is talking about in today’s verse is the thorough investigation of the teachings after salvation has taken place.

Peter is now reminding them again of the things that they have believed in the past and that they have examined and discovered to be true but which they are likely to forget if they are not occasionally reminded of them. This is one of the reasons that it is important for us to be reading and studying our Bibles day after day, going over things we have learned previously to remind us of what God is trying to teach us.

Application

I am reminded of a powerful sermon that I heard as a very new Christian in which the preacher proclaimed that the Christian life is never standing still, “You’re either moving forward!” he bellowed with a grandiose gesture of the arm pointing in the forward direction, “Or you’re moving back!” proclaimed with an equally grandiose gesture of the arm pointing to the rear.”

Which direction is your Christian life moving today?

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Peter 2:22 – Filthy Magnet

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Will

But the word of the true proverb has happened to them: "The dog returning to its vomit," and, "the sow that is washed goes back to wallowing in the mud."

Truth to Learn

Without the God-given new birth, we will all return to our former ways.

Meaning Explained

For the past two verses Peter has been talking about people who confess to be believers but who never really became Christians. These people, under their own power, have attained a sort of intellectual salvation from their former way of life but without the quickening of the Spirit of God. Instead, they have been lured back into their former sinful ways.

Peter herein describes this return to their former manner of life with two proverbial expressions. The first is a reference to Proverbs 26:11, which says:

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

This is Peter’s off-handed way of saying that these people were fools to have thought that they could have attained their own salvation. They have proven their folly by returning to their former manner of life.

The other proverbial phrase that Peter uses is not a reference to anything found in the Bible, but it is common in rabbinical writings and is also found in classical Greek writings. No matter how much effort you may put into cleaning up a pig, when left to its own devices it will return to the mud as is the manner of pigs.

Although this and the two previous verses have been used by some to show that it is possible to “fall from grace” and lose one’s salvation, as usual with proof texts for false doctrines, it actually demonstrates the opposite. Peter is pointing out that these people never were changed. If they had been truly saved, they would have a different nature and would never have returned to their former manner of life. Likewise, someone who has been truly saved has a new nature. Peter even used this image in the opening verses of this epistle where he said:

His divine power has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the full knowledge of him who called us through glory and worthiness. Through these he has given us the very great and precious promises, that through them you may be partakers of the divine nature, escaping the corruption in the world caused by lusts. (2 Peter 1:3,4)

The Apostle Paul said it another way in 2 Corinthians 5:17,

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away, behold new things have come!

True salvation is something that God does, not something we do. When He does it, according to Paul, we become a new creature. And even though we still have our sin nature and our propensity to sin, we are truly changed, and we will demonstrate that change by developing different habits and a different lifestyle.

Application

In light of all that the Apostle Peter has taught us, let us all live like the new creatures we are, forsaking our old way of life. Stop living for yourself and your fleshly desires. Live for Him, for He is worthy!

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Peter 2:21 – Knowledge or Faith?

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Will

For it was better for them not to have recognized the way of righteousness, than having recognized it to turn away from the sacred commandment that was delivered to them.

Truth to Learn

Great works done in the name of God are not an indication of salvation. Real salvation comes only through true repentance and faith.

Behind the Words

In verse 20 we talked about the word ginōskō, referring to intellectual knowledge. It is the same word used in this verse translated “to have recognized.” There is a different Greek word that means experiential knowledge, the word oida. Had Peter used this word, he would have been referring to experiencing salvation rather than just knowing about it.

Meaning Explained

Peter has been talking about these people who had escaped from the pollutions of the world system, and that their escape came about by their intellectual knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have many in our churches today who are there, not because they have a saving faith in Jesus, but because they have knowledge and they are doing everything they can to be a good Christian. However, they are doing it in their own power because they don’t have the power of the Holy Spirit. I have no doubt that they actually believe they are saved, which is a supreme tragedy.

In fact Peter shares that sentiment! He says that it would have been better for them not to have had full knowledge of the way of righteousness because in the end they will be more deeply entangled in the pollutions of the world. Our Lord, Himself, talked about such people. Here’s what He said of them:

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:21-23)

Also, speaking in a parable, our Lord said:

Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth … (Luke 13:24-28)

Just because someone claims to be a Christian doesn’t mean that they really are. In fact, a recent poll showed that over 60% of the people in the United States claim to be Christians. Unfortunately, less than 10% of them live like Christians.

Application

Are you sure of your salvation? Have you ever completely submitted your life and your will to God, confessing your sinfulness and your need for salvation? Have you accepted the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross as the payment for your sins? Or do you believe you are saved because you followed some methodical process that finally made you worthy of salvation? There’s a big difference in these two. One leads to eternal life, while the other leads to weeping and gnashing of teeth!

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Peter 2:20 – Knowing Entanglement

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Will

For if they having escaped the corruption of the world by acknowledging our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled and overcome by it, they are worse off in the end than they were at the beginning.

Truth to Learn

True salvation can’t be lost, but mere intellectual salvation can.

Behind the Words

The word translated “corruption” is the Greek word miasmata. According to Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, “The word was anciently used…to express those noxious particles of effluvia proceeding from persons infected with contagious and dangerous diseases.”

“Acknowledging” is translated from epignōsis, made up of epi, meaning “above or over” and ginōskō, meaning “to have intellectual knowledge.”

The word translated “entangled” is emplekō from which we get our English word implicate. This particular Greek word originally meant “to braid in or to interweave.” It later came to mean “to be involved in or to become entangled in.”

Meaning Explained

This is one of those verses that, on the surface, appears to imply that it is possible to lose one’s salvation, so let’s look closely at it. Remember that Peter is talking about those people “who are just escaping from those who live in error,” and these false teachers were “promising them freedom,” but instead what these false teachers did was: “by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.”

He now says, “If they have escaped the corruption of the world …” What is this corruption that Peter is talking about? It is all the contagious, putrefied slime that is created by sin. Peter does not say that these people had escaped from sin but from the effects of sin in the world. And, he says that these have escaped “by knowing the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” It was through intellectual knowledge that these people were able to escape the pollution of the world; it was not by experiencing faith in the Savior. It was head knowledge, not heart knowledge. And through this great knowledge that they had acquired, they were able, in their own strength, to temporarily get away from the corruption and purification of the world system.

But, because they had knowledge instead of faith, they “are again entangled in it and overcome.” And Peter says that their state is now worse than it was before they had escaped. They have now been convinced that their sins are okay and that there is no need for repentance. Even their great intellectual knowledge is not able to save them now (and, in fact, it wasn’t able to save them in the first place). These people have not just returned to their former sins in a casual manner, they are now totally entangled in them.

The point is not that one can lose one’s salvation; rather, it is that salvation through human efforts is not salvation at all.

Application

No matter how much you know about the Bible and no matter how much you deny your own desires and sinfulness, you cannot be saved apart from submission to God Almighty, confessing (agreeing with God regarding) your sinfulness and accepting the blood of Christ to cleanse you from your sins.

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Peter 2:19 – Corrupt Slaves

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Will

Promising to them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of corruption—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

Truth to Learn

That which you are committed to and controlled by is your master and you are its slave.

Behind the Words

This word “freedom” is translated from the Greek word, eleutherio which means “freedom or independence.”

“Slaves” is translated from doulos, which refers to “a slave, one who is in a relation of servitude to another, his will being altogether consumed in the will of the master.”

The word translated “corruption” is phthora, meaning “decay, spoilage, corruption, ruin, or wasting away.”

Meaning Explained

Peter now continues his description of the messages that these false teachers proclaim. In the previous verse we talked about the fact that these messages were well crafted messages, like orchestrations, that were intended to lure the people through the lusts of their flesh. The people who had come out of churches which preached a false message were then entrapped by these well crafted messages of these false teachers.

Peter now says that these messages contained promises of freedom. That’s what many people want to hear, freedom from worry and independence from guilt. They want freedom from the rules of a righteous God and independence to make one’s own decisions. They want free will without guilt. Unfortunately, true freedom only comes from submission and dependence (on the grace and mercy of God) but that’s not the message that was being preached to these people.

Why? Because the teachers are themselves slaves to the corruption of their own selfish desires. They are literally incapable of preaching the message of peace through the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross, because they are themselves slaves to sin. And, Peter says, anyone who has been overcome by something or someone else is a slave to that which has overcome them. These false teachers have been overcome by their own selfish motives and have become enslaved by them. Hence, they are not able to see the truth let alone preach it to others.

Here’s the message that we all need to take from today’s verse. If we want to be an effective witness for God then we have to be slaves to God (His personal servants). We have to proclaim His message and we have to do it His way. Anything else is selfish ambition and cannot possibly portray the truth. This applies to both teacher and disciple. In order to effectively teach or to effectively learn we must be submitted and committed to God and God alone.

Application

Peter doesn’t sugar coat it and neither will I. So let’s be completely honest with ourselves and answer the following two questions.

Who are you committed to, God, or your own selfish desires?

What are you submitted to, the will of God, or your own will?

I think it’s time for all of us to pray!

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Peter 2:18 – Symphonic Messages

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Will

For speaking empty, boastful words, by lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.

Truth to Learn

Well written messages that are delivered by a skilled public speaker are not always messages from God.

Behind the Words

The word translated “speaking” is the Greek word phthengomai, which really means “to sound a musical note” or “putting sounds together to communicate something.” It is used of great orations that are like orchestrations of words.

The word “empty” come from the Greek word mataiotēs, which means “futile or worthless.”

The adjective “boastful” come from huperogkas, which is a compound word made up of huper or hyper meaning “over or excessive” and ogkos, which literally means, “a mass.” These teachers use big words, and lots of them, to present their great oratory messages.

Meaning Explained

For me this is one of the saddest verses in Peter’s writing and one that makes me the most indignant toward these false teachers. These preachers, according to Peter, “sound forth empty, boastful words.” The message that they present is full of words that sound great and probably stir up the souls of the people, but they are empty words that serve no spiritual purpose. Their objective, if you remember from Peter’s earlier writing, is to fill the pockets of the teacher, not to satisfy the spiritual needs of the people.

Peter now tells us that these teachers use these great oratory messages to lure the people through the lusts of the flesh. These are messages that are attractive to the people because they don’t criticize the sinful practices of the flesh, but excuse them away and make it so that the people think they can continue in their lustful ways without condemnation. Instead of the people recognizing the sinfulness of their actions and habits, they are led to believe that they can continue in them without humbling themselves before the Judge of the ages.

Now, here’s why I get incensed with these false teachers: Peter tells us that the people being deceived by these “great” messages are “people who are just escaping from those who live in error.” These are people who have come out of churches where they were being taught erroneous doctrine. They have recognized that they were not receiving the truth and have left those churches only to be entrapped by these false teachers who are catering to the lusts which the people should be confessing and forsaking.

Oh, the deceitfulness and selfishness of these false teachers! When the people want the truth and are fed a lie instead, when the people are seeking freedom and are given bondage instead, when the people want peace and are given guilt instead… Woe to these false teachers! God will judge them, as Peter has said, and their judgment will be both harsh and just!

Application

Are the sermons you hear every Sunday the kind that make you feel good about yourself and the way you’re living? Do you ever hear a message that God uses to drive you to your knees? There’s nothing wrong with feeling uplifted by the Word of God, but if you’re never challenged by a sermon, you may be listening to a symphony instead of the still, small voice of God.

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Peter 2:17 – Refreshing, Cleansing Water

Posted on May 5, 2017 by Will

These men are dry wells and clouds driven by a storm, for whom the blackest darkness is reserved.

Truth to Learn

The Bible is like refreshing, cleansing water to the soul.

Behind the Words

The word “clouds” is translated from omichlē, meaning “a mist, a fog, or a cloud.” Peter’s meaning is most likely “a cloud.”

“Driven” is from alaunō, which means “to carry or to drive.”

The word “storm” is translated from lailaps, meaning “a whirlwind or a storm.”

“Blackest” is the translation of dzophos, meaning “doom or blackness.”

Finally, the word “darkness” is from the Greek word skotos, which means “obscurity or darkness.”

Meaning Explained

Peter has said many unkind things about these false teachers; now he boils it down to a couple of very picturesque images. He says that they are “dry wells,” that is, wells without water and he says that they are “clouds driven by a storm.” These are both descriptions of something full of promise that never delivers. Imagine a person wandering in the arid wilderness who sees a well with the anticipation of securing a much needed drink of water only to find the well is dry. Likewise, imagine a farmer who has planted his crops in anticipation of a bountiful harvest seeing clouds appear with the promise of rain only to have the clouds blown away by a strong wind without dropping a bit of water.

Water is a necessity of life that is both soothing and refreshing, and it has a cleansing effect on dirty things. The Word of God is like water to us, refreshing and soothing our souls and cleansing us as we read and understand the message of the God of the Bible. Thirsty souls come to church to be refreshed and strengthened. However, when these false teachers get up to preach, instead of providing the refreshment and cleansing that the people need, they provide no water, only dried up words.

These false teachers promise the refreshing and cleansing effect of the Word of God, but what they deliver is “waterless,” like an empty well or a cloud without rain.

Peter then makes a proclamation about the end state of these false teachers. He says that the “blackest darkness is reserved for them.” The final state of these false teachers will be the enveloping darkness of eternity without the light of God. We often think of the fiery torture of the lake of fire as the worst punishment that can happen to a lost soul, but the total separation from the light of God (for God is light according to 1 John 1:5) with no prospect for reconciliation for all of eternity is worse yet. Blackest darkness, indeed!

Challenge

Let me encourage each of you to earnestly desire the light of the Word of God. Learn to crave it as you do food and water. Make it part of your every day diet, not just an occasional snack. Let me also encourage you to seek out a church where the word of truth is preached, holding fast to the fundamental truths contained in the Bible, where those who open up the Word to you each week do so because it is their ministry, not their source of income!

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Peter 2:16 – Donkey Speak

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Will

But had a rebuke of his own iniquity from a donkey—a beast without speech—speaking with a man's voice he restrained the prophet's madness.

Truth to Learn

Following God’s leading may be hard, but it is the best way.

Behind the Words

The word translated “iniquity” is paranomia. This is a compound word made up of para, meaning “against or opposed to” and nomos, meaning “law.” Hence, paranomia refers to action that is, as we might say, “against the law.”

“Restrained” is from kōluō, which literally means “to cut off or weaken.” In general terms it means “to hinder, prevent, or restrain.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we talked about the prophet Balaam who “loved the wages of unrighteousness.” We talked about how he initially refused to go with Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites as they were about to enter the Promised Land. The reason that he refused is because God told him not to go. When Balak promised him great honor and riches, Balaam decided to go with them after all.

He traveled on a donkey, and part way to his destination the Angel of the Lord stood in the road and the donkey refused to go forward but turned aside into the field instead. As a result, Balaam struck his donkey and brought him back into the road. Then the Angel of the Lord stood in the road in a narrow spot with walls on either side of the road. When the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, he refused to go forward and turned into the wall, smashing Balaam’s foot against the wall. In response Balaam again struck his donkey. Then the Angel of the Lord stood in yet another place where there was no way for the donkey to turn either way, so the donkey simply lay down. At this point Balaam struck the donkey with his staff. Here is what happened then, from Numbers chapter 22.

And Jehovah opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?”

And Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of Jehovah standing in the road with His sword drawn in His hand. And he bowed and fell on his face.

As a result, the Angel of the Lord allowed Balaam to proceed but strictly charged him to only speak the words that were given him from God. Balaam did go to Balak and when told to curse the Israelites, he blessed them instead because those were the words given him from God.

The point that Peter is making is that the false teachers of his day and of ours are willing to preach their own message instead of the message that God wants to be preached, and they do so for personal gain. They know that a message of acceptance and tolerance will attract many more listeners (and their money) than a message of willful submission and obedience to God as the supreme authority for our lives and actions.

Application

Which do you want from your pastor? Do you want a message that will make you feel good and allow you to indulge in the sinful practices of your flesh? Or, do you want a message that is straight from the Word, a message that demands obedience and submission to the Spirit of God, even if your toes get stepped on?

In God's service, for His glory,