2 PETER LESSON 4

 
     We will begin this lesson in II 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 deceivings while they feast with you;"

     This is speaking of those who profess to know God, but are really
not His. Notice the statement {shall receive the reward of
unrighteousness}. We have seen this, recently in the churches. Men who
are professing to be leaders of the church, living very worldly lives.
They are attempting to cover their sins, and deceive the people into
believing they are in right standing with God. These false teachers
are even worse than the people who have not made any commitment to
God. Everything these men do is deceiving. They are not truly sold out
to God. They bring a false message and are not only deceived
themselves, but deceive others, as well. The church {all true
believers} should be without spot or wrinkle. Jesus Christ {our
perfect Lamb sacrifice} was without spot or wrinkle. He lighted the
way for His followers.

     II Peter 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:"

     There are several key words in this, notice "children".  Children
indicate sonship. This is still speaking of those who profess to know
Jesus, and yet are not His at all. They are deceivers. Notice, these
children are cursed, because of their evil life-style. The lust of the
eyes has drawn them away from God and His Spirit into pleasing their
own flesh. These are among those who Jesus will tell to get away from
Him, He never knew them, at judgement day. Their argument will be that
they did mighty miracles in His name. The problem is not in them doing
mighty miracles in His name, but because of their reasoning for doing
the miracles. God can see right through a phony. He knows what is in
our heart. He knows what we do when it appears that no one is
watching. The worst part of all of this is the fact they lead others
into sin with them.

     II Peter 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;"

     "Following" in the verse above, means follow out to the end.
Baalam had drawn the Israelites into a fleshly religion. I believe
this is what is spoken of here. Religion which appeals to the flesh is
probably Christianity in form only. "True Christianity" has to do with
crucifying the flesh and living in the spirit. The flesh must die that
the spirit might live. I tell our people, if it is pleasing to the
flesh, run as far as you can the other way. Flesh and spirit are
mortal enemies. The battle that every Christian faces is the battle
between pleasing our flesh, or pleasing the spirit. Notice again
"forsaken", which lets us know they were on the right track, they just
left that straight and narrow path for a wider path. Again, this is
speaking of the apostate in the church. Many times the wages {money}
draws us away from the truth.

     II Peter 2:16 "But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass
speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet."

     We will find in the Scriptures the determined Baalam who was
stopped of God from doing a very foolish thing. The Lord did not want
him to go, and he went anyhow. Look, with me, at what happened.
Numbers 22:22  "And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the
angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now
he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants [were] with him."
Numbers 22:23 "And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the
way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of
the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn
her into the way." Numbers 22:24 "But the angel of the LORD stood in a
path of the vineyards, a wall [being] on this side, and a wall on that
side."  Numbers 22:25 "And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she
thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the
wall: and he smote her again."  Numbers 22:26 "And the angel of the
LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where [was] no way to
turn either to the right hand or to the left."  Numbers 22:27 "And
when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam:
and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff."
Numbers 22:28 "And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said
unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me
these three times?"  Numbers 22:29 "And Balaam said unto the ass,
Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand,
for now would I kill thee."  Numbers 22:30 "And the ass said unto
Balaam, [Am] not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since
[I was] thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And
he said, Nay." Numbers 22:31 "Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam,
and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword
drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his
face." Numbers 22:32 "And the angel of the LORD said unto him,
Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I
went out to withstand thee, because [thy] way is perverse before me:"
Numbers 22:33 "And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three
times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain
thee, and saved her alive."  This prophet had gone astray, as these
last few lessons have been teaching us about the false prophets.
This, Balaam, is determined to follow evil. Some of our ministers are
determined to teach a false doctrine. I wonder if it will be necessary
for an ass to speak to us, before we will listen?

     II Peter 2:17 "These are wells without water, clouds that are
carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for
ever."

     A well that does not provide water is a great disappointment. I
think that is what God is saying here. False teachers are a great
disappointment to God. Clouds that do not produce rain are speaking of
the same thing. "Water" symbolizes the Word of God. This could be
speaking of those ministers who do not bring the Word of God, and the
great disappointment they are to God.

     II Peter 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."

     All of this is speaking of happening within the church. This is
not the world, but the church. It is speaking of the devil using false
prophets in the church, who appeal to the flesh of man, leading those
who have been in right relation with God away from the Truth.
Wantonness is speaking of sins of the flesh. It is a very dangerous
thing for the church to use things that appeal to the flesh to get
people to attend church. The world and the evil desires of the flesh
have no place in the church.

     II Peter 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."

     When Christianity becomes too liberal, it has compromised with
the world. The liberty to do what they want to do and still be a
church member is a very dangerous thing. The way to Jesus is a
straight and narrow path. When we start compromising with the world,
we become servant to sin. Many of the things being done today in the
churches to bring larger crowds in, are nothing more than compromise.
When we compromise, we are no longer in right standing with God.

     II Peter 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."

     Hebrews chapter 6 has a great deal to say about turning from God
back into sin, and the danger of that. Hebrews 6:4 "For [it is]
impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the
heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,"  Hebrews
6:5 "And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world
to come,"  Hebrews 6:6 "If they shall fall away, to renew them again
unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God
afresh, and put [him] to an open shame." Hebrews 6:7 "For the earth
which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth
herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from
God:" Hebrews 6:8 "But that which beareth thorns and briers [is]
rejected, and [is] nigh unto cursing; whose end [is] to be burned."
In both Hebrews and 2 Peter, it is speaking of those who were in
bondage to sin and received freedom from that sin in the blood of the
Lord Jesus Christ. When we receive Christ Jesus as our Saviour and
Lord, we are freed from the bondage of sin. We become a new creature
in Christ. To turn away from so great salvation back into a life of
sin is very dangerous. It would be as if we were crucifying Jesus all
over again. The Word of God has helped us become a new creature in
Christ. To turn back into a sinful way of life, after having full
knowledge of God is very serious. Christianity is a daily walk in the
footprints that Jesus left for us. I cannot stress enough how
dangerous it is to bring the world in the church. The world is full of
sin. Stop trying to be like the rest of the world, Christian. In fact,
stop living your life and let Christ live in you.

     II Peter 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."

     Righteousness is putting on the righteousness of Christ, putting
us in right standing with God. To be full of Christ and His teachings
and then turn back into the world, would be choosing the flesh over
the spirit. Jesus said: "If you love me, keep my commandments". We
must walk daily in the light of Jesus. John 15:22 "If I had not come
and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke
for their sin." Jesus gave His body on the cross for all believers in
Christ. His blood washed our sin away. It no longer exists. To boldly
choose to go back into a sinful way of life, after we are freed from
sin, would require a total turning away from God. It would mean we had
chosen the devil and his ways, rather than God's ways. John 8:44 "Ye
are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will
do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh
of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

     II Peter 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."

     This is speaking of Christians who were not 100% committed to the
Lord. Proverbs 26:11 "As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool
returneth to his folly."  This reminds me so much of the seed that was
planted by the wayside that sprang up, and then very soon withered
away. The lust of the flesh has allured this person back into the
world. In both instances, the dog and the sow have returned to the
unregenerate life. They have returned to a sinful way of life.

















                          2 Peter 4 Questions


1.  Who is verse 13 speaking of?
2.  Why is it worse for a teacher to be corrupt?
3.  What should be the condition of the church?
4.  Having eyes full of ___________.
5.  What are these false believers called in verse 14?
6.  Why are they cursed?
7.  They have forsaken the _________ ____.
8.  Who are they compared to in verse 15?
9.  What does "following" in verse 15 mean?
10. Baalam had drawn the Israelites into a __________ religion.
11. What is "true Christianity"?
12. What is the great battle that every Christian faces?
13. What was unusual about the ass that Baalam rode?
14. What is a well without water?
15. False teachers are a great ______________ to God.
16. What does "water" symbolize?
17. When they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure
    through the ______ of the _______.
18. What kind of sin is "wantonness" speaking of?
19. What happens to Christianity when it becomes too liberal?
20. What kind of path leads to Jesus?
21. Verse 20 says they escaped the pollutions of the world through the
    _______________ of the _______ and ________ ________ _________.
22. What chapter in Hebrews deals with the same thing as verse 20
    here?
23. What are they both speaking of?
24. For a Christian to turn back into a sinful way of life is a very
    _______________ thing.
25. Christianity is a ___________ walk.
26. Stop living your life and let __________ live in you.
27. Jesus said; "If you love me, keep my _______________".
28. What washes the sin of the Christian away?
29. Quote John chapter 8 verse 44.
30. The dog is turned to his _________ again.
31. The sow that was washed to her ____________ in the _______.
32 Both have returned to their ____________ life.