Day #232: 2 Peter 2:11-16

Joel Redmon is writing the blog this week. Joel is an Elder at Church of the Valley.

BACKGROUND
As we go through the first two chapters of 2nd Peter it is important to understand the environment at the time of the writing. Within a generation of the death and resurrection of Christ issues surfaced in “the faith”. From a human perspective, it is not difficult to understand what started to happen. Christian’s were either in the camp that Jesus would return at anytime living a life of expectation of his return or as the years past started to cast doubt on Jesus’ return and ultimately upon the promises of God.

2nd Peter was written to get the readers focused on the truth and not all of the false teachings and doubts that had surfaced through the passage of time.

IS THIS RELEVANT TODAY?
This writing is very much relevant to us today. We are much further removed from the death and resurrection of Jesus; we have so many religions of the world with easy access to the beliefs of these religions; the false teachers have easier entry points into our day-to-day lives via the advancement of technology and television and lastly, everyone is so busy that time to study and meditate on God’s word is hard to come by.

This backdrop will be posted everyday just as a reminder of why 2nd Peter was written and the relevance to each of us as we continue our quest to live the lives that God has planned for each of us. It is in this vein that Peter wrote this passage to remind us of the foundational truths.

2 PETER 2:11-16
11yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. 12But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. 13They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! 15They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE UNGODLY
Peter focused verses 11-22 on giving a detailed description of the false teachers. Peter emphasizes that these men are ungodly and wicked; and certainly to come under judgment. The next two blogs will be a drill down into what Peter is teaching us about false teachers.
#1.) THEY ACT OUT OF IGNORANCE
While one the false teachers would argue their point, when carefully listened to one would realize that they are speaking out of ignorance. Peter compared them to brute beasts. Meaning they are not using any human logic or thinking but are like a wild irrational animal. They are misguided by mere instinct whose purpose is to destroy.

#2.) THEY ARE BLATANT
Peter writes that ‘they carouse in broad daylight”. Carouse is not a word we use in our daily conversations. It means their life is marked by indulgence in vices. The fact is these false teachers are not trying to live a double lives, they are not ashamed of their behavior. This is in contrast to the directive of Romans 13:13 which states, “Because we belong to the day (Jesus), we must live decent lives”.

#3.) THEY ARE DECEPTIVE
Peter indicates that these ungodly folk even brought their shameless acts into fellowship meals of believers. As the New Testament teaches us, the early church believers spent a lot of time at the homes of one another. These gatherings included sharing of meals but also many included the sharing of Communion (The Lord’s Supper). The false teachers while sinning openly, would participate in these sacred gatherings and according to this passage they even used communion to further their vices. 1st Corinthians 11:27 spoke directly to this, “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.”

#4 THEY ARE UNTRUSTWORTHY
Peter describes these false teachers as opportunity sinners. Given any opportunity they will sin. While believers were taking them in and welcoming them in the fellowship the false teachers showed response is found in 2 Peter 2:14, “14With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood”. This should serve as a reminder to believers, it says do not get tricked by the talk but again Peter is telling us to consider the actions. If talk and walk do not match…then beware, proceed with caution.

SO WHAT?
As mentioned in the opening we will spend the next two days looking at the characteristics of the false teachers. The following two verses are excellent memory verses to keep us focused:

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. Romans 16:17-19