Second Peter 2:17-22
I. Introduction:
A. False promises have long been made by those teaching error (Jeremiah 23:16-17).
- That which came from their hearts were lies (Jeremiah 23:26).
- They brought false hope (Jeremiah 6:13-14 and Ezekiel 13:6).
- What would they have to sell if saints put do death carnality as we are instructed to do (Colossians 3:1-6)?
- What could these false teachers sell if all saints would just buy the truth and sell it not (Proverbs 23:23)?
II. Body: II Peter 2:17-22
A. Wells without water, clouds with no rain - empty promises (cf. Proverbs 25:14).
- These false teachers will have the mist of darkness forever (Matthew 25:30 and Jude 1:13).
- Unfortunately, they will take their students with them (Luke 6:39 and Ephesians 5:1-6).
- Great swelling perverse words (Jeremiah 14:13-14).
- Alluring through the lusts of the flesh (II Timothy 3:1-7; cf. James 1:13-16).
- Their targets are those are clean, having formerly escaped from those who live in error (II Peter 1:3-4; cf. Ephesians 2:1-3).
- They promise false liberty (Jeremiah 7:1-10). Ex. teaching liberty to the satisfying of the flesh (Galatians 5:13).
- With the target being saints, there is already liberty (Galatians 5:1 and James 2:12).
- However, this liberty is to do as one pleases of themselves. That is to be servants of sin and free from righteousness (Romans 6:20).
- Those caught up in such forget what the fruit of sin is and what they are giving up if they walk away from Christ (Romans 6:21-23).
- Yet, they deliver to bondage those who had escaped bondage (Galatians 2:1-5 and Galatians 4:9-11).
- Entangled (II Timothy 2:3-4) again (II Timothy 4:10; cf. I John 2:15-17).
- The latter end (Deuteronomy 32:29) is worse than the beginning.
- This is surely a complex thought. It ties contextually to knowledge. We will look at that next.
- Consider what is to have walked away from sin, to the Lord, and then to go back to darkness. How does the Lord deal with His people who walk away (Ezekiel 9:9-10, Hebrews 10:26-31, and Hebrews 12:22-29)?
- It would have been better not to have known (Matthew 11:20-24).
- In one way, accountability (Luke 12:42-48 and James 4:17).
- In another way, knowing what could have been (I John 5:13 and Jude 1:21).
- Consider what it would be like to have hope (I Peter 1:3-9) and then to turn from that hope (I Thessalonians 4:13).
- Obedience to the Lord’s instructions is rewarding (John 15:10 and Hebrews 5:8-9).
- The true proverb (Proverbs 26:11).
III. Conclusion: Our Next Lesson: II Peter 3:1-7